I am a Riddle | Draco Malfoy, 18+

T h i r t y - o n e,

This chapter contains a scene of emotional trauma. Please read with caution.

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Draco Malfoy,

Weeks have passed since we got back, since she lost the person closest to her.

Since she lost her best friend.

The first days, she did nothing but cry. She took distance from me, and everyone else close to her, all she sought to do was to be alone — and I let her. She spent the nights sleeping in Luna's bed, sobbing herself to sleep as I watched over her from afar.

I would never leave her, not in her biggest time of need. She made my life worth living, she gave me a purpose in the most draining days, and now it was my turn to do the same for her, to give her meaning and to be the one taking care of her.

After almost a week, she stopped crying, and she turned utterly numb — not even the mark of ink carved into her arm made her feel, she was merely broken, destroyed to a point where she lost her right mind.

Flashback,

My head dropped, making my eyes flare open, vision dizzy by the lack of sleep. I couldn't sleep, and I haven't slept in days, all I sought to do was to look after her from feet away, in absolute silence — but she wasn't here. Luna's bed scored empty as I jolted up from the desk chair,

''Leiah?'' I called out for her, but nothing, the room deserted as I flung the dorm door open, searching through every hallway to find her,

I frequently called out for her in panic. The painful thought of her being out of my sight, of her being able to hurt herself or even worse, knocked the air out of my lungs,

I stopped in my tracks, feeling my chest almost breaking, my heart shattered when it clocked my mind — the only place I did not search to pieces,

It was with sharp, quick steps I rushed up the stairs to the astronomy tower, my breaths stuck in my throat as the tears burned behind my eyelids, hoping to every higher power that it wouldn't be too late,

My eyes placed on her beautiful self, her hands clenched around the metallic railing, her hair flowing gracefully in the lively wind, she shook, her entire body trembled before she flinched my the sound of my shoe on the cracking wooden floor,

Her head shifted to face mine, the moonlight lightened up her angelic features as I noticed her cheeks stained in tears, '' I can't—,'' She sobbed, her breaking voice caused my whole self to break right with her, this was the first time she's spoken to me in days,

'' I can't do this anymore, Draco—,'' Her heavy breaths, her whimpers of pain shredded me from within.

'' I stood—, '' She hushed, wiping off tears with the sleeve of her sweater, '' I stood right there, where you are standing right now, and I promised her, Draco — I promised her that it was her and I forever—,'' She slightly bent forward, making me step closer, scared to death that she would lose it and ultimately give in to her tortured mind,

''Leiah—,''

'' I stood right there, Draco — and then I—, ''

Her cries echoed loud,

'' I killed her—,'' She sniffed, her voice low, '' I took her life, and it turned us into—,''

Her breaths ragged, her cheeks drowned in the salty liquid,

'' We're doomed for life Draco, we are death eaters and I —,''

'' I can't do this anymore,'' Her head flicked back to stare out over the world, her small hands lightly letting go of the railing a little bit at the time, '' I love you, Draco — I love you so much, and I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me this year,''