I have seen a man cry once. I've seen a boy cry twice. And today...I saw something I never expected. My Dad cried when my grandmum died. And I've seen Harry and Ron with tears in their eyes. Today, I saw Draco Malfoy cry.
I was walking down to Hagrid's hut to say hello to the gameskeeper. I guess I was halfway there when I heard a loud noise from near the Quidditch pitch. Someone was kicking something. Or hitting it with a bat. Either way, they were angry. So I went over. Malfoy--I mean, Draco. He wasn't kicking or hitting anything. He was stomping down the bleachers, his feet making the noise on the metal. He stopped at the bottom of the set of bleachers and sat, looking blankly out onto the pitch.
I moved up the bleachers and I was right next to him before he noticed me. He wiped at his face and looked way from me.
"Go away." He growled, and I recognized the raspiness in his voice. He had been crying. A lot.
"Malfoy, are you OK?"
"I'm fine, Granger. Leave me alone."
I wasn't convinced. I sat next to him on the bleacher, crossing my legs and adjusting my skirt. It was a weekend and I had opted for my muggle clothes. A short red and black plaid skirt, a simple white tanktop, and my denim jacket over top.
"I said. Go. Away."
"You're crying." I said simply, "What happened? Pansy break your heart?"
He made a half laugh-half bitter sigh. "Right. That vapid little twit just ripped out my fragile heart and stamped all over it."
I smiled, "Actual humor? From you? I'm impressed."
Draco looked up at me, "You're being awfully nice."
"I don't wanna kick you when you're down."
He nodded absently.
"However," I said cheerfully, "When you're feeling better I'll hate you again. And I suppose you'll be hateful again, too."
He snorted, "You've got yourself a deal. But for now?"
"For now you're not a total jackass."
"And you aren't an annoying know-it-all."
I'll always remember
It was late afternoon
It lasted forever
And ended too soon
You were all by yourself
Staring up at a dark gray sky
I was changed
"So...wanna talk about why you were crying?" I asked casually.
"No."
"OK."
He hesitated, then said, "My parents are sending me away."
I was surprised, "To where?"
"America. There's a Dark Arts school there that they want me to join."
"Dark Arts." I considered this, "Death Eater training?"
He looked at me sharply, "NO. Just a school."
"You don't want to go?"
"God, no." Draco replied and I was shocked at his determination.
"That's what has you so upset?"
"Uh huh."
"Why not just stay here?"
He looked at me like he'd never looked at me before. Like I had lost my marbles, "How do you propose I do that?"
"Run away." I stated simply, swinging my crossed leg. He looked at my legs, his eyes traveling up from my platform maryjanes up to the hem of my skirt. I pretended not to noticed but smiled inwardly.
"Run to where?" He asked after he had finished ogling my legs.
"I don't know. Ask Dumbledore for help."
He rolled his eyes, "That crazy old coot?"
"Hey! Dumbledore is a very powerful wizard. More powerful than Lucius Malfoy ever will be."
"You're right about that." Draco muttered, "Hell, I'm more powerful than my father."
"Exaggeration, much?"
"Seriously. He's great at intimidation and threats. But magic? He's a mere amateur compared to you and me."
I looked over at him. His eyes were far away and there were remnants of tears still there.
In places no one would find
All your feelings so deep inside (deep inside)
It was then that I realized
That forever was in your eyes
The moment I saw you cry
The moment that I saw you cry
"Let's talk about something else." I said, suddenly.
"Like what?"
"Like why you keep staring at my legs?"
He blushed and turned away, "I wasn't looking at your chicken legs."
I laughed silently and decided to play around with him. I turned in my seat and lifted my legs, resting them across his legs, "Chicken legs, huh?"
He gulped visibly and rolled his eyes, "Move your feet off me."
"You know you love it." I teased with a malicious glint in my eyes. This was *SO* not like me but What the Hell? It was seventh year and he'd never mention this to anyone for fear of his own humiliation.
He pushed my legs off his lap with more force than I think her intended, sending me toppling backwards. I tried to balance myself by grabbing his forearms, but this only succeeded in pulling him with me. So now we were sprawled in the space between the bleacher above us and the one we were just sitting on. I started laughing, my hands still clinging to his shoulders. He joined in, and we laughed until tears came to our eyes and our sides hurt.
It was late in september
And I've seen you before (and you were)
You were always the cold one
But i was never that sure
You were all by yourself
Staring at a dark gray sky
I was changed
After our laughter began to die down, with me giggling a little and him following with a small laugh, I realized I was in one extremely unlady-like position and he was on top of me. My legs were bent and he was between them, although it was really more innocent than it looked.
"Am I crushing you?" He asked suddenly, and I supposed he realized our position at the same time I did.
"Nope." I answered, "But I suppose you should get up."
"Why're you being so nice? Not shoving me off and hexing me?"
"Don't have a clue." I replied, my eyes suddenly focusing on his lips. I had never noticed how the bottom was a tiny bit fuller than the top and how soft they looked.
"Granger?" He was looking at me, once again in this different way...Like I was a different person.
"What?"
"Can I..."
"Yes." I replied and leaned up to meet his lips. They were softer than I imagined, and he had this way of tracing his hands up and down my arms. It was wonderfully soft and sweet. I don't know what made him act the way he was. Maybe he figured it didn't matter since he was leaving soon, anyway. But honestly, I was acting completely unlike me as well. So we weren't Hermione and Draco just for a second. We were...Romeo and Juliet. Only without the dying.
In places no one would find
All your feelings so deep inside (deep inside)
It was then that I realized
That forever was in your eyes
The moment I saw you cry
When that kiss ended, he moved away and stood, helping me up.
"Ready to return to real life?" He asked, his eyes searching mine.
"No. But I will." I said, straightening myself out, "We have to, I suppose."
"When I leave, I'll remember this day." He said softly, and I was once again surprised at how out of character he was being.
"Me too."
We left the Quidditch pitch separately, but in our minds we were together, I guess. At least he was with me in my heart.
I wanted to hold you
i wanted to make it go away
I wanted to know you
I wanted to make your everything, all right....
I'll always remember...
It was late afternoon...
In places no one would find...
The day he left, only a week later, he found me on the Quidditch pitch. I guess I had gone there to reflect. Maybe wish life had been different for him. Maybe if he wasn't a product of Lucius and Narcissa, he would've been that kind and sweet to me from the get-go. When he sat next to me on the bleachers I began to cry.
"Don't go." I cried softly into my hands, "Just stay here. Hide. With me."
He pulled my hands away, "I can't." He whispered, "But just this once. Just this last time, let's be two other people."
And he kissed me again, just like the day not so long ago. Our tears mingled and I wished for a miracle that never came.
"I love you." He whispered softly, before kissing my hair and disappearing before I could reply.
I will never forget telling that empty Quidditch pitch that I loved Draco Malfoy. And I hope he won't forget being someone else. Just for a second.
In places no one would find
All your feelings so deep inside (deep inside)
It was then that I realized
That forever was in your eyes
The moment I saw you cry