Saved By Malfoy Unedited

Chapter 8

Draco

I was shocked. Frozen in place. I managed to do the only thing that came to my head. I pulled my mum into a hug.

"Mum, that's the best thing I've ever heard you say," I muttered.

A smile broke across her face.

"So you feel the same way?" She asked, hope clear in her tone.

"Yes," I replied.

We were interrupted by soft running footsteps upstairs quickly followed by slightly heavier ones. I opened the door and Hermione ran behind me.

I spun around to look at her.

"Why are you downstairs?" I asked.

"B..Bellatrix," Hermione whimpered.

I realized she was holding her arm, a small stream of crimson blood dripped from her elbow. Just as I was about to heal it my aunt appeared behind me.

"Draco, your Mudblood was running from a superior, she needs to be punished," my aunt said.

I glanced at my mum who gave a slight nod. I turned around and smacked Hermione's cheek. She fell to the ground and I turned back to my aunt.

"Good, I best be going," she said, "I'm having tea with Mrs. Parkinson."

She apparated before I could say anything. I turned back to a wide eyed Hermione making her flinch. I helped her up.

"Sorry... if I didn't hit you you we both would have gotten worse," I muttered.

I healed healed her arm. I couldn't help but notice the terrified look in her eyes as she looked at me. I never hated myself as much as at this moment.

"I'm going back to the room," she said quickly.

She ran upstairs before I had the chance to say anything. I knew the expression on my face was telling exactly as I felt when mum put a hand on my arm.

"Let's go upstairs to talk," mum suggested.

I nodded and led the way upstairs. When we made it to the room I shut the door and put a silencing charm. The bathroom door was shut and the shower was running.

"Be quiet for a moment," I told mum.

I put my ear to the door to make sure she wasn't crying again. When I didn't hear any sobs I relaxed.

"Never mind," I told her, sitting on the bed.

"How's she been?" Mum asked.

"Terrified of everyone except me and Blaise. She's still shaky around Theo," I explained.

"Do you know what happened to her?"

"She was tortured for two years," I replied. "She can't hardly talk without thinking I'm going to hurt her. It doesn't help that I have to yell at her and hit her when we leave the room."

"That's terrible," mum said.

"I think-"

I was cut off when the shower head squeaked off. I waited a moment before walking up to the door. Mum left the room.

I knocked gently, obviously scaring her when a soft thud came from the room.

"Hermione, are you dressed?" I asked.

"Y...yes," she replied.

"I'm coming in," I said, not waiting for her reply.

I opened the door to see her slowly getting to her feet. I helped her up.

"Are you alright?" I asked softly.

"I..I'm fine," she replied.

I resisted the urge to scowl when she said that, again. I knew it wasn't her fault, it's what she says when she's scared. She was obviously scared of me.

"Hermione," I said in the softest voice I was capable of, "I really didn't want to hit you. I never will hurt you unless you will get hurt more if I don't."

"I..I know... I just... I'm..," she stumbled over her words.

I brought my hand to her face making her flinch so much she almost fell over. I caught her arms to keep her from falling. I helped her stand steady.

"I..I'm sorry... I-" she started.

I pulled her into a hug. She wound her arms around my waist and put her head on my chest.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't be, I know this is hard. You have to remember I won't hurt you unless you will get worse. Your safe here, or at least safer than you were," I told her.

"I..I know. I'm just.... scared, no... I'm terrified," she confessed, failing to hold in a shiver.

"I won't let anything happen to you, not again," I muttered.

"Draco?" She asked, her voice cracking.

"Yes?"

"You are the first person I've been close to sense the war," she whispered.

I tightened my arms around her.

"We can stay as long as you want," I told her.

"Forever," she whispered.

~*~*~

An hour or so later I finally convinced Hermione to sit on the bed. She was cuddled up to me and her grip on my shirt never relaxed.

"Draco," she said, pulling back. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," I muttered.

Hermione got off the bed and rummaged through the food cabinet. She ate a bit of food before laying on the bed.

"Draco..." She yawned. "Tell me about yourself."

This caught me by surprise.

"What do you want to know?" I asked.

"Do you have a job? Do you have any pets? I don't know, the basics," she said.

"I work for the dark lord to capture and enslave muggles. I despise my job but do it for the safety of my family. I have an owl and a pet snake both of which are in a different room. My favorite color is green and my favorite food is green apples," I said. "How about you?"

"Uh... I obviously don't have a job... I had a cat once named Crookshanks but I haven't seen him in a few years. My favorite color is green and my favorite food is the edible kind," she replied.

She stuffed a yawn as her eyes slowly closed.

"I'm just gonna.... rest my eyes," she slurred, slowly drifting off into a peaceful sleep.