Chapter Twenty-Five
Life's Changing
"This is it," Draco says, meeting my gaze, trepidation in those beautiful grey eyes of his. "No matter what, I love you," I whisper, kissing the corner of his mouth. Tonight, everything we know will change. The world we live in is different now, war on the horizon, families ripped apart. My family already a casualty of the war. After the events of the evening our lives will be altered forever. "I love you," Draco breathes, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. I close my eyes, taking a step back. Draco has to do this alone. He has to allow his fellow Death Eaters access to Hogwarts. I willingly helped him get the cabinet to work, choosing my love for Draco over my loyalty to those I call my friends. I'd like to think it's the Twin Flame connection that drove me to abandon my inherent need to be good, but truth be told, the love I have for Draco is what drove my actions. Maybe I was also tired of always being good.
Severus promised me that he'd keep Draco safe. He promised that before the sun rises tomorrow that Draco and I would be reunited. For now, we will be separated, good against evil. Draco isn't bad, he just has to do a bad thing. I watch him leave the Slytherin common room, worry and fear gripping my heart. I know Draco feels the same fear I feel, our connection electrically charged with our concern for each other's safety. I give Draco a reassuring head nod, allowing him to see and feel the love I have for him. "Be strong, for me," I breathe, knowing he'll hear me as if I'm standing in front of him. "For you," his voice caresses me, the common room door sliding shut. I wait a couple of minutes before I make my way to the Entrance Hall. Once there I retrieve the bag I had packed, and leave through the big oak doors, making my way to the Castle gates.
I can't stay and watch my friends and fellow students injured or killed by Death Eaters, knowing I could've stopped it if it's not for the love I have for the grey-eyed boy. I chose Draco, and have to live the consequences come what may, good or bad. It's not long before the sounds of screams and fighting travels across the Castle grounds. The Castle is alive with movement, the fear and anxiety of others almost knocking me down. I focus on controlling my Empathy, putting walls in place. I keep my connection with Draco open, too afraid to lose that bond with him. If he needs to use my powers, we need to be connected. Draco's fear and sadness grows, his emotions dark, relentless, forcing me to my knees. I clutch my head, my heart racing. "I don't want your help," Draco's voice echoes in my head. "Don't you understand, I have to do this," he is angry at himself and his family for the situation he is in, and incredibly saddened that it's all come down to this. Severus promised me, he'd look out for Draco, I need to trust him. I take a deep breath, blocking out Draco's emotions.
Our plan is flawed, we both know it. We risk being separated, being forced apart. But it's better than the alternative, one of us dead because we'll both give our lives to protect the other. Severus also didn't want me anywhere near any Death Eaters, afraid they'll capture me, torture me and keep me hostage to do the Dark Lord's bidding. I arrive at the agreed spot, and wait, ready to leave the moment Draco is nearby. I close my eyes and inhale deeply, letting out a slow measured breath. I hope it all goes according to plan; I need it to. I'm not sure Draco and I can survive being apart. We barely survived the last few weeks. My inability to accept my destiny nearly destroyed us. I sense Draco, he is moving, the sounds of people approaching ringing in the silence. I flatten myself on the ground, using the brush by the trees to hide my body.
I know exactly where the portkey is located on the ground next to me, the black rock left here by Severus. I wait with bated breath for Draco to arrive, the plan flawed but simple. I watch and listen as Death Eaters get closer, their jubilant voices echoing in the dark night. I spot Draco's platinum hair, and the sparkle of the ring he always wears. He is moving with the group, but slows and angles his body in my direction. When he is close enough, I reach out, grab hold of his ankle with one hand, and the rock with my other. I close my eyes to the sudden pull that grips me, and the spiral that threatens to make me sick. As suddenly as the movement jerked us from Hogwarts, it spits us out in a dark, wet and muddy clearing. The world is spinning around me, my body taking a few seconds to regain its equilibrium. I scramble to my feet, looking around for Draco. He is sitting to my left, his knees drawn to his chest, his elbows resting on his knees. He looks shellshocked. I take off my back pack, and crawl towards him, reaching out to touch him. "Draco," I breathe, resting my hand on his arm.
He looks up, our eyes locking. He reaches out, grabs me and pulls me onto his lap, hugging me tightly; burying his face in the hollow of my neck, taking a deep breath. I hold him tightly in my embrace, thankful we made it out alive. We are effectively on the run. To all those around him, it would've simply looked like he vanished into thin air. They'll suspect foul play, not expecting him to go on the run. Severus is going to do his best to cover for us. Together we decided that it is best for Draco and I to disappear and wait out the war. My Wiccan family have a safe house only me and my mother know about, a house that for a brief period in time we called home. It's a farm house in Northern Ireland. Draco and I sit wrapped in each other's arms for some time, the night eerily quiet. "Severus killed Dumbledore," Draco murmurs, breaking the silence.
"I know," I breathe, pulling back, meeting Draco's gaze. "Let's get inside," I say getting to my feet. Draco follows, grab my back pack, take my hand, and follows me to the house that waits for us a few feet away. The house is protected by Wiccan magic, only a fellow Wiccan allowed access. Draco's physical connection with me, and his ability to tap into my powers hopefully means he too is able to gain access. If we share the same soul, then the laws of magic must allow him access. All magic has a loop holes; Caleb once shared. The thought of Caleb is like a knife to the heart. The grief still raw, the ache in my chest all encompassing. Once inside, I switch on the lights, the house equipped with muggle conveniences. And like I had hoped, Draco easily crosses the threshold.
I wonder what Draco will make of all this, his disgust of muggle things still within him. Draco sits down at the dining room table, his head in his hands. The house is small with an open plan floor, kitchen, dining room and living room on the ground floor. Upstairs is a bedroom and a bathroom. It isn't fancy, but it will have to do. It's a far cry from the Malfoy Manor. I fill the jug with water and place it on the stove, boiling water. Draco looks up, meeting my gaze. "I'm sorry," he says, his eyes a dark grey. I shrug; my fate decided. There is no turning back, not that I would. "You did what you have to, to survive," I say, leaning against the counter. Draco shakes his head, "I'm a coward," he breathes, dropping his head, staring at his hands. I push myself away from the counter and move towards where Draco is sitting. I sit down, turning to face him, taking his hands in mine and forcing him to look at me. Draco turns in his seat, our knees touching, our gazes locked. I place my hands on his knees and squeeze, "you're not a coward." Draco's eyes soften, his grey eyes getting lighter. It's the look of unconditional love.
It's an emotion that still feels foreign to him, unconventional. I reach out, placing my palm against his cheek, leaning in and brushing my lips against his. "I love you, Draco Lucius Malfoy." Draco's hands move from my knees, to my face, pulling me closer to kiss me, the kiss demanding. I lean into him, gripping his biceps, as he deepens the kiss, our tongues in a familiar dance. Every fibre in my body relaxes, as I melt against Draco, body against body. As long as we're together we'll be okay, our troubles and differences a thing to worry about later. Draco's hands move from my cheeks, to the back of my head, his fingers tangled in my hair. In this moment in time, it's just the two of us, the world around us fading away with every passing second. We come up for air, Draco resting his head against mine. I feel his heart beat beneath my palm, his as erratic as mine. "How'd I get so lucky?" he breathes; his breath hot on my skin. "Destiny," I murmur, my eyes closed, enjoying the familiarity of our intimacy.
Author's Note: Emily and Draco's story concludes in 'For You – Series Three.' Be on the lookout for the Final Series in July.
