Healing // d.m.

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  CATHERINE heard a scream. It was a shrill, piercing scream that sliced her heart in two. She did not know such a deafening scream could exist. That someone's pain could be translated into a sound so horrid she never wanted to hear it again.

  And the scream was her own.

  She was standing in a destroyed building. Rubbles of stones and granite burnt to ash all around her. Cracks lined the concrete floor and surrounding her were the sounds of people in pain or in battle. She hated the smell of death that hung in the air.

  But what she hated more was the vision that lay in front of her. The reason for her uproar.

  Draco was on the ground, facing downward, surrounded by the pool of his own blood. His face tilted towards her direction. His stare empty, his cheeks void of colour.

  She tried to move but there was an invisible barrier in front of her. Like a wall placed between her and the person she called her home, who was dying right by her very eyes. Her love was drained of life and she couldn't even get to him. She banged her fist on the cruel magic that separated her from him, the skin on her hand scraped raw.

  Her screams only grew louder and louder.

  Finally the invisible wall cracked and exploded with such force, her body was pushed back, flying up in the air. Then she fell.... Down and down into a bottomless pit of darkness.

------

  Catherine jolted awake with the scream still on her lips. She clutched the blanket with her trembling hands as she sat on the bed. Her whole body was still shaking from the horrors of her nightmare. Her cream coloured cotton tank top was damp and pressed into her body. She covered her mouth, willing her to stop screaming, but it wasn't just her own.

  She turned to look at Draco. He was thrashing around the bed, shaking the frame. His arms were in the air trying to fight an invisible enemy. His screams were blood curling and filled with anguish, similar to hers. His eyes closed shut, scrunched up in pain. The sweat glistened on his forehead, mirroring hers.

  "Draco!" She took both of his strong arms, pinning them down on the bed. His enormous strength nearly made it impossible for her to hold him still. His screams now turned into pained whimpers and he called out her name. Repeated it like a spell over and over.

  "Draco I'm here!" She shook his shoulder and tapped his cheek. "Wake up and look at me! I'm here!"

  His bright silver eyes opened instantly. He sat up straight on the bed so fast it nearly threw her to the floor, but his hands held onto her upper arm. He was heaving and so was she. Breathing hard and raged as he looked around the room, looking for the threat that was only living in his mind. They were in his bedroom at the Manor, after having dinner with Cissy and some of her friends.

  When he focused on her, he sighed, still struggling to take in air. He scanned her body making sure she was alright. Then his hands went to her cheeks and Catherine placed both hands over his.

  "It's not real." She reminded him, but mostly she wanted to remind herself too. "You're here and I'm here."

  Draco nodded slightly, swallowing the lump in his throat. Catherine straddled his lap and leaned over to softly planted kisses over his face. She started on his forehead, his cheeks, his nose then softly giving a peck on his lips.

  His hands went around her middle, holding her tighter than usual. He slowly moved to lay them both back on the bed and tucked their body close together. With a hand behind her head, she nuzzled into the crook on his neck, breathing in his scent of mint and bergamot.