Pathetic. (A Draco Malfoy fanfiction)

Chapter 13.

After I had thanked Neville for cheering me up, and he had thanked me for defending him, he went back to the boys dormitory, and I decided to go up to the Owl tower, just to avoid being around other humans for now. So here I sit on the edge of the window railing, just staring out over the hogwarts grounds and beyond, and listening to the quiet noises of the sleeping owls..and, whatever that clicking noise is; I turn and watch the staircase, just waiting to see if- oh, I was right. Someone's decided to come up here as well, thus ruining my perfect alone time. I turn back out the window, and watch the night sky for a few moments before I leave. I wait for whoever it is to say something like "oh! hello." or something, but instead It's just silent, until a sniffle sounds from the person. Crying? Why has someone come to the owl tower to cry? "I was looking for you...someone said you went up here." Fuck. Why did it have to be the last person I want to speak to and or see? And why the hell is he crying? I turn around and face him. Oh, he's not crying yet, just almost about to cry. He looks miserable, though, his usual neat and ironed clothing has been replaced by a soft looking slytherin sweater and skinny slacks, and his hair is slightly disheveled. He looks so strange like this..beautiful, but strange. "What do you want, Malfoy?" I ask firmly, I'm not dealing with anymore shit today, if he wants something, he's gotta get straight to the point. "You were right." He says, sitting down on the floor and leaning against the cobblestone wall. His statement surprises me, but I don't trust that it's not just another joke, so I don't show it. "About what?" I ask cautiously, slowly getting down from the ledge and sitting down across the tower, facing him head on. "About me, about everything that I am. I'm the worst person alive." "Don't try and make me pity you, Malfoy." "I'm not. I mean it, I really am a terrible person. I'm sorry for everything I've done to you." "You should be." "I actually was going to apologize when I saw you by the greenhouse, but I saw you with Longbottom and I assumed and I got mad." "that doesn't make it okay to suggest that we were going to have sex. Neville was just being a good friend and cheering me up from what you did to me. And it doesn't make it okay to call him a squib." I reply, scowling at him, his head drops to his knees. "I know. I'm sorry." "I swear to merlin Malfoy if this is another prank I'll send you packi-" "It's not, I genuinely am sorry for everything I've done to you, and this afternoon I didn't know you'd-" "I'd what? Get upset with you for humiliating me?" He winces at my words but nods slowly and guiltily. "I thought you'd just brush it off like you normally do with things I say." "Well you thought wrong. I hope it gave you satisfaction though, the power trip of making someone cry." "I swear on my family name I didn't think you'd cry, I wanted to run after you and apologize but we had to go to class." "So good grades are more important than someone's feelings?" "No! No that's why I'm here! If any professor or Filch knew I was out of bed after lights out they'd probably expel me or something like that!" That's true. Hm. "All those things you said really put me in my place. I am everything you said I am." He says, his voice dripping with pure misery and guilt, I start to feel sorry for him, it's not his fault he was raised the way he was raised, I've met his father, and Ron has told me all about the Malfoy's renowned cruelty, it's not Malfoy's fault, it's his parents. I take a deep breath and run my hand through my hair. "What about the pureblood mania thing? You've called me a mudblood many many times, why did you suddenly change your mind about whether or not muggle raised or muggleborn was okay?" I ask, really really wanting to know. "My father...my parents..they hate anyone who's not pureblood..and when I met you in the broom shop..I couldn't wait to be your friend..but I told my father about you, and he taught me a lesson about being friends with....with mudbloods.." "What'dya mean taught you a lesson?" "He hexed me, until I agreed and obeyed. Trust me, I wish I could take back every time I've called someone a mudblood, but I can't, all I can do is apologize. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness or Neville's forgiveness.." "I'm sure you're not really a terrible person...I just want to know why you've hated me all these years..I never did anything to you." I say, standing up and moving next to him and sitting down. He looks up at me with tear stained eyes, and it sends a chill down my spine, Malfoy is sitting beside me, crying, and apologizing to me. I never expected this out of him. "I've never hated you...ever." His confession takes me aback, my eyes widening in shock. "What?" "I've always liked you, and you have to understand...I've never been shown the correct way to treat someone you like. My father and my mother didn't marry each other because they loved each other, they married to join two of the most powerful pureblood families, Malfoy and Black. So my parents didn't kiss, didn't hug, they don't hold hands. My father can be rude to her a lot, and my mother is rude right back to him. My father wants me to get married someday to carry on the Malfoy name, but he doesn't show me how I'm supposed to treat someone I love. I've always assumed if you like a girl, you treat her like dirt, because I never fully understood that my parents didn't love each other. I thought that rudeness was how one shows affection for someone." I mean, everything he's confessing makes sense, It makes everything make sense, but I'm shocked that he's telling me all this, that he's being so vulnerable, that he likes me. "Malfoy-" "Can you please just call me Draco?" He asks, crying softly. I have no idea how to comfort somebody...shit shit shit shit! I gently place my hand on his back. "Draco.." His name rolls right off my tongue nicely, I like it. "You like me?" I ask him, his body tenses under my hand, and he looks at me again, nervously biting his lip. "I always have, since I met you in the broom shop." Oh my god???? Malfoy has had a crush on me all this time? The fuck? "Oh god...Please don't hate me more than you already do...please.." He pleads, sobbing into his knees. Fuck..am I about to do what I think I'm about to do? Will he kill me if I do it? Will he run away or something? "Malfoy-" "Please...Please call me Draco..." He begs, sounding completely and utterly miserable. "Draco.." I start again. I reach out with a shaky hand and cup his chin, making him look up at me, I move my head forward and shut my eyes really tight, pressing my lips against his, silently praying he won't slap me. His lips are soft, verrrryyy soft...god I love his lips. For a moment he doesn't do anything, which scares me, but then he starts kissing me back, placing his pale hands around the sides of my head and pulling me deeper into the kiss. It's passionate, but gentle and sweet. I pull away, and let my forehead bump against his, making us both chuckle softly. "I don't hate you." I whisper, letting my lips brush against his once again; He smiles softly, flashing his perfect teeth. "I can see that." I giggle and grab the sides of his face, reconnecting our lips. I've repressed feelings for him for so long, I'm going to kiss him every chance I get. Every emotion I'm feeling is swirling around inside of me like a hurricane, joy, excitement, fear, anxiety...I can't even name everything else. Our mouths move in sync, molding together perfectly. For a good twenty seconds we don't even breathe, too entranced in this thing happening between us. "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!" A sudden shout yanks us back to reality, and we both jump away from each other, a few owls screech in surprise, and spin their heads to watch the scene happening below them. Dolores Umbridge stands at the top of the stairs, holding her glowing wand towards us, she looks infuriated, at me specifically, her round face red and shaking with anger. "Professor! Wh-" "Don't worry Draco, you aren't in any trouble." She interrupts him, facing me and me alone. "You, however, come, with, me!" she orders, snatching my arm and pulling me roughly to my feet, Draco jumps up and puts his hands out, ready to take my hand. "Professor wait! She didn't do anything wron-" "I suggest you get back to your dormitory, Mr Malfoy, or her punishment should be heightened." She interrupts him once again, and pulls me with her down the stairs; Draco watches us guiltily, not being able to do anything about it. I shoot him an "It's okay" look, and then continue down the stairs with Umbridge. I'm going to get it, I'm really going to get it.