Disclaimer: I don't own any of JK Rowling's wonderful creation. Well, maybe the romance in this fan fiction –grins-
This chapter's title is an idea from Gavin DeGraw's song, Chariot, which its chorus is also used for this chapter. Want to know why I chose this song? Read on!
Author's Note: --hides behind the computer-- I'M SOOOOOOO SORRY! I know it's been more than 2 months already since I last updated, which was in April! --avoids tomatoes flung towards Nessa-- Well at least I didn't abandon this fic! Hope you enjoy this chapter :D
Dedication: This chapter wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for my friends Judith and Jenni's help and assurance this would continue! Jenni even 'offered' to help write this, but heck at least she and Judith contributed loads of help to continue this! Like from the song Chariot, "you make me wanna spread my arms and fly!" (don't mind I lurve this song now:D) THANKS hunnies :) Now ON WITH THE STORY!
- When Chocolate Almonds Meet Grey Marbles -
Chapter Two: Chariot, I Need Your Strength
Oh chariot your golden waves
are walking down upon this face
Oh chariot I'm singing out loud
To guide me
Give me your strength
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Mum,
I'm sending this letter just to make sure you and Dad don't worry about me. I know I normally don't send owls back home and it's my sixth year, but I assure you I'm never better here. Crookshanks is good as well.
Though, I really want to ask you something. Don't tell Dad about this, it's more of a personal thing I'd rather share with you alone. See, have you ever hated this boy, not just hated but despised him so much you just wished he's wiped off of this planet completely?
But what if he suddenly changed to a different person? Or showed such an unimaginable side of him you'd never imagine that he spent six years taunting you?
What if he said something you'd least expect, and found yourself actually agreeing with him?
I'm wondering what I should do. I'm afraid one wrong move will cost me more than just a regrettable mistake, because I'm in the middle of two feuding houses. It's hard to believe your arch enemy and at the same time having your instincts telling you it's the truth.
It's unnecessary to reply to this letter, Mum. I just wish to spill this to a person I really trust, and I feel much better. Just don't mention any of this to Dad. I don't need a five-page letter on lecturing about 'the simplest way to make a boy's life less complicated'. I'll go and sleep now, I've just finished my homework load so I can rest for the weekend and think about all this. I love you both very much.
Love, Hermione
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She headed straight for the library right after she left the Owlery. It's not that she was possessed by Percy's spirit - mental enough to spend a Saturday morning poring over a book; she was just a hardworking student never denying a bit of reading.
Was that a good excuse?
She nibbled on some toasts and muffin she grabbed from Gryffindor table as she walked past the opposite road of hungry students. At least she wasn't going to hide in the library with a growling stomach and Madam Pince's disturbing presence.
Hide?
As soon as Hermione set one toe into the library, Madam Pince didn't hesitate to attack her with questions. Just as predicted, or more likely expected.
"What brings you here so early in the morning, Granger?" she demanded, her eyes clearly lit with suspicions.
Hermione simply grunted a hoarse greeting as she strode past the offended librarian towards the army of ginormous bookshelves. Madam Pince would've probably hexed her at that very second for the rudeness, but the prefect didn't care. It was one of those days interacting with other people was lamented and particularly she would rush in everything she did even though no time limit was set.
She ran a hand over a row of thick books quickly, searching for a suitable book to distract her troubled mind. No matter how much the bushy haired witch appeared determined to bury her head in mere thick books, the actual reason for such witless act was simple: Hermione just hoped she could do something, anything that would work on forgetting her woes.
I will not fall for any of his tricks; I will not turn into another naïve little girl. I will not develop any affection for the wrong person, I haven't healed from the past…
She was starting to get aggravated by lack of useful books to read, but then her finger hesitated on a book entitled 'Additional Guide to Potion-Making at NEWT Level and Beyond'. No matter how good she did in Potions, Snape wouldn't give her more than an A in exams. But whatever the reason was, at least she saved herself from a cry of exasperation and banged her fists on the bookshelf before getting chucked out for the rest of the year.
She grabbed the book out of its place and flipped through the pages to examine its content as she made her way blindly to the back of the entire library. She headed towards a place she knew was far from Madam Pince's furious glares, and turned a corner to her destination and was startled by another presence.
Hermione nearly dropped her book and could hardly contain an audible gasp. From that it made the two boys at the table jump, and only did she calm down at the sight of flaming red hair and a lightning bolt scar on the other's forehead.
Yes, she had encountered into Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, and they were her best friends. But no, she wouldn't choose them to share her problems at that particular moment; she needed some time alone to think over. Plus, she didn't want anyone fussing over such a tiny trouble she had.
"Hermione, don't ever scare us like that!" Ron yelped as soon as he found his voice.
She gaped at them with a slightly puzzled expression glued on her face as she assembled herself to recover from the shock. She could have sworn she saw a gleam of pale blond hair out of nowhere…
Must be my imagination.
Despite having the constant urge to run away from associating, she forced on a smile, just to hide her thoughts of doubts and confusion. They were her best friends after all, and being the one with mixed emotions was unlikely to escape from concerned questions.
Oh well, I wish myself luck.
Hermione took a seat beside Harry and stared at the avalanche of haphazard books and rolls of parchment stacked between the two boys. They seemed unperturbed by the visible mess on the table, which would cost them more than yells and jinxes by no one other than Madam Pince.
"What are you doing?" Hermione inquired, curious of their early work.
Harry glazed at her from the corner of his eye while Ron tried to resist a snort.
"Homework, Hermione," Harry informed, wondering why the bookworm was asking the obvious. "I thought you'd be the first person to notice it and brag to us about finishing yours."
She raised her eyebrows. "It is Saturday, right?" she questioned with subtle humour in her voice.
Hermione was a little surprised herself of that unexpected tone coming out of her throat without any resistance; perhaps talking with her best friends wouldn't hurt after all… the least it did was help keep her mind off a certain someone.
"Unless you misread the calendar or mistaken it for the lunar chart instead, no," Ron replied sarcastically without looking up from his parchment.
Harry gave her an apologetic look when Ron's mutters could be heard and consisted of words like 'finish' and 'by afternoon' and 'Quidditch'. Hermione looked at Harry quizzically for an explanation about all this.
"Erm…" Harry started weakly. "I arranged full-time Quidditch practices for today and tomorrow, but found out we haven't finished our homework yet."
Ron glared at Harry. "It's all your fault. You tortured me to spend breakfast stuck to this chair for the next few hours!"
"I said I'm sorry, Ron!" Harry pleaded. "I forgot about our homework load; I was too preoccupied about the lack of practices!"
Before Ron was about to argue once more Hermione interrupted. "Well at least you can practise without the burden of homework."
They probably didn't need to bother about something called common sense since they were already off bickering like five-year-olds and she was left groaning at their childish acts. She shut her ears and turned her face to the opposite direction when she noticed Ginny striding towards their table.
"Hi, Ginny," Hermione greeted rather loudly above the noises.
"Hello." Ginny turned to her brother and his best friend with a dangerous look. "Madam Pince told me to warn the both of you to shut up before she comes and deal with you two herself. I suggest you do as she said since she's eyeing the suit of armour's spear beside her table with interest."
Immediately Harry and Ron quietened down and buried their faces back in their homework, realising the importance of the amount of time left to finish up their work. Hermione gave Ginny a grateful smile, but received a surprisingly serious expression from the little Weasley.
"A minute alone?" Ginny asked politely, nudging Hermione to an empty space far away.
Hermione stood up and followed Ginny to an aisle between two large bookshelves away from the occupied table they came from. Ginny stopped in her tracks once they were out of earshot and turned back to the other baffled girl.
"Hermione, I noticed you've been a little out of yourself since yesterday," Ginny spoke softly with concern. "Is everything alright?"
"Hmm?" Hermione wasn't listening, instead was gazing at a space between two books where she thought she heard a sharp intake of breath and someone calling out the name "Malfoy".
Am I starting to hallucinate?
"Oh no, I'm fine, thanks," she answered finally, but a tone of uncertainty could be noticed.
Ginny sighed loudly as she placed a reassuring hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Anything I can do?"
"No…yes."
Ginny's full attention was at the sudden change in her friend's voice. It seemed to be trembling with insecurity, and that was utterly different from the strong and determined girl everyone was au fait with.
"Erm… see… well…" Hermione was stuttering so terribly she wondered if she was losing her voice.
To tell? Or not to tell? It'll cost more than an uproar if I confess…
"Don't worry, 'Mione, you can tell me," Ginny persuaded.
Hermione bit her lip apprehensively. Ginny could be trusted, but it was the circumstances of her problems that was the 'if' question.
Yet I don't think I can survive keeping all these bottled up.
"Never mind," the bushy-haired girl said firmly and walked past Ginny in a fast pace before she could say another word. She passed Madam Pince's table and didn't pause to hear any of the librarian's extra-infuriate demands as she exited the library. She hurried along the now-empty corridor, leaving both Ginny and Madam Pince's mouth wide open with bewilderment.
I can't believe I ran from the only person I might ever be able to unburden my troubles.
At first, from the impression she thought forgetting the whole event of that fateful day wouldn't prove a difficulty if she just stayed with her friends and acted as if nothing affected her at all.
I can't even trust my own heart telling me unknown words, how can this be shared with someone else?
But it proved that no matter what, nothing can change a strong emotion called love. In Hermione Granger's case, threw in together perplexity and doubts to choose whether she should love or not.
Hermione's steps became slow staggers when she was out of breath from the long run, using all her strength to escape, to hide from expressing her emotions she vowed to keep behind a balanced wall.
I can't be vulnerable when I'm unprepared for that overwhelming…day…
She leaned against a tapestry hanging over the wall to catch her breath, though clearly aware of any dangers waiting to pounce on her. Dangers pointed to being seen in a very strange state, which would be very critical if it did happen. She could just picture the scene easily, all her friends making a huge statement: "Hermione Granger has a relationship problem!"
Maybe she exaggerated too much at the library. She wasn't taught to run away from her fears, but all she did was done and she can't turn back time. With a Time Turner she might be able to, but it wouldn't change the any of the facts.
I guess it's back to my four-poster bed for a meditative moment.
Hermione got up and was about to turn a corner when she tripped over the carpet on the stone floor and her whole figure flew into the air. She uttered a soft scream when she prepared for the worst of injuries upon a glimpse of a Manticore statue with its spikes standing out treacherously.
She shut her eyes in fright, fearing she would have worse injuries than any other incidents in all her years at Hogwarts. But instead of feeling the sharp needles poking her skin, she fell into the warmth of someone's safe arms.
A few hot tears trickled down her cheeks because of the sudden modification from anxiety and relief, which was an electric shock for the fine line between. A millisecond ago she thought she was going to get hurt and end up in the Hospital Wing for two weeks, which was impossible for Hermione. But for the next millisecond, all her fears just vanished.
Just like a chariot, arriving in time to save me from all dangers and gave me the strength I needed.
"Oh, thank goodness," Hermione breathed. A wave of comfort washed over her immediately as moments passed. Those strong arms still encircled around her with such impregnability, security she felt she was assured of…
She looked up at her saviour and was about to show much gratitude for his aid, but instead of thanking him, she gasped aloud at the sight of the very wrong person to think was capable of anything she thought.
Her saviour was Draco Malfoy.
Like last chapter, I stand here as Nessa Fefalas, asking you, the reader, to leave a review! Remember, if you correct my mistakes my story would be better! BTW I wrote this in a rush, so if there's any problems with the plot, like too cliché or too descriptive, or there's anything wrong with the grammar please tell me!
sam-derevko – lol you can always use a Portkey :D I'm grateful for your help, and you'd be a really big help too if you read this chapter and review once again:)
colorguard06 – thanks for putting this in your favourites! I hope this chapter is to your liking, not much incidents until the last part .
Ilithya – Thank you for reading fic, hun! Hope you read this chappie, and update your story too:D
Thanks to these people for reviewing Chapter 1! - foxygirlchan, kmanning14, gzusfreak, Hermione-Malfoys-1, Allison, BroganPyro, pussy, Vicangel, Meg, Monday Mornings, cinema lover, Helkardowen, kaboom05
-Nessa