Grudges

Chapter 40

Blonde hair was splayed across a pillow like a halo. It looked like it had been combed through a million times, the dirt was long gone from it. A pale body laid on the bed next to Draco Malfoy, who was holding Victoria's hand tightly. He hadn't left her side since they left Malfoy Manor, the Golden Trio was wary of him but let him stay regardless. They all saw how he cared for her, if they tried to separate him from her he would've fought tooth and nail to stay with her. Victoria's entire torso was covered in bandages, the knife had some type of enchantment that made it imperious to magic.

The words across her torso were scarred into the skin, the bleeding had stopped long ago but she had yet to awake. Draco had sat by her for hours, the trio was busy trying to find whatever was in Bellatrix's vault to check on her often. Hermione and Ron only came once, but Harry came often. Him and Draco even had a few conversations, they were much more alike than they thought.

"Hmm?" A humming sound came from Victoria as she slowly opened her eyes. Draco squeezed her hand tightly to bring her attention over to him "Draco? Where are we?" She whispered as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings.

"We're at a Weasley's. Bill I think. Dobby took us here after he broke out the trio from the dungeons." Draco explained. Victoria nodded and tried to get up but flinched as soon she tried to move her stomach. Her eyes widened as she looked down at the gauze wrapped around her torso.

"Oh Merlin, Draco what happened?" Victoria asked, her voice shaking and still hoarse from her screaming.

"Well... the wounds wouldn't stop bleeding. We tried a lot of spells but we assume the dagger was enchanted. You can't take away the scars or anything. We have to let it heal the muggle way." Draco said, still holding tightly to Victoria's hand.

"Let me see them." She whispered as she tried to undo the gauze, trying desperately to see the scars underneath.

"You shouldn't-"

"Let me see them Draco! Please I need to see them." Victoria pleaded. Draco hesitated but nodded regardless and helped her stand before carefully undoing the tape and unwrapping it slowly. He stood in front of her, blocking her view of the mirror before he showed her the scars and cupped her face in his hands and placing his forehead on hers.

"I love you. You should know that these words mean nothing. I don't care if you were covered in scars like this I would always think you are beautiful in every sense of the way. These mean nothing." Draco leaned down and pressed his lips against hers, he held her face as he savored the taste of her once again. Victoria smiled into the kiss and did the same, she loved the taste of his lips. She wanted to taste him for ever, she missed him so much in the time they were apart. They finally broke the kiss, a smile on both their faces "I love you Victoria."

"I love you too Draco." With that he stepped out of the way, as soon as she saw the words carved into her tears fell from her eyes. On her stomach was branded 'TRAITOR'.

"That one was for all the Slytherin's you betrayed by being good." Bellatrix had said when she carved into her. A sob fell from her shaking lips and she re lived the experience. Her eyes travelled up to her face, she followed the scar from beneath her eye all the way to her chest. A whimper escaped her as she read the word 'SLUT' sliced into her skin.

"Oh Merlin." She cried as she brought her fingers up to the words dragging her fingers over the forming scabs "Get them off. Oh merlin get them off get them off." She said, her voice rising with each word until she was screaming for the words to be gone. She took her nails and scratched at the words until her fingers were covered in blood, trying desperately to get the words off of her.

"Victoria! Stop it!" Draco grabbed her wrists and pulled them from her, she fought against him, still crying violently as she tried to rid the scars from her body. "Victoria! Calm down!"

"Calm down?! You want me to calm down?! Slut and Traitor are carved into like i'm some kind of piece of meat and you want me to calm down!?" Victoria screamed as she tried to fight against him. Draco winced at the blood from the newly opened wounds before pulling her into a tight hug, he could feel the blood seep through his shirt as she struggled in his grip. He brought his hands up to her hair and ran his fingers through it while kissing the top of her head.

"It's going to be okay. We'll get through this baby. I'll be with you every step of the way. Don't worry. Once the war is over we'll get a house and live in peace, we'll get married and live a happy life with each other." Draco murmured into her hair as she stopped fighting him, only small hiccuping sobs were heard from her now as she pressed into his chest.

"We're gonna- hic- get married?" She smiled slightly into his chest as she listened to him stutter in response.

"I mean only if you want to I know I don't really have a ring and this isn't exactly a normal proposal but-"

"I would love to be married to you Draco." She smiled up at him, they continued to chat about their life as he rewrapped the gauze around her torso.

"Let me go get some food and i'll be right back." Draco kissed Victoria quickly before heading downstairs. Victoria laid back on the bed, smiling up at the ceiling as she thought about her wedding. Hopefully Skye would be her maid of honor, but Victoria doubted it as she hated Draco with a passion. Hopefully she would at least attend the wedding, they may not be on good terms but Skye was still Victoria's best friend, she might as well ask her.

"Victoria Malfoy huh?" She whispered to herself, a ghost of a smile on her face. Suddenly Draco entered the room once again, he was holding a picnic basket.

"So I got us some happy food. We have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches," Victoria had introduced Draco to those earlier in the year, he loved them so much now it was amusing to her "Here's some glasses," he handed her a wine flute and kept one to himself and pulled out a bottle of champagne "I know it's not fancy or anything but it's the best I can do at a Weasley's house. Also-" He took out a daisy and waved his wand at it, it curled around into a ring. "I know it's not a real ring. I'll get you the biggest most amazing ring ever when this war is over."

"I don't need a fancy ring or a fancy dinner Draco. I just need you. I could live in a tiny broken down home with no yard and no magic and I would still be happy with you." Victoria giggled at Draco's blushing face "C'mere and cuddle me you dork." Draco put down the basket and crawled over to her.

He laid next to her and took her left hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger. Victoria smiled at the ring before turning to Draco and placing her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat speed up at the gesture.

"Draco?"

"Yes?"

"You're not allowed to leave me when the battle happens. You have to stay by my side. Okay?" Victoria shuddered at the thought of Draco dying, the thought of having to live life without him scared her more than anything. Honestly the thought of living life without a lot of people scared her. Fred and George. Harry. Molly. Arthur. Skye. Oh Merlin what if Skye died? Victoria knew she had to apologize before the war, even if Skye still hated her when the battled happened at least she would know she was sorry for anything she ever did to cause this fight. Victoria had spent 2 years without Skye, she didn't know if she could do it much longer.

"I will always stay by your side Victoria. You're not leaving my sight once the battle begins. I love you far too much to let that happen." 

So a sad/fluff chapter we're pretty much giving you something to soften the blow of the next few chapters. Actually...it might make it worse. Oh well! *evil laughter* Comments and votes are very much appreciated! Thanks for reading!