Chapter 1 -Under The Stars
Unsure of where she was going and not really caring, Hermione walked quickly through the corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She just needed to get away from that idiot Ronald Weasley. Would he even notice if she didn't return to the Gryffindor Common Room? No. She told herself, firmly. He would still be sucking the face of that bitch Lavender Brown. Hermione clenched her fists. Her fingers digging into her palms. Tears began to run down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them with the sleeve of her robe. As she went down some stairs, she stared down at the floor as she passed some first year girls.
How could he? She wondered. OK, so they hadn't made their relationship official but they had both known it was moving in that direction. She thought they had understood each other. She'd offered to take him to Slughorn's Christmas party after all. Although she hadn't specifically called it a date, surly he knew? They had been building up to it for so long. Dancing around their feelings. But then Ron has been acting weird for weeks and she had no idea why. Perhaps it was because he'd developed feelings for Lavender and was trying to push her away?
Now outside the castle, Hermione breathed in the cold night air but did not stop. It wasn't long before she found herself approaching the Great Lake. Something appeared in the distance. In the darkness it first appeared as just a blur.
"Lumos" Hermione whispered. The tip of her wand shone in an instant. She could now see the outline of a man stood at the edge of the lake, looking out. His blond hair stood out against the blackness of his cloak. Presumably alerted to her presence by the sudden light, the man turned around.
Hermione's heart sank. Stood in front of her was Draco Malfoy. This was the last thing she needed. She stopped dead in her tracks and braced herself for whatever insult Draco was about to throw at her. But the insult never came. Instead he quickly brought his sleeves up to his eyes.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked kindly. She was relieved by the lack of insults, and grateful for the distraction.
"I'm fine." He said sharply, and a little too quickly.
"You're been crying." Hermione pointed out, in a matter of fact tone.
"So have you." Draco said accusingly.
Draco seemed to stare. Hermione felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. she looked away, suddenly self conscious of her eyes that were probably puffy and red. Neither of them spoke. The only sound came from unknown animals in the Forbidden Forest.
The anger that has coursed through her veins so fiercely just a short time ago, was waning. Now replaced with sadness. The fight had gone out of her. With no desire to return to the castle, and unsure where else she could go, Hermione sat down on the grass. To her surprise, Draco sat down next to her.
"Want to talk about it?" Hermione asked politely.
Draco didn't speak but shook his head in response. "Do you?" He asked. But he seemed unsure of himself.
Hermione looked at him more closely now. He didn't seem like his usual self. His trademark sneer was gone. He seemed smaller, somehow. More vulnerable.
They sat for a while. The silence didn't feel awkward to Hermione. She was glad of the company, even it was Draco. Hermione looked up. Without the lights of the castle to drown them out, the stars were out in full force. Draco yawned, and stretched. Hermione wondered how long he had been out here. In the darkness, as Draco went to put his hand back on the grass, he missed and found his hand on Hermione's. They looked into each other's eyes for a brief moment, before Draco moved his hand and awkwardly mumbled "sorry".
Draco's touch had felt like a bolt of lightning. As the sensation began to fade, she felt a desire to reach out and touch Draco's hand again. She mentally shook herself. What was she thinking? This was Draco! She looked towards him and realised he was staring at her. There was something in those eyes. Surprise? Desire? Hermione looked away and towards the lake. When Draco placed his hand on Hermione's again, it was deliberate. Hermione decided that for once in her life she was not going to over think it. This was just one sad soul comforting another, she told herself. It didn't mean anything. Feeling emboldened, she placed her head on Draco's shoulder.
They stayed there until the sun rose over the Great Lake.