Falling to pieces | By : HHRDestiny Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 5386 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
'Why am I watching this stupid show?' I think to myself. It is some action movie, about war, I don't even know the name of the bloody movie. It reminds me of Hogwarts and the final battle. I watch as another soldier dies in some explosion, reminding me of Fred. I close my eyes and lean my head back on the back of my couch. I blindly grab the remote and turn the television set off. I’ve had some time of peace, from the dreams and memories. And this stupid film has ruined it all.
I make my way to the bathroom and draw a bath. I don't realize the irony of it until I am submerged in the warm water for a few minutes. I wrap my arms around my stomach, same as I did that night, but it's different. No one’s arms are wrapped there for me to hold. I am alone. And when I am alone the memories come easily.....
**
It was over. Everything was over. Voldemort was dead, Harry was alive. I was alive. But so many were lost. I was surrounded by people weeping, embracing their loved ones out of relief. I was numb as I walked around. A few people passed me by, grabbing my shoulder muttering 'Congratulations.' I never looked to see who it was. In that moment there was only one place I needed to be, only one person I needed to be with. I panicked as I looked at the destruction around me and ran to flee.
I ran into someone as I ran through the main hall of Hogwarts. He steadied me as I almost fell. I looked up and found some very familiar, soothing green eyes. I collapsed against him in exhaustion. I pulled away and could see the concern on his face.
“Harry I need to go.” He looked at me confused. “I need some time, some time alone. I need to just get away. I don't know how to explain it but I need to go.” He nodded his head and pulled me into a tight hug. I exhaled against his chest, thankful he was alive.
“Where are you going? Do you even know?” I nodded against his shoulder.
“Grimmauld. It's the only home I have right now.”
“Okay. I'll keep everyone away. I'll make Ron understand.” Harry pulled away from me and nodded. I tried to smile but couldn't. I turned and walked away. Before I was out of ear shot Harry yelled to me. “Let Draco know he is free to go.” I raised my hand to show I heard him.
I apparated right outside of Grimmauld. I stared at the building as it magically moved before me to allow me to enter. Giving my body a moment to relax, I could suddenly feel the aches and pain from the wounds I had received. I hoped I did not look too ghastly, fearing Draco would overreact. I was hesitant to enter, not wanting to confront the inevitable news I was going to have to deliver.
I knew it had killed him to stay there as we had all left to fight. We all knew he would be killed on sight by any Death Eater. No one would hesitate to take him down for his betrayal. I couldn't lose him and I begged him to listen to the Order and stay behind. He had wanted to go to, of course, to protect me. But I knew it was him who would need more protecting, and I didn't know if I could. Remus had needed to actually cast a ward on the house to keep him inside.
I walked to the door and slowly turned the handle. The door creaked as it opened and I knew in a matter of seconds he would be down to meet me. He rounded the corner by the stairs swiftly and skidded to a halt as he saw me. A huge breath escaped his lungs and his shoulders fell in relief. His eyes glistened with tears of joy as he ran to me.
He enveloped me in a strong hug. I was too weak to raise my arms very high, and rested them on his hips. He kissed the top of my head several times. He pulled me back and looked at me, my hands remaining on his hips. Pain filled his face as he saw the dry blood that had dripped from the cut on my head. He scanned the rest of my face and wiped his finger across my bloody lip. I turned away from his touch, trying to show him there was no need to worry.
“You came back. I knew you would. I have been worried sick though. I was praying when I heard the wards lift and the door open it was not Lupin or someone coming to tell me....” He couldn't finish. He looked away to the adjacent wall, calming his tears. “So Harry won, it's over?” I nodded. “Do you know, is my mother okay? Did you see her?” I nodded my head, not able to speak yet. Another sigh of relief came from his lips and he hugged me again. “Come, I'll make you some tea.”
He led me to the kitchen. I sat down in one of the chairs, numb to my surroundings. I could faintly make out the sounds of cups clanking together and a kettle whistling. I finally looked up and saw Draco carrying the cups to the table. He gave me weak smile and set the cup in front of me.
“She saved Harry, you know.” I said weakly. He looked confused. “Your mother. She saved him from Voldemort. She asked him if you were okay, alive, and when he answered her, she spared him.” His shoulders raised a little, and I could see the pride in his expression.
I lowered my head. I twirled the tea cup against the table, not wanting to drink it. I was waiting for it to come. The question I was dreading. I knew it was only a matter of time that I would have to relive the horrible events of the night. I could feel his eyes burning a hole into me. He stood from the table and came to me. He placed his hand on my shoulder.
“How many?” He asked solemnly.
“Lots. Only a few we know.” I looked at the floor.
“Who?” I didn't answer right away, wondering how to approach this. I knew a few would hit him hard. I continued to stare at the floor finding it hard to look at him. “Who, Hermione. Tell me. I can take it.” I looked to him finally and saw the concern on his face.
“Snape.” I knew this would be hard. Snape saving him from so much and being like the father he should have had. I needed to tell him the whole story, so he would know he died a noble death. “It was Nagini. Voldemort ordered it. Harry found him. He didn't die alone. He helped Harry actually. Gave him what he needed to end it. He gave him some enlightenment. And ultimately it saved Harry's life.”
“He's good at that. He saved my life, more than once.” Draco looked to the ceiling, holding the tears in. His chin quivered slightly and he took a few steps back, putting some space between us. “Who else.” He pushed me to continue, wanting to get it over with quickly.
“Crabbe.” His childhood friend would be hard, despite their differences most recently. I saw Draco slightly cringe, but he looked to me for more. I stood and walked a little closer to him, wanting to reach out to him but knowing my composure would crumble if I did. “He cornered us in the Room of Requirements when we were getting a horocrux. He cast a Fiendfyre curse. But he couldn't control it. We tried to save him but it consumed him. I'm so sorry.”
“We were stupid. Stupid kids who thought we knew everything. We thought we could do anything, to anyone and that we were untouchable.” He paused, composing his emotions. “I wrote him. Haven't told anyone that. Shortly after I came here. I told him he could change and that everything we knew was wrong. He never responded.” He looked to the ceiling again, exhaling heavily.
“I know he didn't mean to, but because of what he did, he destroyed the horocrux. One of the last ones, getting Harry closer to the end. So inadvertently he did something good.” I tried to ease the pain, hoping it would help to know he did help us. Draco's face hardened and he turned to me.
“Who else?”
“Fred. It was an explosion, he got caught in the debris.” His death was one of the harder for me, growing up with the Weasley's, it was hard not to have it affect me.
“How is George? Molly?” Draco asked concerned, sadness still evident as well.
“They are doing the best they can, I guess. We all are. Molly killed Bellatrix because of it. She had the nerve to shove his death in Molly's face. She didn't see it coming, hit her square in the heart. I have to say it was one the best moments of the night, for me at least.” I slightly smiled, not knowing it was possible after everything that had just happened.
“Is that everyone?” I shook my head. The next was the hardest for me, the most heart breaking. I knew Draco would take it hard, and I wasn't sure I would get through it without breaking down. I wanted to be strong for him, but I didn't know if I could. “Hermione?” I looked to him, tears forming in my eyes. He looked worried.
“Remus.” He looked down and sighed. “And Tonks.” I finished. His eyes shot up to me, expecting me to be joking. When he saw the tears in my eyes growing larger I could tell her knew it was the truth. He exhaled hard and put his hands in his hair. They had been the ones to help him when he first changed sides. They accepted him before anyone. They treated him like a normal kid, looking passed his dark nature. I decided to continue, before I lost my composure. “It was Dolohov and Bellatrix, they cornered them. Never even blinked. We found them lying together, almost holding each other.” I couldn't handle anymore. Draco looked to me, tears welling in his eyes now too.
“Teddy.” Is all he could say. The tears now fell from my eyes. It was the part of this whole story that was the most heart wrenching. Poor newborn Teddy was now left without his parents. My chin quivered and I nodded my head.
“I know.” I choked out.
He walked to me and took me in his arms. He hugged me tight, his chin resting on my head. He held me as I wept into his shirt. I used his chest to drown my sobs. I wanted to escape the world, I wanted everything to disappear, except for him. As if reading my mind, he lifted me into his arms and carried me up the stairs.
He took me into the bathroom, sitting me on the side of the tub. He reached down and drew the bath. As the water filled the tub, he began to undress me. It was not sexual, sensual or erotic, it was sweet and caring. He stripped me down to nothing, examining each bruise and cut along the way, making sure none were too serious. He lifted me into the tub and laid me in the warm water. He kissed the top of my head and turned to walk away.
“Please don't leave me. I can't be alone. Please.” I begged in a weak voice, my throat raw from crying. He nodded to me and began to undress. He slid into the tub behind me and took me in his arms. He pulled me against his chest and placed his chin on my shoulder. He rubbed his thumb across my arm and whispered, 'shhhhhhh' into my ear. It calmed me, soothed me, and helped me escape. In that moment we were free, for the first time, and we were the only two people in the world. As I relaxed I melted into his chest and felt as if we were one.
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