Disclaimer : I do not own any of the following characters of Ms. J.K Rowling.
A/N: Thanks for the great reviews guys! This story with Draco and Hermione is going to short, and I don't really think I'm doing a great job of writing it. But thanks for the support anyway. In this chapter, Hermione has to face up to reality of Malfoy's secret and he only finds out about hers later. This chapter is short cos I have to finish my other assignments for school stares at stack of books on table with hate They just get in the way of my busy social life! :P
Anyways.. here is the story .. Please enjoy and as always.. please leave ur rotten eggs until the final chapter!!
I see him, in a way I never thought possible.
The way he holds my eyes with his, as he walks past and disappears into the crowds
I see the way she looks at me, and turns away, with a blush on her face.
I've caught her doing that more than once, and my heart swells with love and fondness.
We have a secret, we can't tell.
We're afraid to lose each other. But reality closes in on us, with the speed of the rapid flowing rivers.
Everytime I find the words to confess, I cannot go on.
I don't want to see the hurt in your eyes.
The summer air is filled with the faint scents of lavender and lemon, and sunlight grows stronger.
We cross each others paths, along the hallways and in the garden.
We can't acknowledge each other, in fear of the taunts and jeers.
We have to meet in secret and be happy with stolen moments.
I want to hold your hand, and bury my face in your hair.
But you seem so far away, amidst your friends, who serves as a wall.
"Miss Granger! This is the second time I have caught you sleeping in my class. I will not tolerate any more of this behaviour.
You had better straighten up or you are going to fail your NEWT's!" Professor McGonagall's sterner-than-thou voice
cracked through the noise of the classroom. Everyone turned their heads to look at a blushing Hermione who had obviously
been lying on her desk, her books strewn all over the place. The bell rang and everyone noisily shoved their books back into
their bags and headed to the Great Hall for lunch. Hermione disappeared into the bodies of students and made her way to the
library.
"Granger! Wait up!" Ron caught up with her and breathlessly held on to her arm. Harry followed close by him. "What's the
matter with you?"
"What do you mean? I'm perfectly fine!" She snapped as she continued to make her way down the hall.
"Oh no, you're not! Everyone can tell you've been pushing yourself too hard this term! It's even worse than our third year.
You're not getting enough sleep and Lavender told us that you only get into bed after five every morning!" Ron hurried
besides her while falling over his own words. Hermione turned to look at him with a look of fury in her brown eyes.
"So what are you playing now? You're spying on me? Why do you have to question my every move? Am I suppose to tell
you what time I go to the bathrooms or send an owl to inform you where I am, every minute of the day??!!" She screamed
and held her wand at Ron's face as they came to a stand still in the middle of the hallway. Hermione's outburst caught the
attention of several passing second-years who stopped to listen, but were immediately scared of by a glaring Ron. Ron's ears
were now a bright red, and he too, looked like he was about to start a screaming match with her.
"We're just concerned about you cos you're our friend." Harry's quiet voice sounded besides her. Hermione immediately
lowered her raised arm and tears filled her eyes. Ron had also calmed down and nodded at Harry's statement.
"We don't want to see you work yourself too hard. Can't you see that you've been losing a tremendous lot of weight now?"
Ron said in a softer voice.
I don't know what's going on with me! I feel so trapped! Hermione felt like screaming but thought that it wasn't a wise
decision. She kept silent, and with a burst of fresh tears, she hugged both her best friends. As though by being close to them,
their warmth and kindness would help her come to a decision soon.
Malfoy turned his face as soon as he heard a slight rustle. The astronomy tower was dark and silent. The moon was hidden
behind the clouds and there was a chill in the air. Ah...the night of darkness... Hermione's pale face appeared at the trapdoor
and she quickly made her way towards Malfoy, who was seated on the stone floor. He held his arms out towards her and
she fell into his embrace. His arms went around her and he marvelled at how small and slight she felt.
They would meet this way, every night. Sometimes in the library, sometimes in the astronomy tower. They had even
requested for additional patrol duties so they could be together.
"What's wrong?" He wanted to say 'baby' but the words still got stuck in his mouth. He felt strange calling her in this
affectionate way. "Nothing. It just felt like a long day and I wanted to see you so much." She whispered as she laid her head
on his chest. It was the way she told him how she felt, which made him feel special. She was so honest and trusting. Everyone
he knew was either proud or arrogant. They didn't have time for 'muggle-emotions', as they called it. Even his betrothed,
was a proud witch who disliked anything or anyone muggle. She had changed a lot since they were young. She had been a
young, exuberant witch who found everything exciting. But she conformed to her family's traditions and values, and turned
into one of them! A perfectionist, who wanted only to keep the pure blood line intact.
"What are you thinking about?" Hermione's soft voice penetrated through his thoughts. "Nothing in particular." He
swallowed. "I have something I want to tell you. "This was it. He was about to throw away a gift so beautiful. He hated it.
Hermione noticed his hesitation. He was going to break up with her. She braced herself. I will not cry, she thought
determinedly to herself.
"Hermione...There's something about my family I have to tell you. My father, he is a perfectionist, and he wants the best for
everyone. When I was young, he..." Malfoy faltered, but continued with an encouraging look from Hermione. "He made a
pact with his friend, William DeLancrue, which was sealed by magic and blood. And if this pact was broken, everyone in
both families would die." Hermione started to say something, but was stopped by Malfoy, who obviously wanted to finish
what he was saying. "The pact they made, was a pact of marriage, between me and his daughter, Danielle DeLancrue. We
are to be wedded when we turn 18." Hermione stood up. Her breath caught short in her throat as she stared at Malfoy,
disbelievingly. Her ears did not betray her. She had heard what he said and she couldn't accept it. She stepped away from
Malfoy, away from his arms.
"Please Hermione...Don't be like this..." Malfoy looked at her with pleading eyes. "I need you." He approached her and
touched her arm.
"Don't touch me! Don't ever come near me! Do you hear me?!" She shouted angrily. "I never want to talk to you again."
With a flash of orange hair and billow of robes, she turned her back on him.
The hallways seem to stretch on forever. The dark shadows lurking behind corners and the ghostly images floating from wall
to wall did not stop her. The sound of her running feet resounded across the grounds as she threw herself onto the portrait of
the fat-lady. "Valentine." She said to the portrait breathlessly.
"My goodness, child! What is the matter with you?" The fat-lady asked in a concerned voice. "Please, just let me in.
Valentine! Valentine!" Hermione's voice grew hysterical with each passing moment. "As you wish, child." The door to the
Gryffindor common room swung open and she stepped inside, collapsing on the ground. Sobs shook through her body as she
put her face in her hands. Tears could not stop themselves and they flowed freely from her eyes. Images of Malfoy filled her
head and she cried even harder. His serious face, ice-blue eyes, smile which hovered near his mouth. The moments they had
spent in each others arms in the astronomy tower and the library. The one time they had made love, and he had made her
feel...like she was soaring above the clouds. Were they just part of the past now? She cried, and cried, and cried.
"Oh my god! Hermione! What happened?" Hermione looked up and saw a worried looking Harry kneeling besides her. She
shook her head. Words were overcome by tears. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't tell anyone. "I...He...We..." She was
mumbling incoherently and Harry pulled her up to her feet. The common room was already empty and the fire had died out in
the hearth. Hermione felt like she could never experience warmness ever again. There was a slight mist covering everything.
So hazy. Just like a dream. She smiled to herself through her tears. Maybe it is a dream! And when I wake up, everything will
go back to normal! It really did feel like a dream. Everything around her was swirling and there was no sense of gravity. Her
eyes closed before her head ever reached her pillow. She never heard Harry's shouts of worry. She never heard the
whispers of her fellow Gryffindors as Harry carried her to Madam Pomfrey's. She never even heard the arrival of a rush of
brooms which excited the entire school. She never felt the arms which cradled her listless body and whispered words into her
ear. She was in a world, where no one could reach her. She was playing, amongst the fairies and flowers and riding on the
rainbows.
In the end, I had to let you go.
You never cried. You stood there, with your head held high.
You bit my ear off, like I knew you would.
Still, I wanted to shout at you, "Stop acting like you're so strong when you're not!"
You hurried down the stairs, the corridors, and the endless hallways.
It's been days since I last saw you.
I wonder how you are. If you're angry? Or dejected? Or avoiding me on purpose?
I was looking up at the skies and the answer came to me.
You had your secrets as well. I want to cry.
Why did this have to happen?
Will there ever be a second chance?
Will I ever have the chance to hold you in my arms and draw from your strength?
Will we ever have the chance to clear the air between us?
A/N: How did you guys enjoy it?? I know it's bad and everything.. But the stories come from a place deep down so please try to be kind and not curse me if things don't turn out your way. ok? Will try to post new chapter ASAP !