A/N: This is written for RavenclawRealty for the HPFC Summer Fic Exchange. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you!
Also, I apologize for any SPaG errors and the like, I didn't have it beta'd (I'm always in need of a good beta!)
Chapter 1: Meeting at Midnight
She's not sure how this happened only that it did. Repeatedly. She grabs her wand, righting her robes and tucking her hair behind her ear, preparing to apparate. She glanced at the sleeping figure, her heart lodges in her throat as he throws one arm out as if reaching for her. He stills, the moonlight trickling in from the double french doors illuminating his pale hair making it gleam bright and silver.
She never knew that passion could be found in the arms of a former enemy. Not that her life with Ron lacked passion, but this was a different kind of passion. It was electric and vibrant, and at the same time it was cold and calculating. It was intellectual and measured, timed to a measure of song that only the two could hear. Above all else, however, it was wrong. Wrong beyond measure, it was something befitting of a Slytherin not a Gryffindor.
Her eyes widened as Draco stirred once more. All in one motion she grabbed her travelling cloak and apparated away. She slipped out of a dark alley two blocks down the street from the apartment she shared with Ron in muggle london.
Ron.
What would she tell him this time? He was so trusting, never questioned her, always greeted her with a warm smile and kiss that churned her insides and froze her heart. It was crushing her, the weight of the guilt and lies, but if she confessed it would crush him. She loved him with all her heart.
But she also loved Draco.
They were two different kinds of love. With Ron everything was hot. It was a fire that consumed her, brought her to the edge and melted her. She loved him, with her heart and soul, as she should. With Draco though, it was an icy romance like jagged glass. It was a battle of wits and intellect. It was a coldness that extinguished the fire inside her and left her with a peaceful emptiness. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself even though there was no wind blowing. The coldness she felt was from within and she hurried towards her fire.
Reaching her front door, she tapped the door knob twice and then slipped in her key. The fire in the hearth was dying, but the warmth she felt was coming from the red-head slumped over on the couch fast asleep. She smiled and took her cloak off stepping silently towards him. She lost herself in the light reflected in his hair. The silky copper strands entrancing her. Her mind reeled in a clash of emotions. A single tear fell from her eye and slithered down her cheek. She loved this man and she would do anything to keep him including shattering the thing she had with Draco.
With her mind made up and the guilt easing, she dried her eyes and touched his face, tracing his brow with her finger wet with her tears. He smiled pushing his face further into her hand.
She knelt in front of him and brought her lips towards his and whispered, "I love you, Ron. You are the fire that fuels my soul."
"I love you, too, Hermione." She gasped as he smiled at her, eyes still closed. "I've missed you today. Come here," He said, opening his arms so she could lay with him.
She scrambled out of her shoes and slipped in besides him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She buried her face in his neck and breathed in his scent. He smelled of parchment, fresh grass, and broom polish. He smelled like heaven to her and she smiled, events of the previous evening forgotten and her mind at peace. As long as she was in his arms she would be happy.
And she would forget about Ice and all her regrets.
Hermione awoke to find herself alone in the den. She panicked for a moment as she re-acquainted herself with her surroundings. She relaxed as she heard Ron bustling around the kitchen and the heavenly scent of bacon beckoned her to get up. She stood in the doorway to the kitchen and watched him work. She loved their mornings together. He would make her a big breakfast and send her off to work with a wonderful lunch. In many ways he was just like Molly. After the war he embraced himself, grew out of his shy stage and became a great man. He was always great, he just didn't believe it. Seeing him whistling while he flipped a pancake was the greatest thing in the world.
She mentally prepared a note to Draco. She would tell him that whatever they had between them was over. She nodded and turned, heading up the stairs to write the letter.
Writing the letter was easier than she had imagined it, and on some small level deep within it broke her heart.
She showered and dressed and proceeded downstairs to have breakfast with Ron. She was ready to view the day with renewed energy and a different outlook.
After breakfast, they walked hand in hand to the phone booth and entered the Ministry of Magic together. They parted ways at the elevator where she descended to the Department of Mysteries leaving Ron behind at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement where he worked with Harry, Neville, Ginny, and Seamus. She exited the lift and greeted the ever dreamy Luna. Luna was her research partner.
"Good Morning, Luna," she said, smiling at her partner.
"Hermione," Luna greeted, her dreamy smile still on her face. "I prepared the presentation reports for the Wizengamot."
"Perfect." She stopped short as the smile left her ethereal friends face. "What is it, Luna?"
Luna pointed down the hall, "He won't leave. He's in your office."
"Who?"
Luna shook her head, "He's up to something, the flufferflies keep hovering around his head."
She looked at Luna quizzically and continued towards her office and pushed open her door. Sitting in her chair was the last person she wanted to see.
"Draco, what are you doing here," she hissed, quickly closing the door behind her. "Didn't you get my owl this morning?"
"I did," he drawled, "but I do not accept the terms as you outlined them."
"Well," Hermione said huffily, "you don't have a choice. I refuse to see you anymore." She took a step back as he rounded the desk. She knew if he touched her she would lose her resolve.
He stopped at the edge of her desk. "'Mione, love, you can't just end things like that." He looked hurt, and desperate.
"I'm sorry, Draco. I really am, but I can't live like this anymore. The guilt is eating me up inside." She took a deep steadying breath. "I've chosen and this is final. Now if you please, I have a busy schedule to keep."
In a swift motion, he had embraced her. "Hermione, please," he whispered.
She needed to be clear, she couldn't do it anymore. As much as it hurt her to see him this way, he needed to understand.
"I'm sorry, Draco."
He held her tighter, his face buried in her neck. Her arms hung loosely at her side. She couldn't show him any affection and that restriction choked her up.
"Hermione," he said, breathing down her neck. "I need you. I'm lost without you."
She shook her head, tears streaming down her face.
"I love you," he whispered. "Come away with me. I can give you everything your heart desires."
"No," she whispered, "you can't."
"I promise you I can," he pleaded. He snaked one hand up to cup her face, resting his forehead against hers. He stared into her eyes, rooting her to the spot. His eyes glistened with unshed tears. He had revealed a side of himself to her that no one other than his mother knew existed. He was still arrogant to everyone.
Everyone but her.
He broke the silence with a kiss so fierce she felt like she was drowning.
She interrupted the kiss with renewed determination.
"Draco, stop. Stop! Don't make me hex you."
He let her go and looked down at his feet.
"Listen, I never meant to hurt you. I never should have let this happen at all, and I am entirely to blame, but we both have commitments to uphold. You have Pansy and I have Ron."
"Weasley," he growled. "What can he offer you that I can't?"
"His love. His family, and his life. I'm sorry, Draco."
He lifted his chin high in the air. "Right then, Granger," he said her name like it was something distasteful,
"We shall see."
He pushed past her and was through her office door. She sighed.
"I'm sorry, Draco," she said, such hurt and lost in her voice.
But he didn't hear her
Draco stormed down the hall, exuding anger, his magic wild and uncontrolled. Doors banged open or shut as he moved towards the lift, those that were locked splintered in half with the force of his magic.
He'd show her. He'd show her that she needed him.
She would see. He would have her, in the end, even if it cost him everything he owned.
No one denied a Malfoy.
No one.
A/N: So, RavenclawRealty, are you ready for chapter 2? :)
