Disclaimer: Do you honestly think I'm JK Rowling? If you do, I'll personally escort you to St. Mungo's. Because, breaking news, you're deranged.
A/N: Okay, I'm back! Chapter 11 is here! I'm sorry I'm still quite busy because I'm still reading Libba Bray's "A Sweet Far Thing" (which is a lovely book). Anyway, just enjoy reading this. Review after reading, okay. If you will, I'll love you forever! LOL! Enjoy!
Confusion
June 8, 1990
Hermione looked at her watch for the umpteenth time. 'He's late,' she told herself, looking around for any sign of little Draco Malfoy. Not seeing him, Hermione looked at her watch again and sighed. Yes, the 10-year-old was definitely late.
And of course, Hermione knew the reason why.
Well, actually, she thinks she knew the real reason why Draco was late. She thought that maybe he was embarrassed about what had happened between them last night. A soft chuckle escaped from Hermione's lips as she rubbed the spot where Draco had kissed her yesterday. 'I LIKE YOU!' he exclaimed, making Hermione release another soft chuckle. 'Now, who would have thought that he likes me all along,' the brunette told herself, eyes now gazing at the path where he usually appeared.
'He likes me? Seriously?' the brunette asked herself as she slightly played with her watch. 'I mean, he's ten and I'm seventeen. I'd thought that he would like someone who was younger than him or who was in the same age as he was. But why me? A seventeen-year-old bossy, bookworm who really was dead and was brought back into time to change his heart. A seventeen-year-old who lied to him a lot like being a Pureblood when in reality, I'm really a lowly Mudblood. A seventeen-year-old who just really wanted to be his friend so she can do her task and become alive again. A seventeen-year-old who can never stay here because she doesn't belong in this time and place, anyway.' Hermione released another sigh. 'Okay, he really doesn't know all those facts but really, why does he like me?'
Hermione thought of the possible reasons why the little boy likes her. 'He told me that she was beautiful… I am beautiful.' The brunette frowned. She knew she wasn't beautiful at all. Well, actually, she didn't believe that she was beautiful. Looking at Ginny (her girl best friend and Ron's younger sister) made Hermione think that she's not good-looking compared to the redhead. Ginny's absolutely beautiful. That's why she managed to have more boyfriends than Hermione did. That's why she's the girlfriend of the famous Harry Potter. And Lavender and Parvati were certainly more beautiful than her. They wore make-ups, for heaven's sake! And her, she believed in natural beauty. Hermione snorted. 'Yeah, right,' she told herself. Lavender and Parvati also wear revealing clothes; showing off too much flesh and making them look more tempting in the eyes of perverts… Hermione meant boys. And her, she just wore anything she grabbed in her wardrobe. She didn't care wearing boring shirts or turtlenecks with baggy jeans or whatsoever. Yes, she sometimes wore shorts but not too skimpy and not too short, for modesty's sake. She honestly values modesty and simplicity. Again, Hermione snorted in disbelief.
She really was not the epitome of beauty. Yes, she had two boyfriends before. One was the Quidditch Seeker Extraordinaire, Viktor Krum, who absolutely looked like a baboon. Hermione made a face. She still couldn't believe that he, the baboon, stole her first kiss! And he had the nerve to break-up with her because she's too young for him and he couldn't bear having a long-distance relationship. 'Oh, honestly,' the brunette thought.
And then, there was her recently ex-boyfriend, Ronald Weasley. She was just his rebound, actually. He was so depressed when Lavender broke-up with him. He was so depressed because he couldn't suck her face anymore. And so, she was his rebound. Too bad, Hermione wouldn't allow him to suck her face, too. The brunette was thankful that Lavender took him back. Lavender Brown absolutely saved her life. It's not that she hates Ron; it's just that they're better off as best friends. Nothing more than that. And it was better if they were friends because he kept on insisting in sucking… err… kissing her. Hermione made a disgusted face. 'Yuck. Absolutely,' the brunette thought.
So, why does Draco Malfoy like her?
The brunette recalled all of the girlfriends of the Draco Malfoy she knew in school. Frighteningly a lot, in her opinion. They all have well-endowed chests, pimple-free, flawless face, soft drink bottle-shaped figure, sluts… for short, their absolutely beautiful ('And dimwitted,' Hermione added in her thoughts). She didn't really have a well-endowed chest. It's… let's say… acceptable. And her face, yes, she's pimple-free but she's not freckles-free. Some were still evident on her nose and Hermione doubted that they will never leave her alone. How comforting. And a soft drink bottle-shaped figure? 'Oh please,' the brunette thought as she looked at her body. Yes, she's slim and all but she didn't have a soft drink bottle-shaped figure. 'But I'm still slim,' she reassured herself. And who would dare call Hermione Granger a slut? 'I'm not, I'm absolutely not,' the brunette thought with a scowl.
So basically, Draco Malfoy preferred girls who were exactly the opposite of the bookworm, goody-two-shoe, Hermione Granger.
So why oh why did the 10-year-old Draco Malfoy confessed that she's his ultimate crush? Why did he shout at the top of his lungs that he certainly likes Hermione? Why? Why? Why? 'I mean,' Hermione said in her mind, 'Yes, he's still 10 and he's different from his seventeen-year-old self but… hello? They're still the same. They're still one. They're not completely different beings. So, if his 10-year-old self managed to like me and consider me as his crush, then, does his 17-year-old self like me, too?' A hopeful look was seen on Hermione's face. Remembering what she had just thought awhile ago, the hopeful look on her face changed into a horrified one. Hermione released a shriek out loud (thankfully, no one was around) and buried her face in her hands.
'Did I just hope for that? Did I? Did I?' the brunette asked herself frantically. 'Did I just hope that the 17-year-old Draco Malfoy's harboring secret feelings for me, too?!' Hermione was breathing heavily now. 'All right, Hermione, calm down. Calm down. Of course you wished that! You even wished that before! You like him… God, you're in love with him. So, there's nothing wrong in wishing that he, too, likes you.'
Hermione released a muffled groan and looked up at the sky. 'Why are you punishing me, Most High? Why are you punishing me like this? Please, please, please. Stop using my heart for Your punishment. It's making me vulnerable, Most High. Please, stop it. Make me fall out off love from Draco Malfoy. Just order Cupid to shoot another arrow to another guy so that I could fall in love with him instead. All I wished for ever since I studied in Hogwarts was to look at Draco Malfoy scornfully… not longingly. Please, let me loathe him again. Let me hate him with equal fervor so that I could haunt him down for killing me until he die because of heart attack. Let me hate him, instead, Most High. Let me hate him instead.' Hermione buried her face in her hands again. "Honestly, it's not making me healthy," she mumbled.
But Hermione knew that there was a small part in her heart that thanked Him that she felt this way for the 17-year-old blond. Reason? Hermione still doesn't know. But still… there's a small part in her heart that was thankful she's madly in love with Draco Malfoy.
The brunette sighed and rubbed her aching heart. Even though he ignored her, even though he treated her as dirt, even though he loathed her, even though he didn't love her unlike she certainly does, Hermione knew that she would continue to love him until the end. Hermione snorted. She's getting a bit cheesy but she knew that was the truth. Even though she's married to a man that wasn't Draco Malfoy and they both have children enough to make a Quidditch team, Hermione knew that she would never forget the love she has for the blond. Hermione released another sigh. Oh, she had forgotten. If she didn't succeed in changing his heart, she would die. For some reason, it didn't sound frightening for Hermione anymore.
She groaned and then leaned her head against the bench. That's the reason why she didn't want to fall in love with anybody. She only wanted to concentrate in her studies, in her tests, in her responsibilities. They were supposedly her only love. But now, Draco Malfoy came strutting into her life, stealing her heart unconsciously and mercilessly beating and hurting it. 'Oh, life's so, so cruel,' the brunette thought. 'I hope I never met him.'
Hermione abruptly looked up once hearing footsteps. She was expecting to see a shy blond who was furiously blushing walking towards her, a bouquet of flowers clutched on both of his hands ('Okay, Hermione, that was too much,' the brunette berated herself).
But no, it wasn't Draco at all.
Hermione gasped as she stared at his own grey eyes. Fear started to crawl down her skin as she stared at the wand pointed at her. Hatred grew, too, upon staring at that stupid smirk plastered on his pale face. Hermione dug her hand in her pocket, hoping to find her wand to battle with this evil man. But, she immediately stopped upon realizing that she didn't have her wand anymore. Her fear grew. Her eyes became wider when he pressed his wand painfully at Hermione's chest where her heart was, just like what Draco did on the day he killed her. The brunette gasped in pain as he pressed it harder.
"Stupefy," he whispered menacingly. The last thing Hermione saw was a blond hair strand falling on his right eye. And then, everything became black.
Draco looked at his watch for the umpteenth time. 'She's late,' he told herself, looking around for any sign of the teenaged Hermione Granger. Not seeing her, Draco looked at his watch again. Yes, the 17-year-old was definitely late.
Okay, he knew he was the one who was late for their meeting. He was honestly debating whether to come or go. The desire to see her won so now, here he was, waiting for the arrival of the beautiful brunette. But, she was still nowhere to be seen.
And of course, Draco knew the reason why.
Well, actually, he thinks he knew the reason why. He thought that maybe she dislikes him now for saying such… such ridiculous words to her yesterday. He thought that maybe she was humiliated by his confession. Draco pouted. Now, that had hurt.
'It's her fault, anyway,' Draco thought, clutching Mr. Beady tighter to his chest. 'She told me that I should confess to my crush… her... before it's too late. So, I did. Hermione told me that she would be away from me soon, so I confessed to her. Is that wrong?' Yes, it's definitely wrong, in Draco's opinion. Because he's 10 and she's 17. No need for any explanations because he knew, it's wrong.
But, was it his fault that he likes her? Was it his fault that she became his very first crush? Hermione's so, so beautiful. She's so intelligent. She's everything Draco likes. Unlike the Pansy Parkinson he was betrothed. She's slutty, in Draco's opinion, and he hates slutty girls. She's so talkative. Yes, Hermione's talkative, too, but all that came out from her mouth were intelligent words. Unlike, again, Pansy Parkinson.
If only Hermione became 10 again, then Draco wouldn't have any problem at all. He would introduce her (if she's 10) to his father and tell him that she's the girl he likes. He would tell his father to break his arranged marriage with Pansy Parkinson because Hermione (aged 10) was the one he wanted to marry once he grew up. There's nothing wrong in that because Hermione's Pureblood and intelligent and witty. He knew that his father would immediately adore her. Well, he'd seen how his father treated Hermione in the ball. Oh, life would be blissful if that happened.
But, life was so unfair to him. He's 10 and she's 17. If only… if only they were in the same age then, everything would be all right.
"Oh, Mr. Beady, please tell me why I like Hermione so much," the blond begged at his inanimate teddy bear. As usual, it didn't answer back, making Draco groan. "I wish… I wish that I just liked Pansy Parkinson. I wish… I wish I shouldn't have met Hermione. I wish that I didn't accept her friendship. Then, my life would be okay."
Draco pouted. Hermione had told him she's in love with some other guy already. The blond growled. 'Whoever that guy was, he's so blind because he couldn't see how lovely Hermione is. He couldn't see that there's a beautiful, intelligent girl who loves him. If I'm a lot older and I'm 17, I would beat the living daylights out of him and then save Hermione from depression!' the blond screamed in his mind. 'How could he loathe such a beautiful angel who descended on Earth to spread goodness and beauty? How could he loathe beautiful, beautiful Hermione? How? How? How?' The blond knew he was overreacting but now… who cares?
Draco sighed and kissed the head of Mr. Beady. Draco fingered the ring that was given to him by Hermione. To whom will he give this ring, anyway, when his one and only crush was none other than the giver of his ring herself? To whom will he give this ring when he knew that he wouldn't like any other girl than Hermione? To whom? 'Someone tell me! To whom?!' the blond exclaimed in his mind. Great rumbling of thunder was the one who answered his question. The blond looked up and saw gray clouds hiding the sun. Draco pouted. It was going to rain.
He looked around and sighed. Hermione was still nowhere to be seen. 'Maybe she doesn't want to see me, now,' the blond thought forlornly. Draco stood up and carried Mr. Beady. He would go home now. The 10-year-old looked at the path where Hermione normally appeared. Again, she was not there. Draco sighed and looked ahead. He started to walk back home. He just wished that Hermione wouldn't go out of her house and get sick while it rained. He remembered she has a low immune system.
And Draco wished that she was wearing the lavender sweater he gave her.
With that thought, Draco went back to his family's old Manor.
June 9, 1990
Hermione groaned and rolled around. Her back met a cold, hard floor, making her groan more. The brunette slowly opened her eyes. Immediately, she noticed that she wasn't in her own warm, bedroom. Instead, she was somewhere that was dark and cold. The brunette wrinkled her nose in disgust. Something smells foul, too, she observed. The brunette looked around, letting her eyes adjust in the dark room.
Once they were adjusted, Hermione released a horrified gasp. She's in a dungeon. Hermione released a soft shriek once she heard the scuttling of mice. The brunette clutched her hammering heart. She had to admit, she's terrified to death. 'Where am I?' she asked herself frantically, looking around to see anything that would tell her where she was.
The brunette closed her eyes and remembered the things that happened before she found herself here in this unknown dungeon. She remembered that she was waiting in their meeting place… their bench. Draco was late, she recalled. She'd thought of many things that time when suddenly, someone arrived. Hermione thought it was Draco. But then, it wasn't. It was someone evil, someone vile, and someone that Hermione loathed with all her heart.
The brunette opened her eyes and stared at the entrance door of her dungeon. Her eyes instantly narrowed into thin slits. In came a middle-aged man with long, blond hair and piercing grey eyes. He looked so much like Draco, Hermione noticed, but she knew… she very well knew that their attitudes were so different from each other.
And that someone is none other than Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy.
"Good day, Miss Hermione," the wizard said, the same Malfoy smirk plastered on his face. "Good morning."
He was talking so casually, making Hermione's blood boil. "What do you want from me? Why did you bring me here?" she asked, demanding for an answer. Her eyes were still narrowed into thin slits and a huge scowl was plastered on her face.
Lucius walked nearer the brunette and crouched down. He held her chin and forced her to look at him. "Shame," he said, his smirk not leaving his face. "You're such a gorgeous girl, Miss Hermione. But…" He forcefully pushed Hermione away from him, making her topple on the ground. Lucius' smirk grew upon hearing her groan. "But… you're brainwashing my son. You're putting loathsome things in his mind. Shame, you're really so beautiful."
Hermione gasped and looked at him with big, wide eyes. "How… how did you know?" the brunette asked, a horrified look plastered on her face. "How did you know?"
"I have sources, Miss Hermione," the older Malfoy said, standing up now and straightening his robe. "I have sources telling me about those… those meetings you always had with my son. I have sources telling me about the things you put inside my son's head. I have sources telling me that you, Miss Hermione, were telling my son some things that are… let's say… absurd."
The brunette tried to stand up but it was a futile thing to do. Instead, she sat straighter to make her look more menacing. Lucius only saw her as a weakling. "I know your true identity," Hermione spat. "I know your deepest, darkest secret you loathsome Death Eater!"
"Fiery, eh?" Lucius asked. "Miss Hermione, you very well know that the Dark Lord's defeated by a boy named Harry Potter." Hermione noted the disdain in Lucius' voice when he said her best friend's name. "The Dark Lord is dead. And he no longer has followers. How come you still call me as a Death Eater? Or perhaps… do you want me to escort you to the mental ward in St. Mungo's?"
Hermione gasped in protest. "I'm not lunatic!" she exclaimed. Unbelievable. 'Is he calling me crazy?! Well, breaking news! He's the one who's crazy!' the brunette screamed inside her mind.
"Well, forgive me," he said, though, there was still an amused look on his face.
"I'm in the right state of my mind, thank you very much," Hermione growled. She was now trying to stand up again. But still, she couldn't. "And I believe that you're still a Death Eater, Malfoy! I know you are!"
Lucius shook his head. "I'm really starting to think you're deranged, Miss Hermione," he said, making a 'tutting' noise.
"I'm not!" Hermione exclaimed indignantly. "I'll show you!" She growled again and then held Lucius' left arm. She yanked him down, totally catching him off guard. Hermione then forcefully pushed his sleeve up until his shoulders. And there it was. Even in the dark, Hermione could still see it. Voldemort's symbol. The Dark Mark. Only Death Eaters have it. The brunette looked at him and glared. "I told you you're a Death Eater. Don't deny it. The evidence is clear."
The old Malfoy yanked his arm away from the brunette and rolled back his sleeve until his wrist. "Yes, you got me, Miss Hermione. I'm a Death Eater," Lucius answered. Again, he crouched down until he's eye-to-eye with Hermione. "Us, Death Eaters, were planning on resurrecting our Lord. And no one could stop us."
Hermione snarled in anger. "You won't succeed. I know that you'll fail. All of you will fail including you're your… bloody, evil Master!" The brunette was really livid now.
Lucius gripped Hermione's hair, making her yelp in pain. "Really, shame," he said. "A pretty girl like you should be begging in fear right now. You should be begging now."
"Never!" the brunette exclaimed, trying to push Lucius away from her but to no avail. "Spare Draco from your plans, Malfoy! He's still innocent. He's still a kid."
"Yes, he's still a child," he agreed. "But he'll soon be a young man. Next year, he would already study in Hogwarts. Draco will soon be one of us… he'll soon be a Death Eater."
"You… you sick, sick bastard!" Hermione exclaimed, tears now pouring down her face. "How could you do this to Draco?! He's your own son, for Merlin's sake! He's your own son! But… but think of what you're doing, Lucius Malfoy! You're corrupting Draco's life. You're his father. You're supposed to help him. But no! You're brainwashing him with rubbish! What kind of a father are you?!"
"Quiet, woman!" Lucius exclaimed, now letting go of Hermione's hair forcefully. "Do not tell me what to do! I'm his father. I can do whatever I want to him, understand?"
Hermione only released a soft sob and glared at the older Malfoy through her tears.
"UNDERSTAND?!" Lucius barked, his eyes dangerously flashing. Hermione has no choice but to nod her head weakly.
The older Malfoy stood up. "Now, Miss Hermione, stay here and be a good girl," Lucius said, his eyes still dangerously flashing. "Watch that biting tongue of yours, Miss Hermione. If not, you will one day find yourself in heaven." Lucius smirked upon seeing the fear in the young woman's eyes. "That is all. I will bring your food later. Good day."
Giving Hermione one last glare, Lucius disappeared, leaving the crying brunette all alone in the dank, dark dungeon.
Draco was frowning. He's absolutely frowning. And he's mad. He's really, really mad. Reason? Hermione wasn't showing up again. Mr. Beady was now seated beside Draco on their bench. The blond looked at the inanimate teddy bear and glared at it fiercely. 'Hermione was supposed to be the one who's sitting beside me. She's supposed to be here, talking to me about anything, smiling at me when I said something that made her happy, scolding me when I said another bad word, and kissing the top of my head when I'm scared or sad. She's supposed to be here. But' – Draco's pout deepened – 'she's not here at all.'
The blond abruptly stood up and started to pace back and forth. 'Now, Hermione, I understand that I made you embarrassed because of my confession,' the blond told the brunette inside his head. 'I understand that you didn't want to see me yesterday. I understand, I promise I do. I know that you wanted to have some time alone and think about what I revealed. But… but one day's enough. You're not here today. Again. I think that's too much already, Hermione.'
Draco sat down beside Mr. Beady again. This time, he grabbed hold of his teddy bear and sat him down on his lap. "Do you think Hermione's still angry with me, Mr. Beady?" the blond asked.
His teddy bear only stared back with his beady eyes.
"She's not fair, Mr. Beady. She's not fair," Draco said.
Again, the toy only stared back.
"I'm starting to wish that I didn't tell Hermione about my feelings anymore," the blond said, releasing a sad sigh. "I wish I never told her."
The blond waited on the bench again. A minute passed and then 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 20, then 30, then 50, and then an hour. Draco had had enough. The blond stood up, bringing Mr. Beady together with him.
"That's it, Mr. Beady. That's it," the blond grumbled, his brow knitted together and an adorable pout evident on his pale, handsome face. "We're going to go to her house now. We're going to see if she's just hiding from me or what."
And with that, Draco together with his beloved toy strolled towards the path that led to Hermione's house. He was so thankfully that Dobby knew where Hermione lived and told him. 'Note to self: Thank Dobby later,' Draco mentally noted inside his head.
Soon, both he and Mr. Beady arrived in front of the main door of Hermione's house. Gingerly, he raised his right hand and started loudly knocking on Hermione's main door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Draco knocked three times. He waited patiently for Hermione to answer her door. Inside his head, he was rehearsing what to tell the brunette. '"Hello, Hermione. Good morning. Why didn't you come to our meeting place yesterday? Why didn't you come to our meeting place today?" Nah, too cheerful. Hermione should feel my anger. "Why didn't you come to our meeting place yesterday, huh, Hermione? Huh? Tell me! Tell me!" Pfft… she would hate me forever if I told her that.' Draco cleared his throat and placed a determined look on his face. 'Okay… "I'm so sorry about what happened two days ago. I was just… I couldn't hide my feelings anymore. I'm sorry if it shocked you. It's okay if you don't like me. I know that you love somebody else. But my feelings won't change, Hermione. I'll still like you through and through."'
The blond blinked several times. "Did I just think of saying that?" he asked Mr. Beady out loud. And then, in his mind, 'Ew, disgusting! I just thought of something certainly disgusting and sickening sweet. Hermione would absolutely hate me forever and ever!' The little blond was practically hyperventilating in front of Hermione's main door.
He knocked three times again. But like what happened awhile ago, no one answered. Draco started to pout again. He peered inside the window. None. He saw nothing. Nil. Nada. The blond released a frustrated groan. 'Maybe she's hiding in her bedroom!' Draco thought sadly. The little blond looked at Hermione's bedroom window. "I'm sorry, Hermione," he softly whispered.
Kissing Mr. Beady's head, Draco turned around and walked back to his Manor. And now, he was feeling gloomy.
June 10, 1990
Hermione glared ferociously. She glared ferociously as Lucius Malfoy visited her again, putting food in front of her. The brunette now directed her death glare towards her food. As usual, it was stale bread and frozen water. 'How scrumptious,' the brunette thought sarcastically. 'How am I supposed to eat and drink that?'
"Tuck in," Lucius told her with the same Malfoy smirk plastered on his face. And with that, he walked out of Hermione's dungeon, leaving her all alone.
The brunette kicked the tray of food away from her. She leaned her back against the cold wall. She brought her knees up, encircling them with her arms. Hermione placed her chin on top of it and released a sigh. She's so hungry. She's so thirsty. She missed Merlin's food (Hermione tried her best not to drool in hunger). She missed Merlin. She missed her temporary home. She missed the Muggle Playground. She missed Mr. Beady. And of course, she missed Draco. Badly.
'I wonder what he's doing right now,' the brunette thought, sighing. 'I wonder if he thought that I'm avoiding him.' Hermione groaned. 'Oh, I hope not!'
She looked around her cell again. It didn't take Hermione long enough to discover that she's just in the Malfoy Manor. Hermione released a shiver. She didn't have any idea that there were dark dungeons inside Draco's house. But she has to admit, she wasn't surprised at all.
Hermione lied down on the cold floor and closed her eyes. She placed one arm on her forehead and sighed again. 'My time's almost running out,' the brunette thought. She calculated the day today. She was kidnapped by Lucius Malfoy on the 8th of June. She'd already been in the Manor for 3 days so today was the 10th of June. Hermione groaned louder. She only has two days left! Then, on the 12th on June, she'll be back to 1997 to see what her true fate was.
Once June 12 came, she'll leave the ten-year-old Draco Malfoy whom she managed to care.
A tear slipped down Hermione's face. She couldn't bear to think what Draco's reaction would be once he found out that she'll leave him soon. Hermione turned on her right side and wiped her tear.
"Miss Granger."
Hermione gasped and lied on her back again. Merlin's face was hovering above her body. A worried look was evident on the old wizard already. The brunette cried in relief and stood up, practically hugging Merlin. "Oh, it's so nice to see you, Merlin! It's so nice to see you!"
"There, there, Miss Granger, you're safe," the old wizard said, patting Hermione's back comfortingly. "Hush, don't cry."
The brunette wiped her tears and looked at Merlin with a wide smile.
"Now, Miss Granger, let's go back to your temporary home now," Merlin said.
Hermione was about to agree when suddenly, she heard Lucius voice. "Not now, Merlin! Lucius Malfoy's about to go back to my dungeon again!" she whispered urgently.
Merlin nodded. "All right. Tomorrow morning, then. Be ready, Miss Granger." And with that, he disappeared at the same time Lucius arrived.
The brunette watched as the older Malfoy approached her. She couldn't help but to smile smugly and triumphantly, knowing that she would be free tomorrow already. Because of this, she earned a suspicious look from the older Malfoy.
Dobby scampered towards his young Master's room. It was lunchtime already and he was about to call Draco. It slightly made Dobby confused because before, Draco would arrive in the dining room earlier than lunchtime and eat his food as fast as he can. But today, it was different. And that made the house-elf utterly confused.
Draco's personal house-elf already arrived in front of his Young Master's bedroom door. Twisting the doorknob, Dobby slightly and noiselessly pushed the door open. He observed his Young Master's room. Everything was in order. His bed was made. His books were properly arranged in his big bookshelf. His toy broomstick was displayed on top of his desk. Everything was in order. Except for the owner himself sitting on his wide window ledge. Draco's left leg was tucked under his body while his other leg was seen dangling. A faraway look was seen on his face while gazing out of his window which was overlooking the Malfoy's most admired garden. Dobby frowned as he approached his beloved Master. "Is Young Master all right?" Dobby asked, his frown not leaving his face.
The blond didn't look at Dobby. Instead, he continued to look out of his window. "I'm fine, Dobby," he said, a pout gracing his handsome face. "I'm perfectly fine."
"Does Young Master want to eat lunch?" the house-elf offered. His eyes were now gazing intently on Draco.
"Nah," the blond answered before releasing a huge sigh. "I'm not hungry, Dobby."
The little house-elf gasped in surprise. "Is Young Master sure?" Dobby asked. "Dobby doesn't want Young Master to starve."
"I'm still full," Draco said.
"Then, when will Young Master see Miss Hermione?" Dobby asked. A suspicious look crossed his face as he noticed Draco cringing obviously when he mentioned the name of his best friend. "Young Master…"
"I won't see her today, Dobby," the blond answered, releasing a forlorn sigh.
"Miss Hermione might be waiting for Young Master now," the house-elf said.
Draco shook his head vigorously. "No, she won't come, anyway," the blond answered, scowling now. "She didn't show up yesterday. And the yesterday of yesterday…" Draco pouted. "You know what I mean."
"Then, when you will Young Master see Miss Hermione again?" the house-elf asked.
The blond adorably shrugged. "I have no idea," the blond said.
"But Miss might be waiting now," Dobby interjected. "Miss might show up right now."
Draco sighed again. A small fog formed on his window when he did this. "I have a feeling that she won't," the blond answered back. He then looked at his personal house-elf. Dobby has to gasp. Sadness and worry was evident on his Young Master's face. "But, I promise I will go back on June 12." He looked at his window again. "I can't come tomorrow because I feel that she won't show up at all." Draco sighed again. "If she didn't show up on June 12… then maybe, she doesn't want to see me anymore. After that, I won't come back to our meeting place anymore."
Dobby pitied his Young Master. He knew that only this 'Miss Hermione' can put a smile on Draco. But now, he was surprised to hear that she wasn't showing up anymore. But he was more surprised at how distressed his Young Master was now. The house-elf shook his head. "Just call Dobby if Young Master is hungry, okay?" he asked, offering Draco a small smile.
"All right," Draco answered, returning Dobby's smile with a small one. "I promise."
And with that, Dobby went out of Draco's bedroom.
Once the little blond was left alone, he sighed and looked out of his window. Now, he really regretted saying how he really felt for this particular brunette.
A/N: End of chapter 11. I'm telling you, dear readers, Time's Up! will soon end! So, if you want me to remember you until the day I'm 6 feet under the ground, send me some lovely reviews, okay? Just push that button thingy under this chapter. Again, I'll love you forever if you did!
With love,
2booklover4
P.S.
Next, I'll update PiD. Please, review this story, too. Love ya, all! :D