Guess Who
Hermione rubbed her eyes. This was the third time this week he'd made her cry and not apologised.
She knew he was hurting. The news of his father's death in Azkaban had sent him back into that dark place he'd been in just before they'd started dating.
They'd helped pick up the pieces of each other back then, she was just trying to do the same now. She wanted to help him, desperate to see the laughter in his eyes again.
A knock on the door jolted her, hurriedly wiping away the new tears that had started to fall.
“Guess who!” A cheerful voice rang out.
Hermione smiled. Theo. Draco's best friend, who she was now lucky enough to call hers too. He'd understand.
“I brought popcorn, is it Drake’s turn to choose the movie tonight? I'm not watching some melancholy Oscar reject agai– oh, Hermione.”
He rushed to her side, as she smiled up at him through her tears.
“I'm fine, Theo. He's just had a rough week, is all.” Her voice broke when he reached out to wipe her cheeks.
“Okay, but he has to stop taking it out on you? You're nothing but wonderful to him. He doesn't know how lucky he is.”
“He's had an awful time of it though. His father just died. I can handle it, I promise.”
“Hermione, he hasn't spoken to Lucius in years, you know that. He never even told him about you. You are not a punching bag!”
“It's fine. He just needs to blow off some steam. Hey, at least we get to choose the movie, right?” She tried to smile at him, knowing it wasn't reaching her eyes.
Theo pulled her into him, stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head.
“The bastard is going to lose you, if he's not careful,” he whispered into her hair.
She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the pain in her heart to go, taking the comfort Theo was offering, wishing with everything she had that Draco could still make her feel this way.