Chapter 1
A/N: Hi everyone! Here's the first chapter of a brand new story. Tell me what you think!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its Universe belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am not J.K. Rowling. Figure it out for yourselves.
Oh and also, while we're at this disclaiming stuff, the title, Stop All the Clocks is from the poem, Stop All the Clocks, also known as Funeral Blues, by W.H. Auden. Although this poem was kind of meant to mock the grief everyone felt for the death of someone they didn't even know, I think it's quite a nice title. Anyways, here it is.
Enjoy!
CharmHex01
Hermione was generally quite happy with her life. She had worked out her relationship with Ron, which ended in the decision that they were made to be the very best of friends, nothing more, and nothing less. And she even had several close friends, whom she trusted completely.
But, when it came to romantic relationships, Hermione was far from happy with her life. Five years after the war, she still could not seem to find the man of her dreams, her Prince Charming. Perhaps she simply wasn't supposed to have a romantic life. Maybe God or Merlin or whatever high and mighty worked the world had decided that Hermione Jean Granger was to never find her soul mate. Either that, or they had forgotten to plan one for her.
Or perhaps she simply lacked any romantic appeal whatsoever.
And now that Harry and Ginny were expecting their first child in their perfect marriage, Hermione was feeling more saddened than ever.
It didn't help that even Ron, someone who she herself had declared possessed an emotional range of a teaspoon, was engaged. And she couldn't even reason that it was to a silly witch like Lavender Brown.
No, Ron had to go and land himself a nice catch. Katie Bell was a perfectly respectable and capable witch, not at all unlikeable.
If even Ronald Weasley could find love, then there must be something Hermione Granger was doing wrong. But she was Hermione Granger, and she simply couldn't be wrong, could she? What a paradox.
But then, why couldn't she find love? She had dated countless wizards and Muggles alike. Perhaps, she conceded, perhaps she was doing something very wrong indeed.
And this was how her beloved friend and dear roommate found her, pondering her lack of success in the field of love.
"Hermione?"
"Draco! You're back. Oh, Draco! What am I doing wrong?"
Her roommate, used to his friend's dulcet thoughts about love by now, knew what she was on about.
And as always, he encouraged her, "Perhaps you just aren't looking in the right places."
Hermione scowled at him, "That's what you said last time as well. Fat lot of use."
Draco shrugged. It was true she wasn't looking in the right place. But she would never believe him if he told her where the right place to look was.
"Oh, and Draco?"
"Hm?"
"I got the invitations for Ron's wedding today. It's going to be in May, so two months from now."
"Sure, sure. Do we need to find a date?"
Hermione frowned. "If you want. But I have already found myself one." By the end, Hermione's frown had morphed into a proud beam
"Well, I probably won't then. No need to fuss myself out over a Weasel's wedding."
"Draco!"
"Mm?" he answered with fake innocence.
"He's your friend. He doesn't call you Ferret anymore, so I think it's highly immature of you to be calling him Weasel. Doesn't that mean you're less mature than Ron?"
Draco scowled, "No. It just means I have more wit."
He stalked off, headed for his room in their spacious flat. He plopped himself onto his bed, and looked outside, staring at the beautiful view, but not really seeing.
Hermione didn't know how much it affected him. Every date she boasted about. She was completely oblivious to the weapon she held, and every day it seemed she would scratch some more of his heart away. Little by little, flake by flake. Sometimes the flakes were bigger than normal. But every day there would be flakes of his heart lying somewhere else in his body.
And he had no one to blame but himself.
Every time she mentioned another person she hoped to be able to create a lasting romantic relationship with, he would agree and support her.
But secretly wishing it to fail.
And so far, whatever merciful fate-runner there was had been kind to him. But he doubted they would be so merciful for much longer. After all, who was he to interrupt their plans of fate?
A delighted squeal jolted him out of his thoughts.
"Draco, Draco, my darling! It's been so long since I saw you last, too long!"
Surely a week wasn't that long, he thought.
His mother stood in his doorway, arriving for their weekly dinner with Hermione. If she wasn't away on another date.
"Hi, Mother. It's not been that long. Don't be so melodramatic."
Hermione appeared behind his mother, "Well I certainly know where you get your melodramatic tendencies from, Draco."
"Nonsense, Hermione."
Hermione chuckled and retreated to the kitchen, where she was preparing a meal for the three of them.
"Mother, let's go to the living room."
He left his room and followed his mother to the living room, where they could hear Hermione's efforts in the kitchen. It was her first time cooking a meal for his mother, and he was sceptical at her cooking abilities. He had never tasted her food before, probably because she only cooked when he was not present.
Today, however, she had eagerly volunteered to take over in the kitchen.
Draco was wary, but she had pleaded until he had caved at last. He just hoped her concoctions would be edible.
Or perhaps he was just underestimating the skill of Hermione Granger again.
"Draco, why is Hermione making the food today?" Narcissa questioned.
Draco turned to his mother and shrugged helplessly, "She practically forced me to let her cook. I've never tasted her cooking before."
"Oh, well, I'm sure it'll taste wonderful."
"For everyone's sake, I hope you're right, Mother."
"I always am, dear."
"I can think of plenty of times when you've been far from right, Mother."
Narcissa stiffened visibly, "You would do well to understand the circumstances better, Draco."
"Circumstances? You followed Father like a blind puppy!"
"That is enough, Draco! I came here for a nice dinner, not an argument over something that is long past."
"Just because it is long past, doesn't mean it loses its power in the future."
"Well, then Draco, it is up to you shape your own future now."
He let out a frustrated growl, "Mother, you're missing the point! Why is it up to me to correct you mistakes and father's mistakes of the past?"
"Draco, I - "
"That's enough! Narcissa, Draco. Dinner's ready." Hermione interrupted sternly.
A/N: So how did you like it? I love reviews (hint hint).
Do you find the chapter length too short? I'm trying to keep it more consistent in this story, and I'm thinking of around 1000+ words per chapter, but I read a forum and most people said the ideal length was around 2000. So do you think I should lengthen my chapters?
~CharmHex01