Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the story plot, JKR owns all of this, and yes I am extremely jealous.
Summary: Hermione is given the advice to write a memoir. She reflects on her past telling us the story of what her life was like after the downfall of Voldemort. No longer a little girl, the woman of 24 tells us her story. How she hid from the world but at the same time found herself falling in love. Even if she denied it from the start. ~ A glimpse into the life of 24 year old Hermione Granger as she tackles the obstacles of friends, family, work, luck, mistakes, challenges, lessons and love. Prepare yourself, you have no idea what you have just gotten yourself into.
Note: Thank you in advance for taking the time out to read this. It's a work in progress, which basically means I have no idea how often I can post. But hopefully with your support I'll find the strength to get at least one chapter up per week. I hope you enjoy this story and please when you're done review. The beginning of the story is told in first person and then it changes when we get to the actual story. Sorry if it's confusing but I think you will catch on.
Chapter 14~ A Crazy Little Thing Called Love
So you all must be wondering how I would cope with this ordeal. To be honest, I felt as though my entire life had been shattered within seconds. I never expected anything like this to happen to me. Not now, not ever. Yet, I was completely wrong. Which is one word of advice I would like to give each of you. Don't ever assume that everything will turn out fine, life throws you insane obstacles, and you must find the strength to over come them. I wasn't sure how I would overcome this. I had my friends, I had family, but most of all I had George. My heart and soul cried out to him. I mean, this was hard for me to accept, but I imagine it must have been hard on him as well.
When I passed out on the table in the office I had a dream. A dream that showed Georges life if he stayed by my side. I for one did not know the outcome of my life, and there was George, at my bedside as I lay sick and dying. He was hurt, he was crying, and all I could do was lay there and try to reassure him that things would be fine. I died in that dream; I died and left him with a hollow heart. His expression as I slipped away is something that I don't think I will ever forget. He was grief stricken, and I felt sick by the sight. What was I to do? How was I supposed to let him be with me, when I wasn't even sure if I would live or die. To me that is something that I don't believe anyone should live with. I needed to sort things out, tell him exactly what I felt, and that was harder then any tragic news that I might have received.
" Mione? Love? Are you awake? " Hermione rolled over and opened her eyes slowly. George sat beside her and smiled. " There you are…I took you home after you passed out. The doctor thought it would be best if you woke in a familiar atmosphere."
Sitting up in the bed Hermione forced a weak smile to her lips. " George, Im sorry, Im so sorry that you have to deal with this…"
" Hermione, I love you, so all of your problems and ordeals are now mine. I refuse to let you face them alone. "
His smile was genuine and it broke her heart. She could see the obvious worry and concern in his face, and at that moment she felt like such a burden. This was wrong; he shouldn't have to deal with any of it.
" George, I think we need to talk about this…" pushing her hair out of her eyes she wiped away a few tears that had formed.
" Talk about what? " he arched his eyebrow curiously and adjusted himself on the bed.
" George, I don't…I feel…" closing her eyes, she sighed. " I don't want you to have to deal with this. I don't think its fair to you…you have so much going for you, and I don't want to be the burden to hold you down. "
" What are you talking about Mione, you are my life, you are everything to me…Im not going to leave you here to fight this yourself…your talking crazy, I just…" Hermione held her hand up and silenced him.
" George, this isn't easy for me either, but I really don't have the strength or time to be concerned about you when my life is in jeopardy…" Her heart panged slightly as she spoke. " I think it would be better if we broke things off for awhile, at least until Im better…"
" Hermione this is ludicrous, Im not going to let you push me away! " His eyes flashed with anger and sympathy.
" Im serious George, I don't want you here anymore, I don't want you around. I have things to do, and people to tell. I need to inform work, and Ginny. I need to speak with Harry and Ron…I just can't tend to all of these things and then worry about you. " Her words were broken as she spoke.
" I cant believe your saying this, after everything that happened, I cant believe your pushing me away…" he stood from the bed and ran his fingers through his hair, " I wont go Hermione, I refuse to let you go. "
" Im not asking you to let me go…Im telling you…go…leave me here, I don't want to see you right now…" Laying back down she rolled onto her side and closed her eyes. Biting her tongue she forced herself not to cry.
" Im not going to let you go so easily Mione, Im not going to let the one good thing in my life slip away…"
" George, please go…" she whispered.
There was silence in the room, and before she could ask him again, the door to her room opened and closed with a loud thud. Lying there in her bed she sighed. It was the right thing to do, she did it for him. She loved him, and she didn't want to see him suffer in her illness. Tucking her knees to her chest she closed her eyes. The tears stinging her face. She had just pushed away the only man she had ever loved, and she did it for him…but why did she feel so incredibly hollow.
So, I let him go. I pushed him out of my life so he could focus on his own. I didn't need him to worry about me, I would be fine. He had so much to live for, and I couldn't stand the thought of having him burdened with me. I did the right thing, I let him go. What is that saying? Its better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all? It was something along those lines, and I knew my choices had been right. Now, I had to face my friends, and I hoped they could understand what I had done, although I knew they wouldn't.
" Hermione! " the door to Hermiones room burst open and Ginny frantically ran inside. " Mione, sweetie…Im so sorry…I cant…oh god…" Ginny sat at the edge of her bed.
" Who told you? " Hermione opened her eyes and looked over at Ginny.
" George, I just saw him leave and he told me, he told me everything….Hermione, why did you let him go? Why push him out when all he wants to do is help you? He loves you Mione…and this has killed him…" Ginny spoke softly.
Rolling onto her other side Hermione looked up at Ginny. " You don't understand Gin, I love him so much, but I cant stand to have him wasting his time over me. I couldn't do that to him, I couldn't be selfish and keep him to myself. I needed to let him go…it's the only way. "
" Mione, " Ginny placed her hand on her slightly swollen stomach, " Your not going anywhere, you're going to live, and grow old, and damn it your going to be the godmother of my baby! We wont let anything happen to you! Even the doctor says you caught this early, you are a survivor…you didn't die when you faced Voldemort, and you wont die now! " Ginny's eyes were glazed with tears.
" I know Gin, but who can be so sure of the future? No one knows for sure, and Im not going to be selfish and ruin peoples life's. "
" We love you Hermione, you couldn't possibly ruin any ones life, but by doing this your being stubborn, and I wont let this happen…your going to be with George, and your going to let him help you…you know that you want that, I can see it in your eyes. "
" Gin, just let me be for awhile…I need to think. "
" Fine, but don't think Im giving up on you, cause I wont, I'll be back to check on you later…" moving towards the door Ginny sighed. " Im going to owl Ron and Harry, let them know you need to speak with them. "
Hermione began to retaliate but she stopped. Ginny was right, she did need to speak with them. Upon hearing the door close behind Ginny, Hermione sat up and swung her legs over the side of her bed. Sauntering over to her closet, she pulled out fresh dress robes, and pulled them on. She pulled her hair back and fixed her makeup, she didn't want to look deathly ill for Harry and Ron. Moving towards her door, she sighed.
The sitting room was quiet, and Hermione assumed that Ginny had left for the day. It wasn't until a loud clatter in the kitchen caught her attention did she realize she wasn't alone.
" Rusty? What are you doing? " She groaned and headed towards the kitchen. Stopping abruptly she felt her eyes go wide. " What are you doing here? "
Malfoy smirked and moved away from the stove. " Calm down Granger, I didn't break anything. Im waiting until Potter and Weasley get here…Ginny didn't want you to be alone in the house. " Pausing momentarily his smirk faded and for a moment Hermione could swear that concern was on his face. " How are you holding up? "
" Fine, don't worry about it. " Hermione turned on her heel and headed for the large couch in the sitting room.
" Don't be a prat Granger, I can see that you're hurting…do you need anything? " he followed her to the room and sat down in the adjacent armchair.
" I need you to leave me alone…" she spat through gritted teeth.
" Geez, don't get your robes in a knot, it was a sincere question…" he sighed and averted his gaze. " Gin says you broke things off with George, said you didn't want to burden him with your problems…is that right? " He leaned back in the chair and appraised her.
" My choices are none of your concern Malfoy…" Hermione felt herself grow angry.
" God Granger are you listening to yourself…Gin said that you didn't want to be selfish, that you didn't want to keep George away from living his life…don't you see that your still being selfish by keeping him out of it? " Hermione furrowed her eyebrow but he continued. " He wants to help you, he wants to be with you, and you are secluding yourself from him…you wont let him in…in my opinion that's more selfish then anything else. "
" You have no idea what your getting at Malfoy…stay out of my business and I'll gladly stay out of yours…"
" Fine Granger, " he rose to his feet and waltzed over and stuck his face inches from hers. " But let me tell you Granger, that being a stubborn arse will get you nowhere. You are loved by so many people, and your being entirely selfish…"
" What are you getting at Malfoy? " she narrowed her eyes and stared intently back at him.
" Im saying that you are a good person, that you make people laugh, feel happy, and you can even make them feel better about themselves. You are an amazing girl Hermione, and you need to realize that pushing all of us away is hurting us more then it is hurting you. "
There was something about his eyes that caused Hermione to lean away from him. Something that she was frightened of, something that she had never seen Malfoy ever show. It was unusual, but it was there, and it was evident on his face. He cared about her, he truly did, and it made Hermione's heart skip a beat.
" Say all you want Malfoy, Im not going to have other people be troubled over me…"
He smirked softly and cupped her chin in his hand. " We will trouble over you no matter what…we always will, and you cant stop us from feeling what we feel…"
Her voice dropped to a barely audible. " Mal- Draco, what…what are you getting at…" the palms of her hands became sweaty. What in the world was he getting at, and why did she feel like such a cheat.
" Granger…I…I…back in school…7th year, I…." He averted his eyes from her. " I never should have felt anything, and I certainly shouldn't be feeling anything now, but I can't help but think of what I felt when- "
A pop sounded behind them and Hermione felt her fingers go numb. It wasn't a position she would have liked to be caught in. Draco holding her chin in his hand, their faces barely inches from each other. It would surely give off the wrong impression.
" Hermione!? Draco!? What in the world? " They both snapped back from each other and Hermione lowered her head in embarrassment.
" Its not what it looks like, I swear…." Hermione flickered her eyes to Draco quickly and he lowered his head with a sigh.
Harry stood there with his arms crossed and a look of sheer anger planted heavily on his face.
Note: Well, I hope all of you are wondering what Draco was going to tell her! Mwahaha Im so evil. However I promise that you will find out what he was going to say. Don't forget Im a master of surprise so it might not be what your thinking!! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please once your finished leave a review. Or if you feel compelled to do so leave a flame, I could use it to make a bonfire… there is nothing I enjoy more then a good bonfire in the winter.
Oh, and if you have the time, and you enjoy fics that involve George Weasley, then please check out my new Alicia Spinnet and George fic. (There Comes A Time) I cant really even describe it, but let me assure you that it is so completely different from every other Alicia/George fic. In fact I bet I blow some of your tops with the story line! ((sorry, but I had to plug my new story, Im really proud of this one)) Thanks for all your reviews!!!! I love you guys sooooo much!!!!
