All best wishes to my beta-reader Crumplette for her brilliant beta skills!
Chapter Four Surprise and Worry
The following weekdays found Hermione at home studying her healer's lessons hard and concentrated. Expect for Tuesday: Hermione went to Azkaban to bring some sweets of Honeydukes' to Bellatrix Lestrange. They were from Mrs. Tonks: she said those were they Black sisters' favourite sweets—before they left home forever.
Quickly the Friday evening came. Hermione now found she could sleep a little more peacefully. Tomorrow morning she would go to the Burrow to gather some clothes for Ginny.
The next morning Hermione stood in front of the Burrow, which felt so familiar but so unfamiliar at the same time. Those bizarre lofts and winds bulged on the wall in odd direction as it used to be, but the Burrow had obviously grown old in only one year, like a feeble old guy abandon by children and grandchildren. Those wild, sheared plants in the garden only enhanced the loneliness and gloominess. She opened the gate and walked in. she went upstairs to collect the clothes for Ginny, finding that thin dust on the handrail: just one month before she cleaned up it; d esert could do so much for a house. After that she returned to the kitchen and decided to have a rest. She filled the pot with water, set it on fire with magic. She pulled out a chair under the table and sat down, waiting for the water to boil.
Everything in the house was covered by thin dust, but the house looked still tidy. It might have been so tidy, looking like the picture on a furniture store poster about "a perfect home". But what lacked was just the warm and delicious atmosphere in a happy home. Hermione watched the dust dancing in the bright sunshine through the window, and her memory floated to the surface like the dust: the Burrow used not to be like this. It was always untidy but warm with the scent of hot food. Somehow she remembered Mrs. Weasley's family dinner: every child tried his best to get more food, including Harry and her. One day her hand and Ron's happened to put on the last cheese and tomato sandwich. She looked up and saw Ron's bright blue eyes. They stared at each other for a moment, and Ron's hand left the sandwich and took a can-beef sandwich.
The water was boiling. Pulled out of her memory Hermione ran to put out the fire. Slowly she sipped her tear-tasted tea until nothing was left, and escaped.
In the afternoon Hermione went to St. Mungo.
"Hi, Ginny, how are you? I'm Hermione."said Hermione gently. She quietly move to Ginny, who was sitting on a chair and stared out of the window blankly. She said nothing.
"I bring you some gowns and dresses. All you favourites." Hermione cradled Ginny into her arms and gently put her onto the bed. Delightfully she found that Ginny got a little heavier: she used to be as light as a dead leaf. After changing Ginny into a light green dress with lace, Hermione began to comb for Ginny, their routine. She put a peach-wood comb into Ginny's hair, softly through her hair, and then gathered them into a neat braid. During the routine she had been observe Ginny's face.
Ginny's eyelids fluttered.
Hermione's heart skipped a beat. Did she realize me?
Tentatively Hermione covered Ginny's hand and squeezed it softly.
Ginny's hand quivered.
Hermione cupped Ginny's cheek in her hand gently.
Ginny tilted her head into Hermione's touch. She half-turned to Hermione, her lips curled imperceptibly, giving her a ghostly smile.
Hermione's heart ran wildly with joy. At least she can feel me! Soon she will remember my name!
The next day ran in bright colors and shades: having tea with Mrs. Tonks; playing with Tiny Teddy("I can become lemon, copper, and rabbit!" shrieked Teddy. Now each time he learned a new word, he would change his hair into the corresponding color.). She went to the graveyard as usual. This time she also visited the Malfoys' graves.("Mrs. Malfoy, do you know? Your husband seems to very love you." sighed Hermione bitterly.)
After leaving the graveyard, Hermione went to the Diagon Alley. In April came Teddy's four-year-old birthday. Hermione thought a silver talisman would be the best present.
She stood outside a jewellery shop, watched its display through the large window. Like most of girls and women, Hermione liked jewels, liked appreciating them on display though the window.
She paid her attention to those exquisite engagement and marriage rings. Obsessively she ran her look through them fondly, like her look could caress them.
"Want one, don't you? Tsk, tsk, but I'm afraid there is no boy or man lucky enough to have the honor to give it to you." whispered an all too familiar voice.
Hermione cringed slightly. Hesitated she lifted her gaze to look at the glass, where the Lucius Malfoy's reflection towered hers and his face with the infamous sneer was just inches from her ear.
"How… how dare you walk outside?" whispered Hermione, half out of fear, and half out of anger.
"There is a community of freedom, Miss Granger, and I'm a free citizen. Of course I can walk outside freely like you… Even everywhere I like…" he gave her an ice-like blow. As cold as the last time.
"How dare you! Aren't you afraid I tell your…crime to anyone else?" Hermione hissed. Her voice sounded even not like her own.
" Seems you hasn't leak a little…Er, what if that Weasley girl know our activities? No, she wouldn't… Don't worry, I will never disturb her, Miss Granger. I think just your Gryffindor soul is able to keep you silent forever. And don't you remember my words? 'You can let the wizard world know so they can pity you' I don't think the "Gryffindor Princess" needs pity. A big, bad Slytherin isn't worth it, right? And he is just a husband and father who avenged the murderer for his wife and son."
Now Hermione were really shaking. Lucius sneered in satisfaction. No matter what justice the Wizenagmot declared, people still fear him, if not more. Everyone on the street kept distance from him. So now he and Hermione were deserted sort of.
Seeing Hermione couldn't respond, he drawled mockingly:" May I buy a ring for you? It will be a long, long time before you got you own…maybe never…After all I am the first man who has the honour to deflower you, my little girl. Oh, I forget, you have been a woman, because of me."
He put a finger on Hermione's neck, ran it through her spine slowly, relishing her delicious shudder, and brush her hair aside. Hermione felt his lips fall onto her neck and leave before she could cry out. She trembled. It was not a kiss. He was claiming that he could claim her even in public.
Hermione seems had lost her voice. Lucius sneered, stood straight and held her hair." I won't give you a ring. You don't deserve it. But I should give you something else…"
Hermione felt something long, thin and cold wrap her neck. Looking down she found it was a silver necklace with ivy and serpent pattern. Under the necklace was an emerald drop pendant, which was a whole emerald drop-pendant. Slender, pale fingers pinched the emerald and Hermione saw an "M" glinted for a split second before it faded.
"It fits you very much." the fingers were removed and she heard footstep, knowing he left.
Roughly Hermione pulled it, wanting to throw it away. But it was too strong, and she couldn't find the clasp. Out of nowhere she slipped the necklace under her collar, like something stolen.