I'm Yours
Chapter ten: The way I loved you
Draco entered the hospital through the shop window glass; but not before first making sure no muggles could see him entering. Once he was inside, the crisp clean smell of the hospital entered his nose, and the sight of injured people greeted his vision. He arched an eyebrow at a man with a beak, and he inwardly chucked at a heavy woman who was belching loudly, emitting strange green bubbles. He waited in line, as the secretary popped her gum and directed people in a monotone voice. He finally reached the desk and was about to ask where Hermione Granger worked when the woman glanced up briefly from her paper work.
"Oh my, why hello sir, how may I help you?" a simpering smile spread across her heavily made up face, and Draco inwardly grimaced.
"I was just about to ask whether you could direct me to where Hermione Granger works?" his smoothly asked, falling elegantly to lean against the desk. He smiled slowly at the dirty-blonde secretary, and she stammered slightly when she replied.
"I-err…well, yes, she works in the…uhh…Children's ward," she finally got out, a blush barely visible under all her makeup.
"Thank you, so much," he lowered his voice, to a purr, and watched as the secretary stood in shock as he turned on his heel and walked away. He made his way to the elevator, and waited in tense anticipation before the doors finally opened and he stepped into a bright yellow hallway.
Glancing into the windows along the hallway, he finally saw her, rocking in a chair, and small child tucked into her arms. She looked so beautiful, her hair pulled up a radiant smile reflecting in her eyes.
He knocked on the door, and another woman opened up…the other ward day worker.
"May I help you?" she was older, mid-forties, with short blonde hair and a kind smile.
"Yes, I'm here to pick up Hermione Granger for lunch," Draco felt uneasy for taking his date away from the kids.
"Oh yes, you must be Draco…she'll be right there," the kind woman looked at him with a twinkle in her hazel eyes, and a humored smile pulling up her lips. The grey eyed man leaned back against the hallway wall, and watched through the window as Hermione received the news that he was there. He watched as she slowly put down a little red-headed girl before disappearing into a back room.
Every child waited until she was gone before running to the large window to stare out at him. With a small grin he crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at them, resulting in a fit of giggles from the other side of the window. The children jumped up and down, waiting for another face and Draco's heart swelled with the need to entertain the poor children. He lifted one side of his mouth and widened his eyes, ensuing with rapturous laughs from the kids. He saw Hermione come out of the back room in jeans and a blouse and he quickly dropped his funny face, signaling to the kids that she was back
The small children scattered, and put on obviously innocent faces as Hermione made her way to the door. The curly haired witch bent down to say good bye to the small red headed child before opening the door and inching it shut behind her.
"Hello Granger,"
"Malfoy, what did you do to the children?" she looked at him with suspicious eyes, but Draco didn't miss the small smile on her lips.
"The question may be what they did to me…" Draco smirked, as Hermione raised her brows at him.
"…ok it is what I did to the children."
Her laugh echoed in the hall as they made their way to the elevator and his heart seemed to skip a beat.
"So where would you like to go for lunch," the blonde man asked as they slipped through the lobby, Draco caught the secretary eyeing him from her desk.
"How about that great deli about two blocks down," Hermione said looking up at him, biting her lip.
"Sounds great," they walked in heavy silence.
Even though they could be so comfortable together, the air still seemed thick…the history between them was so deep that only something big could clear it and let them get on with their…dating.
They reached the deli in only a few minutes, and they sat at a table inside. The sky was a dark cloudy that London was famous for.
The ordered their food, and drinks and Draco watched as she looked off out the window her eyes far away.
"Why did you choose him?" his question was sudden, unexpected, and her eyes flashed to his in a second…her mouth open and shocked.
It took her a second to reply, "He was safe…reliable, so perfect for me in everyway except for what actually counted. What we had was so sudden and so powerful that I couldn't handle it. I was scared of…us."
"I was ready," his voice was accusing, his heart had been frozen by this woman.
"And that scared the hell out of me Malfoy," she said in a regretful voice.
"Still got that potty mouth…huh?" the teasing, casual air was back…but the air seemed to pop with unsaid tension.
"You bet," she smirked at him, and their food arrived.
They ate in compatible conversation, and the lunch hour flew by fast and soon it was time for Draco to walk her back to work.
"Granger hurry up your going to be late," he snapped as she tried to catch up with his long legs.
"Merlin Malfoy, quit being a ponce, I'm going as fast as I can."
"That's not fast enough," he said glancing back at her.
"It's not even your job," she exclaimed practically running to catch up with him.
"Malfoy's are never late, and any date of mine will never be late," he said his chin lifting slightly.
"Still an arrogant prat I see," she hissed as they finally entered the lobby and he hurried her onto the elevator.
"And your still a know-it-all, but that's ok…its who we are," he grinned at her and she could feel her anger melting.
They made their way down the yellow hallway and when they stood in front of her door, she turned to say goodbye, not realizing how close he was.
"Goodbye Malfoy," she looked up into his grey eyes.
"Bye Granger," she turned to leave, the air hot between them.
"Oh and Granger," she turned to answer him, but before she could get a word out he had grabbed her face and slanted his lips over hers. The air seemed to melt, and Hermione felt like she was going to fall into the ground, as waves of memories rushed upon her overloaded senses.
As suddenly as it happened his lips were gone, and he was smirking, on his way down the hallway. She stood stunned watching him leave, waving back when he saluted her as the elevator doors closed and he disappeared from sight. She opened the door in a daze and was attacked by children, tugging on her slacks asking her questions and giggling about the kiss.
The shocked witch picked up the red headed child and went to sit in the rocking chair, her voice filling the room as she began to retell the story.
He respects my space
And never makes me wait
And he calls exactly when he says he will
He's close to my mother
Talks business with my father
He's charming and endearing
And I'm comfortable
But I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain
And it's 2am and I'm cursing your name
You're so in love that you act insane
And that's the way I loved you
Breakin' down and coming undone
It's a roller coaster kinda rush
And I never knew I could feel that much
And that's the way I loved you
He can't see the smile I'm faking
And my heart's not breaking
Cause I'm not feeling anything at all
And you were wild and crazy
Just so frustrating intoxicating
Complicated, got away by some mistake and now
-Taylor Swift