Thank you so much for all the amazing reviews! (:

I love this chapter. Carefree, shall I say? I think you'll like it too.


Everyone's moving on now, and things are speeding up. But they're travelling so fast, and if they don't slow down, someone's going to get hurt. Sequel to An Aberration.

Chapter 2

Of courtyards and carrying.

Hermione Granger

The sky was dark and stormy, the clouds creating a claustrophobic atmosphere in the Hospital. I had been inundated with visitors through the past three days, and along with constant check ups from Mediwitches and wizards, I was tired.

My arm was sore from the drip that sat in it, the fluids helping my strength and health were great, but the needle didn't make me that comfortable… Draco was constantly at my bedside and he seemed really happy around me – his mother coming and going too.

I ad talked to Narcissa, but it was hard to get in a word edge-ways when Narcissa was apologizing profusely for all the wrong she had done towards me and the light side in the war. I accepted the apologies with good nature and Draco finally got her to cease, cracking jokes about the words the seemed to just spill from her mouth.

I did really appreciate her apology, though. She seemed a much nicer person after our encounter at Malfoy manor in the last year of that terrible war, the memories which still haunted my dreams every once in a while.

I sighed, Harry and Ron having just left for work. The room was finally empty and I smiled, I had always appreciated silence. The silence was contempt and reminded me of the Hogwarts library – on a good day – and I breathed in slowly, it was almost as if I could smell the smell of musty, aged parchment and the soothing but sharp aroma of books, the scent that drifted of them every time a page was turned.

The rusting of parchment and a wizened quill scratching over a page, the dark black ink quickly soaking into the paper, formulated as not to smudge the work. The rolls of parchment that weren't due as homework for at least a week and then triumph! As a reward I would stand and move from my usual seat in the back of the library and skim my fingers over the aged spines of the books and select one, settling back into my chair and enjoying words washing over me.

I turn and look towards the noise I heard, its Draco. Standing there and frowning at me, my eyebrows rise. Since when did he come into the library?

"Hermione?" he asks softly.

"What?"

"Hermione, wake up. Your Mediwitch is here."

"What?"

"Hermione!"

I opened my eyes quickly and Draco was right there, barely an inch away from me. His breath fanned across my face and my eyes fluttered, his nose softly skimming mine. My tongue reached out to wet my lips and I breathed in, the scent of him invading my senses, his masculine, spicy aroma sending a shiver down my spine.

His lips seemed to slowly ghost across mine, but then he moved back. The Mediwitch moved towards me silently and brought out her wand. She performed the usual tasks, removed my drip and smiled slightly me, as if she knew what was going on between Draco and I.

"Alright dear, that's all done. If you want, your friend here can escort you to the courtyard for a bit of fresh air," she said slyly.

She was right – we were never going to get any privacy in here.

I smiled at her, Draco smirking.

"Thank you."

She turned and left, but not without winking.

Draco turned to me and smiled, gesturing to the door, "Care for a walk, Lady Hermione?"

I just smiled and took his hand. His hand went around my waist to support me and my breathing hitched. Slowly, we walked towards the door and I smiled.

"You know, it would be quicker if I just carried you," Draco whispered in my ear, sending heat through my body, momentarily confusing me.

I laughed, "You're just trying to get me into your arms."

"Is it working?"

"Almost, but not quite," I smiled.

"Ah, well I'll keep trying," he smirked.

I shook my head, I didn't doubt him.

After a minute, he quickly moved, and in the blink of an eye I was in his arms – bridal style.

"Draco!"

"Yes?"

"Put me down!"

"I'm afraid I cannot," he said, quickening his pace into a run.

I screamed and linked my arms around his neck. He went skidding around the corner and I squeezed my eyes shut, the air rushing past us and my hair flying out behind us.

He slowed to a walk and opened the door to the courtyard, carefully putting me down like I was a china doll.

We sat on one of the wooden benches and although Draco tried to sit me on his lap, I just laughed and pushed off him, snuggling up beside him against the cold wind that swirled around the square, brick space.

The beige patterned brick made the smooth, hollow space feel alive, and the lush green grass beneath our feet tickled, but was calm and swayed slightly in the wind. In the middle there was a beautiful off yellow fountain which had four tiers and had trimmings of blue, even the thin light through the heavy clouds making it look beautiful. There were a few chairs, but apart from that there was just still, silence space. It was picturesque and quaint, an extremely peaceful and calm area.

"It's nice out here," I whispered, afraid to distil the silence.

Draco made a sound of agreement and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I was scared, for you," he said, his lips grazing my ear.

"Why?" I gasped, as my breathing quickened.

"Because losing you would mean losing two of the most important things in my life," he said solemnly.

I turned my head towards his face and was encapsulated in his stormy grey eyes, not that different from the colour of the clouds above us. His nose touched mine and I shifted closer to him, my hand reaching up and cradling his face.

"I could never do that to you," I whispered.

His lips captured mine and his warm, soft lips cascaded through mine, the warm taste of him surrounding me as we kissed passionately, as if it was our very first.

It should've been our first, the experience. It was soft and we were in total control of our emotions, it was totally ours.

And just like that, with a few months of experiences and a life changing decision; thousands of words spoken and a soul baring kiss – I fell in love with Draco Malfoy.

And it was amazing.


AH! (:

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Much love and kisses, zzzooe.x