60 parts Complete MatureMalfoy knocks into Granger. Granger snarls. Malfoy mocks. Granger retorts. The end.
Except...
Something in his chest cracked open.
His limbs moved before his pride could catch up. He dropped to one knee beside her and began to collect the books.
Hermione blinked, her fingers pausing on the spine of her Arithmancy notes. Her eyes darted to his face, confused.
"You're actually helping?" she muttered, suspiciously.
Draco didn't look at her.
He picked up the thickest book, brushing some dust from the edge. His fingers trembled.
And then, voice rough, soft-like it had scraped itself raw before speaking-he said:
"I-I'm sorry."
Hermione froze completely.
What?
Draco cleared his throat, handed her the book, and added, voice faltering just enough to betray him:
"I didn't mean to, I wasn't paying attention-sorry, mudblood."
Triggered Warning-
Gore, violence,mentions of attempted suicide, torture, mentions of rape.