Chapter 7: In the Moonlight
The prefects had to patrol the corridors till 10 pm every night. Draco had managed to sneak off on his own and now was sitting in the Astronomy Tower. His hair ruffled in the cold wind. The moonlight pouring on his usually pale face made it look even whiter. He heard footsteps climbing the stairs. Draco slid to a dark corner and pulled out his wand. He held his breath as the intruder came closer. "Lumos" a female voice whispered. She held her wand high above so that the area became lit with a soft bluish light. Draco came out from his hiding place. "What are you doing here?" he asked. The intruder quickly turned around. The wand lit her face. It was Hermione. "I was just…looking for you." She said hesitantly. Draco raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "You hadn't come back so I volunteered to look for you" Hermione said turning pink. Draco looked at her. Then he went and sat at his seat. "Um is something wrong?" Hermione asked quietly. Draco did not reply. He was looking fixedly at the moon. Hermione sat across him, her back against the wall. Several minutes passed by in silence. Then Draco took a deep breath and begun his story…
"On June 5, 19990, my father decided to give me something. I remember the date because I had turned 10. After the birthday party, I was allowed to watch T.V. till 10 pm. I was happily bouncing on the sofa while my mother cleaned up. At 10 minutes past 10 my mother told me to go to bed. My father offered to tuck me in, something he had never done before. So went up the stairs into my room. I changed into my pajamas in the bathroom. Then I climbed into my bed. He put the blanket on me and lay down next to me. I looked at him. He told me he had been a pretty bad father so he would show his love to me tonight. I was exited. Little did I know what was coming next." Draco paused. His heart was beating furiously and he felt choked. He took a deep breath before continuing "He pulled the blanket on top of him. Then he turned towards me and slid his hand down my body and…" Silently, tears slid down his face. Hermione had clasped a tight hand over her mouth to prevent herself from gasping. Her wide eyes stared in horror at Draco. Draco gulped several times and said "it hurt, terribly, what he did. He told me not to tell anyone or else I would have to pay. I became terrified of him from that day onwards. My mother sensed something was wrong. She used legilimency to bring forth every occasion. It had been nearly three years when she found out. But he kept her terrorized as well." Draco was shaking all over. Hermione went and sat next to him. She threw her arms around his shoulders and tried to steady him. Draco let out his 5 years of anguish. He sobbed while Hermione held him. When he had finished, Hermione let him go and stood up. She offered her hand to Draco. Draco took it and looked up. "Promise me Hermione, you will breathe not a word to anyone about tonight." Hermione nodded smiling reassuringly. She pulled Draco to his feet. Draco wiped the tears of his face. They made their way back to their respective Common Rooms.