The Promise

CHAPTER 38

Thank you so much to everyone who posted a review!

The last chapter sparked some controversy among readers, and I welcome and respect all opinions and comments.

It is important to understand and visualize Hermione as a warm-blooded human being rather than the perfect person she is widely known for.

Internal conflicts and hidden secrets out in the open.

Depression is real. It rears its ugly head when least expected.

Enjoy Chapter Thirty-Eight!

Let me know your thoughts so far! Trust me. It helps loads! :) Stay safe, beautiful people!

HAPPY READING! :)

CHRISTMAS DAY - 25th December 2007

"We didn't kill him," Hermione screamed at the top of her lungs and shot straight up.

Draco reached for his wand at once, lit the tip and held it to Hermione's distraught face.

Her head in her hand's loud sobs shook her body.

Messy strands of chestnut brown hair fell over her slumped shoulders.

The t-shirt she wore stuck, drenched in sweat, onto her small frame

Moving quickly to her side, he gathered her in his arms, "Darling, shhh...you had a nightmare."

"My life has become a nightmare," Hermione sobbed uncontrollably.

A feeling of dread descended upon him and gripped his heart in fear.

"Kill who?" Draco asked curiously, knowing exactly who she meant.

"Theo..." she mumbled between cries.

"It was a horrible nightmare, come here," he reassured lovingly.

Draco pulled Hermione close, and willingly, she snuggled into his warmth until her hysterical cries died down.

Extinguishing his wand, he stared into the darkness.

Where would she get such an idea?

Someone must have taunted her with it and planted it in her head.

What the fuck was going on?

He looked down into Hermione's pained face.

My love...

For once, Draco was tempted to use Occlumency on his fiancé.

He knew the answer to her nightmares, and the recent behaviour change lay hidden in her troubled mind.

To use it would mean a breach and violation of privacy.

In all honesty, it scared him. He did not want to see images of her naked with Theo.

The very thought of their naked bodies writhing against each other made the bile rise disgustingly in his throat.

Soothingly, he ran his fingers down her hair until he was satisfied that she had fallen back into a deep slumber.

Draco propped himself on one elbow and stared into the now peaceful face of the witch sleeping beside him.

Her chest rose and fell with the calm, steady pace of breathing.

Affectionately, he brushed away the curly wild strands of hair stuck to her forehead and placed a lingering kiss on her temple.

Please, come back to me, darling.