It all started with a dance

20

Hermione woke up screaming

She clutched her chest in hopes of calming her frantic heart, covering her mouth, she let out a muffled sob, she felt her stomach turn and barely made it to the bathroom before discarding everything she had

Once done, she leaned against the wall and brought her knees to her chest, three days, she hasn't been able to sleep in three days, and once again it was taking a toll on her body, she rose slowly and brushed her teeth, leaving the bathroom she grabbed a book and left the bedroom, getting comfortable on the couch she opened her book and began reading, trying to retain anything to no avail, she didn't know when she put her book down, she didn't know when she gazed into the fire without thought, she didn't know when she began digging her nails into her forearm until she hissed in pain and pulled away, the crested shapes that took a momentary resistance stood red against her olive skin, her body was on autopilot again, her mind was drifting away and she couldn't stop it

"Granger?"

She looked up and saw Draco standing at the foot of the stairway, she didn't try to come up with an excuse, she only looked away

She heard shuffling but didn't acknowledge it, he came and sat beside her and she saw the hollowness that she knew she reflected

"Granger?"

Hermione looked at him and started crying, Draco awkwardly wrapped his arms around her, she clung to his sweater, he rubbed circles on her back slowly, the exhaustion could be heard in her sobs

"How long?" Draco whispered

"T-three d-days" she cried, he pulled her closer

"Come on Granger, let's get you to bed" Draco whispered

Hermione frantically shook her head, she couldn't go back to sleep

"Granger, you're exhausted," he said

"I can't go back to sleep," she told the blond

"Then what do you want?" He asked her softly

"My parents...I want my parents" she whispered, he held her

She cried until she passed out, Draco placed her on his lap and admired her face, even if it was tear-stained she still looked beautiful, it wasn't fair to her that he felt like this, last time he could insult her and push her away but this time it wasn't just them, it was their group of friends, granted Ronald Weasley and Draco Malfoy weren't braiding each other's hairs, but his best friends have basically become her friends and they don't want to lose her, he didn't want to lose her, not when she was the light at the end of the tunnel, as selfish as it seemed, he knew he should let her go, but he didn't want to, not yet

She gripped his sweater and inhaled softly, barely audible unless you were paying attention to her, something fluttered in his chest, the small movement sent hope rushing through his veins, the fact that she found comfort in the one that used to make her life miserable, it gave him hope, hope he couldn't want, hope that in the end will only bring pain

But maybe...

He shook his head, there couldn't be another possibility, he wanted her to be happy, and she could never be happy with him, he pulled her closer, the scent of Jasmine engulfed him, he remembered back to her whisper, he wondered what had happened to her parents, but he would help her in whatever way she needed, they were her happiness, and he wanted her to be happy

He put his free arm under his arm and carried her bridal style to his room and placed her gently on his bed, he tried to pull away but she didn't let go, sighing he crawled in and pulled her in