The Siren's Call (A Draco Malfoy Fanfiction)

92. A New Beginning

I'm back!!! Had to go on a bit of a break to get through the semester, but GUYS I'M BACK! Sorry it took so long. Next semester is going to be even crazier so I'm going to try and get out as much as I can until my break ends. And I'm going to try to post two or three chapters Christmas Day as a bit of a present for you all. Enjoy the chapter guys! More coming soon!

"We need to be heading back," Andre said, getting to his feet. They had spent another hour talking and soon most everyone was getting sleepy. Dioleh was curled up on the couch fast asleep with her head in Draco's lap. With a yawn, Imani got up too.

"Dioleh," she said, yawning again and kicking her foot. "Dio, get up." With a groan, she snuggled into herself while Draco attempted to hold in his laughter.

Rubbing his eyes, he gently shook her as he whispered, "Dioleh. You need to wake up, love."

Letting out a groan, she nestled closer to him, muttering, "Five more minutes." This time he couldn't hold back his laugh.

"My darling, it's almost two in the morning. You need to go home and get sleep," he replied with a chuckle. She groaned, drew in a deep breath and hesitantly opened her eyes.

"I hate all of you," she murmured with a yawn.

Holding back a yawn, Andre replied, "Well can you hate us on the way home instead of here because my bed misses me." Imani rolled her eyes and grabbed onto Dioleh's wrist, dragging her up from the couch.

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The following morning after presents, Andre joined Imani and Dioleh in their room. "Merry Christmas," he said with a small smile. 

"Merry Christmas," Imani replied warmly. 

"So, we should talk," he said. Rolling onto her stomach, Dioleh propped herself up on her elbows as he sat next to Imani on her bed. 

"What about?" Dioleh replied with a frown. 

"Nott." Dioleh sighed, sitting up. "He's more dangerous now," Andre said. "Draco is the only reason he didn't kidnap you." 

"Do you think he would have done it?" Imani asked. 

"I don't know," Andre said. "But I do know that it's not worth the risk. We need to make sure nothing like that ever happens again." 

"How do you intend on doing that, Andre?" Dioleh sighed. "I get that you want to protect me, but Theodore is still in my year. He's not going anywhere. There isn't really anything I can do about that." 

"I know," Andre said. "Just be careful, Dioleh. You're like a sister to me, okay? I don't want to see anything happen to you. Everything is just getting more and more real every second. I just want to make sure we're all aware of that." 

"We are, Andre," Imani said, taking his hand in her own. Dioleh smirked, raising her eyebrows at the two of them. 

"What?" Andre replied with a frown. 

"Absolutely nothing," she lied. "I'm heading down for breakfast." Imani and Andre shared confused looks as she walked out the door. 

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Although the break was short and the term ahead was not one Dioleh could admit to being excited for, she couldn't help but be glad to be headed back to Hogwarts again. As she walked back into the Slytherin Common Room and spotted the two boys she had not seen since the break-in, she couldn't help but smile. Leaning over the edge of the couch where they were sitting, she said, "Long time no see." 

A wide smile crossed Draco's face as he looked back at her and said, "Hello, love. Have a good Christmas?" 

"Decent," she replied. "How about you, Zabini?" He shrugged, not looking up from his book. 

"Mum's husband died again," he said nonchalantly. "It's a pity. Mum seemed to like him." 

"I'm sorry, Blaise," Dioleh said sympathetically. 

"Don't be," he said, still not looking up, although Dioleh noticed that his eyes weren't moving. "They were only married a month. I think she's taking a break from men finally." 

"Dioleh, walk with me around the grounds?" Draco asked, sensing that Zabini was not in the mood to discuss his family issues. 

"Yeah, sure, just let me drop off my stuff," she replied, getting up to carry up her things. Once she had deposited these, she joined him in the Common Room wrapped warmly in her white peacoat, her scarf, and a hat. 

Snow covered the Hogwarts grounds in a thick blanket of bitter cold. Interlacing their fingers, Draco said, "Malfoy Manor had a rather unpleasant visitor over break." Dioleh's eyes widened as her eyes snapped to his. 

"What?" she cried. "Dray, what happened?" 

Coming to a stop, he explained regretfully, "Apparently I'm not moving fast enough for him." 

"What are you going to do?" Dioleh whispered. 

"I don't know," he replied. "I can't turn you in. I just can't." 

Drawing in a deep breath, Dioleh said, "Dray, if you have to, tell him." 

Not looking at her, he sighed, "Dioleh-" 

"No, listen to me, Dray," she pleaded. "I know you don't want to do anything to hurt me, but I can't watch you get hurt because of me. If it becomes too much, tell him and then...tell me." 

Making eye contact with her, he replied, "How?" 

"Send me an owl with some kind of encoded message," she suggested. "Or, we could come up with a code word." 

"And what code word would that be?" Draco replied. 

After thinking a moment, Dioleh grinned, suggesting, "Carrie." Involuntarily, his expression broke into a smile as he glanced over at her with amusement. 

"Really?" he replied with a chuckle. "Carrie? A little too on the nose, don't you think?" 

Rolling her eyes, Dioleh countered, "Like Voldemort's followers read a no-maj American author's works from the 70s." 

"I suppose you're right," he replied with a grin. "But Dioleh, it would still be too dangerous. For all we know he could find you before the letter would reach you." 

"Then a Patronus," Dioleh replied. "Can you do one?" 

With a small shrug, he replied, "I haven't really tried, but if it's what it takes to keep you safe, I'll learn." 

He wrapped his arms around her, perching his chin on top of her head as she lay her head against his chest. "What did I do to deserve you?" she whispered. Draco let out a laugh. 

"I think it's the other way around, love," he replied with a chuckle. 

"No," Dioleh countered, hugging him tightly. "I love you, Dray. I know we haven't been together long, but, you've been there for me in so many more ways than I could have ever imagined." 

"I love you too," Draco replied. Pulling away from him slightly, Dioleh cupped his cheek to guide his lips to hers. Her lips were slightly chapped from the cold, but Draco hardly noticed as his heart fluttered in his chest. Dioleh pulled away, but Draco quickly captured her lips again in a sweet kiss, but before they could continue, a harsh voice snapped from behind them.