Woot! Chapter 8! Hope you guys enjoy! A little behind schedule, but not too much :)


Chapter 8: Determined

Hermione glared at the clock that now read 3:10 p.m.

She was waiting.

And when the clock read 3:15 as loud crack echoed around her apartment. A letter drifted to the floor at her feet.

Hermione did not hurry to unroll the parchment. She knew what it would say.

Indeed:

Ms. Granger,

You are fifteen minutes late. Please hurry to my office immediately or, if you find yourself in trouble and in need of assistance, please send word and I will have someone collect you.

Dr. Connelly

Hermione wrinkled her nose at the script. She had no intention of budging. She wasn't going to see that woman today. Not after yesterday. Not after she had stopped Hermione from seeing Draco.

And she had a plan to keep from seeing Connelly today. Now, she only had to wait for the person no doubt coming to "collect" her.

Sure enough, at around 3:45, another loud crack sounded from the hallway outside her apartment. Almost immediately, a knock followed.

"Ms. Granger? Please, may I come in?"

Hermione stood slowly and made her way to the door. She opened it and looked at the young, nervous wizard waiting on the other side. He looked relieved upon finding that she wasn't in danger.

"Ms. Granger, I'm here to—"

"I'm sick." Hermione cut him off, and this time he looked closely at her.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Shall I tell the doctor that you wish to reschedule?"

"That would be nice." Hermione purposefully blinked slowly and sniffed.

The wizard nodded, wished her well, and disapparated.

It was a childish, fool thing to do. Hermione waved her wand over herself and her look of horrible illness evaporated, leaving her formerly deadened, sleepy eyes only with only slightly dull appearance.

She was glad that the young man, who looked as if he was only eighteen or so, hadn't checked to make sure she wasn't using magic to conceal herself. She was sure Connelly would have seen past that, but she didn't think the woman would come calling herself. She wasn't that caring.

A final letter appeared a few minutes later, telling Hermione to get well soon and to come in when she felt better.

Hermione snorted. Maybe she could use this as an excuse to stay permanently away from Connelly. After all, she never felt better around that witch.

She looked around her apartment and bit her lip. Should she chance it? It hadn't even been twenty-four hours since she had been caught by Draco's gate. Surely, people would still be there watching. She'd only get caught and hauled to the hospital to talk to her doctor.

Hermione ran a hand through her hair. And she couldn't very well hurt anyone if they tried to stop her. They were only doing their jobs.

"Why does life turn out like this?" She asked the empty apartment.

When no one answered, thankfully, she grabbed her coat and keys and marched out of the door.

In the taxi ten minutes later, Hermione silently berated herself. Why hadn't she just taken the Muggle approach yesterday? Even if someone had been watching the house, they wouldn't have been particularly interested in Muggles. And Apparation most likely tipped watchmen off sooner.

She watched the towns pass by and slowly transition to empty countryside. With each tree that whipped by the window, Hermione became more and more fidgety.

What if he sent her away?

He would.

He'd say she had no business being there…she'd just get into trouble.

He'd say he was a dangerous wizard. The Ministry is watching.

And she'd say to shove it before falling into his arms.

The sun had started to set when the taxi driver pulled into the lane of Malfoy Manor. Hermione's gaze darted around the hedges, trying to see if anyone was there.

Idiot…magic.

She shook her head clear of anxiety and paid the driver. "Thank you so much for driving me," she smiled, clambering out of the car. Once he had disappeared around the corner, Hermione went to the gate. A man appeared beside her.

"Excuse me, but this is a watched area. Your business?"

Today seemed to be lucky.

"I'm here to visit Draco Malfoy. He was a school acquaintance."

The man furrowed his eyebrows. "Surely you know the story of this man?"

"I know it."

"Then surely…" The man stopped and chewed his lip. "Does he know you?"

"Yes, of course."

"How long are you planning to stay?"

Forever. "Only a few hours. I have to go to work tonight. I just wanted to give him a friendly face. He's got to be bored."

The older wizard nodded. "Fine. Visitors are permitted. But I must ask you to leave your wand with me. We cannot risk it."

Hermione handed her wand over without complaint. "Thank you."

She stepped back as the man unlocked the gate. "Please, try to be done by seven. It's four now."

Hermione nodded. She stepped through the gate and began walking to the porch. She didn't look back at the wizard. She was shaking in relief and excitement.

Again, the what-if's began rolling around her brain. What if he doesn't answer? He's going to send me away. He won't like me anymore. What-if he hurts me?

Hermione shook her head, refusing to believe the last thought could be true at all.

Suddenly, the door loomed before her. She wished she had her wand…

She knocked, and the door opened.

Then…

Hermione cried.

He hadn't done that to her since she first got here.

She knew she shouldn't have slept here. The whole week had passed by with no incident. She had slept, he had slept. It had been comfortable.

But tonight, Sunday…had changed.

She looked at his sleeping back nervously, debating on whether to run back to her old room.

The scent of Firewhiskey tainted her tongue and nose.

He had been drunk. Hideously drunk.

She rolled over, wincing, and tried to go to sleep. She stayed as far from his body as the bed allowed.

She wished she'd just die.

Now…

Draco looked at her for several seconds before pulling her inside.

She squeaked as he grabbed her shoulders and pushed against the now closed door.

Gray eyes bore into hers.

Suddenly, his lips were on hers, kissing her so forcefully, Hermione could only blink in surprise. And then her arms were around his neck and his were around her waist, pulling her as close as he could.

Hermione returned the kiss happily, letting her body meld into his. He smelled so good. Cologne and mint mixed with his actions to send her mind spinning into bliss.

She sighed into his kiss, finally relaxing, finally with feeling…finally.

Draco pulled away and hugged her, resting his chin on her head as she buried her face into his shoulder. No one realized she was crying until he felt her tears wet through his shirt.

"Granger, what's wrong?"

His voice! Hermione cried harder, to her embarrassment. She smiled at him through wet eyes. "I've missed you," she stuttered.

Draco walked her to the den and they both sat on the couch. "I've missed you," he returned. "How did you get in here?"

"One of your guards let me in to visit." Hermione stared at him, not wanting to blink.

It all came pouring forth.

Everything.

Her life. Her job. Connelly. Loneliness. Yesterday.

Draco pulled her into his lap and stroked her hair. "Connelly sounds horrible."

"She is. Draco, I was so afraid you would send me away when I got here."

"Why would I do that?"

Hermione sighed. "I thought that you'd think it was too dangerous for me to be here. That being here would only get me in trouble with the Ministry." She thought about it, then narrowed her eyes. "No one ever told me you could receive visitors. Connelly has forbidden me to see you."

Draco kissed her cheek. "I was wondering where you've been. But then again, I'd always remind myself that you were no doubt reveling in your freedom. Then, I didn't blame you. In fact, I only hated myself more, for the things I did to you."

Hermione shivered despite his warmth. Draco instinctively tightened his hold on her. "Hermione, I said it before, but I am, really, so, so sorry for what I did."

Hermione shook her head and put her forehead on his, making sure he could only look at her eyes. "It's done. And you stopped."

Draco set her on the couch and leapt to his feet. "I should never have started in the first place."

He looked at her. "Your absence has been my punishment."

Hermione stood and hugged him again, slipping her hands under his shirt, rubbing his back. "I don't know how I've made it these past few months. It hasn't been freedom. Just another sort of prison…worse."

They stood holding each other for several minutes.

"Why do you suppose that you were able to make it through my gate today? You weren't able to yesterday, you said."

"I took a taxi today. I feigned sickness so I wouldn't have to go to Connelly and then I jumped in a taxi and came here, hoping that they weren't looking out for Muggle tactics."

Draco chuckled. "So you cheated and then ran away. Ms. Gryffindor, I am ashamed!"

Hermione laughed. "It was petty. But it was my only option short of hexing everyone who tried to stop me. And I'm still hoping for some sort of job where I don't have to listen to people complain about my books."

Draco grinned. "People are complaining about your books and you still haven't hexed anyone? You've grown."

"Oh shut it." Hermione stretched and fell back into the pillows on the couch. "I love the books fine enough, it's the mundane atmosphere that bothers me."

Draco grinned slowly as he lowered himself to the couch and crawled forward so that he was over her. "Life is too boring without me?" Hermione detected a hint of his arrogant self laced in those words. "Excitement is what you're looking for?" He kissed her neck, just below her earlobe, smiling at the shiver his action induced.

"Draco," she gasped, "I only have until seven."

Draco glanced at his watch. "It's only six now…we have an hour to kill. I've missed you. All of you."

Hermione giggled at his blunt honesty. "I've missed all of you too."