Dream Of Me, To Keep You Safe

The Otter

"Draco?" her voice shuddered with what I don't know. Fear? Shock? Sadness?
I met her eyes. She stiffened.
"Hermione," I murmured, "Not exactly sexy, am I?" I tried.
She said nothing to the poor joke.
I sighed and just looked at her. She was still impossibly gorgeous, strong, proud, gentle.
"What day is it?" I asked.
"It's Saturday," she replied, almost pained. "Do you honestly not know?"
I shook my head. "It's timeless here. Same routine, no light. I tell the day based on letters and meals."
"Oh, Draco..." she sighed.
I finally stopped pacing and sat opposite her.
"Don't give me that."
"Give you what?"
"That look, like you feel bad for me," I huffed, "I don't deserve it."
"Draco, you don't deserve this," she began.
"I'm a Death Eater." I cut off her sentence.
"No you're not. You may have been one in name but not in heart. You never killed anyone - Harry told me about Dumbledore, how you couldn't bear to do it. Draco Malfoy, you are not a bad man."
I looked at her through my over-long hair. "How can you say that after the way I treated you?"
"People change, besides, I still think that right hook to your nose was enough payback." she joked a little. I couldn't help but crack a smile.
"I drew something for you." I state, handing her a roll of parchment.
The drawing had taken almost two days and a whole pot of ink to complete but it was worth it for the way her eyes glistened with tears at the stunning otter playing with a snake. The characters practically lept off the page they were so real.
"Draco!" she half cried and threw her arms around me, however I wasn't expecting it and we ended up headbutting eachother.
"Sorry!" she squeaked and blushed.
"I'm fine..." I murmured, looking in her hazel eyes, like a forest in early autumn when only a few green leaves linger. I gently pressed my fingers to the lump beginning to form where her forehead had collided with my chin.
"You'll live." I diagnosed and kissed it softly, still holding her. I felt the shudder down her spine as I did so.
"I have to go," she murmured. I was about to protest when she added, "But I'll write and be back next month when you have visitors, okay?"
I nodded, it was the best I could do.
I had kissed Hermione Granger, and it was enough to keep the nightmares back that night.