Title: Broken Worlds-Remembering
Chapter: Chapter I
Rating: PG-13
Authoress: Goddess-Hope
Date: Friday, March 4, 2005
This is sort of a spin-off/sequel to the one-shot, " From Me to You". I suggest you read that story first before reading this one. It contains the thoughts of Hermione's classmates, as she breaks down. It also contains flashbacks and some language. DISCLAIMER: JK OWNS HARRY POTTER!
Chapter I:
Harry Potter's Point of View
I never knew…
She was my best friend for more than seven years…and I never knew.
I thought she cared for me, loved me…
Hermione Granger was my best friend- my love. She was the only reason I stayed alive during the time of war against Voldemort. She was the reason I didn't die that night back in fourth year or that time back in sixth year. She was THE reason…She was everything.
She was what helped me defeat my enemy that final night in seventh year.
And even then, finally then, I knew who she loved.
Who she truly and deeply loved…
Draco Lucius Malfoy.
Odd, right? A muggle-born and a pure-blood?
Well, I never knew and neither did Ron. She never told us about- about her marriage to him in the fall of seventh year. Nor did she tell us about her son that was born that Christmas.
No…
She deceived us, Ron and I.
She led us to believe that she would be our Hermione forever. Just ours.
But, no………That snaky bastard just had to steal her away.
When she told us, Ron and I, we both were shocked. Needless to say, confused and angry at the time. We had read the letter from Him to Her, and we were doubtful of it. I guess we should have believed it…
The night I found out, I left her…
I, Harry James Potter, became estranged to someone I knew, loved and trusted, just because I was selfish enough to misunderstand her! I left because I was jealous; Hermione Jane Granger would never be my wife, my love. She had already given it to Malfoy.
And I didn't speak to her again until the night of the attack…
She and Ron both helped me defeat him.
And for a moment- just a split second, while we cast the Killing curse, I saw Hermione look at me with proud eyes. The cinnamon rings that comforted me and bound me to love her. And for that moment, I thought I saw her love me back.
We became good friends again, after that battle.
After losing Remus Lupin, she had helped me build my life back up again. She even built back Ron and Ginny's lives when Lavender Brown and Dean Thomas were found dead.
And yet, she still managed to build her life up again. Through all the tears and pain, she had begun to live.
The night he died, was the night she died too. Not physically, just emotionally. And I though she would never come back again; I was wrong. She found solace in her mother-in-law, Narcissa Malfoy and in her son, Damien.
Damien.
I love that boy- even though he isn't my son, I love him. He looks exactly like Malfoy, which to my dislike, and is rather the gift from God in Hermione's eyes. As well it should be, I suppose.
Don't ask me how those two got together- Malfoy and Hermione. For I don't know. She never told me or Ron, and we both weren't willing to ask. She still needed time- time to grieve and time to find peace. I tried to offer it, but she wouldn't have it.
In those days, I laughed bitterly at her refusal.
And even now, I still do. I laugh and weep all at the same time on how she loved another and how it was my worst enemy. I laugh and cry when I think and see her sad face, followed by the innocent one of her son. And I laugh and sob when I've come to realize that I've been fooling myself and playing naively at a game that I was incapable of winning.
I regret one thing, though, throughout all this time of sorrow I have lived-
The one thing I regret the most- was ever falling in love with Hermione Granger.
Now, Harry Potter was not one to make observations. But, as of today, he began to do so.
Harry went down to breakfast with Ron and the other Gryffindor boys, smiling and joking with them about Quidditch and girls. He chuckled when Ron managed to trip and fall over Luna Lovegood. Yes, today was like any other day. Or…so it seemed. His head snapped up when he saw Hermione Granger walk into the hall. He could see her glance to and fro over the laughing group of students. Harry sighed inwardly; he knew what she was thinking, for he often had thought about it himself.
Naïve as some were, Harry was happy for them. As happy as he could get…
Making her way to the Gryffindor table, Hermione automatically sat next to them. Her eyes were blank and her mouth was set in a thin line; she was thinking. Harry could see her distress and concentration, but didn't bother to speak his thoughts out. He knew she would just wave him off; she did that to him and Ron loads of times. But, this morning…Hermione seemed different.
When Hermione thought he was talking with Seamus, Harry glanced at her. He observed the frail form she usually never had; the pale, ghostly skin on her arms and face; the purple shadows beneath the cinnamon eyes, the flat, dull looking tresses, and the weary lines set upon her brow. Harry quietly noticed the other subtle changes in her life: the nightly escapades, the disappearances after classes and meals. He remembered that, on several occasions, she would announce that she would be in the library, then when he went to find her- she wasn't there. He could remember that she often gazed at the Slytherin Table when no one was looking. Harry wondered at this new habit. What was she looking at, rather who was she looking at?
At the time, he dismissed those thoughts, dreading the actual truth. He never sought for answers, as he never asked the questions. But today, it might be different.
Harry saw Hermione clutch a wrinkled piece of parchment a falcon had dropped off. He noticed a sad, yet malevolent glare Ginny was giving Hermione and frowned. Why would Ginny act like that?
Still watching, Harry saw the ragged breaths Hermione breathed as she read the letter with furious eyes. He noticed the slight, trembling shivers she had.
Shrugging, Harry turned his attention once again to Seamus, Ron and Dean. They were talking about the latest points taken off from Snap.
After a few moments she screamed. Harry's head whipped up and saw Hermione crying, whispering to herself as she fell from her seat. He glanced swiftly at the parchment still in her hand and wondered. What had made her break down?
He immediately jumped up and shared a look with Ron before holding Hermione in his arms. He tried to whisper soothing things to her, assuring her everything was alright, but Hermione kept babbling about something. He couldn't differ out between the words and cries that she made. And all the while, Ron was looking at him with a strange emotion. He looked as if he were ready to cry; they didn't know what to do. They could never have been ready for the breakdown of their Hermione. No…she was ready for them, but not they for her.
Harry did the only thing he could do: he held her tight and rocked back and forth as Ron chanted the soothing words his mother had done to him. Harry cried too. What had made his Golden Girl cry? He glanced at the letter once again, but didn't bother to pick it out of her hands. It was of great importance to her; he could see that. Ron could see that as well.
And for a while, they just comforted their friend as the whole Hall stood silent and still. No one made a move to calm the convulsing girl as she cried her eyes out. No one made a move to stop Harry from holding her. Not even the teachers dared breathe; it seemed as if no one had been able to prepare for the breakdown of the Head Girl. No, no one.
Finally, Ginny had enough courage to take Hermione from Harry. He let her into Ginny's arms reluctantly, wanting to comfort the missing warmth from the cold body Hermione dwelled in. Ginny looked up at him, as if explaining the reason why. Harry didn't understand until Ginny mouthed the name, 'Malfoy'.
Harry froze; Malfoy… what in the sodding hell, did he do to Hermione? Harry's emerald eyes blazed over and he shook with rage. What the hell did he do? Harry glared at the Slytherin Table, looking for Malfoy's smirk but didn't find it. He blinked before resuming his anger and planning the murder of Malfoy. What did he do? Was it the Grangers? Did he harm her family?
" He-He-'s…." Hermione muttered.
Harry looked at her. Did she know what he was thinking?
Her voice cracked again as Professor McGonagoll rushed to comfort her student. Harry was surprised when McGonagoll rushed to her so, calling her by her first name and so on. What surprised Harry even more, was that Hermione had addressed the professor as 'Minerva' not Professor or McGonagoll. Puzzled, Harry was about to demand what in Merlin's name was going on, when the Headmaster and Professor Snape followed. Dumbledore looked more ancient than ever, and even Snape looked as if he were about to die; a pale face and shaking hands greeted Harry along with the onyx, black eyes that were hollow and empty. Harry sucked in his breath, he had never seen Professor Snape so…so…so scared before. The thought almost killed him.
" Potter! Weasley! Weasley!" Professor McGonagoll barked.
Harry snapped back to reality.
He put a firm grip on Hermione's forearm as he, Ron, and Ginny practically dragged the sobbing girl to the hospital wing. She kept saying things like 'he's gone…' or ' no…its not true.' And for a moment, Harry thought it was her family once again, but was silenced in thought when Hermione looked at him pleadingly. He almost thought it was something more; like a beau or a-a boyfriend. But no, Ron and Hermione broke up almost a year before and Hermione's never dated again…..
" Oh my!" came Madame Promfey's remark.
Harry carried Hermione to the bed as Ron and Ginny shared a look. It was obvious Harry cared for Hermione, but there was something they knew that he didn't. Wasn't there?
Madame Promfey kicked them all out and Harry responded with an angry assortment of curses. He gritted his teeth, but Madame Promfey practically booted him out.
" What the hell is going on here?" he demanded angrily.
His request was met with a silent response.
"Hermione."
He sees her turn and look at him. He almost cries at what he sees; pale skin complete with dark, purple rings and hollow cinnamon eyes. Tangled tresses of chocolate mingling with the dry remains of crystal tears. A weak voice greets his ears.
" Harry?" she croaks.
" Why?" Ron asks, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder to comfort him. Ginny rushes to Hermione's side and a wave of jealousy washes over Harry. Hermione would let everyone comfort her but Him! Why?…
" Why?" demands Harry, glaring slightly at Hermione with cold, unspeakable eyes.
" Because I loved him. Because he could see the real me. Because I felt-I felt safe."
Hermione cringes when Harry pounds his hand on the nearest table. He glares at her and makes her look at him with tearful eyes. The soft, emerald rings hardened as he growled dangerously.
" Because you felt safe?" he spits. His eyes continue to search for his Hermione, wanting to see the truth and to tell himself that it was all a lie…
Sadly, he blinks tears away as he sees that she doesn't lie…
His body freezes, turns rigid and he does a quarter turn, inhaling sharply. He ignores the weeping cries of his fellow Gryffindors, planning to erase all memories of the current night….
Step by step he walks closer to the infirmary doors and turns back to glance at his former love.
Broken eyes and a pale face compliments his vision.
" I don't understand."
Dumbledore looks at Harry quizzically; the pale blue eyes twinkling madly in light of the situation. He sighs, refusing to answer the question proposed. He sits down in his rickety chair,. Leaning back and breathing in the musty air that hung about the Headmaster's room. He coughed lightly and pondered upon his thoughts for a moment, focusing his gaze on the sight before him.
Dumbledore cringes almost instantly as he smells the whiskey pouring from the boy's breath, his black hair tossed around, the bright emerald orbs coloring to a dull pine color. His face was distraught with jealousy, anger, and betrayal; the three curses of love.
" Understand? What is there to understand Mister Potter?"
Harry glares quite befittingly at the old man, casting looks of shadowed glowering. His brows were raised high and his face was flushing a nice red color, cheeks aglow with anger.
" Malfoy….," he answers quietly, trying to calm his frustrated soul, " She loves him…They were married. They….have a son for Merlin's sake!"
Professor Dumbledore could only nod his head and hang it low, everything that his boy was saying was true….
But he could not bring himself to confirm the boy's accusations…
Harry lets a strangled noise out, his eyes widening in disbelief as he realizes that the old man knew all along…..
" I loved her and you knew it…."
Hope:…..So? This is only chapter 1 and it is still…blah…Please read and review so that I can see what I am doing wrong and can correct myself…
And for those of you that read 'His Mission', the sixth chapter will be out shortly….
