The Letter and The Memory
(Hermione's POV)
I walk into the front door of my home and drop my luggage. I exhale a big breath I didn't know I was holding in. I walk to the kitchen and see my mum and dad reading their papers with my favorite chocolate pie in front of them. They look up from their paper and smile.
"Sweetie," she says, pushing out her chair and running over to me.
"Hi mum," I say, squeezing her back.
"Honey, we've missed you," my dad whispers, hugging us both.
"I missed you guys too," I said honestly. They let go and my mom goes to cut me a piece of pie. I sit down in front of them.
"How are you sweetie," my mum asked, always with a hint of worry.
I grab her hand,"Mum listen to me, I promise that I'm better, okay?" I say in a desperate tone.
"I know, sweetie, I know," she smiles, patting my hand.
"Sorry to hear about your schoolmate Hermione," my dad says.
"He was a good person, he didn't deserve that. Tragedy hits us all when we least expect it sometimes. We just have to take everything one day at a time and try to make the best of what time we have left and let people we've lost live on in our memories," I say absently, thinking of what one of my therapists said to a friend at my program. My parents start talking and I zone out. I take a fork from the table and poke at my pie.
The program that I went to was more depressing than helpful. I may have white lied about the experience but I'm tired of everyone worrying about me. I don't need sympathy from anyone I just want to move on and not dwell on the experience anymore. Hearing everyone's stories about their experiences made me realize that there is no justice for women in our situation. For some yes but its rare and even more rare in my world of magic. It just made me empathize for them, so many people or wizards get away with abuse it just makes you go to a dark place. Fred got me through the program with his letters though. He always made me laugh so much that my gut would be in pain. I'm so glad I have someone like him.
"Honey?" My dad says, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Oh, sorry I didn't hear you?" I apologize.
"I said, your mail is upstairs on your desk, you should go pack for The Weasley's," he smiles.
"Oh, yes, thank you," I smile, a spark of excitement hitting me. I kiss them both on the cheek and start to walk to get my things.
"Do you think this is a good idea?" I hear my mum whisper.
"Honey, she deserves a good summer, she is strong like her mother, she will be ok," my dad whispered back. I smile and grab my things. I hear a knock on the door, my heart drops from panic. I walk to the door and peak through the window.
"Ginny! What on earth?" I laugh opening the door and hugging her.
"I stole dad's car, I figured I could come help you pack," she smiles, walking in.
"Does everyone in that family steal that thing?" I laugh, shutting the door behind her.
"Dad doesn't mind, he puts on an act for mum but," she laughs. We walk up the stairs laughing and walk Into my room. She jumps on my bed, and lays down. I walk over and grab my mail. I first see a letter from Fred.
"What do you think about Harry?" Ginny says, lost in thought. I look up from her my letter.
"Potter?" I chuckle.
"Yes," she laughs glancing at me, blushing.
"I think it doesn't matter what I think, it matters how you think," I smile. "But, I think Harry is a great guy and even better wizard," I smile, looking back down at the letter. She starts to talk about Harry.
Know-It-All,
That's not fair! You can't make fun of me like that knowing that was your last letter before coming to Hogwarts. We go to the train tomorrow and I can't wait to see you. I figured I send this to your house as a surprise. How are you going to tease me like that? You know I have issues with my mouth, how would I know that goblin would hide all my underwear! Making fun of me knowing I'll have to wait to defend myself at the train. Tsk! I'll forget by then, silly girl. Anyway, Ill keep my last letter short and sweet. I don't want you to worry about this school year Hermione. I will protect you with my life, I promise. I also promise that this summer will be our summer. Let's figure out what this is. The universe is ours, let's intertwine it with each other. I'm done with the mystery of Hermione and Fred Weasley! I'll see you soon cute girl with the curls.
Always,
Fred.
I smile so big my cheeks start to hurt. I push the letter to my chest.
"Are you listening to me?" Ginny says, sitting up from my bed.
"Honestly, no sorry I zoned out," I said smiling.
"Freddie got you smiling like that?" She says, with a twinkle in her eye.
"Maybe," I say. She starts to go on about Harry again. I'm smiling and go through the rest of my mail. I gasp to myself, my heart sinks to my toes. I see a green evelope with a snake wax symbol.
"What's wrong?" She asks, concerned.
"Oh, nothing, I have to use the loo, I'll be right back," I say. I walk inside and shut the door behind me. I put my back against the wall and open the letter.
"I'll be seeing you, Granger," the letter says before puffing into black smoke. I slide down the wall and go back into a hole I thought I climbed out of.
Draco.
XXXXXXXXX
I'm in the passenger seat, Ginny driving us to the Burrow. She talking about everything that happened this school year. She stays clear of Diggory because that just always puts us in an abyss of sadness. I'm looking out the window and my anxiety is just overwhelming. A memory starts to come to me from when I went to visit Draco in the hospital wing.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm walking the halls to the hospital wing. I get to the entrance and start pacing outside of it. What are you doing Granger? It's Draco Malfoy for Merlin sake. I take a deep breath before walking into the room. As soon as I walk in I bump into George.
"Oh, George, sorry," I look at his purple face and smile. "What on earth?"
"Long story, I'll tell you later," he laughs. "What are you doing here?" He questions.
"Oh, um," before I say anything, Madame Pomfry grabs George by the ear.
"Oh, Ms. Pomfry, how forward of you," he smirks before walking away with her. I watch her take him away and then look overt to see Draco sitting in the hospital bed. I walk over.
"Hey," I say softly, sitting at the end of the bed.
"Granger," his eyes go wide in excitement.
"How are you?" I question looking at his arm in the sling.
"Better, now that you're here," he smirks.
"Come off it, how is your arm?" I laugh.
"I plan to get that half giant fired," he snaps.
"Please don't," I ask, grabbing his other hand, then letting go. He looks at me and we sit in silence for a moment.
"I won't." He says.
"You won't?"
"If you give me a chance," he smiles. I roll my eyes.
"I barely know you and what I do none is good," I confess.
"Well, get to know me then."
"Well, tell me something that I haven't heard," I ask.
"Well, I can tell you that being a Malfoy is not what it's all hyped to be. It's so much pressure from my dad. Being in a line of purebloods can be overwhelming and every move can feel close to being the wrong one. Everyone is looking at us and judging us with only rumors. It's hard to have relationships with anyone because they use you or leave you or can't deal with the reputation. I get hounded daily, sometimes beat to submission. Bet you didn't know that?" He says seriously. "I put on a front with deep down I'm just scared."
"No, I didn't," I say sorrily, looking down my hands. It's silent again.
"I'm scared too you know? I just want to make my family proud. Them being Muggles can be a struggle sometimes but I would never trade them to be a pureblood. I love them and they love me and I just want them to have a daughter they're proud of. They didn't ask for a witch daughter you know?" I say, zoning off.
"Is that why your nose is always superglued to a book?" He laughs.
"Hey! Not always," I laugh.
"I like you Granger," he says forwardly, "you will like me too if you just would give me a chance and look past the history and rumors you know of me." I look at him and his grey eyes trance me. I can't see past them, he seems genuine but I can't tell. He grabs my hand.
"Listen, let's just have fun, get to know each other, it can be our secret?" He says.
"Our secret?" I ask.
"Yes, our secret dating adventure," he smiles. I sit there in silence again.
"Maybe," I finally say, half smiling.
"I can deal with a maybe," he smirks, laying back against his pillow. I stand up from his bed.
"Well, I better be going," I smile. I start to walk away and he grabs me.
"I'll be seeing you Granger," he says, winking.
xxxxxxxxxxx
"Hermione!" Ginny yells, snapping me back here.
"Oh, sorry," I say.
"We're here," she smiles and steps out the car. I look out the window and smile.
The Burrow.
