Dramione: Persuasion (Book 1)

7: Rethinking

HERMIONE

As we land in the Great Hall, I see that people are beginning to fill in. It must be time for lunch. I pull apart from Draco and walk away quickly.

What went through my head? Why did I not leave that murderer to live his miserable life in Azkaban?

I decided to skip lunch and hurry out of the Great Hall. I hear footsteps following me but they stop after a while and I'm able to make it to the Gryffindor common room without anyone behind me.

"Grindylow" I say clearly to the portrait of the fat lady wearing a pink dress. She lets me in, ignoring my pale face.

I still do not understand why I gave Lucius another chance. He hates me and every other person who doesn't meet up to his standards.

I sit in the common room for a bit until deciding that if I miss any classes, I will have to catch up.

I go through my classes emotionless. Nobody speaks to me, I suppose somehow the word got out. I was at the hearing. I gave sympathy to a very cruel man.

During my last class of the day, Harry approaches me.

"I heard what happened." He says, sitting down and writing his report on Thestrals.

"About the hearing?" I ask.

"Yes, why didn't you sentence him worse?" He asks me, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"He didn't put you under the Imperius curse, he didn't have a wand. Right?" Asks Harry.

"Of course not, I just... Everyone deserves a second chance. I couldn't help but feel... Sympathy. Maybe he was only trying to protect his family." I lie with a pathetic excuse.

But what if it's true? Maybe he only wanted his family protected, so his wife and child would be safe from Voldemort.

"You're right Hermione, everyone deserves a second chance. Though I despise Lucius strongly, that was a kind thing if you to do." He says.

The bell rings and I quickly exit the classroom. I hoped to get some fresh air outside of the school and a walk by the lake.

I enter the Gryffindor common room and go to my dormitory to put my things away. I grab my scarf because it's a bit chillier outside now and walk down the stairs and out of the Gryffindor house.

As I walk around the lake, I think about all my friends that I have lost. I think about how I will never be able to watch Harry and Sirius bond as they used to. How George will never be able to feel complete because his twin is dead.

I think about Teddy Lupin, who will not have any parents growing up and will eventually come to find out why.

I remember when Nymphadora used to entertain Ginny and I at Sirius's old home by changing her appearance.

I think about how I will never get to see my parents again because they are in Australia, where they are safe from harms way.

They don't need the protection anymore, however, I do not know how to lift the charm off of my parents.

Lastly, I think about my broken relationship between myself and Draco. I still love him, I cannot deny this. However, I somehow cannot find it in my heart to forgive him for betraying me and going to Voldemort's side.

But what if it wasn't by choice?

Was he threatened by Voldemort?

As I think about him, my heart aches. I remember how it felt that night when he first approached me on the stairs of the castle during the Yule ball.