This is for mew-tsubaki's quote challenge! Enjoy.
"Love is letting go of fear." –Gerald Jampolsky
"Draco?" She whispered in the bitter night. No voice responded. "Draco!" She hissed. Still no reply. Then a sound could be heard. It sounded like muffled sobs. Hermione quieted down, listening hard for more noises. She walked closer to the source. Turning the corner of a tree, she saw the figure of a boy, and he was quietly crying. "Draco?" She asked again.
The blonde boy looked up, red rimmed around his eyes. "H-hi Hermione." Her whimpered. She had never seen him so vulnerable. He was always cold, or brave. Thats what she liked about him. He always tried to act as if he didnt care. But she knew he did. There was a part of him that nobody knew about, a part that only showed when she was around. It was tender, gently, sweet.
"Draco, whats wrong?" She asked, putting her hands to his cheeks, trying to stop him from crying. He hid his face from her. "Draco please tell me." She begged, desperate to know what was hurting him.
"No, you'll think im weak." His voice darkened. She wrapped her arms around him.
"Draco, I would never. You are a strong person, weak isnt in your vocabulary." She told him, kissing his tears away. Another single tear ran down his face.
"I...I'm ...scared." He choked out. His voice cracked, and more tears spilled out.
"Shh..." She cooed, stroking his hair. "Im scared to Draco. There isnt a reason that you shouldnt be scared. Draco, you have the mark. You should be bloody terrified." She explained, sitting down agaisnt the tree, bringing Draco with her. He wrapped muscular arms around her, and sobbed quietly.
"Draco, are you ever willing to go public with me?" She asked quickly. Draco stopped crying, then chuckled.
"Silly girl. Of course not." He responded, kind of taken aback that she would ask such a dumb question. Hermione's heart sank. She understood the trouble it would cause if everyone found out Pure-Blood Malfoy was dating Mudblood Granger, but if he loved her, wasnt he willing to fight for her?
"But, if you loved me, wouldn't you be willing to go through the trouble of fighting for me? For us?" She looked in his eyes, and she already knew the answer. No.
"Hermione, do you know what a disgrace my family would become?" He got a scowl on his face.
"So you would rather pretend to hate me, than love me?" She accused.
"Of course!" He threw his hands up. "Hermione, this relationship isnt for love. We both can't be with who we want. You and Weasley, Pansy and I. So we turn to each other. We both know that." He told her, shaking his head. A flame ignited inside Hermione. Not for love? She gave him her heart, and he just throws it away.
"No...love?" She whispered. Draco stared at her.
"You didnt actually think....?" He began. "Hermione, I don't feel love. Im not in love with Pansy, just attracted. I don't feel love." He laughed. Hermione stared back at him in frustration.
"Then live in fear!" She hissed, before knocking him.
I hope you liked it! I dont like this pairing, so I made them fight! yay!