"…" Amethyst startled awake. At first she didn't remember where she was and, then, a dull pain shot through her abdomen. As her eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, she saw the silhouette of someone looking out the window. She watched, silently, as the figure clenched and unclenched their hands into fists. Her gaze landed on the profile of their face and she settled her head back onto the pillow. "Drake." She whispered his nickname and watched relief wash over him as he turned to face her.
"How are you feeling?" Draco took a seat by her side and brushed stray hair from her forehead. He had managed to convince Madam Pomfrey to allow him and Prion to stay with Amethyst overnight. Professors were usually in a more private area of the hospital wing than the students, but Orion was under strict rules that he could only lay on Amethyst's bed.
"Tired. Still a little sore, but I've been through worse." She rested a hand on his cheek "How are you holding up?" He took her hand and kissed her palm before interlacing this fingers with hers.
"I've been worse. "I've also been better." He looked down at their interlocked fingers as he tried to find the words to say what he'd been thinking all evening. "I know we haven't been together long. While we've known each other for years, our relationship is still young." He couldn't bring himself to look at her face. "Too many times in just these past months…" His voice cracked as he tried to fight the emotions.
"Draco?" Her voice was soft and warm. She took her free hand and weaved her fingers through his white-blonde hair.
"After Astoria died, I was sure I would never want to date anyone else. I never thought that I'd want to get married again. I didn't want the pain of loosing someone else I loved. I didn't want the worry that came with loving someone. But…" He felt her start to pull her hand from his, so he just tightened his grip. "But all of that changed when you re-entered my life. 'The relationship between you was a long time coming…'"
"'…but this is the way it was meant to happen.'" She finished what Dumbledore's portrait had told them just about a month ago. Draco looked up at her face and smiled weakly. "What is going through that head of yours?"
"I don't want to lose you." He was still trying to find the words - and the courage - to say what he's been mulling over for a while. "I want you in my life for a very long time…" He ran a hand through his hair as he took a deep breath. "I don't need or expect an answer right now, and this isn't really a proposal… just throwing the idea out there to see where we both stand…"
"Draco Malfoy, if you are trying to say that you want to marry me…" Her voice took on a teasing tone and then turned serious when she saw the panic in his pale grey eyes. "Someday, Draco, someday. I want you in my life for a very long time as well." She chuckled as relief washed over him. He couldn't contain himself and pulled himself to her for a kiss. She wrapped her right arm around his back, using her left hand to push against the mattress to hold herself up to him. She gripped his shirt as the kiss deepened. He was supporting her with his left hand on her back, while his right hand was gently holding the side of her neck. After a moment, they broke apart slightly out of breath. He kissed her on the forehead before resting his forehead against hers.
"How I love you, Amethyst Abbott." He opened his eyes and got lost in her bright violet eyes. He gently laid her back fully on the bed and brushed hair from her face. "Sleep." He whispered. "Madam Pomfrey has allowed me to stay the night. I'll be up the bed next to you." He pointed to the empty bed to their right.
"I love you, Draco Malfoy." She whispered as he eye fluttered close. He kissed her on the forehead and then waited until her breathing evened out, signaling that she had fallen asleep, before lying down in the other bed. He rolled onto his back and wondered what tomorrow would bring. He had sent a letter to both Dimitri and Harry explaining what happened. Soon enough, he found himself drifting into a deep sleep.
"Good morning, Madam Pomfrey." Draco whispered the next morning. The old healer was checking on Amethyst who was still asleep.
"Good heavens! You startled me." Madam Pomfrey nearly squealed. "Good morning, Professor Malfoy… that's still going to take some time getting used to."
"I agree." He smiled. "How is she?" His eyes flickered to Amethyst's calm, sleeping face.
"She's on the mend. She shouldn't need anymore Blood-Replenishing potion and her ribs should heal just fine in a few days. Skele-Gro won't take as long nor be as painsful since the bones, for the most part, are intact." Madam Pomfrey watched relief wash over Draco. "The hardest part now is to make sure she doesn't overdue it and gets proper rest."
"That can certainly pose a challenge." Draco chuckled. "Can I ask you something?" He looked at the old healer.
"You had heard that I retired?" He nodded. "I did. Technically, I am still retired. Professor McGonagall and Matron Longbottom asked if I would return this year to lend a hand. They were anticipating injuries from the acromantulas."
"How long have they been attacking?" Draco asked. He hadn't really been told how long the attacks have been going on.
"They started towards the end of last school year. It wasn't enough to alert parents or students since the attacks weren't against students." Amethyst answered the question as he sat up. "They started to appear outside the forest more frequently over the summer. There was concern that they might start attacking students, so precautions were set in motion. The Minister was notified after the first sightings outside the forest. That's when we started talks with the appropriate Ministry departments. There were some details I wasn't even aware of. I didn't know about them bringing in former students to held with the Houses."
"They reached out to me in July. As I had nothing better to dad, and I wouldn't turn down a request to hep out a Hogwarts, it was an easy decision to make." Madam Pomfrey said. "Now, breakfast."
"I'll eat in the Great Hall…" Draco stood and stretched. "There are a few young men who are probably eager for an update." He teased. Amethyst rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. She knew that Teddy, James, and the others were simply fond of her as a person and there was certainly no romantic inclinations, but some might see things differently.
"Teddy and James certainly. If it weren't for them, things would be much worse." Amethyst sighed.
"Teddy said that you had things well in hand by the time they got to you." Draco almost sounded proud.
"Yes, with those two acromantulas anyways. There were certainly more just inside the forest." She noticed Draco's expression falter a little at that statement.
"I'm sure young Scorpius is beside himself though." Madam Pomfrey interjected. "He stopped by last night to check in. Said he was just passing by on his way to Slytherin from the library…" She gave them both a look that said she hadn't bought the excuse before heading back to her desk.
"How does he know?" Amethyst looked at Draco.
"He's the one who alerted me. You said yourself that his classroom overlooked the pathways. I'm sure Orion alerted him." Draco sighed. "He came bursting into the Dark Arts classroom interrupting the Professor's lesson."
"How did that go?"
"I didn't stop to check. As soon as he said your name, I took off running." He smiled at her. "Rest. I'll be back as soon as I can." He started for the door and then turned to face him again. "I sent your brother a letter…" He admitted sheepishly. She simply nodded and then closed her eyes again. He looked over at Madam Pomfrey who simply nodded once and then went back to what she was working on.
"Professor!" Teddy and James shouted when they saw Draco enter the Great Hall. Draco made his way over to them and was then joined by Neville and Hannah.
"How is she?" Neville asked.
"She'll be fine in a few days. Madam Pomfrey says the hardest part now is making sure she rests and doesn't overdue it." Draco replied. There was a group sigh of relief. "She was resting when I left."
"I'm heading there now. Madam Pomfrey and I have to inventory potions and ingredients. I'll keep an eye on her." Hannah said. She kissed Neville and then headed off to the hospital wing.
"I'll let my parents know. Mum's been worried something like this would happen." James said before taking his leave.
"I need to let the Hufflepuffs know. Many of them nearly slept last night. She's had quite the impact on them already." Teddy patted Draco on the shoulder, smiled, and then headed over to the Hufflepuff table. Draco and Neville headed to the head table. Draco noticed Hagrid and gave him a reassuring smile. The half-giant released a notable sigh of relied. As Draco took his seat and decided what to have for breakfast, owls came flying through the windows overhead. Three envelopes dropped onto the table in front of him. Just as he went to pick them up, his mother's voice echoed through the hall.
"Scorpius Malfoy! How dare you agree to your father dating someone without telling me first? So you've been lying to me?" Scorpius shot his father a petrified look. He wasn't sure what to think or how to feel about his gran sending him a howler. "You should have…" Before his gran's voice could finish the next sentence, the howler burst into flames. Scorpius looked at the front of the room and noticed Draco with his wand raised… but he wasn't the only one. McGonagall was also standing with her wand raised.
"Normally, I wouldn't interfere with family matters, but that was inappropriate." McGonagall stated firmly.
"Don't worry, Professor, I will have a word with my mother…" Draco practically growled. He would not stand for his mother treating Scorpius this way. The whole room was silent. Normally, when a student received a howler, there were reactions from the other students but this one felt different. It was as though all of the students felt that it was out of line. They have also never seen McGonagall react that way. It took a lot of effort for Draco to remain calm. He nearly forgot about the letters he received.
"I know your parents aren't the greatest people in the world…" Neville spoke softly to Draco. "But I never would have expected that."
"She has crossed a line." Draco gritted his teeth, but he would speak to Scorpius before responding to his mother. He looked at the letters in front of him. One was from Dimitri, one was from Ollivander, and the third one was from his mother. "At least this isn't a howler…" Draco showed Neville the one from his mother. "But I can probably expect the same tone. She wanted me to reconnect with Pansy…"
"Seriously? She knows Pansy is going to trial next week, right?" Neville asked. Draco nodded. "I guess they haven't changed…"
"Unfortunately not." Draco shook his head and sighed. "I should check on Scorpius." He stood to head over to the Slytherin table.
"I'll be by to see Amethyst before lunch." Neville called out. Draco waved and then went to find his son.
"Are you okay?" Draco approached Scorpius who was sitting silently with Albus and Alexia.
"What was she thinking…" Scorpius looked up at his dad. "I really don't want anything to do with her for a while."
"That is completely understandable. I need to clear my head before I respond. I will certainly pass along your wishes." Draco squeezed his son's shoulder.
"How's Professor Abbott?" Scorpius changed the subject.
"She'll be fine in a few days. Madam Pomfrey is still forcing her to rest, but she'll be just fine." Draco glared at Alexia but didn't say anything.
"That's good." Scorpius sighed with relief, but Draco could tell he was still upset about the howler. "We should get to class." He and Albus hurried out of the hall with the rest of the students.
"Uncle Draco?" Alexia asked sheepishly.
"What?" It came out harsher than he intended, but he wasn't sorry.
"Would it be alright if I visited Professor Abbott?" Alexia had been rightly lectured by both McGonagall and Dumbledore about her attitude and behavior. While she still wasn't sure about Amethyst, she was willing to at least give her a chance.
"I'll have to ask. I'm not sure how many visitors Madam Pomfrey and Matron Longbottom will allow since Professor Abbott is still under strict instructions to rest." He relaxed a little, but was still irritated with his niece. He had to remind himself that he probably would have done the same thing when he was that age - he had certainly done a whole lot worse.
"Okay, just let me know?" She sounded disappointed but she understood. She headed out of the Great Hall and towards the Slytherin dungeon. Draco was pretty much alone now. There were a few house-elves cleaning the tables and floor. He sat down at the Slytherin table and pulled out the three letters. He decided to start with Dimitri's and then Ollivander's. He didn't think himself calm enough yet to read his mother's letter.