Crack

Chapter 2 A good student.

-Er…- She did not know how to start. It was very firm for her to talk about the case with the ex-best friends of hers, - Listen, I need to talk to you. That's about Harry and Ron. – She said waiting for reaction from him. Draco, in his turn, was just observing her, so, having listened to a weird silence she went on, - We…we've just quarreled…very seriously. Hermione exhaled noisily, expecting him to hug her and say some warming words. But he seemed to take the news for granted. He slowly stood up and came a bit nearer to her.

-Well, I always said I had 'love relationships' at my finger tips - He announced loudly, looking at the bookshelf behind Hermione. The girl could not realize what he was leading to. She tried to speak a word, but was interrupted by a guy, who appeared from the very shelf.

-I am glad our bet is based on nothing…as you say just a sport interest. – He said, looking pitifully at Hermione, who was completely out of the sect, - Otherwise, I would have to make my family poor.

-Oh yes. Or worse, you'd have to kiss Millicent… - he laughed slightly. But now, I think it's high time to do away with all these. You've just heard the greatest news of all time – Hermione Granger is no longer the best friend of Potter and Weasley…and the reason is – me…

-What's the hell is going on? – Hermione asked. She was now at a loss, but nevertheless she was too clever not to understand what exactly has only happened. The authenticity has already hit her. It was a brutal, painful bang. As if she was slapped by icy water on her whole body. At the moment she wanted to take to her heels and forget about everything and everyone. She wanted to shout. She wanted to cry, but didn't let herself do it. She was too strong to break down of such things. She was too smart to give the surrounding people see her blubber. She was too stubborn to give up all her priorities. The priorities, which made her suffer very deep inside. And never show her sting to the world. Hermione was now looking straight in the eye of that tall, handsome and badly sexy lad, with all those aristocratic manners, who dared to laugh at her feelings, moreover, he made her fell apart with her friends. She did not show her emotions at all. She was just looking at his silver eyes.

-You see, Hermione…- he stopped for a moment, as though searching for right words, - I simply made a bet on you. And in details, it is a bet that I will make you leave your faithful friends for me. The matter is that it was a type of an interesting game with you. You know, as my dad taught: "you do through a decoy and just wait. Waiting – that's the most important rule, which was learnt by me. You mustn't hasten the path of the events; you may only lead, whisper right answers, giving the victim the right to make decisions on its own. So, the decoy enters your trap, believing you, trusting you…and the doors of the trap shut silently, cutting off the opportunity to walk away…step, another one…one more – each step leads to one, inevitable, unavoidable end." That what actually happened to you. My dad is a real master of a word, and I am…well, I am a good student. You know, I really got the pleasure of the process of the game. But the real aim of this kind of sport was not leaving you with a broken heart, but breaking these strong affairs between you three. All Slytherins have never believed in those relations, they only loathed it. I am not an exception. That is why it was quite exciting for me to watch you turning aside from them.

-Well, Malfoy, I hope you had a real fun – She said harshly and pretty serenely. Nothing betrayed her – neither her voice, nor her eyes. Nothing uncovered her true feelings. No one could even guess what a terrible whirlwind of emotions was there, inside her…

It was a cold night...Beautiful dark sky was full of that unreachable, bright stars. It was very quiet, and it only helped the picture to fulfill. The wind was playing with old, big trees, taking their leaves in a passionate dance. It was cold and rather beautiful night. Hermione was still sitting on the edge of the huge window, half swollen by wonderful curtains. She sighed loudly as she ended recalling that nightmare. She was now about to finish her life. She was about to give up all her priorities. She was about to show her weakness after all. She was about to make the greatest mistake of hers. Hermione Granger gave the final look at the stunning beauty of the nature, which surrounded her at the moment. It made her smile, some warmth entered her heart. She remembered her parents, who were so tender to her during all her life, who loved her despite her mistakes. And it made sense. She understood that this mistake was an unforgivable one. And that even her parents will not understand her. She imagined what would happen to them if they knew their only child, their pride was gone, and her heart ached with a new power. But that was the pain for parents' distress. She could not let her parents suffer only because of this unforeseen chapter of her life. Hermione suddenly understood how foolish her intention was. She suddenly understood that she had to continue living for her parents, for that magnificent nature, for herself. She also understood that she had to outlive this station of life and walk on… The girl looked around one more time as if thanking those trees, which caught her eye, the wind, which gulped her with fresh ideas – right ideas – about her purpose of ending her living, for making her re-see the situation. At the moment, her cried out eyes, which had been lacking that wonderful, playful shine of hers, gave back to the owner. She didn't feel blue any more, but a new wave of energy, fun and desire. The desire to live…

It was too late, that's why the eyes of Hermione started shutting uncontrollably. She then realized how exhausted she was. Badly. She then decided to go to bed, not knowing that her fate was still willing to play with her. She carefully stood up from the cold edge, intending to come in the warm room. At the very moment, a big owl with enormous eyes like two bright lights flew up from a branch, creating a thunderous noise. It was very unexpectedly; indeed it was so silent all night long. Hermione's heart sank in a fear as she felt nothing under her feet. All she saw was that owl and the window, with those good-looking curtains...