Hello! Thanks for reading "Scar Tissue." I just wanted to make a little note that some of the characters are according to the canon and everything belongs to the queen, J.K. Rowling.
Prologue
Hermione
The nightmares aren't the worst part, despite their frequency. At the very least I'm sleeping; which has been its own battle in itself. The worst is waking up to see their truth embedded into my skin. Scar tissue to remind me of the very reason why my existence is damned, reminding me of my "mudblood." The very quality that seems to hold my worth as a wizard, as a human being.
When I think about it awake it's more of a selective memory. Bellatrix screaming her crucios and me writhing in agony… an endless agony. It's strange how that kind of pain lodges itself into your memory for you to feel long after its gone. As a nightmare it's much more vivid. It's like I'm still there, like I've never left. Within the haunting walls of the Malfoy manor a part of me died. I hear the ringing in my ears as I feel the same pain, I can also feel the eyes of the audience watching me. Watching my humiliation, my torment as I was some sick form of entertainment for their deranged band of misfits. Sticking out from the rest, a pair of beautiful cloudy grey eyes. Eyes that seemed to be almost as distraught as mine; eyes that screamed, "I want to help."
I don't pity him. I never will.
Draco
I woke up drenched in my own sweat. A pain like scorching fire spreading throughout the entirety of my body. My parents hovered over me with our houselves ready to aid with whatever may come. Insomnia isn't a particularly unusual development for me, but tonight was different. Rather than being plagued by the usual nightmares, tonight was my 19th birthday.
You see, it has always been speculated that a very rare and special gene laid dormant within the Malfoy family. 19 years ago, anyone who would have asked would have been laughed at. But, the day of my birth made it very clear. The Malfoy line isn't solely that of pureblooded wizards, but Veela too… and tonight, mine takes its form.
"Oh dear, Draco please tell us how we can help," My mother cried. I watched her sobbing into my father's chest from the corner of my eye. It was hard for me to focus on anything but the pain. I have never felt more agony in my life. Worse than a crucio, which is a feeling I know too well. None of the research I have done on veela would have prepared me for this. They typically tell you to "fight" the pain, but as the searing fire in my lungs starts to suffocate me. I don't think I'll be fighting for much longer. I hear my mother cry out as I heave and struggle to find my breath.
"Leave. Now." I growled. I don't have much strength left within me to fight against it.
"B-but Dra-," I cut her off, "NOW!"
As they were exiting the room, I gave in. The fire inside me overtook my flesh, searing down my chiseled chest. Now, it felt like I was burning both inside and out. My fingertips begin to itch as I felt the long, sharp keratin of the veelas claws rip through my cuticles and prick at my skin. Claws… I have claws. Based on my research, I knew what was to come next. It was the peak of the transformation, the very moment I lose my sense of humanity and become what I've always truly been: a monster. I scream as I feel the pricking of the cartilage pierce through the skin of my back to unveil a leathery set of wings. Drenched in sweat and blood, the pain subsides and I can finally breathe. Finally, before I could black out, my mind went to one thing: her.