Shadows

Part 2

   "1,2,3...breathe...one more step...okay breathe." The young woman muttered to herself as she clasped and unclasped her hands, almost matching the rhythm of her heart that was about to claw its way from her chest. She paused and ran her hands down her worn skinny jeans in a futile attempt to erase the ever present sweat from her small hands. Seeing as these efforts were proving useless, the witch resorted to closing her eyes, breathing deeply, and opening them again.
     However...the same small and neatly furnished room, with the hideous red rug and worn beige couch, was still before her. She was still there, no matter how badly she wished she could bolt from the spot.
     At that thought Hermione slapped a hand to her mouth as if to silence the words never spoken. This was to be the happiest day of her life, and she couldn't screw it up with useless worries and last minute jitters. Her attempts, however persistently she pursued them, were futile. Hermione couldn't dissipate the bubbling dread that twisted it's way through her stomach to her heart. It didn't make sense. Everyone had reassured her; Harry had sat down with her for two hours the night before. She had assured him that he had consoled her, and for a moment she almost believed it. But it was to no avail, she would not be consoled, and she knew, after much pacing and nail picking, that today couldn't possibly happen. She couldn't marry Ronald Weasley. "Why is that?" one might ask. The answer was simple really, she did not love him. She didn't love him the way he wanted her to love him, and she knew, at this point, that she never could. Yet she still had no idea why.