Chapter 18: Shadows of grief

As expected, Draco was shattered after the murder of his ex-girlfriend.

He couldn't concentrate on his lessons or his homework. The halls of Hogwarts felt darker than ever, the voices of his classmates distant, as if he were trapped in a nightmare from which he couldn't wake. Memories of Daphne haunted every corner: her smile, her perfume, the moments they had shared... It all twisted into a terrible spiral of confusion and guilt. For some reason, Draco couldn't stop blaming himself for what had happened.

Two days had passed since Daphne's lifeless body had been found, and since then he had spent most of his time in the Room of Requirement. But even that vast room felt suffocating when Draco lost control and his pain filled the room. Hermione was the only person he allowed to see him in such a vulnerable state. After all, she had seen him at his lowest and it was thanks to her that he was still here. It was incredible to think how much they had come to know each other in the few weeks since the punishment that had brought them together. At first, the Slytherin had found it hard to accept that Hermione Granger had managed to peel away the layers of his armour, exposing every flaw, every fear he had ever hidden. But later he understood that she had saved his life, and without realising it, he had fallen in love with her.

That's why he hated the way Hermione looked at him with fear every time he breathed too deeply. They both knew that it often preceded anxiety attacks in which he became irritable, almost violent. Never with her, but with the walls, the furniture or anything that got in his way when the unbearable rage consumed him.

Hermione would avert her gaze, just wait for his screams to turn into hoarse, broken sounds before pulling him back to the couch and tending to his bloodied knuckles.

She could feel the immense weight crushing him from within, draining all happiness from his body. She had seen it in his eyes from the moment they had found Daphne. And though it hurt her to see him like that, she had stayed by his side, comforting him as he cried for another girl. Despite everything that had happened between them, Daphne had been an important part of his life. And now she was dead.

"Please, stop blaming yourself," Hermione begged, tired of watching him silently drop his head between his shoulders and mourn what had happened.

Draco leaned back on the sofa in the cluttered room, filled with objects he had been relentlessly striking over the past few days.

"No... I couldn't protect her," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "I should have been with her."

"You couldn't have known what was going to happen, Draco. There's nothing you could have done." Hermione's words were soft but firm. She knew he needed to hear them, even if he didn't quite believe them at the moment. "Whatever happened, I'm sure it will be sorted out soon. They'll catch the culprits and make them pay for what they've done."

She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close to her chest. He didn't struggle. He let himself sink into the embrace, closing his eyes tightly as if to block out reality for a moment.

"Despite everything that's happened between us..." Draco paused, swallowing hard, "I still cared for her. I didn't want it to end like this. Not like this. And if I had done something... said something different... maybe..."

Hermione felt a sharp pang of fear in her chest.

"Do you regret...?" She stopped herself, unable to follow that line of thought. "Do you think this wouldn't have happened if you hadn't broken up with her?"

He took a deep breath, trying to keep it together.

"I don't know," he replied in a broken, barely audible voice. "It all happened so fast... One day we were together and the next... But if what you're really asking is if I regret being with you, the answer is no."

Draco clenched his fists. Despite the healing spells Hermione had cast, his knuckles were still bruised and stained with dried blood. He couldn't shake the feeling that everything was slipping through his fingers.

Straightening up, he met Hermione's eyes.

"You shouldn't have to go through this, but I'm too selfish to ask you to leave," he said. "I don't want you to go. Please don't go."

Hermione didn't need him to ask. She wasn't going anywhere. Not when she had discovered a side of Draco that no one else knew - a more human and vulnerable version of him. She couldn't begin to explain the difference between who he really was and what he chose to show the world.

It seemed unreal that Draco Malfoy was now in her arms, clinging to her as if she were the anchor that kept him from drifting away on the waves of grief that threatened to overwhelm him.

Merlin, just a few weeks ago, this scene would have seemed more like a nightmare than a moment of intimacy. But now it felt as natural as slipping into a peaceful dream.

Later that day, tensions rose at Hogwarts as rumours spread that the Greengrass family had arrived at the castle. All the students knew what this meant: Daphne's strange death was now being officially investigated by the magical authorities, and soon Hogwarts would be under the scrutiny of the most powerful wizards in the community.

Draco and Hermione weren't walking together when they crossed paths with them, but judging by the looks they exchanged, they both wished they were. They moved in the same direction, keeping a careful distance. A silent need to be near each other had grown between them, but their meetings were still clandestine. They couldn't afford for the rest of the castle to discover the truth - not yet. Their worlds were too complicated to face each other openly at the moment.

The Greengrass family followed Professor McGonagall with firm steps, all dressed in immaculate black, towards the Headmaster's office. As they passed, the corridor fell into an eerie silence. Students, teachers and even the portraits seemed to lose their voices in the presence of the grieving family.

No one could take their eyes off them. Everyone watched as the parents entered Dumbledore's office, while Astoria remained outside, her face full of anger barely contained beneath the surface. She probably preferred to hear the details of her sister's murder investigation back at the manor, where no one could see her cry.

If Hermione hadn't seen Draco break down in front of her countless times over the past few days, she would have sworn that no Slytherin on earth was capable of showing their emotions to others.

Gryffindor that she was, Hermione hesitated. She considered turning around to avoid Astoria... but she couldn't make up her mind in time, and when Astoria spotted her, her expression immediately changed. Something in her eyes grew darker, more intense - more dangerous.

Without warning, Astoria closed the distance between them and slapped Hermione so hard that she staggered against the wall.

"You did this!" Astoria shouted, shaking with anger. "You're the reason Daphne is dead!"

Before she could strike again, Draco grabbed her from behind and pulled her away from Hermione.

Stunned, Hermione pressed a hand to her cheek, feeling both the physical and emotional pain of the accusation.

"You played your hand in silence, like a wretched harpy!"

"I didn't kill Daphne!" Hermione shouted, shocked at the harshness of the accusation.

"Oh, no? And you didn't use the Polyjuice Potion to turn into her either?" she bellowed. "I'm going to find out it was you, and you're going to pay dearly." She struggled in Draco's arms. "Get your hands off me, you bastard! You betrayed my sister! You replaced her withthatone!" she screamed, pointing an accusing finger at Hermione.

Hermione was sure that only she, Draco and Pansy knew the truth about what she had done to find Neville's whereabouts, and it seemed unlikely that any of them would have told Astoria that the impostor had been Hermione herself. But Astoria's attack felt so visceral, so full of rage... it almost seemed as if sheknewfor sure.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hermione replied, struggling to keep her composure under the curious eyes of everyone present, who watched the spectacle in complete silence.

"Of course you do, and everyone else is about to find out too," Astoria shouted. Hermione Granger got between my sister and Draco! And when I threatened her to stay away, she killed Daphne in revenge!"

Astoria looked at her with eyes full of anger and despair. It was obvious that the loss of her sister had broken her in unimaginable ways. She kicked and struggled until Draco let her go.

She pushed her straight hair out of her face and then stepped close enough to Hermione that only she could hear her.

"I know you had something to do with this. I feel it in my bones, Granger. I won't rest until I prove it."

Hermione didn't answer. She couldn't deny that she was afraid of another physical attack from her, but she wouldn't allow herself to show weakness. Astoria glared at her with contempt before turning and storming off.

Hermione also turned and walked away, wanting to put as much distance between herself and the Greengrass family as possible.

Soon she noticed that Draco was starting to follow her.

Hermione wished he hadn't.

He had just confirmed to everyone present that at least part of what Astoria had said was true: Hermione had come between Draco and Daphne's relationship.

Hermione suspected that people didn't care if it had all happened willingly or unwillingly. All they needed were a few trivial details of a juicy gossip to fuel the rumours until something more exciting caught the attention of their bored minds.

It was very likely that Christopher, the nosy Ravenclaw boy, would rush to confirm the rumours that she and Draco had been involved for some time. He'd even say he'd seen it with his own eyes.

Ugh!

She hated them all!

She had had enough!

She could feel Draco behind her as she hurried out of the castle. She didn't need to look over her shoulder to know that he was only a few steps behind her, probably glaring at anyone who dared to look at the scene.

It wasn't just any Slytherin chasing after a tearful Gryffindor. It wasDraco Malfoyhimself, following someone likeHermione Grangerin a protective manner.

Merlin, the rumours were going to be terrible. Unbearable.

All Hermione wanted to do was fall into his arms, bury her face in his chest and forget the rest of the world... but the last thing they needed was to be seen together, let alone in a loving way. Too many eyes were on them, and anything they did would fuel the rumours she was sure were already spreading. So she quickened her pace, then broke into a run, ignoring the feeling that it was inevitable that Draco would catch up sooner or later. Of course he would, but the further they were from the rest of the world the better.

They had just reached one of Hogwarts' less frequented gardens, behind the Herbology greenhouses, when Draco stopped her by grabbing her arm. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she kept her eyes on the ground, fists clenched at her sides. She hadn't said a word since leaving the castle, so Draco knew he had to tread carefully.

"Hermione," he whispered softly. Just the sound of her name made her shiver slightly. "You know what Astoria said isn't true."

Hermione didn't respond immediately and Draco could see the trembling in her shoulders increasing. She tried to wipe the tears from her face.

"How could...?" she began, her voice shaking. "How could she eventhinkthat I...?"

Draco reached out and gently grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look into his eyes.

"Astoria is angry because she doesn't know how to deal with her pain. People like her... and like me... don't know how to deal with our emotions well, and we always tend to try and find someone to blame. But all you've done is... be with me. Nothing she said is true."

Hermione let out a stifled sob and Draco was tempted to hug her, but he stayed where he was, knowing that there were probably some curious eyes watching them from the castle windows.

He also wanted to tell her to stop crying, that he would kill whoever was responsible, just so he wouldn't have to see her suffer over a bunch of false, malicious words. But then he thought that would be a bit hypocritical of him, so he just sighed and kicked a stone near his foot... with the unfortunate luck of hitting Crookshanks in the back of the head as he approached her with a wounded mouse in his mouth. The cat growled and glared at Draco with its bulging yellow eyes. He dropped the poor creature at Hermione's feet and then went straight for Draco, scratching him just above his socks where his trousers ended.

"Ouch! I didn't see you there!" the boy replied, bending down to check the damage. Great, the demon cat had just given him scratches on his ankles that would hurt for days. Tiny drops of blood were also beginning to emerge from the wounds. "How can a cat be so ugly and vengeful at the same time?"

Crookshanks turned his back on him and stretched, as if he had been staged just to show Draco his backside. If nothing else, Draco was pleased to see the corners of Hermione's lips curl slightly at her cat's impertinence. She then knelt down and pointed her wand at each of the mouse's wounds, healing them. When it was fully recovered, the little creature scampered off, and Crookshanks glared at its owner, clearly offended that she hadn't appreciated his gift.

Draco was surprised he hadn't noticed how kind she was before. It was just a dirty, dying mouse that no one would miss. Only someone like her would bother to save the insignificant life of something so small.

That thought reminded him of something they hadn't talked about yet. Something quite important.

"The curse is lifted," he informed her.

She nodded slowly.

They both knew what it meant: Hermione was pregnant.

"I'll go to Mulpepper as soon as the holidays start," she muttered.

She would have preferred to brew the failed potion herself, but it was one of the few potions whose instructions weren't public. You had to go to a licensed apothecary to get it, and the only one she knew who could sell it was in Diagon Alley.

She sighed.

Luckily, graduation was just around the corner. She wouldn't have to wait much longer.

"I have to go to Madame Moore's shop to pick up the dress," she said. Draco immediately looked uncomfortable. "Don't worry, I can go alone."

Hermione knew it would be a long time before Draco even considered setting foot in Hogsmeade again. He looked at her with an expression that was a mixture of gratitude and relief.

It was almost disconcerting how easily she had learned to read him, how she could guess what he was thinking and feeling at any given moment. It was as if their souls had found an unexpected connection during the time they had spent in detention together.

She said goodbye to him and Crookshanks and then headed for the village.

A break would do her good.

The air at Hogwarts felt unbearably thick after her encounter with Astoria, so a trip to Hogsmeade seemed like the perfect way to clear her head.

She took a deep breath, savouring the brief moment of silence that always existed on the path between the castle grounds and Hogsmeade.

She hadn't even reached the entrance to the village when a hooded figure appeared out of nowhere and cast a spell that hit her right in the chest, paralysing her instantly. Hermione felt the figure grab her before she could hit the ground and then vanish.

Her head spun and her vision doubled as she reappeared in a cold, dark place.

Someone was shoving her violently, forcing her to her knees. She felt an unrelenting force pull her arms apart in a crossed position as cold handcuffs snapped around her wrists with a metallic click. The chains, anchored on either side of the room, pulled her tightly, completely immobilising her.

She felt like she was going to faint.

"How could he be so careless! So foolish!" someone shouted, though Hermione couldn't see who it was. "He's weak. Salazar! Emotions are making him weak. He has no idea what's at stake!"

A second later Hermione lost consciousness.