Chapter Seven: Silencio
A/N: THANKS TO: ShadowHexx771, ObnoxiouslyPeachyTwit2008, pobrediabla, and bluehazegrl!
Hermione's POV
Love is so strange. It's something that's foreign to me, and it's powerful. What was love? Lusting after someone? Someone that's your best friend, but something a bit more than that? Was it a feeling? Did it mean that both people cared deeply for each other? Could you hate someone so much that you loved them? It's all too questionable.
I suppose there're two kinds of loves: the kind of love you felt for one particular person..and the love you feel for your family, your friends. The second kind of love is something I'm familiar with. The first kind..I don't know. Have I ever felt that way for anyone? Harry? Ron? Draco? Maybe it's someone I haven't even met yet. Who knows?
I loved Harry and Ron to the death, but I'm sure it's that family sort of love. We've all been best mates for years. We've been through many situations where we could have easily died, but we've survived either by quick thinking or simply by sheer dumb luck. We've all had our ups and downs, and I've particularly had many ups and downs with Ron. We always argue, whether it over something stupid or serious. There were many opprotunities that could have permanently ruined our friendship, but it has never shattered. We've been through some tough times together..but was that love?
I've recently taken an interest to Draco, despite the fact that we've been enemies for years. Funny, I remember that not too long ago, I never would have imagined me wanting to kiss such a "disgrace of a wizard." But I've heard that grave situations always bring out the best and worst in everyone. Maybe this brought the best out in Draco. And I guess I learned to like that side of him. Well, until I realized that side may not be out because he likes me, but instead because wanted off of this island. I kind of deserve it, though. If I knew any better, I would have seen that coming.
I don't know what I think of him now. Maybe he did care- but it's not like I had given him a chance to say what he had meant to say. Maybe he didn't care at all. Honestly, I don't know. I didn't handle that situation all too well..I suppose I officially fancy him now, alongside Ron. Even though we just had a nasty argument. Reminds me a little of the arguments I have with Ron- except this one was a bit more drastic than that. We've been through a lot in this short time on this island. But did that mean that I loved him? Or was it Ron? Or neither?
Merlin! What have I gotten myself into? Now I think I might love someone, but I don't even know what love is! Maybe I don't even. Maybe I'm just being weird. I hope it's that, because I wouldn't know what I would begin to do if I loved someone.
The conclusion is is that I don't know much about love, and whether or not I do love someone or not. I can say that if I did love someone- not saying that I do but- if I did, it would be narrowed down to either Ron or Draco. Only if. How ironic- why is it that I seem to fall for the ones I tend to argue with?
So. Now what I do? Should I go and try to find Draco? But what would I say? "Oh, you know. When you left I spent some time trying to figure out the differences between love and lust, and whether or not I loved someone. And I found that I do like you and all, but I like Ron, too. Really, I haven't gotten any closer as to who I like more. But you know that already, and you blew up when you heard that. So..no hard feelings, right?" Well, that would all go down nicely.
Bloody. I had better let him roam around in the forest and let him lose some of his steam. Or at least give him some alone time. Then I can look for him. Yeah..sounds loads better than walking up to him right now. Still, I wouldn't know what to say to him. I could try to explain why I still have feelings for Ron..I could also just lie and tell Draco that I fancy only him and him alone. Or I could just say that I hated him and that I only liked Ron. None of those options seems particularly appealing. Maybe I should just say nothing to him at all.
Would he even be happy to see me if I did go looking for him? Last time I was the one that left, but I was also the one that came back. Should I just give him time to let him come back to me? But what if he wouldn't? What if he took my last words I had spoken to him by heart? I was in rage mode back then. Now I'm in frustrated/confused/pondering mode. I hope he didn't take me seriously. I didn't mean that he didn't care about anyone..well fine. I did. But he didn't have to get all angry when I told him the truth about how I felt.
Okay. Fine. Let me just pretend to be Draco for a moment. If I were him, I would be angry if someone I just snogged was saying that they liked you, but liked someone else, too. I would be impulsive and say something before thinking it.
My initial reaction to that statement of his was anger, followed shortly by disbelief. I didn't want to listen to whatever else he had to say. I refused to. I only assumed that's what he meant. Then I had to be stupid and say that no ones cares about him, as he doesn't care about anyone else. And Draco's reaction?
I would be beyond anger. I don't think I would walk away, but I would have something nasty to say. I suppose Draco restrained himself from saying anything else.
There, I just went through that scenario as if I were Draco. I would have handled it the same way, more or less. I don't think that makes me very happy to know that, though. Why is it that I'm the one that usually causes things, either that or it has something to do with me? I just wish that for once, just for once- I could actually not argue, and not have to reply in a smartass way. But of course, that would never happen. That's just who I am- the stubborn Know-It-All. Oh, and the girl with the bushy hair and minimal cleavage. How could Draco ever have liked me? If he did..
With these miserable thoughts, along with many others, I eventually lay down on the cliff (quite a ways from the edge), and drift into a fitful sleep.
It's chilly out here. Yep, that's my first thought of the day as I wake up to see that it's early morning, with dew upon the grass. It doesn't do me any good, considering it's already cold, but it's also wet. Blearily, I stand up, getting a good look at my surroundings. I'm in the same spot, and probably slept in the exact same position as I had when I had fallen asleep. I assure you, I didn't get any sleep at all. A restless sleep, if that's what you want to call it.
I stretch my arms out and emit a catlike yawn. I would love to fall back asleep, but I know that won't be happening. I would still have thoughts of Ron and Draco, and still point out all the negative sides of me.
I shiver. "Why wasn't I wearing my robes when I was doing the rounds!" I say, aloud, to myself. It's better than talking to yourself, in your head. At least this way you can pretend that you are talking to someone else. Other than yourself. No wonder that old man I saw was crazy.
"Well, it was warm that night. Or maybe you just forgot to wear them. It's a surprise to see you here, 'Mione." What? An answer to my response? And that though was not mine. It came from a voice that was very familiar. Not Draco's. But it couldn't be..only Draco and I had come here..how could this be possible? And it could only be one person, considering they called me 'Mione.
Slowly, I turn around to face..none other than Ron.
I try to say something, but only let out a little squeak.
"What? Are you surprised to see me?"
"Oh, just..just a little," I reply, still in disbelief. How could he be here? Was it really him? Or was it some sort of mirage, some part of magic on this island that was trying to trick me?
"I'm surprised to see you, too. I thought no one else was here."
"I..how're you here?"
"I was just about to ask you the same question," he grinned, "but I'll tell how I got here first. You remember that I locked Draco up in that room? I was so angry that it wasn't until halfway to the common room did I realize that you weren't there! I figured I had accidentally locked you into that room with him. But I knew you had your wand, so I guessed that I would meet you along the way. I didn't. Surprisingly, I came across the room I locked you both in. It was still locked. But why? That was odd. I unlocked it and went in the room. It was empty. That was odder still.
"I was about ready to head off and look for you. I feared that Malfoy may have taken your wand and have done something to you. But before I left, something caught my eye. It was a statue. I looked closer at it- and it had an inscription written on it. Something about choosing to hate. And love, and whatever else. But before I could take it all in, I was blinded by light. Then I was here, somehow. Now how about you?"
"But- but how could you be here!" I exclaim. "You aren't apart of the curse! The inscription says, "Because both of you chose to hate, you now have power to change your fate. Either you choose to find true love, or forever here you shall remain." Draco and I came because we hate each other..you don't fit into the equation-" I stop, abruptly. Either you choose to find true love..it never said that I had to fall in love with the person I hated. It just said I had to fall in love. With someone. I remember that I thought that maybe I could find someone else to fall in love with on this island. But all along, I could have found Ron. But it didn't make sense! Why would he be here! And was it even him?
But it seems to be him. It's the same vibrant red hair, the same electric blue eyes. The same lopsided grin, the same lankiness, the same freckles splattered across his face- I could go on and on. It was him alright. At least in appearance..
"Ron," I say, suddenly, "tell me something only you would know."
He looks at me, shocked. "Draco is here!"
"Yes," I reply, and then repeat, "Now, tell me something only you would know."
"Why? You know it's me- well, look. We're apart of the Order of the Phoenix. The headquarters is located at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Now tell me where that slimy git is!"
"Okay," I say, relieved. "It's you."
"Why did you think I might have been fake? And where is Malfoy?"
"It just..it doesn't make sense as to why you're here. And..I don't know where he is right now." I sigh.
"Once I find him," he says, savagely, "I'm going to murder him!"
"Isn't that a little harsh? Why are you so angry at him?"
"He's the one that got you here!"
"No, actually, you're the reason we're all here. You locked us up into that room, remember?" I'm starting to get annoyed. This was definitely Ron, and I'm somewhat pleased that he is here, but he was being...well, Ron. And it's not what I needed right now. I guess I would be more at ease with it if I only knew why he was here. That old man never mentioned anyone else here except for that girl. But could there have also been someone else?
"He's the one that provoked me."
"Draco is harmless, Ron. Yes, he likes to provoke people. But he's been doing that for years. Same old story. You were the one that got angry about it."
"No way. Has he.." He looks at me in horror. "Has he brainwashed you?"
"Now really! What nonsense is that? Of course he hasn't." What utter nonsense was that?
"Yes, he did. Otherwise you wouldn't be like this."
"Be like what!" I ask, irritably.
"You- you're defending him!"
"Er, so?" Bad thing to say.
"He's an enemy, Hermione! Our enemy!"
"He was. But not anymore. Look, before you say anything else- we've been through a lot here together in this short period of time."
"I can't believe what I'm hearing," Ron says, shaking his head in disbelief. "You..you love him!"
"I do not love him! I just.." Great, would I have to explain that I like them both equally? Again? I know Ron well enough. He wouldn't handle it well. He's already not handling it well.
"Just what?" Ron asks, his face red.
Before I have time to stop myself, I blurt out, "Ron. I like you. But I also like Draco, too." I'm blushing. Why did I have to be the one to admit my feelings first! I did when I told Draco, too! Well, he did snog me, so I guess he was telling me that way..but I was still the first to say it!
His ears are turning red..great. "I knew it. I knew it! You do like that git!" He says angrily, his face contorted in anger.
"I like you, too." I point out, meekly.
"Well, I already knew that. But Malfoy!"
"You knew? Well, then why did you never say anything to me!" I'm stunned. Was it that obvious? Okay, fine. I figured that he liked me, too..but still.
"I was going to! That night, while we were on our rounds! But then your precious Draco got in the way!" So that's why he got so angry. He cared about me, so he didn't want Draco saying those things! It's quite sweet, but a little too much. If it weren't for Draco, none of this would have happened. I would probably be dating Ron..and not even give a second thought on Draco..But it didn't happen that way. Unfortunately.
"Bloody.." I say. "And don't say that he's precious to me!"
"What?" Ron sneered. "He is."
"Uh..maybe..but then, so are you! I'm not going to lose our friendship just because of my screwed up feelings over both of you! So stop!"
"If you liked me, you wouldn't compare me with that sniveling git," he hissed.
"Quit calling him that," I say, angrily. "You're being a jerk. I knew you couldn't handle this."
"It's your fault I'm like this! I wouldn't like you if I knew you liked him!" Those words stung.
Instead of being angrier still, I say, calmly, "I didn't tell you you had to fancy me. I just told you how I felt." It seems like whenever I say how I feel, only their feelings matter. How do they think I feel when they say that I'm not good enough because I also like the other? I wouldn't be happy about it, either. But I also would be a bit more accepting! There's nothing I can do about it..
Ron glares at me, but then looks away, in the direction of the forest. "I'm going to look for him." Of course he meant Draco. Ron whips out his wand. Merlin. His wand. Wand!
"Ron," I say, cautiously, "Give me that wand. We can then turn a rock or something into a portkey and get out of here. After we find Draco, or course, but we can all get out of here."
"No," He says, stubbornly. "First I'll torture the git, and then maybe I'll make a portkey for myself. Then you can both stay on this island and enjoy yourselves. How does that sound?" He's mad! Why was he doing this!
"Ron, please-"
"Silencio!" Great. Now I can't talk. Miserable cretin. What mess did I get myself into? They're both mad at me now..which only meant one thing. The only way would be either to pick one of them, or try to steal Ron's wand. Option two sounds better.
Ron stalks off, and I can't do anything else but follow. Or stay here like an idiot. But I can't let him hurt Draco, and himself. Besides that, that wand meant that we could get out of here. Instead of falling in love. That was a lot better of an option than anything else. Agh. I dread to see what lies ahead..
A/N: So, what did you think? Did that surprise you? And don't worry- I know exactly where this is all going- except for whether or not it'll be DMHG, or RWHG. Please review and tell me what you think of this!