The Promise

CHAPTER 4

Present Day – The day before the funeral.

The lavish flat was dark. It matched his mood and tormented soul.

He had lost all faith in the light.

Tossing his jacket aside, Draco kept Theo's clothes aside carefully and sat down with his head in his hands.

His hair was a mess. He ran his fingers through it and tried to untangle the small knots.

Finally, alone Draco closed his eyes and thought about the harrowing events of the past forty-eight hours.

His best friend was dead.

Theo was gone. The pain was so fresh. It kept coming in waves.

The love of his life was left a widow at the tender age of twenty-five.

How much pain and suffering could one mind bear without snapping.

This was not how it was supposed to be.

He had given her up for happiness.

Not this. Fuck not this.

A cold shiver ran down his spine, and he shuddered at what happened at St Mungo's after they had sorted out Theo's final matters.

Hermione refused to leave.

Her hair hung around her face. Her eyes were wild and possessed. She balled her hands into fists determinedly and gripped her wand tightly.

She screamed bloody murder, "I AM NOT GOING HOME WITHOUT MY HUSBAND!"

Losing all sanity, Hermione screamed for Theo.

The entire waiting area at St Mungo's turned to stare at them.

Some cautious but most sympathetic at the grieving young widow.

Healers rushed to their side and tried to diffuse the situation.

At that point, Hermione took out her wand and pointed it threateningly at the Healers trying to help her.

Potter and Ginny didn't have much luck either, and their soothing words fell on deaf ears.

Risking what would happen, he stepped forward.

Her wand tip dug dangerously into his chest.

They locked pained and anguished eyes.

Please, Hermione, this is not who you are.

I know what you're feeling, my love.

Let me help you.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Draco," Hermione muttered in despair before her eyes rolled back, and she fainted out of exhaustion.

He caught her before she hit the ground and cradled her lifeless body to him.

Without hesitation, he tenderly scooped her up and held her protectively against his chest.

He glared at the fast-approaching Healers, and they backed off at once.

With a curt decisive nod to Potter and Ginny, he apparated to her parents' house.

Blaise took care of things at St. Mungo's until he returned. There wasn't much to do.

Potter and Ginny had been close behind with Healer prescribed sleeping drafts and a strong calming drought.

He knew his way around the Muggle abode.

Draco marched up the stairs, kicked the door open and laid her down on the soft bedspread.