An Unexpected Twist of Fate || Dramione

CHAPTER 45 - Revenge and Memories

They say there's a moment in everyone's life where it feels like the world is crumbling. Time stops and the only thing you can feel is the irrevocably painful ache of a broken heart. It's that moment in movies where everything is in slow motion; where everything is mute except of the sad song playing in the background. They say it's a moment you never forget. It was this moment.

A thousand evanescent memories of the happy days with her friend flooded through Ginny's mind. Locked in the tight hold of her brother's comforting arms, a great pang gripped her heart as she became absorbed in a stream of thoughts and reminiscences, refusing to believe that it was over. An air of stern, deep and irredeemable gloom hung over them and pervaded all, and an overwhelming silence invaded the room.

Hermione was an exquisite perception of all things beautiful and rare with a compassion perfectly angelic - a figure full of decision and dignity.

Pansy was still sitting with her arms around Draco. His sobs had died down, but the shock of it all was still eating him from the inside. A piece of his heart had been ripped out - or at least that's how it felt. He was confused because he had never paid much attention to Hermione, he simply let his blood-status morals interfere. But this... this was torture.

"Harry." Ginny stuttered out, suddenly remembering that he wasn't there. Draco looked up at her, his eyes red and swollen with the remains of tears. He gave a small nod and left the common room to search for Harry. Walking through the corridors, he gave no thought to the stares glued to him. At this moment nothing mattered.

Harry was out in the gardens. He looked up at Draco and noticed his devastating appearance and frowned. "You okay, Malfoy?" He asked with genuine concern. It was unusual to see Draco letting his guard down, let alone display weakness out in the open. Harry had only seen him cry once and that was during the war.

Draco shook his head slightly and sat down on a rock, motion for Harry to sit beside him. Harry looked at him curiously, now utterly confused. Draco sat tautly with his long finger tangled in his blonde locks. His knuckles were white with tension as he gripped onto his strands tightly. He let out a sigh, closing his eyes, and finally looked up at Harry, trying to calm his trembling hands.

"Harry... Hermione...uhm...Hermione's gone..." He choked on the words, suddenly unable to comprehend anything. Harry frowned, not understanding.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Harry asked.

Draco's eyes closed. Did he really have to say it? "T-They couldn't save her Harry... She had lost too much blood." Harry's stomach started twisting and turning, suddenly making him feel nauseous. His eye's went wide and blank and his jaw slackened. Harry understood clearly now.

"S-She can't be. No. Hermione's dead?" Harry stuttered, now crying heavily. He fell to his knees, unable to bare the pain of loss that had overcome him. His heartbeat was erratic, as if going into cardiac arrest. How could it be possible? Hermione didn't deserve an end like this?

Harry couldn't go through this again. The loss of another loved one would be the end of him. Hermione was what made him who he is. Her bravery. Her compassion. Her love and fairness. It was all she was that formed him. Never had he failed to marvel at her strength during times that he would without a doubt crumble without her there to pick him up and reassure him that everything would be alright.

Hermione Granger - the glue that somehow managed to hold everyone together through the storms of chaos and destructing over the eight years they shared, was now gone. No. She couldn't be gone. I-It isn't possible. Is it?

****

The next morning held no joy. Not for the Gryffindors, nor for the Ravenclaws, not for the Hufflepuffs and even the Slytherins could feel the paining loss of their fellow student. But it was Draco, out of the Slytherins, who felt it the worst.