Pathetic. (A Draco Malfoy fanfiction)

Chapter 36.

"What the fuck is she doing here?!"
Someone's shout interrupts Hermione, and everybody else in the library really, but I'm sure they're used to it by now.

My heart drops to my stomach when I look up towards the shaking, furious mess that is Draco Malfoy, as he stalks towards our table with his wand raised, once again pointed directly at me.

Ron and Hermione leap out of their chairs; Ron moves to hold Draco back and Hermione steps in front of me to put a buffer between he and I; We have the full attention of the patrons now, and I'm quite honestly a little embarrassed.

"Draco stop! It's her, mate! It's really Sarah! Calm down!"
Ron's pleas just seem to make Draco fight harder to get at me, even as Ron holds his arms down at his sides.

It hurts, it makes my heart ache and burn to see him like this, he looks utterly destroyed, and his desperation to attack me isn't exactly helping my confidence at all either.
"Draco, enough!" Hermione draws her wand and points it at him,
"Petrificus totalus!"
She casts the spell with a flick of her wrist, annoyance in her voice, and a look you'd never want to see directed at you as long as you live.

Draco's movements cease, he falls stiff into Ron's arms, and the library is quiet again at last, though I suspect the remaining patrons have lost interest in their books, as they're still all staring at the four of us.

A terrified look is frozen on Draco's face, and it pains me so terribly, I stand and take a few cautious steps over to where Ron stands, still holding him and unsure of what to do.
I take him gently from Ron, and wandlessly apparate the two of us to the living room of Grimmauld place, away from everyone and everything else; it has to be just him and I, it has to be.
I don't even take a second to look around, I can't imagine looking away from him in this moment; he tries to speak, but it's just a hum as he can't open his mouth yet.

Lowering Draco gently, I sit on the warm hardwood floor in front of the grand fireplace that I always adored, resting his head in my lap and watching his eyes look deep into me, the same way they did that night in the owl tower.
My fingers start to comb through his hair without me even realizing it, I'm sure it's become muscle memory at this point.

"Draco, I know what you think, I know what you're feeling, and I understand. I have no proof to give you other than my word that it's truly me, but I know you can feel it, deep down... I know you can feel that I'm really me, and I'm really alive. I know that you've punished yourself all this time for what happened, but it wasn't your fault."

I wipe the tears that spill from the corners of those gray eyes of his, and continue,

"You had no control over it, there was nothing you could've done to stop it, and it had to happen to stop Voldemort. I... I forgave you before it even happened, okay? I knew it wasn't you, I knew you loved me... and I still love you. Please believe me, Draco, please..."

Now my own tears are falling onto his face, which I quickly wipe off, but it seems rather pointless when they just keep coming even after I've forced my eyes shut to try and stop them.
"I'm sorry, I-I'm getting you all wet."
I choke out a weird laughing crying combination which just embarrasses me more, but I can't help it, the sobs just keep coming and the fear of him not believing me keeps coming over me in waves.

I make one more desperate plea.

"Please believe that it's me! I promise you, I'm here, Draco! And I'm alive! I'm here and I love you, I never stopped loving you, from the moment I met you in that broom shop to right in this moment I have loved you, and I always will, I promise. I'm-"

I stop talking when I feel his hand suddenly rest on my cheek, and I instinctively lean into his touch as he wipes the tears away with his thumb; I open my eyes to look at him.
Draco stares at me for a second, conflicted, before quickly sitting up, and pulling me into a kiss.

There was never a moment in my life where I felt happier than I feel now, knowing there is nothing in the world that can stop us, not even death.
His lips still fit perfectly with mine, that familiar feeling of pure bliss filling me is nearly more than I can take, but I never want it to stop, I'd die again and again before I'd willingly let this end.
His fingers tangle in my hair and I thank merlin for the feeling, It's grounding, reminding me: I am alive, I am alive,
I am loved, I am loved.

For just a split second he breaks away, simply to whisper,
"I love you. I'll never let you go."
"I love you, Draco, I love you."
Draco smiles, and once again, gently pulls me into a kiss.

All this time, aching, and never once wavering in devotion.
All this time, he's still mine, and I'm still his.
Bit pathetic, isn't it?