"Are you totally, completely sure you are okay, Hermione?"
"Promise."
It always happened this way. Malfoy always had a way with his words. To anyone else it was utter hostility towards me. But I knew better. I knew what he held behind those words. That was why I was gasping for air right now. Not because he "crushed" my heart. Definitely not.
"Well, hello mudblood. Looking absolutely wonderful today," Malfoy had said in a sarcastic manner. "Do something different? Finally get laid? Looks like little Weasley finally got what he wanted. Must have been terrific," he sneered, almost like he was mad. And then something happened that no one else seemed to notice. Malfoy looked at me and smiled, not sadistically, but with utter joy. He looked me up and down as he continued to smile and said, "I would be overjoyed to shake the hand of a mudblood who is no longer a virgin. Ha!" He took my hand, laughing hysterically while others watched over us with disgusted looks. They didn't see what he held in his hand, and I couldn't believe it.
I flipped the paper through my hands silently as the boys deliberated if I was okay or not. I honestly did not need them worrying about me like this constantly. I was 17 for goodness sake!
As I quietly hummed to myself, Harry came over to sit next to me. I looked up and smiled at him. He was truly one of my best friends and I knew he would be here for me until the end. He wrapped his arm around me and said, "I am sorry, 'Mione. We just worry about you sometimes."
"Sometimes?" I looked at Harry with a calm face.
"Okay, maybe a little more than sometimes. We just don't like people hurting you."
"Honestly, Harry, I am not even close to being hurt. Do I seriously look like I have a scratch on me?!"
"You know what I am talking about."
I sighed, "Yea, I know." I looked over towards Ron who was impatiently tapping his foot on the wood floor. "Geeze, Ron. Stop being so overprotective."
"It's Harry too," he said harshly.
"Mostly you," I sneered.
As always, Ron stormed out of the room with a pained look on his face. He hated when I turned on him like that. Most of all, I know he hated that I wouldn't be with him, and Malfoy's words cut into him like a knife. He wished it were all true but I never would allow him to do that. I made it clear that we were nothing more than friends and he just couldn't seem to get over it.
"Well," I said as I put the small piece of paper in my pocket, "I need to head out of here. See you later, Harry." And before Harry could say a thing I was out the common room door.
I needed to know what this was all about. Was Malfoy about to play a trick on me, or did he really want to "chat". As I walked through the topmost tower's door, I saw him standing there looking up at the stars. The light from the moon glistened on his pale skin and his hair hung over his face in an unusual, sloppy manner. For him at least. As I was looking over him I did not realize that his eyes were focused on me now. When I finally looked into them, all the oxygen was caught in my lungs. Those piercing blue-grey eyes. My whole body went completely numb.
He smiled a gentle smile as he walked carefully towards me.
"I have been waiting for you."