In an Instant // ᵈʳᵃᶜᵒ ᵐᵃˡᶠᵒʸ

just me, him, and the moon

Exhaustion was an unrelenting bastard.

It was all I could think as I ascended the steps of the castle, the grey clouds blocking out any shred of light that could possibly be.

I understood. Even the sun deserved a break, sometimes.

Soreness seared in my legs from the seemingly endless steps, crowded in darkness, the only light coming from the tip of my wand; you'd think it was the late hours of the peaceful night, not the early hours of the rushed morning.

And when I finally arrived in my piano room, I collapsed onto the pile of blankets like a rag doll, closing my heavy eyelids.

Even though I knew no matter how tired I was, I wouldn't dare sleep.

It made no difference how long it had been- one month? Two months? I could no longer remember. The days felt all blurred together as if each day was just a continuation of the prior one, blended into a mess of my unpleasant moods and sudden inability to stand even my brother- I couldn't understand how students were laughing, practically skipping around the halls, smiles etched into their faces as they guessed the outcome of the third task- it made me sick. How could they, when all I could think about was Barty Crouch's body crumpled onto the ground, eyes open wide and staring at nothing, when this tournament was nothing but a death sentence for Ced, for my brother- it took everything in me to not uppercut the sickening smiles off their faces.

I snorted, rolling over to my back. As if I knew how to do an uppercut in the first place.

It was some time before I heard light footsteps, first far away and so quiet I thought I'd imagined them, then closer, filling the room, which had since been filled with dim light from the morning sun through the parting clouds.

I felt my hand twitch towards my wand, but made no effort to grab it; it could be Voldemort himself, but still, my breaths remained steady and deep- I didn't care, anymore.

I stared at the black, sleek, polished shoes that came my way, shoes that finally reached the end of my blankets; my eyes stayed trained on the same spot as Draco kneeled down, lying next to me on his side, grey eyes wary as he inspected my face carefully.

"Stop looking at me like that." I finally huffed.

"Like what?" He questioned innocently, soft fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face.

"Like I'm about to jump off the side of the bridge."

"Are you about to jump off the side of the bridge?"

I turned my head away from him, closing my eyes. "No. Maybe. I haven't decided yet."

He said nothing, only brushed his hands along my hair, caressing it softly.

"How do you want me to look at you, then?" He whispered finally.

"I don't know," I turned my head back to him, "not like that. Tease me. Flirt with me. Just... stop giving me those stupid pity eyes because I'm fine."

"Liar."

"I never claimed to not be one."

"You're moody, princess."

"Stop calling me princess."

He chuckled, perching his head on his hand. "Really moody. I thought you liked princess?"

"I'm bored of it. Call me something else." I flicked his nose and he laughed, eyes filled with delight.

"What shall I call you then?"

"I dunno. Figure it out."

He was silent, free hand still brushing over my tangled mane.

Then abruptly, he stood, brushing nonexistent dust off of his school robes and running a hand through his platinum hair.