Chapter 3 – Someday We'll Know
Disclaimer: We do not own in any way shape or form the characters or settings of J.K.Rowling's book. Only she has that privilege. Also, none of the songs we use in these stories belong to us either. We thank the directors of the "Walk to Remember" soundtrack for writing such awesome lyrics.
Author's Note: We are sincerely sorry for the wait…one of us is not quite the responsible one ::glares::. Again, and we can't emphasize this enough, THESE STORIES ARE NOT RELATED! They are each a story in themselves, to the lyrics of the song. Enjoy!
*~*~*~*~*~*
Maybe it was the seemingly endless stretch of road; perhaps it was the lush green hills that cradled the paved ribbon as it wound through the length of Europe. Or maybe Hermione Granger found herself on this now familiar highway because at the end…she knew she'd find her heart.
Ninety miles outside Chicago
Can't stop driving
I don't know why
"Pressurverdi," She flicked her wrist with a sigh, magically setting her muggle made car on cruise control. Nobody ever bothered with this road at night, what with the endless potholes and bumps. Hermione hated this highway's convenience as much as any sane person, and yet she still found herself pounding over the hills almost nightly.
There were so many memories to ponder, occurrences to wonder about. It was one of the rare times when Hermione's head was not neatly organized, but as tangled as her abandoned mass of brown hair.
So many questions
I need an answer
Two years and later
You're still on my mind
She was stupid to think she had figured him out. Two years Hermione had stood in a smug triumph with Draco Malfoy at her side, smirking as no one could identify her happiness.
They'd kept their love a secret, deceiving the world's idea of moral values. Fire and Ice had come together.
But then, one day that all came crashing down on Hermione. Hogwarts discovered their secret, and any civil consideration was abandoned.
*~*~*Flashback*~*~*
You pig!" Pansy shrieked, ripping her arm from Zambini's grasp. "What kind of filth are you to bewitch Draco into loving you?" Her eyes bulged wildly, falling from view as her rich green graduation hat fell over her face.
"She bewitched no one," Draco spat, inching in front of Hermione.
"Excuse me?" Parkinson whispered, squinting her eyes threateningly.
All the seventh years had formed a circle around Draco, Hermione and Pansy, watching in stunned horror. Ron and Harry stood to the side, gaping.
"She…bewitched…no one." He repeated loudly. Pansy arched an eyebrow, looking horridly from Draco to Hermione, whose mascara had stained the tears slipping down her flushed cheeks.
"So you mean to tell me that for the past two years," Her voice rose as she spoke, "you've been dating that—that mudblood?"
Draco's eyes flashed, and in a second Hermione and Ron were doing all they could to keep him from lashing out at Parkinson.
"Draco!" Hermione sobbed, "Let it go! She's not worth it!" She felt him quit struggling, but his muscles remained tense.
Pansy smirked maliciously, coming so close to Draco they were inches apart. Ron kept a firm grip on the Slytherin's elbows, but Hermione let go. "Look at yourself, Draco." She said quietly. "You're being held back by the most disgraceful pureblood there is. And what's worse, you've fallen for the most disgusting mudblood to ever walk the Earth." Draco's nostrils flared. "Look around you, Malfoy. Everyone agrees with me. You're living a lie."
*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*
Hermione wiped a bitter tear from her cinnamon eyes. The last street lamp she could see for miles flickered out, enveloping her in a thick darkness.
Whatever happened to Amelia Earhart?
Who holds the stars up in the sky?
She gazed up through her window at the velvety sky, watching millions of stars twinkle curiously. They were stars she'd seen before, but the last time she'd gazed at them her stomach didn't bear an eerie empty feeling. She could vividly remember the happiness that had washed over her as she praised them, holding Draco's hand tightly.
Now Hermione wondered how they could still deceive her. They had promised her so much before, and now they still glimmered as if nothing had happened. The retired Gryffindor huffed, dabbing at her eyes.
Is true love just once in a lifetime?
Did the captain of the Titanic cry?
Ohhh…
*~*~*
Draco paced his room, one of the many to dot the Malfoy Manor, his hands shoved deeply into the pockets of his slacks. His hair fell carelessly into his glistening eyes, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Restlessly, Draco tugged at his shirt, ripping it off harshly. It was steadily growing warmer in his room.
They had failed miserably. When Draco was so sure Hogwarts would be accepting towards he and Hermione, they had betrayed him.
Angry, Draco threw open the doors to a private balcony, grasping the rail tightly as he looked over the stretch of land. He would never forgive that school for letting them down.
*~*~*Flashback*~*~*
Draco felt as though he'd been punched in the stomach. He watched Pansy back up, grinning victoriously. Zambini raised an eyebrow, as if expecting Malfoy to laugh and reveal it all as one big joke.
He felt Ron slowly release him, and proceeded to look around. Everyone there had fallen into a suffocating silence. No one moved to back he or Hermione up, who glanced at Draco apologetically. He swiveled around to look at Harry, who had a reputation for standing up for what he believed in.
Draco's heart sank when Potter's green eyes steadily fell to the floor.
Everyone agreed with Pansy. Not one person supported Draco and Hermione's love.
*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*
He slammed his fist on the railing, letting out a quiet sob. His fists were clenched so hard they had turned numb. 'Which is how I feel,' he thought sadly. Images of Hermione floated through Draco's head, causing his perpetual guilt to deepen.
Someday we'll know
If love can move a mountain
Someday we'll know
Why the sky is blue
He loved her so much it almost made him invincible, and yet the opinions of his petty classmates had convinced Draco to let her go.
The Slytherin squeezed his eyes shut, leaning over the rail. He knew there was so much more to it than that, but he didn't care. He had let Hermione slip away…
*~*~*
Hermione jolted back to her senses when the cruise control spell wore off, causing her car to swerve to the left. She yelped, pulling the vehicle back into a straight line. She could feel her heart pounding from the start, though it compared to nothing as it had that night.
*~*~*Flashback*~*~*
Someday we'll know
Why I wasn't meant for you
"Draco?" There was a hint of helplessness in Hermione's voice. She gazed at him through red, puffy eyes as he fell heavily onto a bench in the courtyard.
It was a dark, summery night outside. According to older students in was always a pleasant night to be outside on graduation night. Hermione scoffed, finding nothing pleasant about it.
She watched as Draco buried his face in his hands, propped on his elbows on his knees. She felt another tear slip down her cheek. "It wasn't supposed to be like this, Draco." Her throat tightened.
Does anybody know the way to Atlantis?
Or what the wind says when she cries?
Draco tensed. Her statement had sealed what he had to do. Grief washed over him violently, and he couldn't help but cry silently into his hands. He couldn't understand why the student body of his grade was so wretched, but it had sealed his fate. What he was about to explain to her would be the death of him.
After a few moments' silence he stood, pulling Hermione into a long, lingering kiss. Regretfully he pulled away. "No it wasn't," he whispered.
*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*
She couldn't hold it in. Hermione broke down into a fit of tears, her head sagging as she sobbed. When she couldn't even mutter the spell to control her car, she gave in and pulled over, letting her hands drop into her lap.
I'm speeding by the place that I met you
For the ninety seventh time tonight
It was pathetic how well Hermione knew this highway. She'd driven on it so many times in the last three weeks, unable to resist the idle peace it portrayed.
"It wasn't meant to be like this," Hermione groaned, falling back against the seat with a huff. She rubbed her eyes tiredly, taking advantage of the stillness and curling herself into a tight ball.
She could remember that night word for word.
*~*~*
Draco backed away from the balcony, cursing those innocent little stars.
The cool air of the room swept over him, but he didn't care. As he gazed disgustedly at his bare chest in the mirror he could only conclude that he deserved to be so cold. He deserved the vulnerability for attack. Right that moment Draco thought the idea of being struck down sounded quite lovely.
Slowly he turned from the mirror, climbing heavily into his bed. It was quite like at Hogwarts, with silver satin sheets and a deep emerald comforter. He buried himself amidst all the blankets, covering his head with a silver pillow.
He could remember that night word for word.
*~*~*Flashback*~*~*
"I thought they'd changed, Hermione." Draco stated desperately, grasping her hand tightly. "I thought they'd accept it—"
Hermione looked at him helplessly. "Accepted what, Draco?"
Someday we'll know
If love can move a mountain
Draco looked at her as if it were so obvious to anyone that looked. "The fact that I love you more than life itself." The Gryffindor bit her lip. If it wasn't obvious before, it was now. He watched her sad acceptance. "But they didn't."
Hermione looked up at him, eyes glistening. "I don't care that they didn't. I could care less about their opinions." Her heart that had been so hopeful sank as she saw Draco's expression. Judging by the look on his face, Hermione could tell that he did care.
Someday we'll know
Why the sky is blue
Someday we'll know
Why I wasn't meant for you
"Things…happen for a reason, 'Mione." She averted her eyes. "What if their reaction was supposed to happen?"
Anger boiled deep down inside of her. "Are you saying you agree with them?"
"Hermione, you have to see where I'm coming from. For years we thought we were invincible; that we would beat out the world and they would eventually accept us. But…tonight they proved us wrong." He flung his arm out, pointing to the yellow windows of the Great Hall, where the rest of the seventh years were dancing gleefully. "Maybe we could get passed them, Hermione, and you know I would cry with joy the day my father disowned me, but—"
He caressed her cheek softly. "Hermione, you are the most powerful witch to set foot in Hogwarts in years. You'll be a celebrity one day, and you don't want the world against you for dating the most disgraceful man after Lucius himself. And anyone that didn't hear about us that way would certainly hear from my father. My family is powerful, Hermione. They could easily make our lives a living Hell for knowing about us."
Hermione stood in a stunned silence, Draco's hand still on her cheek. Slowly her eyes narrowed. "I-I thought… I thought that didn't matter to you." She pulled his hand down, off her cheek.
"Hermione—"
"No!" she protested. "I didn't think you were like this, Draco. I didn't think the world's opinion mattered to you." She backed away from him, a look of confused disgust flashing across her face.
"Look— Hermione, you have to listen to me!" She turned and started for the castle, but Draco caught up to her, grabbing her arm desperately. She spun around, glaring. "Listen to me. You know how powerful my family. Maybe," He tugged her back as she continued to walk. "Maybe the world's opinion is something we should listen to. God knows I love you, Hermione, and he also knows that the last thing I want is to see you killed."
A harsh tear slipped down Hermione's cheek. "So you're saying you want to end it?" her voice was shaky and hoarse. "Y-You'd rather throw away what we have…two beautiful years?" Draco shook his head, his eyes misting over.
"I would never throw it away. Never. And maybe it'll be different someday, Hermione, who knows? Maybe the world won't hate us for those two years. But right now…" He looked at her desperately.
A silent understanding finally tore into Hermione's heart. She pursed her lips, fighting back the lump in her throat. Draco's heart couldn't decide whether he was happy or sad when she finally nodded, a nod that sealed the deal.
*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*
Guilt and remorse raged through Draco, so much that he leaned over the edge of his bed, vomiting. He stood weakly, making his way to the sink.
Someday we'll know
Why Samson loved Delilah
One day I'll go
Dancing on the moon
Someday you'll know
That I was the one for you
It was a mistake; he knew it was a mistake. Draco knew that Hermione was right, that the opinions of the world didn't matter to him. He knew that he loved Hermione more than anything, including the world's approval.
He threw a cup under the sink, gulping down water from the gushing tap. He remembered how he'd kissed her, gently, as if she were dying. Then he left Hermione. He turned and walked away, careful not to look back.
Sickened, Draco retched again. He flipped the tap back on, staring drowsily at himself in the mirror.
Someday he would get her back, Draco decided. He would find her somehow, and bring her back.
*~*~*
The heat of the summer night was suffocating, causing Hermione to stir from her doze. She was still curled up in the car, and her throat was hoarse from crying. Clearing it, she sat up, straightening.
I bought a ticket to the end of the rainbow
Watched the stars crash in the sea
If I could ask God just on question
Why aren't you here with me tonight?
Igniting the car, Hermione smiled slightly at the gray dawn. She didn't understand a thing but the love that wouldn't die between them. Strangely, Hermione was at peace as she pulled onto the deserted road.
"Someday I'll know."
Someday we'll know
If love can move a mountain
Someday we'll know
Why the sky is blue
Someday we'll know
Why I wasn't meant for you
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Someday we'll know
Why Samson loved Delilah
One day I'll go
Dancing on the moon
Someday we'll know
That I was the one for you…
*~*~*
Well, I have to say I'm pretty darn proud of that chapter, I just hope you and my writing partner in crime enjoy it too! So, as tradition, I must emphasize the seriousness of this matter, and with the utmost sincerity I say: Review…or die.