CHAPTER 2~ Diagon Alley
Draco immediately stood up and pulled Hermione with hi. "Yes, Mr. Malfoy. It is actually a great pleasure for me to be in your presence once again," Hermione replied sweetly with a smile upon her lips.
"Draco, Draco, Draco, I am disappointed. With all those nice pureblooded girls at that school of yours, you have to choose a filthy Mudblood. I am happy that you chose her though. She's smart with wits to match yours, and can be useful to the Dark Lord, just like you."
"Yeah that's nice, 'cause neither of us will ever join that bastard, as I have expressed to you many times before," Draco growled.
Lucius grabbed his son's hair and tugged on it roughly. "Never talk about the Dark Lord like that again. I will not tolerate that in my house. As for the Mudblood.she can stay as long as she stays out of my presence. No, it's not because I'm going soft, it is because your mother spoke with me about the situation, and no one should have to live like that, not even a Mudblood. If I see you so much as touch each other, I will send her back to wherever she's from. Also, she will be staying in the room down the hall. You will show it to her. Good evening."
Draco scowled as his father disapparated. There was no way he was going to have her in his house and not touch her. That would be an impossibility. "Come on," he muttered. "I'll show you where your room is."
They levitated the truck down the hall and put it in the guest room. Hermione remained silent. She didn't like the situation she had put them in.
"Something bothering you?" Draco asked as he flopped down on the large bed.
"I don't like the sound of this. Your father is allowing a worthless Mudblood to stay at his house for the summer. Isn't that peculiar?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. He's probably planning something. Don't worry about it too much for the time being."
Hermione sat on the edge of the bed with her legs crossed beneath her. Draco sat up and rubbed her back gently so she would relax a bit. She shrugged him off. "Don't do that. Remember what your father said."
"He said if he see us touch each other. What he doesn't know won't hurt him. Just relax." He continued to rub her back and she became less tense.
She leaned back against his chest and rested her head on his shoulder. He kissed her neck gently as his hands wrapped around her waist. His presence made her forget about Ron and everything that happened earlier that day.
His hands moved under her shirt and up and down her smooth skin. Hermione turned her head slightly and captured his lips in hers. The world stopped. Nothing mattered. Everything that they had ever been taught was thrown out the window. Their tongues battled for control as the kiss deepened. Hermione put her hands around his neck and pulled him closer so that their chests were pressed together.
They fell back onto the bed. Draco's hands moved up her back and felt the rough scars. He broke the kiss gently and asked. "Does it hurt?"
"Not anymore. They're just scars."
"But did it?" He lightly traced some of the scars with his fingers.
"At first, but I never let him know that. I've pretty much just learned to deal with the pain."
Draco's eyes held an emotion, one which they had never held before-sadness. He truly cared for this girl, and hated that she had to deal with so much pain. "Do you hate him for what he's done to you?"
She shook her head. "I don't hate anyone-Voldemort maybe, but other than that.they are my parents after all. I greatly dislike them, but I don't hate them."
"I do. I hate anyone that has ever caused you pain, including me."
"Don't hate yourself. I don't hate you. I never have. Actually, I have always found you quite attractive." She kissed him again.
This time they were interrupted by a loud voice that seemed to come from all around them.
"Draco!"
"Yes, Father?" he answered sounding very annoyed.
"It's time for dinner. You and Granger can eat in the kitchens. And remember what I told you before."
"Yes, Father."
Draco stood and held out his hand to help Hermione to her feet as well. "What was that?" Hermione questioned as they walked out of the room.
"It's a charm. When Father is too lazy to come find me, he uses it to call me and things like that."
Oh."
The kitchen was down four flights of stairs from where their rooms were. House elves were bustling around preparing all sorts of food. They sat out two plates on the small table in the corner. Draco thanked them and pulled out a chair for Hermione. She smiled at him as she sat down. He then sat across from her and they began eating in a comfortable silence.
When they had finished, Draco held his hand out to her. They headed back up the many stairs to Draco's room. An owl was waiting on his bedside table when they arrived. It had two letters attached to his leg.
Draco untied the letter from the owl's leg and sent the owls off into the night sky. "They're our Hogwarts letters. Dumbledore sent yours too. He's probably confused as to why you'd be here."
Hermione smiled a little. "Yeah, probably."
They opened their letters, which basically said the same things as always. It gave a list of supplies and noted that they were still prefects.
"Wanna accompany me to Diagon Alley tomorrow morning so we can buy our new books? Draco asked.
"Sure."
A while later, Lucius spoke so his voice echoed through the entire house again. "Draco?"
"Father?"
"Can you please come down to my office? There is something we need to discuss?"
"Of course I can. I'll be there in a moment." He rolled his eyes then said to Hermione, "Wait here, I'll be back."
She nodded as he disapparated down to Lucius' office.
"You called, Father," Draco said as he took a seat in an empty chair across Lucius' desk.
"Yes, I wanted to tell you that since I am now out of Azkaban, I will be away on many more trips than normal. I am to leave tomorrow for the remainder of the summer. I was just called, and this is very important. Your mother will take you and the Mudblood to the station on the first," Lucius said.
Draco felt anger rising in him. He couldn't believe that just a few weeks prior he was defending this man. It made him physically sick that he had ever respected him. "Don't you dare call her that," he warned in a threatening tone while glaring daggers at the older man.
"And just why not?" Lucius snarled. "If my memory serves me correct, I believe it was you who initially gave her that name."
"Yeah, well I'm also the one who's going to make sure no one ever calls her that again." His voice was firm and his face hard as stone. Hate was burning through the silver orbs that were reciprocated from the man across from him.
Lucius smirk. "I'll see you at Christmas."
"Right.if I come home." Draco stood roughly and stalked out of his father's office without waiting for a response. Rather than being lazy and apparating, he decided to walk back up to his room. Blood was pounding in his ears. The hate he felt for his father was like nothing he had felt before. He wanted to kill him.
Hermione was lying on his bed when he returned. Her eyed were fixed on the ceiling and her arms by her sides. She peered over at him when he walked in, but soon averted her glance to the ceiling once again. "What'd he want?" she questioned as he sat on the bed and draped his arm over her stomach.
"He's going out on a Voldemort mission and won't be back till we're back in Hogwarts." He stroked her arm with his hand. She looked back toward him. "What were you thinking about before I came back?"
A small smile appeared on her lips. "This really sweet guy, who I once thought was a jerk, but who I knew there was hope for. He is also the best kisser I have ever met."
"Oh really? Do I know this guy?"
"What would you care?"
"Well, if he's not me then I just wanna congratulate him for being a better kisser than I am."
"Why don't you come a little closer and maybe I'll tell you."
Draco leaned his face slowly closer to hers until their noses were touching. "Is this close enough?" he whispered with a smirk upon his lips. She nodded. "Okay, so who is it then?"
"It's you, you dolt."
"Hey, I resen-" He didn't get to finish his sentence because she tilted her head up a little to capture his lips in hers.
Draco was slightly surprised, but kissed back. He brought his hand up to her smooth face and brushed his thumb gently across her cheek.
Hermione broke away from him gently. "I still don't feel right about this," she mumbled. "I like you, but technically Ron and I are still dating."
"He doesn't seem to care," Draco scoffed.
"I know he doesn't." She ran a hand through his silky hair. She loved the way it slipped through her fingers. "If we happen to run into him tomorrow, can I break up with him then instead of waiting until September? I really don't like the fact that that lying, cheating son of a bitch is my boyfriend."
Draco shrugged. "Sure. I think it would be funny to see his face."
"I thought you wanted me to wait."
"I guess I forgot about Diagon Alley." He sat up and leaned back against the many pillows the decorated his bed.
"Are you mad at me?" she asked tentatively as she looked out the window once again.
"No. Why would I be mad at you?"
"I don't know," she sighed. "I just get paranoid sometimes."
Draco smiled and tilted her chin so she could look into his beautiful, silver eyes; they were warm and caring. "You shouldn't be. It'll make you feel stressed out and that's not healthy."
Hermione managed a small smile. "I'm really tired. I think I'm gunna go to bed."
"Okay. Goodnight."
She gave him a small peck on the lips and headed down the hall to her room. Once she had changed into her pajamas and laid down on her bed, she pulled her discman out of her trunk. Evanescence was still in it from the previous night when she had been listening to it. She changed tracks until she reached "Bring Me To Life." She sand along, but not too loud since she wasn't particularly fond of her voice even though she was a very good singer. "How can you see into my eyes like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Frozen inside without your touch without your love darling only you are the life among the dead
All of this time I can't believe I couldn't see Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought without a voice without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
(Bring me to life)
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
(Bring me to life)"
Once the song was over, she put it on random and fell asleep. For the first time in months, she had a dream.
xxx Dream Sequence xxx
She was in a forest. It was night. The moon was shining brightly through the dense treetops. She looked around. There were trees everywhere. Someone was watching her. She saw his red hair behind a tree. Someone else was walking toward her, his silver-blonde hair shining in the moonlight. A smile spread across her face as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Sorry I'm late," he whispered. "I was held up by Snape on my way out of the common room."
"That's all right," she responded. "I knew you'd show. Oh, there's something else, Weasley's behind the fourth tree on your left. His hair made him visible in the moonlight before."
Draco nodded and pulled her to the right. "I've been wanting to do this for a long time now. There's a reason why I told you to meet me here tonight. First of all, I want you to know that I love you more than anything and that I would do anything for you." He paused to kiss her. He then got down on one knee and took her hands in his. "The second thing is, there is no one I'd rather spend the rest of my life with. Hermione, will you marry me?"
"NOOOOO!" Ron yelled as he jumped out from behind the tree. "He doesn't love you, 'Mione! You'll be making a big mistake if you say "yes". I love you. I always have."
Hermione faced him, her eyes glowing with hatred. "Get the fuck out of here, Weasley. Go fuck Parkinslut or something. How can you even think about saying you love me? After everything you've done to me, how can you expect me to believe a word you say? I love Draco Malfoy, and you have destroyed the biggest moment of my life. I hate you Ronald Weasley!" She lunged at him, but Draco held her back.
"You have no business here, Weasel. Go back to the castle and leave us alone. Or is there something else? Does your master have other plans?"
Ron pointed his wand at Draco's heart. "Now you die."
xxx End Dream Sequence xxx
Hermione awoke with sweat upon her brow. That was one dream she hoped would never come true-well the end of it anyway. The sunrise could be seen through the window. It was very pretty this morning. She sat on the windowsill and watched the yellows and reds and oranges mix together. Watching the rise of the sun was always very relaxing for her.
A soft tap on the door broke her peaceful trance. She stood and went to the door. Draco was standing there, fully dressed and ready to go. "You should get ready. We'll leave as soon as you're dressed."
Hermione nodded as Draco turned. She closed the door and pulled out long, blue shorts that were frayed at the bottoms and a grey t-shirt.
Once she dressed, she opened her door and found Draco leaning against the wall. "Ready to go?" he asked.
"Yup."
They went to the nearest fireplace and flooed to Diagon Alley. When they had brushed all the soot off them, they went in the direction of Gringotts to retrieve some money.
"I see you didn't gel your hair as you usually do," Hermione commented with a small smile playing upon her lips.
He smirked. "Nah, it looks better this way. Plus, I look less like my father. Thanks for not letting me keep it that way yesterday."
"No problem."
The previous summer, Hermione had opened a vault in Gringotts so she would have money somewhere safe where her parents couldn't touch it.
Once they had taken out enough money to last them the year, they went back into the streets to buy their needed supplies. The first place they stopped was Flourish and Blott's for books. The clerk seemed more than happy to help them, and they were soon on their way.
After that, they brought quills, ink, and parchment then headed to Madame Malkin's for new robes.
As they were walking to the Apothecary to buy their Potions supplies, Hermione saw a familiar head of red hair walking with his a girl with bleached blonde hair. They were holding hands and smiling.
Hermione pulled Draco into a side alleyway between to buildings and told him to be quiet. She then pointed into the road. He followed her gaze and realized what she was talking about.
"Are you gunna break up with him?" he whispered.
Hermione nodded and instructed him to wait where he was. She stepped out in front of Ron and Pansy as they neared and put on a sweet smile. "Well, if it isn't my lying, cheating, good-for-nothing boyfriend and his whore. You guys look so happy. Didn't think you'd get caught, did you?"
Ron immediately dropped Pansy's hand and the smile vanished from his face. "Hermione, it wasn't what it looked like. I swear."
"Yeah, Ron, I believe you," she retorted sarcastically. "Sources say you've been fucking her for a while now."
Ron's face contorted into one of anger. "Who told you that?"
"So it's true then?"
"Who told you?" He moved closer to her. His face turned bright red, and it looked as if a vein was about to explode in his head.
"It really doesn't matter. We're over, Ron. You can have your damn whore. There is a guy I'd much rather be with, but unlike you, I waited until we broke up to do anything."
"Who told you?" he asked again. His body was shaking with rage, and his fists were balled at his sides.
Draco stepped out next to Hermione. "I did, okay Weasel. I told her everything right down to your new alliance."
"You son of a bitch! You go to those meetings too. And you just ruined all of his plans. Do you know how stupid you are? You've defied your Lord!"
Draco smirked and showed Ron his forearm. "He's not my Lord. He never was and never will be. Can't say the same for you though."
Ron glared menacingly at Draco. "You know what, Ferret, you can have the damn bitch. I never liked her anyway. Don't look at me like that. You were just a means of getting me into the swing of things."
Tears rolled down Hermione cheeks. "Why did you tell me that you loved me then? Why did you say that you would do anything for me? Fuck you, Ron. I hate you and I will never talk to you again for as long as I live!" She turned on her heel and stormed off, dragging Draco behind her.
After a few paces, she paused and slammed her lips into his. She pulled away a few seconds later and buried her head in his chest. Draco simply held her as they stood in the middle of the crowded street. She held onto him tightly as if she would never let go. He pressed his lips to his hair and rubbed her back soothingly.
It seemed as if they had been standing there forever before Hermione finally looked up at him. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"For what?"
"Making you stand here in the middle of everything with me." She sniffled a little as a few last tears streamed down her face.
Draco wiped away her tears with his thumb. "Don't be sorry for that. I'm still living aren't I? Let's go back to the Manor. You've had a rough day."
He carried all of their things. Hermione walked beside him quietly staring fixedly at her feet with each step she took, refusing to look at anything or anyone.
Back at the Manor, they sat on Draco's bed and listened to some of Hermione's CDs. She would occasionally sing along, but stop when she felt Draco's eyes on her.
"Don't stop," he'd insist. "You have an very nice voice."
Every time she would scoff at him and reply with, "Yeah right."
Neither of them brought up the topic of dating even though it was nagging at the back of both their minds. They each thought that the other wouldn't want to talk about it at that point in time.
Hermione was eventually lulled to sleep by the sound of the loud music pounding in her ears. Her head was rested on Draco's chest, and his arms were wrapped around her, making sure she wouldn't move.
Draco's heart was pounding. He wanted to take back everything he had ever said or done to Hermione. He knew that if he ever did find the courage to ask her out there would always be that guilty conscience nagging at him. There was no possible way he could take back all the hurt he had inflicted upon her over the years, but he wished he could.
A window was left slightly ajar. The warm summer breeze blew through it and danced across their faces. That distinct smell of summer was present in the air. The moon shined through the glass illuminating the once cold, now warm grey eyes of Draco Malfoy as he watched the sleeping angel in his arms.
Draco immediately stood up and pulled Hermione with hi. "Yes, Mr. Malfoy. It is actually a great pleasure for me to be in your presence once again," Hermione replied sweetly with a smile upon her lips.
"Draco, Draco, Draco, I am disappointed. With all those nice pureblooded girls at that school of yours, you have to choose a filthy Mudblood. I am happy that you chose her though. She's smart with wits to match yours, and can be useful to the Dark Lord, just like you."
"Yeah that's nice, 'cause neither of us will ever join that bastard, as I have expressed to you many times before," Draco growled.
Lucius grabbed his son's hair and tugged on it roughly. "Never talk about the Dark Lord like that again. I will not tolerate that in my house. As for the Mudblood.she can stay as long as she stays out of my presence. No, it's not because I'm going soft, it is because your mother spoke with me about the situation, and no one should have to live like that, not even a Mudblood. If I see you so much as touch each other, I will send her back to wherever she's from. Also, she will be staying in the room down the hall. You will show it to her. Good evening."
Draco scowled as his father disapparated. There was no way he was going to have her in his house and not touch her. That would be an impossibility. "Come on," he muttered. "I'll show you where your room is."
They levitated the truck down the hall and put it in the guest room. Hermione remained silent. She didn't like the situation she had put them in.
"Something bothering you?" Draco asked as he flopped down on the large bed.
"I don't like the sound of this. Your father is allowing a worthless Mudblood to stay at his house for the summer. Isn't that peculiar?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. He's probably planning something. Don't worry about it too much for the time being."
Hermione sat on the edge of the bed with her legs crossed beneath her. Draco sat up and rubbed her back gently so she would relax a bit. She shrugged him off. "Don't do that. Remember what your father said."
"He said if he see us touch each other. What he doesn't know won't hurt him. Just relax." He continued to rub her back and she became less tense.
She leaned back against his chest and rested her head on his shoulder. He kissed her neck gently as his hands wrapped around her waist. His presence made her forget about Ron and everything that happened earlier that day.
His hands moved under her shirt and up and down her smooth skin. Hermione turned her head slightly and captured his lips in hers. The world stopped. Nothing mattered. Everything that they had ever been taught was thrown out the window. Their tongues battled for control as the kiss deepened. Hermione put her hands around his neck and pulled him closer so that their chests were pressed together.
They fell back onto the bed. Draco's hands moved up her back and felt the rough scars. He broke the kiss gently and asked. "Does it hurt?"
"Not anymore. They're just scars."
"But did it?" He lightly traced some of the scars with his fingers.
"At first, but I never let him know that. I've pretty much just learned to deal with the pain."
Draco's eyes held an emotion, one which they had never held before-sadness. He truly cared for this girl, and hated that she had to deal with so much pain. "Do you hate him for what he's done to you?"
She shook her head. "I don't hate anyone-Voldemort maybe, but other than that.they are my parents after all. I greatly dislike them, but I don't hate them."
"I do. I hate anyone that has ever caused you pain, including me."
"Don't hate yourself. I don't hate you. I never have. Actually, I have always found you quite attractive." She kissed him again.
This time they were interrupted by a loud voice that seemed to come from all around them.
"Draco!"
"Yes, Father?" he answered sounding very annoyed.
"It's time for dinner. You and Granger can eat in the kitchens. And remember what I told you before."
"Yes, Father."
Draco stood and held out his hand to help Hermione to her feet as well. "What was that?" Hermione questioned as they walked out of the room.
"It's a charm. When Father is too lazy to come find me, he uses it to call me and things like that."
Oh."
The kitchen was down four flights of stairs from where their rooms were. House elves were bustling around preparing all sorts of food. They sat out two plates on the small table in the corner. Draco thanked them and pulled out a chair for Hermione. She smiled at him as she sat down. He then sat across from her and they began eating in a comfortable silence.
When they had finished, Draco held his hand out to her. They headed back up the many stairs to Draco's room. An owl was waiting on his bedside table when they arrived. It had two letters attached to his leg.
Draco untied the letter from the owl's leg and sent the owls off into the night sky. "They're our Hogwarts letters. Dumbledore sent yours too. He's probably confused as to why you'd be here."
Hermione smiled a little. "Yeah, probably."
They opened their letters, which basically said the same things as always. It gave a list of supplies and noted that they were still prefects.
"Wanna accompany me to Diagon Alley tomorrow morning so we can buy our new books? Draco asked.
"Sure."
A while later, Lucius spoke so his voice echoed through the entire house again. "Draco?"
"Father?"
"Can you please come down to my office? There is something we need to discuss?"
"Of course I can. I'll be there in a moment." He rolled his eyes then said to Hermione, "Wait here, I'll be back."
She nodded as he disapparated down to Lucius' office.
"You called, Father," Draco said as he took a seat in an empty chair across Lucius' desk.
"Yes, I wanted to tell you that since I am now out of Azkaban, I will be away on many more trips than normal. I am to leave tomorrow for the remainder of the summer. I was just called, and this is very important. Your mother will take you and the Mudblood to the station on the first," Lucius said.
Draco felt anger rising in him. He couldn't believe that just a few weeks prior he was defending this man. It made him physically sick that he had ever respected him. "Don't you dare call her that," he warned in a threatening tone while glaring daggers at the older man.
"And just why not?" Lucius snarled. "If my memory serves me correct, I believe it was you who initially gave her that name."
"Yeah, well I'm also the one who's going to make sure no one ever calls her that again." His voice was firm and his face hard as stone. Hate was burning through the silver orbs that were reciprocated from the man across from him.
Lucius smirk. "I'll see you at Christmas."
"Right.if I come home." Draco stood roughly and stalked out of his father's office without waiting for a response. Rather than being lazy and apparating, he decided to walk back up to his room. Blood was pounding in his ears. The hate he felt for his father was like nothing he had felt before. He wanted to kill him.
Hermione was lying on his bed when he returned. Her eyed were fixed on the ceiling and her arms by her sides. She peered over at him when he walked in, but soon averted her glance to the ceiling once again. "What'd he want?" she questioned as he sat on the bed and draped his arm over her stomach.
"He's going out on a Voldemort mission and won't be back till we're back in Hogwarts." He stroked her arm with his hand. She looked back toward him. "What were you thinking about before I came back?"
A small smile appeared on her lips. "This really sweet guy, who I once thought was a jerk, but who I knew there was hope for. He is also the best kisser I have ever met."
"Oh really? Do I know this guy?"
"What would you care?"
"Well, if he's not me then I just wanna congratulate him for being a better kisser than I am."
"Why don't you come a little closer and maybe I'll tell you."
Draco leaned his face slowly closer to hers until their noses were touching. "Is this close enough?" he whispered with a smirk upon his lips. She nodded. "Okay, so who is it then?"
"It's you, you dolt."
"Hey, I resen-" He didn't get to finish his sentence because she tilted her head up a little to capture his lips in hers.
Draco was slightly surprised, but kissed back. He brought his hand up to her smooth face and brushed his thumb gently across her cheek.
Hermione broke away from him gently. "I still don't feel right about this," she mumbled. "I like you, but technically Ron and I are still dating."
"He doesn't seem to care," Draco scoffed.
"I know he doesn't." She ran a hand through his silky hair. She loved the way it slipped through her fingers. "If we happen to run into him tomorrow, can I break up with him then instead of waiting until September? I really don't like the fact that that lying, cheating son of a bitch is my boyfriend."
Draco shrugged. "Sure. I think it would be funny to see his face."
"I thought you wanted me to wait."
"I guess I forgot about Diagon Alley." He sat up and leaned back against the many pillows the decorated his bed.
"Are you mad at me?" she asked tentatively as she looked out the window once again.
"No. Why would I be mad at you?"
"I don't know," she sighed. "I just get paranoid sometimes."
Draco smiled and tilted her chin so she could look into his beautiful, silver eyes; they were warm and caring. "You shouldn't be. It'll make you feel stressed out and that's not healthy."
Hermione managed a small smile. "I'm really tired. I think I'm gunna go to bed."
"Okay. Goodnight."
She gave him a small peck on the lips and headed down the hall to her room. Once she had changed into her pajamas and laid down on her bed, she pulled her discman out of her trunk. Evanescence was still in it from the previous night when she had been listening to it. She changed tracks until she reached "Bring Me To Life." She sand along, but not too loud since she wasn't particularly fond of her voice even though she was a very good singer. "How can you see into my eyes like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Frozen inside without your touch without your love darling only you are the life among the dead
All of this time I can't believe I couldn't see Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought without a voice without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
(Bring me to life)
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
(Bring me to life)"
Once the song was over, she put it on random and fell asleep. For the first time in months, she had a dream.
xxx Dream Sequence xxx
She was in a forest. It was night. The moon was shining brightly through the dense treetops. She looked around. There were trees everywhere. Someone was watching her. She saw his red hair behind a tree. Someone else was walking toward her, his silver-blonde hair shining in the moonlight. A smile spread across her face as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Sorry I'm late," he whispered. "I was held up by Snape on my way out of the common room."
"That's all right," she responded. "I knew you'd show. Oh, there's something else, Weasley's behind the fourth tree on your left. His hair made him visible in the moonlight before."
Draco nodded and pulled her to the right. "I've been wanting to do this for a long time now. There's a reason why I told you to meet me here tonight. First of all, I want you to know that I love you more than anything and that I would do anything for you." He paused to kiss her. He then got down on one knee and took her hands in his. "The second thing is, there is no one I'd rather spend the rest of my life with. Hermione, will you marry me?"
"NOOOOO!" Ron yelled as he jumped out from behind the tree. "He doesn't love you, 'Mione! You'll be making a big mistake if you say "yes". I love you. I always have."
Hermione faced him, her eyes glowing with hatred. "Get the fuck out of here, Weasley. Go fuck Parkinslut or something. How can you even think about saying you love me? After everything you've done to me, how can you expect me to believe a word you say? I love Draco Malfoy, and you have destroyed the biggest moment of my life. I hate you Ronald Weasley!" She lunged at him, but Draco held her back.
"You have no business here, Weasel. Go back to the castle and leave us alone. Or is there something else? Does your master have other plans?"
Ron pointed his wand at Draco's heart. "Now you die."
xxx End Dream Sequence xxx
Hermione awoke with sweat upon her brow. That was one dream she hoped would never come true-well the end of it anyway. The sunrise could be seen through the window. It was very pretty this morning. She sat on the windowsill and watched the yellows and reds and oranges mix together. Watching the rise of the sun was always very relaxing for her.
A soft tap on the door broke her peaceful trance. She stood and went to the door. Draco was standing there, fully dressed and ready to go. "You should get ready. We'll leave as soon as you're dressed."
Hermione nodded as Draco turned. She closed the door and pulled out long, blue shorts that were frayed at the bottoms and a grey t-shirt.
Once she dressed, she opened her door and found Draco leaning against the wall. "Ready to go?" he asked.
"Yup."
They went to the nearest fireplace and flooed to Diagon Alley. When they had brushed all the soot off them, they went in the direction of Gringotts to retrieve some money.
"I see you didn't gel your hair as you usually do," Hermione commented with a small smile playing upon her lips.
He smirked. "Nah, it looks better this way. Plus, I look less like my father. Thanks for not letting me keep it that way yesterday."
"No problem."
The previous summer, Hermione had opened a vault in Gringotts so she would have money somewhere safe where her parents couldn't touch it.
Once they had taken out enough money to last them the year, they went back into the streets to buy their needed supplies. The first place they stopped was Flourish and Blott's for books. The clerk seemed more than happy to help them, and they were soon on their way.
After that, they brought quills, ink, and parchment then headed to Madame Malkin's for new robes.
As they were walking to the Apothecary to buy their Potions supplies, Hermione saw a familiar head of red hair walking with his a girl with bleached blonde hair. They were holding hands and smiling.
Hermione pulled Draco into a side alleyway between to buildings and told him to be quiet. She then pointed into the road. He followed her gaze and realized what she was talking about.
"Are you gunna break up with him?" he whispered.
Hermione nodded and instructed him to wait where he was. She stepped out in front of Ron and Pansy as they neared and put on a sweet smile. "Well, if it isn't my lying, cheating, good-for-nothing boyfriend and his whore. You guys look so happy. Didn't think you'd get caught, did you?"
Ron immediately dropped Pansy's hand and the smile vanished from his face. "Hermione, it wasn't what it looked like. I swear."
"Yeah, Ron, I believe you," she retorted sarcastically. "Sources say you've been fucking her for a while now."
Ron's face contorted into one of anger. "Who told you that?"
"So it's true then?"
"Who told you?" He moved closer to her. His face turned bright red, and it looked as if a vein was about to explode in his head.
"It really doesn't matter. We're over, Ron. You can have your damn whore. There is a guy I'd much rather be with, but unlike you, I waited until we broke up to do anything."
"Who told you?" he asked again. His body was shaking with rage, and his fists were balled at his sides.
Draco stepped out next to Hermione. "I did, okay Weasel. I told her everything right down to your new alliance."
"You son of a bitch! You go to those meetings too. And you just ruined all of his plans. Do you know how stupid you are? You've defied your Lord!"
Draco smirked and showed Ron his forearm. "He's not my Lord. He never was and never will be. Can't say the same for you though."
Ron glared menacingly at Draco. "You know what, Ferret, you can have the damn bitch. I never liked her anyway. Don't look at me like that. You were just a means of getting me into the swing of things."
Tears rolled down Hermione cheeks. "Why did you tell me that you loved me then? Why did you say that you would do anything for me? Fuck you, Ron. I hate you and I will never talk to you again for as long as I live!" She turned on her heel and stormed off, dragging Draco behind her.
After a few paces, she paused and slammed her lips into his. She pulled away a few seconds later and buried her head in his chest. Draco simply held her as they stood in the middle of the crowded street. She held onto him tightly as if she would never let go. He pressed his lips to his hair and rubbed her back soothingly.
It seemed as if they had been standing there forever before Hermione finally looked up at him. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"For what?"
"Making you stand here in the middle of everything with me." She sniffled a little as a few last tears streamed down her face.
Draco wiped away her tears with his thumb. "Don't be sorry for that. I'm still living aren't I? Let's go back to the Manor. You've had a rough day."
He carried all of their things. Hermione walked beside him quietly staring fixedly at her feet with each step she took, refusing to look at anything or anyone.
Back at the Manor, they sat on Draco's bed and listened to some of Hermione's CDs. She would occasionally sing along, but stop when she felt Draco's eyes on her.
"Don't stop," he'd insist. "You have an very nice voice."
Every time she would scoff at him and reply with, "Yeah right."
Neither of them brought up the topic of dating even though it was nagging at the back of both their minds. They each thought that the other wouldn't want to talk about it at that point in time.
Hermione was eventually lulled to sleep by the sound of the loud music pounding in her ears. Her head was rested on Draco's chest, and his arms were wrapped around her, making sure she wouldn't move.
Draco's heart was pounding. He wanted to take back everything he had ever said or done to Hermione. He knew that if he ever did find the courage to ask her out there would always be that guilty conscience nagging at him. There was no possible way he could take back all the hurt he had inflicted upon her over the years, but he wished he could.
A window was left slightly ajar. The warm summer breeze blew through it and danced across their faces. That distinct smell of summer was present in the air. The moon shined through the glass illuminating the once cold, now warm grey eyes of Draco Malfoy as he watched the sleeping angel in his arms.