An Inevitable Fate Chapter 37: Draco, a harry potter fanfic

Title: An Inevitable Fate

Chapter Thirty Seven: Draco

Author: KissThis

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Draco x Hermione ack-she-own.

Setting: 6th year in Hogwarts.

Disclaimer: I did not create Harry Potter or any of the characters from the Harry Potter series. I also have a mortal fear of lawyers. Harry Potter and all its rights ©JK Rowling.

A/N: Short chapter. The next few ones will be the same, but they'll be updated a little faster.

"That's what you don't understand about all this, Draco. There are no sides. It's not about good and evil anymore."

Enlighten me," He said in contempt.

Her deep amber eyes caught his. "It's about faith, Draco." She whispered.

Faith.

All his faith had been in her. And now she was gone.

"Mister Malfoy. You need to sleep."

The bottle of a Dreamless Sleep potion was thrust into his hand, but he didn't even look at it as she bustled away. Pomfrey used to make sure her patients drank whatever she gave them, but not now. She just didn't seem to care anymore. The vial dropped from Draco's fingers and shattered on the floor. Madame Pomfrey faltered a moment in her steps but never turned.

He pushed back the covers, barely managing to dodge the scattered shards of glass in his desire to leave. The cold stones shot chills up through his bare feet as he disappeared out into the hallway.

"A part of me will always be wondering if that's what you really want; not me. Always be wondering if you're thinking of this thing that's inside of me whenever we're together. And that is why I can't be with you. I can't go through a relationship always wondering."

"Draco, no matter what I've said...I love you." She coughed again and another trail of blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.

Then why did you leave?

The room was filled with light, and the huge windows lining the walls had no need for the thick drapes roped off to either side; they were never closed. The sunshine reflected against the crystalline case lying upon a stand in the center and a burst of rainbow prisms danced across the wooden floor.

Draco's hand grazed over the ribboned bouquet of roses he'd left that morning, surrounded by the thousands of flowers offered by others. He quickly closed the distance to the case where she waited for him. Save for the blue sundress she wore, she looked as though she were merely asleep, waiting for true love's kiss from a handsome prince to wake her. Harry had picked the dress – it had been the one she'd worn that day in Diagon Alley barely two months before. She'd been so happy and full of life.

Now she was empty of it.

"Hermione," he whispered. He reached out to touch her face, but, as every attempt prior, his hand met with nothing more than cool crystal glass. "I got away from Pomfrey. I had to see you again..."

He always saw her – she was always there. Her warm amber eyes were in every sunrise; her laughter in every whispered word late at night. The wind carried her voice and her face was reflected in every suit of armor he passed. Hermione Granger lived in every corner of the ancient castle. He couldn't escape the memory of her and he didn't want to. He wanted her with him until the day he died.

"I can't sleep without you, Hermione." He'd said this all before, but the words kept repeating themselves.

As she glided past him he couldn't resist the desire to wrap his arms about her. He reached out for her, but his grasping hands went straight through her. A smile played on her lips as she continued down the garden pathway.

"I used to dream of you, you know." That, he'd never said before. "Just seeing you there was enough, even if I couldn't touch you. You were always there. But now I can't sleep for fear you've left my dreams forever."

"I need you Hermione," he said. "I need you here with me now. I don't know what to do."

His fingers gripped the edge of the glass and his face contorted.

"Why did you leave me? Why didn't you take me with you? I want to be where you are – why can't I follow where you've gone to?" He banged his fists on the crystal coffin, and the glass rattled but did not break.

"Why? Why? Why? WHY? WHY?!" He screamed. "That's all everyone is asking! I can't give them an answer because I don't know it myself. I don't know what to do..."

He pressed his palm against the glass over her clasped hands. "You always were so much better at things like this..."

A bell rang out through the stone walls. Class was changing. He didn't move. The sounds of passing students was unheard in the closed off room for it existed in the topmost part of the tallest tower. She deserved that much at least. The bell rang again signaling the end of passing time, but Draco shook his head. Why should he go to class? What was the point if Hermione wasn't there? Nothing they could learn from a textbook now could save them from Voldemort.

"Promise, whatever happens...don't lose hope."

I tried Hermione, but I can't keep that promise. Not without you here to show it to me. I can't see things the way you could.

"If only there had been more time..."

Why did you wait so long to tell me, Hermione? There's still so many things...

You never taught me trigonomimetry...

"You cannot die -- you are the Sovereign of Light."

Postvorta was wrong.

Burying his face in his arms, he cried. The warm tears splattered against the glass coffin and rolled down the sides. Beneath his shaking form, Hermione's face looked serenely up; her closed eyes unable to see the tears that fell against the crystal lid above her.

BANG!

One of the windows slammed open. Then another. And another.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A cool autumn wind blew into the room, snuffing out the candles lining the walls. The initial rush from pushing inside died, and the gentle breeze floated over to Draco stirring his hair and feeling icy against damp cheeks.

"I'll come back for you..."