cover art
august
"Hermione ran her hands over Daphne’s bare back as she watched her sleep soundly in her bed. It was another night of the two of them just basking in each other’s presence. Hermione could slowly feel herself falling for Daphne but she knew that once they were back at Hogwarts for their 8th year that everything would change.
Daphne wasn’t hers. She would never be hers. She would always be Theo’s. She hated that she was encouraging her to cheat on her fiancé but it wasn’t like Daphne loved him at all. It was an arranged marriage. They had been betrothed to each other since they were kids. Their fathers had seen it done. There was no out. No open clause that could free them until they produced an heir and a spare. Theo being an only child and Daphne being the oldest of two daughters made their fathers push the spare clause in hopes of a boy.
Hermione had always known that one day she would lose Daphne but this month they had been together just the two of them in Hermione’s hidden cottage had reminded her in ways she hadn’t expected.
Waking up next to Daphne was one of the best feelings in the world. Being able to hold her tightly in her arms was groundbreaking. Being able to kiss her and make love to her was earth-shattering. Hermione loved being alone with Daphne and it was in the quiet moments like this that she was hit with the weight of their relationship. She would lose her and there was nothing she could do about it. Hermione had decided then and there that she was going to spin the rest of the month being as tangled with Daphne as possible.
“ What’s on your mind my darling?” The question floated into the air hitting Hermione’s ears making her look over at the now-awake blonde. “ You. Always you.” She whispered, leaning forward to press her forehead against Daphne’s. The younger of the two sighed and leaned up pressing a kiss to her forehead. “ We still have a few days left together…Let’s make them last.” Daphne said softly pressing her lips against Hermione’s in a soft kiss. Hermione nodded and just held her that much closer.
Over the next three days, the two girls barely left the bed. Choosing to stay in each other’s warmth rather than venturing into the outside world. Hermione sat on her porch, her knees pressed against her chest as she thought about getting onto the train to Hogwarts tomorrow and acting like she hadn’t just spent the last month with the love of her life. The last month they would ever spin together.
“ But I can see us…lost in the memory…August slipped away into a moment in time…Cause it was never mine.”
Daphne watched from the corner of the room where she sat and gave her an open view of Hermione’s back. “ We need to talk about it.” She said knowing the older could hear her. “ There’s nothing to talk about Daph. We spent the best month of my life alone together and now it’s time to face the music. We have no future. We end here. Tonight.” Hermione sighed. “ Doesn’t make it hurt less,” Daphne said softly as a tear ran down her face. “ No, it doesn’t. We always knew it was coming. You were never mine.” Hermione cried softly.
They didn’t fight or argue no matter how much Daphne wanted Hermione to fight for her she knew that it would be no use. They had already lost. She had no choice but to face the music as Hermione said. She got out of her seat and walked over to the Granger girl. “ One last night of just me and you,” Daphne said, pulling her up and kissing her softly. Their lips worked against each other as they both tasted the salt from the tears. Daphne pushed Hermione against the rusty back door and kissed her harder.
They spent the last night twisted in Hermione’s bedsheets. Enjoying the last of their summer love. Hermione fell into dreams of memories that she had Daphne had shared over the years. And when she woke up alone that morning she was reminded that she hadn’t really lost Daphne because she was never hers to lose.