Disclaimer: She who MUST be named owns HP.
A/n: Hey! I know it's not a weekend today. But heck, I got vibed in posting this. So... Have fun!ü
By: Aningme
Chapter 21
Dilemma
A new day has come. And yet, the rain never stopped. It is not as heavy as the night before, but the surroundings of the cottage was all muddy.
Hermione got up early—though she really didn't sleep that night—and went outside. She let the rain soak her clothes and she walked down the lake.
She wanted to be alone. She had some decisions to make.
Staring out the beautiful lake, her mind wandered through her memories. The times she wanted to be with Harry. The times she went to the roof top and cried. The time she met Draco. The times they argued. The times they laughed.
It seemed like a lifetime when she met Draco. She had been happy with him. But then she wouldn't be that happy, when she always thinks of Harry. He's growing jealous in her already. She could feel him in her pulling her away from Draco. Or was she doing that to herself?
He watched her stand there by the lake, all alone, most probably thinking. She's been standing there for a long time. And she was already dripping wet.
Walking towards her, he stood beside her where his umbrella could hide her from the rain. It was really cold. She might get sick staying in the rain for a long time.
She glanced at him, but only for a second. He felt something in her eyes. He didn't know what it was.
She finally spoke. "I was just wondering…" She said.
"About what?" He asked.
"About your occupation." She said. "You never told me."
He smiled as he watched the small raindrops splash against the flat surface of the lake. "It's for me to know and for you to find out."
She furrowed her brows. "Why can't you tell it? You know mine."
"It's because you're my doctor." He answered.
She smiled. He had a point.
Silence suddenly wrapped them. It seemed like they had been together for a long time. And yet they still keep secrets as big as ships.
Somehow, Hermione reached the crossroad now. It's only a month away before Draco would leave her and never bother her again. That was the bargain.
It's the bargain. She thought.
"Malfoy. I want to ask you something." She suddenly blurted, keeping her wobbling knees straightened. She never dreamed of finally doing this. She was going to ask him already. She had to. For their sake.
"What is it?" Something has been bothering her for a long time now. He hoped she would open that up to him. He had waited for two months now. And when she does, he'll find a way to open up his.
She stared at him for a while, settling herself. And finally, she blurted it. "Do you know what happened to my dear friend Harry Potter?"
He knew she was thinking about him. He nodded. "Yes."
She lowered her eyes. She couldn't look at him. "Do you know how he died?" She muttered. It was very straightforward of her. But she had decided. He had to ask him. She was tired of keeping the secrets in her. She wanted to know everything, before Draco leaves too and be gone forever.
Draco suddenly turned to her too and sighed. He slowly reached for her neck and held the necklace she had been wearing for the whole time. He watched the square cut diamond glimmer in his hand.
"You were engaged to him before he died." He muttered. "You loved him, and you couldn't let him go."
She stared at him, listening, wondering how he knew. "Have…" She could feel the hard lump in her throat. Tears were hot behind her eyes. "Have you known that for a while?" She asked.
He smiled at her.
"How come you know everything?"
He stared at her for a while and saw her eyes glimmering in unshed tears. Yes, she does still love him. And it hurts him so badly.
Her shoulders were shaking in shivers; her knees were getting weaker. She stared back at him as he smiled down at her.
He finally spoke. "You're shivering." He muttered. He stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. She just stood there, her cheek against his chest, her arms trapped in his.
She closed her eyes and let herself drown in his warmth. "Answer me."
Draco just held her and smiled. He shifted a little and whispered in her ear. "You told me everything."
She knotted her brows. "I didn't tell you anything—"
"No." He interjected. "You did. You told me by the way you act, by the way you treat me, and by wearing that necklace." He enumerated. He couldn't mention the time she was drunk…
She tried to smile. Her doubts had finally flown away. He had nothing to do with his death. He knows nothing of how he died.
He's just a boy from her past, Draco Malfoy, who came back to her and changed her life. Moreover, saved her life from herself.
Pulling away from him, she took his umbrella and set it aside. He just watched her and let himself soak in the rain too.
She looked at him and smiled. "Let's swim." She said. She turned to the lake and stepped on the cold water.
He chuckled and watched her. It was pretty obvious that she had wanted to ask that to him for a while. And, as bad as it is, he could not tell her all of the truth that lies beneath everything. Perhaps this is not the time to tell.
Considering his decision, he walked towards the lake and followed her.
After swimming in the death freezing lake, they both raced to the cottage and set up the fireplace. Both of them were shaking in the coldness. Even wrapping themselves in thick sheets wouldn't stop them from shivering.
Hermione smelled the fresh-burned wood and sighed. She held her hot coffee and sipped. "This is really a great place." She muttered.
Draco just poked at the fire with the poker and threw some more wood. He tucked himself in his blanket and held on to his mug of hot chocolate. He was freezing.
Hermione reached out her palms to the fire. The warmth tickled her arms. "Try this. It's great."
Draco watched her and imitated her. He smiled. "Hey, you want some ice cream?"
She raised a brow. "We're freezing to death here and we're still going to eat ice?" She questioned. He nodded. She laughed. "Why not?"
Draco laughed too. "Some kind of doctor you are."
A/n: Well, That is that.
As for my questions...
SpiritWell - Lol! Well, good luck with the moving thing.ü And it's good to hear the project is under control.ü Keep up! And thanks for the review!ü
Aurum Potestas Est - I really love your reviews.ü They are all cute.ü Anyways, I am kind of having a hesitation regarding the happy ending. I just hope that maybe something better would pop out of my head! We'll just see.ü
hp lucky - This chapter gave some little info about Harry's death, didn't it? But don't worry. I have a gift for you.ü You must wait for it though! It will come by for a while.ü I'll tell you.ü
MysteryALASKA - Thanks for the fab review!ü And yes, I will update.ü
Bookworm1214 - Well, I just thought that maybe it's not yet time for them to REALLY kiss.ü I just want the mystery of it.ü Anyways, thanks for the review.ü And maybe someday they will.ü
chaste-aeon - Lol. I know what you mean about the research thing and the MOTHERS.ü But anyways, just remeber. I can feel your pain.ü As for your question, I won't be able to answer you about the dream thing.ü It is connected somewhere about a 'thing' I haven't written yet. You'll know someday.ü
And as for the following NEWEST Reviewing Readers...
WELCOME ABOARD!ü
Isn't it great? Lot's of people are coming in.ü
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notDavidtalbot P - Thanks for the review! And yeah, YOU'RE RIGHT! It wasn't supposed to be a subway... DUMB OF ME! (Excuse me.ü) Well, I apologize for that wrong mistake.ü I mean mistake. (excuse for the confusion.) Ahehe. LOL! thanks for correcting me.ü
Though I may not change it anymore...
But still.ü Thanks!
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