Chapter Twelve: The Confession
"Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time."
--Unknown
Hermione Granger, sitting on the large armchair next to the window pane, craned her neck to the side, stretching her tense muscles; she'd been reading Hogwarts: A History, again. She swiftly turned the page, drinking in each word like sweet wine; she never tired of reading the same thing over again. The book held so much information and what is a girl to do when she'd already finished all her homework on a Friday night. Ron and Harry (mostly Ron) were busy talking about new Quidditch strategies as usual, she kept reminding them spring was far away but they ignored her. Men, she thought, irritated.
"Honestly Ron, if you showed the same enthusiasm in doing your Potions essay, Snape wouldn't hate you as much," she murmured looking up from the huge text perched on her lap.
"Hermione, writing a foot long essay on vampires is a lot less intriguing than talking about the Chudley Canons. And Snape's going to hate me for as long as I live so, what's the point?" he commented. Harry nodded, one arm slung over Ginny's shoulders. Hermione grinned; it was just like old times, as if the past few weeks hadn't happened at all. She hadn't seen Malfoy for the past week, things were going great, but one look at Harry's tense expression told her, things weren't exactly all right. He laughed less, talked less and overall seemed to lose interest in everything. Even in Quidditch and that's saying something. Harry and Quidditch were inseparable like Ron and pumpkin juice. Ginny was fairly quiet as well, very un-Ginny like. Hermione thought intently, her eyes narrowing, as her eyes fell on Ron; He was the only one who was rambling on about his favorite Quidditch team.
"…I mean they're bound to beat England, take no offense Harry ("None taken," he replied immediately). By the way, I talked to Madam Hooch this morning about the match schedules, did you know our first match is with Slytherin?-"
"What?" Hermione interrupted, the mere word made her feel queasy.
A very annoyed Ron replied, "Why do you care? Ms. I-too-good-for-Quidditch," Hermione rolled her eyes, if only he was a tad bit more mature, but soon realized she was expecting too much from the red head. Before Hermione could recoil and turn the conversation (though one-sided) into an argument, Harry stood up abruptly surprising everyone.
"I-I have to go," he said silently.
"Where?" Ginny asked, holding his hand. "I'll come—"
"No, it's Head Boy business," he intruded. The Slytherin was surely rubbing off on him; he was lying to his girlfriend. "Y-You know how it is, lots to do," he said in a lighter tone.
"Right," she replied half-heartedly, with a hint of sarcasm, letting go of his arm. Harry leaned and gave her a peck before leaving the Gryffindor common room.
"Ginny, is everything alright?" Hermione asked as soon as Harry was out the door, she closed her book.
"Yeah, he's just in one of those moods, you know him," she assured, everything is peachy-keen. Harry barely talks to me and we rarely ever meet outside of school anymore. Everything is just wonderful, she finished inside her head. Before Hermione could interrogate further, her eyes caught a figure standing alone on the Quidditch field. She put her book down, walked up to the window squinting at the lonely figure walking across the Quidditch field. Ugh, Draco Malfoy? She wasn't sure, swiftly checking her watch before peering once more at the still figure. 8:30 p.m. He's not supposed to be there.
"What?" Ron asked seriously standing beside her.
"N-Nothing," Hermione stammered, flustered. Ron raised an eyebrow questioningly while taking a bite of his cauldron cake. She smiled nervously trying to get his attention away from the window.
"I-I'll be back, just have to talk to McGonagall about my schedule," The words coming out as a jumble as she sped out of the Common Room.
"We're the only normal ones, I'm telling you," Ron said to Ginny while gobbling down the remains of the cake. When Ginny ignored him, Ron rolled his eyes. "Scratch that, I'm the only normal one,"
Hermione felt goose bumps all over her body as she stepped out into the chilly winter weather cursing for not grabbing her robe. She was dressed in casual jeans and cotton t-shirt. Merlin, its freezing she thought while rubbing her shoulders with her hands trying to increase her body temperature. Her teeth started shattering as she continued to the center of the field where she had spotted Malfoy earlier. Why was she here in the first place? She wondered.
"Fancy seeing you here Granger," She turned to see him standing, broom in one hand and a blanket in the other.
"I should ask you the same," she said tightening her jaw in order to control the chattering.
"Were you spying on me?" he asked, a smirk playing on his luscious lips.
"No," she answered quickly. "Are you ok?" she added after a pause.
"I don't want to talk about it," his seriously tone told Hermione not to question further. His mother died, of course he's not ok, she thought to herself wanting to slap her forehead for her stupidity.
"I'm going to leave," she said after another pain-staking pause pointing stupidly to the castle. Draco let out a deep chuckle making Hermione feel even more pathetic.
"Granger, stop talking," he advised. She glared at him, her brown eyes blazing into his gray ones, folding her arms in discontent.
"Fine, I should've just left—" Draco took three quick strides and placed a long, slender finger on her lips, bringing back memories of earlier that morning. Well, one thing was certain; she had feelings for the Slytherin prince. Whether she was attracted to him or enthralled by his peculiar actions (for instance, standing in the middle of the Quidditch pitch at night) she didn't know. Maybe, it was her attraction towards him that intrigued her senses. Wow, that was confusing, She had a bad habit of sprawling, even if it was inside her head, when she was nervous.
"I said stop talking," Yup, definitely attraction. She stared into his light, almost translucent in the moonlight, gray eyes.
"I want to show you something, but you're clearly not dressed for the occasion," Hermione's eyes widened in fear.
"What are you--" the fluidity of thought was suddenly replaced by anger, Argh what a prick!
"God, Shut up woman," he hissed in frustration, interrupting her thoughts. "I'm not a pervert Granger," he snapped, regrouping after the sudden burst of fury.
"Well, that's clearly opinionated," she muttered. After giving her one of his famous death glares she had grown accustomed to, he mounted his broom, offered his hand and rolled his eyes as her eyes widened in absolute terror.
"I hate flying," she said quickly, wishing she hadn't come in the first place but knew if she didn't it would have bothered her the whole night and she couldn't cope with another sleepless night.
"Ok, that was a lie, no one can truly hate flying without a legitimate reason, out with the truth this time," he countered.
"I-I'm afraid of heights," she flushed.
"Well, what day is today," he asked randomly hoping she'd catch the hint. Hermione struggled to answer (Apparently, she thought he was being serious) and he let out an exasperated sigh, the things he had to put up with.
"Let me help you, today is the day you will face your fear of flying," he finished extending his hand once more, the other secured around the brand new Fireblot plus, the newest model to hit the market. He'd gotten it over the summer before school started. Hermione hesitantly accepted his hand, apprehend the fact that she didn't have a choice, and he pulled her towards him.
"One more thing," He swiftly removed his robe and wrapped it around her shoulders. Hermione noticed his attire; a long sleeved shirt that did wonders to his muscular arms and dark colored jeans. "You'll freeze, honestly, I thought you were supposed to be the smartest witch of our age and you come out here in a t-shirt." Hermione pressed her lips together, holding back a smile. He was trying to justify his polite action, so Slytherin-like.
She felt his arms encircle hers as she mounted the broom. Blushing profusely, she was glad they were doing this at night or Malfoy would hold it against her for the rest of her life. She felt his breath on the nape of her neck sending electric sparks down her spine. His hands circled her waist as he gripped the broom tightly.
"Ready?" he asked as he started to bend his knees.
"No," Why am I not surprised? He thought to himself while rolling his eyes as he kicked off the ground. Hermione's body stiffened the moment they were in the air; she closed her eyes tightly shut, while silently scolding herself for agreeing to something like this.
"Calm down, Granger," Draco advised as they gained altitude. Hermione opened one eye and got one glimpse at how small the Quidditch pitch looked; she immediately closed it again, feeling nauseous.
"No, I can't calm down. I told you I was afraid, why are you making me do this?" Her voice was desperate and stripped of the confidence or bravery it usually emitted. She sounded scared, like a little child afraid of the dark. Draco slowed down, tightening his grip on the broom as it vibrated to a stop and they were left floating steadily in mid-air.
"You," she accused, "I should've never let you talk me into this, what was I thinking---" She stopped in mid-sentence at Malfoy's amused expression, she looked around, her eyes bugging out of her sockets. Beautiful couldn't even come close to the splendid view that surrounded them. Millions of stars covered them like a blanket; she extended her hand trying to touch them. She suddenly let out a squeal as Malfoy's strong arms grasped her mid-section once more, the other was used to steady the broom.
"We're on a broom Granger," he growled but Hermione couldn't get annoyed, not with the breath-taking sight adjoining her. She looked down to see clouds, like a thick sheet of snow, Wow, she thought. Malfoy sat observing her, arms crossed, almost smiling at her child-like awe. Her skin was illuminated by the moonlight; a slight breeze blew her hair into his face. She smelled like freshly picked wild flowers, sweet yet strong. An uneasy feeling found its way to the pit of Malfoy's stomach, why was he so nervous around her?
"This is—" she started, lost for words. "Beautiful," Yes, it is, he agreed silently, still gazing at her.
"I used to come here all the time, to clear my head and enjoy the view," he said taking in the sight as well, though he was used to it, he never got over the serene, heaven-like view before him.
"Oh," she paused. "S-So about this morning, I stayed because I cared," Finally, with the truth out in open, Hermione felt relieved. She didn't know why she told him but the tranquil atmosphere had something to do with her confession.
"Hmm," he said silently. "Hermione, I-I care about you too," he managed to say. "And this is going to sound totally crazy, but you're not like other girls and that's what stopped me from going after you. I wanted to get to know you, talk to you but my ego had always gotten in the way," Hermione carefully turned around, facing him.
"And what about now?" she whispered.
"After this morning, I have nothing to be proud about anymore." He looked away, his eyes glistening with tears. Be a man, pull yourself together, he though to himself.
"D-Draco, I'm sorry and I'm not just saying this because I have to." She placed a hand on his cheek; Draco wrapped his hands around her waist, amidst her hundredth rambling session of the day she didn't notice, and pulled her closer. "…and besides, you just found out your mother passed away and I couldn't just leave so—"He placed his hand on her lips and she looked into his eyes.
"You talk too much," he commented leaning in and closed the small gap separating them. Hermione never in her life had imagined Draco Malfoy out of all people could be so gentle, this kiss was nothing compared to the escapades they shared in the hallways. Hermione wrapped her arms around his necks leaning into him as Draco snaked his around her waist. She moaned as he sucked on her collar bone, her hands running down his back.
"AH!!!!" Hermione shrieked as the Broom toppled over, Draco grabbed the broom with one hand, hanging in mid-air, and strongly gripped Hermione's waist with the other. With one fell swoop, they were on top again, Hermione landing on his lap. She couldn't help but burst out laughing while Draco scowled.
"And I thought you were supposed to be good at flying," she said as she held her stomach unable to control the mirth. Draco couldn't help but break out into a smile himself, Hermione looked up a felt the air escape her lungs, only one thought passed through her mind; Draco should definitely smile more often. Both knew their relationship (unofficially, at least) wasn't going to work out, a Slytherin and a Gryffindor, a snake and a lion, the Slytherin prince and the Gryffindor nerd. But, at that moment, in the middle of star-lit sky far away from the trouble waiting below, they were Draco and Hermione.
The rest of the night was spent laughing, talking and conversing on the broom until Hermione finally fell asleep in his arms, exhausted. His feet touched the ground as Hermione's eyes fluttered open, her expression confused.
"What happened?" she asked looking around.
"N-nothing you just fell asleep," he said, taking her hand and led her back to the castle.
"Oh, sorry," she blushed. They entered the castle through the back door and made their way to the staircases.
"Thanks for waking up by the way, I was trying to figure out how to get you back to the Gryffindor tower. I'm sure Potter will have field day if he saw you in my arms,"
"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked.
"Strong possibility there," he smirked and she smiled. She leaned over and pecked his cheek and thanked him for a wonderful evening.
"Good-night," he replied as he watched her disappear towards the Gryffindor Tower. He turned around and started making his way to the Slytherin tower. Ironically, today had been the happiest he'd felt in a long time, the day his mother passed away. The pain was still there but, he somehow felt she wanted this for him.
Wow, am I on a roll or what?? I love how this is turning out and I hope you do too!!
Review please, where have all my reviewers gone:P
