Thank You to my reviewers, shortstuff8xoxo, Mariba, and Cougirl, and to BloodFireAlchEMisT who added it to alert. For your enjoyment, here is chapter 2.
...
Suddenly Hermione broke off from her story.
"Are you sure you want to hear about this? I mean, it hurts just remembering."
"I need to know how bad I hurt you, or I can never feel like I did my best to make amends."
"I suppose. Well, the mistress kept me in bed all morning, then when she bought my lunch, asked if I needed anything. I was so full of pent up emotion, and I needed to release it...
...
"My guitar." She had answered, to the mistress's astonishment. "Singing always calms me down."
When Ron had returned, he had found her sitting in bed, her guitar on her lap, singing softly to herself words which obviously held so much meaning.
"Hey," he had greeted her, and she had smiled at him.
"Whatcha singing?" He'd asked curiously. She'd broken off from singing to reply.
"You know that muggle artist I'm always talking about, Taylor Swift. It's a song of hers, called 'Last Kiss'."
"Let's hear it then," Ron had requested, and she obliged, playing him the song. As she had played the last chord she had seen tears glistening in his eyes, and she had gasped in astonishment.
"Ron?" She had asked uncertainly, "Ron, are you crying?"
"No, he had said, trying to cover the tears. "I just can't believe you won't let me whack him one."
"The day before the war starts?" She had retorted. "Save your energy. He stands against us tomorrow."
"S**t. No wonder you're upset. He's on Voldemort's side tomorrow?"
"Not out of free will. If he doesn't stand with them, his mother dies. He has too."
Ron had nodded. "You know, I never thought I'd say this, but I feel sorry for him. That is a tough situation to be put in."
"That's why... Why we can't be together anymore. If he is forced to take the truth serum, then he has to be able to honestly answer he has no...partner in the school."
"Why didn't you explain this before? I wouldn't have been so harsh on him."
"I...I guess I was too upset. And I didn't want to hurt you."
"Hurt me. Hermione, if I'd known the truth it would have hurt a whole load less."
"I know." There had been an awkward pause.
"What did you tell Harry?"
"The same as I told everyone else. You didn't sleep last night, and are catching up today. I couldn't tell him that you'd been dating his worst enemy and then he'd broken your heart the day before the war. Remember how I reacted then multiply that anger by 100."
"Why do you think Harry's anger will be that much more severe?"
"Because he hates Malfoy 100 times more than I do."
"Oh." She had responded. She had always assumed if she told her friends, she would go to Harry first, but if what Ron said was true, it was a good thing it never came to that. "I always assumed he'd be more... receptive... than you."
"Why?"
"Well, I... I just... I was talking to... A friend, and they said it was obvious you... liked me, and not to tell you if I ever got a boyfriend because it would upset you."
"Is that what people think? That I have a crush on you?"
"Seems to be."
"It's not true, you know."
"I didn't think it could be. I hoped it wasn't."
"But we can use it to our advantage. Pretend to date me, 'Mione. Then no one can accuse you of being weak, or heartbroken."
"I can't... Not so soon."
"It won't be real. A cover. Like your hatred and fights towards him have been. Look at it like that, another way to keep your love for him secret."
"I suppose. Alright, we'll do it. If you're sure it won't hurt you."
"Nah... It's you I'm worried about, and this might just save you."
...
"So that was how it started." Draco commented. "What was that song you said you sang? Last Kiss? Sing it for me, Granger, please."
"Now? In a corridor, in the middle of the day when we should be in class?"
"It's not any corridor, it's our corridor, and we're the only ones who ever use it."
Looking up, she realised he was right; whilst they had been talking they had walked the familiar path, and now they were standing by the low wall which she had so often sat on whilst waiting for him. She sighed; realising he was probably right and no one would find them here.
"Accacio." She called, and her guitar appeared beside her. Picking it up, she strummed an intro, and then started singing, sitting on the low wall with him by her side.
I still remember the look on your face
Lit through the darkness at 1:58 She smiled, remembering. They'd slipped from the school, sat by the lake. Picnicked in the moonlight.
The words that you whispered
For just us to know
You told me you loved me
So why did you go away? She knew the answer. It still hurt.
Away
I do recall now the smell of the rain
Fresh on the pavement
I ran off the plane
That July 9th She'd come back from holiday, and he'd met her in secret, holding her tight
The beat of your heart
It jumps through your shirt
I can still feel your arms
But now I'll go sit on the floor
Wearing your clothes She wrapped herself up in his old jumper whenever she missed him. He'd lent it to her once, when she was cold, and never taken it back.
All that I know is
I don't know how to be something you miss She didn't. But she needed him to miss her.
I never thought we'd have a last kiss She hadn't. She's ignored the fact everything fell apart eventually.
Never imagined we'd end like this
Your name, forever the name on my lips
I do remember the swing of your step
The life of the party, you're showing off again He was constantly showing off.
And I roll my eyes and then She was constantly rolling her eyes.
You pull me in
I'm not much for dancing She hated it, normally.
But for you I did He'd taught her how to enjoy it. How to laugh at her mistakes and find the rhythm. They would waltz for hours by the lake in the moonlight.
Because I love your handshake, meeting my father
I love how you walk with your hands in your pockets
How you kissed me when I was in the middle of saying something
There's not a day I don't miss those rude interruptions
And I'll go sit on the floor
Wearing your clothes
All that I know is
I don't know how to be something you miss
Never thought we'd have a last kiss
Never imagined we'd end like this
Your name, forever the name on my lips
So I'll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep
And I feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe
And I keep up with our old friends just to ask them how you are
Hope it's nice where you are. She wanted to keep up with him, to know what was happening in his life, even if it hurt to see him moving on.
And I hope the sun shines
And it's a beautiful day
And something reminds you
You wish you had stayed This had been her greatest prayer.
You can plan for a change in weather and time
But I never planned on you changing your mind She hadn't. He'd promised not to.
So I'll go sit on the floor
Wearing your clothes
All that I know is
I don't know how to be something you miss
Never thought we'd have a last kiss
Never imagined we'd end like this
Your name, forever the name on my lips
Just like our last kiss
Forever the name on my lips
Forever the name on my lips
Just like our last...
She strummed the last chord, then looked at him, tears glistening in her eyes. He looked the other way, trying to hide the tears in his own eyes. He wouldn't admit it, but breaking up with her had been the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. Blinking a few times he turned back to her, smiling weakly, but she could tell the song had upset him.
"You have a beautiful voice, Granger. Sing another."
Hermione thought for a minute. He still hadn't made it right, he still hadn't said he wanted her back, not really. She thought through the songs she could sing, and eventually decided on Haunted.
"Here you go. This is one I sang whenever I felt... Annoyed, or frustrated at what you did to me. It's also by Taylor Swift."
And she started to sing.
You and I walk a fragile line
I have known it all this time It was true. She'd always known it.
but I never thought I'd live to see it break Maybe she'd been a little naive. It couldn't have lasted
It's getting dark and it's all too quiet
And I can't trust anything now
And it's coming over you like it's all a big mistake Draco shuddered. She didn't really think that did she? She meant more to him than anything else in the world. If anything she was the only thing in his life which hadn't been a mistake.
Oh, I'm holding my breath
Won't lose you again
something's made your eyes go cold Fear, he thought. Fear made my eyes go cold. Fear for you, and me, and my family.
Come on, come on, don't leave me like this She was begging. She had sworn she would never beg for a man, and here she was, practically on her knees.
I thought I had you figured out
Something's gone terribly wrong What was she referring to? Their relationship? The war?
You're all I wanted Well, that at least they could agree on.
Come on, come on, don't leave me like this
I thought I had you figured out
Can't breathe whenever you're gone
Can't turn back now, I'm haunted It was true. Whenever they were apart he was in her thoughts. It was as though she couldn't do anything without thinking of him.
Stood there and watched you walk away She hadn't been strong enough to do even that. She had run from him instead, too broken to care.
From everything we had
But I still mean every word I said to you She loved him. That was what she'd said. That was what she needed him to remember.
He would try to take away my pain Ron had been great, keeping her distracted.
And he just might make me smile He always made her laugh, but the pain was never far away.
But the whole time I'm wishing he was you instead She felt a little guilty about that, but it was the truth, and it felt good to tell him that.
Oh, I'm holding my breath
Won't see you again She hadn't thought she would. After the war, one of them might have been dead, or the dark side might have won.
something keeps me holding on to nothing She hoped by calling it nothing she would arouse his anger. She didn't know how well it was working...
Come on, come on, don't leave me like this
I thought I had you figured out
Something's gone terribly wrong
You're all I wanted
Come on, come on, don't leave me like this
I thought I had you figured out
Can't breathe whenever you're gone
Can't turn back now, I'm haunted
I know, I know, I just know
You're not gone. You can't be gone. No.
Come on, come on, don't leave me like this
I thought I had you figured out
Something's gone terribly wrong
Won't finish what you started
Come on, come on, don't leave me like this
I thought I had you figured out
Can't breathe whenever you're gone It was true. She couldn't. Neither could he.
Can't go back, I'm haunted
Oh
You and I walk a fragile line
I have known it all this time
Never ever thought I'd see it break.
Never thought I'd see it...
The song drew to a close and she looked up at him, and was surprised to see he was visibly moved by her words.
"I... I'm sorry." He stuttered. "If I... I can't... I did what I had to do."
"I know. What hurts is that you didn't make it right. Harry went straight back to Ginny when the war ended."
"You were dating Ron."
"You didn't seem bothered by that fact."
"I knew he was better for you."
"I didn't love him."
"I didn't know that!"
"Perhaps you should have taken the time to find out."
"I didn't want to hurt you even more."
"You hurt me worse by abandoning me."
"I'm sorry," he screamed, and his voice broke in pain. "I'm sorry, 'Mione, I'm so, so sorry. Please. Believe me, forgive me. Please." His voice sank to a whisper as he begged, and she looked down at him, torn. She needed him, and yet at the same time she wanted him to suffer like she had. Meeting his eyes she realised he was already suffering, torn by their past and a longing for their future, and in her heart she knew she'd forgiven him before he'd even asked.
"Alright. We'll try our best to make this work. But we keep it quiet for a while, until we know we can go through with it. The pressure will be horrendous once people find out."
"Okay. I can agree to that, if it means I get you back." And pulling her close, he kissed her, and she finally released all the passion which had built up inside her, wrapping her arms round his neck, and holding him as tight as she could. The two were startled by the sound of footsteps approaching, and quickly ran down another corridor, ducking into an alcove to avoid being seen. As soon as the footsteps passed they slipped out and found their way back to class, just in time to join the queue of people leaving the room and heading for the dining room and lunch. Hermione joined Harry and Ron, slipping in next to them. Harry shot her a strange look, and she knew he would question her later on where she'd been. She'd have to make up some excuse. Ron whispered quietly,
"Did you sort it out?" and she gave him a brief nod, promising herself she would explain to him later.
...
There you go. I hope you enjoyed it. Please, if you have time, leave a review. It would mean the world to me.
G4E