A/n: I didn't even really think this should be posted, its so short. I'm so conflicted. haha
His cheek stung, the heat from the blood rushing to the surface. His hand cover the spot, trying to determine if he should scream at her or let her go. She retracted her hand quickly and he thought of their third year when she had slapped him then. This was different though. Then, he felt the burdens of being 13 behind the slap, simple things channeling her anger. Now, he felt all the things that weighed on her. The deaths of friends, family, the fear for her life, and the struggle just to keep her sanity, and he felt it all.
Felt it in the slap.
Felt it in the way she moved.
Felt it in her crying.
Felt it in the hunger of her kisses.
Felt it in the deepest part of her being.
Felt it everywhere around them.
Hermione Granger was losing it. And Draco Malfoy was trying to keep her together, even if just for a little while.
The random outbursts, the screaming, the crying, the withdrawn silence that she created that fell over the house and consumed it. They had lost people they loved, people who mattered and all he needed was her. For her to just fucking try, and all she wanted was for him to leave her alone. They were stuck. Draco was stuck and he didn't know what to do with himself.
Because he loved her. And he hated her, because she was all he had left from his past, and he couldn't let her go.