Harry Potter One-shots

Draco Malfoy- The War Rages On

Draco Malfoy 44,46

"Im scared"

"Will you read to me"

Word count- 861 words

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As you sit on the couch in the empty apartment you couldn't help but feel like everything was crashing down around you. Rough nights of sleep are the normal occurrence after the war. This night in particular was rough but you chose not to wake up Draco this time. You knew how stressed he was with work lately, your nightmares would not help with that. As you attempt to regulate your breathing you think back to the first time you spent the night with Draco post war.

You sit up abruptly, gasping for air. Hand over your chest trying to feel your heartbeat. Trying to ground yourself. You are so focused on breathing that you don't realize that Draco woke up to you gasping and had sat up next to you.

you hear Draco quietly next to you repeating, "hey. It's me. Im here. I'm right here. You're safe"

After about five minutes of him repeating that phrase and you holding your hand over your heart. He slowly moved his arm around you and gently pulled you into his chest.

"Love. I'm going to hold you. Ok?" Draco said just barely above a whisper. You had just barely enough energy to nod your head to give consent.

As you laid your body weight against Draco's you felt your body begin to ground itself. Your brain slowing down and allowing yourself to have a grip on reality. You did everything in your power to match Draco's regulated breathing. After about another 10 minutes of sitting in silence breathing with one another you whispered, "I'm scared". Your voice breaking as you speak out. Just saying those words out loud felt like a weight off your shoulder.

"Shh shhh im here. Im here. Im going to go get you tea. Do you want to come with me" Draco said quietly. Although from the outside it looked like he was treating you like a child, you didn't mind. You normally was this independent woman but the war changed things. The war broke things in you and changed you. Some for the better, others for the worst.

You nodded as a response to Draco and slowly stood up. Draco grabbed your hand and you two walked into the kitchen and he turned to go put the kettle on. Once it was on he turned back to face you and opened his arms. You slowly and gently let your body mold into his head on his chest. Once again you found yourself matching his breathing.

Once you heard the kettle go off, Draco pulled away from you and got your tea ready. He nodded his head toward the living motioning you to follow him. You did and you both sat on the couch together. Tea in both of yours hands.

"How about I read to you?" Draco asked. You looked at him with confusion. He continued, " when I was younger and I felt overwhelmed my mom would read to me."

You took another sip of tea and set it down next to you. You nodded gently and he reached over and grabbed the book. You laid your head down on his lap and he gently played with your hair.

Before he began reading he looked you in the eyes and said, " love. We need to talk about what your nightmare was about. Not tonight, but tomorrow. We are going to work through them together. Ok?"

You once again nodded and then closed your eyes in preparation to hear his voice. He spent the next hour reading to you. He knew by the way your breathing changed that you fell asleep in about five minutes but he couldn't get himself to stop. He wanted to be more than sure that you were asleep and you felt safe.

You were brought out of your day dream by the front door closing. Draco walked into the apartment seeing you sit on the couch with tea next to you and you staring into space. Red eyes showing that you were crying. He gently set down his work stuff and took off his shoes. He walked over to where you were and sat down next to you.

Before you could ask he grabbed the book. You hadn't noticed so you asked " will you read to me" and then smiled when he held up the book that was already in his hand.

You laid your head on his lap and looked up at him. He looked down at you and said, " I know you had a nightmare last night. I also know you didn't wake me up. I know you think that I already have too much on my plate but you are not too much. You are the most important thing in my life. I want to help you. Also, just because you didn't have one for a couple months doesn't mean you are a failure because you had one last night. Healing takes time. Healing is a process. A process I'm honored to go on with you. Ok love?"

Just like that first night you nodded your head and closed your eyes. With that, Draco began reading.