A/N: : THE FINAL CHAPTER! Thanks so much for the support of the story, it's been truly amazing! If you guys liked this story and want more like it, please let me know. I will be updating my old stories, and if there is enough interest, I will be writing a sequel to this.
For some harmless self promotion: Other Dramione stories- New Beginnings, The Heads, 100 Dramione Drabbles, Terrible Things, A Potions Problem, When the Truth Spills Out and Speechless. Thanks again!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I am not making any money off of this. The quote is from Kahlil Gibran.
Upon seeing an angry Granger chatting with an even angrier Weasley, I decided to go over and see what the fuss was about. "Is there a problem?" I demanded, glaring vehemently at the redhead.
"No!" He snapped, turning to glare at me. I was a few inches taller than him, allowing me to gaze down at him. It honestly made me feel a bit superior.
"Good," I said, as calmly as I could possibly muster with that idiot. "Wanna dance?" I asked as I turned towards my beautiful date.
"But you just got us drinks!" She said. "Just imagine how hard the house elv-"
"Here Weasley. Make yourself useful and hold these," I shoved the two glass into Weasley's hands and glided back onto the dance floor with Granger wrapped up in my arms. We started dancing to the Weird Sisters and only left the floor at least an hour later. The music had just completely overtaken us. We finally left the dance floor and grabbed the two drinks that I saw Weasley put on a nearby table. I muttered a few spells to make sure he hadn't done anything to them and handed one to my thirsty and panting partner. We slowly walked out into the enchanted gardens and sat hidden in some bushes.
"What a night!" She sighed, her face flushed from the hot dance floor. I nodded, letting out a sigh into the nice and cool garden.
"Yeah. It's just hard to think that it's all going to be over tomorrow, you know?" I asked her. She nodded in agreement and placed a hand over mine.
"But it doesn't mean that the memory's won't last forever," She said, smiling up at me.
"You're ri-" I got cut off by someone snapping through branches and tumbling down upon us. It was Fleur Delacour and some boy snogging. When they fell upon us, they looked slightly startled but the got quickly got up. Without apologizing or anything they just ran away to another bench where the continued their... activities. Lucky for us, our drinks had already been finished. Otherwise, it surely would have ruined both of our outfits.
Granger and I glanced at each other a little awkwardly after seeing such a display of affection. We'd never kissed like that just yet, and never in front of others. I cleared my throat and was about to say something when the bells started chiming. We both jumped, startled, and then started laughing. We were way too tense. It was nice to get that laugh out. I silently counted the chimes and found out it was eleven o'clock. Had three hours really already gone by!?
"Want to dance?" Granger asked me. I gazed over at her and marveled how nicely the lights glittered around and illuminated her.
"Anything you want Hermione, anything," I said. She blushed and stood up. We slowly made our way back to the Great Hall. There were far fewer couples there now and I was glad. We dropped our glasses off at a nearby table and walked onto the dance floor. There was a slow song playing. So I wrapped my arms around her waist and she wrapped hers around my neck. We started slowly swaying to the music. I hummed along with the song and Hermione smiled shyly at me.
"What?" I asked as I raised an eyebrow.
"You're cute when you hum like that," She whispered in my ear. This was it.
I bent my head down and leaned slightly forward. Hermione's eyes grew big as she realized what I was doing. Luckily, she didn't back away but leaned forward herself. Our lips met in the middle and I heard people gasp around us. They all knew we were together, but, we had never kissed in public before. I closed my eyes and slowly deepened the kiss. It was a sweet kiss, nothing near a snog, but that didn't matter. It was perfect, she was perfect. She just lit a fire within me. And this fire within was not about to be ruined by anyone.
I felt firm hands press on my chest and opened my eyes. Hermione was pushing me away. I stopped kissing her and stood up straight. "I'm sorry Malfoy, but I can't do this," She whispered. Before I could say anything, she left me standing in the middle of the dance floor. I saw Weasley running after her and screaming about fraternizing with the enemy, bloody git. I went after her but I felt a hand grab my forearm.
"What do you want Potter," I sneered at him.
"Just let her go. It never would have worked between you two anyways," He said firmly. I felt my stomach sink and watched as she turned the corner and was gone. My heart felt shattered. But I refused to give up just yet. I had tried too hard, and sacrificed a lot for this to fail now.
I yanked my arm back and ran after her as quickly as I could. I searched and searched but to no avail. She must have gone back to her dormitory, I mused. I leaned against the cold stone wall of the corridor and slid down to the floor. What had suddenly changed in her? Everything was going so perfectly... Maybe Potter was right. Someone great once said, "'If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were." So, if she's mine, she'll come back. But if she isn't…
The next day:
I sat alone on one of the benches lining the corridor, gazing out at the Black Lake below. It was a calm day, and hardly a rippled graced the water's surface. So much had happened last night, I could barely wrap my head around it. Hence why I was alone, in a deserted hallway, left solely with my thoughts. The sound of quick footsteps withdrew me from my reverie, and I turned my head to see Potter walking briskly towards me. His face looked slightly agitated, and his eyes were cold.
"What do you want Potter?" I sneered, as he stopped in front of me.
"I need to talk to you Malfoy," he replied, his jaw locked tightly. I usually had to provoke this type of anger from him, so frankly I was very confused. Things had been tolerable between us as of late.
"About what?" I asked him, confused.
"What happened at the Yule Ball last night." I felt my blood grow cold and my heart dropped to the very farthest pit in my stomach. Oh Merlin, last night...
"What about it?" I asked him. I motioned him into an empty classroom and we both sat down after I closed the door. I cast a silencing charm on the room and gestured for him to explain.
"It's about Hermione," He started. I cringed. She hadn't sought me out last night. I already missed her. She was the one person I had ever let my guard down for. Serves me right, she deserves better than me anyways.
"She refuses to talk to anyone and skipped classes today," Potter continued. I perked up a bit at that. "I think you need to talk to her Malfoy. I know she left you last night, but I think it's because of her feelings for you. I think she was afraid to mess up this "thing" she has with you," I looked at him, confused.
"What should I do?" I asked him.
"I can sneak you in to the dormitory if you want?" He asked me. "But this isn't because I believe you're a decent guy or anything Malfoy. It's because I love Hermione like a sister, and I want her to be happy. Even with a stuck up, stubborn prick like you."
"Wow, thanks Potter," I said as sarcastically as I could muster. What an arse. "I've got another idea, but thank you. I do appreciate the offer."
Eleven o'clock that night:
I gently tapped on the window beside Granger's bed. I heard a faint rustling and she pulled the window open a crack.
"Granger I-" I started saying.
"Draco!" She gasped. She opened the window fully and hauled me in. I placed my broom down on her bed and she practically threw herself at me. "I'm s-so sor-ry," She wailed. "I didn't want to ruin everything because of my inexperience. You were so perfect- are so perfect. I thought if I left that it would be better. We could go back to being friends and I wouldn't have to worry about losing you. But that was stupid. I need you Draco, more than words can express. I ne-" I cut her off by pressing my lips against hers.
"I need you too Hermione. I burn for you, like you could never understand. You're all I think about, every second of every day. You could never wreak what we have. As long as we keep working hard, and don't let idiots like Potter and Weasley get in the way, I promise you this is going to work," I stroked her hair and smiled down at her. Her face was a red and puffy mess. I felt my heart sink. I wish she could see exactly what I see in her. And in that moment, I vowed to make it my goal to make her know just how much she meant to me, and how badly I wanted our relationship to work.
"Sorry to ruin your precious moment and all, but some of us are trying to sleep," Parvati Patil said sleepily. I jumped, forgetting that there were others here.
"Yeah guys. I know you're "in love" and rubbish like that, and I honestly don't need beauty sleep, but I think Hermione does. So get going Malfoy, before I tell McGonagall you snuck in here" Lavender said saucily.
"Oh shut it Brown!" Hermione exclaimed. Lavender huffed but crawled back into bed.
"Now where were we?" I asked her.
"I think it was something like this," She said standing up on her tiptoes. She pecked me on the check and then made a shooing motion. "Now go, before we get in trouble!"
"Goodnight Hermione," I said as I flew out the window.
"Goodnight Draco," She whispered. And with that, I raced away into the inky night sky.
I guess this year wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...
AN: I hope you liked the story! Please tell me what you think. I will be editing my other stories, and would love some PMs with story ideas, or feedback. Thank you to everyone who commented, favourited, and followed myself and this story. It means the world to me! Until next time :)