Love Lust Loss
Chapter 5: And The Bridges Will Break
Disclaimer: See previous chapters
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The four teenagers, after getting over the initial shock of seeing adult Harry and Draco together, heard a crack and then, eventually, a knock on the door. But their attention was diverted back to the living room when Harry spoke once more.
"Draco" he hissed, "go put some clothes on. She's here."
"But Harry…" Draco protested.
"NOW! Drac."
Draco groaned and reluctantly left to put on something decent.
Harry walked to the door "Coming", he said, pulling it open.
"Hermione!" He exclaimed, at the sight of his best friend.
Hermione smiled, a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. A sad smile. Most unfortunately Harry noticed and immediately knew something was wrong.
"Herm. What's the matter?" he asked
Just then Draco strolled into the room. He was wearing a pair of tight fitting blue jeans, that hung low on his hips and pulling a black T-shirt over his head, which fit snug across the chest showing of the well toned body beneath. He shook his shoulder length hair free and smiled at their visitor. His smile quickly vanished upon seeing the look on both Harry and Hermione's faces.
"I'm sorry Harry. Draco." She began. And Harry knew it was bad. She bit her bottom lip. A sign which, Draco knew from experience, meant nothing good. He walked over to Harry and clasped their hands together.
Hermione looked at Draco, then at Harry and back to Draco. Her eyes finally settling on Harry.
"So… you caught him then?" he asked quietly, eyes downcast.
"Yes." She said.
Harry sunk slowly into one of the high backed chairs, his head falling into his hands.
"Oh God." Draco mumbled.
"This… all of this… is my fault." Harry whispered.
Draco moved quickly to kneel in front of Harry.
"Harry. Look at me."
When Harry didn't move, he gently placed a hand on either side of Harry's head and tilted it looking directly into those green orbs.
"Listen to me Harry. It. Is. Not. Your. Fault." Draco continued, pronouncing each word as its own sentence. "Do you understand me? It isn't. There was nothing, nothing, you could have done to prevent this."
"But if I…" Harry broke in.
Draco cut him off "Anything you would have done, could have done, wouldn't have made a difference. None of it would have. Because you wouldn't have wanted it. Do you understand? It would have broken him anyway."
Harry nodded slightly, pursing his lips together.
Draco enveloped him in a fierce hug. Breaking apart, they both looked at Hermione for any answers they could get.
"Draco…Draco's right. It isn't your fault. Harry. Don't ever think that." She said.
Harry looked back at Draco, "I could have done something to help him"
"Look at me Harry." Hermione commanded so forcefully, that Harry had no choice but to obey.
She bent down, eye level with her green eyed best friend.
"You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't turn him evil. You didn't make him support Voldemort and eventually try and replace him as the new dark lord." She paused, her lips quivering.
A single tear escaped and flowed down her face. Closing her eyes and pulling herself together, she continued.
"I loved him too, you know. I thought…I thought that I would spend the rest of my life with him. But I was only a distraction. A replacement for the one he could never have. Then one day he wasn't him anymore. He snapped. To this day, I still have no idea exactly what caused it. But he, he wasn't the same person anymore. He was withdrawn, depressed, angry, he didn't sleep…or eat. He changed. He was no longer the carefree guy who you could play exploding snap with or the guy who would drag you into a game of chess no matter the time of day, the guy I fell in love with. He wasn't…he wasn't Ron anymore."
Tears fell freely, unashamed from her face. She collapsed into Harry's arms and cried. Letting her emotions show completely since this whole thing began.
Harry held her and comforted her. They comforted each other. They both cried. Shedding tears for the friend they had lost so many years ago. The one they couldn't save.
And at the window, four teenagers kneeled, silent tears streaking their faces. They didn't move for what felt like hours, until they were startled by a snowy owl flying through the open window. Shocked to see the sun rising against the horizon.
Inside Hermione moved out of Harry's embrace as the owl landed on his shoulder, snickering her left talon out for him to take the morning post.
She carried a special edition of The Daily Prophet.
Harry opened it and on the front cover was a picture.
Above the picture a headline.
He read it .
The four at the window could barely hear the whispered words.
But they did.
They heard every word:
'DARK LORD CAPTURED'
Ronald Weasley to be given dementors kiss
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
A/N: Sorry for the delay in this chapter. Real life decided to kick in. School started. I'll try to post the next chapter as soon as possible. Thank you to all those who read this fic. Don't forget to review.
A/N2: If anyone has any ideas where they would like this fic to go. Plot wise. Whatever, Tell me. I'm glad to hear any new ideas.
Thanks a lot.
cincere