A Love So Deep
Chapter Twelve: The Reason
A Tale of Love by In The Shadows I Dwell
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I claim to own any of the characters, places, plots or any other associated parts of the series, these are the property of J.K Rowling. This FanFiction is purely for entertainment and I do not earn any money from it.
"I love you, you are the reason I wake every day, the reason I go on living, because without you… I'd be nothing…"
The unsettling feeling deep within my chest never quite left me.
I did not dare tell anyone of what I experienced during my brief exit from this world, but the harsh realities it forced upon me still stung like deep, bleeding cuts. Searing my heart with every breath, cutting me deeper with every hour, I wasn't sure how long I could survive it, but I was going to try. Hell, I was going to beat it; I was going to survive it just to prove that love could withstand death. It was my love for Draco keeping me here, without it I would have passed onto the next life that day, I would not have needed any convincing, no reasoning required. But he had changed me completely and I him.
Draco was no longer the arrogant, self-centred, obnoxious, rude guy I'd met on my first days at Hogwarts, he was someone else entirely, a kinder, more understanding, caring Draco. A Draco actually capable of love. Sometimes I thought I saw a repeat in his ways, as if the old Draco seemed to be slipping through the cracks, but the longer time that past the more I became convinced that he would not resurface. I knew that the incident with his Aunt had scared him, he hadn't really been the same ever since. I knew he was no longer working secretly on his task, because he spent every spare minute in the Library trying to catch up on the work missed or with me relaxing near the Great Lake, when I was allowed to leave the sanctuary of the Hospital Wing, in the shadows of the large oaks.
As Hermione Granger I really had no female Best Friends, no one I could entirely confide my secrets, my fears and of course my troubles in. But Draco had changed all that, sure, he was no female, but I felt no need to hide any of my more trivial secrets and fears from him, never telling him about my mission, but telling him everything else.
He'd spent nearly every waking hour of my visit to the Hospital Wing in my company grasping my hand; as if afraid I would slip away from him once again. We'd had many visitors, with them bringing a large array of sweets, flowers and 'Get Well Soon' cards. Hermione and Harry had made the journey up to visit me, apologising profusely for their behaviour that day and during Transfiguration, Draco all the while sat there and politely accepted Harry's apology for his rude comments the day I had collapsed, he had a guilty conscious I discovered.
"He thinks he caused you too much stress and you collapsed…" Hermione whispered to me, when his back was turned.
"It's not his fault… Trust me." I replied.
"I'll tell him, he just thought… that maybe well he reminded you of your Mother and it stressed you a bit…" She told me.
"Don't worry about… I'm not that ill…" I replied with a smile. "Thanks for coming to visit me." I told her.
"That's fine, I've been giving you the cold shoulder for too long, I realised that what you said was true. I'd just been avoiding it I guess…" She said opening her mouth to speak again when she was interrupted by the Hospital Wing doors opening.
In walked Ronald Weasley.
"Hey Ron!" She called with the happiest smile I'd ever seen upon my own face.
"Hermione! I've been looking all over for you and Harry!" He called walking up to her and carefully pressing his lips to hers, as he did so wrapping her, well my hands around his waist.
I smiled, she had listened to me.
"So how long has this been going on?" I asked her when she'd returned to one of the seats around my bed.
"About a month now, I don't know what it was, but it was like something just changed and we just clicked…" Ron told me.
"That's wonderful!" I cried, "You both look so happy."
"As do you, I don't think I'd ever seen anyone as happy to see Draco here." Hermione said nodding her head at Draco.
"Well it was the first time he'd left my side in God only knows how long, and he was gone for quite a long time." I said smiling.
"And Draco, I don't think I've ever seen you as happy as you were when she awoke in your arms." Hermione whispered.
"You were there?" I asked.
"Ron and I were already in Hogsmeade, we went in with the Eight O'clock crew." She told me. "We thought you were gone forever, when we saw Draco clutching you in his arms, it was as all the life in you left this world completely, but returned minutes later…"
"It was terrible." Ron told me.
"I felt terrible, I don't know what came over me, and it was so… sudden." I whispered my eyes beginning to droop.
I felt Draco's hand enclose around mine. I smiled at him, "I think I want to go to sleep now…" I whispered.
"O.K, I'll be right here when you wake up…" He whispered kissing my cheek and pulling my covers over me.
"Thanks again guys." I whispered closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep, tired from a long day of visitors and treatment.
"Ready to go?" Draco asked me.
"I think so…" I replied rather weakly.
"Now remember if you feel at all unwell again please alert a Medical Officer from St. Mungo's. It is vital!" Madame Pomfrey told us.
"Will do." I replied, reaching to grab the last of the roses from my beside table.
"I shall assess your health when you return to school. Happy Holidays!" She said merrily to us, helping us carry the enormous load of cards, flowers and gifts I'd received out into the entrance hall where our bags were awaiting us.
"See you Ash!" Called several Slytherins.
I waved happily back at them neatening my short summer dress fussily.
"You look fine." Draco whispered.
"I want to make a good impression!" I replied.
"How could they think badly of you?" He asked me.
"Oh I don't know, maybe if I look foul they might think badly of me." I replied, the nerves beginning to stress me.
"Calm down." Draco whispered taking my hand, "They will love you, they are happy as long as I am." He replied.
"I thought your Dad…" I began remembering that his Father had been within Azkaban Prison for some time.
"He's just been released, but he is under twenty four hour Aurror security, as is our house…" He said sadly. "Personally I think it's a trap, they are hoping some of his old Death Eater pals turn up for dinner, and they won't." He said noticing the fear in my eyes.
"At least his home for the school holidays." I said.
"Yeah," he told me pausing. "I guess."
A loud squeaking noise disrupted our conversation, causing us both to turn to face the large wooden doors. In walked an elegant woman dressed entirely in lavish pale pink robes, which complimented her amazingly blond hair. I realised that this was Draco's mother. I'd seen her once before at the Quidditch World Cup.
"Draco!" She called running to embrace her son.
"Mother!" Draco hissed "Not here please!"
"Oh, sorry darling. Where is she?" She asked smiling.
"Mother, this is Ashlea Paige, Ash this is my Mother." He said grabbing my hand and pulling me forward to meet her.
"How wonderful to meet you Mrs. Malfoy, I've heard so many good things about you." I said outstretching my hand.
She however ignored my hand and embraced me as she did her son.
"How wonderful it is to finally meet you!" She cried. "How you've changed my son, so much more polite he is now that he has you." She said to me.
"Really?" I asked.
"Draco, she is simply wonderful! So well dressed." She commented to her son.
"She is so much more than wonderful than you would ever believe." He said to her.
"Are you ready to leave?" She asked us.
"I guess." Draco said, "Are you ready Ash?" he asked me.
"Sure." I said taking his hand leaning on him for support as we walked down the long staircase stretching down to the grounds.
Awaiting us at the foot of the stairs was a carriage, still horseless. I watched as Mrs. Malfoy, who on the journey down the steps had told me to call her Narcissa magically transported our luggage and all the items we'd brought down from the Hospital Wing into the carriage.
"Umm… How are we getting to your house?" I asked curiously.
"We're catching the train of course." Draco laughed.
"Then why did your Mother come to collect us?" I asked puzzled.
"I was asked by the Headmaster to collect you directly from the school due to your ill health. My dear what ever was wrong?" She asked me.
"They ah… don't actually know…" I replied.
"How can that be?" She asked me.
"I've been kind feeling a bit off weather for a few weeks, not significant or even worryingly but it just caught up with me all of a sudden." I said to her.
"Well you will be able to rest once we reach the manor; I daresay it will be more comfortable than the Hospital Wing!" She laughed.
She seemed pleasant, far more so than she did at the Quidditch World Cup.
We soon arrived in Hogsmeade directly in front of the train station where we were allocated our own compartment by Professor McGonagall who had bravely decided to assist and supervise students venturing home for the holidays.
"I hope you feel well once again Miss. Paige." She said leaving the compartment finally after ensuring Draco managed to get me there safely.
"They seem to be making such a fuss." I replied.
"Have you ever wondered that they know what it is and their keeping it from you?" He asked me.
"I have been thinking that, I mean they're letting me go home with you for the holidays." I said.
Draco laughed.
"Mother was desperate to meet you! She told them that you'd be perfectly safe, and if necessary she would have a Medical Officer present around the clock."
"Really? She said she do that for me?" I asked disbelievingly.
"They said it wouldn't be necessary, but nether the less she offered." He said.
"I shall have to thank her." I said to him. "I'll have to buy her something…"
"We could go into London if you want." He said to me.
"Really?" I asked.
"Well we really only live an hour away, the city isn't that far by train."
"That sounds wonderful! That would be perfect."
"Maybe you could visit your father…" He hinted to me.
"No." I said simply. "He does not need that now."
"Ok then." Draco said not pushing the matter. "But you do know that you only have three months of school to go. You'll have to go home sooner or later."
"I know, but I don't wish to think about that before it is necessary."
I noticed the train beginning to move slowly from the station.
"Where's your Mother?" I asked.
"In the next compartment, she said she wanted to give us some time alone before we arrive at the manor."
"That was thoughtful of her." I noted.
Narcissa was nothing alike what I had expected she seemed to fill anyone near to her with happiness, taking away their fears. From the moment I hugged her all my worries and fears about what she and Mr. Malfoy would think of me vanished completely. It seemed almost foolish that I'd worried in the first place.
Why did she want to give us privacy before we got to the manor? I thought suddenly.
"Draco what do you mean give us some time alone before we arrive at the manor?" I asked.
"I don't actually know, perhaps she just thought we needed some time alone because of all your visitors." He muttered stretching out on a seat.
I carefully lay next to him, "It just seemed kind of odd." I replied as he wrapped his hand around me. His arms were warm and comforting.
"I never realised that they did…until now…" He replied brushing the hair that hand fallen into my face away. "Everything will be fine." He said kissing the top of my head.
"I hope so…" I said turning to face him.
"I hope everything is okay again…" He whispered, "Because it is our entire fault if the world becomes even more screwed than this."
"I can't help but think that too…" I whispered my face laying inches from his.
I could see the worry consuming his blue eyes, it may not have been obvious to an outsider, but I knew the look well, it seemed to be permanently etched into his face these days.
"Draco it's all going to be okay. I know you're worried, I mean I am too but we can't stop living… We have to keep going even when things are tough, we'll make it through this I know it." I whispered running a hand through his hair.
"I sometimes wish that too…" He whispered, "Go to sleep Ash, I can see that you're tired again."
"Thank you…" I murmured falling instantly asleep my face but inches from his my arms wrapped tightly around him.
My sleep was interrupted by a loud tapping sound, Draco stirred to life also. I opened my eyes to find myself in the exact same position I'd fallen asleep in.
"Oh great!" Draco muttered.
"Alohamora." He whispered pointing his wand at the compartment door.
"Draco, we need to talk." I heard a gruff voice mumble.
"Yeah mate, it's getting late." I heard another say in a low voice.
I recognised the voices as none other than Crabbe and Goyle.
"Do either of you mind?" Draco asked impatiently.
"What do you mean?" They asked together.
Could they be anymore dim-witted than they already were? I thought to myself.
"I was in the middle of something." Draco hissed.
"Yeah and that's not the only thing you're in the middle of." Goyle piped up.
"Get lost the both of you, and don't interrupt me again with things that no longer matter to me anymore." He said harshly.
"You know what will happen if you take that view on this Draco." One of them whispered.
"And guess what? I don't give a rats. Now get out!" He cried out in annoyance.
The compartment door clicked shut once again, locking back into place.
"Did you have to be so harsh?" I asked him.
"It was for their own good." He replied.
I trusted he knew what he was doing and held him tighter to me, "Sleep Draco, they shall not bother you again here." I whispered closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep once more.
I did not awake until the train arrived back in London, Draco was still sleeping when I awoke, and he would have had less sleep that I had in the past few days.
"Draco, Ash?" A female voice called as the door slid open. "Oh sorry, what I interrupting anything?"
"No, no don't worry, you weren't." I chimed.
"The trains arrived." She informed us.
"I'll just grab my things." I said grabbing the small handbag from the luggage rack.
Draco took my hand and helped me walk from the train and onto the platform. I still felt rather shaky as I walked about, not quite used to walking or moving again. In my condition it took several minutes to walk outside to the car awaiting us at the front entrance.
I noticed it was a regular car; however it bore a ministry flag.
Two large men appeared either side of us and helped us load our possessions into the trunk, which it was safe to say had been magically modified.
"Aurrors." Draco whispered. "Mother I thought you said they wouldn't be with you here. Why are they not at the manor?"
"There has been a change of plans… There are several more than we anticipated." She replied carefully.
"Meaning?" He asked.
"Well there are patrols and several Aurrors stationed within the house itself…" She replied sketchily.
"What?" Draco mouthed. "Mother! Ash is staying over! She doesn't want Aurrors skulking about the house while she's there!" He cried.
"I'll do whatever, I'm not fussed. Don't worry." I said to him taking his hand.
"Are you sure?" He asked me. "I could get them to let us stay at one of the other houses…"
"This will be fine, I assure you." I said.
"Well I hope they don't interfere too much, it would ruin your holiday if they did so." He said quickly.
"What will you two be getting up to?" Narcissa asked us.
"Well we were thinking about going into London for some supplies and such." Draco began. "But I also want to teach Ash how to fly; she has never flown a broom before." He said.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"Oh it's easy to tell, the way you talk about Quidditch just makes it seem like you don't understand it, don't worry I'll get you up to speed." He said with a wink.
"Well that sounds wonderful darling," Narcissa replied, "How long do you intend to spend in London?"
"A few days perhaps…" Draco said.
A few days? His parents would let him just wander about doing whatever he felt like? Mine would never allow me to go to London alone, let alone stay there with him for three nights without any adults around.
"Do you want the apartment or do you want to stay elsewhere?" She asked him.
"The apartment I think." Draco replied.
"You have an apartment in London?" I asked.
"And two holiday homes." He added.
"Wow!" I exclaimed, "I've only ever lived in the one home, let alone owned another…"
"You'll love London Ash. Trust me, I know all the places to go, it'll be a holiday you'll never forget…"
The car ride had taken roughly an hour and a half, due to heavy traffic within the city. I was surprised that the Malfoy's lived so far out of town, so far out that in fact; there was not another house for miles around.
We pulled up to a large set of iron gates, elaborately designed with two large M's upon the top in cursive script. The driver muttered something to the Aurrors standing by the gates which allowed the car to enter the long winding driveway that lead up to the large and beautiful house.
The driveway was lined with hedges each perfectly trimmed to perfection, the garden even had trimmed hedges in the shapes of witches and wizards, one I could swear looked oddly like Draco, another featuring two people, his parents.
Wow! I mouthed, unable to even speak about the magnific cent garden.
Draco grumbled angrily to himself, about something. I could not hear what he was saying and it unnerved me slightly.
"Home sweet home!" Narcissa said happily. "Lucius is home for from Azkaban." She replied with a smile, as if unsure my parents would disapprove of me staying with a know criminal.
"That's wonderful, Draco's told me all about him, I'm glad I finally get to meet you both." I said, genuinely glad.
"I could say the same about you too my dear, will your parents be worried about your arrangements?" She asked me.
"My Mother died a year ago…" I whispered in a low voice, "and my Father… well let's just say he doesn't care what I do as long as he doesn't have to be involved…"
"Oh. I'm so sorry to hear about you mother." She said with a concerned face. "Do live with your father during the holidays?" She asked me.
I swallowed; I'd yet to be asked this question.
"I live alone in a sense, he's barely there, and when he is, well his presence goes unnoticed…" I whispered.
"Oh my dear!" She cried, "You can stay here any time you feel its necessary." She whispered to me placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
A single tear leaked from my eye, "Thank you Mrs. Malfoy." I whispered.
"That is quite alright dear; you have enough to deal with without fending for yourself for months on end."
"Ash?" Draco asked me, breaking the silence, "Are you ready to go inside?"
As I got slowly from the car I noticed that night was falling.
"It's getting dark." I commented. "I didn't realise it was so late!"
"You sleep most of the day." Draco commented. "You were only awake for five minutes of the train ride, if that. You slept the rest of the way. Mind you it was rather cute."
"Cute?" I asked.
"Yes well you didn't expect me to sleep the entire way did you?" He asked me.
"I thought you did." I admitted.
Draco laughed.
"Really?" He asked me incredulously.
"Well, I just assumed, I woke you up at the station…" I said to him as he led me through the large doors at the front of the house.
"Well look here… Young Master Malfoy has brought himself home a girlfriend!" Laughed one of the Aurrors.
"Mind your own business!" Draco snapped, clearly unhappy about their presence in his home.
"We need to check you for dark objects and concealment." The Aurror said to us as we stood in the vast and grand foyer.
Concealment! I thought desperately, searching for an escape, any concealment finding spell would uncover who I was, I'd be found straight away.
"You won't be." Said Draco shortly, pushing me past them and into another large room.
He carefully helped me push past the Aurrors clearly annoyed and angry about their presence in his house.
"Draco, you didn't have to be so rude." I pointed out.
"Ash, as if you are carrying a dark object or using a concealing spell! They are in my home! Destroying my life, ruining you holiday and you think I'm going to put up with it?" He cried in exasperation.
"Draco, I never expected you to, but you have to understand, they are only following orders…" I said to him, turning to face him. "I know it's not about the Aurrors Draco, I can see as much, and when you love someone you can tell them all your worries and they can help you Draco, they can help you find a way through them!"
"What do you want me to say Ash?" He asked me. "What? That I'm not happy my Fathers home because all he ever did was bring shame upon the family and destroy my life? Well?" He asked me. "Is that what you want to hear?"
"I never asked you to say that." I replied through my teeth.
"Yeah because that's all his ever been good for. Ruining my life, I couldn't have normal friends or a normal life because of him. And now… I have no chance of being able to do anything else in that world because of what his mistakes cost me!"
"We all have a choice Draco; you in the end are only what you make of yourself. Not what he made you."
"Don't you see, I've been denying it so long…?" He whispered.
"Draco?" A stern voice asked from the door.
We both snapped around to see Lucius Malfoy standing in the doorway of the large room we'd entered.
"Father." Draco replied shortly.
"Who is this Draco?" He asked us.
"Father this is Ashlea Paige, my girlfriend." Draco replied.
"Pleasure to meet you Sir." I said walking up to him and extending my hand to him.
"Bit… Short isn't she?" He asked Draco ignoring my hand.
"Father! That was totally unfair. Apologise." He cried.
"Merely stating the truth, eh, Miss. Paige is it?" He asked me.
"Ash actually. Thanks for letting me stay in your home these holidays…" I said with an uncertain smile.
"Trust me; it was no decision of mine…" He said turning up his nose and stalking from the room.
I clasped my hands to my mouth.
Oh God he hates me! I immediately thought.
"Ash…" Draco whispered wrapping his hands around my waist, "I'm so sorry about him… He can be a little moody at times…"
"I've never been called short before…" I whispered, realising for the first time since I'd been transformed that I was at least several inches shorter than Draco.
"You're not short, you're perfect." Draco whispered to me kissing me lightly upon the cheek.
"Thank you…" I whispered.
"Draco? Ash?" A voice called from the hallway.
"Mother." Draco called, "We're in the Lounge Room."
"Oh!" She cried. "There you both are, I've been searching the house for you both. The head Aurror has called a meeting, which all living in the house is to attend." She paused, "That includes you Draco."
"Oh alright! Can't you see we were busy?" He asked her.
"Yes, darling, I need to remind you that it's in roughly an hour, and you've yet to show Ashlea to her room or the rest of the house, where are your manners?" She asked chiding her son.
"Oh alright…" Draco sighed. "Ash, I apologise, this is going to be incredibly boring, but my Mother believes it's necessary." He said shooting her a dark look.
Narcissa left the doorway and as she did she called "Draco… now. Not later." Her stilettos clicking away on the hard wooden floor of the grand staircase at the opposite end of the foyer.
"Well, this is the Lounge Room," Draco said leading me out of the room, "the Foyer. See those doors?" He asked me.
"Yeah." I said noticing three large wooden doors on the opposite side of the large and grand foyer.
"From right to left, Drawing Room, Study and Library." He said pointing to each in turn. "Trust me their boring." He paused, "Now, through those doors is the Kitchen and the one on its right is the Dinning Room." They are the only rooms of interest on this floor." He said taking my hand and helping me up the large wooden staircase.
"How many floors are there?" I asked noticing another set of stairs.
"Three. The top has an attic." He replied, "Waste of space if you ask me."
"I guess, I've never really had an attic." I replied truthfully.
"Well I lied, there are technically four floors but well the first is the dungeons and they are stupid." He laughed.
"Okay, so this is my room." He said opening the door.
It was like walking into a furniture and home goods store.
"You have a T.V in your bedroom?" I asked disbelievingly.
"Well I do enjoy watching T.V when I'm home from school." He replied.
"How many C.D's do you have?" I asked noticing the largest compilation of C.D's I had ever seen in my entire life outside a music store.
"Umm I think at last count it was roughly two thousand. But I don't know if Mother's been adding to it."
My jaw dropped in disbelief.
"Your room is the size of my entire apartment." I replied.
"Really?" He asked me.
"Yes! You have more furniture than we do as well." I laughed noticing two large plush leather couches facing the T.V.
"Well you're going to love your room." Draco said to me.
"My room?" I asked stopping to face him.
"Well my Mother was excited about you coming to stay… Plus it entailed shopping." He said laughing.
"She bought something for… me?" I asked.
"Well of course." He laughed. "You didn't expect to be sleeping on the couch or something did you?" He asked me.
"Um… I kind of did…" I stuttered.
"Well follow me…" He said extending his arm.
I took it with a heaving feeling in my chest. No-one had ever done anything like this for me ever before…
I followed him down the large corridor towards a large wooden door at the direct end of the corridor. I swallowed extending my hand towards the handle.
"Shut your eyes…" Draco whispered.
"Do I have to?" I asked looking at him.
"Yes, I'll cover them for you." He said placing his hands over my eyes.
I slowly wrenched the door open and walked inside Draco directly behind me, still covering my eyes.
"You can open them now…" He whispered removing his hands…
I slowly opened my eyes to a large amount of light seeping through two very large windows on the east side of the room.
"Merlins beard!" I cried out loud to myself.
"What?" Draco asked me.
"It's so… perfect." I replied.
I took a good hard look at the room Draco had been calling mine. It was as large as his; the walls were a pale cream colour with a midnight blue feature wall dotted with golden stars, perfectly mirroring the night sky.
"You should see it at night… My Mother told me about it… The night sky appears on the roof, she bewitched it to. It's a bit over the top isn't it?" He asked.
"No." I paused, tears coming to my eyes.
"It's amazing…"
I watched as night slowly fell and the stars slowly appeared one by one of the roof. I lay down on the four poster bed, which was at least King size, and watched each individual star appear, Draco beside me.
"What do you suppose is beyond this world? I mean when we die?" Draco asked me.
"Something far more amazing than this world…" I whispered.
"What happened when you passed out Ash?" He asked me.
"Why do you ask?" I ask him.
"On the train you were muttering in your sleep…" He said to me.
"What!" I cried bolting upwards.
"Don't worry; you just keep saying I wonder… the door… I want to stay… Strange things like that. Things that really didn't make sense." He said to me.
"I just must have been having a bad dream or something… I don't really remember anything from that day…" I whispered.
"I know you remember something… Because you also whispered one more thing… Something about love being stronger than death…"
"I don't remember that… I've never… What are you asking?" I said to him.
"I don't know it just seemed odd."
He lent over to kiss me, his lips soft and warm upon my own. Slowly the tension between us rose, I felt him holding his weight above me as he continued to kiss me gently.
A knock at the door interrupted us.
"Mister Malfoy?" A gruff voice called.
"Yeah?" He called back sitting back up again.
"The meeting begins in five minutes, your mother asked me to remind you." It said.
"Oh shit!" Draco cried standing.
"What?" I asked.
"That stupid meeting. We have to go now! It's in the Drawing Room. We're going to be late." He said brushing his hair out of his face.
I looked over into the mirror on the front of the large wardrobe my hair was an absolute mess from laying on the bed. I quickly fixed it with a tap of my wand and followed Draco back through the corridor and down into the Drawing Room.
"You're late Draco." His Father said to us as we walked in the door.
"By what? Five seconds?" Draco asked pulling up two seats to the large oak table in the centre of the room.
"Draco." Lucius scolded.
"Now down to business…" An old Aurror said, interrupting the Father and Son argument, clearly tired of his role at the manor. "We have a few issues to discuss with the two youngsters. As you may know the house is under complete, around the clock Aurror supervision. That means two things, one, you have a curfew and two, you are not to leave the premises without prior permission."
"What?" Draco and I cried in unison.
"A curfew?" Draco asked glaring at his parents.
"Yes you are to be in bed by no later than ten p.m." He said to us.
"And what we can't actually leave the house without one of your Aurrors tailing us the entire way?" Draco asked them.
"Correct." The Aurror replied.
"What about London?" Draco asked. "I don't want a f…bloody Aurror tailing us about, what ever happened to privacy?"
"That just isn't possible with your current situation Mr. Malfoy."
"What if we stayed with my Father?" I asked.
"What?" Draco asked, mouthing a discrete 'You hate him…' to me.
"If we stayed with him, would we require an Aurrors presence?" I asked. "It's just he's a muggle… He doesn't understand magic…"
"Well… Eh…" Mumbled the Aurror lost for words.
"That's settled. Draco and I'll stay with my Father, who will be only to happy to accommodate…" I said smiling at them.
"Are you sure Ashlea?" Asked Narcissa.
"Yeah, it'll be fine." I whispered.
"Well you'll have to remain here for at least four days. Then you may leave." The Aurror said undecidedly.
"I think we can deal with that don't you Draco?" I asked.
After tea, and some T.V in Draco's room I wandered back up to my own room, the night stars glaring down upon me in a way that was peaceful yet beautiful.
I pulled off my dress and hung it in the large wardrobe which had several brand new items neatly folded within it. She thought of everything. I pulled on my purple pyjamas and wandered over to the large bed and jumped onto it, glad I could finally rest after such a long day.
As I climbed into the large comfortable bed I heard a soft knock at my window.
I looked out to see Draco standing there in a tee-shirt and old tracksuit pants.
"Draco?" I hissed.
Leaping up and unlatching the window I let him in, shivering and cold from the rain outside I leapt into his arms.
Shivering and cold in his arms I pulled myself up to face him, kissing him. It was like no other kiss I'd ever had with him, complete and neither holding back because of others presence. I was left gasping for breath my hands tangled in his lengthy hair.
"Ash…" Draco whispered.
"Draco…" I whispered as he carried me over to the bed.
"You should be asleep…" He whispered.
"Should and are two different things…" I whispered kissing him again.
"I can see that…" He whispered laying beside me speaking between pressing his lips to mine.
"I'm glad I'm awake…" I breathed.
"Yeah I'm glad you are too…" He whispered to me.
He placed one hand behind my head and one around my waist and pulled me towards him, kissing me so passionately it was like seeing stars.
Several loud cracks filled the air, followed closely by several spells.
Several hitting Draco and I. We both screamed and I grabbed Draco tightly too afraid to let go.
The door burst open and in walked the Head Aurror.
"What is going on here?" He asked.
"Looks like we caught a little meeting…" Said another Aurror, a female this time.
"Yes it would appear so." He replied.
"Please don't tell my Father!" Draco cried.
"Too late for that." Said a voice from the hallway.
"Father!" Called Draco releasing me and standing.
"Draco. What. Is. The Meaning. Of. This?" He breathed.
"I came to see Ash, seeing as you wouldn't let me have a minute alone with her after that meeting." He said.
An Aurror in the corner, the female laughed trying to stifle her laughter with a cough, failing miserably.
"Is something funny…? I didn't catch your name…" I asked pointing my question at the witch.
"Tonks." She replied between giggles.
Tonks was here? I thought happily, the saddening fact that she didn't know who I was bringing me back to earth.
"Tonks, I think you should keep your nose out of other peoples business." I replied coldly.
She stoped immediately.
That's better! I thought to myself.
"Draco." Lucius repeated.
"I was just saying goodnight." Draco whispered.
"Was once not enough?" Lucius cried in exasperation.
"No not really." Draco replied.
"Do not speak back to me!" Lucius snapped.
I took Draco's hand, I could feel him shaking.
"Go to bed Draco." He whispered in a strangely calm voice. "Now!"
Draco slowly released my hand and stood.
"Night Ash." He whispered, mouthing a final 'I love you.' To me as he did.
"Night Draco." I whispered back. "I love you…" I said my voice trailing off.
Draco stormed from the room brushing past his Father in an angry blur of platinum blond hair.
"Miss. Paige, if you expect to remain here for the remainder of the holidays I expect you and my son to keep these… Goodnights to a bare minimum, and particularly before curfew. Draco set of the warding spells and informed the Aurrors of an intruder. I expect you to behave respectably within my home." Lucius said to me.
"Yes Sir…" I stuttered, truthfully I was terrified of this man; he even inspired fear in Draco's heart.
The Aurrors left my room ensuring the windows were latched properly and secured the area before leaving me to sleep, the night sky watching over me.
As I walked down the staircase I heard two voices hissing beneath me. I immediately stopped, careful to make a sound.
"Cissa, you cannot expect me to sit by and allow that sort of behaviour within my home!" I heard Lucius whisper.
"Lucius!" She cried. "Let them they are young and in love, do you know hard it would be for Draco to invite anyone here!"
"Why? Is he ashamed of his parentage? His mission? Our master?" Lucius hissed back.
"Lucius, he isn't like that anymore! Don't you see, if we don't hold onto him and support him we are going to lose him forever?" She cried.
"Cissa, I highly doubt that." Lucius whispered back.
"Lucius, it's happening already! You can't see it but I can! I won't watch you turn your back on him." She said walking out from beneath the stairs.
I began my descent once more.
"Cissa!" Lucius cried walking from beneath the stairs also.
"Oh good morning darling." Narcissa said to me noticing me.
"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy." I replied with a smile.
"Did you sleep well?" Narcissa asked me.
"Well enough after the Aurrors finally left my room." I joked.
"That's just great!" Lucius hissed and stalked from the foyer into the study.
"Ignore him, he's just upset." Narcissa told me.
I finally reach the bottom of the stairs where Draco walked out from the Lounge Room looking particularly unhappy.
"Draco!" I cried hugging him.
"Morning Ash. Ready for breakfast?" He asked me.
"Yeah that'd be great." I said to him.
"I'll… just let you two get on with what you were doing…" Said Narcissa disappearing up the stairs.
Draco led me through to the dinning room where two large plates of bacon and eggs awaited us.
As we ate Draco told me about what happened with his Father this morning.
"I was on my way to see you this morning, just as I reached your door he grabbed me and dragged me down to the drawing room. In the drawing room was my Mother. We had to have a 'family meeting' apparently about my recent behaviour." He said to me before taking another mouthful.
"What behaviour?" I asked, you've done nothing wrong.
"Yeah but not in his eyes." Draco said, "He said he's disappointed it appears as though I have abandoned my master blah blah blah. Then he went on to say that sneaking around the side of a building to meet you was totally out of line and that I should be more careful with whom I choose to love."
"That's interesting he see's it that way." I said.
"Mmmhmm." Draco murmured between mouthfuls. "But then I said… You can shove your advice up your ar…"
"Draco!" Narcissa's voice called from the kitchen. "Language please!"
"Sorry Mother." Draco called before beginning again. "Yeah well I told him to shove his advice up his… well you know… But he started screaming about how I was a disgrace to the name of Malfoy and that he has a right mind to cut me off from the family fortune blah blah blah."
"Well you better not anything here, I don't want to be the cause of disharmony." I said to him, finishing the last of my food.
"Don't worry about it. I don't care, you're worth it anyway." He said to me.
I was worth it?
"What do you mean nothing is worth that!" I said to him.
"Ash, I love you, you are the reason I wake every day, the reason I go on living, because without you… I'd be nothing…" Draco said, "And you tell me you're not worth it. Ash, you are worth everything."
"Draco, I love you too. That's why it's worth lying to the Aurrors…" I whispered.
"What?" He asked me.
"We aren't staying with my Father; make sure you steal a key to that apartment. We're going to stay there." I said to him.
"What? Even I believed we were staying with your Father." He laughed.
"No we're not. But you're worth the risk." I laughed.
"You're the reason I came back." I replied.
He hugged me from the side and we stood up and kissed once more.
I realised that my reason to stay here needed no explanation at all, for He is my life, soul, best friend and would always be so, He is my reason, the reason that I slowly die, for fear of leaving him without a goodbye. My reason to stay even though nothing can be done to save this world. He is my reason for fighting for love to work in these bleak, dark times, the reason I stayed at all, and I was his reason, his reason for fighting his fate, the task being given to him, the pressure from his family to succeed and make a respectable "Pure-Blooded" marriage. I was his reason to stay at Hogwarts, to avoid running and hiding from the stresses of the world, I was his life and he was mine, we were each others reason…
Dedicated to The Girl Who Loves Twilight Too Much. No reason needed, for she is the person who's stuck by me through everything and I know she will always be there for me and I for her; you are a true best friend…
And of course, Miss Mayhem, your pleasure when reading Draco's little usage of vulgar language was as funny as it gets, hopefully there may be some more… Who knows?
Also to: The wonderful, people who read, review and take the time to send me messages. I can not even begin to thank them for their reviews, comments, messages and help. I will say it again: I cannot thank you enough. But maybe this is a start.