Ugly

Silence

Part Two

Friendships are the hardest things—the very hardest. Because, sometimes there are things you can't say, can't tell…can't feel.

Their opinions matter so much. You want them to know that you wanted to go, you wanted to be there. You couldn't.

But that didn't matter. Because somewhere along the line.

Somewhere, sometime…they lost sight of you.

You became invisible.

They left you behind.

It doesn't take long for them to replace you, to see how their life can be, and then leave you, leave you all alone.

Dare you try to talk to them; you might as well juggle fire. They don't even know you anymore.

Hermione sat between Harry and Ron, the neatly folded napkins and lit candles gave the place a prim yet soft glow. Across from them sat Ginny and Sean and others whom she recognized, but whose names she couldn't remember.

"Oh Merlin!" Cried one of the nameless faces. "I couldn't believe that, Ron, do you remember…" the voice trailed off in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. "Remember that time?"

Ron, laughing as well, nodded enthusiastically. "Man, I thought mum was going to bust me so bad. We should do that again."

"And that time we tried to turn old Errol into a cake cause we were hungry?"

Ginny shook her head. "What you guys would do for food. It's pathetic."

Two of the nameless people turned to Ginny accusingly. "I do believe oh miss-better-than-us that you were the one who suggested it in the first place!"

Ginny lifted her glass, grinning. "You'd be right."

The table erupted in laughter.

Hermione hunched her shoulders; absently staring at the glass of untouched wine Harry had ordered her.

"What about that time Harry and you and Penn got up and danced the Macarena? You guys were so bad; I thought we'd get kicked out of the club! Do you remember that Hermione? Merlin, they were awful."

Hermione looked up. "No. I don't remember. Excuse me." Scooting out, she excused herself, walking around the corner and out of sight. She took a huge breath and backed up to a wall, leaning against it heavily. Hermione sighed, letting her head rest on the wall, she gazed at the ceiling, wishing for once that her life was different. That she'd done things other than study, other than…

A loud fit of laughter came from the table she'd just left. Hermione closed her eyes against the tears.

The glittering tear traced her closed eye, leaving droplets hanging on her lashes.

"Doesn't look to me like this is a place to cry."

Hermione opened her eyes, the sparkling teardrops glinting in the darkly lit hall. "Why is it always you?"

Draco shifted his blond hair from his face. "Because I've always been here."

Hermione shook her head. She wiped at the wet along her eyes, taking deep breaths as she heard more stories being told behind her. Without her. Always without her.

Draco watched her eyes fill with hurt, harden with pain. Silently he held his hand out to her. She eyed his pale hand as if it were a viper, waiting, waiting to strike. Another loud blast of laughter behind her seemed to make up her mind. Viper or not, he was there.

Harry rolled over as the beam of light from the now open window hit his eyes. "What the hell is your problem?"

Ginny ignored him, tossing clothes at him before exiting the room. Harry groaned. "Stupid idiot."

"I heard that." Ginny called from outside. "Get your ass dressed and get going. You force me to move, I'm going to force you right back."

Harry pulled the shirt over his head and sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Now leave me alone."

"Sorry, honey. No can do."

"You are annoying."

"And you're ready to go."

Harry yawned. "Not until I've had my coffee."

Ginny grinned. "Already got a pot brewed. Come on downstairs.

Harry took the coffee she handed him and poured in the cream he preferred. Ginny sat across from him, a strange look on her face.

Stirring the coffee Harry looked up. "What?"

Ginny jumped. "Oh, nothing."

Harry shook his head and grimaced.

Making up her mind, Ginny sighed. "You two were so much alike."

Harry sipped the coffee. "What do you mean?"

"It's just little things I guess. She wouldn't even consider leaving before having her coffee…with cream."

Harry grimaced again. "Well, that's pretty much all caffeine addicts."

Ginny sighed. "Whatever you say."

Harry stirred the coffee again. "Hey, Ginny?"

Ginny looked up. "Yeah?"

"Do you remember that time a bunch of us went to Caverns, for dinner?"

Ginny nodded, grinning. "Yeah, I do. That was fun." And you were drunk enough to kiss me. "Why do you ask?"

"I dreamed about it last night. I just, was wondering…it's nothing."

"No, what?"

"Who was all there? Do you remember?"

Ginny's eyes narrowed in thought. "Well, you, me, Ron, Hermione, Sean, Penn, Helen, Kit and I think Siena." She thought for a second. "Yeah, I think that's all."

"What happened to Hermione?"

Ginny shook her head. "What do you mean?"

"She excused herself. And never came back."

Ginny thought, her face falling. "Merlin, you're right." Ginny rubbed her face. "You want to know something, Harry?" Harry nodded. "The more I remember the little things I missed—that we missed…the more I hate myself."

Harry nodded, starring at the swirling black and white liquid. "Yeah." Harry downed the last of the coffee. "Yeah." He sighed, leaning back in his chair.

They stayed like that for a time. Both of them thinking, both of them remembering. Both of them hating what they'd become. Both of them hating the hating.

Lucius Malfoy poured over the morning paper while keeping one eye on his very nervous guest. Setting the paper down, folding it neatly he looked up. "Any news?"

The man tried not to shake. "Ye—yes sir."

"Well get it out man, I haven't all day to listen to your babble."

"Sir, it's just that. We, um…" The man bowed his head. "You're not going to like it, sir."

Lucius leaned back in his chair. "There's little I do like, tell me."

The man took a deep breath and hoped that no unforgivable curses were to be performed.

Harry examined the necklace again. "What exactly do you remember about these?"

Ginny ran her hand over the chain. "Lots actually. This particular promise necklace is…" she paused, looking at the modest but intricate carvings. "Very expensive. Which also means that the bond was strong. The promise I mean. Do you understand?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm a guy, Ginny."

"Not all of you are dumb. But okay. What I mean is that because of the obvious value of the promise necklace, the wearers were serious."

"Like relationship wise?"

Ginny nodded. "Sometimes. You see, it could also be good friends. But mainly, yes, it's for couples."

"What kinds of promises are made?"

"Everything under the moon. And the cool thing about these is that you can't go back on your word."

Harry sighed. "And what kind would Hermione make?"

Ginny shook her head. "I don't know Harry. I really don't know."

"Where are we going?" Hermione's hand was still clasped tightly in Malfoy's. It was nice. She liked the feel of his hand, warm and protecting as it pulled her down the street.

"I'm not sure." Draco glanced at her. "Are you cold?" A hint of winter stirred the air.

Hermione nodded and Draco stopped, taking off his coat and giving it to her. "Here."

"Thanks."

The sidewalk they walked on soon turned to a gravel path as they entered a park. The trees rustled quietly and the song of a whippoorwill poured out of the darkness. The sky was crystal clear; the impurities reeked by man washed away by the cold, leaving the stars to shine with all their strength.

"Why did you go out with them tonight?" Draco asked as they stood beside a pond, the moons reflection lighting their faces.

Hermione closed her eyes. "I want…"

"What? What do you want?"

Hermione's chest grew heavy. "I want people to like me. I want them to understand me, and love me, and be with me. I want to be able to share stories, and laugh, and…and…just be happy."

Draco stiffened next to her. "Anything else?"

"I want, it's stupid, but I want someone. Someone to be with me."

"You know…"

Hermione laughed. "No, I usually don't know."

Draco managed a small smile. "You know, I want that, too."

"You want that, too." Hermione repeated softly.

"I want someone who understands me, understands that I can be an asshole, that I am most of the time. I want someone who…loves me, faults and all."

Hermione watched ripples cross the silver lake to hit the dark shore.

"You'll find someone."

Draco smirked. "Funny, I thought I had."

Hermione's head jerked up. "Me?"

"No. Your evil twin."

"Oh her, well, yeah, she's pretty cool."

Draco grinned, taking Hermione's hand. "Come home with me."

Hermione shook her head. "No."

Draco glanced at the ground. "Can I go home with you?"

Hermione almost had a heart attack. "Malfoy?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you been sexually deprived lately or something?"

Draco laughed. "Not at all, Granger."

"Okay. Because you sound a little desperate."

All laughter faded from Draco's face and his voice was serious. "I wasn't joking. And I didn't mean to imply that all I wanted was sex."

"Way to be blunt."

"You started it."

Hermione sighed. "Okay. I'm sorry."

"There you go. I win."

Hermione started walking. "Whatever."

"So…your place or mine?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't understand you."

"That's okay. Not many people do."

Hermione's eyebrow rose. "Okay, okay, no one does. But hey, that's part of my charm."

"What charm."

"Ouch, that hurt." Draco wrapped his arm around her waist. "See, I was in a very bad mood, then I saw you at the restaurant and now…"

"And now your wishing you hadn't come up to me."

"Somehow, you make me feel better. Happy." Draco whispered softly. "You're beautiful, Hermione."

"Faults and all?"

"Faults and all."