Markings of an Inmate

Chapter Three: Findings

It had been raining since the morning and I was soaked to the bone. I was filthy, my clothes and hair were caked with mud. Blaise and Theo thought it would be hilarious if they tackled me on the way back from Herbology. Oh yes, very funny indeed. I walked into the Heads’ common room with a smirk on my face.

The smirk slid from my face when I saw Hermione sitting in one of the overstuffed armchairs with tears running down her face. I dropped my satchel, shrugged off my cloak, and hung it on the pegs near the door.

“Hey, what’s going on, love?”

She looked up at me wiping away the tears, as if trying to hide them. “Nothing, leave me alone please, Malfoy.”

I grinned at her comment, ignoring it before sitting down at her feet. She grimaced at my muddiness, but said and did nothing.

“Weasel again?”

She glared down at me and ran a hand through my damp hair absentmindedly, causing a hiss of pleasure to escape from my lips. I shuddered under her touch but didn’t mind the affection.

“How many times have I told you he isn’t worth it, Granger? He had you waiting for him when he got home, yet he went to her. Do you know that I would kill to have someone like you?”

She looked down at me, slightly confused at my comment. I stood abruptly, diverting my gaze to stare out the window and saw a couple kissing in the rain under the large Hawthorn tree near the lake. Realization dawned – that’s why she was crying. I watched the couple as they held onto one another with passion. It must have been the sight of Weasley’s adoration that set her off.

“You know you don’t really feel anything for him, per se. You’re just upset that he’s using you.” I plopped back down at her feet. She stared at me with guarded eyes and didn’t say anything at my statement.

She resumed running her fingers through the dampen mess of my hair, causing my head to tilt back onto her lap and onto a stiff book. I grunted and reached behind to pull the hard, heavy obstacle away and settled myself against her once again.

“Books won’t keep your bed warm, love,” I laughed.

She yanked hard on my hair and I arched into her hand quickly stifling a moan. Merlin, that turned me on.

I relaxed slowly, letting out a breath when she smoothed my hair softly. I closed my eyes and allowed her to continue to stroke my hair. Her hands were soft as she detangled and tangled the tendrils, her nails massaging my scalp at the same time. Her fingers slightly tugged on the soft platinum strands again, and a groan escaped my lips. This girl was affecting me like no other, and she didn’t have a clue. She made me think and want things that I had no business fantasizing about right now: her lips, her neck, her pert little breasts, tight tummy, her creamy thighs that led up to her . . . I shifted halting that train of thought.

I could feel her eyes on me. She moved her hands from my hair to my face, gently stroking from the temple and the length of the cheekbone before she took one finger and traced my bottom lip. I opened my eyes, staring at her.

Another small grin graced my lips. “Really he isn’t worth it.”

She pressed a finger gently to my mouth in order to hush my comments. I wanted to suck her fingers into my mouth right then and there.

Our relationship had turned from adversarial to platonic friendship over the past few weeks. However, I wanted more – much more. Strangely enough, we never discussed the kiss on the train. I didn’t know how she felt but I didn’t push her. Besides, I genuinely enjoyed her company.

She could hold a conversation and an intelligent one at that. We never bothered with trivial topics, such as new fashions or latest activities with higher society, like the many girls I have been with whether romantic or not. Instead, we talked hours on end about muggle and wizarding laws, magical creatures’ rights, and women’s roles in pureblood society. Sometimes we shared the same opinions but often we didn’t. That made the conversations all the more fun.

I had even coined my own nickname for her: ‘Mi.’ She had laughed at first but now seemed to relish at the intimate term.

As she blinked away more tears, I sighed. “Come here.”

She slid down from the couch and climbed onto my lap. Her warm body shivered against my damp, cold, muddy one.

“What does she have that I don’t?”

I let a growl emanate from my throat.

“I will tell you this once, and only once, Mi,” I whispered into her hair, she looked up at me. “She is nothing compared to you, absolutely nothing, do you understand me? The difference between the two of you is that she opens her legs easily to anything with a dick. You are better than that.”

She smiled at me and rested her palm against my cheek. She was so lovely and I desperately wanted to lose myself in her. I leaned in slowly about to capture her pouting lips.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on our Common Room portrait door.

“Hermione? You in there? Let me in.”

It was Weasel.

She looked at me and sighed, getting up to let him in. “I’m sorry.”

The old portrait door creaked as she swung it open. Potter and Weasley strode in as I stood and walked to her side. Her gaze was cast down; her mood subdued until I reached under her chin and made her look at me.

I pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “You deserve someone who can treat you so much better, Mi.” I squeezed her gently. I didn’t have to look at Weasley’s face to know he was boiling in rage. Idiot.

I walked away glancing over my shoulder and her face alone almost made me turn back. She looked so fragile. I nodded to her and mouthed ‘I’ll be here’ and walked into our small, shared Heads’ kitchen.

I leaned against the door and closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and pushed off gently to grab a butterbeer from the icebox.

I was soon joined by Potter who shrugged. “Hermione sent me in here.”

I smiled broadly before grabbing him a drink.

“So, you and Hermione?” he looked up awkwardly from his drink.

I swigged a drink from mine and nodded my head. “Are friends.”

He nodded before taking a sip.

“GET OUT!” We both heard Mi scream. We looked at each other in alarm.

I bolted from my stool, causing it to topple over in my haste, and scrambled out of the swinging door. It was if I’d walked into my worst nightmare. Mi was on the floor, holding the side of her face with her hand and Weasley looking livid.

What. The. Fuck.

I crossed the room quickly before kneeling in front of her. “Are you okay?”

She nodded weakly taking her eyes off of Weasley and looking to me. I pulled her hand away from her face to reveal an ugly, red mark. I threw an angry glare over my shoulder, ready to beat the arsehole into the ground. How dare he strike her?!?

“You fucking hit her?!” Potter beat me to it and had grabbed Weasley by his collar with both hands.

“Get him out of here Harry,” her voice was shaking, her hand on my arm the only thing holding me back. I wrapped an arm around her waist before helping her up and pulling her gently into me.

“Now Potter.” I stated darkly.

Potter dragged Weasley out of the room cursing at him as they exited. Alone, I felt Mi lean heavily against me, ready to topple over. I swooped down, catching her, and picked her up bridal style. I sat and laid her down on the couch against the pillows, shifting her so that her hips were nestled in between my legs and her head rested on my chest.

Her arms were wrapped around my waist and mine around her torso. “I told him that it was over and he wasn’t worth the time and love I put in and he slapped me,” she said softly.

“You’re not a man if you feel the need to hit a woman to feel power, love. Trust me; he will never touch you ever again.”

I felt her grip tighten as I said this. “Thank you, Draco.”

I smiled down at her and pulled her further up my body until she could nestle her head in the crook of my neck. Peace settled into my body as I breathed in her sweet scent. I kissed the top of her head before falling into a light sleep.

**********

“Hermione,” I heard a feminine voice. ‘Probably Red,’ I thought eyes still closed.

“Hmm,” Mi asked sleepily.

“Hermione,” Red said again shaking her gently.

I opened one eye. ‘Yep, it’s Red alright.’ I shifted slightly.

“Wake up Mi,” I said gently in her ear.

She groaned but pushed herself up to untangle herself from my arms and sat at the other end of the couch by my feet. Red kneeled in front of her gently stroking Mi’s slightly inflamed cheek. This was my cue to take my leave – they obviously needed time alone. I nodded at the two girls before sauntering up to my room. I still needed to shower.

After a long, hot steaming shower, I pulled on a white long-sleeved shirt and simple green pajama bottoms. I dropped down on the plush bed, my head resting against the down pillows. Tired, I closed my eyes and willed my body to relax. I did not realize how exhausted I was until I feel asleep, but that did not stop the nightmares.

The screams, the pain, the cold was all too vivid.

Soft, small hands were shaking me slightly, and in my dream state, I quickly took control, pulling the person onto the bed and underneath me. I opened my still sleepy eyes and looked down into the slightly scared face of Mi. I blinked away my shock and released my bruising hold on her wrist as she placed a soft hand against my face, stroking from temple to jaw. I could feel her soft body through my sweat-drenched clothes.

“Draco, what’s wrong?”

I switched our positions so that we were lying side by side; she pulled me to her, and held me against her chest, allowing me to break down. I never wept, only shook and tightened my grip on her before falling into a light sleep, until she began to pull away.

“Please,” my voice sounded broken and soft, unrecognizable even to me. “Please stay with me, just for tonight.”

“Okay Draco. At least allow me to go and change into something I can sleep in.”

I hesitated before nodding and lifting my weight from her small frame.

“I promise, I’ll be back,” she said gently when I wouldn’t unshackle her wrists.

I nodded once more before letting go.

I sat alone for a few moments, easing my breathing before deciding it would best if I rid myself of my damp, sweaty clothing. Thinking about Mi, I realized that her cheek was much better. Red must have helped her heal it.

I stripped and threw my clothes into the hamper before pulling on a fresh pair of sleep pants. I turned to my bed and muttered a drying and cleansing spell for the now wet sheets. As I went to grab a shirt to pull over my body and hide the blemishes I heard Mi gasp.

Oh gods, she had seen me. Unable to move, I braced myself against my dresser, and tried to speak but nothing came out.

“Draco?” I turned around looking at her hesitantly. I don’t know what I expected to see in her eyes: disgust, pity, fear, horror. Instead, there was an emotion I couldn’t quite place, mixed with a compassion that I never anticipated.

“Azkaban, it was never in the pap . . . oh Merlin.” She crossed the room slowly until she stood directly in front of me. “That detention program . . . you were in there?”

I nodded. My gaze dropped to the ground as I felt her cool fingers trace the tattoos, starting at my right shoulder. Then her fingers graced the freshly healed wounds and I let out a small hiss.

“These are fresh, why?”

“Broke my probation,” I bit out through gritted teeth. She looked up from the thin pink lines that outlined the tattoos, her expression one of confusion.

“When did you break your probation?” Her touch was hesitant against my skin.

“When I kissed you.”

She backed away from me abruptly before I stopped her by wrapping both arms around her. “I didn’t do the crime, Mi.” I needed her to believe me.

She placed both hands on my bare chest. “Oh, Draco, I know . . . you wouldn’t do something like that.”

I pulled her flush against me relishing in her curly mop resting against my chest as her arms worked their way around my waist. “Please stay, I sleep so much better next to you.”

She let out a loud sigh and smiled up at me. “We have classes in the morning, Draco.”

I sighed and let go of her, a frown replacing my smile. “I understand.” Maybe she was afraid of me. Gods, I prayed she wasn’t.

Expecting her to walk out of my room, she surprised me instead by pulling back my comforter and sheets before slipping between them. “So, we need our sleep. Coming?” She patted the other side of the bed.

Understanding lit up my face as I climb into the bed next to her, making sure I stayed on ‘my side’ of the bed.

“I’ll be good. I promise to stay right over here.”

I was anxious. Despite my reputation, I had never had a female actually ‘sleep’ in my bed. Despite my need to hold Mi, I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries.

She blinked once and pouted prettily, “Well, just to let you know, I tend to cuddle in my sleep.”

I smirked slightly, she was such a minx. I placed my hand on her waist and yanked her sweet soft body possessively against my hard one. She let out a surprised gasp.

“Well then let’s not be surprised and snuggle now,” I grinned wickedly.

“This isn’t going to break your probation?”

I smiled as I nuzzled in her hair inhaling her scent, grinding into her sweetly and running my hands down her arms before wrapping them back around her waist. She was amazing; any other girl would have cowered and run in terror after a glimpse of my body, but not Mi.

“Draco.” I heard her moan quietly, the sound made my cock twitch.

“I won’t know until the morning.” I held her tighter for a second and willed my body to calm down. “But if it does then it sure is worth it.”

I hear her laugh slightly and snuggle closer, if that were even possible.

“I don’t want to cause you any pain.” She wiggled against me trying to get comfortable.

“Stop moving and I may have a chance.” I smirked as she turned to look at me; her innocence was so fucking adorable.

I smiled and laughed at her confused expression. I looked down at our bodies silently showing her how tightly we were spooned into each other with no space between us. She followed my gaze and blushed.

“Oh,” the light delicate pink blushed was flattering on her. “Sorry.”

I laughed heartily, turning to lie on my back and welcomed her with open arms. She rested her head against my chest, listening to the soft beats.

“Just sleep, love, we both need it. Okay?”

I felt her nod and heard her yawn. I wrapped my arm around waist and enjoyed the warmth of her body melting into mine. Her hair smelled of the same star-jasmine I had first inhaled on the train, it had to be her shampoo.

I smiled once more before I fell into an untroubled slumber.

Edited: Feb. 27, 2010
AN: Betas Margarita & Sam!