Title: Locked Away

Genre:Drama, Angst

Rating: T

Characters: Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy

Note: Post-Hogwarts

Love leaves a heartache no one can heal

but sometimes,

it's better to lock your heart away so pain it will not feel.

--moondreamer

Locked Away

Inside one of the Court Room of the Ministry of Magic, you ask inwardly why-what on Earth is your valid reason for being here. You didn't have to wait long for the answer.

Your mind answered it's for revenge. That and only that.

Your heart-you shook your head. Of course, you don't have your heart anymore, imprisoned and locked away. Besides, what it may say will not change whatever will happen any moment now.

Harry just finished his testimony which, you thought, would completely change the fixed verdict that they will give to young Death Eaters. He seated beside you and Ron, but hadn't heard any word he had said because you're busy delicately, describing him.

Of all people.

Your brown calculating eyes looked at him again.

His light blond hair; straight and almost look silky to the touch. His pointy face, handsome some would say-heck, all would say, except that his concrete frown tends to deepen the new creases on his forehead. His pale and ghostly skin.

And his cold, unyielding eyes.

Of course he wasn't looking at you.

As the Head Mugwump says his verdict, you couldn't help but look for that long-brewed revenge: but there was none.

All you can grope right now is your lethal hypocrisy that had been born recently. The mob didn't said a single word as the verdict was out: two and a half year of house arrest.

Not bad, you thought, he didn't kill anyone anyway.

Then his eyes were on you and you fought hard not to let any crack show.

Unfathomable grey clashed with bold brown.

The people were standing.

Hate me.

And it you feel like you're running out of time. You don't know why.

That day, did you need me because you love me, or did you love me because you need me?

Oh, only if your eyes could express those words.

It was – unacceptable.

Hate me.

You felt Ron intertwined his hands with yours: and that was the right thing.

The right thing.

With one last look, you discretely told him that it wouldn't work in any other way, that he was right.

And that this is for the better.

He was right.

You stood up as he walked away. His footsteps echoed like goodbye.

No one will know.

It was a dark and cold tunnel which at the end of it located a locked door.

You open the door, it's hinges cried out in a cringing tone, the whole room, dark, except for the moonlight that passed through the window.

"Is he well?"

You looked at the girl sitting by the window. "It seems like it."

The girl looked at you, "Are you happy?", she asked, her tired brown eyes turning to you.

You looked at them blankly, "Yes, I am."

The girl smiled, "That's good."

You didn't feel anything yet you felt intrigued by the sudden appearance of the needles that keep pricking your heart. You turned your back and placed your hand on the door handle. "You shall never step outside of this room. Do you understand?" you said crisply.

"Yes."

With that, you closed the room, and walked away. No use placing locking charms, you thought.

If you have stayed about another couple of seconds, you would have heard the quiet sobs that came from that lonely room.

The room where your heart will be locked away forever.

Hate me.

~fin~