A/N: I MADE A MISTAKE LAST CHAPTER. I ACCIDENTALLY PUT 2016 INSTEAD OF 2003. IM SORRY I FIXED IT ALREADY. ANYWAYS, IM HAPPY WITH THE REVIEWS! HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS STORY I REALLY LOVE WRITING NEW CHAPTERS AND LOOKING OUT FOR THE REVIEWS. PLEASE SHARE AND FOLLOW AND FAV AND REVIEW PLEASE THANK YOU.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR THE CHARACTERS. IT BELONGS TO NONE OTHER THAN THE GREAT J.K. ROWLING. WHO REALLY NEEDS TO CREATE MORE HARRY POTTER BOOKS AT LEAST LIKE GEEZ. OKAY IM RAMBLING ENJOY AND REVIEW PLEASE!
Hermione immediately put a silencing spell in Ginny's room and she resumed on trying to calm her down. She reached out for her friend but Ginny flinched back, as if scared Hermione will turn into Voldemort.
"Draco Malfoy! Hermione what were you thinking! How-how could you do this to us?!" she screamed, her hand throwing the paper on the floor where it landed on Hermione's feet.
When. . .
Hermione's eyes darted to the paper, her mind looking for answers that night. But all she can remember is when Draco had helped her win the poker game. The scene then changes to Hermione and Draco making love and she immediately erased that.
What. . .?
She bent down and picked up the marriage certificate, reading it over and over again hoping it will give her answer to her question.
"You have to explain this! Right now Hermione," there were venom in her voice, causing Hermione to double back. Hermione's body lost it strength and she slid down the wall, huddling over in mixed emotions of confusion, bewilderment, anger and guilt.
"You got married. To a Death Eater!" Is he even still one?
I don't know. . .
"Why Hermione?! When I told you to let go I didn't mean to bed the enemy!" Enemy. What a funny word.
I don't know. Shut up! Shut up! I don't know. . .
Hermione's breath rapidly increased, causing her to hyperventilate. Instead of understanding the situation, Ginny bent down and grabbed her shoulders harshly; shaking her for answers. The scar along her bandaged heart unstitched itself and spilt fresh blood.
She lift her head up to look at her friend and the feeling of betrayal shows in her eyes.
"I don't know! I don't know okay?! I don't fucking know for Merlin's sake Ginny!" she cried out loudly, before cradling her head in between her lap.
"What do you mean you don't know Hermione?! You're an adult for fuck sake! An adult! You either got married or not!" Ginny screamed back, causing Hermione to erupt in a sobbing mess.
Hermione repeatedly hit her head on the wall, hoping it would help her for the answer. Suddenly, her eyes widened and looked at Ginny.
"The Pensieve! We. . .we can take out my memory that night and we can see what happened," she said, voice filled with hope. Ginny frowned before nodding, waving her hand to take out the Pensieve to get all this misunderstanding over and sorted out with.
Hermione stood up, her legs slightly buckling from losing its strength but she forces herself to walk towards the closet; where she had kept Dumbledore's Pensieve. She opened the drawer, causing the Pensieve to move forward towards her as she mumbled the command. She then took her wand, closing her eyes as she point the tip on her temple.
Forcing herself to remember the night where they first met, she pulled the memory out and places it on the Pensieve. She watches the swirling of her memory on the clean surface, flashes of images from the night appear on the surface and she glance behind to look at Ginny.
"Well? Feel free to explore," she said and Ginny rolled her eyes, suddenly feeling that she couldn't trust Hermione anymore. She dipped her head down and Hermione followed after and they appeared at the scene where Memory Draco catches Memory Hermione near the well. Hermione's heart heart clenches at the sight.
She and Ginny watch as Memory Draco looked at Memory Hermione with recognition and amusement in his eyes. Then, they followed the Memory Hermione to the casino after she thanked Memory Draco. Ginny almost said something, probably to scold Hermione at entering the casino but she just kept quiet and watched Memory Draco leaning against Memory Hermione. Ginny frowned throughout the memory, disgusted at how easily Memory Draco made Memory Hermione swept her off her feet.
But when she glanced at the Hermione now, she noticed how it was painful for her to watch. She almost felt sad but she squashed the feeling right away. Ginny's eyes widen as Memory Hermione throw herself at Memory Draco and engulf him into a hug.
A tear cascaded down Hermione's eyes which fixed to Draco's face. His expression, his eyes; she knows that Draco felt the same way about her. Which made her question why she doubted him from the first place.
Suddenly the scene changed to where Memory Draco and Memory Hermione count their money. Hermione chuckled quietly as she stubbornly told Draco that they split the money. They continued to stare at the two as Memory Draco and Memory Hermione spills their secret to each other including the one where she accidentally and drunkenly told her deepest secret to the man she love.
"Ok Hermione you lost now you have to tell me a secret," Memory Draco said and Memory Hermione sighed drunkenly. She poked her bottom lip out, thinking of a secret to share.
"Lately, I've been feeling depressed and lonely. I don't know why but seeing Ron and Astoria together makes me so utterly feel irrelevant; like I didn't exist to Ron's life for seven years. Then," a sob left her mouth and Memory Draco frowned, moving closer to Memory Hermione.
"Then Ginny. I thought she had my back but she happily accepted Astoria's invite to be her Maid of Honour. She's my best friend but why do I feel like. . .like I'm being replaced,"
The scene showed Memory Draco asking for a glass of rum and handing the glass to her.
"Tonight. Just for tonight, let's forget about all the past things that happened. Let's be happy,"
Memory Draco and Memory Hermione drank their hearts out, playing rock paper scissor then telling their secret when they lose. They continued this until it came to the scene that Hermione dread the most.
"Do you believe in love at first sight?" memory her asked.
"I do now," Memory Draco answered. Hermione let out a sob, a painful sob as she watches her past self kissed Draco back. Ginny said nothing but she felt remorse for her friend. But that won't change about how she feels right now towards her.
The whole scene changes, their surrounding moved around like ripple of water and the women braced for the impact.
It was the scene where Memory Draco and Memory Hermione make love.
"Enough!" Ginny screamed, not wanting to see more. For once, Hermione agreed with her. She took hold of Ginny's hand and pulled both of them out of the memory. The two gasp for air; Ginny pulling away at Hermione's grip.
"You did something! The wedding scene isn't there. You're hiding it Hermione!" she screamed accusingly at her but all she can do is shake her head - confused.
"I'm sorry. . .I'm sorry Ginny. I don't know, please believe me! I don't know what happened," she begged her friend but she was long gone. Ginny had Disapparated and Hermione felt lonelier than ever.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to no one but herself.
ooo
Two weeks passed without a word from Ginny and Hermione felt like everything was taken away from her. A sigh escaped from her lips, causing to form fog in front of her. She noticed how the season had changed from fall to winter; the temperature dropping down, making England frost up. The sign of winter - and snow. The sign of loneliness and emptiness.
It's been almost a month since the scene in the hotel happened, though the memory of him is still fresh in Hermione's mind. But she tried her best to forget it by working harder in her work; driving her body to exhaustion.
"Deputy Head Granger?" a voice snapped her from her thought and she looked up to meet eyes with her secretary, Padma Patil.
She blinked, suddenly annoyed that Padma disturbed her from her filing. Hermione pinches the bridge of her nose, shaking her head slightly to snap her out from her daydreaming.
"Hm?" she asked and Padma grinned widely, calling out Hermione's name again but this time it's coated with sweetness and Hermione forced herself not to make a face.
"It's Dean and I's first year's anniversary today. . ." Padma trailed off with a dreamy look and Hermione sighed, knowing what she would ask. Hermione just stared at her with a blank look, eyeing the big folder her secretary is holding. When Hermione didn't say anything, Padma stopped and cleared her throat.
"You see. . .it's just that you don't have a boyfriend and well you're always free so. . .how do I say this well," she gently placed the folder on the table and looked up to watch her boss' reaction. Hermione sighed.
"Please Hermione! He's waiting at the lobby and I don't want to cancel. . ." she trailed off when Hermione nodded, waving her off. She thanked her and took off before Hermione could even change her mind. She shook her head and let out a long sigh before turning her body to face her desk.
Her eyes caught sight of the poker card that she put into a frame.
Because even if I couldn't find happiness, I wanted to grant others theirs.
She reached up for the picture frame, and brushes her hand across the glass. Hermione shook her head and placed the frame back into its place. She looked around her office and the feeling of sadness and loneliness came back to her.
She glanced at the clock and noticed that it's way past lunchtime. Hermione opened her drawer and took out the book she's been reading, Beauty and the Beast. It's her favourite fairytale story and she feels like she can relate to Belle at all cost.
She walked out of her office, putting a locking spell on her office before heading to the lobby for the elevator. She reached the main lobby, where the Disapparating station is located. When she reached it, she noticed there are a few people left and most of them are leaving for lunch.
She neared the station and closed her eyes, Disapparating outside the Ministry. She opened her eyes and looked around the busy street of Diagon Alley and she smiled lightly. She walked towards the brick wall, tapping the pattern she remembered Hagrid showed her before in her second year. She looked at the back of Leaky Cauldron and entered the back door, erupting her of the familiar smell of alcohol.
She shook her head and walked towards the counter, a waiter smiled at her; greeting one the greatest Hero of the wizarding world in all times.
"What would it be Miss Granger?" he asked Hermione who is looking at the menu. She knows she doesn't have that much appetite but she also knows she needs strength in order to continue her work.
"Banger pub style sandwich with Butterbeer please," she ordered and he smiled, nodding his head before writing her order down.
"Will that be here or to go?" he asked, causing Hermione to stop for a while. She looked around and noticed that the place isn't that pack and the smell of alcohol isn't that strong yet. If she eats here, she can read and eat at her usual spot where the sun shines on her. Yet if she eats inside her office, she'll feel lonely.
She sighed, taking a deep breath before smiling forcedly, "Here,"
The waiter disappeared into the kitchen, placing her order for the cook to prepare. She put the exact amount of Knuts and Sickles on the counter.
She walked over her usual spot and sat down, taking her out of her book from her beaded handbag. She opened up to her recent page and started reading.
Right away, she was taken away from reality to fantasy. She felt like Belle, always wanting more but can never get it. When she finally took a risk to do so, her path changes that causes her to stumble hard obstacles. She met the mighty Beast that she thought was so scary but as she spend her time with him, she learnt about him more than herself.
Draco. He reminds me of Beast. Hermione sighed and looked up, frowning at the man in front of her; her mind still not functioning well after she finished the book for the umptenth times. She thought the man in front of her is just a figment of her imagination. She looked down at her food which arrived ten minutes ago and picked up her sandwich. She took a bite, chewing on it before swallowing it. She dared to look back up again.
"Well hello there Mrs. Malfoy," the man greeted her with his familiar smile and her eyes widened, making her drop the sandwich on the plate. Her heart started beating faster than her regular rate, her hand started to feel clammy and the sinking feeling on her stomach is back. The man stared at her with intensity she thought she could disintegrate right there and then.
Then suddenly, like a rollercoaster, her mood changed. The past events she experienced from the past month came crashing back to her, like a big wave trying to knock her down. She noticed the ice around her heart slowly melted, the walls crumbling but in an instant, she put them all back.
Glaring, she took a deep breath to calm herself down.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" she asked icily at Draco who just chuckled and leaned back against the sit opposite from her.
"Are you talking to me? Or yourself? Because you know, as far as I can remember, your last name is now Malfoy too," he said teasingly, causing Hermione to grit her teeth in annoyance. She has no time to exchange stupidity with Malfoy and have better things to do.
"Leave me alone Malfoy," she said and Draco shook his head, eyeing the sandwich that she dropped and frowned.
"What kind of pitiful food are you eating? That is not what a Malfoy should eat," he retorted in disgust that cause Hermione's blood to boil. How dare he? How-how dare he says those things after what he had done to me?! She glared at him, and if looks could kill the son of Lucius Malfoy would be long gone.
"Get. Out." she said through gritted teeth and he merely raised an eyebrow, casually picking up a fry. He watches her reaction but she had none as she continue to glare at him down.
"That's not how you say hello to your husband, you know," he said, like Hermione was dumb to know that. Draco was just simply trying to get into her nerves but what she said knocked him off.
"I've no memory of us getting married. Now if you'll excuse me I would gladly go off to my work rather than exchange dumb things with you. Goodbye Malfoy," she said calmly and she stood up, huffing slightly and walked off from the Leaky Cauldron.
Draco watches her disappear and sighed, ruffling his hair and holding it in between his head.
"I've no memory of us getting married,"
He scoffed and shook his head, holding onto his head real tightly. The day after he had left Hermione, he had come back and waited for her in that well where they met. He waited for seconds, minutes that turned to hours. He stood there, hoping she would come. But she didn't. It had rained that day; a very harsh one indeed but he just stood there, hoping for her.
Yet she didn't and he had almost died from hypothermia.
A/N: THANKS FOR READING SEE YOU AGAIN IN NEXT CHAPTER! PLEASE REVIEW IT WOULD MEAN A LOT.