"She's gone? What do you mean GONE!"
"Calm down, Malfoy!"
"Don't tell me to calm down, Weasley. Where is she?"
Ginny blew her nose. "Home. To her parents."
Draco sighed. Thank God! I thought he took her…
"Why did you look so worried a minute ago? It's not like You-Know-Who kidnapped her or something," Harry said.
"Well I thought it was. Thanks anyway, losers." Draco walked out of the door and heard the Fat Lady grumbling to herself.
She's okay, Draco thought, feeling relieved. She's fine.
And then he heard someone whisper to him, "No she's not."
Draco turned around and stared at the Fat Lady. "Excuse me, did you say something?"
"What?" the Fat Lady looked at him, surprised.
"I said, did you say something?"
"No. I was just about to doze off."
Draco closed his eyes and opened them again. I must be hallucinating. It's been a rough day.
"She's going to die, whether you like it or not."
Draco looked at the Fat Lady again. She was already snoring away. Draco felt a chill run down his spine and quickened his pace to the Slytherin common room. He ran into his room and slammed the door shut, breathing heavily in the dark room. He saw the bodies of his friends rolled up in a bundle under their bed sheets, snoring softly.
"You can't run from me."
"Who said that?" Draco asked aloud. "Show your face!"
"You can't see me. But I see you," the voice teased.
"Malfoy? Go to sleep, man. Stop talking to yourself," Goyle muttered, yawning.
"I'm not talking to myself, you fool," Draco snapped. "There's someone – or something – in here."
"You still believe in the boogieman? That's just sad, Malfoy. Now go to sleep," Goyle said, dozing off. Malfoy sighed and crept up his bed, hiding under his sheet. He knew someone was after him, and that someone was getting closer and closer to him each day. He touched the bandage covering his left arm and winced. It was still bleeding, but not as badly. He stifled a yawn and closed his eyes, forgetting about the voice which had been haunting him just a second ago. Finally, he dozed off, with not a trace of pain left on his pale face.
"I'm coming for you."
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"Hermione," Aunt Serina said, hugging her niece tightly. "I'm so glad you could make it. I'm terribly sorry for your loss. Your parents were great people. Your mother was so beautiful and your father was always cracking jokes. Oh what a loss… what a loss indeed…"
"It's okay, Aunt Serina. I'm fine," Hermione said, when she wasn't even close to feeling fine.
"Follow me, darling," Aunt Serina led Hermione out of the train station to a small green convertible. Inside the car was a middle aged man with yellow teeth, whom Hermione recognized as her uncle.
"Hi Uncle Williams," Hermione said, smiling weakly. Aunt Serina picked Hermione's luggage up and brought it to the boot while Hermione got comfortable in the back seat.
"Hello my dear. It's a pleasure to have you here. I just want you to know that your parents were absolutely wonderful to us and-……"
Oh for God's sake, Hermione thought. Do I have to go through this every single time I talk to someone?
"-and we miss them very dearly. My condolences," Uncle Williams finished.
"Um, thank you," Hermione said uneasily. Uncle Williams started the engine and they headed off. Hermione missed the muggle world. Sometimes she wished she could be normal, so she would be an innocent little girl who wouldn't have a clue who Voldermort was, and live her life happily ever after. But no - she was given a chance to learn magic and live in an entirely different world, which didn't sound very appealing to her anymore. She had been excited during her first year at Hogwarts, but now, she wasn't so sure.
"Here we are," Aunt Serina said cheerfully minutes later. Hermione opened the door and examined her aunt's house. Her aunt had done some major changes in the past year – there was a newly built room, the living room filled with antics, and the walls were covered with pictures of Hermione's cousins.
"It's such a lovely house," Hermione commented. Aunt Serina face saddened and she looked away. "Your parents helped out with putting up the pictures," she said sadly.
Hermione coughed. "So… I'll be in my room if you need me," she said uneasily, heading for her aunt's guest room.
"In your room?" Aunt Serina laughed. "We don't have time for that, darling. You have to help me plan the funeral arrangements. Now, I don't think you should follow me to the funeral parlor – not exactly the best place to be right now. So I'll just take down your ideas on a few things and I'll handle the rest, alright darling?"
Hermione hated the way Aunt Serina called her darling. "Yeah, alright." She took a seat at the dining table and made herself comfortable while her aunt took out a piece of paper and a pen.
"Alright. Well, I'll be choosing the coffin design, so leave it to me," Aunt Serina drew an X on the paper. "Guests… leave that to me as well." She made another cross. "And this one… and this one too…" She finally stopped and smiled. "Here's something for you. What flowers do you want? Pick two different types."
Hermione sighed. This was her parents' funeral, and all she got to arrange were the types of flowers?
"Well, we could go with daisies and orchids, or sunflowers and jasmine, or frangipani and whatever! I don't know, aunty. Why don't you pick them? Since you're doing practically everything else," Hermione blurted out angrily. Aunt Serina stared at her with hurt in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I didn't know you felt that way," her aunt said weakly.
"Nobody knows how I feel. What – did all of you lose your heart overnight, because it's like everybody's not caring anymore!"
"Hermione, I'm sorry. It's just that I thought you wouldn't able to handle it," Aunt Serina explained.
"My parents died and I haven't committed suicide yet. Trust me, I can handle it." Hermione turned on her heels and stormed into her room, making sure she slammed the door hard and loud.
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Hermione,
You're in danger. You need to come home now.
Draco.
Draco stared at the letter he had written. It seemed too straight forward and fake. He crumpled it up and wrote another one.
Hermione,
I think someone dangerous is coming after you. I don't want you to get hurt… I love you so much.
Draco.
Pathetic, Draco thought. He crumpled that one as well and sat back on the comfy Slytherin couch, staring at the crackling fire on the mantelpiece.Hermione, IH
This is not going to work, he thought. I have to tell her in person. But how am I to leave this school without anyone noticing?
He knew he had to leave some way. He wouldn't let Hermione get hurt.
Draco got up and went to his room to get some bandages. He carefully unwrapped the bandage protecting his arm and held himself back from vomiting at the sight before him. He quickly cleaned his wound and wrapped a new clean cloth around it, wincing as he tugged it tight and taped it in place.
He lied down and closed his eyes. While he waited to drift off into slumber, he planned his escape. He would sneak out at midnight with his broomstick, head off to London, find Hermione's aunt's house, rescue her and bring her back to Hogwarts, where she would be safe………………
Perfect.
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It was a tough day for Hermione. Service agents, undertakers, relatives and people who probably had nothing to do with the funeral walked in and out of the house all day long, discussing the funeral arrangements. Aunt Serina attempted to get Hermione out of the room but gave up shortly. Hermione finally gave in 5 hours later and gobbled up lunch leftovers.
"Honey, it's dinnertime," Aunt Serina informed. Hermione frowned and got up lazily from the couch, tossing her Magical Creatures book aside.
"Alrighty, then," Uncle Williams said as they all sat down and began to feast. "Well, the funeral arrangements are all set. Though we have a problem with the flowers…"
Aunt Serina looked at Hermione warily and turned to her husband. "Will, now isn't a very good time to discuss that topic. Let's change the subject. How's school, Hermione?"
Hermione, with the same frowning face, poked at her food.
"Hermione? I said how's school," Aunt Serina repeated.
She kept playing with her food.
"Hermione, stop playing with your food," her aunt ordered. Hermione stopped and glared at her. She hated the way her aunt was trying to pretend she was Hermione's mother. No one can replace my mom, Hermione thought. No one.
But she did stop playing with her food, and answered dryly, "School's great."
That was as far as any conversation went at that table that night.
Hermione got in her pajamas and slid into bed. She rubbed her eyes and sighed. She had not cried since she arrived muggle world, and she wasn't planning to. She didn't want to be like other girls – she wanted to be strong for her parents, and not bawl and bawl for days.
Minutes later, she realized she wasn't going to sleep no matter how much she tried to, so she focused her mind on the night sky outside her window. The moon was full again, which was considered a sign of danger as learnt in Astronomy. She yawned. Danger was nothing to her anymore.
Draco. The name appeared in Hermione's mind. She forced herself not to think of him at all, and had succeeded. But somehow it was all coming back to her, as if he was just nearby…
"Oh my G-.." Hermione started, but a hand covered her mouth.
"Shh. Please, Hermione. I don't want your parents to find out."
The hand relaxed, but was still near Hermione's face, just in case she screamed again.
"It's okay. I won't. Who are you? I can't see you in the darkness," Hermione said, trying to act tough.
"It's me," the voice whispered.
"Oh sure, that'll help. What's your name?"
"Draco Malfoy."
Hermione kept quiet. She hurried out of bed and turned the light on. "Draco?"
Standing before her was Draco, his hair all messed up. He was holding his broom and panting heavily.
"You flew here? All the way from Hogwarts!" Hermione exclaimed.
Draco nodded weakly.
"How did you find me! It's practically impossible!"
"It took me a long time to fly here, but it was easy finding you. I was so lucky to meet a kind old man who knew who you were. Well, actually, he knew your parents, but same difference."
Hermione stared at him. "I don't believe you."
Draco shrugged and rubbed his arms, shivering.
Hermione was about to bring him over to her bed and keep him warm, but she held herself back. She remembered that she was still angry at him for causing so much trouble to her life.
Draco stood there for a moment and realized that Hermione wasn't going to do anything, so he went up to the bed and got in himself.
"What? I'm cold," Draco said when he saw Hermione gaping at him.
"I'm not sleeping with you," Hermione said shortly.
"You don't have to," Draco answered.
Hermione frowned. "I am not going to sleep on the floor. It's dirty."
"Then you're going to have to sleep with me," Draco said simply.
Hermione grumbled for a while but turned off the light and got into bed anyway. She stayed as far away from him as possible and closed her eyes. Draco sighed and ruffled his hair, closing his eyes as well. He was so glad that he had made it here. Now he could protect her and keep her safe from anyone who would harm her, whether she was acting like a brat or not.
And then he heard sniffling.
"Hermione?" Draco whispered. She didn't reply.
"Hermione…" He didn't know whether to leave her alone or hug her tight.
"I'm so sorry, Draco," Hermione said. "I just c-can't believe y-you came here for m-m-me after what I did to you!"
Draco moved closer to her and hugged her. She buried her face in his sweater and cried even more. He could feel her tears against his skin now, wet and cold.
"My parents are gone and I was too selfish to cry!" Hermione bawled. "I don't deserve anyone, Draco. Not even you. I don't know how to love a person."
"That's not true. I know you love me, and I love you too. We could stay this way forever," Draco whispered in her ear.
"I know I'm in trouble, Draco. I know he's coming for me," Hermione said quietly.
"You do?"
"Yes… what other reason could there be for the sudden death of my parents?"
Draco sighed, unable to come up with anything else to say. He decided that the best thing he could do was lie in bed and hug her tightly, and to let her soak his whole shirt in her tears if that was what she wanted.
"Anything… anything for you," Draco whispered. Hermione cried even more at that and tugged on his shirt, trying to catch her breath. They stayed that way the whole night, till finally, she stopped, and she could cry no more.
Draco woke up to the peaceful sounds of birds chirping outside. He smiled to himself and stretched his arms. He opened his eyes slowly and carefully, trying to adjust to the brightness. And that's when he realized she was gone.
He ran outside of the house but no one was there. The house was empty and as silent as a mouse. He checked every room but found nothing. "Hermione?" he yelled, hoping for a response. He walked into a bedroom which he assumed as Hermione's aunt and uncle's room, and saw that the bed was untidy and unmade. Draco sensed that something had gone very, very wrong. He opened the bathroom door and jumped back, yelling and screaming curse words like he had never cursed before. He ran out of the house and panted, unable to erase the image in his mind. In that bathroom were Hermione's relatives, soaked in their own blood, with wide open, horrified eyes. At that, he knew who took Hermione.
And he was going to get her back.
Okay, I think I made a lot of grammar mistakes, but I'm kinda lazy to check. I'm also getting lazy to write this story, so I think I'm gonna end it in the next 2 or 3 chapters… blehh, sorry…. Have to focus more on my studies… And also, terribly sorry for writing it so late.. It's during the holidays over here so I'm bz partying and stuff, no time for writing… well, Bon Voyage my darling story…