Okay... I know this is short, but it was the best place to stop for the end of the chapter. So, I'll try to make chapter 26 much longer to make up for this, okay? So I don't need a million reviews saying "it's too short" because I know that already. Got it?
The Moonlight Glares
Liza Lew
Disclaimer: I don't own any of JK Rowling's wonderful world or characters. I own my own characters and the plot only.
Chapter 25
"He's gone home," Hermione excused to her parents, "He's got a big family event tomorrow."
The Grangers bought the story as Hermione hung up the phone. She would have to finish all this tedious organization on her own, and then explain her choice to everyone. She felt exhausted as she flumped down on her bed.
Thoughts of the bus and Draco ran through her head again. His leg had been crushed, and a squad from the ministry of magic had appeared. They'd questioned her, she'd told the facts, and they'd taken him off to St. Mungo's.
She'd go visit him, of course, once she got things straightened out in her own life. She just wished her life was a bit simpler, then she could have gone with him in the first place. She buried her face in a pillow.
There was a muffled doorbell and a scream of "I'll get it!" from Johnny just then. Hermione rolled over, thinking it was some random Muggle neighbor.
Back at Lane Mansion, the news came to Elizabeth by floo. She was sitting in the library, sipping tea and looking over some documents when Narcissa's head popped into the flames.
"Lizzy! Lizzy dear!"
Elizabeth looked down at the flames, "Narcissa, you look dreadful! What is it?"
"There was an accident in Muggle London! He's at Mungo's! Oh, dear, I need you here, please!"
"Wait, who's in Mungo's? Your friend?"
"No, my son is in Mungo's! There was an accident, your Hermione was there and helped him not get killed, but a Muggle machine ran him over…"
"My godson is in trouble? I'll be there at once. You're at Mungo's right?"
"Oh course; I haven't left his side! The bone repairing is so incredibly painful to watch, please, could you get Phe away from this? I can't bare to have her watch her older brother like this!"
"Send her over to be with Anna by floo. I've got to make sure someone is helping Hermione get organized, but then I'm coming there! Now get some rest, you look dreadful." Elizabeth set down her tea as a house-elf brought her jacket and Narcissa's head disappeared.
Back at the Granger house Hermione was pounding a fist against her mattress when he brother came barging into her room.
"Mione! Mione, there's a boy here to see you!"
Hermione sat up slowly and slipped her feet into a pair of slippers before making her way to the door. She came to the landing before the stairs and looked down to see none other than Jean Bleu.
Hermione's eyes went wide for a moment, "What are you doing here?" she asked, barely keeping her composure.
Jean gave a small bow, "I heard Mister Malfoy had an untimely departure and you still need some aid in your process of organizing everything before your choice becomes final."
Hermione made her way down the stairs, "So I do. There are mounds of things to go through upstairs still."
Jean gave another small bow, "Then I would be honored to help you finish."
Hermione pursed her lips, "Fine, but before that we should have dinner. Can you handle Muggle frozen pizza?"
Jean nodded, "That would probably be great."
Hermione turned to her brother, "Johnny, what kind of Pizza?"
"Pepperoni!" he yelled before zooming off with his Lego ship to play in the family room.
Hermione turned on the oven and chucked the frozen pizza into it before turning back to the problem at hand. He was sitting at the kitchen table seemingly innocently looking around the room. Lord only knew what he was plotting in that sick mind of his.
After dinner Jean helped Hermione organize almost the rest of her belongings until the time the Grangers returned home, which was very late. Hermione gave hasty introductions, and then Jean made an excuse to retire for the night.
Hermione decided to tell her parent then, when everything was quiet. She came into the living room as they watched the late night news and sat down across from them, turning the TV off. It was now or never.
When Hermione returned back to her room she began to undress, thankful that her belongings were finally in order, and was down to her underwear when there were two hands on her back.
She shrieked and tried to turn around but didn't succeed in escaping Jean's grasp. She should have known he would never have retired that early. Her eyes darted to the wand sitting on her nightside table as a wicked smirk spread over Jean's lips.
"You, Hermione, have escaped me for far too long." His lips came crashing down on hers and immediately Hermione felt sickened. He grinded into her and one of his hands slid down to where her underwear still was.
At that instant, she put her entire bodily force into breaking the contact and running towards her nightstand, blindly grabbing her wand. She turned and he was once again right in front of her but this time she yelled the spell before he could touch her.
He fell to the floor in a dead stun. Hermione broke into tears and fell to the floor. The choice, Draco and now this, it was too much. She shook on the floor in a ball for several minutes. Then her mind woke up.
Come on. Her mind told her. Get up. Get to people who can help you. Hermione slowly obeyed her mind's commands, and stood, wobbling on shaky legs. She looked around the room. A beam of moonlight was the only thing that occupied it. Everything else was gone. Her room was no longer her room. And that was when she collapsed a second time. Then the popping sound came.
Hi all. Thank you so much for the reviews! I can't believe I'm getting upwards to about 25 reviews a chapter now. It makes me want to write more!
And, my beta, Flo, was so happy she got some shout-outs last chapter. (Of course that led to her bugging me to write again, but that's probably a good thing)
Okay, yet again, I know this chapter is short, but this was the best place to stop. Chapter 26 will be longer, I promise!
See you all next chapter!