Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling. Do whatever you will in that name. But HP is still hers.
A/n: Hello. New week and it's time for my due.
Anyways, here goes!
Another chapter.. Hope you guys won't be bored to death...
By: Aningme
Chapter 25
Dilemma
Walking down the sidewalk, he stared into the glass window as he watched the girl who saved his life, waiting for him in the café. She was reading a book, and drinking a glass of water. Entering the cozy place, he sat across her and smiled.
She smiled back and sighed. "Good evening, Malfoy."
"Good evening, Granger." He answered. He couldn't help but stare at her.
"So… how was your day with you work?" She started.
He laughed, feeling the stress in her voice on the last word. He still hasn't told her what his occupation was.
"Just fine. Busy as always." He smiled.
She frowned. "Oh c'mon, Malfoy. Spit it out. What is your job?"
He sneered. "What do you think?"
She glared at him. "Are you a drug lord or something?"
Draco shrugged.
"Why don't you tell me? Is it illegal?"
"No. Of course not." He uttered. "That would be boring."
She sighed. She couldn't figure it out. "Fine. You wouldn't tell me, fine. But promise me one day you'll tell me. It could be your payment for me saving your life, you know." She smirked.
He gave her a sidelong look. "Are you black mailing me?"
"What? No." She answered.
"I think you are."
She just smiled and sipped her water. She stared out of the window and watched cars drive by them and the people walking around the streets.
Meanwhile, he just stared at her sit in her chair. He took out a box from his jacket pocket and placed it in the middle of the table.
Hermione glanced at it. "What's that?"
He shrugged. "Take a look."
Hermione raised a brow and took it. She gently opened the box and was bewildered to see…
A key.
She stared at it. "What's this?"
He smiled. "A key."
"A key of what?"
"A key of the cottage. I'm giving it to you."
"No." She couldn't stop shaking her head. "No. I can't take this." She handed back the key abruptly, merely shaking the table.
Draco gawked at her and sniggered. "I am giving it to you. You can't just say no."
Hermione shot him a look, her eyes in a blaze. She looked angry. "I don't need that."
"I know." He reminded. "I just want to give it to you."
"I don't want it." She adamantly persisted.
Draco heaved a sigh and took the box. "What's so bad about a gift?"
"That's not a gift, Malfoy." She pointed out. Her hands hastily grabbed her glass and gulped her water empty. Standing up from her seat, she decided to walk off.
Draco was appalled. "Hermione." He called out. Funny to say, calling her first name was always effective for him to get her attention. It somehow has a nice crisp to it. Since the incident. "You are not leaving me here."
Hermione glanced at him. "I can do as I please." She snapped.
"You know we don't have much time left." He suddenly said. That abruptly shut her out. They never talked about their bargain just like that. In fact, they couldn't talk about it at all.
She stomped back to her seat and sat down. He had a point. Two weeks is a very short time.
He stared at her with a smirk. It amused him to see her react that way. He opened his mouth to speak.
"Don't." Hermione abruptly shut him out, raising a finger. "I really don't want your key. Keep it."
He was still smirking. "Why?"
"Because I hate big gifts and all."
He chuckled. Usually girls would love something like this. Prying his mouth open again, she raised her finger again.
"I said don't. I will strangle you if you hand me that key again."
Draco just kept quiet and paused for a while.
"I have something else to say to you." He muttered. He suddenly looked morose.
"What is it?" She murmured. She just hope he would leave the big gifts aside. She will strangle him for that.
He leaned over closer to her and propped his elbows on the table. He took a good look at her and managed to smile.
"I'm leaving." He said. He paused, waiting for her reaction.
She just sat still.
"I'm leaving for Canada next week. I have to deal some of my work there." He continued. "And I don't think I would be back soon."
Hermione leaned over on the table too and stared down at her hands. "You'll be cutting our bargain short." She whispered.
He watched her fingers playing with each other. "I know."
She looked at him. "When…" She was a little shocked of the news. "When are you coming back?"
He gazed at her. "Two years, maybe."
She stared at him. Two years. "When did you decide on this?"
He sighed. He could feel her eyes melting him down. There was suddenlyanger in them.Well, perhaps he justassumes that's what it was."I had a call when we left the cottage."
"And you didn't tell me?" She was fuming already. He was quite sure now.
"Well…" He hesitated. "I was going to tell you."
Hermione leaned away and rested her back on the chair. She didn't know what to think. It was all too sudden.
Draco looked at her and felt drained. He didn't want to do this to her.
"Look, I'm sorry."
She glanced at him. "I don't know what to say to you anymore." She grabbed her book and stood up. She's walking off again.
Draco stood up too and grabbed her arm. "Don't leave."
She glared at him and pulled her arm back. "And what? Watch you leave me?" She spat.
He couldn't answer her. There were more things to say.
"You know what, it makes no sense. You'll be leaving anytime by now, anyway. What's the use of waiting for two weeks?" She muttered and left him.
He watched her leave him. He couldn't blame her.
Hermione walked through the sidewalks with tears burning her eyes. She hated him. She hated him for being a bastard. He's always been a bastard. He'll never change.
Taking a turn to the side, she walked through the public park and sat on a bench. The place was deserted. The night was lingering heavy. And she couldn't help but cry.
She was left alone again. Loneliness is there again. She lost again. She sobbed and cradled herself. She couldn't stop heaving; she couldn't stop the tears. She had loved him. She loves him very much. And yet, she lost him again. She lost him.
Tucking her knees in her chest, she rocked herself and soothed herself. She didn't want to cry again. She felt so tired of feeling all alone. She felt tired of pain.
Sniffling on her nose, she closed her eyes and sighed. It was no use of crying anyway. He'll be leaving eventually. It was their bargain.
A/n: There.ü I hope it wasn't boring for you guys...
And guess what? I'll be giving personalized messages today! YEEYY!ü
Who said I wouldn't?
First off , catgurlfurreel, wherever you are... I still owe you! Thanks!ü
Bookworm1214- Thanks so much for hanging by on this one! I'm sori I couldn't post personalized messages here before. I was in a hurry then.ü But anyways, thanks again. And Draco would be fine.ü I assure you.ü
curlyqntx- Thanks for going with the flow of this story.ü It is pretty long now and I am great you are coming along.ü I hope to get in touch with you.ü And thanks again.ü
Oh, and by the way, DON'T DIE!ü
Aurum Potestas Est- Thanks for going over my story. Yeah, it was really weird, the chapter where the blood and gore and all that trash came on. I hope you forgive me for that.ü Anyways, i'll update soon!
chaste-aeon- hey! sori this came late. I've been really busy and I didn't have time to send in personalized messages. But anyways, here's the answers to your questions.
What's with the dreams anyway? Well, it's part of the conscience thing.ü He knew Harry would die because of him. But he didn't know that he was dead already.ü I hope the chapter where everything that happened that night was posted helped you understanding that part.ü
Why did it have to be Draco to kill him? Actually, I just thought that since Draco is Lucius' son, I just figured that Voldemort would like to use him for Harry. He's under his commands anyway, having the "mark" on his forearm. And I just thought that since Draco and Harry was always up for a competition, Voldemort thought that Draco was the perfect "person" to deal with Harry, since he couldn't deal with him by himself.ü Did that help?
Anyways, keep on writing dude.ü I'll wait for your work.ü Just keep on writing.ü
SpiritWell- It's good that you finished up your projects and all that... Me? I'm building up and drowning in projects and reports! But anyways, thanks for the review!ü Really appreciated it alot! And thanks for understanding my pain...ü
The Gryffindor Drummer - I don't believe I have seen your name before... New Reviewing Reader? YEY! WELCOME ABOARD! lol! I just love saying that.ü Anyways, thanks for the review. And what does CYA mean? I think I know a reviewer who uses that on me too. Do you know "futuremoviemaker"? Or is he you? Or her? I don't KNOW!
Vegas Chick- I don't believe I know you too! WELCOME ABOARD!ü It's good to see new names.ü And thanks for loving the story.ü Hope to see your name till the end of this story.ü
And thanks too for loving the story.ü And yes, I will update every now and then.ü Until then!ü
JinxTwix - I haven't given up on writing back to my reviewers. Who told you that?
Anyways, yeah.ü I know you'd kill me if I killed him.ü LOL!ü Well, don't be sad about it.ü Draco will be A-Ok.ü And as for your question : so basically, draco killed harry under the imperious curse? Well, I really don't know the name of that curse.ü It's the kind of curse that controls you and all that, in addition to the imperious curse.ü It's quite horrid, if you think about it. Being a puppet is creepy...:s
Well, I hope to see you again next week! Until then, take care.ü
Cocoamo1223 - I don't believe I know you too! WELCOME ABOARD!ü Forgive me if that line was boring.ü It's just my habit to say that to my new Reviewing Readers.ü Thanks for the review!ü And I hope you enjoy your stay here in this story.ü
Still Can't Find What Keeps Me Here - Hey! I don't know you too! WELCOME ABOARD!ü I'm sorry about the pasta thing.ü I didn't mean to make you hungry about that. lol!ü But anyways, thanks for reviewing.ü I hope to see you soon!ü
Ayna - Don't know you too! WELCOME ABOARD!ü Well, I'm sorry about Draco killing Harry... I know it's horrible but the story wouldn't be this story if I excluded it. Please understand...ü And thanks soo much for the review! Hope to see you soon!ü
MysteryAlaska - Hey!ü Thanks for the review!ü I hope to see you hanging out more here.ü Missed you guys!ü Until then.ü
MissDitzy- WELCOME ABOARD TOO!ü I'm so glad there are new reviewing readers.ü Anyways, Draco will be fine.ü Promise.ü I hope to see you more often!ü Until then.ü
dancerwind16 - Hey! WELCOME ABOARD TOO!ü I hope to see your name every now and then.ü Thanks for the review!ü And thanks for the comment.ü Really meanse a lot to me.ü
Sk8eRgIrL1990- Hey! You are BACK!ü Thanks for coming back!ü We've missed you.ü Anyways, I hope to see you again next week.ü And yes, I'll keep on updating.ü
hplucky - It felt REALLY REALLYgood to see you say "oh my god." LOL!ü Did you like my gift? Did you? Did you? Did YOU! I hope to know your response.ü And that chapter is for you, really.ü Wrapped in golden paper and tied in a big red bow.ü LOL.ü Anyways, until the next chapter!ü
THERE!ü Yey! I sent everyone messages.ü If I have forgotten somebody, just scream at me and I will pay.ü Promise.ü Until next week then.ü
HAVE A NICE WEEK Y'ALL!ü
(whew! That was a long one!ü)