The Villain's Redemption

The Heartfelt Confessions

"You're sorry" Anna repeated Draco's words, not believing in her ears. She found it hard to believe that the proud and arrogant Draco Malfoy would ever speak these words out loud, but there he was. 

"Yes. And if you must know, I rarely apologise to anyone. Saying it without vomiting is an achievement for me" Draco admitted and Anna supressed a teasing smirk.

"That doesn't surprise me at all"

"But I've messed up very badly with you and you deserve an apology at the very least. I've dragged you into a situation you shouldn't be in. You have been nothing but kind to me and you saved my life on Saturday too-"

"It's not a big deal" Anna cut him off. She did not want Draco to feel obligated to behave differently because she had nurtured him back to health while he was vulnerable and found herself regretting that she let her guard down that much on that day. She could have simply informed a teacher and not get involved. And it was not just the fact that she had gotten involved, she did much more than that. It was a moment of weakness.

"It is a big deal for me" Draco confessed getting closer to Anna and she felt her cheeks redden at their proximity and the longing in Draco's eyes. "Nobody has cared about me in the way you do. I expected you to let me die, or at least pass the responsibility to someone else, but you didn't. You should hate me after all I've done to you and your friends and yet, you were there for me when I needed you. It is a big deal"

"I did what I would do for anyone" Anna shrugged, avoiding his glance.

"Maybe. But to me, it's not a treatment I would normally receive by anybody"

"I see. So you wanted to talk to me because you feel gratitude for me being your nurse" Anna concluded, trying to rationalise Draco's sudden need for a heart-to-heart conversation.

"No. I wanted to talk because now I am ready to discuss this now. I wasn't before. And you deserve to know why I did what I did" Something in Draco's words made Anna snap. She had so much anger and hurt inside of her she had been supressing and Draco's words had been triggering her a lot.

"I already know" she said coldly and Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"You do?"

"Yes. I know how you think, Draco, I was a trophy to you that night, that's why you kissed me"

"A trophy?" Draco gasped. Tears filled Anna's eyes, but she tried to stay strong and tell Draco the things she has not had the chance to say last time. She was proud, she would not allow Draco to play her again, so she spoke her mind truthfully, even if Draco was not ready to hear her harsh truth.

"Yes. A shiny object you wanted to win so Harry wouldn't. And now you want to win me over Seamus. So you can feel the satisfaction of having me as your puppet. You kissed me because I looked pretty and guys were interested in me, not because you care about me" 

"Is that what you think?" Draco growled and his jaw clenched in anger, but Anna carried on, her emotion getting control of her words.

"Do you blame me? I was a trophy for you to win and of course, you then realised you were kissing a 'mudblood' and you thought to cover your tracks. Because you wouldn't want to be associated with kissing someone like me! Because in your eyes, I am dirty and inadequate and repulsive and-"

"Enough! Stop this nonsense!" Draco shouted, startling Anna. His body shaking in rage. "You have every right to be angry at me, but don't assume you know how I feel or think about you!"

"I know you, Draco! You have been clear about your views since we met! I knew who you were and I shouldn't be expecting anything different from you. I shouldn't have let myself believe that you could see me as more than a pretty girl. And you have a girlfriend too...I should have pushed you away. I just..." Anna sobbed, unable to control herself and Draco rushed by her side. He gently pushed a strand of her hair behind her shoulder so he could see her face but avoided to touch her any further. He simply furrowed his eyebrows, seemingly baffled.