Quick Note: I know I said this would be the last chapter. I'm awful, I know! But I promise I'll finish this fic today. I have the real last chapter on paper already; I just have to type it out. I'll be uploading it in a few hours... Thanks for all the wonderful reviews throughtout the chapters. I can't believe this is almost the end... sniff
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 17: Confessions
Hermione opened her window and invited the brown barn owl that was pecking noisily outside, inside her apartment.
"I really appreciate this favor." Hermione said as she handed a sealed letter to the owl's talons. "Please make sure Draco Malfoy gets this. I'm not exactly sure where he is but I have a feeling he's in his Manor. Well, you know more than I do where to find him..."
The owl hooted in disgust.
"I know you're tired already, but I still have no answer from him... Please, this is the last letter, I promise!"
The letter Hermione was supposed to send was her 12th already since Draco left her in Spain without a word.
It has been 3 months since Hermione last saw Draco but she was still hopelessly hooked up on him. She tried the owls, even resorted to the floo network. But nothing gave her a clue to where Draco's location was. No answer from him. If he didn't just magically die, it was obvious, he was avoiding her.
The owl whooped in resignation and then flew to Hermione's dining table to pick out an owl treat.
After getting a knut from Hermione, it hooted in gratitude and then without another sound flew out of the window.
As Hermione watched the owl fly away, she gave out one big sigh. It was amazing to what resorts she had gone to just to get a hold of Draco. If Harry, Ron or Ginny found out, she knew she would be reduced to a laughing stock, not to mention the scolding she would get from them. What a nightmare!
As Hermione watched the owl vanish into the horizon, she heard a loud pop behind her.
In her surprise at her sudden visitor, Hermione froze and reached instinctively for her wand.
She cautiously turned 180 degrees to face the person who just appeared.
But before Hermione even had a chance to look her visitor face to face, the person spoke, immediately making her identity known to Hermione.
"Was that another owl? To whom, pray tell, are you sending letters to?"
Hermione groaned and closed her eyes. It was Ginny! And she just caught her sending letters to Draco... Again!
"As always Gin, it was for nobody relevant. It wouldn't interest you whatsoever."
Hermione walked toward her couch and plopped herself on it tiredly. She motioned Ginny to do the same.
"Don't you nobody Gin me," Ginny protested as she crossed her arms over her chest and frowned disapprovingly at Hermione. "I caught you five times already! Are you hiding something from me?"
"Please Gin, I send letters everyday to my parents, to the ministry... Why is this time so different?! It's no big deal." answered Hermione, unwilling to tell Ginny who the letter was for and why.
Ginny raised her eyebrows and searched Hermione's face. "Yes, but you don't go staring blankly into space when you send letters. You're eyes don't just magically glisten with tears when you send letters. Something is up and I know it."
Hermione rolled her eyes in response and kept quiet. Perhaps if she ignored Ginny long enough, she would just let the matter go and move on to other important things.
"It's Malfoy isn't it?"
Immediately, Hermione's eyes fluttered wide open and she looked away from where Ginny was situated. Her eyes rested on the open window where the owl perched just minutes ago. "Of course not, why would you think that?" denied Hermione, sounding very defensive.
As if something magically coming over her, Ginny's face softened and she put her arms down from her chest. She made her way towards Hermione and knelt in front of the couch where Hermione was half-sitting half-lying down. "I've been watching you since Spain – since the time he left. You've changed. I never saw you cry so much, so preoccupied all the time... I've known you half my life Mione, and the last time I saw you act like this was when you and Krum broke up. Is there something between you and Malfoy you're not telling me?"
Hermione was taken aback at what Ginny just said. Was it that obvious?
But Hermione still refused to give in. Instead she opted to play innocent. "What!?"
Ginny's forehead wrinkled in concentration and it could be seen that she was trying her best to be very patient. "You heard me. Don't let me repeat myself."
Unable to control herself, Hermione stood up suddenly putting distance between her and Ginny, and then started pacing the room. She knew she needed to tell somebody about how she was feeling about Draco. But if she told Ginny, Harry and Ron would definitely make a big fuss out of it, not to mention Ginny's own violent reaction. Besides, it wasn't like there was actually "something" going on between her and Draco. She and Draco never really discussed about how they felt about each other... So that doesn't count. Right?
'Well, how about the last time you guys talked?' Hermione's heart screamed at herself. 'There is something going on between you guys and you know it. Why do you try so hard to deny it?'
Hermione chose to ignore the nagging voice inside her head and told Ginny in her most convincing voice. "Gin, I swear there isn't anything going on between me and Draco. You know that I'd tell you if there was anything between us. I admit that the letters were for him but all I needed was for him to tell me where he was so that when the Threshold Staff would give us our cash prizes and vacation trips, we'd be together. You know? Try to look the part of the happy couple until all this is over."
Hermione smiled lightly and almost willed Ginny to believe her explanation with her eyes. What she said wasn't entirely a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.
"So," Hermione started changing the subject. "What time do you say Ron and Harry will be here for the Threshold Finale? It will be in two hours and I'd hate to miss a single minute of it."
Ginny knew Hermione was changing the subject but she decided not to push the subject about Draco any further. "They'll be here in a while, Harry and Ron just picked up some food to eat for the show."
Hermione smiled inwardly knowing that Ron was going to be there in her apartment to watch the Threshold Finale on television with them.
For a whole month after they did the Reality Show, it was only Harry, Ginny and Hermione. There was no sign of Ron whatsoever. He avoided them like the plague and he didn't show his face to anyone in Wizarding London until all wondered if something terrible happened to him already.
Finally, probably fed up with hiding in America, Ron returned to London and miraculously first showed himself to Hermione. He told her that he had been thinking about Cornelia and he thought he was finally over her.
After talking for 2 hours straight, the two friends went to Harry and then Ginny, and then to the Burrow, to formally announce Ron's return. Everyone was so pleased to see him again. Of course, Mrs. Weasley was furious but she was more relieved than actually angry.
Although Ron showed definite signs of improvement after his traumatic break up with Cornelia, Harry, Ginny and Hermione still thought that he still needed their support.
Yes, Ron told them that he wasn't bitter and he was happy, and everything was all good... The only problem though was that Ron now had a permanent growl pasted on his face, which was definitely not a good sign.
So, Harry proposed that Ron not be left alone to himself unless he asked to, and that was what the 3 of them had been doing ever since.
"Well, I think we better clean up. I want this apartment squeaky clean before the boys arrive." Hermione said suddenly after getting lost in her thoughts about Ron and her friends for a moment.
"But this place is clean already!" Ginny complained stomping her feet in mock defiance.
Hermione raised her eyebrows and made her way to the closet where she kept all her rags and brooms. She took 2 cleaning cloths and handed one to Ginny. "You will help me clean this place because you have been so gracious to drop by here early. Besides, what would Harry think if he finds out he'll be married to a girl who hates cleaning?"
Ginny stuck out her tongue at Hermione and started wiping Hermione's coffee table savagely with her rag. "Black mail."
One and a half hour later, when Ron and Harry arrived carrying big bags of food for the Threshold Finale, the two witches were still engrossed in their work, cleaning invisible dust off of Hermione's apartment.
Meanwhile miles away from where Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny were watching the Threshold Finale, Draco sat stiffly inside his office staring blankly at letters from banks, ledgers, and notices from lawyers. He run his fingers through his blonde hair and growled in frustration. He pounded the table with his hands and then banged his head on it.
"Goodness Merlin! What are you doing?" Narcissa Malfoy said to her only son as she breezed inside his office without knocking. She just happened to pass by outside his door and heard all the noise coming from inside and decided to see for herself what was going on.
She gave Draco a quick peck on the forehead and sat on the chair opposite him.
Draco gave his mother a far away look and sighed sadly. "Seems we're going to lose the Manor, Mother."
He looked into his mother's eyes and instead of seeing a disappointed look in her face, which he expected, she even seemed pleased with the news he just said.
"Wonderful!" Narcissa chimed clapping her hands enthusiastically and smiling widely. "Does that mean we're moving out?"
Draco looked at his mother like she was crazy. Was this the same woman he knew from his childhood? It was very disturbing how she acted right now.
"Mother, I don't think you understand. We. Are. Going. To. Lose. The. Malfoy. Manor."
"Silence dear, don't talk to me like I'm stupid. I absolutely understand what I'm talking about. To be honest with you this place is starting to look dreary to me. It has a depressing sense to it. Don't you think? It would be wonderful to move out and live elsewhere."
Draco stared at his mother speechless with what she just said.
As if not noticing her son's reaction, Narcissa then stood up and paced the floor of Draco's office. "I think it's time I told you, I have a secret I've been keeping for years."
Narcissa looked at her son and saw the bewildered look that grazed his features. "Of course your father doesn't know at all, or else he'd be furious!"
Narcissa stopped walking and looked her son in the eye who had his eyebrows raised practically to his forehead. "When your father was still alive, I secretly bought another Manor down at Scotland. The property is in my name." Narcissa paused for effect and then continued, "But of course, when I die, you'll definitely inherit it."
"Mother!" protested Draco. "What has gotten into you?
Narcissa motioned her son to keep quiet and listen. "Anyway, when your father died, I started renovating and decorating the place, apparating from Scotland to here and vice versa to make arrangements and make the manor actually conducive to living things."
"You have been apparating back and forth without me knowing?" Draco asked in astonishment. "You were manifesting all the signs of depression. If you were so occupied, why were you depressed then? Seems to me, if you were able to plan and decorate the other manor, you're quite fine." said Draco curiously.
"Ah, now see dear, I wasn't exactly depressed, I was just worried you'd disapprove. Your father instilled so many of his values on you I was afraid you'd react in a violent way that he would... But since your going to lose this manor anyway, it is time I told you about the one in Scotland. This place is just dreadful. I hate it! Besides, the other manor looks far better than here, I assure you."
"But mother, this - ," Draco stood up and motioned around the room, "this is where I grew up. I don't want to leave this place. I don't want to lose it. No matter how many awful memories there are here in Malfoy Manor, this is still my home."
"Sure darling." answered Narcissa walking up to Draco and patting him on the shoulder. "I know how you feel about this place. After all, IT IS yours. I'm just telling you about the other Manor so you wouldn't worry about being homeless or anything. But if you're really set in saving this place, I can let you borrow 30,000 galleons stashed in my account at Gringotts. You can use it for the Manor's mortgage if you want. Of course, you have to come up with the extra money but I'm sure you'll manage."
Draco looked again at his mother in shock. She has surprised him more now than she had ever did in his entire life. "Mother, I thought you had no money."
Narcissa chuckled and gave Draco a knowing smile. "There are a lot of things you don't know about me, darling. It just so happened that you're a lot like your father, you never ask. But just so you know, the properties and monies I have now I inherited from my father and the Black family ages ago. No looting or stealing for me."
Narcissa's eyes twinkled at her only boy and then went up to him and kissed him lightly. "Very well, now that the matter of Malfoy Manor is solved, I better go. Stop worrying alright? Everything's going to be fine."
Narcissa turned her heel and proceeded to the door of Draco's office.
Draco watched his mother walk away. Sure, he was relieved that at least the Manor was already saved. He'd just put in his winnings from the reality show, combine it with the money his mother was willing to lend him and then everything would be fine. The Manor would be saved and he could stop worrying. But for some weird reason, the burden in his mind and in his chest never left him one bit. "Mother?" Draco called on her sounding very hesitant.
At the sound of her son's voice, Narcissa quickly turned around and looked Draco in the eye. "Hmmm?"
"I'd like to talk to you for a minute. Not about properties or monies, or anything of that sort. Just talk..."
"Ahh," answered Narcissa walking back to Draco and taking the seat she vacated earlier. "Finally! I haven't heard anything in this house except properties, monies and you-know-who. This is a welcome change. What do you want to talk about?"
Draco looked down at his hands and then chose his words carefully in his head. However, all the planning in Draco's head was in vain, what he said still sounded terrible and heartless. "What's your take on Mudbloods?"
As if the word offended her, Narcissa immediately took in a sharp breath and then almost simultaneously, her face darkened. "I always hated that term. You and your father's prejudices! I don't have ANY take on mudbloods, as you so eloquently put it. There are no neon signs differentiating purebloods, halfbloods and muggles. So, it doesn't really that much of a big deal."
Draco nodded while listening to his mother. "So in all fairness, you're not against them?"
"Of course not! Your father maybe, but not me." Narcissa then cocked her eyebrow and looked at Draco suspiciously. "Why are you asking?"
Draco hesitated and then looked at his feet. He didn't know what to say or how to break the fact about Hermione to his mother. "I - ,"
Suddenly, an owl tapped on Draco's office window startling Draco and his mother.
At once Narcissa stood up and walked toward the owl with Draco following swiftly behind her. "Now from whom could this letter be?"
Narcissa opened the window and immediately took the letter from the owl's beak. "Give it a knut will you Draco?"
Draco dug in his pocket and pulled out the only coin he had and gave it to the owl. It hooted appreciatively and then flew away leaving feathers in its wake.
"Darling, it's addressed to you. It doesn't say who the sender is though."
Draco took the letter from his mother's hand and looked at the words written on the envelope. It was in Hermione's handwriting.
Fearing that his mother might interfere, read the letter or ask any questions, Draco quickly walked back to his table and immediately hid the letter inside his table drawer. "It's nothing important mother."
It was Hermione's 12th letter since he left Andalucia. Draco was sure the letter contained apologies and pleading for him to contact her at once. All 12 letters had one point and that was it.
Draco shook his head. For a smart girl, Hermione was acting dumb. She didn't even figure out why he left without any word in the first place. She thinks it's about the money, how she lost it at the last stunt... But she got her story all wrong. She still didn't get it through her head that he left not because of what she did but because of her.
"See mother," started Draco again as his mother took a seat waiting for him to continue his story.
"Remember the last two weeks I was gone? I joined a Muggle Reality TV Show that has a grand prize of 1 million pounds."
Upon hearing these words, Narcissa's eyes widened and she stared at Draco like he was a madman. "IN A TV SHOW?!?" Narcissa half screamed as she covered her mouth with her hand in shock. "I thought you were in a business trip of some sort. Shame on you! My son, exposing himself to - ,"
"No, no," Draco said cutting his mother off before she placed insane thoughts in her head. "I didn't do any magic tricks whatsoever. It's more of a physical, mental contest. Anyway, I was with this girl and she's Muggle born, Hermione Granger.
"Ahhh, so you've fallen for her?" Narcissa said, her shocked expression changing into a smile as all the information started to piece themselves together. "Why don't you tell her then if that's what's bothering you?"
"Nobody's talking about falling in love Mother!" protested Draco hiding his blushing cheeks from his mother. "You got it all - ,"
Before Draco had a chance to finish what he was saying, his mother cut him and said in a mischievous voice. "Oh please dear! I'm not mediocre! I know these things. Besides, you wouldn't go through all your speech if this Hermani girl isn't important to you."
"Hermione Granger, mother." corrected Draco.
Narcissa nodded and said "Right, right. So you like her... I thought you were with my doctor's daughter... Cornelia was it?"
Draco's face immediately turned into a frown at the mention of Cornelia's name. He still hasn't forgiven her even though he felt absolutely nothing for her anymore. He just hated her guts and her attitude. "She's with Weasley."
"Really?" said Narcissa sounding thoughtful. "I thought you two had a thing. I guess I don't know my son as much as I thought, do I? Maybe I should start spending more time with you instead of the Manor in Scotland. After all, everything's ready there already. All it needs are occupants."
As she was talking to her son, a light bulb suddenly flashed in Narcissa's head. "Now darling, of course I'm not rushing you or anything, but if you want, you can invite this Hermione girl to Scotland. I could meet her and then you 2 can spend quality time together. Then probably you'd get around to telling her how you really feel."
Draco turned crimson at the idea and whined to his mother like a child. "Merlin Mother! Please! Stop!"
Narcissa laughed at her son and said, "Only a suggestion dear. Of course it's all up to you."
Narcissa then stood up and went for the office door. "Now dear, think about what I said. It would be fun if you two can spend time together. She would love the manor. I guarantee it!"
Narcissa opened the door and made her way out.
Suddenly, she stopped and then turned toward Draco again. "Life is full of risks Draco. Always remember that. It's of no use to cower and think of useless what-ifs. Yes, you may fail, but sometimes, you do succeed. You may get hurt, but that shouldn't stop you from trying to be happy. A man who never failed or got hurt is a man who never took the risk. Follow your heart darling, it will be worth it."
At that, Narcissa went out and closed the door behind her, leaving Draco staring at a closed door, pondering at what she just said.
Thoughts were reeling in his mind. Never in his life did his mother give him pieces of advice. She was acting so uncanny but who was he to complain? His mother did have a point anyway.
Draco's thought drifted back to Hermione and to his mother's words. Was his mother right? Would it be really worth it in the end?
Draco opened his drawer, took out Hermione's letter and read it quietly. He read it again and again. Nothing in the letter was news to him. He was right, it still contained the same gist as her other previous letters. But for some reason, everything suddenly became so crystal clear. Draco knew what he needed to do.
"Bloody heck!" Ron screamed as he stared in shock at Hermione's 48 inch plasma television.
There in full color and high definition, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione watched as Draco pull Hermione into a passionate kiss moments before credits of the Threshold Finale started to roll. It was the kiss Hermione and Draco shared in the parachute stunt and Hermione couldn't help but blush and feel all warm inside as she remembered everything.
"For the love of Merlin, what was that I just saw?"
All three heads turned their attention from the television to Hermione and gawked at her like she was some leper who appeared out of nowhere.
Feeling uncomfortable with all the unwanted attention, Hermione cleared her throat and stared at her shoes. She was blushing like crazy and her hands started to feel cold and clammy.
Ron was already having a fit. He was muttering incoherencies while wailing in the process. Harry and Ginny were speechless at the moment, but Hermione knew that any moment from now, the outburst would surely come.
Hermione didn't have to wait long. Soon enough, Harry spoke in a controlled voice that sounded very much like a person who was possessed by an unclean spirit. "I can't believe you kissed him! All the mushiness between you two through out the show I can take, but for goodness sakes Hermione, did you really need to kiss him in front of everyone?"
Though she was fighting to control her temper that was slowly rising because of her friends' unwanted opinions, Hermione looked up at Harry defiantly, feeling very irritated. "Why is it such a big deal? You didn't react when they showed Ron and Cornelia kiss. There were no eruptions when you and Ginny kissed... But me and Draco... Oh no! It's a mortal sin! Heck! You didn't even wince when one of the contestants started groping each other on national television! But Draco and me..."
Hermione let her sentence hang in mid-air. She knew it disappointed her friends to see something so shocking without even a warning. They didn't know what was going on between her and Draco. They had a partial right to be mad. But at least they should have given her some time to explain herself first. Not just attack her like that.
Hermione risked a glance at Ginny who was unusually very quiet. She thought Ginny would be taking a big part in a screaming fest, but she was wrong.
"Why is it such a big deal?" Ron said annoyed as he took the remote control and turned the television off. If there were any kissing scenes between Draco and Hermione, he sure didn't want to see any of it. "You just kissed Malfoy! Draco Malfoy! Doesn't his name ring a bell? Don't you know who Draco Malfoy is? I understand that you guys were acting for the show. But kiss him!?!?!"
Ron looked at Harry and then to Ginny and then back at Hermione again. "And you know what the worst part is?" Ron inhaled deeply and almost looked like he wanted to be sick. His eyes were full of horror and his ears were bright red. "It looked like you actually liked it!"
Hermione's face burned with embarrassment at Ron's blunt statement. She wouldn't deny it, it was true. "So what if I liked it?" Hermione said coldly, challenging Ron with her eyes.
As soon as Hermione said those words, Ginny gasped, Ron's eyes practically popped out of its sockets and Harry muttered an inaudible "Oh, what horror!"
Hermione looked at her friends and finally decided to just spill out everything she was feeling. It had come to this point and there was no turning back now.
She looked at Ginny who looked like the only one who had on open mind at that moment and then started. "Me and Draco being in a relationship was a joke. We joined Threshold for the money. That fact you guys know already. But what I failed to tell you was that during the time we were together, I realized that he wasn't all that bad. He's caring, funny, smart... It might be hard to believe, but in the two weeks I spent with him, denounce me if you must, but I fell in love."
"What?" Harry said shocked, unwilling to believe. "I didn't hear you say what you just said, did I?"
Hermione looked at Harry and then to Ron, who was wearing the same expression Harry had. Without second thoughts, Hermione took the plunge. "I love him. And there is nothing you can do about it anymore."
To Hermione, it seemed that she uttered those words more for her own benefit than for Harry, Ron and Ginny's ears. She knew it all along in her heart; her brain was just too darn stubborn to accept it.
"What has the world gone to?" Ron exclaimed as he stood up from the couch where he was sitting. "This is madness! I'm dreaming. Wake me up!"
Ron paced the room back and forth, stealing glances at Hermione, Harry and Ginny.
Finally not able to take it anymore, Ron stopped walking and said to nobody in particular. "I'm going to the 3 broomsticks and get myself a gallon of Fire Whiskey. I need to drown myself in my grief. This is too much for one night."
Without waiting for an answer, Ron took his wand lying on top of Hermione's coffee table and quickly disapparated into thin air.
Taking Ron's cue, Harry also stood up, nodded at Ginny and then disapparated without a word, leaving the two girls to stare at each other.
Hermione's eyes started to water at Ron and Harry's reactions. She stared blankly at her wall, unconsciously waiting for the pop that would signify Ginny disappearing after Harry and Ron.
Apparently, Ginny didn't budge.
Hermione looked at her girl best friend with guilt in her eyes and then said "I'm pathetic. I knew how they'd react, I shouldn't have opened my mouth... I don't know why I said what I did, it doesn't matter anyway coz Draco and I aren't talking anymore. I'm sorry I lied to you Ginny. I'm an awful person. Leave me now, I don't deserve friends."
Hearing Hermione putting herself down, Ginny immediately rushed toward her and gave her a big hug. "Mione, you're not an awful person. Ron and Harry are just shocked, that's all."
Ginny smoothed Hermione's bushy head and then said "Tell you what, let's apparate to my apartment and then we'll talk there. About an hour or so, we'll apparate after the boys and explain your side. I'll help you get through their thick heads. What do you say?"
Hermione nodded meekly. She couldn't say anything. She was just grateful and relieved that Ginny was on her side.
The two witches took hold of their wands, and a minute later, they disappeared into Ginny's apartment.
Last chapter coming up in a few hours... I know this chapter isn't much... But I hope you guys liked it...
Just a quick shout out for everyone who reviewed last chapter... THANKS A LOT!!! I really appreciate it!!! I so want to thank you guys personally but I guess I'll do it in the next chapter... :D :D :D
monkeybutt..., SwTnDrEaMyPnAy03..., English-Foxlette..., PaintPro1000..., for the love of music..., frifri..., finally-defeated..., Quill of the Lark..., SlytherinRoyalty..., ZeroOrDie..., Venus725..., sassy-diva2004..., Semper-Fidelus..., firehottie..., mrs w00d nd malf0y..., Paradise-Unknown..., Bland Taste..., Cassiel Oliviari..., Lisi..., TroyWriter18..., Nikki..., angelfire 2004..., Callie..., charmed-phoenixgirl..., lil-ms-sneeky..., citcat299..., SRAndrews..., chamorro..., sugar n spice 522..., Marz..., XxXHermione-GrangerXxX..., Setsuna Bu..., visyaon..., Silly Penguin..., Googley-Eye..., tigerlily727..., Fairy Lights..., Emily Malfoy..., Bianca..., MrS-SiRiUs-BlAck..., SushiFelton..., sourpeppermint..., RikkuHermione..., LilliannaRose..., keddababy..., theonewithblackhair..., kawaii&crazy..., ZzSheilahzZ..., redragon6662..., and Just Jett...