Chapter 2 - Sand
The ocean.
The pulsing rush of the water calms me.
A shiver makes its way up my spine as the waves reach my bare toes, digging them just a bit farther into the sand.
The sky is blue, peaceful, no clouds to be seen.
I breathe in the salty aroma of the air as a breeze runs through my hair, and smile.
The smile drops.
Wait.
How did I get here?
The room. The grey one without doors or windows.
Where did it go?
I look down the beach.
Sand. As far as I can see.
Behind me, more sand, growing into rough grassy patches here and there. No civilization to be found.
So, where was I before and how did I get here?
I turn my gaze back to the water. It's mesmerizing.
But the question remains. Where am I? Why am I here? How did I get here?
"Granger."
It's his voice.
Malfoy.
I turn and groan to see him standing beside me.
When did he get there? Why didn't I notice him before? Why is he still here?
"Are you following me?" I accuse.
He shrugs.
"Why are you here?" It seems like the same conversation we just had, but I'll ask it again.
He smirks. "Much better than the alternative."
"And that is?" I question, thoroughly confused.
"Do you remember the war?" he asks.
He's changing the topic. But do I? Do I remember a war?
I stare at the water, thinking.
A war . . .
The war.
Harry.
It had something to do with Harry.
Muggles. Muggle-borns. People wanted them dead? Slaves?
You-know-who. What was his name? No one wanted to say it.
Voldemort.
He wanted to kill Harry.
Me.
Something to do with me. My parents. They're muggles!
Harry . . . and Ron. They're my best friends. I remember. We wanted to destroy Voldemort.
The memories flood back. The war. The final battle. Harry. He died. But came back. We won. But lost so many.
Malfoy.
Death Eater.
"Of course. It was horrible," I finally say. I look at him, suspicious.
He just nods, staring at the ocean.
"What do you want from me?"
Malfoy turns his gaze back in my direction.
"Think," he orders.
"About what?" I don't understand.
"About what happened!"
"What happened in the war? You. You're a Death Eater. I shouldn't do anything you say."
I know it doesn't make much sense, he only wants me to remember something. Why am I having such a hard time remembering things?
Malfoy seems hurt for moment, but his cold mask is put back in place and he demands again: "Think!"
I fall silent.
"I thought you were supposed to be smart!" he yells, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
I don't have to stand here and listen to this!
I turn and walk away down the beach. Glancing behind me, I find Malfoy standing exactly where he was before, watching me leave.
Good. Let me go. I have to find someone who will tell me what is going on.
Suddenly, I am no longer at the beach but marching through a field. All around me is deep green grass, spotted with beautiful purple flowers. I turn, but the beach is gone. Everything is gone but the field.
"Granger."
Malfoy is standing right behind me.
"What is this! Why are you following me? Where am I? What is happening!" I demand to know.
He sighs. "I'm trying here. I really am. You know I can't tell you right now," he says. "You have to think."
"What am I supposed to be thinking about!" I yell. "Answer me! I don't care if you're not supposed to tell me right now. Where the hell am I!"
"Where are we!" he yells back
And it hits me. It feels as though my world has been shaken, is being pulled out from underneath me. It doesn't make sense. None of this does.
I can't move, can't breathe.
I know why he's the one who's here.
I know why he's following me, why he can't leave me alone.
What I don't understand is how it all fits together. I don't understand what this revelation even means!
I know it is important. I know it is the key to figuring out what is happening. But why? I don't know.
But he must and it is so frustrating that he refuses to tell me.
Why Malfoy? Why him?
I don't know.
All I know . . . and it really sounds insane . . . is that we are strongly, intimately, and almost magnetically, connected.
Author's Note:
Hello my amazing readers! I hope you're doing well. Thanks for stopping by and checking out the second chapter.
These chapters are some of the shortest I've written, but I think that suits the story. The mystery continues, but I hope I didn't give away too much. I feel like that is definitely a possibility. Let me know what you think!
I'm going back to Uni tomorrow, starting classes Tuesday, so I'll be posting on Sundays like I've done with my other stories so far, to give myself some time on Saturday to check it over and get ready to post.
Thank you so much to the four of you who reviewed on the very first chapter. There normally aren't a whole lot of people reading right at the beginning so your comments meant so much to me. As we go into this new year, I have another insane semester planned. But one of the things that always makes me feel like I can handle all the stuff I have on my plate are your reviews. So help me hold off that mental breakdown a little bit longer this year lol.
I hope you have a wonderful week and I will see you next Sunday with another update!
~TheQuietAwakening