Love Wears a Mask

Love Wears a Mask

Chapter Six: Love Is Not Divided

The few remaining days of the amateur golf tournament in Southern California passed quickly. Hermione barely felt time pass at all before it was time to return to England and, soon thereafter, to Hogwarts. She spent practically every waking moment with Ocard. Well, every waking moment, at least, that he wasn't leaving her quickly and with only vague explanation, she mused to herself. The only thing about Ocard that wasn't perfect was the hazy aura of mystery surrounding him. He was beautiful, gallant, courageous, and... well, sexy, of course. He made her laugh, and she felt comfortable telling him everything. But every once in a while, she got the discomforting feeling that his thoughts were elsewhere. She felt this every time she saw the now-familiar haunted, tortured look in his eyes. She always said something quickly to bring him back to her, and it worked flawlessly every time, so she simply tried to enjoy each moment as much as possible and ignore the coming of her departure.

She hadn't forgotten the incident on the tennis courts, either. Of course she replayed the scene with Ocard on the fourth green continuously through her mind every second she wasn't with him, but she also considered the events leading up to it. He had given her no reassurances about her exploding tennis racket; he had only said a few words about how perhaps Muggle sports and magical people didn't mix, and then made some witty comment about the "rapid fire" of her game. It wasn't so much these things that bothered her, however, as it was the fact that after he had said these things, he had drawn her closer to him and voiced a murmured warning with an unbidden undertone of sincerity to it. "Be careful, my darling," he had whispered. "There are those who aren't fond of Muggleborns."

The morning after the final day of the tournament dawned bright and clear. The dazzling sun rose over the pink ocean, and the trees along the shoreline were tinged with amber as the glowing sphere heralded another day of beauty in the Southern Californian hills. Hermione and Ocard watched it silently, sitting next to each other on the beach with Ocard's arm draped around Hermione's shoulder and her head resting against his. They rose as one, finally, turning their backs to the scene on the sparkling water. Hermione sighed and turned to face him.

"I must go now, Ocard. You will owl me? I don't know what I'd do if I-"

"Shhh." Ocard cut her off by placing his finger over her lips. "I know. Of course I will. And I shall eagerly await each of your owls in return." He dipped a low bow before her, bringing her hand to his firm lips. She gripped his hand tightly, tears welling in her eyes, causing his own pale orbs to swim in her vision.

"Hermione," he murmured huskily as he straightened his back in order that he might gaze into her eyes. "I love you."

A single tear slid down Hermione's cheek as she tremulously whispered, "I love you." He brushed her tear away gently, and they kissed one last time, feverishly, before Hermione finally pulled herself away and fled from the beach, back to the hotel where her parents would be waiting.

Ocard watched her retreating back, his face impassive. His eyes, however, displayed a deep sadness and longing. A few minutes had passed when he was startled from his reverie by a popping sound from nearby. He whirled, startled, his wand drawn. The slender man who now stood before him only laughed.

"Put your wand down, son. It's only me, your dear father." A tight smile curved his lips as he glanced around. "I thought I might find you here. Lovely, isn't it? I'm glad you've been able to appreciate your vacation, son, as there is much work to do when we return. I trust you are refreshed?"

Ocard managed somehow to stretch a smile across his mouth. "Yes, quite. Refreshed and ready for the year, Father. I appreciate your leniency with me on this trip. It has done me much good."

The thin man gave his son an appraising look. "Excellent. We need you in top form. You are instrumental to our cause." He shook his head abruptly. "No more talk of this. We must go. I have some business to attend to briefly, but I shall speak with you again when I arrive."

Ocard nodded, his face impassive once more. The man paused briefly before he apparated. "Go quickly, Draco."

A/N: *gasp! * And so, it's finally revealed... thanks for reading this far, guys! I know most of you saw it coming, but the moment was still fun, wasn't it? : ) Sorry this chapter was so short, but the golf tournament had to end sometime. * sniffle * I know... sad. But don't worry! The next chapter will pick up the pace again!