Chapter Four

Why isn't she here, she promised. Draco walked to the bars straining to hear any footsteps. He growled in frustration sitting on his cot. He wondered what time it was. He hadn't slept well last night. He had dreamt about her last night. He had told her about how Weasley died and how she screamed at him and blamed him, and that she would make sure he rotted in here. He remembered her face yesterday, the hurt in her eyes, tears rolling down her cheek. He didn't like seeing her cry. He had seen her cry too many times over Weasel. I'm glad he's dead, he can't hurt her anymore. He remembered leaving the Great Hall his fourth year and seeing her sitting on the steps crying. That was the moment he truly hated him. Draco knew he had been an arse to her in his younger years, but she was the friend of his enemy. Weasley was supposed to have been her friend and he used her.

"A knut for your thoughts?" Granger asked. He had been so deep in thought about her and Weasley that he hadn't heard her or the guard's footsteps. He walked to the bars and sat down like yesterday, she did the same.

"I was thinking about you, actually."

"Really?"

"Yes, you've been nothing but nice to me after all I have ever done to you and you offer me water and bring me cough drops and I don't understand why."

He could see that his honesty had taken her by surprise. He was tired of lies. His mother and Severus were dead because they had lied.

"I… don't like the way they treat prisoners. It's inhumane."

Be it Granger to worry over the very people that would kill her if they had the chance. He chuckled softly, then sighed. He knew the reason she was here and he knew once he told her, he would never see her again. He knew he was going to get out of Azkaban once the Minister saw in lack of enthusiasm to follow in his father's footsteps once the Mark was placed on his arm. He wanted to prolong it, but knew he was being selfish. As soon as he was set free he would be alone again. He didn't know what he was going to do, he knew he needed to come up with a plan but never imagined a world where he needed a plan like this.

"I know why you're really here. You need to know what happened to Weasley. You think that if you know that somehow you can move on with life, get the closure you need to tell yourself it's not your fault." He sighed. Here goes. "It's not your fault it's mine. I think Weasley was looking for shelter, until he could get home. I guess he had gotten in a fight with someone and they messed him up pretty bad from the looks of it. I guess some muggles found him and took him in. My father hated muggles, you know, and well it was about time I proved my loyalties. I didn't know he was there, I swear. The muggles were in their bedroom huddled up in the corner begging for mercy. I had my wand pointed at the woman's chest, I knew the words I just couldn't do it, I didn't mean it, you know. My father grabbed my wand and pushed me out of the way, he killed them. I can still hear that woman's screams. Weasley came to investigate and before he could disarm Father, well he died too."

He watched as she processed his words, he knew the moment her heart broke, he saw her brown eyes drown before the tears spilled down her cheeks. He sat there staring at her, he wanted to comfort her, maybe pull her into him, and wipe the tears away from her cheeks, like the way his mother had done for him when he was little. He knew he couldn't even if the bars weren't between them, he didn't move, he didn't want to see her jerk away from him, to look at him like the monster he already felt like. I'm guilty, just by association. She stood up, making him jump up too. She turned to leave. He didn't want her to leave, not like this. "Hermione, wait!" She looked at him. "I'm sorry about Weasley. I know you're upset, and I'm the last person you want to see, but will you stay, here, at least until you can apparate safely?" He hoped that would appease to her logical side. She sat back down placing her head to bars, sobbing uncontrollably.