บท 24: Thunder
I have two fears. Yes I'm scared of different things, but I only really have two fears. Heights, which is expected from a bookworm like, and thunder. I hate the thunder.
I've never told anyone except for Harry and Ron why I hate the thunder. They're always so good about it. Anytime there's a thunder storm I get really scared and Harry and Ron would sneak my into their dorm with the help of Dean, Neville, and Seamus and we'd push Harry and Ron's beds together and sleep that way with me in the middle with Harry and Ron protecting me on either side.
Those boys are like my brothers. I can't live without them.
But everything's different now. I'm Head Girl and I can't stay in Gryffindor Tower anymore. I have no one. I'm not allowed to let people in. No ones here. Excoet Malfoy, but that ferret wouldn't give a crap about me if his life depended on it. Okay maybe he would. He seems to value life a lot.
Anyway, the whole point is I have no one, and right now the largest thunderstorm seen in decades is happening at Hogwarts. Needless to say, I'm terrified.
I'm hiding in my bed right now but it doesn't help. There's windows in my room and I can see the storm raging outside. Silencing charms can't even help.
I'm fighting with myself on whether I should go down to the common room or not. Malfoys still down there and I don't want my enemy to see me this vulnerable. I'm a mess! My hair could be mistaken for Bigfoot, my eyes are red and puffily from crying, and I can't stop shaking. But there's no windows down there....
Using all my Gryffindor courage I grab my wand and light it so I can see. Just then a loud BOOM sounded right outside my window. I gave a small scream of fright and few whimpers escaped.
Taking a deep breath I opened my door and stepped out. I quietly closed the door and started down the stairs. When I reach the bottom, Malfoy looks up at me.
"Well your a mess," he comments.
I don't say anything. I don't even glare at him. I just walk over to the armchair and sit down curling up with my knees to my chest, my arms wrapped around them and my fave in my legs.
"Granger?" Malfoy says.
"What?" I say in barely a whisper.
"Why are you down here?"
"There's no windows," I say, hoping he'll drop it.
Another loud BOOM shakes the whole castle. Malfoy looks up startled, and I give another scream as memories flash before my eyes and I curl up tighter if I can.
"Scared if thunder?" Malfoy mocks.
I look up at him, my face covered in fresh tears, "Just leave me alone... Please."
Malfoy just looks at me in shock. I bet he wasn't expecting me to ask that. He cleared his throat and says, "And why should I?"
I just stare at him. I try thinking if where I could gom the kitchen, bathroom, my room, and most likely his room all has windows. I'm doomed.
"Please, Malfoy," I ask.
He raises an eyebrow, "Why're you scared of thunder? Its just noise."
"You know what! I'll see you later," I say jumping up.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to try and get into Harry and Ron's room," I say.
"No use. The doors been locked to keep us in between eleven and six," Malfoy smirks.
"You're kidding," I say looking at him.
"Nope."
I groan and slide down against the wall. The thunder gives another loud BOOM and I jump in terror and put my hands over my face. The memories just won't stop.
"Why are you scares of thunder?" Malfoy asks again.
"I'm not telling you," I say, my heart racing and tears falling freely.
"Yes, you are. I'm not dealing with you being a blubbering mess," Malfoy says.
I roll my eyes and look down at my lap and continue to cry. I didn't even notice when he stood up and walked over to me until he had picked me up in his arms and was walking back to the couch where he set me down next to him.
"What are you doing?" I asked him.
He just stares at me, studying NY movements. Another BOOM. I raise my hands up in front of me out of habit since he's so close.
"Why are you protecting yourself? I'm not going to hit you," Malfoy says.
"Well how am I supposed to know that?" I argue and scoot away from him.
The storm must be right next to our common room because another BOOM sounded. But a lot closer. I jump off the couch in fear.
Malfoy seems really confused now, but doesn't think much when there's another BOOM and I jump again, a look of pure terror upon my face.
Malfoy stands up again and walks over to me. I hold my hands up again, out if habit as he approaches. When he reaches me and grabs my hands softly and lowers them.
"Granger, I won't hurt you," he says.
I shake my head. That's what he said, yet he still hurts me.
"Granger," Malfoy says again, holding my face so I'm forced to look at him, "I promise you. I will not hurt you."
That's when I break. I fall to the ground crying and Malfoy sits next to me. He pulls.me into him and just holds me against him. I struggle at first before I realize that its just like with Harry and Ron. They won't actually hurt me. They're just trying to help.
I guess its just scarier when the guy trying to comfort you is over a foot taller and is ten times stronger.
I hold onto Malfoy shirt tightly as I cry. And he let's me. He just holds me close as I cry and let all my emotions come pouring out.
After a few hours, the storm finally ends and the quiet resumes except for the sounds of birds outside the window. Its really early now. Breakfast will start soon and neither of us has slept.
"Granger," Malfoy says again, "Why are you scared?"
I look up at him before placing my head on his chest again, "My mum died ten hears ago. When I was eight. My father after that would always get really drunk. The first time he beat me was during a thunderstorm. Coincidentally, the only times he beats me is during thunderstorms. He's beaten me so many times, I've lost count." I confess.
Malfoy just pulls me tighter, "Does he still do it?"
I nod my head slowly.
"You're not going back, right?" He asks.
"I don't have anywhere else to go," I sigh, "The Weasleys don't need some one else to watch. Its hard enough with the loss of Fred, adding someone else will make things worse."
"So after Hogwarts your going back to him?"
"Where else can I go? I don't have much money. Only enough for about a week at the Leaky Cauldron and that's if I don't eat." I say.
"You can stay at my house," Malfoy says, "Mum and Dad won't mind. They don't give a crap about blood prejudice. It was all an act to get close to the Dark Lord and help Potter defeat him."
"Really?" I ask. Staying somewhere else? I'd kill for that.
"Of course," Malfoy says smiling.
"Thank you," I say and hug him, "We should get ready. Classes."
Malfoy nods and we go to our rooms and get ready for the day. I'm still a little shaky so we walk to the Great Hall together, his arm around my shoulders.
Upon entering we're met with gasps and whispers, which was expected.
"Thank you," I say looking up at him, "For last night."
He nods and I smile again. Rising up on my tiptoes to reach him, I give him a kiss on the cheek before leaving to the Gryffindor table. The school watched as he stood there in shock for three minutes before Blaise and Pansy came over and guided him to the table.
"Hey mione!" Ron says as I sit, "How were you last night?"
"I was fine," I say.
"Really?" Harry asks quirking an eyebrow remembering how I'd sometimes fear there presence during small storms.
"Yeah. I'm good. I had some help," I say looking over at the Slytherin table where Malfoy was sitting, looking at me.
"Malfoy helped you?" Ron asked.
"Yes." I say.
Harry and Ron exchange a look before rising out of there seats and stalking over to Malfoy. Everyone was silent as they waited to see what would happen.
When they reached the table they pulled Malfoy out of his seat and stared at him, before both boys consumed him in a hug. An actually hug.
"Thank you," Ron said.
"For helping Hermione," Harry's said, "Thank you. Its hard for her."
Malfoy, now completely bewildered, looked over at me and held my eyes before telling the boys with a smile, "Anytime," all without breaking our gaze.
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