A/N: Draco is left parentless after his father's actions and Draco's impulsiveness. Hermonie is left parentless after a strategic accident. Both are declared head boy and girl. Both are depressed. Both need comfort. Support. Love. (Not your average h+d story where on minute they're fighting and the next they're making out) R+R THANK YOU!!! ^_^
11/16/02
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Of Tragedies And Romance
Chapter OneBlood57
Draco's P.O.V.
I quickly locked the door. I was too shocked to scream, and too scared that he'd figure out where I was. Lucius was smart, but then again, he would never imagine me hiding in the house elf's cleaning cupboard, even if he eliminated all of my old hiding places, for they changed with every beating. He killed her. That BASTARD! HE JUST KILLED HER! It kept playing over and over in my head. A tear dripped from my eye and onto my lips. I could taste the salt. It stung slightly as it continued to run down my chin, over my freshly open cut, and as it hit the dirty old mop next to the cabinet, I began to break down, my knees buckling.
The last time I had ever cried was when I was 5, when the beatings began to scar much more than just my body, when they began to scar my brain. (That was the day I finally concluded that I was going to kill him.) I would never sniff when I cry because of the fact that I wasn't really sure how to do that and because of the fact that if I did, he would surely find me. (After all, his aging made him rely on the only sense he ironically "doesn't" have [A/N: He never listens to anyone, yet his aging makes him rely on his sense of hearing – get it? By the way, he's not really aging that much, it's just that he was already old, like 48, so...]) I just let the tears flow freely as I shriveled up into the little corner of the cupboard. It felt so good to just let loose and set myself free.
I scolded myself for thinking of this as a good thing, especially when I'm crying over her dead body. The one woman I loved. The one women that showed me that it was capable for a Malfoy to love, or at least for me because he sure as hell wasn't capable of loving, or else he wouldn't have killed her in the first place. She was the one woman who I adored, who gave meaning to my life, who kept me going on, kept me from killing myself, kept me from killing him.
But she was gone, and I would surely kill him. I didn't care; I knew where he kept the key to his vault. I'd get the key, kill him and get the fuck out of there. I'd go to Gringotts, get the money, and buy myself a flat as far away from the manor as possible. As for the fact that I wouldn't have a father – well, I wouldn't miss him or his beatings. I wanted him dead ever since I was 5, but I was too scared and weak. But I wasn't scared now, and I wasn't weak either. I gripped my wand firmly, and straightened up. I walked towards the knob, but I heard a creak from downstairs. I could hear footsteps coming up.
"Draco," he whispered, "Where are you?" he asked in a playful tone. I mentally guffawed sarcastically.
"Only a coward would run away," he said, dropping the playful voice.
So, only a coward would run away. What's your point? If I were courageous, I'd be in Gryffindor with all the other fucks, wouldn't I? Even a Gryffindor would be scared to take this, so what's your point? I thought.
I quickly took my wand out, holding it in a ready position. I heard him coming towards the cupboard.
"Don't cry for her, she wasn't worth it," he said. I felt a ripple of fury seized through me and before I knew it, rage and anger had overcome me. That did it. I opened the cupboard. There was only a split second in which he looked into my eyes and I could sense fear. For once in my life, I was the stronger one and for once in my life, I would get revenge. This would be the one time he wished he hadn't taught me everything he knew (and even more) Forgetting that I had magic, I launched myself onto him. Once punch was all it took to knock him out, but I continued until there was so much blood that I could have swam in it. I took the wand that lay in his now limp hand and snapped it in half, throwing it by his side.
I rested for one minute. Oh, I wasn't finished; I'd give the word rage a new meaning. He would wake up in a minute or so and he'd wish that he could just die – he would, except by murder...I reminded myself. He began to stir awake. He looked around and met my eyes. He quickly got up, and looked down at his broken wand. Eyes wide, nostrils flared, he started taking a few steps back.
"Leaving so soon, father?" I asked in an almost maniacal tone.
"I- well, um..." he began.
"You're going to suffer just like we both did," I told him.
"Now Draco - " he began, but I cut him off.
"It doesn't feel so good to be powerless verse someone stronger and faster than you, does it? Especially when that someone is so full of...what's the word I'm looking for?"
"Love" he said hopefully. I smirked, and let out a snort.
"Rage" I said in a slow, low voice, making sure that he got the gist. Well, if he didn't he would - soon.
"Where's her body?" I asked. He looked into my eyes, not saying anything.
"I asked you a question," I said. It was amazing how I could sound so much like my father, yet be so different from him.
"I did not move the body," he said, sounding as though he gained some confidence. He wouldn't have just said " the (body)" unless he thought he had a chance. It was suddenly apparent why. A popping sound could be heard.
"My lord" he bowed down.
"Young Malfoy, why don't you bow?" the voice concealed by a red velvet hood questioned.
"Because, Lord Voldemort, I was about to torture and then kill my father." My father looked up, as to asked Voldermort for help.
"I'm sorry," he said with a bit of sarcasm, "Proceed to do so, then." I bowed my head in a sign of gratitude, and turned to Lucius who looked petrified.
"Crucio!" I yelled, pointing the wand at him. My face remained blank. I was enjoying seeing him in pain, but that feeling was canceled out by the memory of her being under the crusio spell.
"Why did you bother to do so?" he asked me.
"Because he killed my– my-" I closed my eyes quickly, still holding my wand.
"Your...mother?" Voldemort said quietly. I let Lucius drop to the floor with a heavy slump.
"You –you knew –about, it –did –din' -didn't you?" I managed to say.
"Lucius did mention something about punishing her...yes." Voldermort continued in the same low voice.
"And you didn't tell me?" I said my voice rising. I peaked out of the corner of my eye and saw my father stir awake again. I yelled crusio, and he was once more jerking in the corner.
"Yes, I thought it was for the best," he said.
"You –you thought it was for –for the bes- best?! You thought it was for the best? YOU THOUGHT IT WAS FOR THE BEST! What kind of stupid fuck are you?!" I yelled punching him in the head. He, unlike my father, seemed to be stronger than one punch. He was, however bleeding. Wasting no time I said the first thing that came to mind: OBLIVIATE!
"Shit!" I yelled aloud. I didn't want to kill him, but I didn't really want to erase his memory either. If he had summoned the death-eaters, he would not act like himself, and they would suspect something. Lucious began to stir once again. I suddenly had an idea.
"Impirio!" I roared, pointing my wand at him. "Come with me" I said. We walked a short distance, until we got to my room.
"Open the second drawer!" I commanded. He did so. "Now," I said, speaking clearly, "Take out the red velvet pouch." He did so.
"Take the metal box that's inside the pouch." He let the velvet escape from his grip to reveal a small, handsome box that contained what would soon be both his and Voldemort's death.
"Open the box," I said, and, with a click, the box snapped open, revealing a freshly, handcrafted dagger. The danger was incrusted with rubies (A/N: It's suppose to be Draco's birthstone, so just pretend it is, okay?) and there was writing on the blade:
M - Machiavellian
A - Authoritative
L – Legacy
F - Fortitude
O - Observant
Y – Yen
"Stab Voldemort with the knife!" I said. He began to run back to where Voldemort was still lying. By the time I got there, Voldemort was dead.
"Now, call the ministry of magic and report that there's been an break-in in your house!" (A/N: I don't know what wizard would do if there were an emergency, so...?) Once he had done so, I said: "Now dispose of Voldemort's body!" He picked up Voldemort's body and walked through the corridors. I followed for about ten minutes or so, until we were at the dungeons. He threw Voldemort's body into the dungeons.
"Listen very carefully," I instructed, "Go back to the corridor in which you were in before and stab yourself. Once you've stabbed yourself, take the knife and dispose of it!" Wasting no time, I ran upstairs to my mother's bedroom. I opened the door, but there was no sign of her. Within a second, I had my hands on the key to the vault. I opened my mom's closet and screamed as a dangling pale hand shook in front of me. He had tied her body on the hook. I began to cry, and unhooked her from the hook and laid her down on the bed. I inhaled quickly, and closed my eyes. I snapped them open as I searched for the floo powder in her drawer. I picked some off of the pouch and threw it into the fireplace (A/N: Which, continently enough was in her room.) jumped in and said "Knockturn Alley!" I landed with a thump in the back room, and got up. I cleaned the soot off of my shirt and spotted Mr. Borgins. I crept passed the bookshelves, and into the farthest corner of the store.
"Mr. Malfoy!" I heard his voice soon enough.
"Mr. Borgins," I said, "I'm a tad bit disappointed in you!"
"Why would that be?" he asked.
"Because," I said, "I've been looking around here for half an hour already, and you haven't even showed me your latest merchandise, let alone say hello!"
"But – didn't you just-" He began.
"No but's!" I said, "Now, what do you have for me."
"I'm sorry Mr. Malfoy," he said happily, "But I'm afraid the tourists beat you to it!"
"You seem happy about this," I said, picking up a velvet red pouch. Then, remembering what had just happened, I shook my head in disgust and returned the pouch to its stand.
"I'm happy that my business is doing so well," he explained, "Not that you were to late to buy anything," he continued, defending himself.
"Well," I said, "I best be off. Got a lot of things to do." I said, walking towards the door.
"Tell your father I said hi!" Mr. Borgins said.
"Oh, I will, don't you worry," I said, walking out.
***
It had been two months since the ministry had raided my house. Of course, all the dark arts shit that father had was hidden away, both in his vault at Gringotts, and in a concealed room that can only be accessible by a Malfoy. I still don't understand why they decided to raid the place, but then again, they might have thought that they could find some clues, but of course, there were none. They found my mother's body, but they just figured that she was killed after my father called the ministry.
But the ministry thought that it was rather peculiar that I was the only one that wasn't murdered. Of course they made this big deal to question me for my alibi, but I simply told them that I was with Mr. Borgins during that time. Mr. Borgins, though still sensing something suspicious, (A/N: alliteration – yes, yes – HAHA – no...no alliteration intended) simply stated (A/N: Yes, non-intended alliteration continues...) my alibi. The ministry actually wanted to put me in an orphanage, because they couldn't contact any of my relatives because of the fact that I didn't know where any of them where, but I refused flatly.
"Can't I just buy myself a flat?" I asked Cornelius Fudge as we made plans on where to put me. "Or maybe I could at stay at my original house!" I suggested.
"But, you cannot support yourself - " he began.
"I'll get a job!" I said.
"Where would you get a job?" he asked. I raised an eyebrow, thinking that he emphasized the word "you" a little too much.
"Well, are there any openings in the Ministry?" I asked.
"I'll have to check, Mister Malfoy," He said.
He never did get back to me, so I decided to see Mister Barkins and ask him if I could work in the shop. He seemed too intimidated by my presence to refuse, so he just agreed. Since I was getting paid, I was allowed to stay in my original house. The house elves where still working about, trying to shove aside the fact that they only had one master. Then again, Lucius's insults and reminders for extra punishments might not have been missed by the house elves. But then, they would miss my mother's kindness. I blinked back a stinging sensation in my eyes, and continued to walk up to my room.
I heard a little tapping sound as soon as I entered my room, and judging by the fact that there was an owl outside of my window pecking furiously at the glass, as thought trying to break it, I could tell it had been there for a while. I opened the window and allowed the owl to land on my desk. I untied the letter from its leg and petted it gently. It's eyes immediately melted, and it hooted softly. It flew out of my window and I sighed, wishing I could have just done the same. I watched it's graceful body soar out of sight. It was so carefree, so beautiful. I ran my hand through my hair, and, in the process, dropped the letter that I had subconsciously forgotten about on the floor. I picked it up and saw the official Hogwarts seal on it. Scratching my chin thoughtfully and raising an eyebrow, I opened the letter and scanned it aloud:
"Dear Mr. Malfoy...blah blah blah...Headboy...blah blah...responsibilities...and Headgirl will share a room for the year...think this over greatly...please respond A.S.A.P..." I looked down at the letter for one minute. The word "Headgirl" was instinctively visible.
Who's Headgirl this year? I wondered. I rolled my eyes, sighing. As long as it's not a giggly, gossipy, sluty, P.M.S.ing bitch, I'm safe. This is gonna be one hell of a non-sociable year. I sat down in my chair, and began to write:
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
I would be delighted to take the position as Headboy and its responsibilities. Thank you very much for considering me as Headboy. I think this year will be full of adventure. Once again, thank you for considering me as Headboy.
Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy
Hermonie's P.O.V.
Dear Hermonie,
It's fantastic that you're Headgirl! This is going to be the best year ever. Maybe you can meet Ron and I later in Diagon Alley. Gotta go (Don't do too much work!)
Much love,
Harry
I looked down at the letter and sighed. I guess they didn't know about it yet. Then again, how could they, if I never told them yet?
Why haven't you told them yet? A voice inside of my head said. Just forget it!
I suddenly went over to my desk, took out a c.d., grabbed my keys and headed towards the door.
"Dear, where are you going?" My Aunt Melissa asked.
"I'm going for a drive, Aunt Melissa. Is that okay?" I asked softly.
"Sure, just take your cell phone so you can call me if you need me," she said, handing it to me as I opened the door.
"Thanks, Aunt Melissa. And thanks again – for everything. I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused by coming here." I said.
"Oh nonsense! You're no trouble at all! It's my pleasure to have you here dear!" She said, smiling. I smiled and close the door. I opened the door to my 1968 red porche and put the c.d. in the tray, causing the music to blast. I felt a sigh of relief as my thoughts and worries were drowned out by the band. The tires screeched as they made their way through the pavement.
"HEY!" someone called. I paused the music and looked around.
"Hey," I said softly. "Where are you going?"
"I was just headed back home," said Richard, Aunt Melissa's son. "Where were you going?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Just for a drive? Wanna come with me?" I asked.
"Sure," he said, "Let me just go park my car," He said, flashing a pearly white smile towards me. He was back within a minute.
"Is this Hybrid Theory?" he asked, nodding his head towards the music.
"Yeah," I answered, "I have Reanimation and Meteora in there too," I said, nodding my head towards the compartment in front of him. "You a fan?" I asked.
"Yeah," he said bobbing his head as "With You" came on.
I
woke up in a dream today
To the cold of the static and put my cold feet on the floor
Forgot all about yesterday
Remembering I'm pretending to be where I'm not anymore
A little taste of hypocrisy
And I'm left in the wake of the mistake slow to react
Even though you're so close to me
You're still so distant
And I can't bring you back
I suddenly hit the forward button – hard, causing my finger to jam. My eyes widened as my eyebrows shot up, as did Richard's.
Why did I just do that? I thought as I recognized the next song as "By Myself". Because you heard the words "I can't bring you back", the annoying voice inside my head said.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, grasping the steering wheel. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Richard had figured out why I had just hit the forward button. In an effort to distract myself, I took out my green Gucci glasses and put them on. I looked at Richard and I realized that he concluded that he best be off not commenting on why I had just changed the song.
"So," I said, trying to make conversation, "How's school?"
"Good," he said, "I'm graduating this year!"
"Yeah, me too!" I said, smiling. There was a moment of silence, in which the words "I can't hold on, to what I want when I'm stretched so thin" where clearly heard. I blinked back what appeared to be tears as the words "It's all too much to take in" echoed through the air. I took off my glasses and put them back in their case. By then, I had finished my drive around the block, but Richard and I stood frozen in the car.
"It's all my fault!" I said, and I began to cry, stopping the music. He frowned heavily.
"Hermonie, it's not your fault! You know that!" he said, trying to comfort me.
"It is! If it wasn't for me and my big mouth - " I began, sniffing.
"Don't" Richard said, shaking his head, "It wasn't because of you," he continued firmly.
"I was the one who suggested that they go out. I was the one that told them that they deserved a break. It was me! ME! If it wasn't for me, they would still-" but I couldn't finish the sentence. I began to cry again. Richard stroked my hair as I stained his Armania shirt with fresh tears mixed with mascara and pink (strawberry-flavored) Lancôme lip-gloss.
"You had good intentions," he said softly. I looked up at him.
"Yeah, and look where it got them!" I said angrily. I put my head back on his shirt, but he lifted my chin up.
"Don't you ever…ever blame yourself for what happened," he said. I looked into his eyes, my lips trembling. I stopped crying. I blinked quickly. He lowered his lips onto mine. I felt his breath against my face. His lips caught mine, and in less than a second, his tongue was in my mouth. It felt so right, that I didn't jerk away, but instead, I came closer, putting one hand on the back of his head, and another on the back of his neck and pulling him forward. The kiss continued, but was broken off when Richard accidentally put his elbow on the steering wheel. It honked loudly – well, actually, I just thought it was loud because my ear was pressed against it. As we straightened up, I looked at Richard. He grinned sheepishly, showing off his dimples. I "combed" my hair with my hand. Richard opened the door and got out. He went over to my side of the car and held out a hand for me, after opening the door for me.
"Thank you," I said, taking his hand.
"You're welcome," he said, showing off his dimples again.
***
"Well," I said, closing the car door behind me, "This is it. I'm going to miss you. Have fun this year, and don't work too hard, it's your last year," I chuckled at my last statement – just tying to imagine ME doing taking my own advice was absolutely impossible.
"I'll miss you too," he said, hugging me tightly. He then surprised me with a quick kiss on the lips, and without another word, he left. It surprised me that he had kissed me, because ever since our first kiss, we had been avoiding each other. Sure, there was a mutual attraction between us, but for different reasons. I wasn't sure what his was, maybe it was my body, maybe it was my personality, or maybe it was just me. Mine, on the other hand, was strictly procrastination – a procrastination from reality, a procrastination from facing the truth, a procrastination from getting on with my life. Sighing, I idly dragged my luggage with me. I casually leaned against the barrier – I didn't want to run, in fear that I would not stop once I started. I continued to carry my luggage onto the train.
"Are you Miss Granger?" asked a short man I had never seen before.
"Um...yes – may I help you?" I asked. May I help you? I repeated to myself, How stupid can I get? I waited for the man's response.
"Follow me, I will show you to your private compartment," he said. I didn't really pay attention to where we were going, I was just grateful that I had an excuse to not socialize with anyone.
"Here you are miss," he said.
"Thank yo-" I began to say, but he was already gone. Shrugging I unbolted the latch on the door and put my luggage in the over-head compartment. When I finished, I was startled to see a muscular figure in the compartment. So long for a PRIVATE compartment, I thought. The figure was laying down on the far edge of the bench.
It was definitely a boy, because there wouldn't be two headgirls. He was curled up into a ball. A shadow was cast upon him, but even through the thick darkness that had soaked him, I could tell that he was sleeping. I wondered why he hadn't slept on the bench, but instead decided to isolate himself and curl up into a ball in the far corner of the compartment. I took a seat opposite the figure. I still hadn't figured out who he was. He began to stir awake.
I pretended to be looking for something in my bag, so as to distract myself from him. I pretended that I had been looking for a quill, and pocketed it. By this time he was already up, and after re-zipping my bag, I looked up at him. It was Draco Malfoy. It was odd – we had been staring at each other for what seemed like an hour, yet neither of us had said any nasty remarks. Draco was the first to break the ice.
"Hello Hermione," Draco said, his voice barley higher than a whisper.
"Hello," I tried to say warmly, but mixed with all the confusing, the greeting sounded stale and dry. I could tell Draco was trying to think of something to say, for his eyes were darting back and forth.
"How was yo-" he began, but stopped abruptly. His expression seemed to mirror one that someone would use if they had been branded. I knew he was going to ask how my summer had been, and I flinched slightly. He tried to change the sentence.
"How are you?" he asked.
"Fine – and you?" I asked.
"I'm okay," he said nodding. Just then there was a knock on the door. I got up and looked through the peephole (Draco didn't seem to care, for he didn't follow me). It was Harry and Ron. I can't face them NOW, I thought. I must have worn an expression of great pain, for Draco asked who it was.
"It's...its Ron and Harry," I sighed, and went back to the bench.
"Are you in a fight with them?" he asked gently.
"No," I shook my head, "Why?"
"No reason," he answered, "I just thought that it was odd that you didn't want to talk to them if you weren't in a fight," his voice began to grow hoarse. "You know, you can still talk to them if I'm here. If you want, I can leave until you finish," he offered. Why is he being so…KIND?
"No," I shook my head, "I don't want you to leave – it's fine. Thanks for the offer though," I said. He nodded his head. There was a continuous knock on the door, and I could hear Harry and Ron talking outside.
"Ron, stop, maybe they're sleeping in there," Harry said.
"Sleeping – Hermione – Malfoy – In the same room – together – Hermione – MALFOY!!!!!" Ron's knocks became louder.
"Will you please just STOP Ron!" Harry said abruptly.
"Fine, we'll come back in an hour!" he said stubbornly.
"Fine," Harry said, giving up. Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes in annoyance. Hermione looked over at Draco, who had curled back in his tiny corner. She wondered why he was being so serene and kind towards her. He's probably just tired, Hermione assured herself.
A/N: So...what do you think? I'm working on chapter 2, but its sort of hard because I'm also working on my other story, "Confused", so THAT'S taking up more of my time. I might not be able to update this story for another week or so, so in the mean time, occupy yourselves by reading my other story, "Confused". THANK YOU AND PLEASE REVIEW!!! Thank you for everyone that reviewed, and a special thanks to Nanako (dragon_memories@hotmail.com) for that benevolent review – I REALLY appreciate it and, as you requested, you can get an e-mail from fanfiction filling you in on my story updates if you check the box titled "Add Author To Author Alert" when you review.
** DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT "CONFUSED" BY BLOOD57!!! **
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