Chapter 19

The next few days Draco seemed better. He only felt tired at normal times and his migraines were much less frequent. Over the next few nights it became customary to sleep in the same bed, they didn't like it or think it at all natural it was simply because neither wanted to sleep in the sofa and it seemed to help Draco get better. They hadn't slept in the bed one night and Draco woke up with a headache as bad as it was at the start. Hermione had rushed up after he had yelled in pain and they both ended up falling asleep.

This morning they both wake up with a start as there was a loud bang.

"Wha-" Hermione started. "Tallulah? What was that?"

"I've been trying to wake you up for ages. I had to use magic." Tallulah responded.

"What is it?" Draco moaned. He was very whiny in the mornings.

"Oh just that I want to tell you something, the next task you might say." Tallulah paused. "A story from father was always nice on a rainy day. One from the heart." With that she disappeared.

"Today's a rainy day." Hermione said after looking out the small window.

"So?" Draco didn't function well when still sleepy. Hermione started pacing.

"You need to tell me a story, that's obvious. You need to tell it today as it's a rainy day, but again obvious. One from the heart...your favourite story?" Hermione stopped pacing and turned to Draco.

"Could be…" Draco was more awake now.

"I'm going to look at the books." Hermione announced.

"What book could possibly have this in it?" Draco asked.

"That would be why I'm checking." Hermione left the room.

"Breakfast." Draco mumbled to himself and left for the kitchen.

It was a few hours later and Hermione was on the last few books in the house.

"Aha!" Hermione shouted rushing into the kitchen where Draco was again after helping a little then getting bored.

"What?" Draco asked.

"One from the heart, it isn't your favourite story at all it's the one you're most afraid to tell, one we buried deep in your heart. Look." Hermione shoved the book under Draco's nose. Draco didn't-couldn't-read it but took her word for it.

Draco let out huff, he already knew his story. And he didn't want to share it with Hermione, he also didn't want to stay here. "So when my father first told me that I-that I had to take the m-the mark I refused." Hermione's eyes grew. "Yeah, I then tried to run away to Blaise's house, his family are blood prejudices, but not death eaters-they don't care for you-know-who. But father coughs me and he...he" Draco's voice cracked slightly, but he had already cried once and wouldn't do it again. "He used the Cruciatus curse on me. Then forced me to stay and then You-know-who did the same, threatened me and my mother so I took the mark. Merlin I wish I could've gotten away." Draco laughed a sad laugh at the end.

"Oh my god…" Was all Hermione could muster.

"Yeah." Draco saw tears fall from Hermione's eyes. "Why are you crying?"

"Because that's…evil!" Hermione gasped that he didn't get why this was emotional for her. "Dra-Malfoy he's your father, how could he…"

"I don't know Granger, he just….I don't know." Draco looked at his hands.

Hermione looked at Draco trying to figure out what was going through his head. Her sobs were getting louder, but he didn't seem annoyed.

"Look Granger, I'm fine. I mean I still have that task to do-" That sent even more tears down Hermione's face. "-but I'm fine. I'm alive and...fine." Draco didn't even convince himself.

"It's just so…" Hermione couldn't think of the right word.

"I know." Draco gave her a small reassuring smile-it was almost in seeable, but it was there.

Draco didn't know what he was doing, he was comforting Hermione! Hermione Mudblood Granger!there was something wrong with him, why else would he comfort her? It was because he wanted to get out of here. Not because he felt bad for her. Malfoys didn't feel bad for anyone.

Hermione didn't know why she was crying over Draco. Draco Ferret Malfoy! She hated him! And yet here she was crying for him. It was because she's very emotional right now because of getting stuck in this bloody house. It was because she wanted to leave. Not because she felt bad for him. Not because she was sorry for thinking he'd want to be a death eater.

"I'm sorry." Hermione whispered. Draco looked into her eyes and she noticed his eyes weren't their usual cold ice grey that made you quiver, they were still grey, obviously, but they were now a warmer grey, a beautiful silver.

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