Just Friends

Chapter 6

I killed him, Malfoy... He would still be alive...It was all my fault..." Theo said in between uncontrollable sobs. Draco was stumped; it was such a dreadful tale that left him at a loss for words. Theo recounted the incident, skimming over the intricate details but providing enough to deeply affect Draco, shaking him to his core.

"Nott...it wasn't your fault..." Draco's voice softened as he spoke, concern etched in his expression. His attention was fixed on Theo, who was engulfed with sobs. Draco hesitated, his hand hovering in the air, uncertain whether to reach out to comfort him.

Theo's voice cracked as he admitted, "He... he died because I... I fell in love with him..." His gaze lifted, meeting Draco's with a raw vulnerability. Quivering lips framed words heavy with sorrow, while red-rimmed eyes overflowed with tears, tracing paths down his cheeks. His face bore the weight of anguish and exposed vulnerability, etched with the agony of loss and regret.

Draco's heart reached its breaking point as he glimpsed Theo's anguished expression. Swiftly, he extended his hands, enveloping Theo in a tender embrace. Theo yielded, tears streamed freely as he buried his face against the nape of Draco's neck. Draco's own emotions tightened his throat, mirroring Theo's pain as he rested a cheek on Theo's head. In that silent embrace, Draco held him close, understanding that sometimes, the most comforting words were the ones left unspoken.

Draco decided to move Theo to his bed after he had calmed down a little. He wrapped his arms around Theo and slowly walked him towards the bed. Draco placed him gently on the bed and made sure that he was comfortable.As Draco began to rise from the bed, Theo's grip on his shirt sleeve brought him to an abrupt stop. There was a brief pause, a moment of uncertainty, before Draco yielded, swayed by the ache he glimpsed on Theo's face—though Theo wasn't meeting his gaze, the unmistakable pain etched there stirred something profound within Draco.

Without a word, Draco eased back onto the bed beside Theo. He settled against the headboard, extending his legs out, a wordless gesture of solidarity in their shared moment of emotional turmoil. Gently, Draco enveloped Theo in a comforting embrace, drawing him close until he nestled into the crook of his arm. Theo reciprocated by encircling Draco's waist with his arm, finding solace in the closeness as he closed his eyes, seeking refuge in the shared embrace.

Draco's arms provided him with a soothing sense of security. The warmth from his body made Theo feel sheltered and at ease. The excruciating memories gnawed at him, consuming him from within. Yet, in Draco's presence, there was a faint sense of relief—a balm to the overwhelming turmoil that threatened to engulf him. Without realising, Theo slowly drifted to sleep.

Draco stole a glance at Theo, finding him already asleep, nestled against his chest. With delicate care, he trailed his fingers through the soft strands of Theo's hair, each touch laden with tenderness and affection. His gentle caresses followed the natural contours of Theo's locks before his hand settled on Theo's cheek. As his thumb grazed the skin on Theo's cheek, he couldn't help but marvel at the serene transformation that sleep had wrought upon Theo's features. The earlier pain etched on his face seemed to dissipate with consciousness, leaving behind an almost angelic tranquillity. In this quiet moment, Draco continued to shower Theo with a silent stream of affection, his gaze filled with a profound sense of care. Draco felt a pang in his heart for Theo; the thought of enduring the trauma of witnessing a loved one tortured and killed, especially at the hands of one's own mother, was incomprehensible. The weight of such an experience on a young, vulnerable soul was beyond Draco's grasp. The vivid images of a helpless boy enduring such a disturbing event haunted his thoughts.

As his mind raced with the gravity of the situation, Draco became absorbed in the complexities of emotions that must have tormented Theo. The enormity of the pain and despair that gripped Theo's heart weighed heavily on his own.