A/N: Was googling something when it showed me a video for a song I had forgotten but absolutely adore. It sparked this oneshot. See my Pinterest FF*elle311 for "I Saw You First" aka "Key West Intermezzo" by John Mellencamp. Listen to it and then read. Enjoy.

Draco was bored. He didn't even know why he had come, but it was the latest hip and happening place, the drinks flowing and the dancing hot. Key West Intermezzo was the name of the place and it was lush, warm, and tropical. It was a very welcome change from the dreary grey of England and Scotland that they were used to. Blaise told him he worked too much and he needed to get out more which meant getting back into the dating scene. Draco could not have cared less, but let himself be dragged there just the same. No one wants to be lonely, no one wants to sing the blues.

They had the perfect spot, one of the VIP areas that was elevated and private. From his vantage point, he could see people as they first arrived, and also had a bird's eye view of the bar and dance floor. He knocked back the rest of his firewhiskey and looked across the room. "Fuck", he muttered to himself. It was them.

There they were, two thirds of the Golden Trio. He was surprised to see the Weasel with his arms around someone other than her. The woman in question had on purple and he vaguely remembered her. "Ah, he thought, Lavender Brown, that's who she is." Potter was sitting there, entertaining a group made up of mostly fellow Gryffindors. Apparently he must have been relaying something funny, because the crowd erupted in laughter. Grudgingly, Draco had to admit he cleaned up well, especially in his Head Auror uniform.

But he was nothing, they all were, compared to her. And just like that she appeared at the entrance. She was looking around, no doubt for her insufferable sidekicks. Potter saw her and raised up his arm. She smiled and glided towards the Gryffindor group. He took the time to drink in the sight. She was perched like a parrot over Potter's shoulder, arms around his neck. "Merlin, Draco thought, what's she doing with him...she could be dancing with me." She was a vision in emerald green. The halter showed off her soft shoulders that he longed to kiss as he made his way down from her lips and then neck. The keyhole in the front went from neckline to waist. He could just see a hint of those perfect breasts and the valley between. Just one of many parts of her he knew well. It was on the path down to where he loved to pleasure her the most. Gods, what he would do to her again in the throes of passion. If he was ever lucky to have her again, he'd lock them in his bedroom and they would never leave. In his mind, she wore that particular color as a nod to him and his house. In reality, it was probably to match the eyes of The Chosen One. He felt himself harden, but that arousal had nowhere to go in those bespoke black muggle trousers that fit him perfectly.

She whispered something in the raven haired man's ear, which caused him to break out into a smile. Draco knew he would be wearing that same smile if it were him in Potter's place. Harry turned to look at her and their eyes met, and then he kissed her on the forehead.

Drinks appeared at the Gryffindors' table. Hermione gestured for him to hand her a glass. She stirred the ice in it with an elegant finger. The lonely Slytherin thought, "I want to be what's she's drinking, yeah I just want to be." Blaise came back with another firewhiskey, which he gratefully took. He stared at his pale haired friend and then followed his gaze across the room.

"Awww Draco, give it up already, the girl is obviously taken. Besides there are so many other pretty birds here, and you can take your pick." He gestured over to the bar, where a quartet of skimpily clad witches looked like they were each vying for his attention. One winked at him, then wrapped her lips around the straw of her drink. She took a sip, then her tongue darted out to lick them. Another angled herself in her chair to directly face him. She crossed and then uncrossed long legs in an impossibly tight skirt and Draco did a double take as she smiled. He thought he saw a glimpse of her lady bits, then looked away as he covered his face with his palm. The third took the cherry out of her frou-frou drink, brought it to her equally red stained lips, tongue darting out to capture it before her lips closed around it as she broke it from its stem. Tha last was dancing in place to the beat of the music, hips swaying in a dress so short and left nothing to the imagination. She saw him and puckered up her lips to blow a kiss his way.

Draco's eyebrows furrowed, then looked away shaking his head. At one point in his life, his privileged, cocky self would no doubt believe he deserved all this attention. He definitely would have brought one of them home to satisfy his desires. But a very special witch owned his heart completely now. They would never have the grace or the elegance of the one and only Granger.

Then he saw Potter offer a hand to her, a slow song had just started up. The floor cleared and began to fill up with couples. He gasped when he saw thin straps criss-crossing her back. He watched as the full skirt twirled around her thighs as they danced. Her impossibly high silver heels made her legs even more perfect. He felt like he was dying inside as the Head Auror drew her in closer and it looked like he was nuzzling her ear. She laughed and then stole a glance at him. Her riotous curls had been swept into an updo, but there were a few stray ones here and there. "Yes, Draco thought, he too would be whispering sweet things in her ear, before planting soft kisses down that neck.

Draco decided then and there, he had enough. He did not know when loving her became just as natural as breathing air, he just did it, without thinking. And he was tired of questioning it, because it became truth, his truth. This love was something he could believe in, fight for, die for. She was someone he could not live without and he wouldn't, not anymore. She needed to know, but he knew she did. But he had to tell her, because he had been too scared, afraid, proud, or whatever shit he had been telling himself. His head be damned, his heart was taking over. This he knew was a good thing. With the firewhiskey giving him liquid courage, he stood up and straightened out his suit coat. He swiped a hand over his perfectly coiffed hair. He stared directly at the Gryffindor pair. As he started walking, Blaise shot out his hand and grabbed Draco's wrist.

"You don't want to cause a scene, Draco. Please, give this a rest!"

Draco looked at Blaise's hand, then up at his face. "I don't intend to make a scene. But I see her everywhere, Blaise. I can't live this way anymore. I need her back in my life and it's time I make my intentions known."

Blaise let go and lifted his hands in surrender. Then he smiled and placed his hands on Draco's shoulders, leaning in and saying, "Then go and get her." He nodded to his friend and made his way down the stairs.

Draco strode to the middle of the room where they were dancing. He cleared his throat, which caused the pair to look at him. "Hermione, he started, which caused both sets of eyes to widen and for one of her perfectly manicured eyebrows to arch up curiously, may I have this dance?"

Harry looked to her and she nodded her head almost imperceptibly. He hugged her quickly and then said, "Malfoy, she is all yours."

Draco thought, "What an interesting choice of words, but yes, that is exactly my goal."

He held out his hand and she took it. He drew her into his arms and she did not protest. In fact, to his surprise she put her head on his chest. He wondered if she could hear the rapid beating of his heart as he held her, finally.

She looked up at him and said, "Harry and I were both wondering when you would come over and talk to me. That's what he whispered in my ear when we were dancing."

Draco took a deep breath and said, "I was waiting for the right moment. You know, I saw you first, I'm the first one tonight. I saw you first, don't that give me the right...to move around your heart, everyone was looking, but I saw you first."

"What in the world does that mean, Draco?"

"I think you know, Hermione. We have been dancing around each other for years. The longing looks, the small smiles before looking away. The entire Eighth year when you were mine, but in secret so long ago. That was truly the best year of my life, and the happiest I had ever been. I was a damn fool, I should have never let you go. I certainly didn't expect to still feel this way, after all these years. But then again, if I believed that crap I just spewed, then I would be a liar. You will always be the first thing I see in my mind when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I drift off to sleep if I'm lucky to do so. Then you turn up once again in my dreams. I am so utterly done with feeling unworthy...through with familial obligations and carrying on worthless traditions. I am a man finally making his way on his own terms. I need the love of my life back. I will always move around you, the center of my universe. I need to make you a reality, rather than live in this second rate fantasy for one more moment. I pray to the gods it's not too late."

Hermione looked up into those beautiful grey eyes, the ones she's missed for the entire time they've been apart. She too felt she'd been living a half life without him. She couldn't even remember the reasons why they decided to be apart, but knew she had contributed a few of her own. Brightest witch of her age, she laughed to herself. Yes, it was high time. She didn't want to waste another precious minute. She reached up and put her arms around his neck. His eyes widened as she pulled his head down to whisper in his ear, "Boy, you are my star", then kissed those luscious lips she has missed and dreamed about. He closed his eyes, and his hands went down to hug her around her waist. He felt a wide smile form. He felt elated because he knew that smile would be plastered on his face for the rest of his life. That is, if she was saying what he thought she was with that sexy little kiss. He opened his eyes and knew he was right. His mouth wore a smirk for just a moment, then that ridiculously wide smile took it's rightful place.

"Never, ever, leave me again, Draco."

"Like I said, I've moved back into your heart and plan to stay as long as you will have me. Forever. For always."

"In that case, let's get out of here. I want to take you home." She held out her hand and he took it.

He looked at her and thought, "I'm already home. He would never let go again.