Draco stayed under the stairs for a lot longer than he had originally planned. His knees up against his chest, he stared at a mark on the floor. There was a horrible aching in his chest, an awful longing that he couldn't seem to get rid of. She was gone. Again.
God fucking damnit.
What did she want from him? Why was she such a bitch all the goddamn time? He let out a shaky and angry breath, like fire bursting from a dragon's mouth.
I started having feelings for you.
It made him…happy? The tightness in his chest expanded, turning into a new feeling that wasn't quite pain…he couldn't explain it. It felt light and heavy all at the same time, and for whatever reason he felt like he could run laps around the whole school if he wanted. But at the same time...he wanted to punch a wall.
What had this bitch done to him?
He stood up, finally, and slowly descended down the hall. He was already late for dinner. His stomach rumbled, as though reaffirming the fact.
Perhaps it was time he analyzed his own feelings. For a brief moment he scoffed. What feelings? But he allowed himself to push away his arrogance momentarily. What was it he wanted, exactly? He thought a moment. He wanted his pillows to smell like her again. Because, in all honesty, Hermione Granger smelled really nice.
So there. If he wanted his pillows to smell like her then he'd have to fuck her again.
He cringed.
That sounded so…harsh all of a sudden. But he did want to fuck her, he knew at least that much. So what was the problem?
He groaned, rubbing his head, never before having to deal with so many conflicting emotions at once. Honestly, being a Death Eater was easier than dealing with Hermione Granger.
Ok, so maybe, maybe he had sort of developed feelings for the witch as well. He had let her sleep with him after all. Like actually sleep. In his arms.
He sighed, recalling the memory. She had been so soft and warm. A tender bundle of curly hair that he didn't want to let go of. Her gentle murmuring and the way she pressed her lips against his neck sometimes, as though he actually meant something to her. Maybe he did. Maybe she meant something to him.
Well fuck.
He couldn't very well tell her that though. It would never work out. He was a Malfoy. It was just stupid to even think about. What were they supposed to do, run off together into the sunset, not a care in the world? No. That's not what reality was. That's not what life was.
They were all just victims of circumstance, weren't they? Wrong place, wrong time. She just happened to be unfortunate enough to take a sip of that tea.
When he entered the dining hall, he spotted her easily. She had become impossible for him to miss. Anywhere he went, if she was there, he would notice.
There she was, sitting next to Harry Potter, looking somewhat glum. Not that Harry, idiot of all idiots noticed. Because all of her friends were, Draco was convinced, idiots.
She needed someone better than that. Someone she could talk to about important things. Things that interested her. Someone that she was able to poke fun at without worrying about them being a wishy washy soft shell. Someone like…him…
He nearly tossed his entire plate of food onto the ground. Fuck her. This was all her fault. The stupid pain in his chest and his stupid confusing thoughts that made no sense and his stupid goddamn bed not smelling like her because she wasn't fucking there anymore. And he couldn't fucking tell her any of it because there she was, over there, with the bloody Gryffindors, chatting about something stupid, with that stupid ass redhead blowing godddamn pumpkin juice out of his nose because he was a goddamn idiot.
Upon calmer review, Draco also realized that he didn't think he could ever actually confess whatever it was he was feeling to her, because despite everything, Hermione Granger scared the crap out of him. Or rather, what she might say scared the crap out of him. So being in this weird ass state of not-knowing-but-knowing was sort of better than knowing for sure he'd never be able to hold his doe again.
"Blaise." He said, turning to his friend.
"Mm?" he had just shoved some mashed potatoes into his mouth.
"Do you have any more veritaserum left?"
"Uh…a bit, why?"
"It's the only way I'll be able to talk to her honestly."
Blaise stared at Draco for a long time, before taking a sip of his pumpkin juice and then finally replying. "You're the biggest coward I've ever met, Drake."
"Excuse me?"
"You need a potion to tell a girl you want to be with her? Give me a break. I'm sick of all this bullshit, mate."
"it's not bullshit Zabini it's a goddamn solution. Are you going to help me or not?"
"No."
"What?"
"No. Fucking tell her on your own like a goddamn man."
"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"Am I not clear? Stop being a pussy."
After everything that had already happened that day, Draco's anger was dangerously teetering to the boiling point. His fists were just a breath away from being swung, and his teeth were clenched and ready for battle.
"Blaise, I'm not playing-"
"Neither am I. Or are you content with being a little bitch?"
Draco stood up boldly, fueled by anger, and no longer giving a single fuck. "Fine."
Blaise hesitated, unsure of what Draco might do.
Draco stood on the bench and then climbed onto the table, shooting a spark upwards with his wand.
Heads turned and chatter quieted down, but not everyone was paying attention.
"HEY! I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY!"
The room became silent just then, all eyes turning to Draco.
"Would Hermione Granger please stand up?"
Every head turned from Draco to Hermione, who was ushered to stand up by Ginny.
He blinked, clearing his throat. "Hey."
She shot him a confused look, and said nothing.
"Ok, um…shit," he breathed, "I care for you, ok? And I want to be with you. For real this time."
He noticed her gasp, and her eyes fluttered about the room, as though she might find an answer hidden in a corner somewhere. He noticed Ginny nudge her on the leg, and she fidgeted.
"O-ok." She managed.
Draco, at that point, was done.
"Ok? Fucking," he climbed down to the opposite benched and hopped over to the next table, "I fucking stand up in front of the entire," he jumped to the next one, "goddamn school," he continued to move across the tables, "and all you have to say is fucking ok?" He stood on the bench closest to her, and stared her down, the bench giving him added height.
"Well you just come up with it out of nowhere-"
He grabbed her arm and with surprising force pulled her up on the bench with him. "How else am I supposed to do it?"
She pushed him away. "Maybe not in front of the whole goddamn school!" she hissed, "Everyone is staring!" she motioned around her.
He waved his wand carelessly and everyone around them seemed to disappear, Hermione and Draco the only ones in the room.
"H-How did you do that?"
"You're not the only one with a few tricks." He snapped, but his eyes softened as he continued to look at her. "Please give me more than an ok, Bambi."
She lowered her gaze and played with her fingers. "I'd be lying if I said my heart wasn't beating like crazy right now." She let out a nervous laugh.
Draco nodded, his own heart starting to beat rapidly. "Well shit. Is your chest supposed to hurt this much?"
She laughed, her nerves melting into excited jitters. "I guess, yeah. If you're that happy."
He looked at her curiously. "I think…I am…"
"What is the meaning of this?" a low voice burst through the enchantment, the setting returning, and before them stood Professor Snape.
"Dining tables are for eating, not for carelessly prancing about, Mister Malfoy." Snape hissed at the mention of his name.
"Come on Severus-"
"That's Professor Snape!" he snapped coldly, "You and Ms. Granger will follow me. Detention and twenty house points from the both of you."
"But Professor, we-" Hermione tried but was cut short.
"Silence!"
They were forced to follow Snape through the castle, both of them wondering what they would be sentenced to. It couldn't have been worse timing, Hermione thought. She wanted to talk to Draco more than anything, now that they were both finally on the same page. Or, at least, she thought they were. She didn't care. She was too happy to worry about anything. He had said he cared about her, and she'd believe him gladly. Even if they weren't on the same page, they were in the same book, and so, that alone was capable of making her smile.
Suddenly, her right hand was caught in his, and she looked from their linked hands up to his face, in which he gave nothing away, but continued to look forward. She blushed involuntarily, the happy pink filling the tops of her cheeks as she held onto his hand.
As Snape turned around, Draco quickly released her hand, and they stood side by side in silence. Snape looked at them menacingly, and opened a classroom door. "You'll be cleaning cauldrons."
"But sir that'll take all night!" Draco protested.
"Then you'd better get started, Malfoy."
He slammed the door behind him, leaving Hermione and Draco to themselves.
Hermione stared at the mountain of cauldrons scattered about the room, and began to laugh.
He looked at her. "What?"
She tugged his shirt and nuzzled her face into his shoulder, a few stray giggles still escaping her lips. She inhaled deeply, and then looked up at him. "I like your pheromones, Draco Malfoy."
He blinked, his lips tugging upwards into a smile. "I like your pheromones too, Hermione Granger."
"Well that settles it then."
"I guess it does."
She looked about the room. "We have a lot to do."
"Yeah…sorry about that. I kinda fucked up back there…with the whole confession thing…"
She felt her cheeks heat up. "No…it was perfect."
He hesitated for a moment, "You're cute when you blush."
Her hands went up to her cheeks, trying to cover them. She shook her head, "No, no I hate it. It's so gross."
He smirked, finding her strangely adorable just then.
He cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. "Um. So I've never really asked a girl out before. But um. I have an opening available, for the whole girlfriend position…if you want it."
She giggled stupidly, walking around the cauldrons with her hands clasped neatly behind her back. "And if I said yes?"
His eyes followed her figure as she roamed aimlessly around the room. "Then I think this shit in my chest would finally go away."
Her eyes went wide and she stopped walking. "Well I have to then, for your sake."
He walked up to her and she looked down.
"Do you think we'll work?" she whispered.
He was somewhat taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"Were supposed to be rivals and all…"
"Hasn't stopped us so far." He said casually. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing his lips against the top of her head. She closed her eyes, enjoying how close he was to her.
"We better get to work though. This is going to take forever."
She sighed. "You're right..."
His eyes widened. "I'm right? Hey, this'll be the easiest relationship ever."
She pushed away him playfully, "Don't get used to it, Malfoy."
A/N: Is that squealing I hear? Haha let me know what you think! So many cuss words in this chapter, but that's Draco for you. Hooray for update days ^_^ Don't forget to comment ;D