Storms

Chapter 3

I haven't felt this way I feel

Since many a year ago

Hermione had her off days, but it had not usually carried on for more than a day. The breakfast, in which she had eaten lay heavy in her stomach, refusing to budge. She picked up the phone and called in sick at work. She did not feel right. Hermione had not been sick in a long time, five years ago to be exact. Hermione rummaged through her cupboard. She did not have it. If she was to rough this out, she was not to do it alone. She would have her companion, her sweet saviour, chocolate.

As she drove herself to the supermarket, she made a detour and found herself driving towards Harry's house. Since the Great War, the demand for Aurors had not been as high. Every so often, Harry was called into to the office. Luckily for Hermione, Harry was at home. She walked up to his house and Harry opened the door. Hermione fell into his arms crying. The walked over to the sofa where Harry comforted her. They sat there for a while, Hermione sobbing with Harry comforting her. She went to speak but Harry gently shushed her, not needing the explanation.

'Harry I feel so stupid, I don't why I'm like this, I haven't been upset in a long time.'

'Don't worry Hermione, you'll feel better soon. Everybody deals with the situation differently. Some people take longer than others.'

Hermione became offended. 'What are you trying to do, some psycho analysis of me?'

'I didn't mean it like that Hermione, you'll be okay soon. We're here for you, even Ron, don't worry, it'll get better.'

'I'm sorry Harry; I don't know who I am anymore. But I have to tell you something, something you and Ron never knew.' Harry suspected what it might be, but didn't say anything; he just let his friend pour her heart out.

One day while Hermione was studying for a Transfiguration assessment, she came across a letter addressed to Draco which was lying on the desk. Curious, Hermione picked it up and read it.

Draco,
I am greatly disappointed with your actions. The Dark Lord wishes to see you on the 31st of January. You would have noticed your Dark Mark flashing green. The Lord is anxious and excited for the following events to be carried out on that night. The Lord has chosen you, Draco Malfoy, to carry out a very special muggle hunt, to prove your loyalty to the Lord. I will collect you at the end of the school term and you are to stay at Malfoy Manor until the 31st. Do not try and get out of this Draco, you know the consequences. I await you reply.
Your father, Lucius Malfoy

Hermione knew she shouldn't have read this, but now she knew, she wanted to help Draco out. She saw him walk into the room.

'Malfoy, what is this about your father? Are you a Death Eater? You can't be. You can't go to the meeting.'

'What are you about Granger?' But Draco saw the letter in her hand. 'What are you doing reading my mail? You nosy Mudblood! There is nothing wrong with that. I am a Death Eater' Draco replied angrily.

'But do you want to be a Death Eater?' Hermione asked him, quietly. Draco didn't say anything, he looked at the ground, and his head hung in shame. 'You don't do you…' Hermione trailed off.

'No Granger, I don't want to become a Death Eater. Since you know because you read the letter, I don't want to go home at the end of the term. There it nothing I can do, it is expected of me. I don't wish to cause any more trouble; my father is a harsh man. I do not want to get on the wrong side of him again. Except the fact Granger, I am doomed; my future is already laid out for me. I can't change it.'

'You could always go to Dumbledore Malfoy, he could help you.'

'Did you just hear what I said? No. He can't help me, no one can help me. Save yourself the worry Hermione and get over it. I have.'

Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes. It was unfair. Draco didn't stand a chance. He had no life. The end of the term was approaching quickly, Hermione dreading each day as it passed. Soon it was the end of term. As Draco was packing to go home, Hermione watched him from his bedroom doorway. She said nothing but studied his movements. Once he had finished, he went to leave the room. Hermione grabbed his arm.

'You don't have to do this Malfoy; you don't.' he ignored this and walked past her.

Just as he was about to leave, he turned around at her and looked at her, distance in his eyes. He simply stated 'but I have too.' He walked out of the room, leaving Hermione standing there by herself, once again.

Hermione was asleep on the lounge when a noise woke her up. She looked up and saw Draco standing over her. 'Malfoy, what are you doing here?'

'I was sent back to school. It's January second, father no longer needed me at home.' Hermione looked at him, his face and arms were covered in bruises and scratches.

'What happened to you Malfoy?'

'Nothing, I just fell down the stairs at Malfoy Manor' Draco walked out of the room and closed the door to his bedroom. Hermione didn't see him for the rest of the night.

Hermione was still sobbing by the time she had finished her story. 'Harry, it's dreadful. I couldn't do anything to help him. He wouldn't let me.'

'Hermione, Draco was a stubborn fool. I know that, you know that, we all know that. He didn't want to help himself, or let anyone help him.'

'How dare you talk about Draco like that Harry? After all we went through, you still think of him like that. I'm sorry, I'm going now. Goodbye Harry. I will speak to you later.'

'Stop defending him Hermione, after all he did to you.'

'He did noting to me Harry, nothing at all. I'm leaving now.' Hermione stormed out of Harry's house and drove home, completely forgetting about why she left her flat in the first place. She made it home. 'Oh drat, I forgot the chocolate.'

She made herself comfortable on the window sill once again and looked out the window. The sun was shining weakly, clouds threatening to steal what little sunshine there was. She was punishing herself she knew, but she couldn't help it. She had bottled it up for all too long, and now it was time to release it all. Once again, her thoughts became the better of her.

Hermione tried to keep out of Draco's way since he had gotten back. He was moody and agitated something she wished not to cross. One night she saw him sitting down on the lounge by the fire. Hermione went and sat down next to him, they had not been this close together in a long time, not since that starry night. 'Let me heal those wounds.' she simply said. Draco made no refusal. Hermione charmed a warm dish of water and a cloth to her. She began to bathe the wounds. Every so often, Draco would wince in pain, yet Hermione would comfort him with a gentle smile or a touch of her hand. Once she had finished she cleared away her items and sat with him. Hermione soon began to become tired. She dozed off. Hermione awoke to feel something wrapped around her. She gently looked up and found Draco's arm holding her, him fast asleep. Not wishing to disturb the peace she left it like that and went back to sleep.

It was affections like that in which Hermione had missed the most. She sometimes wished for Draco to hold her again, but never had she greatly yearned for it, not until now. It was starting to become cold in her flat, yet Hermione was starting to feel suffocated. In order to escape it, she decided to leave and head for the little café down the road. Hermione could be alone with her thoughts, but with the safety of others around her.


But in those years and lifetime past

I did not deal with the road

Sitting in the coffee shop, Hermione's mind flashed back to the war.

She and Ron were sent on a mission to Russia, they were to travel to Karkaroffs house, to uncover secret documents. The talked little to each other on the way there. Hermione assumed they were both preparing themselves for what they might discover. Once they arrived at their destination, they were not prepared for that they found. Inside his house, numerous human bones and skulls were lying in the kitchen. Blood was splattered all over the walls. Further into the house were bottles of fire whisky and butterbeer. The Dark Mark had been written in red on the wall, Hermione suspecting blood. The house seemed to be deserted, until a Death Eater happened to walk into the room. Ron noticed im first, aiming at him with wand, screaming, 'STUPIFY!' the Death Eater was stunned, his rigid body falling to the ground. The pair started working quickly. Hermione ran quickly up the stairs, in search of the study. Once finding the room, she discovered a locked box. Hermione grabbed the box and made her way downstairs.

She came across Ron, in battle with another Death Eater. Hermione quickly came to his aid and the Death Eater was out cold on the ground. 'Quick Ron, lets get out of here.' The two made their way out of the house and apparated into the air.

'Here's your coffee ma'am' Hermione was distracted from her thoughts by the waiter.

'Thank you, just put it there' she told him. She looked up at him and saw grey eyes and blonde hair. She shook her head and looked at him again. Blonde hair, but his eyes were dark.

'Are you okay ma'am?' the waiter asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

'Oh, I'm sorry, you just reminded me of someone I used to know.' The waiter walked away, and went to get the bill.

The war had affected Hermione greatly. She had always told herself she would be okay once it had all finished. During the war, she was kept alive by dreams of her and Draco, living happily together, growing old together. But Hermione knew they would never come true. She just liked the thought, she lived off the idea. The wishes made her sane, but Hermione knew it wouldn't last. They were eating away at her. After the war, Hermione would wake up during the night in a cold sweat, shaking from the nightmares in which she had. No one was there to help her; she had to deal with her problems herself. She couldn't go to Harry; he was suffering too much from what had happened with him and Voldemort. Ron was in St Mungos, his mind scarred and broken. Her parents were gone; Draco was no longer there for her, now it was just her.

It took some while getting used to. Hermione moved into her flat, a new change she had decided. Times were tough for her. She kept pushing everything to the back of her mind. She concluded now that this was what was happening to her. Her mind could not cope anymore, her spirit was broken and her love was lost. Her body had to heal itself, deal with the scars inflicted deep within her heart. It would take along time, she knew that. But it had to be done. She had to release her inner demons and ghosts, settle the past, so she could look forward to the future. It would just be hard trying to deal with it all. Harry had Ginny, Ron had Lavender, and Hermione had herself. It was the only way she could do it.

A/N: Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read all this, hope you enjoyed it! Thank you to all of those who have reviewed. Your time and effort means so much to me!!! You see that little button in the corner, go on, you can do it, click, that's it, click!!! All reviews are appreciated; I would love to hear your comments and suggestions. I apologise if the characters seem OOC, but I do need to start the Draco/Hermione interaction, and I'm trying to do it as little as clichéd and sappy as possible. Thank you for your time!