Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Author's Note: I'm doing my best to write the chapters as quickly as possible now. I hate it when things get going then people stop updating! Also - After this chapter it may seem like things are going to end happily-ever-after. I can assure you, its not going to be that easy.
Pik - Wow! Thanks so much; your review meant a lot to me! If you really like it that much, please do tell others about it!
"When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive."
-"Iris"
Goo Goo Dolls
Hermione sat in her little green car outside the Holiday Inn, waiting for Draco and Ella to come out. Her hair was still wet from her morning shower, and was held up by a big black clip. She wore a heavy black sweater over a black tank-top, and khaki capri pants. The weather had become a little over-cast today, but no sign of rain. It was a good beach day in California.
One minute Hermione was setting the radio, the next, a blonde man was peering in the window, a dark blue bundle in his arms. "Morning, Hermione." He said, smiling.
"Good morning, Draco. Hello, Ella." The two climbed in, and Draco placed Ella in the back seat. She was wearing a big blue sweater that made her eyes seem huge.
"We're off to the beach, hope you don't mind." Hermione said as she restarted the car. Ella's eyes darted from the window, to Hermione's head, then back to the window. Hermione saw this but said nothing.
"We love the beach, don't we, Ella?" Draco said. Ella didn't reply, but Draco kept smiling anyway. "We haven't been in ages."
On the way down, Hermione pointed out a little restaurant called Ranchito. They had been driving through mostly woods, but came to a tiny town that the restaurant was in. You could see there was a barn behind, and the whole place gave off a familiar, comfortable feeling. "We'll stop there for dinner," she said.
Ella napped a little in the car, though it wasn't a very far drive. Hermione turned on the radio to keep it from being really quiet. She and Draco chatted a bit, but didn't have much to say yet. There were few cars at the beach that day, it was a little windy but not too cold. The beach would provide some shelter. Sure enough, the sand was warm on their feet, and the three strolled leisurely down the beach, looking for just the right spot to put their things.
Hermione had brought some snacks, books, sand toys, and a few blankets. Draco and Hermione sat beneath a thick blanket not touching. Ella was a few feet in front of them, playing with some sand. Hermione got up and carried a child's bucket down to the water, bringing it back full. She sat down next to Ella, and the two of them made witch's castles. Soon Hermione's hands got cold, so she brushed them off and let Ella create her little world alone. She looked up to Draco; he was no longer watching them. His eyes were closed, and was he rubbing his wrist through his sleeve carelessly. His sweater was grey, and in the light, made him look very pale. Hermione got up and sat beside him. She took a silent, deep breath and reached out her hand. She placed it on top of Draco's, the one still rubbing his wrist. He didn't pull away, but his eyes opened. They were so full of sadness, Hermione worried she had something wrong. She pulled her hand away.
Some time passed, Ella ate some crackers, Hermione read a chapter or two of her book. The waves kept crashing. Draco and Hermione made small talk, but soon she realized he was back to rubbing his wrist.
'I do that sometimes,' she thought. 'Doubt we do it for the same reason, though.' Hermione thought of the little crisscrossing pink scars on her left arm. Some were on top her wrist, others underneath. There had been a time when she needed pain to bring her back. It was a terrible, lonely place, being in the state of absolute numbness.
Hermione reached over and gently tugged up the sleeve of Draco's sweater. He let her, not looking at her but down at his wrist where he had been rubbing.
The scars stood out more against his pale skin. None of them were new, they were fading and old, just like Hermione's.
His voice startled her. "She was killed in front of us, you know."
Hermione didn't say anything, but moved her hand up to her mouth.
"They tried to kill her, too." His eyes flicked towards Ella. "I grabbed her and we dodged it. They didn't want me."
Hermione knew what she had to do now, and she knew what the "joke" was the gods had played on her. Sometimes, you don't know why someone comes into your life. But you're there for them, and they're there for you. It just happens, no need to explain. When the gods send you a present, you don't ask why it was sent. Hermione lifted up her sleeve as well, revealing her scars. She said one word, "Ron."
Draco didn't ask for an explanation. He took her hand and pulled it slowly towards his mouth. He kissed her scars softly, just brushing his warm lips to her skin. Hermione shivered. A minute later, she did the same to his wrist. They sat under the blanket for another hour, holding hands. It was hardly romantic. Not that either of them thought about what was going on exactly. Frankly, it was just good to know you really weren't alone in the universe. They knew someone else had known the same pain they had. There was no need for words or explanations. Ella walked over, and Draco motioned for her to sit on his lap. She did so, leaning her head on Hermione's shoulder. They sat and listened to the waves, almost like a family.
Author's Notes: Planed on writing more, but I have caught a cold. Next chapter up tomorrow, hope you enjoy!
Author's Note: I'm doing my best to write the chapters as quickly as possible now. I hate it when things get going then people stop updating! Also - After this chapter it may seem like things are going to end happily-ever-after. I can assure you, its not going to be that easy.
Pik - Wow! Thanks so much; your review meant a lot to me! If you really like it that much, please do tell others about it!
"When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive."
-"Iris"
Goo Goo Dolls
Hermione sat in her little green car outside the Holiday Inn, waiting for Draco and Ella to come out. Her hair was still wet from her morning shower, and was held up by a big black clip. She wore a heavy black sweater over a black tank-top, and khaki capri pants. The weather had become a little over-cast today, but no sign of rain. It was a good beach day in California.
One minute Hermione was setting the radio, the next, a blonde man was peering in the window, a dark blue bundle in his arms. "Morning, Hermione." He said, smiling.
"Good morning, Draco. Hello, Ella." The two climbed in, and Draco placed Ella in the back seat. She was wearing a big blue sweater that made her eyes seem huge.
"We're off to the beach, hope you don't mind." Hermione said as she restarted the car. Ella's eyes darted from the window, to Hermione's head, then back to the window. Hermione saw this but said nothing.
"We love the beach, don't we, Ella?" Draco said. Ella didn't reply, but Draco kept smiling anyway. "We haven't been in ages."
On the way down, Hermione pointed out a little restaurant called Ranchito. They had been driving through mostly woods, but came to a tiny town that the restaurant was in. You could see there was a barn behind, and the whole place gave off a familiar, comfortable feeling. "We'll stop there for dinner," she said.
Ella napped a little in the car, though it wasn't a very far drive. Hermione turned on the radio to keep it from being really quiet. She and Draco chatted a bit, but didn't have much to say yet. There were few cars at the beach that day, it was a little windy but not too cold. The beach would provide some shelter. Sure enough, the sand was warm on their feet, and the three strolled leisurely down the beach, looking for just the right spot to put their things.
Hermione had brought some snacks, books, sand toys, and a few blankets. Draco and Hermione sat beneath a thick blanket not touching. Ella was a few feet in front of them, playing with some sand. Hermione got up and carried a child's bucket down to the water, bringing it back full. She sat down next to Ella, and the two of them made witch's castles. Soon Hermione's hands got cold, so she brushed them off and let Ella create her little world alone. She looked up to Draco; he was no longer watching them. His eyes were closed, and was he rubbing his wrist through his sleeve carelessly. His sweater was grey, and in the light, made him look very pale. Hermione got up and sat beside him. She took a silent, deep breath and reached out her hand. She placed it on top of Draco's, the one still rubbing his wrist. He didn't pull away, but his eyes opened. They were so full of sadness, Hermione worried she had something wrong. She pulled her hand away.
Some time passed, Ella ate some crackers, Hermione read a chapter or two of her book. The waves kept crashing. Draco and Hermione made small talk, but soon she realized he was back to rubbing his wrist.
'I do that sometimes,' she thought. 'Doubt we do it for the same reason, though.' Hermione thought of the little crisscrossing pink scars on her left arm. Some were on top her wrist, others underneath. There had been a time when she needed pain to bring her back. It was a terrible, lonely place, being in the state of absolute numbness.
Hermione reached over and gently tugged up the sleeve of Draco's sweater. He let her, not looking at her but down at his wrist where he had been rubbing.
The scars stood out more against his pale skin. None of them were new, they were fading and old, just like Hermione's.
His voice startled her. "She was killed in front of us, you know."
Hermione didn't say anything, but moved her hand up to her mouth.
"They tried to kill her, too." His eyes flicked towards Ella. "I grabbed her and we dodged it. They didn't want me."
Hermione knew what she had to do now, and she knew what the "joke" was the gods had played on her. Sometimes, you don't know why someone comes into your life. But you're there for them, and they're there for you. It just happens, no need to explain. When the gods send you a present, you don't ask why it was sent. Hermione lifted up her sleeve as well, revealing her scars. She said one word, "Ron."
Draco didn't ask for an explanation. He took her hand and pulled it slowly towards his mouth. He kissed her scars softly, just brushing his warm lips to her skin. Hermione shivered. A minute later, she did the same to his wrist. They sat under the blanket for another hour, holding hands. It was hardly romantic. Not that either of them thought about what was going on exactly. Frankly, it was just good to know you really weren't alone in the universe. They knew someone else had known the same pain they had. There was no need for words or explanations. Ella walked over, and Draco motioned for her to sit on his lap. She did so, leaning her head on Hermione's shoulder. They sat and listened to the waves, almost like a family.
Author's Notes: Planed on writing more, but I have caught a cold. Next chapter up tomorrow, hope you enjoy!