Bloodlust

Chapter XXVIII

A month had passed, and the connection between Hermione and Loree had gotten soft. Though, she's still a sticker to bed and kept her nights grounded by the fireplace with or without flames. The books inside her bedroom continued to pile up, still untouched, and Loree insisted on installing another small bookshelf in the room.

Little achievements came through the fourth week of the month; Hermione overcame her issues with her food and managed not to throw up after a heavy meal. She made her bed every morning and faced the window, feeling the sunlight on her skin – but shut the drapes after a few minutes. She began to spend longer hours in the shower without thinking too much about how to drown herself.

That morning, she sat in front of the mirror, staring at her face and observing the evident difference in her appearance. Her eyes evidently shrunk deeper into their sockets than they should be. Her lips lost their natural rosy colour and are now pale. Her cheeks had lost a little of their shape. She lost weight during the war, and it declined much more from then on.

The memories of the war found another way to slip into her mind again. She stood and pushed her seat hard under the vanity desk. She knew another night of suffering from a headache would follow if she lingered on those memories a little longer.

The thought of the war led her back to wondering about Malfoy's whereabouts again. His absence worried her more. The longer he was gone meant he had been working hard tracking the remaining members of the Order.

She made her way towards the bookshelves, running her fingers on the hardbound spines of each book as she eyed her options – but Malfoy remained at the front of her mind.

The longer she allowed the thoughts of Malfoy to rent-free inside her head, the more she regretted her last approach to their recent conversation. She should've chosen her words better. She told herself most of the time. Now, she lost her only eyes and ears outside the estate.

Malfoy was right, and it hurt her. She needed him more than he needed her. Under the Malfoy roof, he has the power over her. The idea that crossed her mind was almost laughable, thinking she might be able to reclaim her place over him. Perhaps there is a way to have him wrap around her fingers. Perhaps –

"Miss Granger finally found the perfect book?"

Hermione jolted when Loree appeared beside her.

"Oh, I... uh – I think so," she replied with a smile, grabbing the book that she did not even bother reading the title, and went to the window nook.

"That's nice!" Loree cheered.

"Loree," Hermione called, nonchalantly flipping the pages of the book.

"Yes, Miss?"

"It's a sunny day outside. It's a good day for a walk, don't you think?"

Loree's eyes seemed to have glimmered from the words she heard. It had been a long time of convincing.

The Manor was quiet. The paintings were silent as she walked past them, but she still heard a few comments under her breath, mostly coming from the oldest ancestors on the far end of the hallways.

"Where is everybody?" She asked Loree as they descended on the staircase.

Loree tapped her fingers on her chin, trying to recall the whereabouts of the Malfoys.

"Master Lucius was never home since the year-end gala. Mistress Narcissa left early this morning to attend a gathering, and Master Draco came home last night. He told Oblee to bring him his coffee earlier at the potions room."

She paused.

"He's here?" She asked out of surprise.

Her heart raced and her grip on the railing tightened. She knew she must see him. Given the Malfoy family's position in the ranks at that moment, they were indeed the reflection of the events. A glance at Malfoy could give her a hint of what was going on outside.