Chapter 23

Connecting the Dots

Hermione had just had the family portrait commission confirmed by her studio and she found herself gazing out of the large windows, her mind not on her painting at all. She realised that she could no longer ignore what was going on with her and Draco. Not that she actually knew what was going on, but something definitely was.

The change in him was remarkable. When she had first arrived, he had been so distant, so cold that she couldn't imagine ever having a conversation with him that wasn't related to the commission, let alone them being friends in anyway.

She sighed – is that what they were? Friends? She thought of him as a friend now, she liked him. Did she like him more than that? Well, there was no denying he was ridiculously attractive. Sometimes when they were talking his eyes just smouldered. He had the best skin she'd ever seen on a man or a woman and those amazing lashes.

So, what did her thinking that mean? If he wasn't Draco Malfoy, would she be falling for him? He was certainly being charming and she had really begun to enjoy his company.

She decided she needed a break and headed down to the kitchen. It was usually empty this time of day but when she rounded the corner, she found Draco sat on one of the high stools at the island, papers spread all around him.

"Oh, hello," she said. "I was just taking a break."

Draco looked over at her. "You don't have to excuse yourself to me."

Hermione looked closer at the papers. "This is business stuff, isn't it? Things you would usually be working on in your office?"

Draco put his cup down and twisted a little on his seat. "Yes, and not necessarily."

"So, you'd usually spread all this official paperwork around your kitchen?" Hermione walked over and picked up a document. "Legal Requirements for Dragon Keepers," she read out loud. She walked over to Draco and thrust the document in front of his face. "Look, there at the bottom – it clearly says 'I'm the kind of document that should be read and kept in an office. Preferably one with a great view'."

Draco sighed. "I feel like we keep having this same conversation," he said, sounding annoyed. "I'm bored of it. If you would rather work at home, I wish you would just say so and stop using me as an excuse."

Hermione folded her arms across her chest. "Why are you being like that?" She would never have dared to challenge him like this usually but he was being snappy and annoying her.

"I'm not being like anything," Draco stood up and pushed his stool back.

"Oh! Really?" Hermione sighed in frustration. He seemed to be unreasonably irritated at her offer to leave.

"Yes, really! Why accept the family portrait commission if you can't wait to leave?"

"I didn't say I can't wait to leave!"

"You may as well have done."

"You're being childish – are we back at Hogwarts?" Hermione knew this would hurt him but she said it anyway.

"Bloody Hogwarts! I've moved on from Hogwarts," Draco pointed a finger at her. "I'm beginning to think you haven't."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione pushed his hand away. "Don't point at me!"

"If someone asked you who I was, what would you tell them?" Draco threw this question at her unexpectedly and she stared at him for a second before replying.

"Everyone knows who you are."

"I mean in relation to you," Draco said, impatiently.

Hermione bit her lip, her mind racing. What was she supposed to say in answer to that? When she didn't answer he sighed heavily, turned around and walked to the far end of the kitchen. "You'd say I was someone you went to school with." He still had his back to her as he said this.

"Well, you are!" Hermione pointed out, indignantly. She stood up, knocking her stool over in the process.

Draco turned abruptly. "What about this?" he waved his finger between them.

"This?"

"Now - me and you now," Draco's voice had lost some of its anger.

Hermione stared at him. "Well, now we seem to be getting along but if you really want to have this conversation, I find it weird that you act as if we have never met before, as if Hogwarts never happened," she shrugged.

Draco frowned. "I would have thought forgetting about our time at Hogwarts would be a good thing!"

"We can't just things ignore our history and pretend it didn't happen!" Hermione pointed out. "It's like the elephant in the room – if we can't talk about it, then I can't connect the dots…"

"What dots?" Draco interrupted her. "What elephant? What are you talking about?"

"You know, like in children's books the dot-to-dot drawings. It's just an expression," Hermione explained, exasperated. "A muggle one obviously as you haven't a clue what I'm on about."

Draco shook his head. "Muggle children really do have some strange things to do."

Hermione waved her hand at him. "Never mind. What I'm trying to say is there needs to be some connection, between then and now."

Draco paused for a moment and ran his fingers through his hair in a gesture that Hermione had grown to recognize he did when he was stressed. "I told you how I feel about the Draco you knew at school. I don't want to be connected to him! You hated me then, why would I want to remember that? We agreed to draw a line."

"It's one thing to draw a line under it, totally different to erase it from your past. From our past!" Hermione pointed out. "And I didn't hate you."

"I don't believe you," Draco waved his hand dismissively.

"I didn't! As we grew up and I began to understand your situation, the one you had been placed in. The day of the battle at Hogwarts, I wanted to grab you and pull you over to us and tell you we would protect you. That you didn't have to go to their side." She bit her lip, wondering if she had said too much. "It wasn't just me that felt like that too – Harry said the same when you didn't tell them it was him at Malfoy Manor. I mean, you saved our lives that day and you put yourself at risk by doing so."

"I'd like to earn some hero points for that but I was just so scared of what might happen, it just seemed easier to say I didn't recognize Harry." He started to walk back towards her. "Anyway, it's because of me you're in danger – maybe my past is coming back to haunt me. Someone I've upset along the way is obviously trying to pay me back. Therefore, I agree with you - you should definitely go."

"I don't want to go! This is very frustrating, Draco!" Hermione sighed, loudly.

"So why do you keep going on about it?" Draco repeated.

"I don't! I just don't want to disrupt your entire life and take over your house," Hermione rubbed her forehead. "I am trying to be considerate."

She saw Draco's face close down, his emotions going back behind the invisible fence he could erect at whim. "I think you should leave – staying here with me is putting yourself in danger."

"Are throwing me out now? Having just a few minutes ago thrown a tantrum about it?" Hermione demanded.

"It wasn't a tantrum but if you want to take it like that…." Draco didn't get the chance to finish his sentence because he wasn't paying attention to where he was walking and his feet went from under him as he stepped on a pile of papers that were in the middle of the floor.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, Hermione saw the shock on his face as he fell forward, his arms flailing. She stepped forward, reaching for her wand but she was too late and he crashed into her, knocking her backwards to the floor. She felt his arms go round her, protecting her head against the hard floor as she landed but unfortunately, landing on top of her heavily.

Hermione felt the wind knocked out of her and her one hand was trapped between them awkwardly.

"Merlin! Are you okay?" Draco asked, his face barely inches from her own. "Did you hurt your head?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, I'm fine – you stopped me from hitting the floor."

Draco pushed himself off her, rising to standing in one graceful movement. He made a grimace and moved his shoulder.

Hermione sat up. "Are you okay?"

"Just my shoulder, it'll be fine." He bent over, sliding his arms around her and lifting her to standing position. "I'm so sorry."

Hermione was now acutely aware of how close they were, how the muscles moved beneath his shirt as he held her. He smelt delicious and she cleared her throat nervously. "I'm fine."

Draco hadn't attempted to move away, his arms were still around her, his eyes locked to her own. "Did I hurt you?" he asked, his voice low and quiet. Hermione felt her stomach flip as his expression and his closeness began to make her feel hot.

"No," she said, her voice still sounding croaky. He was playing havoc with her senses, their argument had so many underlying messages and now he was gazing at her with an unfathomable expression, his arms around her….

He was blinking rapidly, his eyes searching her face. "I'm sorry we argued." His voice was low and husky and she felt his arms tighten around her, his face moving closer. She felt her throat tighten as very slowly, their eyes still locked, he lowered his head. She couldn't do anything, she couldn't move, or think as she felt his lips touch hers. His lips were as soft as they looked and were hardly touching her own, just very gently applying pressure. Hermione was shocked at how the situation had developed but also at how gentle he was being, as if he was savouring every tiny touch.

She felt his arms wrap more tightly around her and she willingly let herself fall against him, caught up in the feelings his lips were provoking. This tender, soft assault on her senses was easily as seductive as any heated, passionate kiss Hermione had experienced.

Draco pulled her tighter against him again, the pressure on her lips increasing. Hermione moved her hands upwards from his chest to his shoulders, allowing their upper bodies to touch.

"Draco?"

A voice broke into Hermione's thoughts and they jumped apart, realising someone was entering the room.

Hermione turned her back toward their unexpected visitor, trying to straighten her hair before turning back around.

Liam entered the kitchen, looking around. "Draco, I need that contract signed," he paused, sensing something in the atmosphere. "Hermione, didn't realise you were here."

Hermione pinned at smile on her face, not daring to look over at Draco. "I'm always here, remember?" she said and Liam gave her a grin. "I'm going to excuse myself though as I need to get back to my painting."

"No problem, I need to nag Draco about signing some forms anyway."

After Hermione had left the kitchen she stopped halfway down the corridor, leaning her back against the wall while she caught her breath. That kiss! She'd never experienced anything like it. It made her feel hot just thinking about it. More shocking than that however, was the fact that Draco had kissed her at all – and that she had let him!