Chapter 34:Fraudulent Treasure

                                    

                                          
Hermione felt her dream slowly start to fade away and clung to it with all that she had. She didn't know how she had been so fortunate, perhaps it was Draco's scent wrapped around her or the feel of his arm around her waist, but she had returned that evening to her peaceful dream of soaring through the sunset. Despite her efforts to continue her fantasy, her consciousness slowly returned and with it, the heaviness that weighed upon her soul. She needed to wake. The world needed her. There was revenge to take and a fight to win. She had to finish the fight to obtain the peace she dreamt of.
                          
She breathed deeply and placed her hand over Draco's. One more minute of silence and peace couldn't hurt. The moment her hand touched his he pulled her back more tightly to his chest. She wondered if he was awake also or if it was simply with instinct that he clung to her. Either way, it was a movement that warmed her inside and out. Never had she needed to lean on someone so heavily and he'd never left her.
                          
Hermione turned her head, trying to get a glimpse of the man spooned behind her.
                          
"Don't," he whispered sleepily into her mane of curly hair. "Don't let's wake yet."
                          
"When you can talk, you know it's too late," Hermione replied with a soft smile. Still, she allowed her head to lie back down upon his arm.
                          
"I love you," he whispered solemnly.
                          
"I love you, too," she answered. His words brought the full pain of the night back to her. He sounded as hurt and damaged as she felt. He hurt for her. It was touching and painful. She didn't want anyone to hurt. She needed to plan. It was the only way she'd be able to suppress it all. She took another deep breath and brought Draco's hand to her lips, where she placed a light kiss on his knuckles.
                          
Draco frowned deeply and lifted himself up on his elbow when Hermione sat up and faced him. The sadness in his eyes wounded her. He looked broken and lost. She knew it would be the same with all the others. Her pain had hurt them just as badly. She had to be strong for them, as well as for herself. It was with that in mind that she slid out of bed. Draco was on his feet in seconds, following from his side of the room to meet her at the door. Before she touched the handle, he pulled her into another tight embrace.
                          
"Just one more," he beseeched. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly, like she would never let him go again. Draco knew that it couldn't be though. It was with chagrin that he slowly released her and opened the door. She awkwardly stepped back and slowly started down the stairs.
                          
The house was dark and quiet as they descended the staircase together. Hermione looked around, listening for any sounds of the others, as she retied the drawstring on the pair of shorts she wore. Her body felt funny. She was no longer in pain and her head was clear, but she still felt off. Her muscles were too loose and she felt, overall, disjointed. When she opened the door to the kitchen, she was not surprised to see him sitting there. She had actually anticipated his presence there.
                          
"Hi," she greeted.
                          
"Hermione," Harry gasped in surprise, springing to his feet.
                          
"Harry, you should be sleeping," she admonished.
                          
"So should you," he countered. "It's only been four hours. What are you doing out of bed?"
                          
"It's morning and I slept," she told him.
                          
"Six is hardly considered morning and-"
                          
"And, the more you say, the more I have to repeat back to you," she told him.
                          
Harry stopped and had the same look in his eye as Draco, just as she knew he would. He hesitantly stepped closer to her, afraid to touch her. "How are you doing?" he asked. The ache in his chest was so great that Hermione felt it, too.