A/N: I am sorry for late update. It is here now. Enjoy! and Review!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter.
…
Hermione felt completely at ease and relaxed for the first time after the war. She was used to being always ready with wand to counter attack death eaters and looking for danger even then. The war had gone but left after effects, maybe.
Draco and Hermione sat quietly next to each other. They had not said a word after their deal regarding making wish. The silence was not awkward at all. They might have finally come to a position where they could sit next to each other without hexes, fights or awkwardness.
Hermione thought of asking Draco about his wish. However, she knew he would not answer that. After all, he was a very private person. He was careful with his talking, his emotions and almost everything. She could never read his mind through his façade. He was a labyrinth to her, a labyrinth indeed. This undoubtedly disturbed her to no end.
Draco suddenly moved and stood up. Her thoughts were interrupted. "I am going back to downstairs." Draco looked at her.
She understood that he was waiting for her reply if she would stay or go. This was the way of Draco Malfoy. He was too distant to verbalize things, like this time and many others. His face was showing no emotion but observing him closely these days, Hermione understood him.
She was even surprised with her new understanding skill. She was starting to figure out Malfoy may be. Hermione stood up. "I would also like to go back"
They slowly walked towards the stairs.
…
Someone tapped on Ginny's shoulder from behind. She turned around to see Blaisé standing there.
"What, Zabini?"
"How many parties have you attended till now, Weasley?"
Ginny was confused at his ridiculous question. "Many but….. why are you asking me this all of a sudden?"
"Many? Then you must know that there is always arrangement for dance."
"Yes… what does it have to do with me?" She looked at him as if he had lost his mind.
"Well, it's a tradition to dance in parties. We got no other option." Blaise smirked at her. Ginny tried to hold back her smile but hardly succeeded. "Are you asking me to dance with you?"
"Yes I am."
"What makes you think I will say yes?" Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"Like I said a moment ago, we got no other option," Blaise smirked and offered his arm. "Shall we, my lady?"
Days had passed and a lot of things had changed between them. Ginny knew they were warming up to each other, so did Blaise. However, they were still beating around the bush.
Ginny smiled. "Yes, we shall."
….
Meanwhile Harry met Pansy at the bar. After a couple of minutes, they saw Blaise and Ginny dancing.
Then the incident happened, the kiss of course.
Pansy's lips touched his lips softly. Harry hesitated for a second or two then kissed her back. It was a soft and sweet kiss. It was not passionate but it was melting him. Their hearts were beating faster than ever. His hand was cupping her face and her hands were in his hair.
Harry was the one who broke the kiss but did not pull away from her. They stared at each other. Harry could not figure out what she was thinking. Her eyes were intense but soft. Her face was neutral but her heart was saying otherwise.
They at last pulled away. She stood up from her seat. "I have to go somewhere," She turned her back to him and walked away.
Harry just stared at her back.
He was having some feelings that were new to him. He was confused about her actions, he was shocked at his reaction to the kiss and most importantly, he was disappointed that she had left him like that. He was not supposed to feel disappointed. He never expected anything from Pansy but he could not shake his disappointment away.
…..
It was way past midnight.
Hermione and Ron were looking for Harry and Ginny. At the same time, Daphne was looking for Blaise and Pansy. However, they did not find any of them. Therefore, they walked out of the hall to go back to their quarter.
Draco was chatting with Theodore Nott and Marcus Flint. He told Daphne to go on without him.
Hermione felt like to say something to Draco before leaving. However, she did not. He could have told her that he would be late. After all, she would be the one that would get disturbed when he would enter their room later. She did not expect Draco to get close to her but he could at least try to progress.
Hermione realized that they were civil to each other but they hadn't progressed at all. They talked to each other only when they needed something (except their conversation on terrace).
Oh dear Merlin! It is so unpredictable with him! One time I feel like I am getting to know him but the other time I just bump into a dead end. Why do I even care about that?
Hermione sighed.
Ron and Daphne were walking beside her. She noticed that they had gotten quite closer. They were comfortable talking to each other and there was no tension, no restrain, no hesitation, and no ego between them unlike her situation.
They reached their quarter. Hermione went straight to her room.
….
Harry paced back and forth. He had been doing this for an hour in his room. He was angry, yes angry! He was angry that he felt abandoned and that he let himself get lose to Pansy.
He kissed her back For Merlin's sake, he kissed her!
His head might explode at any moment.
The door suddenly opened and he saw Pansy walking in the room. She looked at him and he looked at her. She was looking sober then. Pansy looked away and headed to the bathroom.
"Parkinson"
"What?" Pansy stood still.
"We need to talk"
He noticed her take a deep breath. He knew she was dreading 'the talk'. So was he but he had to get things clear, he just had to.
"Later, Potter. I am tired, "Pansy looked away and walked to the bathroom. He caught her hand when she walked past him. Pansy turned around and snapped.
"Potter, what the hell!"
"You tell me Parkinson. What the hell are you really doing?" Harry snapped back.
"What do you mean?"
"You exactly know what I mean" Harry looked at her.
"Look, I am going to ask you to let go off my hand," Pansy sternly said. Harry complied and let go off her hand.
"Fine. Will you talk to me right now?" Harry looked damn serious.
Pansy took a deep breath. "Do I have any choice?"
"No" Harry shook his head. "Why did you kiss me?"
His question was straightforward indeed.
"I… Huh! I was drunk. I… didn't know what I was doing." She replied softly.
"Really!" There was disbelief in his voice. "You seemed quite fine to me. Maybe be drunk, yeah but you had sense of what was happening. Don't you dare lie to me, Parkinson."
"I don't care what you think, Potter. I am not obliged to answer to you."
"No, you are not but you are not supposed to do this either. I noticed what happened there"
"What?" She looked a bit nervous.
"You saw Zabini and Ginny dancing and then something changed. The incident happened after that." Harry shouted, "YOU DID IT BECAUSE OF ZABINI"
"Potter…"
"ADMIT IT. YOU DID IT BECAUSE OF HIM!"
Pansy finally lost her cool.
"YES! I KISSED YOU BECAUSE OF BLAISE" Pansy snapped.
Harry stared at her.
"HIS BREATH MAKES ME MISERABLE; HIS SMILE MAKES ME ANGRIER! HE DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE HAPPY BUT HE IS THE ONE WHO'S HAPPY!" Pansy shouted.
She looked at Harry. Tears were pouring out of her eyes. At that time, Harry was totally dreading his deed. Watching her cry was hurting him, he didn't know why though.
Harry took Pansy's hands in his and led to her to the bed. They sat on the bed. "I am sorry. You don't have to say anything." Harry apologized.
"No, I am sorry. I should have never done that to you. "She paused. "Did you know that Blaise and I dated?"
"Yeah. I heard something like that."
"We were betrothed to each other actually. But that's not why we dated, we genuinely liked each other."
Harry looked at her.
"I loved him, I loved him a lot. But he broke up with me during the war and told me that our betrothal was over." She paused. "At that time, the pureblood witches with no betrothal were targets of the Death eaters. My family and I had to go through a lot because of him."
"How could Zabini do that!" Harry was getting angry with Blaise.
"According to him, I am not the one for him. He later offered to take me back. But I refused. It was better getting tortured by Death eaters than owing to the betrayer."
"What did they do to you?" Harry nearly whispered. He was almost scared of what he might hear.
Pansy shook her head. "I don't feel like to talk about it." She took a deep breath. "Anyway thanks to my family's wealth and Draco, I got rid of the trouble soon enough."
Harry cupped her face with his hand. She looked into his eyes. "This is the reason I can't stand Blaise. This is the reason I get jealous of him. I know you think I am pathetic, right?"
"No" Harry shook his head. "I think you are a very brave Slytherin. I respect you even more now."
Pansy's eyes widened, "So, you forgive me for what I did?"
"Absolutely"
"Thanks" She smiled. "But please promise me you won't tell this to anyone."
"I promise, not without your permission, madam"
Harry smiled at her. He moved closer to her and kissed her on the cheek.
Pansy smiled back. "Thank you, Potter"
…
The next morning Hermione was up early unlike the other members of her quarter. By the time she came back from the bathroom, Draco was up and sitting on the bed.
"Good morning" Hermione greeted.
"Morning, Granger"
"An owl came for you last night" Hermione handed him an envelope sealed with Malfoy crest. Draco looked at it for a while and then broke the seal.
Hermione watched him as he read the letter. She could guess that it was from his mother, Narcissa Malfoy. Draco finished reading the letter and looked at her again.
"I think we need to work on the Arithmancy assignment." Hermione said. Just like the other subjects, they were partner in Arithmancy too. Professor Vector had given them quite a lot of assignments.
Draco nodded. "Fine. We can sit in the library I guess"
"Alright. When are you free?"
"How about Tuesday and Thursday evening?"
"Sounds good"
Draco then went to the washroom.
Hermione looked out of the window.
It seems like he is hurting inside. I don't know but something about him draws me towards him. Merlin! I never thought this would happen to me.
Hermione sighed.
You had better not screw yourself up, Hermione Granger. You can handle this. He is just Draco Malfoy!
A/N: Please review and tell me what you think.
