Chapter 6 - Hurt
Hermione gazed out of the taxi window. It was raining cats and dogs outside. Lightning flashed above her head.
It was two in the morning.
After that encounter with Draco, she had left the river and somehow found herself traveling towards Hogwarts. She walked past the lake, the gardens... Hermione remembered seeing Draco there the first time. It was such a surprise to see him without his bulky "bodyguards". A nice change, she had to admit.
Then the second time they met there... She had told him that she had a crush on Ron. Till now, Hermione still wondered if what she said was true.
Ron, she thought, sighing. Two years ago she had been his fiancée. But then he got himself killed by Lucius Malfoy himself. She had not been the same without Ron ever since. Then again, so didn't Harry. They were such good friends when they were still studying in Hogwarts.
So much had changed these years. Draco Malfoy, Harry's arch-rival in Quidditch, fell in love with Hermione. In fact, they were engaged - seven hours ago. Hermione picked at the green and silver ring hanging around her neck. She could vaguely recall how she gotten it. It was simply weird that Draco had gotten his scarlet and gold ring the same way that she did. She had thought it was fate.
"Miss?" the taxi driver said. "We've reached."
Hermione snapped herself out of her thoughts and paid the driver. She realised she did not have an umbrella with her. Not wanting to trouble the driver, she got off and was immediately attacked by the brutal storm. Her mind flashed back to a memory in fifth year that reminded her of both Draco and Ron but she quickly forced it down.
The brunette turned the key. The door opened and she stepped inside, the familiarity of the Mansion hitting her all four sides. Yep, she was back in Seasons Mansion. The Mansion that belonged to Draco and... her. So why did she feel like she was intruding?
I'm just taking the rest of my things and leaving, she told herself firmly. One thing lead to another and she found herself exploring the Mansion the way she did when she first entered the place. She heard scrambling feet and loud whispers coming from Draco's room and paused outside, her ear to the door.
"Draco Malfoy!" a voice shrieked.
A grunt was heard, presumably from Draco.
The other voice said something but it sounded so fuzzy that Hermione could not hear it. She opened the door to peep in and nearly drop the house keys when she saw a familiar redhead's back. Hermione started to take a few steps backwards, shaking her head vigorously. The brunette sprang out of the house, feeling as if her heart might shatter.
"Hermione..." Draco groaned, his hand outstretched.
Ginny rolled her eyes and slapped his hand downwards. "You have been saying her name for the past minute, you dope," she stated. "Lie still while I get a warm towel for your forehead."
"No..." Draco mumbled. "She was outside just now... I saw her."
Ginny turned around and saw no one. "Very funny, Malfoy."
"Seriously," he insisted. "She opened the door and I saw her face."
Come to think of it, the door was opened. But why would Hermione come back for? To make up with Draco? Puh-lease.
Ginny narrowed her eyes at Draco. Perhaps he was so lovesick that he started hallucinating. "Whatever you say, Draco," the redhead said. "Whatever you say."
Hermione ran out of the Mansion and out in the rain once again. She wanted to cry but no tears fell. She wanted to scream and yell but no voice came out of her mouth. Her knees buckled and she sank to the wet ground. She put her head in her hands. Why was her life such a mess?
Cold from standing in the rain, upset from the encounter and annoyed from waiting, Hermione pressed the doorbell for the twelfth time. Where was everybody? she wondered irritably. Have they hear that I'm coming and decided to move?
Hermione was standing outside the Allens. They were her only family now. Father had committed suicide and Mother had married Matthew Allen. Her stepfather was cruel and unfair to her but she found out that her stepsister was worse. Blanda Allen was downright snobbish and arrogant. She even insulted her and Draco. Hermione had to thank Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy for sticking up to her when Blanda made fun of her.
The brunette sighed. It was no doubt that she missed the Malfoys.
"Can I help you?"
The sudden voice surprised Hermione so much that she jumped back and her back hit the front door. She winced at the ache but her voice did not quaver when she spoke. "Can you tell me where this family has gone to, please?"
The cop shook his head grimly. "A lot of things happened in this family. First their young daughter was strangled, then Mr. Allen owed a huge sum of money. I hear the couple has filed for divorce already."
"What about my mother? I mean, uh, Mrs. Allen?"
"She's missing," he told her. "Can I see your identification to make sure that you are related to her?"
After a few minutes, he took out a yellow envelope and handed to her. "Someone has reported that your mother went missing."
Hermione sat on the curb, reading the letter over and over again, thinking that there might be clues. There was none as far as she could tell.
To whoever this may concerns,
Madam Pulcheria Isgela has been reported missing for over 24 hours. We have
tried our best trying to look for her all over the country during the past
hours. Please understand that we cannot help you as people go missing everyday.
Apologies,
Conroy Bainbridge
Department Head
Suddenly furious, she tore the letter into pieces. Big deal, she thought angrily. Who needs your help?
Hermione brushed away salty tears. Where was her mother when Hermione needs her?
You know where she isss, a voice hissed in her mind.
][ A u t h o r 's N o t e ][
In the next chapter... Hermione asks Draco for help. She feels that Pulcheria is trapped in the Malfoys Manor. Draco thinks that she has a crush on Harry and tells her to look for Harry instead. But who else knows the Manor better than a Malfoy?
* Next update on Wednesday...
** Give me a name of a Hogwarts bad boy. Besides Draco Malfoy, that is. Preferably older guys and one that you actually like.