Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.


Chapter 5

Neither of them expected that they would meet each other that time. But that doesn't mean they didn't wish that they would be seeing each other.

Awkward. That's how they thought of their "situation". It was only about a few seconds since Draco arrived and the awkward silence set in, but for them, it felt like they've been sitting opposite each other for a lifetime. Snap out of it, Hermione! Forget the fact that you're in front of him right now. Just get this interview done and over with!

"Uhm.. so, why do you want to work in the company?"

"Uh... I guess I needed a.. job... I'm nearly out of money."

She looked surprised. A Malfoy nearly out of money?

"Why so surprised, Granger? Never thought you'd live the day I ran out of money?" He said sarcastically.

"I wouldn't go there. Remember Malfoy, you're the one who needsa job, and it's up tome whether you get one or not."

She wanted to sound strong. Maybe he morphed back to the Malfoy I used to hate. Little did she know, Draco was arguing in his mind on why he reacted like that. Stupid! You wanted her back in your life, and you do that by annoying her. It was true, he wanted her back in his life. But seeing someone familiar to him in the wizarding world made him, kind of, remember who he was back in Hogwarts. That was stupid! Now, she's going to hate me -- AGAIN!

Hermione wasn't angry, but a little pissed. The last thing she needs is the old Malfoy back. Though Draco showed her his old self, it didn't change the fact that he was here, in front of her after the war. She wanted him back in her life, she wanted to hold him. But the thought of that just send shivers down her spine. She couldn't look at his grey-blue eyes, for all she knew, she will probably get lost in his eyes and forget about the reason why she's here in the first place. But just sitting in front of her makes her nervous. She never felt like this before. Her fingers were tapping on the table, her nervousness was now obvious. THe sound of her fingers on the table wsa driving him crazy! For one thing, it was utterly annoying! But a part of him wants to hold her hands on his and calm her. He didn't know if he should, but nevertheless, he did.

She felt something warm on her hand. Draco's hand. She was surprised. She looked up at him, waiting for any speech, any sentence, any word to come out of his mouth. Clearly, this was not going to end as to how a real "job interview" would.

Draco knew she was looking at him. But somehow, he couldn't set his eyes on hers. There's something he wants her to know, and he couldn't say that while looking at her. She knows him better than anyone in the world. She knows who the real Draco is, and he knew that the moment he stares at those 2 chocolate brown eyes, she will see the emotions he felt when she wasn't with him.

"I've been looking for you..." Tears went down her cheeks as he started to speak. No, he doesn't feel that way anymore, does he? No..

This time, Draco was looking at her eyes intently. Taking in any emotion she had.. or has for him. "After the war, I went back to the Shrieking Shack hoping that you'd be there..." He took his free hand and wiped the tears that was coming down her face. "I was getting nowhere. No one could tell me where you were. No one saw you after the war. But I never thought that you didn't survive... I know you did... Somehow, something in me was telling me you were still alive..."

All those words, she longed to hear them from him. Months after living her life as a muggle, she secretly wished that Draco was trying to look for her, but the longer she stayed there without any contact from him, she lost hope. But he never did. Draco never gave up on finding Hermione.

She tried to speak, but he placed his finger over her mouth, as if trying to ask her to let him continue. "..then, I went over to Potter's. I knew you would entrust him of your whereabouts and right then and there I figured how stupid I was not to think about it earlier!" He banged the table with his hand so hard the people around them drove their focus on them. She cupped his cheek and wiped a single tear. "I wanted to be with you, Hermione... Why didn't you tell me where you went?"

"I.. uh.. I needed to bring myself together. I wrote it on the letter I gave you... I hope you understood every word.." She turned away avoiding to look at his grey eyes. He lifted her chin and made her look his way, he saw tears run down again. "I understand, Hermione. The only thing I couldn't understand was why can't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to worry you..." He looked at her straight in those chocolate brown eyes, he found sincerity among her words. He kissed her in the lips lightly, reassuring her that everything's okay. Silence surrounded the two, until Hermione realized that this should have been an interview.

"Draco, uh.. what do you suppose we tell Smith?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your job interview."

He almost forgot about that. He was too caught up in the moment. His worries, his sentiments, Hermione -- those were the only things important to him right now.

"Do you want me to work with you?"

"I guess."

"Then just tell your boss I passed your interview." He said that with a smirk on his face. The famous Malfoy smirk that she loves.

After a few hours of catching up, the both of them headed to Hermione's apartment. Their hands were intertwined the moment they got out of the restaurant and all the way to Hermione's apartment. They missed this. They missed being with each other. They missed the feeling of having someone to love.


The moment they got inside the apartment, they sat beside each other, still holding hands, and looked at each other's eyes..

"I can't believe you're here.. I found you.. You're --- " Hermione knew well how to shut Draco from babbling. Before he could finish what he was supposed to say, Hermione kissed him on the lips lightly.

"I'm here.." She smiled at him knowing that he needed some reassurance that he's not dreaming. He smiled back, and kissed her with passion. Words aren't enough for Draco to express how much he needed her, how much he missed, and how much he loved her. When Draco pulled away, he cupped her cheeks while their foreheads were against each other.

"Tell me you won't ever leave again..."

She smiled and said, "I won't.."


AN: I know this is crappy. I haven't thought about the chapter yet. I promise th next one will be better. Read and review! :D