Severus Snape's Sister

VII. I'm Sorry

Draco Malfoy

Draco was punished severely with the Cruciatus curse. He went back to his room to find Natasha Prince asleep on the floor with a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. He pulled back the covers of his bed silently and levitated her onto it. He covered her up carefully. As he removed his hand, she reached out and brushed the back of it with her fingertips.

His heart hurt knowing she'd never forgive him with the things he'd done. "I'm sorry," he whispered. As she exhaled, her hair blew away from her mouth. He tucked it behind her ear before laying down on the floor. He cursed his infatuation with her and the punishment it brought.

The next morning, he woke up to see her lying on the very edge of the bed. Her voice remained monotone and face expressionless as she said, "Good morning."

"It is not good. There'll be more hell to pay," he grumbled as he sat up.

"You're in pain, aren't you?" She got down carefully and kneeled beside him.

"I'm fine," he lied.

"Liar. Lying isn't nice. But you try not to show that you're a nice person, don't you?" She smiled slightly but her eyes were still as broken as months ago.

"Are you joking?" he demanded. "You say 'show' like I am. I don't get it. I want you to show that you hate me. I want-"

"Problem: I don't hate you. You're afraid, Draco. I'm afraid for you as well. This isn't your fault. I know that." Her understanding hurt. She didn't deserve this; she didn't deserve any of it. Regardless. "You're very sweet when you think I —or anyone else— won't notice."

He couldn't find a good counter argument to who he was. "This says more about you than me."

"Which one of us decided to put the other on the bed? You did that." She smiled genuinely and put her arms around him. "Who couldn't hurt the other and was punished? Also you."

He felt his face flush. She put her head on his shoulder, and he felt tears soak through to his skin. "I'm sorry." She seemed so emotionless all the time that he didn't know what was happening.

"It's not your fault," she whispered with pain in her voice. "If it weren't for you, he probably would've killed me. Hell, this is dumb. What's the point in bad people?"

"I wish I knew." He ran his fingers through her soft, long hair. She leaned away from him. Her eyes filled him with despair. He cursed quietly when he saw them so close. Her face twisted, and she backed away quickly. "Sorry. I hate the look in your eyes. I should've stopped her. They were happy, but now they're gloomy and pained. It's my fault."

"You looked at my eyes before? When?" He realized how much he had slipped up. She probably knew now why he cared about her so much. He stayed silent. "Then again, I love your eyes," she said thoughtfully, which didn't clarify her emotions. She scooted back toward him and brushed his hair from his eyes. "They show how cunning you are." She suppressed a smile before messing up his hair completely and laughing.

"Stop it," he laughed and playfully swatted away her hand. "I wish I could stay here longer, but I've got stuff to do," he said resignedly. He sighed and stood. He looked down at her and smiled slightly. He offered his hands to her. She took them, and he pulled her up easily. She was on her tiptoes and nearly his height. He felt an urge to kiss her but decided she'd probably murder him. He looked at his own feet. He caught sight of how thin she was. He realized she hadn't ate for two days. "I'll bring you something to eat," he promised. She nodded, and he left. He kept his word but had to leave quickly.