I'm not that Bad
Chapter 21
I'm Sorry…
Draco awoke, the suns rays stinging his eyes. He sat up slowly, his eyes still partially closed. Draco scratched his head and yawned looking around the dorm. Theo lay silently in his bed after returning during the late of night. Both Crabbe and Goyle laid sprawled out across there beds, pillows and sheets everywhere.
A letter lay on the end of Draco's bed. He reached over and opened the envelope reading the letter inside.
Draco,
I need to speak with you, can you please meet me atop the Astronomy Tower when you get his letter.
…
Draco's eyebrows rose suspiciously. Who was this from? It didn't give a name but the handwriting looked like hers. It couldn't be. He thought sitting in his bed, his eyes going over the letter again.
He finally made a decision and left for the Astronomy Tower. Going up the steps two at a time, he finally reached the top as he pushed open the doors and stepped out into the cool air.
He stood atop the tower gazing out onto the view below. He heard the door creek open and shot around instantly.
"Hermione!" He said loudly, smiling brightly. The smile was cleared away when he saw who it actually was that sent him the letter.
"Expecting someone else? Draco?" Came the low drawl of Snape's voice.
Draco's entire body stiffened as he saw Snape standing at the doorway, staring at him.
How could I have been so stupid to get caught out!?
Snape closed the door behind him and started forward towards Draco. Draco stepped back slowly his hand his pocket, grasping his wand.
"Don't even think it boy." Snape said, predicting what Draco was going to do. Snape stopped his advance and stared at Draco. "What are you thinking?!"
"I-I-I don't know what your talking ab-about." Draco stuttered.
Oh jeez! Highly believable Draco…I really gotta get this stuttering problem fixed, it's driving me insane.
"Don't play dumb Draco! You know exactly what im talking about!" Snape's face radiated with anger.
Truthfully Draco had two theories on what Snape was rambling about.
"Alright! I know I haven't been spending much time on the cabinet ok!" Draco retorted angrily.
"I'm not talking about the cabinet!" Snape closed his eyes and calmed himself. He reopened his eyes looking at Draco. "It's about you...and Miss Granger."
Draco's heart sank deeply into his stomach. "Her-Hermione?"
Snape raised one of his eyebrows. "You call her by first name now?"
Draco glared at him. "How…how long have you—"
"Have I known?" Snape said, finishing Draco's sentence. "Draco, I'm surprised not many do know after the display you two showed during the New Years party."
Draco stiffened. "Are you…are you gonna tell him?" Draco asked him, with a hint of fear in his voice.
"The Dark Lord? Don't be silly, I won't tell him a thing…Draco, is it…real?" Snape asked with a glint in his eye.
"Real? Sir?" Draco asked confused about the question.
"Your feelings…for her…are they real?" Snape asked, the glint in his eye becoming more viewable.
"I—yes, yes sir…they are as real as you and me." Draco said confidently.
"Do you love her?" Draco was surprised at the question he had been given, especially by whom it was coming from.
"Yes…more than anything." Draco said again more confidents rising up within him.
Snape looked at him for a second. His eyes wondering over him. "This can not continue."
Draco's mouth grimaced as he furrowed his eyebrows. "No…I won't you can't mak—"
"Draco…If you loved, her…let her go." Draco slowly shook his head his mouth still ajar and eyebrows furrowed. "Draco…you must listen to me, the only way you could protect her is to end it." Snape took another step closer towards Draco.
"Draco…I-I once knew a man—long ago, he loved this beautiful woman, more than anything, but he did not let her go." Draco saw sadness in his eyes.
"What happened, to-to her?"
"She was murdered." Snape sighed. "That was a long time ago."
"This man…who was he?" Draco pressed forward cautiously.
"A foolish one…Draco, if you love her…I bid you please…let her go, you know that is what must be done, to keep her safe from The Dark Lord." Snape looked into Draco's eyes pleadingly.
They stared at each other for a moment until Snape turned. "Draco…do the right thing…for her." With that Snape left leaving Draco standing alone atop the tower.
Draco's mind was racing in thought over what Snape had just said to him and how he talked to him.
I can't leave her, I love her.
But if I don't leave her, she's a target as is my mother and Blaise. I couldn't put this on her.
I gotta do the right thing…for her…Oh God.
Hermione woke up excitedly, for today is the day Ginny and Harry get back from The Burrow. Hermione was still worried and hesitant that they would react wrongly to Hermione's newfound relationship with Draco so she decided not to tell them, yet.
Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table eating her breakfast when a first year from her house approached her.
"Umm, excuse me Hermione?" The girl spoke to her holding a scroll in her hand.
Hermione turned to her smiling. "Yes? What can I help you with?" Hermione asked kindly.
"Umm, Professor Dumbledore wanted me to give this to you to give to Harry Potter." The girl said handing over the scroll.
"Thank you." Hermione smiled, taking the letter from the girl.
Hermione put the scroll in her bag. Hermione finished eating breakfast and made her way back to the common room. As she made her way she passed Professor Snape. She did a double take. She swore she saw him look at her sadly.
She shrugged it off and continued her way to the common room. She head straight for the girls dorm once she arrived. She put the scroll in her trunk and pulled out a book. She had already read the book many times but thought that she would read it again anyway.
She made her way over and sat in the chair that was placed right next to the window. She did most of her reading either here, in the common room or at the library. She had started reading down at the Oak. Something caught her eye outside and near Hagrid's hut.
She looked out the window and saw Hagrid feeding Buckbeak. She thought that this would be a good time to see Hagrid. She changed what she was wearing and made her way down to Hagrid's hut.
Hagrid only looked at her and grunted before going back to feeding Buckbeak.
"How have you been Hagrid? How is Buck—Witherwings?" Hermione asked, remembering that they had changed Buckbeak's name.
"They been alri', Aragog's still not feelin' very well and he's not gettin' any better." Hagrid said with a sniff.
"Hagrid, I'm still sorry." Hermione said looking down at her shoes.
Hagrid turned to Hermione. "Oh Hermione, its alri' I was actin' like a child anyhow." Hermione looked up and saw a faint smile under Hagrid's beardy face.
Hagrid took Hermione in for a cup of tea and some fresh biscuits. After several biscuits and one gigantic cup of tea Hermione bid Hagrid a farewell and headed back to the castle.
Hermione smiled as she saw Draco at the entrance of the castle and rushed towards him. She met him with a hug which he did not return.
Something's wrong.
She looked up at him. He still stared out over the snowy grounds of Hogwarts. His eyes full of sadness. They same she thought she saw in Snape's.
"Draco? Draco whats wrong?" Hermione asked. He still did not replay to her but continued to stare, his eyes turning glassy.
"Draco? Draco, look at me." Hermione said holding onto his jacket. Still he did not look at her. "This isn't funny!" She was getting angry now.
"Draco, look at me!" She said louder. Finally Draco looked at her, glass eyed.
"Pease Draco…whats wrong?" She asked looking at him her eyes now watering.
"I can't do this anymore." Hermione's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?" she asked tears now coming to her eyes.
"I can't do this…us." Draco said, holding back his tears.
"But-but-but why? Whats wrong?" Hermione asked tears now leaving her eyes and falling slowly down her face.
"I…I…"
DO IT! FOR HER!
"I…I don't love you…anymore." Draco finally said. He could no longer hold back his tears as they slowly fell.
"No…no Draco, you're lying!" Hermione said shaking her head vigorously. "I know you love me! I love you!"
Draco couldn't look at her anymore. He made himself sick. "No."
Tears now streamed down Hermione's face as she stood there refusing to believe what she was hearing.
"Kiss me…please; prove to me you don't love me." Hermione said cupping Draco's face, forcing him to look at her.
Hermione tiptoed and placed her lips onto his. Tears steaming down both there face's. Hermione kissed him harder with all the love and passion she had in her body for him. Still she felt nothing. She broke apart from the kiss, not holding back and was now crying.
She looked at him one last time and walked into the castle wiping her face with her scarf. The same one Draco retrieved for her.
Draco felt sick. He felt as if he had died inside and was now an empty shell of nothing. He collapsed to his knees, tears falling down his face.
He looked down at the ground.
"Hermione…" He whispered.
"I'm sorry…"
A/N: Hey guys! I know a lot of you are all hating me right now, but that's the way I want my cookie to crumble and I had so much difficulty in writing this chapter. Just tell me what you guys think ok? Oh and im sorry for keeping you guys waiting…OH YEAH! THIS IS NOT THE END!! I'm gonna start chapter 22 right after this.
Disclaimer: You know the drill…
P.S: Oh yeah! I'd like to update my thanks list!! Woo! This is to everyone who has reviewed and added me to their alert list and favs. Thanks guys with out you I don't think I would've continued writing.
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A/N: Hey guys! I hope that's everyone! Thanks again you guys keep me going. If I've missed anyone give me a holler and I'll fix it up in the next thanks list! Cheers guys!