The Siren's Call (A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction)

66. Regret

The moment Bill and Dioleh got back to Grimmauld Place, Dioleh rushed up the stairs and to her room. She had been moved into a room with Imani soon after she had arrived. Imani was fast asleep. Dioleh dressed for bed and crawled under the covers, staring at the ceiling and twiddling her thumbs. Her heart was still pounding in her chest and her cheeks were still flushed with the memory of Draco's lips against hers. She bit her lip, attempting to drive them from her mind so she could sleep.

But the more she tried not to think about it, the more the feeling hit her over the head, reminding her of every excruciating detail. Her lips remembered the feeling of his. Her cheek remembered the feeling of his hand. Her hands remembered the feeling of his hair. Rolling over in irritation, she got out of bed and headed downstairs and into the kitchen. Ignoring those who were still awake, she went down the stairs to the pool.

Soft voices stopped her in her tracks. Ebony and Julio. Glancing out, she saw that Ebony was in the pool looking up at Julio, who refused to meet her gaze. "Everything's different now," he hissed. "Ebby, I can't give you the life we talked about. We were going to go back to my tribe and live there together but we can't now. I am nothing, now."

"Julio, you are not nothing," Ebony retorted. "I still love you." Dioleh's eyes widened. Ebony and Julio? Really? What is this, the night for romance drama?

"Yeah, well," he said, in a strangled tone, "maybe I don't love you anymore."

"You don't mean that," Ebony said firmly without a single hint of doubt. "Julio, I know you don't mean that. We don't need to live with a tribe. I don't need them, I just need you." Dioleh didn't want to listen anymore. She had just closed the door behind her when she saw Andre.

"I wouldn't go down there if I were you," Dioleh warned.

"Why?" he asked in confusion.

Glancing back, Dioleh explained, "Julio and Ebony are arguing. Don't worry about it. It seems really personal."

"Oh," Andre said. Instead, he followed Dioleh out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Near one of the top floors, they sat down by the bannister. "Why're you up?"

"Can't sleep," Dioleh replied. "You?"

"I can't sleep either," he replied. "I thought sleeping in the water might help."

"Yeah, me too," Dioleh admitted. "Getting used to sleeping in a bed is certainly the worst thing about being human."

"Yeah," Andre replied with a laugh. "So, why were you out so late?"

"Meeting up with Draco," Dioleh admitted.

"I thought you told Imani and me that they banned you from sneaking out again," Andre replied.

"They did," Dioleh replied. With a sigh, she explained, "Draco sent me an owl saying he had something urgent to tell me. I managed to convince them to let me go by letting Bill come with me. Voldemort asked Draco to try and find me, well a siren at Hogwarts."

"Asked how?"

"In-person," Dioleh said quietly.

"He's seen You-Know-Who?" Andre said in a hushed voice.

"Yes," Dioleh replied. "I'm scared for him, Andre. He has no idea what he's getting into. If Voldemort finds out Draco knows who I am and isn't telling, he will kill him. I know he has his flaws but-"

"You care about him, don't you," Andre said.

"Of course I-" Dioleh began, trying to ignore her now flushed cheeks.

"No," Andre interrupted seriously. "You fancy him." When Dioleh didn't respond, he said, "Don't bother denying it, Dioleh. I've been able to see it for years."