Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the plot.
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Recovery.
She slumped weakly against the wall, running a finger delicately across the faded scars on her arms. Upon hearing footsteps coming down the corridor she froze – attempting to decipher whose they were. She closed her eyes. When the footsteps stopped in front of her, she swallowed thickly, unwilling to open her eyes just yet.
An arm reached around her waist. Her breathing hitched; she flinched; her eyes clamped down, determined not to open until she was sure she could trust this person. More from panic than anything else. He seemed to sense this, and went to back off.
At the last moment her arm shot out and grabbed his right wrist, and her eyes flew open. She stared at him. With her eyes wide, and her jaw dropped slightly, she was the epitome of the word 'shocked.' He, too, was staring at her hand as if he had never seen it before. He slate grey eyes then flicked upwards to meet her dulled brown ones. Her eyes bore into his, holding a curiosity that hadn't been seen for a while, though her face was still in shock. The air around them crackled with tension.
He seemed to hesitate; biding his time; waiting to see if she was comfortable before taking half a step forward. She quivered slightly, but did not back away.
He bent his head slightly, gently placing a hand on her hip. She sucked in a breath in anticipation, but stopped an inch away from her lips. She closed her eyes, unable to see the intensity in his any longer. She allowed his warm breath to run over her lips. She cracked one eye open, then the other when he still had not moved. He simply stood there, waiting. Hermione couldn't stand the tension anymore.
"Why not go all the way?" His eyes drifted shut before he answered.
"Because I know how much he hurt you. Both mentally and physically." She stared at a point just over his shoulder – finally understanding why he had stopped.
He wanted to know whether she was ready for another relationship. Hermione bit her lip. She was nervous. Was she ready to put her heart and body on the line again, after it had been truly smashed?
All this time Draco had been waiting patiently, eyes open again and piercing hers. They flickered with something akin to sadness before returning to his normal steely gaze. He shifted, looking ready to move away, and come back when she was ready.
And with that gesture, Hermione knew that Draco was the man to get her life back on track. Just before he moved away she leant forward and tentatively kissed him. His grip tightened in surprise before relaxing again. He hesitantly cupped the back of her head, twining his fingers delicately into her hair. She moaned softly, before pulling away and shyly meeting his eyes. He gave her a soft smile and enclosed her in a possessive hug.
Hermione Granger had begun the road to recovery.
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17/08/09