Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN HARRY FREAKIN' POTTER! Or AVPS…Thumbs up to anyone who got that reference
I'm really glad everyone has stuck with my story so far. I'm sorry this chapter took longer to post, I was having a writer's block(actually, I was just kind of being lazy). I certainly would post faster if I had more rates and reviews…
Chapter 9: This is Real
Hermione decided against leaving her bed that morning. The more she thought about it, the more she was debating about ever getting up. Her bed was rather comfortable, and quite warm. Harry had left earlier that morning, heading off to work, though he had stayed with her through the night, letting her cry herself to sleep in his arms.
Hermione's stomach growled in protest at her plans of isolating herself in her bedchamber. She groaned, contemplating starving herself versus confronting the very man who had made her cry. Her thoughts immediately turned to him, as if glad for the excuse to think of him. She thought of how he had looked when he had asked her to be her friend.
He had asked her to be her friend.
Her friend.
She had to give him a chance, if only to satisfy the unbearable longing in the pit of her stomach. She wasn't entirely sure if that was longing or famish, though. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, grumbling about the soreness that came with awakening after a particularly brutal night. Oh, not that kind of brutal, she said to herself, Hermione Jean Granger, get your head out of the gutters. It was odd; she had always been so innocent, but her innocence had begun to peel away after Ron. And it had entirely shattered with Draco.
She walked to her door, trying to be silent; she desperately hoped that she could make it to the kitchen and back to her room with the tub of ice cream with no encounter. Scurrying across the corridor, she opened the kitchen door, which swung inward with a painfully loud creak. She had grabbed the ice cream from the icebox and was rummaging through the drawer for a spoon when she heard a drawling voice emit from the window seat.
"It's the drawer to the left of the sink," said Draco.
Hermione nodded and walked as fast as she could to the door, but was halted by a hand on her wrist. The hand that caught her was firm, but gentle.
"Draco?" she managed to choke out.
"Where do you think you're going with that?" he asked, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
DMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDM
Upon hearing Hermione enter the room in a painful attempt at a stealthy voyage, Draco debated staying where he was perched in the window seat. He forced himself to make his presence known, remembering his resolve the night before. Now, holding her wrist, with her delicate body so near, he wasn't sure what he was doing. She was gloriously rumpled from an obviously fitful night's sleep, her hair curling out in every direction, her night clothes rumpled. Wait, not night clothes. They were the same clothes that she had worn the day before. He frowned at her, genuinely concerned.
He wanted to smack himself for ruffling such a perfectly organized witch; he never wanted to take anything from her, especially not her obsessively neat personality.
Her confused expression finally registered in his mind. "That's my favourite ice cream," he explained. "You can't expect me to just let you take it, can you?"
She shook her head mutely. He wanted to hit himself again. He couldn't stall anymore; she was far too confused at his sudden friendliness. I'm acting like a PMSing witch, he thought. Can wizards PMS? He shook himself from his straying train of thought.
"Come, sit," he said, but his tone of voice made it obvious it was a request, not a demand.
She walked with him to the window seat and sat down. He allowed himself a moment to appreciate the golden halo the midday sun cast around her, basking her in golden light. He sat down across from her on the plush bench, and chuckled; she was holding the ice cream to her like it was the only thing that would save her. Save her? he thought, suddenly despondent. From me; I'm a monster.
"Hermione-I" he said, his previous resolve melting away by the second. "I'm sorry I acted the way I did last night. I know I've already asked you to be my friend, but that isn't enough. I can't be your enemy; it's unbearable. I can't be your friend; it kills me inside. I need to be something more, and I know you can't stand me. I can't see you again, I'm sorry. I- I think I-"
He was cut off by the crushing of her lips against his. He felt the heat of her body, her frizzy hair tickling his face. He brought his hands up to entwine in said hair. Her arms loosely wrapped around his neck. He kissed her with all the longing he felt, all the love for her. The fire and passion flowing between their lips was scorching, yet there was an innocence to it that surpassed anything he had ever felt. The raw and pure love was evident, from both of them.
HGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHG
Hermione pulled away with a gasp, yanking her arms back to encircle herself in a hug. The hurt was distinct on his face, but she was terrified. She had felt… She knew she loved him, but to feel the obvious love he had for her was…incredible. She was in awe, but scared, nonetheless. She hadn't expected this. Hermione Granger did not deal in the unexpected.
She curled her legs up to her chest, making a small ball. She allowed some tears to fall, and before she could stop it, they were racking sobs. Draco looked utterly puzzled; one minute, she had been passionately snogging him, the next she was crying like someone had stolen her puppy. Hermione would've laughed, but she was too frightened. He gathered her into his arms, whispering into her hair and stroking her back lightly.
Hermione calmed in his arms, and soon her sobs were just little hiccups. When she finally looked up, she saw love, concern, and amusement in Draco's eyes.
"Would you like to explain what that was about, love?" he said with a small smile.
She sunk into his chest and whispered, "I'm scared."
He gently lifted her chin with his forefinger, "Is that all?"
She nodded in stretched upward, brushing his lips with hers. At his confused, but happy, face, she explained, "Just wanted to make sure this is real." He got a mischievous glint in his eye and Hermione was automatically wary. He slowly, and dramatically, reached towards her and began to playfully pinch her sides.
Hermione burst into a fit of giggles with a squeal and collapsed into him, breathlessly begging him to stop. He obliged and situated her on his lap. She nestled into him as he absently played with a string of her hair. She breathed out a contented sigh, willing to sit here, basking in the sun with the one man she loved, for the rest of time.
Yay! So, I decided to give you a kiss for your time. Not a kiss from me, silly. A Dramione kiss, finally! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it; something light and fluffy. If I don't get rates and reviews from at least ten people before next chapter, something bad will happen to Draco. *Gasp*. I couldn't threaten Hermione because I know you all read these for Draco ;)
