Muddy Green Waters || Draco Malfoy

47 - The Torturer and the Lover

I stared, open mouthed, at the figure standing before me. I felt hellishly confused. Even though in my mind I knew that was Ron standing there, my body was reacting the same way it always did whenever I clapped eyes on Draco. My pulse accelerated, my breath quickened and tiny butterflies took flight in my stomach.

He shifted uncomfortably.

"Bloody hell, Rosie, don't look at me like that."

I breathed, Ron's voice coming out of his mouth stopping the rush of blood going to my head.

"What the hell, Ron?!" I shrieked.

"I didn't mean to transform into Malfoy! I thought the blonde hair had belonged to that Snatcher!"

"You can't do this to him! It's too risky!" I implored, panic choking me. I was terrified that Draco could find himself in a lot of danger if word got to Voldemort that he was involved in the breaking in of Bellatrix's vault.

I looked desperately to Harry, who had gotten up from his chair, noisily throwing the last of his things into his bag, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Well, it's too late now. It'll have to do." He said not looking up from his packing.

"Well, he is Bellatrix's nephew," Hermione said in a small voice. "So it won't look that strange for him to be accompanying her."

I looked speechlessly from Hermione to Ron. Bellatrix and Draco. My torturer and my lover. This was too surreal for words.

"If this is going to be too difficult for you, Rosie," Harry said, a sternness to his voice. "Then maybe it will be best if you don't come. We can still work the plan without you."

I was shocked at his sudden coldness. He had been nothing but concerned before, when he thought I wouldn't cope with being around 'Bellatrix'.

"No- no... it's fine." I mumbled, abashed. My cheeks flushed and I turned towards the front door, deciding to wait for them outside.

As soon as I stepped on to the lawn, the door reopened behind me. I twirled around and out stepped Ron, my heart automatically contracting at the sight of Draco. The one saving grace was that Ron hadn't put on a suit for his transformation. Instead, he was wearing long billowing black robes - a look worthy of a Death Eater, but not one that Draco usually sported. It made it slightly easier.

"Rosie, I'm really sorry." Ron puffed. I looked down at the ground, trying not to look at him.

"I can't imagine how weird this must be for you." He continued, and then paused as Hermione stepped out the front door. "Although- except maybe I can..."

Bellatrix walked towards us, her wild black hair whipping around her cruel, pale face.

"Remember what we're doing this for, Rosie." She said, Hermione's kind voice reaching out to me.

Once Harry and Griphook joined us, we all walked towards the point where the Fidelius Charm stopped working, and then we each Disapparated, ready in our disguises.

***

As my feet found the pavement, outside the Leaky Cauldron, I stumbled, almost toppling over. But a pair of arms had reached out just in time to stop me.

I looked up gratefully to my saviour, and found myself staring into a pair of familiar silver grey eyes.

The world around me seemed to stop.

"Rosie, it's me, remember?"

I blinked, as Ron's voice once again brought me to my senses. I quickly stepped away from him, averting my gaze. My heart still thudding.