I stare solemnly down at the tiny forest below me. It looks so far away. I've been standing here for hours now, contemplating it all. How my lives have been turned completely upside down? As a child I always wanted adventures, something, anything that would make me live life to the full. Looking back I realise my childhood had passed me by all too quickly.
I close my eyes and remember all the fond moments I shared with Harry and Ron. A sigh escapes me.
I look out over the horizon, the wind howls against my frozen ears. It blasts into my face and makes my eyes water. When the wind blows this hard I can hardly breathe, but that doesn't matter now. Nothing matters now. I take a heavy breath which shivers in my throat.
I look down at my hands, they are bloody and dirty. I'm clasping Severus' diary tightly. So tight, my brown-with-dirt knuckles are turning white.
My fingernails dig into the thick leather and are leaving imprints.
Good.
It begins to rain. The sky is already murky with the afternoon sky turning into night. Brilliant colours of brown, orange and crimson bleed together, and although it's cold, I feel warm inside.
Adrenalin tingles through my body, which is almost numb with pain.
I blink and a wave of new tears stream down my stained face. My cheeks are red and blistering with the cold. I close my eyes if only briefly. My soft eyelashes stroke against my tender skin, cutting deep into me.
I swallow hard.
The rain becomes lighter until only a few drops kiss my cheeks and clean away the dirt and grime.
I take another strained breath, the air is cold like ice and I feel it slicing its way to my lungs.
Slowly I bend down to place the diary on the damp floor. My ribs creak as I do so, the pain is almost unbearable, but I manage. My side throbs, and I can feel the blood pulsating it way around.
I reach out my frozen hands and clasp the cold railing of the balcony. I slowly, painfully lift myself up onto it. My teeth chatter with the pain and bitter wind.
I look down again at the forest below me. Snow has fallen on the tops of the trees, it almost looks magical.
Almost.
Mustering a new strength within me I try not to cry.
I will not cry.
Not for him.
Not for anyone.
It doesn't help the tears fall silently down.
I look down once more as if to confirm what I am about to do, a small smile escapes me and dances on my lips.
A smile that I once bore when I was at Hogwarts laughing with Harry and Ron.
A smile that once beamed out my confidence and filled my lungs with pride.
A smile that once shone so much love.
Now I smile sinisterly, wickedly, as I alone find comfort in knowing the end is nigh.
I inhale a deep, cleansing breath. As I do so I fan my arms out at the sides of me. I pretend I'm an angel about to fly. I close my eyes and imagine, if there is a heaven what it would be like.
A wind rushed past and plays with my hair. It sends chills down my spine.
I'm not sure how long I stand there for. Eyes closed, posed like a bird about to take flight.
I don't hear the dull sound of footsteps approaching behind me.
I open my eyes slowly one last time, I swallow down another breath.
And jump.
It's almost poetic, as if in slow motion.
The wind fires up underneath me and lifts me as if I were light as a cloud.
I'm flying.
I am actually flying.
All thoughts of loss, sadness and despair escape my mind as I fly on the air like a bird.
Suddenly it all goes wrong.
The wind begins to scream, in my ear, my eyes jolt open, a sharp pain in my side catches me as if I were burning.
My body goes limp.
I feel myself being dragged backwards.
No.
No.
No.
This was not supposed to happen.
Pain sears through my chest, I fight the urge to throw up.
No.
No.
No.
In one swift movement, the hands that have me cradled around my waist pull me up over the balcony. Strong, heavy, masculine hands.
Vitruvian Man
I can smell the taste of ingredients on his breath.
His heart races against my back. He is still holding me tight. It beats furiously against my shoulders.
He's panicked.
I turn around to look him in the eye. He looks scared and vulnerable.
How come?
Why?
I study his face, he genuinely is concerned, and he doesn't try and hide it either or mask his emotions. He is completely exposed.
"Severus?" I whisper.
"What the hell Hermione, you could have died" he shouts at me through rasps of breath.
"What did you…? I mean why…?" I try but can't find the words.
"Why do you think?" he says softly, his silky almost liquid velvet voice makes me close my eyes and suppress a shiver.
"I thought you…." i mumble pathetically.
"I tried to explain, in my journal" he pants, "I only ever did what was asked of me".
I can see the sorrow swelling up inside him. I softly place my hand on his arm. He looks at it for a moment before staring at me, deep into my soul.
"I only ever tried to do what was best to keep you alive" he states.
I realise I don't need his explanations.
I slowly move forward and close the gap between us.
I lean into him, he is warm. My insides tingle as he softly strokes my hair and back.
I'm home.
A/N; Thanx to the Most Mysterious...(dot, dot, dot) for pointing out that for some strange reason the words "Vitruvian Man" keeps appearing in this chapter. I honestly have no Idea why. I have tried deleting it and replacing the chapter, but for some strange reason it keeps popping up. Its not in my original script on word document either so I have no idea where it has come from. If you so see the words "Vitruvian Man" in this chapter then please ignore it. I didn't put it in there. Its kinda freaky, lol, I looked it up on Google and its Leonardo Da Vinci's painting. Still, I dont know why it keeps appearing in my story...Strange
