Drarry - A New Beginning

Chapter 26. The Lows

"Hey, there you are! Pansy told me you'd come out here for some fresh air... you completely missed dinner, is everything alright?" Harry asked

Harry was walking towards Draco who was leaning against the stone wall at the entrance to the bridge from the courtyard. The same place they'd found each other on Halloween night. When Harry finally reached him, he noticed something wasn't right

"Draco?"

Draco didn't say anything as he continued to look out across the vast expanse of landscape, quilted with darkness as the sun had already set hours ago. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the folded piece of parchment, hesitating to hand it over, but doing so solemnly

Harry looked concerned as he took the parchment from him, unfolding it curiously and turning so the moonlight shone on it clearer for him to read

The silence between them while Harry read Draco's letter felt painstakingly slow, a million thoughts rushing through Draco's mind as Harry stood beside him in silence, taking it all in

Harry read on, his brow furrowed deeply as the pain and confusion crept onto his face, breaking Draco's heart at having to share this with him. He never wanted Harry to ever feel hurt like that letter hurt him, but he needed to know. Eventually, Harry folded the letter back up and handed it back. His expression looked lost, as though words faltered him in that moment

He searched Draco's face for some kind of answer but only saw pain and heartbreak

"I don't understand" Harry finally muttered under his breath

Draco shrugged and turned back to looking out across the mountains

"You're disinherited? You're disowned from the family? Just like that?"

Draco nodded, holding back tears, but to his surprise, Harry perked up

"Well screw them, then! You don't need them, Draco. You've got me still, and you've got friends here-"

"Friends? Harry, half this school hates my guts, they want to see me buried or behind bars-"

"Oh that's an over exaggeration-"

"Really? You think this is an over exaggeration??" Draco bit, pulling the sleeve aside on his arm to reveal the scar from the hex thrown at him by the bullies

"What the- Draco, who did this to you? When did this happen?" Harry asked, stroking his arm in shock

"Earlier today"

"What did they do to you?!"

Draco hesitated, begging inside to avoid this conversation "They... they threw a hex or two and they punched... and... kicked"

"And you didn't tell me...?" Harry snapped

"Because you don't need that drama in your life anymore, you've dealt with it enough"

"Draco, you don't get to decide what I do and don't want to deal with! If someone hurts my boyfriend of course I'm going to fight back!"

"Well, I don't want you fighting back!"

"Why not?"

"Because you'll spend your entire life fighting back and you don't deserve that"

Harry looked confused, searching Draco's face for some form of comfort but seeing nothing

"I don't care, I'm not going to have people hurting you, Draco. How many times have you been beaten like that?"

Draco sighed and closed his eyes "Four times"