It's Never Easy
15th March 2005
Lynette Rivers
I hummed a tune as I got ready for another day. I picked up my brush and brushed my hair. Slowly, I began to braid it as Draco walked into the room. Through the mirror reflection, I saw him walking straight to the bed and he sat down. That's strange… he's not complaining… I smiled to myself as I continued my usual routine. Cleanser, toner, foundation, loose powder, blush, lipstick, a dab of eyeliner… I stood up, ready to go for breakfast and as I was exiting the room, I jumped a little as I saw Draco at the bed. Gosh, he was so silent I forgot that he was actually there.
"Everything okay, Draco?" I asked, trying not to hurt his fragile heart.
He shook his head and did nothing more.
"How's everything with Hermione?" I asked again.
He shook his head again. I sighed and sat down next to him. I placed a hand on his shoulder, not knowing what else to do. I thought of the time I felt what he was feeling, I was… just like him, heartbroken.
"Everything's not going to be okay, is it?" I asked him, tears stinging my eyes.
But then, the feeling went away just as fast as it came. He glanced up at me and stared. For a long time, he said nothing. Until finally, he spoke.
"No, it's not going to be okay," he said.
"Draco… if I had any other choice…" I started, at lost of words.
"This is my entire fault. I planned it all out… hoping that everything was going to be right… but I didn't realise I was going to hurt her more."
"Draco… you're thinking too much. This is something unpredictable."
"Things won't be the same anymore," he said slowly, in a shaken voice.
It broke my heart to see him like that. I sighed and said, "I'll visit her."
"What?!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, I'm going to talk to her, tell her everything," I assured him.
He shook his head and sighed. "It's not going to work. She'll kill you."
"Let her, besides… since when you care whether I'm dead or not?" I questioned.
"I'm sorry… Lynette – for giving you a hard time and treating you badly," he apologised.
It was a sudden move to me. As far as I knew, the Malfoys never apologise. I was surprised but I managed a reply, "I'm sorry for doing all the things I did to you. I'm not that kind of person. Your sister paid me more to be a bitch."
"I thought you were her best friend," he asked.
"Yeah, but she's still a Malfoy. 'Malfoys don't ask for favours'," I mimicked Hazel.
We burst out laughing. I held Draco and said, "Let's go for breakfast."
"Breakfast… sounds great. Can't remember the last time I've ever enjoyed breakfast."
"See? It helps to be a bitch. Bitches don't overload themselves with guilt," I joked.
Hermione heard the doorbell rang and she groaned. She didn't move an inch. It was about noon but she was still in bed. The doorbell rang again.
"Go away," she moaned. She wasn't feeling in the mood to serve some silly guest.
Ring!
She closed her ear with a pillow and tried to go back to sleep again.
RING!
She added another pillow.
RING! RING! RING!
She threw the pillow over and screamed, frustrated. Why wouldn't that person just go away?! Tears welled up in her eyes and she realised they way she was acting. It was all for Draco…
RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING! RING!
"I'm coming you idiot!" Hermione screamed so loudly she was sure that the whole building went silent.
Everyone was probably wondering who was screaming like a mad person. But Hermione didn't care. She screamed more and thundered all the way to the front door; just to show that person she was really mad.
She threw open the door and saw a familiar person smiling awkwardly at her.
"What do you want?" she said coolly at me.
Maybe she was going to kill me after all…
"Hi, Hermione. Is this a bad time?" I asked, trying hard to be polite.
"Call me Granger, we're not that close," she narrowed her eyes.
And I thought I was the bitch…
"Well, Miss Granger, can I come in?" I asked again, controlling my temper.
"I'll let you in just so people can't see me murder you," she spat and I ushered myself in.
I dared not sit on the couch for I fear that would be trespassing her 'kindness'.
"Just for the record, we're not friends. We're not even acquaintance," she said.
"I never said I was," I snapped, unable to control my temper. "I'm just here to talk," I said as calmly as I could, clutching my handbag tightly.
"Well, speak human English, if you would… because I don't understand bitch language," she hissed.
"What the hell is your problem, woman?!" I raised my voice. "I came here in peace, I didn't do anything to you and you start cursing like a mad person!"
"I AM MAD!" she roared. There was a short pause. Then, with a little sob, she spoke in a whisper, "I'm madly in love."
"Look, Granger –"
"He loved me and I loved him, we were very much in love before you came!" she said, not listening to a single word I'm saying.
"Draco's not yours to begin with in the first place!" I shouted exasperatedly, hoping to shake some sense in the mad woman talking to her.
"What?!"
"You dare to march in the Malfoy Manor and dine with the Malfoy family with no shame at all! There's a difference between courage and shamelessness!" I shouted. "Look at yourself, you should at least understand why Narcissa disapproved of you!"
"Because I'm a Mudblood?"
"No, because you cannot even get over a man! You cannot even carry yourself with dignity! It would be shameful to make you a Malfoy, so Narcissa disapproved," I told her. "It's time to wake up from your fairy-tale and face the real world."
"He's not just a man, he's my man!"
"Well, not anymore, he's my man now."
"He doesn't love you," she snapped.
"Whoever said we were talking about love? Love isn't everything, Hermione. I don't love him too. I left the love of my life for Draco. Look, neither Draco nor I want this. If there's anything I can do to help it –"
"Yes! You can leave Draco alone from your claws!"
"I don't want to marry him as much as he doesn't want to marry me! I want him to marry you as much as you do!"
"Then let me!"
"But it's not an option. Draco and I are getting married, and it's none of our choice to go against it," I snapped irritably.
Hermione sighed.
"I'm sorry Hermione," I said.
I left a card there and apparated away. Hermione picked up the card and read:
You are cordially invited to attend the wedding ceremony of Draco Malfoy and Lynette Rivers.
Date: 21st March 2005
Time: 8am-9am (wedding ceremony), 9pm till late (wedding reception)
Venue: The Malfoy Manor
RSVP: Hazel Malfoy
PS, the Malfoy Manor is open for guest to stay overnight, if accommodation is needed.
Congratulations Draco and Lynette!
Tears fell as Hermione read the last sentence.
I sat on the armchair tiredly as the priest droned away on 'marital responsibilities' with his monotonous voice. Sitting next to me was Draco, with the same boring expression on his face.
"– And to carry the family name with dignity," the priest concluded.
Ah… finally, I thought.
"Are you done?" Draco asked irritably.
The priest nodded.
"Good," Draco snapped. He stood up and without saying goodbye, he left to room.
There was an awkward silence as I was left alone with the priest.
"Er – I'm sorry he's so rude. He's just had a bad day, that's all…" I mumbled, laughing nervously.
He nodded, again.
I frowned as I felt as if I was talking to a wall.
"Er, well I suppose we've ended our 'thing'. Would you like something to bite before you leave? Tea, maybe?" I asked politely.
Please say no. Please say no.
But the priest nodded. I felt anger boiling inside me. How come he had so much to talk about just now but now he can't even utter a single word? Stupid, stupid, stu–
"Father Thomas!" Hazel's voice could be heard. "Finished? So soon? Well, I suppose I'll send you to the door, okay?"
He nodded, again… I really felt like slapping him.
"Well, goodbye," I said and hurriedly left the room, all thoughts of tea forgotten.
I could not understand how someone could be so… there's not even a word to describe it! I huffed and walked towards the kitchen. All I need is a swing of… something with a high content of alcohol. I walked into the kitchen and almost crash into Draco.
"Oh it's you," he said without looking at me.
"Who else could it be?" I said, still craving for a drink. I spotted the bar and asked Draco, "Want something to drink?"
"No thanks."
"Well, I need something to drink. I've just spent what feels like ten hours with a stupid priest," I snapped and began mixing all sorts of alcoholic beverages into a glass.
I stirred a little, and watched as the drink turned to a pale colour of green. I added a lime and drank the whole glass in one go. I bet you wouldn't be too pleased now, would you? All that crap about 'carrying the family name with dignity', I said in my thoughts, still thinking about the priest.
There was a small chuckle and I spun around.
"What's so funny?" I narrowed my eye at Draco.
"You're mad at the priest, aren't you?"
"Well… aren't you?!"
"No… I'm used to him. He's my mother's friend. He visits me sometimes since I was a small kid."
"I bet he turned you evil," the words blurted out of my mouth and I instantly regretted it.
Draco's expression changed and I realised I've touched a nerve.
"Draco, I didn't mean it that way… I mean, you're not evil," I said nervously. "You can love Draco. You're not evil… you have the power to love."
"If only it's as simple as being able to love…" Draco said.
"It's never easy Draco," I shook my head as I focused on making a stronger drink. "That's why God invented alcohol."
I downed the drink in one go and made another one, feeling so much better as my heartbreak slowly slips away. But it's no use. No amount of alcohol in the world could soothe the pain forever. It will be back… it will be back again.
A/N: Anyone giving any guesses on who broke Lynette's heart? Anyway, I know some of you might think Hermione seemed desperate, well, you will be desperate if you're her too. Thanks! And please review!
