Disclaimer- I am not JK Rowling. I do not own any of her characters. I am not richer then the queen.
Draco crumpled the parchment in his fist, after reading the owl from Hermione. It was late when the owl arrived, and Draco had immediately thought the worst. He read the note, and then crumpled it, feeling the anger that Hermione did, the same rage, and hatred. He walked around the room, trying to calm down, and to think about how Hermione felt, and what she needed to her, since the owl was at the window, waiting for a reply.
Draco walked towards his desk, pulled some parchment and some ink out of the drawers, and set to his letter. There was so much that he wanted to say, but he knew that he shouldn't. His angel was fragile enough; she didn't need his worry, or his rage.
Dearest Angel
You needent worry about my strength, it won't fail us. I will be here for you when you need me, and then some. I miss you as well. I have taken more notes today in class then I ever have. You should be fine when you get back.
You have no idea how sorry I am to hear about what happened. I will be here, for you to vent to, to scream at, and as a shoulder to cry on, should you need it.
Should you need me, you know how to get me.
Yours always
DracoHe sealed the parchment, and attached it to the owl, and, with a few strokes and a treat, the owl was on her way. Draco watched the owl for a while, his thoughts scattered. After some time, he moved away from the window, and crawled back into bed, letting sleep steal him away again.
Hermione awoke in her bed; it took a few minutes for her to remember where she was, and why she was there. She pulled the blanket back over her head, wishing the pain away. She hoped that it was all a dream, but the fact that she was back in her own bed, proved her wrong. She peeked out of her blanket, and saw that it was 8:47. She groaned to herself, wondering how long she'd slept.
She pulled herself out of bed, and went down the stairs to the kitchen, where she found her parents, sitting, as usual, with the paper, and their breakfast. She sat down at the table, and grabbed a piece of toast, and some jam.
"Good morning, honey. Did you sleep well?" Ann asked, not looking up from the paper.
"Yes, mum, I did." Hermione replied, between mouthfuls of toast.
"Good. We have a busy day ahead of us. We have to be at the church for 10:30, to make sure that everything is in order, before the other guests arrive at 11:00. Make sure that you're ready by then dear." Ann said, putting her paper down, and looking at her daughter.
"Sure thing mum, Ill be ready." Hermione said, finishing her toast. She got up from the table, and went back up the stairs, to have a shower, and get ready.
She had a quick shower, with her lavender shampoo and conditioner. Her parents remembered to get it for her, before she came. She walked into her room, in her towel, and opened her trunk, to figure out what to wear. Despite the fact that this was a wake, she didn't want to look bad. She rummaged through her trunk, and decided on a long, black flowing skirt, with a slit up the back, and a black, short-sleeved dress shirt. She pulled her hair up into a twist at the back of her head, and let a few of the shorter pieces curl around her neck and face. She decided on a very simple makeup, since chances are, she would cry, and nothing looked worse then smudged mascara. She applied a bit of cover-up, and some lip-gloss. She checked herself in the mirror and, satisfied, grabbed her purse, and walked down the stairs to the living room, to wait or her parents.
The ride to the church was uneventful, as far as Hermione was concerned. She paid little attention to the scenery, or to whatever her parents were talking about. She was lost in her own mind, her own thoughts. She desperately wanted to see her friends, and Draco, but she couldn't leave. She needed to be here, with her parents, for this.
The wake passed in a blur for Hermione. There were lots of people at the church, that she didn't know, and just as many that she did. She said her greetings, received condolences, and what not. There was a prayer by a priest, and everyone bowed their heads. Hermione didn't want to, since she didn't believe in something that was so dodgy as a god, but knew that it was only polite to do like everyone else. Before Hermione knew, the Granger's were back in their car, riding towards their home. The wake was over.
"Hermione, dear. Your father and I have been thinking about it, and we've decided that you don't need to stay home for the guests today. You can go around the town, see some of your friends, if you wish. But, if you do want to stay, that's quite alright with us." Ann said, looking over her shoulder at her daughter.
"Sure mum, I'll just go for a walk, I think. I need some air, and some time to myself. I'll stay for a little while, to have something to eat before I go." Hermione said, smiling at her mother.
The rest of the ride passed by quickly, and soon they were entering their house, a few guests arriving behind them. The Granger's gave the guests the tour, and steered them into the living room, where most people would be. Hermione talked to one of her cousins that happened to be there, and answered the door when more family and guests arrived. She ate a sandwich, and had a cup of tea, and retreated up to her room, to change before her walk.
She switcher her long black skirt for a pair of faded black jeans, and her dress shirt for a tight black zipper sweater, that had little white stars on it. She pulled her hair out of the twist, brushed her hair out, and threw it into a normal ponytail. She grabbed her purse, and walked out of her room, to say good-bye to her parents.
Hermione walked out of the house, and headed down her normal walk path. Often during the summer, she would go for long walks, when she was trying to figure out something to do with her homework. Walking always helped her think, especially when it was a something that important. Hermione detested being distracted, and, while she was used to the Gryffindor common room, her house full of people was a different story.
She turned the corner from her street, and walked across the street into a small wooded area, which was absolutely beautiful this time of year. The leaves were all changing to brilliant oranges, vibrant yellows, and deep reds. Hermione took a deep breath in, and exhaled. She considered this her little forest, since she was the only one who came her, or so she assumed.
She walked up the path, towards her tree. It was a huge maple tree that was easy to climb. There was a group of branches that made a little seat, provided the person sitting wasn't overly large. Hermione had often, in her youth, sat in the tree, thinking about everything. This was her destination today. She needed to think.
Hermione was rounding a bend in the path, her tree was in view. She heard a crunching sound behind her; she looked around, and didn't see anything. 'Squirrels' she thought, and continued on her way.
She was just at her tree, when something grabbed her from behind. She tried to scream, but hand clamped over her mouth. A voice whispered in her ear.
"Well, isn't it the little stuck up whore?"
end transmission
Draco-Mistress!!! What are you doing?? Whats going on? who is that??
MistressMaliceMalfoy- well now, you'll just have to wait until the next chapter, now wont you?
Draco-...no!!!
