sticks out tongue
Now that I've got you're attention...
Oh yes, I m extending the challenge to this chapter, cause none of you are right... HINT... I am not in grade 9, I'm going to University next year... c'mon people... lol...Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
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"I need to talk to you."
" I know."
"Hermione." Draco took a deep breath, " The wedding is in two days…"
" Two… days?" She said weakly. Her sister had died, her father betrayed her… and she was to be married? It seemed surreal, fake.
She turned in a daze, half thinking to walk back up to her room. He gently grasped her arm and led her down a hallway, one she had never been down before.
"Where- where are we going?" She asked him softly.
He swallowed, "Someone wishes to talk to you."
"Who?"
He ignored her question, instead coaxing her to continue walking.
……..
She pushed open the heavy mahogany door, aware that Draco was sanding to the side of the door- he already old her he would not go in with her, for she had to do it alone. Do what alone? She wondered. She had come out of the haze, and curiosity pushed her forward.
When she stepped into the room, the door softly shut behind her and she was left to gaze at the crackling fire, outlining the two chairs set in front of it. Was the room empty?
"Come, sit Hermione." A mans voice came from one of the high-backed chairs.
She approached warily. The man's head was turned away so she could not see his face.
She sat down slowly on the plush cushion, watching the shadows dance over the man's face. He was older, long white hair swept his sunken cheeks and a whit beard graced his face. He had soft blue eyes that reflected a sadness she could not place and half moon glasses he nervously played with in his hands.
Her breath caught, " Father?"
He finally looked up, his eyes twinkling as she remembered. But no- they weren't twinkling, they were full of unshed tears, "Hermione, my love."
A knot was in her stomach, twisting painfully, " I am no longer your "love", Albus."
A shift took place in his features, he looked as it she had stabbed him to the heart, " I am your Father…"
" You were my father. My father died the night I lost my sister." She said coldly, heedless of the tears that no spilled over in both his and her own eyes.
" I am sorry."
" You are always sorry," She said bitterly, " You were sorry when you sent my brothers away to be 'educated' as knights, you were sorry when Mama left and never came back. Now you're sorry for murdering my sister and selling me. Its too late now for 'sorry'."
He looked at her desperately, " I had to send your brothers away, Hermione. They were no longer safe at our home."
"Why? Is this just another lie to make yourself seem better?"
"No. They had to leave. But they are back now, Hermione. Thanks to you, they can live safely at the castle once more."
" How is that?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
" Your mother…" He looked nervously around, " I cannot say."
" Of course you can't- you have nothing to say." She stood up and glared down at him, " Stay away from me. You got what you wanted- you are rid of both Luna and I. I will never forget your betrayal; remember me when shadows are in your room. I will make you wish you were a stronger man, Albus. By the time I am finished with you, you will wish you had died instead of Luna, as I do."
" You don't mean that."
She smiled, and for a second the firelight made her look like a Chosen, " I mean it with all my heart. You've lost all you ever had and I will make sure you will lose that which is most precious to you."
She turned and walked to the door, never once looking back.
………………
She cried that night, soaked her pillow with all the rage and sadness that she ever had.
Exhausted, she fell into a restless sleep.
"Momma!" Come open presents!"
" Dance with me, Hermione!" her mother answered, her red hair flying about as she danced in circles. She swept the little girl up ad set her on her toes, dancing around the tree.
Hermione giggled and held on to her mothers soft, strong hands. After a few moments, her mother set her down.
" Presents, momma." Hermione said, running over to the tree and picking one out. It was clumsily wrapped in silver paper, and a red silk ribbon was tied around it. It had taken her a long time to tie the bow, but she did it and she was proud of it.
"Thank you, darling." Her mother said, her eyes reflecting the red of the fire.
She pulled at the ribbon and let the paper fall off the gift- it was a doll.
"Hermione, why did you give me Lucy?"
"Its my favorite dolly, momma. I want you to have it, cause it's the thing I love the most."
Her mothers eyed misted with tears, and she swept the little girl into a hug.
A boom echoed in the hallway- someone was at the door.
"I'll get it!" Hermione happily yelled, running for the door. She ignred her mothers voice telling her to come back, because maybe it was her brothers and she wanted to be the first one to hug them.
She reached the door and pulled with all her might to open it. A man was there, cloaked in black. His eyes were crimson streaked and his hair was black. He was handsome, but he scared her.
"Momma?" She whimpered.
The man leant down and suddenly grabbed her, " Finally, we have found you." He whispered in her ear.
" Put her down!" Her mother was in the doorway, ad her eyes flashed crimson. She strode to the man and wrestled her daughter out of his cold embrace.
" The firstborn female shall reign…" He said softly, so soft that Hermione wasn't sure she heard him.
" But she can be spared." Her mother said fiercely, still cradling her daughter. Hermione could hear Luna wailing in the other room, not wanting to be left alone.
" She ca b spared for a time, if someone is willing to take her place." He said, smirking.
" I will." Her mother said it almost as a challenge. He nodded his head slightly.
She put Hermione down and walked her to the living room once more, " Take care of Luna, sweetie."
"Where are you going, momma?" She asked.
" here I have to." She picked up the doll for a moment and held it to her breast.
" Take it with you, momma, it will protect you." Hermione said.
" Its not me I'm afraid for." She said softly, gazing at her daughter.
Without another word, she followed the man out the door, stopping only to give each of her daughters a kiss on the forehead.
" Momma?" Hermione followed her.
They were gone.
"Momma?"
She saw the red silk ribbon in the mud, crushed by a footprint. She ran to pick it up.
"Momma!"
" Momma, come back!" Her scream echoed around the chamber.
She woke, and tears flooded her eyes once more.
" Momma, why did you leave me?" She whispered.
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