Storms

Chapter 5

So I try to say

Goodbye my friend

After her shower, Hermione said her goodbyes and made her way to the car. During her shower she had psyched herself up for her visit. There was a lot she wanted to say to him. It was a long drive to her destination. Draco had told her that after the war, he wanted to live in the country. Hermione cursed him for being so far away. The car trip was a silent one. She did not listen to the radio, yet used this time to prepare herself and her thoughts. She did not wish to arrive there and not know what to say, it would be embarrassing. Finally Hermione made it.

She drove through the big iron gates and up the path. Hermione had not been here in five years, though nothing had changed. She got out of her car and walked over to where he was.

'So I'm here Draco, I've come to see you. Sorry it has been such a long time. It has been hard. Im sure you understand, you have to. You knew how hard it was for me, but I'm here.' She looked down at his gravestone. She crouched down and gently traced his name with her finger.

DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY
1983-2000

'Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est'

Sorely missed, forever in our hearts
Aeternum vale

'Why did you have to leave me Draco? I've hurt so much. Do you know how hard it has been? Harry's getting better. Ron's with Lavender now. Not that you cared about Ron. You never did. Well, I'm here to say I'm sorry Draco, sorry for everything I have ever done to you. We could have worked you know. I had plans for us. Nice house in the country, a Porsche, you the Minister for Magic, me the high flying editor of the Daily Prophet. But I was delirious Draco. I knew that would never happen. But I had to think that. It got me through the war. You kept me going. Now I have nothing to live for anymore.' At this point, Hermione forgot everything she was going to say to him. She broke down and fell to the ground.

She was bound by chains. Her arms were above her head, painfully chained together. She had been there for a day now. Hermione wondered if Harry or any of them had noticed her missing. She had been interrogated for information. Where Dumbledore was, what he had planned. She had been lured into coming here. A message was sent to her. Lavender was in trouble, caught within Malfoy Manor. Hermione left at once. She came to the dungeon and discovered only Voldemort and Lucius.

'Look what we have here' Lucius sneered. 'The mudblood who's been screwing my son.'

'Now now Lucius lets not flatter her.' Voldemort ordered. Lucius walked over to Hermione. He grabbed her and hit her over the head. She fell to the ground, unconscious. When she awoke she found she had been tied up and captured. Her wand wasn't on her, she couldn't signal for help, or free herself from her shackles. Her only hope was to pray that someone came and found her before it was too late. Voldemort appeared in the doorway.

'Now mudblood, where is Harry Potter?' his voice was raspy. He held his hand out, and touched her cheek with his finger. Hermione shivered, his touch was like death, so cold and final. 'Where is he my pretty?'

'I don't know, and if I did, I would never tell you.' Voldemort laughed.

'Stupid girl, if you knew what was good for you, you would speak. Now. CRUCIO!' Hermione's body began to burn. Her body shook and pain shot up through her. Her muscles tore and her brain felt as if it was going to explode. She screamed in pain, her cries echoing throughout the room.

'Look what happens when you don't do as I say?'

'I'll never tell you Voldemort, you can curse me a thousand times but I would never reveal my secrets too you.'

'But surely you must get thirsty; you are going to have to drink soon, unless you want to die of dehydration?' Voldemort taunted her. Hermione looked away. If she did not look at him, she would be okay. 'Hit a nerve, have I Mudblood?'

'Do you even have nerves?' She heard herself reply.

'You're going to pay for that Mudblood. CRUCIO! Don't you ever learn?'

Hermione did learn. She learnt the hard way. She was stuck in the dungeon for two days. Finally she was rescued. A group of Aurors came and investigated Malfoy Manor. They had found nothing of Lucius and Voldemort, they had long gone, leaving Hermione chained there to die. She was taken back to the Ministry where Draco was waiting. She was too weak to walk. He picked her up and carried her to his room in which he was staying.

'I was worried Hermione, I didn't know where you were. Did father take you? Did he Hermione? I need to know.' Hermione couldn't speak, but faintly nodded her head. 'He will pay for that.' Draco declared. Hermione motioned for him to come over to her. He did. She grabbed him and embraced him, not wanting to let him go. Draco could feel her tears on his shoulder. Once again he picked her up and carried her to his bed. He laid her gently down. He lay down next to her. They both fell asleep, in each others arms.

Hermione remembered the embrace, the warmth and the security she felt when she held him. 'I haven't felt that in a long time Draco. Every night, I've been alone, waiting for you to come back. I know you won't Draco, but each night, your softness fades away. Im scared Draco. Scared that one day you'll completely fade away, and I'll no longer remember you. I don't want that to happen. Do you think of me Draco? Somewhere up in heaven, wherever you may be, do you sit there and wait for me? Are your days filled with voids and blank spaces? Do you miss me Draco?' She sat there for a while. The silence of the cemetery was calming. It was a cold day, yet the sun was shining, struggling to provide warmth for those on Earth.

She heard crunching of feet along the footpath. She looked up and saw Harry and Ron.

'We thought you'd be here 'Mione.'

'You both know me too well.'

'You need to stop doing this to yourself 'Mione, it's not good for you.' Ron gently soothed.

'I know Ron, it's hard though, but I need to, just a few more minutes.'

'Hermione, I came to give you something, now seems like the right time.' Harry stepped forward and handed her a box. 'Draco wanted you to have this, he was going to give this to you himself, but he gave it to me just before he went into the final battle. He told me that he knew he wasn't going to come out alive. Draco wanted you to remember him. Don't ever forget him, he'll never forget you.' The two walked off leaving Hermione by herself.

She opened the box and inside found a ring. It was pure silver, with diamonds and emeralds encrusted around it. Hermione gasped. She knew what it was, why he wanted her to have it. She turned towards his grave.

'Oh Draco, you were serious. I must go now, like usual, Harry and Ron are waiting for me. Draco I forgive you. For everything you ever did to me, everything. I've never stopped loving you.' With that, she placed the ring back in the box and walked away, leaving him for the last time.

But I'd like to leave you with something warm

But never have I been a blue calm sea

The trio made their way out of the cemetery and agreed to meet at The Leaky Cauldron for a drink. Driving back to London, Hermione felt as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulder. Calm had washed over her. She pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the car. She took the box out of her pocket and looked at the ring. She slid it over her slender finger. It used to be his. He would wear it all the time. Hermione was always amazed at its beauty. It looked stunning against his pale and long finger. She fiddled with it, twirling it slowly around her finger.

For the next couple of days, Hermione had to rest. Draco stayed at the ministry, catching up on paperwork and fielding enquiries. He returned to his room where Hermione lay.

'Draco, what made you decide to go against your father? How did you come to the good side?'

'I went and saw Dumbledore. I took your advice Hermione, though I hate to say it. He recommended that I cease all contact from father. He said that as long I was at Hogwarts, I would be safe. But I didn't need to go out of the school grounds; I already had something in the school that kept me there.'

'What was that Draco?' He looked pointedly at her 'Oh…me! My mistake.' Hermione giggled.

Draco turned serious. 'Don't stop giggling Hermione; it's the only way we'll get out of this war alive.' She looked at him.

'I won't Draco. Just promise me you won't do anything stupid.'

'I can't promise you that Hermione.'

He walked over to her and sat next to her on the bed. He began kissing her neck tenderly.

'Draco stop.' But he knew she didn't mean it. She returned his kisses. They were together, they were one. They shared their passion like they had never felt before. Hermione didn't want to let him go. Let the moment go. She just wanted to enjoy him while she could. She placed her hand on his bare chest and could feel his heat radiating. She kissed him and fell asleep.

Hermione arrived in London an hour later. Harry and Ron were both waiting for her. They made themselves into the pub and ordered. 'Give me the strongest thing you've got' Hermione told the bartender.

'One firewhisky coming up' he replied. Hermione made her way over to the table in which her two friends were sat.

'It's a very pretty ring Hermione.'

'Yes, it is. Now I can carry Draco with me wherever I go.'

'Hermione, you carry Draco with you without having the ring. He lives in your heart. You may not always know it, but he's there.'

'Ronald, that has to be the most sensitive thing I think I have heard you say. Where do you get all this from?'

'Oh I don't know, here and there.' All three laughed.

It felt good to laugh, Hermione thought. She had missed her friends a lot.

'Times have been tough on us all, it's time we moved on.' Harry stated

'Just let me have a couple more days Harry, and I'll be okay, I promise. Have I ever broken a promise before?'

'Yes Hermione, once. When you promised not to talk about S.P.E.W, and you did' both men laughed.

'Ha-ha you two, very funny. Besides that, I haven't broken a promise. Just give me sometime.'

'If you insist Hermione…'

'Yes I do insist and I must be off. I'll speak to you both later.' She hugged her two friends and walked out of the establishment. Yes a couple more days would be enough. Then she could return back to normal.

She arrived at her flat and walked in. She flopped on the couch and turned on the television, yet she didn't watch it, she was too distracted by the visions dancing around in her brain. Her mind flicked back to the last day of Hogwarts.

Dumbledore stood up, the hall silenced as he arose. 'As this is our final meal together, I would like to say a few words. I wish our graduating year all the best of luck in the world. May they make the right decisions and fulfil all their dreams. Let us raise our glasses to our graduating year. Now, on a more sombre note, war is fast approaching. As we all leave to go to those we love, please remember that Hogwarts is here for you. Please see it as a safe haven. Let us all pray that the war may be over soon, and those with power use it for good. Now, let us enjoy this wonderful feast!'

Hermione couldn't eat. She wasn't hungry. With the prospect of war looming over, she was full of fear. Instead of leaving Hogwarts by train like they usually do, Harry, Ron, Draco and herself would take a port key to the ministry. They would then be trained and specialise in their strong points. Hermione noticed Draco not eating his meal either. Once all had finished eating, everyone made their way back to their dormitories. Hermione and Draco retreated back into their own rooms. Hermione appeared at Draco's doorway.

'Draco this is our last night at Hogwarts. Must we spend it by ourselves?' She needed no invitation, and made her way over to where he was sitting. She sat down next to him. Just like at the beginning of the year, they didn't say a word to each other, but just sat their, basking in each others company. They both fell asleep, their bodies next to one another. Hermione awoke next morning to find Draco already gone.

Whatever the show was on the television, Hermione wasn't paying attention. It had soon finished and the news was about to start. Hermione programmed her television into magical news. A report came on the screen that caught Hermione's attention. The newsreader began to speak:

'It is now the five year anniversary of the Great War. We will now have a minute's silence for all those lost and all those who fought evil…We cross to James Mulga who is at the Boy who Lived house, Harry Potter.'

Seeing this angered Hermione. They shouldn't be making an exclusive about this. Had they no respect. Harry never mentioned it to Hermione either. That angered her as well. She just might not speak to him now.

I have always been a storm

Hermione turned off the television and went to her bookshelf. She had abandoned the ones that she loved, her books. She chose a novel to read and made herself comfortable. But she couldn't concentrate.

Once Hermione had been port keyed to the Ministry, she found Harry, Ron and Draco waiting for her. She walked up to Draco and pounded her fists against his chest, but it was in vain. 'How dare you leave me by myself? You never said goodbye! What if something had happened to you and I would have never seen you again? I hate you sometimes Draco Malfoy. You're so insensitive.'

'Don't worry now, I'm here, you're here, Pothead and Weasel are here, everything's okay.'

'And that's another thing, don't insult my friends. After everything that's happened and what is going to happen, can't you drop your pride for two seconds and be nice to them?'

'I don't know what's gotten into you Hermione, but if your just going to argue with me, I don't think I can stand it. I will see you later.' Draco walked off, his head held high.

'You do that Draco Malfoy, just walk off, and leave me, like you always do.' She shouted to him, her voice trailing off.

'I don't think you should have done that 'Mione' Harry stated. 'Dumbledore won't be impressed.'

'Tell it to the judge Harry because I don't care.' Hermione shot back, storming away, fury burning in her.

'You think she knows where she's going Harry?' Ron asked.

'Don't think so mate' was all he could reply.

But now Hermione knew. Harry had told her. Draco had distanced himself for a reason and she was blinded by stupidity to see it. She didn't talk to Draco for a while after that. Auror training had exhausted her. It was only when Hermione was kidnapped that Draco professed what he felt. She couldn't change time, but time could change her.

A/N: Well, I hope you all like this. I see I have about 40 people on author alert, some names I didn't recognise, so if you're not reviewing but just reading, I greatly appreciate it, thank you for your time! For all those who would like to review, let me know what you think. I hope I didn't confuse you, jumping from different time frames, but I figured the mind doesn't work in chronological order, and jumps around here and there. Well, I have a muse; this is why I am writing so much! I'm in an angsty situation so I release it through my writing. I hope you all don't mind that Draco died, but I thought it was the only way I could do it. Thank you to all who have reviewed. I have worked out I only have about 3 chapters left plus a short epilogue, so review and let me know what you think! Hehe!
Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est' is Latin for 'life is more than merely staying alive' Aeternum vale is Latin for 'farewell forever'