Winnie - D.M

Chapter 1 - Caught

The day was supposed to be a joyous one. I'd been looking forward to this moment for weeks, feeling a thrill with every passing mile as the train brought me closer to home—and to Draco. The long visit with my family had done me good, but I'd missed him so much. I couldn't wait to surprise him, maybe even tell him the news I'd been keeping close to my heart.

When I stepped off the train, I didn't waste a moment. The excitement propelled me forward, practically making me sprint through the crowded station, eager to see Draco's face when he saw me back a day early. Our studio apartment on the third floor was just a few streets away, and I couldn't stop smiling as I bounded up the steps, envisioning the look of delight on his face when I opened the door.

I finally reached the door, slipping the key in as quietly as possible. But the second I stepped inside, a sickening feeling churned in my stomach. The faint sounds of muffled moaning and the unmistakable rustle of blankets filled the silence, stabbing into me with a clarity I wished was a nightmare. It couldn't be.

With a heart beating far too loudly, I walked down the short hallway toward our bedroom, half-expecting the noises to stop, praying I was somehow mistaken. But when I pushed the door open, there they were—Draco, tangled with Astoria Greengrass, a girl he had once reassured me was "just a friend," lying naked in our bed.

My whole body went cold. It felt like I was trapped in a dark, twisted version of reality as the shock held me still. I heard my keys slip from my fingers, hitting the floor with a soft clink that jolted them both from their oblivious embrace. Their heads snapped toward me, Draco's face morphing from pleasure to shock, and then to horror. He tried to stumble out of the bed, grabbing a blanket to cover himself, as if modesty could erase the betrayal that seared into me.

"Serena... I can explain," he stammered, the words tumbling out like a weak attempt to put a plaster on a shattered glass.

"No need," I said, my voice trembling as I fought to stay calm, to stay upright. "There's nothing you could say to fix this, Malfoy." The use of his last name felt like venom on my tongue. I needed the distance it created, the formal barrier that reminded me he wasn't the man I thought he was.

His face crumpled, his eyes filling with pain at the cold, unfamiliar formality. But I wasn't about to let his feelings change anything. "Oh, please continue," I spat, gesturing toward the bed, barely able to look at them. "I'll just pack my things and be out of your way."

Turning from the scene, I forced myself to move, my vision blurred by tears as I grabbed boxes from the closet. The small cartons that had once held promises of a shared future now felt like fragile containers for a life I no longer recognized. I threw in my belongings without thinking, too numb to even register what I was packing.

"Serena, please!" I heard Draco's voice again, now behind me. He reached for my arm, but the touch made me recoil as if I'd been burned. I yanked myself free from his grip, not sparing him a glance.

"Don't touch me, Malfoy. You lost every right to touch me after..." I choked on the words, hating how I stumbled, my anger mixing with heartbreak. "After you did that. With her."

Draco stood there, his hands clenching and unclenching as he looked at me with tear-filled eyes, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a glimmer of the Draco I loved—the Draco who made me laugh, who held me close on sleepless nights. But that image dissolved as quickly as it had come. I turned back to the bedroom, where Astoria sat, still starkly naked, her face pale.

I shoved clothes into bags with a fierce finality, desperate to escape before my resolve crumbled completely. With the last of my things in hand, I paused at the doorway, my eyes finding Draco's once more. "I hope she was worth it," I whispered, my voice barely holding back the flood of pain. And then, without waiting for an answer, I slammed the door behind me, letting it echo in my mind.

As I hurried down the steps, burdened by the weight of my life packed into bags, I clutched my purse tightly, feeling the hard plastic edge of the pregnancy test tucked inside. My hand instinctively rested over my stomach, a broken sort of peace settling over me as I whispered, "He doesn't deserve us, baby." Tears flowed freely down my face, the pain of the betrayal mixing with the bittersweet realization that this new life deserved more than a home built on lies.

Outside, I flagged down a cab, barely managing to hold myself together as I slid into the back seat. I took out my phone, dialing the one person I knew would understand, who would open her door without question.

"Hello, Serena?" Hermione's voice came over the line, cheerful and warm, an anchor in the storm.

"Hermione," I choked, my voice breaking, "can I... can I come stay with you for a while?"

There was a brief silence before her voice softened, thick with worry. "Of course, Serena. Oh, my Merlin, of course you can. What happened? Are you alright?"

I tried to respond, but the words caught in my throat, the truth too painful to say. "Draco... he... he cheated on me."

Hermione gasped, her sympathy wrapping around me like a balm even over the phone. "Oh, Serena. I'm so sorry, love. Come here. We'll talk about everything once you're safe. I'll get the guest room ready for you."

"Thank you, Hermione," I whispered, grateful beyond words.

When the taxi pulled into Hermione and Ron's driveway, the driver glanced back at me, his face full of sympathy. "I'm sorry, Miss. Take care of yourself, yeah?" He got out to help with my bags, and I barely managed a nod, my gratitude tangled with the emotions surging within me.

As I struggled to hold my composure, Hermione came rushing out, wrapping me in her arms the moment I stepped out. Her embrace was everything I needed, her warmth pressing against the shivering ache that had taken over my body. I broke down completely, my sobs muffled against her shoulder as the weight of everything finally spilled out. I didn't have to explain—she just held me, rocking me gently as I crumbled.

"It's alright, Serena," she murmured, stroking my hair in a comforting rhythm. "We're going to get through this. You're not alone."

For the first time since opening that door, I felt a glimmer of hope. Through the pain and betrayal, there was someone here who would help me pick up the pieces, someone who'd remind me that I was strong enough to move forward—no matter how shattered I felt.