The Astronomy Tower < #wattys2016 >

Cottage by the Sea

April 6th 1997

Hermione awoke with a start in a quant little bedroom. The walks were a pale, creamy colour, and the quilts wrapped around her boy, warm. She looked out the window and saw blue ocean waves pounding a golden beach. Her breathe caught at its beauty.

"Easy there." Came Ron's voice from the doorways. He was leaning against the frame, worry visible in his eyes. She attempted to get up when it felt as if a hand had reached into her head, and started to squeeze her brain. She was forced back down onto her pillow.

"The cruciatus curse tends to have that effect on people." She closed her eyes and attempted to massage the pain from her forehead. She opened them. Red on her arm caused her to wince. She examined the cut closely. MUDBLOOD. She felt tears begin to pool in her eyes. Ron rushed over to her and wrapped his arms around her. 

"How long will it last?" Her tongue felt large in her mouth. By the tragic look behind Ron's eyes, Hermione could tell that the effects were most likely permanent. She felt a knew wave of tears fill her eyes, she blinked them back.

"It's alright, you can let yourself cry." Ron said soothingly.

So she did. When she was finished she looked up to Ron.

"Where is she?" She asked.

He immediately knew who she was talking about.

"He is still at the manor... His parents didn't see him help us. It's probably for the best-"

"Help us?" She asked weakly.

"I'm pretty sure that he made Griphook say that the sword was fake. And he practically gave Harry our wands back. And after the chandelier fell he pulled you out form the wreckage. He handed you to me."

"Chandelier?" Hermione asked softly.

"Dobby dropped the huge, glass chandelier on you and Bellatrix. The bloody thing exploded everywhere, cut everyone up, but you got the worst of it."

"Hermione looked down at her arms. Sure enough there were tiny nicks all over them.

She looked down at Ron's muddy feet, which were making the floor immensely filthy.

"Why are your shoes all dirty?"

Ron inhaled sharply. "Dobby helped us escape. When we were about to dissaparate, Bellatrix threw her knife. Dobby got us out of there quick, but not quick enough. The knife came through with us. Me and harry just finished burying him."

Hermione felt herself crying again. Oh Dobby, The only house elf who would take the presents she had left around the Gryffindor common room.

"Where is Harry now?" She sniffed

"Outside." Said Ron

"I want to see him."

"You cant even walk straight right now." Ron snorted.

"Just you watch me." Challenge excepted Ronald Weasley.

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Draco sat in his room by the warm fire. Though, he didn't fell warm at all. He couldn't get her screaming out of his head, the way her eyes has pleaded for him to save her, for him to have been her hero. Never before had he been more tempted to leave, and seek refugee with someone until the war is over.

He should have went with them. but it was too late now. Even if he had fled, would Hermione still have forgiven him in the end?

There was a knock at his door. He didn't saw anything, hoping that they would just go away. He was disappointed when the door opened.