Imagines

Slow Dancing In A Burning Room

DracoxHermione

He always had his days where he seemed to be drowning in his thoughts, whether he was left alone or not. It's like he leaves when he's really just sitting right in front of her. There were times she knew what to do, but there were also times where she didn't. She felt helpless. It pains her to see him staring into space, thoughts killing him, not being able to do anything for him to just forget about it all. She knew what he was thinking, but not exactly.

Draco was sat on the couch facing the fireplace where the fire was lit, the only source of light in the living room. She heard the radio playing softly and one of her favorite songs started to play. She sighed, knowing immediately it was one of those days. She placed down her book on one of the shelves and walked up in front of him, and held her hand out.

What happened to him less than two years ago ruined him. It was either "be evil or get killed." It was always either do or die for him. He never had a choice; there was never an easy way out. The pressure of his family and being scared to die was what ruined him. He was slowly breaking, but no one saw because they saw him as an arrogant asshole that never cared about the world and always thought of himself. No one saw underneath the covers, but she did. She saw right through him. He didn't have to say anything for her to know or understand, but she did.

Draco looked up at Hermione and gave her a confusing look. Hermione rolled her eyes, and smiled.

"Just take it, Malfoy." Hermione demanded, laughing. Draco smiled up at her and took her hand. Hermione pulled Draco from the couch and brought them to the middle of the living room. She placed both of Draco's hands on her waist and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Dance with me." Hermione whispered, smiling up at Draco.

He wrapped his arms tighter around Hermione's waist, bringing her closer to him. He kissed her temple and looked into her eyes, giving her a darling smile.

"Do I have a choice?" Draco said with a teasing tone.

"Shut up and just dance with me."

Hermione leaned her head on Draco's shoulders and closed her eyes. They both slowly swayed to the song, Draco humming quietly.

Draco's trying. He's trying so hard to move on and forget everything; he's trying so hard for her, for Hermione. So he can fully be with her, without spacing off and remembering the past. He wants to give his full attention to her, make her happy. That's all he wants – to make Hermione happy. But he can't stop thinking of not being able to make her happy because of his state. He's scared that she'll just stop, get tired of how depressed he is and leave him. Draco's scared to lose her; she's the only light in his life now.

Draco hides what he feels a lot. He tries so hard so Hermione wont see it and feel bad for him. But what he doesn't know is that she sees it all. She sees everything- from how much paler he got and how his dark circles are more prominent because he can't sleep, waking up in the middle of the night because of his nightmares. He's gotten thinner, a lot thinner. He doesn't eat a lot anymore, always coming up with excuses that he isn't hungry or he just wants to go to bed. She notices that he doesn't talk as much anymore, scared that he'll just snap at her for no reason. He locks himself in the room more often, just wanting to be alone. But what's worse is that she knows what goes on in his head, and it kills her more than what she sees in the outside, because she knows she can't do anything to stop him from thinking those thoughts. She knows she can't stop him from thinking those ugly thoughts in his head, those ugly thoughts that make him weaker – in the inside and outside.

"I'm trying, you know?" He whispers. "I really am trying. For you, for us. It's just – It gets –"

"I know, Draco." She interrupts, looking up at him. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here, and I'm staying."

Hermione does know he's trying, she knows he is. She knows he's trying so hard to avoid those gloomy days and the thoughts that go on in his head. If he isn't locked up in their room or staring into space, he helps her with the house chores, listens to her silly, nonsense stories or the new things she's learned from the books he's given her from her past birthdays and Christmas, sometimes just random presents in random days. He sometimes comes home from work or from his walks with flowers or something small, but meaningful to give her. There are more gestures he does to try and get back to the way he was, and he does it for Hermione. And she's doing everything to help him. She wants to help him, so bad. She's scared he's going to shut down completely, and she wont be able to do anything to help him.

Hermione knows there is still hope for Draco to get better; she knows there is still hope for them.

Draco smiled down at Hermione and she swore her heart skipped at beat. He stops swaying them both and cups his hands on her cheeks, the feeling of his soft lips against hers, invading every sense of her body.

Draco pulls apart and smiles at Hermione, kissing her forehead then hugging her, tightly, like he's so scared of losing her.

"I love you." Draco says sweetly, a smile on his face, wondering how he got so lucky.

"I know," Hermione says in joking way, earning a quiet shut up from Draco.

"I love you, too."