Pure as Snow

chapter 37 : Hanna

I didn’t understand how Bella could believe in something that those three were going on about. I could never believe that my Draco would ever be involved in something like that. No man that I love would ever be one of…them. Draco could never truly be one. They’re wrong. Dead wrong I tell you. Bella, of all people, doesn’t believe that he needs protecting. That’s a load of bull!

“Hanna, are you alright?”

I looked up to see Kat and Beth looking at me from the doorway. I had been pacing in the courtyard, which is something they’ve never seen me do. It’s something no one has seen do. I’ve never been this angry before. I hated being angry.

I nodded to them. “I just need to be alone.”

I watched them walk away. I knew they would go straight to Bella to see what was wrong, and she’ll tell them about how stupid I really am. About how I don’t believe that my boyfriend is a deatheater just because he’s in Slytherin. I’m not that stupid. I know that deatheaters aren’t just from Slytherin like everyone thinks. He can get to anybody at anytime. I know that. I am one of the brightest witches in my year, aside from Hermione Granger that. Oh, that Granger. Warning me.  I should be warning her, the bitch.

  I then sat down on the bench. I don’t care if it was covered with snow or that my bottom was now cold. All that I cared about was how people were treating Draco, as if he was some criminal that should be locked up. I couldn’t believe. I couldn’t make myself believe it. They didn’t know him like I did. He was gentle hearted. He was sensitive. He was what a real man should be.

I remembered the first time that we sat on that bench. He was sitting there contemplating something. It was when I first suspected that something was bothering him. I was right too because he curled like a baby into my lap and cried. I know that what was bothering him that day was still bothering him. He just didn’t act the same since. Whatever it was had taken a tremendous toll on our relationship, and because he won’t tell me, it’s affecting me as well. I know that I told him he could tell me in his own time, but it was really killing me. It was murdering our relationship whatever was changing Draco.

“Hanna.”

I instantly smiled as my one true love was sitting down beside me. He didn’t look right. He looked tired and there was definitely something bothering him, something more. He smiled weakly at me before kissing me. This kiss was different. It was soft and quick as if he was trying to rip off a band aid. He looked me in the eyes for a long time. The silence was too much for me, which had never happened before.

“Draco,” I whispered. “I love you, a little too much maybe.”

He nodded but didn’t say anything. I pressed my forehead onto his and closed my eyes. What was going on with him? We were finally back at the place we were supposed to be and now he seems like he doesn’t want it to be. I open my eyes as tears sting them. His hand finds my cheek and my hand covers his. His grey eyes are no longer bright, I noticed as I looked into them. They were rather dull and lifeless. The life was being sucked straight out of him.

“What’s the matter?” he asked in a hushed voice.

I swallowed hard before starting where the mess began. “Something horrible happened to Katie Bell.”

His eyes sprang wide. “Are you being serious? Was she a friend of yours?”

“We talked every now and then but we weren’t particularly close, no. I just saw what happened to her,” I said rather slowly, wondering why he would as if she was friends with me.

He ran his hand over his face. “What happened to her?” he asked without looking at me.

“Well, she and Angelina Johnson were arguing over a package. Angelina said that she couldn’t bring that package up to the castle. Next the package ripped, and Katie was having a seizure in the air. It was horrible. I couldn’t think to even go get help. I just kept crying and crying. Snape says that she’s been cursed, and that necklace definitely looked evil.”

“Wasn’t she wearing gloves?” he asked me, snapping his head back so he could look me in the eyes. “If she was wearing gloves she wouldn’t have been cursed.” I didn’t answer him at first, which caused him to put both hand on my shoulders. His hands were shaking and he was fighting off tears. “Tell me! Was she wearing gloves or not?” he asked rather forcefully.

I nodded. “Yes, but there was a hole in one of them.”

He let go and turned away from me, looking down at his lap. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I didn’t mean it.”

He’s sorry? For what? It’s not like he did it. It’s not like they were right…or maybe they were. No, it’s not possible. He could never be one…but he said that he didn’t mean it. Perhaps I could try asking him. Would he be truthful with me?

“Harry, Ron, and Hermione were saying rather mean things afterwards,” I said as he continued to look down. “They placed all the blame on one person, Draco. They placed all the blame on someone that I love,” he slowly turned his head towards me. “They said it was you, Draco.” I couldn’t hold the tears back any longer. They ran over my face and I couldn’t stop them. “Please tell me it’s not true. Please tell me that’s not what you were apologizing for.”

“Hanna,” he said. “It’s about time I told you the truth.”

I sucked in my breath. Here he comes out with it. Whatever has been bothering him is about to fall of those beautiful lips. Those beautiful lips that were mine that fit on mine perfectly. I waited patiently for him to continue, but he just stood and walked off a bit before coming back and then repeating those motions again, until finally he stopped right in front of me in tears.

“Hanna,” he said. “I’m breaking up with you.”