Time Spent In Eternal Endings

Little Bird

She was perfect.

She was in shambles, but she was perfect. He held her in his arms as she cried and he let himself be her rock because it's what she needed. She needed him right now and he hated that he let it get that far. He hated that he wanted to be what she needed.

This was just supposed to be short-lasting, but from the moment he saw her at the ball, he knew she was everything he'd ever wanted.

Her stubbornness, her wit, the way the dimple on her left cheek dented when she laughed, the way her brown eyes shone like honey when the light caught them just right, the way she wouldn't stray from his lips even when she was nearly breathless unless he pulled away first. All of it. All of her. She was everything he'd ever wanted. But he didn't deserve her. Hermione didn't deserve someone so imperfect when she was everything but.

He breathed in her scent as she wept her last cries and he held her tightly. She placed her hands on his chest and moved slightly back to look at him.

Merlin, she was an angel.

"I'm sorry. Your robes are all tear-soaked now." She humorously laughed and sniffled even as her eyes still shone from the residue of tears.

"I think I'll survive." He smiled softly back at her.

Looking at her smile made him smile. He was glad she let him be there for her. He didn't know what he would've done if she didn't.

She looked up at his hair which was disheveled from rubbing his hands through it all day due to stress. She lifted a hand and brushed a strand away from his forehead and the way her fingertips brushed his forehead made his heart clench.

Draco looked at her with awe in his eyes. It took everything in him not to lean in and kiss her breathless. Just as he fought that urge Hermione leaned in towards his lips like she could read his mind. She planted her lips upon his and he kissed her back, but he knew she wasn't only doing this because she wanted to. The way she was quickly trying to get to him told him that she was trying to take her mind off of things. He couldn't blame her, but this wasn't the way to do it. She needed time and sleep. She needed sleep that was scheduled like how he assumed she typically had it. The only way she was truly going to get through this was with time, rest, support, and comfort.

He grabbed her hands that were laid on his chest and held them between his own as he pulled back. "I want to, but when you kiss me I want you to be thinking of me, not trying to forget him." He felt her hands squeeze his slightly and her eyes held an understanding look in them as if she was guilty.

Draco kissed her forehead and her eyes fluttered closed. He moved the tray off of the table. He'd make her eat when she woke up in the morning. "Get some rest."

"But I-" she tried to object. 

"I don't wanna hear it. You'll feel well rested when you wake up and we can get your sleep schedule back on track. We can also fix this bird's nest on your head and then you can chirp at me whenever you feel like it." He smirked at her to ease her frustration if she had any.

"I think I'll keep the bird's nest thank you very much." She huffed and threw herself on her pillow. She pulled the blankets over her shoulders and her eyes already fell closed as her breathing fell even.

"Goodnight little bird." He whispered and it almost came out as a mumble. He wasn't sure if she was fully asleep yet or if she'd heard him, but it didn't matter. She was getting the rest she needed and he was going to stay with her until she woke up. He'd protect her. He'd make her feel safe because it was his fault that she had ever been unsafe. He should've stopped her from going. He'd heard things about Sr. McLaggen in the past but he didn't pay them any mind. He should've though because now the perfect witch that laid in front of him was hurt and he could've done something to stop it.

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