Silver Painted Moons
The Greengrass
December 2002
''Hermione was Cleopatra?'' she slightly yelled and Harry jumped at the sound of her voice. He looked at her in shock, noticing the small bump and her hand carefully placed on top of it - her body leaned on the wall behind her, looking at the dress as if it was something alien, unholy and scary. The shining fabric warmed the silence between them, ''She was Cleopatra!'' Harry frowned at her smiling face.
''What the hell are you doing here?'' he threw the dress inside the neat closet, closing the carved wooden doors with a wrinkled face and a bother shake in both arms, not knowing why he felt the need to protect Hermione's private all of the sudden, ''Speak or - ''
''Or what, Potter?'' bold steps brought them face to face. ''I wanted to make sure she came back,'' the disbelief in his eyes made her roll hers, ''She was - '' her whole face fell, remembering the words being written on the Prophet that day, ''Hermione is my friend!'' her confident voice made him chill. He didn't know that, why didn't he know that? ''She is my friend.'' now he noticed better the small bump and he felt ashamed for yelling at her - maybe she was three months pregnant, maybe four? Her eyes kept staring at the closed closet, and now her whole face had a radiant shine, reminding a woman in love. ''I knew it.'' she mumbled, but Harry heard her. She laughed out loud, who would have thought?
May, 1998
Her eyes were filled with tears, but no one was there to watch it. She was left alone in a room where tall windows were decorated with iron holders, creating small, smaller than her palm squares, not allowing her to witness the beautiful backyard surrounding the tall building. She was left there for the last couple of hours, now wishing someone had stayed with her or even talked to her sister - the door opened. ''Tory!'' she ran towards her, holding her little sister in her arms, ''Merlin, you are alright, did they - '' she started to cry and Daphne broke the hug to see her sad face, shit, shit, shit, shit, that was not good. ''What did you do?'' her features harden forgetting who she was holding a second ago.
''I am sorry, I am really sorry Nana - '' her voice broke at the hearing of the door opening again. Astoria grabbed Daphne's cold hand and hid behind her sister's skeleton body. ''I am sorry - ''
The judging eyes of Kingsley looked at them both. ''Ladies.'' he opened the door wider and looked at Daphne straight in the eye, ''The decision has been made.'' he commented in a strict, fatherly voice, ''Miss Greengrass.'' he looked at her as if she had been the most unwanted person there - and she was, she definitely was, but that was hardly the problem here, was it? ''Your family will,'' his voice broke when the guilty eyes of the youngest person of the Greengrass family fell on him, ''Your parents will accept the Kiss for crimes being - miss Greengrass? Do you hear me - ''
''What have you done Tory?'' her voice was devastated, her eyes were filled with tears, sadness and regret, she turned around to see her blushed face, ''What have you done - ''
''I am sorry - ''
''No!'' she pushed her away and looked at her tears covering every inch of her young face, every pale spot on her otherwise flawless face, ''They cannot die, Mr Shakenbolt, please, they cannot - ''
''Your sister, her testimony..'' his lips sealed. She didn't know it, she didn't know her sister testified against their parents, ''There is nothing we can do.'' he forced himself to take a step back, if he hadn't, he would have taken her in his arms and let her grief her sorrow away. He remembered her as she was growing up. Too smart, too well put together, too observant and elegant for her own good. She didn't want to fight, she didn't want to choose sides, she didn't want to witness an unfair war, but she did, and she had said her own truth to the trial of her parents, her own prospective about what had happened, how her family got involved, how much into they were with the Death Eaters, how much of their estate their gifted to the Dark Lord to host his followers and their victims, but she had said it all in a way to win their lives, their lives, she thought and tears ran down her eyes as shaken knees betrayed her and lips let out a groan, a pained one. Astoria tried to comfort her, but left to stare falling on her knees, bruising them more. What the hell did she say to them? What did she say? ''I am sorry, Daphne.'' Kingsley looked at her fallen body, then her sister's body against the window with the iron holders. He looked at his hands. There was the letter informing them, like every other Pureblood Family ties in with the Dark Lord, about the Ministry taken over their money in an attempt to rebuild Hogwarts and a new wing at St. Mungo's. It was unfair and he knew it, but the Greengrass Family, their parents, they harmed too many, and Astoria testified it, ruthlessly, unprovoked, without the simplest sensitivity of a teenage girl experiencing death and war. A cold face, a colder heart, hurting like any other child would. Cold, like the corpses of the wizarding beings she told them to find in one of their Manors around the world. Cold, like a winter night needing no one.
''What have you done!'' Daphne yelled at her this time, but only saw their mother's gaze in her porcelain features. Emptiness and a heart full of loneliness. She had made her decision long before anyone could advise her differently. And now they will be gone like others.
November, 1999
''Hi.'' he smiled at her and she looked at him in a small shock, not actually thinking he would dare to come and talk to her, after he spent some of his precious time in the large, elegant, full of amazingly shade of green lamps on top of wooden desks that were surrounding by heavy, wooden bookcases, with thousands of titles in any size, length, expert and author library looking at her, and only her. She had noticed it, felt it, even bothered by it. ''I am Mark, short from Markus, with k.'' he explained as if it was the only thing interesting about him. A need to laugh out loud covered her tensed shoulders like a thick blanket, warming her cautious feelings. She made herself much more comfortable in this chair, wishing to be released from this gaze and go back to her studying, but then, she noticed it - a wholesome aura, surrounding his tall body like a glove, holding a warmth she had never seen on anyone before, this man standing in front of her awkwardly trying to keep his intentions hidden, was a whole person - he didn't need someone to space up the emptiness, he didn't need someone to love him because he didn't love himself, he didn't need someone to bother to forget his own problems. No. He was a whole person, attached to himself just the right amount, giving and taking properly without losing himself in the process.
For a second Daphne tried to imagine how many Christmas he had spent his family around a tree and a table filled with food and maybe a wine, talking about the significance of today's day with all the right Muggle prospect being explained for the youngest to remember. Then she imagined him with his friends, having some of them and not a lot, laughing at what just happened in the bar, telling them all about this girl he saw in the library today and how beautiful she was. They will ask about her, and he will say without any problem because he didn't need to be mysterious to be interested. He was a kind man, a whole man.
''Daphne.'' she didn't know she spoke till the moment his eyes lightened even more, ''Short from Daphne.'' to her surprise, he laughed. He appreciates a nice sense of humour and she knew it.
''Like that character on Scooby-Doo?'' he asked and she frowned at the excitement he asked with. ''Sorry, I have a little brother,'' he explained with blushed cheeks.
''I have a little sister too.'' he sat in front of her, her whole body stiffened at once. He has a habit to make himself feel at home, a big smile decorated his face. Daphne literally forced herself to relax, curling her lips like his - his gaze changed. It was the first time he was intrigued to know a person, and he started to like the fact that she was that person.
''There is this small coffee shop near by - '' what?
The smile gone, her shoulders hardened more than just a second earlier, ''I do not drink coffee - ''
''Tea?'' he offered, ''Orange juice, anything to have you for myself for a second - '' he whispered, feeling a couple of eyes on him showering with envy.
''That sounds alarming.'' he smirked at the low whispering of her voice and rested back, biting his bottom lip. Her eyes looked suspiciously at him, as if he was an enemy, an outside force willing to attack her in zero time - it made both of them wonder what had happened in her life to make her afraid of people so much. Was it her family, her parents and their foolness? Was it their death? Their small living life they shared and their dark achievements? Was her sister and the betrayal knife she got stabbed with?
Her delicate hands started to gather every math book that was spread in front of her, ''I can tutor you.'' he offered and she looked offended in nanoseconds, ''Clear some blurred lines, maybe over hot chocolate?'' she could practically hear the beating of his heart. It was fast and unsteady, he was anxious, he needed her for himself and she could feel that need to her bones. ''Is that a yes?'' he read the silence and his lips curled ever the slightest.
''Do yourself a favour and look less smug.'' she hugged her books and turned around to leave, feeling him not following? ''Well?'' she looked at him over her shoulder, smirking when his tall body stood proudly next to her.
July 16th, 2002
Rain was pouring down since early in the morning. Hermione had thought it would stop, but it only got worse. She actually felt some chills running down her spine when she stepped out of the building, she had to run upstairs to take that leather jacket she bought with Daphne some weeks ago - she had told her how fashionable this specific piece of fabric was, and how much she would love wearing it both with dresses and jeans - Hermione had wondered how the hell could she know stuff like that - ''Excuse me?'' she asked that man who stood in front of her.
''Will you go in? I want my bouquet.'' he pointed at the bakery's door with a small annoyance and an umbrella with the band's name BEATLES written at least a hundred of times.
''Right.'' she frowned, ''Sorry.'' she made a whole step to her left, finally watching her reflection - her eyes widened. Her hair looked like they had their own life, her white with black messy spots had a small stain at the end of its long length, ''No.'' she mumbled, watching her white sneakers having dirt on them. Dirt.
Dirt.
Dirty.
Filthy.
Mudbrood.
She could feel her palms hurting. Her breathing fasten - where was she? She couldn't feel any drops falling around her so she looked up. The awning had red, blue and white strings. There were some letters forming the name of the barber shop. She wasn't standing outside of the store, no, she was in the alley next to it, where there was the back door with a small round table and two chairs, she guessed some of the employees smoke. She left the bag on the table. She had made her mother's favourite brownies - it wasn't her recipe, she went on a trip to the States for a seminar about aesthetic dentistry and the hotel manager shared with her this easy, tasty dessert that according to her, her kids could never stop eating. The plastic container she had placed them in, had a yellowish lid. She was certain she hadn't bought it - maybe someone gave it to her? She couldn't remember now.
A light wind made the tree on the opposite street swing its leaves. The building it was guarding was magnificent and sure, it didn't look like it belongs there, in that new, fancy neighbourhood. Maybe that was the reason why Daphne chose it to begin with - it had long, large wooden windows, with curtains in the shade of beige and dark red. From where she was standing, she caught a glimpse of Daphne straightening her skirt - her eyes narrowed as if she was trying to zoom in her face - she was smiling, her lips might be moving, ''Mark.'' Hermione breathed out a breath she didn't know she was holding. The tall man walked to her and placed a kiss to her cheek - in his hand there was a spatula.
''Your hair is a mess.'' the voice came from behind her and she turned around to see a man with curly hair falling to his shoulders, smiling at her before taking a puff. ''Are you lost?'' the smoke found escape from his nose.
''No, no.'' she looked at her shoes again. The rain had managed to clean some of the dirt. ''I am, I was just - '' she took a big breath, not knowing why she was feeling so insecure all of the sudden. Another voice sounded. The man threw the half poorly made cigarette on the street.
''For your hair.'' he gave her a tie. A black tie. And smiled again, disappearing behind the closed side door.
She didn't have a chance to thank him. Her hands started to pat down the life formed nest around her head, creating a middle and placing in a low bun - that will do, she thought before her eyes looked at the big tree again, only to focus on the second floor. From where she was standing, looked unreachable to her thirsty gaze - her knees might have felt weak for a second, maybe two. He is not here, he is not here, she repeated and mumbled something under her tongue to clean her shoes.
VΛV
Her reflection on the door could only be similar to a shocked one. She asked herself, if she was indeed afraid to be there, or if she simply allowed the past to quell her one last time. A thin silhouette was coming her way - that was not Daphne - ''Hi!'' she sounded enthusiastic, like a small kid, waiting to be told how well behaved they were. Hermione mumbled something, she didn't hear what, but the young girl giggled a little. ''Well, don't stand there! Come on in!'' she opened the door wider, if that was possible, letting Hermione watch the entry hallway. Everything was just like Daphne described it, everything. To the left there was the door hiding Daphne's house, in front of her was the staircase she designed, the hall was marble floored with walls painted in the royal blue, classic light furniture all around - ''Daphne is still trying to choose an outfit, she is really excited for you being here today.'' she smiled like she did before and Hermione caught herself doing the same.
''Is she here?'' the door to her left opened, revealing the tall body of the man she knew as Mark. ''Hi!'' he greeted with the spatula still in his hands. ''I heard so much about you, I am Mark - ''
''Mate, this shit boils!'' a strong yet trembling voice sounded and Hermione's expression changed at once. Her heartbeat fasten - he wasn't supposed to be there, he wasn't -
Astoria giggled, ''When those two enter a kitchen, it's not a good combination.'' she disappeared after Mark, letting Hermione all alone in this beautiful apartment, with every little detail Daphne had ever shared being there, surrounding her with little courage to stay here and appreciate the familiar now house welcoming her to stay more - someone giggled as voices sounded from the kitchen. Her breathing fasten - she couldn't see him, he wasn't suppose to be here, why is he here? Astoria called him a baby with a rather sarcastic tone - her legs froze - if she had taken a step to her left, she would have seen the beautiful wooden kitchen and the people there - why is he here?
She has to leave, she has to leave from this place, ''Hermione?'' a hand curled around hers in perfect kindness, ''They left you alone?'' she looked at her new friend and Hermione let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
''It's fine, I - I don't mind.'' there was some trembling in her voice, some fear, Daphne frowned, ''I really don't - '' her eyes looked behind the young witch, where a rather big dining table had been set for five people. Five. With Astoria and Draco been two of them. Nails stabbed sweating palm.
''Well, I do!'' she grabbed her forearm and pulled her some steps towards the kitchen, but Hermione refused to take another step. ''Is something wrong?''
''Daphne - '' giggles made her look at the kitchen - and then she saw him. Tall, dark haired man hugging Astoria and placing a couple of kisses on her cheek.
''What - oh.'' her face fell, ''Blaise.'' Daphne's cheeks fired up like they were made out of tomatoes. ''I should have told you, I should have, I just.. '' she couldn't look straight in the eye and Hermione noticed how this was the very first time. ''Give me till we are alone? I will explain everything.'' her voice had a strange tone colouring the words she spoke.
Hermione's eyes looked sympathetically at her, ''Of course.'' she nodded, following her to the kitchen, ''Hello Zabini.''
himthat male; objective male pronounMore (Definitions, Synonyms, Translation)