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Ice to Fire
I was shocked into silence. He tensed slightly feeling the uncomfort of the awkwardness we hadn't experienced since back when we hated each other, back when our conversations were nothing more than spat insults and callous words. As much as I felt new and alive now, then life had been simple, I knew what was required of me and I wanted it. The goal and the law was the same.
Now though, things were not so obvious. I had him, and in all honesty I would've chosen him over simplicity. Draco still held me in his arms, his grip tightening and relaxing at intervals waiting anxiously for what I had to say. "Hermione…" he broke the silence not able to take the suspense any longer.
"What?" I repeated aghast and wondering about the accuracy of my hearing.
"Please. I can't live like this anymore, I can't hide. Please." His hands were now bracing my shoulders holding me away from him, a cruel kind of torture. His eyes searched for an answer somewhere on my body, in my eyes but I could not keep a gaze on him.
There was something different about him, something enormous but subtle enough to where I couldn't place it. Those meetings had brought this about, the total turn in perspective on life. Those meetings grew him up enough to accept and love me, and now they had moved something else. This was no small thing for to change Draco Malfoy is to create fire out of ice.
"Why?" My voice came softly. I tried for firm and demanding, I tried for an edge and a force to bring out his secret; the one barrier between us, but standing before him what was tried for never was achieved.
"I just told you. I can't hide anymore; I want us to be free." There was a lie behind that smile on his face. I would have done anything to believe in it, but it was not so. There that something was, daring me to ignore it.
"Stop lying to me." The pain that his charades brought me couldn't have been more evident. He pulled his arms away from me, not allowing his touch to be felt. I gathered enough strength to finally look up at him, and it was not a pleasant sight. His fists were clenched against his onyx colored robes and his eyes no longer carried passion and heat, they became hard, icy and the monstrous thing that had changed in him reared its ugly head but he would not explain. Not another word was spoken, and he left for his room audibly locking the door.
LOGIC
"…You're wings have developed, you're minds opened, and your ambitions made achievable…" For once I did not pay mind to the speech the headmistress preformed. My thoughts circled on a single subject and it could not deviate, even if I desperately wanted to pay attention. It was simply not priority nor the object of extreme curiosity and even more worry. That sole subject receiving my entire thought was the burning question of why the headboy was nowhere to be found. I could not rest until I saw him. It was after all the only event occurring tonight and was silently made mandatory by the students themselves.
For this occasion and this occasion only were the four tables transformed into one, snaking angularly in the middle of the great hall symbolizing Hogwarts standing unified. Friends and enemies put aside trivial dealings almost forgotten and shared laughs, I'll-miss-you's, and it-was-great's. Tonight was the last meal us seventh years would eat here seeing as tomorrow would bring continual packing and goodbyes in early afternoon.
Important and heartbreaking as this all was, I could not focus on it, I could hardly breathe. The speech had ended, the food had appeared, and the noise of talking had resumed. My eyes scanned over the length of the single table multiple times, and not a sight of him was produced. Harry's arm bumped me bringing my attention momentarily on him where I saw the ever concerned look I had grown accustomed to over the last few months.
"Are you alright, Hermione?" Ron offered noticing my diverted thoughts.
"No, I don't feel well; I don't think I can eat." I answered in a spacey tone.
"Do you need us to take you to the infirmary?" Now he too was wearing the concerned mask.
"No, it's not that kind of sick, Ron." His face morphed into confusion as he watched me practically sprint out of the great hall.
LOGIC
I hurriedly muttered the password to our portrait and bursted into the common room. He was not there. My heavy breathing hitched as I noticed his books weren't there either. Praying I was just being paranoid I urged my tired legs to race up the stairs that led to his room. I pounded on the door calling out Draco's name, but to no avail.
"Alohamora," The door clicked open. I pushed on it allowing myself entrance wishing to see a tall blonde man sitting on the bed reading a random book. My wish did not get granted. Only the moon lit the room casting a ghostly glow. His desk was neatly cleaned, and his bed tightly made and the replacement of Draco was a single piece of parchment.
A/N: I honestly didn't expect much feedback from the first chapter. I didn't even know if I was going to keep it, but here is the second chapter. I'd like to know what you think!
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