AN: More fluffangst goodness from the Angel with nothing to do…

Ahem… someone asked where I got all this angst. Ha, someone please tell me if that was a compliment or an insult! Dearie, (I won't disclose your name), I get this angst from myself, my own bubbling cauldron of emotions, and from a certain brown-blond haired young man by the name of Raf. And for all the angst lovers out there, I present to you the latest so-called tear-jerker of Archangela!

Dedicated to: Raf. No Questions Asked.

Disclaimer: J.K Rowling owns all characters mentioned, but I own the plot and the angst and the barely-there fluff. The eccentric and wonderful Robbie Williams has the rights to the song "Eternity'.

Somber Serenade

Close your eyes so you don't hear them

Hermione shut her eyes, unbelieving. How could this be? For so long… he was gone. And now… this. She held in her hands a simple letter, plain, and written with a beautiful, flowing script. The handwriting that was once so familiar to her, and now, it had taken her a few minutes to realize who the letter was from.

And now, that she had read and re-read the letter, bringing herself fresh waves of pain, she closed her eyes and began to cry silently.

They don't need to see you cry

"Darling, what's wrong?" Someone knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his, ignoring the letter half-hidden in the pillows. Hermione blinked, and the worried face of Harry Potter swam into view in front of her. "N-nothing, Harry…" she tried to smile. "Just that- time of month, I guess." Harry nodded, still worried. "If it's okay with you, I'll go upstairs and put Catherine to sleep…" Harry stood up, and pressing his lips gently to her forehead, walked upstairs.

Hermione sighed and glanced at the letter in her lap, still crying fresh tears.

I can't promise I will heal you

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Hermione,

Maybe I should say hello, maybe I should write cheerful banter and pleasantries, and maybe I should have written Dear before your name… but I seriously doubt that this letter is going to be cheerful, or pleasant… but there is no question that to me, you are, and will always be dear.

But if you want to, I will try

I may have taken you by surprise, have I? Or maybe you've forgotten my handwriting by now. Five years is a long time, but the heart does not easily forget. Mine does not, for sure.

To tell the honest, shameful truth, I do not know why I am writing this letter, or why I am writing this to you. You cannot save me, you have no power to. And if you ever did write back, you will never receive a reply from me ever again.

I'll sing this somber serenade

Have you remembered? I have never forgotten. You were my one and only love, and you still are, Hermione… believe me, I have never loved another, since that Day.

The past is done

The Day when Ministry officials stormed into our house. The Day I was dragged away from you and the peaceful existence he once had. The Day I saw you on the floor, crying. The Day we lost each other.

It took us by surprise, didn't it? Until today, I cannot believe that one moment I was sitting down to dinner with the most beautiful woman in the world, and the next, I was being held at wand-point by a sinister man in black. Until today, I am still being held at wand-point, and until today, I believe that I will be sitting down to dinner with you… someday.

We've been betrayed

Do you really know what happened? Of course you do. It was all over the papers the very next day. Malfoys Exiled. Wizards With Bad Ideas Carted Away to Who-Knows-Where. They were very witty, the newspaper people… which is more than I can say for the man who sent us here.

It seems that we have been exiled because of my father. Yes, my father, the dead one. Lucius. The one who, apparently, walked right into a Muggle World Leaders Meeting and committed suicide. Taking each and every Muggle there with him.

It's true

Someone said the truth will out

I believe without a doubt

In you

Hermione, when you remember everything, does it ever hurt you? I sorely wish it doesn't, but whenever I lose myself in memory, here in the cold, dark rooms of the house we are sent to live in, it hurts. It hurts like hell, Hermione, because I miss you. Because I love you.

You were there for summer dreaming

One summer seems like a short time to meet and fall hopelessly in love with somebody, doesn't it? Especially if that somebody happens to be the kind of person you've sworn you would hate forevermore. But that summer, the third one after graduation, we met again, and instead, I found myself swearing I would love you forevermore.

And you gave me what I need

Hermione, do you know how much I needed you? You were my laughter, my joy, my happiness… my love. You showed me the other half of the world, the one I turned away from the day I was named a Malfoy. You showed me everything I missed. You gave me trust, friendship and love.

And I hope you find your freedom

I wish you the best, Hermione. I sit here in this dank, gloomy room, stare around the bare walls and hope with all my heart that you are safe, warm and happy. I don't care if I'm in danger and chilled to the bone, as long as you don't feel any of this, I'm happy as well.

For eternity

Please tell me you remember.

Yesterday, when we were walking

The moonlit walks by the beach, stargazing on the sand, the tender way we made love… everything we did that summer, I relive over and over again in my head… just so I stay sane.

We talked about your mum and dad

Do you know that in that one summer, I opened up to you more than I have opened up to my parents and any of my so-called friends in my whole lifetime?

I told you almost everything. That I hated Potter only because I had to, that I hated Weasley because he was a pain in the arse, that I hated you once, but not anymore. I told you about my father, the way he used to beat me around, the way he'd deny me dinner once in a while, and breakfast, and lunch as well… My mother, how she loved me, how she spoiled me, how she died defending me from my father once again. Do you visit her grave? Please do.

What they did that made you happy

What they did that made you sad

We sat and watched the sun go down

Picked a star before we lost the moon

Looking back, I cannot believe I opened up to you so much. Maybe I shouldn't have. I cannot believe I slept with you, willingly, gladly. Maybe I shouldn't have. I cannot believe I fell in love… with Granger. This is for sure. I should have.

I don't understand why, and I cannot explain, though that could have made things so much better. But Hermione, no one can explain love.

Youth is wasted on the young

Did I mention that I once hated you? We were young, I was foolish. I was blind, controlled, inhibited, passionless and unfeeling.

Sometimes I wish I still am. Then I wouldn't be loving you so, and going through so much pain while at it.

But that would be selfish, don't you think?

Before you know, it's come and gone

Too soon

If I had known that I would end up in a lonely, Unplottable piece of island, if I had known that one day, I would be convicted of crimes I never committed, if I had known that one day, the name Malfoy would be a curse, I would have savored every second of that lost summer.

Every kiss, every touch, every smile on your lips, the scent of your hair and the song of the wind.

You were there for summer dreaming

One summer, and it all disappeared. Along with the wisps of smoke that curled up from the candle on our bedside, along with the cold glasses of pumpkin juice, along with the press of your lips against mine. Along with you.

And you gave me what I need

We'll see each other again, soon. Maybe. But my father's name will never be cleared, and so will mine. I hope against hope, that we'll meet on a busy street, in a day lost over time, and I will be able to make you happy once more.

But Hermione, tell me. Aren't you happy already?

And I hope you find your freedom

You've already found happiness, I know. True bliss, as my sources tell me. Pure rapture. They said I should have seen your face glow with pride and joy… the day you walked down the aisle and married Potter.

For eternity

Don't act surprised that I know this. Yes, you've married Potter. And you're happy, aren't you? You even have a kid. Catherine, isn't it? Give Catherine a kiss on her forehead for me, and tell her that it's from the man who almost became her father.

If it wasn't for that man's own father.

For eternity

Hermione, I am not being bitter. I mean it with all my heart. I would have sent you a spoken letter, but they took away my wand.

Please, don't cry. I'm happy for you, I truly am. But who's to say I'm not sad for myself?

I'll sing this somber serenade

This is sad. I, who has never felt true emotion (other than pride, cold arrogant pride) since five summers ago, feel that this is a sad story to tell.

But it is the truth.

Do you want to know another truth? I still love you, Hermione. I don't know if you still love me, or if you even loved me in the first place… but I'm telling you what is undistorted and real.

The past is done

We've been betrayed

Your daughter must be beautiful, if she's taken after you. I'm sure she has. In a few years' time, she'll have finished the entire library.

It's true

I hope Potter's fine. I would have said a lot more, but if he ever got hurt, then you get hurt. Because you love him.

And I should know, that when the one you love is suffering, it's impossible not to get affected as well.

Youth is wasted on the young

Hermione Granger Potter, to you, I wish the best of luck in everything, and may you find happiness soon.

No, that was wrong. I was wrong. You've already found happiness, haven't you? In your beautiful home, in the safe, comfortable everyday schedule, in your husband, Potter, and in the beautiful child you gave him.

Before you know it's come and gone

Too soon

As for me, I'll just sit here and dream. Dream of the day I'll be able to see you again. Dream of the day I'll be able to touch you once more, even in a simple handshake. Dream of the day, when I'll be able to live once more…

You were there for summer dreaming

Dream of that summer lost.

And you are a friend indeed

I'll always love you, even if you don't love me back, Hermione. For the rest of my life.

And I know you'll find your freedom

Hermione, all I really want is your happiness. Even if I'm not part of it.

- Draco -

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For eternity

Hermione covered her face with her hands and cried. She cried for that man, lost and lonely, living on a dream that will never come true. She cried for Harry, knowing that she never truly loved him, and never truly will. She cried for Catherine, child born of a false love, a child that could never have been born at all. And she cried for herself, simply because she had absolutely no idea what to do.

The parchment, folded and re-folded, marked with tear-stains, floated to the floor, that parchment, laboriously written by quill by candlelight, by that lost and lonely man, living on a dream that could never come true.

For eternity