Response to 30 Minute Challenge #1
This is my response to Inell's 30 minute challenge #1 on It's Always the Quiet Ones Yahoo Group
I failed at churning out this fic within the alloted time. It actually took 2 hours, but at least I finished it.
Title: Revelations
Author: BobotuberPus
Pairing: D/Hr, implied D/B
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1355 words
Warning: Angsty, implied slash
At least in the rain, no one notices you cry, Hermione mused.
Tears streaming and head bent down, she walked aimlessly along a
semi-deserted area of Diagon Alley. The drizzle that began an hour
earlier had turned into a torrential downpour. Her robes were soaked,
her bushy hair plastered to her head, and she was chilled to the bone,
but she walked on. Hermione was oblivious to the stares around her.
All she could feel was her heart clenching as she thought of her most
recent conversation with her boyfriend. Well, ex-boyfriend now.
Bastard. How could he do this to her?
She and Draco met for dinner Wednesday nights. When their relationship
was new, it was a way to break the routine of the work week. A year
later, the dinners had become routine. It was now also the only
weeknight wherein one of them was not occupied with Ministry meetings,
Board meetings, or Seeker training camp (Draco coached). Hermione knew
that this Wednesday night dinner wasn't going to be routine at all.
She had walked in upset and spoiling for a fight. Draco had
immediately sensed that and attempted to preempt her outburst by
conjuring a pale pink rose---her favorite---and placing it on beside
her salad fork as she sat down across from him. This only served to
irritate her further. Her planned course of action, that which she
had been rehearsing on her way to dinner, flew out the window. Lips
set in a thin line, she pushed a piece of parchment toward him and
glared at him from across the table, arms crossed.
She watched the normally unflappable Draco Malfoy pale as his eyes
scanned the parchment.
"Is it true, then?" she whispered, dreading his answer.
None came. "How did you get this?"
"Doesn't matter. Is it true?" she persisted.
Silence. He looked at her, his gray eyes pleading. Pleading for what?
She'd wondered. For forgiveness or for her to not ask the questions
she probably did not want the answers to. She dared him to, anyway,
continuing to glare at him.
"Yes, " he said softly, unapologetically, gray eyes continuing to hold
its gaze with brown ones. It had always been thus in their
relationship, neither one willing to back down.
"Oh, God…" she whimpered, her heart breaking into a million pieces at
his simple admission. "How---how long---how long has this been going on?"
"It's not going on, Hermione."
"Are you still sleeping with him?"
"No! I told you, it's not going on anymore. It hasn't been going on
since us. Since you walked back into my life."
"Do you love him?"
"He's my best friend. I will always love him."
"And if I were to ask you to choose between him or me?" she ventured.
He became indignant then. Eyes narrowed, he replied, "You can't
possibly ask that of me!"
"Why not? Why haven't you told me about this? Why did it have to take
an owl from an `anonymous concerned friend' for me to get wind of your
true relationship with Zabini? He's always known about me! Why didn't
I know about him?" She was close to shrieking, unmindful of the other
patrons in the restaurant who were beginning to look at them with
interest.
"Look, it's not the same I just didn't think there was---"
"---any trust in me to share this information with me, isn't that
right, Draco? It's because you never considered me to be a permanent
fixture in your life, is that it? I'm on a need-to-know-basis only,
right?"
"Hermione…" He reached over and laid his hands over hers. Her reaction
was immediate. "Don't touch me!" She jerked her hands free of his,
knocking over her glass of Merlot. She thought the wine stain on
Draco's expensive silk shirt sleeve was quite poetic.
She pushed her chair back roughly. "I can't deal with this now, Draco.
I need some time. I just---" she whipped around and ran out of the
restaurant into the rain.
She didn't know how long she'd been walking. She knew she'd most
likely get sick from this exposure. She knew there were better ways to
deal with this situation. She knew she was wallowing in self-pity, the
rain validating her despondent state. She loved Draco immensely and
she thought he loved her too. It just wasn't fair.
It wasn't fair, really, that after all they'd gone through and
overcame-the secrecy, the War, the constant threat of harm from DEs,
the initial distrust of their relationship by family and friends-that
this thing would surface to threaten a relationship they'd worked so
hard to build. It wasn't fair that just when they were at a point
where their relationship was now accepted and recognized and she felt
that she truly belonged with someone, she finds out that she'd have to
share him with someone else. It wasn't fair that this someone had to
be his best friend and probably understood him in ways she couldn't.
It wasn't fair because she did not have Blaise's advantage of being a
Pureblood and knowing Draco since they were three and being male. It
wasn't fair at all.
Draco's admission of his relationship with Blaise proved to Hermione
that she still didn't belong. It brought back bitter memories of
Hogwarts and trying to fit in by excelling in all her classes at the
cost of a social life. It brought back those feelings of insecurity
when she'd look up from a book and notice that Harry and Ron were in a
world of their own that didn't include her, discussing girls or
quidditch. She ran away from this fact by retreating to the library to
do her homework in advance and things were always better afterwards:
Harry and Ron would seek her out for last minute help on their
homework and she effectively ignored that niggling feeling that they
were using her because at least, in these moments, she was part of
their world again. Their friendship had changed over the years. Both
Ron and Harry were married and the "Golden Trio's "bi-weekly lunches
had turned into bi-monthly ones. Hermione didn't mind the change so
much because she had Draco. At least, until tonight.
She sobbed, her arms wrapping around herself more as a physical
attempt to hold herself together and less to ward off the cold. It was
then she noticed that while rain continued to pour around her, it
wasn't falling on her. She looked up and noted that someone had cast
an Impervious above her, creating a sort of shield between her and the
rain similar to an umbrella.
Draco stepped out from under the shelter of an awning to stand in
front of her. He wanted nothing more than to take Hermione into his
arms and out of the cold beating rain and hold her forever. But he
knew that she would have to grant him permission to do that. He had
hurt her badly tonight. He only hoped she found it in her heart to
forgive him. And Malfoy or not, he wasn't below begging for it.
"I don't want to lose you over this. Please, Hermione."
The pleading gray eyes were back, and this time, Hermione knew what
they were pleading for.
"I'm sorry you had to find out about Blaise and I the way you did. I'm
sorry for not trusting you enough to tell you in the first place. I
didn't---and still don't--- think it's relevant to our relationship.
That's why I didn't tell you about it yet. I love you. I love Blaise
but I'm in love with you. I want more than anything for you to be a
permanent part of my life. I need you, Hermione. And if you ask me to
give up my friendship with Blaise, I will."
She stared at the angelic wizard in front of her and considered what
he said and weighed what he was offering her. She kissed him then,
light and tentative and hopeful. He returned the kiss with more
fervor, passionate and needy. Because he now understood what she wanted.
Fin
Post A/N: I enjoyed doing this challenge. It's a great exercise and the time limit is a great motivator to focus on the story. I tend to procrastinate esp. when there are no absolute deadlines. The two stories I wrote in the dhr_valentine fic exchange were not churned out until the last few weeks before the deadline. Perhaps I should do some of the other challenges on IATQO for more practice.
I continue to be amazed at the volume of postings and new fics at IATQO. I like how active its been and the continuous stream of challenges and drabbles being issued and answered. Everyone's been very supportive of each other, whether they be the mods, writers, lurkers, or newbies.
I failed at churning out this fic within the alloted time. It actually took 2 hours, but at least I finished it.
Title: Revelations
Author: BobotuberPus
Pairing: D/Hr, implied D/B
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1355 words
Warning: Angsty, implied slash
At least in the rain, no one notices you cry, Hermione mused.
Tears streaming and head bent down, she walked aimlessly along a
semi-deserted area of Diagon Alley. The drizzle that began an hour
earlier had turned into a torrential downpour. Her robes were soaked,
her bushy hair plastered to her head, and she was chilled to the bone,
but she walked on. Hermione was oblivious to the stares around her.
All she could feel was her heart clenching as she thought of her most
recent conversation with her boyfriend. Well, ex-boyfriend now.
Bastard. How could he do this to her?
She and Draco met for dinner Wednesday nights. When their relationship
was new, it was a way to break the routine of the work week. A year
later, the dinners had become routine. It was now also the only
weeknight wherein one of them was not occupied with Ministry meetings,
Board meetings, or Seeker training camp (Draco coached). Hermione knew
that this Wednesday night dinner wasn't going to be routine at all.
She had walked in upset and spoiling for a fight. Draco had
immediately sensed that and attempted to preempt her outburst by
conjuring a pale pink rose---her favorite---and placing it on beside
her salad fork as she sat down across from him. This only served to
irritate her further. Her planned course of action, that which she
had been rehearsing on her way to dinner, flew out the window. Lips
set in a thin line, she pushed a piece of parchment toward him and
glared at him from across the table, arms crossed.
She watched the normally unflappable Draco Malfoy pale as his eyes
scanned the parchment.
"Is it true, then?" she whispered, dreading his answer.
None came. "How did you get this?"
"Doesn't matter. Is it true?" she persisted.
Silence. He looked at her, his gray eyes pleading. Pleading for what?
She'd wondered. For forgiveness or for her to not ask the questions
she probably did not want the answers to. She dared him to, anyway,
continuing to glare at him.
"Yes, " he said softly, unapologetically, gray eyes continuing to hold
its gaze with brown ones. It had always been thus in their
relationship, neither one willing to back down.
"Oh, God…" she whimpered, her heart breaking into a million pieces at
his simple admission. "How---how long---how long has this been going on?"
"It's not going on, Hermione."
"Are you still sleeping with him?"
"No! I told you, it's not going on anymore. It hasn't been going on
since us. Since you walked back into my life."
"Do you love him?"
"He's my best friend. I will always love him."
"And if I were to ask you to choose between him or me?" she ventured.
He became indignant then. Eyes narrowed, he replied, "You can't
possibly ask that of me!"
"Why not? Why haven't you told me about this? Why did it have to take
an owl from an `anonymous concerned friend' for me to get wind of your
true relationship with Zabini? He's always known about me! Why didn't
I know about him?" She was close to shrieking, unmindful of the other
patrons in the restaurant who were beginning to look at them with
interest.
"Look, it's not the same I just didn't think there was---"
"---any trust in me to share this information with me, isn't that
right, Draco? It's because you never considered me to be a permanent
fixture in your life, is that it? I'm on a need-to-know-basis only,
right?"
"Hermione…" He reached over and laid his hands over hers. Her reaction
was immediate. "Don't touch me!" She jerked her hands free of his,
knocking over her glass of Merlot. She thought the wine stain on
Draco's expensive silk shirt sleeve was quite poetic.
She pushed her chair back roughly. "I can't deal with this now, Draco.
I need some time. I just---" she whipped around and ran out of the
restaurant into the rain.
She didn't know how long she'd been walking. She knew she'd most
likely get sick from this exposure. She knew there were better ways to
deal with this situation. She knew she was wallowing in self-pity, the
rain validating her despondent state. She loved Draco immensely and
she thought he loved her too. It just wasn't fair.
It wasn't fair, really, that after all they'd gone through and
overcame-the secrecy, the War, the constant threat of harm from DEs,
the initial distrust of their relationship by family and friends-that
this thing would surface to threaten a relationship they'd worked so
hard to build. It wasn't fair that just when they were at a point
where their relationship was now accepted and recognized and she felt
that she truly belonged with someone, she finds out that she'd have to
share him with someone else. It wasn't fair that this someone had to
be his best friend and probably understood him in ways she couldn't.
It wasn't fair because she did not have Blaise's advantage of being a
Pureblood and knowing Draco since they were three and being male. It
wasn't fair at all.
Draco's admission of his relationship with Blaise proved to Hermione
that she still didn't belong. It brought back bitter memories of
Hogwarts and trying to fit in by excelling in all her classes at the
cost of a social life. It brought back those feelings of insecurity
when she'd look up from a book and notice that Harry and Ron were in a
world of their own that didn't include her, discussing girls or
quidditch. She ran away from this fact by retreating to the library to
do her homework in advance and things were always better afterwards:
Harry and Ron would seek her out for last minute help on their
homework and she effectively ignored that niggling feeling that they
were using her because at least, in these moments, she was part of
their world again. Their friendship had changed over the years. Both
Ron and Harry were married and the "Golden Trio's "bi-weekly lunches
had turned into bi-monthly ones. Hermione didn't mind the change so
much because she had Draco. At least, until tonight.
She sobbed, her arms wrapping around herself more as a physical
attempt to hold herself together and less to ward off the cold. It was
then she noticed that while rain continued to pour around her, it
wasn't falling on her. She looked up and noted that someone had cast
an Impervious above her, creating a sort of shield between her and the
rain similar to an umbrella.
Draco stepped out from under the shelter of an awning to stand in
front of her. He wanted nothing more than to take Hermione into his
arms and out of the cold beating rain and hold her forever. But he
knew that she would have to grant him permission to do that. He had
hurt her badly tonight. He only hoped she found it in her heart to
forgive him. And Malfoy or not, he wasn't below begging for it.
"I don't want to lose you over this. Please, Hermione."
The pleading gray eyes were back, and this time, Hermione knew what
they were pleading for.
"I'm sorry you had to find out about Blaise and I the way you did. I'm
sorry for not trusting you enough to tell you in the first place. I
didn't---and still don't--- think it's relevant to our relationship.
That's why I didn't tell you about it yet. I love you. I love Blaise
but I'm in love with you. I want more than anything for you to be a
permanent part of my life. I need you, Hermione. And if you ask me to
give up my friendship with Blaise, I will."
She stared at the angelic wizard in front of her and considered what
he said and weighed what he was offering her. She kissed him then,
light and tentative and hopeful. He returned the kiss with more
fervor, passionate and needy. Because he now understood what she wanted.
Fin
Post A/N: I enjoyed doing this challenge. It's a great exercise and the time limit is a great motivator to focus on the story. I tend to procrastinate esp. when there are no absolute deadlines. The two stories I wrote in the dhr_valentine fic exchange were not churned out until the last few weeks before the deadline. Perhaps I should do some of the other challenges on IATQO for more practice.
I continue to be amazed at the volume of postings and new fics at IATQO. I like how active its been and the continuous stream of challenges and drabbles being issued and answered. Everyone's been very supportive of each other, whether they be the mods, writers, lurkers, or newbies.