Divine Vitality
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter characters and such. Recognition and ownership of such belongs to the wonderful author, J.K. Rowling. (I love you!)
Chapter 3: Dream of Destiny
Written by melancholic orchid
The Great Hall was bloated with the sounds of excitement and regret as the students perched themselves on the benches of each House table. Levitating purple candles studded with gold stars filled the ceiling, causing a lump in Hermione's throat.
Not only were her throat clogged up seeing the candles, but so was Harry's. Holding back tears, he broke his gaze with the candles. She lightly patted his back. "It's okay, Harry."
Suddenly the room grew silent the second the doors opened themselves, admitting the Headmistress and the first year students. They followed behind her like frightened ducklings as they stared at the many faces that they will soon have to cope with.
"Aww," Hermione cooed, glancing at the new-comers filing to the front of the Great Hall. "They're so adorable!"
"Wish you were that cute in year one?" Ron asked, laughing.
"Shut up." She shoved Ron playfully to the side and smirked, in which he sloshed his drink on the flooring and splashed a little boy with red hair. The boy squeaked then glared at Ron, strutting along with the rest of the students. Ron then glowered at Hermione and she chuckled along with Harry.
After the feast, Hermione and Draco pursued the Headmistress to an unfamiliar part of the school. The night sky sparkled and glinted like scattered exquisite diamonds as they swept past each soft, ivory marble pillar to their destination.
"Now, as Head Boy and Head Girl," Professor McGonagall standing in front of a large wooden door, "About your living quarters, you have been given an option to stay in the Head Boy/Head Girl Tower or you may stay in your House, if you prefer that."
I take it that this is the Head Boy/Head Girl Tower.
"I would like to take the option to stay in the Head Boy/Head Girl Tower, Professor," Draco responded immediately. Ha! No more Pansy sneaking into my bed every night.
"Miss Granger?"
"I think I will remain in the Gryffindor House, Professor."
"Very well then. That is all." Then she added quickly, "Just as a reminder, you are to commence your patrolling duties tomorrow night. It's best you start at around 10 p.m. and finish whenever. I hope that will be all right for the both of you."
"It's fine," they answered simultaneously.
"Should either one of you run into any problems while patrolling the halls or the time, please come see me."
Draco and Hermione nodded.
"Very well then, you may both get some sleep now. Mr. Malfoy, your bags are in the tower. The password is 'mint chocolate'. Miss Granger, your things remain in the Gryffindor House."
"May I have a word with you, Professor?" Hermione asked, after Draco disappeared into the tower.
"Please do."
"Um… Why – Why was Malfoy selected as Head Boy?"
"I was expecting you'd ask, Miss Granger."
Hermione stared at the weary woman, praying for an answer and not some riddle.
"You see, before our Headmaster –"
"Died." Hermione confidently finished the sentence for her.
Professor McGonagall winced. "Yes. Before he – passed away, he already selected the Head Boy and Head Girl. He chose Mr. Malfoy and you so that it could possibly create a friendly bonding between students in rivalling Houses which would set an example to all other Houses, hoping to develop unity. Dumbledore's major goal in his life was to blanket peace upon all of the Houses – to cast aside all differences, no matter how big or how small and live as one united school."
Good ol' Professor Dumbledore. Hermione silently offered her condolences to the departed Headmaster.
"I hope that answered your question. And please take this message to heart. Professor Dumbledore would be extremely content if there is such a thing as peace between the Houses."
"I will, Professor. I will"
"By the way, the password to the Gryffindor House is 'pinewood'." The Headmistress closed the conversation.
The black tapestry covering the windows made the entire room pitch black.
"Lumos." The tip of his wand glowed into fine silver white light. Finding the light switch, he flicked it upwards and immediately, the eerie glow filled the once dark room. The walls were of a few green shades with simple yet elegant patterns plastering the walls. So Sytherin.
In the corner closest to the windows was his bed. A familiar quilted, silk, jade green blanket lay smooth on the divan along with a pair of grey down pillows. He wordlessly thanked his mother for the blanket she had sewn as a Christmas present in his first year.
Stepping up to the blanket, he took a corner piece of the mantle and rubbed it gently against his pale cheeks. The familiar scent of his mother's hands that went into the creation of such art brought him pain for he had already missed his loving mother. A piece of loose green thread fell into his hands.
To ease the pain, he took his quill, a bottle of black ink and a slip of parchment and began to compose a letter for the woman who carried him in her womb and loved him exceedingly since the day he entered the world.
Dear Mother,
I would like to thank you again (for the millionth time) for the blanket and to inform you that I am fine and safe at school. I pray that you are well and safe at home as well. I wish I could be there, taking care of you at the moment. Please forgive me for not being there for you while you are ill.
I promise to write to you more often and to visit you whenever I can. I've slipped a piece of thread that had strewn itself from the blanket as a memory of me and the appreciation I have for all you've done for me. I miss you dearly, Mother.
Your grateful son,
Draco
Pausing, Draco finished the last portion of the letter reluctantly:
P.S. – Please inform Father I said 'hello' to him as well.
Sealing the envelope, he tied the letter to Emerson's bumpy leg. The deep grey owl took off from the window and vanished into the black horizon.
"Hermione!" Ron shouted, "You're back!"
Somnolent figures on the paintings surrounding the walls scolded at Ron angrily and gave disapproving looks.
"So how'd it go?" Harry questioned.
"Professor McGonagall just gave us options about where we want to house ourselves this year. Malfoy chose the Head Boy/Head Girl Tower. I don't know why though. I'm assuming that he just likes the seclusion," explained Hermione.
"And you wanted to stay here," Ron added.
Hermione hugged him tightly. "Well of course, Ron! Why would I want to stay in the same tower with Malfoy than with you guys?"
Ron didn't answer but instead returned the heart-warming embrace.
"Alright, Ron," Harry intercepted, "Hugging time's over. I'll bet you're pretty exhausted, aren't you Hermione?"
Smiling at Harry's kind consideration, Hermione nodded. "Yes. I'm actually feeling really beat right now. Good night, Harry. Good night Ron."
She dragged herself up the spiralling staircase that led to the girls' dorm room.
Seeing Hermione out of view, Ron nudged his best friend. "Thanks for ruining the moment, Harry."
"Anytime, Ron. Anytime."
A reading lamp glowed brightly on the tabletop near her bed. A romance novel of angels and faith was perched on her legs as Hermione read herself to sleep.
"… A shimmering figure appeared in front of Alexis' bed. "Sojie?" she whispered hacking back dreary coughs. The cancer was digging into her even deeper. Anxious and fright exploded in her body. The glowing figure bowed its head and slid closer to her. Alexis' body tensed. He pressed his translucent lips against hers. She could feel the magical sensation she had missed. Before she could yearn for more, the familiar, lost figure disappeared. …"
Hermione yawned as she closed the book and placed it upon the tabletop by the lamp. Sliding under her covers, she flicked the switch; the luminosity vanished and Hermione drifted into peaceful slumber.
… A shimmering figure appeared in front of her bed. "Malfoy?" she whispered, hacking back dreary coughs. The cancer was digging into her even deeper. Anxious and fright exploded in her body. The glowing figure bowed its head and slid closer to her. Hermione's body tensed. He pressed his translucent lips against hers. She could feel the magical sensation she had missed. Before she could yearn for more, the familiar lost figure disappeared…
A/N: Ooooo… or as Crodo would say Ooh lala…
Okay. So it would be favourable if you reviewed. That is all. Oh yes. And thank you my dear editors, Crodo and Lauren. I greatly appreciate all of you – readers and editors.