Chapter 18- Picking up the pieces
How the hell did
we wind up like this
Why weren't we able
To see the signs that we missed
And try to turn the tables
I wish you'd
unclench your fists
And unpack your suitcase
Lately there's been too much of this
Dont think its too late
Nothin's wrong
just as long as
you know that someday I will
Someday, somehow
gonna make it allright but not right now
I know you're wondering when
(You're the only one who knows that)
Someday, somehow
gonna make it allright but not right now
I know you're wondering when
Well I hoped that since we're here anyway
We could end up saying
Things we've always needed to say
So we could end up stringing
Now the story's played out like this
Just like a paperback novel
Lets rewrite an ending that fits
Instead of a hollywood horror
~
Hermione woke up to music blasting from Draco's bedroom. She listened carefully and smiled, recognizing the music from her Nickelback muggle CD she had lent to Draco a few weeks ago along with her CD player. Of course this was after he had apologized for declaring it "muggle trash". Her smile faded as her eyes rested on a redhead girl asleep on Hermione's couch. The memories of the previous day came flooding back. Ginny had slept over when she realized the state Hermione was in… and her hair. Hermione, gasping searched the room for her mirror. Ginny had continually pleaded to do a few spells on Hermione's hair to give her a new look. Ginny seemed to think it would cheer Hermione up. Hermione got up and went to her vanity as she peered critically at herself.
"It's not too bad." She concluded, unable to stop a wide grin that was already spreading across her face. Her long hair had been left alone, thank god, but there were some pretty drastic red highlights mixed with her dark hair. Her hair now was perfectly straight, reaching down to her elbows. She scrunched up her face, unsure about the absence of her curls. She was about to change her hair back to its elegant curly mess when Ginny sat up in alarm.
"Don't you dare!" Her voice was as menacing as Mrs. Weasley's. Hermione couldn't help but smirk at the thought.
"Ok, I'll leave it for today, but don't expect me to leave it like this forever." Hermione laughed as she threw a muggle fashion magazine at Ginny from her vanity.
"Fine, whatever." Ginny rolled her eyes as Hermione stuck her tongue out at Ginny and gathered her stuff up, heading for the bathroom. "I'll meet you downstairs." Ginny called to the closed door as she hurried to get dressed.
~
Hermione pursed her lips together nervously as she and Ginny entered the Great Hall half an hour later. When Hermione and Draco had become an item, she began to eat with him at the Slytherin table. She glanced around the room quickly, searching frantically for an escape from the awkward moment but Ginny linked her arm through Hermione's, and guided her firmly to the Gryffindor table past many raised eyebrows. Hermione felt the stares upon her, but regained her courage and followed Ginny to the sixth year section of the table, where she promptly opened a book. Harry and Ron looked at each other, bemused. They hadn't seen this old Hermione habit in quite a while, and both were realizing how much they missed her even if they wouldn't say it aloud. Hermione sat engaged in her textbook, oblivious to the eerie silence of the Gryffindors that morning.
~
Word spread like wildfire that Draco, the king of Slytherin, was free again. At least this was how it was told by most of the Slytherin girls. Almost everyone else in the school recognized the significance of the break up of Hermione and Malfoy. She was surprised by how quickly she was accepted back by her friends again. About a week after the breakup, Hermione found herself surrounded by all her Gryffindor friends. "Hermione! Sit over here, between me and Ron." Harry's voice called out loud enough for the whole Potions class to hear. Hermione looked up in surprise, as she had been sitting by herself all week and this was the first time either of her boys had talked to her. She chanced half a glance at Draco, and found him scowling, face turned to the wall, fists clenched. She hesitated before turning to Harry and Ron, uneasily sliding next to them.
"We need to talk." Harry whispered to her, as Snape strode into the classroom. He looked mildly surprised to see the new seating arrangements, but didn't comment.
"Today class, we will be brewing Vivafertum. Who can tell me about this complex potion?" Snape's voice was barely over a whisper, and Hermione got the distinct feeling he was in a very foul mood. She raised her hand hesitantly. The only other hand that was raised was Malfoy's.
"Malfoy?" Snape called on, shooting Hermione a smirk.
"Vivafertum is used in extreme circumstances where it can be a stopper of death," Draco smirked as he shot the class a challenging look. "However, it can have some unfortunate side effects."
"Good. 20 points to Slytherin." Snape gave a curt nod to Malfoy, who looked extremely pleased with himself. "Who can tell me the side effects of Vivafer-?" he continued, but was cut short. Hermione's hand had shot straight in the air at the same moment as Malfoy before he had even finished his sentence. Throwing Draco a smirk, Hermione cut in before Snape could call on one of them.
"Vivafertum will save you even if you are close to death, much like unicorn blood," Hermione shivered noticeably before continuing. "However in the event that you live, another person must die in your place. The person you are closest too or who is most like you. Usually your best friend." Harry and Ron shot Hermione a nervous glance. Snape opened his mouth to surprisingly award points to Gryffindor, but was cut off yet again.
"Well, Professor." Malfoy drawled keeping his eyes locked on Hermione. "It's not like the other person always dies. If they take an antidote before taking the Vivafertum, they can counter-act the effects." Hermione eyes narrowed in fury.
"Excellent point, Mr. Malfoy. Ten points to-"
"Well how many people carry Vivafertum and the antidote on them? That's only been reported in one case somewhere out in Albania-" Hermione rambled before Draco cut her off again.
"Well if you have Vivafertum on you, you might as well have the antidote with you as well, I mean there's no point in snuffing it for no reason-"
"Dra- Malfoy there are many ethical issues surrounding that! It's like cheating death it's not right!"
"And it's better to die?" Draco drawled, eyes glinting in challenge.
"QUIET BOTH OF YOU!" Snape glared at both of his students who were now on there feet, yelling at each other like an old married couple. Hermione looked at Draco uneasily, now realizing how carried away they had been in front of the class and Snape. She quietly took her seat.
"As interesting as it would have been to watch you both carry on your pointless debate, I have a lesson to teach. You both interrupted me and are wasting my time. Detention, 5:00 tomorrow night! See me after class." Draco's smirk disappeared and he looked sullen. Hermione buried her face in her arms. "Now I want none of you to touch the potion after you make it, and I expect a labeled flask up at my desk by the end of class. The directions are on the board." He waved his arm carelessly behind him and the board covered itself with very difficult looking instructions. "Now begin!" Snape snapped, reviving the class from their trance. Everyone scurried to grab his or her supplies from the closets. Hermione worked fervently next to Harry and Ron, handing her flask in first when the bell rang.
"Wait! Hermione hold up!" Harry called as she headed to the door. She waited as Harry gathered his things. She couldn't help but notice that Harry wasn't the last one left in the room, Draco also seemed to be taking his time." Hermione heart sped up as Malfoy finally made his way past her slowly.
"See you tomorrow night." He whispered in her ear before Harry reached them. Draco was gone before she could reply.
"What was that?" Harry asked, glaring at Draco.
"Nothing, Harry." Hermione mentally scolded herself. She couldn't appear to be so chummy with Harry so soon. Unless… a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Unless that's exactly what Voldemort wants you to do." She quickly masked her glee at finding a loophole as she realized Harry was studying her carefully. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked, innocently.
"Hermione," Harry began looking nervous and distracted. "I think… well we think, we meaning me and Ron, that well, maybe we made a mistake." Harry was now looking at Hermione intently. She squirmed under his powerful stare. "I don't know what's happened between you and Malfoy, but don't worry, we forgive you." Harry gave Hermione a reassuring smile, obviously glad that he had finished. Hermione knew Harry was accepting her again, but she could still feel her blood begin to boil.
"So what, Harry? Now I need your permission if I want to date people? You forgive me?! I did nothing wrong! I went out with a guy, and now we broke up. I should be forgiving you for being such an asshole about it!" Hermione's eyes blazed in fury and she breathed deeply, trying to control her anger.
"But the guy was Malfoy, Hermione." Harry pressed gently. Hermione opened her mouth to defend her ex-boyfriend, but shut it quickly and heaving a sigh, sat down at the desk beside her. Harry sat too. "I just want things to be the way they were before." Harry said, voice full of emotion.
"Things can never be the same." Hermione replied, feeling a single tear fall down her cheek. Harry looked up at her in alarm and started to protest. "You don't understand Harry!" she yelled at him, drowning out his voice. "I cared about him. I still do. It's just too much to handle right now. And I don't think we can ever have what we had unless you understand clearly that I care about Draco Malfoy." And I always will. She added, silently.
Draco stood outside the door, stock-still. Who could blame him for eavesdropping? He was a Slytherin, after all. And he had to know. "What happened that complicated it so much all of a sudden?" he thought, surprised. He grinned mischievously. "So Granger still cares about me." He thought. "Detentions is going to be fun…" he turned and headed down the stairs to the dungeons below as he heard Harry rapidly approaching the door, his heavy footsteps easily distinguishable from Hermione's light, timid but defient ones.
~
Hermione and Draco stood still, shocked beyond belief at the sight that lay in front of them. They were standing at the door of the dirtiest room either Hermione or Draco had ever seen, with Snape behind them, a twisted smile on his face.
"Both of you have some issues to work out." Snape barked at them, making Hermione jump out of her skin. "Miss Granger," he turned to her. "Our practices will continue as always, with Malfoy. I don't care how much your grades are suffering. I want this room clean, before I come back at 9:00, no excuses. And no magic!" Snape turned quickly, slamming and locking the door behind him. Draco looked miserable, surveying the room with distaste.
"Well, I guess I'll take this side." Hermione looked just as miserable as Draco, who already picked up a rag from the supplies Snape had dumped into the room with them.
"Woops!" Draco smirked, as he purposely grabbed the same bottle of cleaner as Hermione, causing their hands to meet and a shock of electricity to go through Hermione. She looked at him warily, but didn't comment.
"So Granger," Draco said, while they started cleaning. "You think people should die instead of taking the Vivafertum's antidote?" Hermione sighed, resigned to the fact that she wouldn't be able to ignore Malfoy for the next 4 hours.
"I never said that, Malfoy." She replied, scrubbing the desk in front of her a little harder than necessary. Draco watched her out of the corner of his eye, mimicking her actions with the rag he had grabbed. "I was just pointing out that certain moral issues could be raised in the event of 'cheating death'. That is, if anyone would go so far as to attempt using Vivafertum…" Draco sighed dramatically.
"Would you rather have me take the antidote and live, or die for you?" Hermione shivered at his words.
"You wouldn't die for me Malfoy."
"I'd kill for you."
"Wouldn't expect more from you." Hermione rolled her eyes dismissively, but couldn't stop the smile that crept across her face.
"So your grades are suffering, Granger?"
"Damn." She thought, instantly upset. "He caught that. How convenient of dear old Snape to let that slip…"
"Is that what this is all about, 'Mione?" Draco's voice was softer, moving closer to her. She sighed, savoring the feeling of being in such close proximity to him.
"Maybe my grades are suffering." She replied, stiffly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I can work it out by myself! I don't need anyone's help. I just need some time to get my priorities straight. Don't you understand Draco?" Hermione looked at him, unsure of herself. Draco was quiet for a minute.
"Yes, I understand 'Mione. I just wish I had known." Hermione was quiet a moment, her head spinning as she felt Draco slide up behind her. Slyly he slid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer and resting his chin on her shoulder, breathing in her scent.
"We've broken up." Hermione reminded him softly.
"Yeah, but you still want to be with me." Hermione could practically see the smirk forming on his lips behind her. She smiled, but didn't let him see. She turned slowly, holding his hands in hers.
"I need to bring up my grades." She admitted, not breaking eye contact with him.
"Okay." Draco leaned forward, kissing her lightly on her forehead. "We'll take a break till the winter ball. But then…" he winked at her.
"Oh really Draco! A whole week! You're too kind." Hermione joked sarcastically.
"I know, it's a gift. Really." Hermione smiled at him, before picking up a bottle of water and squirting him.
A/N: ooohh look at my long-ass chappie. First of all, the song at the beginning of the chapter is Nickelback- Someday. Also thanks to my beta-reader Gayle and thanks all my reviewers! Next chapter is the Ball, so um yeah send in the reviews to motivate me! ;)