Title: Whisper in the Dark
Rating: PG13
Author: Gothic Princess
Disclaimer: Good stuff = J.K.Rowling's. Other less good new stuff = Mine. Good Stuff + Other less good new stuff = this story.
Summary: 7th year. He has to make a decision that he thought he knew. She has to betray and lie to her friends to protect what means most to her. And both have to deal with each other, and face more than they wish to know.
Chapter One
Of Parents and of Little Brothers
I lie awake at night
To escape my nightmare fears
I believe in you
Will you find me in this eternal darkness
A whisper, a howl, more laughter. Sounds fluttered in the open window from the street below, sailing on the cool, crisp evening breeze. But they went ignored. Dusk came, the moon was born. One hour passed, then another and another. The evening faded into night, darkness and silence settled around the house like a blanket. Yet a lone figure sat frozen in a room, as still and quiet as he had been since he had arrived there in the morning. He had no desire or need to move, but instead was forced to live with the burden of his mind collapsing from the thought of the number of choices that he would soon have to make.
They were choices that only a day before he had known precisely what he would say to them, how he would deliver to them. Years and years of waiting anxiously to prove himself, for the moment that he would finally be called, he had thought that he wouldn't even need a borrowed second to say yes.
But that had proved not to be the case. He had been wrong, and for the first time in his life he had not known what to do with himself. The cool, calm and collected exterior that he had so cleverly been able to hide behind in the past had fallen apart, shattered when the one thing, the one and only thing that he had ever been sure about in his life had turned out to be the thing that he wanted the least. It had been handed to him on a plate, and instead of being enraptured in joy and pride as he had expected, he had felt feelings of disgust and dread and fear.
It scared him, it changed everything.
He wished, wished so deeply down in his heart that he had accepted the offer straight away as he had always wanted so that he could avoid the inevitable. Oh how he had dug himself into a deep abyss of trouble and betrayal, oh how he wished that he was not having these feelings, not now. For he was now in debt, borrowing time that he did not have. And if he did not pay it back soon, it would take his life for payment.
What once was a harsh, cold and uncaring young wizard had for a fleeting moment in time become a vulnerable, weak and scared little boy.
The clock was ticking; time was slowly loosening in his grip.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
If I had but a chance
To just understand
I'd read into your soul
A flame within the cold
Hermione sat alone in the kitchen, reading the morning muggle newspaper as she chewed absently on a piece of cheese and tomato toast. She had already read, re-read and made notes of all the school text books set for the year, as was in her fashion, and had colour-coded notes, practiced spells and even done background research in preparation for the N.E.W.T.'s that loomed ahead.
Satisfied that she had done all she could in preparation for her last year at Hogwarts, Hermione allowed herself to relax for the last few weeks of the summer holiday. She had visited the muggle library in the centre of town, and borrowed a variety of different novels to engross herself within. She had noticed that money was a little tight recently in the family, and didn't wish to burden her parents with the cost of books that she would devour within a month, especially since they had no idea that she had seen the bank statement left precociously on the dining room table.
One book was particularly appealing to Hermione, it was about a teenage girl that had the gift of magic, but had been framed for betrayal and murder and was forced to run and hide from who she really was. She was alone, real to the eye and touch, but invisible inside. It was a sad story; Hermione often found tears stinging at her eyes, not out of girlish soppiness but of grief and torture.
"Good morning, love," her mother said cheerfully, planting a gentle kiss on her only daughter's forehead. "Any news?" She asked as she turned the kettle on.
"Not really, warnings of terrorist activity, the Prime Minister is meeting with the President to discuss 'issues'. Oh," Hermione began as she collected three tall mugs from the cupboard and set them down beside the kettle, "You know that girl that went missing last week? Well she was found safe in a tree house, apparently she ran away because she was afraid that her parents were going to throw away her favourite teddy bear."
"Really?" her mother replied as she poured the boiled water from the kettle into the teapot. "Well I'm glad; I was rather worried about it. You can only imagine what her parents must have felt like."
Hermione nodded, not really knowing what to say whilst she buttered the hot piping toast she had just made. She knew that her mother was secretly contemplating what it would be like if her daughter went missing. But she shook her head, it would never happen.
"Have you got any plans for the rest of the summer?" Her mother asked as she swapped a cup of tea with a plate of toast with Hermione. They both sat down at the kitchen table, the bright beaming rays of sunlight lighting up the room and melting the morning dew.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "Harry, Ron and Ginny are staying in Diagon Alley for the last few days, so I thought that I might join them if that's not a problem? But other than that, I haven't got any plans."
"Well I was wondering, since we haven't had a holiday this year. . ." Hermione pretended not to notice the worried glaze that had settled over her mothers eyes, "that maybe you, well only if you wanted to. . ."
"What is it mum?" Hermione asked politely before taking another sip of tea
"Well, how about you and me go into that small town, Marlborough, one day this week. I mean, we haven't been out together in ages and I miss spending time with you. It's supposed to be a really great place, with an old high street filled with tea rooms and antique shops."
"Oh mum, that sounds brilliant!" Hermione squealed in excitement. She loved visiting old historic towns with their quaint cobblestone roads and old, dusty shops. But as soon as she'd said it, she felt a pang of guilt. Could they really afford it?
"Are you sure-" Hermione asked timidly, hoping that her tone didn't give anything away. Unfortunately it did. "-that dad will be okay with us, leaving him in charge of the house on his own, without you?" Her mothers face lit up just as her husband walked in.
"Did I hear someone mention my name?" he asked, kissing both wife and daughter on the cheek. He was in the process of tightening his tie, and had a letter in his hand. They both smiled fondly at him, the same routine every summer morning.
"Honey, is it alright if Hermione and I go into that town I was telling you about the other day?" Husband and wife shared a brief look that seemed to speak a million words followed by an equally long silence.
"Why I think that that is a brilliant idea," he told them both smiling broadly. "In fact," he began as he took a bite of the toast that Hermione had just given him, "Why don't you spend a few nights there, stay in a hotel or something. It's the perfect opportunity for you both to spend some time together, and give me and Jeremy a chance to go to the next Arsenal football match," he muttered the last part under his breath, but he hadn't fooled his wife.
"I heard that," she joked, swatting him lightly on the head with the newspaper. Hermione watched in fascination, so what if money was a little bit tight at the moment? Her parents held a love for each other that she had never known, and it gave her great comfort. They would survive, money wasn't everything.
An owl flew through the open kitchen window and hooted loudly above Hermione's head, snapping her out of her daze.
"Pig," she cried happily. The small owl dropped a letter in her outstretched hands then zoomed off around the room at light speed, hooting as if pleased with itself for delivering a letter without fail. Her parents were watching with mild amusement as the owl darted about the kitchen, unfazed with another part of life.
"NO Pig – look out!" Hermione managed to blurt out, but it was too late. The owl, so proud of itself moments before had failed to see the back door. Pig slammed headfirst into the glass that out looked the garden, not realising that the door was actually shut.
"Is it alright?" her father asked as Hermione ran over to pick up the startled owl that was staring around in bewilderment.
"I think so-"
"Let me see! Let me see!" A small blur shot past the kitchen table and started jumping up around Hermione's knees; hand outstretched trying to reach the rather perplexed creature in its sister's arms.
"Jerry, no." she said firmly to her little brother. "You're scaring him. Calm down." The little boy immediately fell silent; such was his want to hold the pretty bird. He trailed Hermione back to the kitchen table, and sat down looking at her impatiently.
She examined Ron's owl carefully for any serious injuries but luckily found none. "You silly thing," she cooed as she stroked his head and gingerly fed him slices of toast. "What am I ever going to do with you?"
"Let me hold him," Jeremy retorted impatiently.
"Okay, but be careful Jerry." She told him as she delicately placed the miniature owl into her brother's tiny yet eager hands. "Don't squash him," she added.
"Gosh, I won't Hermy. I'm not a baby." Hermione glanced at her parents across the table, trying her hardest to stifle a giggle. She watched in adoration as her little brother sat perched on the chair, head bent low as he stroked the owl that it was nearly lying on top of the table, such was his size.
"As interesting as all of this is, we really must get to work." Both mother and father stood up, clearing away their finished mugs of tea. Her father hurried into the hall to grab his briefcase whilst her mother quickly wiped the table with a cloth. "Hermione, dear, will you please take Jeremy to playschool at 11 and pick him up at 2?"
"It's sorted mum, don't worry. I'll see you later." After the usual morning goodbyes, Hermione and Jerry were both left alone in the house. Hermione made him breakfast as she watched her brother as he sang a song to Pig.
"Oh how I want an owl,
To feed and to be proud.
I really want an owl,
But I'm not allowed.
I really really want an owl-"
It was then, as older sister watched younger brother in amusement that Hermione remember the letter that Pig had bought in the first place. She snatched it up from the table hastily and walked out into the garden, revelling in the warm sunshine and crisp air. Dept fingers unravelled the parchment as she headed for the bench under the tree at the side of their small but spacious garden.
Dear Hermione,
How are you? How's you summer been, hope its been okay? Harry is staying with us at the Burrow at the moment, he arrived last week the poor git. Mum had a fit when she saw how thin he'd become, but rest assured he has been stuffed to the brim and is now a healthy, normal size.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh out loud.
It's pretty boring here at the moment, it's too hot but to do anything but sit around being lazy – wait a minute, I do that anyway! But Dad says that we can stay in Diagon Alley for the last week of the holidays? How about it? Ginny says that she really misses you, something about being stuck with a bunch of idiots - it wasn't my fault that Fred and George decided to test their latest invention on her – "Girl Be Gone".
Did you hear? Harry got made Quidditch Captain! Isn't that great? I heard that you got Head Girl (no major surprise there!), congratulations. Anyway, we're going to go swimming in the lake now, so I'll hopefully (fingers crossed) see you in Diagon alley next week.
Ron (and Harry!)
x X x
Hermione sighed. She hoped that she had enough money saved up upstairs to afford to stay in The Leaky Cauldron. She hated to ask her parents for anymore, especially now that her mum had her heart set on taking her shopping in Marlborough.
"Hermy? I think the owly-owl is all better now. What shall I do with him?" Jeremy called, poking his head out of the door.
"I need you too look after him for a few minutes, hun, whilst I write back to Ron. Do you think you're up to it?" She saw a brown haired head nod enthusiastically before disappearing back inside. She couldn't help but laugh again as she followed him inside, his happiness was contagious.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
An hour later, Hermione and Jeremy were strolling along the path, hand in hand. Jerry was kitted out in an old pair of shorts and a t-shirt, ready for the water fight that was planned for the kids at playschool. Hermione walked beside him in an old pair of well worn denim shorts and a white cheeky monkey top. She had washed her hair before they went out after replying to Ron's letter, so that it fell straight and shiny down her back.
"Hermy, when do you have to leave again?" Jerry asked as he skipped along beside her.
"In a few weeks time I'm afraid."
"I wish
that I could go with you," he told her solemnly, kicking a pebble harshly down
the road. "I hope that when I'm older, like you, I get to be a real wizard."
"I'm sure you will, Jerry."
He baited her into telling him more stories about magic and wizards and witches as they continued walking, and feeling particularly generous that morning, she bought him an ice cream form the ice cream van that he had dragged her eagerly to. How she wished sometimes that she could be carefree like he was, without having a feeling deep down inside her somewhere that something was wrong, that something bad was going to happen.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A/N: This came to me 3 hours ago, at midnight which is why I am now referring to it as "Midnight project". I should be asleep, I have school tomorrow, a million projects to be started yet here is something that I just to had to write. It's the beginning of what I feel maybe a sleepless few weeks.
A/N number 2: Well its 9 in the morning, I managed to get an hour's sleep last night and have managed to squeeze myself out of school today though aside from being exhausted and having a minor cold I'm sure that my parents realise I'm faking it. I hope that I have chance to write the next chapter now, but due to a suggestion from a reviewer who I will thank in the next chapter, I have gone over this again and corrected a few mistakes. If you happen to spot anymore, then please let me know.
