Thank you HG4eva! You are a crazy awesome editor!
Draco stood at the gate outside of Malfoy Manor and anxiously checked his watch. It had only been three minutes since Hermione had left with Aurelian but he was impatient. He was sure that he was making much too big a deal over the simple fact that Blaise had come looking for him at the Law Enforcement Office, but he couldn't shake his overwhelming anxiety. Blaise was his best friend and he knew him well. Though they often dropped in on each other at home, Blaise had only ever stopped by his workplace once, twice if he counted the time that Blaise recently stopped by International Magical Cooperation when he was off with Potter. Blaise would not have stopped by the Law Enforcement Office unless it was important. The question was, what did he consider important enough to seek Draco there?
Draco checked his watch again. Four minutes. He had to calm down. Hermione was right. If it were something very serious, Blaise would have come to his home. In fact, that was probably what Blaise should have done in the first place. Why didn't he?
Draco was startled from his thoughts by a 'pop' sound and a sudden presence beside him. He glanced up at Hermione and down at his watch in surprise. It had still only been four minutes that had passed. Though she said five minutes, he actually believed it would be a bit longer.
"Okay," she said, "I just dropped him off."
"Just like that?" Draco asked.
"I told Ginny that something important came up that we need to look into. She understood. She even said she'd take Aurelian back to my flat and put him to bed," she told him.
Draco nodded. Ginny seemed like a very kind and dependable friend to Hermione and he was thankful to her, even if he decided never to reveal it to her. He brushed the thought away. It was his own friend that he was concerned with now.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked him.
Draco shook his head no. "Can we go now?"
"Of course," she said softly. She was feeling rather nervous because of Draco's reaction to it all, but she suppressed it. She became the strong, calm support for Draco, for it was what he needed. She wove her fingers into his.
Draco looked down at their joined hands and a tiny half-smile tugged at his lips. It was the first time they had ever held hands, and even with everything going on, he felt a light fluttering in his stomach. His eyes met hers as he took a deep breath and Disapparated.
Hermione was surprised when she opened her eyes. She had never before been to Blaise Zabini's home, but it certainly wasn't what she had expected. Blaise's family, that is to say his mother, had quite a fortune. Perhaps it was his money, the fact that he was a Slytherin, and/or his upper-crust, pureblood status, but Hermione had always sort of imagined he'd be living the high life under his mother's roof, much like Draco. Instead, she stood in the hallway of a wizard apartment building. She was actually familiar with it as Hannah Abbott shared a flat with Padma Patil, just down a few doors down.
Draco stepped up to the black door and knocked. Hermione stood a little to the side. After realizing how little she knew about Draco's friend, she decided it might be better to be cautious. They both heard movement from the other side of the door and it flew open.
"Malfoy. Merlin, where have you been? I've been waiting for you all afternoon," Blaise said immediately.
"I was at home," Draco answered, looking his friend over, analyzing his tone and stature.
"That's the first place I went," Blaise told him. "I went there just after lunch, but Pernie said you weren't there. I told her not to worry about it, I'd find you. Then I went to the Ministry and they didn't know where you were either. I was just about to come break down your door! Scared the bloody piss outta me, no one knowing where you are and you're mixed up in this… Granger?" Blaise's ranting stopped immediately when he noticed the curly-haired woman standing beside his front door. His eyebrows were raised in surprise. He looked at Draco and then back at Hermione and the corner of his mouth arched up into a large smirk. "I'm so sorry. I hadn't seen you there. To what do I owe the honor of your visit?"
"Um, well, really it's me that should apologize for coming over uninvited like this, but I was with Draco when we received the message that you were looking for him – "
"Which was actually less than ten minutes ago," Draco interrupted.
Blaise's eyes narrowed, but he quickly shook it off and looked back at Hermione with a brilliant, charming smile. "No need to apologize, Granger. It's a pleasure to see you."
"Are you sure, Zabini?" Hermione asked. "I really don't want to be rude. I only came because, well, since you came looking at Harry's office, we assumed it might have something to do with the investigation. But, I really don't want you to feel – "
"I'm honored, Granger. Truly," Blaise insisted. "And please, call me Blaise."
A light blush rose to Hermione's cheeks. "Um, thank you… Blaise. And you, er, can call me Hermione."
"A pleasure, Hermione."
Hermione's insides squirmed when Blaise's eyes locked on hers. He wore an enchanting smile as he took her hand and placed a kiss upon it. "Please won't you come in?" Still delicately holding her fingers, he gracefully guided her inside. She followed uncertainly, looking over her shoulder at Draco.
Draco noticed Hermione's timid flush and scowled at Blaise. Blaise did not let go of Hermione's hand as he had guided her to an armchair near the fireplace, where he offered her the seat. Draco roughly bumped Blaise with his elbow as he passed and muttered, "Watch it, Zabini."
Hermione had looked at him when she heard him speak, but had obviously not heard what he had said. Blaise acted like he had not heard him either, but Draco could tell that he had when Blaise's smirk grew.
Draco was closer to Blaise than anyone else and he knew that one of the reasons their friendship had become so strong was that Blaise was not intimidated by him. In turn, Draco never felt threatened by Blaise… with the exception of times when he turned on the charm with girls they both liked, like he'd done with Hermione.
Draco considered himself an attractive man. Girls often took an interest in him because of his looks. It was not something he really cared about, as he was often annoyed when vapid girls decided to pay attention to him solely because of his looks. But Draco also knew that his looks could not hold a candle to Blaise's. Not only was Blaise handsome, he had an undeniable, ambrosial charm with the ladies. He was one of those men that had to the ability to woo any woman he wished, and often did. It was a trait he could turn on and off like a switch, as he had just done with Hermione. One moment he was casual Blaise and the next he had Hermione locked in the enthralling gaze of his dark eyes. Women found him attractive enough without him trying. His dark umber skin was flawless, his features were strong and masculine, yet soft and enticing, and his smile was inviting and irresistible. It disgusted Draco. For though they were both attractive men, charm was one skill that Draco felt quite deficient in.
"May I get you a drink?" Blaise asked Hermione politely.
"Um, er…" She glanced at Draco in question but felt even more indecisive by the intense, but otherwise unreadable, look on Draco's face. "Yes. Yes, thank you."
"I apologize, but the only thing I really have to offer is gentlemen's tea. I hope that's alright," Blaise continued, pulling a glass tumbler from the small cupboard behind the sofa.
"Gentlemen's tea?" Hermione asked looking strangely at the cup in his hand.
"Firewhiskey," Draco answered flatly.
"Discussions between men are rarely what they should be without it," Blaise explained. "It's not often that I bring women here to talk, so I find myself rather unprepared. I do hope firewhiskey will be okay."
"Um, well, I-I don't know," Hermione hesitated. She didn't know what else to say. She wasn't sure that she'd like to have some, but she also didn't want to be rude.
"I'll just have to take that as a yes then." Blaise smiled as he poured the amber liquid into the glass. He handed it to Hermione and went back to his place, pulling out another glass. "Draco?"
Draco nodded irritably. "Just get on with it, Zabini."
Blaise smirked at Draco and started pouring two more drinks. Hermione watched him and then looked back at Draco. His eyes met hers and he felt a little of his tension slip. He was uptight wondering what Blaise so badly wanted to talk to him about and flustered by his friend's need to entertain, as it was getting in the way of talks. But the added frustration was Blaise turning on his full charm with a girl he knew Draco was serious about. Draco was insecure enough without Blaise interfering. That one look from Hermione though, was enough to calm him a little. Though Hermione was blushing at Blaise's attention, she looked confused rather than captivated. Though obviously flattered, she appeared curious and amused by Blaise's behavior. Draco felt rather smug at that point. His girl was not lured by Blaise's suave gentility. 'His girl.' He wondered when he started thinking of her that way. He decided it didn't matter. She was his girl, at least from his point of view.
Blaise handed Draco a glass of firewhiskey and took a seat on the sofa, leaving the other armchair for Draco. Draco glanced at it but remained standing.
"Get on with it," he repeated. "It's Pansy, isn't it?"
Blaise looked up at Draco in shock and his smile fell. Time for niceties was over. It was time to talk. His shoulders drooped. "This investigation does have to do with the Parkinsons then…"
Draco and Hermione exchanged looks. Draco hadn't meant to reveal that. Blaise sighed heavily. "I was at work today. I had a meeting with Mr. Parkinson scheduled just before lunch. It was business, but since you asked me to watch more closely, I thought I'd take the time to have a personal chat with him as well. I was waiting outside his doors as his prior meeting had run over and he was still with a client. While I was standing there, Katie Bell came up and started waiting, too. You'll know her, Katie Bell, she was a Gryffindor a year above us," he directed at Hermione and she nodded.
Draco looked away from them both. He certainly remembered her and he remembered her with great guilt. It was one of the greatest regrets of his life… when Katie was cursed by the necklace that she was meant to deliver to Dumbledore.
"She works for the company," Blaise continued, not noticing Draco's reaction. "I'm sure she has a pretty job title, but in essence, she's a delivery person, a messenger. Mr. Parkinson is rather old-fashioned in that sense. He believes that business should be personal, which is how he runs his company. Some deliveries and messages should be delivered in person, rather than by owl, which is rather impersonal. It's very rare then that one of these delivery people be summoned by Mr. Parkinson, as he prefers to do such business himself. I really didn't think much of it at first though. She was a pretty girl just standing there with me, so I started chatting her up a bit. That's when I realized that she seemed rather anxious. I mean, a lot of people are nervous when called to see the president of the company, but she seemed more anxious than she should."
Draco and Hermione watched him, their looks of concern growing, but they did not interrupt.
"The door to the office opened and Mr. Parkinson was seeing his client out, smiling and clapping him on the back. He's one of the company's oldest clients… literally. His smile fell the second he saw Katie though," Blaise's eyes looked glazed, as if he were replaying the scene in his head. His handsome face was marred by a look of great frustration. "I know my appointment with Mr. Parkinson was next, but I gestured for Katie to go in. I listened. I used a charm to assist me in eavesdropping. I'm not ashamed of it," he added defensively to Hermione. He was afraid the proud Gryffindor would judge him for it, but she looked completely unperturbed. "She's making a delivery for him tomorrow."
"On a Saturday?" Hermione asked. "Is that a common occurrence?"
"No. I told you that he's old fashioned in business. It's his belief that business is only to be conducted during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. 'Personal relationships may enter the business world, but business will never find its way into personal time.' But that's not all that I heard… It's… They discussed that the delivery would be like the others. She confirmed with him that 'it' should be placed in the second barrel in the alley that runs behind Brim's Goblet."
"In Knockturn Alley?" Hermione asked in surprise.
Blaise nodded. "That's all that was said between them. She left just a few minutes after she went in there. This is it, Malfoy. If something's happening, if someone's after the Parkinsons, this is it."
Draco nodded curtly.
"Was she carrying anything?" Hermione asked, startling both men from their thoughts. "When she left the office, was she carrying a package?"
Blaise looked as if he was ready to answer immediately, but then paused to really think back on it. "No. She definitely wasn't carrying anything. She could have shrunk something down, or it might have been small enough to fit in her robe pocket, but she might not have actually taken something from him. She could possibly need to pick it up."
Hermione nodded as she got lost in her thoughts, as well.
"I want to know what's going on," Blaise said suddenly, drawing Draco and Hermione's attention upon himself. "What do you think is happening? Who do you think is after them?"
"Blaise, I can't tell you that. You know that," Draco answered.
"Urgh…" he growled in frustration. "Then at least tell me that you're protecting them. Tell me that they're not going to get hurt or in trouble in this."
"We… we don't know enough yet," Draco said quietly. He wouldn't lie about it.
"Fine, but at least tell me you're doing what you can. Tell me that their house is warded. Tell me you have people watching over them."
"We can't do either without their permission. We would like to go to them with that offer, but we can't until we know exactly what we're dealing with," Hermione explained gently.
"Damn it, then tell me what you know so I can help better. Tell me what you know and I'll get you more. I'm close to them. I can help you," Blaise insisted.
"You know I can't tell you," Draco said, becoming increasingly frustrated himself.
"I know, but I have to know. I can't just go about my life knowing that they're in trouble and not know what's going on," Blaise said in frustration. "I want to be part of this. I already am part of this. I told you everything I know. I want to help."
"You have helped," Hermione told him. "You've helped a great deal."
"So let me in on it. Tell me what's happening. Let me be part of this," he demanded.
"You know I can't do that. This is a legitimate, confidential case. I can't just sign you up to-"
"But she can," Blaise said, staring hard at Hermione.
"No… actually, I can't," Hermione said with an apologetic voice. "This isn't my case. This is Harry's-"
"Then where is he? If you knew this was about the investigation and came yourself, then where's Potter? Why isn't he here listening to this? I want-" Blaise stopped suddenly, things fitting together in his mind. "This isn't the investigation, is it? If it were then nothing would stop Potter from being here. This is just a tiny part of it. This is just a blip in the investigation. That's why you're not protecting them. This is nothing to you, is it?" he accused harshly.
"Nothing to me?" Draco shouted, taking a step toward Blaise. "You can't possibly believe that! I've known Pansy and her family my whole life. Of course I'm concerned for their safety."
"But you don't deny that it's nothing to Potter. This is a small piece of a big picture, something that your investigation watches in the periphery." Blaise's lip curled in disgust and he stood up, fitting Draco with a glare.
"This is not 'nothing' to us," Hermione proclaimed. She was aghast and offended by the accusation. "It's true that this is not the full of our investigation, but this is certainly our priority. No one wants to see them hurt. We're doing everything we can-"
"You're not!" Blaise said firmly. "If you were doing everything then you'd let me in on this. I'm close to everyone in that family. I am employed by Mr. Parkinson and my desk is very close to his office. I can find out just about anything you want to know. That family means far more to me than my own family ever could. I want to know what's going on and I want to help protect them. Stop telling me it's confidential and that you're doing your best. Do better! Tell Potter to let me in. I refuse to stand by and just let this be handled by people who could hardly care less!"
"Blaise, mate," Draco said placatingly. "I know that this must be-"
"Don't patronize me, Malfoy!"
"Blaise," Hermione said cautiously as she rose to her feet. "I'm sorry. I-"
"Shut it, Granger! I don't want your apologies. I want promises and information!"
Hermione bit her bottom lip. She wanted to say she was sorry again, but she didn't want to upset him more.
"Zabini," Draco said warningly. He did not fail to notice that Blaise had returned to using surnames.
"Get out," Blaise said darkly.
"Zabini," Draco repeated, this time his tone pleading for Blaise to see reason.
"Out. I've given you everything I know and if you can't return anything to me then get out of my home," he growled through his teeth.
Draco breathed deeply and nodded. He took a small step closer to Hermione and extended his hand to her. She took it gently and looked up at Blaise with a miserably sympathetic and sorrowful look in her eyes. He sneered and looked away from her.
Draco opened the door for Hermione, but paused in the doorway. "I love them too, Blaise. I'm better than the man you just accused me of being. I will do everything I can."
"Fuck off," Blaise muttered. Draco nodded and closed the door behind him, leaving Blaise standing in the middle of his empty living room with a full glass of firewhiskey, which would likely be emptied and refilled very quickly.
"Draco, I'm sorry," Hermione said in earnest as she stood with him in the hall.
"No, it's fine. He's just upset," Draco said. He looked like everything was anything but fine. "Let's get going."
Hermione nodded and Draco took her hand in his.
"Wh-" Hermione's words were cut short. Before she had the chance to say anything, they were standing at her front door. She chuckled and continued with what she was previously going to say. "Why don't we go back to my place?"
"I'm sorry. I should have asked…" Draco said seriously.
"I was just teasing," she smiled warmly. Hermione knocked twice on the door so as not to surprise Ginny and then let herself into the flat.
"Hermione!"
Hermione was startled when Harry ran around her sofa and grabbed her by the arms.
"What happened? Where were you? Is everything alright? Are you alright?" Harry rattled off quickly.
"Harry… What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, trying to catch up with everything he'd just asked.
"Waiting for you," he answered.
Hermione looked at Ginny who smiled and explained. "Kreacher told Harry that Ron was looking for him so he went to The Burrow. They told him I was here watching Aurelian because you had some emergency and he hasn't calmed down since."
"So, what happened?" Harry asked again.
"You first," Hermione said, crossing her arms. "Ron had me rather worried when he said he was looking for you and couldn't find you. Where were you?"
"Visiting Andromeda and Teddy," Harry answered, annoyed by the change of subject. "I wanted to let her know that Dennis was okay."
"Oh," Hermione answered. She was frustrated with Ron again for worrying her. "Ron said you might be meeting with the goblins again. Did Croubat give you the information?"
"Yes, now get on with it," Harry ordered.
"D-Did Mr. Parkinson go to the bank today?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked a little surprised. "Yeah, why?"
"Because we just got done talking to Blaise and-"
"Zabini?" Harry asked.
"Ron obviously didn't tell you either," Hermione sighed, although she thought she might be grateful for that. It could have made things a lot worse if Harry had just showed up at Blaise's door.
"What happened? What did he say?" Harry urged.
"Katie Bell works for Mr. Parkinson. She's making a delivery for him tomorrow. She's dropping something off in the alley that wraps behind Brim's Goblet."
"What?" Harry asked in surprise. He was quite sure he heard everything she said, but he was flabbergasted. "How does he know that? Are you sure?"
"He works for Mr. Parkinson and has been staying alert for strange behavior," Draco answered. "He personally listened in on their conversation."
"Tomorrow? When?" Harry asked.
"We don't know," Hermione answered. "But at least we know where and what day."
"Yeah… yeah…" Harry breathed. He looked lost in thought as he wandered into the living room and took a seat in the armchair. Hermione and Ginny took the sofa and Draco stood near the fireplace with his arms crossed as he leaned against the mantel. "What time?"
Hermione looked at Harry with concern. "Harry, we just told you that we don't know what time."
"I mean, what time do you think I should be there?" Harry clarified.
"What?" "Never!" Hermione and Ginny spoke at the same time.
"It's not going to do us any good to know where and what day if we're not there," Harry said as though it were obvious.
"That doesn't mean that it has to be you. We haven't talked about this," Hermione said irritably.
Ginny, again, spoke at the same time, "You don't have to be there to see what's going on!"
Harry looked back and forth between the two women, overwhelmed by their response. Hermione looked at Ginny curiously.
"You could use some sort of charm for surveillance," Ginny offered.
"Someone would still need to be close for that," Hermione reminded her. "But that doesn't mean that it has to be you, Harry."
"I am the Auror and the person in charge of this case," Harry stated, daring them to argue that.
"That doesn't mean you're the only choice!" "I don't care what titles and rights you have; I don't want it to be you!" Hermione and Ginny shouted in time again.
"I'm just as skilled as you are," Hermione continued. "We may be skilled in different areas, but I'm just as skilled. We agreed last time that I was the better choice to enter Knockturn Alley and there's even more reason this time as I know exactly where Brim's Goblet is located. Not to mention, I know the exact spot where the delivery is supposed to be planted."
"Are you withholding information?" Harry asked darkly.
"You never asked and I'm not giving it up until we've discussed this thoroughly," Hermione said loftily.
Harry sighed and rolled his eyes.
"I still don't understand why anyone has to go there," Ginny said with a sour look that was covering an anger just below the surface. "We are all brilliant witches and wizards. I'm sure we can devise a way to see the alley without setting foot there. At least not setting foot there during the drop or pickup."
"It's a good thought, Weas-… Ginny," Draco spoke softly, "but it's not good enough. I'm sure that whoever is coming is prepared. We have no idea what they'll do. They might use a spell that will have them undetectable by area spells. It has to be a person. We can't take chances with this as this might be the only chance we have."
"Agreed," said Harry. "So-"
"So, I'll go," said Hermione.
"No," Harry said firmly. "I'm the one in charge of this and that means that-"
"Shut it, already," Draco interrupted. "It's got to be me." He did not look pleased when he said it. He wasn't arguing; he was resigned. The three others in the room looked stunned. "Face it. No one knows the area like I do and no one knows the suspects like I do."
"But-"
"Stop arguing for a second and think about it," Draco ordered, his voice was strong and steady. "I know what that alley looks like. We think it might be Rabastan or Rodolphus, my uncles. I'm sure you would recognize their faces, but I can even recognize them by their walk or the dirt under their nails. I've also seen the faces of Death Eaters that you've only ever heard the names of. If you want to do this right, then you know I'm the best choice for it. Just give me the damn cloak and drop it." It was quite clear that, though he knew it was the right choice, he still didn't like it. He was firm though and his logic could not be challenged.
"What? No," Hermione protested anxiously.
"If you believe there's something that makes you more qualified, then please," Draco said, knowing full well that she did not have a valid argument.
"Malfoy," Harry said slowly. "This isn't just about being qualified, you have to-"
"I know exactly what this is about," Draco interrupted. "This is about three stubborn Gryffindors worrying about their friends' safety over their own. You're all so busy worrying about keeping each other safe that you're not concentrating on what needs to be done. So, if you can kick your feelings to the side for a minute, you will see that I'm the only right choice for this."
The three seated Gryffindors looked at each other uncertainly. "No disputes from you two? And I hear no protests from the red-head either. We'll assume it is her logic at work and not that she's unconcerned about my safety."
Ginny's eyes narrowed and she bore a sour, indignant expression as she looked at Draco. "I never said-"
"Relax, Ginger, it was a joke," Draco smirked.
"Then perhaps you should work on your sense of humor," she responded.
"Looks like I might need to," Draco replied. Harry smirked and when Ginny got a good look at Draco's smug expression, she snorted a small chuckle.
"Now, as it appears the arguing is finished," Draco went on, "I think I should lay out some details, so you can have something new to protest. I take Potter's invisibility cloak. Shops open at ten, so I figure I should be there at ten 'til nine. I've actually been in that alley before, and if nothing has changed, I know of a place that I can hide near the end of it. I stay and watch Bell make the drop and I watch for when it's taken. I identify the person and end game, right?"
Draco waited for a response, but none came.
"What? No arguments?" Draco asked. "Really?"
"You're right, Malfoy," Harry said finally. "And I see no flaws in your plan."
Ginny nodded. Draco's eyes fell on Hermione. She was twisting her fingers in her lap and stared up at him with a look of severe anxiety. He didn't know what to say to her. He would feel the same if it had been her going. Despite the way he made it seem, he had done the same thing as them. It was true that he was the best person for the job, but he accepted it to protect both Hermione and Pansy. He didn't want Hermione to take the mission and the mission protected Pansy and her family. They needed to know as much as they could and he knew he was the one for it.
"Just… Just be careful," Hermione said quietly. "No heroics."
"Did you forget I'm Slytherin?" Draco smirked. "All about self-preservation, right?"
"Okay," Harry said, standing up. "Meet at my house at 8:30 tomorrow morning. I'll have the cloak there waiting. We'll discuss anything else that might come to mind."
Draco nodded.
"Mummy!" a soft cry was heard from down the hall.
"Oh no…" Hermione groaned. "I'll see you tomorrow, Harry. Draco don't leave yet."
"Aurey should be okay," Ginny said worriedly. "I just checked on him." Ginny followed Hermione down the hall to check in on Aurelian. Draco was rather grateful for the interruption.
"Potter, wait," he said, stepping toward Harry before he used the floo. "I didn't want to say it in front of her."
"Go on," Harry said, looking skeptical.
"I'm not just going to identify and take off. We already know who we think it is. We need to know where they're going. And I know it's an argument you were dying to make," Draco said seriously. Harry just looked at him, not knowing what to say to that.
"I'm going to follow them. I'm rather hoping it's on foot, but if they look like they're going to Apparate, I'm grabbing the hem of their cloak," Draco declared.
"Hermione will hate you for it," Harry said flatly.
"Which is why I'm not telling her this," Draco told him.
"Then why are you telling me?" Harry asked curiously.
"Because it's what you would have done and it's information you're dying for."
Harry nodded, letting his guard down. "You're right. And I thank you for it. Just… Just be careful. I'll try to think of an emergency escape plan."
Draco nodded.
"Slytherin Self-Preservation?" Harry asked with a smirk.
"It may be higher on the priority list than in Gryffindor, but there are more important things. Not to mention, I don't plan on getting caught."
"It's a good plan, Malfoy," Harry smirked. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Harry grabbed a pinch of floo powder and disappeared in Hermione's fireplace.
"He's fine," Hermione assured Draco as she reentered the living room. "He just gets scared sometimes when I'm not in the bed."
Draco nodded.
"I'm meeting Luna for lunch tomorrow, so I'm not going to be able to be there, but you better call me as soon as you hear anything, okay?" Ginny told Hermione.
"I will." Hermione hugged Ginny and the red-head disappeared just as Harry had.
Hermione looked at Draco and her anxious look returned.
"Do you lack faith in me?" Draco asked simply.
"No, not at all," Hermione answered.
"Then why do you worry like that?"
"Because I care about you and things don't always go as planned," she replied.
Draco stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm going to be careful. I don't actually want to get hurt, you know."
Hermione laid her head against his chest. "I know, but if there were a better choice, you wouldn't want to go at all. And even if you're careful… look at what happened last time we were there."
"We were purposefully baiting that time," Draco reminded her, wishing that she hadn't reminded him.
"I know. I'm just worried because… because I care about you."
Draco relished those words and the feelings behind it. He held her closer and pressed his nose into her curly hair. His. She was his and that was all he wanted anymore. He pulled back and looked down into her eyes.
"Don't go," she said pathetically. "You don't have to leave yet, do you?"
"No, I don't suppose so. Why?" he asked curiously. His eyes traveled down to her lips.
"It's all been so crazy this evening. I just… I don't know… I…"
"Hermione." He forced her eyes to meet his and hoped she would just say what she was thinking.
"I was hoping that you would just hold me a bit longer," she said quietly as she looked down and away. Her eyes couldn't meet his. She felt pathetic and needy coming out and saying it the way she had.
Draco forced her chin up. His eyes met hers for only a second before his lips pressed hers. His fingers let go of her chin and gently stroked up her cheek. He pulled away slowly and stared at her rosy cheeks.
"I'd love that," he finally answered. He led her to the sofa and sat down with her, wrapping his arms around her so that her head rested against his chest. Hermione took a deep breath and sighed. She was worried about what the next day would bring, but at least for that moment she could relax and finally enjoy his company.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed! It means so much to get feedback. Knowing your thoughts on all the little stuff helps me to become a better writer. Some of your guesses are on the right track, but I can't tell you which. ;) Thank you for your continued support.