AN: alright, i know it's been forever, but i think this is worth it. please don't hate me for taking so long! i just wanted it to be right and i have been writing it little by little the past three months. well, except for the last half that i wrote in less than an hour last night. and i have been writing other stuff, on paper, for later chapters. so, enjoy! and review - i know it's not fun, but i really appreciate it. : ) - thea
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or Hermione, or Draco. But I will take credit for Hermione's background and the poem that started it all!
chapter seven - The Way You Love Me
As she watched he started walking towards her as if he was compelled to be near her. The look on Will's face confused Hermione though, because he didn't appear happy to be there, but determined. And then to her surprise he placed his hand against her cheek, which reminded her of the night before and all doubts of his attraction leaped from her thoughts. He sharply studied her face, first looking into her eyes and slowly traveling down to her lips. It seemed Will was unable to help himself as he moved closer and Hermione willingly closed her eyes waiting for the second when the past three days would click and their strange relationship would finally become clear.
His kiss was soft and sweet as it flowed though her, and as Hermione reached to put her arms around Will's neck she melted into him. He pushed her magic-sleeked hair back over her shoulders before his hands rested solidly on her hips.
After a few more perfect seconds went by Hermione pulled away, finally realizing she hadn't breathed decently since she caught him staring at her from the cave entrance. Opening her eyes, Hermione saw Will still had his shut and the way his brow was wrinkled made Hermione a little dismayed. Maybe he hadn't enjoyed kissing her, maybe he thought she wasn't any good.
Sure, she had kissed Victor, but she was just 14 then. And Ron? Well, up until getting off the bus in Gaeta, Hermione thought she was in love with the youngest male Weasley. Not that he even realized she was a girl - not even a girl anymore, but a young woman.
And then there was Will. She knew nothing about him, and yet kissing him felt a thousand times more right than kissing Victor had ever been, and a million times more right than her dreams about Ron.
Still, she got an uneasy feeling once she looked at his face again. He looked almost familiar...but who did she know that would randomly kiss girls they met on the beach? Laughing out loud at her own silly thoughts, Will lazily opened his eyes as if he had been unaware of her presence until just then, although his firmly placed hands and ragged breath proved otherwise.
DHDHDHDHDHDHDH
There was no way he could tell her the truth, no matter what his mother said. And what was that Draco? Not even a bloody hello, just walking up to her and kissing the mudblood.
I couldn't help it! I had to know if the feelings were all in my head. And they definitely aren't. There's something going on here, and I need to see this through. It's not as if I'm actually attracted to her. It has something to do with Dumbledore, and my mother.
MUDBLOOD. What don't you understand about that word?
I am not my father, was all he responded with and immediately the stress from the past few minutes lifted and the annoying (yet probably right, he couldn't help but think) voice was out of Draco's head again.
Just then the girl in question, who was still firmly placed between his hands, let out a small giggle. Opening his steel gray eyes Draco looked down into her honey brown ones and swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing ominously.
Hermione broke their staring match first by looking down quickly at the ground and then back up at his chest, as if unable to meet his piercing gaze. Inhaling sharply she started to talk, speeding up as she got more into her speech.
"Will, I just want to let you know that I'm not the type of girl who kisses random strangers on the beach. I'm not sure what's happening between us, but if you think it's moving too fast we can slow down, I'm not in a hurry. Actually I'd rather we did go slowly, if that's okay. I just think that we don't know each other very well and I don't want to get in over my head before I know if you're a De-, I mean, someone I can trust and be safe with. Because, really! Meeting at 10 at night in a secluded cave isn't one of my better plans and I just think - "
Internally Draco was rolling his eyes at her ability to turn any conversation she was having with someone else into a debate between herself. Smiling at the thought that even the perfect student and teacher's pet extraordinaire could have a devil and angel inside her, he put a finger to her lips.
"Shh, 'Mione." he whispered, then removed the finger to her chin and gently pushed it upwards until she looked him in the eyes again. "I don't mind how fast we move, or even if that'll be the last kiss we'll ever share."
Draco paused, noting the crestfallen look she hid after only a second, and then shifted gears.
"Not that I want it to be the last, you understand, but I know a lady such as yourself can't be expected to snog a stranger senseless!" And, putting on his best "good 'ole boy" smile Draco took a step back from Hermione, as if to prove he had no intention of using her.
Continuing to talk, he unconsciously pulled his hood tighter over his head. "Why don't we sit down and you can tell me all about yourself. Then we won't be strangers anymore."
She nodded slowly, trying to decide how to take this down-to-earth boy who seemed to already know her so well for having just met her. After seeing her approval of the idea, Draco casually sat down in the still-warm sand with his legs crossed and Hermione seemed to make a quick decision and sit down indian style next to him, gently leaning her shoulder against his and placing her hands on her knees.
Seeing she was settled, Draco gently nudged her shoulder with his, and almost immediately she began to speak.
"Well, I was born at a local hospital in the small English town of..."
DHDHDHDHDHDHDH
Much later, Hermione had covered the basics up through her last visit to Italy with her parents and vowing to come back to the beautiful country again.
As her voice faded into silence Hermione turned away from the brilliant stars and looked at Will for the first time since sitting down. She was surprised, but inside thrilled to find his eyes staring into hers, rapt with attention and she knew he had listened to her every word.
At that moment it felt as if they were not just the only people on the deserted beach, but in the entire world.
This time when they kissed it wasn't gentle and hesitant but frenzied, letting go all the feelings both Hermione and Draco had felt since catching sight of one another. Both wiped their minds of any thoughts but each other. His hands were wrapped into her hair and as he pushed her backwards into the sand Hermione opened her eyes and saw above her the very constellation Mark had been talking about earlier.
Draco the dragon.
Then, realizing Will was on top of her and she was still kissing him, she closed her eyes again, cursing herself briefly for letting her logic get in the way of her feelings before pulling away from him. Seeing the stars had reminded her that, even though Will made her feel like a different person, she was still Hermione Jane Granger, bookworm and the brains behind The Golden Trio. She had a life and responsibilities, not to mention she still knew nothing of Will.
Still trying to catch her breath she turned her head sideways and shifted slightly, which Draco knew was a sign to back off.
Grateful that Will understood her so completely after only knowing her for a few days she went to give him an appreciative smile, and found Will already standing above her. After wiping his sandy hands onto his trousers, he looked down at her, not upset, but not glad either. Without hesitating he reached his arm down to her and she willingly took his hand and in one smooth motion Will pulled Hermione to her feet.
"I'm sorry." was the first thing she said, looking down at her feet, hands clasped timidly in front of her.
Will grabbed her hands in his so the four of them were a tangled mess and said in a soothing voice, "Hey, look at me." Hermione looked up into his brilliant grey eyes again and wondered how many wonderfully honest things could come out of this prince charming's mouth in one night.
"You don't have to be sorry. Not ever 'Mione," he continued. "I don't know why we have this connection, but it's there. And just because you're a nice girl, a modest young woman who doesn't want to make out with some bloke on the beach, doesn't mean I'm going to be mad."
Slowly he cracked the first genuine grin she'd seen on his usually serious voice. "But please, don't call me 'some bloke' when you tell your friends and parents about me. My name is Will, after all."
Hermione smiled back at him, relieved he was okay with who she was, so unlike Ron and Harry when they were making fun of her studious side or her dislike of Quidditch. She untangled their hands and grabbed just his left into her right. Glancing out into the black waters of the Gulf her smile turned mischevious.
"Hey Will?" she asked, looking back at him with that smile.
Something inside his heart thumped and too quickly he replied, "Yeah?"
"Wanna go swimming?"
And laughing out loud at the stunned look on Will's face Hermione easily dragged him into the cold sea. After a moment of looking at her, all too at home splashing in the salty waves Will loosened up and soon they started splashing each other and swimming and dunking in their clothes until a few nesting seagulls were stirring.
Shivering and looking around Draco realized the sky was turning lighter. Calling for a truce they trudged out of the water.
Draco turned to the soaking Gryffindor and swiftly started lying, as much as his heart told him not to.
"Hermione, I can't believe we've spent all night together, again! It's been great, but there's no way I'll be awake for work tomorrow...I mean, today. In a few hours! I have to get home and go to sleep."
"Oh, of course! I shouldn't have kept you out this late. Will you walk me home?"
Noticing Granger blush from this direct question gave him a slightly pleasant feeling, and for a second he considered teasing her about it. Pushing the thought aside he once again placed his charming smile on his face and held out an arm. She took it and they walked down the beach, to the dilapidated back steps.
They faced one another, neither wanting to let the night end, both realizing it had to at the same time and speaking together.
"Tomorrow?"
Embarrassed, they both laughed and nodded, and then Draco leaned down and whispered, "Get some sleep, my beauty." before once again kissing her on the cheek and walking away.
Hermione did go upstairs, change into dry pajamas, and point her wand and whisper ego abolesco at her sleeping dummy, which vanished. Content, Hermione took the dummy's place, falling into a blissful sleep as the sky slowly lightened.
DHDHDHDHDHDHDH
Down the beach, Draco too had changed, not even bothering to think about how he acted all night. Sitting on the edge of his bed he put his face in his hands, trying to get her face out of his head. His white locks fell down, brushing against his cold hands. Looking up, Draco knew what he could do to make the summer easier. He got up and headed downstairs, quietly so Narcissa wouldn't wake.
In the library Draco pulled a book off the shelf. It wasn't from his father's section, on the Dark Arts, or his section - Quidditch and a few cleverly hidden muggle novels he enjoyed. It was from his mother's book collection.
Draco was finally going to do something about his distinct Malfoy hair. He was going to magic it darker, and cut it shorter. Then, as long as he could keep up the acting (What acting? a voice sneered in his head), Granger would never know the difference. He could figure out the prophecy, save himself from being a Death Eater, save his friends and family from Voldy AND get the girl.
And it all began with a beauty spell. Go figure.
