Chapter 3
Anticipation
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I am extremely tense, a rack of nerves more rather. I fidget slightly, twirling the pencil between my fingers. It's as though he'll walk in at any moment. Every few moments, my eyes dart to the entrance, expecting his tall figure to stride in, but the scene never happens. I feel slightly agitated as though I'm expecting something that I know will never happen.
"Hermione?"
"Yes?" I answer automatically.
"Are you okay?" Harry asks me.
I glare at him with a dash of anger in my eyes. I look away from him and back to the door again. This time, I seem to be mesmerized. The anxiety rises, and my breathing deepens in response. Everything seems to be a blur of incoherent pictures. In a trance, I wait.
"Hermione!"
"What?" I ask absentmindedly.
"Something's wrong," he says slowly, looking at me with kind green eyes.
"Nothing is. I have to go," I say, exasperated. Though I feel slightly guilty, I grab my things and throw the cloak around me. I walk out of the bar hastily. I bump into someone, but I don't care enough to find out who.
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I turn around suddenly, Hermione. I stare after her, having a sudden urge to bite my lower lip, but I refrain from doing so. I stand there, wondering whether to go in or not. Someone brushes past me. He ignores me and runs off after her. I frown slightly, what is Potter doing here?
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I hear him calling my name, repeatedly. I cringe, but continue to walk away. I hear his footsteps on the cobbled road, closer and closer. My breathing quickens and my heart follows accordingly.
I feel his hand grabbing my arm. Unexpected and unexplained tears line the rims of my eyes. I spin around, forcing myself to face him.
"Hermione!" he says, catching his breath. He holds my arm tightly. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I say softly, ashamed of the truth.
"Is it me?" he asks softly. There is a tone of concern in his voice.
I shake my head.
He doesn't say anything. Standing there, he is defeated.
I walk away. The chilling wind tosses my hair. An odd and disturbing sense of satisfaction lingers. What is wrong with you? Nothing, I think back. Something is wrong and you know it. I know. It's Malfoy, isn't it? I don't answer back, knowing the answer already, but not wanting to admit it.
The truth still stands. I cannot deny the feelings I have for him, can I? You can't run from the truth. The anxiety of the day blurs my vision with tears. Thoughts I have been trying to put off come back to haunt me. My emotions stir uncontrollably.
A sense of loneliness runs through me. Why did I deny his company when I need it the most? I sigh bitterly. You're alone now. You could've told him, but you didn't did you? I couldn't tell him, I reply desperately. This is Malfoy, he wouldn't understand.
I stop walking, hardly able to contain myself. I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around. Not caring who or the consequences, I begin to sob into his shoulder. The only other thing I remember before my reality fades was his warm arms around me.
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