Chapter 1:
A/N:
Why're we here at the same time?
You might be wondering why I suddenly planned on writing a Dramione fanfic, and I wonder why too.
I honestly have no idea why since I suck at writing and I always lose the inspiration in the middle of a story I'm working on, and slowly forget about it, leaving that idea, which could someday make me successful, in the dust.
But THIS time, I'm not so sure since I vowed to continue this story to the VERY end. And I won't let myself lose inspiration and I promise y'all that. Please stick around to read till the end because it'll mean THE WORLD to me.
I hope y'all leave a comment because it makes me feel good about what I'm writing since I know there's at least ONE person out there reading this story and ACTUALLY enjoying it.
I know I don't have a huge following, which technically results in lesser reads, so please share this story if you think it's worth sharing! I won't lose hope in this just because I don't have the number of reads I'd like to have. I don't care if only 1 person is reading this because I know that my story is one of my best works and I'm pretty sure it'll attract more readers. To achieve this, it may take days, months or even years, but I'll still keep working hard and providing y'all with the chapters to the BEST of my ability.
Yes, I guess that's it!
You may read now. :)
November 1997
13 Grimmauld Place
8:00 am
"Stupefy!"
"Protego!"
"Arresto Momentum!"
Harry's figure froze for a moment, before trying to cast a spell in slow motion.
But Hermione was faster.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Hermione took this advantage and shot a bunch of jinxes towards Harry.
"Bombarda! Colloshoo! Stupefy!"
She went through all the minor hexes through her head before preparing to shoot again.
The door behind her opened and closed, but she barely paid attention to it.
"Granger, that's enough for today."
She whipped her head around to face the unfamiliar voice.
It was Mad-Eye Moody.
She blushed in embarrassment. "Right, of course, I'm so sorry."
She muttered the counter curse on Harry and stood there awkwardly, waiting for instruction.
"You're dismissed, Granger, you can go. I need to have a word with Potter."
"Oh, okay then, " She hurriedly left the room.
"What was that?" she could hear Harry pant before she closed the door.
"Think she got a bit carried away.
"That's new. She's never let her guard down before."
"Give her a break, Potter. She's going through a hard time. Obliviating her parents, that's not an easy task."
"I know, but-"
"That is quite enough."
"Fine." Harry hissed. "What did you want? You asked to have a word with me…"
"Er, Malfoy offered us his help."
"I'm sorry, I must've heard you wrong since I heard Malfoy, and where the hell did Malfoy even come from?"
"You heard right. Malfoy somehow found our other hiding place and startled Lovegood to the point where she fainted."
"What?!" said Harry, in an astonished voice. "Draco Malfoy?"
"Yes, Potter."
"No way!"
"I need not repeat myself."
"What'd you tell him?"
"We told him we'd need some time to think."
"I'm sorry, this is just too much. I can't fully comprehend what you just said. I'm surprised, that's all. Can I have a moment?"
"Of course."
Harry rubbed his fingers on his forehead. "Let me get this straight, Draco Malfoy, the next dangerous person after Vol- I mean, You-Know-Who on this planet, offered us his help?!
"Exactly."
"What type of help?"
"Spy."
"Oh…like Snape?"
"Yes."
"How's that going to help him?"
"Come on, Potter, aren't you supposed to be smart?" said Moody, with the merest trace of a growl. "If we win, which I'm pretty sure we are since most of the prominent Wizarding families have taken our side and with all the knowledge and information Snape has provided us, he's going to want to be proven innocent, supposing a trial is held for all of those filthy Death Eaters."
"Right…" Harry said, still a bit unsure. "I'm still confused, but I'll get going now unless there's anything else you'd like to say?"
"Well, yes. Do not mention this to anyone. Not even Weasley, nor Granger. Not yet, anyway. We'll tell them in the meeting which will just Weasley and Granger, you understand me?"
"What about Kingsley?"
"He was with me when we found out."
"Alright, is that it?"
"Yes, you may leave, Potter."
Harry picked up his bag and shut the door behind him.
--
Hermione climbed up the stairs, ignored Sirius's mother and muttered "Alohomora," to unlock her room.
"Colloportus."
She jumped on her bed and stared at the ceiling. A teardrop rolled by her cheek. Once that first tear broke free, the rest followed in an unbroken stream. Hermione bent forward where she lay on her bed, and pressing her palms into her eyes, she began to cry with the force of a person vomiting on all fours.
She pulled out her purse, shakily withdrew her diary, and wrote:
Dear Diary,
I don't think I can take this anymore. Every day, I keep on telling the same thing to myself. 'Just one more goddamn day.' But how long? How long will it take for everything to go back to normal? I'm sick of this, truly. I'm tired. I just want to sleep and never wake up again. Is that too much to ask? The thought of it is so calm and peaceful. I wouldn't have to live with the guilt anymore. But everyone from the Order expects so much from me. "Potter's Golden Girl," they say. What will they think once they find out what I really want to do? I can imagine them whispering to one another, "Suicide? We've been relying on her for so many months and this is how she repays us? Harry chose the wrong girl. She clearly has no idea what's at stake here." I shudder internally at that very thought. And so I'm going to try for one more day - until my misery is put to an end.
She kept her belongings back to her place and counted the tiles in her room until she fell asleep.
--
"Harry, you should go check up on Hermione, see how she's doing," Ginny said, arranging their room.
"And why, exactly?" Harry said stubbornly.
"Are you really asking me this question?"
"Yes?" said Harry, confused.
"You've known her since you were 11! You both are best friends! What happened to it?"
"I dunno, we just fell apart and stopped interacting with each other."
"That's the problem. Why did you stop talking with her?"
"We just didn't feel the need to!"
"Why the fuck not?!"
"Oh, my God. I can't believe we're arguing over Hermione!"
"She's been my friend for years too, and if you don't want to see how she's doing, like a decent human being, then I will!" and with that, she stormed out of the room.
--
Someone knocked at her door.
She woke up with a start. She checked her clock. It was half-past 11 in the morning. She must have dozed off by all that crying and counting. She rubbed her red, swollen eyes, wore her slippers, and opened the door an inch to see who it was.
It was Ginevra.
"Ginny?" Hermione said blankly.
"Er, hi!" said Ginny, with a hint of awkwardness.
"Oh, er, hey! What're you doing here?"
"Just wanted to see how you're doing…"
"Right."
They both stood there completely frozen in their spot for a few minutes looking anywhere but at each other until Hermione broke the silence.
"Come on in, I s'pose."
"Thanks."
Ginny made her way to Hermione's bed, sitting down, before scanning the room. There wasn't anything in her room to make it seem like it was hers. It didn't have any personal touch to it, except, of course, a small library. Other than that, there was a study table with a chair and a washroom in the far right corner.
Classic Hermione.
Ginny began, "Your room is quite-"
"I know, it's plain. There's nothing much to see in here."
"You sleep here every day. I think you could use a change of scenery."
"What-"
"We should go shopping!"
"I-"
"I am NOT taking 'no' for an answer."
"How can we even go shopping, Ginny? We're in the middle of a goddamn war for fuck's sake, and you're talking about shopping at a time like this?! Are you alright? I mean, I understand that you want to bring your mind off of this horrid situation, but we have to keep our focus steady! 'Constant vigilance!' as Moody says."
She immediately regretted what she said as those words left her mouth.
"Yes, of course, I apologize. I'll try not to bother you in the future anymore."
Ginevra got up and walked towards the door, trying to find an escape without Hermione covering it.
"Hermione, move, " Ginny said sternly.
"No, Ginny. I'm sorry. Can we just talk?"
"No, we absolutely can't. Now move before I make you."
"Please, Ginny, " Hermione pleaded.
"Hermione, " Ginevra warned her.
Hermione reluctantly moved out of the way, giving Ginny an easy exit out.
"Why do I mess up anything good that ever happens to me?!" Hermione said frustratedly.
A/N:
Fuck. What did I just do? Why am I so dramatic? Tell me why right now. Anyway, what d'y'all think? I don't know how to feel right now. I feel like I've not improved at all. It's been a long time since I started this fanfiction (because my best friends forced me too /). I'd love some feedback or suggestions! Please vote for this chapter if you like it!