Chapter 10
As I turn the pages of my book, I can't help but think about my dream. While I believe Draco has changed for the better, a part of me knows that his family still has a hold over him. If I had seen the future that lies ahead of me, I fear for what it means between Draco and me. While the future can always change, I can't shake the feeling of unease that gnaws at me. I need to take this one day at a time, in the hope that I can do everything in my power to change the fate of those around me. I feel a hand wrap around my ankle, drawing slight circles. “You’re still thinking about what you saw aren't you?” The tone Draco used was soft almost as if he was hurt by me thinking about it. I meet Draco's eyes. “ If it comes out to be true, I will lose those who I have grown up with. People's lives are at stake Draco. My life is at risk, For all I know your aunt could murder me.” Draco reaches his hand to encase mine. “I will not let that happen.” I nod my head and turn back to my book.
I flip to a page on what may have happened. “Draco take a look.” He moves my legs off of him and pulls me closer to him. Wrapping his arm around my shoulders. I watch as his fingers delicately take the book from my hands, I watch his eyes scan the words on the page. I can't help but admire the way his features become more pronounced in the soft light, his sharp jawline and intense gaze captivating me. Draco's voice breaks the silence, his words laced with curiosity and intrigue. "This is exactly what happened. It says here that once two people who have accepted that pull toward each other can form a type of bond" he asks, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down my spine. I can feel his breath against my ear, his warm breath tickling my skin. “ I should have realized what it was. Pureblooded families have talked about this for ages. Though it was mostly a rumor. It hasn't happened in quite a long time. So everyone believed it to be false.” I look over at him. “So what else have they said about this bond?” I ask. He looks at me with a mixture of curiosity and caution in his eyes.
"Well, it is said that when two individuals with this connection come together, they are able to feel each other's emotions, and even share memories," he explains. "It is a bond that goes beyond physical attraction or emotional attachment. Not to mention it was suggested that they can even experience each other's pain." He pauses as if contemplating whether to reveal more. Finally, he continues, "Some believe that this bond is not just a coincidence, but a cosmic connection that transcends time and space. It is said that those who share this bond are destined to be together, no matter the obstacles that may come their way." I would say that it was hard to believe but after everything I have seen with my own two eyes, I can't deny it. “It sounds absolutely crazy, but with everything I have seen I can believe it,” I tell Draco as I mess with the ring on his finger. “I mean think about it, everything I have done to you and your friends, and yet you're still here. Sitting next to me with my arm around you.” Draco says as he looks over at me, pulls me in closer, and places a kiss on my head.
“In all fairness, this all began because of your desire to assist the order.” I look over at him with a smile on my face. "I may have made mistakes and caused harm, but I am grateful for your forgiveness and understanding," Draco continues, his voice filled with sincerity. "I never expected to find someone who could see past my faults and still choose to stand by me." I feel a warmth spreading through me as I look into Draco's eyes. "Draco," I begin, my voice filled with a mixture of vulnerability and strength, "you are only human, just like the rest of us. We all make mistakes, and we all have flaws. But what sets you apart is your ability to see beyond those flaws, to understand the reasons behind our actions." I pause, allowing my words to sink in, and Draco's eyes soften with empathy."While I may not always agree with your actions," I continue, my voice steady, "I possess the capacity to comprehend the reasons behind them. I understand that we are shaped by our experiences, and sometimes, we make choices that may not align with our true selves."
Draco's grip on my hand tightens, as a silent thank you. “You are such a great person, Hermione,” Draco mumbled as he laid his head on top of mine. I could feel the warmth of Draco's breath against my ear as he whispered those words, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and admiration. The sincerity in his tone sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't help but blush at his heartfelt compliment. His hold on my hand tightened, his fingers intertwining with mine as if he never wanted to let go. “I believe it is about time for dinner if you want to go eat.” I feel Draco groan against me. Draco moves away from me and stands up. He extends his hand towards me, and I accept it with gratitude. He helps me up and opens the door for me. We step out and make our way To the Great Hall. Though never walking together, always 10 steps behind. That's the one thing that bothers me about this whole thing, but I wouldn't risk our lives for something so selfish. As if sensing my thoughts or just reading them Draco walks next to me, to everyone else it may seem like nothing but to me, It means everything.
Quietly, we stroll side by side until we arrive at the Great Hall. We proceed to our respective tables and take a seat. Harry and Ron are seated across from me, chatting and laughing as they pile their plates high with food. I can't help but smile at their antics, feeling grateful for their friendship. As I dig into my meal, I can't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me. The warmth of the food, the laughter of my friends, and the familiar surroundings of Hogwarts all combine to create a sense of peace. I look over at the faces of everyone, some of whom won't make it past the war. I stop eating, feeling as if I might be sick. The thought of bodies being piled up in this room makes my stomach turn and ache. “I’ll see you guys tonight.” I walked out and got to one of the places where I could be alone. I walk up the winding steps of the tower. As my foot leaves the last step I feel my breath catch in my chest. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to push the disturbing image out of my mind. But no matter how hard I try, the memory of those lifeless bodies haunts me.
As I lean against the chilly stone wall, The weight of the world seems to press down on my shoulders, making it difficult to catch my breath. The once steady rhythm of my heartbeat now races in my chest, pounding against my ribcage as if desperately trying to escape. The clarity that once resided in my eyes, the sharpness of my vision, has been clouded by a torrent of tears that streamed down my face. They fall relentlessly, leaving wet trails on my cheeks, The stone wall against which I lean offers no solace, its coldness seeping into my bones, mirroring the emptiness that has settled within me. Every breath I take feels like a struggle, as if the air itself resists entering my lungs. My chest rises and falls rapidly, my gasps for air becoming more desperate with each passing second. The world around me blurs, the edges of my vision becoming hazy and distorted. I try to steady myself, to find some semblance of control amidst the chaos. But the tears keep flowing, unstoppable and relentless. “Mione, you need to breathe.” I hear a voice tell me, it's easy to tell who it is. Only one person calls me Mione. “In the three years that I have known her Malfoy, this has never happened. Why now?” I look up to see Harry talking to Draco. The next person to speak up was Draco.
“Hermione, love, you need to tell them. If you don't it will just get worse. I need you to take a minute to get yourself steady, and then you need to tell them everything.”Draco said as I shook my head, while I was fine with calming myself down I couldn't tell Ron what I saw It would break him before it had even happened. I take a few breaths trying to calm myself. “I can't do it, I can't tell them Draco.” Draco kneels so that we can be face to face. “Do you want me to?” I nod my head. “I need you both to sit before I tell you,” Draco instructed, preparing to share the unsettling truth. He proceeded to recount my dream, suggesting that it might have been a glimpse into the future. The room fell into a heavy silence, the tension almost tangible. Ron and I exchanged worried glances, our hearts pounding in our chests. The weight of Draco's words hung in the air, filling the room with an eerie stillness. It was as if time had frozen, and we were suspended in a moment of uncertainty. Draco continued, his voice steady but filled with a sense of urgency. He described the vivid images that had haunted my dreams, the events that were yet to unfold. His words painted a grim picture, one that threatened to tear apart everything we held dear. As Draco spoke, I watched Ron's face contort with a mixture of disbelief and fear. His eyes widened, searching for any sign that this was all just a cruel joke.
Though Ron knows I would never lie about this. “Is what he saying true Hermione? Did you actually see all of that?” Ron asked me quietly. "I wish it wasn't true, Ron," I replied, my voice filled with regret. "But I saw it all.” Ron's face paled, his disbelief evident as he struggled to process the weight of my words. His hands trembled slightly, betraying the turmoil within him. It was as if his world had been shattered, the pieces scattered around him, leaving him vulnerable and exposed. “How long have you known?” Ron asks me in a monotone voice. “ Not long, I promise.” Ron shakes his head while looking away. “ Is there a way we can change what happens?” The future is always interchanging. Twisting and turning. “There’s a chance, but the future is always changing. You need to understand that if we stop this outcome a worse fate may come.” I told Ron in a sympathetic tone. I could see the turmoil in Ron's eyes as he processed the information I had just revealed. He seemed torn between wanting to rectify the situation and fearing the potential repercussions of meddling with fate. I could sense his inner conflict as he weighed his options, his mind racing with possibilities and uncertainties. “So it's either I let what you see come true or else something worse could happen.” I nod my head slightly.
The air crackled with tension as Ron's decision hung in the balance. The future was uncertain. “Give me time to think, my brother's life is on the line. It's not just something of my own I can think about.” The room remained silent, the tension now amplified by Ron's admission. “Take your time. Just make sure whatever it may be that you're confident in it.” Draco spoke up next to me. “Can't believe that im saying this to you, but thank you Malfoy,” Ron told Draco with sincerity. Harry just nods his head in agreement.
“I’ll let you think it over, just don't take too long,” I tell Ron before getting up and walking away. I head down to the Room of Requirement and wait. I need to know Draco's mission whether or not I like it. I hear the door open slightly. “What's on your mind, love?” Draco asks me as he walks up placing an arm around me. “I need to know what he has you doing draco, I can't just sit here and blindly support you without knowing.” Draco removes his arm from me and sighs. “You’ll hate me again. I know it.” I look behind me into his piercing eyes. “What does he have you doing Draco?” he averts his eyes from mine. “I have to kill him.” My eyes shoot open. “Kill who malfoy?” He reaches out to be but I don't take his hand. “Dumbledore. I need to kill Dumbledore or he will kill my mother and me. I told you that you would hate me. So to make this so much easier, Leave. It’s better for both of us. From now on I will write to you and give you updates.” I feel my breathe hitch. “Draco.” He looks at me. “I said leave.” I grab my blanket and turn towards the door.