The Right Choice

Chapter Thirteen

Hermione packed her essentials in her bedroom. Today she would be leaving her home and her parents for possibly the last time. She performed an undetectable extension charm on her smallest bag and was packing away the last of her books when her mother called her down for tea. She sighed and took one last look around her bedroom. If she survived this, she would return with the utmost gratitude. She had never appreciated her home and family so much.

Finally, she made herself leave the room and close the door. She drew her wand as she silently made her way downstairs. She prayed her mother and father wouldn't discover her presence, speaking to them would make it that much harder to leave.

She approached them from behind. They were chatting idly away as her mother poured the tea. She aimed her wand and spoke the incantation obliviate. As she looked around, the pictures that held her fondest memories faded into nothing. Her parents no longer remembered her. They would soon be moving to Australia and out of harm's way.

Hermione silently made her way out of the house she was no longer welcome in before she could break down in tears. She was determined to hold it together, but they still silently fell as she left her home.
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Draco was secluded in his room nearly every day, only emerging for meals and if he was summoned. The Dark Lord had taken up residence in his home, so Draco wanted to stay out of the way as much as possible.

He had returned home immediately after Dumbledore's murder to a very angry master. He had been punished profusely for his failure, after which his mother had cleaned him up and kept him in good health, refusing the house elves' offer of help.

Two weeks later, and one person invaded his thoughts constantly, Hermione. Everything reminded him of her. His books, his school things, even the house elves. He thought of how she wished to free all of them and smiled at her innocence and good intentions, even though they quite enjoyed a life of work. He dreamt of her every night. He so longed to see her, but it was out of the question. They had no idea where she was, and as long as Draco stayed away from her, she was safe.

"She's safe." he would mumble to himself every time he had the urge to leave and find her. That was his constant reminder.

Her face would flash through his nightmares, the one that had shattered Draco's world when she saw him in the company of Death Eaters. The way she had screamed his name from the front entrance pulled at his heart. Then, of course, her frail body, limp and lifeless on a cold floor. Surely, by now, she had discovered that he played a part in Dumbledore's death, and she would hate him for it. She wouldn't blink an eye if he were tortured, as he so deserved. But she was safe.
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Today was Bill and Fleur's wedding. It had been a beautiful and wondrous occasion. And as happy as Hermione was for them, she couldn't stop thinking of Draco. Despite the fact that he had betrayed her in the worst way, she still loved him. He had her fooled for months, she was his little puppet. And it stung. It was the first time Hermione had ever had true feelings for someone in that way, and it had turned out to be a sham.

She was in the bathroom freshening up when it over came her. It had been a weight on her shoulders ever since that fateful night of Dumbledore's death, and now that she was finally alone it was crashing down. She sunk to the floor and hunched over. She tried to stop herself, but found that all she could do was wait for it to pass.

She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, she looked up to see Ginny crouched next to her, a sympathetic look on her face.

"I'm fine." Hermione lied, "I just need a moment."

"You're not 'fine' Hermione. It's okay to let it out." Ginny said.

And with that, the two girls hugged. Ginny comforted her friend for as much time as was needed.