Chapter 37

Hermione and Draco did look into Ollivander's, only to find that he had disappeared, and that there were no traces of him left in his small little shop. Several days passed as they searched and searched for Ollivander, never giving up, knowing that he was their one and only lead who could offer them some light upon the mysterious incidences. But despite their determination to complete their mission, Hermione could not help but feel more and more frustrated at Malfoy's distant and cold behaviour. He did not look at her when conversing about what their next move would be, or engage in any sort of conversation that was about anything outside work. Even when, for example, Hermione fell over on an unstable floorboard in one of the houses that they were searching, he only methodically offered his hand to pick her up, and soon turned away. He did not smile, he did not joke, he did… well, he said nothing of consequence. He was, Hermione thought in annoyance, avoiding her at all costs.

This continued for many days, and the tension slowly rose to breaking point. Hermione could not stand it much longer, and when, one fine sunny afternoon, while they were searching in a little village in Kent where rumors of Ollivander being sighted had been heard, walking down a residential road surrounded by garden walls covered in wisteria, Malfoy refused to answer substantially Hermione's questions about his health, she abruptly stopped walking. She'd had enough. She would confront him. She had to. It was the only way.

Upon realising that Hermione had stopped walking, Draco turned around in annoyance, to find her standing stubbornly in front of a garden wall, arms folded tightly around her chest. What he didn't realise what that this was only done to prevent him from seeing her hands, which were currently shaking with anger or perhaps nervousness, Hermione could not tell. Once she was sure she had his attention, she spoke.

"Why are you ignoring me?"

"What?" stammered Draco, frowning at her with irritation. Inside though, his heart was hammering against his chest. He had thought that he could keep up this appearance of indifference towards her until the end of the case. In truth, he hadn't expected it to go on for so long, that he would have to be around her all the time. If he had, then…..

Hermione sighed before saying, "Draco, what is it? Why aren't you speaking to me like you used to?"

"I don't understand what you mean, we talk as we always used to," said Draco swiftly with indifference, shrugging his shoulders, preparing to walk again.

"No. No we don't," said Hermione with a quiver, her voice suddenly quiet, and fragile.

Malfoy stared back at her, unable to think properly while she seemed so unguarded. She just stood there, staring back at him with pleading eyes, begging for some sort of reaction. He let out an agitated huff before turning and walking away.

"Don't patronise me!" shouted Hermione suddenly from behind. He stood for a moment, unable to comprehend why she couldn't understand the torture that he was going through.

"Patronise!" spat Malfoy, glaring back at her. He hardly realised that he had charged back towards her, causing her back up against the wall. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to be around you now! To have to converse with you everyday, as if nothing has happened?!"

Hermione stared back, paralysed with shock by his sudden outburst.

"I could have killed you!" said Draco hoarsely.

Suddenly, Hermione understood. He had been avoiding her because he felt ashamed, even though it wasn't his fault. She was a reminder to him of how his image had finally gone down the drain. She felt a surge of anger rising up inside her, something that she was still a little inexperienced with.

"What are you saying, that I'm a hazard to your reputation!"

"No, Hermione, that is not what I meant!" retorted Draco, moving unconsciously closer towards her .

"I can take care of myself-"

"I CAN'T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!"

By now Malfoy stood in front of Hermione, and as he yelled, he shook her with his hands with such force that Hermione was caught completely off guard. What followed was aggravating silence as Malfoy refused to look at her, staring down at the floor. As Hermione heard birds calling from up in the trees belonging to various gardens, she felt like they had disturbed the calm peace that lay in the tranquil village.

"I- I can't let it happen again."

He was afraid, that was what Hermione finally realised as she noticed that he was shaking uncontrollably. After a moment's hesitation, with her own unsteady hand, she lifted his face up towards her.

She had meant to console him, to tell him that it didn't matter, that it wasn't his fault. But upon meeting his gaze which was filled with such pain that it was beyond description, she knew that words would be meaningless to him.

She hadn't meant to do it, it wasn't like she wanted to do it. But she knew there and then that it was the best she could do for him.

So before he could do anything so much as blink, she pulled him towards her and kissed him.

At first, he visibly stiffened, and Hermione felt sudden guilt and regret, wondering if she had done the wrong thing. She had meant to do it as a kind gesture, hardly a passionate kiss from a lover, but as she felt an odd tingling sensation on her lips and how surprisingly soft his were, she quickly realised that this, whatever this was, could not possibly be innocent. She had felt, somehow, that she could make him understand better by showing him, rather than telling him. You're not alone. Don't ignore me. It's torture for me too.

As she pulled back abruptly, Draco simply stared. He had not expected that. He hadn't expected her to feel so soft. To look so beautiful among the vine flowers. He had not expected her to….

Showing no signs of a reaction, Hermione leans forwards to Draco again, and this time pushed herself closer towards him, doing the same as before. She slowly realised that she wanted something from him. No, maybe, just simply…. Him?

As she felt him physically relax, she suddenly realised that he was pulling her towards him, his hands at first on her shoulders but then soon roaming across her jawline and neck, caressing her hair, caressing her. She hadn't realised that he could be so gentle. She felt it as he gave in, the kiss now taking over as he let out a uncontrollable moan…

Then suddenly, a door opened from afar and then slammed shut, causing them to part abruptly, their breathing haggard. There was a moment where they simply stared at each other in astonishment, incapable of speech. Then just as quickly, Hermione suddenly felt trapped, as if she wanted to be anywhere but within Malfoy's sight. He let her go abruptly, hardly believing what had just passed. Stepping slightly away, he noticed the look of panic flash across her face.

"I'm- sorry, I'm … so sorry," she stammered, unable to say much else.

"Is that you, Miss Granger?"

Hermione stared into Draco's grey eyes, trying to figure out if his startled expression was one of disgust or….

"Miss Granger?"

Malfoy turned reluctantly away from Hermione to look at the intruder.

It was Mr Ollivander.

END OF PART 1 OF "THE SORTING HAT'S MISTAKE

Author's note: So, that's the end of part one, if you guys want me to write a part 2, which would carry on this ship (obviously) and explore a second mystery type plot line then please review and let me know! To put it bluntly, I only really want to carry on if you guys like it, as it is quite time-consuming, but fun! :)