A young witch who was just of age in the Wizarding World lay in her bed in a light sleep. She heard a pop in the air. At first, she thought nothing of it until she realized: that was the sound of someone apparating. Slowly she looked around her room and immediately she recognized the silhouette of her boyfriend.

"Draco? What are you doing here?" Exhaustion was present in her voice.

Suddenly, Draco collapsed onto the floor and the witch violently shot out of the comfort of her bed. She grabbed Draco by the shoulders and pulled him so he was standing upright.

"Hey, what happened? Why are you here?" Her voice was desperate. She quickly realized the bruising on his face and a deep gash on his cheek. Draco was leaning heavily on her. "Did your parents do this?" He nodded. "Right."

Swiftly she moved him into her bed. "My parents are out of town so we are alone." She knew that Draco wouldn't want to draw attention to himself in this state - would ruin his rep. "Not that they would be of any help." That was true. Her parents were muggles. They wouldn't know the first thing about healing magic. Luckily she just had her 17th birthday and was able to perform magic outside of school.

She pulled out her wand and pointed it at her boyfriend. Draco visibly flinched at the sight of it. "Oh dear," she murmured under her breath. "Draco, I'm just going to heal that gash on your cheek, love. I promise."

"Ok," he mumbled.

"Episkey," the witch said the incantation with fake confidence. She knew that otherwise, it wouldn't work. "There. Much better."

Draco reached up to feel his face. "Thanks."

"Why did they do this?"

Draco was hesitant in answering. "Arranged marriage. To Pansy. I said no." His answer was vague.

"That's crazy, even for them." She still wasn't convinced. "Will you tell me what really happened?"

"What do you mean?" His voice was soft and exhausted.

"I know you, and there is no way you politely declined a marriage to that prat." She sat down on the bed next to him and saw a small smirk faintly glimpse across his lips.

"I may have told them how much I love snogging my poor, muggleborn girlfriend." His slight playfulness vanished completely. "Then Father hit me across the face. I reckon the cut came from one of his rings. He asked me what I said. When I repeated it, my mother shot the cruciatus curse at me."

She gasped. "What?! We have to tell someone, like Dumbledore!"

"No." It wasn't going to be worth the argument right then. "No one is going to be told."

"Well, what do you plan to do then?"

"I guess I'll just have to find my own place. We only have 5 more months of school anyways."

"Don't be silly, you'll stay here. Mum and dad won't mind, they'll understand." She tried to hug Draco but he flinched away. Hurt was visible in her eyes.

"No, I can't ask that of your parents. Besides, I'll have to get a flat in June anyways." Draco moved further away.

"Draco…"

"No. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve you. You'd be better off just forgetting me. Go find someone without issues." Draco pulled his knees to his chest. "They're going to disown me. Already blew me off the family tapestry. I have no money now. I'm not good enough for you. I-"

She cut him off, pulling him into a quick but meaningful kiss. "Draco, you're being stupid. My parents have been dying to meet you. They'll love you. I don't want anyone else. And you are too good enough for me, even more. I don't care about the money. You just got bloody disowned because of me. I will not let you wither yourself down in self-pity. I love you."

"You-you what?" Draco looked utterly shocked.

"I said I love you." Draco cupped her face pulling her into a passionate kiss. She kissed back. His tongue flicked across her bottom lip and she allowed him in. They broke apart after what felt like hours, slightly breathless.

"I love you too," Draco said against her lips. "You're the first person I said that to and meant it."

She blushed. She pulled him down on top of her and kissed him again. Draco deepened the kiss once more and they lay there, snogging, for a while. Eventually, they calmed down and Draco flipped their position so that she was resting her back against his stomach. He wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Please don't leave me." He said desperately. Clearly still afraid of losing yet another relationship in his life.

"I wouldn't dream of it. As I said, l love you so bloody much," and with that they fell asleep cuddling, both feeling safe in the presence of the other.