Chapter-14: Return

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Thanks to vsree and narniya 75 for review.

They were in the same position what for hours. Both of them clutching each other for dear lives; eyes closed; crying. They didn't realize that they were back to the Restricted section until Hermione opened her eyes. She gasped as she looked around. Draco loosened his grip on her but didn't let go. "What is it, Hermione?" Draco asked. His voice husked due to crying. Hermione made a sound between happiness and sadness. "Draco, we're back."That got his attention and he looked around them. Draco didn't know if he was to be happy for returning back or sad because he wouldn't be able to be with Hermione anymore. He gave a blank look. He got up and helped Hermione up.

"It's almost dawn. What do you think, how long we been there?" Hermione contemplated Draco's question seriously for a minute. "I think, time runs fast in there. And so if I'm correct then it's been just few hours whereas we spent weeks in there." Hermione said thoughtfully. "Is that even possible?" Draco asked truly amazed. "Yes. Its possible in one way. You know, if we think about other dimension..." Draco cut her. "Ok...Ok. Don't need to give a lecture on that now, miss Brilliant," Draco said smirking. Hermione blushed and swat his arm. "Shut up, Draco." And they both started laughing. "So, what do we do now?" Draco asked seriously when they stopped laughing. "We go to Dumbledore." Hermione replied sternly without thinking.

They ran to Dumbledore. Though Draco hated the idea but he couldn't bring himself to oppose Hermione. So despite not wanting to go to Dumbledore, he ran to him. After running for full twenty minutes, they reached the Gargoyle panting heavily. "We-we don't know his password." Draco said as he was trying to catch his breathe. Hermione smirked that let an awe escape through Draco's lips. "Acid-pop," said Hermione and the gargoyle started to move reveling the a spiral staircase. "How did you..." Draco tried to ask but Hermione took his hand and pulled him up the spiral staircase giving him no chance to speak. When they reached, she quickly pushed open the door without knocking before Draco could object.

Dumbledore was sitting in his chair behind the desk reading a book and looked up when he heard the door open. He didn't look a bit surprised by their presence like he had been expecting them. "What a pleasant surprise, Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy! Please, come on in and sit down." Dumbledore said in his ever calm voice. Hermione and Draco entered the office and took seats in front of Dumbledore across the desk. "What can I do to help you at this unusual hour?" Dumbledore asked the pair curiously. "Actually, Professor, we've something that we want to know you about." Hermione started. "Go on, Miss Granger."

Hermione told Dumbledore everything about Draco being chosen as a Death Eater and ordered to kill Dumbledore leaving out the details of how she found out. To their utter surprised Dumbledore told them knew all that but he thought Draco couldn't do it because his heart was not in it. Draco agreed to that inwardly. Dumbledore assured them that Draco's mother will be safe and that the plan has to go as it was supposed to. He also told them not to tell anybody about it to which both of them agreed without another word.

As Hermione and Draco got up to leave, Dumbledore stopped them. "You know, it is said that every lost man has an angel beside to show the right path. It might have some truth in it. Don't you think , Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore asked looking curiously at Draco who nodded confusingly. "Y-yes, sir. It might." "Ok, off you go then. You do need some sleep before breakfast." They nodded their goodbyes and left hurriedly.

Coming out of the gargoyle guarded staircase, both of them stopped and faced each other. They silently stared at each other until Draco cleared his throat and Hermione looked away. "What we do now?" Draco asked to remove the silence between them. "We go on our separate ways. But we'll still be friends." Hermione added quickly seeing fear started to appear in his silvery grey eyes. She never thought that a day would come when Draco Malfoy would let his guard down in front of her.

Draco smiled softly at her which she returned. "Goodnight, Hermione." Draco said before turning to leave. "Wait," Hermione drawled impatiently. Draco turned to her. Hermione walked up just in front of him. She bit his her bottom lip before standing on tip-toe and pecked Draco on the cheek. "Goodnight , Draco." Hermione quickly turned and left the place without glancing back.

Draco stood there for whole five minutes, hand over his cheek where Hermione pecked him a few minutes earlier before slowly retreating to his dormitory.

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