Sign Your Name Across My Heart
Chapter Fourteen: Caliga Irrisorie
Proclaimer: Humm... Well, despite the rumors, I did not steal JKR's manuscript and rewrite it for fanfiction purposes.... *cough* But I do have a fun Philosophy book! No, I did not just change the subject. *shifty eyes*
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Flashback:
"There's nothing we can do about it, Mione," Harry said from across the room, his voice numbly blank.
"I- I just can't believe it- it can't be-" Hermione choked out.
"It is," Harry said in a low voice, anguish wrapped around his words, "Oh, fuck, I cant stand it any more than you can-" he spoke rapidly, facing the wall- "But there's nothing we can do about it- just we have to know- that we were good to him-" Harry's voice broke, and he slid to the floor silently, tears slipping out of his eyes- "Oh, Mione, oh, fuck, it's not right..."
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Hermione let her breath out slowly as she slipped off the invisibility cloak, folding it carefully and setting it at the foot of a nearby tree. She had told Harry, after hours and hours of endless anguish with him, that she needed some fresh air and some time alone... and the first hadn't been a lie.
But she wasn't alone.
Draco was there, sitting and looking out at the lake. He had been there for hours, surrounded by the trees and the wind and the wildlife; it cleared his mind and helped him to think, let him become one with nature. He never even noticed the dull ache in his stomach that came with hunger, until he heard footsteps coming up behind him. He had stood up and watched as Hermione took off her invisibility cloak, then he walked towards her, determined to get her to soften up to him. He couldn't have her be angry at him for much longer; she might realize that he had changed her memory of that night....
"Hey, baby," Draco breathed, his arms circling Hermione's waist. He gently laid a kiss on the top of her head, then pulled her close to him for what he hoped would be a comforting embrace.
Hermione took another deep breath, broken slightly by a few strangled sobs. Slowly, she calmed.
The breeze caressed her tear-stained face, blowing her loose hair behind her, as Draco held her gently..
After several silent moments spent in Draco's arms, Hermione was finally calm enough to ask Draco what she had needed to ask him all day. She took a deep breath and pulled herself away from Draco's warm body so she could look into his eyes. "Draco... What happened last night? I- I need to know...." she asked, a desperate edge to her voice.
Draco swallowed, immediately coming up with a story to give her. His eyes looked sadly into hers as he began, "P-Pettigrew brought him to Voldemort... I t-tried to talk him out of it, but he killed him before I could change his mind...." he explained. "I'm sorry...." he whispered, a wayward tear falling down his cheek. Really, it wasn't too far from the truth..
"Ohhh..." Hermione murmured softly, a few tears sliding down her cheeks and dripping off her down-turned face into the underbrush. Draco swallowed hard as her hands slowly slipped out of his- God, this is cruel- this is so fucking cruel- His heart began beating faster- He suddenly knew what would happen next, and he knew that he wouldn't like it-
"Draco," she broke out suddenly, the instant before she had turned away. "Draco- did he- did he say anything before he died- did he scream my name- did he know-"
"No... he- he didn't say anything-" Draco stuttered, looking away, avoiding Hermione's pale face-
"Nothing at all?" Her voice was desperate-
"N-No," Draco said in a voice he hoped was natural-
"Did he know?"
"Know what-"
"Us-"
"No," Draco replied immediately, swallowing hard, carelessly brushing away a stray tear- "He had no idea.. I'm sure of it..." Hermione nodded imperceptibly, turning away- "Hermione-"
"Yes?"
"Look- baby- I know this is hard for you- it's hard for me, too..." Draco paused, realizing he was clenching a branch behind him with all his strength- closing his eyes briefly, he let go and then looked Hermione directly in the eye- "But look- we've got to get through this together..."
Hermione closed her eyes; she had to think about some things, and she had to do it with a clear head. She had come outside in the hopes of clearing it, but it looked as if it had just gotten muddled even worse than before. She shook her head and whispered, "I... I can't.... Not right now... I need to- to think.... And Harry.. He's still up there... He needs me now, and I need him. You- you understand... Don't you? W-we were th-- the Golden Trio...." She choked down a sob that threatened to come out at those words, then walked past Draco to retrieve her -- Harry's -- invisibility cloak and walk back inside the school.
As Draco watched her walk away, he couldn't help the pang of guilt he had. Hermione disappeared under her invisibility cloak, and Draco sighed, I should have told her the truth...
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Hermione swallowed hard as she stepped into her common room- her rendezvous with Draco had left her feeling more confused and upset than before, and she had been on the brink of bursting into tears the entire walk back.
Slipping off her cloak, she closed her eyes briefly, willing herself to calm down. She still had Harry, and they would be able to get through this together... yes, with Harry she'd find the serenity and solace she hadn't found with Draco... After all, she had been close friends with Harry and Ron for six years now. Six years...
Hermione's steps, silent on the lush carpet, instinctively carried her towards Harry's dorm. I'll be okay- this will all be okay- Harry and I will get through this together, Hermione thought to herself. It will be okay-
She opened the door softly-
-and stopped short.
No.
Oh, fuck, no.
This isn't happening, Hermione thought wildly, as she stared at Harry.
Harry-
On Ron's bed, his face streaked with tears, his eyes glistening, yet his expression strangely peaceful-
His fingers caressing the shiny blade of a large knife-
On Ron's bed-
As Hermione closed the door and ran to her own room, she realized the irony. Ron, who had died the night before, turned up dead on Harry's bed; Harry- who was practically dead on the inside now, as he was closer with Ron than Hermione had been- would be dying on Ron's bed, using Ron's knife....
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A/N: Well, another chapter, another sad cliffie, and don't yell at me for Harry. We all know that he needs to kill Voldie, I'm not about to kill Harry and Ron :P
JoeBob1379: I love you and your habit of quoting! Haha! You're like my own little Creevey, cept without the camera... and without us all being magical folk... But thankies muchly! :D
moondocc: Here, how's this? A bit longer, and you only had to wait two weeks for this one :P
halosangel: Oh, but it is bad for you :P
Mrs. Nikky Weasley/Grint: Hmm...well, since he's not half-naked anymore, guess we'll just need to hope my Muses decide to make Draco get undressed and very wet sometime soon. I have no clue what happens in the next chapter, so yeah... I could probably fit a shower scene in again, if you want.
PinkTribeChick: ...no comment. GET OVER HIM! *shifty eyes* What do you know? How did you find out? I'LL KILL YOU! ...just kidding.....