My Soul Mate

Chapter Twenty Three - The WORLD Crashed DOWN...

---

Hum bewafa, hargis na they,

Par hum bafa, kar na sakey,

Hum ko milli, uski sazaa,

Hum jo khata, kar na sakey.

Kitni akeli thi woh, raahein hum tum pe,

Ab tak akele, chalte rahe,

Tujhse bichadke bhi, oh bekhabar,

Tere hi gum mein, chalte rahe.

Tune kiya, jo shikva,

Hum woh gilla, kar na sakey.

Tumne jo dekha suna, sachch tha magar,

Kitna tha sachch yeh, kissko pata?

Jaane tumhe maine koi, dhoka diya,

Jaane tumhe koi, dhoka hua.

Is pyaar mein, sachch jhootka,

Tum phaisila, kar na sakey.

Hum bewafa, hargis na they,

Par hum bafa, kar na sakey.

-

I was never a betrayer,

But loyalty I couldn't serve.

I got punishment,

For a crime I didn't commit.

How lonely were the roads for you and me!

That now I am walking alone,

Even after breaking away from you, oh ignorant one,

With your pain, I kept walking.

The complains you have against me,

I can't put them against you.

Whatever you saw and heard was true,

But how much it was, d'you know?

I don't know how I betrayed you,

I don't know what you have suffered.

In this love, you couldn't make out

What's true, what's false.

I was never a betrayer,

But loyalty, I couldn't serve.

____________________________________________________________________

Hermione rushed to the Slytherin common room. Her heart was caged and her mind unfocused. 'Draco, Draco' she could hear in her ears. She found the door to his room open. She ran into the room and the scene she saw made her scream in shock.

Draco was lying naked on the bed and above her naked too, was Pansy Parkinson. Draco's hands were on her breasts, stroking them weakly.

After screaming out loud, Hermione froze. Time froze. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Draco, her Draco was shagging another girl? It took her a long time to absorb the shock. She closed her eyes, wishing the sight to change. She opened them slowly.

It hadn't.

"Well, well," drawled Pansy, "bad timing, Mudblood. Would you mind going out while both of us dress?"

Hermione didn't reply. Her mind was not working. The bitter erotic scene was fixed in the back of her mind. She turned back and walked slowly out of the room. She was mute. In the living room, she saw Harry, bending over and panting slightly.

"Saw what Malfoy was doing?" he said sarcastically. "Saw him? He was screwing Parkinson!"

"No..." Hermione whispered. "He wasn't ... Draco can't..."

"But he was doing it, all right!" said Harry loudly. "You saw him! He was naked with Parkinson! You saw him!"

"Shut up!" yelled Hermione suddenly in contrast to her muteness. "He'll never!"

"But he has," said another voice. Pansy came in to the living room, dressed completely. "He was screwing me infact, Draco was."

"Shut up!" shrieked Hermione again, covering her ears as though the words she was hearing were contagious.

"I won't, Mudblood! Draco and I have been doing it all along. He has been shagging me all along!"

"He can't! He loves me!"

"He might, but you can't give him what I can," said Pansy smugly. "You never had sex with him, and that's something he badly needs. He needs it every night. And before you came into his life, I was with him each night. And only for a few nights after you, he came back to me after dark."

"He didn't!" shrieked Hermione. "HE DIDN'T!"

Hermione couldn't bear it anymore. She ran out of the living room and into the Gryffindor room, slamming the door shut behind her. She fell to ground and sobbed. Sobbed quietly.

Draco ... could Draco do that to her? To someone he loved more than anything on earth? He couldn't possibly. And he never would. Hermione's heart told her, he would never.

But her mind replayed the scene she had witnessed only a few moments before in front of eyes again and again. Draco and Pansy on the bed, naked, touching each other...

Inwardly, Hermione screamed. Was Pansy telling the truth? Could Draco really do that? Was he going out almost each night to screw her? Was he ... a nymphomaniac?

Under normal circumstances, Hermione wouldn't have believed a word what Pansy had said, but she had seen it. In front of her very eyes.

There was no denying Pansy Parkinson. That slut.

And Draco Malfoy, that pervert.

Hermione got up and walked to the bathroom. She stopped crying and washed her face in the basin. Her eyes were red and looked clearly hurt. Her auburn hair was messed up. That was it. If Draco was such a pathetic nymphomaniac, then Hermione will have to let him go. She can't stay with such a bastard. Who knew what he could do if he didn't get his daily dose of sex? He'd force any girl around and Hermione couldn't and wouldn't tolerate that.

She will have to break up with Draco Malfoy.

She knew it would hurt her a lot. She would even become as good as a lifeless doll, but she was sensible and she never lost her mind. She'll just have to live on. Without Draco Malfoy.

All her worries about Draco's health were gone. All the lovely moments he had spent with her were gone. When Hermione remembered him touching her, she felt like vomiting. She'll never speak to him again. He was dead to her.

____________________________________________________________________

Two days before, Pansy Parkinson had cornered Harry Potter in one of the study rooms in the library.

"Potter," Pansy called. "Can I have a word with you?"

Harry had come to the library to get a book on Astronomy. He was searching for it when suddenly Pansy Parkinson came to him.

"A word please, Potter?"

Harry looked at her surprised. Since when did a Slytherin talk politely to him? Perplexed, he said, "All right."

Pansy led him to a private study room. She locked the door. Turning to Harry, she said, "I have something important to tell you, Potter."

"What about?"

"About Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy."

Harry didn't like where to Pansy was leading.

"Hear me out first, Potter. I don't want you to interrupt me. I have received news that you are always having a run in with your girlfriend, Cho Chang. Is it true?"

Harry opened his mouth in shock. So this was all about. Girls' Gossip. Bitch. "None of your business, Parkinson." he spat at her.

"Did I say so? But it is important. Anyway, I know its true; I just wanted to hear it from your mouth. No matter, I heard that Chang's accusing you about having feelings for Granger?"

"Watch your mouth!"

"I know this is true too," said Pansy curtly. "Now you listen to me. I know Granger is going out with Draco, and I hate it. I know you don't like it either."

"Get stuffed. Why do you care?"

"I know all. Don't try to bluff me. As I was saying, I want Draco to break up with Granger. Don't you want that too?"

Harry gaped at her. But he didn't reply.

"I take your silence for a yes. I have a plan..."

This mishap was a result of Harry and Pansy's plan. It was all planned. Harry had mixed a drug in the chocolate frogs given to him by Pansy. The drug would make a person dizzy and out of his mind and slowly unconscious. It was just the thing that they needed. It wasn't harmful either.

"All you have to do is make sure Draco takes it in," Pansy had told him. "And then, everything will go according to the plan."

Harry had made sure Draco had a bite. Everything went according to the plan also. Hermione had seen Draco with Pansy, having sex. And then, Hermione would dump Draco whereas Harry would dump Cho. He would have Hermione and Pansy would have Draco.

Harry had felt a bit ashamed at first, but Pansy encouraged him.

"All is well that ends well." she had told him.

And now both of them were in the living room of the Prefects' quarters, with vainglorious little smiles on their faces.

"When will we take the next step?" asked Pansy.

"Give it a two day break," said Harry, "then we will take our next step."

"All right."

Pansy walked out of the quarters and Harry walked to the Gryffindor room. He knocked. The door opened almost immediately. Hermione was leaning onto the tall bedpost of a bed, red faced and messed up. But she wasn't crying.

"Hermione," Harry started, "are you okay?"

Hermione nodded. "I am," she said. "But excuse me, Harry, I don't want to talk to anyone right now."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. And Harry, please don't tell anyone what happened tonight."

"No I won't," Harry promised. "But Hermione, won't you not have any dinner?"

"No, thank you."

Hermione made to close the door but Harry stopped her.

"One minute please, Hermione," he said. "What have you thought of doing? About Malfoy?"

Hermione looked at Harry for a moment before choking out, "We're ... we're done."

"I am glad you saw the truth. Can you actually believe him? He's such a bastard! I'll kill him -"

"Harry," cut in Hermione loudly. "Harry stop that. You will not touch Draco. I'll see to him. You won't even talk to him, please."

"As you wish, Hermione. Just remember, I am always there with you."

"Thanks."

Hermione shut the door. Harry grinned. I am winning, he thought. You're a goner, Draco Malfoy.

____________________________________________________________________

The next day was a Saturday, and thus, a holiday. Everybody, excluding Draco was at breakfast. Hermione looked as though nothing had happened. She talked and laughed at Ron's jokes. She had met Harry's eyes but remained impassive. She was behaving as though the previous night had never been. She looked very cheerful in a black skirt and red cardigan, with her wavy hair tied up in a bun.

But all came out as Draco stepped into the living room. Hermione was sitting with her back to the Slytherin room so she hadn't seen Draco until Ginny called out, "Hey! Morning, Draco!"

Hermione froze. She gave Harry an uneasy glance. And then, she felt Draco plant a small kiss her on her neck.

"Good morning, Hermione," he said pleasantly.

"Don't touch me," Hermione replied in an undertone from her clenched teeth. She got up from the table and stalked away into the Gryffindor room.

Draco stared at her, surprised. Why did she behave like this? Did he do anything wrong? Draco looked at Ginny, Harry and Ron. They all had their eyebrows raised.

"Well," Draco said, "is anything wrong with her?"

"I don't know," was what they all replied.

"I had better see," Draco muttered to himself as he walked into the Gryffindor Prefects' room too. Hermione was bending over her bag on the bed, taking out her books and quills. She stopped when Draco came in.

She stood straight, facing him haughtily and said in a rude tone, "Why have you come here now?"

Draco mouthed 'what!' in surprise, unable to comprehend Hermione's strange and cold behavior.

"Why have you come here?" Hermione demanded. "If it's urgent, then please be quick or take your leave."

"What the hell has happened to you?" asked Draco, looking horrified. "Why are behaving like this? Is anything wrong?"

"Wrong?" said Hermione in high pitch. "Wrong? Oh no, things were wrong before. Now everything will be made right."

"I don't get you," said Draco.

"No, I don't get you. After all that happened ... how d'you expect me to behave sweetly to you?"

"Hermione, I don't understand you."

"No, no. I didn't understand you. I thought you to be someone else, but I see your true self now."

"Are you crazy?" shouted Draco. "What have I done?"

"What have you done?" asked Hermione in mock incredulity. "Oh I suppose it's a matter of no importance to nymphomaniacs like you."

"Hermione! What are saying!"

"The truth," Hermione shouted back. "Please, Malfoy, get out!"

Draco opened his mouth wordlessly at her. "Mal-Malfoy?" he choked. "Did you just call me 'Malfoy'?"

"You heard right."

"Hermione, are you okay?"

"Yes I am, Malfoy. Now kindly get out. I don't want to see your perverse face."

"What the hell...!"

"Will you please get out?" said Hermione in a dangerously sweet voice. "Or shall I make you?"

"I won't leave until you tell me what's wrong!" declared Draco.

"Don't try to be so innocent, you bastard. You know very well what you've done. Now get out!"

"Hermione..." said Draco, now in despair. "Please..."

Hermione didn't wait anymore. She pointed her wand at him and yelled, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

She threw Draco out of the room and locked the door him.

Draco landed with a crash on the floor of the living room. Harry, Ron and Ginny got up from the table and looked at him. Draco felt highly insulted apart from hurt. He got up and faced the others. "Well," he said, "Hermione's gone mad, hasn't she?"

"No she hasn't," said Ron icily. "She's right."

"I can't believe you did this to her, Draco," said Ginny coldly. "How could you?"

Draco gawked at them. What were they all talking about?

"Let's leave this piece of vermin here," said Harry. And he, along with Ron and Ginny went into the Ravenclaw room, closing it shut behind them.

Draco stared at the door, aghast. What the hell was going on? He had no idea. Why were all suddenly behaving like they used to do so back in the previous years? Like foes.

Harry and Ron were one thing, but Hermione? And Ginny too? What had happened that made them behave like that?

Draco shook his head violently, trying to clear his mind. It was as though something had happened unknown to him that changed everybody's attitude towards him. Even the love of his life's...

Draco bit his lip as he sat on a chair. He recollected Hermione's words. Things were wrong before, now everything will become right...

She was behaving okay with him till the previous evening and now, suddenly in the morning, she was so strange.

Surely something must have happened, Draco thought. Hermione wouldn't treat me like this without any reason, she loves me. But what happened? And whatever happened, happened overnight...

Draco tried to remember what had had happened the last night. To his great surprise, he remembered nothing. All that came to him was getting sexual with Hermione last night and then a scream. And then, nothing.

The scream ... Hermione coming to him last night.

It was all jumbled. Draco knew he wasn't well last night and had passed out after the scream. Surely something must have happened after that, he thought.

But what? Why had Hermione been so strange the last night? Who had screamed last night? Why did they scream?

Draco had no answers. Only questions. Terrible questions. Questions that perhaps had terrible answers. Answers that made Hermione behave terribly with him.

Draco got up from his chair and walked to the Gryffindor room again. He tried to turn the knob but it was locked. He knocked on the door. There was no reply.

"Hermione!" Draco shouted. "Hermione open the door! We need to talk!"

There was no response.

"Hermione, please! At least tell me what happened? What did I do wrong? Why are you behaving like this? Please, Hermione, I beg you..."

No response still.

"All right! All right, stay over there! I won't go anywhere! I'll wait for you here! And you'll have to come out!"

Like a winded rhino, Draco dropped into a chair again. He was determined to get the answers. And he wanted them from Hermione; not matter how terrible they were.

____________________________________________________________________

It was around two hours before Hermione came out of the Gryffindor Prefects' room. Draco had been sitting in the living room, true to his words. Harry, Ron and Ginny had come out and walked out of the quarters. They didn't say Draco a word nor did Draco tell them anything. He would talk to Hermione first. He had decided it.

And at long last, Hermione came out. She had no expression on her face. She didn't even acknowledge Draco's presence in the living room. She straightaway made her way for the exit. But Draco stopped her.

He caught her wrist in his hands and snapped his fingers tightly around it, like a Venus-fly trap plant.

"Don't touch me!" Hermione hissed at him. "I thought you had some courtesy."

Draco glowered at her. "I won't leave you," he said, "until you tell me everything."

"Tell you about what?" snapped Hermione.

"About last night."

"What! D'you want me to relive everything for you?"

"Yes, I do."

Hermione stared at him disgustedly. "You're a monster," she said. "Can't you understand how would I feel? And I thought you were the person who understood me the best!"

"I still am the same person you knew." Draco assured her.

"I know that very well, Malfoy. You're still the same pervert!"

"Why are you calling me this?" Draco demanded. "How could you think that I am a pervert? And a nymphomaniac, did you tell me? Why?"

"What you did last night makes me call you this!"

"Hell!" exclaimed Draco. Just because I was intimate with her last night made me a nymphomaniac? But we had many such sessions before, why all of a sudden...?

"But that doesn't make me a nymphomaniac," he said reasonably, "I did it so many times before."

Hermione opened her mouth in horror. She knew he had sex with Pansy before but he was telling her as though he had just stolen a Knut from her purse.

"You unfeeling rake," she yelled at him, "let go of my hand!"

Draco didn't. Instead, his grip tightened. "Tell me the true reason behind your change of your hand," he stated.

Hermione tried to wrench her hand away from Draco's clasp. She twisted and turned her wrist but she was unsuccessful. "Let go," she gasped. "You're hurting me."

Draco let go of her wrist but instead caught her waist and pulled her so hard to him that she slammed into his body. Then, he wrapped her arms around her body and held her so close that Hermione's breasts were pressed hard against his chest.

"Please, Hermione," he whispered, "tell me what have I done?"

Hermione's eyes started to water. His touch stung her. Like a poisonous serpent. "How am I answerable to you?" she asked him, trying futilely to get her hands between her breasts and Draco's chest.

Draco stared at her beautiful face in shock. "How are you answerable to me?" he asked, dumbfounded. "I though we loved each other."

Hermione couldn't help it anymore. She couldn't control it. Tears started to pour out of her amber eyes. "What sort of cruel joke are you playing on me, Draco?" she sobbed. "Why are you doing this to me?"

Draco didn't answer. He had no answer.

"Let me go, Draco," Hermione went on. "I am not answerable to you. We're not together any more."