Hey guys. Thanks for all the critiques. They were very helpful. I hope that some of you will move on from thinking this story is interesting to thinking its good! I just wanted to point out that I am a HUGE Ron/Hermione fan but in an alternate universe such as Fanfiction, I like writing about Draco/Hermione. I will try to take this story slow but I have a bad habit of moving characters along too fast without explanation. I promise I'm working on it. Enjoy Chapter 2.
She ran into the Great Hall and straight to her destination. Mr. Weasley was huddled over his body along with the rest of the family. Mrs. Weasley looked up at Hermione and everyone else followed their mother's lead. They all backed away knowing she was more important to him than even his whole family. She couldn't look at his lifeless body but she moved closer collapsing over him. She ran her fingers through his red hair, gripping it tightly, and resting her forehead on his.
"Her-" Ginny started but was cut off by Hermione's sobs. Everyone in the Great Hall stopped what they were doing, even if they were mourning over one of their own. They all turned towards her.
Hermione put her hand on his chest but felt nothing. No movement of his breathing. No heartbeat. He was really gone. She knew all eyes were on her because the only thing she heard was her own crying. Everyone else was silent. Normally she would have felt embarrassed being the center of attention but at this moment nothing else mattered. She started to whisper, "Please Ron, please come back to me. I can't do this without you." Of course she got no response, but she had expected one.
After an hour of constant crying she took a deep breath. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed his lips gently. She tightened her grip on his hand for only a moment and then let it fall to his side. She stood up slowly becoming dizzy. Ginny reached out for her but Hermione just shook her head from side to side. "I j-just need some timeā¦a-alone."
And with that she left the Great Hall. She was nearly running when she passed a boy's bathroom and heard screaming. She instantly thought that someone was hurt but she thought more and came to the conclusion that maybe it wasn't a good idea to just go running in there blind. She finally decided that if someone was hurt, she couldn't just leave them. She grabbed her wand from her pocket and barged into the boy's bathroom.
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"Does it hurt? Dying?" Harry was standing before four people who unconditionally cared for him even if they were dead. Standing in front of him was his father, his mother, his godfather, and his mentor.
He turned to Sirius for an answer. "Quicker than falling asleep."
"And you'll be with me?" He asked shakily, fearing his life.
His mother, Lily Potter, looked at him, tears threatening to fall from her eyes and whispered, "Always."
With that he headed towards his fate. He came to a large crowd of Death Eaters, Voldemort standing before them all. In his strong, deep voice, Voldemort was proud when he said, "Harry Potter. The boy who lived, come to die." There was no pause before he said, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
A green light came towards Harry and hit him straight in the chest. He fell to the forest floor lifeless.
"Is he dead?"
Narcissa Malfoy hurried over to the boy and knelt by his side. "Is he alive?" The boys head went up and down. She stood slowly, turned towards her master and nodded a similar yes motion.
Hermione turned the corner slowly hearing sobs. When she finally made it to the source she was shocked. There she saw Draco Malfoy standing over a sink. He had torn off his black jacket and tie for they lay on the floor. The sleeves of his black shirt were rolled up and the first few buttons were undone.
He turned frantically when he saw her in the mirror. "What do you want Granger?" He said it in a malicious tone that almost made her leave.
"I heard someone screaming." She said sternly trying not to sound like she'd been crying.
"You'd be screaming to if you worked for the Dark Lord." He was panting now.
She scoffed, disgusted. "I would never choose that fate."
"And neither would I. Do you think I wanted this?" He took one step towards her and was now yelling. "I don't want this! I NEVER wanted this!"
For the first time she was frightened of Draco Malfoy. He had dark circles around his eyes which were bloodshot. His face was hallowed out as was his neck where she could see veins popping out. Where his sleeve was rolled up she could see the dark mark. The snake on it was squirming around. She winced. Then she saw the strangest thing. Tears flowed down his face. Was Malfoy crying? In front of her?
She spoke up in timid voice not sure why she was about to ask her next question, "Then why'd you do it?"
He snapped at her. "Why did I do it? Because I would have died! He would have killed me! Don't you get it? I had no choice." She swallowed hard wanting to find words for the situation but couldn't. "I'm sorry." She rolled her eyes out of instinct. He took her face in his hands forcing her to look him in the eye. "I really am sorry."
She looked away drawing her face away from his hands, her arms crossed. "For what?"
His voice turned soft. "For becoming a Death Eater instead of dying. For treating you like you didn't deserve to be a witch. For just standing by when you were being tortured. For Weasley dying."
At those last three words she choked. She couldn't breathe again. No. She was not going to be vulnerable in front of Draco Malfoy again. It was inevitable, however, and her tears flowed once again.
Thanks for reading.
