Disclaimer: Same as always.
Author's Note: I'm going on vacation tomorrow so I won't be able to post until 12/30 at the earliest. Just wanted to let you know! Thanks to Jacque, PheonixRae, mj_skywalker, Erica G., Panda, and Adri (I love your name). Now, the next part was my orignal plan for how things would go. No happy ending immediately, remember? If it really drives everyone nuts, I'll change it. Hope you like it anyways. Sorry for the length!
"Downfall"
Wonder how you sleep
I wonder what you think of me
If I could go back
Would you have ever been with me
I want you to be unused
I want you to remember
I want you to believe in me
I want you on my side
[Chorus]
Come on and lay it down
I've always been with you
Here and now
Give all that's within you
Be my savior
And I'll be your downfall
mmm, mmm, mmm
-Matchbox Twenty
Hermione woke up when it was still dark out. Carefully, she lifted Draco's arm off her, and got up. Her feet were cold on the hardwood floor. Grabbing her robe off a chair, she slipped it on and walked into her bathroom. She flipped on the lights and drew a bath for herself, pouring in some bubbles that smelled of jasmine.
'After a night like last night, I need some quiet time.'
She had been sitting in the time for some time, but the bubbles remained thick. There was a window by the tub, frosted glass so no one could see in. Hermione could look out it while sitting in the tub. Just as she was watching it get lighter and lighter, the lights turned off. Luckily, by then there was just enough light in the room to see Draco standing in the door dressed. He came in and sat at the edge of the tub.
"Lucky I put in bubbles," Hermione said, trying to make it sound light. Something was wrong. Draco looked sullen and serious, but smiled slightly when she said this. His eyes were dark.
Draco reached over and ran his fingers through her hair. The bottom of her hair was wet, and his hand stopped at the back of his neck.
"Morning," he said, "Ella's still asleep on the couch."
There was a large pause in conversation. Al that could be heard was Hermione moving around in the water, and muffled bird cries outside.
"You're leaving, aren't you." Hermione said lowly, accusingly.
"I told you we'd have to leave." Draco was annoyed Hermione sounded so...accusing.
"So that's it then? A shag and you're off?" Hermione said after a pause.
"There's things that need to be taken care of, Hermione." Draco enunciated each word carefully, slowly. Hermione turned her out to look out the window so he wouldn't see her face.
"Look at me, Hermione." Draco tried to get her to listen so he could explain. Thoughts were racing through his mind. He could sell his house. Ella never liked her tutor anyway. This apartment was big enough for three. He could get a job, anywhere with his credentials. He could leave Lupa's grave for good. And all the people that wouldn't look him in the eye. Hell, he was willing to leave everything for Hermione, couldn't she see that?
She didn't turn to him. Draco lost control of his tongue.
"Well look, you're not really giving me a reason to stay, are you?" He almost spat the words out.
"You're right, Draco. Maybe I just need some time." Draco completely missed the sarcasm in her voice.
"Time?"
"Hmm...yes, time. In...let's say six months...If we're really meant to be together we'll still be single and going no where with our lives, right?"
"Sixth months?"
"In six months, you'll come back here, to San Francisco. We'll meet on the Golden Gate Bridge. Six months from now? Yes, that's February. Valentine's Day, then? Good for you? If one of us isn't interested anymore, we won't go. Simple as that."
Draco was silent.
Ella walked through the door a while later. Draco was still on the edge of the tub, his face emotionless, his lips set in a straight line. Hermione was looking out the window, but when Ella came in, she looked over quickly. Ella smiled at her. Draco went and picked her up, and without looking back, walked out the bathroom.
"'Bye" Hermione heard in a whisper.
She heard the door shut a few minutes later.
Hermione sat in the tub until the water was icy cold, and the window above it was dark once more.
Author's Note: I'm going on vacation tomorrow so I won't be able to post until 12/30 at the earliest. Just wanted to let you know! Thanks to Jacque, PheonixRae, mj_skywalker, Erica G., Panda, and Adri (I love your name). Now, the next part was my orignal plan for how things would go. No happy ending immediately, remember? If it really drives everyone nuts, I'll change it. Hope you like it anyways. Sorry for the length!
"Downfall"
Wonder how you sleep
I wonder what you think of me
If I could go back
Would you have ever been with me
I want you to be unused
I want you to remember
I want you to believe in me
I want you on my side
[Chorus]
Come on and lay it down
I've always been with you
Here and now
Give all that's within you
Be my savior
And I'll be your downfall
mmm, mmm, mmm
-Matchbox Twenty
Hermione woke up when it was still dark out. Carefully, she lifted Draco's arm off her, and got up. Her feet were cold on the hardwood floor. Grabbing her robe off a chair, she slipped it on and walked into her bathroom. She flipped on the lights and drew a bath for herself, pouring in some bubbles that smelled of jasmine.
'After a night like last night, I need some quiet time.'
She had been sitting in the time for some time, but the bubbles remained thick. There was a window by the tub, frosted glass so no one could see in. Hermione could look out it while sitting in the tub. Just as she was watching it get lighter and lighter, the lights turned off. Luckily, by then there was just enough light in the room to see Draco standing in the door dressed. He came in and sat at the edge of the tub.
"Lucky I put in bubbles," Hermione said, trying to make it sound light. Something was wrong. Draco looked sullen and serious, but smiled slightly when she said this. His eyes were dark.
Draco reached over and ran his fingers through her hair. The bottom of her hair was wet, and his hand stopped at the back of his neck.
"Morning," he said, "Ella's still asleep on the couch."
There was a large pause in conversation. Al that could be heard was Hermione moving around in the water, and muffled bird cries outside.
"You're leaving, aren't you." Hermione said lowly, accusingly.
"I told you we'd have to leave." Draco was annoyed Hermione sounded so...accusing.
"So that's it then? A shag and you're off?" Hermione said after a pause.
"There's things that need to be taken care of, Hermione." Draco enunciated each word carefully, slowly. Hermione turned her out to look out the window so he wouldn't see her face.
"Look at me, Hermione." Draco tried to get her to listen so he could explain. Thoughts were racing through his mind. He could sell his house. Ella never liked her tutor anyway. This apartment was big enough for three. He could get a job, anywhere with his credentials. He could leave Lupa's grave for good. And all the people that wouldn't look him in the eye. Hell, he was willing to leave everything for Hermione, couldn't she see that?
She didn't turn to him. Draco lost control of his tongue.
"Well look, you're not really giving me a reason to stay, are you?" He almost spat the words out.
"You're right, Draco. Maybe I just need some time." Draco completely missed the sarcasm in her voice.
"Time?"
"Hmm...yes, time. In...let's say six months...If we're really meant to be together we'll still be single and going no where with our lives, right?"
"Sixth months?"
"In six months, you'll come back here, to San Francisco. We'll meet on the Golden Gate Bridge. Six months from now? Yes, that's February. Valentine's Day, then? Good for you? If one of us isn't interested anymore, we won't go. Simple as that."
Draco was silent.
Ella walked through the door a while later. Draco was still on the edge of the tub, his face emotionless, his lips set in a straight line. Hermione was looking out the window, but when Ella came in, she looked over quickly. Ella smiled at her. Draco went and picked her up, and without looking back, walked out the bathroom.
"'Bye" Hermione heard in a whisper.
She heard the door shut a few minutes later.
Hermione sat in the tub until the water was icy cold, and the window above it was dark once more.