Beginning at the End ⏃ Dramione

Chapter 9: Fear

Draco jumped out of bed, casting a quick Lumos to fill the tent with light, but he could not spot an intruder. Hermione's bed curtains were still closed, but she had stopped screaming. He hesitated, wondering if she simply had a nightmare. Maybe it's over and I should just leave her alone...

When he heard another scream he looked up to Hermione's curtains noticing them flick back and forth. "Granger, you ok?"

He cautiously walked over and opened her curtains to find Hermione sitting up against the back corner of her bed and screaming frantically. He could see her eyes pinched closed and gripping her forearm where Bellatrix had marked her.

"Granger, what happened? Are you having a nightmare?"

Draco began trying to climb into her bed, but hesitated when he realized he did not really know what to do. How can I help her out of a nightmare when she's clearly in hysterics?

Regardless, he drew closer, deciding he could begin by reaching out to calm her. As he did so, Hermione's eyes caught the image of the Dark Mark branded into his forearm, which only furthered her screams to another level.

Seeing what had set her off, he retracted his arm quickly and whispered, "Shit."

He resolved to wear long sleeves from then on, especially if it was going to set her off, but for the moment, it was too late. She swung her arm at him and he ducked just in time. Attempting to restrain her from hitting him, but not wanting to resort to violence himself, he moved closer to hug her tight, despite her frantic squirming. Drawing as close as he dared while she flailed, he reasoned, "Hermione... it's okay, you're safe. It's just Draco, your friend, remember?" When she continued to writhe in his vice-like grip, he tried again, "Shhhh, Hermione, you're in your tent. You're safe."

"You don't know anything about me! Get off! I won't tell you anything!"

Draco tried to think, but it was difficult when she was still struggling against him; she needed to hear something personal, something no one would know about her except a close friend.

"Yes. Yes, I do know something about you: your parents, Hermione...your parents are here in New Zealand. Right, remember? They're here, close by."

As if this had been was the secret password to calm her, she instantaneously stilled. This was a relief and he loosened his grip just slightly as she slowly opening her eyes. Draco hung on to her for a moment as they both breathed deep, in an attempt to calm down. He watched her, expecting her to look at him or acknowledge the innocent and not letting go until he had a sign that she was aware of what was going on. She remained still but eerily stared at the blankets piled on her bed. It was as if he was not there at all, so he slowly let go of her and shifted to the edge of her bed keeping a close eye on her.

Hermione's eyes were puffy and wet with tears and she attempted to clear them. She did not seem to notice Draco and after she appeared completely calm, she began to lay down. She then pulled the covers over her and rolled over on her side.

Draco sat and waited, wondering if she had fallen back to sleep, or if she had ever woken up during her tantrum at all. Is she just embarrassed?

When she did not move, he decided to leave her alone. Standing up and closing her curtains, he made his way back to his bed, but when he lay down, he found himself wide awake from the all the adrenaline.

This fucking Dark Mark! Maybe she would trust me more if it wasn't imprinted onto my body... Raising his forearm into the air, he traced his finger around the skull still feeling the embossment of it above his skin...and fucking Bellatrix! I know that nightmare was a result of her bloody curses. Then he flopped his arm back down onto the bed, and turned sideways to look toward Hermione's bed. At least Hermione is calm now. Did she notice I was there at all? I mean, she must have heard me mention her parents... Frustrated, Draco sat up, by the moons of Saturn I'm so awake now...