Brightness of a Beloved Eye
Chapter 14: Final Parting
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Everyday, he visited her resting place, talking of his day and how much he missed her. He lived at Hogwarts now. Everyone thought he was far too unstable to be living on his own in that huge and foreboding manor left to him. At Hogwarts, professors and fellow students had the chance to keep an eye on him and observe him carefully.
"You know, you have a mean slap."
He chuckled to himself with a hint of bitterness.
"I never told you… I always thought you were smart. After I remembered everything, it just proved to me how smart you were and how right I was in assuming so. Something you may have never known… I've always liked you. You were proof of everything I could have been and strove(sp?) to become and I never said anything. I never said anything. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for never telling you what I really thought. It took something so drastic as jumping in front of me to realize that I shouldn't take everything for granted."
An unnoticed tear slid down his cheek to fall onto the relatively new dirt.
"And now, it's too late to tell you anything."
More tears fell onto Hermione's settling grave as Draco bowed his head and cried silently for his lost love.
Suddenly, a soft breeze surrounded him and he looked up to see Hermione sitting calmly on her headstone.
"Beloved friend, sweet child, ambitious student, loving soul. Hm… could've put, 'helped save the world. A lot' too."
She giggled slightly, her voice sounding like bells when reaching Draco's ears.
"H-Hermione? Am I… hallucinating again?"
She offered him a smile and hopped off the stone.
"No, I'm really here this time. I've only come back for a few minutes. To talk to you."
"But I still can't touch you, can I?"
Draco spoke softly, not really wanting to hear the truth.
"No, I'm afraid not."
She frowned only slightly and walked up to Draco, putting only a breath's distance between them. She hummed with longing and closed her eyes.
"Oh, I wish I could feel you, touch you, hold you, kiss you. But I can't and I'm sorry."
She gave him a melancholy smile and lifted her hand to caress the air around his cheek.
"What have you come back for?"
"For you, Draco."
He looked startled at her response and inadvertently stepped away from her slightly.
She smiled at him and reached to coax him back to her.
"You have to let me go, dearest. Live your life, don't hold back. Just because I'm not here next to you, does not ever mean that I'm not watching over you, looking after you, caring for you. One day, we will be together again. Although not in this life or this plane of existence, there will be a time for us together."
"But, I don't see why you have to go. There are ways to have you come back. I know there are."
"No Draco, it is my time to leave this plane. I have fulfilled my destiny and enjoyed every minute of its passing."
"What? Bring Voldemort down? Cause you didn't do that!"
"Of course I didn't. My destiny was you."
She smiled at his shocked expression.
"Me?"
"That's right. You have learned to love and have regained your humanity. That is what I was supposed to fulfill."
"But you didn't have to die after you've done that."
"You're right, I didn't have to die, but I did and I don't regret it. If I had to sacrifice myself for you, I would, and I did, and I'm happy."
"But I'm not!"
Hermione frowned slightly. She was silent for a few seconds that seemed like forever to Draco.
"What, other than reviving me, would make you happy, Draco?"
His response was immediate.
"For you to stay with me forever."
"But I already will be. In here."
She hovered her hand over his heart and he felt it grow warm.
"I will always be with you. I can't leave, I would never want to. I have to go now, Draco. Please remember what I've said. I love you, with all my being."
"But… Hermione… I couldn't live.. without you."
"Yes, you can. You've done it before. Just remember, we'll be together once again."
She looked at him with sad eyes. She startled him when he was pulled to her in a tight hug.
"I th-thought I couldn't t-touch you."
She laughed softly, brokenly, mixed with tears.
"I thought so too…"
He wrapped his arms around her to return the embrace. Then he tilted her head so that their lips met in a sweet and heavenly kiss for the last time.
She pulled away reluctantly and began to shimmer.
"Goodbye Draco. I love you, so much."
"I love you, Hermione. I'm sorry for not saying it enough."
The last thing he saw was her smile and then she was gone. Definitely, forever gone.
And the sun peeked from behind the clouds and Draco felt like maybe he COULD live another day without Hermione.
You never know until you try.
He walked towards Hogwarts castle, in search of the potion's master, wondering about a position as his assistant.
And a new day begins.
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End
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Authoress's Notes:
Well, that was rather shitty, wasn't it? It was FAR too mushy… and sweet… and blah. I wasn't too happy with it, but I can live with it. Especially since I don't know how to end it. I hate having to end things. I'm not good with endings. So… that just means all my endings suck ass. I'm sorry, but that's just how things go. Although I know it was just sooo sweet that you had tears in your eyes!! Haha, just kidding.
Anyway, anyone catch the small Buffy reference in there? It was pretty small, but very noticeable if you've ever seen Buffy before. Especially season 6 or whatever. Anyway, just wanted to make a note of that.
There's no chance in hell that I'm making some sort sequel for this. I've temporarily lost my writing urge. Especially since I have to start writing so much for school. Classes are gonna take up most of my time, and so… no time for extracurricular writing. Sorries, but I'm sure I'll come up with multiple drabbles. Oh, I'll never upload any of them, but, maybe I'll end up turning them into stories at some point in time. Maybe.
Until next time. Toodles. And thanks so so so so much for reading!!
Kristina Chang