Draco's eyes flickered towards the entrance to the girls dormitories once again. Rosie still hadn't emerged yet and he was starting to feel agitated.

He hated the nights that she spent in there. But he knew he couldn't force her to sleep on the sofa every night - she had started to get a stiff neck from the lack of a decent bed.

He heard a door open and swivelled his head back instantly towards the girls dormitories. He groaned inwardly when Pansy appeared. She clocked him straight away and headed toward the sofa where he was perched, a nasty smirk upon her face.

"Missing your Mudblood girlfriend?" She spat, her eyes glinting in glee.

He flinched as she sat down next to him. He shifted uncomfortably away from her.

"I can't believe I'm saying this," she said icily, ignoring his obvious disgust, "but I prefer it when you have your sordid little sleepovers."

Draco side-eyed her warily, wondering where she was going with this.

"I don't know how you can stand it," she continued, "the things she cries out in her sleep."

Draco stilled. This was news to him, Rosie always seemed to sleep peacefully when he was with her.

"What are you talking about, Pansy?" He snarled, his fists clenched in his lap.

Pansy tittered - a sound that made his skin crawl.

"My baby! My baby! Merlin, she's pathetic!"

Draco's heart stopped.

"And who on earth is Pearl?" She continued, oblivious to his horror. "Some bedraggled pet, knowing her."

Draco shakily stood up.

"Just shut the fuck up, Pansy." He growled through his teeth.

"What's got your knickers in such a twist, Drakie?"

Before he could answer, new footsteps entered the common room from the girls dorms and Draco's eyes flew to the owner. Rosie.

Draco's heart clenched as her tired eyes met his. He wanted to so much to gather her in his arms, but instead he stood frozen. She never talked about the baby. He was a fool not to have asked her about it. He had assumed she wanted to forget. But of course she wouldn't. How could he ever think that?!

Draco found himself hating himself all over again.

"Draco?" She asked, looking confusedly between him and a smirking Pansy.

"Oh don't worry," Pansy cackled, seemingly enjoying the uncomfortable atmosphere. "I wouldn't touch him again. Not now he's been contaminated by such filth."

Draco threw a sneer down at Pansy before crossing the room towards Rosie, closing their space with haste.

"Rosie," he breathed, as he gathered her in his arms.

"Draco, is everything OK?" she asked him anxiously. Worry was etched over her face.

"No," he answered honestly, surprising himself.

"I was just informing him of your pitiful night time ramblings," Pansy screeched loudly from the sofa. People around them stopped talking as they stared interestedly at the furore. Rosie stilled in his arms.

"Shut up, Pansy." Draco gritted, glaring furiously at her.

"Pearl, come back! Don't leave me, Pearl!" Pansy cruelly mimicked. Others around them started sniggering.

Without a word, Rosie tore herself from his arms and ran straight for the exit. Shocked, Draco watched her disappear through the wall before advancing on Pansy who was cackling manically on the sofa.

"You little bitch!" He snarled, practically spitting at her. "Why don't you grow up for once in your life?"

She stopped cackling and looked at him, nonplussed. He gave her one last look of disgust, before storming to the exit to find Rosie.

***

I couldn't see where I was going as tears filled my eyes. Pansy's cruel words ringing in my ears.

I hadn't realised I had been talking in my sleep. Yet the dreams were vivid in my mind. Always the same dream. She was no longer a baby, but a little girl, with long platinum blonde hair, beautiful pearly white skin, so soft to touch. But I could never reach her, she kept on running, running through the dark hallways of Malfoy Manor, away from me.

The corridor swam before me as a fresh wave of tears fell. I bent over double, clutching my stomach, trying to stop the physical pain that had overcome me.

Arms wrapped around me, pulling me back up, pulling me into his chest. I cried into his shirt as he held me tight, his strong arms offering me protection and assurance.

"It's OK, Rosie," he murmured, his soft silky voice soothing me. "It's OK."

We stood like that in the corridor, Draco holding me in his arms while I wept, until a wave of students came loudly cluttering up the hallway from breakfast. Draco gently pulled me away from them, into an empty classroom.

He perched on the edge of a desk, keeping his arms wrapped around me.

"Rosie, I'm so sorry." He said quietly. "I didn't realise you dreamt of her."

I pulled away from him slightly, straightening up and wiping my eyes with my sleeves.

"Not always," I whispered, not being able to look into those silver grey eyes. "Not when I'm with you."

There was a silence as he swallowed.

"You never- you never talk about her." He said somewhat apprehensively.

I still couldn't meet his eyes. My heart felt like it was being squeezed inside of my chest.

"It's been almost a year, now." My voice still a whisper. "I used to lie on your bed at the Manor and talk to her. Sometimes I would just walk around and imagine you as a child running through the vast halls." A small smile tugged at my lips.

He didn't say anything, just sat and listened while I continued.

"No one else knew. I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I kept telling myself that you would come back for me, for us." I paused, swallowing back another lump. "There was so much pain, and it was too early. I begged them to do something, to stop her leaving me. But then she was there, in my arms, so peaceful."

Big fat tears started to roll down my cheeks as I remembered every painful detail of that moment.

"She was so tiny. Her skin was pearly white and she had wisps of white blonde hair. I kissed every one of her perfect little fingers. It was as though she was just sleeping, and I willed with everything I had for her to wake up. But she never did."

He shifted off of the desk and curled his fingers around my wrists, pulling me to him, making me look directly at him.

"Rosie," he said earnestly, his silver grey eyes piercing into my soul. "I'm so sorry."

I blinked, as more tears fell from my eyes. Draco let go of my wrists and wiped them away with his thumbs, his fingers placed tenderly on my neck.

"I'm never going to leave you again, you understand? I'm going to stay by your side forever, Rosie, and I'll always be here to look after you."

"Draco, I get that you want to protect me, but you can't be by my side all the time. All I need is to know that you will always come back to me." I placed my hand on his chest where I could feel his heartbeat beneath my touch. "Always."

Draco pulled me to him, breathing heavily in my ear. "I will always come back to you, Rosie. I promise you that with my life."

He moved his head so that his lips brushed against mine. I shivered involuntarily, revelling in the mere presence of him.

"That's all I ask." I whispered.

***