I am a Riddle | Draco Malfoy, 18+

T w e n t y - f i v e,

I looked at her with begging eyes, my hands tugging at hers, '' There must be something you can do — that I can do?'' I pleaded the woman before me, she stared at me with shocking eyes, '' Please, please Narcissa, let them do this to me instead, he can't—, I can't—,''

Complete silence as her eyes flew wild over me, still standing petrified in my steps, '' Narcissa, please.'' I begged once more, the thunder outside banging louder — the crystals hanging from the ceiling clinked,

A flash of light ripped through the room as the rain smashed at the windows around us. Her sights snapped back to mine, wide-eyed as she gripped my arm, yanking me back up the stairs, and without a word, she pulled me into Draco's room, shutting the door closed behind us,

I turned in my steps, feeling small by everything that's been going on around us. I looked at her, her eyes dropped to the floor, deep into her thoughts as another flash of light scored over us, and for a fleeting moment in the hast of the thunder, the whole room lit up, my eyes flickered over the blond-haired boy, cluelessly sleeping in his bed,

I caught Narcissa whispering to herself underneath her breath, causing me to hug the sheet around me, taking a step closer, '' This may work,'' Her darkened figure spoke, quietly, '' This may work,'' She repeated herself, louder this time — and I wanted to ask, I wanted nothing more than to ask what she meant — if she found a way to spare Draco all the hurt and suffering it takes to be a death eater, but the second my lips parted — oud shouting heard from downstairs, muffled by the thunder,

Both Narcissa's and my eyes snapped to the door, both swallowing thickly, '' I have a thought but only if you feel comfortable-,''

'' Anything,'' I hewed her off, my eyes begging hers, '' I'll do anything,'' and I would — somewhere, deep inside — I shared my father's mind, but I wasn't scared. I know that he's capable of many cruel things — but also what he's not, and killing me — isn't one of them,

Her jaws tensed as she sent me a slight nod, ''I know what to do,''

Narcissa told me the truth — that I couldn't be a death eater until my blood was unpure. Harming someone wasn't enough — I had to take an innocent life, and only then could his mark, my father's mark, be imprinted on my skin, and I could never do such a thing. And the only way for Draco not to be one was to be linked with me. I had to swear on my life to protect him, and if I ever failed to do so, even in the slightest way —

I would die,

Tears flooded down my cheeks as I stood frozen before her, '' He can never know, Narcissa.'' I pleaded her, '' He can never know this, you have to lie to him — you have to come up with something that he'll believe in — but he can't know that my life is combined to his.'' My voice cracked in despair — the thought of lying to him shattered my heart because I know how much he values honesty, but he can't know — not this,

'' You must understand what this means, dear —'' Her eyes caught her son turning around in his bed and then quickly back to mine, '' When they start the process of giving Draco the dark mark, you will—''

'' I don't care what they'll do to me, just— promise me that he'll never find out about this.'' I knew that I asked a lot of her, possibly more than she could ever provide me with, but I have to make her promise.

'' I promise, dear.'' She agreed, '' Wake him up — we don't have much time,''

I tumbled over to Draco, kneeling beside him — I felt my heart shatter once more when I stroked a few strands of hair off his forehead, lightly pushing my lips against his cheek, '' Draco,'' I breathed out,

Silence,

He didn't move a muscle, '' Draco, please,'' I whispered, louder this time, taking my hand in his; finally, after almost shouting his name, he jolted up, his frozen hand intertwined with mine,