A/N... and lo! the conclusion. Enjoy. Or not, your choice. But review! 3
Hermione licked her lips nervously. She had wanted to humiliate him, make him feel like she had when he had been taunting her. Now, however, she saw that he already did. 'I'll never get it back,' was all she could say.
'No,' Draco replied, his eyes pleading. 'I never did.' Hermione watched his silver Slytherin eyes gleam for a moment, and then turned to the portal to leave. When she reached it, she looked back on the boy who had broken her; he was still on his knees, and she saw him tremble. 'I really am. Sorry.'
She looked into his eyes, and saw the truth. 'I know,' she told him. 'But it doesn't make up for what you did.'
Ashamed, Draco lowered his eyes and put his head in his hands. 'I know.'
Considering him, Hermione said quietly, 'We're the same, then, you and I. Lost. Come with me to Dumbledore's office. Maybe he can help us find ourselves.'
Draco stood clumsily and came slowly over to the door. 'If there's anything I can do, Hermione…'
'Stay out of arm's reach… and stop using my first name.' She grimaced, and added, 'It's unnatural.'
Draco followed Hermione up to the headmaster's office without complaint. Indeed, he thought he got off rather well – and, of course, he hated himself for it. He didn't deserve her kindness. But, of course, it was Hermione. She was always doing kind things like that.
When they reached the massive gargoyle, Draco told her, 'Just so you know; we're not the same at all.'
'Oh?'
'I would've killed me. That just proves that I didn't take it. I'm completely gone. You, though – you're still the same kind, sweet know-it-all with a continence. Mine died years ago.'
'Did it?' she asked, 'Because if it were totally gone, would you be feeling guilty right now?'
As he pondered this, the gargoyle sprung alive, and moved aside to usher Draco willingly to his hazy future.
Maybe, Draco thought, his heart warming, it wasn't completely lost after all…
A/N…so… I REALLY hope you liked it, and if you did or didn't tell me!!! CIAO!! JM.
ps. if you think of anything that you think could be done to improve it, tell me. I loooove feedback:)