I do own any of these characters.

Much Like Falling

Hermione stared out at the crystal blue lake as she sat under the beech tree. It was 12 p.m. and the sun was shone brightly through the branches up above. In a fit of nerves she had got there a good 20 minutes before noon. Sitting there she waited for Draco to get there and while she waited Hermione wondered for the hundredth time why he wanted anything to do with her. Ever since she first started coming to Hogwarts Draco had shunned her and treated her like something lower than dirt.

She sighed, closed her eyes, and hummed to herself something she heard her mother sing when she was younger. The soothing melody made her drift slowly into dreamlike plane. She was under water looking up into the light. From below the waves she saw Harry, Ron, and Ginny laughing and having a good old time without her. In seemingly slow motion, she swam to the surface and join them, but a powerful force pulled her down. Down she went into the dark depths of the ocean and as she was dragged down she lost sight of her friends to the empty darkness below her. "Hermione?"

From the depths of her sleep Hermione is pulled out of her dream to wake and find Draco before her. Looking up at him as he leaned over her, she could see the shadows under his eyes and the perfect halo of blonde hair slicked back making him look like he was going on a date. Hermione watched in confusion, as he extended his hand in hopes of helping her up.

"No, I'm fine where i am. Been a long night and i didn't sleep very well." With a nervous smile, Draco shyly pulled his hand to his side and looked down at his feet. "You could have a sit next to me if you like." She patted the ground next to her, Hermione gave Draco an encouraging smile hoping to ease the awkward tension that was slowly building.

"Okay." And with that Draco sat next Hermione. Both wore awkward smiles and looked the other way, but for Hermione she felt strangely comforted by the fact that someone who she thought had always hated her was trying to make up for it, something so far her best friends hadn't done. Looking over at him she could see he was bit estrange as to what he was supposed to do. Smiling, Hermione gave Draco a friendly push.

"Hey what was that for?" Draco said looking at Hermione. Upon seeing the happy smile on her face, he blushed realizing she was just fooling around. "Sorry, I'm no use to playing around like that."

"It's okay. I never really did that with Harry and Ron, but i thought it might relieve tension so..." Looking at each other from the close proximity that they were sitting in made Hermione realize that Draco was very good looking. Never has she noticed his beautiful gray eyes and his lovely pale eye lashes. Staring at him, her heart began to melt. Quickly, she looked away with embarrassment trying to find something to distract her eyes with. She turned her gaze to her left where eyes fell upon her enchanted radio that she brought. "Do you want to listen to some music?" With that she grabbed her radio and brought it in between the two of them.

"I brought some Flyleaf, Evanescence, Avril Lavigne, or how about some Emilie Autumn, she's amazing." Looking over at Draco, Hermione waited for a response that didn't come. Draco seemed to be staring off into the distance in his own world struggling with his own demons. Looking at him she saw the stress lines near his mouth from constantly frowning and the worry lines above his eyes. In her chest she felt her heart clench for Draco. All of sudden it seemed Draco and herself were on the same page, a page that kept trying to turn on them and crush them both.

"We don't have to listen to anything if you don't want to." Hermione said feeling her own sorrow taking control and pulling her into deep blue. Staring at her fingers she urged herself not to cry, but the tears kept pushing forward like a flood and soon broke through and down her face.

From the depth of his daydream, Draco is pulled out by the sound of Hermione's crying. Looking over he saw her folding in on herself trying to hide from her pain. Without thinking, Draco got up and pushed himself close to her and put his arms around her in a protective hug. This only seemed to make her cry harder, but still Draco stayed by her side and held on tighter. Staring down at Hermione, he saw the beauty of this tiny, fragile Gryffindor who, even through her tears, had the most beautiful eyes he ever beheld. Ever so gently, Draco placed his head on her's and closed his eyes, listening to her breathe and slowly stop crying.

Across the lake, the sun shone brightly making the water sparkle as the wind pushed it to and fro. Pinks and purples play across the water like two lovers chasing each other. And as the colors slowly become one the sun was blocked out by a monstrous cloud. As this terrible cloud took over so did it start to rain with a fierceness that could only be described as god's sorrow. As the rain started to come down like watery missiles, Hermione and Draco broke apart, staring up at the sky.

"I love the rain." Hermione said smiling shyly at Draco.

"Yea, me too." Draco looked over at Hermione and felt his heart beat faster. Carefully, Draco moved closer to Hermione. Seeing this Hermione pulled in closer excepting his offer of a kiss when a pocket of water from above comes crashing down on them, soaking them to the bone.

"AHHHHH..." Both Hermione and Draco laughed as they sprang up and apart.

"Come on. Lets get out of this watery mess." Draco smiled and grabbed Hermione's hand. Together they ran out into the rain, running towards the school. As they reached the school front doors Draco turned and gave Hermione a soaked gentle kiss on her cheek before running into the building, leaving Hermione to blush in the rain.