Hello dear readers, and welcome to my new story.
I have not written in a very long time, and have been re-energized recently after reading a Dramione fanfic on AO3 called "Smoke Signals" by blue_keyboard (link here: /works/45236773?view_full_work=true ), to whom I give credit for inspiring me to write this story with the starting premise. The rest of the story however takes a very different turn, and so the stories do end up very different and very much their own. However, I do encourage you to read blue_keyboard's story as well because it is a fantastic story! I hope we can all, as writers and readers, enjoy each other's work and respectfully take inspiration from each other, without forgetting to give credit.
As for the cover image for this story, it is AI generated by the website called , to which I also give credit.
And now, I leave you to delve into this chapter. Please let me know what you think through your reviews. They will be my fuel to keep writing!
Love,
Cleo26
Chapter 1: The Unspoken Burden
The late summer sun cast long shadows across the Granger residence, its golden hues streaming through Hermione's bedroom window. She lay on her bed, engrossed in the pages of "Pride and Prejudice." Jane Austen's world provided a refuge from the complexities of her own love life—or rather, its conspicuous absence.
Viktor Krum's name echoed through her thoughts, a memory of fleeting kisses and letters now exchanged between them as friends. Fourth year seemed like a different era, the Triwizard Tournament a distant adventure that brought moments of excitement but left only the echo of a short-lived romance. Hermione sighed, the letters now serving as artifacts of a chapter closed.
Fifth year, however, brought a new wave of emotions—ones that still haunted her. Lavender Brown had become Ron's confidante, and their relationship had blossomed into a full-fledged romance. The realization had hit Hermione like a bludger to the chest, leaving her grappling with heartache and the question of whether she had ever truly experienced love.
This may seem like a contradiction, but Hermione wondered, did she ever truly love Ron? Or was it because she always assumed that they would end up together, as was expected of them by everyone around them?
As her thoughts circled in endless introspection, Hermione couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental was missing. If love was as profound and all-encompassing as depicted in her novel, then why did it elude her? The room, adorned with academic accolades and the familiar scent of parchment, offered no solace to the longing in her heart.
Hermione sighed, returning to the world of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, as she yearned for the certainty and depth of emotion that seemed to elude her in reality. She lost herself in the words, hoping that Austen's prose would transport her to a realm where love was unequivocal and all-consuming.
Meanwhile, in the opulent chambers of Malfoy Manor, Draco Malfoy's room bore the scars of his inner turmoil. The air was thick with the remnants of his outburst—shattered objects, upturned furniture, and the palpable weight of a burden too heavy to bear. Sweat clung to his brow as he struggled to regain composure.
Your father has failed me, young Malfoy.
Draco's body shivered as he remembered the day he got the dark mark. He never thought he could feel pain that rivaled that of his aunt's cruciatus on him during training. Unlike his godfather's firm yet gentle approach, Bellatrix's methods have left him scarred in every possible sense of the word.
With a deep breath, he summoned the skills he had honed under years of tutelage under Severus Snape, and the room, now restored to its former order through a series of practiced spells, betrayed no trace of the emotional tempest that had unfolded moments ago.
Occlumency became his sanctuary, a fortress to shield the vulnerability that lay beneath the surface.
Occlumency may be the most important thing I ever teach you Draco – He recalled his godfather's words.
Draco, however, remained ensnared in a web of conflicting emotions.
His eyes, once bright with arrogance, now reflected the toll of an unchosen destiny. The Dark Lord's command hung over him like a Damoclean sword, and the burden of ending Hermione Granger's life loomed as a dark cloud over his conscience.
Prove your and your family's loyalty, young Malfoy. Kill Potter's mudblood whore and her filthy muggle parents – A command so direct, Draco could not find a single loophole in the Dark Lord's statement.
With deliberate steps, Draco approached the window, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky. The world beyond Malfoy Manor seemed oblivious to the tumult within. He needed to find a way out, a path diverging from the one etched out by Voldemort's command. Yet, none seemed to come to mind, even after agonizing over it for weeks.
In a desperate bid to distance himself from the impending darkness of his surroundings, Draco disapparated to the quiet suburban street where the Granger residence stood. The Granger family, unaware of the looming threat, continued their evening routine. He saw her parents, a couple in their late forties, exit the front door and get into what he knew to a muggle form of transportation, an automobile. He sighed with relief as he saw them drive away.
Hermione's room, now bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, provided a stark contrast to the storm brewing within Draco. He observed her as she moved from her bed to the window, plopping on what he assumed to be a reading nook with a book, his inner turmoil momentarily quieted by the mundane scene playing out before him.
Taking a deep breath, Draco closed his eyes and focused on the task at hand. The Dark Lord's orders were clear, and defiance meant risking not only his life but the lives of those he held dear. It was a dilemma that tore at the very fabric of his being.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the street in a deepening twilight. Draco's resolve solidified as he steeled himself for the impossible. His hand reached for the wand at his side, a tool that had become both a symbol of power and a conduit for the darkest of deeds.
Masked by the cloak of the burgeoning night, Draco approached towards the front door with the stealth of a shadow, his mind racing with the weight of the secrets he carried.
Inside her room, Hermione turned the pages of her novel, oblivious to the unseen presence outside her window. That is, until she heard a strong knock on the front door.
Her eyes lifted from the pages, the serenity of her evening shattered by the unexpected interruption. Setting aside her book, Hermione approached the door cautiously. Another knock echoed through the house, more insistent this time.
"Who could it be at this hour?" she mused to herself, her curiosity tinged with a hint of unease. The Granger residence had never been a hub of unexpected visitors.
Upon reaching the front door, Hermione peered through the peephole, her heart quickening as she caught sight of a figure on the doorstep. A shock of blond hair and striking silver eyes met her gaze. Draco Malfoy stood on her doorstep, a conflicted expression etched across his features.
A myriad of emotions surged within Hermione as she grappled with the unexpected sight before her. Draco Malfoy, the embodiment of Slytherin arrogance, was the last person she expected to find at her front door. Yet, the vulnerability in his eyes hinted at a complexity beyond the façade he usually wore.
Hesitant but compelled by an inexplicable force, Hermione cautiously opened the door, her eyes meeting Draco's in a silent exchange of unspoken words. The air between them crackled with an energy neither could fully comprehend.
"Granger," Draco began, his voice betraying a trace of uncertainty. "We need to talk."
So dear readers, what did you think? PLEASE let me know in your reviews!
Until next time!
Cleo26