What Lies Within

Sophie looks up into her husbands eyes, stunned into a moment of silence by his immediate acceptance. He looked back, holding her gaze firmly. He could see that she was clearly thinking about this, trying to  figure out if he really was okay with it or not. He reaches out, moving to rest one large hand gently on her soft and warm cheek. His face slowly lights up with a small smile.

"We should go." He finally says out loud, still waiting for her to say something about his agreement.

"Why are you giving in so easily? It's the Weasley's, we would be staying with the Weasley's." She finally spoke, trying to make sure he understood what she was asking him to do.

"I figured as much when it was signed by a Weasley." He jokes, trying to get some form of smile from his wife but her brow was still furrowed with concern and doubt. He sighs then, his smile dropping and leans forward, his hand still on her cheek, and presses his lips to the crease between her brows. When he pulls back he rests his forehead gently on hers and closes his eyes. "I want you to be safe and they can protect you better than I can."

"You've protected me. I haven't been harmed, have I?" As soon as the words were out an image from a week before entered his mind. His wife collapsing to the ground with a shriek of agony as The Dark Lord aims a crucio curse at her. He would never be able to get her screams out of his head or the feeling of her limp and shaking in his arms as he held her close. Sophie can tell Draco was thinking of that moment so she leans in, pressing her lips to his in an effort to ease his mind. "As long as you come too, I will go. Otherwise I'm staying right here with you." She tells him when she pulls away from his lips.

"I never want us separated again." He tells her, pulling back to make complete eye contact with her. She nods, agreeing completely. She brings her hands up, tangling her fingers in the soft blonde hair on the back of his head as she pulls his lips against hers again.

Later, Draco laid fast asleep in bed, unaware of his wife sitting awake on the deck off their bedroom. She stared up at the slightly starry sky, most of it blocked by thick patches of cloud cover but the moon still shone bright, bathing her in moonlight.

In her hands was clutched a piece of parchment and quill as she contemplated what to write as a response to everyone. She finally sighed and put the parchment down in her lap and began to write.

Harry, Hermione, Ron and the Weasley's,
Please forgive me for simply writing one letter but as I planned on saying similar things to all of you and wanted to get it done as quickly as possible I thought it easier to write one letter to you all.

Draco and I appreciate your offer to let us under your protection. We feel safe here where we are currently located but that could change in an instant and I think I would feel more at ease in the protection of the Order. If you are still willing to have us we would like to come. Both of us.

I would not come without Draco so I am grateful you are willing to include him as well. Both of us are victim's in all of this. I want to sit down with all of you and explain everything. No more secrets or lies.

Draco and I await your word on when to come your way. Send a note along to Narcissa and it will get to us.

Much love as always,
Sophie

Sophie sighs and folds the letter up, writing Weasley on the front before she stands and heads back inside. She eyes Draco on the bed as she crept slowly passed. He was still fast asleep, a slight snore escaping from his parted lips. Sophie couldn't help but stop by the door, taking in her sleeping husband.

Her heart swelled with pure love and adoration for Draco. His smile lit a fire within her, his touch was like a live wire across her skin, his lips sent tingles down her spine and his voice spread a warmth within her. Even with everything that has happened in her life she truly felt like the luckiest girl in the world because she got to have him. She got to take up beside him everyday, she got to feel his lips on her, his fingers through her hair, his body melding with hers.

Tomorrow Draco would be turning 17, a legal adult. And two weeks later she would be following in adulthood. She suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion sweep through her. Not physically tired but emotionally. She wasn't even 17 yet but she had already gone through enough trauma, heartache and worry to last a lifetime. She needed a normal life with Draco. She yearned for it, she daydreamed about it often and really didn't think it was asking much.

Sophie finally managed to pull her eyes from Draco and exit the bedroom, shutting the door quietly after her. She padded down the hallway and then down the stairs, creeping slowly as to not wake Draco with foot steps or a creaky floor board.

Once she was in the kitchen she made her way over to Jonesy, her owl who sat perched on the back of a kitchen chair. She walked over to him, running her fingers gently across his soft feathers. He turned gold eyes towards her and fluttered his wings, nipping affectionately at her fingers. She smiles and holds her folded letter out to him. He grasps it in his beak and looks at her, waiting for instruction.

"To the burrow, okay? To Ron." Jonesy had delivered letters to Ron many times over the years and would know where to go. She holds her hand out to him, allowing him to step onto her wrist. She walked slowly over to the window by the sink and slid it open with one hand before reaching her other hand out and allowing him to hop out, flying out and disappearing over the trees.

"Everything okay?" Draco mumbled sleepily as soon as she had crawled back into their bed moments later. She curled her body close against his as his arms wrapped around her.

"Yes." She decided to tell him that she responded to the trio's offer in the morning. She knew he would want to talk about it but she wanted him to just sleep for now. A second later be was fast asleep once more. She smiled, kissed his jaw gently and followed him in sleep.

Draco's birthday passed in a silent affair for the most part. Sophie made him a dinner of his favorite foods complete with a cake. She sang to him and he pulled her in for a kiss before he blew out the candles. She was unable to get him a gift, as they were too nervous to leave the house now that they knew how seriously her life was in danger. He assured her he understood and that her safety was better than any gift she could ever give him.

Two days after Sophie sent the letter to the Weasley's, there was a knock on the door. Sophie and Draco had been curled up on the couch in the study. Sophie was engrossed in a book while Draco dozed in and out of a nap, curled up tight against Sophie. They exchange frowns as they both stand from the couch. Narcissa was the only one who knew where they were and as she was secret keeper she was the only one who could find them. They weren't expecting her so they were at a loss for who it could be.

Draco pushed Sophie behind him, hiding her from view as he unlocked the door and pulled it open, weary and ready to pull out his wand if needed. He was greeted with a bush of brown curls and a grinning face.

"Hello, Granger." Draco greeted before stepping aside, allowing his wife to see her best friend standing in the doorway. Sophie's eyes widened and she gasped before a second later her and Hermione lunged at one another and hugged the other close. "How did you find us?" Draco questioned, grabbing for his wife and her friend, ushering them back into the safety of his home and closing the door.

"Your mother." Hermione answered, glancing over at Draco before smiling at her best friend again. "I wanted to come see your house anyway and what better time than to also come get you?"

"Well come on! Shall we give her a tour, Dray?" Draco couldn't help but smile at the pure happiness written across his wife's face. He nodded and gestured for her to lead the way. Sophie linked arms with Hermione and led the brunette down the hall, pointing at rooms along the way.

"Look at all of these books! Hermione gasped when they stepped into the study. Sophie laughed and nodded, looking around the room in admiration. "Let me guess, you've read all of these?" Draco couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Some twice over." He answers for his wife who grinned. "Not much else to do lately." He knew Sophie was getting tired of being cooped up in the house all the time but it was for her safety and she understood that even if she wasn't happy about it.

"Shall we continue on?" Sophie turned and headed from the room, the two of them following after her. Once the tour was over, the three of them sat at the kitchen table with steaming mugs of tea prepared by Sophie. "Does Harry really forgive me?" Sophie asks as soon as they were all seated. It had been weighing on her mind ever since she had recieved Harry's letter. Was he just saying that he forgave her or did he truly mean it?

"He really does." Hermione reassured her. Sophie nods and looks down at the table as her vision begins to swim before her as her eyes will up in tears.

"I couldn't do it." She whispers. "I knew my life was in danger but I couldn't go against you all like that. I didn't care what happened to me, I couldn't do it." Draco saw a tear fall from his wife's cheek and had to resist the urge to go over to her and wrap her up in his arms. He knew she needed to talk about this with Hermione and he didn't want to interrupt them.

"Sophie, now that Harry knows that he doesn't blame you." Hermione spoke softly and reached out to take Sophie's hand. Sophie clutched at it tightly and looked up to meet her worried eyes. "He actually wishes you had asked. Had he known that your life was in danger he would have told you anything. He would do anything to keep you safe." It made Sophie feel a little bit better hearing these words. If Harry still trusted and forgave her, then putting her life at risk was worth it.

"I will never be The Dark Lord's lapdog like he wishes I was and I think he finally realized that." Sophie mutters, glancing over at Draco for a second before looking back at Hermione. "I don't regret that though." Draco always admired her determination and strength. She was willing to stand up to the most evil wizard in the world to stay true to what she believed in and for those she cared about. He just wished she cared a bit more for herself as the thought of losing her almost killed him. He couldn't imagine living in a world she wasn't in and he prayed he never had to experience that.

"I know you didn't have a choice to fix the cabinet and let the Death Eaters in, Draco." Hermione spoke to the blonde, turning to look at the man who sat across the table from her. "And Harry understands that too. He understands why you did it and appreciates that you wanted to protect Sophie."

"I will do anything that I need to do to keep her safe." Draco vows, looking over at his wife who smiled at him. She knew that even though things were hard she could always be safe and protected with Draco around.

"So, when do we leave?" Sophie asks then, turning back to Hermione.

"As soon as you are packed - if that's alright." Draco and Sophie exchange looks and then nod. "I'll wait here. Be quick though if you will, we need to be back before nightfall." Hermiome instructed. "Also, bring dressrobes. Fleur and Bill's wedding is tomorrow."