About an hour later, the door opened again. She assumed it was Ron coming to check on her again. But when she didn't feel Ron sitting on the bed beside her, she looked up to see Draco standing awkwardly by the door.
"Hermione…" Draco stopped.
They stared at each other for a few moments before Hermione began crying.
Draco surged forward to help, but stopped at the edge of the bed and hesitated.
Hermione wiped her eyes and sniffled.
"Am I really that filthy? Do you hate me because I'm dirty? Does the dirt make me unworthy of life?"
Draco wasn't sure if the questions were really directed towards him, but he felt sick. What did Bellatrix do t this beautiful woman?
"Hell no Hermione. Don't you believe it for a second."
She considered him for a moment before turning onto her back and staring at the ceiling.
"You said it before. You hate me because I'm dirty. Because I'm a mud-" Her voice cracked.
Draco felt his eyes sting and he finally sat next to her on the bed. He cautiously took her hand and held it tightly.
"Hermione. God, Hermione. Forget every single thing I said in previous years. I was a spoiled little shite. I know better now. Because it was a mud… muggle born that saved me from hell. And she was the most beautiful, intelligent, funniest, most caring, amazing woman I have ever met. She is not dirty." Tears had begun streaking down Draco's cheeks. "She does not deserve what she's been given. She deserves a castle with a library containing every book ever written so she can read every day to her heart's content. She deserves a knight in shining armor to rescue her and hold her when she is scared. She deserves-"
Draco's babbling was cut off when Hermione pressed her lips to his. The kiss tasted of tears and sweat, blood and hope. It was the best kiss Draco had ever had. He held her as tightly as he could without breaking her.
When the kiss ended, Draco's head was spinning. He stared at Hermione who looked equally as affected.
She gave him a soft, breathtaking smile.
"Thanks Draco"
"Thank you Hermione. I'll just go and let you rest now."
Hermione nodded.
"Come back soon."