_____

''The sunrise.''

_____

Amelie and Draco spent another night at the cabin with her little brother and her mother.

They both knew that Narcissa had meetings across the country, and Theodore was in the wind — as he usually was these days. But Amelie didn't mind. She felt utterly safe in the embrace of the cabin, and to have both Draco and Atlas close to her caused it all to feel even more alright.

Yet, it wasn't always pleasant. Draco and Athena didn't spare as much as a look in the other one's direction, and not a word spilled between them. It was a hovering silence when Atlas or Amelie failed to speak.

Not even her hand as it brushed against his underneath the table or her legs crossed with his as they sat on the ground, playing with Atlas in the sunshine — could ease the blond's nerves when it came to her mother.

He didn't want to build a relationship with the lady. He didn't crave to have anything to do with her at all. All Malfoy wished was to buy a mansion big enough so that they could stay at different ends of it and never see each other.

Draco did this for her.

He was at the cabin, drinking her mother's bloody tea and playing with her little brother because she deserved it. She'd been through hell and back to find her mother, and this was the least he could do for her.

But Draco didn't seem to loath it as much as he let on. It was frankly peaceful to him as well — being in nature, sleeping next to her on the couch, resting so close to her on that tiny space so that she couldn't roll away from him, walking through the forest, and catching her every time she stumbled. Watching her eyes glimmer in the sunset, her brother when threw himself over her, attacking her with his toys.

It couldn't be more heaven in the misery to him.

And now — now he was buying a house with her. Their own safe haven where they'd be safe from everyone and everything.

Never had life felt worth living to him unless it was with her.

Amelie smiled as she looked down at the sleeping blond next to her, her thumb brushing over his outlined cheekbone, and she kissed his nose, mumbling, ''I'll be right back,'' Underneath her breath.

Draco — even as he rested heavily within the world of imagination, gripped her waist, and he pulled her back down onto the soft fabric, ''You're not going anywhere...''

Burying his head into the brim of her neck, she laughed out softly. Tickling her and keeping her pinned down as she sighed, ''I want to watch the sunrise...'' Amelie whispered, pushing her lips into his head.

''Then I'll come with you,'' Draco yawned, tilting his head back to glance at her. A curve played on his lips at the way her hair had tangled, but Amelie shook her head, leaning over him.

''You need to sleep. Give me ten minutes, and I'll be right back,'' Brushing her lips along with hers, he connected them. Kissing her so gently, ''Please sleep, Draco.''

Malfoy groaned, rolling his eyes at her as she kneeled back, jumping off the couch in nothing but her underwear, and she was quick to thread her dress over her body.

Yet again, Draco didn't fail to sneak a glimpse of her bare skin before he buried his head into his pillow, ''For fucks sake,'' He grunted into the muffling textile.

''What?'' She huffed out, turning around with a smile glued to her, ''What did I—''

''Just go watch your damn sun, and then you'll come right back,'' Draco muttered into the pillow, sounding utterly severe, ''Alright? You got ten minutes, and then I'll come to get you, and I will personally carry you back here.''

Her bare thighs were the thing he watched as he cocked his head, meaning to look up at her, and he immediately slammed his head back down, ''For fucks — ten minutes, Amelie, now leave before I change my mind.''

Rolling her eyes at him as she strode through the living room, out in the hallway, to the front door.

The warm breeze slipped through her hair, and her dress fluttered at the strokes of it.

Amelie huffed to herself, walking out on the porch as she bent down to pick the daily paper up from the floor. Flipping through it as she hunched down on the bench standing against the wooden wall.

Waiting impatiently for the sun to rise between the mountains, a page filled with houses for sale caught her attention, and a shy curl on her lips took over at the thought of her and Draco living together — they'd lived underneath the same roof for almost a year now — yet this felt different to her.

One house, in particular, mirrored as a mansion and looked to be too massive for all of them, caused her smile to broaden and her teeth to bite down her lower lip.

It had gigantic windows, rooms for more than a dozen people, a huge library, and a special room, one room that made her heart flutter a bit — the idea of what she and Narcissa talked about the other day clocked her instantly.

''Look at these. I planted those when Draco was a year old, one new color for each year he turned older,'' Narcissa gestured towards the sea of roses in all different colors as it shaded her favorite part of the garden, ''But these white ones... those are my favorite.''

Amelie hummed in response, peeping down at the pearly flower as she shook her head, ''They looked lovely,'' She smiled, meeting Narcissa's dark hues, ''When did you plant those? How old was he turning?''

''Eighteen,'' Narcissa whispered, lowering her gaze from Amelie and staring down at the ground, ''He was turning eighteen...''

With her hand, gently stroking across Narcissa's back, she nodded comfortably, ''You raised a wonderful son,'' Amelie smiled, ''One of the best people I know, and you should be proud of that.''

Narcissa looked out over the yard in front of her, ''I am...'' Her tone still low, ''There's no one that's prouder over Draco than I am, believe me, Amelie. I am so proud of my son, but I have done things too, and I am so scared to lose him. I am so scared every time he steps out of that door that I'll never get to see him again—''

''That's why I plant all the different colors —  if he doesn't come back to me, one day, he'll still be with me here, every year will still be here...''

''I know,'' Amelie hushed her, pushing her lips into the side of Narcissa's head. Allowing the lady to drain her of comfort, ''I know it's scary, but he always comes back for us. Not once has he failed to come back for us.''

It hurt her too, speaking in the ways she did. Knowing what the blond boy has done and what he had to sacrifice to keep them safe. How his soul held haunted and his mind exhausted for always saving everyone.

''Thank you for loving him,'' Narcissa whispered, bending down and picking a majestic rose off its petal, the tips of her fingers brushing along the flower, ''I don't know what he'd do without you, Amelie.''

The girl smiled, feeling as the warm summer wind kissed her cheek.

''I think he found himself while looking for you. Even in the beginning, I think he was so lost, but ever since he got that task a year ago, to be with you... He found himself, and for that, I am eternally thankful.''

Turning around fully, Narcissa let a curve ghost on her lips, and she reached to tuck a curl behind Amelie's ear, along with the rose she picked.

''I don't say that enough, that I'm thankful for you and that you want to take part in our family,'' She let her fingers linger, sliding along Amelie's cheekbone as she admired the girl, ''I have never met anyone with the heart you carry. Never have I met someone that hurts so much as you do only to turn it into love for everyone else.''

Amelie let her head tip into the palm of Narcissa's hand, and she huffed out, ''You know — Your son taught me that when he comforted me after a nightmare once...''

Shivers pathed down her spine at the thought of it — just how far they'd come since the nights he used to sneak into her room at night and hold her when her haunted dreams took over.

''He said that how I love myself is how I teach others to love me and never...'' Amelie chuckled to herself. ''Never did I think that your son could be as right as he was.''

She faltered for a mere second.

''You can say it's all me — that my heart grew and that I am strong, but he's the one who helped me reach that. He made me that way,'' She admitted, ''And it's not easy to think that, because he's not open about it, he never lets his own feelings show, but when he does... Narcissa, when he does show you what's going on inside that beautiful head of his, he's astonishing.''

Amelie nearly began crying at the way she was speaking, ''He's taught me a lot, your son — he saved me... He and Teddy and I like to think I saved him too.''

Tears glimmered in his mother's eyes, and she nodded rapidly, ''He's a smart boy, isn't he—'' She whimpered, ''I raised him well, didn't I?''

''You did,'' Amelie's gaze fell so softly upon her, ''You truly did.''

Nodding again, she stepped forward, sheeting her arms around the girl, and she hugged her. Desperately, feeling as if she needed to do something more — thank Amelie in ways she'd failed to do.

''Thank you,'' Narcissa whispered, hugging Amelie closely, ''Thank you for choosing to stay with us — for not giving up on him.''

''I wouldn't have it any other way,'' Amelie whispered back as her arms folded around Narcissa's back, ''Thank you for having me and for letting me love him.''

They remained there, in the sparkling sun for moments as they kept each other close — until Narcissa withdrew, her eyes flickered to watch the garden around them, ''So, what color are we choosing this time? His birthday is around the corner.''

Scratching her back nervously, she followed his mother's movements, ''I meant to talk to you about that—'' Amelie said, anxiously almost, ''I have been trying to come up with something to give him. He always buys me the best gifts, but it's hard, and I don't want to disappoint him.''

Narcissa hummed, hunching down to fiddle with the roses, ''Do you want me to give you ideas or what—''

''No,'' Amelie stepped past her, turning around and facing the yard, ''I just had a question about it. I noticed he does this thing with his fingers when he's angry—''

Her cheeks blushed, ''Where he pats his fingers against the table or his knee, and I was wondering if he used to play the piano? Because I had a friend when I was little who did that thing with her fingers when she was upset, and she used to play the piano.''

It was as if something shot right through the lady at Amelie's question. As if a ghost had appeared, ''He still does that...'' Narcissa lowered her voice, ''I don't even see it anymore.''

Feeling so guilty, Narcissa stood up, and she let a bow tip off her head, ''He indeed played the piano as a child. He loved it, but my husband he...'' Gathering the flowers she picked, she held a majestic bouquet in her arms, ''He took the piano away from Draco, and he never mentioned playing it ever again—''

''Hi, beautiful—''

Both Amelie and Narcissa spun around, totally unprepared for the blond boy to make an entrance as he did, looking at him startingly as he snaked his arms around the girl, turning her around and pushing her spine tightly against his chest.

''What are you doing out here?'' His lips pressed to her head, ''You have a habit of sneaking out before I wake up...'' He growled lowly, only for Amelie to hear as she caved into his arms.

''Don't do that again.''

''What are you doing up?''

Amelie jolted back, her eyes snapping from the paper in front of her, landing on the boy standing confused by her side. Dressed in a nightshirt and pants twice his size, ''No one is up this early.'' He chuckled at her startled self.

Shaking her head and freeing herself from her memories, she put the paper back down, ''Is that so?'' Her lips dragged out in a smile. Her arms stretched as her fingers waved for the boy to come closer.

Climbing onto her lap, Atlas peered up at her, ''Yes, mom always sleeps in.''

''Then why are you up?'' She whispered as the sky brightened, and the blue heaven showed, ''If mother sleeps in, why are you—''

''The sunrise,'' Atlas giggled, tossing himself out of her arms and down onto the ground as he sprinted towards the fence of the porch, gripping the wood and pointing out towards the treetops, ''I look at the sun, and then I play with my toys until mom wakes up.''

''The sunrise, you say?'' Amelie pushed herself off the bench, walking up to the boy. It never clocked her how alike they seemed to be, ''You know...''

She dropped to one knee, shooting a sneaky look around before glancing back at Atlas and the playful stare he carried, ''I know the best place to watch it, but we need to hurry.''

Atlas nodded eagerly as she stood up, her hand stretched out to take his. He clung onto her arm, and then they ran — Amelie dragged her little brother with her, hurrying their way through the thick forest to make it in time.

Just like she and Teddy had done when they were kids.

Her feet were bare, and her dress fluttered around her. The long strands of her hair spilled wildly across her head as she looked down at her little brother, and his cheeks held a feverish color. Laughing and running close to her in his nightwear.

The sun flickered across the tree trunks as they tried to beat it.

Her chest rose and fell so heavily, and she noticed how her brother began to slow down. It was too early to be sprinting this fast, and he couldn't possibly keep up with her.

''Here,'' Amelie slowed down, arching her spine forward for her brother to jump onto it, and he did — Atlas wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and she carried him on her back, all the way until they stepped across the thick treeline, her feet sinking down into the sand.

They made it just in time.

''Look,'' She whispered, attempting to catch her breath, ''This is where Teddy and I always watched the sunrise every morning when we were kids.''

Atlas's eyes broadened at the view he caught.

He stared mesmerizingly at the sun as it flourished over the lake. Beams of it glimmered heavenly onto the stilled water surface.

''It's really pretty...'' He whispered as he slid down from her back, taking tracks out over the beach, and he looked around, confusingly, ''Amelie... where are we?''

''You know how your mother—'' Clearing her throat and correcting herself awkwardly, ''Our mother said she loves being here?''

He nodded, looking up at her as the sun rose, ''Well, that's because she took Teddy and me here as kids. It was our little place, and every morning we used to run our way down here to watch the sunrise in our pajamas.''

Atlas chuckled at what she said, shaking his head, ''In your pajamas?'' He giggled, finding his sister funnier than she wished to be, ''You can't run around in your pajamas, Amelie.''

Raising a brow, Amelie arched down quickly, and her fingers tickled at the boy's stomach, ''Can't I? Well, if I'm not still asleep and I'm dreaming right now — I'd say you're wearing your pajamas.''

Laughing loudly, Atlas backed away, and his cheeks colored in a rosy shade, ''So...'' Amelie walked after him, ''You're as crazy as me then.''

''I'm not!'' He yelled out, still with laughter as it fled his throat, and he spun around, running his way to the house standing at the far edge of the beach, ''I want to go in there!''

Amelie felt a warm feeling as it welled over. Her veins filled with emotion, and she ran after him, feeling as the dawn welcomed them.

''Careful, Atlas. It's—'' She tried to warn as he dove into the fallen entrance of the house. Strolling after him as the home stood in ruins, she smiled. Looking at Atlas as he carefully climbed across the fallen roof.

He examined the surroundings thoroughly for minutes. His fingers brushing over the dust the furniture still standing inside had collected.

After minutes in silence, both of them peering around, he broke the quietness, ''Why do you like this house? You can't live here.'' Atlas chuckled, making a slight grimace climb onto Amelie's calm features.

She spun around, gazing through the shattered glass of the window, welling out over the lake, ''Because it was mine and Teddy's...'' She whispered as he stepped up next to her, ''It was ours, and that was special to me. I like it here, even if it's broken.''

Atlas grasped at the worn kitchen counter, his fingers curling around the wood to peer out the window just like Amelie did. Bending down, her hands gripped underneath his arms, and she lifted him onto it.

''Well, I like it too,'' Atlas said, a hopeful glint in his eyes, ''I don't have a house. Mom and I move a lot.'' She could see how his smile faded as he looked up at her. His curls fell so messily across his head, ''She says it's because we're not safe,''

He huffed, shaking his head, ''I'd like to have something that is mine too.''

Her heart ached at that, watching as the boy straightened the collar of his striped nightshirt.

''You know...'' Amelie placed her elbow onto the timber, leaning closer to him, ''I wanted to ask you something.''

His eyes shone brightly again, so much that her heart swelled in happiness, and her eyelids glinted in tears, how she mourned the fact of not knowing that he existed until now.

They could've seized the world together.

''What?'' Atlas asked, tipping his head and rubbing his knuckles in his heavy eyes. He was still tired after waking up just half an hour ago, only to run through the forest.

Amelie bit her lower lip as she reached her hand out, helping him jump down from the counter, walking behind her out the door again.

''Draco and I are buying a house,'' She gazed out over the world around them as a new day had climbed the skies, ''And I wanted to know if you would feel okay, moving in with us?''

Feeling as the panic bolted through her the instant she allowed those words to slip, she kneeled down beside him, and she shook her head, ''Only if you want to, of course, but you don't have to. If you want to stay here with mother and live in the cabin, that's alright too—''

She was rambling now, ''I just wanted to ask you because I want both you two to move in with us, so we all can be safe together, but you don't have to. I like the cabin too, and I'll come to visit every day if you want me to—''

''You're just like mom,'' He held a serious look, narrowing his eyes in hers, ''You don't stop talking.''

Pushing her lips together, her eyelids twitched, and her pulse quickened, ''I'm sorry—''

Atlas burst out laughing, finding it hilarious to joke around with his sister, ''I'm joking with you...'' He heaved through his laughs, ''Is it Draco's birthday present?''

Nearly wincing back as she caught those words, ''What—''

''He told me it's his birthday tomorrow, so I'm making him a card. Can we pick some rocks?'' Atlas peered out over the beach before stumbling down the grass, over the sand, and Amelie couldn't do anything but shake her head.

Knitting her brows and frowning at how fast the boy changed the topic, ''Atlas, what—''

He didn't listen. He simply strolled as he began picking up the prettiest rocks he could find, ''I said, I'm making Draco a birthday card.''

It was frankly adorable to her — how Atlas managed to find a connection with Malfoy so swiftly. There wasn't much Amelie could be thankful for in this world, but that she was. Never had she been that grateful that Draco bonded with her little brother in the ways he did.

At first, she was terrified that he wouldn't want anything to do with her brother, but she regretted ever believing that. Draco was, just like her — truly kind at heart.

''Just be careful, please—'' She used slow steps towards her brother, feeling as the morning sun stung at her bare arms and legs, ''I don't want you to cut your feet—''

''Ten minutes, yeah?''

Amelie coiled back, spinning around so speedily that she nearly tripped over her own feet. Her eyes smeared at the blond who stood with his hands shoved into his pockets, glaring at her.

''I—'' She sought to speak, but Draco shook his head as he let his eyes roll at the way she once again allowed her mind to slip, ''I was—''

Gesturing towards her little brother, Amelie bit her lower lip, nervously and her head tilted shyly, ''I'm sorry, we just—''

''Yeah?'' Draco hissed, scoffing slightly, ''You know what I did? I was ambushed by your damn mother and her bloody tea, Amelie. On that couch while being half-naked—''

Pressing her lips together, tightly she tried not to laugh at him. His eyes widened at that, lips parting in disbelief at how she could find him, being stuck with her mother even a bit amusing.

''You—'' Draco groaned as he, without warning, sprinted towards her. Hunching down, he caught her thighs, and he threw her unhesitantly over his shoulder, ''You find that funny, yeah?''

''Draco—'' Amelie laughed out, her hands slamming his spine as she hung upside down, ''Draco, please — I'm sorry—''

Only muttering something back at her, he began to march down to the shoreline, and his eyes snapped to Atlas, still picking up stones from the beach, ''Atlas!'' Draco shouted, tipping his head towards the lake, ''Your sister wants to swim—''

''No, no, no—'' Amelie choked out, shaking her head as her hair fell tousled around her. She tried to twist and turn to get out of the grip he held her in, ''Draco, please—''

''Oh, so you're the one begging me now?'' He smirked at her, lacking his hold, causing her to fall down properly in his arms, ''Wasn't you the one demanding me to beg you last night?''

''Please—'' Her cheeks burnt out of the exhaustion she felt, and her arms sheeted his neck, pulling herself into him, ''I'll do anything, please—''

Amelie could feel how his body stiffened at what she said.

Draco cleared his throat, coughing discreetly, ''Anything?'' He mumbled, letting her down on two feet, ''Are you keeping that word this time?''

Frowning lightly, she cocked her head. Amelie looked up at him from above, ''What happened, Draco?'' She could see the very instant something was wrong, ''Tell me what happened.''

''Amelie—''

''No,'' She took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest, ''What happened? Is it Teddy? Did he get hurt?''

''What?'' Draco shook his head, sighing loudly at how quick she was to jump to conclusions, ''It's not about Theodore, but there's something.''

Her gut seemed to be right as always. Sealing her eyes shut for a mere second, she drew a breath. Preparing herself for what was coming.

''I need to leave today,'' He said as his teeth gritted. He sounded bitter, not pleased at all, ''I need to go to London, just for a few hours but I'll be back—''

''Are you honest with me?'' She didn't look at him. Her eyes grounded at her feet as they were dipped in the water, ''Considering you lied to me last time.''

Knowing that she did, too, Amelie rued that comment even before she fired it. She felt horrible for saying that to him — when she did the precise thing she accused him of.

''Amelie...'' Draco stretched his arm out, trying to place his palm on her jaw, but she yanked away as she earned a hurtful dash to flash in his eyes.

It pained him every time she didn't let him touch her.

''Amelie, look at me,'' He didn't want to push her. He didn't wish to touch her when she didn't want him to, but he needed her to see him being honest with her, ''Look at me.''

Her eyes peeled open, and her face held numb, but she stared up at him, still with her arms folded across her chest.

''I'm sorry that I lied to you,'' He just wanted to touch her. Draco didn't feel complete until he had his skin brushing against hers, ''I know I said I was meeting my father last time when I wasn't. And I am sorry for that, for lying to you.''

Her eyes flickered as the sun kissed her skin so beautifully.

''But I am not sorry for protecting you, and I am not sorry for keeping secrets that keep you safe. I have said it before, Amelie, and I will tell you again that I will not make any apologies for keeping you safe, no matter how I do it.''  

Malfoy noticed instantly how her gaze softened and her breaths balanced.

He knew that all he had to do, was being honest with her. They lied to each other once, and it almost ended in chaos. Never would either of them do that again.

''I'm sorry too...'' She whispered, and with a step closer to him, she let her forehead tilt to his chest, right where she knew he loved for her to be, ''I lied too, and I'm sorry.''

Moving his arms around her, he gripped the back of her head, and he held her as close as he could, ''I know,'' He said calmly, ''But I have to leave. It's urgent.''

''I know...'' Amelie inhaled sharply through her nose as she savored the blond as best as she could before she knew him to leave, ''When will you be back?''

''Late,'' He mumbled, tipping her head back with his chin. He craved to look at her before he left for the day. Draco couldn't function if he didn't memorize every last detail of her, ''But I will take you home first. I need to have a word with mother.''

He let his eyes drag off her for a second, watching her little brother as he still played with the rocks, and relief washed over Draco. He nearly forgot that her brother was there.

Amelie nodded, and she looked at Atlas as she smiled. She knew she wouldn't have to be away from her brother for long.

She pushed herself up on her toes. Her face leveled Draco's, and her lips brushed along with his, ''Then let's go home, shall we?''

_____

Draco was exhausted.

He'd been away the whole day — ever since he and Amelie said goodbye to her mother and brother, he'd been in the wind.

Nothing felt better than knowing that she'd be waiting for him back home. That she'd be tucked into bed at the late hour and that he would be able to sneak down next to her, burying himself in all that warmth she so generously poured over him.

His eyes flickered across their room as he safely landed inside his home. Draco was late. He knew he was.

He'd promised her to be back in time for dinner, but he wasn't. His father refused to let him go, and it had bothered him the whole evening, knowing that he wasn't home when he promised her to be.

His pupils snapped and scanned every last inch between the four walls, and it took him a second to realize that she wasn't there. Panic struck him like a train at high speed.

Suddenly Malfoy couldn't think anymore.

She wasn't there.

Amelie was nowhere to be found.

_____