A/N: Wow! This is the last chapter of this story! I'm actually going to finish this up now... Anyways, I'd like to thank you all for everything!! For making me go this far!! You know I love you all! This is goin to be hard to write...
Pardon the chapter because after each divider, there's a different song! (Thanks to a certain somebody I'm without for two weeks –you know who you are - for recommending me the Finch's awesome lyric!) Just to cover a few things before I start.
The first song is called Letters to you by Finch. The next lyrics after that is the Immortal by Evanescence, and I know is perfect for a death something, but I thought this kind've fitted in. I just wanted to choose this song because if you listened to the song, it just fits to the situation somehow. I COULD FEEEEEEL ITTTTTT Hehe. Enjoy!
Chapter 33: A stranger's epilogue
Draco never moved. Still in that same position. Still...
Motionless...
The letter gently dropped to the floor and he refused to pick it up. Was this a joke? How could Hermione do this to him?
She loved him...
She said so...
He knew she meant it. But why? Why did he have to write this one letter in such short notice? Sure, she mentioned she was afraid... But afraid of what? Draco could've understood...
But he did say he would never let her go...
He didn't want to let her go... But why did she have to make all this so sudden? Why did she have to mess things up? Things were going fine... until... until...
Can't you see that I wanna be there with open arms?
This, happened.
He had nothing now. Nothing. All he had was his own home, Darla, and himself. Nothing now. What will he do? He can't let things get through him like this anymore...
He wanted to change...
Still shocked, Draco thought. He sat there, knowing Hermione was now probably on an airplane.
Hermione, he thought to himself, Are you crying?
It was hard to be himself anymore... He can't take it anymore.
It's empty tonight and I'm all alone
The only person who ever cared, and changed his heart- was Hermione. But now that she's gone... why did it any matter?
She's gone now.... his heart turned cold, and his eyes turned darker grey. He couldn't take it anymore...
From now on. He wanted to change... change... change back. He sat there, the old Draco Malfoy.
Get me through this one
Do you notice i'm gone?
There, alone in his bed, Draco began to think harder. He hadn't eaten... Darla's worried. Now he can't sleep. Three hours on the bedroom, with wide open eyes and with nothing but Hermione on his mind.
He loved her... She knew that. And he knew that. He promised he wasn't going to let her go...
What's going to happen now?
Fuck my life, Draco told himself angrily, I hate this. Why me?
Draco closed his fists and eyes tight and yelled as he tried to rid his mind off her.
Where do you run to so far away?
He told himself, no. She did not betray him. She just had to do what was best...
But this was never the best for them.
Letters can kill souls.
...But why did it have to be him?
He wouldn't hurt himself. No. Hermione would be angry...
But she's gone now... so why would it matter if he was hurt? Who will notice? Who will care? Who will know?
I want you to know that I miss you I miss you so
Draco grabbed the small knife and placed it above his pale wrists. He closed his eyes and lowered it...
I want you to know that I miss you I miss you so
"FUCK!" he yelled loudly. He had dropped the knife on the ground before he could do anything. He dropped to the ground...breathing heavily... He fought there against the other side of him. He fought his indifference. A single tear rolled down his angry face...
Draco Malfoy does not have a conscience.... he scolded at himself.
...He threw the knife back in the bin...
Unhurt...
...
That next morning, Draco dragged himself downstairs for at least a piece of bread. He was starving...
He didn't dare go near the door. He was never getting out of this house. What was the point? His life and soul had left him...
Left him... Alone...
He was afraid he might see something else lying on that doorstep that might take him away for good. He was afraid now...
Darla was now in charge of any posts at all. Draco's heart flipped and raced as Darla entered the kitchen.
She handed the letters to him.
Daily Prophet. Junk Mail.. Junk Mail... Junk Mail... To Draco Malfoy...
His heart stopped. He looked at the single envelope for a few minutes, leaving Darla who looked curiously at him.
Just as Darla had left, he opened the envelope slowly...but carefully...
Draco...
I'm hoping your fine. I love you and please remember. I'm in the States right now. I can't find any Owls or witches here. I'm using this through via Muggle mailing. I sent this to Ron, Draco. I sent it to him so he could owl it to you. We can't let this go on for too long. I'm afraid you're address isn't listed in the Muggle addresses and things... I've tried to owl you several times in the night, my own owl is too small and cannot go that far.. If I get caught, let's just hope I won't, it will be harder that way. I'm afraid, Draco. But I will find a way. It's hard like this Draco. I can't stop thinking of you. Thinking of you hurts my heart more...
But Draco... this is very important for you to know. Whatever happens, please don't come get me. Don't come here, Draco. It's for your own good. And even if that just gave you an idea, don't.
Love you,
Hermione
Draco hastilly scuffed his tears with his sweater. No more tears...
No more nothing...
He began to write.
I'm writing again these letters to you on much I know
It had been two days and the Owl wouldn't deliver. He tried to follow the same system Hermione did. But it didn't work... His letter kept coming back. His owl wasn't trained hard enough to reach a different continent.
But I'm not sleeping and you're not here
"DAMN IT!" Draco bellowed, causing Darla to jump. He didn't care anymore! He had to wait for more of her letters...
The thought stops my heart
Then it stopped there.
Weeks had passed and still no sign. Had she gotten caught? Was it that hard to keep in contact? Why did everything had to be so hard? Fuck the rules! He wanted to be with Hermione again...
He missed holding her... kissing her... being with her. He missed her...
Sometimes he'd look at her pictures, but sometimes he's too reluctant to even glance quickly.
No more looking I've found her
Months and months had passed and Draco grew cold and emotionless. He showed no care for anything anymore... and he wasn't letting anything in his life. None of that.
Slowly, He was starting to get into the outdoors again... Visiting Diagon Alley a few times... Even though Lucius was gone, they never paid Draco anymore. Draco quit his dayjob at the Quidditch Supplies, and his heart was dreamless. Whenever he'd pass by the Tavern of song, he'd resisted to get angry.
He wasn't angry with Hermione... oh no. He was angry at himself.
Nothing was going to change it all... it was too late... everything was just fucked up....
He would get mad so easily and lost contact with Ron, Harry or Ginny. He had fallen apart for sure. Although, some of his old Slytherin buddies complimented him on the change of attitude; back to the detrimental Draco Malfoy. He didn't show any care anymore... nothing mattered.
He doubted like hell. He knew he was never going to see her again. It was time to move on... but it will only take a matter of time. But would there be anyone out there for him?
He can't replace Hermione... no...
I'm gone away...
........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........
It had been six years and Draco was finally moving on. Slowly.
I'm so tired of being here
suppressed by all of my childish fears
He was back, and had a reputation. Arrogant and too proud, he strutted like he cared of nothing. And he didn't.
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Hermione became "that girl who is long gone". He knew he will never forget her... but has she forgotten about him? Has she moved on and on to a different guy? No matter what, he wasn't letting go.
...Not yet.
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
All their pictures were locked up in a large box. All her letters were locked up in a bin and there's only one picture he ever kept.
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
The picture Hermione had given him as a gift. No matter where his reputation was taking him... he was doing everything for her. He won't give up...
There's just too much that time cannot erase
It was his job to keep his word and promise. They were going to get married and have a family... but what now?
He was going nowhere now.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
"Everything." Draco said quietly, "Everything, I ruined it."
Hermione still wasn't getting what he's saying. She eyed him curiously... He sighed exasperatedly, "That day at Knockturn Alley, it was a set up. I've told him you were around and we plotted."
Hermione's face grew how, "Y-you...you plotted?"
Memories were coming back to him. His face grew paler as he laid there on his bed every night. Every night, her memories haunted him...
He'd read some letters sometimes at night to get him to sleep. Every night, Draco's arrogant self cried. Cried like a man, but he still cried. There was still that one small part of his heart that was left unfrozen...
And I've held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
Sometimes Draco would start to hate Hermione for what she did. All this... but she was too innocent... she was still an angel to him...
You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Every night... He thinks of her eyes, and her smile. He missed the way their hands and lips collided... he missed the way she'd throw her arms around him and he'd embrace back. He missed her arguments and her teases... He missed her tears...
Every night...
But now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me
He realised now the meaning of, "You can never appreciate something more, until they are gone."
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
Every night, every day, he'd wonder to himself what she's doing right now. She's probably successful, and had forgotten all about him.
But Hermione was still "that girl who left", to him now.
Phsyical changes? Sure. Draco's hair was longer and his white blonde hair was now "just blonde" and was never neatly slicked back anymore. It stuck out like he didn't bother to comb it. It still looked well, of course. But there was something different...
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
when you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
That day, Draco had a nice walk at Diagon Alley by himself. He had also been drinking a lot more, at Leaky Cauldron. He was known well there now, for his almost-everyday visits.
It wasn't until Draco saw a strange hooded man walk out of the Leaky Cauldron, who stupidly left his broom on the table.
Wait a second.
Draco grinned as he remembered it had happened to him, once upon a time. That day really made him reminisce...
For the sake of his lost love, he raised a brow and followed this man. Hermione would've been proud...
The man had entered the Quidditch Supply store and Draco ran up to him, trying to call out a name.
Turn around you stupid man, he told himself exasperatly, I have a busy schedule!
And I've held your hand through all of these years...
Draco walked over to the cloaked man and tapped his shoulder.
But you still have all of me
At first Draco thought this man had powers... powers to control over Draco's feelings. His body became cold all over and he felt like he was about to fall back down.
I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone...
Before Draco could speak, he stared at the horrified expression of the man's face. I'm sorry is my face that scary? Draco had planned to say.
And though you're still with me...
But no.
But, just as the man turned around, his maroon hood had fallen off, exposing a long silky cocoa brown hair. Draco's pale face blushed as he realised he was mistaken.
"I-I... I'm sorry, miss." He said at the transfixed girl. "But you left this at the Leaky Cauldron. I- I just thought to give it back." He handed her the broom and grinned. Just as he turned his heel to leave-
"You returned the favour." She said softly.
Draco raised a brow. "Er- what?"
"N-nothing. Nevermind. I- No you can't- I mean... nothing. Sorry." She said cluelessly. As she said all this, she fidgeted nervously with her necklace and turned her eyes away. Before she could turn around to leave, Draco had looked at her, then at the necklace she was playing with...
What the hell? He looked... and thought...
He grabbed her arm. And thought...
There was something there that made him feel something...
He looked...
I've been alone all along...
That familar shining silver necklace...
No, I won't stop loving you...
Why should I?
-END