(Edited)
I got fab feedback from the last few chaps; thanks!
Disclaimer: See chapter 2.
Warnings for this chapter: Dramione fluffeh :D Not haphazardous though, I should think.
But then again, fluff is fluff, so.
The writer is by nature a dreamer–a conscious dreamer – Carson McCullers
Hermione sighed.
She lifted her hands to rub her swollen eyes. Leaning against a tree, she blindly picked out a book from her bag and sighed again. After attempting to read a few words and failing, Hermione set the book down again with an angry huff.
"It doesn't matter," She mumbled to herself, "This was gonna happen sooner or later, it always does. I'll just go back to when it was just me, Harry and Draco."
But what if they want Luna to stay?
Hermione wrapped her arms around her knees, balancing herself on the heels of her feet and stared at her bag. "Then I'll just leave. They won't be able to choose between me and her, so I'll just get up and leave. Then I'll go to the waaaay long ago days, when it was only me, Dad and books. And I'll visit Bella occasionally."
You shouldn't have lashed out at her.
"I know," Hermione moaned pitifully into her arms. "I know, and I'm sorry, but it doesn't matter now, she hates me."
It's no one's fault but yours.
"Shut up," Hermione whispered, setting her head down in her arms. "I know, so shut up."
You always think you know everything, and this is where it gets you.
Hermione's eyes blazed gold. "Shut up."
"You know, talking to yourself is the first step to mentality."
Hermione's head snapped up. Draco stared at her with a bemused look on his face.
He was hanging upside down on a branch. The way his hair hung down made her stomach flip.
"In fact, I think it was you who first told me that."
"You're hanging upside-down from a branch. By how you've put your feet, you'll fall down and break your shoulder."
And now you're blabbing again.
She always did that when she was nervous. And whenever she was nervous, that negative voice popped up.
Hermione leaned back against the tree, grabbed her book and set it in front of her face, not wanting him to see her red eyes. She heard him sigh and drop onto the ground in front of her.
"No use hiding, I know you've been crying."
"If you're trying to make me laugh by spouting poems, then don't. Really. Besides, didn't Lee tell you not to bother us?"
"...How did you even...?
"...I guessed."
"Should've known."
A few seconds passed in silence. Draco rolled his eyes and snatched Hermione's book. She stared at him, highly bemused.
"What? You weren't even reading it."
"I look terrible."
Draco raised his eyebrows. "Since when does Hermione Granger care about how she looks?"
Hermione winced. "Puberty?"
"And that was what, a few seconds ago?"
"Very funny Draco."
"Hey, I got you to smile, so you really can't judge."
He leaned back on his hands and lazily grinned at her. She couldn't help but smile back exasperatedly.
It's not fair that you're Pureblood. Hermione thought, caught between happiness and sadness. It really isn't.
Draco frowned when she went silent again. He reached forward and placed a hand on her forehead. She glared at him.
"I'm not sick."
"Actually, I think you are. Feel for yourself."
Probs 'cause you're sitting in front of me, and no one's here. She thought, mentally snorting.
"It's nothing Draco- wait, what are you doing?"
Draco was leaning closer to her, his eyes narrowed and glowing bright.
They're so silver and bright-
"You smell."
"Hah?" Hermione deadpanned.
"No, I mean - it's a good smell. Really good. Can I?"
She hesitantly nodded and tried to keep her expression normal when Draco leaned in to her neck.
I can feel his nose on my neck, should we be even doing this, what the hell-
She sniffed, and her eyes widened.
That smell.
She breathed in again.
What is it?
Draco stiffened when she leaned into his neck. She froze when his lips met her neck.
But neither of them moved away.
"Draco...?"
"Wha- I- yeah, I mean, should I-"
"No- no, it's fine. Er, should I move?"
"No."
She'd see his flaming face then. Though judging by the redness of her ears, Draco wasn't the only one whose stomach was trying out for the Olympics. At a sudden flash of white and the noise of a shutter, they shot away from each other. Colin Creevey stood a few feet away, looking rather put out.
"Why'd you move? I could've taken a few more pictures."
Hermione glanced at Draco, praying the redness in her cheeks had gone away. Though seeing Draco, she didn't think she'd mind if the red was still there, because he was still flaming.
He was actually flaming.
Oh God.
Draco's eyes were wide and the silver was glowing so bright, it was almost white - and his face was still red. And there was fire coming out of his ears.
Hermione's jaw dropped. "Draco?"
Colin snapped another picture of Draco, his eyes sparkling.
"He looks like-"
Like he just came out of an erotic novel. Hermione thought faintly. She winced when she just realized what she'd thought.
And then Colin shifted a little and took a picture of her.
She lunged for him. Colin squeaked and ran, clutching his camera to his chest.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, but you looked more like a girl than I've ever seen you!"
"What the hell does that even mean?! I am a girl! Creevey, get your ass back here, right now!"
"I'm sorry Hermione! And I meant it like, you never act like a girl!"
She stopped at the top of the hill, knowing she wouldn't be able to catch him now. She glared at his retreating back. Hermione then glanced behind her, seeing Draco standing there.
Unfortunately, there was no more red. Save for his hair now, as that was on fire now. She held herself from pouting.
"Hermione," Draco said, panting slightly from running up the hill, "Look at the lake."
She blinked and looked towards the water.
Colin was running next to the lake, and it seemed like there was a miniature wave about to splash on him. Which he was failing to notice, as he was positioning his camera to take a few more pictures of them.
Hermione glared again willed the wave to fall on him.
It did. They blinked when they heard Colin's shouts of protest.
Draco looked at her with wide eyes. "Did you do that?"
"I- I don't know. I don't think so."
She noticed her hands shaking and shoved them into her pant pockets. Draco frowned at her.
"Try it again."
She opened her mouth to refuse, but stopped by the look on Draco's face. She sighed.
She willed a wave halfheartedly. The water seemed as if someone was trying to lift it up, but was failing miserably. Draco glared at her. Hermione smirked back.
"Oi, just because you're a Fire-bender now, it doesn't mean that I have to bend something."
"...Is my hair on fire?"
"Yep."
"...Is it falling out?"
"No. Why don't you try putting it out - just will it to disappear or something."
The fire disappeared and Draco's eyes dimmed until they were back to steel grey.
"Gone?"
"Yeah."
Draco walked a bit back and picked up Hermione's bag from where he'd dropped it. He swung it over his shoulder and took her hand, leading her down the hill, towards the lake.
"Come on, we're gonna see if you can Water-bend or not."
"...Is it really that important?"
"'Course it is."
Hermione sighed again.
They walked back to Hogwarts, drenched to the bone.
"That," Hermione grinned, "Was great."
Draco hummed. "It'd be better if we'd brought along towels, though. Now I have to change."
Hermione grinned again.
"Sorry, but it was you who insisted."
"Yeah, well. It was worth it."
Hermione stopped walking.
Feelings suck.
She dropped her bag on the ground.
But hey, that's life. I think?
Draco stopped and looked at her questioningly.
She grinned again and jumped on him, throwing her arms around his neck and wrapping her legs around his waist.
It's not like I'll like anyone like I like him.
Draco stumbled back a little, surprisingly not falling down. Maybe out of sheer will. He found himself thankful that he was taller than her.
She rubbed her nose against his neck, breathing in his scent. He seemed confused as to where he was supposed to place his hands and settled on holding Hermione up by her thighs.
"Hermione...?"
I like you Draco. A lot. Heck, I'll bet anything I'm probably in love with you already. Hemrione rolled her eyes. I'm too young for this.
"Thanks Draco," Hermione mumbled. "For today. Cheering me up, Water-bending, Fire-bending, chasing Colin, holding my bag,"
Draco's eyes widened, his cheeks going warm again. Hermione continued.
"For letting me smell you, no matter how ridiculous that sounds,"
Draco grinned.
Hermione continued, grinning herself, "For not pushing me away, for being there whenever Harry wasn't, choosing to cheer me up instead of Luna."
She tightened her arms around his neck slightly, but Draco still noticed.
"This is weird, Draco."
Draco dropped his head onto her shoulder, breathing her in and marveling at how he didn't seem to be tiring of her smell.
"Yeah, I know." He mumbled against her neck.
Hermione slowly pulled back and stared at him. Draco smiled back at her lopsidedly and knocked her forehead with his.
She returned his lopsided smile.
Minerva felt like a teenager all over again. She barely contained her giddiness while she watched the two students go back inside. Severus watched her with a bemused face.
"Oh, come now, Severus. Don't rob an old woman of her only source of happiness."
"Spying on students' romances?"
"Severus."
"Professor," Severus started, rolling his eyes, "Those are your students. I hope you'll remember that."
"I really don't see your point. And," She said pointedly when Severus opened his mouth, "I refuse to see the point. Besides, I didn't know you could say the word romance, never mind know what it actually means."
Severus refrained from rolling his eyes again. "I lived in America for three years, Professor. It's almost illegal not to say the word now and then. Especially when your neighbors are old women."
Minerva's lips quirked up. "Didn't you come here for Harry?"
Severus grimaced. "Potter- no Snape- Merlin's pits-"
"…His name, Severus."
"...Harry."
"See, now that wasn't too hard."
"Right. So - Harry –" Severus grimaced again, "I don't know what to do with the- the- boy." He made a face.
Minerva looked at him with a soft look, which he pointedly ignored.
"You should treat him gently," She said, looking out the window again, "When the holidays come, take him to your house."
Severus squirmed in his chair. "Professor-"
"You should take Granger and Malfoy - Lovegood, too, as he seems to have a soft spot for her. He'll be more comfortable."
Severus pressed his lips together.
"Minerva, I don't have a house anymore."
Minerva's head snapped to look at him. "What?"
"I gave it up. Came to live at Hogwarts. Albus agreed."
"...Albus," Minerva sneered slightly, "He recommended you move out?"
"He said it was for the greater good," Severus helplessly shrugged when Minerva's eyes darkened.
"What for?"
Severus knew better than to hide it from her. "He gave it away to the Order - a place for their... meetings...?" His voice faltered as Minerva's eyes grew darker.
"Remus!" She barked.
Said person shot up from the sofa, reaching for his wand. Remus blinked his eyes blearily. "What-"
"You will be taking Severus to your house in America in the summer, so he'll be able to spend more time with his son. Understood?"
Remus blinked again. "Wha- yeah, sure, no problem, Professor."
"That's all. My apologies for disrupting your sleep."
"No problem," Remus mumbled, laying back down on the sofa, turning his back to them and falling asleep within seconds, tired from the full moon. Severus looked at Minerva, bewildered.
"What did you-"
Minerva sipped her tea loudly. Severus snapped his mouth shut. Minerva leaned back in her chair, looking satisfied.
"There's one of my problems solved."