Broken But Beautiful~Dramione

Chapter thirty six

"Is it okay if I stay?" Draco asked hesitantly.

"Yes please. I don't want to be alone." Hermione whispered.

"Hey. I'll never leave you." He slowly reached over and took her hand in his, but she flinched back.

"Sorry. Why would you stay?" Hermione didn't want to tell him, but she could vaguely remember some of the things that were said around her while she was under the curse. One of which was when Draco was sitting by her bedside and said many wonderful things, things she could only wish was true. But she must've imagined it.

"Do you really want to know?" Draco asked hesitantly.

"Yes." Hermione nodded earnestly.

"Hermione...you're perfect. You're the most amazing witch I've ever known whose heart is more loving and compassionate than anyone elses. And I-" Draco broke off and looked away.

"What?" Hermione prompted curiously.

"I really like you. And I care about you." He whispered. Hermione's heart began to beat faster and faster. It wasn't a dream.

"Oh please, Draco. Look at me! I'm physically broken, mentally broken, and I don't even recognize myself anymore." Hermione's voice broke and she felt tears threatening to flow.

"You may feel broken..."Draco whispered softly. "But you're so beautiful."

Hermione sat there in stunned silence for a bit and Draco nervously waited for her to say something, anything.

"How could you care about someone like me? If it's just pity I don't want it. Don't mess with my emotions Draco because I can't take anymore hurt. I'm not pure anymore. I've been tainted and there are so many other girls you could chose to care about that aren't messed up like me." Hermione shook her head.

"Hermione." Draco grasped both of her hands tightly and moved to sit on the edge of her bed. "I care about you. So much. I don't care if you think you aren't "pure" anymore. You're the most beautiful and caring woman I've ever known. I mean you gave me, Draco Malfoy, a chance to redeem myself. Your kindness is one that I've never known, and I like you. Hermione I've liked you for I don't even know how long and I think the real question that should be asked, is how could you ever care about someone like me?" Draco searched her eyes for some kind of an answer.

"How could I not?" Hermione asked softly and gently ran one of her hands through his hair. "I know Draco. I heard you all those nights ago when you were sitting by my bed."

"You-you what?" Draco's heart began to race. He hadn't anticipated this.

"I'm so sorry for what you've gone through. All this time I was so self centered about myself and I didn't even believe you when you tried to tell me what you've gone through." Hermione felt tears rushing to her eyes and she blinked them back furiously.

"I guess we're both kind of broken aren't we." Draco laughed.

"I guess we are." Hermione smiled. "Thank you. For staying with me. Through everything that's happened this year."

"Like I said. I'll never leave you." Draco laid down beside her and looked into her perfect chocolate colored eyes. He gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and smiled.

Hermione smiled a true genuine smile, and felt her eyes begin to close. She tried to fight it as she wanted to savor this moment, afraid all of this was a figment of her imagination.

"I'll be right here when you wake up." Draco soothed. 

Hermione nodded and gave into how tired she felt.

Draco watched her and had a feeling inside him he could not describe. One he has never felt before. Once she was finally asleep, the glamour charm wore off and revealed all of her scars. Draco gently ran his fingers through her tangled hair and felt a growing anger inside him the more he thought about what happened to her. He failed to protect her the last time she was taken, but she would not be taken from him ever again.

"I'm going to protect you." He whispered to her. And then he whispered something else. Trying out the words that have never been uttered from his mouth before.

"I love you."