Song of the Chapter: When You Look Me In The Eyes by Jonas Brothers

Draco hadn't talked much to Hermione after that kiss in the forest. In fact, he was avoiding her. It wasn't that he didn't want to be near her, it was that being together was far more complicated than it seemed to her. He wasn't going to tell her what he had to do at the end of the school year, and he wanted to keep it that way until she found out on her own.

But Hermione was making it too bloody hard to not look at. She'd give him small glances and the slightest of smiles in the hallway, which drove him absolutely crazy. Maybe she was right. Maybe he did deserve a little happiness in his screwed up world. But his world was too complicated to let her in, and that was why he avoided her.

As Draco made his way out of the Great Hall, he caught Hermione's brief glare of annoyance. She knew that he was avoiding her and getting those glares weren't exactly uncommon at this point. He followed close behind her, Potter, and Weasley, and walked quietly behind them to their Potions class. What annoyed Draco more were the obvious longing looks Weasley was giving her, but thankfully were not returned.

In their Potions class, Slughorn had already set up a boiling cauldron of a shimmering liquid on one of the lab tables.

"Hello class," Slughorn greeted the first students to appear at the door, "Just set your things at your tables and join me around the desk here." Draco set down his books at his table and stood next to the other Slytherins in the corner of the room, waiting for their instructions. Hermione stood a few feet away from him, giving him a small side glance.

"Alright class, today we will be studying the potion, Amortentia. Can anyone tell me what exactly is Amortentia?" Slughorn asked. Hermione's hand shot up and was called upon. "Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in the world. It's rumored to smell differently to each person, according to what attracts them. For example, I smell..."

Draco looked up in curiosity. "...grass...new parchment, and...a..." Hermione backed away abruptly from the cauldron and stood back next to the rest of the Gryffindors. This time, she didn't look back at him.

"Amortentia doesn't create actual love, of course. That's impossible. But it does cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. For that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room," Slughorn stated. He closed the cauldron with the cover and proceeded with the next subject of the lesson.

But Draco wasn't paying attention to him, because his eyes were drawn to Hermione, his mind fixed on that cauldron. After Slughorn's speech on the effects of the potion, the class was dismissed with the assignment of writing and essay on the very same potion, which Draco wasn't planning on doing anyway.

Just after the rest of the class left, and Slughorn retreated to his office, Draco carried his things over to the smoking cauldron and set them down next to it. Curiously, he lifted the cover and let the overwhelming scent hit his nostrils with full force. He didn't know what to expect when he smelt it, but the familiar scent of Hermione's perfume overwhelmed his senses. He also found the faint smell of grass she had referred to.

It bothered him to no end how much that potion smelled like her. It only made him want to see her more, which was exactly what she wanted. He told himself he couldn't or wouldn't. But that's the thing about her, she had a way of drawing you in and making you want her more, and at the same time drive you absolutely fucking crazy.

"I'm not giving you my jacket, if that's what you're hoping for," he taunted. It was then that she shivered slightly, closing her mouth tightly so her teeth didn't chatter. With a defeated sigh, he unwrapped his scarf and handed it to her. And with his wand he muttered a heating charm around the two of them, immediately warming her up. She wrapped the scarf around her neck comfortably.

"Thanks," she said shyly. The pair slid down against the wall and sat on the stone floor. He shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Don't mention it."

His scarf.

That's what it smelt like.

She faintly recalled what it smelt like when he gave it to her that night a long time ago. It had the strong but subtle scent of cologne, that had become so familiar to her. She hadn't said cologne during class, otherwise giving Draco an opportunity to mock her.

Ugh Draco, she thought. He had been avoiding her ever since they kissed the day after she returned. She knew why, it was because he didn't want to start anything he couldn't stop. Hermione understood this, but didn't want to completely cut him off from her life. He needed her, and she wasn't prepared to let him go just yet.

That night, Hermione snuck out of the Gryffindor tower and made her way back to the Astronomy Tower, hoping to run into him there. But when she peered into the room, he was no where to be seen. Of course, he wouldn't show up to the Tower anymore, now that he knew she would be there. She slowly made her way to the balcony and breathed in deeply the cold winter air.

Just then, a person appeared walking on the ground below. She suddenly backed away from the balcony and hid behind the stone wall. No one was usually up at this hour except for the ghosts, so it was unusual for a person being out there. It was then she noticed the distinctive blond hair peeking out from his hood.

Was it really worth sneaking out of the castle and onto the grounds instead of giving up and going back to her dorm where she belonged?

Hermione didn't have much time to think about this as she quickly made her way out of the Tower and ignored all other options. She quietly walked through the halls, carefully avoiding Filch who was accompanied by Mrs. Norris. She rounded the corner and exited the castle. Hermione couldn't remember the last time she was out so late on castle grounds. The Dark Forest seemed more foreboding than usual, and the thin layer of snow on the ground made her simple walking shoes get soaked.

As she turned the corner past a few trees, she spotted Draco sitting on the ground and staring at the frozen lake before him. Hermione crept up behind him as sneakily as possible, but the snow below her drew more attention.

Draco abruptly turned around, but relaxed when he noticed it was just her. "Hermione?"

"Hi," she said shyly.

"How'd you know I was here?" Draco questioned.

"I saw you walking here from the Tower. You've been avoiding me so I just thought, you know...I could see you." Draco stayed silent as he watched her sit down next to him. "So now, you're following me too?" Draco asked, slightly annoyed.

"I wouldn't be following you if you at least bothered to talk to me or something."

"I don't have to tell you anything. It's not like we're...dating or anything..." he mumbled.

"We may not be dating, but we're certainly passed friends...don't you think?" Hermione awaited a response, but only received a shrug. She fell back against the snow covered ground, defeatedly. Draco looked at her curiously before also laying down next to her. "I'm sorry, Hermione," he finally said, "I've been busy and I wasn't sure what to say the next time I saw you."

"I understand," Hermione responded, plucking at the small patch of grass next to her. She was obviously still saddened, and she wasn't planning on him making it up to her any easier. Draco thought of the many ways to make her forgive him. He could cast a charm and give her flower, but that might be a bit cliché. Instead, he looked up at the sky, and saw yet again his constellation dusting the night sky.

"Do you remember a long time ago when you first came up to the Tower?" he asked suddenly.

"Yes, why?" she answered skeptically.

"When I first saw you, you were closing your eyes on the balcony-"

"And you thought I was going to jump. No, I remember."

Draco hid his smirk well and continued, "Well, I was just curious to know why."

Hermione sighed heavily and then pointed at something in the sky. "Have you ever seen a shooting star? You know, the ones that run across the sky and fade away?"

"I think so," Draco answered to the unfamiliar reference.

"Well, when I was younger, my Dad told me that when you see one, you can make a wish, and it will come true." Draco didn't respond, but thought to himself silently. "I know it sounds stupid-" Hermione started.

"No, it's not," Draco interrupted, "It's...strange, but not stupid." He glanced back to her and saw the small smile form on her face, he gave a small smile back before looking back up at the sky. "So, what were you wishing for?" he asked.

"I don't think I wished for anything at the time, considering I was so rudely interrupted," she playfully added, nudging him in the side. He grinned roguishly at her before asking, "Then what would you have wished for?"

"Well, at the time, I would probably have wished for Lavender Brown's hair to fall out..." she mumbled.

"And now?" She looked back at him to meet his curious gaze. His lips were slightly parted and his eyes bored into her own. She shifted slightly and moved closer, to which he allowed without hesitation. He let his head rest on hers lightly, letting her feel his warm breath on her cool skin. Just before his lips touched hers, she whispered, "Well I just can't think of anything right now," before letting his lips rest on hers.

His mouth moved gracefully against hers, as his hand gently pushed the back of her head forward to meet his. Her tongue traced the outline of his lips before he let her tongue enter his mouth to feel his own. They continued kissing, and this time, without having heavy thoughts at the back of their minds. Hermione leaned into the kiss and pushed him onto the ground. She slowly moved so she was on top as she started nipping at his neck lovingly.

"Hermione, wait," he suddenly interrupted.

"Hm?" Hermione muttered into her kisses.

"You don't know how long I've waited for this, so you can only imagine how good this must feel for me right now."

"Mmhm," she mumbled.

"But if you weren't planning on shagging me tonight, we should probably stop now before this gets out of hand." She suddenly stopped in her tracks, and lifted her head to meet his pleading gaze. She scoffed a little and then matched his desperate expression with a smirk.

"Do I arouse you, Draco?"

"Like you wouldn't believe." She giggled before getting off of him and falling back against the snow. "And exactly how long have you waited?" she asked with a smirk.

"I'm not going to tell you," he said in an annoyed tone.

"Come on, Draco. Please," she begged with a bat of her eyelashes.

"Ugh, fine," he groaned in defeat, "Since...third year..." he mumbled.

"Since when?"

"Third year," he seethed out. Suddenly, Hermione let out a burst of laughter and could not hide it with a hand on her mouth. "Fine! Laugh all you want! See if I care!" Draco exclaimed, standing up and dusting the snow of his trousers. He had begun walking away before Hermione too got up and ran over to him. "Wait, Draco! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have laughed."

"Damn right you shouldn't have," he seethed again, but his expression softened when he reached for his hand. "No, I think it's sweet," she commented, "I only laughed because that was the year that I...you know..."

"Slapped me?"

"Yes," she replied, blushing.

"Oh yeah, I remember that. It hurt, you know. I think I was scarred for life..." he said sarcastically. She kissed his cheek softly and replied, "I'm sorry. But in my defense, you were rather mean."

"It's what I do best," he gloated sarcastically. She laughed again as they slowly made their way back up to the castle. Draco held her hand firmly in his own as she rested her head on his arm.

It was only when they reached the castle entrance when many thoughts had begun to settle in. It was the first time that they had acted like themselves, and what they wanted. It was the first time they hadn't thought about the consequences of their relationship. It was comforting to forget, but it would always be limited. And only Hermione's lips on his made him forget about it all.

She kissed his lips softly before whispering, "See you tomorrow, Draco," and retreating to her dormitory. Draco smiled at her retreating form before turning away towards the Slytherin dormitories.

But just when he rounded a corner, who he saw standing there drew him back into his reality.

Dumbledore.

He made eye contact with him, gave him a knowing smiling and turned away wordlessly. And before he rounded the corner, he called out, "Trust Ollivander to be a good judge of character," and left him to his thoughts once again.