The Quiet Before The Storm- A Dramoine Story

19. Acceptance

Draco's POV:

I was back at the Manor. I was seated at the table with mother and father, staring at the floor. I feared to see the sight in front of me. I knew I wouldn't last long. However, a scream forced me to look up at the horror that was going on the floor of the drawing room.

"I'm going to ask you again! Where did you get this sword? Where?" Aunt Bella screamed at the figure lying at her feet.

"We found it – we found it – PLEASE!" The figure screamed as Bellatrix kicked the girl with her feet.

"CRUCIO!" Bellatrix yelled, and the girl writhed miserably. A single tear formed in my eyes and rolled down to my lap. I looked down before my dad could see me, tearing up for the muggle born.

"Draco..." I heard a whisper and I looked up again. Aunt Bella and my parents were nowhere to be seen. It was just me and the brown-haired girl, now. She was looking at me, still lying on the floor. She appeared too tired to move. I wanted to get up, I wanted to help her, but I couldn't.

"Draco..." Hermione whispered again. "Save me! Please!"

My eyes welled up. I couldn't​ bear to hear the feeble voice. I got up and went near her, but it was too late. A flash of green light appeared, and she was lying in my arms, limp and lifeless. I had failed her, again.

I woke up, drenched in sweat despite the chilly weather. It was almost midnight. I realised I was crying. This was the worst thing that had happened to me. Not becoming a Death Eater, not being forced to kill Dumbledore. It was this moment, the one where I realised that I was not even capable of saving the innocent that were locked up in my own house. And watching Granger get tortured was the nightmare that was haunting me.

I could not wrap my head around the idea of me liking her. That is like McGonagall falling in love with the Dark Lord. It was impossible. Yet, it seemed hard not to accept it. Did I really like her that way? Was it even Ok to like her?

I walked out of my room to my favourite armchair. The fireplace cracked with the little tinder that remained. I lit a few candles enough to shroud the rest of the room in darkness. I stared into the flames, my eyes still burning with tears.

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Hermione's POV:

I arrived at Ginny's place at Nine at night, post dinner. I promised myself two glasses. That is all. somebody should be there to take care of Ginny. But fate, and by fate, I mean Ginny, had other plans for me. By Half Past Ten, we had gone through one and a half bottles of wine. My head was getting dizzy and I was giggling way too much.

"Ok, let's talk boys!" Ginny exclaimed.

"We did that for the past half hour," I slurred. "Can't we do something else?"

"No, I spoke about boys. Now you do. Tell me about Viktor."

I giggled. Viktor Krum was handsome and all, but I was never attracted to him in any carnal way. He was disappointed when I wouldn't let him into my pants, but he never showed that.

"Viktor is a good man. He was smart, handsome- "

"Talk about his body!" Ginny scowled and threw a pillow at me. "I don't care about his brains. Fuckable or not?"

I burst out laughing. Only alcohol could get me to be ok with this conversation without admonishing her.

"I guess he was to most girls. But I didn't like him that way. I couldn't like him that way. His kisses were sloppy, actually. You know," I thought back "Come to think of it, he was very awkward. It was my first kiss, so I am not really judging. I think I was only going out with him because I wanted to get Ron jealous."