Draco pushed open the front doors and looked out across the grounds looking for her. He'd searched all her favourite places, the back table in the library, the astronomy tower, the abandoned Charms classroom and now here he was.
He saw her huddled shape in the moonlight sitting on the edge of the black lake and sighed.
"Why did she have to come and sit out here" he mumbled to himself "in the middle of the night" he wrapped his cloak tightly around him "IN DECEMBER!"
Rolling his eyes and shuddering against the cold he stepped out onto the frost covered ground and made his way over to her.
"Why did you follow me?" she asked when he got close enough to hear.
"Of course I was going to follow you! You can't just leave the conversation like that?"
"Why not? I don't see what more needs to be said!"
Letting out a sigh he sat down beside her. "Just because I said I wasn't ready to let Pothead and Weasel know about us doesn't mean I don't want to be with you!"
"Well it sure feels like it!" she mumbled.
Leaning forwards he hooked his fingers under her chin and pulled her face up to look at his.
"For such a smart girl you are so stupid Miss Granger! How is it that after all this time you are still doubting this?" He asked.
"What is this though? You obviously don't think it'll survive being out in the open so how can this even be real? Our whole relationship lives inside this night-time cocoon that we've created!"
"I just asked for a bit more time that's all! I like how things are between us and I know that as soon as Dumb and Dumber find out they'll try and convince you not to….be with me." He trailed off towards the end, and let go of her chin to look out across the water.
"Is that what you're afraid of? That they'll change my mind?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Do you think I'm that persuadable?"
He shrugged again.
"Do you even want to be in love with me?"
"Of course I do you muppet, all the time!"
She smiled.
"You understand me! You get me! Being with you is the only place I feel myself, the only place I feel at home. But if you tell anyone I said that then I'll deny it!" She smiled at him as he pushed his shoulder against hers knocking her slightly before slipping his hand between them and locking their together.
"We should get back, people will be wondering where we were" he remarked as the clock tower hit 11 o'clock.
"Our time together is just never quite enough" she said with a frown.
She tried to pull away but he grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him.
He held her chin once more and pulled her towards his face. "Soon" he whispered.
He leant in and brushed his lips against her cheek, peppering kisses towards her mouth before capturing her lips in a soul-shaking kiss. She rested her hand against his shoulder as she fell further into him. When he pulled away he ran his hand across her caramel tumble of hair.
"Soon."