Save Yourself, Chapter Twenty-One
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Eh, it's short, I know... *sigh* Ah, well. I need your opinion on something, guys! I need to choose a picture for the biography section of my book, and... well... I can't decide. Well, I DO have an order I like them in, but... eh. Anyway, if you would be so kind as to go to the following site:
**********
http://www.angelfire.com/wizard/hpfanfic0/images/bookpics.html
**********
and tell me the order you like the pictures in, best to worst, either in a review or by email--ExemplarPiaculum@hotmail.com. Thanks guys!! :o)
Aimée
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At one time or another, every person can look back on their life and remember a moment where time seemed to stop; a time when everything was frozen in place and all they could do is watch in mute horror as their world around them is still.
I stood there, powerless, watching Pansy speak the two words that would destroy both her life and mine. Instantly, my mind flashed to the first day I had seen her; standing in the middle of Platform 9 ¾, her family standing with her. She looked as regal as a scared eleven year old girl could, and that was the moment I first began to admire her. Father had told me much about the Parkinson's, including all he knew about his business partner's daughter—the girl I knew from day one I was going to marry. She had never been extremely attractive, but she had always been much prettier than she believed she was.
Becoming a father had always been a dream of mine—one I knew would eventually happen, but I was much too impatient to simply accept the wait. Now, as Pansy spoke the Killing Curse with her wand pointed directly towards her temple, my chances were slipping away; my dreams of having a son of my own to bestow the Malfoy honor and pride in was about to die, right along with the one person I had learned to truly love in my life.
Panic overtook me as the words rang throughout my mind and their meaning finally overtook me; in an act of pure stupidity and Gryffindorish bravery, I thrust my body forward, as if to shield her from the oncoming spell she had bestowed upon herself. The action was futile, however, and in the middle of my movement I seemed to realize this—and time seemed to speed up to it's normal time once again.
I stood in front of Pansy, still holding the wand to her temple; I was breathing heavily and expecting something to happen at any moment, but thankfully, nothing did. Her expression soon became one of humor, transforming from her earlier one of determination and rage.
I shook my head, unable to comprehend what had just happened—which had simply been nothing. Slowly, she removed the wand, dropping her right arm back down beside her. She sat back down on the bed, her dark eyes gazing up at me expectantly—but of what, I didn't know.
"How does it feel?" she whispered, her silky voice dangerously soft and controlled. "Were you scared?"
"No," I wheezed after a moment, still trying to catch my breath. Her eyebrows arched as her expression changed to one of a mixture of disbelief and mild shock. "Didn't have time for fear—just panic."
"Why?"
I shook my head, refusing to answer her question. "Why didn't you--?"
"Why didn't I die?" she asked, an arrogant smirk playing across her features. "Because I can't cast the Killing Curse—and neither can you. In order to be able to cast a curse, especially one as powerful as that, one must be able to first understand both the functions and the consequences. I understand both, and the reason I couldn't cast it is because I understand what death and lose are like—and I wouldn't wish it on anyone in the world, not even you, Draco."
"You must hate me," I said softly, my eyes downcast. "I wouldn't blame you in the least."
"I don't hate you," she said equally as softly. "I'm just immensely ashamed of both you and your actions. You've disappointed me, your family, and have set a terrible example for our son—but worst of all, you weren't willing to take responsibility for your actions and killed a helpless baby. I don't hate you though," she shook her head once again, letting her hair fall into her eyes. "I just wish it hadn't happened."
I took in a deep breath, ecstatic to hear she didn't hate me. "Does this mean…?"
"This doesn't mean anything," she suddenly snapped, her eyes bearing into mine. "All it means is I'm willing to do what I believe is best and not hold a grudge, for the sake of us and the baby—nothing more."
I nodded slowly. "All right." Without looking back, I slowly stepped to the side and walked down the aisle, finally reaching the door and unlocking it with a single twist.
She was gone—and at that moment, so was I.
---
Aiwen Fyre: Yay, I updated! *grin* Yeah, sorry about the cliffie... I know they're annoying, trust me, I read enough of them myself.
Demeter: Neither did I. Hadn't a clue how I was going to get her out of that one... then I remembered what Moody said, kicked myself for doing that, and then just took the wimpy way out.
FiretheBeta: *grin*
Jasmine: Still blinking? *grin* I know, weird situation and way out of it... but hey, remember what Moody said... can't cast AK, really. *blinks* How's ya doin'?
Jessica Mercury: Aww, thank you!! Yes, I'll definitely post the link... and because of that, I probably won't be updating more than once a week for the next two months, if even that, just because I want to have story left to post chapters to in order to post the link... and does that make any sense? *grin* You've changed your name quite a bit, I believe, and each one is just as, if not more entertaining than the last.
Kiki-kins: Of course that wasn't the end! You didn't think I was as cruel to do something like that to you, did you? Yeah, I would probably do something stupid like that as well... as long as I knew the spell wouldn't work. *grin*
Melinda Malfoy: And I didn't kill her :o) I updated, but not very soon... sorry it took so long. I had this chapter written on Friday, I just wasn't sure if I was going to add to it or not... ended up being "or not". Sorry about that!
Mignonne-and-Sellene: Twenty chapters in one sitting, eh? Wow, I'm impressed. Thank you :o) I appreciate the feedback. No, I know Save Yourself isn't the best it can be, and chances are once I've finished with it I'll go back and edit. I don't use the betas I have which makes the mistakes more obvious, plus I don't actually go back and reread... I'm usually in too much of a hurry for that. I know, I know, I should take the time to do so... :o) Cliché? Eek, what in the writing's cliché? The curling up on the couch thing... eh, I couldn't really think of anything else they'd be doing on a winter's night after homework without getting *extremely* cliché, so it was sort of the lesser of the two evils. I called Lucius the "upper class man"? Damnit, I'm gonna have to fix that, thanks for pointing it out. Ha... my vocabulary... sucks. I'm gonna fail the SATS and enjoy every minute of it. Thank you once again :o)
PureBloodGryffindor: No one's being killed... Pansy was trying to scare Draco into thinking she was going to kill herself (and inevitably the baby along with her), but she obviously didn't mean it. :o)
sasori: Ugh, I hate that cold feeling, especially when it shouldn't have happened (i.e. thinking I forgot to do homework when I really did do it). Nah, he doesn't save her... no time for that. Pansy DID, however, know it wasn't going to work... smart girl.
slush puppy: Eh? :o)
Wyrd Sista187: Thank you :o) I'm glad you approve of it.
---
Eh, it's short, I know... *sigh* Ah, well. I need your opinion on something, guys! I need to choose a picture for the biography section of my book, and... well... I can't decide. Well, I DO have an order I like them in, but... eh. Anyway, if you would be so kind as to go to the following site:
**********
http://www.angelfire.com/wizard/hpfanfic0/images/bookpics.html
**********
and tell me the order you like the pictures in, best to worst, either in a review or by email--ExemplarPiaculum@hotmail.com. Thanks guys!! :o)
Aimée
---
At one time or another, every person can look back on their life and remember a moment where time seemed to stop; a time when everything was frozen in place and all they could do is watch in mute horror as their world around them is still.
I stood there, powerless, watching Pansy speak the two words that would destroy both her life and mine. Instantly, my mind flashed to the first day I had seen her; standing in the middle of Platform 9 ¾, her family standing with her. She looked as regal as a scared eleven year old girl could, and that was the moment I first began to admire her. Father had told me much about the Parkinson's, including all he knew about his business partner's daughter—the girl I knew from day one I was going to marry. She had never been extremely attractive, but she had always been much prettier than she believed she was.
Becoming a father had always been a dream of mine—one I knew would eventually happen, but I was much too impatient to simply accept the wait. Now, as Pansy spoke the Killing Curse with her wand pointed directly towards her temple, my chances were slipping away; my dreams of having a son of my own to bestow the Malfoy honor and pride in was about to die, right along with the one person I had learned to truly love in my life.
Panic overtook me as the words rang throughout my mind and their meaning finally overtook me; in an act of pure stupidity and Gryffindorish bravery, I thrust my body forward, as if to shield her from the oncoming spell she had bestowed upon herself. The action was futile, however, and in the middle of my movement I seemed to realize this—and time seemed to speed up to it's normal time once again.
I stood in front of Pansy, still holding the wand to her temple; I was breathing heavily and expecting something to happen at any moment, but thankfully, nothing did. Her expression soon became one of humor, transforming from her earlier one of determination and rage.
I shook my head, unable to comprehend what had just happened—which had simply been nothing. Slowly, she removed the wand, dropping her right arm back down beside her. She sat back down on the bed, her dark eyes gazing up at me expectantly—but of what, I didn't know.
"How does it feel?" she whispered, her silky voice dangerously soft and controlled. "Were you scared?"
"No," I wheezed after a moment, still trying to catch my breath. Her eyebrows arched as her expression changed to one of a mixture of disbelief and mild shock. "Didn't have time for fear—just panic."
"Why?"
I shook my head, refusing to answer her question. "Why didn't you--?"
"Why didn't I die?" she asked, an arrogant smirk playing across her features. "Because I can't cast the Killing Curse—and neither can you. In order to be able to cast a curse, especially one as powerful as that, one must be able to first understand both the functions and the consequences. I understand both, and the reason I couldn't cast it is because I understand what death and lose are like—and I wouldn't wish it on anyone in the world, not even you, Draco."
"You must hate me," I said softly, my eyes downcast. "I wouldn't blame you in the least."
"I don't hate you," she said equally as softly. "I'm just immensely ashamed of both you and your actions. You've disappointed me, your family, and have set a terrible example for our son—but worst of all, you weren't willing to take responsibility for your actions and killed a helpless baby. I don't hate you though," she shook her head once again, letting her hair fall into her eyes. "I just wish it hadn't happened."
I took in a deep breath, ecstatic to hear she didn't hate me. "Does this mean…?"
"This doesn't mean anything," she suddenly snapped, her eyes bearing into mine. "All it means is I'm willing to do what I believe is best and not hold a grudge, for the sake of us and the baby—nothing more."
I nodded slowly. "All right." Without looking back, I slowly stepped to the side and walked down the aisle, finally reaching the door and unlocking it with a single twist.
She was gone—and at that moment, so was I.
---
Aiwen Fyre: Yay, I updated! *grin* Yeah, sorry about the cliffie... I know they're annoying, trust me, I read enough of them myself.
Demeter: Neither did I. Hadn't a clue how I was going to get her out of that one... then I remembered what Moody said, kicked myself for doing that, and then just took the wimpy way out.
FiretheBeta: *grin*
Jasmine: Still blinking? *grin* I know, weird situation and way out of it... but hey, remember what Moody said... can't cast AK, really. *blinks* How's ya doin'?
Jessica Mercury: Aww, thank you!! Yes, I'll definitely post the link... and because of that, I probably won't be updating more than once a week for the next two months, if even that, just because I want to have story left to post chapters to in order to post the link... and does that make any sense? *grin* You've changed your name quite a bit, I believe, and each one is just as, if not more entertaining than the last.
Kiki-kins: Of course that wasn't the end! You didn't think I was as cruel to do something like that to you, did you? Yeah, I would probably do something stupid like that as well... as long as I knew the spell wouldn't work. *grin*
Melinda Malfoy: And I didn't kill her :o) I updated, but not very soon... sorry it took so long. I had this chapter written on Friday, I just wasn't sure if I was going to add to it or not... ended up being "or not". Sorry about that!
Mignonne-and-Sellene: Twenty chapters in one sitting, eh? Wow, I'm impressed. Thank you :o) I appreciate the feedback. No, I know Save Yourself isn't the best it can be, and chances are once I've finished with it I'll go back and edit. I don't use the betas I have which makes the mistakes more obvious, plus I don't actually go back and reread... I'm usually in too much of a hurry for that. I know, I know, I should take the time to do so... :o) Cliché? Eek, what in the writing's cliché? The curling up on the couch thing... eh, I couldn't really think of anything else they'd be doing on a winter's night after homework without getting *extremely* cliché, so it was sort of the lesser of the two evils. I called Lucius the "upper class man"? Damnit, I'm gonna have to fix that, thanks for pointing it out. Ha... my vocabulary... sucks. I'm gonna fail the SATS and enjoy every minute of it. Thank you once again :o)
PureBloodGryffindor: No one's being killed... Pansy was trying to scare Draco into thinking she was going to kill herself (and inevitably the baby along with her), but she obviously didn't mean it. :o)
sasori: Ugh, I hate that cold feeling, especially when it shouldn't have happened (i.e. thinking I forgot to do homework when I really did do it). Nah, he doesn't save her... no time for that. Pansy DID, however, know it wasn't going to work... smart girl.
slush puppy: Eh? :o)
Wyrd Sista187: Thank you :o) I'm glad you approve of it.