Draco & Hermione: a Romeo & Juliet story
Hey everybody!
Thanks for everyone who reviewed, even if there weren't a lot of reviews this time! Anyways, keep reviewing! It really makes me happy! And when I don't feel like writing, when I re-read them, it makes me write! Thanks!
About this chapter, just pretend that nobody knows that Rita Skeeter's an animagi.
Small Quote: Hating is easy, but love takes courage… Unknown
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Romeo and Juliet even if I wish I was. If I did, I would be already famous…
Answers to my reviewers:
manonL: Hehe ! Bon je peux te dire que t'as raison! Bien deviné… J'espère quand meme que tu vas continuer à lire mon histoire, lol ! Bisous, je t'adore as always!
Anime Master: Hey! thanks for reviewing again! Well, you'll see in this chapter if anyone finds out about Draco and Hermione's "relationship" on Draco's side. And about Ginny? Well, you'll find out in the next chapters! Anyways, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter, even if it is my least favorite one to my opinion… Enjoy anyway!
Secret Murderer: I'm glad that you like my story! Well here's chapter 5! Enjoy!
Chapter 5: The Burial
A terrified cry sounded in the whole castle. The duke and the duchess raced down the stairs, with the horrible feeling that something might have happened to their beloved daughter. They arrived on the second floor, only to find Ginny on her knees crying out loud, Hermione whose terror showed on her entire face and the lifeless body of the infamous Rita Skeeter. The duchess screamed and fainted. A few seconds later, servants and guests filled the room screaming, fainting, and crying this unfortunate event. It would have been quite humorous if it wouldn't imply the fact that somebody was found dead. Clearly, she had been killed by the Unforgivable curse. And it was neatly done. No marks, no clue whatsoever.
Obviously, people thought that the murderer was a Malfoy, or a friend of theirs… After all, it wasn't the first time that it happened. And apparently, Malfoy and some of their friends were present in the Masquerade Ball. More evidence. But why kill Rita Skeeter? She wasn't really appreciated by anybody except the Daily Prophet, but… There have been endless battles between the Grangers and the Malfoys in the past, and many people had been killed. Since then, they had tried to maintain peace, despise their hatred to each other. And it had worked… until now. It would make a scandal. But Rita Skeeter wouldn't be the one who would report it this time…
Hermione, even if she was shocked and horrified by this whole outrageous murder, was still able to think quite clearly. She had a brilliant mind that will make her one of the most brilliant witches in the world. He mind was racing, trying to find an answer to all this… Something was wrong, apart from the murder… Something was definitely missing… But what?
Meanwhile, the duke took control of the situation. He sent an owl to the ministry of Magic, and ordered that the Rita's Skeeter lifeless body had to be transported to the Daily Prophet, since nobody knew who and where her relatives were. He had also called a wizard specialized in these kind of cases (meaning murders…) to check if the murderer had left any mark on Rita Skeeter's body. The duchess was awake, and Ginny had stopped crying, but was still sobbing a little bit. People got over it quite quickly (meaning it took two hours for the duke to react, since then people cared less about what had happened), and most of them where somewhere in the castle gossiping, whispering, talking about what had happened, while playing chess or enjoying the scent and the flowers in the gardens. Ron and Harry were Hermione's room, comforting Ginny. Hermione couldn't stand it anymore:
- Guys! I need some fresh air! I need to put everything out of my mind! Who wants to come shopping with me? she asked.
- How can you think of shopping at a time like this? Are you insensitive? asked Harry, worried about Ginny.
She didn't reply. Instead tears started to flow on her cheeks. She left the room and headed for the gardens, Ron pursuing her.
- Stop! Where are you going?
She ran. He chased her and took her into his arms. Hermione resisted at first, but then rested in his arms. He was caressing her. Her tears stopped falling.
- Thanks, Ron. You're really a good friend, you know.
She smiled. Ron, on the other hand, was a bit disappointed by what she had said. Suddenly, she raised her head up, a glimpse of a revelation shining in her brown eyes.
- What is it? asked Ron.
- I have to check on something… I need to go…
She tooktwo steps backwards and apparated. Ron cursed.
Meanwhile, in the Malfoy's manor, Draco was thinking of Hermione. He thought about how they got mad to each other… Blaise entered into his room interrupting his thoughts…
- Hey what's up? asked Blaise.
- Nothing…
- Then where were you last night?
- Ugh… you don't wanna know…
- Hooked up with some chick?
- Ya, I guess…
Blaise was doubtful, because he knew Draco well, and he saw that he was somewhat different than before. But he didn't pursue the subject.
- Did you hear what happened at the Mudlblood's inn? asked Blaise.
- What? said Draco, feigning disinterest.
- They found a body in front of the Duchess's daughter's door. Rita Skeeter's. I wonder why she had been killed…
- WHAT? A BODY?
- Yep… They'll probably think that we're the culprits again… Anyway… Since your family has like a "good" image, you're invited to the burial of Rita Skeeter!
- Invited? What do you mean, invited? Nobody's ever been invited to a burial!
- Well, you know what I mean, right? We have been informed of Rita Skeeter's death, and of her burial, place, time and date… a.k.a. we are invited! Anyway… It's tomorrow… Will you come?
- Why? I don't even care about that woman!
- Um… What if I told you that the Grangers will be there too?
- And what makes you think that I care about them?
- Nothing… I'm just saying, man.
Hermione was in the library, looking for pictures of Rita Skeeter. She looked at them one by one, and after the 10th picture, a feeling of triumph filled her head: she had found what was missing. Her gear. Her stuff. Hermione had never seen Rita Skeeter without her feather writing on a parchment. If she had indeed been listening to her conversation with Ginny last night, she would have recorded it somewhere… OMG… she thought, if somebody stole her stuff, they might take it to the press and… she couldn't even imagine the consequences that would make. Maybe that somebody wanted to be as famous as Rita Skeeter by stealing her stuff and then publish it under another name… But go as far as killing? That doesn't make any sense! Why would somebody go as far as destroying someone else's life for stealing some stupid information? Or maybe it wasn't some stupid information… Maybe… Maybe it was some secret that Rita Skeeter wanted to publish but then got killed for it! That would also explain why her stuff wasn't there…
But then I could be wrong… It could have been anybody…
- We are gathered here today to remember the joyfulness, the vivacity of this lovely woman, Rita Skeeter…
- Okay, this is weird… lovely? How was she lovely? whispered Ron to Harry.
- Shh! said Hermione.
- She was indeed a really nice person who…
- Nice person? continued Ron…
- Shut up! whispered Hermione.. Respect people who actually are in deep hurt…
- Like who? Can you show me anyone in this church that is really sad?
She looked around… And figured that Ron was right. This was just a superficial ceremony… But then why do it? Everybody was dressed in black. Except a Chinese family who wore white clothes. Hermione wasn't surprised at this, since she knew that for Chinese people, white was the color for death.
All the Daily Prophet crew was there… It seemed that Rita Skeeter had no relatives. Of course, the Grangers were there… She looked behind her, and gasped in surprise… The Malfoys! She met Draco's gaze… but broke the contact and asked in a whisper:
- What are they doing here!
- Who? asked Harry.
- Malfoys!
- WHAT? asked Ron and Harry at the same time out loud.
Everyone looked at them with surprise. Then, the ceremony continued as if it were never interrupted.
They hadn't noticed that the Malfoys were present at the burial too. I mean, they actually got informed? And they came? That is so un-Malfoyish! But then again, they have to keep a certain image, and since the Daily Prophet crew was here, they'd take advantage of the opportunity of being in the papers… Pfff!
After the ceremony, everybody went down in the enormous cemetery… It was huge and somewhat beautiful… As if peace reigned over that place... A few people threw flowers and made some speeches…
Ron and Harry were murmuring about how stupid and untrue what people said about Rita Skeeter, when Ron said:
- Where the hell is Hermione?
- Listen… I'd like to apologize for last night, started Draco.
- Don't worry, it is I that should apologize…
- Please don't talk to me like I was a stranger… You don't talk like that to your friends do you?
- What do you mean? And, hum… you ARE a stranger to me…
- Well, um, 'it is I that should apologize'… how formal is that!
They laughed… Someone was observing them. He or she had been following them when Hermione secretly left everybody and when she went to see Malfoy who was hidden behind trees. Nobody saw them since, like I said before, the cemetery was huge.
He or she watched them talking, laughing… He or she gasped in disgust and shock when Malfoy kissed Granger…
So? What do you think? Who do you think followed Draco and Hermione? More in the next chapter! Please REVIEW!