Chapter 1: Bruised
Disclaimer: I don't own anything…except the plot of course.
A/N: It takes Draco and Hermione some while to actually realize their feelings and then work it out between each other and well I'm always open to suggestions..:)
...x...
It was one of those rare days when everything seemed coordinated to one particular event. It was a rather dark day, as the heavy clouds hung in the air, threatening to spill any moment, as a rather elegant woman was being lowered into a coffin as gently as possible; under the charge of her only son.
Last night's conversation ran in Draco's head for the hundredth time that day, it hadn't even been a whole day since his mother had called for him urgently. Since the conversation had taken place…
"Draco.." she called out from her bed struggling to sit up as her hand shot out to him for help and he took it without missing a beat.
"You wished to see me mother?"
"Yes, well sit down, this may take a while.."
a wave of concern washed over his light features as he sat down next to his mother and he dared to ask "what is this about mother?"
Narcissa's hand shot up to his face as she looked into his eyes. There was something wrong, that much he had gathered but nothing had prepared him for what she was about to say.
"Draco, my son, I want you to do something for me..would-..I want you to get your father out of Azkaban"
a million questions raced trough his head, he wanted to be angry, to scream, to just get away, but all he could muster was a simple "Why?" in utter disbelief.
"I want you to clear our family name-.."
he gave her a look of utter disbelief, it was just so out of character for his mother to plead to him the way she was right now..
"..I love him, Draco.."
"How can you?" he spat out making no attempt to cover the malice clear in his voice.
"He is your father Draco and I will not tolerate you talking about him like that!" she remarked angrily, her voice was now rising,
she sighed heavily and asked one final time with the tiredness in her voice clear "Now will you do this as your mother's dying wish?"
"Certainly mother" he answered quietly
"I'll rest now, you may leave" was the last she said dismissing the meeting with a final peck on his forehead.
Thousands of people had come from all over to the funeral, and yet only a hand full noticed how Draco's eyes painted a rather different picture than the mask of impassiveness on his face showed. A picture of a boy lost, of a tired man longing for some peace accompanied by a very small amount of moisture shining in his eyes.
Using all the power left in him he held back the tears that threatened to spill as his fathers words came back to haunt him, "Be a man, stiffen up a little" .
"Here comes the rain again,
falling from the stars.
drenched in my pain again,
becoming who we are.
As my memory rests,
but never forgets what I lost.
wake me up when september ends.."
'Wake Me Up When September Ends' by Greenday.
A/N: I know that it was a really slow, going nowhere chapter but I really wanted to show how these characters felt and what they meant to each other..
p.s. this chapter is dedicated to Rae aka.'hate2luv' my first-ever reviewer and who encouraged me to write more