Acidic Sugar

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Chapter Seven: Acceptance

"How could you?!" Cho exclaimed. She quickly snatched the letter from Draco's hand and picked up the envelope just as quickly before turning around. Draco felt as though he were frozen to the ground and his lips stapled together. He didn't know what to do and he hadn't any explanation. Before he could even put his thoughts in order he reached out and grabbed her by the shoulder. Her whole body went rigid from head to toe and she didn't do anything but breathe.

"Don't touch me." Draco abruptly realized what he'd just done and quickly took his hand off her shoulder. She turned and looked at him, her cheeks streaming with tears. Draco hated to see women cry. He hated it. It was due to the fact that he didn't know how to comfort them. He was never really comforted himself as a child and now that someone was crying in front of him - well he just couldn't face it. He looked into Cho's eyes and they were full of a fire that Draco had never seen before. There was anger and sorrow - surprise and violation. He was too scared to even mutter a small apology so he just stood there.

"You knew this belonged to me and you still read it!" the tears were streaming down her face. "I cannot believe you. Then again, you are a Malfoy - what else could I have expected! How could you? This is very sacred and private to me. You - you violated my entire being! I...I can't deal with this."

Her crying had ceased to soft hiccups and single tears as she slid herself into a chair just beside her. Her body began to look so fragile and her hair was flying everywhere. Draco looked down on her and saw just how depressed she really was. Lowering himself so he was at her eye level he tried to get her to look at him but didn't succeed. He wasn't about to make the mistake of touching her again because he knew she'd object to it. Her breathing was coming in short intervals and Draco didn't know what to do to comfort her. He got up and walked to Madam Pince's desk and pulled some tissue paper from the dispenser. Walking back over to Cho, he knelt beside her and handed her tissue paper. Luckily, she accepted.

Blowing her nose, she dried her eyes and looked to the side. She seemed to be embarrassed by her own overreaction. Draco didn't say anything in hopes that it would make her feel better. He watched as she tidied herself up and pushed her loose hairs out of her face. Draco studied her features, noticing how long her hair actually was and how stunning it looked messy, while framing her lovely face. He still hadn't gotten past how gorgeous she was.

"I still can't believe you," she began, faltering slightly in between as a deep breath took her over. Draco nodded.

"I'm very sorry," he began. "I...I guess curiosity got the best of me."

"Obviously," Cho started, softly.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked, sounding concerned. Cho nodded and wiped away the last of her tears. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were quite a pink as she looked up and into Draco's grey orbs.

"Is it just me or do you sound genuinely concerned?" asked Cho with a shy smile and friendly narrowed eyes.

"I'm genuinely concerned."

Cho nodded and then looked down at the letter she held in her hands. The letter that Draco knew was the last reminiscence of Cedric she had. He watched as her fingers unfolded it and unwrinkled it so she could read it. Her eyes skimmed the parchment slowly and unshed tears were forming in her eyes. Draco watched her, feeling bad for her because he now understood how she felt about him. This brought down Draco's hopes of ever getting with her. Or having with her what he lacked in his life. He wanted her eyes to look that way when she thought of him - not when she was mourning over her dead lover. Draco tore his eyes away. It was hurting him too much to watch because now he fully understood that she was off limits.

Then he felt a light tapping at his shoulder. He turned around and found Cho's finger upon him. She was holding out the letter. Draco looked down at it, confused and then looked back up at Cho. Her breathing was sound and her eyes settled on Draco's. She bit her bottom lip and then parted them.

"Go on," she said, softly. "You wanted to read it. I should get over it anyways... I mean, I've moved on...it's just today was the day...he told me he lo--"

Without finishing her sentence she just let it fade so that Draco could figure it out by himself.

Draco looked back at the letter and then pushed it out of his face. He turned his head and looked away while getting up and standing before her. He crossed his arms and said nothing. He watched, from his side view, as Cho smiled to herself and put the letter back into her bag. Draco turned around and watched as she stood up.

Draco, who was still battered from what he'd realized about Cho knew that his face showed his sorrow and mourn. He was trying his best to avert his face into a simplistic expression but nothing came. He found it even harder when Cho turned and locked eyes with him.

"What's wrong?"

Draco waited for a moment before answering. He looked down to his feet and then shrugged.

"Nothing."

"It looks like something," Cho observed.

"Well, I'm fine, ok?" Draco knew he came off kind of defensive. He saw as Cho's eyes became confused.

"Ok..." She answered. With that, she gave him one last look and turned around. Before she walked entirely out of the library, she turned around and gave Draco a second glance. With that glance she followed through with a small smile. It was probably that twinkle in her eye that gave Draco another light of hope. Maybe he had a chance after all.

He turned around, picked up his book and readied himself to walk out of the library. Madam Pince looked down on him with such distrust that all he did was smile at her. As he was walking out of the library, someone stopped in front of him. His books fell to the floor and he cursed loudly, to Madam Pince's disapproval. When he looked up, the messy hair and the ugly scar made him red with rage.