Chapter 1
"Whore"
"Bitch"
"Slut"
Comments thrown from every direction, none of them actually knowing the full story. No-one gave her the chance to explain what happened, even those who she considered to be like family, all accepting another's version.
She walked with her head held high, refusing to acknowledge the jeers and taunts spat at her. Deep mocha eyes focused in front of her, hardened and determined to not let the tears, she desperately wanted to cry, fall. Every step echoed in her head as she walked closer to him, one hand instinctively curled around her abdomen; as if that would shield the life within her from the insults carelessly hurled at them.
Then she saw him. The malice in his molten silver depths was almost enough to make her lose her resolve, but a momentary flicker of pain allowed her to continue. For it showed her that, somewhere, hidden beneath the hatred and disgust, Draco Malfoy still loved her.
Opening her mouth, in one last feeble attempt to try to explain, she was cut off by a haze of ebony hair and a throbbing in her left cheek. Pansy Parkinson stood heaving in front of her, arm still raised from her violent outburst.
"Don't take one more step, you filthy little mudblood."
Silence ensued.
"Can't you see he doesn't want to talk to you. Haven't you hurt him enough?"
The last remark was uttered softly, almost so that she nearly didn't hear it at all. It was his voice that ended the silence.
"Just go. Please."
The unmistakable crack on his final word showed how desperately he was holding back tears. It was that which solidified her decision. Whilst she may have been on the receiving end of an endless amount of abuse, he was also hurt by the whole debacle, and she wasn't going to cause him anymore pain. As she turned to walk away, she declared one final thing, knowing that it was probably the last time she would see him.
"I love you. Remember that."
With one last lingering glance, she turned and left, finally allowing her tears to fall. Hermione Granger vowed to herself that she would give her daughter the best life possible, even without a father; after all, she was all she had left.
