36

Evie

It was a long Monday. The snow made everything feel dark and gloomy or maybe that was just me. Refusing to think about the intervention had been easy at first but now it was just too much work. But I still didn't know what to do or say so I decided to keep ignoring it.

The castle was lazy as I made my way to the infirmary. Students sat around without anything to do and without anything to discuss. The usual rumors and excitement had been on hold lately which was unusual for Hogwarts but we couldn't be dramatic all the time. So when I entered the hospital wing I expected it to be empty. Apparently I was wrong. Hogwarts was always dramatic.

"Miss Hale." Madam Pomfrey said, not even lowering her voice which made me cringe. Olivia looked up from her spot beside the bed, revealing Draco, asleep. At least I hoped he was asleep which was a dumb thought but I couldn't help it.

"What happened?" I asked, cutting off Madam Pomfrey. I knew she was going to send me out but the look on Olivia's face made me want to stay. I remembered her secret from the other night and it made my stomach churn. I couldn't imagine what that had to be like.

"Maybe you should go, Miss Tellson-" Madam Pomfrey started but Olivia shook her head.

"It's alright. She's my friend."

That was surprising. Even Madam Pomfrey looked surprised. A Slytherin and a Ravenclaw? These two girls who were nothing alike? But no one argued and I took a seat on the other side of the bed. Madam Pomfrey fidgeted uncomfortably for a second before shutting herself in her office.

"What happened to him?" I asked, looking down at Draco. He was wearing those hospital pajamas they gave out that made you look like you were five and his skin was paler than usual. I could see bandages peeking out from his sleeves and there was a little patch above his temple.

"I found him half conscious in the dungeons. He wouldn't tell me what happened and when we got here it was too late, he had already passed out." Olivia took his hand carefully in hers. "When I came back Madam Pomfrey told me that he was cornered but a few Slytherins. They were calling him a coward and not loyal. They beat him up.

"They didn't even use spells either. It's ironic, isn't it? Purebloods not even using their magic to cause pain. I guess they didn't have enough brains for magic so they used their fists instead."

"What about..." I didn't finish, only pointed at his bandaged wrists. Olivia winced.

"I didn't know that he..." She shook her head. "He must've done it after he was cornered. There was too much blood for him to get help."

"I'm sorry." It felt pointless but that's always what you say in these situations. "I've talked to him a few times, he's different now, isn't he? Is it because of you?"

"I don't know. I think I helped. He had no one else and for some reason I was there for him. I don't know what made me do it." She bowed her head.

"Do you regret it?"

"No." Olivia looked at me with a fierceness in her eyes that I would expect from any Slytherin. Just not one full of love. "I don't regret anything I've done the past few months. Draco brought me to a place where I'm finally happy again. I'm not just some Slytherin Death Eater. I'm human."

I didn't say anything. I didn't really need to. The sun was starting to set, giving the room a beautiful pink glow and things seemed peaceful despite what had happened. It was one of those moments where it feels like maybe things will be OK.

"What are you going to do about Ian?" Olivia asked after a while, seeming to have had collected herself. "You could cut the tension between you with a knife."

"I have no idea." I shrugged. "I've been doing so well without him lately and I refuse to give that up after being in pain for so long. I hate how much time I've wasted being sad and I just want to be happy again. But..."

"You still want to be with him.' Olivia finished, nodding her head as if she knew exactly what I was talking about.

"It's hard to get over someone you've had a crush on since first year." I sighed. "I don't want to have feelings for him anymore but it's impossible. And it's even worse now that I know he feels the same way. It's just, I don't know where to go from here. There are too many decisions, I'm tempted to just ignore it all and pretend none of it happened."

"Wes would describe that as 'unhealthy'" Olivia said with a smile and I couldn't help but smile back. It was nice to have a girl to talk to. Even if she didn't understand it felt like she did and that was good enough for me.

"I'm going to wait for him to make a move, I think. Then I'll decide. Why do girls always have to make the big decisions?"

"That's what I'm saying." Olivia laughed. "Boys are idiots."

"Truth."

Olivia

Even after Evie left I stayed in the hospital wing. I said I was waiting for him to wake up but even then I wouldn't leave. I didn't have any ulterior plans to this. All I cared about was Draco.

He did wake up eventually. It was about 6 o'clock and Madam Pomfrey had told me to go to dinner for the seventh time. She shut up when he opened his eyes, letting out a little breath that made me want to start sobbing.

"Hey." I whispered, almost afraid to touch him in case he broke. He met my eyes and as soon as he did, he smiled.

"Hi." He said, his voice barely more than a sigh. "I feel terrible." I couldn't stop myself from laughing a little bit. He was an idiot and I was so happy that he was OK.

"Are you mad at me?" He asked, his smile fading.

"Of course not. This isn't your fault."

He raised his hand to touch my face and his sleeve fell a bit revealing the thick bandages wrapped around his wrist. A heart breaking look crossed over his face and he moved to take his hand away but I held it there.

"I'm sorry." He said. I gave him a weak smile and shook my head. I kissed the bandages on his wrist.

"I'm sorry too."