Author's Note: Hey there! I'm back once again, and as you can see, I have uploaded chapter eleven!
Thank you to all those who've reviewed! Your constructive criticisms were very well appreciated, and I do hope you still review in the future chapters! Thank you also to those who just read! Also, if you would like me to email you when the next chapter's up, just leave your email address in your reviews!
Thank you to: Vyx, maria, PsychicFairy, Dazzler, Chrissy, CarmenSandiego, CindyLea, Nyx, Oo.DrAcOzAnAnJeL.oO, The Mental Pixi-stix Faerie, Priah, Crackhead, I AmArE I, =), Ace, Sam, wintermoon, Icyfire, ThePotionMaster, delila-malfoy, Deimos, purpleballerynna, Serpena, isabel-evelyn, eth, and all the rest!!
To Priah: Thank you for your very long and helpful review! Yes, I apologize if there were some flaws in my storyline, but I'm only thirteen, and I know nothing about suspense, mystery, and the old English language! All the same, thank you for enjoying my fanfic!
Anywho, here's chapter eleven!
~*~*~
A LOVE NOT FORGOTTEN
By Rage
Chapter Eleven
~*~*~
Draco stepped back from Hermione, his eyes wide with shock. He placed his middle finger on top of his lips, recalling what had just happened. One moment he was just handing back Hermione's ring, and at the next… he was snogging her!
'I… I…' he stammered, at a complete loss of words.
Hermione seemed to be in the same state as he was. She had a dazed look present on her face, and she was obviously perplexed. There was a moment of silence, and neither uttered a single word.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Hermione spoke up in a rather stiff voice. 'I—I'd better get going,' she mumbled, absentmindedly picking up her toiletries. She avoided Draco's gaze, and headed to the door. 'See you around.'
She threw him a nervous grin over her shoulder and sped out of the prefects' bathroom, leaving Draco all to himself. He sank down to the floor, and buried his face in shame. Week by week, every single thing seemed to get more and more mixed up. His illusions were getting numerous, and it happened almost every single waking moment of his life.
'Ooh, that was quite interesting!' giggled a voice from the middle of the room. Draco looked up and jumped. There, at the edge of the marble bathtub, sat a pearly white ghost of a young teenage girl with thick glasses wearing an amused smile.
'Wh-who are you?' Draco asked, immediately standing up. 'Where did you come from?'
The ghost grinned and floated nearer to where he was. 'I'm Moaning Myrtle,' she said, 'and I usually live in the girls' bathroom on the second floor!'
'Moaning Myrtle… Hold on—I know you!' said Draco, 'Aren't you the one who was killed by the basilisk?'
Myrtle scowled. 'Yes,' she replied, 'But I prefer not to recall that memorable moment of my life.'
Draco smirked.
'I must say that I never saw Hermione that happy—'
'You know Hermione Granger?'
'Yes, I got to know her personally during her second year… she's actually quite nice, but I would never admit that in front of her. That would just ruin my reputation as being lonely and antisocial.' Myrtle puffed up her chest proudly and crossed her legs. 'As I was saying, I've never seen Hermione that dazed before you gave her that sweet little kiss of yours…' Myrtle crossed her arms and giggled, seeing how Draco's cheeks reddened by the second.
Draco glared at her. 'You… saw everything?' he said hoarsely. He felt like strangling the ghost. 'Why didn't you stop us??'
'Well, it's not really my business, is it?' Myrtle retorted. 'Besides, you looked like you weren't here anymore, if you know what I mean.'
'Say again?'
'You looked like you were in a completely different place and time… and you were mumbling things about marrying Hermione, a ring—'
Draco had turned deaf and couldn't concentrate on what Myrtle was saying anymore. He was lost in thought, and his mind was all jumbled. What had just happened a while ago really did happen! It wasn't just an illusion of some sort, it had taken place in reality.
And he wasn't the only one who had experienced it. There was enough proof that Hermione shared this… event with him.
Myrtle kept rambling on. 'And you suddenly leaned in and kissed her! It was all so—'
Draco cut her short. 'How about Hermione?'
Myrtle blinked. 'Hermione?' she repeated. 'Well, she was acting the same way as you were… it was really funny—you were like performing in a play—'
But Draco had left the prefects' bathroom already. He didn't finish listening to Moaning Myrtle's account of what happened; he needed to find Hermione. He had come to a realization that she was somehow connected to everything that was happening to him for the past few months.
He knew that everything would finally be clear once he got to confront her. He forgot all about his bath, and headed off back to the Slytherin dungeons.
~*~*~
'Miss Granger, are you still with us?' Professor McGonagall's sharp voice cut Hermione's train of thought.
She looked up immediately and stared at the professor. 'I—what—' she stuttered. 'What was the question, Professor?'
Everyone in class was staring at her, obviously surprised that she wasn't paying attention in Transfiguration for the very first time. Professor McGonagall stood still, quite startled with Hermione's lack of attention.
'Will you please stand up and show your fellow classmates the proper way in transfiguring this vase into a rabbit?' she said, pointing to the scarlet vase on top of her table.
Hermione nodded and came up front to the teacher's table. Well, here goes, she thought nervously, taking out her wand. She raised it, tapped the vase twice, and said, 'Vasorrabetos!'
The vase, for a brief second, melted into a red blob, and in the next second, it morphed into a furry small bunny. Hermione smiled triumphantly and faced the class, expecting applause and praise.
Instead, however, there were giggles and laughter. Hermione blinked and faced Professor McGonagall. 'Is there anything wrong with what I did, Professor?' she asked worriedly.
Professor McGonagall however didn't retort quickly. She looked as if she was suppressing a smile, and Hermione frowned. She instead glanced at the bunny. At the sight of it, she squealed.
The vase indeed was already a perfect rabbit; it's long ears, its fluffy tail, it's soft fur… the only problem was… it was still bright red, from the tip of its ears to its cotton tail.
'Oh no! This wasn't supposed to happen!' she exclaimed, fretting all about. Everyone now was laughing and Hermione's cheeks were as red as the rabbit. Professor McGonagall, however, remained unperturbed.
'That—That was quite… well done, Miss Granger.' She said in a stiff voice. 'I would have expected better, though… well, you may go back to your seat.'
'No, Professor, I can do better—I promise—'
'That is not necessary.'
Hermione opened her mouth to reply back, but McGonagall had already turned away and retransfigurated the rabbit into the scarlet vase. Hermione dragged her feet back to her seat, feeling the horrible pain of failure. That's okay, Hermione, she consoled herself, you were just distracted, that's all…
Yes, she told herself, she was just distracted by the event that took place just hours ago in the prefects' bathroom…
'That's okay, Hermione,' Ron said, patting her on her back. 'It could've have happened to anyone—'
'It's not okay! And it doesn't just happen to anyone!'
'You'll still get the top marks in class,' Harry now joined in. 'After all, you're still the only one who can actually do it.'
Hermione shook her head in shame. 'This wasn't supposed to happen!' she wailed. 'I studied it weeks ago!'
'Well, maybe you just forgot—'
Hermione smacked her head hardly and sank in her chair. She buried her head in her hands. Nothing could comfort her… nothing! This was all because of that kiss… all because of that incident! All because of—
Draco Malfoy, Hermione thought angrily, I'm going to kill you!
~*~*~
As much as Hermione desired nothing more but to strangle the Slytherin, she could not find the strength inside of her to look him straight in the eye. Everytime she did, she was reminded of the little event, and in a matter of seconds, she sped away in the opposite direction.
Draco, however, wanted to grab any opportunity to talk to Hermione. He wanted to ask some important questions, but every time he walked up to her, she squealed in fright and ran away. He wondered why she did this… and in a minute, he found the right answer. The memory was still intact in her mind, and he had no reason to blame her.
One night, however, the two finally came face to face. It was their turn to patrol that evening right after dinner, and both met in the Entrance Hall.
Hermione stayed two feet away from Draco, and avoided his gaze. She suddenly seemed to be so interested in her shoes, and she had no intention to look up at Draco.
'Where shall we start this evening?' he asked quietly, putting his hands inside his pockets.
'Fifth corridor,' Hermione muttered. She glanced at the grandfather clock that stood by the wall, and saw that it was only seven forty-five. Shoot, she thought, four more hours with him.
'Oh.'
There was a moment of awkward silence, and neither said nothing. Noise coming from the Great Hall echoed throughout the castle, and Hermione bit her lip, not knowing what to say or do. Fortunately, Draco spoke up.
'Well, shall we start?' He climbed two steps up and looked back at her. Hermione turned to face him, and nodded.
~*~*~
Their duties for the night were coming to an end, and Hermione couldn't help but feel extremely ecstatic. Neither had said anything ever since they had started patrolling, and now that the four hours were up, she wanted to jump for joy.
Both reached the Entrance Hall once again, and stopped.
'So, when's our next patrol?' Hermione asked, turning to face Draco.
'Thursday next week.'
'Oh, right.' Hermione nodded. 'So… I'll see you around?'
Draco nodded in reply.
'Well then… good night.'
'Hermione.'
'Yes?'
'About that morning…'
Hermione froze. Blood rushed to her cheeks, and she felt all warm and tingly inside. She remembered the feeling when she placed her lips on his, and she felt light-headed.
She knew that he was going to laugh at her face… he was going to tease her, to taunt her… to say that she was hungry for him… she was scared to look up at his face and see his smirk.
She knew there was only one thing to do. Hermione heaved a deep breath and finally looked up at Draco.
'I apologize!'
She stared at him with a questioning gaze. Draco had said the precise thing at the same moment. He also looked at her.
'Why are you sorry?' They said once again in unison.
'Because I kissed you!'
Hermione squealed in fright and hissed, 'Sshh!'
Draco turned away in embarrassment. There was silence, and both looked in another direction. The memory replayed inside Hermione's head, and she shook her head violently, trying to get the memory out of her.
'We should forget about that, understand?' Hermione was now breathing heavily, and was glaring at Draco.
'Yes,' he nodded in agreement. 'I suppose we should do that.'
'Good.'
'Good.'
'Good night.'
Hermione turned around and walked up the stone steps. She had no intention of turning around to see if Draco was still there, watching her leave. She was burning inside, and the drowsiness that she was already feeling just a while ago had already disappeared.
When she finally reached the last step, someone had grabbed her wrist. What the—she thought, as she spun around. Draco held her wrist tightly and stared at her.
'You know that something happened, right?' he asked.
'What d'you mean??' Hermione was tempted to slap him hard on the cheek, but resisted it.
"About the proposal—'
'No, I don't!' She knew that she should have said yes, but at the moment, she felt nothing but pure anger and frustration. She did not want to spend another minute with him, and she had no intention about staying up all night.
Draco seemed determined to prove that she did know what he was talking about. 'Look at your ring!'
And she did. She gazed down at it, expecting that it looked exactly like it usually did. 'See,' she said, thoroughly annoyed, 'there's nothing different with it—look—'
And she gasped.
It wasn't the same ring her mother had given her. Instead, it was the diamond ring that the past Draco granted her…
Which only meant one thing.
The illusion had happened for real.
~*~*~
A/N: Aw, crap. That wasn't exactly what I expected as a nice ending. So stupid really, don't you think?
However, I do hope that you enjoyed the other parts of the story! I'm sorry that it isn't really that nice, but I'm really tired with school and I'm too uninspired to write.
Anyway, REVIEW!!
