“Draco what the hell! What happened to this room?”
Theo walked through Draco’s study, stepping on glass and shredded papers. Draco stands in front of the fireplace, firewhisky bottle in his hand. Blood dripped from his purple and cracked knuckles. His body was wobbling as he took deep breaths, still not acknowledging Theo’s presents.
“ Mate, how much have you drank tonight?”
Draco takes the last three gulps from his bottle and throws it on the ground next to him.
“ That would be bottle number four.”
Draco says as he turns and summons another from the liquor cabinet. The glass bottle floats past Theo, who plucks it out of the air.
“ I think you have had enough.”
Draco shakes his head, and slumps into a black leather chair. “ If I'm still conscious it's not enough.”
His hands fists in his hair and he rocks slightly back and forth. Theo places the whiskey bottle down on the desk and walks over to his friend. Theo clamps Draco on the shoulder.
“ What happened? I thought things were going well with Hermione?”
Draco huffs and looks at Theo for the first time. His grey eyes were red, his cheeks were tear stained, and he looked pale despite the redness from the firewhiskey.
“ She told me she loved me.” Theo smiled “ so… this is a celebratory trashing of your study?” Theo asked, querking his eyebrows at Draco. “ Don’t be a git, Theo…. I didn’t say it back.”
Theo took a step back, shocked. “ You didn’t say it back, WHY? You have been in love with this girl for years! He yelled. Draco looked up at Theo with murderous eyes.
“ Fuck off! I’m a Malfoy, I don’t have to explain myself to you, to anyone.”
Draco summoned the whiskey bottle again. Theo for the second time thwarted his attempt for more alcohol. Theo took the glass and held it in his lap as he pulled up another chair. He sat in front of his friend and struggled with comprehending what was going on. Draco has been in love with Hermione Granger for years. Theo can recite every word Hermione spoke to Draco in sixth year, because Draco spent hours with Theo and Blaise analysing them. Theo was there the first time he spoke to Hermione after the war. Draco flooed over to Theo’s house after their first date and was the happiest he had been in years. Now six months later Hermione has finally admitted she loves Draco, and this is the result?
“ I just don’t understand Draco, you have been working up to this point for months, why didn’t you say it back?”
Draco lets out a shaky breath. “ We were snogging on the couch, she looks at me with those beautiful eyes of hers, and just says it. She looks at me and says she loves me. THEN she pulls my sleeve up and kisses this!”
Draco jumps up from the chair and rolls up his sleeve, exposing his dark mark. Draco thrusts his arm in front of Theo’s face, his arm shaking as his body heaves with his heavy breathing. Theo smacks his arm away.
“ I don’t see the problem, she was showing she accepts you for you. That is love Draco. I thought that was the whole point of you dating her?”
Draco started pacing the study. Glass crunching under his feet as he walked back and forth. “ She can’t love me Theo. Hermione Granger was never supposed to be with Draco Malfoy. Everyone sees it!” Theo shook his head “ No one sees that. We see two people who are very happy together. Or were until you fucked this up. When are you going to stop punishing yourself for the shit that happened when we were kids?”
Draco stopped his pacing. His eyes were blown wide. He looked like a man unhinged. “ Hermione Granger does not end up with a Death Eater! She is too good for that!”
Theo rose from his chair and went over to Draco’s desk, and started rummaging around in the drawers. Draco continued on
“ She’s like a light in a dark room, she fights for goodness and fairness in this world. She is like a breath of fresh air, when you are struggling to breathe. A soothing balm to an ugly burn. She is honest, and optimistic. She is energetic,fun and happy. She keeps her promises and loves big. She smiles with those beautiful eyes and it just holds you. She is calm and level headed. She is sweet, and gentle. ”
Theo finds the sober up potion and slams the desk drawer.
“ Draco, I’m going to say this to you because you're drunk and won’t remember this, you are a good guy. You deserve to be happy. You have suffered long enough and now your getting this chance at happiness and your fucking it up! Stop getting in your way and just let her in. Trust me, having someone who loves you is a million times better than being alone.”
Theo walked over and slammed the potion vial into his chest. “ Stop being such an arse to yourself, you're a halfway decent person. Let someone be your person. I quit, it's someone else's turn.”
Draco stumbled back as Theo shoulder checked him as he walked out of the study. He sat on the top of his desk, took a deep breath and downed the sober up potion. In seconds his head was clearer, which wasn’t helpful. He could now clearly remember pushing Hermione off of him, and running to her floo. “ Pathetic Malfoy, she says she loves you and you bolt.” He says to his reflection in a shard of glass beside him.
“ I much prefer the phrase, rushing to collect your thoughts, but bolt works too.”
Draco whips his body around to see Hermione standing at the doorway of his study. She looks around the small room, mouth open slightly. “ If this is what you do when I tell you I love you, I would hate to see this room when we fight.”