CHAPTER 13
Hermione watched Draco go and, having been close enough to hear his last comment, felt the tears threaten to fall. But her dignity would not allow her to cry in such a public place so she stood calmly and carefully snuck her way out of the cafeteria as it erupted in whispers.
She could just see Draco whipping around the far corner as she exited but she went the other way to the girls' bathroom. She put her hands on either side of the sink, her elbows locked and her head drooping, letting the tears fall.
'I can't believe that jerk!' she though furiously. 'I can't help it if I have fun when I'm with Donte. That doesn't mean I like him. I love Draco and yet he refuses to see it just because…because…well, I'm don't know why, but it's a stupid reason, I can guarantee that!'
Hermione straightened up, looked at her reflection, and groaned. Her mascara had run, leaving black tracks all the way down to her chin. She glanced around surreptitiously and pulled out her wand. She muttered a few choice words and her makeup was perfect again. She put her wand back in her pocket and hurried to her next class.
Draco stormed out of the cafeteria and down the hall. He considered just apperating home but he knew he would get in trouble for skipping. So he went to sit in his next class, even though he was at least ten minutes early. So he pulled out the homework he had almost finished the night before and set to work on it.
The rest of the class straggled in and Ava snagged the seat beside him almost immediately. He smiled at her charmingly as Hermione entered, glowering at the pair of them. He smirked at her and she sat down looking offended.
Hermione refused to speak to Draco out of character during the Grease rehearsal that afternoon. Not that he pressed her to do so. They were overly-polite and formal, but the chemistry was much diminished. People noticed that something was up and the two were forced to explain many times that they were no longer "together."
It was a rehearsal filled with tension and anxiety for all. Then they had a quick lesson with Shane. They exchanged still fewer words, most of which were polite critique. Then it was time for their dates.
Hermione showered and picked out an outfit for her date with Trevor. They would be going to karaoke at Pockets Bar and Grill. From what he told her, it was a lot of fun. She wanted to be flashy but not sluttish.
She dressed in a black miniskirt, a long-sleeved, red crop-top, and knee-high, platform, black, leather boots. Dramatic black and red makeup, a black choker and earring combo, and a black newsboy cap. She looked in the mirror and had to admit that she looked hot!
Draco, meanwhile, was getting ready to go to the same place (though he didn't know it) with Ava. He showered and dressed in black slacks, black tennis shoes, and a tight, dark green shirt that showed off his six pack, reminiscent of his Slytherin pride. He combed his hair but left it un-slicked as he usually did nowadays. He looked very good.
They both walked into the hall at the same time and came face to face. They looked each other up and down but didn't speak. They proceeded silently to the living room and disaparated. They met up with their dates at separate places, unknowing that they would meet again that night.
Hermione walked into the dimly lit bar on Trevor's arm and beamed around. It seemed like a pleasant enough place, albeit a little noisy and smoky. They sat down at one of the tables close to the karaoke space and ordered their food. They talked for a while about anything they could think of, though most of their conversations centered around music and the theatrical arts.
Draco met up with Ava and took the bus to Pockets. It was warm and crowded, but still had a comfy feel to it. He led Ava to one of the tables near the space cleared for the singers and placed their orders. He tried to strike up a conversation but found, much to his annoyance, that Ava was maybe too like Pansy: she didn't have enough brains to fill an eggcup!
She talked about school, and lip-gloss, and her friends, and cheerleading, and the Leon dance team she was on, and how much fun she was having, and how cute he was, and blah blah blah…
A man at a desk up behind the cleared space held up his hand for quiet. It didn't come but he spoke anyway, smiling around at all the happy, partially drunk, faces.
'Welcome to Pockets Bar and Grill, everyone! This is karaoke night. We have books of songs up at the front along with those little slips of paper to write the information on. If you'd like to sing a song, fill out the slip and give it to me! And don't forget to have fun!' the man boomed out over the crowd. An uproar of cheering erupted from the throng.
'Ooh! Do you want to sing something?' Hermione asked eagerly, clutching at Trevor's arm in excitement.
'I don't know, I probably don't know any of the songs…' he stalled hesitantly. Hermione rolled her eyes.
'Fine, then, I'll do something myself,' she said, and hopped up to get a book. As she sat back down, a flash of white-blonde hair caught her eye. She looked down the row of tables only to see Draco and Ava Hildebrand sitting there. She gaped at them for a moment and felt a pang of jealousy and longing. It made her heart ache.
What made it lighter was that Draco didn't seem to be enjoying himself all that much. He was twirling a tiny pencil in his fingers and staring into space while Ava babbled on about irrelevant topics. Hermione made up her mind right then and there.
She flipped through the song book until she found what she was looking for. She copied down the necessary information on the little slip of paper and submitted it to the man behind the desk. Then she sat back down at her table and picked up her conversation with Trevor, but her mind was three tables down with Draco.
Twenty minutes and many bad singers later, the man called out, 'Hermione!' Hermione jumped to her feet and took her place behind the mike. She saw Draco look up suddenly, as though snapping out of a stupor, and gape at her. She smiled at him and, as the music started, made sure he didn't look away.
'Guess mine is not first heart broken,' she sang.
My eyes are not the first to cry.
I'm not the first to know there's just no getting over you.'
She saw Draco's expression go from surprise to tender to a bit defiant, as though he couldn't believe she would go this far to get him back. As she kept singing, she saw his face soften and he couldn't look away.
'I know, I'm just a fool who's willing,
To sit around and wait for you.
But baby can't you see
There's nothin' else for me to do.
I'm hopelessly devoted to you.
But now there's nowhere to hide since you pushed my love aside!
I'm out of my head, hopelessly devoted to you.
I'm hopelessly devoted to you,' she sang, putting every ounce of feeling into her words. The message was compelling, because every word of it was true.
'My head is sayin' "fool, forget him!"
My heart is sayin' "don't let go!"
Hold on to the end, that's what I intend to do.
I'm hopelessly devoted to you.
But now there's nowhere to hide since you pushed my love aside!
I'm out of my head, hopelessly devoted to you.
I'm hopelessly devoted to you.
I'm hopelessly devoted to you.'
Hermione ended on a gentle high note. She remained where she was, staring hard at Draco. She could tell by his eyes that all was forgiven.
As the applause thundered around her, Hermione went back to her table. Trevor stood up to give her a hug and praise her copiously. She sat down and sighed: the least she could do is finish out the date. 'Besides, I wouldn't want to pull Draco away from Ava, not when they're having such a good time, would I?' she though amusedly.
Draco stared up at Hermione from his table. She never allowed him to break eye contact. Not that he would: he was captivated. Her eyes bore into his with such passion and sincerity that it took his breath away. He listened carefully to her words, though he had them all memorized, and knew that they came straight from her heart.
The music stopped but he didn't break the connection. As she sat back down, he continued to stare at her until Ava tapped him irritatedly on the shoulder.
'Drake?' she asked. 'Are you even listening to me?'
'No,' Draco answered without looking at her. He heard her give a noise of indignation. She pushed her chair back and stood up briskly.
'Fine! Then I'm leaving!' Ava said furiously. When this proclamation elicited no response, she turned on her heel and stormed out the door.
Hermione saw Trevor glance behind him as Ava stood up. She stormed to the door and Trevor gaped after her. He looked worried as he turned back to Hermione.
'Maya, can I go after her? It's not safe for a teenage girl to be walking around alone outside a bar at this time of night,' he said anxiously.
'Of course, Trevor,' Hermione agreed, standing up to hug him. 'Drake can take me home, I'm sure,' she added with a smile. Trevor smiled, thanked her for the lovely evening, and ran out to catch Ava before she got mugged.
Hermione grinned and came up quietly behind Draco. She carefully lowered herself into Ava's vacated seat, looking at her hands uncertainly. Draco didn't say anything so she looked up.
Draco was surprised to see the tears in Hermione's caramel eyes as she gazed at him so intently. He stared back and she let out a tiny sob. He moved to put his arm around her but before he could, she threw herself in his arms and buried her face in his chest.
'I'm sorry, Draco!' she cried quietly. Draco was surprised to hear her use his real name, she had been calling him Drake so much. 'I didn't mean anything with Donte, I was just playing around, and I-'
'Sh,' Draco said quietly, rubbing his hand up and down her back in a calming way. 'I understand, and it's me who should be sorry, not you. I overreacted. I was just…hurt, I guess. I felt a little betrayed. But I'm over that now.' Hermione gave a weary chuckle as she pulled back and wiped her streaming eyes.
'Me, too. So, are we back together again?' she asked uncertainly. Draco nodded and beamed at her. She kissed him gently and hugged him tightly, both of which he returned in like measure. The night seemed to have suddenly gotten much brighter.
Hermione and Draco walked outside, glancing surreptitiously at the bums and drunkards around them. They walked far out into the parking lot, as if they were looking for their car, and disaparated where no muggles could see them. They arrived in their living room with a small pop and stood for a moment, just looking at each other.
'Drake, can I come sleep with you?' Hermione asked in the same innocent tone as the first time she had said it. He smiled at her, put his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
'Wouldn't have it any other way,' he said quietly.
They changed into their pajamas and got into Draco's bed and cuddled together. Hermione sighed.
'Now this is right where I'm supposed to be,' she whispered sleepily. Draco murmured his assent and hugged her closer. They drifted off in each others' arms into the first good sleep good sleep either of them had had in a while.
They spent the majority of the next day telling people that they were back together again. They were met with relief, congratulations, even jealousy. Ava was crying in the bathroom and Josh sulked around all day because he hadn't got the chance to have his date with Hermione.
The newly repaired couple were too wrapped up in each other to notice any of this. The recent misunderstanding had really opened their eyes to how cherishing your partner is really the cornerstone of any relationship. They didn't want anymore fights so they were going out of their way to make each other happy.
Ari was beside herself with pride that they had managed to work it out. Vince clapped them on the back and congratulated them, laughing all the while at Ari's reaction. She always seemed so excited and eager. Sometimes it was refreshing, sometimes it was annoying. Or both.
'I am so glad you managed to talk it out!' she squealed when they sat down at lunch holding hands. 'I am so proud of both of you! You know what, we should go on a double-date in honor of your reestablished relationship!' she said animatedly.
'I don't see why not,' Draco said.
'Sure,' Hermione giggled.
'Then it's agreed. Where do you want to go?' Vince asked.
'Movies?' Drake suggested. 'I've never actually been to a movie. I know, it's pitiful. I've always wanted to, though. Any good movies on?'
'Ooh! We have got to go see Hairspray! It just came to the cheap theater and it stars Zac Effron! He's so gorgeous!' Ari said breathlessly.
'Now, now, Ari, don't go running off after superstars when you've got one hell of a guy right here,' Hermione said warningly. Ari turned to beam at Vince and kissed him.
'Ah, so true,' she sighed contentedly, leaning her head on her boyfriend's shoulder.
Hermione and Draco let out a loud, exaggerated "aw" and they all laughed. It was turning out to be a very good day. Until…