Hermione felt her heart skip a beat as she entered the Great Hall. He was there. Sitting at the Slytherin table while Pansy chattered away beside him. She felt a flush rise to her cheeks. She hadn't slept well the night before. Draco Malfoy had kissed her. Twice. And she'd enjoyed every second of it. In fact, she didn't think she'd mind doing it again. Her lips tingled at the memory.
She slowed her steps as she walked in. She shouldn't want to do it again. But it was this first time in her life she'd ever experienced this type of passion. It was invigorating. Exciting. Why shouldn't she live in the moment, at least for a little while? Her brief kiss with Viktor couldn't compare. It had been a pleasurable experience. But it didn't make her heart race and her nerves tingle. Thoughts of Viktor hadn't kept her up at night. Thoughts of Ron had never consumed her in the same way. And neither had provided the challenge that one Draco Malfoy did.
She'd spent hours last night replaying the entire moment in her mind. Replaying everything that had led up to it. She couldn't deny it much longer. She most definitely had feelings for Draco Malfoy. She wasn't even sure when it had happened. He was her enemy, had been for so long. It wasn't as if it had hit her out of nowhere. He'd always been a significant figure in her life. From the moment she started Hogwarts, he'd been a thorn in her side. His opinions of her had only motivated her to work harder, be better. He'd been her challenge from day one. And now it seemed he was something else. Something more.
She recalled his words from the night before. She'd gone over them endlessly. He thought about her. Worried about her. It appeared that she'd invaded his thoughts as much as he'd invaded hers.
She slid into her seat. The hall was quiet, seeing as it was so early. Deciding to take a chance, she looked over at the Slytherin table. Pansy had moved on, bored with Draco's apparent lack of attention. Hermione allowed herself to simply look at him, just for a moment. The way his fine blond hair fell across his forehead. His firm mouth, now set in a frown, and how it had felt against her own. His eyes. Those sharp grey eyes, full of intelligence, because yes, Draco was intelligent. He was second to her in most of their classes.
Those eyes, she noticed, were turning a stormy grey now. She blinked as she realized she'd been caught staring. Draco held her gaze. Then his lips curved in a slow, sexy smile. It was gone in a moment. Hermione flushed again and made herself turn away. But she couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips as she did. Because a look like that should mean only one thing. That they were going to do it again.
She was nibbling on the end of a sugar quill when Harry finally made an appearance. He looked worn out and tired, as if he too had a restless night.
"Where did you disappear to last night?" he asked as he plopped down in the seat next to her. "I was looking for you. Needed someone to talk to at that party."
Hermione grimaced. She'd almost forgotten about the party. And about Cormac's less than appreciated attention. "I had to escape. Cormac was hardly pleasant company." Harry cringed in a show of sympathy.
"Yeah, he did seem rather… handsy." Harry struggled to get the word out and Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
"That's one way to describe it. I just ducked out as soon as I could. Left him stuck under some enchanted mistletoe." It hadn't been very kind of her, but she wasn't going to be the one helping him out with a kiss.
Harry grinned. "Quite crafty of you Hermione. Come to think of it, I think I saw him leave with a seventh year Hufflepuff. Perhaps you're off the hook."
Hermione sighed in relief. That would be welcome news. The last thing she wanted was more of Cormac's attention.
"How did it go with Luna?" Hermione asked, keeping up the nice easy flow of conversation. This was nice, she thought. Just talking with Harry about everyday things. It seemed as if so many of their conversations tended to turn serious these days.
"Fine. Luna was… Luna." He shrugged and smiled. As suddenly as it came, the smile disappeared. "Listen, I wanted to talk to you about something I saw last night. Now before you bite my head off, hear me out."
There went nice and easy, Hermione thought. And so Harry turned the topic to a more serious matter. In particular, a serious matter concerning the one person she couldn't talk to him about. And Hermione felt her heart freeze in her chest.
Hermione had been distracted all day. Her thoughts had been consumed with the words of one Harry Potter and the eyes of one Draco Malfoy. Despite Harry's intentions to have a thorough discussion with her about Draco, the two of them had been interrupted by a scowling Ron earlier that morning. Just as she had expected, Ron had been furious that she'd gone with McLaggen. Not that it mattered much anymore. She frowned and then grimaced as her books toppled from her arms. She was late as it was. And she was never late. The halls were practically deserted and she had yet to make it to Arithmancy. She'd taken this deserted hall because it was supposed to be a shortcut to the classroom. She sighed as she bent to retrieve her texts. And was visibly surprised when a blond head appeared beside hers.
Draco silently handed Hermione her books. They were alone in this hallway, with little chance of being seen. As it was, they were tucked away in the shadows. It didn't seem right to just leave her. She was visibly distressed. He had noticed that Weasley had looked particularly unpleasant that morning and wondered if he was the reason for her upset. It was a reckless move, helping her here in the halls. But things had shifted between them. And he wasn't such an oblivious oaf that he wouldn't stop to help a witch in need. Especially a witch he'd kissed senseless the night before. He still wasn't sure what he was going to do about that.
Hermione held her books to her chest. She wasn't sure if she should smile at him or thank him. Was that allowed? What were the rules for their interactions outside the Astronomy Tower? She just didn't know.
"Here Hermione." He handed her a book, as he murmured his words so only she would hear. "Did Weasley upset you? You don't look-" he paused at the startled look on her face. "What is it?"
Hermione stared at him. "My name. I think that's the first time you've actually called me by my name." It shouldn't matter. Saying one's name shouldn't be this moving. Yet somehow, it managed to change everything. She found she liked it. The way her name rolled off his tongue.
Draco paused. What to tell her? When had she changed from Granger to Hermione? He wasn't sure. It had happened so suddenly. And in his thoughts, he'd often referred to her as Hermione, even if he didn't voice it.
"Well, you've called me by mine," His voice was husky and Hermione flushed. She had called him by his name in the heat of the moment. "A few times now, actually."
"It's probably about time…" she murmured, self-conscious. How strange to feel that way now! After everything. "Time! Oh drat, I do need to go, Arithmancy you know." She felt the words rush out of her. She did need to leave. She was late. But oh how she wanted to stay.
"You should go on then. We really shouldn't be standing around here anyway." Draco suddenly tensed as he realized where they were. Out in the halls, where anyone could see them. That was a problem. As much as he wanted to be with her, he couldn't simply because it was too risky. It was reckless. Dangerous.
"Well then." Hermione shifted her bag and smiled softly. "Thank you Draco." Her soft smile was like a sucker punch. So sweet. Too sweet. She scurried away and he sighed with relief.
Because she hadn't asked. She'd been so distracted that she hadn't considered the fact that he was in her Arithmancy class. And hadn't thought to ask why he was heading in the opposite direction.
She'd notice soon enough. That thought set his stomach churning. Because she'd notice that he'd skipped class again. And she'd start to wonder.
They found themselves alone again. No injuries to speak of this time. Together they sat in the Astronomy Tower, just looking at the vast expanse of sky and all the twinkling stars. Hermione wasn't sure what had brought her back, especially now. Harry had told her. He'd told her what he'd overheard between Professor Snape and Draco. Perhaps she had known all along. But she'd still gone to him. Still offered to help him. And was still here now. Yet she couldn't be angry with him. Because while she'd heard what Harry had said, she'd also heard Draco. Things weren't quite what they seemed.
She was less sure of what made her stay. She was scared to think about it. But moments like this were devoid of rational thought. Sitting in the tower, it was almost like they were equal. Like they were two normal teenagers and there was no war brewing all around them.
Draco looked at her briefly and felt his stomach sink to the floor. She knew. Or at least suspected. He could tell by the wariness in her gaze. It felt like a blow to his chest.
Abruptly Draco broke the silence.
"What would you do if you were me?"
Hermione glanced at him. She no longer saw an adversary. Only a boy who had lost his way in a thicket too entangled to get out of.
"I can't say," she replied slowly, "If I was in your shoes, my life would be entirely different. You and I weren't raised at all alike. Our values are different, our backgrounds are different…" she drifted off and thought of the memory altering spell she had planned for her parents.
"But," she continued, "I would try to save those I love too. Isn't that what we're all trying to do?" Draco stared at her, his inner turmoil obvious on his face. Not breaking eye contact, she reached out and took his hand. Draco didn't pull away. Instead, he turned up his palm and let their fingers intertwine.
They sat like that for a long time. Hermione had no desire to break the silence. This moment was incredibly intimate. And to be sharing it with Malfoy… their relationship had definitely changed. Yet they hadn't even talked about their kiss. Well kisses. And it wasn't as if he had attempted to kiss her again. Something which had, if Hermione was honest with herself, disappointed her greatly. Not that she'd initiate mind you. No matter how much she wanted to. It should be unsettling, worrisome even, that Hermione Granger wanted Draco Malfoy to kiss her again.
"Will you meet me here on Saturday night?" Draco's voice was so quiet, for a moment Hermione thought she had imagined it. Later, she'd rationalize that there was a Quidditch game Saturday afternoon and no one would miss her once the post-game festivities started. But at the moment, she answered instinctively.
"Alright." No qualms. No hesitation. A mistake? Possibly. He turned to face her and Hermione noted the surprise flicker across his features. He hadn't expected her to agree. Which made her all the more curious.
"Alright." He echoed her words and let a small smile grace his lips. "Eight o'clock Granger." She felt his thumb brush across her wrist before he let go of her hand. He left her lying there thinking alone. Wondering how it always seemed that he managed to leave her first.