𝐄𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐈𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐀

☾ Chapter 43

☾

It'd been a slow morning of preparation. Draco shoved his and her belongings into their bags, enchanted with undetectable extension charms which Hermione had graciously taught him a few months ago.

"Promise you'll take care of my plants," Draco muttered, Theodore responding with a snarky laugh.

"Salazar, you sound like Longbottom."

Hermione cringed as the entire room fell silent.

That wound was still far too fresh, one she had yet to heal. One that she'd left alone for so long, refusing to deal with it that it'd become infected and scabbed over.

It was a cruel pang to the heart.

"Good job, Theodore," Blaise murmured sarcastically as Hermione bit her lip, trying to prevent the heavy weight in her throat from erupting into something more.

She wouldn't cry in front of them, not now.

"C'mere," Draco whispered, taking her hand and leading her away from the kitchen island, closing the bedroom door behind him.

When it shut with a click she collapsed into his arms with a sob, desperately clawing at the fabric of his shirt with her hands.

"He didn't mean to, Granger," Draco muttered, tangling a hand in her curls as she sniffled against his chest. He cradled her as though she were the most precious thing in the entire world.

He hadn't realized seeing others in pain could affect him until she'd entered his life, during this very strange, war ridden time.

"I've barely thought about Neville and Parvati, not since — since you told me they w-were gone," she whispered, more tears spilling down her cheeks as she spoke, "Maybe if I hadn't left I could've h-helped them, they're dead and it's all my fault-"

"Stop it," he muttered strongly in a gritted voice, making her glance up at him in surprise, "Stop blaming yourself for things you have absolutely no control over. It's fucking useless, Granger. It is a waste of your time."

She knew he was right, nodding her head, but it was nearly impossible for her to not think of what could have been.

What could've been different.

"I need you in a good headspace for tonight. Take a quick nap, collect yourself and your feelings, cry it out... I don't care what method of grief you choose to pursue," he spoke calmly enough to soothe her nerves but strictly enough to get his point across, "I'll come get you an hour before we're ready. Do what you need to do. I'll check on you in a bit, alright?"

She sighed, shaking her head as he gave her one last kiss.

"Get some rest, Granger. You deserve it."

............

"Why do I have to be the one to cut it out?" Hermione grimaced, hair slightly messy from her four hour long slumber, awoken by Draco knocking on the door.

"You have the steadiest hands," Blaise exclaimed, sitting comfortably on the sofa, "Besides, I'm pretty sure he'd bite our asses off if Theo or I tried to do it."