AN: Maybe I was unclear in my last chapter. But I did say it over a bazillion times… Lol, so reread, y'all!! Maybe just reread the whole story. There are key happenings in previous chapters foreshadowing to this. Sorry for being such a bad author. *hides in shame* I know I should update a lot more frequently. But only now do I have my homework situation under control. :)


Chapter Eight: The Real Sound of Silence


Hermione felt like everything she once knew was just… gone. Was this a dream, even? How could she ever know again? Who was she to say she knew fantasy from reality? Everyone in the school noted a mysterious change in the smart witch. Her hair's curl was more spirally, reminding them of an old-fashioned look. Her eyes were more calm and shadowy. Even her skin seemed paler and more porcelain. And most of the boys noticed that the way she held herself was very much different. She seemed more womanly; at least that's what they had pinned it to.


"Hermione, where're you going?" Harry called as she carefully descended down the stairs into the Gryffindor Common Room.


"Wherever the night so takes me," she replied casually. This earned some curious glances from her fellow Gryffindors.


"C'mere a sec, 'Mione," Ron said, not trying to sound too demanding. Hermione looked over at her two friends, almost annoyed with their barking commands and hindrances. "It'll only take a second," Ron restated, trying to bring more optimism to her disheartened eyes.


"What is it?" she asked, sitting on the plush couch with a bored look. The boys looked to each other, communicating with their eyes, and then both looked back at her. In an instant, a sinking feeling came to her stomach. "Honestly, guys," she said, almost pleading.


"Hermione, you've changed," Harry said gently. "I don't know why or how, but we don't like this change." "Yeah, 'Mione," Ron joined in. "It's like we don't even know who you are anymore. You never talk to us, and you're always disappearing on those long walks. 'Wherever the night takes you,' or some bullock."


"Boys," Hermione started with a motherly tone. "I'm just sorting through some things right now. It's been hard for me, and you two know it! So, why don't you lay off my case for a while, and just let me be me!" she boiled, temper rising. Always clinging… Standing abruptly, she gave the two a withering look before marching through the portrait hole and out into the dark hallways.


~*~


"Any way the wind blows," she whispered, solemnly walking through the maze of stone hallways. Shutting her eyes lightly, she savored the soothing sound of silence. "I don't think I could ever hear such beauty as I do right now."


Strutting down the halls, she contemplated on her course of action this lovely night. Taking a sharp left, she descended cautiously down a moving staircase, not bothering to completely stop in her tracks as it swung to the right. Eyes cast upward toward the millions of staircases, she took her last step off of the stairs, miraculously having stopped on the next corridor. Passing the Great Hall, she slipped silently past the shadows.


As she approached the great oak-wood entrance doors, she paused. She could have sworn those gargantuan doors just clicked as if closing. Holding her breath, she narrowed her eyes, scanning the Entrance Hall thoroughly. Putting one foot forward, she stepped out of the shadow she had situated herself in. Hermione took a deep breath, noting the empty hallway.


Quickly and steadfastly, Hermione pushed open the doors and slipped outside onto the grounds. The frigid night air hit her bare arms like a tidal wave. With shock, she held her arms and eventually pulled on her black school cardigan. She took a hesitant step out onto the cold, grassy grounds.


Hermione noted that wearing her high-heeled, black dress shoes was not a wise choice, and maybe she should have settled for Muggle jeans instead of her pleated school skirt. Nonetheless, the moonlight shone iridescently, seemingly white yet falling upon the ground and trees in timid shades of black, grey, and blue.


Casting her eyes upon the glassy surface of the lake, Hermione took a few steps forward. The slope of the hill down to the lake was very slight, but she was mesmerized by the scenery surrounding her; every small change seemed to leap out of the night before her. The grass beneath her pointed shoes was coated, untouched with sparkling midnight dews.


Solitary, Hermione spun around in circles as she made her way toward the lakeshore. Feeling on fire, she kicked off her shoes, almost dancing down the invisible pathway full of twirls and twists like a siren or night nymph.


Eyes shut and face turned toward the high moon, she enjoyed the cold air on her skin and the numbing, moist grass beneath her toes. She stopped abruptly in her path, and opened her eyes. Her heart stopped, and she swallowed the crisp air. Just meters before her stood the silhouette of an angel, halo of white surrounding his head. Slowly walking toward him, she waited behind him, observing. He stood, staring out at the lake and the skies, as if hypnotized by thoughts he could not stop.


Reaching out tentatively, she clasped his hand in hers. He jumped, startled. "Draco?" she whispered apprehensively.


"What do you want? What're you doing here?" he asked, almost looking anxious. She just looked up at his mercurial gray eyes, blinking slowly.


"Don't tell me, please," she started quietly. "I've seen you all these nights, Draco. You were with me, we were somewhat happy. It was beautiful, don't you remember? The grass, the air, the people… Lavish, we lived. But I quite enjoyed it. Every kiss you blessed me with… Can you tell me you do not remember?" She looked up at his eyes, thinking of all her time in Tessetta.


He gave no reply, so she continued ruthlessly. "It's a law of simple chemistry, Draco. Opposites attract, and we were so perfect. You gave me a part of you that you won't let anyone see. Remember, Angel? I know, Draco. It's okay. You don't have to hide anything anymore. I remember, and no one can take that from me, Draco."


She paused once more, and he swallowed hard.


"Don't you remember?" she asked, her voice strung with tears her eyes wouldn't let fall.


"You were delusional and under influence of heavy magical help," he said softly. "I don't know what you think you did this whole time, but in reality from the moment you came to Hogwarts… You were just in a hospital bed. Like… a vegetable."


"You have to have some clue as to what I'm talking about," she whined. "Honestly! It was so much!"


"Listen, I have no idea in the slightest way, shape, or form…" he stated flatly, pulling his hand from her grasp gently. He studied the lake once more, and silence ensued the conversation.


"I loved you, though," she whispered, breath hitching in her chest. "You don't think I did?"


The night air stilled, and the stars froze in their twinkling. The waves on the lake no longer rippled, and the monsters of the Forbidden Forest calmed.


Silence erupted. And this time it was different. The sound was deafening to her ears.


She took an audible, shaky breath, and took a step away. It was as if Draco sensed her realization, because he turned to her, looking ashamed. "Hermione, I'm so—"


"Sorry? Embarrassed? Regretful? Well, what's new? It's like a cheap movie or something. Girl goes crazy! Girl gives heart away! Girl gets shot down! Girl dies!" as she said this, she backed up more and more. Away from him. Away from the epitome of all evil. Away from—but that's when it happened.


Hermione's foot lodged on a small pebble. She lost her balance and, looking so small and fragile, fell. The moment slowed down forever. Her wild, flailing arms and body crashing down to the rocky lake.


Sure, it would have just been a small fall.


If she hadn't been standing on a cliff that was unnoticeable due to the water.


If she hadn't landed on that sharp protruding rock.


If she hadn't instantly felt painful death strangle all life from her heart.


If it hadn't ended all right then and there.


But who was to say that this wasn't a dream, too? Who was to say that this indeed was reality and everything else was just a dream?


~*~


AN: Ta-da!!! This was it. The end!!! YAY! *does ending-dance* I hope you all enjoyed this story, I felt it was pretty wild and unreal. But it does enforce that whole DreamWorld thing… I mean, we could be dreaming RIGHT now… Spooky. Lol.


Anyway, leave me a review. I'll love you! FOREVER!!!!!!!! Haha. Okay.


So, there that is! I may be coming out with another story soon called Siren's Song/Cry/Call. But I want to make sure I have written three chapters plus prologue before I post, because I hate to make everyone wait forever. That's always so annoying and I hate authors that do that (I guess I'm a hypocrite.. haha).


FieryPhoenix: Yes, I know I left a lot of things hanging. But that was my choice as an author, and it's my style. The voice could have very well been another dream or illusion. The point of the story was when all logic and reality fails, (Hermione always being one to fall on reason and realism). So, in conclusion: 1. Everything you've read up until the last chapter (or two) was just a dream. 2. The mystery voice/person could have been a dream too. 3. I'm crazy and I don't blame anyone for sending me to the nut house!


D* Chica: Thanks for reviewing, you really helped me through this entire story! :)


dracosgurl_chrissy: I'm sure you were positive that person had to be Draco, but it wasn't! Haha, sorry. I contemplated a lot while writing that person, whether I should make it… Snape, Sirius From the Dead!, Remus, Harry, Ron, Draco, or any other living or dead male from HP Universe. But in the end, I kept him left out. Because I believed that he was just a figment of the imagination, something to aid to Hermione's growing insanity…. Thanks for the reviews, I love to see my readers' thoughts!


pencil_gal: Exhilerating? Wow, thanks a lot! That's a new one… :) Thanks for reading my utter insanity, and thanks for taking the time to review it!


*NELLY*: IT'S A-OKAY! CAPS LOCK IS FUN!!!! I HOPE YOU BELIEVE NOW! Lol, yes, this story was pretty wacky. Hehe. Party time yet?


Tickled_Pink89: Thanks for reviewing all of my chapters! That was really generous of you! :) I hope you enjoyed, and I hope you take time to review this (the last chapter is this one!).


SycoCallie: Just as long as I hit 100 reviews… Hehe. Thanks for all the help and beta'ing and all that jazz. ;) Good luck on all yer stories and such…


~*~


As I quote a Porky:


Th-Th-Th-That's all folks!


(PS: REVIEW! Lol)