Disclaimer: J.K Rowling owns Harry Potter, not me. I'm just borrowing her characters. I'll try to return them in good shape, but I can't promise anything.
This chapter title is a Faith Hill song.
Reyana squirmed a little, not quite awake. Her legs were tangled in sheets and she felt a comforting warmth pressed against her back. The was a peculiar weight on her legs and her head was resting on something other than a pillow. It was too firm for a pillow. Her eyes opened involuntarily. She'd been comfortable and content before, but now that she was awake, she realized that something wasn't quite right.
She stretched a little and looked around. She was sprawled out across a large bed and the sheets covering her were dark green silk. As she scanned the room she flicked her eyes over the bed, and froze. She was curled up against a sleeping Draco Malfoy. Her head was resting on his stomach, and he was lying over her legs. A blush stained her cheeks, and she tried to scoot away. She'd forgotten. They had sat together all night, alternately crying and telling stories. She hoped that it had helped a little with his pain. Without really thinking, Reyana brushed a few strands of fine blond hair from his face. Her fingers trailed along his cheek. He was so relaxed in sleep. There was no sign of the haughty deliberately cruel boy now. There wasn't any grief twisting his features either, but Reyana could feel the stiffness left by salty tears on his pale cheeks. He sighed a little in his sleep, and she jerked away. She really didn't want him to wake up while she was touching him. She didn't want him to think that she liked him or anything.
A yawn split her face. She was still so tired. Having no idea what time it was, Reyana decided to succumb to the inevitable. She lay back down, snuggling into Draco's arms. His arms tightened around her and she relaxed against him and closed her eyes. This was okay she told herself. He needed comfort, and would want someone to talk to when he awoke. Her actions properly rationalized, Reyana allowed herself to slip back into sleep and gentle dreams.
Draco knew there was something wrong the instant his eyes opened. Number One, he was not alone in his bed. He untangled himself from the sheets and his unwelcome guest and stood up. He sneered as Reyana gave a little moan of distress and reached out sleepily for the body that was no longer there. Number Two, he was still fully dressed in the outfit he'd worn to Hogwarts the day before, and Draco Malfoy never went to bed unless he was wearing a pair of perfectly pressed black silk pajamas. To make matters worse, his hair was sticking up every which way and his face felt dry and his eyes were itchy. He needed a long shower and some moisturizer first thing. And Number Three made his breath hitch in his throat. His mother. Draco walled up his emotions and shoved away his pain.
He looked over only once at the still sleeping girl curled up on his bed. His conscience nipped at him a little, only Draco didn't recognize it. He'd been without a noticeable conscience for as long as he could remember.
She was kind to you. It chided gently. She put aside her hatred of you, and helped you.
Draco snarled silently and stalked off the the bathroom.
"She's an interfering muggle and I can't believe I talked to her last night."
She understands your pain, the voice shot back, her family was murdered too.
"They deserved it! They were muggles! My mother was a pureblooded witch who never harmed anyone."
Draco violently twisted the shower knob all the way over and let the steaming hot water pound on his back.
You don't really believe that.
"Yes I do!" he screamed aloud, pressing his hands to his temples. "Leave me alone!"
Draco scrubbed at his skin, until it was pink and tender all over. Then, wrapping himself in a thick robe in the Slytherin colors, he treated himself to a face mask. It would rejuvenate his skin after his tears of the night before.
Fully awake, and feeling human again, Draco Malfoy went back into his bedroom and retrieved his wand. He pointed it at the still slumbering Reyana and levitated her.
He guided her body down the stairs and through the common room, ignoring the occupants as only a Malfoy could, and dumped her unceremoniously on the stone floor outside the Slytherin dungeons. She awoke with a sharp cry of pain, and Draco's newly awakened conscience pricked a little, but years of experience made it easy to ignore.
"Draco?" she asked, hurt in her brown eyes.
"Get out of here you filthy muggle! I never want to see your face down here again." he spat, hatred coursing through his veins.
"But..." her eyes were confused as she slowly got to her feet.
"Sod off Taylor!" he glowered, "No one wants you here."
Her face went blank and she nodded shortly. Turning on her heel, head held high, she marched off.
If he hadn't hated her so much, he probably would have admired her.
"Draco." she called without turning. "I'm really sorry about your mom."
Voldemort studied the man standing before him. Lucius Malfoy was becoming a thorn in his side. Not a very painful one yet, but still irritating. It was good that his plan to ensure young Draco's loyalty was coming along perfectly.
His lips curled in a viciously thoughtful smile.
It never ceased to amaze him that the human mind was so forgetful. He used his servants, or rather his slaves to further his own means. He didn't give a damn about them. He punished them just so he could listen to the screams. He could play the agony filled bodies of his Death Eaters like a violin master. Amusement filled him. His slaves believed that they were getting rewarded, when in fact, they were being used. Lucius Malfoy for example. He conveniently forgot about every cruelty as soon as his Lord gave him something that he wanted. What he didn't know, was that he was furthering his own destruction. Every reward was a punishment in disguise. Any one stupid enough to trust the word of Lord Voldemort deserved their fate. There was no such thing as a reward in the service of the Dark Lord. Only death and pain. Only a fool would choose that over life and happiness. Thankfully there were a lot of fools in the world. Voldemort laughed and everyone who heard it shuddered. They knew even before the screams started that the Dark Lord was very pleased.
Reyana sat on the couch, staring at the open book in front of her blindly. She'd been trying to read this page for almost an hour, but was unable to concentrate. Her legs were curled up under her and a thick woolen blanket pulled up to her ears kept the damp chill of the castle from sinking into her bones.
She couldn't believe that insufferable Draco Malfoy! She'd poured her heart out to him, her worst enemy, in order to help him. She could be a hardass when she felt the need, but since the death of her family and friends, she'd been more sensitive than ever before. Draco's rather pointed rejection of her kindness had caused a little nagging ache in her gut. She shook her head and glared daggers at the page blurring in front of her eyes. It didn't matter what he thought. He was nobody to her. So, she'd let her guard up for a few hours. That was just a stupid mistake and she'd learned her lesson. She wouldn't trust anyone with her feelings again.
A knock on the door brought her out of her stupor.
"C'mon in." she called. If the person didn't know the password then she didn't want to see them.
The portrait swung inward and Severus Snape stepped in.
"What are you thinking girl?" he growled, pulling his robes around him, "It's freezing in here!"
He strode to the fireplace and lit a fire in the grate.
Reyana shrugged and put her marker in the book.
"I had my blanket."
He gave her a disapproving frown before seating himself on the chair across from her.
"You'll make yourself sick."
Reyana smiled at his thinly veiled concern, and gestured at a pot of water on the end table.
"Tea Severus? I'm afraid you'll have to heat the water."
He accepted her offer, and made himself, and her a cup of fragrant Earl Grey.
"What do I owe the visit to?" Reyana teased gently, "You never leave your dungeons."
He looked a little uncomfortable and swirled his tea for a moment before replying.
"I heard that Mr. Malfoy dropped you rather unceremoniously on the ground this morning. I wondered how you were doing."
Reyana sipped, enjoying the warmth.
"I'm fine. My rear end is a little sore, but I'll survive."
He nodded, a faint look of relied on his face.
They sat in silence for a time just appreciating each other's company.
"Draco's mother was killed yesterday." Severus finally said, staring moodily into the flickering fire. "I'm afraid it caused several...incidents in class today."
She only nodded.
"You knew?" Severus was obviously startled.
"Yeah." she said shortly, hoping he'd get the hint and drop the subject.
"How?" he asked sharply. "It's still not in the papers."
Reyana winced.
"It's long story."
"We have time." her cousin said dryly.
Obviously she wasn't getting out of this.
"Fine. If you're going to make me tell you." she shifted the blanket around her shoulders. "A letter from his father came while he was locked in his room, and I took it to him." she shrugged, trying to brush the whole incident off. "He told me, and we talked and I let him cry, and we fell asleep, and then in the morning he was back to his usual vindictive self and threw me, literally out of the Slytherin common room."
Severus sighed heavily.
"Ah."
"Ah what?" Reyana bit out, rather annoyed. She really hadn't wanted to tell him.
"His pride was damaged. You saw him cry." he closed his eyes for a second. "Malfoys never cry."
Reyana sat up, letting the blanket fall off her shoulders in her sudden anger.
"Never cry? But... his mother died! It perfectly normal to cry!"
"Yes." Severus said simply. "but Malfoys don't cry."
Reyana shook her head in disbelief.
"I cried for days when my family died. I'd have gone insane if I hadn't." her voice cracked.
The pain was fresher since she'd opened the wounds to comfort Draco. A tear dripped down her cheek.
"I still cry." she sniffed.
Severus looked unsure as he reached a hand out and brushed the tear from her face.
Reyana looked up, into his eyes full of hesitant concern and caring. This made her tears fall faster, and she fell forward into his startled arms. She'd hadn't had anyone to hold her for a month and she was starved for the affection. If she could've seen her cousin's face, she would have seen outright fear, confused tenderness, and then resignation. His arms curled awkwardly around her shaking shoulders and pulled her close. It seemed as Severus Snape closed his eyes, rested his chin on his niece's head and let himself relax completely for the first time in years, that Reyana was not the only one starved for love and affection.
Well. That was a short one, but I decided to end with a sweet moment. The next chapter will be longer I promise.