Mischief Unmanaged ➰ H.P

XXVII. Erase it. Erase her.

"Hey... Still not sleepy eh?" came a voice from Hermione's back. She looked at the source and not surprise to find Draco standing there with two cups of hot chocolate.

Her lips curled for a faint smile before gazing at the empty space beside her. Draco settled in and hand her the cup which she accepted in delight.

Hermione was wrapped in a wool scarf and coat, she's been sitting in the front step of Luna's house for almost two hours already, refusing to go back in the warm bed inside.

They had confirmed that Luna's father was actually working on the antidote of the poison and it appeared that it's been a success. Mr. Lovegood tested it on a rat but of course Harry is a different story.

It's either he will be cured or it'll kill him.

"It's okay to be scared, Blaise and Theo are still awake too. They could pretend asleep but I know they wouldn't be able to get it easily." Draco said although Hermione doesn't want to talk.

She took a sip on her cup, letting the liquid warm her insides. "We have to tell his parents. What ever the result is, we're the one's responsible for it."

Draco heaved out a sigh, a familiar guilt flooding his chest again. "Harry wouldn't want that," he glanced at her, then he chuckled which just turned into snort.

Hermione felt a sinking sensation inside her stomach, an imaginary bile rising up to her throat. She was trying to keep her tears at the back of her eyes, she don't want anyone questioning why she's grieving over a person she used to hate.

"What... Do you think--" Hermione shook her head, shame and anxiety was beating her.

Draco tapped her shoulder gently, their eyes met for a split second but it's just enough for Draco to see every hidden sadness within. "That's bad, really bad."

Hermione frowned, her eyebrows furrowing at him. "What is it?"

Draco cackled though the evidence of bitterness was barely noticeable in his voice. "You are scared not just because the antidote might end his life right? You're afraid because it might cure him and he'll be back as the arrogant dude who never see you as the way he does today,"

"What?! Of course not, that's completely absurd! Why would I wish that the antidote won't work?" Hermione was suddenly aware of how her face was heating.

"I didn't say you're wishing that it won't work Hermione, I'm just stating that whatever the result is, neither will make you feel better."

"This isn't about me! Why do I have this feeling that you're suddenly playing the detective here?" Hermione was getting annoyed by second, she hated that Draco was guessing it right.

Draco took a sip from his cup, Hermione watched him intently with her face crumpled irritably. "Whatever happened in the field when we lost you, I think that makes you happy." he glanced at her, his silver eyes were glistening under the shine of the moon.

"And if you're happy, and that's what we all want here. You to be happy and Harry to be happy, then let's not do this. Let's go back to Hogwarts." Draco said.

Hermione tried to catch his eyes again but seemed like he's suddenly avoiding any eye contact. Like he was afraid that she would see the things he wouldn't dare to tell her.

The sadness.

"I can't be so selfish now can I?" Hermione muttered with her gaze shifting to the vast field of sugar cane.

"Talk to Harry, tell him what you feel and how this potion would change everything. Make him understand, make him realize that he may lose one of the most amazing, gorgeous, smartest, bravest and the most thoughtful girl he would ever meet. Inform him how he suddenly became the luckiest guy for having you and that he is the most obnoxious, pathetically stupid guy if he'll ever let you go. Tell him everything Hermione, or keep it forever." Draco finished.

He may not aware of it but Hermione was more bewildered when a single tear fell from his eye. She was lost of words, was that what he thought of her?

"Draco..."

"Shut up Hermione," he warned. Draco stood up, leaving the cup on the stone step. "Consider me a douchebag for what I did. But I truly regrets it Hermione, and you know what else's the reason?"

Hermione nearly gasp when a couple of tears began following the track of the first one, making her wonder why on earth he's suddenly crying in front of her. Why he's letting her see him in that state?

"Because I'd just give you up openly. I've got the opposite result and now I'm working on step by step to accept that you wouldn't ever be mine. We're not meant to be, not even in the first place." Draco used the sleeve of his jumper to wipe away the dampness of his eyes. "For the record, I'm not drunk."

He lets out a forced chuckle before storming into the field. Hermione stood up and scurried to his back. "Malfoy! What the hell was that?!" she yelled.

Draco stopped and spun to face her, an unmistakable smile was on his ever gorgeous face. "That's me, accepting defeat."

Hermione bites her lower lip, resisting her tears to shred. She ran towards him and flung her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his chest. Now there's no reason to resist it as she weep inside his arms. "I had a huge crush on you," she muttered between her sobs.

Draco lifted his hand and gently stroked her soft curls, devouring every second of it. "I'm such a blinded dumbass, sorry about that." he whispered against the top of her head. Draco was drowned at the smell of hair, it was like a chocolate cosmos that kept on lingering on his nostrils, too difficult to release.

"Thank you for being there for me when no one else was. I-- I want us to be friends." she finally looked up to meet his eyes.

"Sure, it'll be hard but I can cope up." Draco chuckled before pulling her again for a tight hug. "Just give this night to me, it may be the last."

Hermione rested her hand at his back, feeling the warmness of his body. "I love you Hermione." Draco said, not waiting nor expecting a reply.

Hermione felt the usual emptiness in her chest, she wanted to make him feel better but it's not what he needs. She just smiled and buried her face closer to his chest, "He will take the antidote and I'm ready for whatever might happen after it."

"Come with me?" Draco pulled away and offer a hand to her. "Don't worry, we're just going to watch the moon in a better view." his smile was still stained with pain but Hermione accepted his hand anyways.

They marched into the arrays of tall sucar cane until they completely vanished out of sight.

The fog was lowering down, blocking the window where Harry was standing behind and silently watching his friend and the girl she thought was faithful.

He flipped back the curtain and goes back to his messy bed. He never felt so betrayed. Sure, he's no longer with Hermione but how about the bro code? If Draco was really his friend, why would he screw up with the girl he still want for himself?

Harry closed his eyes for a while before reaching the paper resting on the table.

'Remember her.

Hermione Jean Granger.

Remember that you love her.'

Those were the words written in bold letters, in case it really happened that he forgets his feelings for her. He even signed it in the bottom.

Harry gulped a few more time despite that fact that it was hurting his throat.

Was he that dumb to ever believe in them? To believe her?

With a one last thought, Harry draw out his wand and pointed it on the paper before muttering... "Incendio."

Erasing her all at once.

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Sorry this one's short. Just don't have much time to write. 😔