Hold On (A Dramione Fanfiction)

11. I Miss You

Panting, the wizard ran to the other side of the castle. It had been a foolish idea and an irrational one. He shouldn't have done anything before the approval of his superior, but the girl had seen things that were meant to be a secret. And when she had tried to run away and tell everything, he had to act.

He entered his room, slammed the door, and locked it. He lifted his trembling hands and with horrified eyes, noticed that the tip of his wand had still a green glow from the curse.

He suddenly felt sick and emptied his stomach. He closed his eyes, a terrible feeling creeping up his stomach. Guilt. Horror.

He slammed his hands against the wall and cursed. He shouldn't feel these emotions, he should be impassive by what he had done. His father had trained him to.

But it was his first kill.

*****

"I can't believe someone was killed," Hermione whispered to Harry while they walked back to their dorm. "I thought that after last year, we would get some rest from all this, but..." she stopped her sentence and wondered.

"I know, Hermione." Harry shook his head. "But what is even more worrying is that it happened here. At Hogwarts. Either the killer is very skilled and managed to trespass the wards, or-"

"Or he was here all along," Hermione finished for him, and he nodded.

Harry looked at his friend and noticed her tired eyes. "How are you? You don't seem so well."

"I'm fine, Harry," she snapped, walking away. In her mind, she knew she had reacted badly and felt guilty. She rubbed her eyes and waited for him. "I'm sorry."

Harry smiled and put an arm over her shoulders. "It's fine, Hermione. I know how hard it must be for you today." She gave him a sad smile.

"I really hope Ginny didn't do anything that will embarrass me," she admitted and Harry laughed.

"Why do you think I stayed by your side all day long? She didn't want you to come back to our dorm." Hermione groaned. "Just act surprised and I'll try to sneak you out," Harry told her, while the portrait opened.

"SURPRISE!" Hermione couldn't help the smile that crept on her lips when she saw all of her friends reunited.

"Happy birthday, Hermione!" Ginny said, skipping to her side and hugging her. "I really hope Harry didn't sell me out." Harry shook his head fervently, but Ginny still eyed him skeptically. "Anyway, how does it feel to be 19?"

"Horrible," Hermione said, smiling when her other friends wished her happy birthday.

Ginny tugged her arm. "Come on, take some Firewhiskey and enjoy your night!" Hermione looked back helplessly at Harry who gave her a grimace.

Sighing, she followed Ginny. Ginny gave her a glass filled with the liquid and drank her in less than five seconds.

*****

"I'm getting some tonight!" Ginny screamed, winking at Hermione who had red cheeks. "Harry! Where are you?" she yelled through the music, pushing through the crowd to find her boyfriend.

Hermione hiccuped and put down her third glass of Firewhiskey, empty. It was her first time, and she had decided it would be her last.

No one was paying her any attention, which is why she decided it would be a good idea to go back to her room. She felt a bit wobbly but managed to get to the stairs without being interrupted by a drunk student.