Okay now things will get interesting – Well at least more so than it has been.
*Disclaimer ~ I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter although I would like to have plenty to do with Tom (oh go watch the movie)*
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Falling Head Over Heels
The Story of Hermione Granger and
Her relationship with Draco Malfoy
By: BefuzzledChapter Twelve ~ Awkward Lesson
"You face
I'm still not over
Your face
Headlights break through the rain
Over London's winter light
I came all the way here tonight
To look in your eyes
I came all the way here tonight
Just to see you"
~Mandy Moore
Hermione got up closing her book and placed it on the couch where she had just gotten up from. Her friends immersed in yet another game of Wizards' Chess off handedly asked, "Where are you going Hermione?"
"Oh, I just wanted to cross reference something I read today, so I'll be up in the library."
"The library? But you've spent nearly half the day up there and the other half you spent in here reading. I'd honestly rather hear you say you were going to run, for fun." The exasperated Ron said this while commanding his Queen to take Harry's Bishop.
"Alright then; I'm going on a fun run. Satisfied?"
"Yes."
"See you later."
Hermione left the common room and instead of making her way to the library she turned left toward the Entrance Hall. She cut across the abandoned yards of Hogwarts to the Quidditch pitch dressed only in her school robes. She hugged them tight around her keeping in the warmth.
"Oh there you are. I thought you weren't going to show, it's already ten past."
"I'm sorry I'm late but it's hard trying to shake Harry and Ron, even when they're involved in a game."
"Well it's no problem. Do you want to try riding by yourself again?"
"Um, not really. It's was a really long weekend and I'm tired. And you know I had problems last time so could you imagine how I would be this time?"
"Well you were tired last time to, you had just comeback from a run." He walked to the broom storage shed and Hermione obediently followed.
"Well that only further proves my point. Please I don't want to fall."
"Okay then, I'll help you practice loops or spirals. Would you like that?"
"Er..not really, but do I have a choice?"
"Not if you don't ride by yourself."
"Okay then. I guess I'll be doing some weird things tonight."
They mounted the broom; Hermione in front tightly grasping the broom's handle and Draco behind her holding her tight and giving her a safe protected feeling. His warmth made her shiver in the cool night air.
"You really should think about wearing a cloak. It is November."
"I know and I thought about grabbing one but how could I explain taking a cloak up to the library."
"Here take mine. I
have layers on." He handed her the
cloak.
"I really couldn't, you'll get cold and your more exposed to the air than I am."
"Hermione Granger. Can't you ever shut up and just accept something for what it is? I said I have layers on, I'll be fine, honestly women you're impossible sometimes."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I just thought, well I er, sorry I'll shut up now."
Draco laughed. A real laugh. It rang true through the cool night sky. The first true laugh Hermione had ever heard from him. "Wow I never thought I would hear you say that."
Hermione scowled at him. "Are we going to fly or not?"
"We are, let's go."
Their feet left the ground and after doing a few laps Draco show her how to do a loop. After a half hour or so of practicing loops he switch to training her on spirals. Hermione was afraid and most of the time Draco had to do the tricks himself, but he was enjoying the night and the feeling of control.
"So you still think I bought my way on to the house team?"
"Yes." Hermione's answer was blunt.
"Yes? How can you say that-after everything I've showed you I can do? After all the games against Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw where I got the snitch? How can you still say I bought my position?" He was angry, and disappointed that somebody would deject his abilities so quickly.
" I said yes because without your father buying the team brooms they never would have noticed you. You do have talent though."
"Oh." That sad thing was she was right. The previous Slytherin Captain, Flint, was looking at some ruddy 3rd year before Lucious had stepped in to assure he's spot. "Thanks, I think."
"No problem."
The peaceful silence soon followed as the lesson continued.
Hermione wasn't really thinking about the difficulty of the maneuvers she let Draco conduct the movement of the broom. She knew full well that Draco would keep her safe; she just felt it. Instead her mind wondered to why she was there, why she was enjoying herself and why was she getting along with Draco Malfoy?
"Hermione?" the voice was distant, "Hermione?" I kept calling and she finally was pulled back from her thoughts.
"Um, yes?"
"What were you thinking about?"
"You." ~Oops I didn't want to tell him that. Stupid, stupid stupid. What's he going to think? Oh no I could I let something like that slip. ~
"Me? Hmm, was it my irresistible charm? Or my stunning good looks? Or maybe my flowing personality?"
"You're so conceited, sometimes Malfoy. It was none of that, really. Well maybe your personality in a way. How it is so different when you aren't surrounded by your Slytherin groupies. You considerate and show concern, wait that's the same thing said two different ways but you get the idea. It is kind of disarming. I don't know how to act anymore."
"Oh." There was a slight pause and Draco instructed her to take the broom back to the ground. "You know I could say the same thing about you."
"Huh?" They were putting the broom away.
"About being different when you aren't around Potter and Weasley, you're more open and understanding. You don't let your previous judgments stand in the way."
~Previous judgments? Where did that come from?~ She followed him from the broom shed, thinking. "I guess you're right," she finally replied.
He turned around abruptly turning around right in front of her blocking her path. They were mere inches away. "I'm right?"
"Uh-huh. I am judgmental." She tried to slink back a little.
He put a hand on her shoulders, "That's the nicest thing you've said to me."
"What? Telling you I'm judgmental?"
"Yes, well no, not exactly. Admitting that you're not perfect and telling me I'm right. Now that's disarming."
"What? That doesn't make sen……" She never got the chance to finish. Draco had bent down and kissed her just a soft kiss. "My god Draco. How can you go and just kiss me like that we hardly no each other!"
"That did stop you before." Before she could question him he bent down for another kiss: a long, passionate kiss. His lips filled her with indescribable warmth. They let go, not really wanting to.
"Oh my God, it was you."
A sly smile spread across his face, "At your service sweet, fair Juliet. And this time you even no my name."
A rustling sound came from the entrance of the pitch. They both saw a dark figure running back across the lawns.
