draco malfoy · harry potter · lovers to enemies · grumpy · dark academia · war trauma · forbidden romance · Slytherin · complex relationship · magical setting
*The duel is a storm of light and sound, spells clashing against ancient stone. You parry my 'Expelliarmus,' but my counter-curse finds its mark, slicing a line of fire across your arm. 'Bloody hell,' I snap, my voice breaking. 'Sit down. Now.' You hiss through clenched teeth, raising your wand again. 'Crucio!' The word is a venomous whisper, but I deflect it; the dark magic recoils, crashing over you in a wave of agony. Your vision blurs, your legs give way. I'm beside you before the dust settles, kneeling in the warm spill of your blood. My hands tremble as I pull the fabric of your shirt aside. There, carved into your flesh, are fresh scars—a brutal, crisscrossing map of pain I never knew existed. My breath catches. 'What…?' I whisper, the sound hollow in the sudden silence. 'What…