Here is a sneaky little bonus for you all. The piece of paper that Aro burned was a letter that was never going to be sent. Enjoy and thank you to all my lovely readers. Part 3 will be up soon. Xx
Mio cara Hermione,
I never thought that I would ever have the courage to write this letter to anyone, but here I am, writing it to you. Most people accuse me of being a coward and hiding behind those who have more power than I, and in a way they are correct. Look at the guard for example, where would I be without them.
Believe me when I say that letting you go has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life, and has taken all the courage and bravery that I possess to do so. You once asked me something, do you remember, the night of the ball. If not, then let me remind you now. You asked if I loved you and at the time I was foolish enough to give you a ridiculous answer. If you were to ask me now however, I would be able to say that yes, yes I do love you. More than anything else in this world in fact. Which is why I decided to let you go. I would do anything for you mio cara, anything to see that beautiful smile grace your perfect lips again, knowing that it was I who caused it.
Forgive me my love, for the way that I treated you. For the things that I said and done that caused you hurt and pain. There is nothing I can say that will excuse my previous behavior, except that I did what I did, because I thought I was keeping you safe. Instead I was only pushing you further away from me, when I should have been embracing you fully while I had the chance. I'm sorry for not doing so.
I could never deny you anything and if you had come to me demanding your freedom, I would have relented, despite how much you being away from me hurts. Instead I opted for the cowards' way out and hid, knowing that you were going to leave me anyway. I couldn't have stood there and watched as you left, without wanting to fling myself down at your feet and beg you to stay. To stay and be mines forever. So I hid away, knowing that it was the best thing for both of us.
It is my turn to ask you a question now Hermione. Do you love me? If not now could you ever? Forgive a foolish old man his dreams. But I like to hope that you could love me back someday. I need to believe that one day you will return to me, otherwise if I don't I'm afraid I may wither away to nothing. I don't tell you this to try and guilt you into staying, I tell you this because it is the truth. I love you Hermione, only you. It has taken me a lifetime to find you, and you my love, were worth the wait.
It pains me to say this but if I have to wait another lifetime for you then I will do so, because you mio cara are everything to me. All I want is for your happiness.
I think that I shall end this letter here, so go, and leave now before I do or say something that I will regret later. But just know that you will forever be in my heart and never far from my thoughts.
With all that I am and all that I have, I am eternally yours.
End of Part Two
