Chapter 21: What Love Feels Like

RECAP

"Uhmm…" Blaise scratched his hair as a few water droplets fell down his body and Hermione can't help but notice how toned he was with his smooth tan ab,, "I thought I heard someone so I came out….uhmm…aren't you suppose to be in class?"

And for some reason, Hermione's heart began to beat fast and hard as she hid the roses behind her back.

"I…I could ask the same to you," Hermione smiled

Blaise remained a stiff expression and nodded as his eyes spotted the roses.

"Uh, those…are…nice," he said awkwardly, trying to make conversation.

"What? Oh..these, they're…" Hermione realized that she couldn't really hide the bouquet, "yeah…uh, they're pretty."

"Who're they from?" Blaise asked

Hermione stuttered, "Uh..I…actually…I..don't…really know."

Blaise stared in to her eyes for what felt like the first time since the past few weeks,

"You could have just said Draco."

With that, he walked back into his room and closed his door.

"No!" Hermione replied, "I…"

Then realizing once again, another misunderstanding was planted, she looked down at the carpet and returned to her own room.

Blaise stared at his reflection and brushed away a strand of his brown hair. To tell the truth, he couldn't keep Hermione and Draco off his mind. The image of the day they met at Hogsmeade played over and over, the first day that they had met, when he found out she was head girl.

Frustrated, Blaise punched the wall hard, leaving a small dent on it. He stormed off angrily to the Slytherin common room.

"Eighty-one," Hermione said to herself. Her room was now full with vases of flowers.

Realizing that Hermione is almost late for her third class, she quickly muttered a spell as a light layer of make up applied itself and her hair re-did itself into a few light curls. She threw on her light blue robe and grabbed her History of Magic textbook.

Wincing slightly as she saw a bouquet of roses lying on her desk as soon as she walked in her classroom, she quickly put it under her chair and sat down.

"Don't forget! Quidditch practice tonight!" Harry said to her. Hermione's spirit raised, Quidditch! She smiled and nodded.

History of Magic was fairly boring, she couldn't help but think about her ninety roses, Draco's sudden 'break-up', Blaise and his…nice…body.

As if hearing her frustration and pile of thoughts, the bell for class dismissal rang. She quickly grabbed her things and ran to the library.

Hermione spotted Monique and Adam Tophy sitting together at a table and waved to them. Monique waved at Hermione and smiled again, seeing her bouquet of roses.

Hermione walked towards the leviator.

Hogwarts had the oldest and largest library in the whole wizarding world. Hermione can explore the library for a whole day and not be able to have reached every part of it, she had even once gotten lost in here. Of course, this makes the librarian's job a tad bit harder, well actually, a lot harder.

The leviator was somewhat similar to an elevator in the muggle world, except it was simply a platform taking you to wherever you wish to go in whatever floor.

Hermione arrived on the fourth floor and walked behind 5 bookshelves to a small room she was sure that not many people knew about. She opened the door and walked in to her usual study room.

There was a huge fireplace accompanied by a large soft sofa. Next to it was a desk and a shelf of book.

Hermione was surprise to find another bouquet of roses on the shelf and as she picked it up, she realized that she now had 99 roses. She touched the pedals on the roses as she noticed a note attached to it.

Sixth floor, 8th bookshelf.

Hermione was somewhat frightened as she walked out of the library room. However, it was only 5 O' Clock and the library had a fair amount of students.

She took the leviator up to the sixth floor and slowly walked behind the eight shelf to find none other than…

"Draco?!" Hermione exclaimed.

Draco Malfoy turned around and smiled.

"I know what I said last time, I remember." He grabbed her right hand and continued in a serious tone, "I don't really…know how this is done, but Hermione," he said as he put one single rose in her palms, "I really really like you, it's something I've never felt before, I want to be with you."

Hermione was shocked as she speechlessly took the rose.

100.

"Hermione, will you be my girlfriend?"

Hermione bit her lips.

"I…Draco, I…"

Draco stared into her eyes and lowered his lips, about to kiss her.

"Wait." Hermione said as Blaise's image flashed into her mind, "I need…I need some time. But this time, this time when I give you a reply, it'll be for real."

Hermione took off running out of the library and continued running in frustration and to her surprise…sorrow?

She shut her eyes tight until she ran into someone and fell on her legs.

"ouch…"

"Watch out pretty lady!"

Hermione heard a voice call and looked up to see a rather intimidating Gryffindor named Tidus Sole.

"Sorry…" she said, as Tidus reached his hands out to help her up. She recall seeing him a few times, he seems to hang out with Slytherins more often, as weird as it is. He was tall and toned, had short, spiky blond hair and a set of mesmerizing bright blue eyes. She remember he was quite popular with the girls.

"It's alright," he grinned, "just be more careful, wouldn't want that cute face of yours damaged would we?"

Hermione couldn't tell if he meant it or if he was just being sarcastic. Either way, she nodded lightly.

"See ya' around," Tidus winked and added, "pretty lady."

Hermione stared after Tidus until he turned the corner. She shook off thought about him and quickly changed for Quidditch practice.

Quidditch took her mind off Draco for a bit, however, she couldn't help but think about how she's going to answer his question. Do I like him? Do I want to go out with him? She dodged a Bulger coming her way. Blaise's image kept flashing through her mind. She reminded himself that he was no longer…well, no longer her anything.

A pang of sadness hit her as Harry announced the end of practice.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow and hopefully you'll all be performing better!" He said with slight annoyance.

Hermione was exhausted. She changed into a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt and waved good-bye to all her teammates.

Hermione then found herself walking to the Quidditch field with her Cleansweep broom instead of heading back to the dorm like she should be. She mounted on to the broom lightly and flew around the hoops of the pit a little.

The night is dark and it was around 10-11 o' clock. There was a light breeze sending a chill up Hermione's spine, but the night sky seemed to warm her up. The vast field was quiet. As she flew towards the lake and back, Hermione felt that in this whole entire world, the only things awake were herself and the silent trees, rustling and waving occasionally.

Hermione flew back to the Quidditch pit and fell lightly against the soft grass, facing upwards. She looked at the bright stars and spread her arms and legs out.

She took a deep breath, and as the fresh night air went into her lungs, Hermione felt relieved. More relieved than she had been in a long time. She had been so caught up with Draco and Blaise that she had almost forgotten about everything else (well, except school of course!). She closed her eyes and laid there for a few minutes smiling to herself.

Suddenly, Hermione heard some crackling sounds and footsteps approaching. Hermione jerked up and jumped to her feet. She saw a figure approaching her.

Memories that dealt with Justin on the day of their Winter Ball flew back in her, and a pang of fear hit her.

However, Hermione saw that this figure was a lot taller than Justin and the hair…

"Blaise…?"

And before Hermione could finish, Blaise had caught her by the waist and lightly pressed his lips against hers. Hermione's eyes widened with shock but she did not resist. Instead, her arms instinctively went lightly around his neck.

The breeze blew across the large Quidditch field, yet, this was the warmest Hermione has felt in days.

She closed her eyes and felt his arms tighten around her.

This is how it should feel.

This is what it should be like.

Hermione could feel her heart beating loudly and an incredible sensation inside her stomach. Hermione understood so suddenly how in love with Blaise she was. The way she was feeling was entirely different from how she felt when she was with Draco.

This is the true feeling of love.

It should have been close to midnight but the stars still shone vividly in a mellow way. The deserted Quidditch field had an incredibly breathtaking ambiance. The couple stood in the center with both their eyes closed, kissing the pain that was in them for the past few weeks away. They basked in the soothe silence for close to 15 minutes

A.N: WOOT. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK :D