The Dragon's Child Bride

\"Come to me\"

\"No!\" Laylani startled herself awake. She lay motionless for a few minutes, letting her breathing slow and her pulse return to normal. Soaked in cold sweat, she immediately noticed the chill and frowned at the blankets that had been kicked off her and over the side of her bed in her sleep. Lately she\'d become much more restless in her sleep. What the hell was wrong with her?

Her bedroom was still dark. She pulled back the nearest curtain a fraction of an inch to see the faintest glow on the horizon. It couldn\'t be more than five a.m. if even. It didn\'t matter. Laylani got out of bad and headed for the bathroom. She wouldn\'t be able to go back to sleep now anyway.

She turned on the shower, adjusting the knob with practiced ease to where the water would be refreshingly cool, but not too cold. She\'d been taking cold showers for nearly a week. They helped wake her up for the day. Laylani had found without them, she had a hard time functioning in the morning, not really being properly awake until second or third period. The nightmares began to affect her sleep considerably, and after nearly two weeks of them she found she was barely getting in perhaps four or five hours of sleep a night. And every night it seemed like less and less.

She stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a towel, using the other to take the excess water out of her hair before casting a drying charm. She cleared the steam off her mirror and tied her hair back in a tight ponytail letting out a frustrated sigh when she saw her reflection . She had heavy dark circles under her eyes that she was sure she wouldn\'t be able to hide with makeup any more.

\"Damn it.\" she muttered, turning away and leaving the bathroom. Dressing was slower than usual, having to make two attempts to button her blouse properly. She caught sight of herself again in the small mirror on her dresser and again stared at the bags under her eyes, trying to figure out exactly what to do about them. \'Maybe Draco knows some sort of charm.\' She was certain that she did too, but she just couldn\'t think of one. Laylani was feeling herself becoming increasingly muddled as the days passed. Hastily gathering her school things together, she silently left for Hogwarts halls to Draco\'s room.

Letting the portrait fall shut behind her, she dropped her things by the sofa and crept into his room and onto his bed. She crawled to where he lay at the far end of his massive bed (\'his side of the bed\' he called it; the other side was always reserved for her) and lay next to him. She watched him as he slept, gently stroking rogue hairs away from his face. He looked so peaceful, so completely at ease. She smiled sadly at her sleeping love; he hardly ever looked like that when he was awake anymore. He was forever worrying over her and her nightmares, constantly asking her how she felt and if there was anything she needed. He just seemed to instinctively know that things were getting worse instead of better like she had tried to tell him.

Draco began to make mutterings in his sleep and she knew he was waking up. She pulled her hand away but it was too late. His eyelids lifted and he looked at her with bleary eyes.

\"Good morning, Princess.\" he whispered. \"It is morning, right?\" He smiled at her as he stretched.

\"Technically, yes.\" Draco made a noise that was halfway between a groan and a laugh. \"I\'m sorry.\" she said quickly. \"I didn\'t mean to wake you up. Really, I didn\'t. I was just going to lie here and wait for you to wake up, but you had hair in your eyes, and I pushed it away and you woke up.\" She bit her lip. \"I\'m sorry.\"

Draco laughed again and rolled over, nearly on top of her. He stared down at her with dark eyes. \"And here I was hoping you wanted to have your wicked way with me.\" She laughed as he eyed her up and down. “I’ve always wanted to try it while you were still in your uniform.\"

\"Maybe another time, love. Right now I need your help with a problem.\" Immediately, his playful face vanished to be replaced by one of worry.

\"What\'s wrong? What happened? Is it your nightmares? Is it my father? Is it-\" She placed her hand over his mouth, muffling whatever might have come next.

\"No, no and no. I just need your help with a little charm, that\'s all. Lumos!\" She held the sphere of light in her hand up to her face. \"The bags under my eyes.\"

\"Oh.\" Draco sounded relieved, but not entirely. “Still not sleeping well, hmm?\" She didn\'t answer.

He fumbled to find his wand on the nightstand before pointing it to her face and saying to incantation. \"That will hold against anything that\'s not trying to hard to remove it.\"

\"Thanks.\" she said quietly. \"Nox.\" The light in her hand flickered out.

He propped his head up on his hand and watched her. \"You aren\'t going to sleep, are you?\" She shook her head.

\"Laylani-\"

\"Draco, if you\'re going to start a fight, I\'m going to leave.\" He scowled.

\"I wasn\'t going to fight. I was only going to ask if you were certain it isn\'t anything else. That nothing else is wrong. I want to know if my father, or anyone-\"

She sighed, regretting her snappish words. He was only worried about her. Who could blame him? She was worried about her too.

\"Draco, nothing else is wrong. I haven\'t heard from your father since his last letter and if I do believe me, you will be the first to know. I promise. Go back to sleep, alright? I\'ll be here when you wake up.\" He lay down again, but his eyes remained wide open and his features stayed tense. She knew he wasn\'t going to go back to sleep either.

\"Hey,\" she said, trying to make the best of the situation. \"What do you say we head out to the pitch and you can get some practice in? Tomorrow\'s the big game right?\" She smiled as brightly as she could and he laughed. Of course tomorrow was the \'big game.\' He\'d only been going on about it for nearly two weeks since Slytherin had trounced Ravenclaw in the deciding match.

\"Love, Gryffindor has the pitch this morning.\"

\"Yeah, but regular practice doesn\'t start \'til six and it\'s only-\" She craned her neck to see his clock. It alternately flashed \'Too early to be up\' and \'5:12.\' \"-Quarter after five. They can\'t stop you from practicing before them, can they?\"

He smiled. “No, I suppose not. Alright.\" He hauled himself out of bed, changing quickly into his practice clothes. He looked back to where she lay, head propped in her hands watching him with a small smile. \"It\'ll be a bit chilly out there, love. Here, take my cloak.\" He was still quite worried that she might fall ill again, and was constantly the watchdog of her health. She took the proffered item and put it on, nuzzling the fur lining

Once ready, he grabbed his broom from where it rested against the wall and opened his small window. It would be a tight fit to get them both out but better that then to be caught walking the halls. He sat himself on the broom and she climbed on behind him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

\"You ready?\"

\"Absolutely.\" Draco kicked off the ground lightly and leaned forward as did she. With less than an inch to spare, the two barely managed to fit out the window.

\"You can straighten up now, pet. We\'re out.\" The sun had barely risen over the horizon, hardly enough light to see by, but it would do.

\"Maybe I just like being so close to you.\" she answered, pressing a small kiss to the bare skin of his neck. The broom came to a slow stop just over the pitch and Draco turned to look at her, smirking.

\"Although I have no doubt we would be able to manage it on a broom, we do only have 40 minutes, and I believe the point of this little excursion was to practice.\" She laughed.

\"And that is why you’re going to win tomorrow.\" Draco turned back to his flying and said nothing. She was so convinced that Slytherin would win the Quidditch cup, even though he\'d told her himself that they\'d lost it every year to Gryffindor. She\'d only shrugged and said that this year would be different and went right on believing it as firmly as ever. At least outwardly. Draco couldn\'t help but wonder if she were saying these things to be a loyal fiancée or if she actually meant it. The broom came to a stop at the faculty stands.

Laylani climbed off the broom and cast a quick cushioning charm on the bench before stretching herself out over it. She kept her eyes riveted on Draco; she loved to watch him play. He became so extremely focused, to the point where she knew nothing else existed for him but himself and the snitch. He became a part of the game, body mind and soul. He moved as if everything had been choreographed to the last detail with a sort of grace she would have ascribed to a dancer. To her, watching him felt like a religious experience.

Draco had caught the snitch four times in the time they had, executing some moves that had Laylani on her feet with her heart in her throat. At one point she\'d screamed across the pitch that if he made her a widow before they were even wed, she\'d never forgive him. He was well on his way to catching it for the fifth time when he caught sight of the Gryffindor team heading towards the pitch.

He stopped short, calling in the practice snitch before turning and fetching Laylani. They\'d just gotten her securely seated when a voice cut through the air.

\"Malfoy! What the hell do you think you\'re doing?\" Draco braced her hand wrapped around his waist, and the broom went into a steep dive, stopping only inches short of bowling over one pissed-off Harry Potter.

\"In layman’s terms, I believe it\'s called practicing, Potter.\" The team had gathered around behind their captain while he struggled to remain calm. After a few deep even breaths, Harry spoke again.

\"Gryffindor has the pitch booked this morning. We\'ve had the pitch booked every Friday morning since the beginning of the season. Even a git like you would have to know that.\"

\"Indeed I do. You have the pitch booked from six a.m. to eight a.m. However, a very wise woman pointed out to me that despite that, you still have no claim on the pitch before six a.m.\"

\"That\'s because you can\'t book the pitch then!\" the dark haired boy snapped. \"You-you\'re supposed to be asleep, you sodding little ferret!\" Draco let out an undignified snort of laughter.

\"I guess there\'s a bit of a loophole then, eh Potter?\" Without another word, the broom took off high overhead until it disappeared above the castle, hidden amongst its many arches and turrets.

They came to a slow stop by the North Tower and Draco took a moment to take in his surroundings. The sun was up now, but it was still barely six a.m.; breakfast wouldn\'t be served for another two hours.

\"Are you hungry, Princess?\"

\"Hmm? A little.\"

\"Alright then.\"

Without warning the broom dove again, causing her to give a small shriek muffled by his back, she held him so tightly. He patted her hand, but didn\'t stop or slow down.

\"Draco,\" she called, \"What are we doing?\"

He pointed not too far off into the distance to what looked like rooftops. A village. Of course, he\'d mentioned a nearby town many times in his letters while she\'d been at Malfoy Manor. Still that hardly answered her question. The broom began it\'s descent, angling towards the town.

Once on the ground, Draco took his broom in one hand and her hand in the other and they began to walk into the small village.

\"Draco, what are we doing? Where are we going?\"

\"You said you were hungry. I thought I might take you out for breakfast this morning.\" She smiled slowly.

\"Oh... Thank you.\" They continued for a few moments in silence before she spoke again.

\"Will anything be open this early?\" He shrugged.

\"I know a little place.”

“Alright then.” He led her down through the cobblestone streets into the village, which the welcoming sign called ‘Hogsmeade.’ Barely inside the outskirts of the small village, Draco turned a corner, taking her down a twisting series of narrow alleyways to a small door at the side of a gray stone building, with a small sign that read ‘The Bird’s Nest’ above it. He pushed at the door and it swung open with a squeak of protest. Laylani followed him in.

Surprisingly, there were a few other people taking up seats here and there at the small tables around the room. It was a small café of sorts, not terribly fancy but really rather charming. He lead Laylani to a seat at a table for two by a small window at the front and just as they sat down a small man rushed out to greet them.

“Mr. Malfoy!” he exclaimed pleasantly. “Delightful to see you again! Would you care for some coffee this morning?” Draco nodded.

“Thank you, Wren.” The short man nodded in return and moved his attentions to Laylani.

“And I see you’ve brought your fiancée! I remember her from the paper; can’t forget a pretty face like that.” He smiled at Laylani. “We’ve been hoping you two might stop by. Ms. Sanders, is it?”

“Uh, Stanners, actually but you don’t ne-”

“Stanners, Stanners, of course. How silly of me. And what would you like to drink this morning, Ms. Stanners? Coffee? Tea? Juice?” He waited expectantly.

“Actually, if it’s not too much trouble, could I please have some hot chocolate?”

“Why of course, no trouble at all! Everything’s on the menu at the Bird’s Nest.” He made to leave towards the swinging kitchen doors when he stopped short, and turned back to her. “Would it be too much trouble to ask you to follow me to the back? My wife’s been just dying to meet you, but she’s on kitchen duty today.”

Draco smiled, thinking of Wren’s little wife. Definitely the nurturing, fussy type. The smile doubled knowing she had kitchen duty that day; while all magically prepared food was near perfect, somehow her cooking was always better then her husband’s.

Laylani looked questioningly at Draco, silently asking if he wouldn’t mind that she excused herself for a few moments.

“Go on.” he said. “I’ll wait here.” She flashed him a quick smile before rising from her seat and following Wren into the back.

The swinging doors had just fallen still when the front door opened sharply, hitting the wall behind it with a deafening ‘bang.’ With lurching steps, what could only be described as a cloaked mass moved in through the doorway. With a hand made up of more scar tissue than anything else, the hood of the cloak was pulled back, and Draco whispered a string of curses under his breath. It was retired Auror, former Professor, and one of the chief members of the Order of Phoenix, Alastor ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody.

“Malfoy.” With speed that Draco hadn’t known a…creature like that could possess, Moody crossed the room. “Where is she? Where’d you take her?” The magical-eye spun wildly in the confines of the right socket, searching out Laylani. Draco pinched the bridge of his nose, irritated to have his private breakfast date with his girl interrupted by a lunatic.

“Will you keep it down? She’s in the kitchen with the owner and his wife.” He gave Moody one of the patented Malfoy sneers. “What are you doing here?”

“Don’t take that tone with me, boy. She shouldn’t be here. She ain’t safe here. We ain’t safe with her here.” Draco discreetly rolled his eyes. The man was clearly as paranoid as everyone had said.

“I hardly doubt the world will come crashing down around our ears over breakfast.” Moody shook his head, muttering something that sounded an awful lot like ‘smug little bastard\' before he continued.

“Did you learn nothin\' from me other than what a good ferret you make?” Draco scowled. “CONSTANT VIGILANCE!” he roared, loud enough to attract attention from the surrounding patrons and for Laylani to stick her head out from the kitchen, looking alarmed to see the source of the noise standing be her table. Her brow knit together, shooting a nervously questioning glance at Draco. He forced a smile and she frowned, her head quickly disappeared back inside and Draco knew he had precious little time to get rid of Moody before she came back.

“Look,” he said in a low growl, “She’s going to be back any second. Will you just leave?”

“I ain‘t leaving without her.” Draco hissed an irritated sigh.

“For Christ’s sake, I’ll have her back right after breakfast. No harm can come over a couple of pancakes-”

“I ain’t leaving until she’s safely back at Hogwarts, least of all with the likes of you.” Draco felt the anger coupled with annoyance bubble inside him. How dare he even insinuate that he would ever do a thing to put her in danger?

“Listen you psychotic son of a - Princess.”

Moody blanched, startled that anyone would call him something so distinctly feminine and pretty when he saw her coming up behind them, looking nervous.

“Is - Is everything alright?”

Draco knew her question was directed to him, even if her eyes are riveted on Moody. He can hardly blame her. Even after seeing him periodically for the last three years, that face was something that still managed to startle him.

“Of course, Princess. Everything’s fine. Sit down, please.”

She awkwardly skirted around Moody to her seat while his magical eye watched her, rolling from looking through the back of his skull to follow her as she sat. She bowed under his stare and watched her hands fidget in her lap, clearly uncomfortable. Moody on the other hand seemed as much as ease as someone so paranoid could. Finally, if only to make Laylani slightly more at ease, he turned to Moody.

“If there’s nothing else, Professor…” he said leadingly, hoping against hope that Moody might have some pity in whatever made up his heart to give them one quiet breakfast together. Alone.

“No, I believe I’ve said my piece.” Moody made no motion to leave, waiting expectantly at their table wearing what Draco was sure was an arrogant smirk. He let out a small sigh of defeat.

“Won’t you join us for some breakfast, Professor.” It wasn’t a question; it was acceptance of inescapable desolate fate. He watched as Moody noisily dragged a chair from the next table and plunking himself down in between them, making their cozy table for two uncomfortably crowded. While the three lapsed back into an uncomfortable silence, Wren popped out of the kitchen with beverages.

“Ah, another guest! Perhaps you might be more comfortable at a larger table?”

“Yes.” Moody answered gruffly, cutting off whatever answer Draco might have given. “Near the back. Away from the windows.”

Draco rolled his eyes again. Merlin, this man was supposed to be an Auror for fuck’s sakes; how was anything supposed to be covert with him being so bloody paranoid? They followed Wren to a table for four as far back as they could go.

Wren quietly passed them their drinks before turning to Moody, obviously trying to hide his trepidation of someone who looked so very… unsavory.

“Anything to drink, sir?”

“Coffee. Black.”

“Of course.” Wren rushed off again.

Draco frowned observing the new view of his surroundings. They were nearly on top of the small bar in the back almost totally shrouded in darkness with what little natural light could reach them.

“Charming.” he sneered, most obviously to Moody. The two men exchanged stony glares that had Laylani worried that a fight would break out any minute; their guest looked as if he were capable of doing some serious damage if provoked. Quickly, she spoke.

“So, uh…sir, you’re a Professor?” While his blue eye had been unwaveringly locked on her since she sat down, his beady left eye turned to her.

“Was,”* he answered guardedly, “A few years back.”

“Laylani, this is Professor Moody. He taught in my fourth year.” Laylani smiled and offered him her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Professor Moody.” He did not take her hand, instead eyeing it as if it might bite him. After a few increasingly awkward seconds she retracted her hand and silence resumed. Wren couldn’t return soon enough.

Setting the steaming mug in front of Moody, Wren cleared his throat.

“So are you ready to order?”

Breakfast passed in the same awkward quiet, save for the sharp sounds of Moody spearing his sausages with a switchblade of his own. Any romance or intimacy this date had once held was long gone. When the food was done, both Draco and Laylani were anxious to leave. Draco gave her hand a quick squeeze.

“I’m just going to pay and we’ll get out of here, alright?” She smiled gratefully.

“Sounds good.” She turned to watch him walk away to find the owner, unwilling to turn back and face that eye which had watched every move she’d made since he’d arrived. The her thoughts began to stray…

Moody, meanwhile, was contemplating his options. He tightly held his knife, absentmindedly wiping off the breakfast grease on his cloak. He held up the knife, taking in the blade’s reflection of the back of her head. She’d never see it coming. The Malfoy brat would be unable to get to her in time. It would be so easy to simply stab her in the back and be done with it. Problem solved.

He’d never understood why Dumbledore had felt the need to complicate things with such ridiculous notions as trying to save her, change what fate had knit into the very essence of her being. Moody simply saw no way around it. Letting her live when they knew who she was, what she would do, was simply sealing their fate. He adjusted his grip on the knife, blade pointing downward in his fist. His resting elbow slid silently across the table as his thumb pressed tightly over the bottom of the knife, bracing it to break through flesh and bone. He spied the perfect spot, a white patch of bared flesh where her skull met her neck. He brought back his forearm slowly to his shoulder and quickly brought it forward.

With the speed only a practiced seeker has, Draco yanked the knife out of his hand, quickly retracting the blade and sliding it in to his pocket in motions so fast that the only indication that something had happened was the sound of a few metallic clicks.

Laylani looked up, slightly dazed. Her mind had wandered and for a moment she’d lost track of where she was. Completely. She’d never had that happen before.

“Something wrong, Dragon?” He glared daggers at Moody, wrapping a protective arm over her shoulders.

“Nothing. Let’s go.” She stood up and Draco nearly shoved her forward to walk in front of him. With a wave to the owner, they left.

With his hand on her back he walked quickly, compelling her to do the same. He heard the lurching footsteps crunching through the loose stones behind them and he began to walk faster.

“Wait up, laddie. Looks like you’re taking the long way. I’ll lead ya through a shortcut.”

“We’re fine.” he called back sharply. Moody jogged up next to them.

“Aw, come on laddie. It’ll give your girl a chance to see the town.”

“Look we’re really-”

“Come on, Draco,” Laylani said softly, placing a hand on his chest, “I just want to get back to school. If we can see some of the village on the way and get to Hogwarts faster, then what‘s the difference?” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Even if it is with him.”

Draco frowned. What was he supposed to tell her? Certainly not the truth. There was too much behind it he couldn’t tell her for her own safety.

“Laylani, no.” He said firmly. Again, he put a strong hand on the back of her neck. “Now let’s go.”

She turned around suddenly, spinning out of his grasp with an angry look on her face.

“Draco Malfoy, do not presume to try and tell me what to do and lead me around like a puppy!”

“Lani-”

“No! You know what? You want to take the long way home, go ahead.” She spun abruptly on her heel, following as Moody lead. She felt herself regretting her words almost instantly but would have felt foolish going back. Why was she so very short-tempered lately? ‘Must be the lack of sleep.’ she thought morosely. ‘Now look what you’ve gotten yourself into.’ She rounded the corner, losing any peripheral vision of Draco.

Sharp footsteps rounded the corner behind her. Moody whirled around, drawing his wand and gripping it tightly, his right eye taking in all it could. Draco came around the corner in a quick jog, slowing down as he came up to them.

“Point that somewhere else.” He glared at Moody. “You wouldn’t want to set off any trash cans.” Moody’s eyes narrowed and spat on the ground, turning back and continuing to walk.

Laylani smiled at Draco, letting him take her hand. Draco smiled back, unsure as to what might have happened in the last thirty seconds to put him back in her good graces but he wouldn’t ask nor argue it. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, have left her alone with Moody. Not now, not ever. He placed himself between her and Moody, walking just a step ahead of her to block her off from that paranoid psychopath in case he were to try anything else.

Draco watched warily over every step they took. When Moody began to lead them onto the main road that would lead them almost directly to Hogwarts, he felt his stomach drop. Draco had gone out of his way to specifically avoid this place, and he was certain Moody knew it. He stopped short, tightening his grip and Laylani’s hand and pulling her back to him.

“Do you know, love,” he said with practiced calm despite how nervous he was below the service, “There’s a perfect take-off point just down to the left here.” He gestured with his broom which he still held. The excuse sounded lame, even to himself, but he had to try.

“Don’t be foolish, Malfoy. We’re less than a two-minute walk from Hogwarts.”

“We’re almost there, Draco. Why don’t we just walk?” She smiled sweetly at him and broke into a light jog, dragging him along behind her as she turned the corner. She stopped short with an gasp, dropping Draco’s hand.

“What happened here?”

Ash and cinders dusted up and down the street, blown out from the blackened remnants of what had to have been homes and shops dotted along the street, now in various states of burned. Some had been gutted by the fire, the charred frame still standing while others had been razed to the ground.

Draco watched on helplessly as she walked towards the ash where the Three Broomsticks had once stood, burned down to punish Madame Rosmerta for being, as his father put it, a blood traitor. Her stilted steps came to a halt just shy of stepping in the remains. Again she turned back to them, asking in a hollow whispered voice.

“What happened here?”

“Death Eaters,” barked Moody. “A strike back in November.” She looked back, shaking her head.

“November? Why- Why is it still here? Wouldn’t they clear away the debris?”

“Ministry didn’t see the point, what with the comin\'-” Draco stiffened.

“Shut up.” Why the hell was Moody so blatantly and callously revealing to her all the things that himself, his family, even the bloody Order had been trying to keep from her?

“What?” The fear could clearly be heard in her voice.

“It’s not important, Princess.”

She dropped hard to her knees, scraping them on the stones of the street. They began to bleed.

“Blood.” she whispered, so softly it wasn’t heard. She could see it in her mind. Blood. The blood in the Malfoy dungeons. The blood in her dreams. The fires. For a moment, she could’ve sworn she could see flickers of fire in the ruins before her.

This had been enough; no, it had been too much. Draco rushed up behind her, dropping until he could wrap her arms around her shoulders.

“Come along, Pet. I think it’s time for us to go.” It shook her out of her reverie and she winced. As his supportive hands helped lift her up, she realized she had scraped her bare knees.

A scarred hand holding a handkerchief entered his line of vision, nearing Laylani’s knees. Snarling, Draco spun around, pressing the tip of his wand against Moody’s Adams apple.

“Don’t you fucking touch her.” he growled, his tone low and deathly serious. He pressed the wand harder against the man\'s throat, moving them back several steps.

“Laddie, I was only trying to-”

“I know exactly what you have been trying to do this whole fucking time and by all means I should have killed you already.”

“Now you don’t want to risk doing anything foolish.”

“I’d risk a hell of a lot so don’t tell me what I won’t do. You stay away from her. If I see you near her, find you lurking outside her room, smell your scent around her, if you even fucking breathe her name I will go after you with everything I have and will not stop until you’re dead and rotting. Am I understood?” Moody scoffed, but there was a small trace of fear in his natural eye.

“If you knew what was good for you, boy, you wouldn’t be makin’ threats.”

Draco lowered his wand slowly. “I don’t make threats, I make promises. Just give me a reason to make good on them.”

Draco went back to Laylani where she still stood facing the ash and put his arm around her.

“Come along, Princess.” She nodded and followed him dumbly while he murmured words to soothe her, leading her back to the grounds of Hogwarts.

They returned to Draco’s quarters just after seven. He sat her down on the couch and drew his wand.

“I’m just going to heal your scrapes, alright pet?”

“Uh? Oh. Okay.” He whispered two quick spells, watching the skin knit together before his eyes. Leaning in, he placed soft kisses where the wounds had been and felt her hands in his hair. She smiled at him.

“Thanks, Dragon.” she said softly.

“You’re welcome, Princess.” The alarm clock went off in the bedroom, making Draco grimace as he stood up. “I hate that sound.” He retreated to the bedroom, and a few seconds later the alarm shut off. “I’m going to take a shower.” he called.

“Alright, I’ll wait here.”

“You can crawl into bed if you like, Princess.” She shuddered at the possibility of another dream after such a harrowing morning.

“No, thank you.”

She sat motionless in front of the empty fireplace for nearly ten minutes when suddenly a green flame erupted out of nothing, making her shriek. The face of Narcissa flickered in.

“Narcissa! Jesus!” Laylani gasped, putting a hand over her heart.

“Laylani, really!” Narcissa scolded. “A lady is always calm and composed. It is lovely to see you again, dear. Is Draco about?”

As if on cue the door swung open and Draco skidded out, still covered with soap bubbles and dripping water with a towel hastily wrapped around her waist, and ran over to Laylani.

“What is it? What happened?” he panted.

“There’s no need for dramatics, Draco. I just startled her, that’s all.” Draco breathed a sigh of relief.

“What is it, mother?”

“I just wanted to inform you that your father has made some changes to his schedule and will in fact be attending your game tomorrow.” Both Laylani and Draco paled. She felt his hand anchor heavily on her shoulder.

“I thought he had meetings.” Narcissa frowned.

“Why Draco, I thought you’d be pleased.” Draco squeezed Laylani’s shoulder.

“Of course I am, Mum. I just thought he was busy. Thank you for letting me know.” Narcissa’s smile returned.

“You’re welcome, dear. We’ll see you tomorrow then.” With one last smile, the flame flickered out. The two stood in heavy silence for a moment.

“You don’t have to go to the game, pet. I’ll understand.” As much as it pained Draco to say it, he could not demand she sit with the man who tried to kidnap her only two weeks ago simply to watch him play Quidditch.

She turned to face him, putting on a brave smile. “Of course not, Dragon. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I know how important it is to you. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Laylani-”

“No, Draco. I’m not going to spend the rest of my life hiding from him. I’m sure everything will be fine.” Draco frowned in consternation.

“Fine. Then I want Crabbe and Goyle to sit with you.”

“Draco, no! You know I can’t stand them! Besides, we’ll be sitting with the faculty. Even if Lucius tried anything, we’d be surrounded by people who could hex him a dozen times before those two even got their hands on their wands.” Draco stayed silent for a few seconds, thinking it over.

“You’re right.” he sighed, dropping next to her on the couch and wrapping his arm over her shoulder. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you.” Laylani smiled lovingly at him, resting her head on his shoulder.

“I know, love. But you don’t need to worry, nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m safe now.”

He smiled back wistfully. If only she knew.

“Um, Draco?”

“Yes, love?”

“You’re dripping on me.” He pulled back quickly and she giggled.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. Finish your shower.”

“Will you do me a favor? Wait in the bedroom? It’s much closer, and less likely to receive visitors.”

She sat on his bed, waiting for him to finish his shower and unable to relax. Despite what she had told him, she was worried. Incredibly so. She hadn’t heard word from Lucius since his letter, nor had she given him one. How could she sit next to him? What if he did try something? Her mind became clouded and distracted with what could happen the next day.

Draco emerged from the bathroom to see her sitting stiffly on his bed. Her body was riddled with tension. Apprehension rolled off her body in almost tangible waves. She needed to relax or she would never make it through the day under the scrutiny of her teachers and friends. The idea of a bath with the blue potion ran through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. There wasn’t enough time. Then it came to him.

“Take off your shirt.” She looked up at him and laughed.

“That has to be the worst line I’ve ever heard you use.” He frowned, pretending to be hurt.

“Fine,” he sniffed, “ I was going to give you a massage, but if that’s how you’re going to be…” He watched as she wordlessly removed her jumper, followed quickly by her blouse. As she moved to lay on her stomach, she unhooked her bra and tossed it aside. Draco smiled. He was only going to ask that she remove her sweater, but this was much better.

He removed the towel before crawling across the bed and straddling her back, being careful to support his own weight. His hands started softly at her neck working slowly across her shoulders before moving down the length of her spine as she made small purrs of pleasure along the way. Soon he leaned over and began to place kisses over her neck and shoulders, making her shiver. Draco was caught off-guard when she reached back and began to stroke him awkwardly.

“Draco? Would it still be okay for me to have my wicked way with you?” He pulled back from where he had been nibbling her earlobe.

“Breakfast starts in ten minutes.” He lifted as he felt her move underneath him and she rolled over, letting him get a good view of her exposed breasts and tightened nipples.

“I’m not hungry.” she said innocently. “Are you?”

He smirk lecherously.

“Not for food.”

It was fair to say then when Laylani did leave for class, she was quite relaxed.