Once again- MournfulSeverity stands as the source of inspiration. In her very first review of the first chapter of "Love Empowered Empathy- Prologue," she had mentioned the word "Obscurial". That got me researching like a mad hare. Thoughts of "venom" and some sequel of "Spiderman" flooded my mind. And with the emotionally loaded "Mute" and the huge fantastic tale weaving in the backdrop of "Love Empowered Empathy"- Baby's Breath was quietly born in one of my sleepless nights. I hope against hope I shall not disappoint my readers.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling. This story just left me sleepless. Thus, with red eyes burning, I am penning it down, or better typing it down. My mind lives in the Harry Potter fanfiction world though my body is still thankfully anchored in the monotonous reality of existence. My themes, plotline, and storyline may, therefore, get indirectly influenced by many of the brilliant fanfiction writers on this site. And I humbly bow to such creative genius who give me much needed literary pleasures to see through the toils of mundane life.

Baby's Breath- Saving the Horcrux Huntress

Prologue

"How do muggles pray Potter?" the taller man with fringes of blond hair brushing against his forehead asked in despair.

"I don't know, frankly, I never saw my aunt or my uncle pray.." the other adjusted his glasses and shifting closer to the small fire, confessed. Looking sideways he asked, " So, what did she...I don't mean to pry...I'm just curious."

Draco Malfoy handed over the letter to his childhood nemesis without a word.

"A poem again."

"Seems like the only way she can share anything personal…" the man sneered defensively.

"Relax, Malfoy, I got one too."

After reading it, Harry Potter said, "Sweet, I don't think Ron would have appreciated this…"

"Do you still believe in the Weasel King and his prattling and quacking wife?"

"Not entirely, but if Snape is giving them a chance, I think, I can hold onto my judgment for a while."

"I don't like him, and I definitely don't like her. But yes, if Snape is ready to believe their story, I will honour that."

"Feels a little better, each time, I read her parting letter. And Hey! Congratulations, she loves you back, at least…" Potter looked at him and smiled.

Malfoy grimaced. Standing up abrupting he walked away from the edge of the tent and watched the sea, the horizon, and the sky, heaving and blinking away his tears.

"Malfoy?"

"Shut It, Potter! Shut it! You call this love and you want me to take comfort from these words. You know what, I don't want this! I don't want to read some century-old lines from some muggle poems and believe that she loves me, even if she is the person writing the letter! It is not enough!", the blonde man shouted on top of his voice. High winds continued to roar around them.

Malfoy, I know…"

"Do you! Really? Potter, DO you really understand it! I can't just continue reading random poetry and imagine her reciting them to me. Or reading them to me in some brightly lit solar room or in a Venetian garden. I cant daydream anymore, it hurts. Because each time, those dreams come to an end, I know Hermione is not really smiling at me. She is not the one kissing me a moment ago. She is trapped inside her mind, she fighting against my….and I am nowhere close to finding a way to end her miseries." He could say their names.

Thumping his heart, the blonde declared," I love her Potter, I love her more than those bloody poems can ever convey!", and finally broke down.

Rubbing his eyes and cheek the Slytherin, flopped back onto the tree stump and in a desolate tone, began reciting the lines from the farewell letter, Granger had sent him.

"But when a soul, by choice and conscience, doth

Throw out her full force on another soul,

The conscience and the concentration both make

mere life, Love…"

"As a peace offering Malfoy, you can read mine, it hardly makes any sense to me, but, it's from Hermione, I just satisfied with that…" Potter shared the parchment he had been carrying with him.

Snape was flipping through several journals once again. They had to stay put upon this cliff and wait for Bill and Charlie to return, because one thing was certain without the dragons' help, they couldn't continue their quest.

He could hear Malfoy read aloud,

"MANY the wonders I this day have seen...

But what, without the social thought of thee,

Would be the wonders of the sky and sea?"

2001

"Beats me, Potter apart from ridiculously trying to rile up a toddler of pretty sights he missed, and a bit melancholic...I really can't explain…"

Snape could no longer stay quiet. He snapped," it's the date, Potter!"

He pursed his lips and walked out of the tent, growling, "Hermione wanted to tell you two things. She missed your company when she went off these solo hunts for the first time."

When Harry gawked at him, Severus sneered, "And that you should stop whining and sulking around, instead enjoy the little moments of bliss, peace whenever that comes on your way. Don't ask me, how! I don't know, but if she wants you to relax a bit, it is perhaps because she knows you need it! That's what the poem tries to say."

Harry grumbled, " Saying is one thing Sir...but waiting like this…."

The piercing cry from somewhere within the clouds, made the three men drop everything at hand, and rush close to the cliff edge.

Even if it was a big black patch of something flying towards them, both the younger men had grabbed at each others' shoulders triumphantly.

Behind them, Severus Snape's eyes glistened with hope. He muttered close to Potter's ears," I guess, that's the answer we all were looking forward to."

Pushing past him the man walked ahead, secretly dropping a scrap parchment in his hands. Harry read aloud and started laughing," Even miracles take a little time"~ fairy godmother, Cinderella," holding on to his sides, in between bouts of laughter, he explained it to Malfoy," It's from a children's muggle fairy tale. Only Hermione would have dared to write something so…"

"Potter, you missed the real thing," Malfoy quipped.

Trying to catch his breath Harry looked above, and could now make out the edges of three dragons flying towards them. He asked," What did I miss?"

"The letter is the first time he reads, after waking up and the last thing he looks at before going to sleep," tilting his head towards the tall man clad in his signature black cloaks, he whispered softly," she has managed to kindle hope in his heart. Something, even we failed at…"

Quotes from the poem "love' by E.B. Browning and "to my brother, George" by J. Keats.