Yay! I'm finally back! I'm absolutely sorry for the long wait! My computer broke a few months ago and I just got it fixed.
We're down to the last two chapters and I will be posting both of them today (aww)
Chapter Eight: I Can't Go On, I'll Go On
Hermione's POV
No.
Draco Malfoy cannot be in love with me. It's just not possible. All this time I've spent convincing myself that he couldn't love me . . . now that I finally believed that nothing could happen, this happens.
Things were considerably chilly in our dorm the following morning. We were still talking, but the friendly banter was gone.
One word: awkward.
When I went out of my room, I was alone. He'd gone to the Great Hall by himself.
"Where's your knight in shining armor?" Harry asked when I sat down beside them. I simply shrugged.
"Did you guys fight?" Ginny asked. I shook my head.
"Why aren't you talking?" Ron asked. I shrugged again and sighed.
The rest of my day was pretty gloomy. What had gotten into me? Why did I say no? Was I too scared?
We patrolled the corridors separately that night. Without his knowledge, I went back to the dorm. Lyrics were bugging me.
I turned both Keys and Techie on just to have a whole band-and-music-video feel.
"You didn't tell me you were going back early," Draco's voice said from the doorway. "I was looking for you."
"Um sorry," I replied timidly.
"I'll forgive you I guess," he mumbled. "Good night."
"'Night," I said, switching off both Techie and Keys then going to my room. I opened the door and I heard his voice again.
"I love you," he said, when he thought I couldn't hear him anymore.
I closed the door and smiled feeling both happy and guilty at the same time.
Draco's POV
She can't mean that. I have to find a way to make her stop denying. During free period, I opened Techie. I know that I wasn't supposed to touch her stuff, but what the hell, this was for her own good. This was too important.
"Sorry, 'Mione," I whispered to no one in particular. I opened the music file titled "Someone to Fall Back On" and listened.
"What the hell is she talking about?" I asked myself. More likely, who?
I took out my guitar and composed and recorded my own, finishing just in time for the next period. I needed help. And there were only two people whom I can turn to right now. I could feel my pride aching at the thought.
"You've got to help me on this," I almost begged, but no. Slytherins don't beg. Especially in front of Gryffindors.
"Why should we help you, Malfoy?" Weasel King asked, staring at me as if I was a threat. He liked Hermione. It was so obvious.
"Because she's your best friend and she's in denial."
"Given that, why should we believe that you're not going to hurt her?" Scar head asked. He looked at me looking at me not unlike a big brother scrutinizing his little sister's boyfriend.
"Because if I wanted to hurt her, I could have asked Blaise and Theo instead of you."
Scar head and Weasel King looked at each other for a while, as if reading each other's thoughts. It was quite annoying really. After a minute, they finally broke their eye contact. Thank Merlin.
"Fine we'll help you," scar head said. I smiled widely. We talked about the plan for another hour.
Around seven in the evening, we were ready.
Hermione walked in.
"Hey," she said with a sigh, clearly resigned to the fact that she cannot avoid me.
"Hey," I replied, barely being able to bottle up my excitement any longer. If this goes on, I might burst into a fit of giggles. "Listen, I want to tell you something."
She sat down on the couch with a look that said "go on." I grabbed my guitar and began singing.
Say, won't you stay; we can talk about nothing at all
Or sit here and make up the words as we go along
The games, we could play
Maybe silently write us a song
Quietly shout from the roof that we don't belong
They told me maybe she's crazy a little like you
Everyone said you were nothing but trouble and
All that I know is that I've never been here before
And no, I'll never leave, if it's alright with you
Dreaming of oceans while jumping in puddles and
All of my life I pretend you where there by the door
I don't need to pretend any more.
Scar head and Weasel King came in and they were smiling. Hermione was on the couch, her eyes widening as the events unfolded before her eyes. She was disbelieving, I knew she was because I myself could not believe that I am now currently being helped by Gryffindors in serenading yet another Gryffindor. I wondered if the Apocalypse was coming.
Strange, oh so strange
When it feels better being alone
You accept there is nobody else and set it in stone
And then you, came along
Your reflection was so sad and strong
You made me believe once again that I could be wrong.
They told me maybe she's crazy a little like you
Everyone said you were nothing but trouble and
All that I know is that I've never been here before
And no, I'll never leave, if it's alright with you
Dreaming of oceans while jumping in puddles and
All of my life I pretend you where there by the door
I don't need to pretend any more.
And it hurts, to know, there was somebody out there as strange and
As beautiful, as you
If I'd known sooner
Maybe she's crazy a little like you
Everyone said you were nothing but trouble
All that I know is that I've never been here before
And no, I'll never leave, if it's alright with you
Dreaming of oceans while jumping in puddles and
All of my life I pretend you where there by the door
I don't need to pretend any more.
I don't need to pretend anymore
I don't need to pretend anymore
I left the guitar work in Scar head's capable hands and played on Keys. Hermione was basically crying, and at the same time laughing. Well, this isn't the first time that the Malfoy charm drove somebody insane. Scar head and Weasel King were smiling widely. I gave myself a proverbial pat on the back for a job well done.
"No," Hermione whispered when the song finished, wiping her tears. "Don't you dare waste all my effort trying to forget you by admitting that you're also in love with me!"
"'Mione, that's the stupidest thing I ever heard," I told her, holding her face in my two hands. "I know you love me too."
"Draco . . . I can't go on loving you."
"But I will," I said, giving her a light peck on the lips. "And soon enough you will to."
She smiled one of the wettest, most tearful and yet most alluring smile in the whole wide world. I leaned down and kissed her, and the sensation of triumph and happiness engulfed the two of us.
I Can't Go On, I'll Go On: (A band from the movie Bandslam) Everything I Own, Someone to Fall Back On