XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Chapter 8 -
All Hermione could think was, what the bloody hell was going on? Draco Malfoy and she started out the day as acquaintances, who once went to school together, slowly became friends, almost like 'buddies', and then became confidants, and then outright friends, and now what? What were they now?
Without warning, she pushed against his chest and said, "Get off."
"No," he said. What was wrong with her?
"Please, Draco, get off me," she said, finally pushing him off. He rolled over on his back, with his arms out to his side. She rolled over and stood up. He propped himself up on his elbow, and as she tried to walk away, he grabbed her foot.
"Let go," she pleaded.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked.
"Let go of my foot," she said again, moving her foot back and forth in his hand. He kept his hand on her foot, sat upright, and put his other hand on her calf.
"Seriously, let me go!" She was becoming angry.
"What's wrong with you? All of the sudden you have a wand up your bum," Draco retorted. He let her go and stood up.
She started to straighten out her clothing. She said, "It's hopeless."
"What is?" He thought she meant 'them'.
"My dress. It is filthy, it has icing on it, and grass stains. I don't even know if magic will remove these stains," she said.
"Is that what this is about? I didn't figure you were so shallow. Who cares if your dress has stains on it? Who are you trying to impress?" he asked, with an air of arrogance.
She wanted to say, 'you', but instead she said, "No one. I can't help it if I'm not all full of myself like you are."
"Are we at the fighting stage of our relationship already?" Draco asked.
Hermione started to walk back to the reception. She said, "We don't have a relationship, do we?"
"I guess not," he said sincerely. He walked along beside her.
She said, "I'm going to see if Ginny has something here that I can borrow, for I don't want to wear this dress any longer."
"Why not just go on home, then?" he said, perturbed.
Did he want her to go home? "I guess I could do that." She stopped walking. He jumped back over the fence. He kept walking toward the house. She had stopped and was propped against the railings of the fence. He turned back around and she had her back to him, leaning against the fence. He walked back up to her. He leaned against the fence, next to her, and faced the other direction. He turned to look at her.
"What has you down all of the sudden? Visions of the wedding night?" he asked.
She actually smiled. She turned to look at him as well. She said, "We kissed today."
"Really, I didn't know that," he said sarcastically.
"Smart arse," she smiled.
"Do you regret the kiss?" he asked.
"Not at all, do you?" she asked.
"Of course," he said, even more sarcastically. He smiled and bumped his shoulder into hers. "You are so gullible, Granger. I don't regret it."
"Would we have kissed again just now, in the field?" she asked.
"I was hoping so," he said truthfully.
"So, do you like me or something?" she asked.
"Are we children?" He grinned. "Do we 'like' each other?"
"Well, okay, let me rephrase this," she restated her sentence, to pacify him as she climbed the fence so that she was facing the same direction as him. She sat on the top railing, her leg touching his arm, where he leaned against the fence. She said, "Do you see us seeing each other after this afternoon?"
"Perhaps," he said coyly, leaning down and picking up a long blade of grass.
"Do you see us dating, or something?" she asked, shyly.
He pushed himself away from the fence, and came to stand in front of her. He took the blade of grass and swiped it slowly down her cheek. He brushed it against her neck, to her collarbone, ending it at her chest, which was still covered in cake. He said, "I see us dating, and I definitely see the 'or something'." He threw the piece of grass down and put his hands on her knees. He leaned closer to her, and when he was almost nose to nose with her, he asked, "Does that answer your question?"
Biting her bottom lip, she looked up to the sky and then laughed a true laugh. She said, "No one will ever believe this! We are such an unlikely pair, don't you think?"
"I think we go together like jam and bread," he said tritely.
"I'm the jam, because I'm sweet," she said.
He leaned closer and put his nose up to her neck. He sniffed. He looked back in her eyes and said, "The cake makes you smell sweet, but that's about as sweet as I would describe you."
"And you're the bread," she continued, ignoring what he said, "Because you're white and plain."
"White and plain?" he asked, tightening his hold on her knees. He tickled the back of her knees and her hands went to his shoulders, to keep her from falling as she laughed.
"Stop!" she said, wiggling on the slender fence railing. She almost fell backwards and he put one arm behind her back, to steady her. He moved his hands to her waist, and lifted her off the fence.
"Let's get back to the little reception, before they send out a search party," he said, as he stood her on the ground in front of him. She reached for his hand and he gladly replied by putting his hand in hers. As they walked back toward the house, he said, "We're almost back, time to stop holding hands."
"Why?" she inquired, sincerely.
"Oh, no reason, I was just making a comment," he said, keeping her hand in his. The truth was, as they approached the party, which was in full swing, very few people even noticed their clasped hands. Most of the guests were on the dance floor. He said, "Care to dance?"
"I'm not the best dancer, but sure, if you don't mind me stepping on your toes. Also, I hope you don't mind the state of my dress," she said.
"You could remove it, if it bothers you that much," he said, smiling.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?" she asked.
"Very much," he beamed back.
She excused herself and went to the table where she left her purse. She took her wand and cleaned off the remaining cake. He walked up behind her and said, "Will you clean my shirt as well, Malfoys don't usually walk around with cake all over them."
"Really? I think I remember your father with cake on his robes a few times," she joked.
She took her wand and cleaned him as well. She returned her wand to her purse and said, "Dance with me, Malfoy?"
"I thought you would never ask," he said back.
They walked back to the middle of the dance floor and started to dance, and she remarked, "Who knew you could be so charming?"
"Who knew you could be so much fun," he countered.
"You've had fun today?" she asked, bringing her arms up to his neck. She entwined her fingers behind his neck. He clasped his hands behind her back, resting them on the swell above her behind.
"I've had a great time, so far. I hope you have, as well," he admitted.
"What made you wait for me at the chapel?" she asked.
"I wasn't waiting for you. You have an inflated ego," he said lightly.
"Oh, sorry. Well, why were you still there?" she asked.
"Does it matter?" he asked.
"No, I'm just thankful," she said, a blush rising to her cheeks. He pulled her closer. She brought her hands from around his neck and laced them under his, resting them around his waist. Her face was resting on his shoulder.
"Granger?" he asked.
She turned her face back up to his. "Yes?" she asked back.
"I was waiting for you at the chapel, truthfully, and I really don't know why, but I'm thankful as well," he admitted. He stared deeply in her eyes. She smiled at him and placed her face back against his shoulder, content in the moment, content in his arms, content with the change of their relationship, still undefined.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX