Bleed II

Out of reach,

so far,

I never had your heart,

how to reach,

couldn't see,

we were never meant to be...

*

Hermione opened her mouth in a slight gape but closed it quickly, and politely, she shook his hand, smiling. "Hello, I am your grandmother's friend, Hermione." She hoped she sounded offhand, and tried to avoid the chuckle Draco was directing at her.

"My gram's too old too have a friend," Cole replied, frowning.

Hermione managed a false laugh.

"Cole, why don't you go back to your grandmother and ask what other things we'll have for the wedding," Draco hinted, giving him a look. Cole obeyed, scurrying off quickly. Hermione let out a breath she hadn't know she was holding.

"You have - a son?" rage overtook her suddenly. A burning sensation sent pricking into her chest.

"No, we just pretend," Draco said, rolling his eyes, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"How could you!" The words escaped Hermione's lips before she could dare to restrain them. What she really meant was 'How could you find someone else, how?' but knew this question would be impossible to answer. How could she expect a handsome, single guy like Draco to wait for a girl that had given him up and refused to be with him in faith of another man? Another man that was...Hermione gulped.

"Problem, Granger?" Draco said, glaring at her stonily.

"Oh, now it's Granger, right?" she retorted hotly. "Didn't call me that when ...when...we were involved?"

"I wasn't aware we were involved," he replied coldly. "You went chasing after Potter and left me."

"Did it matter? You were probably sleeping with several other girls when we were screwing!" She didn't know what was happening. She was shaking with an utmost fury she had never felt anymore. A mental image of Cole dying made her take a sharp breath; she had to calm down.

"That's a lie, and you know it!" he yelled. "I didn't care to even glance at another girl!"

"Yeah, sure."

"I didn't, it doesn't matter whether you believe me or not, how could I concentrate on other girls when you got pregnant? Didn't you know it was the only thing on my mind? Besides the obvious of course," he drawled. She looked away from him, a blush creeping up to her cheeks.

"Are you -" Hermione breathed heavily. "Are you - married?"

"What's it to you?"

"I..."

"No."

"Oh." A purified silence followed this short conversation. She felt a burning in her chest for just having him observe her. They had known each other for more than seven years...they had slept together, they even had a child together, and yet she still felt embarrassed around him. It was the thought - the regret that she had of sleeping with him. The memories still flashed clear and new even now.

"May I ask -" Hermione started to say. "Who's the mother-"

Before he could answer her, there was a cluttering of footsteps. They both turned their heads, and saw Narcissa standing at the frame of the stairs, smiling at them. Perhaps she hadn't noticed they had noticed her, but nevertheless, she kept on staring, as if memorized from the sight of the two together.

"Narcissa," Hermione interrupted. Narcissa looked up at them, startled, then cleared her throat.

"Err- right. Hermione, well, I wanted to give you the basic instructions before we practice going down the aisle. The flower girl goes first, then the three bridesmaids, then you and Draco..."

"Excuse me?" Hermione prompted, convinced she had heard wrong. "Doesn't the best man..."

"Oh yes," Narcissa said, waving her hand dismissively. "Well, actually, I'd like if you two went down to the aisle together - the traditional way, of course, arm in arm..."

"Narcissa-" she began to protest, but Narcissa sent a solid look, that clearly said, 'I saved your life, and you're paying me back'.

"Okay, then. We'll practice, now, then shall we?" Narcissa vanished upstairs.

"I can't believe this!" Hermione said, flopping down to a chair nearby.

"I am not that bad, Granger," Draco said, taking a seat next to her.

"It doesn't matter! She's playing matchmaker, Draco. She should be ashamed of herself, then! God, six months just after my husband dies..." she stopped. Her face fell, knowing she had mentioned Harry. An awkward silence followed, and she looked down at her knees, unable to force the lump rising up her throat down.

"Hey," said Draco quietly, taking hold of her hand and caressing it with one finger. Hermione paused, and then looked up at him, the edges of her eyes threatening to fill with tears.

Sighing, Draco pulled her closer to him, so that her head rested on his shoulder. The feeling was electrifying. The attraction was still there - the attraction that made Hermione feel as if she was drowning into a heated bath. His hand touched the bare flesh of her arm, and she shivered slightly, wanting to pull away, but was frozen in place. She heard Draco take a shuddering breath and slowly, he lowered his lips toward us. She instinctively closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss -she needed it - the comfort...

His lips barely brushed against hers as his chest touched hers temptingly.

"Dad!" Footsteps interrupted the moment. Hermione felt the urge to tear herself apart.

Cole appeared, looking at his father narrowly. "They're starting to practice! Come on!" Before Draco could object, his son tugged his arm and led him upstairs.

Hermione licked her lips, feeling the taste, the feel of Draco still withering there. Wavering, still.

He's not Harry. He's not going to love you. He'll never love you, Hermione. Who would?

The tears began filling her eyes. Taking the back of her hand and colliding it with her eyelids, she slowly collected herself and began to walk up the stairs after Draco.

*

Swept away...

by you...

and now I feel like a fool.

So confused,

my heart's bruised...

was I ever loved by you?