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Chapter 14/./ The Loneliness of Love
The truth of what had happened to Hermione spread through Hogwarts like wildfire, reminding me of the way the quintuplets' rumors had. By morning, everyone in the school knew, and Hermione was Queen of Gryffindor yet again. I ignored every look people seemed to be shooting me, going on about my business quietly. I returned my focus to school, and before I knew it, it was mid-December and the Christmas holidays were rapidly approaching.
The gloomy, overcast skies that had accompanied Hermione's return to Hogwarts had not lifted, nor had my dreary mood. There was a coldness in my being that would not lift. Strange things had begun happening in my classes. While working on a potion, it would complete too fast, and snape would give me a strange look, or I would nail a very difficult charm on the first try. Hermione always waited to speak with me after class, but I had nothing to say. Things had returned to normal. She went everywhere with Potter and Weasley, and they laughed and joked just like old times. Everything was right in the world again.
Well... nearly everything. I found my eyes drawn to her when I heard her laugh, so beautiful, ringing through the common room or the Great Hall. Her voice, finally returned to it's previous musical quality, when she answered questions in class, would make my heart clench and burn. It was almost as though she was making a mockery of my love with her happiness.
I was right, I thought miserably, while working on my homework one night only a day before nearly everyone would go home for the holidays. I have no part in her life at all. I shook these thoughts from my head, returning my focus quickly to my homework, but it didn't work. My heart ached as it had never ached before, and Hermione was always on my thoughts. I grabbed my cloak, shoving my books and my uncompleted homework into my bag. I tossed it into my small closet before shruggging the cloak onto my shoulders and heading out into the common room. It was very late, an hour or two past midnight, so I was surprised to see the fire still burning brightly. Hermione sat before it, staring into the blaze. I stepped down the stairs from my bedroom into the room, and the last one creaked. Her head shot up as though she had been shot, and she looked around to see the intruder.
When she caught my eyes, she didn't shudder in fear as I had supposed she would. She simply smiled softly, before sinking back into the comfort of the couch.
"Hullo, Draco," she said, softly. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Yeah, right," I muttered. I left the common room without another word.
Her face was etched into my brain as I walked the lonely corridors. The fear in her eyes, and then the relief when she saw me.
"Oh, it's just him," I muttered darkly to myself, pushing the front doors open and walking out into the chilly night. The ground was thick with snow, and even more was falling. The stars were blocked out by the dense clouds, and there was an aura of mystery shrouding the grounds. Oddly, it seemed to fit my mood perfectly. I trudged through the snow towards the lake, my ears wide open for any hint of sound besides my own footsteps. There was nothing. Not a cricket, not even the splash or gentle ripple of the squid within the lake. I sat gingerly on a large rock, wondering what I was going to do with myself. I couldn't go on living like this... I had to get good grades to get into University.
I was pulled from my reverie by the crack of a twig behind me. Immediately, I was on my feet and my wand was in the face of a rather disgruntled Ginny Weasley.
"Whoa, down boy," she said, a small laugh in her voice. "I come in peace." She held up her hands, and I lowered my wand.
"What are you doing out here, Weasley?"
"Ooo, chilly. Somebody's got it bad."
"What are you on about?"
"Hermione," she whispered, and the chills that crawled through my spine spoke louder than words. I shuddered involuntarily as goosebumps ran down my arms and she laughed softly as she noticed them. "She likes you, you know."
"Yes, of course, she does, Ginny Weasley. I assume you heard our entire conversation the day she returned from St. Mungo's? I'm a heartless creature, nothing more."
"It's not true, and you know she didn't mean it."
"Oh, I do, do I?" I said, and my tone sounded harsh, even to me. "I don't think I do, Weasley. In case you didn't notice, I came out here to be alone." I sat back down on the rock. "That would be your cue to leave."
"You should see her. Came to the Gryffindor common room, crying. She was a mess." I let my head fall into my hands. I had hurt her again.
"What am I going to do?" I whispered to her through my hands. She sat down on the rock beside me.
"She doesn't think you like her..."
"It's true, you know."
"What is?" she asked, confused.
"I don't like her." She began again, her eyebrows furrowed in question, but I cut her off. "I don't like her. I love her. Dammit, I love her," I said, andthe pain I had felt for so long echoed in my voice.
"Oh, Malfoy," Ginny began. "Tell her, tell her you love her, she'll-"
"Don't even say she'll understand, Weasley. She will do no such thing. I am a heartless creature, not worth anyone's time. Why are you out here, anyway? You'll catch your death in this cold." I looked over at her, and she looked as though she could've possibly been warmer than she would've been in my common room, bundled up in numerous sweaters and thick scarves, and a rather large wool cloak. She snorted.
"As if you have any room to talk, out here in only a thin cloak!"
"I have no fear of death or illness, Ginny Weasley. In fact, it'd probably be better if I wasn't alive."
"You weren't thinking of... of..." Her eyes grew wide with the possibilities.
"No, Weasley, I did not come out her to kill myself. Though, now that you mention it..." I trailed off ominously.
"Malfoy, no!" Her voice was filled with so muich passion, that I had to laugh.
"A joke, Weasley, a joke."
"She's not returning home tomorrow..."
"Okay...?"
"Do something with her. Talk to Dumbledore and go to Hogsmeade, go to Diagon-"
"Weasley," I warned, getting up from the rock and walking back for the castle. She followed.
"Malfoy, do it. I know you love her, and I know you're terrified of getting hurt, but you've got more to lose by holding back. Trust me." We had reached the doors, and I looked back at her. There was such a fierce look on her face that I felt compelled to do as she said.
"Fine, Ginny Weasley. I will trust you." Her face immediately lit up. "But you had better be right!" She nodded furiously, pushing the doors open. We started in, but she stopped suddenly, and I slammed into her. She held her ground, but I landed on the ground with a loud 'oomph'. I looked up to ask her what the hell was the matter, but her mouth was wide open and her eyes watching something with a look of shock and dismay. I followed her line of vision.
Only to see Potter and Hermione snogging against the wall beside the Great Hall. My vision clouded with red anger, and I pushed Ginny aside, slamming into Potter as I went back to the common room.
"Hey!" he shouted, surprised, but I was already gone.
The pain was unbearable.
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Hermione leaned down to where Harry was on the ground and smacked him hard across the face. Ginny sighed loudly from the doorway. Her hard work, ruined again.
"I can't believe you!" she shouted at him, before racing off in the same direction Draco had gone. "Draco, Draco, wait!" she called up the hallway as she chased him. He almost turned to enter the common room, but seemed to think better of it. He disappeared into a corridor, but when she turned to follow, she found herself in a dead end. There was nowhere left to go, and he was nowhere in sight. Her breath caught in her throat as she sank to the floor, fresh tears spilling from her eyes. Suddenly, Ginny came out of nowhere and was embracing her, soothing her.
"Sh... 'Mione, it's okay..."
"I didn't- I didn't want to kiss him!" she choked out through her tears. "Harry thought I liked him becauseof something I said...I tried to push him off, but he was too strong... and now Draco thinks... thinks I-"
"We'll find him, Hermione, and talk some sense into him, okay?"
"But what if he doesn't believe me? Oh, Ginny... I love him!"
"I know, dear, I know. It'll work out, I promise."
"But.. But Ginny..."
"I promise," the small redhead said forcefully. Hermione nodded. "I promise."
A/N: yet another chapter! Hope you like it! I figured I should let you know how Hermione was feeling, so sorry if the POV change was a little confusing at that last bit there. NOTE: If ONE more person tells me to update faster, I'm not going to update for a month. Got it? lol, I'm just playing, but seriously. It grates on my nerves. I'm working as fast as I can to get out a decent chapter that you would want to read, and all you say in a review is "update faster!" Grrrr... But all you other reviewers, who say more than UPDATE! (evenjust "interesting story, update soon")I love you!
Review Replies:
NoleiaNevenbrook: I hope the A/N at the top clears things up for you! Sorry if it was confusing. I hope you like it!
one of the four: I definitely plan on writing this story all the way till the end, even if my muses abandon me here and there. Glad you liked it!
Hermione Charlotte Granger: Hope you liked it . I won't forget the prophecy.. In fact, if you look back through the recent chapters, there are little hints about it... See if you can pick out one or two of the things that were affected by the prophecy, and I'll give you a virtual-cookie.
Kgmck-117: You will not die from my lack of updates. Sorry to burst your bubble. Hope you liked it!
karika88: yes, dear, he loves her without a doubt. Awww... isn't it sweet? gags to death Just kidding. Hope you liked it!
Slim shady: Glad you liked it! I'm definitely continuing, so no worries .
mysteriouscharm: Good surprise? I was aiming for OMG! How did that- I didn't- But I- Where did that come from? Kind of surprise, but in a good way. Hope you liked it!
Kiara: Did you like it? Your reviews always leave me wondering if you only read it for loyalty or because you like it... o.0 well, I hope you liked it!
afqh122: You're very welcome. I love updating!
Until next time!