Chapter six:
She's Losing Her Faith

Draco hesitated when he stood on his porch, when he heard a strange noise coming from over at his neighbor's house. He didn't know how to describe the unusual sound, or even what could be making it.

Stepping off his porch, he walked to his mailbox, taking note that the sound was gone. He collected his mail, it was just a bill and some advertisements and took a moment to look at his neighbor's house again.

It was unusually quiet this morning, which was strange for this time of day.

Draco started back up his walkway, but held back when he heard the noise again. Frowning, Draco looked over at the porch of his neighbor's house. He stilled, seeing a body lying there at the end nearest him.

Dropping his mail, Draco raced to his neighbor's porch rounding the railing and hopping up to the old floorboards above. He stopped, his breath catching at the sight of the girl lying there. "Bloody hell," he cursed. Slowly he walked towards her. The sound he had been hearing, was louder now and he could see that it had been her teeth chattering together. Her lips were a dark blue, her skin a sickly white. A light sheen of water dotted her flesh, meaning she had been out at least since dawn, when it had rained.

Shaking his head, Draco stepped over her form. He noticed the sketchpad lying next to her and absently tucked it beneath his arm. With great care, he lifted her up into his arms and noted just how damp her clothes were.

Draco knew he wasn't a strong man, never having been one for muscles and hard labor. But when he lifted the girl, he was surprised by just how light she was.

Instead of going to her front door, Draco went back to his house. With great ease, he opened his front door and carried her inside. Passing his living room and kitchen, he went down the hallway that led to his bedroom. He stopped at his bed and laid her down. She didn't stir from her slumber.

Hesitating for a second, he took a moment to look down at her. Did she stay out there all night, he wondered. She could have frozen to death.

The sketchpad slipped from beneath his arm and it startled him when it landed at his feet. Looking down, his brows creased at the picture he saw. When he'd looked through her bag yesterday, he hadn't thought to check her sketchbook. Bending down, he picked it up to inspect its damp pages.

The picture was of a younger version of Serena, maybe when she was seven with two adults standing at her side. Her parents, he mused to himself.

Turning to the next page, Draco tensed, his eyes widening. It was a picture of him and Hegwig. It was a head shot of him looking up, with the white owl perched on his shoulder. That was her? He thought he had heard someone last night, but hadn't thought much of it.

Draco turned away from the slumbering blonde then. He set the sketchpad on his dresser and silently left the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

----

Serena woke to the smell of something delicious in the air. She smiled, her stomach grumbling. She was so hungry, but felt too comfortably warm to care.

Suddenly alarmed, she sat up with a start, confusion and worry lacing her features. But they melted away at the sight of the familiar bedroom. He didn't, she denied it. Serena rubbed at her eyes, wanting to see if the image would fade away. It didn't. "But why," she whispered aloud. Why was he helping her again?

There was no clock, so she had to turn around on the bed to look through the slightly parted blinds to figure out what time it was. The sun was up, but it was to the west, meaning it was getting late.

She didn't remember falling asleep last night, just feeling cold. The winds last night had cut through her sweater as if she hadn't been wearing one.

Remembering the cold, she looking down at herself. She blinked to find herself dressed in only her underwear. Blushing bright red, she slid back under the covers to hide herself. Her hair was loose, the buns having come undone at some point last night. He undressed me, she wondered, the blush crawling to the roots of her hairline at that thought.

Her clothes must have been soaked though, she tried to reason. She vaguely remembered it raining close to dawn.

Serena looked about the room, but found herself alone with the bedroom door closed. On the bed, a T-shirt laid at the footboard. Reaching for it, she tugged it on over her head to hide her naked body. There were some things, she liked to keep hidden. Some secrets she wasn't ready to share with anyone.

Crawling out of bed, Serena noted that not only was it warm beneath the covers, but the air in the room was muggy. Catching her bottom lip between her teeth, Serena quickly made the bed, since she knew her neighbor liked things kept neat and tidy.

When she was done, Serena went to the door and opened it. The smell that had awoken her, became stronger now, indicating it was close. Following her nose, Serena was led into the kitchen, where her neighbor stood at the stove stirring something in a pot with a spoon.

As if hearing her enter, he looked over his shoulder at her. "You're awake," he said with a bit of surprise in his voice.

Serena had to fight her blush at the sight of him. He was dressed in only a pair of loose fitting pants, his feet being bare, along with his chest. Probably because it was like ninety degrees in the house, she mused. Ducking her head, she added, "Yes, um-thank you." Her smile was hesitant and small. Then as if realizing that her arms were still bare, she quickly moved to hide them behind her back.

He frowned at the action, but turned back to the stove. "I made some stew, why don't you set the table," he offered.

Sighing in relief, Serena nodded. "Okay." She went to the cabinet he had pointed to and withdrew two plates and two glasses.

He had a small dining table and two chairs filling the empty space beyond the room. I don't remember that being there before, she thought mildly to herself. But she did recognize the dinning chair from yesterday.

Serena set up two places for the two of them and also brought over some spoons. Draco brought the pot of stew and spooned some into each bowl.

Sitting down, Serena stared at the hot food. When was the last time she had ever had a home cooked meal like this? Too long, she thought. Serena felt the back of her eyes start to burn and she sniffled to stop herself from crying.

"What's wrong?" he inquired at the sound, but his concern only made things worse. "Why are you being so nice to me," she wanted to know. Had to know, actually.

He appeared shocked by her question. "Nice," he echoed. "I don't think I've ever been called nice, before." Serena lifted her head to look at him then, but didn't comment. "I don't know," he answered truthfully. "Maybe I'm trying to make up for all the years I was a prat. Or maybe it's because I just wanted to be nice for once."

Serena wiped away a stray tear. "Okay," she whispered. She glanced back down at her bowl and her stomach growled with yearning.

"Now, I'll only let you eat, if you promise not to cry anymore," he teased, before carefully tasting the stew.

Serena nodded and she reached across the table with her pinky extended. "Pinky swear," she promised, not realizing at first, the mistake she made.

Draco suddenly dropped his spoon, sending drops of stew to decorate the table and splatter across his chest. His teasing smile fell instantly, as he stared at her raised arm. Catching his sudden change of mood, she looked, wondering what caused the hint of anger to flush the man's cheeks.

Realizing what she had done, Serena dropped her arm back into her lap. Completely losing her appetite, she looked to the floor. "I- I'm not hungry anymore," she blurted out quickly and shoved her chair back. She made a move to stand, but his hand, palms down hitting the table had her hesitating. "What were those," he questioned her, his gaze set on her with a blank expression. It appeared he was trying really hard, not to let his anger show.

Serena clutched her arms close to her. "Th-th-they're nothing," she replied, her voice shaking. What was it she had told her gym teacher, when he'd asked her the same question, after forcing her to wear the PE uniform? "I fell in some glass a few years ago," she lied steadily.

"Those were not made by glass," he replied tightly. Serena trembled. If she remembered correctly, her gym teacher hadn't been so convinced by that story, either.

He suddenly shoved his chair back and straightened. He rounded the table to stand next to her. Serena stiffened as he gently took her arm into his hands and turned it, so that he could see them.

She understood the disgust that flashed across his features. They disgusted her as well, every time she saw them. They were scars that crisscrossed up along the backside of her forearms. "These are defensive wounds," he said, his gaze lowering to meet her horrified stare.

Serena shook her head in denial. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered nervously. Fear held her frozen when he took her other arm to look at it as well. "These are old," he murmured mostly to himself.

Wrenching her arms free, she quickly crossed them over her chest. She would do anything to hide them. "You don't know what you're talking about," she snapped defensively. She tried turning away from him, but with his body crowding hers, she couldn't. "I know what they are," he replied just as tersely. "But what I don't understand, is why you have them."

"Well its none of your business," she shot back, her voice wavering as tears threatened to fall once more. She reached up to wipe them away harshly. She shoved back her chair, putting distance between herself and him, and she stumbled as she tried to get away. "I don't need your sympathy, or your pity. I can take care of myself."

Serena left the kitchen. Grabbing her bag, she zipped it open and pulled out the spare pair of pants she had packed. Sliding them on, she made sure they were fastened, before she slung her bag over her shoulder.

"Is that why you're running away," he asked from the kitchen's entrance.

Serena stopped at the front door. She shuddered at the image of that scared little girl from three years ago. The fear it brought when she remembered that night.

"Who says I'm running away," she snapped, not bothering to look at him. She jerked the door open, unable to hide the anger she felt towards that scared little girl. "I didn't three years ago, what good will it do, to start now?"

Without another word, she slammed the door shut behind her.

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Yes i know it has been a long time since my last update, but i have been going thro some serious issues, and have not had the time to update. I hope this chapter is to your liking, ihope to have the next chapter out within a week or two. i will not make u wait so long again .-

LP