A/N: To put you out of your misery - here's the next chapter. I really hope you like it although it's kinda short. I apologise.
Thanks for the reviews!
23. Behind Amber Eyes
Hermione paced to and fro in her living room, wondering if she should follow Draco to Grimmauld Place Number 12 and why he hadn't returned yet. Harry would never, never, tell Draco her secrets. Even now, after he'd told he loved her, she simply couldn't confess … the thought made her gag.
The sun drowned behind the skyscrapers of the city, and shadows devoured the fading light. It was sombre in the room. Nyx returned from delivering a letter to Daphne through the open window with a mouse in her beak; but other than that, nothing happened.
Maybe she had lost him now. Too many secrets and lies.
After what seemed like hours, green flames erupted in her fireplace and Draco appeared. His face was expressionless, not showing any emotions.
"Draco!" she squeaked and jumped up. "What did Harry say?"
"We have a plan," Draco answered mono-syllabically, his shoulders stiff.
She took a step back as if he'd slapped her. She swallowed and tried to pull herself together. She didn't want to show him how much his behaviour hurt her. "That's it? Any details?"
"Ask him." Draco shrugged. Although he tried to hide it, she could see that he felt distressed as well. "I just stepped by so you wouldn't worry. I'm going to stay at my place tonight," he added flatly.
Immediately, she felt rejected. He had stayed over every night for weeks; even some of his things were in her closet. "O-okay. Did Harry tell y–"
"Of course, he didn't. He's loyal till death," Draco sneered, now his hurt and anger obvious on his face and tone. His fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.
Hermione sighed, trying to push back the intense pain in her chest. "Draco, Drake, please. I …. I can't …"
"I know," he said and held up his hands as if to prevent her from touching him. "But I just can't take it for today. See you at work." Before she could react, he had turned on his heels and disappeared again.
The encounter left her numb. For about five minutes, she simply stared at the empty fireplace, turning the conversation over and over in her head. Had he just broken up with her? No. But he was mad at her for keeping secrets. Maybe he was right and she didn't trust him? Was she such a terrible girlfriend?
And what had he planned with Harry?
It was too late to answer any of these questions now, so she put the food in the fridge and went to bed, but found herself unable to fall asleep. When she finally did, sinister nightmares about Draco and Viktor haunted her.
On the next morning, Hermione sat at her desk; however, she couldn't concentrate for even one second. Draco simply wouldn't leave her mind. He was invading her subconscious with thoughts about his delicious smell, his kisses, his words, his voice, his…
She sighed and took out a fresh parchment and some ink.
Dear Draco,
I'm sorry for everything that has happened. Please, don't give up on me. I couldn't sleep without you in my bed, and I can't survive one single day without you at my side.
No words can express how I feel about you. Please believe me that I trust you. Just give me some more time.
I love you, Draco. I do.
Forever yours,
H.
With a tap of her wand the letter disappeared.
Just before lunch, her door opened without warning and Draco stomped in. "What is this?" he snarled like an angry dragon.
Taken aback, she answered, "A letter?" Her letter, to be precise.
"No, Hermione. You can't just throw such things at me." He panted heavily and glared at her.
"Oh." Suddenly feeling very helpless, she stood up. "I didn't know … I thought … are you breaking up with me?"
His rage vanished at once. She could see how the fire left his thundery eyes with each word. "No! Of course not!" He took a step forward. "But that doesn't change that you are keeping secrets from me."
A sigh of relief escaped her lips. He still wanted her. He still loved her, despite her secrets, despite her behaviour. "I am," she stated frankly, her voice shaking slightly. "Can you give me some more time?" She wanted to tell him, she really did. But she just wasn't able to bring herself to say the words.
He swallowed audibly. She could see that he was still unsure about what to do.
Quickly, she stepped around her desk. "Please, Draco. We're only just together. Please, give me half a year."
"A month," he haggled.
"Three months!"
His eyes narrowed. "Fine." He half-turned, but then stopped. "Did you mean it?"
"What?"
He searched her gaze. "What you wrote?"
She smiled faintly. "I'd never lie about such things."
"Then tell me." He stepped closer; so close that she could touch him if she would reach out.
Nervously, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear; then, she let her eyes wander until she looked him straight in the eye. "Draco Malfoy, I … I love you." The words rushed out of her, and suddenly a huge weight was lifted from her chest. She felt free, like a Phoenix.
His mask crumbled, and she caught a glimpse of the emotions deep inside him. There was pain, and wonder, and … something else. She couldn't quite place it. Unexpectedly, he covered the distance between them with a step and framed her face with his hands.
"Hermione Granger, I love you."
Then, he kissed her with so much passion and love that her insides tightened with pleasure. She completely sank into him, forgetting the world around them.
After Hermione had finished her work for today, she decided to visit Harry's office, so he could tell her what he and Draco had planned. She hated to be kept out of things. She waved to his secretary and entered the office.
A familiar redhead was sitting with the back to her in one of the chairs in front of Harry's desk, and it was not Ginny. Dammit. Ron. Before she could leave, Harry had spotted her.
"Hermione. Come in." He waved her over.
"Oh, um, I can come back later," she offered, avoiding Ron's gaze.
Harry rolled his eyes. "This fight you have is petty. Get over it, Ron."
"Shut it, mate," Ron growled, completely tensed up. "If she stays, I leave."
"Ron," Harry tried to reconcile, but Ron jumped up, sulking.
"I see. You choose her again. I'm out of here." His voice was drenched in bitterness.
In a rage, he left the office, shoving Hermione with his shoulder on his way out. Agape, she looked after him. She knew he was angry, but that angry?
"He'll come to his senses," Harry tried to reassure her, but she knew that he was wrong.
Slowly, she took the seat Ron had just vacated. "Did Ginny say something about …" Her voice trailed away into nothing, but Harry knew who she meant.
He shrugged vacuously. "She's not speaking to Ron and George right now because she's still mad at them for hexing Draco. Molly … well, she loves you, Hermione, and she simply doesn't want you to get hurt. But she can't really forgive the Malfoys and neither can Arthur. Percy…" Harry shrugged again. "I don't know what he thinks. And Bill and Fleur …" Harry winced. "They saw you after Malfoy Manor, so they don't understand how you can … but they respect your decision."
That was a more elaborate explanation than Hermione had expected. Absent-mindedly, she rubbed her hurting shoulder. "But Ron … how can he … hate me that much?"
She didn't want to cry, but his behaviour had hurt her deeply. After all they had been through she had expected more from him.
Harry grimaced. "He's not really mad at you, just at Draco and at himself, but for now he's projecting it on you."
"You really should've studied psychology," Hermione said drily. "Anyway, I'm not here to talk about Ron."
Harry raised his eyebrows.
"I want to know what Draco and you have planned."
Harry's expression turned serious. "Hermione, you need to tell him about Viktor. I don't understand why you still keep it a secret although you two are serious about your relationship."
Hermione's face fell. "He asked you, didn't he?"
"Of course, he bloody did."
Hermione seemed to crumble a little. "Oh Harry. I can't explain it properly. I feel ashamed, and scared, and … how do you tell someone something like this?"
Harry's green eyes turned soft. "I understand you. He will, too, don't worry."
She wasn't sure about that at all. "What if he leaves me?"
"Why would he?" he countered.
Hermione shrugged noncommittally. "Broken goods."
"No way! But he'll leave you if you keep on hiding secrets from him," Harry warned her quietly.
"I know," she whispered. She knew all too well. It had nearly happened yesterday. But she wasn't ready yet.
But maybe she could show him otherwise how much she trusted him.
Suspense! *evil laughter* What will she do?
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