He deserved her anger, but her words stung all the same. He also had, finally, pushed down the memories associated with the war, but now he remembered those desperate attempts to do what he knew, deep down, he could never manage on his own. He remembered hearing what happened to Katie. He remembered wanting so badly to confess to Snape and beg for help, but not knowing he could do that, that Snape wasn't really on Voldemort's side. Even knowing about the vow Snape made to Narcissa...Draco didn't think it was enough when under Voldemort's thumb. And Dumbledore? Anger still overwhelmed him when he thought about their last conversation. Offering help in the final hour? Draco might have accepted the blame for his actions, but that didn't mean he could entirely get over that Dumbledore let him suffer for months only to offer some nugget of hope once it was too late.
He taught you a lesson. The thought fluttered through Draco's mind not for the first time. Without those terrible months, he probably would have never grown to become anything better. It wasn't that black and white and resentment did Draco no good so he took a deep breath and tried to keep his emotions steady. "I know," he agreed quietly. He blinked hard and then did turn away from her. "It is a miracle that I survived without going," he added, "And it is not fair and I am sorry that I can't ever make it fair. If I could undo it, I would, but I can't, Katie." He took another deep breath and made himself look back at her. "I am not going to try to make you not hate me, that wouldn't be right, but...don't let your anger mess up your life either. I've been there and..." He shook his head. "It is a horrible way to live, closed off from everyone and angry at the world. Hate me, but don't...you deserve better than that. You deserve better than what I did."