Wow, stupid SAT and APs... i finally finished this chapter
I wrote most of this past midnight on many procrastination filled nights and put it on here as soon as I could, so sry if i have mistakes. Tell me if there's any
And this chapter is inspired by the song "Slow Down" from Bobby Valentino
Also, I'm giving yal some psychology lessons on this chapter P I recommend yal to take the class, it's quite interesting i think.
read and review
and Draco is Jake
Termination and Restoration: Homecoming, the Conclusion
Few Months before Hermione's First Year at Hogwarts
Hermione was the most excited girl in the world, dancing around like a golden butterfly, when she read her acceptance letter to Hogwarts, a magical school for the most magically gifted children around Europe. She was happy not because she had found out that she was gifted; she had always known that she was smarter than others her age. She screamed in joy because Fate had given her a chance to make friends, friends much like her.
Hermione Granger had always been different. Her parents said different was good; it made her an individual, standing out from the crowd. But Hermione hated it. She was simply too smart, too gifted, for others. Other children had no interest in Hermione's interests. They were too busy playing house while Hermione busily read about the cultures around the world.
She had no friends, no friends living close to her at least. One friend she had lived far away. He was her pen pal; his was named Jacob Welsh. Hermione had met him through an international pen pal program. Their friendship had been built slowly. They had little in common, being brought up in different societies. But he was really good to her, and eventuallygained her fragile trust. She told him everything as he told her everything. She couldn't wait to tell him her good news.
But...
"Um, Honey?" her mother nervously approached her. "There's another letter for you to read from Mr. Dumbledore."
"Ohh!" ecstatic Hermione grabbed the letter. "More letters from Hogwarts to read. How exciting!"
Dear Ms. Granger
I regretfully inform you that by attending Hogwarts, you must terminate all close personal relationships with everyone outside of your family. This is for your own protection. I hope you would understand.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Upon reading, Hermione dropped to her knees and cried."I'm so sorry Jake! I have to do this. Please forgive me. . ."
Dearest Jacob,
I wish I could write to you under better circumstances. I have terrible news. I can write to you no longer. I'm truly sorry.
I have been accepted into an elite boarding school for especially talented children. It seems that God has given me another chance to make friends after all. By attending the school, I hope I will be able to meet others just like me and achieve something I've never been able to do: to make many friends. The school, for a reason I can not disclose with you, has required me to terminate my relationship with my only friend, you. I really wish I could tell you this news to celebrate.Itwould simply be too selfish of me to ask you to be happy for me, but I beg of you to at least understand. Though we've been pen pals for a long time, there's little chance that we'll ever meet due to our present condition. I feel guilty longing for a friend I could see and touch when you've been the care and support I could ever ask for.
We live in a different world, Jake, literally and emotionally. We've never had too much in common except for our desire to learn about other, but you've always been so generous to me toward my weirdness, my excessive bookishness, and my lack of social skills. I feel terrible about repaying you with such cruelty. You don't deserve it. But our differences will only grow as we age. My life has changed so much over the past few days that I can not even discuss it with you; I'm not allowed to discuss it with you. My path seems to have turned completely. I wish I could take you with me, I really do. But that's simply unfair for you, for I will only leave you behind. My life is changing so fast. I'm already behind in pursuing my new dream and I'm running to keep up. I can't ask you to keep up with me. It may be impossible for you to keep up with me.
You have a great life ahead of you. You will easily get to where you want to be. But you just can't be with me.
On your last letter, you confessed to me that you may have fallen in love with me. Jacob Welsh, I have fallen in love with you, too. But I can't love you. We're simply too young and I will only leave you behind. I'm sorry.
I hope our paths will cross again in the distant future. You may treat me in any way that you'd like. I'd probably deserve it.
I'm sorry,
To my first love,
Hermione Granger
Upon reading the tear-drenched letter, Draco Malfoy, under alias of Jacob Welsh from Beverly Hills, California, cried. He hated and loved Hermione at the same time. He tried to hate the muggle race, calling them "mudbloods"; but, he couldn't truly hate them.
He later found out that Hermione Granger attended Hogwarts along with him. But, he never revealed to her his alias.
His childhood feelings for her remained for the rest of his life.
I will only leave you behind. My life is changing so fast. . . I can't ask you to keep up with me.
Present, 1:05a.m., October 23rd, 2005
"So, Hermione, I guess you're a witch?" Jacob M. Alexander assumed as if he didn't already know.
Jake and Hermione were now sitting in the courtyard, on a warm Southern night. After a brief period of confusion and silence from their surprise encounter, Jake had invited Hermione out on a walk where they ended up sitting on a bench instead. It was surprisingly clean for once, the courtyard; it was usually dirty, full of litter that created a repulsive field around the once beautiful garden in the middle. Jake, being in charge of the dance, had personally made sure that the courtyard would be an attractive place to be, at least for Homecoming. The brick walls were watered and windows wiped. Plants were trimmed and weeds pulled. He had even made sure that each one of the tables were clothed and magically removed all the gums stuck under it while no one was looking. Jake had made sure that the night was perfect. The garden looked amazing as if it was an untouched forest. Now that Hermione was here, Jake felt he could finally enjoy his accomplishment.
"Yes," Hermione answered while Jake admired his own work.
"So why is a witch like you attending a school for "normal" kids?" Jake inquired for something he thought he already knew.
"Because I can," Hermione simply shot him down.
Smartass
"So," Draco decided to test how nice Hermione would act toward Jake, who found out her darkest secret. "I suppose all wizards are born with their magical powers and go to regular schools just for the heck of it?"
"No," Hermione replied with a cold British accent.
Is she trying to be hard-to-get or is she just being mean?
"So are you going to tell me anything?" Jake finally turned his face toward Hermione, at his left.
"No," Jake could see the seriousness in her eyes. She meant business. He felt a small perspiration itching on his back. His right hand slid there to soothe his irritation.
"So why are you here with me?" Jake knew what was coming.
"I'm here," Hermione sighed and took out a wooden stick she had in her hand when she first appeared in front of Jake. "I'm here because I have to erase your memory."
Expelliarmus
Before Hermione could point her wand at Jake, her hand jerked; she noticed that some force had knocked the wand out of her hand into the bushes. Hermione eyed Jake with alarm and terror. She jumped out of her seat.
"Accio wa. . ."
Silencio
Hermione's spell was cancelled as Jake Alexander, owner of unknown powers, stood up. His right arm was still bent, touching his back. She could now see that his hand gripped another wand, pointing straight toward her. She mouthed something he read as "bloody hell".
"Amusing fact about the spell silencio" Jake smiled. "The target of the spell never finds out she's being silenced until someone tells her. In her head, she's making noises like a maniac. She can try to cast all the verbal spells that she want, thinking she's doing it correctly, but nothing happens at all. Perhaps you should try a silent spell next time."
Hermione only stared back, trying to anticipate his next move.
Gee, calm down will ya?
"Now that you're all shut up, ready to listen, I shall tell you what I know about you."
Huh? What does he know about me?
"You see, Hermione," Jake finally regained his position as the arrogant smartass. "I know everything."
The silence spell was broken.
"What do you know?" Hermione nervously asked the superior magician.
"So now you're asking me questions?" Jake sniggered. "Perhaps I shall shoot you down like you did to me."
I hate that smirk in his face. It's so much like Malfoy's.
"Don't play with me Jake," Hermione stared at Jake with disdain and anxiety.
"Fine," Jake, upon scoffing at her seriousness, stared at her dispassionately. "I shall tell you."
They stared at each other in suspense.
"Hermione," Jake began. He was truly serious now. The playful, cocky and funny Jake A. was gone. And the soulless, cut-to-the-chase businessman, Jacob M. Alexander, stood in front of Hermione, taking a breath that seemed to last for hours as Hermione's anxiety grew exponentially. Eyes closed and facing the ground, his stone serious face lifted itself mechanically and opened its eyes, signaling the proximity of the truth as if sending out an electric impulse. Jacob declared explicitly with a deep accent, "Hermione, I am your father," and cracked up laughing hysterically. Hermione, swept off her feet by the utterly unexpected crudeness of his joke, couldn't help but to giggle.
"Sit down," Jake made a big smile at Hermione and pointed at the bench they formally sat on. "This might take a while."
They sat down.
"I felt the need to lighten up the mood a bit," he turned his face toward Hermione. "But I'll tell you everything now."
Well, everything she wanna hear.
"You are Hermione Granger from Hogwarts." Jacob M Alexander began. "You are the brightest witch of your generation, and you're here probably to find something to aid the War against the Dark Lord"
Wow, I did not know Hermione can open her mouth that big.
Hermione had concluded that Jake was ready to be serious. The ice had been broken; she felt ready for what ever unexpected answers she might find from this amusing fellow.
But she wasn't ready after all; hindsight bias kicked in as she realized how much her jaw had dropped. Jake only smiled at Hermione's embarrassment and took a deep breath.
"My mother's maiden name was Welsh." Jake declared and received another confused stare in return.
Hermione knew no one personally by the name of Welsh, or so she thought. But somehow, her heart was pounding hard, she was breathing heavier, she was feeling a tinge of uneasiness in-between her legs.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Hermione managed, crossing her legs tight.
"Gee," Jake decided to pretend looking offended. "I thought you'd deem me important enough to be remembered."
Seeing Hermione's involuntary response, Draco analyzed her cognition. Professor Snape had taught him to read one's mind through her bodily behavior instead of using unreliable magic clouded by Occlumency. He was sure that her consciousness was having a hard time remembering who Jacob Welsh was. But he could see that her body responded to the name noticeably; Hermione was having hard time breathing. She was reacting just as she did when she received Jacob's letters all those years ago. Spontaneous Recovery works its charm once again. He felt flattered by the fact that Hermione responded so girlishly upon the mention of his old alias; it had become a conditional stimulus for arousal and exposed the degree of her infatuation with Jacob Welsh before she terminated their friendship.
Haha, what did she do, touch herself every time she read my letters?
"I'm the guy you decided to leave behind just to attend Hogwarts." Jacob Welsh decided that his rather perverted thought was out of question.
Tears flooded out of Hermione's eyes like waterfall. Draco was once again amused by Hermione's bodily reaction. So she did cry when she threw me out of her life.
Good, Jake smiled in his head while showing concern in his face. Flatter me more; it'll only help my cause.
"I'm sorry, Jake," Hermione cried as the memory of Jacob Welsh flooded back into her brain. "I'm so sorry for everything."
He is the boy I left behind. I remember it all now. I got that letter from Hogwarts and sent him that terrible letter without hesitation. Why did I do it? How could I have done what I did? He didn't deserve it. He probably hates me. Then why does he seem so interested in me? Is this a plot of revenge? No, it can't be; he was never like that... but how will I know if he changed or not? It's been six years. I never knew he was a wizard; how will I know if there are other things he's hiding from me? But why is he here? Why does he have to make me remember him? I was so obsessed with him when I was a kid. I tried so hard to forget... how could he just come and do this to me? Do I have to run away from him again?
"I tried so hard to forget you," Hermione continued. "I threw your friendship away so impetuously."
"Everything's alright Hermione, everything's perfect." Firm, cold arms embraced Hermione as she wiped her tears; they were Jake's arms. Everything was fine, indeed. Despite the rigidity of the hold, Hermione felt comforted by Jake. She laid her face on his chest and slowly stopped herself from crying. As the sobbing ended, all was silent; Hermione could feel the boy's heartbeat. The slow, firm beats relaxed her breathing; but, when she finally relaxed herself, she noticed that his heart rate had increased dramatically as if it absorbed the tension in her breathing.
Something wrong?
"So," Hermione decided to find out. "What do you want to know, Mr. Jacob Alexander-Welsh?"
Ok, Jake, she's in your arms now. Perfect. Everything is going well. Just keep going, just keep going. Now take your plan into action. You're gonna be fine Jake, you rehearsed this over and over. What was I supposed to say again? Talk about sports? Gah, wait, no; she hates sports. Talk to her about my imaginary escapades in Beverly Hill? Fuck no, that's the worst idea possible. Ahhh, I forgot what to say! Crap, this is worse than the last time. Draco had made himself nervous holding Hermione so close.
"Um, ah..., yeah. . . , um" Jake stumbled for words.
"Whyam Ihere, what I have been doing over the years?" Hermione suggested, finding Jake's sudden nervousness amusing.
Oh, that's right.
"Nervous?" Jake pretended to be confident. "What do you mean nervous? I'm like the most confident, huge-egoed person in the world."
"Haha," Hermione smiled. "Sure"
"Alright," Jake decided that listening would ease his tension. "Answer those questions."
"When I got on the train leaving for Hogwarts, hindsight bias bit me in the ass like a three-headed dog. I told you I'd be able to make so many friends who are just like me, but you know what I realized? I am weird. There is no one quite like me. But I came to terms with that a little bit late. The first two friends I made thought I was so weird; I don't think they really liked me at first, I know Ron didn't. Harry felt like he had to be nice to me Ithink. You know Harry, the boy who lived? I tried to impress him by fixing his glasses. It was so cute; he had no clue what's so ever about what was going on. I was so surprised to find out that he had no friends growing up, just like me. But he was overwhelmed by the entire magical community trying to make friends with him. I suppose that's why he decided to stick with the little people like Ron and I. Ron, because he had the family Harry never had. Me, well, I suppose because he sympathized with my lack of social skills.
"You know, it's funny. When I first arrived at Hogwarts, I thought you were Ron. He was so much like you. But he hated me. I thought it was because of that nasty letter I sent you. I tried to be accepted by him, but that didn't quite work and it frustrated me. You know me, I hate things not working. So one day, we almost got ourselves killed by a Cerberus, and I blew up on him; we became enemies after that incident. On Halloween, he said something nasty about me and I overheard it. He said that it's no wonder no one can stand me, that I'm a nightmare. The saddest part of it, it was true. I had no friends. I sacrificed the only one I had, you, for some dumb hope that blew up in my face. And since I thought it came from you, it felt worse.
"So while I was crying my eyes out in the lady's room, a troll came crashing in. When it started attacking me, Ron saved me. We became friends after that; we acted like an old married couple. I asked him if he ever had a pen pal actually, he said no, so I tried to forget you after that, and did."
"So this Ron guy became my replacement." Jake interrupted.
"No," Hermione chuckled. "I may break off my relationship with people but I don't replace them."
"Is that what happened with Victor Krum?" Jake laughed.
"Victor Krum?" Hermione, caught off guard, eyed him. "How do you know about Victor Krum and me?"
"You were all over the American tabloids, dear," Jake smirked; Hermione didn't quite enjoy that. "You gotta realize that over here, anything about anyone gets on the paper. Especially by that Rita Skeeter lady. She got a job at the Wizarding Times and has been trashing you ever since."
"That bloody bugger!" Hermione was enraged. "She actually dared writing about me again in some place I didn't look.
"Now, now, kid." Jake chuckled. "Watch your language. Don't worry, she doesn't have a clue where Harry Potti... Potter and you are. The last time she wrote about you two, she wrote about how yal became cowards after Ron Weasley's death and went into hiding."
"So you know about Ron's death." Hermione sighed.
"I'm terribly sorry for your loss," Jake looked sympathetic. "He died a hero and a martyr."
"I know," Hermione stared at the ground; droplets of tear could be seen again, collecting under her eyes. "It's just that..."
Hermione was sobbing now. Draco imagined she was crying because of Ron's death, but something told him that it was more than that. He also began to feel guilty, for a very good reason only he knew.
"I'm such a terrible person!" Hermione put her hands on her face. "I got rid of you in a heartbeat. I forced Victor to be just a friend with me. And I made Ron go and get himself killed."
What? Jake mouthed.
"You see," Hermione tried to regain her composure. "I had a fight with him right before he went and destroyed the horcrux. He brought me important information on the location of The Dark Lord's fourth horcrux, Ravenclaw's necklace Regulus Black had stolen. It was in the old Malfoy mansion. He wanted to go but I told him I'd go with Harry and others from the Order of Phoenix instead. I was trying to keep him safe but I only stabbed his pride. It ended up with me telling him that he wasn't skilled enough to find and destroy a horcrux and Harry and I will only leave him behind in our attempt."
"So he left to go destroy the horcrux on his own?" Draco guessed.
"Yes," Hermione nodded. "No one know exactly what happened between Ron and the horcrux. Harry and I found Ron unconscious in the mansion next to the broken necklace. He woke up and died a few days after that. Only thing I know about what happened is that two wands were involved. I suppose Ron and the Tom Riddle copy from the necklace had gotten into a duel that ended up in a stale mate."
"Ron died destroying a horcrux and making the world a better place, Hermione," Draco looked at Hermione sympathetically, hiding his guilt. "Be proud of him for that"
Well, I was the one who actually destroyed the horcrux, and I got him killed in my attempt. I wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for Ron's death.The Dark Lord would have known it was me if Ron wasn't there. If Ron wasn't killed, Dark Lord would have killed me personally.
"I know," Hermione stopped sobbing. "I am proud of him."
"And perhaps you should tell Katy that Ron didn't do anything cruel to you. She still thinks that he duped you and left." Draco attempted a shot at comic relief.
"Haha," Hermione smiled. "Sure."
"Hmm" Draco smiled sarcastically at Hermione. "I thought I was your first love."
Well, it's obvious that I can't say anything funny now. Might as well as go to the serious part.
"Jake," Hermione sighed. "I know you loved me. And I suppose in a way I loved you too."
"Thank you" Jake smiled.
"But," Hermione continued. "I'm scared I'm gonna mess things up like I did with Victor and Krum. I already screwed things over with you once before. I'm scared the same thing's going to happen again.
"Perhaps we should just..."
Jake's hand signaled her to pause.
"Hermione," Jake smiled. "Look, I'm not here expecting us to pick things up from where we left off. For Merlin's sake, that was more than six years ago. All I'm asking is for you to give us another chance. You terminated our friendship because you didn't know I was also a wizard. You ended it because you thought we would be walking on different paths and it would be impossible for me to take your path.
"Guess what? I can walk on the same path with you. You just have to tell me what's going on. You just need to slow down so I can catch up with you, and I promise I'll catch up if you only give me the chance."
Hermione could give nothing but a pondering smile.
"Jake, I. . . " Hermione was interrupted again by Jake.
Now this is for the kill.
"There's one more thing," Jake stood up, waved his wand around and magically installed a giant stereo system and loud speakers around the courtyard. "Since MJ, the DJ, is gone, I guess I'll have to do this on my own."
Melodious tone from a harp echoed throughout the courtyard.
Bobby Valentino . . . you know how we do. . .
"May I have this dance?" Jake stretched his hand out toward Hermione.
Jake danced with Hermione, one hand holding her hand, one hand holding her hip.
"Relax," Jake whispered. "What happened to the good old high school dancing where no one knows how to really dance? This ain't no one two step."
"Fine," Hermione chuckled.
They got closer together. Hermione put her arms around Jake's neck as he embraced her hips. They were great dancers, but somehow, they had trouble trying not to step on each other's feet. When they finally relaxed themselves, the song finally began.
Hermione could feel Jake's breaths passing through her skin. And
"I saw you walking. . . " he whispered the song into her ears. "You looked like an angel straight out of heaven, girl. I was blown away by, your sexiness, and all I have to do is to catch up to you.
Jake took a hold of Hermione's hand and spun her around, her back now faced him. His hands were upon her hands upon her hips, which moved left and right as their legs slid sideways.
"Slow down," Jake sung. "I just wanna get to know you. But don't turn around, cuz that pretty round thing looks good to me."
Hermione giggled, imagining which round thing he was staring at; there were two pairs.
"Slow down," she could feel Jake's chuckle from his breath upon her skin. "I've never seen anything so lovely. Now turn around, and bless me with your beauty, cutie."
So they danced and danced. Jake sung and whispered. Their hips swayed and undulated. They slid and stepped. And Hermione continued to feel Jake Alexander's warm breaths upon her skin.
"Oh, baby you know by now that I want you bad. I'm floating on open air I can't come down. Cupid hit me already damn. Now I can't leave till seven digits are in my hand, my hand.
"Let me be the one to enjoy you. . .
Jake spun her body to face him again. He was now staring directly into Hermione's eyes. He was no longer whispering.
"Now turn around, and bless me with your beauty." Jake kissed Hermione on her forehead and transferred his feelings through the warmness of his breath.They embraced each other tight and let the chorus of their song take over to finish its course.
"I'm gonna go get me some food from the vending machine. I'm hungry." Hermione declared.
Jake and Hermione were sitting on the bench again.
"Alright," Jake answered sleepily. "I'll wait here for you."
"Don't fall asleep on me now." Hermione smiled and walked into the building. "I'll leave you here."
Draco smiled and fell asleep.
Hermione smiled looking at Jake's face.
He fell asleep on me, how cute. Now I get to leave him here.
But Hermione kept staring at him.
He looks so innocent when he's asleep. It's just like Ronnie, so adorable.
Hermione remembered the time Jake kissed her without permission in their first official encounter. She, like Jake, couldn't resist the urge.
Well, this one will make things even.
Hermione leaned over and kissed the sleeper's lips. She scribbled something down on a piece of paper and left. She had forgotten all about the incident at the town hall.
She left on me.
Draco frowned upon noticing the piece of paper Hermione had left a note on. It had Hermione's cell phone number and a note saying "call me".
Draco shook his head and took out his cell phone. He clicked on "recent messages"; it had Hermione's text message and her number.
Way to give me something I already have.
Draco Malfoy chuckled and left the building.
Homecoming night had come to an end.
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