A/N: edited version. I've always loved this chapter. I'm always a slut for Dramione, lol jk but kinda true.
Chapter 14
"Oh. Wow. I didn't… I didn't know you're back from… from wherever the hell that was. Ha ha," Hermione babbled awkwardly. Fred was right beside her, holding her hand while he look at the blonde man right in front of them. He felt Hermione's hand turn clammy and saw how pale she became. He knew she's with him but it didn't stop him from feeling hurt with how Hermione was acting. She was so affected with Draco Malfoy's presence she forgot to introduce him, not because they don't know each other, it's just rude not to, right?
"I came back from France," Draco claimed as he smile softly at her. He spotted her fifteen minutes ago. She just left the restaurant and was followed by a red-headed man that he concluded was a Weasley. If he didn't notice that they were holding hands earlier, he definitely notices now. He discreetly glanced towards their tangled fingers and to the face of the man right in front of him. Huh, so they're together, he thought.
Fred cleared his throat and introduced himself while Hermione and Draco stare at each other. "Hey, mate. I'm Fred Weasley," he stuck his hands in front of Draco and they shook hands briefly.
"Ah! So you're one of the twins. Nice to meet you," Draco said. Hermione was still silent.
Fred knew what he had to do. "Uhm, babe?"
Hermione snapped out of her thoughts and turned to her boyfriend. "Yeah?"
"Uh, I remember George and I are supposed to go pick something up for Angelina. You should catch up with your old friend here, yeah?" He smiled at her, untangled his hand from her and left without a second glance. Hermione knew he was mad. But she had to deal with him later.
She took a deep breath and turned to the other man. "So…" she trailed off.
"Want to grab some coffee, Hermione?" Draco asked.
"Uh, sure. Yeah. Sure. Uh, lead the way."
~OoO~
They settled at a silent coffee shop at muggle London near the Three Broomsticks. Their coffee and chocolate cake just arrived when Draco finally spoke first.
"Another Weasley huh?" He asked smirking.
Hermione chuckled. "Well, I just like my red heads."
Draco laughed sincerely, something he can't stop whenever Hermione tells a joke. "So how's that red head?" He asked while wagging his eyebrows.
"Ugh, Draco!" She exclaimed, looking fake appalled and threw a piece of M&M on his face.
When their laughter subsided, he spoke again. "I missed you, you know."
Hermione sighed. "I did too."
"How are you?" He asked.
"I am really doing fine. You?"
He smiled. "Getting better."
She looked at him straight in the eye and smiled softly. "Good for you, then."
They fell through a comfortable silence. He was looking at the tissue rack on their table, while Hermione was looking at outside the window.
"I don't think I've said this before but… I'm sorry."
Hermione turned to look at him again with her eyes filled with unshed tears. "Why?"
"I took you for granted. I loved you, I really did. But it wasn't healthy, wasn't it? I was selfish. I only cared about what people would think or what good it'll bring me. You didn't deserve someone like me. And I know it wasn't long before you realize it too, you know. I know you didn't love me the way I did."
"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have ended it with you that… that way," she sighed. "You didn't deserve all the hurtful words I said."
"I did."
"No you did not. You were a death eater, but not anymore. You were a bastard in school, but you treated me like a queen. But I just had to drag the past when I broke up with you."
Draco chuckled. "Yeah… you broke my heart."
"And I'm sorry for that, Draco." Hermione said softly as she reached for his hand. Draco glanced at their hands and dragged his eyes to her face.
"This is our closure, isn't it?" He asked.
"I was hung up on you for awhile," she confessed.
"Me too."
"Yes, this is our closure."
"It doesn't feel bad."
"No it doesn't."
"Are we good?"
"Yes," and she patted his hand and stuck her hand beside her coffee cup.
"So… Fred huh?"
"Yup."
Draco searched her face and saw something he had never seen in her face while they were dating. She was in love, and boy she has it bad. He snorted.
"Why?" Hermione asked, her eyebrow raised.
"Do you still smoke?" He asked.
"Uh, that's random, but no. I don't. Fred helped me quit." She proclaimed proudly.
"What if he asked you on a date but he has to put a blind fold on you to get there, what would you do?" He asked again as his smirk grew.
Hermione narrowed her eyes but thought about his question. Without really thinking about her answer, just because she's sure of what to say she replied, "I'd let him just because I know he loves surprises."
Draco grinned. Hermione turned suspicious. "What's with the questions? And why are you grinning?"
"I have my last question, and you have to answer me truthfully."
"Okaaay…"
"Do you love him?"
Hermione's heart literally skipped a beat. She stared at the man right in front of him. A man she tried to love. A man she never really trusted her heart with, not really. A man that she just had a closure with a few minutes ago.
She thought about Fred. She thought about how he suddenly smiles when they're together. How he stares at her, thinking that she doesn't notice but she really does. How he give her different kind of flowers every day. How he would be the first one to greet her good morning, personally or by owl or by anything he comes up, because really, he's a Weasley twin, he has a lot of good up in his sleeves.
Hermione smiled. No, she grinned like a maniac, and Draco Malfoy grinned right back at her.
"You don't need to tell me the answer, Hermione. You need to tell him, because I know you haven't yet." He said softly.
Hermione stoop up and hugged Draco. "Thank you," she whispered and kissed his cheek. "I have to go."
"I know."
"Thank you."
"Go get him, Hermione."
"Stop watching those romantic comedies."
"Ha ha," he laughed sarcastically. "You ruined the feel. Fuck off, then."
Hermione laughed. "Goodbye, Draco."
"No. Not really."
"See you, then!"
And she left to find the man she's in love with.