✼↛Hoping↚✼

Fifth chapter

One week had passed since Hermione saw Draco the last time and she was seriously getting worried. She hadnt shown up to the bathrooms either since she didnt think he would be there. But she still haf faith and she really wanted to know what was going on..
She had just ate dinner in the great hall, no sings of Malfoy anywhere to be seen, but she had a weird feeling that it would be good to return to the bathrooms this night. Not because of Malfoy.. well maybe, but mostly because its a nice place to be to yourself and sort out your thoughts. She could really undertand why Malfoy chose this place to get rest and well yeah.. cry.

She walked down the halls to the bathrooms on the second floor, the moonlight already coming trough the windows. When she got there she did the same that she saw Malfoy so often do. She went in front of the mirror and looked at herself. After she washed her self with the clean, refreshing water she sat down next to the sink. Her thoughts went back to Malfoy. How he looked that night. So broken but still so wonderful. What? No. Goddamnit.

There was a sound. Who would show up here that late at night?
Someone came in. She only saw a sillouette of a skinny boy. He came running to the sink, not noticing that she was there, watching him. She saw his haur shining in the moonlight. A shine that she'd recognise everywhere.

"Malfoy?" She stood up to look into his face and almost gasped. He looked horrible. His eyes were read and his skin was glowing white. He had bags under his eyes and his hair was messy.

"What?? No! Go away! Go away please!"

"Dra-.. Malfoy. Please. Tell me what happened!"

"I cant.." he didnt look at her. Instead he looked at himself in the mirror, suprised at how shattered he looked.
He ran a habd through his hair and ignored Hermione completely.
"Draco..?"
He didnt reply.
"Draco w-what happened?"

He rested his elbows on the sink and put his head in his hands. Almost instinctivly she put her hand on his back. He shivered and mived away from her hand. "No..." was the only thing he said. He was clearly holding back tears at that point. "I cant do it.. i cant"
"W-what?"
"He'll kill me. He'll kill my family if k dont do it" he started sobbing.
"Draco please! Whats happening?"

"I cant tell ..you" he was clenching his jaw trying not to cry again.
"Its ok" Hermione said, trying to comfort him.
She put her hand back onto his back and he accepted it.
"Its ok Draco, its going to be allright"
She moved closer to him, pulled him away and looked him in the eyes, her hands on his shoulders.
"Please tell me what happened"
"I said i cant!" Draco said, clearly uncomfortable in the situation.
"He's going to kill me if i do!" He didnt look at her, his eyes were closed since he was still trying so hard not to break down again. He couldnt allow himself to.
"Who?" Hermione asked.
Draco didnt reply. Only a small cry escaped his lips.
"Come on, lets sit" Hermione said while sitting down next to the sink into the moonlight under the window.
They sat there for a while and Draco finally started to cry. Its was kind of umcomfortable for both of them, but Hermione knew when someone was breaking down like this they needed a shoulder to cry on, no matter who it was.
She put her head onto his shoulder. After Dracos cries went more silent she put and arm around him. "You look so tired. You should sleep"
He didnt reply again but he seemed to enjoy her touch.
"Would you like to eat something? You really look horrible you know. When was the last time you slept?"
Draco sighed.
"Shut up, you sound like my mother already" a small glimpse of a smile was visible on his face and Hermione was happy to have archieved her goal of making him feel better.

They stayed there for a while, just enjoying the presence of each other. Draco didnt really stop crying but it got less the more time he spend with Hermione. She just looked at him, she just couldnt believe that the boy who had insulted and bullied her all years was now sitting in her arm looking so scared and lonely. It hurt her heart to see him like that but she didnt really know what to do to cheer him up. Maybe it would be good if he got some sleep or food perhaps.
"Would you like to go back to your dorm? I think you should really try to sleep. I can give you a sleeping draught if you'd like."

"Yes.. yes that might be good."
"Lets go then"
She helped him up from the ground, but Malfoy tripped and fell forward. For a second he was laying in her arms. For a second his face was laying in her neck and his hands were on her shoulders.
He quickly got back up and cleared his throat.
"Sorry.." he mubled.
"No its ok.."

They went down the halls in the moonlight on their way down to the basements where the slytherin common room was located. Mid-way when they were near the entrance hall Draco started to walk slower. "Hey.."
"Yeah?"
" What about we go for a walk? I could really use that right now. The moonlight always calms me down you know?" Draco said shyly, looking very uncomfortable asking for something like that.
"Sure!" Hermione said. She also enjoyed walks in the moonlight, he was right, it is quite refreshing to walk around at night.
They headed for the entrance hall and outside the building. They walked around on the school grounds and towards the dark lake wich was sparkling on the moonlight.
"The moonlight looks nice on the lake dont you think?" Hermione said, trying to start a convesation.
"Yeah. I like the moonlight. I walk around on the schoolgrounds at night pretty often to be honest" Draco said quietly.
"It has something wondefully soothing to it.."

They walked around on the schoolground on a path that led them to a small wooden landing stage.
Draco sat down on the wooden planks and looked out onto the lake. Hermione sat beside him.

"Im sorry to ask but could you tell me what happened? You dont have to if you dont wa-"

"Ok" he interrupted her.
"But you need to promise not to tell anyone.. and even if you did it wouldnt matter. After this year i'll openly be a d-death eater.." He seemed like he was about to cry.

"I promise you i wint tell anyone. Even if i did what would it be for?"

Draco sighed.
"H-he wants me to do something.. i cant tell you w-what it is.. but.. i cant do it.. but if i dont do it soon enough he'll kill my family.. my mom, my dad and even my house elf.. and h-he never breaks his threats.. i've seen it often enough" He clenched his knees to his chest and hid his face in his hands.

"Draco.. i.." Hermione stuttered, not knowing how to cheer him up.

He sighed and moved away from her a little.

"I-i know i cant really help you with t-things like that b-but" she took a deep breath "i'll try to be there for you.. if there's anything you need to tell me you can always talk to me.."

Draco raised his head.  I'll be there for you..
No one.. not even his mother had ever told him that. He felt weird being so close to the Granger girl. He still didnt really realize how it had come to that. Was she always that nice? Was it just her natural self?... 'She's a Gryffindor, she'd probably even comfort the Dark Lord if she saw him crying' he thought to himself. But maybe.. maybe there actually was something special about him. He knew how unlikeable he was and he never though that anyone would ever be so kind to him.
He tilted his head a little into her direction, not knowing what to say. Maybe he should say something at least..
"Thank you.." he managed to say
"Huh?"
"Thank you for being here.. even though i dont even know why you care for me.." he said softly
"Aw Draco i-.." she didnt finish her sentence. Draco had laid his head on her shoulder. She shivered at his touch, his head agains hers, his hair tickling her neck. As they sat there, watching the silent lake they started to get more comfortable and Hermione snug against him a little bit more. She looked down at him, his messy hair glowing in the moonlight, his eyes still red from crying. He looked so sweet yet so sad and vulnerable. She put an arm around his shoulder, pulling him even closer. It just felt amazing being here, with him in her arms, knowing that he was finding comfort in her presence.

Draco snug himself more into her neck and closed his eyes. Her skin was so soft. Her hair was nice and fluffy. He never thought he would be so close to her one day, but there he was, burying his face in her neck, feeling comfortable in her embrace while looking out onto the black lake.
And he thought to himself..maybe his life as a death eater wouldn't be that bad with her on his side.