Shattered Glass

Chapter Eight: Silver Lining Part Two
(Author's note I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters.)


The fallowing two and a half weeks passed quite peacefully. Hermione slept restlessly, but silently. It was taking her some time to return to her old self, what Draco said comforted her massively, she felt a lot better, but she still felt a large amount of guilt. She was learning to forgive herself, and that was the important thing. Draco had finally broken through his pride, somewhat, he mainly felt bad that he could have prevented Hermione hurting herself like she did. He knew deep down that he could have helped her much sooner. He talked to her, and helped her more with spells, and he had decided to teach her to defend herself, there were many snatchers in the woods these days; if she was ever caught on the outside of the protective spells he put up she would have at least a fighting chance.

Hermione was having the same dream she had been having for the past three weeks. She could see them, every night she relived watching the light go out from Lupin's eyes. She couldn't ever forget it, the change was so profound, instant, unstoppable. She remembered the frantic tone of his words as he yelled at her to run, the way the fabric on his arm darkened with blood, and how his arm hung disturbingly limp at his side. Somewhere in the chaos, she could swear she her Tonks screaming his name... She was only a girl of seventeen, no one her age should ever have to see someone die... She sat up her own eyes flying open. She had managed to wake herself again, right before when she would usually scream. She was covered in a cold and clammy sweat, she looked around frantically, as always the room was empty, she pulled her knees into her chest. “I'm sorry.” she whispered. There was no way that she was going to get back to sleep now, she never did. She grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around herself she swung her legs over the side of the bed.

Hermione walked very quietly into the adjacent living room, where she made sure that Draco was still sleeping. Draco was curled up in his blanket sleeping soundly. She leaned against the wooden tent support. Spending so much time with someone heightened ones senses of that someone, Hermione hadn't decided if this extra sense about Draco was a good thing. She chewed softly on her bottom lip. Draco had been a great deal more helpful since her 'incident' in the kitchen, she was grateful for that. He was a great teacher, and when he wanted to be, a great friend. She let out a sigh, Hermione had developed a certain interest in Draco... She couldn't call it a crush, and couldn't call it loathing. It was odd really, but in the end she accredited all of it to the fact that she was incredibly grateful to him for all that he had done for her. Hermione thought for a moment, though that didn't account for her losing her wits around him and how her face got hot when he told her she had done well on something he taught her. She rolled her eyes and pushed that thought aside. It wasn't important, they were at war, and that mattered more than her trivial problems, staying alive was the true issue.

Hermione turned around and walked quietly back the way she had come and then out the tent flaps into the cold morning air. Her feet were bare, so she could feel every dead leaf crunch loudly under her, and every drop of cold dew. She tilted her head up as she came to a stop and closed her eyes taking in a deep breath she listened. There was the beginning of a sunrise to her left and she could feel the gentle warmth on her cheek. To her right there was a gentle rustling of what she could imagine could have been a rabbit. The birds were beginning to wake up, she listened calmly to their songs of morning. As the sun rose she continued to just stand in silence and listen to the brilliant sounds of woods as they woke up. There was something very magical about it all. To her right there was a crack of what was probably a twig. Her eyes snapped open. She looked to her right, there standing not ten feet from her was a girl.

The mystery young woman was slender, about her height and had fiery red hair that looked disturbingly familiar. Hermione couldn't help but study this girl everything about her, even the way she walked reminded her of someone that she once knew. Hermione walked slowly toward the edge of the barrier so that she could get a closer look. The red haired young woman had turned and had her back to Hermione. Who was she? There was another sound to her left this time. Hermione gazed quickly over to see what the reason for the sound was. There was a man, several men who were sneaking pace by pace closer to the young girl. “Snatchers.” Hermione whispered. The girl hadn't herd the sound and was helplessly being snuck up on. Hermione panicking didn't know what to do, she couldn't step out of the barrier, she wouldn't have any way of finding Draco again. Draco was the only person she knew she could trust.

The solution presented itself when she stepped on a small jagged rock; Hermione grabbed at it quickly then threw it through the one way barrier at the girl's back. The girl lurched turning around only to see the men approaching her. She looked at them terrified for a moment and then bolted in the opposite direction with surprising speed, seconds after the snatchers pursued. Hermione looked on anxiously in the direction that the girl had run, she could only hope she bought the girl some time. Hermione walked back toward the place she had been standing in prior. Hermione then turned in the direction of the sun rise and continued to watch it trying to take her mind of what she saw; but at the same time trying to figure out where she had seen the red headed girl before. She couldn't put her finger on it.

Desire, he was feeling it now; he was watching her. As he watched her he felt the whirlwind of feelings that he did not yet understand. It was unnatural, she was wrecking him, he turned away taking in a deep breath, placing his hand on one of the wooden supports in the tent for his own support, squeezing it until his palm hurt. There was an intense and vicious longing and, aching in the pit of his stomach and it was slowing rising into in his chest, it was painful. He took in another ragged breath, he had never felt this way about anyone before, he didn't know if he ever wanted to again, that is if this feeling ever stopped. Draco couldn't recall if ever in his life he had wanted anything as badly as he wanted this right now and, he had wanted a great number of things in his life. It was more than just lusting after someone, it was the desire and sweet wanting to know every single part of her, every thought, every need. It felt like he was burning every time that the thought that it could never be, crossed his mind. This was a very dangerous feeling, he felt that if he didn't give in to what he wanted he would go crazy.

He turned toward her again, he felt the walls he kept around himself being destroyed. A thought that was far to animalistic for his liking crossed his mind, she was prey, to be taken. He felt a sound that was ominously like a growl rise in his throat. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white under the pressure. She was sitting in the arm chair that was angled away from him reading, completely oblivious to his hurricane of emotions. He watched as her chest rose and fell ever so slightly as she breathed, her small hands as she flipped the pages of her book, her brown curls as they shifted, taking in all that he could of her. He listened as she huffed and then closed her book abruptly. Had he been caught? He receded so that he was out of her sight. She let the book fall to the floor beside the chair, he held his breath, she stood, her back still to him. The animal inside of him hissed in delight as he took in her hips, her waist and the feminine curve to her legs. He closed his eyes for a moment imagining things he knew he should not, their bodies entwining in sweet surrender perfectly matched. He felt the terrible desire grow when he looked at her form again.

She rose her arms above her head stretching, he watched as she lowered her right hand down, running it across her neck, then to her shoulder, she rubbed it letting out a small gasp of pain. His left hand flew to his chest, where his heart was beating a million miles an hour. It was possible, she could be his in every way. He chewed hard on his bottom lip, Hermione could be exactly what he was looking for. She dropped her arms to her sides sighing then without noticing him walked into the kitchen. It took him only a second to decided to fallow her. He walked soundlessly, and with purpose. He wanted her, and he was hoping that she wanted him as well, otherwise the flames in his torso would consume him. Hermione stood unsuspecting facing away from him, tipping a glass of water into her mouth eyes closed. He reached her just as she placed the glass onto the counter with a small clank.

He placed His left hand on her waist and his right on her hip pulling her until her back until she rested flush against him her head landing perfectly onto his left shoulder. She gasped in surprise but did not try to pull away. “Draco! What are you doing?” She asked him. He inhaled the intoxicating scent of her hair deeply. His mouth was right next to her ear. He let out his breath, and felt her quiver against him. He let the hand on her hip slide down slowly, softly. She shuddered against him once more. He moved his other hand up, enjoying as she reacted to his touch. “Draco?” she asked her voice softer than before. Her neck was exposed to him, he gazed at it hungrily her perfect skin just asking for his touch. He leaned down placing a soft moist kiss on the crook of her neck. Her knees buckled.

“Hermione.” He replied his voice ragged. He herd Hermione inhale sharply in response to the tone of his voice. He kissed her neck again, lingering longer, sucking softly. He was pleased when Hermione let out a sound very similar to a moan. Draco trailed kisses up until he reached her jaw line where she stiffened slightly against him gasping in both surprise and pleasure, he brought his mouth close to her ear again. “I want you Hermione.” he whispered his tone seductive. He smiled wickedly when her body quivered deliciously against him. He grasped her firmly on the hips and turned her around quickly to face him. Her chest rising and falling quickly, her eyes both willing and scared. He placed his right hand against her cheek pressing his body against hers he placed his other hand firmly against her waist once more. He made eye contact with her, locking her in with his passion. “What do you want Hermione?” he risked asking her. He felt the fire inside him rage.

Hermione didn't say anything for a moment, her brown eyes piercing him deeply. “This.” She placed her small hands on his shoulders leaning into him. He felt a mixture of arousal and excitement when she touched her lips onto his. At first it was a tame kiss, their mouth's moved together, slowly. Draco let his eyes close fully, then the fire consumed him breaking his self control, he deepened the kiss, licking the top of her bottom lip demanding entrance one of his hands entwining in her hair. She moaned softly into his mouth as she let him in. He let his other hand slide down her body, on its way he grasped her by her hips releasing his other hand from her hair pulling her up, nearly throwing her onto the counter behind them. She landed with a hiss, as their lips parted for a moment. “This.” she repeated. Draco took the few steps necessary to be against her again, her legs on ether side of him, their bodies meeting in all the right places.

“What is 'this'?” He asked her as he kissed his way down her jaw her arms grasping tightly onto his shoulders. Her head tipped back when he reached her neck. She was breathing heavily when he let his right hand wander down to her thigh that was grasping tightly around his hips, his grip was not light as his hand moved up and down her thigh, to any normal human it would be painful, but Hermione responded by pulling him closer to her, and letting out a sigh of ecstasy.

Her hands raked down his back, he responded to her roughness with a gentle bite to her neck. He felt her hands grasp the bottom of his shirt, he pulled away from her looking her hungrily in the eyes, reaching down and ripping off his shirt exposing his chiseled chest, and well sculpted abs, she smiled lustfully, doing the same, ripping off her well fit shirt, her simple black bra the first thing to catch his eye, then it was her curves, the true glory revealed unclothed. Hermione placed her hands on his shoulders pulling him toward her, her fingernails digging into his skin. “What do you think this is?” She asked in a voice that was not her normal one. He smiled at her eagerness, enjoying the feel of her bare skin against his, he knew it could only get better from here. Their lips met again, this time she maneuvered her tongue into his mouth he chucked softly, but allowed it, after a long while he pulled away snagging her bottom lip with his teeth, biting softly, then letting go after a second, his hands still roaming all over her body. “Draco...” She moaned.


Draco woke with a start in a sweat. That was the second time in five days that he had that same dream, he huffed in frustration, trying to think unpleasant thoughts to try and calm down. He was glad that he had managed to help Hermione, he was also glad that he was changing again, it made living with her easier, somewhat. Once standing he walked toward the kitchen. He stopped turning to his left, Hermione was not in her bed, that was peculiar. He ducked his head in the section of the tent where the bed was; she was no where to be seen. Draco walked quietly toward the tent entrance, she must have been outside. He stopped just short of stepping outside the tent then pulled the flaps aside. Hermione was standing in a ray of sunshine, bundled up in a blanket. The sky was shades of orange and yellow, and Draco noticed that she was barefoot. He watched her curiously, they were camping this time just yards from a cliff that overlooked the ocean. It was like Draco was looking at a painting, where Hermione was standing made it look like she was against the sky, her hair fanning perfectly over her shoulders, the way the sunlight was hitting her making her look angelic. He felt himself smile. The sun highlighted her hair and emphasized her facial features.

There was something odd that was happening, something he was trying very hard to ignore. Draco was indeed changing, but in doing so he had begun to see Hermione as more than a mubblood. She was definitely a person to him now, a woman to be more exact; that meant he was seeing her in a new light. This was troublesome, it meant he was noticing things about her he liked, and he was beginning to dwell on those things unlike before when he noticed then forgot about them. This was shown especially by “She looks beautiful.” he whispered to himself. It took him a few seconds to realize what he said, before he widened his eyes in shock. Had he really said that? Thought that? He looked back at her. He must have been going crazy. That was the only way he could have ever, ever>, think that. Wasn't it? Draco tore his eyes away from her. It must be because, had to be because he had just woken up from that largely inappropriate dream. “Temporary madness, its possible right?” Draco felt his face contort, his feelings were changing, that was the last thing he needed. Though it was probably because it was only the two of them, right? Something similar to Stockholm Syndrome...

“Draco?” came her voice. Great, now he was hearing her voice in his head. “Draco.” This was bad. “Draco, what are you doing out here?” He felt warmth in the shape of a hand on his forearm. He looked down, Hermione's hand was resting there. “Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost.” Her face contorted in humor. “Perhaps several.”

Draco felt a surge or warmth, then his face felt hot. He pulled his arm away from Hermione, turning away from her. Was he really blushing now? 'Inappropriate dream.' he reminded himself. “What are you doing out here?” he asked desperate to take the subject off of himself. Her hand hovered in the air for a moment then she drew it back shoving it into the blanket she had around herself. She hesitated on talking and turned away from him.

“I keep having nightmares.” she stated softly. Draco nodded his head, he expected that. “I just wish...” she stopped letting her head drop.

“Wish what?” Draco inquired.

Hermione didn't speak for a while Draco turned his eyes toward her. “I know its silly, stupid really.” She began still looking away from him. “I just wish I could do something fun. You know?.” She turned toward him timidly. “To take my mind off of things. Even if it was something small.” Hermione swallowed waiting for Draco to reject her idea and call her silly.

Draco thought about that for a second. They were in the middle of a war, fun was very risky. He felt a pang of guilt remembering the blood as it dripped from Hermione's arms and onto his fingers. He had to help her, to make up for being selfish and not helping her sooner. He sighed softly then ran his hand through his untidy blond hair. “What did you have in mind?” He asked not sure he wanted to know the answer.

Surprised Hermione turned fully toward him. “What?”

Draco didn't like repeating himself. “What did you have in mind?” he asked for a second time.

A smirk spread across her lips. Draco didn't seem like someone to 'have fun', as much as she enjoyed his company, he was sure uptight. “Are you serious? We can go and have fun?” Hermione stated unbelieving.

Draco rolled his eyes at her. “Yes, that is what I am saying.” her smile broadened.

“Really?” She wanted to make sure.

Draco sighed. “Yes really. Now spit it out, what do you want to go do?” Hermione smiled at him. It was several hours later when the sun was going down that they were standing in a field, and not too far from them was a muggle carnival. Draco looked uncertainly at the colorful scene. They were far from London and were in a muggle village. He doubted that there would be anyone who would recognize them here but still, he felt uneasy. The entire reason why they knew that the carnival was here was because they had passed by just days ago to steal some food and supplies. He took in a deep breath. “Are you sure about this?” Draco asked uneasily, they were risking a lot to be there.

Hermione nodded. “Its one of the only memories about my parents that I have. They used to take me to carnivals like this when I was young.” She looked over at Draco who looked utterly mortified. She giggled, “Oh come on Draco, loosen up.” Draco looked at her and attempted a smile.

“I know how to have fun.” He tried to look mischievous.

Hermione raised and eyebrow at him. “That was pathetic.” He scowled at her and she grabbed his hand and began to pull him in the direction of the carnival rides and booths. They stopped just short of the ticket booth. “We need to get passes.” She said as they neared the back of the line.

Draco pulled his wand out of his pocket, he didn't think that there was any reason why they should pay, also he had no muggle money. He made sure no one was watching then waved his wand. “Accio passes.” Two wrist bands floated lazily to his wand, and no one noticed. One of the wrist bands attached itself to Hermione's arm and then the other to his. Hermione smiled and began to walk off in the direction of a strange metallic contraption. He looked down, she hadn't let go of his hand yet. He looked at the back of her head curiously. He could have pulled his hand away; but for some reason he didn't want to 'Inappropriate dream.'. He stopped thinking about it and examined the contraption they were in line for. “What is that? And why are we in line for it?”

“Its a carnival ride, its called 'The Zipper', we sit in one of the cars and then it spins us, fast. We might even go upside down.” She said happily.

“We ride in it?” Draco was horrified. He watched the ride as it began to move; his horror was intensified. “Merlin, I'm going to die.” Hermione laughed at him and dragged him forward as the line moved. He squeezed her hand as he herd the screams that came from the ride, the passengers sounded like they were being butchered. “Hermione, are you sure about this?”

“Of course I am.” When the ride ended the dizzy people were let off car by car, and car by car they were loaded up, until it was Draco and Hermione's turn. Hermione let go of his hand and walked confidently to sit in the car. “Come on Draco.” She beckoned.

Draco looked at her reluctantly but sat beside her anyway. The man operating the ride shut the door with a bang, a padded waist bar coming across them. Inside it was like a cage, the ride lurched forward and Draco and Hermione were suspended off the ground. Hermione looked purely excited, Draco looked back at her terrified. The ride began to move, Draco braced himself against the car, it began to move faster, and faster until it was spinning at full speed. Draco screamed as the car spun it went upside down several times. “I'm going to die!” he screamed, Hermione just laughed at him and gave whoots of joy. It was several spinning minutes before the ride lurched to a halt. Draco and Hermione's car was the first one to be emptied. Hermione laughed as the door opened and Draco had trouble standing.

“Was it really that bad?” Hermione questioned once they were away from the ride. She walked over to a park bench and sat down, taking in the rest of the carnival. Draco came and sat next to her still shaken from the ride.

“The things muggles come up with...” he sighed. “You enjoy this sort of thing?” He looked to her disbelieving that anyone could every enjoy that horrendous spinning.

She nodded and returned his perplexed look with a smile. “I guess it does take some getting used to. Maybe we should have gone on one less... spiny, since you've never been on a carnival ride.”

“You think?” he couldn't help but smile back. As the night went on they avoided the first ride they went on and snuck cotton candy and various different foods that were there. Draco loosened up, but only slightly, always he was looking over his shoulder to make sure they were not being watched, it was a reasonable fear. Slowly the crowds began to decrease in size, they would have to leave soon.

“I want to ride that, before we go.” Hermione stated pointing at the thing Draco had learned was a Ferris Wheel. He watched the big wheel, it was the slowest ride there. He would be okay with it, since he wouldn't have to worry about loosing the food that he had eaten just minutes prior. He nodded at her and they got in line. He watched above as the ride moved slowly, the cars were circular and looked like the could hold about five people, they had little doors that you could step through, and each of them was a different color. This ride looked tame enough. The wait was short before they were seated in a red car, it was cold so Hermione sat down right next to him. He didn't mind, he was beginning to get cold as well.

The wheel started to turn. “So, why did you do this?” Hermione asked leaning into him slightly.

“Do what?” He looked down at her.

“Take me to a carnival, have fun with me, help me?” she asked meeting his gaze. “I could have sworn just a little while ago you didn't like me at all.” She chuckled, “I was sure you hated me.”

Draco thought about that for a moment. “Well, from birth I have been taught to hate people like you, my family they view muggle-borns as well, a disgrace. I have been trying very hard, and believe me, seventeen years of conditioning is not easy to forget, to change. I don't want to be like my father anymore. As I've told you before he's a monster; you know just as well as I that he is.” He answered her honestly looking down at his arm, he slid his sleeve up revealing the dark mark to her. “This used to represent who I was... I don't want to be that person anymore, and the more I think about it, the more I realize that I never really wanted to be like I was, I only wished what every child wishes, I wanted to make my parents proud.” He slid his sleeve back down. “Sometimes disappointing your parents is the right thing...”

She took in his words looking away and shuddering as she remembered her experience with Draco's father, she had no idea that there was something that was viewed as wrong in the wizarding world applying to her. That made sense why he was bipolar on how he acted toward her. When he lifted up his sleeve she recognized the mark, he had shown it to her in a book, she nodded, she knew how he felt. “That still doesn't explain why you took me here today.” She met his gaze once more.

“I guess.. you could call it an apology for not helping you sooner.”

Hermione smiled at him. “I never held that against you to begin with, though, consider yourself forgiven.”

“You should have.” He answered.

“Thank you Draco.” She readjusted so she was sitting up slightly straighter. “It means a lot to me.” Hermione moved closer to him until her lips softly touched his cheek just short of the corner of his mouth. She pulled away and then looked away from Draco, her cheeks turning a wonderful shade of crimson.

He sat there shocked for a moment. It took him a second but, Draco smiled softly. He could have been an arse and asked her what she did that for he thought about it but, instead he let it be, they were acting differently toward each other, it was s little strange and it felt new to him, and he wasn't sure it was a good thing yet, but he didn't want to ruin the fun, he was paying Hermione back for being so selfish. Besides, he was a 'blood traitor' now hating Hermione would no longer get him anywhere. They had been with each other now for just over three months, it was about time he stopped listening to the monster inside of him. He looked over at her, she was smiling her cheeks red, 'From the cold probably' he thought. “Like I've told you before Hermione, anytime.” They sat in silence for the rest of the ride, though it was not an uncomfortable one. When the ride was over everyone was let off car by car until it was their turn, they stepped off with their hands in their pockets and set off in the direction of the field.

There was a continued silence, neither of them minded. “Did we know each other at all? Before I lost my memory?” Hermione asked breaking the silence.

Draco tilted his head down. “Uhhm, yeah we did.” He paused thinking about how to put it. “We didn't particularly like each other... I was a huge git to you.”

Hermione nodded. “I had a feeling.” She chuckled, “I sure hope things are different now.”

Without missing a beat Draco replied. “Drastically, we hated each other, I can't say I feel anything close to that anymore.” Hermione merely smiled at him, she was very happy that he didn't hate her anymore, living with him in a tent didn't seem so weird to her anymore. Hermione's foot snagged suddenly on a tree root, she was propelled forward by how quickly she was walking. Just as she was about face plant she felt a firm grasp on her wrist, and then she was being pulled back up, and before she knew it she was facing Draco, his arms around her.

“Whoops.” she muttered, suddenly aware of how close they were. She felt her throat go dry, she had never been this close to Draco before. “Uhhm...” her face felt hot.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah...” she was suddenly breathless, and was very aware of his lips. “Thanks for saving me... again.”

“Oh, yeah.” he too realized how close they were. She bit her bottom lip, he inhaled deeply taking in her scent, still not letting her go. A thought that had been on his mind all day just so happened to cross his mind, 'Inappropriate dream'. He saw an opportunity, as soon as Hermione stopped biting her bottom lip he took it. He moved in, letting their noses bump softly, he herd Hermione inhale sharply, then he let their lips touch. And then, on pure impulse, he kissed her. It was better than his dream, her lips were soft and perfect, she was responding to him in perfect sync. He felt her arms wrap around his neck, her hands entwining in his hair. It was several minutes before he pulled away, though it only felt like seconds.

“ Wow.” Hermione began.

“Yeah.” They flew apart from each other, looking separate directions. “We should get going.” He saw out of the corner of his eye that she nodded. He offered her his arm and the disappear and landed in a Forrest. He kissed her, and it was great. He reached down into his bag retrieving the tent, and with a wave of his wand it was standing. Draco put up the protective spells, aided by the now spell savy Hermione. They walked in slowly not looking at each other, Hermione reached the area of the tent she slept in. She stopped still facing away from him, taking several deep breaths.

Hermione turned to him slowly. “Thank you, again, for tonight.” She smiled softly and Draco noted her cheeks turned a shade reder than they were. Draco only nodded not sure if he could trust himself to say anything coherent. “Good night Draco.”

He swallowed then smiled back at her. “Goodnight.” he agreed.