Draco glares as the cab driver pulls in front of the Malfoy Mansion. He was just having a good time when the bartender had cut him off, saying he was drunk enough already. But, Draco can hold his alcohol, so as he walks into his home, he goes to grab a bottle of bourbon. With his bottle, he climbs the stairs to his room, cursing himself. He's made many mistakes in his life and sometimes he just needs to forget them, let them out of his head for a moment.
After many drinks, he pulls out the cellphone that he'd bought. If he were being honest, he was fascinated by Muggle objects. He types in a random number and hits the call button. He needs to tell someone what he is feeling, even if it is a random person. He needs to let someone see him, the weak, vulnerable version of him. Someone answers the phone and greets with a weak hello.
"Listen, you probably don't know me. But please listen to me. You don't even have to say anything. I'm so messed up. My life sucks. I've ruined all of my chances. I've done terrible things, things that still haunt my dreams. I let the girl I probably love get tortured right in front of me. I watched them cut the unforgivable word into her arm. And what's worse? I didn't say a word. I let it happen. You see, I was scared. But that shouldn't have stopped me. And I ruined everything. I never told her I love her. Who would after what I'd done? Who would love a monster like me?"
The other end is silent as Draco finishes his confession. He feels relief, his head empty for a brief moment. But when he hears the voice on the other side, every feeling he's ever had crashes into him.
"You should forgive yourself. I know she has."
It's the voice he's longed to hear for a year now, the voice of the girl he probably loves. His voice is caught in his throat and he doesn't know how to respond.
"She knows how you felt, Draco. She's felt some of those things too. She was scared, if not only by the reality of what was happening, but that you were there too. She wanted to save you too."
He has to clear his throat because tears threaten to fall at any moment. Had he any idea she felt that way, he'd have acted long ago.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I am and everything I'm not. I'm sorry I didn't let you in when I should have. I'm sorry, Hermione."
And they talked for hours after that, confessing to each other things that no one else knew , things that shouldn't have to be a secret you keep to yourself. By the end of the night, Draco's heart has lightened. He feels a calmness that he hasn't experienced since he was a child. He feels as if he's a bird soaring free in the endless sky. Draco is happy, something he didn't think was possible after the war.
And as he says goodbye to his love, he knows that only means until tomorrow. He has someone he can talk to, someone to be open with. And he's not so alone anymore. She's still with him, even after the worst of times.