Pointless
disclaimer: Gertie nor Tessa
own Harry Potter or any characters within the HP world. If they did they would
buy more cats. Hanson owns the rights to the song and lyrics to "Dying to
Be Alive" so as you see we're still poor being that we didn't write that
either.
Dying To Be Alive
Chapter 1 "The people you've touched"
The people you've touched
The way you've touched them
I hope they've touched you too…
The desk in the small office located on the 14th floor of the skyscraper in
downtown London was covered in paper work, and the desk's owner was leaning
back restlessly in the green leather swivel chair. She reached behind her
head and pulled out the pony tail holder from her hair and let a waterfall of
brown curls fall down into her face, blocking the view of paperwork before
her. She sighed slightly before returning her hair back up and pulling her
chair back up to the desk.
Before she could reach for a paper, her door flung open and a tall man
with blonde hair covering his face strode in.
"Hermione darling," he crooned walking over to the desk, "Ready to go?"
Hermione smiled at the man. "Sorry Draco, but I've got work,"
"Work sucks, lets go home," Draco replied, with a near whining tone to
his deep voice, as he picked up some papers from the desk, "You can finish
this tomorrow, you've been here all day,"
Hermione reached over and took the paper from Draco's hands, "I know but
Percy needs this on his desk by tomorrow. I've got more work then hours in
the day, I've got to attempt to finish some -" she was cut off by Draco's
lips against hers. Her face melted into a smile as he pulled away.
"Sorry, sometimes I just can't help it," he grinned at her. She stood up
and draped her arms around his shoulders.
"You are unbelievable but really hun, go home I'll be there in the
morning," she let go of him and sat down.
"You sure?" he asked raising a blonde eyebrow.
"Have I ever not been?" she smiled at him and reached for another paper
on her desk.
"That's my girl, just don't have too much fun out here," Draco said
starting towards the door, "See you tonight, love,"
"Tonight Draco, love you," she called out after him as he walked out of
her office door letting it shut behind him. Hermione sighed again and ran
her eyes over the paper in front of her. The paper on the desk read of a certain
accident involving muggles coming across a few wizards doing illegal magic
and now it was Hermione's problem to fix it. Being second in charge of the
Ministry Of Magic, was a respectable job, but full of these sorts of endless
working nights. But Hermione was used to working late nights and solving
hard problems, they'd been part of her life for as long as she could remember
now. All the way back to the days of her first year at Hogwarts... But she didn't
think of those days much now. If it wasn't for the old worn out picture on
her desk she wouldn't even bother thinking about her past. But every time
the desk would clear of it's papers late at night, the picture of her and two
strapping young men would stare at her from it's place behind the frame.
Even tonight when the papers piled high, she could see the picture peeking
at her from the corner of the desk, even calling her name slightly in her mind.
Voices from the past calling out from across a time span of many years...
---
10 years ago the office on the 14th floor looked pretty much the same. The
only exception was Hermione, herself, really. She was obviously 10 years
younger, and lighter in heart than the woman she'd become now. Still she was
seated at her desk surrounded by paperwork, drowning in new responsibilities
due to her new position within the Ministry and also nagged by a strange
foreboding feeling in the air. Before she had time to dwell on that feeling,
the door to her office crashed open with a loud bang and a tall, but
relatively skinny, man stormed in.
"Hermione." His voice was low but with a clear accusatory tone
underneath the civil tone he was trying to portray "It was you wasn't it?"
he said making his way across the office and over to her desk, she stood up
quickly.
"Relax Harry!" she walked over to him, he ran a hand through his mess
of black hair.
"Relax? Oh relax you say? Well let me tell you the kind of day I've
had Hermione, I just got back from a meeting with Percy, who informed me I
no longer have a job! On top of that, I find out it's you who's to blame?
Tell me, do you think you could relax?" he said turning to her, his normally
kind green eyes seemed to be even icier than his voice if that was at all
possible.
"Me? Harry, you are the one taking extreme measures here, I only told
Percy he should talk to you about following the rules. You can't just go
around doing what you want and not report or answer to anyone Harry. There
are proper channels, things that must be done. You know that." Hermione
replied flatly. She had always tried to live her life by the rules, usually
that worked. In all cases when Harry Potter wasn't involved that is.
"Rules Hermione? Is this what this all about? I do things my way, and
look they've worked so far!" he shouted nearly shaking in anger, just as the
door swung open once again and a taller man with ginger red hair walked
slowly in.
"Ah good I was hoping I'd find the two of you here," Ron said
cheerily, he paused and looked at his friends. Harry's face was flushed with
anger, and Hermione looked a little worried but stubborn, "Uh what's going
on?"
"Nothing Ron, this isn't the time," Hermione said to him, "We are
just having a discussion that's all,"
"Looks more like an argument to me. No need to worry, I'll just take
the audience status on this," Ron knew better than to get in between them in
a time like this. He walked over to Hermione's green chair and took a seat
behind the desk, "Go on, argue."
"Know what Ron? Grow up." Harry said to his best friend, Ron looked
hurt.
"I was just trying to lighten up the mood that's all," Ron said, hurt
in his voice apparent. The trio looked at each other, each a bit lost for
words at the moment.
"Anyways," Harry turned to Hermione, "I'd appreciate if you'd stop
trying to help me or whatever you call it because you seemed to land me in
more trouble then anything else. Things were working out fine before you
stepped in and now I don't have a job here anymore. Is that what you wanted?
Was I too good for you Hermione? Too much paperwork for you?" Harry raised
his voice at her.
If this was a few years back, Hermione would have burst into tears on the
spot and ran away, but things changed and she wasn't going to do that again.
"Harry Potter, I have no idea what's gotten into you! I'm trying to
help you, like I've been doing your whole life. Who's saved your arse from
just about every situation you've gotten yourself into? I just want to make
sure you are safe! And running around like a madman after every dark wizard
in the world without any help or back up isn't safe!" she yelled back at
him.
Suddenly Ron seemed discontent with watching the argument and jumped in, "Oh
and I suppose I haven't done anything in saving Harry's life...," he trailed.
Hermione looked at him and rolled her eyes.
"Ron this really doesn't involve you," she said to him.
"Of course it doesn't because nothing ever involves me anymore. You
two got your fancy jobs and I've got nothing, just once can I know what's
really going on?" he questioned.
"Hermione got me fired, and now I'm just a bum like you," Harry
sneered suddenly feeling angry at his friends. He hated being cruel to
anyone normally but at the moment it was the only emotion he had it in himself to
feel.
"Bum like me?" Ron rose to his feet, "I am not a bum! I just haven't
found a good job yet, that's all!" he protested.
"I think we are missing the point here, I'm fired, hello? Boy Who
Saved the World, over here. All because Little Miss Control-freak didn't
Like my way of following the rules." Harry shouted, throwing his hands up in
frustration.
"Is that what you think then? That you are just so important! Never
mind then what I wanted to tell you guys, I'm leaving, come find me if you
can dare to care about someone other then yourself! And yes, I do mean both
of you!" Ron promptly walked out of the room slamming the door behind him.
"You know he's right Harry, do you think the world revolves around
you? Yeah you saved the world and all but that's not what it's all about!
What's happened to you Harry?" Hermione said looking into Harry's deep green
eyes. He stared back at her for a second.
"I could ask the same thing Hermione, what happened to you?" he said
back.
"I grew up and got a job, Harry. I have more responsibilities then
making sure you don't get yourself killed. It's about time you started to be
responsible and grew up," she said firmly, and then without a word Harry
Potter exited her life, with one last slam of the door.
--
Hermione's mind pulled itself from the past once again and back into the
paperwork piled up in front of her. She had to get this work done and thinking
about Harry and Ron wasn't a good way to start. When the papers started to
diminish and her wrist started to give an all too familiar ache from writing she
looked up at the clock on her desk.
1:34 am.
She let out a sigh. "Another all nighter Granger," she muttered. Her eyes
then drifted back to the picture of her, Ron and Harry. It was taken only a
few days before she last saw them both. When Harry slammed her office
door, she knew in her heart he wasn't going to come back in it any time
soon. She knew all too well she could have gone to find him, but he wasn't
himself anymore and her stubborn manner told her mind that she was simply
better off.
As for Ron, she didn't go after him either, she didn't know what to say to him.
They'd been off and on for so long, she figured she'd settle it once and for all.
She simply didn't love Ron in a romantic context and she knew even back then
all the "time" in the world wouldn't change that. He too never walked back
through her door and if it wasn't for Percy Weasley being the Minister,
she'd never know what was going on in the Weasley family.
She heard about Harry, here and there from news reports and general gossip
around the office, but in the last ten years she hadn't seen either man face
to face. She even had days when was sure if she'd walked past them on the
street Hermione wouldn't be able to tell they were her ex-best friends, and
that, always succeeded in making her sad.
Another hour passed before she gave up and decided to just go home. Hermione
piled her papers in a neat pile on the side of her desk, and went for her robe
that was hanging on the pole. She draped it around her shoulders and took
a deep breath before apperateing herself into her kitchen.
Her house was a modest one, in a small village outside of London. Her and
Draco took residence in one of the smallest houses in the town, and lived a
comfortable existence.
Draco was sound asleep when she walked into their room, she paused at the
doorframe and smiled at her sleeping husband half hidden underneath the
covers. The only thing visible from her position was a fluff of blonde hair peaking
out from the top of the covers. Being married for nine years so far, Hermione
was convinced she knew nearly everything about Draco, she even knew the
positions he slept in at night, and the expressions his face makes as he
dreams. She quickly walked into the bathroom, and changed into a nightgown
before slipping as gently as she could manage into bed with Draco. She
sighed, curling up underneath the covers as she tried to let the stresses
of the day leave her body. Draco rolled over and his face smiled, without
opening his eyes as he started to talk.
"Hmm, I was wondering when you'd come home," he said softly to her,
reaching over to pull her closer to him, "this isn't a comfortable bed
without you in it." She smiled and breathed in the scent of fallen rain
coming from his hair.
"I love you too," she said to him, but he had already dosed off and she
soon followed, feeling warm and safe in his arms.
Both Hermione and Draco were deep in their own respective dreams, when a
noise from the front of the house echoed in the hallways and soon found its
way into their bedroom.
Unable to ignore the insistent pounding, Hermione's eyes crept open and she
took a minute to realize the sound was coming from her front door. She sat up,
grabbed the robe from the counter, and took off for the front door.
"I'm coming!" she managed to call out as she approached the door, her
eyes still squinting at any light. She swung the door open and the second she saw
who was on the other side her eyes widened, she awoke in an instant.
Harry Potter was standing in the door way of her house. His body had
filled out over the years, and he now carried a muscular frame that seemed
to have grown taller as well. His hair and eyes were the only thing that seemed
to of remained the same over the years. His face seemed sharper and the appearance
of old scars, as well as the famous one on his forehead gave him the look of
age. He was wearing a tattered tee shirt and a pair of hole filled jeans.
Something else about him looked… off.
His hand braced on the door frame seemed to be the only thing holding him
upright.
But when Hermione looked at Harry, she saw the twelve year old boy who had
just some back from the hospital wing after finding the Sorcerer's stone.
With the same scars running along his face and the same expression of "battle
weary" written all over it.
It was Harry and he was very tired.
"Hermione," his deepened voice breathed out, she could almost feel the
pain.
"Harry, what happened to you?" she asked her mind trying to figure out
if maybe this was all a dream.
"I can't explain now, but can I stay here, tonight? I promise I'll
explain in the morning," he said a bit quicker with a desperate note in his
voice. Just then Hermione heard another voice calling from behind her and
she knew the owner just as well, if not better.
"Herms, who's at the door this late? If it's that encyclopedia salesman
again so help me Merlin I'll..." Draco wandered from the hallway,
tying his robe around his waist, but stopped short when he spotted Harry
standing at the door.
"Malfoy?!?" Harry gasped out.
"Potter?!?" Draco stood back astonished at the sight before him.
"Hermione! Watch out it's Malfoy!" Harry sort of tried to walk forward
but the second his hand left the wall he tumbled into the house, and into
Hermione's arms. She caught him and looked towards Draco for help. He walked
over and grabbed Harry's other side.
"Yes Harry, I know." Hermione said shortly. She had always knew this
moment would someday come.
"But.?" Harry looked up at his childhood friend seemingly completely
perplexed.
"Draco is here because, well I'm married to him," she replied walking Harry
over to the couch, he sat down quickly and the two sat on either side of him,
"What's going on, are you ok?"
Harry was looking intently from Hermione to Draco back and forth and
there was a pause before he comprehended her questions "Yeah, yes I'm ok. I
think?... Did you really just tell me that you're married to Malfoy? He asked.
When Draco snorted and Hermione didn't answer Harry seemed to remember why
he was here once more. "Mione," he said softly, "I need your help, and I
promise I'll explain in the morning," he let out a stiffly yawn and Draco
added his own after Harry.
"Do you expect us, after 10 years of absence, to just up and let you
stay here?" Draco asked him raising his eyebrow. He shot an expression
to his wife, who was busy looking at Harry's face.
"I wouldn't be here if wasn't important," Harry turned to Draco.
Hermione spoke up, "You can stay Harry, but in the morning you have a lot of
talking to do," she said standing up, "Draco please go and get Harry a
blanket and pillow," she started to walk towards the back room again.
Draco rolled his eyes and mumbled something under his breath that Harry
swore sounded like "crazy mudblood" as he too walked off into a hallway. He
returned a few minutes later carrying a blanket and a pillow, he tossed them on Harry.
"This better be good Potter," he mumbled before walking away back to his
bed.
"Well goodnight to you too Malfoy," Harry said softly, before stretching
out across the brown couch. He was still trying to wrap his mind around what
had just happened. However considering the rest of the things on Harry's
mind Hermione could of married a blast ended skwert and it might not of
broken the shock he was already under. Before he knew it, Harry felt the
physical exhaustion take over and he fell asleep.
---
Harry Potter's green eyes slowly started to open to the light that now
pierced the room. Growing up, he learned not only to stay perfectly still
when he slept, which helped him not to fall off the narrow couch, but to get
ready with little light. So when the room filled with a bright color, Harry's mind
raced for a second, forgetting where he was. When his eyes did open, the
view in front of him sent him flying off the couch and barreling into
something tall and solid knowing them both to the floor.
"Potter, what the bloody hell was that for?!" Draco shouted standing up,
and pushing the blanket and Harry's arm off himself.
Harry stood up quickly, and for a second towered over Draco, until he straightened
his shoulders and the men were at a dead even height.
"You shouldn't have scared me like that Malfoy, I'm not use to your ugly
face every morning," Harry sneered back, "Where's Hermione?" he asked.
"Right here," Hermione walked over from the kitchen holding three cups
of tea in her hands, "And can't you two talk civil for once?" She handed Draco
and Harry a cup of tea and sat down on the couch herself, Draco and Harry
followed her actions.
"But it's... Potter," Draco whined at his wife, "Its a rule somewhere, I
have to," he whimpered to her playfully.
"Just try Draco," she said softly sitting her hand on her husband's
forearm, "For me?" She then looked past Draco to Harry, "I believe you owe
us an explanation for just showing up here at 3:00 am last night Harry."
"Was it that late? Shit, I'm sorry Hermione. I just needed to talk to
you badly," he said, running a hand threw his hair clearly nervous, "And. I didn't
have anywhere else to go. I got your address from the muggle phonebook.
Thanks for letting me stay, I appreciate it. Like I said I'll tell you what's going on
but," He stopped and looked up at her imploringly, "But first I need you to
help me get Ron here-"
"Ok no! That's where I draw the line, it's bad enough I have Potter on
my couch, there is no way the Weasel is coming here too. Have your little
Gryffindor reunion else where," Draco crossed his arms and leaned back on
The couch. He knew all about the history between Ron Weasley and his wife and so
having Harry here was one thing, having Ron there as well? Out of the
question.
"I haven't talked to Ron since, well, the last time I talked to you. I
haven't the slightest idea where he is at," Hermione answered completely
ignoring Draco, something she'd learned to do over the years.
"And like I said, no way in hell," Draco added proudly.
"Don't you work for his brother? Can't you ask him or something?
Hermione please! I need your help and I don't have anywhere else to turn ok? Look I'm
sorry for all the crap in the past, but please just this one last time.
Mione, please?" Harry pleaded looking at his ex-best friend. Hermione sighed
And rolled her eyes.
Draco knew what was coming next and interjected.
"Hermione! Come on, really, can't we just throw him on the street? I'll
buy you that antique bookshelf you wanted. I'll cook dinner for you
every night, I promise. Anything but the weas-" Draco's exclamations were
cut short.
Harry started to laugh.
"Marriage sure did turn you into a pansy Draco," he said laughing a bit
more. Draco turned his face toward Harry. It was reading, well you guessed
it, the "Draco Malfoy Sneer Of Impending Peril".
"This, Potter, is my house. You are an unwelcome guest and if I want to
act like a pansy then I can damn well do so!" Draco said and then turned
back to his wife, "What do you say? I'll kick him out on my own, I'll even
attempt not to hurt him," He said with a slight grin, one he full well knew she
usually melted to.
Hermione looked at Draco, then to Harry. "I'll get you Ron's address, but
You go find him. He can come here, you can tell us what's going on and then
you're on your own. Draco, no buts ok? This is all doing my head in. And Harry?
No more surprise visitors you got me?" she rose to her feet, "I'm going to work now,
I'll send Ekindu with the address when I get it, until then I expect you two
not to fight. I want this house clean and neither of you hurt, dead or any
bloody combination of the two when I get back," she sternly said, and then
proceeded to get her robe and with a quick "pop" she was out of the house.
"Wow," Harry said finally, he smiled at Draco and patted his back, "You
really are just Hermione's bitch aren't you?"
--
It didn't take long for Hermione to send her owl, Ekindu, over with Ron's
address. In the meantime Draco made it clear Harry wasn't to acknowledge his
presence, and quickly became engrossed in a TV talk show and ignored Harry's
looks of utter boredom.
Before long Harry was at the door step of Ron's little shack of a house
located a few blocks down from Fred & George's joke shop, where Harry
found out that Ron had carried a part-time job.
He took a deep breath and smoothed down his messy hair, he had been much
More nervous about going to Ron than he had been about Hermione. He knew after
ten years she would have cooled down a bit, but he had no clue about Ron.
After taking a moment more to collect himself Harry rang the door bell, and a
second later the door swung up.
"Ron!" Harry said quickly, but it was too late, the second Harry came
into view Ron slammed the door shut. "Well now I know, he still hates me," Harry
said softly to himself and went to knock again, "RON!" he called out through
the door, "Please open the door!"
The door swung open again and Ron stood tall at it's entrance. He looked the
same as Harry always remembered him, tall, big nose, hands, and of course a
mane of shaggy red hair falling from his head.
"What do you want Harry?" he said in exasperated tone.
"Uh..." Harry figured it best to go for the direct truth with Ron. "For
you to help me?"
"Of course, I'm the side kick, I have to save the super hero!" Ron
yelled.
"Oh Ron, really just come with me, I'll explain when we get to
Hermione's,"
"Oh so you go to Hermione first then me, I see how that goes. What if I
don't want to help you?"
"Then fine don't help me then. I came to because you are... well... were
my best friend and I thought if anyone else in the world would come to help me
it'd be you, but apparently I was wrong," Harry said and crossed his arms
waiting for the door to be slammed into his face.
"I haven't seen you in 10 years Harry," Ron sighed defeated.
"I know, but if you don't like what I tell you then you can go back
home, but give me a chance, please?" Harry said again.
"Fine, one chance, but that's it," Ron said and opened the door wider,
"You can come in for a second," Ron said finally looking around himself.
Harry nodded and walked into the small house.
It looked as if there was only a bed room, bathroom, kitchen and a couch. It
was a large contrast to what Hermione was living in. It was dirty and there
were food wrappers and clothes strewn all over the floor. Ron walked into
what Harry figured was his bed room and came out a minute later, ready to go.
"We can Apperiate to her front door then we go in ok?" Harry said. Ron
nodded and Harry told Ron the general direction of Hermione's house and with
a pop and a second later they were at the front door. Harry reached for the
handle.
"Wait Harry, um how's y'know Hermione doing lately?" Ron asked suddenly
starting to go red in the ears.
Harry smiled, he couldn't wait to open the door.
"Oh, she's doing wonderful Ron," he said trying to hold back the grin
that was sweeping across his face. He swung open the door.
The sight before them, made the three pairs of eyes widen. Sitting on the
couch, wearing a blue bathrobe, with his feet propped up against the couch,
and a can of butterbeer in his hands, sat Draco Malfoy.
"Well hello there lover," Draco said smirking when he saw Harry and Ron
at the door.
"If that's Hermione," Ron started, "Then I've been gone for a lot longer
then 10 years."