Remnants of Life
Disclaimer: The Characters aren't mine, only the Plot. Characters are from the mind of J.K. Rowling.
Rating: PG-13
===Note===
I think I'll continue this. I'm rather fond of the story right now, and there's different ways it could go. Anyways, keep on reviewing, I need the encouragement if I'm to finish this.
Chapter 2: Your Presence Beside Me
Hermione kept her silence about what had occurred between Malfoy and herself that night. What did it matter after all compared to the dread of a future dominated by evil? Her friends need not know. Any small distractions could be swept away in preparation for something much more significant.
She noticed his gaze on her at times. Looking up from dinner or a corner of the library, Hermione might find the light reflected from his silver eyes like crystals. At first, the new attention had been startling and reminded her of the modification she experienced. Over time however, Hermione regarded it as simply the remnants of the tender moment they shared.
They were all waiting now; holding their breathe until it could be robbed of them. Perhaps it was the silence that caused her the most pain. The air hung thick with it making the once lively castle resemble an abandoned graveyard.
Life went on in the castle while they waited for the inevitable. Classes were held and homework assigned. If the school had been viewed by an outsider, no hint of anything out of the ordinary would have been discovered. However, Hermione sensed the difference rather than saw it. Their voices were hushed now when they spoke. Their eyes grew wide with fear whenever the mail arrived. Everyone was waiting for news of the outside world. In other words, they were waiting for announcements of deaths.
There was another significant change. Many students had left the school at the request of their parents. Despite Dumbledore's warning, the families felt safest when together. With the much smaller number of inhabitants, the castle appeared more forsaken.
Harry too had returned home. At the request of Dumbledore, her friend was sent back to the Dursleys for his own safety. He harbored their only remaining hope, and Hermione felt slightly more relieved to know he would be protected by his family's blood.
Remaining behind had been her choice. Her parents were muggles after all, and Hermione hoped that they might be spared if a witch was not within the house.
It seemed as if all the tension which had accumulated exploded into a river of panic when at last they received word of what they had long dreaded. Sightings of the enemy were frequently reported, and it had been gathered that they were making their way to the school.
They were dining in the Great hall when the first alarm was raised. Their chatter died instantly after the doors were thrown back and Filch came charging though. He shouted at the top of his lungs notifying the entire school of what he had spotted in the horizon.
"They're coming! Masses of them!" The hall was dead silent now except for the echo of his voice. Filch fell to his knees before the staff table, unable to regain his breathe.
"We're all going to die." He whispered.
The tension of the room broke suddenly as the students came to life once more. Hermione stood without realizing it and watched others do the same. There was panic in their once innocent eyes. Their screams pierced her and she felt as if she was drowning in a flood of torment.
Students began scampering from their seats. She watched friends cling to each other. She watched children fall to their knees and cry out in fear. She became entranced with scene and stood frozen and unmoving.
Their cries blended together into one deafening noise in her mind. Hermione felt as if she wasn't really there. Her eyes became blank as her soul floated up above the chaos and watched as an outsider. She hadn't known what to expect when the attack finally came, but she never dared to imagine this level of panic.
Dumbledore's voice called her back to her body. Blinking, Hermione refocused her attention on the man standing before them.
"Silence! Would all students please return to their common rooms. You are all to remain there until further notice." He spoke evenly as if nothing was the matter. His calm tone drew admiration from Hermione.
An ocean of people moved past her toward the entryway. She became a solitary island in their mist. Hermione had yet to regain her composure. She watched their faces but didn't hear their voices. She could see right through them into their forlorn hearts, and wondered if her own emotions were so exposed.
The Great hall became silent as the last students filed out. Hermione had yet to move however, and looked after their retreating backs with sorrow. What were they to do? Where were they to go when the last remaining sanctuary was no more?
She didn't realize how long she stood there and flinched when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up she saw his twinkling eyes behind his spectacles.
"You should head back to your common room, Miss Granger. There is nothing left to be done here," said Dumbledore.
Nodding, she moved at last. Hermione slipped from the table and out the doors into the dark corridor. The others had long gone, leaving her to walk back alone. For the first time, the massive castle appeared threatening to her.
The night air blew in from the windows and chilled her. Hermione hugged herself as she increased her pace. The bell announcing the hour tolled and startled her. Before she knew it she was running through the halls. Her footsteps echoed back to her making it sound as if there was another person nearby. Nervous fright consumed her and caused her to imagine she was being followed.
Practically sprinting, Hermione rounded a corner and collided with a solid figure in the dark. She fell backward and became tangled in her own robes. Still struggling with the heavy cloth, she looked up in panic.
His eyes were unusually bright in the shadows. Hermione became entranced with the reflective orbs and stared for longer than she intended. Quickly drawing breathe, she pushed herself to her feet with effort and faced him.
"You frightened me, Malfoy."
He didn't respond to her comment, but surprised her with a different topic.
"You shouldn't wander the halls alone anymore." He said as he gazed at her intently.
It took another moment for Hermione to really hear his words.
"Are you saying the castle isn't safe?" She asked hesitantly. She already knew the answer, but felt a need to hear it aloud.
Malfoy gave a brief chuckle that she couldn't understand. "It never was safe, Granger. There is no such thing as safety these days."
Hermione swallowed hard to keep her lips from quivering. Though she knew he spoke the truth, she didn't want to accept it as fact. It would do no good to discard the faint trance of hope she still harbored within her.
When she said nothing else, Malfoy stepped to the side and began to walk past her down the hall. He brushed her shoulder as he passed and the contact gave her a fleeting impression of security. Closing her eyes, she spoke tensely.
"Wait, don't leave me." Her eyes remained closed in case he should mock her. Unable to see him, Hermione felt slightly more sheltered from his cruel remarks. She heard the rustling of his robes as he turned back around to face her. In silence, she waited for his response.
"What would the point be in me staying? I couldn't protect you, Granger. I'm not your precious Potter." His voice was calm but hinted of bitterness. It caused Hermione to flinch.
No, he certainly wasn't Harry. Harry would look after her. He would conquer this evil miraculously and leave her safe and confident. But, Harry wasn't here at the moment, and the castle seemed emptier because of it.
Hermione turned to stare him defiantly in the face. He was refusing her need for comfort once more. She had suffered brutal shame during their last encounter. She wouldn't stand for it again.
"Yes, I see that now. You're nothing compared to Harry. Disregard what I said. You're right; there is no point in you remaining."
That was untrue. She desperately wished he would accompany her back to the warm fire of her common room. His presence brought a sensation of safety. And, though she knew it was false, it never the less calmed her.
The corner of Malfoy's mouth tugged into a smirk. He watched her with an almost bemused expression. Hermione wondered what she had done to receive this.
"There's the irritating little witch I remember." He said finally, "I was beginning to think her lost."
Hermione would have laughed if not the comment been laced with an insult. It was true that she was not herself these days. But then again, who was? All their past lives had decayed away along with the increasing number of bodies.
"She is lost. She doesn't exist anymore." Hermione said after some consideration.
Malfoy's smirk faded into curiosity. "Who are you then?" His eyes shined like glass and his gaze became intense as he stared at her in puzzlement.
"No one; just another pawn soon to be removed from the game." She said quietly.
Hermione watched him nod to show his understanding. They stood there together for another few moments in silence. Each watched the other in an attempt to discover a hidden meaning. Their shields were proven effective however, because neither could draw any new understanding of the other.
Shaking his head, Malfoy extended an arm to indicate she go first. Hermione blinked in confusion but began to walk in the direction of her common room. She felt his reassuring presence a step behind her the entire way.
Upon reaching the portrait hole, Hermione turned to him to offer a reluctant thank you. Before she could speak the words however, Malfoy hushed her with a grim smile and retreated back into the shadows of the corridor.
===Note===
I rather like keeping Malfoy mysterious. Plus he offers enlightening pharses that get you thinking.
I like giving him depth. Makes him more charming yes?
Review please. I need the motivation. =)
-Captive