Chapter 6

The fireflies danced before my eyes, their soft glow shinning in the velvety dark. The summer wind, so soft like the clouds themselves, blew my short cropped hair round my head. Though the brown locks often ended covering my face, I could still see the golden yellow lights float into the empty space. They reminded me of myself, for I had been sailing by on a small breeze since that fateful night. The days passed slowly, uneventfully, one routine after another. Ron went to the office, while I stayed home and 'recovered', as he put it. Yet it wasn't really something I could recover from, not like the flu or a broken leg. Suicide or rather a failed attempt can't be cured by a pill or a shot. There is no way of ever fully riding one's self of its nightmare. Instead I hide away from the memories, forcing myself to ignore the curved scar on my ankle. Solitude was often what I sought; fireflies were often what I found.

It was always the same, wake up late, drink two cups of tea, eat three biscuits, and then walk toward the park. Every night I would end up alone on a wooden bench, save the summer fireflies. Yet one day it was different. I got out of bed early, and found myself wandering the roads of muggle London absentmindedly. I drank coffee and ate a blueberry muffin. I even bought a flower, a beautiful pink rose. A willow became my new hideaway. As it swayed back and forth I was sent into sweet sleep, where for the first time in days I didn't dream of the grey faerie or the red rose. Instead everything was bright, almost white. A new innocence.

When I awoke the sun was breaking through the thin multitude of branches. Like a shimmer of hope, when there is no more in the world, a cool warmth on my face. I smiled, and stood. I felt something fall. Turning round, I caught a glimpse of cream colored parchment lying on the emerald green grass.

Tonight. 3. Here.

-Draco

I blinked, suddenly unable to see, for the tears cascading down my cheeks. You had come back finally. The long lost prince remembered his damsel in distress. It was all going to fall into place now, the unfinished saga was now ready to be rewritten. You did love me after all. All those pieces of hope were now about to find their answer to the riddle. Happiness enveloped me.

Yet I was never more irate. How dare you? Just prance in and sweep me away, after years of forsaking my heart. What ever happened to all those promises, Draco? Remember. I'll love you forever.

What is love to you?

Nonetheless I found myself abandoning Ron in the middle of the night, he lay sleeping so soundly on the pristine white bed, so pure. Guilt hit me then, hard. It felt like being punched in the stomach a million times over. Walking out on all his help, staining all his love, I felt inhuman. I was some heartless being that understood neither right nor wrong. His beautiful untouched heart now darkened, tainted by my black hands of deceit.

It all felt so ironic, that this was to be the way I found my love again. By betraying the very savior of my life, in the same way you had destroyed me. But then again, I was ready for it all to be over. And Ron deserved more than me, the end had come.

"Goodbye," I whispered to Ron, as I bent to kiss his forehead lightly.

No tears fell as I silently shut the door on him, and with that I was thrown into reality. Ron was no longer there to shelter me beneath his wings. For the first time in years I was on my own, without my hero. Suddenly everything seemed so evil, more sinister. The stars themselves were only small beacons in the night, no more than a faint glow. I felt small, so helpless without him. Yet free.

Ron was no longer there to hold me back. Finally the world was unfolding before me, in all its misery and glory. And somewhere out there you were waiting.

I found myself running down the empty concrete walkways. My small footsteps were the only noise echoing throughout the silence, a beautiful song of truth that led me to you. Surprise flooded within me, more so than I could ever begin to imagine. I was so overcome by you that I found movement impossible. I had underestimated your presence.

"Hermione?" you said softly, and then with a smile, "You're late."

I stared into your grey eyes searching for a change, yet I could find nothing. Only the overcast sky I had always known. Suddenly a feeling of anger I had never known came over me.

"And apparently you have nothing to say," you remarked, taking a step closer. "So listen."

Finding my voice I whispered, too angry for shouting, "How dare you?"

Ignoring my words you continued, "Hermione, this may be our only chance to…well…explain ourselves…"

"Explain myself, Draco?" I said, with raised eyebrows trying to control my emotions. "What ever I have to 'explain' you don't deserve to know. I never hurt you. In all those years I never wronged you. And now you come back and demand my explanation?"

You seemed rather taken aback by my harshness and cynical sarcasm. "Look I'm sorry. I can't change it though. You know she was nothing to me. You were the one I loved. Still love."

I burst into an insane fit of laughter. "That's hilarious, really it is. You're sorry? Sorry for what exactly? Cheating on me? For God's sake it was Christmas."

Silence fell between us, as the willow swayed overhead. I waited for excuses, for lies. I wanted for you to say that wasn't really you, that you had been off buying my present. But more than anything I wanted to forgive you. I hoped that I would be able to fall for you again.

Softly you said, "It was only that once Hermione. And it was a mistake. We all make mistakes."

I erupted, control forsaken. "ONLY ONCE? WHAT THE FUCK MALFOY?" I screamed spitting out your name with hatred. "YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I, IT BECAME EVERY NIGHT. YOU WERE WITH HER CONSTANTLY. YOU LIED ALMOST EVERY DAY. MY HURT AND TEARS WERE NOTHING TO YOU. AS LONG AS YOU COULD RUN AWAY AND FUCK HER."

"I'M SO FUCKING SORRY THAT I COULDN'T HANDLE YOU ANYMORE. MISS. PERFECT LITTLE BITCH. EVERYTHING I DID, EVERY WORD I SAID WAS WRONG. YOU KNOW WHAT?"

"WHAT?" I yelled back, my words cracking.

"YOU'RE NOT HUMAN. THAT'S WHY I DID IT. THAT'S MY EXCUSE."

Your words rung out in the air, as I collapsed onto the soft grass. "You're right; humans can't understand the pain I've been through."

You knelt down and lifted my face up towards yours.

"What happened to all your promises Draco? Did you ever mean them? Or was it all a perfect lie?"

"I've always loved you."

I had held back all my tears throughout every insult you had spat out at me. Yet at those words I let them go. I gave up. I gave myself to you, all of you. It felt so right to trust you again. For some reason it seemed different.

Because looking into your eyes I believed you. In that moment you were brought back to life. The world suddenly sharpened back into focus, while the sky reclaimed its rightful place. The wind didn't seem so strong anymore.

Years of hurt were erased before my eyes, while I gazed into yours and basked in your love. The great stories of romance came back to me. The epic tales of the past were rewritten in my old broken memory that was being remade. Everything brightened. My innocence shinned once more, like your love.

We leaned in slowly, cautiously before the finale. A kiss more beautiful than life itself sealed our fate.

"I'll come back," I whispered in your ear as I stood. "Ron will wake soon."

"Promise?"

I kissed you and left. I knew that despite all the pain of our past I would see you again willingly. Second chances are what happily ever afters are made of. They are the key factor of true love.

And isn't that all I ever wanted?

The sun rose in soft pinks, lighting my way back home to a shattered world. The sidewalks welcomed my tired feet, and brought me back to Ron, who still slept peacefully. Silently I laid my head beside his and fell into dreams, surrounded by his strong arms.