The Abuser

The Grey Space

Just one more time before I go, I'll let you know that all this time I've been afraid. Wouldn't let it show. Nobody can save me now, no, nobody can save me now.

- Battle Cry by Imagine Dragons

........

"Draco! Wait!" I hurry after his fast-departing figure. "Stop! I really need to talk to you."

Reluctantly, he halts and turns to face me with a look of exasperation. I dash to his side, looking beseechingly up at him.

"Why have you been ignoring me? Please tell me. You don't have to hide anything from me; I love you and I'll always keep your secrets! This is killing our relationship. I'm not even sure if you want to be with me anymore. Do you have any idea of how that feels?" My voice is almost pleading. I'm still angry, but I know that yelling at Draco isn't going to mend our friendship in any way.

His eyes flit to the ground, and he wets his lips nervously. He looks just about to open his mouth when a loud, female voice echoes shrilly through the halls behind us. "Malfoy, you owe us one! I had to change out of my boxers and-" The speaker rounds the corner, stopping short at the sight of me.

Two girls, no older than their first year, stand red-faced and sweaty in front of us. I shoot a pointed look at Draco, who pins on an innocent-looking grin. "These girls got lost, so I'm- um, helping them back to the dungeons. Prefect duty, and all that, you know."

I nod slowly, my eyes narrowed. "Uh-huh. Yeah, sure. Cause you totally haven't been giving your prefect duties a half-assed effort lately. Besides, Draco, we're nowhere near the dungeons!" I look the girls over. "Well, seeing as you're lost, you had better follow me. I wouldn't trust that blonde idiot to know the way back to the common room, if I were you. He gets lost trying to go to the bathroom!" I laugh, elbowing Draco in the ribs. "I like your dress." I nod to the smaller, blond, girl, who immediately squeaks in horror and covers her body with her hands.

I'm making a grab for Draco's hand just as Ron careens wildly around a bend in the wall, skidding to a sudden stop before hitting us. "Malfoy-" He begins, staring at the two girls, and, oddly enough, the wall directly behind us.

Before I can even take a breath of preparation, Draco grabs my shoulders and starts kissing me with a shockingly wild passion; right in front of Ron! "Mmff!" I try to protest but he's squeezing me so tight that I can't break away. Over Draco's shoulder, I can see Ron's horrified, beet-red face. He shakes his head slowly and begins to walk away, occasionally glancing back at us over his shoulder.

As soon as Ron is out of view, Draco drops me like a stone. I stumble back, gasping, as he straitens his tie. "Sorry, I had to get him to go away." He says bluntly.

"Bully for you then. Mission Accomplished!" I say sarcastically, wiping my lips on my handkerchief. "And go me; I finally got you to snog me. First kiss we've shared this year, I might add."

"Like I said; sorry." He snaps, grabbing the arm of one of the girls and beginning to drag her off.

"Yeah, I'm sorry we kissed too." I retort. "You know, I came here to thank you for saving me from Nott. I came here to try to make our relationship work! I regret it. There's no trying to save us if you don't want it to work."

"I want it to work! I'm just busy!" he yells.

I stare at him long and hard. He really does look horrible, now that I think about it. His white-blond hair is messed up and his skin is a dull grey color, not unlike that of a rotting corpse. His face seems lined beyond his years and I'd easily estimate that he hasn't slept for at least a month, judging by the purple-black bruises beneath his eyes. "Are you okay?" I blurt, transfixed by how ill he seems.