Hello lovely readers! I know it has been awhile since my last update. Also, I know I said that this was going to end with three chapters, but I could not finish it with just three chapters. Not yet, anyway. I am most likely going to finish this story with the next part, hopefully, maybe? I'm not sure, it depends on how I feel about the ending and development. Plus, school has been killing me with its workload, and since I am on winter break, I finally finished this chapter.
I thank you all for waiting patiently for me and for those who reviewed this story, I appreciate it very much!
This chapter holds a large piece of me, and this whole story became a healing process for me. I'm going to say which part, but writing it out definitely helped me move on. So again, I thank you for waiting.
Furthermore, I also like to thank Winter's Empire for creating a fantastic and lovely banner for this story, which I completely love. You can go on my profile to see where you can view her creation. Thank you Winter's Empire, I am so flattered and completely in love with what you created. It helped me get back my groove and definitely brightened up my whole month!
Also, I like to thank my lovely friend, Lady A, for letting me use her copy of The Secret World of Mermaids.
And without any further adieu, here it the fourth part of Without Fault!
I hope you all enjoy.
WARNING(S): Impolite language and drug abuse.
Disclaimer: I do not own either series, Harry Potter or The Vampire Diaries. Nor do I own The Secret World of Mermaids.
.:Part Four:.
To Follow
…December 1st….
It should have relieved her.
It should have.
But all it did was break her heart. Hermione laid out her heart for him, Klaus, the man who disrupted her life and made a mess of things. She allowed him to have a piece of her many broken pieces, and he slapped it all back in her face.
It was a laughable situation.
The one time she became vulnerable was the moment he finally seized his chance in truly breaking her. All she felt was anger, humiliation…..disgust…..disappointment….Hermione was disappointed in herself.
How did she become so weak?
And here she was, throwing everything that belonged to her before this life and everything that became hers. The only thing she did not pack was one single photograph that captured a fleeting moment of happiness with the Original family.
Red-rimmed eyes blinked, fingers softly tracing the faces of the family that had taken her in, the very same family that changed everything inside of her. Rebekah's mischievous smile, Elijah's lips quirked upwards, his eyes bright, and Kol's face twisted into that idiotic self-satisfied smirk of his.
Klaus's arm around her.
She couldn't take this with her.
She placed it back down onto the bed.
Window open, Hermione felt the winter air, bringing her everything she had missed in this makeshift world of money and brutal power.
Freedom.
But she also felt her heart break.
Tired eyes and heart heavy, Hermione disapparated, casting her thoughts and feelings away.
Not a single tear was shed when she left.
~X~
…December 24th….
The minute Hermione returned home, she began her journey on going on a bender. She did not care if she looked like absolute shite, no, not at all. Nor did she care that the air became stale in her flat, dust covering every surface, and the cold invading her home.
All of her stuff was still unpacked.
No, she didn't give a shite at all.
Not since three days ago when she came back.
All she needed was to drink this pain away in this bar, where all the pain and joy was shared among all strangers.
"Woah, there, 'Mione!" The heavily Irish accent sounded like home to her, childhood to her.
"You look like-" "Shite, I know, Seamus. Please tell me something I don't know."
Hermione truly expected him to leave her after that, but it surprised her when he wrapped a warm arm around her. She turned to him, eyes of blue bringing her familiar comfort. Seamus's eyes were never pale and innocent as Ron's nor was it shocking with a splash of green as Klaus's.
Klaus.
Her heart ached.
"See that you still have a smart mouth, Granger," the Irish man flashed her charming smile, "Harry told me all about your world adventures and whatnot, even suspected that a guy was involved."
She tried not to flinch in her drunken haze.
"N-no guy was involved. At least, not anymore." Hermione wasn't trying to sound like she just got dumped straight on her arse. No, she should be celebrating that she was finally free from Klaus's grasp, but why did she feel so lonely and betrayed?
Seamus arm around her became tighter, in a way that tried to give her comfort, but instead made her body squirm with discomfort.
"I'm sorry 'bout that 'Mione." He sounded apologetic, but those eyes shone of something else. "No guy can be ever good enough for a girl such as yourself. Pretty as you are smart, you should have guys stumbling over their own feet for you."
Hermione laughed a hearty laugh, her voice breaking at the end.
She was trying so hard not to cry.
"I just want one."
It was a confession from her heart, slipping passed her lips. Seamus hugged her once more before releasing her from his arms. He signaled the bar tender for a drink and another one for her. His blue eyes looked over to her, long and thick lashes framing them, and perhaps it was the alcohol that made her want to find comfort in him.
"He mattered that much to you, eh?"
Hermione never answered him.
Instead, she poured out her feelings to another bottle.
~x~
It was a moment of weakness, of need, and desperation. The weight of him was comforting but foreign at the same time, and the hole in her heart ached. It ached for affection and relief, she cried for him, even in this hurried state of messy passion. It was not a moment of love or affection but rather a moment of selfishness and manipulation.
Klaus. Klaus. Klaus.
And yet all she could taste and smell was Seamus with his spicy, cinnamon scent.
And everything was so wrong.
She manipulated his desires for a sense of fulfillment, no matter how fleeting it was, and he became selfish in taking whatever he could get in her broken state.
They did not love each other nor did they feel any such feelings towards one another except what she actually thought was friendship.
But that turned out to be a lie in this stupid, stupid mess of lies.
Hermione gave and gave, and he slowly took the remaining pieces of her heart.
She was now truly broken because it was not the man she loved that had broken her down into nothingness, no, it was the shadows and fake smiles of a disguised boy who played the part of the faithful friend flawlessly.
With each messy kiss, he tore out each piece of her heart. Her mind screamed in revulsion with every touch, but her body responded with her heart's grief. She loved him, she was in love with him, not this silly little boy who held onto her.
Seamus took and took, and she gave and gave.
Everything ended when he finally destroyed her.
Seamus left her curled up in bed, sheets tainted with the evidence of what they had just done.
Sheets stained with her tears.
And when he left, he gave a look of nothingness and perhaps a hint of sadness, but for what? He was the one who had truly destroyed her, watching as he plucked her wings off. The wheels had shifted once more, and the image of her changed.
No longer was she whole or partially intact.
No, now she was less than that.
She was now truly nothing.
She did not matter to him now, neither as a friend nor a one-time lover.
She mattered to no one.
She clutched onto the porcelain for hours that night, emptying out her disappointment and disgust.
She cried until her heart bled dry.
That was the day she lost someone who meant nothing to her at all.
~x~
….December 26th….
"Come on, 'Mione. I know you are in there! Seamus said that you were back." She winced at the mention of the sandy-haired man, burying herself even more into her covers. "I'm not mad, okay? Just open up the door, I'm worried."
Every little sound made her head pound, making her regret her decision of not making any hangover potions or even buying some damn aspirin. Some Christmas this year has been.
"I have aspirin and soup, 'Mione. I know you've been on a bender so open up." Harry kept banging on her door as if that would make her want to get up from her warm fortress to open that damn door.
But aspirin did sound right about good at the moment.
"Please."
Hermione groaned, moving the blankets off of her, and with heavy limbs and puffy eyes, she trudged onwards towards the door. Harry was determined on breaking down her door with the way he was banging on it.
She cracked the door open, one bloodshot eye peeking through.
"What do you want, Harry?" Hermione croaked, throat dry as if she had been only ingesting dust for the past few days.
Which she has in this dirty place.
The door slammed open with the dark-haired wizard tackling the other into a warm, comforting hug. The scent of sugary sweets and pumpkin brought tears to her eyes, and Hermione did not reject her sweet, sweet Harry. Pale, dirty, and donning grey rags, she held onto her best friend, crying tears that she had thought had ran out.
Harry held onto her, rubbing soothing circles on her back.
"It's okay, 'Mione, you're home." He whispered into her rat-nest hair, just thankful to have her back. "You can tell me anything and everything."
She just cried harder into his shoulder, trembling not from the cold but from the relief she felt.
Home. This was her home. She was back.
And yet her heart wasn't to be found here.
~x~
….December 31st….
The Weasley family had came a long way since the loss of two children to the war, but it was always during the holidays that it reminded them of what they lost. Two empty chairs were always ignored, but she always noticed the way their smiles would fall slightly at the sight of them.
Ron and Fred were still open wounds in all of their hearts.
Pale and still broken-hearted, Hermione grasped her cup, her shaking hands sneaking a small bottle of vodka into her pumpkin juice beneath the table. It was just hard to breathe in this atmosphere, this rebuilt happiness. Their idle chatter became background noise to her, their laughter silent, and it reminded her of what she didn't have.
Love. Love. Love.
Mr. Weasley aged beyond his years after the war, but his clear blue eyes still looked at his wife with love. When she wasn't looking and too busy scolding George for being such a rascal, a smile would creep on his lips, eyes crinkled with adoration.
Love. Love. Love.
Hermione took a gulp of her concoction, eyes flickering towards the other couples at the table.
Fleur has had an ever present smile on her lips, peeking down at her child. Happiness radiated from her whereas Bill would relax in his chair, watching the two loves of his life in silent content. She cooed, he smiled, and despite the scars, Hermione thought he was handsome with such an expression on his hardened face.
"My Victoire." Fleur cooed into her child's hair, smiling up at her husband.
He simply tucked a stray golden lock behind her ear.
If Ron could see him now.
The booming laughter made her look, fully aware of whom it was. George shone with happiness, his arm around his new wife, Angelina. Even with only one ear, he still looked dashing, and Angelina was beauty and all-around sweetheart.
However, George would still look around the room as if expecting his twin to pop in any second, but he always met disappointment and grief.
But he had love to anchor him back down.
She didn't.
Hermione felt a twinge of jealousy.
"Charlie should get an actual girlfriend instead of those dragons." A very pregnant Ginny complained, rubbing her swollen belly lovingly.
Harry chuckled, eyes gleaming with happiness.
He would be a wonderful father with a plenty of love to give, Hermione thought as she watched the two. Ginny was going to have a daughter in the next month or so, and even though her moods would swing from one extreme to another, she still glowed.
"Admit it, Ginny, you just miss your brother!" Harry laughed.
"Well, he isn't getting any younger. I wouldn't mind some more grandchildren," Mrs. Weasley piped in, "And besides, we hardly ever see him."
"Mum, you need to relax. You already have a grandchild and a granddaughter in a month! And hopefully," George's eyes shone with mischief, "another one in nine months!"
Angelina slapped his shoulder with an offended expression.
"I thought we agreed to tell everyone when the time was right, George! This was hardly the right time to-" She was quickly shushed by her husband's beaming smile.
"I couldn't wait to tell them." George held onto her hand, placing a quick kiss on the back of it with a large grin plastered on his excited face.
Laughter and happiness exploded around the table, congratulations being exchanged. Mrs. Weasley had burst into a happy round of tears, and Mr. Weasley laughed at his wife's ridiculous response, love present in his eyes.
Bill sat in silence with a small smile, and Fleur held onto Angelina's hand and her baby in the other. And Harry and Ginny took a moment to look at each other, their gazes meeting in a silent and shared joy.
Hermione suddenly felt like a stranger in her own world.
Even in when there was a large hole in this picture, they all still found a sense of happiness.
All except her.
~x~
….January 2nd….
"You know, Granger, it would be nice to be welcomed with a smile, you know," Draco's aristocratic drawl was a familiar comfort that she had quietly welcomed, "And Merlin, Granger, you look like death!"
A tired smile tugged at her lips.
"Good to see you still blunt as ever, Malfoy."
The blond flashed charming smile, pushing his way into her flat as if he had always belonged there. Surely there was a great improvement since Harry had stopped by a few weeks ago, but several boxes were still unpacked or half-way finish, all lying on the floor abandoned. He casually looked over the mess, even the little section where it seemed she had a little breakdown if the shredded photos indicated otherwise.
"Potter told me about that mystery fellow that broke that Gryffindor heart of yours. It's a good thing you have such wealthy friends, Granger, or you'd be stuck in a rut, ugly and alone."
Hermione chuckled at the wizard's words, too amused and too tired to be offended by Draco's usual snobbery.
The friendship between them was a tentative one at first, and to be honest, it seemed short-lived after the war. It changed everyone in some way, and it served as a wakeup call to the blond aristocrat. Blinded his love for his father and bound by duty to uphold the Malfoy name and tradition, he was led astray.
But deep inside, he was just a simple man trying to be the dutiful son.
In the midst of court troubles and hardships, Hermione stumbled upon him as a broken man sitting alone in a muggle pub. His mother was in custody, his riches and lands were taken as well, but the stubborn blue-blood did not let them take his spirit.
But for that one night, he allowed himself to break.
It was the beginning of an ironic friendship, miseries and thoughts shared over beer
"And why would I be grateful for you being richer-"
"Well, richer by the second with those investments and whatnot, if you want to be so correct about it." Draco dusted off the couch seat before plopping down on it, taking his place in this messy life of hers.
He always forced himself into her life like always.
She rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, Mr. Malfoy, why should I be grateful for your wealth?" She raised an eyebrow in question, crossing her arms in front of her.
The aristocrat gave her a self-satisfied smirk at the sight of Hermione wrapped up in her burgundy robe and her Chudley Cannons pajama pants peeking through. He tilted his head to the side, amused.
"Because I know you've been a bit lazy, miserable, and your brain cells have been dying without any sort of stimulation so I signed you up to volunteer with me," He waved his hand at her, shrugging, "it should also get you over that blasted fear."
Honey eyes widened.
"Draco…what sort of volunteer work did you sign us up for?"
A sly smile appeared on his lips.
"Cleaning up some shores….to help the merfolk, of course."
Hermione simply stared at him, speechless by either his insanity or overly-inflated ego. As if she would actually consider doing that sort of volunteer work especially if it was with the Malfoy heir. She couldn't imagine him doing anything that required breaking a sweat, except, of course, Quidditch but that was beside the point.
An eyebrow was raised, challenging her.
"Don't tell me you're being a chicken shite about this, Granger." He smirked, knowing that he had set out the bait.
The Gryffindor in her snapped, and he was chuckled internally when he saw that stubborn glint in her eyes once more. Slytherin that he is, he knew that the curly-haired witch wouldn't be able to back down from a challenge, especially if it was paired up with taking a shot or two at her blind bravery. Hermione growled at the sight of his widening grin.
"Who are you calling chicken shite, ferret?"
Good times, his lips quirked up into a mischievous smile, good times.
~x~
….January5th….
The rush of blood and the heat inside of her increased, all following the tempo of the music, and she couldn't help herself from smiling. It was so dramatic yet so fun, and suddenly she could almost remember Viktor's strong hands on her waist, lifting her up and twirling her as if she was a princess.
And yet, she was nothing like that little girl right now.
Dirtied by hard work and covered in sweat, Hermione cheered along with the crowd, enjoying the recorded sounds of Brahm's Hungarian Dance No. 5 being played. Wizard or not, music was music, one of the few things that transcended time, cultures, and language.
The night was young, the fire was warm, and it was a long way from the chilly grasps of home.
Which wasn't really home anymore, but she expelled that thought quickly.
Hermione enjoyed the warm, humid air that Australia had, even if it made her usual wild curls even wilder. When Draco offered- it was more of a challenge, really- her to come along with him, was followed up by an insult-match between them, just for old times' sakes, but she agreed knowing that she couldn't back down when she saw that smug expression on his face. Though, she was glad that he pushed her into coming along with him.
Of course, Harry didn't approve but conceded after promising him that she would be home in time for the birth of his son.
As if she would miss that.
The memory of the snarky aristocrat rolling his eyes at the dark-haired wizard's apparent worries made her chuckle.
"If Ginerva wasn't the one supporting the baby lump, I would have suspected it would have been you, Potter, to be the expecting mother with all this nonsense!"
Harry watched her go with a worried expression, hugging her as if he was terrified of her leaving him forever, but of course with a chaste kiss on the cheek, she reassured him and bid him a hopeful goodbye before joining Draco to the timed portkey.
In a distance, she saw a flash of sunset locks and a round belly, a face filled with love and hope.
Ginny waved goodbye to her, sending her heart to Hermione's own.
"Different, aren't they?" Draco's characteristic drawl pulled her back from her thoughts.
He was staring off into the distance, and the soft lull of the rolling waves reminded her of where she was. Hermione followed his gaze, landing upon the curious mermaid that sat behind the rocks, studying them. Well, not them exactly but someone else in their lively group.
Again, her gaze followed and it found the dancing form of Samuel Grey, the group's sweetheart. He was a clean cut man who loved his coffee black but had severe sweet-tooth, laughed to his heart's content, and as far as she knows, a good man all around.
Soft blond hair and pretty eyes of baby blue, he was the supportive cushion for everyone in this group.
And it seemed he was also the love of this mermaid.
"Hil-hinneth-azah, the broken-hearted, or also known as Pearlweepers. The shape shifting lot of the merfolk, much more accepting of humans than the ones back at Hogwarts, and unfortunately, they have an affinity to fall in love with humans. They often cry pearls, knowing that they cannot be with the one they love." Draco explained with an unreadable expression on his handsome face.
"Shape shifting, you say? So I guess The Little Mermaid had some seeds of truth."
"That story was written by a wizard who was there to watch the thing unfold, actually. His texts became lost, though, but was discovered late on and republished as a muggle's work. However, little research was done on merfolk at this time, much less on Pearlweepers. Fact and fiction were so integrated with one another that it was hard, but it's a fact that Pearlweepers can transform."
"But then it feels like walking on broken glass for them." Hermione whispered.
Draco gave her a tight smile.
"And yes, Granger, they do actually die when their love remains unrequited. Death by a broken heart, and it's all for love. They become fixated on one person, and if they don't have that one person, life becomes meaningless for them."
"They return back into the sea, though, in the form of sea foam."
It was a bitter chuckle that escaped his lips.
Hermione often wondered about Draco's own heartbreak.
She remembered that three-month long bender he put himself through, though; Draco never came around on telling her why. Hermione remembered how he locked himself in his study for hours on end, only to come out to replenish his alcohol stash, and when he was ready to face the world once more; his heart was hidden and protected by a bush of thorns.
It was as if he became even more emotionally handicapped.
Hermione looked at him.
And he kept looking on in a direction that she knew she could never find and follow.
Somehow, this trip seemed like it was to heal them both from the abusive and harsh ways of love.
Love.
It's not what all she needed.
It's what she wanted.
~x~
…January 25th…..
In all the years during Hogwarts and in the midst of battling for her life, Hermione never went through the experimental stages as a teenager. However, it was not like she minded, she was proud of her own abilities and intelligence, but to become someone different and new had a certain appeal to it.
And so she went through a phase.
Draco balked at her, calling her ridiculous.
Harry was concerned but his silence on the matter was gentle support.
Ginny would simply smile at her.
She exchanged her comfortable jeans for the flowing skirts and dresses, and for once, Hermione let her hair down without the usual grumble and gripe. Suddenly she would play Neko Chase, sing to Gordon Light, and hum Norah Jones as she cooked, dancing along with light steps. Everything became organic and fresh, and she even picked up the hobby of beading and baking.
The curly-haired witch even dabbled in becoming a vegetarian for awhile but being friends with a bacon-loving Harry, her attempts of converting failed.
Her empty apartment slowly became home again, the boring beige walls transformed into a rusty red, the lights replaced with hanging orange lamps, imitating the colour of flames. Shelves filled with research papers were soon replaced with framed pictures, local artwork, and little knit-knacks she obtained in her short travels with the Malfoy heir.
Hermione even went through a mini-phase of posing as a nude model for aspiring artists at a nearby university.
Of course, both Draco and Harry jumped on her arse about it and made her quit the ridiculous thing.
"I wish I was the moon," Hermione sang, covering the chicken breasts with bread crumbs, "Tonight!" She should have felt silly, singing and dancing in her kitchen all alone with chicken breasts in front of her.
But in this simple moment she felt free.
The snow no longer seemed like it forsaken her but rather welcomed her.
Home was slowly becoming home again.
Even if it didn't feel right deep down.
~x~
….February 1st….
It was happening all so fast.
Ginny's water had broke a few hours ago, and yet when they were on the way to the hospital, she was still waddling besides her, holding onto her hand as if there was nothing wrong with this scene.
The redhead would simply laugh, darks circles beneath her eyes, but she still looked lovely nonetheless.
Hermione was the one panicking rather than her dear friend, who rubbed her swollen belly as they both walked to St. Mungo's. Ginny looked at her with an odd expression after Hermione yelled for one of the healers, screaming that a baby was ready to come into this world.
This horrible, horrible beautiful world of theirs.
"Whatever that man has done, Hermione, you cannot love him until you are honest with yourself."
It was unexpected wisdom that was said by her, and for a moment, Hermione was caught off guard. She often forgot that Ginny was no longer that young redheaded child in Hogwarts, seeking her brothers' approval while defying them all at the same time. Ginny wasn't the lovesick fool who followed Harry with her eyes.
She, too, had grown up so much.
And Hermione felt so silly when she cried in front of her pregnant friend.
Ginny cried, too.
~x~
When Hermione called the soon-to-be-father, Harry had dragged Draco along with him and Teddy, his hair in disarray and his glasses crooked.
He looked absolutely horrified when a healer came out to escort him to the room, and Hermione couldn't help but to laugh at his helpless expression. Even Draco chortled as if the birth of Harry's newborn would be his ultimate demise.
Teddy was left behind with them on Draco's suggestion to Harry.
"Wouldn't want to scar the kid for life with all that mess, Potter!"
Hermione felt happiness settling in.
The birth was an easy one, and Ginny gave life to a son with dark locks and an easy cry.
James Sirius Potter.
Teddy looked over at his adoptive mother, eyes shifting to a hazel colour, filled with curiosity and pure, joyous love. Ginny motioned him to come closer, and he did. Hermione watched the scene unfold, and Harry's swelled up with tears.
He finally found happiness.
And Hermione was slowly finding a piece of hers.
"Do you want to hold him, Hermione?" Ginny offered as Harry gave his son back to her.
Hermione blinked, feeling suddenly awkward by her question.
Should she….?
"Go on ahead, Granger, I'm about to take a picture," Draco quietly ordered the witch, pushing her forward with a soft shove, "Happiness of the moment."
Hermione held out her arms, unsure what to do. She was never the maternal one, but with quiet assurances and instructions, Ginny gave the slumbering babe into her arms. And in one moment, Hermione felt all her defenses fall at the sight of her godson.
So tiny. So fragile.
He had Harry's nose and Ginny's mouth, and he definitely had the love of his parents.
And hers.
She didn't even notice the flash of the camera.
"Isn't he perfect?" Harry chuckled.
Hermione smiled and said: "Until he starts pulling a prank or two on you."
~x~
…. Two years later, April 15th….
What a strange occurrence, Hermione thought, as she sat by herself in a busy family restaurant.
Wasn't she with Draco in Belgium?
Then why was she here back at home?
The scene seemed so familiar, she thought, looking outside at the downpour. She didn't even look at the food that was placed in front of her nor did she hear the woman's cheery voice hoping that she would enjoy her meal. No, Hermione couldn't tear her eyes away from the window.
She felt so tired and plain in her jeans and plain grey sweatshirt.
Ed Sheeran's Kiss Me echoed throughout the cheery place.
And then she felt an undeniable pull when she saw a man pass by the window.
Hermione couldn't stop herself from running from her seat outside the door. All she could see was that man walking in front of her with such a strong and arrogant stride, even through this rain, and it made her heart crack.
Her lips moved and she wasn't sure if she had said his name.
The man stopped as if he heard her heart's will.
The rain was the background music to the artist's words, and she slowly walked towards him with large, hopeful eyes. Hermione did not care if she was soaked to the bone or if she catches her death by being outside in this horrible weather, no, she did not care as long as she was here beside him.
The warmth of his hand against her cold cheek was welcomed, and Hermione felt her heart twist in the most pleasant way. The way he looked at her made her whole entire being tremble, and she felt her eyes swell with tears. He smiled at her, not with the usual arrogance that she had always hated to adore but with tenderness that knocked the breath out of her.
Hermione threw her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his neck for she was too short to kiss him without any form of his help.
"Hermione."
It was all but a whisper that disappeared in the pitter-patter noise of the rain.
Klaus looked at her, his thumb pressed against her bottom lip.
Hermione knew she looked like a mess, but she could not bring herself to care.
She was in love now.
"Don't you feel it, too?" She whispered, hoping that he felt the same.
There was too much emotion, too much chemistry between them. He could not refuse her again, not like this with her heart out in the open once more. Not when she foolishly made the same mistake again. He leaned in towards her, pressing his forehead against hers.
Klaus was a breath away from pressing his lips against hers.
"Hermione, I-"
"Klaus?"
Hermione's pleasant ache in her heart twisted into something more painful, something less forgiving. She looked at Klaus's pained expression, and when he pulled away from her, she suddenly felt cold and alone.
He turned away from her, and Hermione looked passed him.
Caroline looked at her with a curious expression on her lovely face.
The young vampire opened her mouth, but it was not the soft American lilt that escaped her lips.
"-Granger!"
Hermione opened her eyes, and she felt a stream of sadness flow outside of her. She felt her heart break once more, and she didn't know why. The dream had left her hurt, yes, but why did it leave her feel so empty?
It felt so real and so painful.
She felt Draco's comforting hand against her back, rubbing soothing circles against it as he whispered comforting words into her messy hair.
A sob escaped her.
"I-I-I can't forget, D-Draco. It hurts. It hurts. I just want to be with him, and I know that it's so wrong. I love him. I love him. I can't forget!" She cried harder.
The Malfoy heir let her cry into his shoulder, softly rocking her back and forth. He rarely ever saw Granger break down like this, especially in front of him. She was the strong-willed Gryffindor who threw caution out the window, who felt so much in one moment that it consumed her whole. She felt too much even if she didn't want to, and she gave too much of herself away.
Granger was and always will be a foolish, courageous Gryffindor.
"This is what happens when you let people in so easily."
Hermione couldn't help but to agree even if she was deep in her own misery.
~x~
….May 24th…
The squealing laughter made her smile, tearing away from her writing to see the little form run towards her. Hermione stood up from her seat to crouch down, readying herself for the little impact he made against her. Harry's laughter echoed from the door.
"He can't stop running, 'Mione!"
She grinned at her best friend.
"He's out to search for trouble! Just like his father!" Hermione picked up the two-year old James into her arms, placing a sweet kiss upon his brow.
"Where is Ginny?" She asked, hugging her godson.
"She's a bit under the weather so she's asleep in bed. She was a bit sad for not being able to visit since you have been gone for a few months," Harry gave her an accusing look, despite his friendly tone, "Anyways, how was Belgium?"
Hermione tried to push her heartache aside.
She forced a smile on her face.
"It was beautiful, and I helped out Draco in finding a present for Astoria."
Harry raised a suspicious eyebrow but did not question his best friend.
"He's still seeing that Greengrass heiress? Go figures." He snorted, helping himself to Hermione's fridge.
The curly-haired witch frowned at her friend's tone, setting down her godson. He wobbled a bit, but he gained his balance before taking off towards her living room. Hermione crossed her arms, scowling at her seemingly-oblivious friend. Harry and Draco had a careful friendship with one another, and sometimes they would both take up old habits when regarding each other.
"And what's wrong with Astoria?" She asked sweetly, her forced smile sending alarms off in Harry's head.
He grinned at her sheepishly.
"Gee, 'Mione, I didn't mean anything by it! I was just saying that of course he'd go and date a high-standing socialite. If he marries her then their babies would have be made out of cold hard plastic with the way he acts."
"Draco is a harmless snob and Astoria is a sweet girl!"
Harry gave her a tiresome look.
"There's nothing sweet about Slytherins-" "Former-" "Yes, yes! Former Slytherins is what I meant!" The dark-haired wizard waved her off.
Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
"So what's the purpose of the surprise visit other than insulting dear Draco?"
Harry had gone still, pausing the making of his banana sandwich. She watched him as a flitting of expressions had gone across his face, and her heart twisted inside of her. Harry hardly ever looked like that unless it involved Ron.
And it seemed like her heart did stop.
Ron.
"What is it?" She demanded.
"Arthur think it would be best if we let go of Ron," Harry's voice cracked ever so slightly, "He said it's best to move on."
He started to busy himself with his damn sandwich.
"How can he say that?" Hermione screeched, her fists clenched in fury. "That's his son, Harry."
Harry slammed down the jar of peanut butter.
"And he's already dead, Hermione," He sounded so stern and yet so broken at his own words, "He's breathing and his heart's beating, but he's dead. He's been dead for years! But no, you didn't even care to think of that because you were too damn sad and selfish to realize that."
Everything broke inside of her.
All the sadness and rage that she had so carefully, so damn carefully held inside was released, and everything was flowing outward like violent water rushing out a broken dam. Her cheek reddened with anger, tears flooding her eyes, and for a moment, she didn't give a damn that Harry was her best friend.
"I'm selfish? I'm the selfish one? And yet you were the one who left me by myself to my misery as you went off to fool yourself into thinking that everyone is okay! You have Ginny and Teddy and James! Arthur and Molly have each other and their family! Draco has Astoria Greengrass, bloody hell! I'm alone, Harry. I'm all alone, and you all left me here alone."
Harry's heart was breaking in front of her, and she couldn't stop herself.
"Seamus used me! And yet you still have beer with him on Wednesday nights, unknowingly having fun with someone who practically almost killed your best friend inside! I miss Ron, too, Harry! Damn it all! We all do. I loved him, so I'm sorry that I'm so selfish-" She became silent when he hugged her, and she knew he was crying by the soft shake of his shoulders.
"You're finally being honest again." Harry cried, and it reminded of her the small, sensitive boy she had used to know.
Her heart softened and her tears ran dry.
She was being honest again.
~x~
….Three years later, June 17th….
Five years had passed since she obtained her freedom, since she started to find herself once more. Three years since they finally pulled the 'plug' for Ron, finally giving him some semblance of peace even if it did break Mrs. Weasley's heart once more to do so, and everything began to settle into its place.
The happiness they all had lost was being rebuilt with new memories and hopes.
Harry and Ginny's family continued to grow, and every day their smiles would become even brighter. Draco finally had a steady girlfriend –now turned fiancée- , much to Hermione's amusement. Astoria Greengrass was a gorgeous, leggy brunette that balanced out Draco's haughty nature.
It was sad to see her last-who hasn't been single for awhile- single friend go.
Life became bearable for her, if a bit empty at times when she would return to her empty flat in the middle of the night.
But it was okay as long as she ignored the aching of her heart.
"It's edible body glitter," Daphne's giggling voice interrupted Hermione's train of thought, reeling her back to the present, "And I am determined to have a bite of that bloke over there."
Green eyes shone with mischief as the former Slytherin stared down at the man who was giving her bedroom eyes across the dance floor. Hermione rolled her own eyes but the amused smile still held its place on her lips.
It was Astoria's bachelorette party, and everything was extravagant, which should be if you were to become the future Missus Malfoy. The Bed was the center of money flinging in both circles of the muggle and wizarding world, and tonight seemed to top off every single party before this event.
Lights flashed everywhere, glitter became air in here, and the dancers were exotically dressed as faeries as part of the theme that Astoria wanted. Naughty faerietales, the brunette said with a wicked smile when she discussed the plans with Hermione one night. Even the men who should have looked ridiculous in glitter still managed to look like sex on legs.
She went through many phases these past years, but none of those involved any recreational drugs, both muggle and magical.
Until tonight.
Daphne took a huff of a suspicious looking pipe, blowing out blue smoke that wisped itself around the falling glitter. It smelled sweet, reminding Hermione of an exotic fruit, and it enticed her. She leaned closer to the smoke, enjoying its warm and somewhat citrus scent.
"Doesn't it smell heavenly?" Daphne purred, whispering into her ear, eyes still glued to that man she spoke of earlier. "It's called The Breath of Venus."
Hermione glanced over her shoulder to see the man approaching them, a predatory smile on his lips. Daphne smoothed out her short dress, straightening herself out before taking her few steps towards a wild night.
The Greengrass heiress gave her a flirtatious wink, shoving the pipe into her hands.
"Give it a try, Hermione, gives you Gryffindors a whole new level of courage."
She watched the pretty brunette walk off, lightly touching the man's arm, leading him away to the dance floor. It was recklessness that unfolded before her, and for a moment, Hermione didn't know what to do.
She had gone through several phases over the years but never tried a single drug.
Tinkling laughter captured her attention, and she saw Lavender holding a similar pipe as she danced in between two delicious men. Her blue eyes looked up at her, and a challenge flashed in those large eyes. It seemed the competition between them had never died over the years.
As if she would let an airhead beat her.
She knew that The Breath of Venus was the wizard equivalent of ecstasy in the form of marijuana smoke, though, it held the ability to create hallucinations. Her eyebrows scrunched together in thought, mentally listing the pros and cons for doing such a stupid thing.
Lavender's annoying giggle made that decision for her.
She tentatively took a small puff, coughing a little as she inhaled the substance. Hermione took another puff and then another and another, and slowly she lost herself in the mist of enchanting blue smoke. Her vision began to hold a dreamlike quality to it, bringing her new distorted reality and the world's reality into one harmonious actuality.
Everything slowed down, colours becoming intense, and her movements transformed into grace. Sweat began to drip from her body, and the glitter clung to her as if it was a second skin. The beats of the song seemed to vibrate every fiber within her being, and she swayed.
Oh, how she swayed!
Memories and the present began to overlap, and the barrier between her heart and longing began to crumble. The longing and desire intertwined with one another, memories of his shocking blue eyes brought tears to her hazy eyes. It was as if someone had put a shroud over her perception.
Klaus. Klaus. Klaus.
She had not thought about that name in a long time.
Lights flashed all around her, making the moments into a dream of dreams. She did not see eyes on her nor did she feel warm hands on her hips as she continued to move. The hands began rub her hips, bunching her slinky dress as the beat of the music became frantic. The warmth of the club became unbearable heat, the scent of clean masculinity became undeniable sexy, and the soft rhythm of her heart transformed into a pounding against her chest.
It was hypnotic.
Klaus. Klaus. Klaus.
A stubbled-chin rubbed against her exposed neck, and she couldn't help but moan.
Her dark eyes rolled back, every emotion and touch becoming pure sensation.
It was pure sensuality that moved on the middle of the dance floor.
And everything broke and resembled itself at the sound of his voice, a voice of remembrance, of dark promises that he would soon come to fulfill. It was the voice that she had longed to hear for the past five years.
"Sweetheart."
"You'll be free if you truly wish to be."
-Pure Imagination, Willy Wonka-
Well, that is that! I wanted to write a chapter on Hermione's growth and journey on finding herself without Klaus. I hope that it is good enough for you all. It took all lot of inspiration for me to start writing this and finishing it. Again, I thank Winter's Empire for the lovely banner she made for me. I cannot help but to say I love it so much (for the millionth time!).
The Wooden Birds, Ed Sheeran, LIGHTS, Hana Yori Kichou Na, Imagine Dragons, and Maroon 5 helped me all lot for this chapter.
I have a bit of an obsession with Ed Sheeran at the moment.
That little scene with Hermione and Klaus was the result of Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran coupled with Rainy Mood.
Anyways, enough with my rambling!
The next chapter will be up...whenever I suppose? Hopefully within the next few weeks or month, depending on if my Muse allows me to.
Any thoughts, comments, questions?
Then you know what to do!
Until next time, my lovelies!
-The Red Strings-