Chapter 3. Confrontation
Draco almost hit the ceiling at the pounding at his door.
YOU SANCTIMONIOUS ARSEHOLE! IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK OF ME?! THAT I'M SOME SORT OF CHEAP TROLLOP?! AFTER I CONFIDED IN YOU THAT I'M LONELY AND SCARED!?
He was ripped from an uneasy sleep but nonetheless felt crossed. He swung the door open and yelled: "FUCK GRANGER! I WAS TRYING TO BE NICE!"
He was knocked back by the sight of a crying Hermione hands covering both her eyes.
"This was not how it was supposed to be..." She sobbed.
He exhaled exasperated, pulled her harshly into his room and sat her on the edge of his bed; she stumbled slightly before getting her bearings and looking up.
It suddenly occurred to him that she was staring at his chest. He followed her gaze to land on his Sectumsempra scars on the entirety of his pale torso and arms. White, almost iridescent stripes, not unlike those of a tiger, covered him save for that black inky patch of his left forearm where a skull and a snake made the most contrasting appearance.
He swore under his breath, he forgot he went to sleep shirtless thinking the draught would save him from any mid-night encounters. He turned his back to her to find a jumper before he heard a little gasp. He dropped his head defeatedly remembering the scars of the lashings his dear aunt left after the trio escaped his manor. He finally found the blasted jumper and quickly threw it on before turning around slowly and facing Hermione's horrified face.
"You weren't supposed to see that..." He said lamely looking to the floor.
The air suddenly left his lungs as he was enveloped in a rib crushing hug, a mane of soft fragant chestnut hair blocked his vision as Hermione softly sobbed into the crook of his neck.
" You don't need to hide from me..." She whispered softly breaking the seriousness of the moment by hiccuping loudly.
"Ha, you're pissed aren't you?" A mirthless laugh escaped his lips.
"Extremely, I should NOT drink the draught right now." She chuckled.
"NO, you most certainly should not, unless you want to wake up three days from now." Draco gently pushed her apart enough to see her face, tears were now barely flowing from her eyes and a smile was on her face. He took his thumb and wiped a tears streak from her cheek. She leaned her face into his hand chasing the warmth, he smiled down at her sweetly and cupped her cheek.
She gave him an intense gaze and started chewing her lower lip. She wasn't sure if she should share with him what transpired earlier that evening. He gave her a quizzical look.
"Out with it Granger." He encouraged feigning exasperation.
"I went drinking in Hogmeade with the other 8th years...after one too many firewhiskey shots Dean Thomas asked me if I wanted him to sleep with him..."
Draco felt a pang of something hit deep within himself. "Why didn't you?" His voice came out hoarser than usual.
Hermiones eyes widened for a beat, she looked down intently as if the neck of his jumper somehow held the answer. "Because... I wasn't as comfortable...with him knowing how profoundly fucked up I really am."
Draco exhaled a breath he didn't even know he was holding before he took a deep breath and pondered her answer. "Mmm I see...and with me there's no problem...given I'm exponentially more fucked up than you...right?"
Her eyes widened again and pulled him close to hide her face she spoke into his neck, her breath hot against his skin. "Please, just let me stay here tonight, I'll stop harassing you I swear, I'll never bring it up again, I'll start drinking the draught tomorrow once I'm sober. I just thought...maybe you felt as lonely and scared as I do..."
"I do, maybe even more so than you know... Stay Granger, I can give you that much."