Tainted White

A_N..... First, I\'d like to thank you all for the reviews. Then, a big, special thanks to my newfound beta Cassie... Anyway, my first fic is stil not finished, there are about three more chapters to come.
Oh, it\'s also important...the lines in \'........\' are their thoughts....the things they do not say out loud. I thought it might be confusing...so, there.

CHAPTER THREE
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It was a sleepless night that followed for both of them.

Hermione was lying on the floor where she fell when Jack pushed her in the room. Her body was trembling. ‘Was it that cold?’

His words were coming after her...

It was her fault. If Harry was dead, he died because of her. And she was not worth it. Hermione never thought that she would cause him any pain.
She loved him far too much to ever think that she would hurt him in any way.
‘Was he telling the truth? Was Harry ...was he...?’

\'\'No, no, no...Please...I could not, I could not survive it, and I don\'t know how to live...without him. Please...anything but this... Not him...\'\'

She sobbed. Pain was splitting her head, her heart, her lungs...it was too hard. Too hard to live. To sleep. To be awake.

Stupid. She was stupid for letting them catch her. Stupid.

That was not the only regret she had. She was sorry for not aiming better, for not killing the bastard. \'\'Next time… I will not miss.\'\'


****************************************

Draco Malfoy was lying in his bed, restless. He was healed almost immediately. But a slight fever remained.

A scar will probably remain as well, to remind him, never to underestimate a Muggleborn. Never to underestimate the love and pain of a woman.
‘Be ware of the hate. Try to ignore her beauty and the beauty of her tears. Don\'t admire her nerve. Do not desire her passion.’

A careful knock disturbed his inner monologue.
\'\' Yes.\'\'

Jack entered the room carrying a bottle.
\'\'It is time to take your potion, sir. \'\'

\'\'Leave it.\'\'
Draco said, half lying, with a stack of pillows supporting his back.
\'\' I\'ll take it later.\'\'
He turned his head to face Jack and spoke again
\'\'How is she?\'\'

Jack hesitated. He was not sure what was it that made his Master let her live, after what she had done.
‘Yes, she was beautiful. However, so were many others, who wouldn\'t try to take his life.

\'\'Jack?\'\'

\'\' I\'m sorry sir. She hasn‘t moved since being brought back to her room. \'\' His Master just nodded, and Jack continued
\'\' Forgive me, sir, but... what do we do next?\'\'

Draco looked at him and said
\'\' We continue as we planed. Nothing has changed. This is still the only way. \'\'

\'\'But, sir...\'\' Jack started

\'\'No buts Jack. She is not a treat to me. She just...caught me off guard. It will not happen again. \'\'
He paused and looked at the older man. He saw suspicion and worry playing over his face
\'\'Jack, I do hope I can trust you. Be careful. No one can know about her. Not even suspect.\'\'

Jack nodded and added quietly, looking at his feet,
\'\' I would cut my tongue off before telling, sir. You know that. It\'s just...We are worried, Martha and I. Ms Granger is hurt and feels like she has no reason to live, thinking that she caused a death of a beloved person... \'\' He raised his head to look at Draco and continued \'\'A desperate woman is capable of anything. She\'s a step in front of you, Master.”

\'\' I\'m willing to take the risk. \'\' Draco responded, dismissing Jack.

But the loyal man spoke again
\'\'Master...\'\'
and Draco just looked at him. It was enough to stop him.
\'\' As you wish.\'\' With that he closed the door.

Now alone, Draco could not help it. He remembered it again.

Her tears in those damn warm eyes. Warmer than anything he saw ...for the last two years, at least. He never saw her cry. He didn\'t know she could. He knew for sure that she witnessed some of her friends die...he also knew for sure that she didn\'t cry. Hermione Granger did not cry.

‘Except for him...She can\'t stand him being hurt... It\'s only his pain that gets to her...Well, prepare to cry some more, Granger... Be ready to live in hell and die of sorrow... I will break you. You will be the one who killed him. The one who killed everything inside him....I will lead you into it. The day will come. I promise.’


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Martha entered Hermione\'s room silently, afraid that she might wake her. Unlike Jack, she didn\'t think that the incident was the girl\'s fault.
She understood.

She found Hermione sitting at the window ledge, with her knees up to her chest, and her arms around them...She was staring through the window.
The moonlight reflected of the wet traces on her cheeks.
‘Poor thing. She must be suffering.’ Martha felt sorry for her.

\'\'You didn\'t have to come.\'\' The girl said quietly.
\'\' I have no where to run. Even if I could, with him dead....I have no where to run.\'\'

Martha had no strength to speak.Just listened.

\'\' I would give everything to go back, when we were kids. When we didn\'t understand. When we were laughing. When he was there, next to me.
While I was doing his homework. \'\' She smiled through her tears.
\'\' I would give whatever it takes to go back to that world, even if it was just for a second. To feel safe. To escape this one. The one that forces you to kill at the age of seventeen. Kill to survive....And then offers you a shelter. One person....\'\'

She turned her head to face Martha and whispered
\'\' He is so special. Always has been. \'\'

\'\'You loved him very much...\'\'

\'\' He left me no choice but to love him. He made it so easy. I had to. We had to. \'\'

\'\'I\'m so sorry, Ms.\'\'

Hermione got up of the ledge and looked at Martha.
\'\'How much do you love your Master?\'\'

Martha didn\'t expect her to talk about Draco that calmly.
\'\' Very.\'\'

\'\' Tell him he had better kill me soon. Or start counting his days. I will find a way. Tell him.\'\'
She sounded like a demented person. Cold and heartless. She looked like one, too.

\'\' Mr. Potter might not be dead.\'\'
A desperate try of a woman afraid for the life of a loved one. But she got Hermione\'s attention.

\'\'Trying to save him, aren\'t you? Why? Can\'t you see what he is?\'\'

\'\' I\'m only telling you what he said. Your friend might not be dead. I know what Master is, and why. You are the one who can\'t see farther than his acts. \'\'

\'\' Yes, I can. And, I tried. But the emptiness I saw so many times, made me give up. He is a cold monster. Like his father was.\'\'

Martha shook her head.
\'\'You didn\'t look deep enough. I am telling you the truth.\'\'

Hermione narrowed her eyes. The woman was trying to tell her something.
\'\' You know something, don\'t you? \'\'

Martha looked away.
\'\'About?\'\'

Hermione felt life waking her body up.
\'\'Harry. You know where he is.\'\'

Martha sill refused to look at her.
\'\' I am sorry, that is a subject I can\'t talk about.\'\'

‘Damn it.’ Hermione thought. Then she asked
\'\'He\'s alive?\'\'

The woman looked at her and Hermione saw a nod. A split second. Just a tiny movement.
Was that a yes?
\'\'I would love to help you Ms, but you must understand. I can\'t.\'\'
She said and raised her eyebrows, just a little. But enough. It was a yes.

Hermione wanted to laugh. But she just said \'\'I do. \'\' Then added \'\'Thank you.\'\'

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There...please review.