I'll admit it…this story isn't turning out the way that I had hoped. I had hoped for a more mature take on the whole Harry Potter fanfic scene, but it's not really turning out that way. Hopefully, it gets better. I'm not making any promises, but I'll try. I can tell you, though, that it won't end so sad. And if it makes anyone happier, a sequel is in the works.
Anyway, enough of my babbling and on with the story!
Listen to: All These Things That I've Done - The Killers
Chapter 7:
Back to the Present
Four months have passed since Draco left me. I have convinced myself that Draco is scum even though my heart still aches when I pass his old room. I have also convinced myself that my memory of his last night at my flat was just a dream conjured up by my pathetic infatuation with him. I have tried to convince myself that he is not worth loving any more, but my heart won't listen. When he was near me, I felt whole. And sometimes, I felt like a schoolgirl with a crush on the cutest boy in school, who never once paid the least bit of attention to me.
But it's useless to dwell on the past. Draco's gone and I don't suppose that he'll ever come back. We had some good times together and although I know it was a mistake having let him into my life in the first place, I don't regret it. I'm wiser now and I've grown a bit stronger from the experience. I think if I ever run into Draco again, I'll thank him.
Right before hexing his ass to kingdom come, that is.
And that's where my story ends.
Susan Bones looked at her friend, stunned into silence. Hermione had spent the last three hours pouring out her heart and soul as they sat in the Leaky Cauldron where they had decided to go after work. Hermione was piss drunk by the end of her story and would need to take a taxi home. She checked her watch. It was nearly eleven o' clock. Susan looked back at her friend, who now had her head down on the table, using her arms as a pillow. Susan prodded her.
"Hermione?" Hermione looked up, tears flowing down her face.
"Why couldn't he love me, Suze?" she sobbed. "Why did he have to be such a bloody…bloody…wanker?" Hermione returned to her earlier position and sobbed and wailed.
"Um…maybe we should get you home." Hermione looked up again.
"You're right. I don't need to stay here and cry about him." She wiped the tears off her face and tried to stand, but lost her balance. Susan caught her and helped her stay steady.
"That's right, Hermione. You don't need to waste tears of what's-his-face. Now, come on. Let's get you a cab." Susan paid for hers and Hermione's drinks then helper walk to the door. Just as they got to it, it opened and there stood the devil himself.
"Draco…" Hermione breathed. He froze in front of the two women, his eyes wide. After a brief moment of staring, he blinked and shook his head, replacing the cool mask he constantly wore on his face.
"Good evening, ladies."
"Malfoy," Susan greeted with a brisk nod. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get my poor, pissed friend here a taxi."
"Oh, allow me."
"Th-that's ok," Susan replied nervously. "I can manage." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Ms. Bones, I assure you, I'm not going to hurt her. Just allow me to be a gentleman, please?" Susan hesitated before nodding and passing Hermione off to Draco.
"Do you need her address?" she asked. Draco smirked.
"Oh, no. I'm quite familiar with it, thank you."
"All right, then. Thank you for taking care of her." Draco shrugged.
"It's no problem," he drawled before walking away with Hermione in tow.
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Draco rolled his bottle of firewhiskey between his hands as he finished his story. Draco did not know the man with whom he had just bared his soul to; only that as soon as he saw Hermione and Susan walk it, he felt his past coming back to haunt him. So many mistakes made and feeling he had tried to suppress surging up, threatening to suffocate him. He thought he'd explode if he didn't tell someone and this kind stranger was generous enough to listen."Do you still love her?" the stranger asked.
"Of course!" Draco replied without hesitation and with much conviction.
"Why don't you just tell her?"
"But what about—."
"No matter what, there's going to be danger following her everywhere for the rest of her life. She's Harry Potter's best friend and I do believe that any surviving Death Eaters or You-Know-Who supporters hate him more than they hate you. Hell, they probably hate her more than they hate you. I think that you are more afraid of Hermione than what can happen to her. Form what you've told me, I think she is more than capable enough to handle herself."
Draco sat in silence, considering what the stranger said. 'He's right. Hermione can take care of herself. She's done well enough up until now. She's even laughing. What are you afraid of, Malfoy?' The stranger clapped him on the shoulder, bringing him back to the conversation.
"I'll let you think on it." With that, he left. Draco sighed and decided to head out as well. He paid for his unfinished drink, which he honestly hadn't touched since he'd ordered it. He didn't even know why he was there. He tried so hard to avoid the world from whence he came as much as possible. It wasn't as if he had much time to visit, anyway, since he had started his schooling in the Police Academy. It was slow work, but he wanted to see it through. He left the pub and got so far as ten feet before he began to feel as if he had forgotten something. He went back and ran straight into Susan Bones and…
'Hermione…'
A very drunk Hermione.
"Draco…" she whispered. He started at her for a while. She was radiant, even when drunk. Suddenly, an odd feeling overcame him; a warm feeling. It tugged at his heart and made him feel like it was hard to breathe. He took that as a sign and promised Susan that he'd get Hermione home safely.
Draco hailed a taxi, held an umbrella over Hermione head and still managed to keep her steady as she leaned on him. On top of all that, he tired not to act like her familiar scent and the warmth emanating off her body didn't affect him in the least. Talk about multi-tasking.
The taxi came and he carefully put Hermione in before sliding in after her. He tried not to show his amusement at her scandalized expression.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Malfoy?" she asked, her speech slurred from all the alcohol she had consumed.
"Being a gentleman and making sure you get home okay." Hermione scowled, but it seemed that in her inebriated state, she was unable to come up with a retort and fell asleep instead, leaning on Draco. He smirked, thoroughly amused by the situation. He pulled Hermione closer, who snuggled deeper into his chest and slept on. He caught the driver's eye in the rearview mirror.
"She yours?" the driver asked. Draco looked down at Hermione again. She looked just as beautiful as the last time he had seen her. She stirred in her sleep and opened her eyes a bit, looking up at him. She smiled before drifting off again. His smiled widened.
"Yes, I do believe so."
As Draco walked into Hermione's apartment, he felt another strange sensation come over him. It felt a bit like the earlier sensation when he faced Hermione for the first time in months back at the Leaky Cauldron. It was like his insides warmed up. It wasn't uncomfortable; on the contrary. It felt familiar. He shook his head, trying to shake the feeling away, but it was still there. He decided to ignore it and continued on to Hermione's room, said girl sleeping in his arms. Six months later and the feelings he had for her still ran strong. In truth, he had though about this woman since the moment he left her. Was she all right? Did she love him back? Did she find someone else? He haid her down on her bed, took off her shoes and tucked the blanket around her. Then, giving in to his impulse, he planted a soft kiss to the top of her head. He heard her sigh and saw her smile. He returned it, even though she could not see it. He exited the room, closing the door softly behind him. He continued on down the hall and came upon his old bedroom door. Curiosity overcoming him, he opened it.
She had kept his room the same as the day he left. And there, taped to the mirror, was a simple note. The note he couldn't help leaving her on his last morning here.
Thank you…for everything.
-Draco.
He sat down on the bed, stripped of its sheets; he had taken them with him when he left.
"How did it come down to this?" he asked himself. He flopped back on the bed and fell asleep, his question remaining unanswered.
