Back To You

I want to thank my bff for her support. Thanks I!
I know you will particularly enjoy this story…

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Did you miss me?

11:30 am

“Prisoner No 650?....” yelled the prison guard trying to make out through the darkness of the cell the shape of the tall man.
“Come on Malfoy it’s time.” The man slowly rose from the bed where he was lying.
There was always something intimidating in the way he moved … a silent threat distinguished his movements.
He took his time to cross the distance between them and stood in front of the guard, his 6’4 overshadowing the other man’s 5’11.

“Will you miss me Jones?” he asked softly with irony filling his deep voice.

Jones wasn’t a man to be easily demoralized; after all it has been his job, for the last 17 years, to associate with the most dangerous criminals of their city and frequently he had to discipline them.

But Malfoy was different from all the other convicts.
He was notorious and his name has been well known in that prison even before he set foot in it.
A year ago he was convicted for his involvement in a street fighting between gangs. It was the perfect pretext for the cops to arrest him. It had been common knowledge that he ran the illegal branch of his family business, but it has been impossible for the police to arrest him.
Lucius Malfoy his father owned a giant, profitable company witch appeared to be legal but was the cover of a mafia that controlled and terrorized the city.
So Malfoy senior trusted his son to do all the dirty work.
And he was obviously good at it because he had been eluding arrest for quite a long time. The irony was that he had been convicted because the gun he used that night wasn’t registered and he was caught nearby the crime scene.

His lawyers managed to let him get away with a minimum sentence of 2 years which was reduced due to ‘good behavior’.

Jones expected a year ago that Malfoy would cause him big trouble. He was feared and in a way respected within those walls. But he appeared to be a quiet person. He preferred the seclusion of his cell.

He spent most of his time sitting there staring at a photograph that was pinned on the wall directly above his pillow.
Jones was curious about the mysterious girl in the picture…
What was her part in all this?
In the initiation of his sentence he was frequently visited by her. This jail was no place for a pretty little flower like her in Jones’s opinion. She couldn’t be older than 18. Maybe she had realized her place was outside these walls enjoying her life with the rest of the civil world because after the first two weeks of her daily visits she disappeared. Jones felt happy for the girl she was the incarnation of everything pure and beautiful. Nothing, especially not this prisoner, should keep her away from living a carefree and safe life.
And so she left ripping what was left of the damned prisoner’s soul to shreds. Yes Jones was one of the few who paid enough attention to know that the notorious criminal had a soul, but that soul had abandoned him the day she walked away. He sometimes felt for him. However he couldn’t blame the girl…
She obviously deserved better.


Malfoy generally kept a low profile but he was still feared by the majority of his inmates.
On one occasion, when another prisoner challenged him he had managed to sent him to the hospital with serious injuries and earned himself a few days in isolation.
No one else defied him ever since. And it wasn’t just on account of his reputation. He was rather intimidating.
His eyes indicated a man with no fear, dangerous and in Jones’s belief broken in much too many ways.


So yes Jones was panic-stricken when Malfoy spoke to him and stared at him with those unfathomable silver gray eyes, but he wasn’t planning on showing it.
“Yes Malfoy. I will loose my sleep knowing you’re not behind bars” he answered, but he’s voice trembled slightly revealing his fear. Malfoy chuckled

“I suppose not sleeping throughout your working hours would demonstrate inexplicable professionalism on your part” he sneered clearly amused by the guard’s nervousness.
He walked out of his cell and allowed the shorter frowning man to lead the way to his freedom.

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Blaise and Theo were waiting for him outside, both leaning against a black cayenne turbo. They tried to put on their best smirks when they saw him, but they couldn’t help but smile warmly.

To them Draco wasn’t just their boss but their childhood friend, their brother who was retuning back to their small family.

It’s always been the three of them against the world and now their triad was whole again.
They gave him a manly hug and a few pats. He couldn’t help but give away a small smile.
It felt nice being among friends again.

“So we have to welcome you back properly, today we are definitely celebrating, we should go to Luks’ and…” Theo started babbling while he was attempting to take the drivers seat.

“Sorry to break the news to you, but I’m driving” said Draco ending his blather and taking the drivers seat.

‘Partying wasn’t in his to-do list.’

Blaise chuckled at his friend’s reaction and climbed on the seat next to Draco leaving an irritated Theo to sit behind them.

“So where are we going?” asked Blaise.
“You tell me.” answered Draco, waiting…
“Look mate… you don’t have to deal with this now. You just got back…” Blaise knew this would be the first thing Draco would want to do, but he hoped he could delay his plans.
“I’m waiting…” said Draco his voice a mix of anticipation and irritation. His friends knew better than to test his patience.
“She’s renting an apartment not far away from the university…” Theo was the one who spoke.
Blaise glared at him.
“What? He’s gonna find out anyway.” Theo said defending himself.
“He’s right.” added Draco. “So tell me all I need to know and then I’ll drop you at your house.” he said indicating Theo.
Blaise shared a look with his friend in the backseat.

‘There was no changing his mind about acting right here, right now.
And the truth was that Draco had been waiting long enough… now was the only option in his mind.’

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7:45 pm

It’s been eleven months since the last time he saw her … eleven months …that felt like years that passed by and drained him, shuttered him.
He’s mind was filled with memories that kept haunting him.
Her eyes always dazzling his vision…
He could hear her voice echoing with every breath he took… He tasted her kisses burning on his lips…

All this time he waited … looking at her picture pinned on the wall of his cell… his prison had been those eyes that kept turning him back… She stood motionless and unchanging, sitting nearby the large window of his apartment and gazing outside to nothing in particular.

The view hadn’t changed much. It hadn’t changed for the last year that passed and it hadn’t changed in the last hour. She stood there motionless, gazing the emptiness. What had changed was her. She was even more beautiful as if she was determined to torment him… by simply growing up.

‘Why?’ the most cliché question but it still pained him not being able to answer.

He watched as she and Krum spoke and he sickened at their closeness. He knew they weren’t together but he hated Krum, and their “special” relationship. He could tell the git was after his girl, but Hermione belonged to him, only him!

All those feelings he had never been able to control were like boiling lava inside him. A volcano so close to eruption.
The thought of anyone else touching her was killing him. It filled him with uncontrollable rage.

When they both disappeared he waited… He should find the opportune moment. So he held back his urge to burst in the house and…
‘No, not now…just a little bit more patience’ he thought.
He knew Hermione would go to Neville’s birthday party. He probably shouldn’t risk being spotted there. But he wished to spend more time observing her. Even from afar.
When they walked out of the building he followed them.

All of a sudden partying didn’t sound so bad…

‘I’m back. So let’s celebrate…’


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“Anthony Goldstein is a very handsome guy, Hermione I don’t see why not give him a chance he appears to be quite smitten with you.”

Ginny one of Hermione’s best friend kept trying to convince her to move on with her life. Hermione knew Ginny’s story could be described as a tragedy, that’s why she appreciated her efforts to help her, and kept listening to what see was saying without protesting.
The pretty redhead beside her had lost her boyfriend a year ago and although her old self was returning gradually, she too turned down every offer to a decent date. Hermione knew that only a real friend would show concern for her love life when hers was filled with grief for her loss. So she realized it would be unkind to tell her to drop the subject and let her be!…
Ginny couldn’t understand Hermione’s feelings.

“Nev is a cute guy too…” Hermione implied her voice almost a whisper.
Ginny turned her head away looking upset by her friend’s observation.
Hermione felt guilt overwhelm her. Ginny had good intensions. It wasn’t fair to point out her friend’s lack of determination to move on with her life only to defend herself. Harry was dead. He was alive.
The mere thought of him not being alive to pain her with his absence was world-crushing.

“I’m sorry Ginny I didn’t mean to upset you I know it has been very hard for you… the same as for all of us…”

“No need to apologize Mione … but I don’t see anything that should be holding you back. You are free to move on with your life.”

“Freedom, I believe, is a state of mind” she said softly “and my mind is unable to break free from the past, just like yours.”

“I don’t think you should compare my past with yours… Harry was an angel. How can you still have feelings for...?”

“-Feelings are uncontrollable” Pansy took a seat beside them and stopped Ginny’s usual lecture before it started. Ginny frowned, but didn’t say anything back to Pansy; she excused herself and went to refill her drink trying hard not to make a scene on Neville’s birthday.

“I suppose she’ll never forgive me for dating Theo…” said Pansy sipping her vodka martini and trying to look apathetic.
Yeah, like that would work with Hermione who happened to know her friends very well.

“She’ll get over it. She’s happy for you. She just feels that by moving on we’re betraying Harry. That’s why she keeps getting upset with everything… even with Neville’s efforts to approach her.”

“Yeah, but the point is that she blames Pansy for dating a man, Ginny holds responsible for Harry’s death, right?” Luna was now sitting beside them trying to contribute to the conversation, but as usually not helping that much.
Hermione gave her a ‘thanks for the support’ look and Pansy gave up her non-convincing apathetic expression.

“Theo wasn’t even there that night…he shouldn’t be blamed for anything just because his Malfoy’s best mate.” declared Pansy raising her tone slightly. Listening to her friends accusing her boyfriend for Harry’s death didn’t really help her already gloomy mood. Luna told her that she agreed with her and that there was no reason getting upset.

Hermione knew Theo. He was a decent (bearing in mind his job) guy and he adored Pansy. They truly loved each other. But when his name came out of Pansy’s mouth, she had her breath knocked out.
She needed air…
So she left Luna to calm Pansy and headed for the garden.

There she found Victor leaning against the gardens gate.
“Had fun with all the ‘girl talk’?” his smirk earned him a glare from Hermione who was trying to catch her breath, but he didn’t bother wiping it away. He just grabbed her by her arm and brought her closer to him.
He attempted to calm her down by massaging her temples.
“Get a grip, kiddo.” He said his voice soothing.

“I’m ok now.” She said. She turned to look at him. “What’s up with you?”

“…”

“I have to go…” Victor said. He had that look again. The look he always took when he knew something was going to happen and he had to step aside to let it happen although he hated to do so.

“It’s all right besides my house is three blocks away. I can walk home alone.” She knew she was never alone. Victor was always there… watching out for her.

He leant forward pulling her up to his embrace; they stood there embraced like that in silence.
Silence has never been awkward between them.
It has been in fact quite refreshing.
Words are overestimated after all.

Hermione was battling with the same question all evening. Since she knew by Victor’s behavior something was wrong.

‘But did she want to know?’

Victor cupped her face in his big hands and looked intently into her eyes.
“It will be ok. I’m here to make it ok even if you don’t need my help …”

“But I do…”
“No you don’t. You want me to be around because I get you, our minds connect, but you don’t need anyone’s help. You are strong enough to face anything that may come your way.”
She knew that already.
She had been able to survive this one year. Nothing could be worse than her own regrets, her torturous thoughts.

The last year has been an endless guilt trip. And she was still breathing…

“I know. Although hearing it from you is …” she didn’t finish her sentence.
Didn’t have to…
He smiled. He knew what she was thinking and couldn’t help but feel flattered.
Another quality of their relationship was this… admiration.
Yeah she admired him. For Hermione Victor was the epitome of strength. He did not need money or power.
He had them.
But even without a penny in his pocket, he’d still be the strongest, the most powerful man she had ever met. There was one man she could probably compare him with though…

“Although I believe in you” he said “I’m still gonna be around to make sure you’re ok. I can’t help it…” He lifted his shoulders lightly and a soft smile graced his lips.

“Hmm... don’t you have better things to do?” she asked with false frustration.

“Oh, no. Absolutely not. Where would I find another charming burnet putting me though hell everyday…” he remarked. His smirk amused Hermione who pretended to scowl.

“Hmm…yeah, where are you going to find another girl willing to put up with all this sarcasm and cynicism?” She said pretending to be annoyed and turned her back to him folding her arms.

Victor leaned over her amused and whispered in her ear “you know you love it”.

And she did. He was one of a kind.


“Oh, there you are…Hermione” Anthony whom Hermione had being avoiding all night stood there trying to ignore Victor’s presence.
He appeared to be quite pleased with Anthony’s irritation.

“I’ve being looking for you…”
“Of course you have” Victor interrupted, but Anthony ignored him. He had been embarrassed enough that night by Victor’s sarcastic remarks.
And he knew he couldn’t beat him in this game so he decided it was less humiliating to pretend he didn’t exist.

“You promised me a dance. Remember?” he said with a sly expression.

“Oh trust me, she wishes to forget” murmured Victor.
Anthony looked a bit upset, by the other man’s comment, but he kept pretending to be temporarily deaf.

“Actually Anthony I’m heading home…” she considered giving an explanation for going home so early, but she decided she didn’t owe him one.

To her surprise Anthony suddenly seemed to be hopeful.
“Do you want any company? I-”
“Yes she does…and mine will do” said Victor and he gave him a look that said ‘dude, don’t get your hopes up the girl is not interested… so beat it!’

Hermione was laughing on the inside “Um… yeah… thanks Victor.” She said trying hard not to laugh. “Goodnight, Anthony” she added and she walked through the garden gate that Victor held open for her. He followed her putting an arm around her and looking rather cheerful.

“You’re enjoying this way too much” she mumbled and he chuckled, thinking Goldstein’s enraged face.

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Victor changed his mind about leaving and walked her home.
She didn’t question him about it. She just bid him goodnight with a kiss upon his cheek and entered her tower block.

She was filled with apprehension when she unlocked her apartment’s door. The door opened slowly without a noise. The living room was dimly lit, a soft light coming through the window from the lights of the street as usual.
She didn’t bother to turn on the lights; she was used to the dark.

Everything seemed normal… but her heart beat was rapid.

She moved toward her bedroom with feline grace. Making no sound at all.
‘Get a grip Granger’ she thought ‘you’re panicking with no reason’.
It wasn’t her nature to be scared or letting fear overwhelm her so she decided that the familiar shivers that ran through her body where part of her imagination.

Her instinct had never betrayed her before…

Hermione shook it off ‘my mind plays tricks on me’ she thought.

Everything appeared to be in position.
‘The door was locked, the windows…’

‘Ok, stop it’ she thought to herself and she determinedly opened her bedroom door.

She made her way to the bed.

God, she hadn’t even realized how much exhausted she’d been, she fell on the bed her back making contact with the soft mattress.

She closed her eyes trying to relax, inhaling the air of the room …

That overwhelming smell…

And then she felt like falling, diving into a deep abyss of memories…

When she opened her dark brown eyes she wasn’t surprised that the lights were on.

She raised her head…

There leaning across the doorframe of her bedchamber he stood, unbelievably handsome like a fallen angel, but with a fierce darkness radiating from him.
His silver gray eyes were now a darker shade of gray and flames seemed to dance inside them.

Those eyes were fixed on hers searching with an alarming hunger for the bottom, the core of her existence.
Her senses were awoken then.
For how long had she been sleeping?
There hasn’t been anything before him.
No colours …no sound …no taste… when she reached she touched nothing, only air…emptiness…
Everything without him had been a series of illusions that had no meaning at the moment.

Suddenly she felt alive that’s how she knew that he was really there.
He was back…
‘Back from his hell and warmly welcomed to mine.’ she thought.

If his gaze could reach at some point the core of her existence he would eventually see… his reflection.

Yeah … Draco Malfoy was back.

“So my love… Did you miss me?”


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Ive still got your face
Painted on my heart
Scrawled upon my soul
Etched upon my memory, baby

Ive got your kiss
Still burning on my lips
The touch of my fingertips
This love so deep inside of me, baby

Something in your eyes keeps haunting me
Im trying to escape you
And I know there aint no way to
To chase you from my mind

"Painted on my Heart' by 'The Cult'