Our Friend: Romance
Dedicated to Willow, because you wanted me to write a long one.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters do not belong to me. Yada yada yada. You know the drill. Just don't sue me.
Author's Notes: 'Kay, I'm writing a multiple chapter Hermione/Draco fic. Why? Because I feel like it! Sheesh. Plus, a special someone asked me to do it for him. So deal with it! 'Kay, this is based loosely upon a RPG that Willow and I did.
Pairing: Hermione/Draco
Time and Place: After the war with Voldemort, Draco lives alone in the ruins of his family's mansion. Hermione, having lost everyone she loved, stays idly in St. Mungo's hospital.
Hermione sat by the lake. A Willow tree gave her shade as she did her last minute potions homework. Snape had cracked down in the seventh year. Even a bookworm like Hermione couldn't handle it. And with N.E.W.T.S to pass she just couldn't afford to skin this information.
"Granger?" A cold voice called through the silent serenity of the lake-side. Hermione looked up. Her eyes fell upon the face she loved; Draco Malfoy; the only boy who had stolen her heart
"Malfoy," She said in response. Her voice was light and airy. He smiled as he neared the tree.
"Good to see the bookworm can't handle the homework," He said playfully. She smiled and stood up.
"It's not that I can't. I can; I would just prefer not to." She laughed, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"No great loss. One as beautiful as you need not do their homework." He said, running his hands through his fizzy brown hair.
Hermione laughed. Draco; lord did he know how to make her smile. All he had to do was flash her one of those cold smirks and she'd go weak at the knees.
Draco kissed her cheek. Hermione; Oh was she breathtaking. Those chocolate brown eyes made his heart skip a beat.
That was seven years ago.
Now, Draco was alone. His father was dead. His mother was crazy. He didn't have much to live for now. Hermione; he didn't even know if she was still alive. Lord, did he miss her. Why had he let her go?
He remembered, but he was ashamed of that. She'd gone to help save Potter. He was playing super-hero trying to save the world. Draco remembered his last words to her.
"Hermione, you can't go! I don't want to lose you." Draco said, tears streaking his face. She ran her hand down his cheek lovingly.
"Draco, I'm sorry. But Harry is my best friend. I have to help him."
Then she'd left. She'd left him there; she'd left him alone. And now what did he have? A mansion in ruins; a mother in St. Mungo's; and no Hermione; he was but a shell of a life.
'Hermione, where are you?' Draco thought, his eyes pleading with the ceiling of his mansion to bring her back. He closed his eyes, taking himself away from the crumbling walls of his abode.
He could see her; smell her; he could feel her beside him. In this vague dream he could be with her as long as he liked.
He opened his eyes. Bright rays of sunlight streamed through the cracked windows. The curtains had fallen to the ground long ago, and without any help around the house, he'd let it stay there. His father had been to blame for the rubble he called a home. He'd gone and messed up; he'd shown the world that he'd been, and was, a faithful Deatheater. The Ministry of Magic had stormed the mansion the very moment Lucius had uttered the words.
"Filth," He spat as he walked out of the mansion. He was on his way to visit his mother. She'd lost it when Lucius had been killed, and now she was in St. Mungo's; the only place in the Wizarding World that was worse than death. But he knew she'd die soon. Everyone in St. Mungo's did.
Draco wore a long black cloak and a hat that covered the majority of his face. He was a disgrace nowadays. He didn't dare show his face in the streets of London for people talked. Even the muggles did. He wasn't safe from the ridicule anywhere.
His feet carried him swiftly. He stared at the street to refrain from making eye contact. St. Mungo's was close now. Soon, he'd be able to talk to his mother, the only person left in this meaningless life.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, go right up." The nurse said, she was polite enough, but he knew it was only a mask. She was as shallow as the rest. Draco nodded, and headed towards the elevator. Whispers filled the air. Even the man with hands growing from his bottom whispered.
It seemed like centuries before he was out of the elevator and in the dimly lit hallway.
"Ronald! I couldn't care less!"
"But Hermione."
Hermione and Ronald; Granger and Weasley; were they both here? He walked down the hallway and looked into the open door.
"Ron, I don't want to deal with you!" Draco's heart almost stopped. Bushy brown hair; bossy voice; it was her!
"Hermione?" Draco said disbelievingly. The brown haired maiden turned.
"Draco?"
Author's Notes: Ha, I win! Ha again, I say! Yes, it will be a multiple chapter story; but I give you a cliffhanger! Willow, I totally win!
Anyway, I'd love anyone who left a review!