Chapter 19
Could it be true? Could it be that Draco had feelings for her?
What if he did? How did she feel about him?
"Mama, mama!"
Her train of thoughts was interrupted by Penny's call for her. Penny was sleeping over at her house today.
Making her way to Penny's bedroom, she looked at Penny, with her stuffed dragon all around her bed.
"Hi, love. Did you call me?" Hermione asked with an adoring smile.
"Mummy, book?" She pointed to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and gave her her biggest, most charming smile.
With a chuckle, Hermione went over to Penny's bed and gave her a hug.
"Alright. Let's see...where did we leave off?"
With a glass of wine in her hands, Hermione sat on her couch, thinking about her earlier interaction with Draco.
It really was an unconventional arrangement, the relationship the three of them had. They were the best of friends, with no romantic history in a co-parenting situation.
Draco would make a wonderful husband, she thought with a pang. She had never given proper thought to Draco getting married, but now that Draco had brought up the possibility of both of them moving on and finding a significant other, she could hardly think about anything else.
Yes, she was attracted to Draco, and yes, she cherished him for the man he has become, but she had never seriously considered entering into a romantic relationship with Draco. Perhaps it was because she was busy with her career and her newfound role as mother to Penny, all while juggling social life with her friends and family.
Frankly, she hadn't thought that Draco would be interested in her as a partner. Yes, they were well matched, but she had figured that Draco would think of her as his best friend, confidant, and family. For some reason, she had thought that Draco would be interested more in traditional beauties with model-like figures. Up until today, he hadn't indicated that he wanted anything more from their relationship. Or, was she that oblivious?
Was she that oblivious? Hermione couldn't possibly not surmise how he felt about her from his outburst today.
But unfortunately, he knew that if anyone could be oblivious in his admiration and attraction to her, it would be Hermione Granger.
For almost two years now, he had been in love with Hermione Granger. He admitted his lack of courage (he was a Slytherin after all) had prevented him from putting himself out there for fear of rejection. He knew that if Hermione didn't feel the same way about him and rejected his advance, he would be devastated. But worse, would be the scenario where their friendship would be strained and thus, drive her away from both Penny and him. He knew that although it pained him being in love with someone that didn't return his feelings, that was better than losing that person completely.
But now, he knew that time was nearing for him to make a decision. It was time to vocalize his feelings and take a chance.