Disclaimer: I am not trying to earn money out of this fic. Because that would be illegal. I am merely writing it for my own and others *coughs loudly* joy. Harry Potter and all related characters belong to J.K. Rowling, a fabulous author.
Author's Note: Whee! If you're reading this, it means that the yearlies are over. WHOO! TIME TO PARTY! I mean… =) happy happy mushrooms. This chapter features darkness… Okay R+R please!!!
++Chapter Seven: Truth, Tension and Tears++
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"Whatever mudblood… you might need me," Draco said calmly and he leaned in close to her ear, breathing every syllable as he spoke, making her whole body shiver. "I certainly don't need you."
"That's now what I mean you arrogant arsehole!" she swore pushing his head aside. What happened to him? Why was he back to his old self? What happened to the cutting? Most of all why the hell was she still in a broom closet with him?
However, she certainly got his attention; he rubbed his head, "Oww."
This certainly wasn't normal! Something happened! Someone who was depressed just didn't drag someone into a broom closet the following day!
"So what do you mean?" he asked.
"I was just thinking…" she said coyly, "what would happen if the truth got out…" She raised her arm and showed him the cut; it had now turned into a long bumpy scar, like a river across her wrist.
"After all the scar is still here, and it might be permanent," Hermione finished.
In the dim light flashing from Draco's wand Hermione could see the look of worry on his face, he almost looked sad and regretful, but the other half of him looked like he wanted to murder her.
"So turning to blackmail now?" Draco said boldly, but Hermione could tell his voice was quivering.
"Not really blackmail… just a little U O ME," she said smugly.
"Whatever Granger, I'm not doing it; no matter what it is," Draco said stubbornly.
With that he turned around and opened the broom closet door a little, and stuck his head out. After making sure no one else was in the corridor that could see them, he opened the door wide. Hermione had to shut her eyes; the light was so bright.
When she opened her eyes again he was gone.
"This isn't going to easy," she thought.
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The bustle inside Defense Against the Dark arts classroom was immensely loud, the teacher was late and they had plenty to talk about. Even when Professor McMahn entered they did not stop speaking but just hushed down a little.
She was out of focus; Placing some books down on the desk, she started scribbling on the board.
No one seemed to care except Hermione, who had gotten a piece of parchment, a bottle of ink and some quills out and was attempting to write down what was on the board. Obviously doing it to forget about something. Don't look right; don't look right, she thought to herself. Never EVER look at him.
She felt Harry, who was next to her follow her suit as he started writing off the board. She moved her arm a little to allow him more room. There was this sad look in Harry's eyes that she had rarely seen before; maybe she was too busy with her own life to notice her friend's. She tried to think what might be affecting him but nothing came to mind.
The conversation with Malfoy she had had earlier still lingered in the back of her mind; she doubted she could forget about it. Yet she was determined, this was the only way! Sure, it might seem childish here and there, but wasn't love such a childish thing?
Ron gave a loud, fake laugh at the right side of the room. Earlier he had gone up to Harry and her to say that he was going to talk to Lavender for a while and come right back. That was 20 minutes ago.
Maybe Harry was feeling the same as she did. After all, he was his best friend. Ron was just ditching his friends for some girl; Hermione never thought that he could scoop down that low. But his mistakes made her love him nevertheless, maybe more than ever. No matter where or who he was, she still felt for him, she could still see his face, like it was part of her.
Who was she kidding? She thought the same thing for so long and nothing every changed, so when she finally decided to take some action, she got rejected? It was all Malfoy's fault! She knew it was not fair to him but she wanted someone to blame, and Malfoy was the one that screwed it all up anyway!
"Hey Hermione…" said Harry all of a sudden.
"Uh… yeah?" Hermione said quickly, reminding herself to curse Draco Malfoy later.
"Never mind," Harry turned his face away from her and continued writing.
Hermione looked across at her friend, concerned. He was hiding something, and yet he didn't tell her. Great! First Ron now Harry! But she couldn't blame him; she just had to empathize him.
"Harry… whatever it is, you can talk to me about it," Hermione said, carefully as not to seem desperate for the truth.
"I've just… been thinking a lot," Harry said.
"About…?"
"It's… nothing," Harry turned his head away.
"Harry, you don't seem yourself, well you haven't for a long time. Please. You can trust me."
"It's about Sirius."
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The autumn breeze blew in through the half open window, the curtains billowing in motion to the wind. Hermione was supporting her head against her hand and staring out at the school grounds, letting the wind blow her hair around. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sweet scent of dew that was in the air.
The common room door pushed open and a loud gaggle of people walked in, chatting away about homework. She scanned their heads for a boy with jet-black hair, seeing him she jolted up and ran towards him.
"Harry! Harry!" she yelled and grabbed him by his arm.
"What is it Hermione?" he said, his voice lacking volume or strength.
"Harry please don't do this to yourself, tell me what's wrong, I want to help you." Hermione held onto him, desperately trying to gather up all her courage and wits. They were now alone in the common room.
"I don't feel like it," Harry struggled away from her and proceeded up the stairs.
"Harry… you… you! I'm trying to help you and you pushed me away during class today already! Please! Don't turn into Ron!" She yelled, feeling tears trickle down her face, why was she crying?
"I'm sorry Hermione if that is how you feel, but I just feel so foolish," Harry slowly stepped down the stairs and walked towards her.
"Harry please… what is it? What about Sirius?" Hermione raised her eyes and looked at him, so her surprise it looked like he was crying but trying to restrain it.
"I lost the only family I ever had and I know everyone would have expected me to get over it, but I can't. I don't understand why it's always me!" Harry said, he walked towards the window and looked out.
"It was my fault, I blame me. If I haven't been so foolish," Harry said, his voice steadily growing quieter.
"Oh Harry…" Hermione said, wiping away her tears and walking towards him, she rested a hand on his shoulder.
"I was so happy when I thought that maybe he could come back as a ghost, but he didn't. Why didn't he?" Harry was now steadily raising his voice, "doesn't he want to see me?"
"That's not it Harry, he just didn't want to tie you down with the past," Hermione said, her eyes turning watery again. She never knew, all this time, Harry was hurting the same she was. Why didn't she see? The whole time she hated him for not realizing how she felt, but she was just a hypocrite.
"I just don't know what to do anymore! This affected my whole life, my school grades dropped, I lost my girlfriend and my best friend just ditched me!"
"Ron didn't ditch you…" Hermione said as hugged Harry from behind, resting her head against his cloak, the smell of Harry filled her nose and she thought back to last year. When everything was good, to her surprise Harry turned around and hugged her back.
She could feel his tears trickle down her face and she shut her eyes and clung him tight, Harry reached his hand in an attempt to wipe the tears away but Hermione lowered his hand.
"It's okay… everyone let's down their guard sometimes, it's okay to cry," Hermione whispered, resting her head against his shoulder.
They didn't know how long they stood there, hugging each other. But it felt like forever. Two souls entwined in one another crying out for love.
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Professor McMahn sat on the soft velvety chair as she fumbled with the lock on her drawer; she cursed herself for putting an anti-magic lock on it. Who would have known she would the one that needed magic to use it?
Dinner was going to proceed soon she thought as she looked up at the old grandfather clock, and here she was still in her room, fumbling with a stupid lock. She attempted to stick in the key one more time.
Click.
She smiled to herself and turned the key in the lock once anti clockwise and another click was sounded. As the drawer burst open she had to shade her eyes to stop it from getting hit by a cloud of dust. Had it really been that long?
Inside were collections of photoalbulms, covered in red leather and lined with gold. She felt her hand reach forward to them but snapped them back in time. It was better to forget the past.
She stacked the albums on her desk and kept on looking through the items; there was an old cigarette lighter, some quills, a few old documents and it. She smiled as she reached forward for it, finally! She had found it! She reached inside and pulled it out.
The Pensieve's light was silvery white, dancing off from the stone basin, the carvings on the side had gathered dust but the contents of the basin remained unchanged from the last time she had used them. The bright, substance was moving around ceaselessly, one minute looking like water blown around by the sea breeze; the next it was clouds, drifting around with the southern winds.
Should she? Should she risk it? She could go in now quickly, oh how she yearned for him! But he was gone… that bastard Malfoy had killed him! He had gone against clear orders and murdered him! He was going to pay…
She reached her wand to her temple and pulled out a strand of the same substance present in the Pensive and she dropped it into the basin, she swirled it round and round. She then muttered a curse and all the remains of the drawer returned to its original place and the lock clicked shut. And with that she left the room, never peering back, forgetting the memories.
Deep inside the drawer, deep inside the stone basin, Voldemort's ghastly face swirled around by itself and then it merged together with another face; A man with long silver blonde hair.
And hazel eyes.
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A/N Quotes: Love was such a childish thing- from English class from when I actually listened. Ah-ha!
Harry seemed like such a good guy eh? Don't worry DracoxHermione fans. They are only friends! It was a friendly best friend like hug! I need to remind you Harry was still alive! The "entwined" and "crying out for love" meant friendship love and love as in family love. Please don't hate me and flame me!
For some reason I always use rhetorical questions… Oh well.
When Ish (beta reader) read it she didn't get who the "hazel eyes" was. But hopefully you people worked it out! =)
This chapter's favourite story: Paper Dragons, a really cute story about Sesshoumaru and Rin. Worth a read all of you Inuyasha fans!