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Chapter 26 –
Hermione could hear the steady breathing of the man beside her, and it gave her comfort, hope. She had her hand on his chest, and she could feel the rise and fall of his breathing. It had to be very late, or very early, she didn't know which, for they were the same. Hermione looked over at his face, as they shared a pillow. His eyes, shut, so he was undoubtedly sleeping. She reached up, softly, and touched his face, bringing her fingertips down his cheek.
How could she truly love and cherish someone, as much as she did him, after only a day together. Either she was insane, or this was what true love felt like, and she had just never felt it before.
She shut her eyes, to join him in sleep.
Draco knew Hermione was still awake. Even with his eyes shut, he could feel hers upon him. It gave him reassurance, and joy, to know that the woman who shared his bed would someday share his name. When he thought of all the years he wasted hating her, when he could have loved her, well, it filled him with regret and shame. He felt her hand come up and stroke his cheek. In the silence of the room, he heard what he had never heard before, he heard his heart burst, from the love he felt for this woman. This woman, whom just a day before, was only a mere thought, no, an afterthought, to his life, was now his entire life. It was odd, how love worked.
He shifted to his side, his eyes still shut. Her hand fell from his chest. He opened his eyes, to look at her face. She was sleeping. The light from the window, be it from the stars, or from the moon, lit up her face. He could not resist himself; he leaned over and kissed her forehead. He touched her lips. She opened her eyes. "What time is it?" she asked.
"Time for you to go to sleep," he said.
"I was sleeping, but you woke me," she said, smiling.
"I'm sorry," he said, touching her face again.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
"I'm thinking about you," he said, simply.
"Anything in particular about me that has you awake at this hour?" she inquired.
"You don't even know what time it is, or you wouldn't have asked me, and yes, something in particular is on my mind," he said, bringing her body within his strong embrace.
"Do tell," she said.
"I was thinking about how I wasted so much of my life, not having you in it. I feel as if my life is just beginning, right now," he said. He kissed her hair. She drew circles on his chest.
"I know that I feel the same way. We should never waste another moment. Let's make a pact now, that no matter what, we won't waste one more minute or our lives without the other in it," she said. She lifted her head, to look in his eyes.
"It's a deal," he said. He put his hand on her cheek, and said, "And to answer your question from earlier," he said, looking at his watch, "It's 3:06 am."
"Really? It doesn't seem that late," she said.
"Are you tired?" he asked.
"I really am," she said.
"Then go back go back to sleep. I'm ready for some shuteye myself," he said, actually yawning.
"Is there one moment in your life you would like to go back and change?" she asked.
Draco thought for a moment, and said, "There's too many to mention. Truthfully, I would like to go back and change every moment that I caused you pain, or was mean and cruel to you."
She did not answer. She took a deep breath, and started to crawl out of the bed, across his body.
"Hey, where are you going?" he asked, reaching for her arm, to stop her as she pushed down the sheet, and started to climb over his body.
"I have to go to the bathroom," she answered.
She left the bed, and started to open the door. Draco snickered and sat up in the bed. "Granger, you might want to put your pajamas back on, or else you might give someone an eyeful." Hermione looked down and suddenly covered her body with her arms. He added, "Of course, you are all rather close in this house, so maybe you walk around naked in front of each other all the time."
She was dressing quickly, and she said, "Not bloody likely." She opened the door, and left the room swiftly. He went to lie back down, and pulled the sheet back over his body. After several long minutes, she had not returned, so he slipped on his boxers, and walked out in the hall. He went to the bathroom, and she was not there. He walked over to her room, and she was not there, either.
He went back to his room, slipped on his pants, and walked downstairs, to try to find her. He made it almost to the bottom of the stairs, when he heard her voice. She was talking to someone.
"I don't know if it's real, but it feels more real than anything I have ever felt in my life," he heard her say to someone. Draco sat down on the stairs to listen. He knew it was not right to eavesdrop, but when it concerned her and him, well, he had no choice.
"Then follow your heart, love," the man said. It was Charlie Weasley.
"This isn't about following my heart, this is about so much more," Hermione said. "But still, I worry, what will people think?"
"When have you ever cared what other people have thought?" he asked.
"I just want everyone to be happy," she said.
"Don't you want yourself to be happy?" he asked, "What do you want?"
"It's not that simple. If only it was that simple," she said, softly. "Everyone will think I'm on the rebound. They will not take this seriously. They will think we have rushed into it. I don't want anyone to take this lightly, for I know I don't," she said. Draco heard her start to cry.
"Hermione, the people who matter, the people who love you, just want you to be happy. If Draco Malfoy, heaven help us, if Draco Malfoy makes you happy, that's all that matters. You're a smart girl, with a good head on your shoulders, and no one would ever accuse you of making rash decisions. Hell, it took you four days to pick out a colour to paint your kitchen. I should know, because I was the one who had to wait around for four days to help you paint it," Charlie said.
There was an extended silence. Draco wished he knew what was going on down there. He heard the sound of a chair scratching against the linoleum floor. He stood up quickly, less he be caught, and ran quietly back up the stairs. He heard footstep walk across the hall, and the sound of a door opening, and then closing. He opened his door, and went back downstairs. Hermione was standing by the kitchen sink, in the dark kitchen of the Burrow, looking out the window at the dark sky. He stayed by the landing of the stairs, and watched her for a long time. Finally, he said, "This isn't the bathroom."
She turned quickly, startled, and said, "Oh, Draco. I know. I came down for some water, and Charlie was down here eating more cake, if you can believe that, and we started talking."
He stepped up to her, and said, "About what?"
"Nothing of importance," she lied. He reached for her hand, and pulled her up to his chest.
"Really, nothing important, you say?" he asked in her ear.
She put her arms tight around his waist and said, "When I'm with you, nothing else matters."
"I feel the same, Granger. Why are you suddenly so introspective and serious?" he asked. Hermione put her head on his chest.
"What will your friends think about us?" she asked. He stroked her hair, and held her tight.
"I don't know, and I don't care," he said. He meant that.
"What about your family?" she asked.
He looked at her, keeping her tight in his arms, and said, "They won't be very happy, to tell you the truth. They aren't like the Weasleys. They won't accept you with open arms. They won't like that you're Muggle-born. I'm sorry if that hurts you, but I want to try once in my life to be truthful."
"Will they give you a hard time?" she asked.
"Probably," he said.
"Will they disown you?" she said, trying to make light. She tried to grin, but it only came out sad.
"If they do, then you'd better get a better job, to support me in the manner to which I have grown accustomed," he smiled back. "Lighten up, Granger, everything will work out. Have a little faith."
She just looked at him, and tears sprang to her eyes. "I don't want you to lose your friends and family, because of me."
"And I don't want to lose you, because of my friends and family, so we are at an impasse. You are stuck with me, now. There is no way to get rid of me. I'm already a part of you, and you are a part of me," he said seriously. He didn't know what else he could say to convince her. He positioned both hands on her cheeks, and said, "Listen to me, Granger, and understand what I'm saying. This is real. You and I, we're real, we're in love, and that is all that matters. I will not lose you now. As stupid as this sounds, since I've known you a lifetime, I also feel like I've waited a lifetime for you, and if you think I will give up, and lose you now, because people might frown on our relationship, well then, Granger, you have a few things to learn about me."
She put her hands on his, and removed them from her face. She held them up to his chest, and said, "If you think my insecurities is my way of rolling over and giving up, you don't know me, either. Just because I worry about things, and over-analyze things, doesn't mean that I'm giving up on you and me. I hope you know that my love for you is real and sincere. This is just the way I am. I have to think about things, and talk things out, and sometimes I need assurances. Can you handle that? Let me know now, or forever hold your peace."
"You are a fireball," he snickered, and he hugged her. "Your little insecurities, and your bossy attitude, and your ability to irk people, and your constant worrying, are part of your charm." He bent his head, and put his thumb across her bottom lip, before he kissed her sweetly. "Seriously, love, I'm dead on my feet. Come up to bed."
"You go on up. I'm not tired anymore," she said.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"I think I'll go outside, and sit under the stars, and worry, and feel insecure, and I might even irk a few people off, by being bossy," she said, smirking at him.
"Nice smirk, that's a trait I find admirable," he said. "Please come to bed."
"Okay, but to my bed. You go to yours. It really is late, and I don't think we should be seen in the same room in the morning," she said, walking toward the stairs.
"Didn't anything Charlie say to you sink in? Don't worry what other people think," Draco said. As soon as he said it, he realized it was a mistake.
She turned on him and said, "Were you listening to us?"
He winced slightly, and then decided to hone up to the truth, so he said, "Fine, I was, but not for long. I was worried when you didn't return from the bathroom. I thought that maybe you drowned in the toilet or something worse. I was so worried I was close to tears. My love for you made me search for you, and then eavesdrop on your private conversation with Charlie. It was your fault, really," he said, pulling all the stops, and smiling at her sweetly.
"Does this type of crap usually work?" she asked, doubtful.
"Up until now, yes, so please don't tell me it doesn't work on you. I won't know what to do, if it does not. I will have to change my whole mode of operation," he said, smiling at her.
"Go to bed, you prat," she said, pushing him up the stairs. When they reached the top, her hands left his back, and she said, "My room's over there."
He leaned close to her, his arm on the wall in front of her, and whispered, "Where?"
She reached under his arm, pointed toward Ginny's old room, and said, "Right there."
"There?" he asked, putting his face close to hers. He brushed his cheek against hers.
"Yes, there," she said, her arms snaking around his middle.
"That room behind us?" he asked, kissing her ear.
"Yes, behind us," she said softly, kissing his bare chest. "Why, where's your room?"
"Over there," he pointed with a nod of his head, his hands rubbing her back up and down, his mouth on her neck.
"Where?" She was almost out of breath. She kissed his neck, mirroring his movements.
"Down there," he pointed again, kissing the side of her mouth, before licking her lips with his tongue.
"Is it a nice room?" she asked, as his mouth played with hers. He kissed her deeply.
"You thought so a while ago," he mused. She put her head against his chest.
"Well, now that we know where our rooms are, we should get a couple hours of sleep." She looked up at his face, and he gave her only a second, before he kissed her again.
"Goodnight, Granger," he said. He pushed away from her, but held on to her hand. She started toward her room, but only got an arms length away, since he had not yet let go.
"Goodnight, Malfoy," she said. He let go of her hand. "I love you."
"You better, for I would hate to think I loved you and you didn't love me back," he said in almost a whisper. She backed toward her room, and when she reached the door, he was still in the middle of the hall.
She stayed in the doorframe for a moment, turned the knob, walked in the room, and looked at him once more before she said, "Oh, helk, Malfoy, do you want to come to my room? Just to sleep, because I really am tired now."
"I thought you would never ask," he said. He walked up to her, put his arms through hers, resting them on her back. "Come, cuddle with me, Granger, and we will fall asleep in each other's arms, and when we wake, we can have a good morning shag."
She sighed and said, "For a brief moment, Malfoy, a very brief moment, you were actually sweet and poetic, and then you had to ruin it. Sometimes I think you shouldn't even open your mouth." She turned around, walked through the door, and pulled him inside. She shut the door, and then crawled in the bed, moving far over against the wall. He removed his slacks and crawled in beside her.
"If I didn't open my mouth, Granger, I couldn't do this," he said, as he leaned over, and gave her a deep, open mouth kiss. After the kiss, he raised his eyebrows, and said, "See."
"Okay, sometimes it's okay to open your mouth. Go to sleep." She moved to her side, threw her arm over his body and her leg over his. He put one arm under his head, and one around her. He smiled to himself. This was the way thing were meant to be. He took a quick look down at her, and she had already shut her eyes.
"One more thing, Granger, before you nod off to sleep," he said.
"Yes," she said, already half-asleep.
"This," he said. He put his hand under her chin, tilted her head toward his, and leaned over and kissed her once more.
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