Chapter 10: Draco's Point of View
Draco finally releases her from their embrace, red in the face.
Her arms slip down to his forearms, refusing to let go. "You have to let me help you."
"No."
"Please," she pleads hopelessly.
"No! You're not going to even take a step out of your dormitory. You won't."
"Why?"
He sighs. "You give me no choice but to answer this. Because I care about you."
Hermione's mouth nearly falls to the floor. "But I care about you too. And I don't want you to get hurt."
"You're not the one worrying about me getting hurt. It's the opposite. The Death Eaters will try to hurt you more than me. Besides, you're one of Dumbledore's best students. what would he say if he saw you there?"
"Dumbledore may hate me then. But he would die. Nobody would know."
Draco stares at her. "You're saying it as if you're supporting me."
"Draco, I am supporting you. Don't you think I would've turned on you if I wasn't?"
"Wouldn't I think you'd turn on me instead of supporting me?"
She sighs. "Don't answer a question with a question."
"I will answer a question with a question if it's necessary."
"The point is, I am going to help you no matter what you say."
"Why?"
"For heaven's sake, Draco! I've probably repeated myself over eight times. I'm not doing this because I want to. I'm doing this for you."
Draco looks at her into the eyes. "You sure?"
She nods. "Because I love you."
She turns beet red at the words. Draco takes a long time to process the words that just tumbled out of Hermione Granger's mouth.
She loves me. She loves Draco Malfoy.
He gazes at her for a long time, and finally replies. "I love you, too."
I love her. I love Hermione Granger.
She manages a small smile and Draco spots a tear glistening down her cheek. He leans closer and brushes it away with his finger.
He cups her face gently, pushing away the strands of hair loose behind her ear.
She leans closer, close enough for their foreheads to be touching.
He looks at her, her soft, golden-brown eyes, rich as melting chocolate. Her nose, perfect size, not too long, not too short. Her lips, pink and full. Together these things make Hermione Granger.
The Hermione that Draco is in love with.
He tilts his head and very softly, brushes his lips against hers. She closes her eyes, and this time she leans in, touching her lips to his. Very delicate, very gentle feeling. A beautiful sensation. The arms around Draco's neck tighten, and his hands fall from her midsection to her waist. She tastes like lemon and vanilla. He holds the kiss for a few minutes, and finally she pulls away.
"Did-Did that really just happen?" She whispers.
"I dunno, did it happen?"
"Again, you answered a question with a question."
"It happened if you wanted it to happen. Did you?"
"Well, yes."
"Then it did happen. For me, it did."
"I can't believe it, though, Draco," Hermione murmurs, touching her forehead to his. "Just a few days ago, I hated you. Now, I love you. It's all so weird and confusing."
Draco grins. "Life is confusing."
"I wouldn't quite agree with that. I'd say love is confusing. Don't you think?"
Draco smiles, brushing his lips against her cheek. "You'll have a lot to explain to your friends."
Hermione glares at him. "As do you."
"Not necessarily. I'll just keep it a secret."
"So will I, then," she says. "Harry is too obsessed with mooning over Ginny to worry about me, and Ron is spending his entire life snogging Lavender, so I guess I'm free."
"Okay. Meet me here tomorrow."
"What time?"
"Same time, same place during free period."
"Okay. I'll try," she says.
Draco can't help but smile.
"What?" She asks quizzically.
"Nothing. Just that this somehow feels like one of those old dramatic movies when the boy and the girl get separated because they come from different families and then they both start meeting each other in secret, you know, laying on the grass watching the stars, go on random adventures, run away from school-"
Hermione stops him, smiling."I get your point."
Hermione stops smiling, and her expression changes. Something that Draco can't read.
"I'm sorry," he mutters. "Shouldn't have brought that up-"
"No, no it's fine. It'd just that are we like that? Are we detached from each other because of where we come from?"
"We can be," he says. "But it's your decision that gets taken into account. If we want to be together, we will. If we don't, well- you know."
Draco looks at her. Her wavy hair is stuck to her face with tears. Her eyes have dark circles around them,just as he had. She looks exhausted.
"Hermione," he says after their awkward silence. "You should get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."
Hermione tries to protest, but soon realizes it is for her own good. "Okay. Bye."
"Bye."
She turns around, and stops at the door. "Draco?"
"Yes?"
"I just wanted you to know, you're not alone. No matter where you are, I'll be with you."
"Always?"
"Always," she gives him one last beautiful smile, and leaves, shutting the door silently behind her.