Bound by secrets

Chapter 15

⚠️⚠️TW SELF HARM AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS⚠️⚠️

The days had blurred together, a haze of sorrow and numbness. Dumbledore had granted both Draco and me passes from classes due to the severity of the situation, and I had chosen to stay away from everyone, seeking solace in my own way.

My escape had come in the form of alcohol—a misguided attempt to numb the pain and forget the torment that lingered in my mind.

The Astronomy Tower had become my refuge, the place where I could be alone with my thoughts and drown my sorrows.

I clutched a bottle of fire whiskey, the amber liquid now almost gone. I felt the warmth of the alcohol spreading through me, but it did nothing to extinguish the cold emptiness inside.

I took another swig, my hands shaking as I brought the bottle to my lips. The alcohol burned my throat, but I welcomed the distraction from the overwhelming anguish that gripped me. As I looked at the bottle, an unsettling thought crept into my mind—was this all worth it? Was I really making things better or just avoiding the reality of my situation?

In a fit of frustration, I hurled the empty bottle against the stone wall. The glass shattered into countless shards, some of which fell to the ground with a soft, tinkling sound. My emotions were raw and uncontrollable. I picked up one of the jagged pieces, its sharp edge digging into my skin as I pressed it against my arm.

The pain was immediate, a welcome distraction from the emotional torment. Blood trickled down my arm, mingling with my tears as I sobbed uncontrollably. The Astronomy Tower offered a chilling view of the vast, dark expanse below. I stared at the drop, my heart pounding as I contemplated the idea of jumping. Maybe it would be easier, less painful than enduring this endless suffering.

Draco's POV

I was in the common room with the others when a wave of despair hit me like a physical blow. It was so intense and all-consuming that I almost fell from the force of it.

The soul tie was pulling at me, an agonizing connection that I couldn't ignore. It was Y/N—her raw, unfiltered emotions were crashing over me like a relentless tide.

Without a word, I jumped up, my heart racing. The intensity of her pain was overwhelming, and it sent a shiver down my spine. I could feel her sadness, her loneliness, and the desperation she was experiencing. I knew I had to find her, to be there for her in whatever way I could.

I raced through the corridors, every step fueled by a sense of urgency and fear. I could almost feel the echo of her sorrow in my own chest, and it made me push faster, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

As I searched the castle, my mind raced through possible places she might go. The Astronomy Tower was the only place that seemed right, the place where she often found solace. But then a sharp, searing pain shot through my arms. I felt it like a physical wound, an extension of her suffering. It was as though her pain was becoming mine, and it drove me to sprint even faster.

I burst into the Astronomy Tower, my eyes scanning desperately for any sign of her. My heart sank as I saw the broken glass scattered on the floor and the bloodstains that marred the stone. The sight was enough to send a surge of fear and anguish through me.

"Y/N!" I called out, my voice echoing off the stone walls.

I moved further into the tower, the cold night air biting at my skin. And there she was, sitting on the edge, her figure silhouetted against the dark sky. My breath caught in my throat as I saw her arm, the blood staining her clothes and the glass shard still clutched in her hand.

I felt a wave of panic rise within me, the thought of losing her sending me into a frenzy. "Y/N, please don't," I pleaded, my voice breaking as I reached out to her. "I'm here. You don't have to do this. Please."