Disclaimer: I do not own HP. :-)
A/N: longest chapter ever written! my second favorite after "The Return." Have fun, friends.
"Hnnngrrhh…" Draco stirred from the living room.
He rubbed his eyes and looked out the glass divider that separated the porch from the inside. The waves were looking mighty calm today. Strange.
But he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. Something was not quite right. He stood up, half-naked, and stretched a little bit before he ascended up the stairs to sneak a quick glance at his roommate.
He had done that, much to his chagrin, for the past few days now. Every now and then, he'd go up the wooden staircase and peek through the slightly opened door of Hermione's bedroom. He'd laugh softly at the way her head would move around the pillows violently and get her curls up in a tizzy when she'd be in motion. He also liked the fact that the way she slept and the way she moved around her bed was as if she were caught in a tempest. A most violent of tempests that Draco subconsciously wished he were part of.
But he knew that the wedding band he was wearing slightly felt a bit heavy, its weight weighing down on his ring finger like a ship on its way to sinking in the ocean. It was due to guilt, he figured. What other feeling could he have felt? He knew he couldn't feel this way for her and yet he did.
He knew that he'd had marital problems with Pansy and even though he thought she was stupid, he knew she knew that they had problems. He knew that Pansy went away to take a break and just used a "business trip" as a stupid excuse.
It was all because of that kiss, he thought. If he hadn't kissed her, none of this would have happened. He admitted that he had gotten a little soft ever since he'd encountered his old school nemesis. Where had the retorts gone? Why had his smirks been replaced by smiles? He hated this new Draco. What was happening to his edge? His bad boy aura? His dark personality?
Okay, enough with this nonsense, Draco, he thought to himself. You cannot simply start liking some Mudblood just because you've spent a lot of time with her and that she had kissed you nine years ago.
He had started to argue with his mind.
It's been nine years, you stupid git. Get over that kiss. I doubt she will ever kiss you. She likes Potty, remember?
He nodded solemnly.
He wanted to scream at her.
He wanted to kiss her.
He wanted to torture her and belittle her.
He wanted to take her by the waist and pull her close until their breathing becomes mutual.
He wanted to jeer her with names.
He wanted to run his fingers through her tamed curls.
He wanted to make her cry.
He wanted to cry.
He wanted to get mad at her.
He was mad for her.
"SHUT UP, YOU STUPID SUBCONSCIOUS!" Draco boomed. "I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND. I AM TO HATE HER FOR ALL ETERNITY."
This was just a phase, he thought. You still hate her deep inside.
He muttered, "Mudblood Granger," over and over until he felt the familiar boiling blood he'd feel whenever he'd think about Muggle and Pureblood association. AHH! He was back.
He charged up the stairs and was about to scream at her for no good reason when he found her absent. She wasn't in her bedroom.
All he saw was his trenchcoat lying on top of her unmade bed, wet.
"What the—" he barged into her room and found that his trenchcoat was soaked.
"This was limited edition!"
He held his favorite accessory and clenched his fists.
"You're going to pay for this, Granger!"
No response.
"Granger?"
No response again.
"Granger, you stupid—"
He found her window to be open.
Being fit and physically able, he was able to slide through the glass opening and was led to the top of Shell Cottage.
"Granger, you insolent brat!" he exclaimed. "Why on earth do you have my coat in a frenzy pile of wet Mudblood tears? Do you know how much—"
He saw Hermione all right.
But he wasn't sure if that was really her.
If he knew any better, the Hermione that he remembered would challenge him to several death rounds of verbal insults that no other pair of debaters can top.
The Hermione he laid his eyes on had her back turned, gazing towards the horizon that the sea had opened. Her curls were whipping wildly in the wind and Draco felt a numb sensation grip his entire hand.
He heard sniffling.
"Granger!" he repeated her name for the third time. "Have you the money to pay for my coat?"
He tried to ignore her sniffling but he couldn't.
Somehow he was overpowered by the raw emotion emitted by his roommate and he approached her, of course with the signature Malfoy confidence.
"What's wrong, Granger?"
He stood beside his roommate, his eyes focused on her.
She turned to look at him with her puffy, brown eyes with tears streaming down her pink-tinged cheeks.
They held each other's gazes for about five minutes before Draco broke it off due to the intensity he felt from the action.
"It's Harry."
Draco felt his heart twist.
"What's with Potter?"
"I just miss him, you know," she croaked, her breath inconsistent. "I know he's still out there somewhere."
"Yeah, I guess."
Hermione inhaled, her breath uneven, as she turned to look back at the waves.
"What about Weasley?" he asked. "Don't you miss him too?"
"Yeah, but it's different with Harry."
"Why is it so different?"
"I love them both, but I think Ron and I just remain on a platonic level, that's all."
Draco's heart twisted even more. He could've sworn he felt knots of jealousy.
Jealousy? NO!
Silence hovered over them like a cloud.
"You know what," Draco broke the silence. "We should do something different tonight."
Hermione faced him and her brows furrowed.
"Why?"
"Well, Pansy's returning tonight," he sighed heavily as it dawned on him that it will be the last night he'd spend with her. Not that it mattered. REALLY! It didn't matter to him at all. "And I don't want to see you looking like such a sourpuss. You remind me of Filch's cat Mrs. Norris."
"Norris?" Hermione laughed softly.
"Or your stupid cat, Crookshanks!"
"Why are you calling my cat stu—"
She looked at him, eyebrow raised.
"What now, Granger?"
"You remembered that I had a cat?"
Draco realized his sudden outburst and wished he could take it back. But the Malfoy way allowed him to escape such a question.
"Of course! Your mangling alleycat just won't stop running around, tearing the halls like some mad animal. Honestly, Granger, why didn't you tame him like you tamed your curls?"
"You noticed my hair?"
"Will you shut up with the observing, Granger!" Draco reddened even more. "Of course, I would notice! I have these two holes you call eyes!"
"All right, all right," Hermione lifted her hands in defeat. "Where exactly are we going?"
"I'll bring you to Shaw Street to shop and then I'll take you out to dinner, maybe have a nightcap?" he winked suggestively. Hermione playfully smacked him. "You're married, Malfoy!" Draco laughed as he nodded at her truth.
They disappeared.
Draco took Hermione shopping to the best boutiques the muggle street had to offer. Although it served as classic distaste to Draco, he was actually enjoying Hermione's raving and running around the shopping areas like a dog freed from its cage.
Draco had left her to go shopping on his own as he bought a new trenchcoat (thank Madame Malkin's for having a spare) and other new attire.
They met on the edge of Shaw Street's roads and they Disapparated back to the cottage.
"What did you purchase, Granger?" he asked as he curiously surveyed the numerous number of bags that she had carried on her arms.
"It's for you to find out." She ascended the wooden staircase and brought the shopping bags with her.
Thirty minutes had passed and the sun was setting. Draco had already dressed up in his signature white polo, two buttons unfastened, that he tucked in his black trousers, and paired them both off with a spanking new pair of black shoes. He affixed his messy black tie and hung it around the polo but tucked neatly under the collars. He had put on some wood spice cologne and messed his usually neat blonde hair. He swept his bangs to the side and was fixing the belt on his trousers when he heard heely footsteps come down the stairs.
He looked up and his usually bored-looking greys widened at the sight of Hermione Granger. Her hair was up like in the Yule Ball with some loosened golden brown curls cascading down her neck and pinned up by a metallic purple diamond barrette. She had violet flower studs on her ears and a gold necklace that hung loosely on her chest. She was wearing a green halter dress that had ruffles on the chest area and the dress stopped short to the lower part of her thighs. She had on gold stilettos (was that the term they used in the Wizarding World too?) and a gold bangle on her right arm. She looked like a goddess. Well, Draco's goddess for the night.
"So, what do you think?"
Draco simply gaped.
"A tad overdressed?"
Draco coughed.
"You look absolutely perfect."
Hermione blushed slightly at his honest comment and she took his arm gently as they Disapparated with a CRACK!
"So, where is she now?" Hermione asked between forkfuls of salad.
They were at La Bouillobaise, a French restaurant in Shaw Street. Draco had no choice. It was either that or Diagon Alley, and obviously muggles weren't allowed inside.
His thoughts fleeted to Voldemort but it dissipated immediately upon returning Hermione's glance.
The candlelight flickered and spotlighted Hermione's features purely. Her hair, luminescent like all forms of light combined, glimmered in the candlelight and her eyes glistened with the soft movement of the fire. Her lips were merrily red and her teeth shone a beautiful shade of white. (Not that white had any other kind of shade)
"You look so beautiful tonight."
Damn it! Draco thought.
"Shut up, Malfoy."
But he saw that Hermione shyly tucked a lock of loose curl in her ear.
Draco breathed deeply to rid himself of emotion but all he inhaled was the sweet fragrance of rose and jasmine. It was a sweet smell.
"And to answer your question," Draco cleared his throat. "Pansy's in Berlin right now, doing some business-related work."
Hermione noticed that he was fiddling distractedly with his ring. She glanced at his hands and she had remembered how soft they were. She moved her eyes up to the silver wedding band and wished that his wedding band were on her ring finger because she knew it fit perfectly the last time she wore it.
Oh, good Merlin, what am I thinking? She thought. It must be all that wine.
"Would you like some more wine, Madame?" the waiter asked.
"No, thank you." She replied politely.
They bantered on about their personal lives while sharing the most expensive piece of steak and potatoes. After Draco handled the check, they walked on the pavements of Shaw Street and lost themselves in a corridor.
"OY! WATCH IT!"
A motorcycle was running through the alley and Hermione was in the way. Draco took her hand and pulled her out of the way but even closer to his body.
She gasped in surprise.
"Loony, he was!" she exclaimed.
Hermione peeked down and noticed that Draco had not let go of her hand. In fact, their fingers were interlaced. She looked up and saw that Draco's eyes were boring into hers.
His tantalizing stare had lost the conversation pieces that Hermione had cooked up in her brain just in case it got awkward. To break the silence, she blurted:
"Did you really think I was beautiful?"
Her cheeks felt hot and she was quivering.
No, wrong question.
Draco smirked.
"Awaiting my approval?"
Hermione narrowed her eyebrows.
"No, I just wanted… never mind." She looked away shamefully.
"Yes."
Hermione turned around again.
"Yes what?"
She felt a giddy flutter in her stomach.
"Yes, I did think you were beautiful tonight," he smirked. "For a mudblood."
"Oh."
She giggled softly, ignoring the dig.
Draco smiled.
Oh, Merlin, he thought. These kissing urges are back again!
Still holding her hand, he walked her to a garden in the area and they were turning around the park until they reached a spot under a tree.
Draco lay down and Hermione followed suit as they looked up at the starlit sky.
"My father took my mother out on a date to look at the stars one day," he suddenly mentioned. "Well, fine, they kind of snuck out of the Yule Ball because they hated their dates so much. Want to hear the story?"
"Sure, sounds interesting."
"My father would point out different stars and my mother would turn red a lot."
She nodded.
"You want to know something?" Draco asked as they settled on the soft grass.
"What?"
"That star," he pointed toward a constellation. "is the Draco. That's how they found their first common thing. They would name their son Draco in the future."
He smirked proudly. "Voila! Am I the hottest star around or what?"
"Wow!" she exclaimed. "It looks more evil and snarkier in the sky."
"Hey, take that back!"
"It's the truth!"
They bickered for a while until they decided to just lay there quietly, staring.
"You want to know something else, Granger?"
"What?"
He stood up and held his hand out.
"Come with me."
"Okay…?"
They walked down a path in the garden and Hermione was shivering.
Draco took his trenchcoat off and put it on Hermione who took it gratefully.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Is that what your father did too?"
"Yeah," he replied. "My mother loved it. The guy was a romantic."
He put his hands in his trouser pockets and side-peeked at Hermione who was awed by the numerous trees that surrounded the two of them.
"Are we there yet?" Hermione inquired.
"Yes, we are."
Hermione looked up to see the most beautiful constellation she had ever seen. It shone even more brightly than the Draco did.
"What is that?" she ooh-ed in wonder.
"That is the Scorpius."
"It certainly outshined your star." She laughed softly.
"Oh, shut up, will you?" he smiled.
"So, what happened next?"
"Well, my father said he held Mother's hand like so," he interlaced his fingers in hers. "and they watched the Draco in its full glory."
"That's all?"
"Yeah."
"It's so romantic," she gushed. "I never expected Lucius and Narcissa to be that way."
"Well, there are a lot of things you don't know about me, Granger."
"Oh, really? Aside from being a rebel child?"
"Well, yes, actually. I was going to bring that up. I just wanted to say my father didn't really get my mother right away."
"But why?" she wondered. "He'd done the most romantic things…"
Draco pulled her closer.
"But he was wrong on two different accounts." His voice dropped to a whisper.
"And what were those two accounts?" She could smell wood spice notes invading her nostrils.
"First, he never told Mother that she was the most beautiful girl in the world," Draco stroked Hermione's cheeks with his index finger and he felt heat emit from her face due to her blushing.
"And… And what was the second one?"
She could feel his lips move nearer to hers.
"He failed to kiss her."
Hermione's eyes widened as she saw Draco inch closer and closer. She could feel his soft, gentle breathing on her face. She moved in closer and closer until a gut feeling told her otherwise.
"Malfoy!" she pushed his face away.
Draco's face moved backwards.
"What?"
"I can't… I can't do this."
Draco checked to see what was wrong with her until he saw the glinting silver band. Oh, right.
His stomach tightened.
"I…" his voice trailed off.
He let go of her waist and he started walking away.
"Malfoy!" she called after him.
He didn't heed her call.
His feet crunching on wet, snowy grass, he kept on walking. He suddenly grew numb with fear and guilt. Merlin, I was going to cheat on Pansy with a mudblood.
"Malfoy!"
Draco's head started to pound at the tinny voice that rang in his head.
She was so persistent.
He turned towards her direction and saw her quite perfectly even at such a far distance.
Her eyes were glassy and she was gripping on to his trenchcoat tightly.
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
Draco walked back.
"Oh, right," he said as he arrived at the spot where he had left her. He tried to remove it from her but somehow he felt her grip tighten on his coat.
"Granger," he whispered coldly. "I need this back."
Hermione let in a cracked inhalation.
"Oh."
She was about to take the coat off when Draco's hand met hers.
The touch was brief, but the effects sort of lasted for more than a minute. Draco stifled his cracking voice.
"Well," he broke the silence. "I have to go now. Pansy's expecting me."
Hermione nodded slowly, as if trying to pretend that she had not heard that.
"Thank you." She cracked a forced smile.
"For what?"
"For everything."
Draco inhaled again, his resistance to kiss her dissipating every time he tried to look away.
"Granger, before I go," he glanced at his trenchcoat on Hermione. "You can have that coat."
He could have sworn he saw Hermione's face light up.
"Really?"
He nodded.
"I don't want you to freeze to death."
They both coughed as silence rained down again.
Draco sighed.
"Well, this is goodbye then," he started walking towards the evergreen trail. "Be safe."
Hermione nodded stiffly.
"I will be."
Draco reached the evergreen trail when he heard Hermione call after him.
"Malfoy!"
"Yeah?"
"I hope Pansy's home safe too!"
Draco's heart twisted again.
"Thanks!"
Draco's stomach tightened as he got ready to Disapparate. He peered through one of the trees and took one long look at Hermione Granger.
Her figure was vividly imprinted in Draco's mind and he longed for time to allow him to hold her by the waist a little bit longer. But no, time wouldn't allow it. After all, he was to be bound to Pansy Parkinson forever. He had started to contemplate about this marriage just disappearing and he started wishing that his commitment were nothing but a nightmare. The one reality he had wanted to happen right there and right now was about 10 yards away, standing and sauntering across the grass, staring at the Scorpius.
Truth dared to aggress itself on the Malfoy boy that although he could buy anything he wanted, money could never give him what he needed.
His head pounded as his body started to get sucked in a capsule, signaling his Disapparition.
Money could never get him what he needed.
As much as he was willing to pay Merlin or whoever the most powerful being was, he can never have Hermione Granger.
And that in itself was painful.
Hermione Granger heard a crack! echo throughout the forest and she realized that he had returned back home.
She felt tears stream down her cheeks as the thoughts of her and Malfoy were nothing but memories. She gripped on his coat tighter, wishing it were a lamp that could bring him back. She inhaled the scent of his cologne and as the Scorpius' luminescence began to die down, she sat on the grass and felt herself gripping her hand.
At that exact moment, reality began to dawn on her that even the biggest star could not change what the present had offered to her. She was left all alone with nothing but a trenchcoat and her mind.
Her hands stuffed themselves into the pockets and she felt her fingers knock into something round. She fished it out and saw a remembrall filled with white, glowing slivers of memory.
I wonder what this is, she thought as she opened the ball.
Knock, knock.
Draco waited impatiently for the door to be answered.
As the door creaked open, he gasped as he saw the least person he wanted to see gripping the locket of Hermione Granger.
"How long, Draco?" Lucius whispered venomously.