Divine Fates

A/N: First of all, the song in this chapter is by m-flo loves Yoshika, called Let Go. Yes it is a Japanese song; Malraux did the translation. It's a beautiful song, and I think it fits the two right now.

Chapter Seven

Let Go – Hermione & Draco

-Hermione-

Let it go… that was quite possibly the worst thing he could have said to me. I thought he was different than his father… more. But I suppose I was wrong. He'd always be the ferret boy that insisted on ruining my life. I suppose I should be glad that no one else knew that I had started to have feelings for him. Maybe that's why I was mad the most. I didn't understand how such things could happen, at least not to me. I spent my life with books and being part of the Golden Trio.

It wasn't supposed to happen. I could have sworn I told myself at the beginning that I wouldn't allow Malfoy to get to me like he had in the years past. Looks like he really found a way to get under my skin this time. It hurt… both the fact that he played with my mind and heart,and that I let him. I was spending a lot of my time in my room between classes and at night. I rarely ate, simply nibbling. My grades at least survived, they came in handy to get my mind off of things.

But most of the time my mind was wrapped around Draco… he was silent when we did work together, cold and stiff when standing next to me. Otherwise I didn't really see him. Though lately I knew he was sneaking a girl into the dorm with him now and then. I could always here giggling as they made their way to his room. Jealousy was something I wasn't used to, especially when it came to him. There were a lot of things about him I wasn't used to. Don't think I ever will be either.

One night though… about a week or so after him snapping at me to let it go I realized something. I had kissed him and told him to let it go too. And he did. He really didn't care, but I did. It wasn't love… no I wasn't in love with Draco. However… I think I was starting to. My worst enemy who considered it all a game, I had started to fall for. Okay I hadn't started, I was already falling, but I'd never hit bottom, unless you counted the pain that seemed to twist my heart at the thought of it.

Normally I'd try and find a way out of this. Like I usually did with my books, but as time went on the hole got bigger and deeper. I knew what I had to do, but I just wish at that moment books really could fill the void. Not even my friends could. They knew something was up with me, but I avoiding it as much as I could. I didn't want to worry them anymore. My Gryffindor pride and courage wouldn't let me back down. I had to tell Draco. I realized that it'd end up a mess, but it was the only way I could move forward. I hoped.

How things stand, I couldn't just forget you

I can't just shut you away

While I know we couldn't let it get any deeper

No matter what, I've got to let you know how I feel

Especially when I'm giving it all I got

I want your heart boy, even if it's just for a moment.

I came out of my room, nibbling on my bottom lip trying to decide how I'd go about doing it. My eyes met a sight that nearly made me gag. Draco lying stretched out on the couch, with another Slytherin girl lying on top of him. Lucky they were both dressed and neither of them seemed to notice me. I think I would have been more upset if it had been Pansy, but either way, I felt myself boil inside. My blood was hot and so were the tears that I felt behind my eyes. He was never beenbrave enough to actually SIT on the couch with someone.

He was smirking at something as she whispered into his ear, before he nodded his head. She started to sit up, which caused her to notice me. I huffed and looked away, storming down the stairs. That of course caught Draco's attention and he sat up too, pushing the girl off his lap. He raised his brow at me, but I kept my eyes straight ahead of me. " Her-… Granger." He drawled slightly, without the mocking tonein his voice. He forgot I was in my room. I just rolled my eyes and kept going, leaving the common room and into the hall.

I'm still drowning in a love that can never be

I don't want to wake from this dream, can't let go

It's selfish, but I don't care

I want your unwavering love right here

I don't know how long I stood in the hall, trying so hard not to want to cry. I knew he had girls around, but being this selfish and jealous over someone I never had in the first place was starting to drive me nuts. I wasn't myself; I was acting like a lovesick girl, upset when she couldn't get her crush's attention. I had gotten his attention and at that moment, I wished with all my heart that I never had. That both of us just walked away like it was a funny joke.

I could vaguely hear talking from the paintings around me, the girl to the painting of the common room was trying to get my attention but I wouldn't look at her. Shortly after I heard the painting whoosh open and heard footsteps behind me. I grumbled and crossed my arms over my chest, looking down at the staircases below me shifting. I knew it was him standing behind me. His presence wasn't as cold as it usually was, but at the moment I didn't care. I wanted him to go away.

My whole body felt weak and fragile. I hated feeling like that. This I had felt before, with Krum, however it was stronger right now than it had ever been. My legs felt horrible, like I had no knees. My arms could barely let me lean against the banister of the stairway. I could still feel the tears behind my eyes, wanting to come forward and spill. My heart felt the worst… like someone insisted on stabbing it. Well actually Draco did, with everything he was doing lately.

Though sweet and silent time passes by

My body – it's breaking apart, boy why does it have to be like this?

I'm enveloped by dark anxiety. I feel like I'm going to break

Oh why do I try to monopolize love?

All without saying a thing

All I want is for your love to be right here

Trying to build the courage that had dropped at the sight of his other girl, I eventually turned to face him, seeing him leaning against the wall near the door simply watching him. He was emotionless like he had been for the last week. Eyes well guarded and tense like I was going to attack him. I seriously thought about it too. I saw a small smirk starting to rise on his face, an insult forming as well. I took the few short steps and did the best thing I could at the moment... I slapped him.

It must have been hard enough because he nearly fell over from being unprepared. He hand raised to his cheek to rub the red mark that was already growing. I seethed at him; at that moment I remembered why I hated him in years past. " You really are the most foul thing to walk this Earth with your father aren't you?" That seemed to get his attention. His eyes lifted to my face and narrowed sharply before growling at me. " Don't you dare compare me to my father. Ever."

I stared at him weakly, paling slightly at the sound of his voice. He sounded almost deadly with his last word. Whatever I said distinctly though, set him off. He stood straight and started towards me. I actually felt afraid of him. My back hit the banister and I glanced back, partly wondering if he'd even care if I fell backwards. Instead he put his hands on either side of me and got his face right in front of mine. I inwardly groaned and wondered how I got into these situations with him.


-Draco-

Hermione assumed things to easily. Which is why it made it easier for me to try and drive her away. Dragging girls to the dorm at night, making sure she'd hear them giggle. However it was the entire front I could put up. I never got anywhere, though I tried. I was hoping anything could take her off my mind. Half the time I felt her wanting to cry, or scream at me while we worked on the potion. I had to keep a front up for her sake, but the more I tried the harder it got.

I make myself believe I'm all right

Though it hurts my heart for you not to be by my side

Just wonderin' if you feel the same.

I wanna see if these feelings are for real

I thought she had been in the Great Hall with the rest of her friends when I dragged some girl I didn't even know up to the common room. I could always see those wheels in her mind turning, she was going to try and talk to me. I knew it. So I had to hurt her… again. I guess it didn't really matter; she came out of her room and spotted both of us. I felt like real ass too, seeing her so stiff and upset as she stormed past the both of us and out of the common room.

Shoving the girl off me, muttering something along the lines of, stay here… I decided I'd follow her. As I got to the painting I stopped. I wasn't sure how exactly I was going to fix this. I couldn't be nice to her, that'd just end up badly for the both of us. I could break her completely… and risk losing whatever feelings I had gained. To a point, I wanted them gone. I didn't want to care, because this game was starting to drive me up the wall.

Idling your life away doesn't make you nobody

So don't be afraid, loosen up your reins

If you wanna be free, let go… I'm telling you

Ego is terrorism of the heart

I decided to end the game so we both could move on. I stepped through the opening to find her staring down blankly into the spaceful abyss below her. I leaned against the wall, trying to figure out if it was just one thing that attracted me to her, or if everything she did drove me both crazy, and fall more for her at the same time. Even when she was mad at me, it was some kind of attention, and I had always gotten her attention, even when we were younger.

She finally turned around to look at me; I could see her gathering courage again. She was determined that much was written in her eyes. She tried to find a way to talk to me, so I simply smirked at her, opening my mouth to mutter some kind of insult… whatever first came out of my mouth. Luckily she slapped me, because the first thing that came to my mind was to tell her I'm sorry, and everything my stupid father had threatened both of us with.

Out of all the times she had hit me, this was the first actually slap she had given me. And somehow it hurt worse than all the others. The sting of my cheek just proved how much I was hurting her. But what came out of her mouth next nearly drove me to scream the truth at her in the first place. I was trying so hard not to be like my father, to protect her, but then again, she couldn't and wouldn't know that. I was acting just like my father wanted. Rude and uncaring.

I leapt aboard just as the love train's doors began to shut

A man who doesn't like to wait, straight no chase

Speeding towards the reality we now face, run, run, run

The hands on my watch don't stop

The magic that only works once, the key to destiny

How suddenly things changed, it ridicules logic

Don't hurry and Mr. Heartbreak might stay

Rewind, fade, and the memory returns

I had her cornered, she was afraid of me... I could see that. Not exactly something I was proud of either. I stared at her for a few more moments, before moving my face from in front of hers, moving it to her ear. She closed her eyes, I could tell. " I'm doing this for you… ya know." I muttered softly before backing away a little, moving my arms away from the banister and started towards the painting. She was watching my back I could feel it. " Your father… did say something didn't he?" I could look at her, simply nodded and she let out a small sigh.

" Don't bother." I snapped sharply and faced her, crossing my arms over my chest, angry again. She seemed startled by this, her hands clenched to her chest. " Why not?" She asked, obviously just as angry with me as I was with myself. " Because it's not me he'll go after." I snarled at her, glaring sharply at her. She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. " Shouldn't I at least get some say in it." I stepped up towards her, pointing in her face like she had done to me the other day.

" I told you, let it go." She grabbed my hand and glared right back at me. " You can't make me. That's the whole problem Malfoy, I don't have a choice in that." I stared at her oddly for a moment. She sighed and looked away from me, simply staring at the floor. " It's not that easy you know… to just drop something you care about." I flinched and looked away from her as well, except I forced myself to look in another direction, towards the stairs.

" Yeah I know." I muttered it softly, knowing that she heard me. She looked at me before standing straight. " Don't keep doing… that." I blinked and looked at her, and she pointed towards the painting. " You don't have to… show it off." I grimaced and grabbed her hand and pulled it to my chest. She closed her eyes for a moment. " Alright. I just… I had to do something. I know you wouldn't drop it if…" She smacked up with her hand into my jaw gently to get me to shut up.

" You should have just told me from the beginning. I wouldn't have hated you…" I groaned slightly and let go of her hand. " It'd be easier if you did." She giggled slightly and nodded a little. " To you maybe. But I do… admire the fact you wanted to protect me." I looked back at her and she smiled a little. " We'll let it go… just don't call me…" I nodded a little and she leaned up to kiss my cheek. I couldn't help myself; I turned my head so I could kiss her.

It wasn't long, but it was a sound kiss. She smiled weakly before slapping my arm as the painting suddenly swung open. " You damned ferret boy!" I winced slightly at the punch and snarled at her. " Listen you book brained girl, either get used to having girls around me or go study somewhere else. It's called pleasure, look it up." I could tell she wanted to laugh; she stomped on my foot before storming past the girl and through the hole to the common room.

I followed her shortly after, to see her right before she entered her room. She looked back at me before giving me a small sad smile, then pushed her door open and slipped in, shutting it behind her. I sighed and flopped on the couch. We both finally really let go… but for some reason it didn't feel any different than before. Maybe because I still wasn't ready to let her go. I don't think I ever will be.