Unnatural Love

Chapter 9

Oh my. 

What had happened?

Why was Malfoy suddenly being... somewhat bearable?

It had been a few days since he comforted me. 

I felt so embarrassed.

First of all, I never cry in front of anyone. 

Not even my best friend. 

I guess it just makes me vulnerable and I hate that. I don't like to seem weak, even though I know I am. I try to tell myself that showing emotions doesn't make me weak, but I can't believe it. 

So, when the stone wall shifted and I walked through the common room, I was glad to see that no one else was in there. It was late, so it wasn't unexpected. 

I hurriedly ran towards the front of the fire, and just started to cry. 

I couldn't contain the sadness running through my veins. The pain I felt was indescribable. 

And I don't even know why. 

I didn't think the insults had been bothering me but admitting it out loud to the headmaster and my father changed those thoughts. 

I tried to stay strong. If everyone thought I wasn't bothered, maybe they'd stop glaring at me, and shouting insults at me at any chance they got. 

But I was just lying to myself.

As I cried, with my head held in my hands, I realized how alone I felt. 

Sure, I had Octavia and Ashton, my best friends since my first year at Hogwarts. But at this current moment, I felt like I had no one. 

Just me. 

Sitting in front of a warm fire. 

Alone. 

But that only lasted a few moments when someone came into the common room. 

Shit.

Whoever it is had already seen me, so hopefully they'll just walk away. 

But as the footsteps grew closer, my heart started beating, faster, and faster. 

Was it Octavia? 

Ashton?

When I felt his soft hand's brush against my chin, I knew. 

The cold rings sent shivers down my spine and a chill coursed through my weak body. 

As he lifted my head up to look at him, I was no longer anxious. I felt safe around him... but I don't know why. 

I tried to hold in the tears, slowly threatening to spill onto my already wet cheeks. As one tear fell on my cheek, pain ran over his eyes. 

He suddenly pulled me into a hug. When his arms snaked around my slumped shoulders, I couldn't help but hug back. 

I needed this, and he clearly needed it too. 

We stayed like that for a while, my crying slowly coming to a stop. 

I slowly opened my eyes. 

I didn't remember coming back to my room last night. 

Did Malfoy carry me back to my room after I accidentally fell asleep in his arms?

My thoughts were interrupted when I noticed I was going to be late for Charms class. 

                                                             * * * *

It had been a few days since that night with Draco, and the thought of it was still running through my head.

I had so many questions. 

To get my mind off of things, I took a seat in a leather chair in the common room and pulled out a book to read. I always enjoyed reading and would casually do it in my spare time. 

The words bounced off of the pages and into my imagination, as I saw everything happening in my mind. The words ebbed and flowed through my brain and I could feel the passion in the words. 

Suddenly, the stone wall started to shift and someone came barging into the room. I almost fell off the chair, threatening to accidentally throw my book. 

"Merlin Malfoy, you almost gave me a heart attack!" I said, giggling. 

The giggling faded as I saw the guilty and anxious look on his face. I was hoping he wasn't going to bring up the other night. That would be terribly awkward. 

He walked over to me, the worried look plastered in his glistening grey eyes. He didn't sit down, just bent forward, his face and body coming closer to mine. 

"I have to tell you something," he said quickly. "Please don't be mad,"

"Oh my, what have you done now?" I said, starting to feel worried myself.

He opened and closed his mouth several times, fishing for the right words to say. 

He seemed to be taking a long time. 

"I-I know your secret," he said, shakily. 

What secret? What did he know about me? Surely it couldn't be anything bad? 

"I have nothing to hide," I told myself, knowing it was a lie. 

"Uhm... what are you talking about? What secret?" I asked, feeling quite anxious now. 

He smirked, suddenly not seeming as worried anymore. 

Merlin, this man was bipolar. 

"I know that Snape is your father." 

Fuck. 

Excuse me? 

Did I hear him correctly?

No. I couldn't have. 

No one knows, how would he?

I froze, stuck staring into his relaxed eyes. Until the look of worry was on his face, once again. He quickly sat down beside me. 

"What's wrong?" He asked. 

"Well, n-no ones su-supposed to know," I replied, trying to seem calm. But it was obvious I wasn't. My hands were shaking, my heart was beating abnormally loud.

I couldn't let this secret get out. I really didn't want anyone to know. 

Everyone already thinks I've slept with him, it'll make it 10x worse if they also know he's my father. That's known as INCEST. 

I was surprised when Malfoy suddenly grabbed one of the shaking hands, rubbing his thumb gently over my knuckles. I felt calmer. 

"Don't worry, no one knows and I won't tell anyone," he assured me, continuing to gently rub the top of my hand. 

I shakily raised my head to, once again, meet his alluring eyes. He looked truthful. 

"You promise?" I asked, not looking away from his face. 

He smiles. 

The way the corner of his mouth turned up and his beautiful teeth showed made me melt. It wasn't one of his normal smirks that were filled with mischief. No, this seemed genuine. 

"I promise." 

A wash of relief came over me and I quickly pulled Malfoy into a hug. 

Was that a bad idea?

We hadn't hugged, or even spoken since that night. 

But he hugged me back and I suddenly didn't regret it. 

As I said these next words, he hugged me tighter, almost like no one had ever said it to him before. 

"I trust you, Draco."