HESITAION

She did not return.

For days, he went through his usual routine of work, home, work, home, hoping that she would come back to him.

But every night he would arrive home to an empty house and an empty bed, the sheets still unmade, his pillow smelling of her, mocking him.

He couldn't understand why he was so infatuated by her, this little woman that had reappeared in his life so suddenly only to turn it upside down and shake it with all her might.

He sat in his office tapping his quill against the ink bottle this desk, his thoughts absent as he stared at the wall – until something occurred to him.

He leapt from his chair, weaving between the people in the hall, shouting out quick apologies as he bumped shoulders and stepped on toes.

He slid to a halt in front of an office door only to pause with his hand raised, his knuckles only millimetres from the wood. He took a breath, exhaling before he rapped twice.

'Come in.'

The door swung open, leaving him standing stupidly in the doorway, his eyes a little wide from surprise.

Hermione looked up from her work, an eyebrow raised. 'Malfoy?' she said, setting her quill aside. 'What are you doing here?'

He stepped into her office, the door shutting behind him. He came forward, feeling silly standing in her office, a place he had never been, a place he never believed he would ever visit. 'Can I ask you something?' he asked, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

She directed a hand to one of the chairs across from her desk, setting her papers aside. 'Ah, sure,' she said.

'Have you seen Illiri over the last couple days?' he asked carefully, unsure if she knew of their…relationship. Is it a relationship? He asked himself as he thought of the time they'd spent together, of the restaurant…

'A couple of times, but only briefly,' she said. 'Why?'

He glanced away for a moment. 'I just, well you're her best friend and I thought you might have seen her.'

She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyebrow high as she asked, 'what's this about?'

He glanced away again, unable to help himself. 'I…I just need to see her,' he said, his words a little too rushed. 'That's all.'

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, pausing for a moment. 'The more you chase her, the faster she'll run,' Hermione explained, her voice low and soft. 'When she's ready, she'll come to you Draco,' she said, using his first name for what was probably the third time in all the years they'd known each other. He couldn't even remember the last time she had used it. He snapped back into the present, staring straight into her eyes as she continued. 'Until then, just wait.'

He nodded, standing up. 'Ah, thank you,' he said stiffly as he walked away. He paused at the already opening door, looking back for a moment before he disappeared into the corridor.

That night he went to bed alone again, the covers holding no warmth. He tossed and turned beneath the black silk until he fell into a restless sleep, his head filled with nightmares.

She knew that what she was doing was silly, that she should have stayed in her bed even though she couldn't sleep – she hadn't for days.

She stepped lightly across the floor, her bare feet making no sound as she made her way up the stairs and along the corridor. She grasped the handle, pausing, her heart racing as she thought of what was behind the door.

Of who was behind the door.

She turned the handle quietly, stepping through the open door. She closed it behind her, though she didn't look to the bed, her eyes closed, far too afraid of what she would do.

She leant against the door, taking a deep breath before she looked across the room to the bed. She felt that clamp take hold on her heart as her eyes moved over his body, the silk pulled up to his waist. She watched as his fingers clenched the sheets, his broad, sweat slicked chest rising and falling with laboured breaths. He was having a dream, or maybe a nightmare, his brow drawn together, his platinum hair stuck to his forehead in damp strands.

After a moment she turned, unable to watch any longer, the clamp on her heart too painful. She leant her forehead against the door, her hand on the handle. But she paused when she heard him murmur, his voice low.

'Don't go,' he muttered, turning his head to the side. 'Please, wait…I…I need you…'

She looked to him as he rolled onto his side, his eyelids fluttering as he reached out, his hand grasping nothing. For a moment she thought he was about to wake, but he continued to murmur, so she turned back towards the door.

'Illiri…'

She suddenly realised that he had been reaching for her.

Now she knew what Hermione was talking about. 'No matter what your decision is, I know you'll do the right thing.'

She turned, feeling a little smile pick up the corner of her lips as she kicked off her shoes. She stripped her shirt and jeans, pushing the black silk covers aside to climb beneath them. She snuggled into his embrace, her heart fluttering as his arms wrapped around her, his feet weaving with hers. His lips brushed over her forehead and she sighed, placing a kiss against his chest. His body seemed to relax as she wrapped her arms around his waist, and she smiled.

This is where I'm supposed to be.

Draco sighed as he woke up, his body warm as he held the pillow tight, wondering how it could feel so good. Slowly he came into awareness, the fog of sleep lifting from his mind. He could feel something tickling his chin, a hand running over his spine, a slim leg shifting to hook over his knees.

He wasn't holding a pillow.

He dragged his eyes open, looking down to see bronze curling over his pillow, his arms wrapped around a slender little body. He brought her closer, his heart soaring, the light in the room suddenly brighter as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

She had come back to him.

He felt her stir, her body pressing closer, her skin so soft against his. She gripped his hip. He flinched as her fingers dug into his still marked flesh. Suddenly, it felt as though she had never left, as if the last few days had just been one great big nightmare.

'Draco,' she murmured as she nuzzled his chest, her hair tickling his chin again.

He held back a laugh as she did it again. 'You're awake, aren't you?' he said, a small laugh escaping his lips.

'Mm hmm,' she said, looking up, her brown eyes mischievous.

He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, trailing his fingers over her cheek. 'I missed you,' he whispered.

'I missed you too.'

He claimed her lips, his kiss tender, longing. When she pulled back, she had to take a moment to gather her thoughts, her mind a jumbled mess. She took a breath. 'I have to ask you something.'

'Anything.'

'The other day in the library, you said something,' she said, dropping her gaze for a moment. 'Do you remember what it was?'

'I remember everything,' he said.

'Then after we…well, after, what did you say?'

He went silent for a moment, shifting lower to stare straight into her eyes. 'That's why you ran away,' he said, waiting for her denial, but it didn't come. 'You left because I said that I love you.'

'I thought–'

'It was my hard on talking,' he finished.

She glanced down. 'Was it?' she finally asked.

'No,' he said, his voice strong. 'I said it because I meant it, Illiri.'

She felt her breath disappear, as though it had been taken from her, her heart skipping a beat. 'Say it,' she whispered.

He smiled. 'Illiri Penate I love you.'

'Again.'

'I love you,' he repeated, kissing her between each word. 'Do you love me too?'

'How could I not?' she laughed.

'Well then say it.'

She took a breath, holding his stormy grey gaze. 'Draco Malfoy, I love you.'

And she meant it, with all her heart.

He rolled, pinning her to the mattress as he kissed her. Her arms coiled around his neck, drawing him close, a smile over her lips. God it felt so good, his heart loving and his body strong – and all of it was hers.

Her eyes flew open. Holy shit, she thought suddenly, a realisation hitting her hard.

Draco felt her stiffen. He pulled back, leaning on his elbow. 'What's wrong?'

'How am I going to tell Harry and Ron?'