Disclaimers: I do not own Harry Potter or the musical and the song
mentioned in this story. I own only the plot! Don't sue me; that would not
make me smile. But reviews would make me smile so review away!
He was swimming. At Malfoy Manor, maybe? Well let's just say that's where he was. All he knew was that he was swimming through this dark abyss with only the moonlight to light his path. Draco was fully dressed as he kept his pace through the water enveloped in its warmth. Suddenly he felt someone's hand slide into his own. Looking back he saw her. She was beautiful. But who was she? Grasping on tighter to her hand he pulled her above the water's surface as they both gasped for air. Bobbing up and down next to each other in the semi-deep water Draco took no time in grabbing her behind the neck and moving in to kiss her. Kissing this mysterious woman was like nothing he had ever experienced before in his life. Her lips tasted sweet with a hint of spice as Draco deepened the kiss, exploring every part of her mouth as though this was the last time. She responded to him and moved in closer while stroking the side of his face. This girl was intoxicating. She was like the forbidden fruit that he could never have, and someone that he could never be with. Pulling back from the kiss he leaned his forehead against hers before lightly kissing her once more. "I love you." he began to say but was cut off as she pushed him out of her embrace and quickly swam to the edge of the pond. He had to keep up with her; he couldn't let her go. Not now that he had actually found her.
Following after her as she attempted to climb out, he spun her around in the water to face him. "Don't go.please don't go." He said in a whispered sob. Her face was once more mere inches from his as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him in for another kiss. Pulling back her silence was frustrating yet moving, as she didn't have to say any words to him; her chocolate brown eyes said everything as they gazed intently into his own. Their chins were at the waters surface as her long brown hair was floating gracefully around her and fell on her sleeveless shoulders, as her white cotton low cut dress was completely soaked. He was in the same position in his drenched white button down shirt and black pants as his silver-blonde hair was slicked back from swimming yet it still had a tousled and unkempt look to him, making him appear even more serene than before.
"Who are you?" he finally asked as she slightly smiled at him. Reaching up she held a finger to his lips and whispered a fading "Shhh" to him as he struggled to maintain his sense of thought, as she was addictive and drew him in to her the more that he looked at her. He slowly and hesitantly leaned in for another kiss and when his lips touched hers it immediately deepened as each kiss became more and more passionate to him. She grasped her hands on the bank behind her and pulled herself up on to the shore bringing him with her as he was still locked to her lips. She was sitting on the bank with her legs still in the water as she cupped his face in her hands, while he now tried to pull himself up as well. Restraining him from doing so, he looked pleadingly in her eyes as she removed her legs from the water and tucked them underneath her as she leaned over the waters edge to kiss him once more. Draco wanted more, he could barely stand it any longer as he was determined to kiss every inch of her. He began to work his lips across her cheek and down her neck and across her exposed upper chest when she suddenly pulled away and stood up. He looked up at her as though she was an angel and he unworthy of even resting his eyes upon her, as she leaned down once more and softly stroked his cheek. Grasping his chin in her hand she pulled him in for one more kiss and as they came nearer and nearer the more obscure his vision became.
Alarmed she pulled back and nervously stepped away from him. "No!" he shouted as he tried to climb out of the water to get to her. That only made her run away more as he struggled to get his footing and follow after her. But the more he tried the more he failed as he was shouting after her. "Stop, No! No! Come back!" he was yelling at the top of his lungs as he felt reality come crashing down on him as he sat up quickly in surprise. He was back in his bed in the Head Boy quarters and he was soaked in his own sweat. Bits of tears were lightly pressed against his cheek. He wiped them angrily away telling himself, "Malfoy's never cry!"
It was his first night back in the four rooms that he and Hermione shared as being Head Boy and Head Girl. It was the first night after what had happened, at least what he thought had happened, in the pond between the two of them. He didn't remember going there but he couldn't actually discern from reality whether or not he did in fact go. Draco remembered waking up on a damp pillow from his wet hair with his shoes on his feet and a few leaves were stuck to his laces as though he had indeed been outside. Then again how could he have even gone to Malfoy Manor without him or Hermione knowing? Draco knew that Hermione was there with him as she two mentioned the night's events in the same detail that he did. They both left out one little part; the fact that they had almost kissed each other. That left Draco to question if that even happened too. It all just seemed like another dream to him. But it was his dreams that had him so worried. He had just spent the most romantic moment of his life in a dream, and he didn't even know who the girl was. All he knew was that she had the most captivating pair of eyes he had ever looked upon. She was beautiful. Stunning was more the right word to describe her as he remembered her long dark hair, full lips, and deep eyes. "And those lips," Draco sighed to himself, "oh God those lips." was all that he could say. Draco remembered their softness, warmth, and how inviting they were to his. He could have kissed her for a thousand years and never tired of it.
His clock on the side table chimed the hour. 4:00 in the morning. Deciding that it was absolutely impossible for him to go back to sleep, he crawled out of bed and felt the cool floor beneath his feet as it traveled all the way up his spine. It was starting to get a little chilly outside as October was rounding the corner. He had only been in school for a little over a month and already so many things had happened to him. "This is going to be a long year." He murmured as he stepped into the bathroom they shared adjoining both of their rooms and turned on the hot water in the shower. Walking over to the sink he ran the cold water and began splashing his face and neck trying to get the images of her out of his head. Glancing up into the mirror he stared at his reflection trying to collect his thoughts. 'A Malfoy always needs to have a clear mind, leaving it cluttered is a weakness' he could practically hear his father saying. It was now a habit of his to do so from years of practice. "Lucius is a bastard." He muttered to himself trying to erase images of his father while he was at school. Draco always knew that his father could get him out of every situation, and he often bragged about that when he was younger. Now he just didn't care anymore. Draco was revered as a god to the Slytherin's. He had made his own reputation and he didn't need to lean on his father's anymore.
Draco was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't even hear the bathroom door open as Hermione groggily stepped inside. She stopped in surprise and just stared confusingly at him momentarily. It was then that Draco noticed her presence and spun around to face her. They both just stared. Had she come in moments later she would have seen Draco without being in only his pajama pants and boxers, which was what he was only wearing now.
"Yes?" Draco finally answered and cutting off the silence.
"Bathroom." she simply said while swaying slightly where she stood.
"Right. Hmm, are you alright?" he asked halfway out the door after turning off the water.
"No.mornings.very bad...sleep." she murmured as he nodded in return and shut the door behind him, laughing silently to himself that he had learned on of Granger's secrets, she is not a morning person. He himself noticed that he didn't call her Mudblood. A sort of secret truce had been formed between he and Granger after they woke up the next morning in the hospital. They both just wanted to stay out of the other's way in order to have some enjoyment their last year at Hogwarts, knowing that they would never have to see each other again after they graduated. It was for the best. Not only for their grades but also for the unity of the houses, which is what Dumbledore was trying to enforce.
Hearing Hermione finish up in the bathroom he walked in to take his shower. She was still in there however and was washing her face and hands, just as he had done moments before. Her hair had been swept out of her face with a hair tie as she was rubbing the water on her neck. Draco then noticed it. She was doing exactly what he had been doing before she came in. Hermione then looked over in his direction catching his gaze for a second before leaning back down over the sink to splash water in her face. What Hermione didn't see was that Draco got a peek down the white tank top that she was wearing with her blue sleep pants. Glancing quickly back up to her face he was relived to find that she hadn't noticed at all. Draco stood by the door for a moment hoping that she would get the message that he wanted to take a shower. Usually he would have just ordered her out, but under the circumstances of their "truce" Draco couldn't find the will to insult her or boss her around anymore. It was disgusting, but he just accepted the fact that he had to help keep the peace between the two of them. Draco let out a cough and stared at her looking for some sign that she caught his meaning. Sighing he walked over to the shower and turned on the hot water again. Still nothing. Deciding that he would just have to scare her out, he remembered that he only had on his pants and boxers and decided to use them to his advantage. Draco began pulling off his pants when he finally heard a response from Hermione. "If you want me out Malfoy you can just say so." she said turning to leave. "By the way, nice boxers." And turning to face him as she comically raised her eyebrows to the smirking Draco.
"Thanks Granger. Never knew you were one to like green and silver."
"You might be surprised Malfoy." she said while shutting her bedroom door behind her.
Draco let out a chuckle with some raised eyebrows of his own. "She really has a way with her words." He heard himself mutter while glancing back at the closed door. As he was preparing to completely undress himself realization hit him square in the face. "Good God Draco.you were flirting with her!" He inwardly kicked himself for that comment.
"It's the truth though." He heard his conscience say to him. "And you liked it too." Draco ignored mentally arguing with himself as he stepped into the shower. He couldn't help the fact that, however much he hated to admit it, he had liked flirting with Granger.
Help.
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Hermione walked at her normal hasty speed to class as she weaved in and out of slow, clumped together lower classmen sending a few scowls and a roll of the eyes in their direction. She was not having a good morning with regards to her not being able to get any sleep the night before, for she couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. For some reason she was still debating whether or not it actually occurred with regards to her and Draco's late night swim. Sure she had remembered it and considerably well too, but she didn't know how or why she went there or even how she got back to Hogwarts. "Something is definitely going on", she thought softly to herself as she neared the Great Hall. As she approached she was soon attacked suddenly and let out a small yelp as two different arms wrapped themselves around either shoulder. Looking to her left and right she saw Harry and Ron on either side grinning mischievously. Laughing out loud she eyed them both while saying "What are you two on about?"
"Oh nothing, nothing." replied Ron while adding a dramatic flare. "Just escorting our favorite girl to breakfast after we haven't seen her for a while. Aren't we Harry?"
"Of course we are." Said Harry. "I mean we couldn't just let you walk unaccompanied, someone might steal you from us."
Hermione now smirking put her arms around their waist as they neared the doors to the Great Hall. "Well its good to know that I'm appreciated around here boys." She said, while pinching the side of their stomachs with both of her hands. At their sudden jumps and laughs they both did the same to her, and so they walked into breakfast, laughing the entire way.
Draco looked on at this display with annoyance, a stifled chuckle, and a hint of jealously. Sure he had friends, acquaintances more like, but not like she did. Hermione was lucky, and he knew it. She had two boys who would bend over backwards to protect her and stand up for her. Friends that believed that she is right no matter what the situation and who would do anything she asked of them at the drop of a hat. Draco had every right to be jealous and he accepted the fact that he was. He almost wished that he was right there with them, joking and laughing. "Wait, now that's going a little far," he thought, as he too strolled into the Great Hall shortly behind them.
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Hermione hadn't talked to Draco after seeing each other in the bathroom that morning and she hadn't seen him since then either. "Oh well," she thought, as she was busy scribbling an essay for Transfiguration. It was a foot longer than required, naturally. It wasn't that Hermione was a suck up, it was merely that she loved to give out information, especially when she was determined to stay at her position of the top student in her class. She knew however, when the entire side of her hand was covered in black ink that it was time to finish the essay. Carefully rolling it up she placed it in her bag with the rest of her quills and ink as she stood up looking for something to do for the next hour before she went to bed. She decided that a little visit to Ron and Harry would be the best solution to boredom as she stepped out of the Head Boy/Girl common room and turned to her left as she walked down the hallway towards a familiar spot. Reaching the Gryffindor common room (she could have used the portal in her room, but she preferred to walk) she muttered the password to the fat lady as she gained entrance into the well-lit and alive room. Seeing Harry and Ron in a corner playing an intense game of wizard chess she walked towards them and finally gained their attention.
After spending a whole of about 5 minutes just talking and watching the boys' game she felt something slightly pulling at her. She ignored the feeling and continued to pay her attention to her best friends. But it came back again. It was this overwhelming urge to stand up. Thinking that it would be the best solution, Hermione stood up from her chair and waited for it to stop, and it did. But this time something else happened. The feeling told her to walk. Muttering "I'll be right back." Hermione walked away from their corner and out of the common room. Standing in the hallway she looked around while concentrating on the feeling inside of her. It told her to walk straight and so she did. When she got to the end of the hallway it told her to go left as she willingly followed it. Thankfully she was Head Girl and could patrol the hallways at night. When she got to one of the exits in the castle was when she began to get curious as to why she was following an urge around the entire school. This time it led her towards the gardens. Her pace began to hasten, as she couldn't find the nerve to slow down. It was in control of her. As she neared the gardens she could distinctly make out a figure in the distance, but she couldn't see the person's face, as her walk turned into a jog. The person in front of her seemed to be recovering from a run as well as he, she could tell that it was a he, was breathing heavier than normal. Nearing the mystery man her pace slowed as she entered the garden, silhouetted by the castle lights. Her eyes slowly adjusted as he turned around to face her.
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Draco aimlessly walked the hallways of Hogwarts after dinner that night, preferring to not go back to his quarters. He wasn't really avoiding Hermione, he just was becoming too attracted to her for comfort, and this morning in the bathroom proved it. Draco admitted that he really liked talking to her and especially flirting with her. Who could blame him? She was a relief to talk to after being around the self-centered girls of Slytherin that couldn't hold a decent conversation that wasn't centered on themselves. But they were raised to be a man's trophy and not someone that he could respect. Hermione was someone that Draco could respect, another reason why he was afraid to go around her. He had always known that she was that way, even though he didn't really know anything about her. Draco admired the way that she could hold her own ground against him and noticed the spirited fire that she encompassed when faced with a challenge. She was brave yet cunning; a mix between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Draco allowed his mind to wander when suddenly something told him to go right instead of left towards their common room. Trusting his instincts, Draco followed the command that his body gave him and continued in that direction. The nearer he got towards going outside the more curious he got as to where this urge was leading him. When he was finally out on the grounds his pace quickened, until he was a sprint towards the gardens. Reaching them, he was slightly out of breath and caught up with his breathing when he felt someone approaching. Before he knew it they were practically at his side when he turned around to face them.
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Draco and Hermione were face to face with each other. A look of slight shock and confusion was evident upon one while the other was simply sporting an I-should-have-known look as the latter of the two opened his mouth to speak.
"Lovely night for a stroll through the gardens, huh Granger?" he asked while stuffing his hands in his pocket and rocking on the back of his heels.
"Uh huh." was all she could say as though she was collecting data for further samples.
"I guess we both just got the urge to come out here," he said while staring at her and a long moment of silence fell upon the two of them.
"This is insane," Hermione finally muttered as Draco clutched his heart as though he had had a revelation.
"She speaks! Its amazing!" he said sarcastically while she merely smirked and rolled her eyes. "So, Miss Gryffindor, why such a late night outing? And on a school night?" he asked feigning innocence.
"You know as well as I do Malfoy that I was made to come out here just as you were."
"And by who, pray tell, made us come out here?"
A blank look settled on Hermione's face as she merely muttered, "I don't know."
"So the top student doesn't even know." he replied with a smirk.
"Well neither does the second top student." she chimed back as the blank look left her to settle on his face.
"You've got a point there. But I still don't understand this at all. I mean first with the fuzziness and then the fainting. And then with the swimming." here he paused. "I'm guessing that we were actually there. I don't seem to know where I am anymore. And what makes it worse is that I cant control it! And then to add to the picture I was dragged outside by a feeling and of course you are the exact same way. I don't get it!" he finished with a sigh.
"I know how you feel. I don't get it either. But first thing tomorrow after class I am going to be researching anything and everything that there is to find out in that library and I am going to get us out of this situation because, damn! It's pissing me off too!"
Draco felt his eyebrows rise when he heard her curse. He had never actually heard her say curse words; he actually kind of liked it. It took the edge off of her. "Well I'm surprised that you haven't found something in there like that in the library, I mean you are the only seventeen year old in this school that has read the entire library."
"No I'm not." she replied after a moment.
Turning his head towards her he asked, "What do you mean? You practically live there."
"I'm not the only seventeen year old that has read the entire library." Here she paused as Draco motioned his hand for her to explain herself. "I'm still sixteen."
Draco's eyebrows wrinkled in confusion as he was trying to comprehend what she was saying. "How could you be sixteen, you're in your 7th year."
"Well," she began, "My birthday is in November, so when I got my letter I was still 10. Dumbledore said that he wanted me to go ahead and start that year since I was already a grade ahead of what I should have been in a muggle school. He just wanted to keep me with my maturity level. How old are you?"
"Seventeen." he replied while smirking, knowing that he had found out something about her that day. "Like everyone else is."
"Well I'm going on seventeen," she answered back while crossing her arms. There was a short pause between the two before realization hit Hermione. Laughing slightly she looked at Draco. "I am sixteen going on seventeen."
Draco, on the other hand didn't get it at all. "So, why is that funny?"
"Well you probably wouldn't even understand it." she replied.
"Try me." was his only response as he was entreating her to continue.
"It's a song that is from this muggle movie that was based on a musical about a family during World War II. The daughter is sixteen going on seventeen and there is a song about it." Hermione said sitting on a bench nearby, though she couldn't actually remember the bench being there earlier.
"Wait, I've heard of that!" Draco said as realization came upon him.
Hermione face clouded over with shock and confusion. "You've heard of something muggle?"
"I'm not that out of the loop." he replied sarcastically. "It's a musical right?"
"Yeah. The Sound of Music."
"I have heard of that!" he exclaimed. Hermione giggled slightly at his excitement. "My nanny, when I was a little boy, was obsessed with muggle films. She couldn't get enough of them. I might have actually seen that one too. She was always taking me to see muggle movies. Until my father found out and I wasn't allowed to see them anymore." Draco said in a rush and he himself was surprised that he had confessed that much to Hermione.
"You had a nanny?" Hermione asked, while Draco simply nodded in deep thought. "I should have known." Here Draco shot her a look but seeing her giggling he knew that she was only joking. After a period of silence and Draco's confused look only grew more Hermione finally decided to break the ice. "What are you thinking about?"
Draco looked up sheepishly and responded after a moment. "I was trying to remember that tune."
"I am sixteen going on seventeen?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, I can't seem to remember it. Sing it for me."
Hermione's face clouded over in embarrassment. "I don't sing to people." She said while shaking her head.
Here Draco just gave her a look. "Hermione sing the damn song."
Noticing how he had called her by her first name, she couldn't help but sing it after he said that. Glancing away she hummed the first few notes to Draco waiting for him to remember it. All that he said in return was he hummed the next few notes to her, finishing the line of the verse for her. Hermione could only look at him in astonishment. "You do know it." Draco could only chuckle in response before sitting on the bench next to her. "This garden even looks like the one in the movie." Hermione pointed out.
"It does." Draco agreed.
Suddenly the fuzziness returned to both of them as they looked at each other with fear in their eyes. "Not again." They both said in unison.
"I have no idea why this is happening to us." Hermione said softly while looking at her hands.
"Me neither." Draco replied. "It doesn't make any sense at all."
"Not only that." here Hermione's sentence was cut off as she forgot what she was going to say a moment later. Which was a rarity for Hermione. As she began to try to remember what she was about to say, that thought left her mind too. Standing up from the bench she looked around her. "This really does look like the garden. Except not so bright." She said. Just as soon as the words left her mouth everything dimmed down to where they were only in the moonlight. Draco soon realized what was going on but his panic and his questions were soon gone when he looked around him.
Suddenly the song hit him and before he could control himself he sang out loud, in a creamy and clear baritone voice. It was beautiful.
"You wait little girl on an empty stage for fate to turn the light on."
Hermione glanced at him and giggled before continuing. "And there was a big glass gazebo over there." Hermione pointed in front of her. Glancing back at Draco she practically did a double take, as standing a little ways away from her was a gazebo.
"Now that was convenient." Draco said as he exchanged a look with a bewildered Hermione. "But there was also a lamp." Draco said out loud as suddenly a table lamp sat on the ground in front of him. Clearing his throat, "I mean a street lamp." he called into the night, as one appeared a little ways away from him.
"And our clothes," Hermione chimed in. Looking down at herself she saw that she was in a flowing pink dress, similar to the one in the movie, while Draco was dressed in blue slacks and a jacket.
"Now that's not something that happens everyday." He said as Hermione took a seat on the bench.
"Your life little girl is an empty page that men will want to write on."
He sang again, as the words just couldn't help but come out of his mouth. Now it was Hermione's turn as he motioned for her to sing.
"To write on." She hesitantly sang in a beautiful soprano voice.
Draco kicked up his foot on the bench and leaned his elbow on his knee as he began again.
"You are sixteen." But here he stopped as he looked up to nothing. "Could we have a little accompaniment please?" he asked as suddenly a full orchestra was heard as it swept into his intro. "Very nice." Draco said clearly impressed.
Clearing his throat he began again.
"You are sixteen going on seventeen, baby, its time to think. Better beware, be canny and careful, baby, you're on the brink."
As Draco sang, Hermione's mouth developed into a beautiful smile, as she glanced up at her "Rolf" while he took a seat beside her.
"You are sixteen going on seventeen, fellows will fall in line. Eager young lads and rouges and cads will offer you food and wine."
He sang with a sweep of the hand in her direction, as Draco milked up the part of Rolf. Standing up from the bench he walked around behind her as he sang in her ear.
"Totally unprepared are you to face a world of men. Timid and shy and scared are you of things beyond your kin."
Backing away, while Hermione being a good Liesl leaned in towards him, he shook his finger at her before coming to stand in front of her again.
"You need someone older and wiser, telling you what to do. I am seventeen going on eighteen, I'll take care of you."
He said as Hermione jumped off the bench and flew into his arms, just as it was in the movie. They both stopped and looked at each other while both tried to think of something to do, as they both had their arms wrapped around each other. Suddenly Hermione shouted without warning. "Rain! There was rain!" and as soon as she said that thunder rolled in the distance while a flash of lighting startled them both. Draco, taking it as his cue, grabbed her hand and ran towards the gazebo pulling her with him, as rain began to fall on them. Letting go of her hand she spun to the other side of the gazebo as they both attempted to brush off the water. Hermione remembered it was her turn as she ran up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder, and as he turned around she began to sing.
"I am sixteen going on seventeen, I know that I'm naïve. Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet and willingly I'll believe."
She sang, taking his hand to follow her while Draco, like a lost puppy, went with her.
"I am sixteen going on seventeen, innocent as a rose. Bachelor dandies, drinkers of brandies what do I know of those?"
She sang with a shrug of her shoulders as she spun to sit on the bench behind her, while Draco just smiled and laughed as he looked on her.
"Totally unprepared am I to face a world of men. Timid and shy and scared am I of things beyond my kin."
Hermione sang with a mischievous look as she walk towards him as he was totally entranced with her every move as she brushed his arm before running in front of him to stand on one of the benches.
"I need someone older and wiser, telling me what to do. You are seventeen going on eighteen, I'll depend on you."
She sang as she leaned towards him while he spun her out in a dip, surprised at his own strength and her gracefulness. Keeping up with the mood they replayed Liesl and Rolf's part as he walked her around the benches and she used his support to jump over every break. They were in perfect sync with each other, and dancing as though they had been taught a hundred times before. It was a shock to both. Draco elegantly lifted her off of the benches in his arms and above his head as he elegantly spun her around before lowering her back down on the ground. Something inside of them was telling them what to do next as he spun her around under his arm before taking her in a ballroom dance pose. They began to perform a waltz type movement as they danced around the floor. Similar to the film, at the change in music they both began to run around the gazebo jumping on benches and dancing around each other before they came back in the middle to meet. Draco never missed a beat as he captured her in his arms as they spun around before breaking away both landing on an opposite bench. They knew what part of the movie was coming up as they both just stared at the other, while there was a slight break in the music.
Standing up as on command they slowly walked towards each other and as they neared they both turned to their right, never losing eye contact, as they backed away. They did this twice more, each time Draco getting closer and closer to her, and as she tried to back away the last time he could barely stand it any longer. Placing one arm around her waist and another behind her neck he held tightly to her and pulled her closer as she hesitantly put one hand on his shoulder and another on the crook of his arm. Draco was close enough to inhale her dizzying scent as he searched into her eyes looking for some sort of sign from her.
It was one of those moments again, though Draco noticed that they seemed to be experiencing a lot more of those lately. Taking a bold move he leaned in closer while whispering, "Please don't turn away this time."
Hermione could say nothing other than "I'm not." as he slowly leaned closer in. Their lips were so close that Draco could feel his lightly graze hers as their eyes closed waiting for the contact to come.
"Hermione!" someone yelled as they broke their attention away from each other and turning their heads while in the flash of a second, everything was gone. They both were standing there, in their normal clothes, with their arms around each other in the pouring rain. Hermione swore lightly as she recognized the voice.
Draco looked questioningly at her with panic on his face before she simply muttered "Ron." He nodded his head in understanding as he grabbed her hand and ran in the opposite direction. Pulling her behind a mass of bushes they watched as he appeared from the darkness still calling her name. "What are we going to do?" Hermione asked panicky, as Draco grabbed her hand again and broke into a run with her. They ran for what seemed like forever, as Ron was nowhere to be seen. Here they were running and laughing hysterically in the rain as they neared an arbor on the other side of the gardens. Draco pulled her under with him as the roof still leaked water onto them. As they stepped underneath their shelter Draco swung her around and caught her pulling her into his arms and without missing a beat his lips descended on hers. It was like nothing either of them had ever felt. Their lips seemed to fit with the others as Draco opened his mouth, asking for entrance into hers. Hermione consented as she welcomed his mouth and his tongue. Draco felt his stomach do flip-flops when she did this as their kiss deepened and deepened. It was beautiful. It was like they were under some sort of spell as everything that they had ever despised about the other slowly melted away with their kiss. Wrapping their arms tighter around the other, the kiss ended abruptly as Draco looked longingly into her eyes as he leaned his forehead against hers, lightly kissing her nose. "Lets go back to the room." He whispered to her as she gazed back in his eyes, nodding her head in consent. And so they walked back, rather quickly together.
He was swimming. At Malfoy Manor, maybe? Well let's just say that's where he was. All he knew was that he was swimming through this dark abyss with only the moonlight to light his path. Draco was fully dressed as he kept his pace through the water enveloped in its warmth. Suddenly he felt someone's hand slide into his own. Looking back he saw her. She was beautiful. But who was she? Grasping on tighter to her hand he pulled her above the water's surface as they both gasped for air. Bobbing up and down next to each other in the semi-deep water Draco took no time in grabbing her behind the neck and moving in to kiss her. Kissing this mysterious woman was like nothing he had ever experienced before in his life. Her lips tasted sweet with a hint of spice as Draco deepened the kiss, exploring every part of her mouth as though this was the last time. She responded to him and moved in closer while stroking the side of his face. This girl was intoxicating. She was like the forbidden fruit that he could never have, and someone that he could never be with. Pulling back from the kiss he leaned his forehead against hers before lightly kissing her once more. "I love you." he began to say but was cut off as she pushed him out of her embrace and quickly swam to the edge of the pond. He had to keep up with her; he couldn't let her go. Not now that he had actually found her.
Following after her as she attempted to climb out, he spun her around in the water to face him. "Don't go.please don't go." He said in a whispered sob. Her face was once more mere inches from his as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him in for another kiss. Pulling back her silence was frustrating yet moving, as she didn't have to say any words to him; her chocolate brown eyes said everything as they gazed intently into his own. Their chins were at the waters surface as her long brown hair was floating gracefully around her and fell on her sleeveless shoulders, as her white cotton low cut dress was completely soaked. He was in the same position in his drenched white button down shirt and black pants as his silver-blonde hair was slicked back from swimming yet it still had a tousled and unkempt look to him, making him appear even more serene than before.
"Who are you?" he finally asked as she slightly smiled at him. Reaching up she held a finger to his lips and whispered a fading "Shhh" to him as he struggled to maintain his sense of thought, as she was addictive and drew him in to her the more that he looked at her. He slowly and hesitantly leaned in for another kiss and when his lips touched hers it immediately deepened as each kiss became more and more passionate to him. She grasped her hands on the bank behind her and pulled herself up on to the shore bringing him with her as he was still locked to her lips. She was sitting on the bank with her legs still in the water as she cupped his face in her hands, while he now tried to pull himself up as well. Restraining him from doing so, he looked pleadingly in her eyes as she removed her legs from the water and tucked them underneath her as she leaned over the waters edge to kiss him once more. Draco wanted more, he could barely stand it any longer as he was determined to kiss every inch of her. He began to work his lips across her cheek and down her neck and across her exposed upper chest when she suddenly pulled away and stood up. He looked up at her as though she was an angel and he unworthy of even resting his eyes upon her, as she leaned down once more and softly stroked his cheek. Grasping his chin in her hand she pulled him in for one more kiss and as they came nearer and nearer the more obscure his vision became.
Alarmed she pulled back and nervously stepped away from him. "No!" he shouted as he tried to climb out of the water to get to her. That only made her run away more as he struggled to get his footing and follow after her. But the more he tried the more he failed as he was shouting after her. "Stop, No! No! Come back!" he was yelling at the top of his lungs as he felt reality come crashing down on him as he sat up quickly in surprise. He was back in his bed in the Head Boy quarters and he was soaked in his own sweat. Bits of tears were lightly pressed against his cheek. He wiped them angrily away telling himself, "Malfoy's never cry!"
It was his first night back in the four rooms that he and Hermione shared as being Head Boy and Head Girl. It was the first night after what had happened, at least what he thought had happened, in the pond between the two of them. He didn't remember going there but he couldn't actually discern from reality whether or not he did in fact go. Draco remembered waking up on a damp pillow from his wet hair with his shoes on his feet and a few leaves were stuck to his laces as though he had indeed been outside. Then again how could he have even gone to Malfoy Manor without him or Hermione knowing? Draco knew that Hermione was there with him as she two mentioned the night's events in the same detail that he did. They both left out one little part; the fact that they had almost kissed each other. That left Draco to question if that even happened too. It all just seemed like another dream to him. But it was his dreams that had him so worried. He had just spent the most romantic moment of his life in a dream, and he didn't even know who the girl was. All he knew was that she had the most captivating pair of eyes he had ever looked upon. She was beautiful. Stunning was more the right word to describe her as he remembered her long dark hair, full lips, and deep eyes. "And those lips," Draco sighed to himself, "oh God those lips." was all that he could say. Draco remembered their softness, warmth, and how inviting they were to his. He could have kissed her for a thousand years and never tired of it.
His clock on the side table chimed the hour. 4:00 in the morning. Deciding that it was absolutely impossible for him to go back to sleep, he crawled out of bed and felt the cool floor beneath his feet as it traveled all the way up his spine. It was starting to get a little chilly outside as October was rounding the corner. He had only been in school for a little over a month and already so many things had happened to him. "This is going to be a long year." He murmured as he stepped into the bathroom they shared adjoining both of their rooms and turned on the hot water in the shower. Walking over to the sink he ran the cold water and began splashing his face and neck trying to get the images of her out of his head. Glancing up into the mirror he stared at his reflection trying to collect his thoughts. 'A Malfoy always needs to have a clear mind, leaving it cluttered is a weakness' he could practically hear his father saying. It was now a habit of his to do so from years of practice. "Lucius is a bastard." He muttered to himself trying to erase images of his father while he was at school. Draco always knew that his father could get him out of every situation, and he often bragged about that when he was younger. Now he just didn't care anymore. Draco was revered as a god to the Slytherin's. He had made his own reputation and he didn't need to lean on his father's anymore.
Draco was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't even hear the bathroom door open as Hermione groggily stepped inside. She stopped in surprise and just stared confusingly at him momentarily. It was then that Draco noticed her presence and spun around to face her. They both just stared. Had she come in moments later she would have seen Draco without being in only his pajama pants and boxers, which was what he was only wearing now.
"Yes?" Draco finally answered and cutting off the silence.
"Bathroom." she simply said while swaying slightly where she stood.
"Right. Hmm, are you alright?" he asked halfway out the door after turning off the water.
"No.mornings.very bad...sleep." she murmured as he nodded in return and shut the door behind him, laughing silently to himself that he had learned on of Granger's secrets, she is not a morning person. He himself noticed that he didn't call her Mudblood. A sort of secret truce had been formed between he and Granger after they woke up the next morning in the hospital. They both just wanted to stay out of the other's way in order to have some enjoyment their last year at Hogwarts, knowing that they would never have to see each other again after they graduated. It was for the best. Not only for their grades but also for the unity of the houses, which is what Dumbledore was trying to enforce.
Hearing Hermione finish up in the bathroom he walked in to take his shower. She was still in there however and was washing her face and hands, just as he had done moments before. Her hair had been swept out of her face with a hair tie as she was rubbing the water on her neck. Draco then noticed it. She was doing exactly what he had been doing before she came in. Hermione then looked over in his direction catching his gaze for a second before leaning back down over the sink to splash water in her face. What Hermione didn't see was that Draco got a peek down the white tank top that she was wearing with her blue sleep pants. Glancing quickly back up to her face he was relived to find that she hadn't noticed at all. Draco stood by the door for a moment hoping that she would get the message that he wanted to take a shower. Usually he would have just ordered her out, but under the circumstances of their "truce" Draco couldn't find the will to insult her or boss her around anymore. It was disgusting, but he just accepted the fact that he had to help keep the peace between the two of them. Draco let out a cough and stared at her looking for some sign that she caught his meaning. Sighing he walked over to the shower and turned on the hot water again. Still nothing. Deciding that he would just have to scare her out, he remembered that he only had on his pants and boxers and decided to use them to his advantage. Draco began pulling off his pants when he finally heard a response from Hermione. "If you want me out Malfoy you can just say so." she said turning to leave. "By the way, nice boxers." And turning to face him as she comically raised her eyebrows to the smirking Draco.
"Thanks Granger. Never knew you were one to like green and silver."
"You might be surprised Malfoy." she said while shutting her bedroom door behind her.
Draco let out a chuckle with some raised eyebrows of his own. "She really has a way with her words." He heard himself mutter while glancing back at the closed door. As he was preparing to completely undress himself realization hit him square in the face. "Good God Draco.you were flirting with her!" He inwardly kicked himself for that comment.
"It's the truth though." He heard his conscience say to him. "And you liked it too." Draco ignored mentally arguing with himself as he stepped into the shower. He couldn't help the fact that, however much he hated to admit it, he had liked flirting with Granger.
Help.
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Hermione walked at her normal hasty speed to class as she weaved in and out of slow, clumped together lower classmen sending a few scowls and a roll of the eyes in their direction. She was not having a good morning with regards to her not being able to get any sleep the night before, for she couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. For some reason she was still debating whether or not it actually occurred with regards to her and Draco's late night swim. Sure she had remembered it and considerably well too, but she didn't know how or why she went there or even how she got back to Hogwarts. "Something is definitely going on", she thought softly to herself as she neared the Great Hall. As she approached she was soon attacked suddenly and let out a small yelp as two different arms wrapped themselves around either shoulder. Looking to her left and right she saw Harry and Ron on either side grinning mischievously. Laughing out loud she eyed them both while saying "What are you two on about?"
"Oh nothing, nothing." replied Ron while adding a dramatic flare. "Just escorting our favorite girl to breakfast after we haven't seen her for a while. Aren't we Harry?"
"Of course we are." Said Harry. "I mean we couldn't just let you walk unaccompanied, someone might steal you from us."
Hermione now smirking put her arms around their waist as they neared the doors to the Great Hall. "Well its good to know that I'm appreciated around here boys." She said, while pinching the side of their stomachs with both of her hands. At their sudden jumps and laughs they both did the same to her, and so they walked into breakfast, laughing the entire way.
Draco looked on at this display with annoyance, a stifled chuckle, and a hint of jealously. Sure he had friends, acquaintances more like, but not like she did. Hermione was lucky, and he knew it. She had two boys who would bend over backwards to protect her and stand up for her. Friends that believed that she is right no matter what the situation and who would do anything she asked of them at the drop of a hat. Draco had every right to be jealous and he accepted the fact that he was. He almost wished that he was right there with them, joking and laughing. "Wait, now that's going a little far," he thought, as he too strolled into the Great Hall shortly behind them.
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Hermione hadn't talked to Draco after seeing each other in the bathroom that morning and she hadn't seen him since then either. "Oh well," she thought, as she was busy scribbling an essay for Transfiguration. It was a foot longer than required, naturally. It wasn't that Hermione was a suck up, it was merely that she loved to give out information, especially when she was determined to stay at her position of the top student in her class. She knew however, when the entire side of her hand was covered in black ink that it was time to finish the essay. Carefully rolling it up she placed it in her bag with the rest of her quills and ink as she stood up looking for something to do for the next hour before she went to bed. She decided that a little visit to Ron and Harry would be the best solution to boredom as she stepped out of the Head Boy/Girl common room and turned to her left as she walked down the hallway towards a familiar spot. Reaching the Gryffindor common room (she could have used the portal in her room, but she preferred to walk) she muttered the password to the fat lady as she gained entrance into the well-lit and alive room. Seeing Harry and Ron in a corner playing an intense game of wizard chess she walked towards them and finally gained their attention.
After spending a whole of about 5 minutes just talking and watching the boys' game she felt something slightly pulling at her. She ignored the feeling and continued to pay her attention to her best friends. But it came back again. It was this overwhelming urge to stand up. Thinking that it would be the best solution, Hermione stood up from her chair and waited for it to stop, and it did. But this time something else happened. The feeling told her to walk. Muttering "I'll be right back." Hermione walked away from their corner and out of the common room. Standing in the hallway she looked around while concentrating on the feeling inside of her. It told her to walk straight and so she did. When she got to the end of the hallway it told her to go left as she willingly followed it. Thankfully she was Head Girl and could patrol the hallways at night. When she got to one of the exits in the castle was when she began to get curious as to why she was following an urge around the entire school. This time it led her towards the gardens. Her pace began to hasten, as she couldn't find the nerve to slow down. It was in control of her. As she neared the gardens she could distinctly make out a figure in the distance, but she couldn't see the person's face, as her walk turned into a jog. The person in front of her seemed to be recovering from a run as well as he, she could tell that it was a he, was breathing heavier than normal. Nearing the mystery man her pace slowed as she entered the garden, silhouetted by the castle lights. Her eyes slowly adjusted as he turned around to face her.
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Draco aimlessly walked the hallways of Hogwarts after dinner that night, preferring to not go back to his quarters. He wasn't really avoiding Hermione, he just was becoming too attracted to her for comfort, and this morning in the bathroom proved it. Draco admitted that he really liked talking to her and especially flirting with her. Who could blame him? She was a relief to talk to after being around the self-centered girls of Slytherin that couldn't hold a decent conversation that wasn't centered on themselves. But they were raised to be a man's trophy and not someone that he could respect. Hermione was someone that Draco could respect, another reason why he was afraid to go around her. He had always known that she was that way, even though he didn't really know anything about her. Draco admired the way that she could hold her own ground against him and noticed the spirited fire that she encompassed when faced with a challenge. She was brave yet cunning; a mix between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Draco allowed his mind to wander when suddenly something told him to go right instead of left towards their common room. Trusting his instincts, Draco followed the command that his body gave him and continued in that direction. The nearer he got towards going outside the more curious he got as to where this urge was leading him. When he was finally out on the grounds his pace quickened, until he was a sprint towards the gardens. Reaching them, he was slightly out of breath and caught up with his breathing when he felt someone approaching. Before he knew it they were practically at his side when he turned around to face them.
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Draco and Hermione were face to face with each other. A look of slight shock and confusion was evident upon one while the other was simply sporting an I-should-have-known look as the latter of the two opened his mouth to speak.
"Lovely night for a stroll through the gardens, huh Granger?" he asked while stuffing his hands in his pocket and rocking on the back of his heels.
"Uh huh." was all she could say as though she was collecting data for further samples.
"I guess we both just got the urge to come out here," he said while staring at her and a long moment of silence fell upon the two of them.
"This is insane," Hermione finally muttered as Draco clutched his heart as though he had had a revelation.
"She speaks! Its amazing!" he said sarcastically while she merely smirked and rolled her eyes. "So, Miss Gryffindor, why such a late night outing? And on a school night?" he asked feigning innocence.
"You know as well as I do Malfoy that I was made to come out here just as you were."
"And by who, pray tell, made us come out here?"
A blank look settled on Hermione's face as she merely muttered, "I don't know."
"So the top student doesn't even know." he replied with a smirk.
"Well neither does the second top student." she chimed back as the blank look left her to settle on his face.
"You've got a point there. But I still don't understand this at all. I mean first with the fuzziness and then the fainting. And then with the swimming." here he paused. "I'm guessing that we were actually there. I don't seem to know where I am anymore. And what makes it worse is that I cant control it! And then to add to the picture I was dragged outside by a feeling and of course you are the exact same way. I don't get it!" he finished with a sigh.
"I know how you feel. I don't get it either. But first thing tomorrow after class I am going to be researching anything and everything that there is to find out in that library and I am going to get us out of this situation because, damn! It's pissing me off too!"
Draco felt his eyebrows rise when he heard her curse. He had never actually heard her say curse words; he actually kind of liked it. It took the edge off of her. "Well I'm surprised that you haven't found something in there like that in the library, I mean you are the only seventeen year old in this school that has read the entire library."
"No I'm not." she replied after a moment.
Turning his head towards her he asked, "What do you mean? You practically live there."
"I'm not the only seventeen year old that has read the entire library." Here she paused as Draco motioned his hand for her to explain herself. "I'm still sixteen."
Draco's eyebrows wrinkled in confusion as he was trying to comprehend what she was saying. "How could you be sixteen, you're in your 7th year."
"Well," she began, "My birthday is in November, so when I got my letter I was still 10. Dumbledore said that he wanted me to go ahead and start that year since I was already a grade ahead of what I should have been in a muggle school. He just wanted to keep me with my maturity level. How old are you?"
"Seventeen." he replied while smirking, knowing that he had found out something about her that day. "Like everyone else is."
"Well I'm going on seventeen," she answered back while crossing her arms. There was a short pause between the two before realization hit Hermione. Laughing slightly she looked at Draco. "I am sixteen going on seventeen."
Draco, on the other hand didn't get it at all. "So, why is that funny?"
"Well you probably wouldn't even understand it." she replied.
"Try me." was his only response as he was entreating her to continue.
"It's a song that is from this muggle movie that was based on a musical about a family during World War II. The daughter is sixteen going on seventeen and there is a song about it." Hermione said sitting on a bench nearby, though she couldn't actually remember the bench being there earlier.
"Wait, I've heard of that!" Draco said as realization came upon him.
Hermione face clouded over with shock and confusion. "You've heard of something muggle?"
"I'm not that out of the loop." he replied sarcastically. "It's a musical right?"
"Yeah. The Sound of Music."
"I have heard of that!" he exclaimed. Hermione giggled slightly at his excitement. "My nanny, when I was a little boy, was obsessed with muggle films. She couldn't get enough of them. I might have actually seen that one too. She was always taking me to see muggle movies. Until my father found out and I wasn't allowed to see them anymore." Draco said in a rush and he himself was surprised that he had confessed that much to Hermione.
"You had a nanny?" Hermione asked, while Draco simply nodded in deep thought. "I should have known." Here Draco shot her a look but seeing her giggling he knew that she was only joking. After a period of silence and Draco's confused look only grew more Hermione finally decided to break the ice. "What are you thinking about?"
Draco looked up sheepishly and responded after a moment. "I was trying to remember that tune."
"I am sixteen going on seventeen?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, I can't seem to remember it. Sing it for me."
Hermione's face clouded over in embarrassment. "I don't sing to people." She said while shaking her head.
Here Draco just gave her a look. "Hermione sing the damn song."
Noticing how he had called her by her first name, she couldn't help but sing it after he said that. Glancing away she hummed the first few notes to Draco waiting for him to remember it. All that he said in return was he hummed the next few notes to her, finishing the line of the verse for her. Hermione could only look at him in astonishment. "You do know it." Draco could only chuckle in response before sitting on the bench next to her. "This garden even looks like the one in the movie." Hermione pointed out.
"It does." Draco agreed.
Suddenly the fuzziness returned to both of them as they looked at each other with fear in their eyes. "Not again." They both said in unison.
"I have no idea why this is happening to us." Hermione said softly while looking at her hands.
"Me neither." Draco replied. "It doesn't make any sense at all."
"Not only that." here Hermione's sentence was cut off as she forgot what she was going to say a moment later. Which was a rarity for Hermione. As she began to try to remember what she was about to say, that thought left her mind too. Standing up from the bench she looked around her. "This really does look like the garden. Except not so bright." She said. Just as soon as the words left her mouth everything dimmed down to where they were only in the moonlight. Draco soon realized what was going on but his panic and his questions were soon gone when he looked around him.
Suddenly the song hit him and before he could control himself he sang out loud, in a creamy and clear baritone voice. It was beautiful.
"You wait little girl on an empty stage for fate to turn the light on."
Hermione glanced at him and giggled before continuing. "And there was a big glass gazebo over there." Hermione pointed in front of her. Glancing back at Draco she practically did a double take, as standing a little ways away from her was a gazebo.
"Now that was convenient." Draco said as he exchanged a look with a bewildered Hermione. "But there was also a lamp." Draco said out loud as suddenly a table lamp sat on the ground in front of him. Clearing his throat, "I mean a street lamp." he called into the night, as one appeared a little ways away from him.
"And our clothes," Hermione chimed in. Looking down at herself she saw that she was in a flowing pink dress, similar to the one in the movie, while Draco was dressed in blue slacks and a jacket.
"Now that's not something that happens everyday." He said as Hermione took a seat on the bench.
"Your life little girl is an empty page that men will want to write on."
He sang again, as the words just couldn't help but come out of his mouth. Now it was Hermione's turn as he motioned for her to sing.
"To write on." She hesitantly sang in a beautiful soprano voice.
Draco kicked up his foot on the bench and leaned his elbow on his knee as he began again.
"You are sixteen." But here he stopped as he looked up to nothing. "Could we have a little accompaniment please?" he asked as suddenly a full orchestra was heard as it swept into his intro. "Very nice." Draco said clearly impressed.
Clearing his throat he began again.
"You are sixteen going on seventeen, baby, its time to think. Better beware, be canny and careful, baby, you're on the brink."
As Draco sang, Hermione's mouth developed into a beautiful smile, as she glanced up at her "Rolf" while he took a seat beside her.
"You are sixteen going on seventeen, fellows will fall in line. Eager young lads and rouges and cads will offer you food and wine."
He sang with a sweep of the hand in her direction, as Draco milked up the part of Rolf. Standing up from the bench he walked around behind her as he sang in her ear.
"Totally unprepared are you to face a world of men. Timid and shy and scared are you of things beyond your kin."
Backing away, while Hermione being a good Liesl leaned in towards him, he shook his finger at her before coming to stand in front of her again.
"You need someone older and wiser, telling you what to do. I am seventeen going on eighteen, I'll take care of you."
He said as Hermione jumped off the bench and flew into his arms, just as it was in the movie. They both stopped and looked at each other while both tried to think of something to do, as they both had their arms wrapped around each other. Suddenly Hermione shouted without warning. "Rain! There was rain!" and as soon as she said that thunder rolled in the distance while a flash of lighting startled them both. Draco, taking it as his cue, grabbed her hand and ran towards the gazebo pulling her with him, as rain began to fall on them. Letting go of her hand she spun to the other side of the gazebo as they both attempted to brush off the water. Hermione remembered it was her turn as she ran up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder, and as he turned around she began to sing.
"I am sixteen going on seventeen, I know that I'm naïve. Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet and willingly I'll believe."
She sang, taking his hand to follow her while Draco, like a lost puppy, went with her.
"I am sixteen going on seventeen, innocent as a rose. Bachelor dandies, drinkers of brandies what do I know of those?"
She sang with a shrug of her shoulders as she spun to sit on the bench behind her, while Draco just smiled and laughed as he looked on her.
"Totally unprepared am I to face a world of men. Timid and shy and scared am I of things beyond my kin."
Hermione sang with a mischievous look as she walk towards him as he was totally entranced with her every move as she brushed his arm before running in front of him to stand on one of the benches.
"I need someone older and wiser, telling me what to do. You are seventeen going on eighteen, I'll depend on you."
She sang as she leaned towards him while he spun her out in a dip, surprised at his own strength and her gracefulness. Keeping up with the mood they replayed Liesl and Rolf's part as he walked her around the benches and she used his support to jump over every break. They were in perfect sync with each other, and dancing as though they had been taught a hundred times before. It was a shock to both. Draco elegantly lifted her off of the benches in his arms and above his head as he elegantly spun her around before lowering her back down on the ground. Something inside of them was telling them what to do next as he spun her around under his arm before taking her in a ballroom dance pose. They began to perform a waltz type movement as they danced around the floor. Similar to the film, at the change in music they both began to run around the gazebo jumping on benches and dancing around each other before they came back in the middle to meet. Draco never missed a beat as he captured her in his arms as they spun around before breaking away both landing on an opposite bench. They knew what part of the movie was coming up as they both just stared at the other, while there was a slight break in the music.
Standing up as on command they slowly walked towards each other and as they neared they both turned to their right, never losing eye contact, as they backed away. They did this twice more, each time Draco getting closer and closer to her, and as she tried to back away the last time he could barely stand it any longer. Placing one arm around her waist and another behind her neck he held tightly to her and pulled her closer as she hesitantly put one hand on his shoulder and another on the crook of his arm. Draco was close enough to inhale her dizzying scent as he searched into her eyes looking for some sort of sign from her.
It was one of those moments again, though Draco noticed that they seemed to be experiencing a lot more of those lately. Taking a bold move he leaned in closer while whispering, "Please don't turn away this time."
Hermione could say nothing other than "I'm not." as he slowly leaned closer in. Their lips were so close that Draco could feel his lightly graze hers as their eyes closed waiting for the contact to come.
"Hermione!" someone yelled as they broke their attention away from each other and turning their heads while in the flash of a second, everything was gone. They both were standing there, in their normal clothes, with their arms around each other in the pouring rain. Hermione swore lightly as she recognized the voice.
Draco looked questioningly at her with panic on his face before she simply muttered "Ron." He nodded his head in understanding as he grabbed her hand and ran in the opposite direction. Pulling her behind a mass of bushes they watched as he appeared from the darkness still calling her name. "What are we going to do?" Hermione asked panicky, as Draco grabbed her hand again and broke into a run with her. They ran for what seemed like forever, as Ron was nowhere to be seen. Here they were running and laughing hysterically in the rain as they neared an arbor on the other side of the gardens. Draco pulled her under with him as the roof still leaked water onto them. As they stepped underneath their shelter Draco swung her around and caught her pulling her into his arms and without missing a beat his lips descended on hers. It was like nothing either of them had ever felt. Their lips seemed to fit with the others as Draco opened his mouth, asking for entrance into hers. Hermione consented as she welcomed his mouth and his tongue. Draco felt his stomach do flip-flops when she did this as their kiss deepened and deepened. It was beautiful. It was like they were under some sort of spell as everything that they had ever despised about the other slowly melted away with their kiss. Wrapping their arms tighter around the other, the kiss ended abruptly as Draco looked longingly into her eyes as he leaned his forehead against hers, lightly kissing her nose. "Lets go back to the room." He whispered to her as she gazed back in his eyes, nodding her head in consent. And so they walked back, rather quickly together.