Author's Note:
Are you surprised by this post? I am just as surprised.
Apparently, I've found myself alive. Well, not completely 'there yet' but I am here, better, nevertheless and hopefully I am back for good. How has everyone been? I don't even remember the last time I have written anything and posted anything.
But please know that even if I'm not writing or posting anything, I'm still checking the site once in a while - rereading my works, checking in messages and finding the right inspiration for the right time to write again,. There has been so much that has happened since dad passed away and that was 2018. It was one hella of a rollercoaster.
So many ups and downs and boy, the global pandemic sure did a lot of things that were both good, surprising and out of this world.
First of all, I'd like to say I am healthy and fine with my family and I pray that you all are in the same situation - that despite of all the hardship, thriving and surviving like us. I've been working from home since March 2020. The lockdown happened three days right after my birthday. I've lived with my mom and some relatives in our old house since the lockdown but sometimes in July 2020 we have to leave the house because it was too expensive to keep. I presently live in my own loft while my mom lives a few minutes away from me since she wanted a place of her own which makes sense anyway.
Either way, we are both fine and healthy. I find that working from home suits me way better. It gave me enough control with the use of my time and find the time to rest and heal myself back and find my center. I'm not yet there, but I am getting there slowly. There has been so much progress and ups and downs at my end that I don't even know where to begin but certainly, there were so many things that moved me to become this version of me today. I've come back to my senses with enough resources and will to write again and hopefully, finish the stories I've began. I always loved writing. It was always my first love so there is no way in the universe I'm going to gives this up.
Thank you for staying with me and being with me despite all that crazy hiatus. I am hopefully back. I've started the year simply with my mom, resumed work last week and had the will to review some stuff where I stopped when my dad passed away and back into my 'me time' spent in reading and writing. I have a long way to go and I hope you still stay with me to send me light, love and crazy advice when I need to.
I will tell you more about the chapters of my life during the months of pandemic if you promise to tell me how yours were.
To give back, here is a very short chapter.
Burn
Her voice removed me from the thoughts of my past and back to reality.
I looked up to her, looking curious and sheepish at me.
"Shouldn't you be at your class, Miss Granger?" I asked her, moving away from the large portrait of the four founders near the library.
I looked up at her with a stern stare.
For a split moment, her eyes curved with fear but it vanished quickly when she realized there was nothing to be afraid of anyway.
" Professor Slughorn just gave us something to read and research about."
Her answer had some trace of annoyance.
The old man was probably up to some small tea party with his little favorites.
"Well, you better work on that then, Miss Granger." I moved away from the portrait and turned to the other direction, vaguely aware that her eyes were following me.
"Is something wrong with Malfoy?"
I stopped in my steps. Did I just hear what I thought I heard?
"I don't.. " her voice paused, her tone with the tiniest hint of fear.
"It's not my place but I saw him the other night in the library and he seemed… stressed."
I paused for an answer. I slowly turned to her and I saw her take one step back.
" I wasn't aware that you were close with Mr. Malfoy." I told her and before she could react I continued. "He is the least of your concerns given the exams you and the rest of your classmates are about to take within the few weeks. But I will extend your concern to Mr. Malfoy-"
"It's not my place." Hermione had answered with a sharp tone in her voice as if she was making a stand for something she doesn't even understand. "Miss Granger-" "We're not friends." Hermione said a little louder than she meant. "I'm just concerned lately… he looked unwell the last two times he left late from the library. I've never really seen him staying as late so.."
"Perhaps the young Malfoy has changed his mind about his dedication to his education and has better plans for his future that is why studying harder is the best course to take at the moment."
I reiterated the word 'study harder' for her although I'm quite sure she wasn't buying it.
Everyone knows that Malfoy was second to her in all the subjects and if he focused, he could probably beat her.
But Draco never really did.
I looked at her and her eyes stared at me as if in slight disbelief of my words.
We both know I'm lying and we both know that there is nothing she can do about it anyway.
"I suggest you mind your own business, Miss Granger." I simply told her with a short nod and without another word, I turned away from her slightly curious at her sudden concern for Draco.
"Can you two please shut it?" Harry and Ron looked up at the irritated face of Hermione.
"Hermione-"
" We have exams, Harry - exams. Can we please think of Malfoy's evil plans for later?"
She was irritated.
The two have been doing nothing but talk about Draco Malfoy's evil schemes and how Harry seemed to take more pride at his theory after the bathroom incident with Draco. He had been in trouble for that but his concern was the scene he caught Draco with.
"Hermione, I'm telling you-"
"Stop it!" Hermione angrily said.
The two boys watched as she packed her things from the Gryffindor Common room and decided to study in the library for some peace and quiet.
Defeated and disappointed because there was nobody to help them with their own homework for the week, the two boys were left stunned as she stormed out of the room.
In truth, she was just as concerned and curious about Draco's behavior but it wasn't her business and she felt worse not knowing why she was even curious in the first place about the boy. She was crossing corridors when she decided to study instead by the grounds to get some fresh air that afternoon when she noticed Pansy and some Slytherin girls at the other direction. She overheard them talking how Draco didn't want to talk to Pansy when he was released form the hospital that morning.
She was so curious to know more about the conversation but then one of the girls spotted her that she made a sharp turn to the other direction almost colliding to the next suit of armor.
Before she collided however, a hand had come out from nowhere and yanked her away from the collision.
"What the-" "Are you following me?" Hermione looked up, surprised.
Draco was staring at her with his hand sharp around her wrists.
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked, taken aback. He looked back at her, eyes curious at her.
"Are you stalking me?" Hermione stared back at him, disbelief in his words.
Draco was staring back at her with curious eyes.
His fingers dug at her wrist and he only let her go when he saw a hint of fear pass around Hermione's eyes. "
What an assumption." Hermione spat at him. "And no, Malfoy." She moved herself away from Draco with slight embarrassment in her eyes.
They stared at one another and Draco's expression changed.
"Why would I stalk you?" Hermione asked him. "Maybe you are stalking me." Her tone was mere mockery but something in his eyes had changed.
She looked up at him and he quickly looked away and moved a step away from her.
"You wish." Draco muttered, standing tall and crossing his arms over his chest.
She looked back at him. He looked like he had been losing weight for weeks and he was paler than usual.
He had a bandage around him and he looked like he hasn't slept well despite being in the hospital for a few days.
"How are you feeling?"
She didn't know why she asked but she did anyway.
Draco's expression completely changed.
He sharply looked back at her as if he couldn't believe what he just heard from her lips.
A hint of red passed his cheeks and he tried his best to keep his composure.
"It's none of your business, Granger." Draco spat at her. "But for your prying eyes, I'm completely fine and alive no thanks to your friend."
They just stared at one another this time both not knowing why they both couldn't leave scene when there was obviously nothing they should talk about.
There was some guilt in her eyes knowing the rumors or stories behind that remark.
"Malfoy, it's not my place but if you need-"
"It's not your place, Granger." Draco simply said shaking his head. "So you better mind your own business if you know what's good for you."
He turned to leave but Hermione's hand had suddenly shot out from nowhere, grabbing his wrist.
H e felt like he was electrocuted in shock but before he could do anything about it, Hermione moved in front of him, still holding his wrists.
His face completely turned pale, eyes wide in shock. All the dismissive and angry expression from his face vanished and was replaced by all his raw emotions - afraid and flustered.
They were in very close proximity and unlike the way he had her wrist earlier, Hermione's fingers held his gently as if trying to keep his attention to hers.
"Granger-"
"It's not yet too late to change, Malfoy." Hermione said in barely a whisper not leaving his gaze. "It's not yet too late to come with us."
For a moment, he was lost in those words she had just uttered.
'Come with us..' What a phrase to bewitch his mind and taint with hope the future he had which was already in complete wreck.
" Draco." Hermione's voice called him back to reality as her fingers gripped his wrists a little harder.
He looked at her with complete fear this time her words and touch affecting him like he has never expected.
"Get away, Mudblood!" Draco angrily shoved her hand away from her knowing he had scared her at the gesture.
But as afraid as she was at his action and words, she had no idea for the emotions that her mere touch had evoked from him.
"Don't you ever-" Draco struggled to say as he tried to keep his emotions straight or save whatever dignity he had left, "don't you dare tell me - you don't know - you don't understand-" "Make your stand, Malfoy." Hermione whispered at him with such sincerity in her tone. "Make your stand, Draco. Stand with us."
Draco opened his mouth, his fingers struggling to move around his pockets for his wand when out of the blue, his Dark Mark burned in pain.
He screamed and he fell on his knees. Hermione's eyes widened as he reached for his wand but had dropped it when he reached for his arm instead.
"Draco?" Hermione asked in panic, unknowing if she should move to him. "Draco -"
"Move away, Miss Granger!"
They both looked up and saw Snape heading their way, wand out.
Hermione moved away from Draco as Snape reached them, grabbing Draco by the arm and sweeping the boy's wand out of sight.
Hermione stared at the expression of pain in Draco's face and the look of concern in Snape's eyes.
"Professor is he-"
"Not a word to anyone, Granger." Snape simply told her as he scooped Draco by the arm and helped him up to his feet.
She looked back at Snape who stared at her with such threat and back to Draco who had succumb to the pain but had completely ignored her presence by now.
Before she could decide what to say, Snape had roughly taken Draco by the arm and had moved him away from the scene wordlessly, both wands in his hand while Draco was hell bent over in pain, holding his arm over his weakened chest.