Something Missing
Hermione
When I stepped into Draco's room from outside the window on my broomstick, the last thing I expected was to see him terribly pale, and nearly half-naked.
But what surprised the most were the bruises and scratches on his torso. I took in a gasp, and he opened his eyes.
As he gathered me in his arms, I returned the embrace. "What's happened to you?" I asked as we pulled apart. "Are you okay? Does it still hurt?"
"Ssh..." Draco said. "I'm okay. It's fine. What about you?"
Draco turned toward the bed, and I took in breath when I spotted the blood at the back of his head. "D-Draco?"
"What?" He asked, turning around. "Oh..." he hastened to explain. "My head's fine."
"Draco," I said, sitting down next to him on the bed. "Please... tell me what happened. Why are you hurt so badly?"
"It was nothing." He replied, kissing me on the cheek. "Nothing for you to worry about."
As Draco leaned back onto the headboard, his shirt moved to expose more of his abused flesh. I could see the red, raw gashes clearly now. Draco followed my gaze and hastily closed his shirt.
"Draco," I leaned against the headboard beside him. "Tell me." Tears streamed down my cheeks. I couldn't bear to see him so beaten like this.
"It..." Draco trailed off.
"Yeah...?" I urged.
"It was my father..." he finally said.
"Again?" I exclaimed.
"... and myself."
I stopped and stared. "Y-You?" I stammered. "Oh, Draco, please tell me you didn't do this." I put my arm around him.
Draco nodded. "I know I shouldn't have." He said. "But now that I did, I'm used to my father's beatings."
"But s-still..." I sobbed.
Draco wiped the falling tears from my face. "It's okay, Hermione."
I shook my head and buried my face in Draco's slim, slender shoulder.