Chapter 9
Something woke me abruptly. Screams filled the dormitory, male screams. I jump out of bed and grab my wand as I hurry out of my room. The screams were coming from Draco’s room. I ran over and threw his door open. Draco was on the bed, tangled up in the sheets, his bare limbs poking out randomly. Another scream left Draco, his lips parted wide, his face scrunched up as if he was in pain.
“Draco,” I yell as I run over to him, setting my wand on his bedside table. I try to pull the sheets from his body but they are too tangled for me to remove them. I try to wake him again by yelling his name over and over but nothing helps. Finally, figuring I had nothing else to do, I crawl up on Draco’s bed and slap him across the face.
Draco’s grey eyes fly open, pupils dilated, and he frantically searches the room, not truly seeing what is in front of him. I call his name softly a few times and he turns towards my voice, his eyes slowly focusing on me.
“‘Mione?”
“Yes Draco?”
“Why are you in my bed?” he questions confused.
“You were screaming, scared the bloody life out of me. I came in to check on you but you wouldn’t wake up so I had to slap you,” I answer him as I settle down into a more comfortable position. I cross my arms across my chest, covering myself as my camisole is not very warm or appropriate.
Draco’s eyes travel down to my chest and he quickly looks away. He sits up and untangles himself a bit, exposing his bare chest. He leans towards me, causing me to flinch, but he merely reaches past me and grabs his robe from where he hung it beside his bed. Sitting back he passes me the robe. I hesitate for a moment but take the robe and wrap it around my body. The silk was soft and smells just like Draco’s cologne, just as it had the first day when I wore it out of the bath.
“I’m assuming the slap is why my face hurts,” He asks while rubbing his cheek where a slight red mark still remains. My cheeks turn red but I will not apologize for the means it took to stop his fright filled screams.
Draco flops back in his bed and looks back up at me with his tired drained eyes. The area around them is so dark. We awkwardly stare at each other for a few moments before he sighs and flings his arm over his eye. There on his skin, black as the night, is the Dark Mark. I inhale sharply at the sight of it and Draco flinches at the sound. He rolls away from me and curls into himself. I had caught a glimpse of his face and saw the stark hurt and despair that was so obvious on his gaunt features. He holds his arm in front of his face and looks at the mark on his arm. I hear a sharp sound, like a sob, and see his body trembling.
“Draco, are you ok,” I ask softly, worried as I have never seen him so emotional before.
“I’m fine Granger, please leave,” he asks quickly.
“Are you sure?”
“Please…” he almost begs.
“Ok,” I whisper with concern. I carefully crawl off his bed and start to take off the robe he gave me.
“Keep it for tonight,” he mumbles without turning around. I look back at him and then quickly exit his room to leave him to his thoughts.
On the way back to my room I decide that I need to find out what was wrong with Draco, and that I need to fix it.