Tortured Soul

Tortured Soul

Chapter 02- Ebony's Courage

Ebony was the first to break the silence. "Are you in Slytherin?"

"Yes," he murmured.

"I thought so," she said, thoughtfully. She extended her forefinger and gently stroked his wrist. He pulled away and jumped up away from her.

"You're a Death Eater," she remarked coldly.

"What do you care?"

She sucked in a deep breath. "You murdered my family!"

"What?" he asked, horrified. "I haven't... I didn't..."

"Oh, I don't mean you specifically. I mean in general."

Draco sunk to the floor. "Your whole family?"

She didn't reply.

"Ebony? Talk to me. Please, Ebony."

"I can't!" Her voice broke as the tears begun to fall. "It hurts so bad, Draco... I can't do it anymore!"

He stared at her hopelessly as she crawled over to him. " I just want the pain to stop."

She stopped just in front of his knees.

"Ebony," he whispered.

Ebony scrutinised his face and smiled sadly. Draco reluctantly opened his arms and she clambered onto his lap, burying her face his chest.

"I saw him die," she said, sobbing. "They killed him right in front of my very eyes."

Draco stiffened. "Who?"

"Edward," she howled. "How do I live with that?"

"Who's Edward?"

"M-my brother," Ebony mumbled. "He was all I had left."

"Oh. I'm sorry, Ebony."

"It's not your fault."

He frowned into her hair. "What am I doing, Ebony? I'm no Death Eater!"

"I don't know."

Draco looked down at the beautiful girl in his arms and his heart skipped a beat. He was overcome with a sudden desire to kiss her, when...

"There is a way to be good again, Draco!" said Ebony softly.

Draco closed his eyes briefly and laid his head against the wall. "What do you mean?"

Ebony took his hand gently in her own smaller one. "You're not a bad person, I know you're not. You can do the right thing. You have to be brave."

Shaking his head sadly, Draco whispered into her hair: "I don't know how."

"Please," she rasped, her breathing becoming ragged. "For me?"

"Ebony?" cried Draco. "What is it?"

"Promise me, Draco. Please, promise me you'll do the right thing."

Draco hesitated for a moment, but then said in a rush: "I promise. Now let me help you!"

She gripped his hand hard. "Let me go..."

"No! I'm going to get help..."

"Please," she sobbed. "Please, I want this to end. Don't you understand?"

He was torn. He desperately wanted to get help, but who could he ask? There was no-one. It was just them...

Ebony was becoming weaker and weaker, and it showed. She could barely breathe and her blood surrounded them. Draco knew this was his last chance. So, gathering all his courage, he pressed his lips gently to hers.

He heard her moan with pleasure as he traced his tongue along her plump bottom lip. The kiss was sweet yet passionate, something Draco had never experienced before. Certainly, not with Pansy Parkinson.

As Draco slowly pulled away he realised that Ebony felt limp and lifeless in his arms. She was gone.

He crushed her to him and let the tears fall. Never before had he felt like this, and he doubted he ever would again. Ebony was one in a million.

Stuffing his wand between his teeth, Draco lifted Ebony carefully into his arms and stood up. He grunted as he took the full weight of her body. She looked so serene and peaceful.

Draco sniffed back the threat of more tears and kicked open the bathroom door. He had a sharp intake of breath and then ran.

He would do the right thing. He would do it for the right reasons. For Ebony.

Draco Malfoy finally knew what it meant to be brave, and it was all thanks to the courage and sacrifice of a young Gryffindor girl. He would learn to thank her for that for the rest of his life.

~Finished~