A/N: Chapter Thirteen… could mean anything… good… bad… who knows? Thanks for the reviews.
DISCLAIMER: I don't a thing… only the plot…
Chapter Thirteen: The Old EnemyThe days passed pleasantly for both Hermione and Draco. Homework was completed with ease and before they knew it Christmas day had arrived. Draco woke first and exited his room to make sure the breakfast was arranged perfectly. He didn't want a single thing out of place for the special day. He entered the kitchens, startling the working House Elves. All bowed at his entrance but Draco ignored them, heading straight to the prepared dishes.
"I want everything perfect," said Draco sniffing the simmering bacon strips, "Make sure the hash browns are the perfect golden brown."
"Is Master thinking of making Mistress Hermione his wife?" asked Hammy.
Draco smiled, "Some day. Today I am promising that engagement will come in time. Good work. You can all have two butter beers each today and cook a grand feast for yourselves."
Draco left heading through the garden to the other part of the house. He entered the office and opened the cabinet draw, pulling out the round case. He slipped it into his dressing gown pocket and turned to see a grey owl hovering at the closed window. He hurried over and let the poor creature into the warm house. In it's claws it held a letter, stamped to be from Azkaban prison. He looked at the envelope and tossed it into the table. Now was not the time to worry about business or possible bad news.
"Go to the owl room," said Draco to the shivering creature who hooted thankfully and left.
Glancing at the letter one last time, he exited the office shutting the doors behind him as two arms wrapped around him from behind.
"Merry Christmas," murmured Hermione as he turned to face her. She kissed him on the lips gently and leaned back, "I got you something."
"Really?" smiled Draco.
Hermione nodded and led him into the sitting room where a grand tree was set up decorated in gold and silver with a hint of red tinsel. They sat down by the tree and Hermione handed him a wrapped package.
Draco ripped away the red and green wrapping and pulled out blue robes with the English Quidditch team crest.
"Hermione… I'm not even on the team," he said in awe.
"I know. But I believe in you, so that's why I got them," smiled Hermione as Draco picked up black leather Quidditch gloves.
"This is wonderful," he said leaning forward and kissing her almost passionately, "I've got you something too."
Hermione looked under the tree but only saw presents from their school friends, "Where is it?"
When she turned back her eyes widened at the red round case. She looked up at Draco confused as he opened the case revealing the stunning ring.
"It's not an engagement ring," he said to her questioning gaze, "A promise ring. I promise that I will always be by your side. I promise to never hurt you in anyway. I promise that one day I will ask you to marry me. This ring signifies my promises."
He took hold of Hermione's hand and slipped the ring onto the appropriate finger. She looked at him and smiled before drawing him in for a kiss. It wasn't almost passionate either, it was passionate.
"I love you," whispered Draco, as they pulled apart.
"I love you too," smiled Hermione earning a grin from Draco, "Come on. I am famished. We can open these presents up after breakfast.
HD
Breakfast was full of happy laughs and talks, though the letter from Azkaban was nagging at the back of Draco's thoughts, as though threatening to ruin the perfect day. They opened the gifts afterwards with Hermione getting a purple knitted sweater from Mrs Weasley and mince pies. From Harry she got a new quill set, "I'll save that for University," from Ron sweet smelling soaps earning a comment from Draco, "He must think you smell or something." Ginny however, gave Hermione a lovely pair of hoop earrings. Pansy gave Hermione a silver frame with a picture of her, Millicent and Hermione in it from the Slytherin Quidditch party and Millicent sent Hermione her favourite chocolates. From her parents, Hermione got a new pair of jeans, a sweater, and new black school shoes – at her request as her old pair were wearing away.
Draco however got a watch from Pansy and chocolate from Millicent. He did though get a small present from Mrs Zabini. A journal set with expensive ink and quill set.
"That is nice of her," said Hermione warmly with a smile.
"Yeah… she used to always send me some candy from her overseas trips," said Draco running his hand over the leather bound book, "First Christmas without Blaise, Vincent or Greg."
Hermione rubbed his arm warmly, "Maybe we can go see the memorial. You could, you know, say hello or something."
Draco shook his head, "No, it would only create bad thoughts on a good day. Besides, it's freezing out there. A blizzard is going to set in soon."
And it did. Within the hour snow was whizzing past the windows in thick falls. The pair spent the day reading and enjoying each other's company.
"I might go have a warm bath," said Hermione as Draco stared blankly at the fireplace, "Perhaps tomorrow we could go to the memorial?"
Draco looked at Hermione surprised. He'd hardly heard a word she said. All he got was warm bath and tomorrow memorial.
"Oh yeah… sounds good."
Hermione gave him a small smile and left him to be consumed by his own thoughts. Standing he checked Hermione was well out of sight before heading to the office. He opened the doors and looked at the letter sitting on the table, literally beckoning to be opened. He sat in the black leather chair and picked the letter up with a deep breath.
Perhaps it was a Christmas wish from the people at Azkaban. Or maybe a Doctor's letter telling him how his parents were coping. If that was it, then it was far from a wonderful Christmas gift. He turned the letter open and peeled the flap open taking out the neatly folded letter within.
Mr D. S. Malfoy,
It is with deep regret that we inform you of the passing of both Lucius Nicolas Malfoy and Narcissa Ruby Malfoy…
The middle part of the letter was a blur stating they both died within two hours of each other. It is unknown as to what the causes of death were.
We wish you a good Christmas and a bright New Year.
Sincerely,
The Azkaban Guard of Honour and Ministry of Magic.
Draco lowered the letter and looked out the window blinking back tears of sadness and anger. He took a deep breath and folded the letter up and slipped it into a desk draw. Standing he made his way out of the office and down the hall at a slow pace.
"Master Draco! Hammy and Poss wish to tell you dinner will be served in half an hour!" said Hammy excitedly.
Draco nodded and Hammy skipped off. Obviously the butter beer had sent the House Elves into a merry frenzy. As he walked around the garden Hermione appeared dressed in her new jeans and sweater with her hair nicely curled and the ring sparkling like a bright beacon of light on her finger. His beacon of happiness. He couldn't ruin today for her. He took in her smiling face and bright happy eyes, so full of love and happiness.
"Ron's soaps smell wonderful," said Hermione nearing him, "Do I smell like cherub roses?"
"Yeah, you do," said Draco smiling as her hugged her, "You are nice and warm in that sweater."
Hermione looked at him uncertainly but said nothing, only smiling.
HD
Dinner was mainly silent. Draco tried to act happy and into the festive mood but he couldn't. In the end he gave up and obviously so did Hermione.
"You know what… I am feeling rather tired," she said, "I know I sound like a party pooper, but do you mind if I went to bed?"
"No, of course not. I'm sorry for not being with it," he said, "The Blaise… he's not here and well…"
"I understand." Hermione kissed him goodnight and left.
When the doors shut behind her Draco sat silently before his breathing became more long drawn breaths. He closed his eyes willing his immense pain to disappear but it wouldn't leave him. If anything, it was growing bigger by the second.
"Hammy!" he yelled.
A loud crack filled the air as Hammy appeared before him.
"Yes Master Draco?"
"Bring me my whiskey- to my room. Don't let Hermione see. Understand?"
Do you remember me?
You can't see the things,
That make me who I am,
You'll never understand,
Hammy nodded and left with a crack. Slowly Draco stood and left the dining room. But before he left tears blurred his vision. In anger he turned and grabbed the nearest tray, one piled high with roasted vegetables. With a cry of rage he threw them at the wall, smearing oily potatoes over the painting of the Malfoy Manor grounds.
He stormed through the house and up stairs to his room. He made sure not to slam the door shut and looked at the tray with a tall bottle of fire whiskey a shot glass. He walked over and grabbed the shot glass, throwing it at the wall sending glass shattering across the floor. He uncorked the bottle and took a long swig feeling the burning taste slide down his throat.
That I gotta keep moving, you're living off my sweat,
Moving, the devil's on my back,
And these are the days that I dreamed about,
And you're always there to remind me,
He placed the bottle on the table and headed to his wardrobe finding the box with money. All thoughts of hurting Hermione were wiped from his mind the moment the grog touched his lips. He found a slip of parchment, wrote his request, and slipped the money into the envelope with the letter. He walked to his fireplace and threw a handful of floo powder in.
"The Play Time House, Hogsmeade," he said clearly before throwing the envelope in.
He stood back as a shot of green flame erupted with the envelope disappearing. He walked over to his drink and sat on his bed taking long swig, after long swig.
That you're my enemy,
All that we had has gone away,
There are times that fade away,
But you'll still be my enemy,
After a few moments his fireplace lit up once more with a container being thrown from the fire. Draco caught it and opened it up to a pile of pre rolled joints.
"Heaven," he whispered pulling the supplied lighter out and lighting one up.
He took a long drag and let out a gleeful laugh of delight as he downed it with a swig of fire whiskey. All the misery was wiping away, being replaced with pure joy.
"Who fucking cares if they died?" he shouted to no one in particular, "Fucking jerks left me behind!"
The friend you had in me,
You turned on so easily,
I'm sad to see you go,
At least now I know,
He sat up and looked over at his bedroom door with a frown. Taking another drag he stood and walked towards it. Something small and insignificant was screaming in the back of his mind that to open that door would be the world's biggest mistake. He didn't care. What was there to be scared of? He yanked open the door with a wide grin to reveal a shocked Hermione. He smiled at her whilst her eyes moved from the bottle of fire whiskey to the joint hanging from his mouth.
"Want some?" he asked holding out the bottle before laughing.
That I gotta keep moving, you're living off my sweat,
Moving, the devil's on my back,
And these are the days that I dreamed about,
And you're always there to remind me,
"No I don't!" cried Hermione in a shrill screaming voice as she backed away from him, "You said you would never touch that crap again!"
"It's good for ya," said Draco, "Makes me forgot a lot of crap. You really should try it. During the war, mate, I could escape almost any shit."
Hermione looked at him furiously and shook her head, "I have to go. I really do. I am not staying here to watch you spend the holidays getting high and drunk!"
That you're my enemy,
All that we had has gone away,
And there are times that fade away,
But you'll still be my enemy,
My enemy,
My enemy,
My enemy,
Something rational within Draco kicked in. He closed his eyes and opened them to see Hermione storming into her bedroom. He shook his head wondering why he felt so sick and dizzy. Looking at his hands he saw the bottle and instantly dropped it along with the joint.
"Fuck," he whispered leaning on the doorframe clutching his head, "Fuck, fuck, FUCK!"
And I see clearly now,
You tried to bleed me,
I see clearly now,
You tried to feed on me,
"Hermione!" he called stumbling across the hall and pushing her partly shut door open, "Hermione, no, don't go. Please."
"I refuse to stay if you are lying to me!" she snapped shoving clothes into her trunk with tears filling her eyes, "I love you and I truly believed you had changed!"
"It was a weak moment! I swear it won't happen again!"
"You said that before. I believed you and now look."
And I see clearly now,
You tried to bleed me,
I see clearly now,
You tried to feed on me,
Hermione turned from him entering the bathroom and grabbing her brush, soaps, toothbrush, floss, and other random objects.
"You need to understand. I wasn't thinking rationally," pleaded Draco almost on his knees.
"Tell me something, do you ever think rationally?"
"Yes I do!"
"Well I would hate to see what happens when you don't!"
And I see clearly now,
You tried to bleed me,
And I see clearly now,
You tried to feed on me,
Hermione slammed the lid shut on her trunk and yanked it up.
"Don't go," cried Draco reaching out to her.
Hermione whipped her wand out and pointed it at his chest, "Touch me, and I swear you will live to regret it!"
"Hermione… Hermione I love you," begged Draco, "Please, please don't go!"
That you're my enemy,
All that we had has gone away,
And there are times that fade away,
But you'll still be my enemy,
"After this I doubt I can face you in school," whispered Hermione showing her tears finally, "You have really hurt me."
She pocketed her wand and pulled off the ring, dropping it onto the bed.
"Hermione…" pleaded Draco helplessly but it was no use.
My enemy,
My enemy,
My enemy…
She was gone.
HDHermione banged on the door hard, tears falling down her cheeks. The cold seeped through to her skin causing her to start shivering like crazy. A few seconds later the door opened with Fred Weasley looking at Hermione in complete surprise.
"Blimey! Are you insane?" he cried letting her in, taking her trunk from her cold hands, "Mum!"
Mrs Weasley came hurrying in from the kitchen and gasped at the sight of her second daughter, "Oh dear… come into the sitting room. Let's warm you up, dear. Fred, fetch Ginny, Ron and Harry will you?"
Fred nodded and left with Harry, Ron, and Ginny running in moments later.
"Hermione!" cried Ginny rushing to her distraught friend, "What happened?"
"Did he hit you?" demanded Ron looking for any sign of abuse.
"Did he do anything to hurt you?" asked Harry.
"You were all right!" sobbed Hermione having to be led to a seat to sit down.
Mrs Weasley left, knowing it was private talk between the four friends. Ginny sat beside Hermione while Ron and Harry knelt down in front of her.
"What happened?"
"He did it again… he used drugs and alcohol… I knew something was bugging him all day from the moment I said good morning," cried Hermione shaking her head in misery as her shoulder's shook, "I went to bed early and I heard shouting from his room so I went to see what was going on… he opened the door holding a bottle of alcohol and a joint hanging from his mouth."
"That bloody rat," growled Ron shaking his head.
"I couldn't stay… I couldn't," Hermione stopped talking as tears overwhelmed her. Ginny wrapped an arm around her shoulders and Ron and Harry swapped dark looks.
When school went back, Draco Malfoy was going to be meeting the anger of two best friends who do not like to see their Hermione hurt.
HD
Draco angrily threw the bottle at the wall before upturning a chair and knocking over other bits of furniture as he took his anger and frustration out on everything surrounding him.
"FUCKING MORON!" he shouted at his reflection before slamming his fist into the mirror.
The glass shattered around him and blood seeped from his fist. He didn't care. He had achieved the one thing he didn't want to achieve – make her hate him. He looked at the container full of joints and turned away. No he couldn't. He wasn't like that anymore. He was better then that. He was a real human again… a human who had made the one woman he loved leave in a fury aimed directly at him.
He looked at a picture of his parents and anger swam through him once more followed by despair.
"Its all your fault," he said as a lump formed in his throat, "Why couldn't you just… just not have got messed up with that fucking creep?"
He slid down to the ground and saw his still lit joint. With his mind going numb, he reached out and picked it up, rolling it between his thumb and finger.
"What else have I got to live for?" he whispered before taking in a drag and blowing it out slowly feeling the joyful rush to the brain.
A/N: Will they sort things out or has Draco completely screwed things up for good? Hmm… see I like making bad things happen in Chapter Thirteen. Anyway, please review.
SONG: Fozzy – Enemy from the album All That Remains. I then listened to the Living End's Nothing Last Forever directly after to keep the mood going in my mind… it works.
Until next time…
Love yas…
Love Coz!