Disclaimer: I own nothing but this plot.
I would like to thank xoKaSsIeox, doublelily, Lucivar, DanRadcliffe5666, TakinMyLastBreath14, krzychic14, WannaBArtist, Wolfie-chan18, cutie1789, chinkerchickchu, bananabrain94, teterstator, sexyslytherin2, villainvalkyrie, o.hermione.o, obsezzionzzz, xOxSwEeTLullaBy, Tiarwen,
Lucivar- LMAO. Hint taken.
DanRadcliffe5666- Hmm. That is an interesting thought. I don't entirely agree, but I can see where you're coming from. Thanks for the thought and the review.
TakinMyLastBreath14- Lol. Thanks for your review. You're so sweet.
Chinkerchickchu- I'll put your needs into consideration.
Teterstator- The part about the throat slashing was nothing really, just to represent that the baby is dead. It didn't die that way, just a representation.
sexyslytherin2- Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try something else I guess that will make it clearer. But I'm not really sure how, but I will try.
Villainvalkyrie- Yes, the baby is dead. Haha. Very true very true. You always are right.
Chapter Eighteen
Alone
"Has the death of your daughter taught you nothing Hermione!" he screamed as I opened my eyes.
"No…this can't be…" I said bewildered, sitting up from the laying position that I started in.
I awoke in the same black void as before, with the same old man in it. He had a look on his face that showed me how disappointed he was with me. His hands were folded neatly in front of him. He stood next to the large glass window, as if awaiting my presence.
"What am I doing here? I said I didn't love him! I sent him away! What more do you want!"
"I want you to mean it. Anybody can say love and they don't have to mean it. But you, you still love him."
"You can't expect me to forget about him in one day! Of course I'm going to still love him."
"I don't expect. But you still want to love him. There is a difference. You want to love him. You want to be with him. That is what is pulling you back into this dream."
"Why the hell should you care whether I love him of not. You have no connection to me! Leave me be!"
He began walking towards me, robes dragging noisily behind him. I took the hand the he had outstretched. He hoisted me up and led me to the window. I expected to the same view as before but this wasn't the case. It was no longer a window, but a mirror.
"What is this?" I asked, touching the smooth surface.
"This is you. I'm going to show you everything that will prepare you. I am working for someone, but it is against my will. You need to be prepared."
"Prepared for what?"
"What the future has in store for you. Now look."
He waved his hand in front of the mirror. The image of myself began to fade as I found myself looking at an image of Draco. A small tugged at my lips as I smirked. But there was something different about him. He was older.
"This is Draco Malfoy in ten years. He will forget about you. He will blame you, but he will love you."
"Then why put me through this? If he loves me then why are you telling me to forget about him?"
"He loves you. But that doesn't mean that he's going to be with you. There is a chain of events that will unfold in your life Hermione. You will not like them. You will be alone. I want you to understand that. He will move on. He will be with someone else."
I shook my head as two women linked arms with him. He smiled widely as he laughed and kissed them both very sloppily and very passionately.
"Now. For something else."
"No. Stop. I don't want to see anymore." I said, fighting back the tears.
"But don't you want to know what life has in store for you. You will be in pain for many years. Don't you want to know how to cope with it."
"Just tell me, am I okay in the end? Am I happy with my life?"
"Yes. You will be very happy."
A twinge of relief fell over me, but once again he waved his hand, the image of Draco getting undressed with the two women fading away. It was once again a mirror, reflecting my tired image.
"Do you want to see you?"
"I do. I'm right there." I said, pointing to my reflection.
"No, the real you. The you the has all the emotions."
"It'll probably be an illusion."
"There are no illusions here in this world. The dream world has nothing to hide. So why bother showing illusions?"
"To get me to think one way?" I spat.
"Everyone has no definite path. Things can change. Yours is set in stone my dear. I see everything about what is to happen in your life. Now, let's see how you really feel about everything."
He waved his hand over the mirror twice and two mirrors appeared. He snapped his fingers as they faced one another, one of me, one of utter darkness. I furrowed my eyes in confusion and looked up at him. He just smirked down at me.
"What do you want to start with first? Let's try Lenora."
As soon as he said her name, she appeared in the once-empty mirror. I looked at her, then back to myself. I pulled out my wand and pointed it at her. My eyes widened in shock as she mouthed the death curse at her.
"I see. I guess you want to kill her."
"So this is what I feel for her? I want to kill her?"
"It appears so. You just shot an unforgivable curse at her. I would think you would. She did steal Draco from you. Now, let's get straight to the point. Draco."
His handsome figure soon replaced Lenora's. I looked eagerly at myself, waiting to see my expression. But all I did was stand there. My reflected person took a step back…and then another. She had tears in her eyes…then she mouthed it…
I hate you.
"Do you see how you feel? You hate him. Do you see how you back away from him? You're scared of him."
"What! I am not afraid of him."
"Not of him, but more of what he can do to you. Look."
Draco walked forward into my mirror. He held her tight, talking to her.
"Can I hear what he's saying?"
"Do you want to hear what he has to say?"
"Yes."
He nodded as he snapped his fingers. I still couldn't hear.
"I don't hear anything."
"Precisely. You really don't want to hear what he has to say. You are done with him."
"Hermione, I never meant to hurt you." a voice boomed overhead.
"What's that?"
"Apparently, the real Draco talking to you while your sleeping."
I stared in awe at the darkness, listening to your words.
"It's just…you should have told me…none of this had to happen. We could have been together."
"Liar…" I whispered.
"You don't know how hard this has been on me." He said.
"Are you listening to him? Do you believe him? Can you trust his words?"
"I don't know…"
"Think of what he has done to you. Are you willing to take the risk of getting hurt again?"
"No. I won't."
"But that isn't your choice to make now is it? It's your heart's choice. You saw how you feel. You saw it yourself. Your heart doesn't want to hear what he has to say."
"Hermione. I'm sorry. I really am. This has been so hard on me. I found out that I have a baby with you and that it's dead in the same day. You've known for months and didn't tell me. Why?"
"He wants to know why Hermione. Are you going to tell him?" the clerk asked, clearing the mirrors and retuning its form into a window.
"What do I do? I don't know…I'm just so confused…" I said, clutching my head.
"I'll be waiting here until you figure it out. Until then, you will see me each time you sleep. Maybe I can help you. Until then Hermione, you have someone that wants to talk to you."
"Wait, what do I do!" I yelled as he faded away.
"Listen to what your heart is telling you. If you can't hear your heart, then you are lost as well as he." He said, voice barely audible.
I groaned as I sat up, putting a hand on my head. There was a painful throbbing that pulsed through my head.
"Hermione! You're awake!"
"Hey, could you shut up for a second? I have a headache…" I said, attempting to sit up.
I felt his hand on my arms as he held me up.
"What do you want? More bad news Madam Pomfrey couldn't tell me? Oh, wait, let me guess. Lenora is pregnant and you can't love me anymore. Is that it?" I spat, scooting farther away from him.
"Why do we have to go through this every time I come here to check on you?"
"Hmm. I don't know. Maybe it's the fact that you had sex with Lenora when you were drunk. Or maybe it's because I think that Lenora shot me off my broom, killing my baby because she found out that you still love me. Or maybe-"
"Stop, just stop."
"Why? Does the truth hurt that much? Cause it can hurt more."
"What do you mean?"
"What do you think it means Malfoy? I'm tired of having to see your face in this room and your voice in my head, telling me how sorry you are or how much you love me or how I should have told you. Why do you bother? I don't love you. I didn't tell you because you crushed my heart. I thought I had that much right whether to tell you I'm pregnant with your baby. Even if I wasn't I would still break it off with you."
"Hermione, please try to understand. I was drunk. I thought I saw you. People make mistakes."
"I know all about mistakes, Malfoy. I once loved you. Oh Merlin that was a bloody mistake."
"How can you say that? I'm coming here because I care about you and I know you still love me Hermione. I know you do."
"You know nothing. You didn't know about the baby, you didn't know that Lenora was lying straight to your face and you still don't know if she's still lying to your face. You can't see past pretty faces. You can see past lies if your life depended on it. Not only that but you can't take a hint. I don't love you. How much easier can it get?" I exclaimed.
"Because I know you're still bitter about me cheating on you. You love me Hermione. I can see it in your amber eyes. You still care for me, but you blame me for the baby's death. You blame me for everything. The rift in your friendship with Ron and Harry, for getting your pregnant, everything! Stop blaming me. You don't even know how hard this has taken on me."
"I don't care. You just found out. How hard can it be? I have a baby girl and now she's dead. You find out the same day. It's not like she's been growing inside you for three months. I have a reason to send you away."
He sighed as he stood up and walked over to the window. He put his hands in his pockets and he rocked back and forth on his heels.
"I don't want to give up on what we have Hermione. Even if you stop loving me,"
He turned and faced me, face as emotionless as it gets. I suddenly felt a twinge of guilt tug at my heart. He loves me and all I'm doing is pushing him away…
Listen to what your heart is telling you.
"I will never stop loving you. No matter what happens. You are the one I want to marry. I know you're not ready right now. But I want you to know that I'm not going to find someone else to be with, when all in want, all I need, is right here in front of me." He said, walking closer to me.
He stooped low, kissing my cheek tenderly before leaving.
"Feel better love." He said, closing the door behind him.
What is my heart telling me? Do I love him?
Of course you do, but being a Gryffindor, your pride gets in the way. Shove it aside and embrace the truth.
I am. I don't want to get hurt again. I want to love him, I really do. But I'm not willing to take the risk of getting hurt.
I looked down at my bony hands. Still bed-ridden, I was not allowed to get up, so all I could do was lay here and think about him. Ginny didn't come often, saying something about problems between her and Harry. I, of course let that slide. Ron came a few times, but only to try to squeeze out the truth from me, which I still refused to let him in on. Even if she wasn't born yet, the mere mention of her broke my heart. It hurt to reminisce about her. It was just so hard having to say you don't love someone when you do. I knew that I would see that clerk again. He had all the answers I needed to make sense of everything.
-HGDM-
"Ginny! Hey! Wait up!" someone called.
I stopped to glance to behind me in which I found Harry running up to me. Things have been getting pretty rocky with Hermione's secret eating away at me.
"We should talk." He said, holding my hand, leading me outside. The growing darkness of night had brought with it a cool breeze. The sky was abnormally clear, not a cloud nor star in sight. I could feel Harry's uneasiness. We weren't the same any more. The longing that I once had was gone and I saw the way that he looked at me. It was also no longer the same.
"Ginny, I had so much fun with you and…" he trailed off and stared at his shoes. I couldn't help but smile at his shyness. I know that he hated dumping girls, especially since Cho refused to even be his friend.
"Harry?"
He looked down at me, eyes occasionally darting away, avoiding eye contact.
"Harry, I had fun too. But I think we kinda both feel that it's not the same. With Hermione's heath dropping and her being in a coma and-"
"Secrets between the four of us. It's not the same. I think it's for the best that…see, what I'm trying to say…you're so special to me Ginny and…"
"I know Harry. I feel the same. Hey,"
I brought up his chin with my finger and held his face in place, refusing to let him look away.
"We gave it a go and we had fun. Right?" I said softly, adding a small chuckle at the end to break the tension.
He looked pensively upon my face. I could see the rim of his eyes beginning to sparkle with the glint of tears. He leaned down quickly, catching me off guard with a kiss. I tensed up, not wanting to kiss him. It made thing so much more difficult. But I felt his hands on my back I melted in his arms as I reached up, snaking my arms around his neck. There was no tongue, no hand up my shirt, or reach for the button of his pants. It was just a kiss. A simple kiss that was the best one I had ever had. Simplicity truly was the key. I could also tell that in our four seconds of bliss, that it would have been out last four seconds together in such a way.
He broke the kiss and smiled slightly before stepping back and stretching out a hand to me. I looked curiously at it as if it was a new kind of gesture.
"Friends?" he asked apprehensively.
I laughed softly before grasping his hand firmly and shook.
"Friends."
He smiled widely as he wrapped me in a large hug, enveloping me in his large robes. We walked back with a lighter heart, the thought of hurting him free from my mind.
-HGDM-
"Hermione? Hermione dear. It's time." A voice said.
My eyes fluttered open, slightly wincing at the burst of sudden light. Another dream finished. I saw him every single day. Hearing the same thing.
Listen to your heart, then you will know. He does love you Hermione, but he will hurt you and you will run.
I got so tired of it, I begged Madam Pomfrey to give me dreamless sleeping potion. She agreed at first, but recently stopped giving it to me, saying that I was taking a dangerous amount.
"What do you mean?" I asked groggily.
"You can go. I just did another check. You're fine. You have been fine, but I had to clean your system from the potion. I hope your dreams weren't that bad without them."
"No, they were fine. So I can leave? Today? Right now?" I asked excitedly, getting ready.
"Yes. I'm sorry about Katelyn, Hermione. I know how much you wanted to have a baby."
I smiled weakly as I avoided her eyes, eyes filling with tears.
I thought I got over this…I thought that this was in the past…I thought that the pain was done…
He gathered my belongings as she slipped out, allowing me to change. Slipping into some baggy jeans and a loose-fitting shirt, I left the hospital wing and walked to my room. The room was empty, a darkness looming the corners. I shivered at the invisible coldness. My rubbed my arm, goose bumps rising on my arms. I put away my clothes in my dresser and I was closing my drawer when my eyes caught on it. I picked it up delicately, running a finger over the edges of the picture of us. We were smiling…
This is the past Hermione…let him go…
I placed it back on my dresser; face down, not wanting to remember the painful memories of how we used to be. I wiped away the small trickle of tears that ran down the side of my face. I heard a small knock outside on the portrait. Too depressed to care about the paintings' feelings, I opened the door without reprimanding the visitor.
"Ginny!" I exclaimed, opening the door wider.
She gave me a small smile as she stepped inside. Her hands fluttered in front of her as she paced the area in front of my fireplace.
"I was going to go and grab something from the kitchens. Do you want to come?"
"We need to talk." She said, averting the question, looking down at the floor.
"Can we do it while we're walking."
She nodded as she followed me out. We walked down the hall in silence. I sensed her uneasiness and automatically assumed something was wrong with her and Harry. I looked to the side, staring at her while dodging the moving students.
"Ginny? What is it? Is it Harry?"
She looked up at me quickly, shaking her head vigorously.
"No, Harry and I broke up. But it's okay, we're still friends."
"Then what do you need to talk about?" I asked curiously.
"It's about the secret."
"The secret?" I asked, cocking my head to the side.
"Yeah, the secret about what the birds and bees make." She said, stressing on certain words.
Then it clicked.
The baby.
"Oh, about Kate-" I started
"I'm sorry Hermione. I didn't mean to. I just got…caught up." She said hastily, hands fluttering faster as she looked side to side at the advancing students.
"Ginny?"
"Really Hermione. You know I wouldn't do something like this on purpose."
I was beginning to panic. My heartbeat was increasing as my breaths became quicker. I rummaged through my purse, desperately looking for a stress potion.
"What did you do?" I asked, breathing in sharply, trying best to remain calm.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"
"Ginny! What did you do!"
I stopped short and dragged her near the library doors, the closest place that we could talk. I pulled on the door, but it was closed.
Students-
The library will be closed today due to ruined shelves and missing books. Will be open tomorrow.
Madam Pince
I groaned in frustration as I turned my attention back to Ginny. She was trembling right now.
"GINNY! WHAT DID YOU DO!" I screamed, loosing patience.
"I told!"
My breaths became quicker. I felt another panic attack coming on as I searched frantically for a potion. Finally finding one, I downed it in one gulp, instantly feeling my attack suppress, however, my anger lingered with a fiery passion.
"What?" I asked in a deathly whisper.
"I accidentally told Lavender and Parvati about…Kate." She said, stepping back
I felt my eyes bulge as I tried to make sense of it.
"We were talking about kids and what names we would name them. Lavender said Kathryn and I thought of Kate because the names are so close. I'm sorry Hermione."
"You told them! What the bloody hell wrong with you! How could you do this to me!" I yelled throwing my hands into the air.
"I'm sorry, it slipped." She said, backing away even farther.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT SLIPPED!" I roared at her, causing her to wince.
"WHO ELSE DID YOU TELL!"
"Hermione! I'm sorry! Just please, calm down! I didn't mean for them to know."
"SO WHO DOES KNOW?"
"Hermione, please! Lower your voice!"
"NO! I TRUSTED YOU! YOU WERE MY BEST FRIEND!"
"I know Hermione! I still am!"
"I don't think that's your decision to make if you still are or aren't."
She looked at me, pain-ridden.
"How could you say that? After all this time! I protected you! And this is my thanks!"
"You can shove your thanks up your bloody arse! You never protected me! You bloody told Parvati and Lavender for Merlin's sake!"
"I'm glad they know! I don't have to hide it anymore. I can shout it out now!" she hissed, looking around at the amount of people.
I looked to the side of me frantically as she sucked in a large breath.
"EVERYBODY! HERMIONE GRANGER IS PREGNANT WITH DRACO MALFOY'S BABY!" she screamed, glaring angrily at me.
Then, as fast as I could blink, I slapped her. It was by far the hardest slap I have ever given. Harder than when Draco told me that he banged up Lenora, harder than when Ron called me a slut. She staggered back, tears sliding down her cheeks as her back slammed against the wall. She clutched her face, anger burning in her eyes. She pushed me hard against the wall, attracting nearby students.
"YOU BITCH! I PROTECTED YOU ALL THIS TIME! AND YOU DARE GO AND SLAP ME FOR ONE MISTAKE? I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO TELL ANYBODY I BLOODY WANT!" she screamed, slapping me.
I closed my eyes, wishing that the stares from the other students would stop.
"Hey, Ginny, what's going on?" Terry asked, pushing through the crowd that was circled around us.
"Oh, you didn't hear. Hermione hear got banged up by Malfoy and she's three months pregnant." she spat with arrogance in her voice.
He gasped along with everyone else. I felt their eyes burn into my body as Ginny pushed me again.
"Don't you dare come to me for guidance, don't you dare talk to me, don't you dare talk to me, and don't you bloody dare approach me, because I will curse you Granger." She hissed, pushing me once more.
I just can't take this. The weight of Kate's death weighed heavily upon my shoulders and Ginny's ignorance wasn't helping, not only that but she was hitting me. My jaw clenched as I brought out my wand, centimeters from her face. Her eyes bulged as her breath caught in her throat.
"You are not one to say threats Ginny. You can't even keep a measly secret that is no longer true. I don't want your friendship anymore Ginny. You aren't a true friend. What kind of friend lets something of such importance slip? You are just like your brother," I hissed, advancing on her.
Her mouth closed as she held her tongue. I've been through hell and I'm still here, cursing a student will probably get me expelled.
Just what I want…
"Your arrogance, selfishness, and ignorance blind your right sense. Not able to see past your own cloud of insecurities, you gossip with the loudmouths of the school! How noble. But why stop there! Why don't you betray your friend while you're at and make a fool of yourself! I've been in a coma, I've lost all I've ever had! My so-called friends left me, I'm alone Ginny! I don't need you! I don't need anybody anymore! I can do fine by myself! So you don't you take your bloody lies and shove them where the rest of your dignity goes! Up your arse! But you know, you never had self-control. Why should I? I've been through it all, why not add expulsion by cursing a student to my list!" I hissed through my teeth, fire blazing in my heart.
Never have I felt such anger. Never have I felt such power or confidence enough to stand up to my demons that cleverly disguised themselves as my friends. Why not? There is nothing to live for. I've lost the love of my life to some skank and not only that, but the baby that I wanted to hold in my arms so bad.
"Exper-"
"HERMIONE! STOP!" someone screamed.
Ron and Harry pushed violently through the crowd. Harry grabbed Ginny and dragged her away as Ron and I faced each other.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with you! What happened!" he shouted, setting down my hand.
I couldn't even answer him. I felt my stomach twist and turn. A burning slowly crept up my throat. I could feel in the back of my tongue a pungent taste. I held my hand daintily over my mouth as he continued to yell at me.
"How dare you point a wand at my sister! What's wrong with you! You two were best friends! Hermione? Hermione!"
I ran past the crowd, erupting murmurs filling their mouths as I ran to my room. The sour taste became a liquid form as I rounded into the head's dorm. I was barely able to mutter the password let alone make it to the bathroom before the vomit came spouting out. I coughed into the toilet, more and more coming out. The taste of the bile burned in my throat as I sat on the bathroom floor and leaned against the wall. I closed my eyes and wished for the splitting headache to subdue.
Great, just bloody great. Everyone knows.
"Hermione! Hermione! Let us in!" screamed Harry from beyond the portrait door.
I covered my ears with my hands, not wanting to hear the banging on the painting.
Go away! Go away! Leave me alone!
"Why didn't you tell us Hermione! I thought we were your friends! I thought you trusted us!" Ron screamed outside.
I sat up and brushed my teeth, washing away the acidic flavor from my tongue. The banging on the door didn't cease. As I finished, I sat on the floor, trying my hardest to ignore the shouts from outside.
"Hermione! We know you're in there! OPEN THIS BLOODY DOOR!"
I heard a door open next to the bathroom and the portrait door swing open.
No!
I darted out the door but stopped dead in my tracks.
"What do you want?" hissed Draco, blocking their path.
Harry's emerald eyes locked with mine as he and Ron pushed past Draco and headed straight for me. I attempted to run for my room, but they were too quick. They grabbed my arms and held me. Draco leaned against the doorframe, watching in amazement. I held my head to the side, avoiding their eyes.
"Hermione! Why? Just answer me that. Why couldn't you tell us? Why did we have to find out from Parvati and Lavender. What the hell happened between you and Ginny? She was all shaken up, throwing curses all around. Hermione? Hermione answer me!" Ron said, tightening his grip around my arms.
My jaw locked from the pain, but I showed none of it on my face. I've been through worse. I lost my bloody baby damn it!
"What the hell is going on? Let go of her!" Draco said, prying his hands from my arms.
"Are you okay?" he asked, rubbing my arms.
I nodded but turned my attention back to them.
"We want answers Hermione. Why didn't you tell us? Why did you have to hide secrets? A secret like this, I would think, you would tell us about."
I just looked away and shifted my feet. I couldn't answer him. I had no reason not to tell him. I don't even know why I didn't. I just…didn't.
"I can't believe you Hermione. You are so much smarter than that."
"Wait, what's going on?" Draco asked, standing by my side.
"And you! You! Ever heard of the bloody protection spell? Think you're too good for that as well? You just had to get her pregnant didn't you? I knew it from the start! Get what you want and drop her. Classic Malfoy attitude." Ron yelled, pushing Draco.
Draco stepped forward angrily, but I stood in front of him.
"Stop. If I don't want to tell you, then I won't. It is my decision."
"I thought you were our friend. I thought you were Ginny's friend. How dare you slap her. She held onto your secret."
"I guess she didn't hold onto it tight enough. She told Parvati and Lavender. Your stupid bitch of a sister just couldn't keep her trap shut! 'Oohh! Look at me! I'm Ginny Weasley. My big brother will protect me from everything. Even if it's my bloody fault.' I am sorry to say that I was once her friend, and if you put all of your trust in her. You're not only betraying me, but you are just as stupid as her." I imitated, flaring my hands into the air for an added affect.
I obviously got both of them very mad by the way their glares hardened on me.
"How dare you. You are nothing but a Gryffindor whore that belongs in Slytherin with the rest of the skanks. Know this Hermione: you are no longer welcome in the Gryffindor house. Don't bother showing your face anywhere around us. Don't even talk to us. The likes of a bitch like you is not wanted. I thought you would always be the one to help us, the one to confide in us. I thought wrong." Ron hissed, his voice dangerously low.
"I can't believe you would say something like that about us. I hate you Hermione. I hate you…" Harry said, venom on his words.
My heart iced over. An evil smirk spread across my lips. My feelings that I once had for them were gone. The playful memories shattered in my memories, leaving nothing but this crude fight.
What's happening to me? Why am I turning my back on them? Without them, I'm alone…
It's better to be alone, then with people that would never understand the pain that you're going through right now…
But, they're my friends…
Would friends betray you like she did? She let it slip. Who lets a secret that big slip? Doesn't she think before she talks? Plus, Harry and Ron just deserted you. They don't want your friendship. They're siding with her over something they know nothing of.
You're right. Don't need them. All I need is myself. I lost everything that I care about. Why not add more to the list. Nothing is going to bring Kate back.
I stepped closer to them, a look of revulsion flashed in their eyes.
"The feeling is mutual Harry. Now get out." I hissed, pointing to the door.
They both scoffed as they slammed the portrait behind them, causing the two maidens to yells at them fiercely. I sighed as I sat down on the couch.
"You want to talk about it?"
"What's there to talk about? I just lost my best friends because of some dumb lie."
"Lie?"
"I'm not pregnant. Kate's dead, remember?"
He sat down next to me. I could smell him, the scent of his cologne and potpourri from his room fused together. It was hard resisting the urge to cry. I used to have this. My friends, him, Kate…hell, I even used to smile…but it was all stripped away from me…because of her. Lenora was the source of this all. She slept with Draco, she shot me down, she killed Kate…she did it all…
"I'm sorry Hermione."
"Whatever. I don't care anymore."
"They were your best friends though. Shouldn't you tell them?"
"Then that would mean I'd have to tell everyone Ginny told in the hall today. I don't need friends that would do that to me. I just got out of a bloody coma. Do you think I can deal with them right now?"
"No. I'm sorry for everything." he replied simply
He stood up and headed for his room as I sat on the couch. The fires danced merrily around the logs. I closed my eyes, wanting this to just be a dream.
Why? Dear Merlin why did this have to happen to me? What did I do?
You fell in love with the enemy…
"Hermione? I'll be there for you. You're not alone, and you never will be."
He turned on his heel and left me alone in the common room. The fire began to dim as the hours passed. I just sat there, elbows propped up on my knees, head balancing on my knuckles.
Why can't I just fade?
Fade?
Yeah, I can run. Just run away. Not care about what people say.
When did you ever care?
I can't take this. My friends left me, turned their back on me.
Not being able to sleep, I brought out my books, preparing to study for the upcoming NEWTS. I grabbed a stack of parchments and a new quill with a full inkbottle, armed and ready to take notes. Opening my Potions book, the thoughts of Harry, Ron and Ginny got pushed away, the thought of Lenora and Draco got pushed even farther, and most importantly, despite Draco's words, the thought of being alone was forgotten. I didn't need anyone anymore. All I need, is myself, and I can do just fine like that.
A/N: Oh no. Hermione's all alone now, well accept for Draco, but I highly doubt she considers him in her life. I mean, I should know, I wrote her personality for this story. Lol. Sorry it took so long, but I have major projects due. So yeah, preview time:
His lips crashed with mine, sending shockwaves throughout my body. The feel of his lips were welcome, because I missed it so. My fingers laced through his silky hair. I allowed his tongue to travel farther through my lips.
What are you doing! You need to forget.
I opened my eyes at the new thought, but I just couldn't push him away. The feel of his tongue on mine was absolutely intoxicating. I missed his touch so bad, my heart ached, but now that I have him, why push him away? I've doing that for so long.
Hermione, think of Kate…
"Kate…" I said, breaking our kiss.
"What?"
"I can't. Just, please, leave me alone."
"Give me another chance. Please."
"I need to be alone. I need to get past all of this. Please, try to understand."
He nodded as he stepped away.
"My offer stands Hermione. I'm waiting, but don't let me wait to long."
A/N: Hmm. Now what to think? The next chapter might be a tad fluffy. You are now warned. R &R