Chapter 4
When Hermione reached the common room, Ron and Harry were sitting on the couch, facing the fire. The chessboard was sitting on its own chair.
She snuck behind the couch they were sitting in, and froze. They were the only three in the common room that this hour.
"What do you suppose is up with Hermione?" she heard Ron ask.
"Ron, we've been over this, girl stuff, remember?" Harry said. Hermione's jaw dropped in surprise. How could he jump to a conclusion like that? Was he really that sexist? Her eyes still wide with shock, she continued to listen.
"I don't think so Harry," Ron said, "Didn't you notice? She doesn't make eye contact anymore. I mean, when she's talking to us. Don't you think that's weird?"
"Alright I'll give you that one. And yes it is weird." Hermione heard Harry shifting. "Ever since the train ride in fact," Harry said, "that's probably when all her odd moods started." She knew Harry was too smart for his own good, but he couldn't possibly know what happened in the compartment with Malfoy unless she told him. And she surely wasn't going to. "When she got back from the prefects compartment."
"Maybe they decided to change a rule and she got upset about it," Ron laughed. Hermione was again surprised when Harry laughed with him. With a disgusted roll of her eyes, she snuck the rest of the way out of the common room. When she was outside the portrait she bushed her robs off, and checked her watch. Yes, she was going to be late. Oh well, if Malfoy wanted to meet bad enough he'd wait.
About 15 minutes later she was peeking around a corridor corner into the entrance hall. No Filtch or Mrs. Norris, so she ran for it. She swung herself into the darkness under the stone steps and felt herself run into someone. Panicked she stepped back.
"It's me," Said Draco.
"Oh thank God!" Hermione said, calming her breathing from running. "I thought you were Filtch." A hand on her heart, she gave one last big breath out.
"I have another place to show you," Malfoy said.
"*Another*??" Hermione said. She decided to quit being rude to Malfoy, as it did no good.
"Yes another," He smiled and took her hand.
"Boy, you're just full of surprises." Hermione said, when he led her forward.
He chuckled, "You don't know the half of it." A few steps later, into more darkness, she reached into her robes for her wand and lit the end of it.
"That's better," she said. A few more steps and Draco turned right very sharply.
"Whoa," She cried in surprise. She spun around to stand next to Malfoy, his hand still in hers. Before her was a very large wooden door, that looked as though it had been forgotten. Cobwebs hung lazily in the rounded doorframe, and the brass doorknob was brown with rust. "Wow," she whispered.
Malfoy smiled at her wonderment, and said, "Come on." He led her forward, and turned the rusty knob with a squeak of the old hinges. After he closed the door behind Hermione, she put out her wand. Now, she was facing a narrow corridor, with wall mounted, fire lit, torches. Malfoy started to walk down the corridor, and Hermione followed him. A few minutes of walking down the hall, and around a corner or two, she and Draco found themselves in front of yet another door. This one looked just as rotten and old as the first.
"Ready?" Malfoy asked.
"Ready," Hermione answered. Draco pushed the door open, and Hermione stepped inside cautiously. Then she gasped at what she saw. A very large stone room, with no windows, but a roaring fire with a very comfortable looking couch sitting in front of it. And in the middle of the room were a blanket, and a few cushions. She wondered why they were on the floor, but then she looked skyward, and her question was answered. The stars of the midnight sky twinkled back at her.
"My God," She said, "How did you put this together?"
"I didn't," Malfoy admitting, standing next to her. "I found it, and fixed it up a bit."
"Wow," she said again.
"I take it, that you like it," He said. She could practically hear the smile on his face, as she stared at the stars above her.
"Yes, it's wonderful," she answered, looking back at him. "But why did you bring me here?"
"I wanted a place where just you and me could go Hermione. One place that's ours, where no one could possibly find us." "You mean we're the only students who know about this place?"
"I'm pretty sure." He smiled. 'Finally, something he's sure about,' She thought. "Come on, sit down," he said, gesturing toward the blankets that lay out on the floor. She sat cross-legged, and gabbed a cushion for her lap. Draco sat across from her.
"So," she said. There was an awkward pause.
"Hermione, I know my behavior hasn't been making a lot of sense lately," said Malfoy, "and if you'll hear me out, I'll explain any questions you have." There were a million questions she wanted to ask.
"First, since when have you felt this way about me? Why the sudden change? How come you didn't come to me about this sooner?" She said this questions really fast. Then squeezed the cushion in her lap.
"Hold it there," Malfoy chuckled, "Slowly, one at a time."
"Since when have you felt this way about me?" She hated how awkward the question sounded, but it needed it to be answered.
"A long time," he answered, "Since about the beginning of fourth year, maybe earlier."
"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"
"Because I wasn't positive I liked you, Hermione. I was dreadfully confused about what I was feeling. Took me a long while to accept my feelings for you, even if I hardly knew you."
She knew how he felt.
"Why the sudden change?" she asked.
"I have only recently accepted my feelings for you. Over the summer in fact. And I know I barley know who you are, but I want to you know you. I really want to get to know you." She stared into his blue eyes, and vividly remembered them when they were gray and cold, but that's not how they were now. Now, they were soft, and full of care, the proof, she decided, behind his words. She suddenly realized she was getting lost in his eyes; she had a serious grip on the cushion, so she tore her eyes from his, staring into the fire behind him now. "Hermione, I know I've been cruel to you," he said, "but I'd like another chance. To make it up to you." She looked back at him and studied his face. He was sincere, and he meant every word he spoke.
"Fine," She agreed. She didn't know why she decided on this second chance, but she did. She believed in second chances, no matter who it was. Even Draco Malfoy. He smiled broadly, and took her hand.
"Thank you," He said. She smiled sweetly back at him. He pulled a cushion from behind him, and he placed his head down on it, lying on his back, gazing at the stars. While he did this, he still held her hand. Then he looked up at her.
"Lay down, go on. It's rather comfortable." He coxed. She did so, laying the cushion in her lap near his. Lying down next to Draco Malfoy was the weirdest feeling. She'd never, ever, pictured herself here. He squeezed her hand, as she gazed skyward. It was a cloudless night, and the moon was the only light apart from the dying fire in the hearth.
"You know, Hermione, you never told me how you feel." He turned to look at her and so did she. He was right. She didn't tell him how she felt, only because she didn't know what she felt for Malfoy. It was hard to tell right now. She was just getting to know who he *really* was.
"You know, I don't know what I feel," Said Hermione, "So I'm not sure. I'm a little confused myself. I'm still trying to accept that you're not mean, and evil like I'm used to." He just raised his eyebrows at her, "And while I'm at it, I'm sorry I called you evil, and cruel, and a complete arse."
"It's alright. I deserved it really. I was that to you and your friends. But thanks for the apology anyway." He chuckled.
"Yeah no problem." She giggled. They both propped themselves on their elbows to face each other. They both talked for hours, or what seemed like it. Talking about everything and anything, they didn't even notice the time passing until it got dark because the fire finally went out.
"I guess we better get going," Malfoy said.
"Yeah," She said, checking her watch, "It's after one AM." Hermione stood and stretched. "Harry and Ron are going to wonder where I was . . . But I don't care." Draco stood and stretched as well.
"That's good," Draco said, "Because I don't care either." They laughed. On the way back to the portrait they held hands. Hermione didn't mind at all. In fact, she was the one who went for his hand this time. When they reached the common room entrance Hermione turned to him. She felt a bit silly, like she was being taken home from her first date.
"So, Um." Hermione said, letting go of his hand. He looked at her softly, studying her. She stared at her feet, until she saw another pair toe to toe with her own. She looked up into Draco's eyes, biting her bottom lip. Their foreheads mustn't have been but and inch apart. He reached up and ran a thumb along her jaw and chin. Her heart wouldn't slow down, and she practically stopped breathing. Closing her eyes, she trying to calm herself. Being this close to Draco Malfoy wasn't something she'd indented to do.
Draco slid his hand to her neck and lowered his lips to hers. She tensed slightly, but relaxed into the kiss, and kissing him back. She slid her arms around his neck. After a moment, he moved back and looked at her, and stared at her, smiling.
"G'Night," he said, after giving her hand one last squeeze. Hermione was frozen to the spot unable to say anything, or move anywhere. She had just been kissed my Draco Malfoy! And she kissed him back! 'Must be dreaming,' she thought, and pinched herself on the arm.
"Ouch! Nope, still in reality," she said aloud. She gave the password and wandered up to bed, dazed. It wasn't a bad kiss. No, it *really* wasn't a bad kiss. She dressed for bed, and climbed in, unable to stop her lips from curving into a smile, as she drifted sweetly into dreamland.
When Hermione reached the common room, Ron and Harry were sitting on the couch, facing the fire. The chessboard was sitting on its own chair.
She snuck behind the couch they were sitting in, and froze. They were the only three in the common room that this hour.
"What do you suppose is up with Hermione?" she heard Ron ask.
"Ron, we've been over this, girl stuff, remember?" Harry said. Hermione's jaw dropped in surprise. How could he jump to a conclusion like that? Was he really that sexist? Her eyes still wide with shock, she continued to listen.
"I don't think so Harry," Ron said, "Didn't you notice? She doesn't make eye contact anymore. I mean, when she's talking to us. Don't you think that's weird?"
"Alright I'll give you that one. And yes it is weird." Hermione heard Harry shifting. "Ever since the train ride in fact," Harry said, "that's probably when all her odd moods started." She knew Harry was too smart for his own good, but he couldn't possibly know what happened in the compartment with Malfoy unless she told him. And she surely wasn't going to. "When she got back from the prefects compartment."
"Maybe they decided to change a rule and she got upset about it," Ron laughed. Hermione was again surprised when Harry laughed with him. With a disgusted roll of her eyes, she snuck the rest of the way out of the common room. When she was outside the portrait she bushed her robs off, and checked her watch. Yes, she was going to be late. Oh well, if Malfoy wanted to meet bad enough he'd wait.
About 15 minutes later she was peeking around a corridor corner into the entrance hall. No Filtch or Mrs. Norris, so she ran for it. She swung herself into the darkness under the stone steps and felt herself run into someone. Panicked she stepped back.
"It's me," Said Draco.
"Oh thank God!" Hermione said, calming her breathing from running. "I thought you were Filtch." A hand on her heart, she gave one last big breath out.
"I have another place to show you," Malfoy said.
"*Another*??" Hermione said. She decided to quit being rude to Malfoy, as it did no good.
"Yes another," He smiled and took her hand.
"Boy, you're just full of surprises." Hermione said, when he led her forward.
He chuckled, "You don't know the half of it." A few steps later, into more darkness, she reached into her robes for her wand and lit the end of it.
"That's better," she said. A few more steps and Draco turned right very sharply.
"Whoa," She cried in surprise. She spun around to stand next to Malfoy, his hand still in hers. Before her was a very large wooden door, that looked as though it had been forgotten. Cobwebs hung lazily in the rounded doorframe, and the brass doorknob was brown with rust. "Wow," she whispered.
Malfoy smiled at her wonderment, and said, "Come on." He led her forward, and turned the rusty knob with a squeak of the old hinges. After he closed the door behind Hermione, she put out her wand. Now, she was facing a narrow corridor, with wall mounted, fire lit, torches. Malfoy started to walk down the corridor, and Hermione followed him. A few minutes of walking down the hall, and around a corner or two, she and Draco found themselves in front of yet another door. This one looked just as rotten and old as the first.
"Ready?" Malfoy asked.
"Ready," Hermione answered. Draco pushed the door open, and Hermione stepped inside cautiously. Then she gasped at what she saw. A very large stone room, with no windows, but a roaring fire with a very comfortable looking couch sitting in front of it. And in the middle of the room were a blanket, and a few cushions. She wondered why they were on the floor, but then she looked skyward, and her question was answered. The stars of the midnight sky twinkled back at her.
"My God," She said, "How did you put this together?"
"I didn't," Malfoy admitting, standing next to her. "I found it, and fixed it up a bit."
"Wow," she said again.
"I take it, that you like it," He said. She could practically hear the smile on his face, as she stared at the stars above her.
"Yes, it's wonderful," she answered, looking back at him. "But why did you bring me here?"
"I wanted a place where just you and me could go Hermione. One place that's ours, where no one could possibly find us." "You mean we're the only students who know about this place?"
"I'm pretty sure." He smiled. 'Finally, something he's sure about,' She thought. "Come on, sit down," he said, gesturing toward the blankets that lay out on the floor. She sat cross-legged, and gabbed a cushion for her lap. Draco sat across from her.
"So," she said. There was an awkward pause.
"Hermione, I know my behavior hasn't been making a lot of sense lately," said Malfoy, "and if you'll hear me out, I'll explain any questions you have." There were a million questions she wanted to ask.
"First, since when have you felt this way about me? Why the sudden change? How come you didn't come to me about this sooner?" She said this questions really fast. Then squeezed the cushion in her lap.
"Hold it there," Malfoy chuckled, "Slowly, one at a time."
"Since when have you felt this way about me?" She hated how awkward the question sounded, but it needed it to be answered.
"A long time," he answered, "Since about the beginning of fourth year, maybe earlier."
"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"
"Because I wasn't positive I liked you, Hermione. I was dreadfully confused about what I was feeling. Took me a long while to accept my feelings for you, even if I hardly knew you."
She knew how he felt.
"Why the sudden change?" she asked.
"I have only recently accepted my feelings for you. Over the summer in fact. And I know I barley know who you are, but I want to you know you. I really want to get to know you." She stared into his blue eyes, and vividly remembered them when they were gray and cold, but that's not how they were now. Now, they were soft, and full of care, the proof, she decided, behind his words. She suddenly realized she was getting lost in his eyes; she had a serious grip on the cushion, so she tore her eyes from his, staring into the fire behind him now. "Hermione, I know I've been cruel to you," he said, "but I'd like another chance. To make it up to you." She looked back at him and studied his face. He was sincere, and he meant every word he spoke.
"Fine," She agreed. She didn't know why she decided on this second chance, but she did. She believed in second chances, no matter who it was. Even Draco Malfoy. He smiled broadly, and took her hand.
"Thank you," He said. She smiled sweetly back at him. He pulled a cushion from behind him, and he placed his head down on it, lying on his back, gazing at the stars. While he did this, he still held her hand. Then he looked up at her.
"Lay down, go on. It's rather comfortable." He coxed. She did so, laying the cushion in her lap near his. Lying down next to Draco Malfoy was the weirdest feeling. She'd never, ever, pictured herself here. He squeezed her hand, as she gazed skyward. It was a cloudless night, and the moon was the only light apart from the dying fire in the hearth.
"You know, Hermione, you never told me how you feel." He turned to look at her and so did she. He was right. She didn't tell him how she felt, only because she didn't know what she felt for Malfoy. It was hard to tell right now. She was just getting to know who he *really* was.
"You know, I don't know what I feel," Said Hermione, "So I'm not sure. I'm a little confused myself. I'm still trying to accept that you're not mean, and evil like I'm used to." He just raised his eyebrows at her, "And while I'm at it, I'm sorry I called you evil, and cruel, and a complete arse."
"It's alright. I deserved it really. I was that to you and your friends. But thanks for the apology anyway." He chuckled.
"Yeah no problem." She giggled. They both propped themselves on their elbows to face each other. They both talked for hours, or what seemed like it. Talking about everything and anything, they didn't even notice the time passing until it got dark because the fire finally went out.
"I guess we better get going," Malfoy said.
"Yeah," She said, checking her watch, "It's after one AM." Hermione stood and stretched. "Harry and Ron are going to wonder where I was . . . But I don't care." Draco stood and stretched as well.
"That's good," Draco said, "Because I don't care either." They laughed. On the way back to the portrait they held hands. Hermione didn't mind at all. In fact, she was the one who went for his hand this time. When they reached the common room entrance Hermione turned to him. She felt a bit silly, like she was being taken home from her first date.
"So, Um." Hermione said, letting go of his hand. He looked at her softly, studying her. She stared at her feet, until she saw another pair toe to toe with her own. She looked up into Draco's eyes, biting her bottom lip. Their foreheads mustn't have been but and inch apart. He reached up and ran a thumb along her jaw and chin. Her heart wouldn't slow down, and she practically stopped breathing. Closing her eyes, she trying to calm herself. Being this close to Draco Malfoy wasn't something she'd indented to do.
Draco slid his hand to her neck and lowered his lips to hers. She tensed slightly, but relaxed into the kiss, and kissing him back. She slid her arms around his neck. After a moment, he moved back and looked at her, and stared at her, smiling.
"G'Night," he said, after giving her hand one last squeeze. Hermione was frozen to the spot unable to say anything, or move anywhere. She had just been kissed my Draco Malfoy! And she kissed him back! 'Must be dreaming,' she thought, and pinched herself on the arm.
"Ouch! Nope, still in reality," she said aloud. She gave the password and wandered up to bed, dazed. It wasn't a bad kiss. No, it *really* wasn't a bad kiss. She dressed for bed, and climbed in, unable to stop her lips from curving into a smile, as she drifted sweetly into dreamland.