Author's Note: Back again, and steadily updating this story! Please bear with me if there's a few plot contradictions. I'm trying to stay true to the original story I began ten years ago as much as possible, but it's a bit hard to remember where my mind was back then so I'm sorry if I miss a detail or two and accidentally contradict something!

Chapter 37

Lucia

Alex was in the common room when I entered through the portrait. He jumped to his feet and ran over.

"Are you okay?" he asked. "You weren't at dinner."

I nodded and smiled at his worry. He put his hand to my shoulder and my stomach fluttered. It wasn't the same tingling sensation as when Jonathan grabbed my wrist. Instead, it felt like a warmth that spread throughout my body.

"I'm fine. I just needed some air," I finally said.

"Did you get what you needed?" he asked. His gray eyes were serious and his brown hair fell over his eyes. I wanted to tell him no and cry and let him hug me, but I couldn't.

"A little," I finally said.

"There you are!" I heard.

Gabbie and Angie ran to me and hugged me from behind.

"Professor McGonagall said you'd gone home and we were worried," said Angie.

"What happened?" asked Gabbie.

I felt Alex's eyes on me and my cheeks flushed red. Finally, I sighed and collapsed on the couch. "Draco's at home and I went to go check on him."

"Why?" asked Alex. His voice seemed to be accusing.

"I was…worried about him," I finally said. Alex's eyes grew dark. I wondered if he remembered my warning about Father.

Gabbie and Angie looked at each other and then at me.

"Are you okay?"

I shook my head and then finally started crying. Alex was the first to get to me and hug me.

"Was it as bad as you thought?" he murmured into my ear.

I couldn't answer. Instead, my sobs got louder. Gabbie rubbed my back while Angie paced the room.

"What did he do to you?" she demanded.

I sniffed and Alex let go of me, but kept his hand wrapped over mine.

"My father…I tried to tell him to let Draco come here, but father said Draco was going to be punished and couldn't return until the end of the week," I said. Angie and Gabbie didn't know what Father's punishments were like, but I was sure they were imagining it based on the fact that he tried to kill me. Alex squeezed my hand.

Gabbie sighed and kept her hand steady on my back. "He's pretty tough. He'll be okay. You'll see your brother again at the end of the week."

Angie nodded. "Draco will be fine. After he comes back, I'm sure he won't bother you anymore and he will recover pretty quickly. Just focus on school, Quidditch and enjoying Hogwarts." I nodded.

Alex kept his eyes on the floor. Gabbie looked from him to me and then got up and motioned towards Angie.

"We're going to head upstairs, Lucia. We'll be there when you're ready." She dragged Angie out of the room and the two of them disappeared up the stairs.

Alex finally looked up at me. "I know it will be horrible, but Draco went too far this time."

I yanked my hand away from Alex. "He regrets it! You didn't see him today!" I was shouting now, tears streaming down my face.

Alex looked away. "Regret doesn't change what he did. Even if it is a step forward."

I shook, but didn't let Alex hug me again when he tried.

"Father forced me to shackle my brother to a wall. And Draco sobbed when I got to him. That is not okay."

Alex nodded. "No. It's not," he finally said, sitting back down. He seemed defeated.

I kept shaking and took steps away from him. "Father promised not to hurt him anymore, but said he can't come back until he's healed. He doesn't want people to talk." I scoffed. "I hate him."

Alex got up again and reached for my hand. I let him take it.

"Draco will be okay, Lucia. He'll be back soon. And maybe he'll be less of an ass when he does come back."

He would never understand. Neither would Gabbie or Angie. No one would understand what it's like being Draco's younger sister. Being a Malfoy. I nodded, but still felt panicked inside. Alex moved in to hug me and I stepped back.

"Goodnight, Alex," I said.

His gray eyes looked so sad. I like you, he had said. "Goodnight," he murmured.

I turned and ran up the stairs.