Dear Readers,
Well here is the fourth chapter. I hope I didn't bring it on too soon, but the timing seemed perfect to me, so I hope it does to you too. This entire chapter is dedicated to Hermione, so we'll see how it turns out. Thank you very much for following me and favoriting me, it means alot. Please enjoy and review.
~Romanceluver22
Switching to Hermione Granger's point of view.
Today has just begun and I'm already failing. In Transfiguration we had a review day, in which Professor McGonagall gives us a variety of spells to complete, and help us if we have any problems. I failed at every one of them, accidentally blowing up the ferret I was supposed to change into a cup. She didn't say anything but I can tell that she was disappointed. I am after all the best out of all of her classes, not that either of us would admit it.
I'm even worse in Muggle Studies, mostly because of Draco, whom I share the class with and got paired up with today. He acted mostly the way he normally does, ignoring me and talking to me as little as possible, but I can tell by the little things he does that he cares. Every time we touch; he shivers, any time I say we need something; he rushes off to get it. It's absolutely unnerving. And because of it, our brownies turn out burned, like most people's, but unlike my usual work.
Once it's finally over, I rush to the bathroom and flip back the Time Turner twice. I walk out and head to Arithmancy. Thankfully it's a test day, so once I complete it I'm free to lay my head down, without interruption. I then head to Ancient Runes, which I promptly fall asleep in, and am woken up by the end of class. I sigh at my accident and flip back the Time Turner once more in the bathroom, but thankfully I can't fall asleep in my next class, Care of Magical Creatures.
As the day draws on I find myself growing more and more tired, until I hit an all time low and fall asleep during class, right before the bell rings, and sleep straight through it, but thankfully Professor Binns wakes me, "Hermione, dear, are you alright?" I nod, turning pink. "You should go back to your common room and rest dear, maybe skip dinner." He's trying to be helpful but I just nod and sigh, "Thank you Professor, and I promise, I'll make it all up and-" "No! You're exhausted and need a break! Forget about school work and get some sleep." I sigh and nod, once more, "Maybe you're right . . ." "Of course I am, dear," he says soothingly. "Now go get some rest." I nod and head out, but instead of going to the common room, I go to the library, I did after all make a promise.
As I enter, I see him instantly, and can't help but smile. He's sitting at the desk that we first talked at, in the same spot with his back to me. He's leaning over a paper, scribbling furiously, and occasionally glancing at an open book next to him. He shifts slightly and the light hits his platinum blond hair, making it shine. I'd never noticed before, but he has quite broad shoulders and a handsomely angular face.
I walk over and sit lightly in my spot, and the effect is instantaneous. He glances up at me and smiles as his pale gray/blue eyes sparkle. I study his face and notice all its details, including the bags under his eyes, "Have you been sleeping okay?" He shakes his head, "Until last night, I got no more than two hours of sleep, a night."
I gape at him. And I thought less than five hours was bad! "Why don't you just go to Madam Pomfrey, I'm sure she has a potion for it? He shakes his head, "I can't rely on a potion for my entire life." "But surely it hasn't always been this way." He shakes his head once more, "Not until I got to Hogwarts." "Are you homesick?" He laughs hollowly, "God no! I just . . ." he fades off and looks at me, seeming to be studying my face, the same way that I had been studying his face, moments ago. "You just what?" "Never mind. You seem tired too, how'd you sleep?" "Poorly," I respond. "I fell asleep in half my classes."
"So two or three," he asks me, quietly. This time it's my turn to shake my head, I don't want to lie, but I'm not supposed to tell anyone about the Time Turner, so I choose a happy medium, "Don't worry about it." He nods, "So how much homework do you have?" "Alot, but I don't want to do any of it." He looks at me like I've gone mad and I understand why, I've always prided myself with being the first done with work, always prided myself on my motto A moment not studying is a moment wasted, and here I am saying I don't want to do homework. "Are you okay," he asks, concern evident on his face. I nod, "I'm just tired, and I need a break from work."
He nods, "I suppose we all need a break sometimes, so what do you want to do?" "Honestly, go outside." "It's freezing!" He's objecting with good reason, it snowed last night and it's so frigid and painful that after fifteen minutes of being outside, Hagrid moved us inside to a deserted classroom, thereby ensuring that I fell asleep in that class too. Nevertheless, I feel this strange desire to be outside.
"Alright," he murmurs, as if reading my mind. "We'll go outside." "But what about your work," I object. "I finished right as you arrived." I nod and he packs up. We head out, staying close together, for warmth. I find us under the same trees as last time, and smile. Underneath the trees, there is little to no snow, because of the thick branches above. I plop down and feel the cold ground beneath me, I scoot backwards until my back hits the tree, and I smile up at Draco, gesturing for him to join me.
He smiles down at me and carefully sits down, shivering slightly as he feels the cool ground. I scoot closer, because it so cold and we bump into each other, suddenly the air around us is electrified, but as quickly as it came, it's gone. I look at him and wonder if he felt it too, but can't tell because his eyes are closed and his head is leaning against the tree.
His face is serene and I can't help but think of the past few days. Him listening to me while I talk about Harry, him loosening my tie and the rush that I felt when he was near. Him helping me back to my common room, him massaging my shoulders as I cry, him helping me figure out what to do about Harry. Why's he helping me? And why am I letting him? Then it hits me, I like it. I enjoy the attention; I enjoy how he listens to me, regardless of our past. If I called for him, he would come, regardless of the reason.
I look at him again, seeing him in a new light. This boy, he actually cares about me. As I'm staring at him, he opens his eyes and, seeing me watching him, smiles. "What're you looking at?" "You," I reply truthfully, not being able to bring myself to lie to him. He's silent, staring at me, and then, slowly, he leans in. He stops an inch in front of my face, our noses almost touching. He's looking at me, hoping, but not pressuring me.
I can see the longing in his eyes and I realize that this can't have been something he's acquired in the last few days. He's probably liked me for a while. Then, something spurs me forward, closing the gap between us, and I close my eyes for what I know is to come. His lips are soft and hesitant, after a moment the kiss deepens, but only slightly, and extremely slowly, as if he's unsure of what he's doing.
He pulls back and I open my eyes. He's studying my face again and there is something in his eyes I can't read. "It's you," he whispers. I cock my head, silently questioning him. "You're the reason I can't sleep," he whispers to me, a slight smile on his face. I smile slightly at him, "I'm sorry." He just nods, still studying my face.
I can still feel his lips on mine, so soft and warm, so tender and light. As I look at him, I wish that that was my first kiss. Draco and all. He leans in once more, and I happily meet him in the middle this time. It's still soft and tender, my eyes close and I allow the kiss to deepen. Our lips part slightly, then close again. His hand finds my back and he pulls me closer to him and I move easily with his hand. My hands find his neck on their own accord and our kiss deepens once more, our lips moving silently against each other.
We break apart and he looks at me, as if expecting me to say something. After a moment of silent staring, he whispers, "I don't want you to be with Potter." I look at him; my mood changing slightly and I turn my head and snuggle against him, shivering slightly.
"How long?" "The first day of first year." I glance up at him and I instantly felt something drop in my stomach. "Why? Why did you . . ." He shrugs slightly, "I was trying to do as I was taught, I failed, but I was trying." I only nod, mulling this over.
He glances at his watch, "We should get back; it's almost 8." I nod and he stands up. He lowers a hand to help me up and I gratefully grab it and am pulled up. Our faces hit lightly, our lips brushing together slightly. He grabs my chin, lightly, and kisses me, ever so softly and it's over far too soon. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself." I smile at him, stand on my toes, and softly kiss his cheek. "It's okay," I murmur softly. We head up to the castle holding hands, but we let our hands drop as we reach the door in.
He nods towards the door, "Ladies first." I look up at him and kiss his cheek, once, then nod and walk in. I head into the Dining Hall, to grab a bite to eat, and can hear the door open. I smile softly as I grab my food and head to leave. We walk past each other, and brush our hands against the others, but keep our faces blank.
Dear Reader,
Well, what did you think, too soon, just right, or too late? Please review and let me know, thanks. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'll see about getting another chapter out tomorrow, but I don't know if I'll be able to. Until next time, Happy Fourth of July. :)
~Romanceluver22