Imaginary

hotsleekeyz

Chapter 2 : Favoring the Pain

Last time on Imaginary

"Well Harry, I guess that losing my memory does change the fact that we're together and just to make it a bit better for this beautiful lady---okay, Hermione Granger, we're officially over. Now does that make sense already? I don't love you anymore because I could not get this mind of mine to bloody work any better so I have to put you up with the fact that I chose to love Ginny over you."

Harry immediately strode to where Draco was and swung his arm back to perfectly aim Draco's face with his strong fist only that Hermione was fast enough to pull his arm back.

With her cheeks wet with her fallen tears, Hermione said, "No! Don't do it Harry. You've done what you could do. You've helped enough. I think it's time that I put things in my hands. I will do this on my own. . . but not now. Maybe next time when he has his anger subside. . ." Hermione let go of Harry's hand and walked away to the door. She opened it faintly when Draco yelled from behind her.

"Don't bother. You can't make me love you anymore. I swear I won't."

Hermione ran out into the cold and mixed herself with the haze. . .her resolve shattered and all that she wanted to do was simply breakdown.

It took around three nights for Hermione to recover from that fateful day when Draco had slapped her hard with the fact that she was no longer part of his past---and worst, a part of his life.

Harry had tried by all means to cheer his mate up. He took Hermione out for some walk out in the park, buying her flowers that she likes most. Certainly, all Harry did cheered Hermione a bit but there was nothing better than Draco –attempt- to remember. Even if Hermione tried to steer her thoughts away from Draco, images of him on that day that he had pushed her away like an old ragged doll, flash as vivid as the time that she was at the same exact scene.

If anyone felt it was the most unfair for him, it was Draco. He was still staying at the new Weasleys house, which was way better than the ten Burrows combined. The Slytherin Prince never found himself around believing that Hermione was part of his life and that she should certainly be back in his memory at the soonest time. If there was anything he hated, it was being pushed around by other people who he thinks is lower than him. Tough luck. Draco hadn't forgotten the distinction that his family imposed upon him between rich purebloods from merely purebloods, half-bloods, and muggleborns.

The brave Gryffindor that she was, Hermione got around to gathering all her courage to face Draco again. She knew well not to give up at once. She was a Gryffindor and she wasn't to give up. If Harry and Ginny haven't made any progress with Draco's memory, she was to do it herself, even if she has to hurt herself in doing so. She hoped too hard that somehow, somewhere, the old Draco that she knew who loved her will absolutely come back.

On the fifth night, Hermione went over the Weasleys with a bag of goodies from Hogsmeade. She knew that there would be nothing that could go wrong with Draco's favorite sweets. She also brought with her a new jersey shirt of the famous soccer team that she supported all her life with---with Draco of course. They've watched a number of games of that muggle team and enjoyed every single game of it. Hermione thought that at the least, those parts of Draco could serve as keys to bring back what was lost.

As she was walking towards the house, Hermione did not see that Draco was in front of the lawn, shoveling off some snow. She tried to suppress a faint giggle. It was so an unDraco thing to do to clear the walk, especially if the place wasn't his. If only Draco could remember her. . . it could have been better that Draco knew how to do chores without having to complain even at the order. The nights before certainly did snow a bit.

She walked over, not knowing what to expect. Draco threw his eyes towards her direction at the gate. He merely stared. At least he wasn't being his –very- old self, Hermione thought.

"Are you all right?" asked Hermione as a way of traditional muggle greeting.

Draco straightened his muggle clothing and asked the same. "Are you all right?"

Now that's better, Hermione tried to convince herself. She was sure that if Draco still hated her, he wouldn't mind her existence at all.

"Um, I brought some things for you. I hope you'd like them." Hermione was too careful with her words. She wouldn't want a furious handsome young lad spatting at her any moment.

"If it's Ginny you're looking for, she's still taking a shower. Ron came over Harry's flat early this morning. I heard they're going to the movie house or something."

Hermione nodded.

"Please come in." As gentlemanly as he could, Draco assisted Hermione towards the door from the gate. He too, was being very careful of his actions, after he saw Ginny cry over what happened to them for how many nights already.

Hermione had already opened the door and was about to come in when she felt that Draco hadn't the plan to go back just yet to shoveling the walk. She turned around towards Draco with a questioning look, then gave him with a pleasant, warm smile. "I can suit myself thanks. You can go back there if I'm any bother. I've been here all the time, it's almost a second home."

Draco had a half-surprised look. "Oh yeah, of course." He had already turned his back against Hermione when he was called back.

"Um, Draco, if you want, you could always check out on the stuff I brought you. I mean, if you're up for it but if you'd rather not do it right now, you could always check on them later."

Draco thought for a while, and knowing that he should please Ginny at any chance he's got, he put up a smile and said, "Er, yeah of course. I think I'd do that now." He put his shovel down at the side of the walk and went inside and shut close the door. They both went over the counter top and Hermione started to pull out some of the bag's contents.

First came out was the rather expensive jersey shirt. Draco muttered a faint daunting "Oh" to himself. He took the shirt in his hands and raised it at shoulder level. "Uh, thanks. This is cool. I'll wear it sometime." Draco did not know what pushed him to say that. Surely, he never knew why Hermione would choose that muggle soccer team over the others, though he appreciated it the same.

Hermione came to pulling out some sweets from Hogsmeade and Draco even had the slightest change of emotion on his face. He made do with another faint "Oh" and said, "Thanks Hermione. You shouldn't have bothered. The Weasleys have a good stock of those."

It was Hermione's time to say "Oh" but she didn't say anything more. Obviously, the things she brought were of no use to Draco's recuperation. She simply tried to read Draco's other emotions only to find a spot on his forehead with a bandage on it. She gestured to touch it, but hesitated. She contained herself with asking, "Does it still hurt?"

Draco touched the spot where Hermione referred to. "This? No, not really. It's just a bruise or something but it has a small cut over it, so I have to keep it covered."

"Do you still have any other bruises, wounds, fractures?"

Draco read the concerned look on her face. This somehow nudged him to –attempt- remembering that concerned look but to fail him again. "I still got to return to the infirmary this afternoon to check on the results. Other than some bruises, the doctor reckons I'm fine."

"You're going alone?" Draco nodded. "Well, if you don't mind, I could accompany you. I'm not doing anything until late in the evening."

"You need not bother Hermione. I can go there alone."

"I bet you don't know where it is and you're going to ask Ginny if she could lead you the way, aren't you?" There was a tone of finality on Hermione's voice. She immediately felt that she should have been downright sorry for being a little rude when she said that. Somehow, she was being rude of course, only because she could see that Draco was making the least effort to remember anything at all.

"No, no. . . of course I could make use of your company, why not." Draco was obviously taken aback by what truth Hermione presented him with. In fact, he was planning to ask Ginny to come along with him later that afternoon.

"That's great. I can make good use of some hot chocolate here while you continue what you're doing outside. I don't really want to keep you here. Want to impress Ginny, don't you?" Hermione felt herself suppressing the words from coming out but they flowed freely as much as she tried to keep them to oneself. "Really, it's odd seeing you clear the walk. You don't do things of those sorts. You would have thought that only house elves should get into those things. I'm rather surprised that you're doing a great deal with your job. It's as if you've always known how to do it. But anyway, that's just me talking. You wouldn't care the least of course."

Hermione was surprised by her own words. What was she actually doing? All those while that she turned her back from Draco, she knew it was the wrong thing to say, probably the exact words that would make Draco hate her even more, but she had nothing else to do but to wait for his reaction. She couldn't take her words back. They were indeed rude, thanks to her fuming emotions.

"Um, yeah. Of course, the stuff you need are over the counter. . ." Draco stopped for a while. "It's not Ginny. . . I'm not doing this for her." Another pause. "I don't recall anything of what you've just said but I must say that I do have enjoyed myself clearing the walk. I'm glad you've noticed."

Then another pause came in between Draco's words. A longer one. . .

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

A long interval it was before Hermione could have had replied. Slowly, she turned to Draco's direction, still at awe and shock that she didn't know whether she should be thankful for that or whatelse. But to see Draco's eyes were a different issue. There was a strange look to it, more like a sight daunting occurred to him and it was taking him a slow while to realize what was happening.

"Thanks? What for? It's me who's keeping you inside here, let alone bother you from your chore."

Hermione, could you hear yourself?! Could you?! You're here to make Draco recover his memories! What are you doing?

"If it's true that we've been together before the accident happened, then I must've loved you for real. . . and you loved me too. . . and now that I seem to be a different person, you still love me. I couldn't do such thing if I were in your place."

A strong force washed over Hermione. . . It was more mixed than a distinct single one.

"Draco, I swear you could do the same thing. Love can do only too much. Being understanding and patient is only a tiny bit of it. And the reason why I'm doing this is not only for me, but also for everyone else. I can't be too selfish right now. You also need to remember for your own sake. You can't go out into the real world with most of your life in a blur. Whatever it takes, I'm willing to help you remember."

Hermione felt her throat caught in a breath and was to busy fighting back her tears that she didn't notice that Draco was already in front of her.

"Thanks."

With that, Draco took his hand at the back of Hermione's head and led her forward. . . He planted a small kiss on Hermione's forehead.

Even before Hermione could have recovered from what just happened, she saw Draco take off his other clothing leaving only a blue turtleneck, as he walked away towards his room at the ground floor.

The moment Draco entered his room and shut the door behind him, he quickly banged his fist on the wall and came next was his head.

"Why can't I remember? Who are you Hermione? Why are you doing this? Who were –WE-?!"

He wanted to shout his heart out. And he did.

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?! WHY HERMIONE?!"

"STOP IT! STOP TRYING! YOU CAN'T REMEMBER DRACO! YOU CAN'T!"

Draco's emotions was winning over him. The collected bourgeois was exploding angry. His mind was focused into merely shouting and punching anything hard that he didn't hear the door open. . .

Behind the door, Hermione was silently sobbing against the side of the door. . .

Inside the room, Draco had just thrown the lamp beside his bed towards the window.

"WHY DO YOU KNOW YOU LOVE HER WHEN YOU DON'T! YOU DON'T LOVE HER! YOU DON'T! YOU LOVE GINNY!"

Hermione's eyes almost popped out of he sockets and she felt her lungs devoid of air. "I'm sorry Draco . . . I shouldn't have done this. . .", she whispered to herself but her mind was battling. She knew she had to help him remember. It was the only way that she can allow Draco to go out alone in the muggle world again feeling complacent---even if Draco wouldn't be able to recall their past together.

"She's a mudblood! You can't love her! You don't and you didn't!"

"No! Don't deny yourself Draco! You can feel it!"

"No!"

In just a split second, Hermione saw a flashing of red light inside the room through the small space she left ajar, and a loud bang was heard. . .and a hard thump of a body on the floor. Her instincts won her, Hermione opened the door fully at once to see Draco writhing painfully on the floor, with his wand clutched in his hand.

Tears fell on Hermione's cold cheeks. . . "I'm sorry Draco. I shouldn't have. . . I shouldn't have. . ." It was more like she was talking to herself. She turned her heels towards the door and sprinted out of Draco's room.

Oh Merlin, run after her, Draco. . .

With all the strength he could muster after magically assaulting himself, Draco got to his feet and ran after Hermione who was already past the entrance door. He continued to run for it, limping, and saw Hermione running out in the snow without her coat on.

"You loved me too much Hermione. . .You left me loving you too much that I can still feel it, only that I've chosen to love Ginny. . ."

"NO!", a small voice from behind him said.

Draco turned around and saw Ginny standing behind him. "Ginny, I---I can explain this. . .Hermione--- It's. . . I---"

Ginny's face was in shock. "No, Draco, stop it. You can't love me. You just can't." She ran up the stairs and Draco was left watching Hermione's car leave as he closed the door behind him.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns characters, setting, etc. Except: the plot is mine.

There you go with the second chapter! I planned on this to being a bit longer but I'll save that for the next chapter. It took me some while to finish this one because of a dreaded case of writer's block. I hope I'm getting back on track.

Better things will happen in the next chapters. Draco's starting to hint some small things about their past so we got to give him props for that, even if he resorted to hurt himself, thus, the subtitle Favoring the Pain lol. That works for all of their sides---Hermione, Ginny and Draco.

Hooboy! What a love triangle aside from Harry being the replacement for Ginny. It's just so---complicated. Heehee.

Review please! Thanks to everyone! huggles all of you