It was a different room this time.

The same general layout; the same empty walls and nightstands. Instead of the large bookshelf that filled the wall opposite of the bed, though, now there was nothing but a wooden door and a large mirror.

It made the room a considerable amount less cosy, though, having a bathroom was definitely a perk. They must've been planning on keeping me in here for a long time.

How considerate, seeing as they've already had me in here for a whole day without so much as fresh air.

The only time that door opened today was when one of the house-elves brought food. Though, they didn't even look me in the eyes. Probably out of fear someone would murder them if they were even remotely nice to me.

A sigh escaped my lips, turning on my back again as I stared at the ceiling.

It felt like my heart was still about to beat out of my chest. It never stopped beating as fast as it did after they brought me here.

I wondered if I'll ever calm down again. If I'll ever be able to sleep, at least rest, again.

Right at this moment, I wasn't quite sure.

Whenever I closed my eyes, I saw Voldemort's face. I saw his face so incredibly close to my own, that gruesome smile forming on his lips before he muttered the Cruciatus curse just like he had once before.

Surely that's what he wanted to do? It had to be.

My breath hitched, and I sat up straight at the sound of the door unlocking before it opened and closed again in a matter of seconds.

As if petrified, I didn't move, trying to make out who just walked into the room unannounced as I listened into the darkness for any kind of clue.

"Y/n?" His voice asked in a hushed whisper, awkwardly standing in the room for a moment before rushing towards the bed.

"Draco?" I whispered back; my question answered when he came close enough for me to make out his face. He turned on the light next to the bed, the sudden brightness making me flinch and squeeze my eyes shut.

"Oh, thank Merlin you're alright," He sighed in relief, sitting down on my bedside and taking my hand in his, appreciation in his eyes as if he hadn't seen me in days. "I didn't hear anything about you, and I didn't think it would've been smart to ask- and, I had no idea if they were doing anything to you- what they were doing," He rambled on, squeezing my hand tighter as his eyes shut forcefully.

"Hey, I'm okay," I murmured, giving him a small smile when his eyes opened again at my words. "Are you?"

He nodded quickly, shrugging his own well being off as if it didn't matter. I sighed.

"Thank you," He suddenly burst out, his eyes no longer on me as they roamed the now illuminated room. "Really."

I furrowed my brows at the words, and before I could say anything to it, he went on. "Seriously. That was quick thinking on your part yesterday. I probably owe you my life, you know."

I gave him a sad smile, tilting my head slightly.

"We're even, then," I simply shrugged, pulling him further into the bed.

A singular low laugh escaped his lips at my words before a cocky smirk formed on them.

"Oh, yeah," He remembered, nodding proudly to himself. "I forgot I'm, like, your knight in shining armour, aren't I?" He teased, his brows quirked as he slipped under the duvet next to me.

"Well, I'm your knight in shining armour now," I said, rolling my eyes. He huffed in amusement, though, we both went completely quiet as we heard footsteps approaching from the corridor.

For the first few seconds, I didn't even notice I was holding my breath. My eyes shot over to him; both of our eyes wide as we silently tried to figure out what to do.

"Did you lock the door?" I asked in a loud whisper, Draco shaking his head furiously in response.

"Didn't think I had to at two in the morning," He hissed back, eyes now fixated on the door as the noise grew louder.

The sound of the steps against the wood stopped at once; stopped right in front of the door and panicked, I shoved Draco under the blanket completely, fluffing it up, so it didn't seem like he was there.

It was terrible, but it would do. Hopefully.

And just a moment later, the door opened without warning; forceful enough to make it seem like they were expecting to catch something.

My brows furrowed as I recognised Snape in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room carefully.

"Are you looking for something?" I wondered out loud, the attitude in my voice a little too obvious. I honestly just wanted him out of here.

"Actually, yes," He said, the usual tone in his voice as he turned towards me, closing the door behind him gently as to not make a sound.

Merlin, this could take a while.

"Now, wherever would Mister Malfoy be?" He asked casually, scanning the room once more.

I did everything in my power not to let the shock and surprise show on my face. I hope I succeeded.

"I'd presume he's in his room? Asleep?" I murmured, diverting my eyes off of him to hide the blush that was forming on my cheeks at the rather compromised position Draco was in.

Let's just say; it wouldn't look good if Snape ended up noticing him.

He quirked an eyebrow at my lie, hopefully not detecting it.

"That's curious," He continued, an edge in his voice I couldn't quite place. "I just saw him walk in here?"

"Well, clearly not," I said slowly, my eyes searching the room. "Why are you watching my room?"

He narrowed his eyes at me, a hint of confusion in them as he looked around once more. Then, he straightened his posture and held his head high.

"Very well, Miss Potter," He began. "I may as well tell you this, then." He cleared his throat once. "I'm not the one watching. They are." There was something in his voice that was entirely new to hear from him. Something sincere, almost like he cared. "One glimpse of compassion from Draco, one sign he didn't actually plan on bringing you back to them, and that's it."

Something in the way he spoke told me he already knew that wasn't the case. But he went on, anyway. "They're not done with you, and there's nothing I can do about it," He spoke, making my body stiffen. "But they believe Draco left with you to betray you. They don't think he'd dare lie to The Dark Lord. Don't give them a reason to change their mind, for their punishment might be much more severe."

And with those words, he left. Closing the door behind him but not locking it. He knew Draco was here somewhere. But It seemed like he didn't actually want to find him.

Even after he left, I didn't move. My heart seemingly beating faster than before, if that was even possible. Adrenalin and anxiety rushing through my veins alike as Draco emerged from under the covers.

The boy took a deep breath, appreciating the fresh air as soon as he could. It seemed like he wasn't quite sure how to proceed after overhearing the rather one-sided conversation.

My chest was rising and falling heavily. I tried to calm down, but I was far from it.

For the first time, really, Snape's words made me comprehend the situation we were in; it made me really wrap my head around it. And the pressure and complexity of it made it seem like my head and heart were ready to simply combust. Leaving nothing but shambles behind.

"Y/n-"

"He's right," I mumbled, interrupting whatever he was about to say. "Isn't he?" My eyes snapped over in his direction, and I pulled my knees up, resting my head on them as I wrapped my arms around my legs. "Merlin, he's so right."

I sighed loudly, my breath shaky before I closed my eyes and hoped I'd feel less overwhelmed by doing so.

"You have no idea how badly I want him to be wrong," Draco said, followed by a low, humourless laugh. "But I know he's not. And if we get caught who knows what they'll do to you." He shook his head, seemingly trying to rid himself of his thoughts.

Another loud, shaky breath escaped my lips, my eyes opening just to lock with his immediately. They were wide, his pupils dilated. His brows were furrowed in worry, faint lines forming on his forehead.

His face was radiating a familiarity, a feeling of comfort in the midst of the foreign environment I found myself in. Like he was the only person really there. Like I could tell him anything.

"I can't bear the thought," I blurted out. "-Any thought. Whenever I try, I can't seem to-" I cut myself off with another forceful exhale, trying to gather myself. "Can we just forget?"

At that, he quirked an eyebrow. I wasn't quite sure whether he did out of confusion or curiosity. Probably both. "Forget that I might get tortured tomorrow, or killed next week-forget that we're even here; in a manor full of death eaters, frequently visited by the darkest wizard of all time, at that." I rambled on.

Draco just looked at me, letting my words sink in as he tried to wrap his head around them.

"Can we? Act like we don't have a care in the world one last time? Just for tonight?"

He swallowed thickly, wetting his lips before his tongue poked the inside of his cheek. One eyebrow raised slightly, he asked, "And how do you want to do that?"

I didn't even need a second to react to his question. My need for distraction, as well as the rest-adrenalin still pumping through my veins, did it for me as my lips connected with his in a hungry kiss.

Though taken aback, his lips began moving against mine only moments later, the first wave of relief rushing over me, carrying parts of my worry and anxiety with it.

I sat on top of him, straddling his lap before I could really even realise it.

He was sitting up, his back against the headrest as his hands went to cup my ass, and his mouth buried in the crook of my neck, kissing, sucking and biting my skin.

A stifled moan escaped my lips at the sensation, making me pull back to bring a bit of distance between us. For a moment, we just looked at each other; breaths heavy and my cheeks a bit flushed as a smirk grew on his face.

"I hope it's not too late to wish you a happy birthday?" He asked cheekily, eyebrows raised as his head tilted slightly.

"Well, it is, technically," I huffed, a smile on my face at the fact he even remembered, as I pretended to ponder over his words. My eyes roamed my surroundings, landing on his wand casually resting on the nightstand.

A smirk formed on my lips, and I bent over to reach it, a sigh of relief escaping my mouth as I grabbed it and sat back down.

My eyes locked with his, I pointed his wand at the door without even looking at it.

"Colloportus," I muttered, registering the door locking as a knowing expression formed on Draco's face at my words. "Muffliato."

I let his wand casually fall to the ground just like he had done with mine countless times.

"But I can think of a way or two you can make up for it."

A/N: Yes, yes, you've been robbed- I really didn't feel like writing smut when I wrote this. Don't kill me for it lmfao To make up for it, I wrote smut today so that'll be out in a few days. Patience is key. :)

Next chapter is a very special one hehe can you guess what it is? Very nervous about it lol

See you tomorrow!