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When My Heart Tore To Pieces

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By Queen of Serpents

Chapter Three: Water

The incident in the bushy dark part of the forest by the stream/lake had made life difficult for me. And uncomfortable silence would befall us when our hands or shoulders would unknowingly brush against the other. Though no ulterior motive was behind our casual touches, an uneasy feeling would lurch in my stomach. Most of the time I was able to hid my blushes with a smirk but that was getting harder to supress.

Granger would keep to herself most times. Her cheeks hot when our eyes would make contact. We were acting like school kids. The only ironic thing was we acted far from this way back in Hogwarts. The two of us were speechless now whereas back then witty insults and comments would be thrown at the other to tease and to annoy.

That was six years ago. Six years was a long time. I cannot bear to recall the deeds that befallen us in the past. I learned and changed a lot. And I could see clearly that Granger had as well.

I couldn't help but recall her physical changes. Even now, the both of us sweaty and hot in this early autumn day, her hair matted to her forehead and neck, her forehead carrying little beads of sweeat, she was breathtaking in an uncanny sort of way. Back in Hogwarts days I recall her as a bushy-haired, buck-tooth, know-it-all bookworm. Her figure covered completely with heavy cloaks and robes far too many sizes too big. Now even though she still wore large clothes, I could see her curves through the material. I could feel her body pressed to my side as I had held her tight so make sure she would not be seen. I could still remember the way her body was fitted exactly into my form. Her wet naked flesh fit perfectly into my arms. My hands clutching her tightly, my fingers could feel the softness of her skin...

No. I shook my head firmly

I had to stop this.

These...these thoughts had to be put to a stop.

I promised myself never to look at a single girl ever after her. Woman are only there to tempt and then break the hearts of men. They are vile and evil. Uncaring. Selfish. Undeserving of my affection.

She glanced nervously at me as we sat by another fire on the relatively wet ground. We walked for around 8 kilometers since around 3 days ago when we encountered the Homodrakes. Hopefully there weren't any more around. We were careful since then and my wand would always be tucked in a little pouch in my sleeve in case of emergencies.

"Uh... Malfoy?" She began to speak.

"Yeah?" I said not really sounding as though I cared but inside I wanted to hear what she had to say. We haven't had a decent conversation since the night in the cave and I wanted to hear what she had to say.

She didn't speak for a long time and looked up at the starless sky. The trees around us were shedding leaves so as we would move it would make a rustling noise under our feet. It was unnerving.

"Thanks," she said at last.

I blinked once and then again trying to figure out why she was thanking me.

"...For back there," she answered my unspoken question.

I nodded my head, not really wanting to talk. I could see her trying to hid a blush that was coming to her cheeks and I looked away to hid my own hot face so it would hidden in the darkness.

"No problem," I said at last. My words hung over us like a heavy cloack and instead of making light of the situation, it made it worse. "Thanks," I said too looking into her eyes.

Her head perked up, the blush vanishing, her brown eyes staring at me in curiousity and interest.

"For listening back then," I explained.

Realization dawned on her and she nodded her head too. "I'm always here to listen," she said.

"So we're even then I guess," I told her.

"Even? For what?"

"You saw me cry and I saw you..." I looked away from her so I didn't need to see her blush.

"Yeah. We're even," said her cold voice. And that was the last we spoke that night for she turned around, crawled into her cloak and promtly fell asleep. I on the otherhand was able to do anything but. Her cold answer was making me shiver. Did I say something wrong?

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