The Boy Who Wanted to Live

The deal

Hermione stood crying in the hallway. Draco Malfoy stood in front of her tearing pages from her favorite book: Hogwarts; A History. Crabbe held her tightly from behind. Malfoy glared hatefully into her dark brown eyes as she winced with every rip of the page. Goyle took a strand of her frizzy hair in his fingers and pulled it from her face with a smirk. She let out a small sob and closed her eyes tight. Her wrists hurt intensely from Crabbe's tight grip. He held her hands above her head and she turned her face to the side. Her hair fell from Goyle's fingers. Draco threw the ruined book to the side, in the pile of other things he'd pulled from her back and destroyed. Brown eyes met silver ones and Draco paused as he saw tears slide down her cheeks. He steeled his mask and stepped closer to her.
"Let me go," she whispered softly.
Goyle's hand brushed against her neck and she cringed back into Crabbe's chest. His hand tightened around her throat making her cough hard as more tears fell down her cheeks.
"Shut up, mudblood," Draco said with hatred.
"Please," she whispered softly "please just let me go,"

Harry turned around the corner rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. He looked up to see Crabbe wrap his hand around Hermione's neck. Malfoy sneered at the tiny girl and Harry's stomach dropped. Flashes of memories went through his head. Draco's smile, his laugh, how good it felt to be with him. None of those mattered anymore though, Harry decided running forward and drawing his wand.
"Hey! Let her go," Harry shouted.
Crabbe tightened his grip on Hermione's wrists and moved her hands from above her head to around her middle so she was crushed to him in an intimidating embrace.
"St. Potter to the rescue, I see" Draco said with a disgusted sneer.
"Let her go, Malfoy," Harry said pointing his wand at Draco's face.
"Harry," Hermione cried out weakly.
"It's okay Mione, I'm here now," Harry said glimpsing at the girl "Let her go, Malfoy. I'll do whatever you want just leave her alone,"
"Harry no!"
Draco looked Harry over and turned to look at Crabbe. He nodded and Crabbe released the girl so harshly she fell to her hands and knees. She grabbed her neck in pain and coughed harshly, tears covering her flushed cheeks. Goyle leaned back and looked at her position with a hunger that needed to be satisfied.
Harry wanted to run to his friend but he stayed still and lowered his wand from Draco's face.
"Harry no," Hermione said in a hoarse voice.
"Drop her off at the tower," Draco commanded looking at Crabbe.
Crabbe nodded and gently picked up the shivering girl, ignoring her cringe of fear. Harry watched as Crabbe walked off carrying Hermione, relieved that it was Crabbe who'd been given the job as Goyle was more violent. Draco turned to look at Harry and smirked.
"Not going to run after her?" He mocked.
"No," Harry said, putting his wand in his pocket and swallowing hard. "A deal is a deal"
Malfoy looked at Harry with an angry frown and a small hidden glare of respect. Then his fist crunched against Harry's nose.