Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Halloween Part III: Lioness Eyes

His legs felt numb and his lungs began to burn. His breath constricted as he desperately sucked oxygen from the air. He felt like a flabbergasted fish, dying to get its last breath. His mind was reeling from his experience at the lake. His mouth dry as the air deprived him of his mouths moisture. He felt a sting in his side that made him lose balance for a moment. He paused in his furious run. He bent over his hands resting against his knees as he allowed his breath to catch. The wind pushed against his back and tugged at his clothes urging him forward towards the castle.

"Calm down old man," he growled. The wind's only reply was to pick up even more. He was close now. The main doors in clear sight, but he knew he couldn't be seen. He had to talk to her alone.

A plan started to formulate in his head, but no that couldn't work. Another plan popped up and excitedly he started forward, but no that wouldn't work either. He couldn't exactly pull her away from her date after leaving so abruptly. He couldn't sneak into the Gryffindor common room and get her to talk to him either.

Maybe after the feast let out he could follow her and leave her a symbol of some sort to meet at the Library. He racked his brain for some idea, some clue that would be obvious but not obvious that anyone would follow her. He first needed to figure out how she would find this hint.

Sighing in frustration he sat on the steps outside the hall. He would just have to wait until the feast was over. It didn't take long. The night had grown late, and he had been late coming to the feast to begin with. Soon the Hallway was swarming with students as they made their way to their perspective places.

Hermione was easy to spot in the crowd. Although everyone had dressed up for the occasion black robes were donned over the clothing as many exited the hall. Hermione's blue dress stood out just as much as she did. The eye naturally went to her. She was like a shooting star in the night sky. If he blinked he might have lost her. Make your wish Draco, he heard the gentle wind call from outside.

He followed as she moved down the hall her arm loosely locked with Dean's. Draco would have shouted out but that would have drawn too much unwanted attention. He didn't care if people saw him acting rash, but he'd rather clear things up with Dean in private. He sighed as he pushed through the thinning crowd, watching Hermione's retreating back and how she almost seemed to be leaning away from Dean. He quickened his pace so he was almost directly behind them.

He was within hearing range of them now, but the only voices that sounded were the ones that came from other students. Dean was leading her away from them, but he wasn't heading to the Gryffindor common room. He was walking down a ways taking a back routine somewhere.

"Listen. I'm sorry I kept you from going to check on Draco, but we are on a date," the Gryffindor male seemed displeased when Hermione gave no response.

"I mean it's not fair for you to have to run after him. He didn't seem upset."

"No he didn't… he seemed tortured."

"Oh don't be melodramatic. I'm sure he's fine," Dean draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest. Draco could barely hear the blood in his ears was roaring. Hermione shoved him off; it would have seemed rough only a small smile grazed her lips. At least she wasn't letting him pull moves on her. Draco calmed himself a little with a deep breath; he needed to stay out of sight.

"Look Dean. I know you and Draco are friends so you should know something. He loves me."

Dean erupted into manic laughter.

"I had no idea you were a joker Hermione. No wonder the Weasley's love you so."

"I wasn't kidding," she snapped. If Draco had been on the receiving end of that harsh tone his life would have been at stake. "Draco loves me. Everyone knows it. How could you not see it?"

"What do you mean see it? Blamey Granger, are you serious?"

"Yes," she said icily answering only the later part of his question. Draco studied the back of her frame for a moment, noticing the fate lines of pink scars across the back of her neck, before he jumped behind a statue. The couple had stopped walking and he wanted to hear the rest of this conversation before he made any move. It was best to see what lie ahead then to walk in blindly.

"Then why didn't he tell me paws off?"

"We aren't dating," she said simply. "He knows he has no right to say who my friends are and aren't."

"So I am just a friend?" the disappointment in Dean's voice was noticeable.

"I'm sorry Dean," he could hear the tenderness in her voice. "I can't drag you into this mess as well even though I sort of started too. I must apologize."

There was a brief silence before he heard Dean sigh.

"Don't be sorry. It was worth it seeing you in that dress," Dean had better stop being so bold or Draco might lose his cool and blow his cover by sending a hex at him. He peeked around the corner and watched as Hermione punched him lightly in the arm. No reason to worry. She saw him strictly as a friend.

"What did you mean drag me into this though?" he questioned rubbing his arm as if it hurt a little.

"A long story," she replied. She looked uncomfortable and edgy like she wanted to leave.

"Look just explain this to me, answer one question for me and then you can go find Draco," it was an offer only a Gryffindor would strike. It took courage to stand up to a girl who could out duel you in magic, especially when she looked dressed to kill. She sighed and ran a hand along her face, rubbing her temples as if they were sore.

"Fine."

Hermione didn't say anything for a long moment. Her eyes were lost into space and she looked like she was struggling to find the right words. Dean patiently sat down across the floor as she leaned up against the wall.

"Promise that you won't say a word to anyone?"

"Of course."

"Then I'll give you the back ground information first."

And that was all it took for the trusting girl to launch into a full on vent.

"He's been my best friend since the beginning of this school year basically the second me and Ron broke up. He was slowly becoming friends with Harry, but I didn't know it. Harry still won't tell me why they are friends… anyways. After we were paired for lab partners I guess Pansy Parkinson gave him a really hard time about something. Harry was interested in it and went and spied on him. Harry said that Pansy called me a Mudblood and Draco blew up on her in front of all the Slytherins which is why none of them will even look at him now. Then he started living at Hagrid's and he's just been so sweet since then…" she trailed off knowing that she was getting off track.

"Right," Dean said in a bored tone as if all this information wasn't new. He nodded in encouragement for her to continue.

"Well we've just been hanging out lately. It's little things really. Like when he holds my hand…"

"He holds your hand?"

"Yeah all the time. Isn't that something friends do?" she laughed as if he was asking some stupid question. She knew that wasn't the truth but she didn't care. She held his hand regularly it felt right to him so it must have been the same with her for her to defend it.

"Well if you were scared or something I guess it'd be okay."

"I was scared," she said quietly.

"What could you possibly be scared of?" he chuckled lightly. It was an insult to call a Gryffindor a coward but he wasn't questioning that. He was wondering what could scare her. She was the fiercest and bravest of the lions. It wasn't every day that one admitted to this fear. But sometimes admitting a weakness was a strength in itself.

"I was scared that I was making a mistake. That I had alienated myself from Ron and I could never be with anyone again. I was scared that Harry would forget me because he had Ginny to be with now. I was so scared that I wouldn't know what to do. I still am scared, but it's not as much now. See, Draco is my best friend. I don't know what I would do without him," she grinned at Dean, "which is why I don't want to see him get hurt. You got me Dean? No more moves on me. You're his friend. The first one to accept him besides Harry, Ginny and myself and I remember when he was so excited about telling me about how great you guys were getting along. I'm sorry. I didn't even think that it would upset him, I thought I was just following his advice…"

Dean laughed again but this time it was soft and gentle. He stood up from his spot against the wall and walked over to Hermione.

"So now for your question if you want."

"I've already asked two."

"It's only fair if you ask what you want to really know."

Dean paused a moment putting his hand to his chin and stroking it. He grinned widely, almost evilly. He mocked mulling over his thoughts a moment longer.

"Do you love him?" he whispered quietly but thankfully just loud enough to echo down the hall to Draco's hiding spot. Draco whipped his head back around and leaned against the armor. He didn't want to know. IDIOT LOOK, his mind screamed and he forced himself to peak back around the corner. But Hermione made no response. She just looked at her feet a light smile gazing her face.

"Well kid. Good luck," he patted her on the head before he walked off down the hall. "And don't stay out too late," he called over his shoulder.

She watched him go silently for a moment before turning around and running. Draco was surprised to find that she was rather fast. She dashed right past him without so much of a second glance. It wasn't until she was down the hall that he heard her singing a song off key of course. Her voice echoed down the hallway and bounced back to him.

"I wanna hold your hannndddd."

He counted to ten before he dashed after her. He followed her out into the starry night and further still until she reached the lake's edge. She laughed and spun in the air as if she didn't have a care in the world.

"You knew I heard," he said when he was standing a few feet away.

"Of course I knew," she smiled at him giving him the impression that there was more than one meaning to her statement. Her eyes looked at him expectantly, waiting. She sighed and took off her shoes and tossed them into the grass away from the lake. The ribbons streamed and caught the night air, giving off the impression of a comet soaring through the sky, or a shooting star.

He sighed too and looked out to the calm lake. Not even a gentle breeze was present anymore. He was truly on his own.

It struck him then. He was on his own. He had to make things happen for him, he couldn't stand there wishing for something and never do anything about it. He had to take action if he wanted something. Although it didn't hurt if there was a little luck involved… just like wishing upon a falling star. It was a wish to be voiced out, to be known, a goal to strive for.

He laid down at the lake's edge and looked up into the beautiful night sky, the only thing that surpassed it was the witch that was now skipping rocks along the water's edge.

"Hermione," he said calmly turning her attention to him. Those brown eyes met his, and for a moment he was reminded of a lioness stalking her prey, watching, waiting for its moment. It was something he had picked up on being around her, that was that her eyes and their ability to tell you everything that was going on. They would tell you her inner torture, her happiness, anything you wanted to know. That was what he found in her eyes. He found himself. Those wild untamed eyes, a mystery to the world but not to him because he knew those eyes. Those were a lioness's eyes. He could see the gentle plea, it wasn't like the plea that had been in her eyes when his aunt had tortured her, but all the same it bothered him. He didn't like seeing her pleading, not if he could help it.

"I love you."

Finally it was said out loud. It was what she needed but wouldn't ask for. It was what she knew but wanted to hear.

"I know," she smiled and sat down next to him. Taking his hand into her own and squeezing it she laid down beside him, clutching their interlocked hands to her chest.

"Feel that?" she asked. For a moment he had no idea what she meant but she quirked an eye brow in a way that was all too familiar and it suggested that he take a moment to figure things out. He paused. He blushed. His hand was resting and ever so barely grazed against her breast, but he knew that wasn't what she meant. It was the fact that her heart was beating just as ferociously as his. It pounded roughly against his palm and he marveled at the feeling of it. It was as if it was begging for him to caress it in his hands. He nodded in response to her question.

"I know too," he smiled. He wasn't going to make her say it. He knew. There was no reason for her to throw herself on the line. Besides, relationships like this don't just appear out of thin air. They have to be built.

"It has never done that for anyone else," she whispered and even with the cover of night he saw her cheeks darken at the admission.

"Herms it's okay. You don't have to say it," he chuckled as she took a deep breath.

"I want to say it."

"No you don't," he chuckled hoping to show her that he wasn't hurt by that. He had finally said it and that was all that mattered. He smiled contently and pulled her to rest on his chest. "How'd you figure it out?" he asked quietly.

"When you hugged me when I broke up with Ron. I could feel your heart beat… it calmed me down. Plus it isn't like you've been trying to hide it," she grumbled and he could hear the confliction in her voice and she struggled to sit up.

"Dammit Draco let me up," she growled.

"Why and ruin a perfect moment like this?" he teased. He tousled her hair and watched as some curls spilled from the hold she had imprisoned them in with bobby pins and clips.

"Draco I-"

He pressed a finger firmly to her lips.

"No. Don't say it unless you mean it. I'm not trying to get anywhere with this Herms. I just wanted to get the courage to tell you. I did. Besides don't forget, I'm completely happy holding your hand," he held up their interlocked fingers to press against her lips. He kissed her palm. The first time his lips had ever touched her body anywhere. The symbolism was not missed by either teen as their cheeks darkened.

"I love you Hermione. You're my best friend and I love you with every fiber in my being. You changed me. You were like that shooting star" he whispered contently pulling her back into his chest and leaning back to the ground pointing out a falling star appearing just in time to make his point, "if I had looked a second later I would have missed it," he knew he sounded ridiculous and started laughing Hermione joined in weakly. "I mean it though. All of it. I'm sorry but I still can't even say everything that I feel, but I love you," he loved the way it sounded when he said it to her. The soft grass began to whistle in with the wind. The lake stirred at their feet.

"I know… me too," she whispered. He would have scolded her but she didn't out right say it. He sighed contently and looked down to notice that she was crying softly against his chest.

"What? Why are you crying?" he asked startled and sat himself up. "Did I say something to hurt you? Oh god Herms I'm so sorry. I should have realized you weren't ready to hear that with Ron and Dean and everything. Sorry Sorry Sor-"

"Shut up you idiot!" she hissed. "I'm crying because…"

"Because…" he trailed off in a desperate attempt to make her say what she wanted to say.

"Because I'm not good enough for you," she whispered and looked out into the lake. In the distance the clock struck midnight and the vibrating bells seemed to shake everything the water even rippled with its power. The night sky seemed to turn a blood red… or maybe that was just because that was all Draco could see.

A/N: A question for my readers. Would I have to change the rating if I used the "F***" word once in my story? It's not in this chapter obviously and I'd only use it once. Is it like the PG-13 rule where you can use it once? Idk I'm not sure. I won't post again until I know the answer for that one. Either that or I'll just bleep it out :p. Or just not use it sighhh… sorry I just only use cuss words when extremely emotionally and I see Draco being that way since he is always so collected. I was going to make him slip up in the next chapter. :P. I hope this chapter was enjoyed.