AUTHOR NOTE: I'm really sorry about the lengthy update; I've just been so busy with school that I hadn't really had the time to post another update. Well, anyways, I hope you'll like the chapter, R&R!

Chapter 7

The Vision

Draco closed his eyes, allowing the wind to flow through him; he felt it coursing through all his hurt and grief.

Looking up at the dark foreboding sky, he felt a tiny trickle on his face, which soon resulted in a flood of chilling rain pouring down on him. He blinked his eyes several times, and let it soothe his parched mouth.

This moment was elusive; indescribable.

"Oh, Hermione," he whispered to the nothingness, "I'm so sorry, for everything."

A tear slid down his sodden face, joining with the rain. Draco's heart seemed to be motionless within his chest and his breathing vacant.

His body was drenched with the chill of the downpour, making his shirt stick like a second skin; and his hair was fixed to his forehead and sides of his face.

Then, slowly he stood, while shivering fiercely. 'Am I Mad?' he thought bitterly, 'sitting out here in the rain like this?' For some reason though, the chill of the storm calmed him; it seemed to numb his pain.

Draco shook his head, turned, then walked into his bed chamber. He was drenched and trembling, holding himself to maintain some warmth. He hadn't noticed how cold he had actually gotten till he had entered the room; but he had always been cold, cold within his soul.

He looked to the fireplace in one of the corners of his room and saw that only a single ember remained aglow. The room itself was bitterly cold and empty; darkness filled the silence.

Draco sat on his bed and folded his hands firmly out in front of him; he sighed deeply, knowing that tonight would be another of little or no sleep. How long could he go on like this? The day that he would have to betray Hermione was near, now only two days. The more he thought about it, the emptier and colder he felt; he could not explain it.

"How do I get out of this?" He asked himself. "What do I do?"

Nothing gave him any hope of escape.

Presently, the young Malfoy stood and began to pace the room uneasily; his breath was rapid and painful; his heart seemed shattered, and a sick feeling engulfed his senses.

He felt a weak feeling coming over him, and then…

…All was black…

Draco Malfoy stood unsteadily on his feet. Once he had caught his balance, he noticed that his door stood ajar. Then, cautiously peering out he noticed that none of the candles in the hall were lit; it was unusual, and something about it greatly unnerved him.

He reached for one of the candles on his desk, and then exceedingly guardedly took the first step out of the refuge of his room.

He had only gone a few steps down the ominous corridor, when he noticed that one of the doors across from where he stood was wide open. He swallowed; that door had always been locked before. It was one of the few, in which his father had told him never to enter.

Looking from right-to-left, Draco advanced a few steps towards the mysterious door. He reached out and pushed it open gently, as it released a menacing creak.

Then, raising the candle, he noticed an old set of winding stairs. His eyes widened and he hesitated for several agonizing minutes, before entering the room, and taking the first step up the stairs. The wood creaked beneath his feet, as he boldly took the next few steps, clutching the dusty handrail with one hand, while holding the candle in the other.

Draco swallowed nervously as his body began to tremble; he had no idea what could be hidden in the darkness. He took several deep breaths to calm himself.

"Oh don't be ridiculous." He scolded himself.

He took the last couple of steps, and sighed uneasily when he reached a rather dimly lit hallway.

Draco glanced behind him, to make sure he wasn't being followed, then turned his attention to the hall.

With cautious eyes and guarded steps, Draco walked slowly down the hall as the torches placed on the walls, flickered across his face, revealing his tense features; the only thing that made him not turn and run, was his curiosity. The curiosity his mother always assumed would be the death of him; he was beginning to believe her.

Draco stopped when he reached an old wooden door, which was covered in dust and cobwebs. He wiped away all of its mucky contents and then timidly grasped the metal latch.

Closing his eyes a moment, in an attempt to calm his pounding heart, Draco tried to shake off all feelings of dread or anxiety.

He slowly lifted the rusty latch, and pushed open the heavy door, which emitted a loud, drawn-out creak.

Then, upon stepping into the room, his eyes widened as he saw what was contained inside.

In one corner was a small lit fire, and in the other was a wall of pictures, all of his ancestors. Standing in the middle of the room was a rather elegantly dressed girl, with her back turned to him.

Draco set down the candle he was holding on a nearby desk, and then silently approached the young child.

"Who are you?" he asked.

She turned and his mouth parted as he saw that it was Hermione Granger; it was Hermione Granger from when he used to know her, when they were kids.

"How is this possible?" he whispered in an unsteady voice.

She smiled and touched his hand, "You're dreaming Draco."

"You mean this is all a dream?" he asked, waving his hand across the room.

The apparition of Hermione nodded, "Yes."

"What is the purpose of this dream?"

Hermione walked over to the fireplace and motioned for him to follow her, "I need to show you something."

Draco looked at her quizzically then walked over to her.

As he stood beside her, the girl Hermione waved her hand over the fire and suddenly an image appeared inside.

"Look, Draco."

Draco looked at her warily before peering into the fire to see what was contained there.

His eyed widened as the fiery image of Hermione Granger appeared; she was sitting in the dungeons crying; her entire body shook, and she was grasping the bracelet tightly.

"This is the present, Draco." The young Hermione said to him.

Draco nodded and swallowed uncomfortably, "I've made her feel this way," he ran hand through his hair, "it's all my fault."

Hermione only nodded and then swept her hand over the fire a second time, causing the image to change.

"I'm going to warn you of this one, you will not like what you see." She cautioned him in a grave whisper.

Draco looked at her with question in his eyes, but, nonetheless looked into the fire.

There was a figure in a dark cloak, with a wand in his right hand. All around were innocent muggle victims; woman, children included. Then all the sudden the figure waved his wand and killed every one of them; the figure smirked and turned to walk away.

Draco narrowed his eyes to see the image clearer. Screams could be heard from a burning city. The figure would only smirk as each helpless person died at his hands. One pleaded for their life, but he took no heed and killed them instantly.

Draco shook his head and swallowed hard. "This is awful, who could do something like this?" He turned to look down at Hermione, "who did this?"

She sadly looked up at him after returning the fire to normal. "It hasn't happened yet. What you just saw was the future."

Draco blinked back the tears forming in his eyes, the sounds of the screams still ringing through his mind, "who?"

Hermione sighed as a tear slipped down her young face, "I'm sorry, Draco. But, the figure you just saw…it's you."

Draco's eyes instantly widened, "What? I-It couldn't be."

Hermione shook her head, "After you killed me, your guilt was so great that you fell into despair and darkness. Your soul died along with me."

Draco lowered his faltering gaze to the floor beneath him, "I-I can't believe it." His eyes were beginning to glaze with unshed tears as he looked at the girl, "Is there any way I can change this future?"

Hermione only nodded then once again, everything went black…but, as he faded he heard the faint words of her answer, "love me, Draco."

……………………………….

Draco awoke with a sudden start. His breathing uncontrolled and rapid; sweat poured from his forehead, making his wet hair stick to his skin.

He blinked several times and found that he was still on the floor of his room. He swallowed as he suddenly remembered his dream.

He got up slowly and stood on his trembling legs, he steadied himself. Should he believe the dream? Somehow, he got the feeling that it was not just a dream.

"It was a vision of the future." He breathed.

"Love me, Draco." These words came rushing back to his mind.

He shook his head slowly, "how." He sighed miserably, "I wish I could, Hermione."