Stuck with a Slytherin

13: "Hey, you're okay, I got you."

Draco's POV

I was headed to the Commons with Nott, Goyle, Zabini, and Crabbe after we finished our late dinner. We all had detention during dinnertime, so we were running about an hour late.

"Hey, Malfoy, bet you can't go through the painting backwards without falling in your butt!" Goyle shouted.

I laughed. "You're on!"

So we all went up to the painting, and I perfectly (of course) stepped through it backwards, but my laugh faded when I watched Nott's smile turn to a smirk. I whipped around to see Y/n staring at a piece of paper dejectedly, with tears in her eyes.

"Okay, out." I said. I knew I had to comfort her. But no one moved, and I lost my patience. "Out! GET OUT!" The boys jumped, and scuttled towards the stairs, glancing at me fearfully.

I jutted my hand towards Kylie. "You too!" She turned and headed up the stairs, glaring at me before she left my sight.

I glanced at Y/n, and many emotions passed through me.

First, anger at her for opening the letter without me, and at the boys and Kylie for taking so long to leave.

Then, hurt, because she couldn't wait to open it, even though I told her I'd be there.

Lastly, concern, because Y/n was breathing extremely heavily, and shaking, and at this point the tears were spilling out of her eyes.

I took a step towards her, and my eyes widened when she flinched.

"Y/n, love, what's wrong?"

"I-I can't s-stay. He's gonna h-hurt me, he's not g-gonna let me come b-back!"

I took another step to her, and she flinched again, stepping backwards.

"Hey, love, let me help you. C'mere." I was whispering at this point, terrified of scaring her.

"N-no, I c-can't!" Her breathing was getting more ragged, and I could tell her legs were about to give out.

She started muttering under her breath, and her hands went up to her hair as she paced, pulling at it.

"Y/n, stop, you're going to hurt yourself, love." I was getting more worried by the second. I've never seen her like this; what was happening?

She let out a cry of frustration, and stumbled over her feet. "H-he's gonna h-hurt me. He's g-gonna h-hurt me. I c-can't go back, p-please."

She started swaying on her feet, and screamed. I immediately closed the distance between us (a few feet) and hugged her, trying to ignore the fact that her screaming intensified, and she was shaking so much.

"Y/n, I'm sorry, but you have to sit down. You're going to pass out." Her screams stopped, but her breathing didn't slow. If anything, it sped up even more, until suddenly, she huffed out all of her air, and didn't breathe back in.

I panicked, grabbing her shoulders and looking in her eyes. She was staring back at me with desperation and fear, so much fear.

Without any warning, her knees buckled, and she fell to the floor and took in a breath. My momentary relief was cut off when her heavy breathing turned into full-on sobs, and I kneeled next to her, pulling her into me.

I ignored how she flinched when I touched her, and how she gasped for air between her sobs. I just held her.

"Hey, you're okay, I've got you. You're alright, love, you're okay." I murmured into her hair as she finally relaxed into me, burying her face into my chest and sobbing.

"He's gonna h-hurt me. D-don't let him h-hurt me, please!" My heart broke.

"Let who hurt you, Y/n?"

"M-my dad..."

"Y/n, love, he's not gonna hurt you. He's your dad. Dads don't hurt daughters."

"N-n-no, you don't understand, he's g-gonna hurt me!" Her breathing, which was previously slowing down, sped back up again.

I quickly placed my index and middle fingers under her jaw, feeling for her heartbeat. It was alarmingly fast.

"Y/n, listen to me. You have to breathe, okay? He's not here. He won't hurt you. You're safe. And if you don't take some breaths, you will pass out." I pulled her into me, hugging her. "It's okay, love, I promise. You'll be okay."

And somehow, she registered my voice, mumbling, "Okay, Dray."

I sighed gratefully at those two words.

"Now, love, breathe with me, yeah?" I took a breath in, relief washing over me as she copied me.

As I let out the breath, she did too, and we repeated this for almost 15 minutes, until her breathing was back to a less terrifying speed.

I checked her heart rate again, smiling when it was almost normal.

"Okay, love, now can you explain what happened?" I whispered.

She sat up, away from me, and started looking around. She grabbed a piece of paper off of the ground and handed it to me, and I attempted to read it through the tear stains.

My eyes scanned over the words quickly, and after I finished, I glanced back at Y/n. She was still shaking, and she looked like she was about to start crying again, so I pulled her back into me, scooting to lean against the wall.

"I've got you, you're okay." I kissed the top of her head as she leaned it on my shoulder, and after a few moments, she whispered to me.

"Do you hate me?" My jaw dropped.

"Of course not, how could you think that?"

"I dunno. 'Cuz I'm a freak." Her voice trembled.

"Hey, no, you're not a freak. You're beautiful, and perfect."

"B-but beautiful and perfect people don't have anxiety..."

"Well, one of them does."

Y/n sniffled and sat up before pushing herself up to stand. "Thanks, Dray." She gave me a forced smile and turned away.

"Of course, love."

And I stood up, went to my dorm, placed my face in my pillow, and went to sleep, utterly confused about this whole thing.