Take On Me

By

Ponderer

Chapter Seven

Ron was ecstatic the next morning as Draco told him the events of the party. He had come into the Slytherin's room that morning, desperate to know the details. So, Draco told him everything.

          "We almost kissed." Ron looked shocked.

          "Almost kissed? What, did you chicken out? No, she didn't smack you, did she?" Draco laughed at the red-head.

          "God no, Harry interrupted."

          "Bloody hell. That man needs to know when to keep his mouth shut," Ron cursed, pacing around Draco's room, while the blonde sat coolly in his chair, scanning over the paper.

          "It's all right. He didn't know what he was stopping. It's not like it won't happen again," he replied carelessly, not even looking up at his friend.

          "Really?" Ron's eyes were wide with his question.

          "I think so at least. I did everything you said, I was romantic as James Bond, and I think it worked."

          "Did it now? Well, I'm glad for you mate. You got what you wanted," Ron grinned.

          "Maybe she regrets it though," Draco sighed, letting the Daily Prophet fall to the floor.

          "You won't know until you talk to her," Ron explained, giving Draco's shoulder a pat. "And for your sake, I hope she goes with it. That woman has one hell of a punch."

          "That's not funny," Draco scowled, watching Ron chuckle.

          "Yes it is. But seriously Malfoy, you have nothing to worry about. Everyone's behind you on this," Ron sobered. Draco eyed him skeptically but finally cracked a little grin.

          "Okay," he replied and Ron started to leave, but Draco's words stopped him. "Remember Ron, anything you need, and I'll help you."

          "I may have to take you up on that," Ron nodded and preceded to tell Draco everything about his relationship with Paris, a shocked and patient friend listening to every word.

Hermione practically floated to the dining room that morning, having slept in three more hours since she wasn't going into work. It helped even more that she had dreamt of a handsome gray-eyed man who had a mouth to die for. Since her talk with Rosetta the night before, the thought of being with Draco appealed to her more. Sure, in her schools days her mind wondered what would have happened if they were together. This was her chance to find out.

          Ron and Harry were already at the table when Hermione skipped into the room. She was radiating so much positive energy that both boys couldn't help but grin at her. They noted by her appearance, a blue spring dress, that what had occurred last night was just as good for her as it had been for Draco. "Pleasant dreams?" Harry asked, holding back a laugh as Hermione sighed dreamily while sitting herself across from him.

          "What?" she replied, having not noticed someone had spoken to her.

          "Guess so. Or, maybe it had to do with a certain friend of ours," laughed Ron, receiving another sigh from the witch.

          "Are you at least going to tell us what happened?" Harry asked, leaning over the table towards her.

          "Oh, I already know what happened," Ron replied casually, drawing Hermione and Harry's attention.

          "How?" they both asked.

          Ron smiled and leaned into his chair comfortably. "Draco told me about it this morning."

          "What did he say?" the young woman asked, blushing slightly.

          "Just that you two were becoming 'closer' friends," he replied, using his infamous quotation marks with his fingers.

          "Harry smirked at Hermione, "Oh really?"

          "Yes, go on," she said, shooting daggers with her eyes to Harry before turning herself to look at Ron.

          "And you were getting even closer when some idiot ruined it." Harry's smirk wiped away as the other two stared him down. But, he was convinced that, when the time was right, they could try again," he continued softly.

          "Oh," was Hermione's response.

          "So, it was a good night for you?" Ron asked her expectantly. "I mean, it obviously was for Draco. He couldn't stop smiling," he continued. "Anyway, the party was a huge success. Everyone was saying it as they left. I'd have to say my brothers were right about it."

          By that time, Hermione wasn't listening anymore to her best friends. Draco wanted to try and kiss her again? She wasn't upset about it though, instead rather excited. She tried to keep her giddiness hidden but it was impossible to do under the circumstances. Letting out a girly giggle, she ran to the door, not paying attention when her body felt another against her. She looked up like a deer caught in the headlights. She blushed a deep crimson color and left, not looking back, leaving a bewildered Draco and laughing Harry and Ron.

          Draco pointed to where the witch disappeared to. "Why was she so giddy?"

          "She almost got kissed by a dragon last night. I'd be acting the same way," Ron joked, sending Harry into another fit of laughs while the third wizard blushed.

Hermione grinned as she spotted Narcissa sitting an armchair in the library. Her hair was elegantly swept into a bun, while she wore long robes, the delicate fabric the color of red. "Good morning Narcissa," Hermione greeted, giving the elder a daughterly kiss on the cheek.

          "Good morning," Mrs. Malfoy smiled, watching the young woman sit across from her. "How was the rest of the party? I didn't really see you after you danced with my son."

          Hermione had always felt that when mothers, such as Narcissa and Molly, she felt that they could read her like a book. It might have been because they had been in her shoes long ago, or that they were simply mothers and they knew everything. Either way, she knew Narcissa was doing that now.

          "Oh, well, we mingled a bit after dancing," Hermione fibbed, not telling the woman about her escapade with her son in the gardens.

          "I saw you two go outside. Was it a nice kiss?" Hermione's eyes bulged. Did she really just ask that?

          "Excuse me?" she breathed out, guilt washing over her immediately.

          "Was it a nice walk?"

          "Oh," she sighed, "yes, it was a wonderful walk."

          "Hermione, can I ask you something?" the girl nodded, kind of nervously but she didn't seem to notice. "Draco never told me, and I never wanted to make him uncomfortable but I must know. Why did he break up with Ginny?"

          Hermione sighed and tried to respond, but she didn't know either. "Actually, he never told me either. I never asked him or Ginny for that matter. I doubt that it was anything bad though because they still talk. It must have been a mutual understanding," she explained.

          "I see. Did he seem hurt afterwards?" she asked instead.

          Hermione shook her head. "No, not really. He was a bit quiet for a few days but he came back around after I talked to him."

          "Interesting," Narcissa nodded, putting two and two together.

          "When they were a couple, it wasn't usual. I mean, they wouldn't ever hold hands or cuddle. I think he was with me more during that relationship," Hermione laughed. Narcissa understood what had happened.

          "Well, I promised Rosetta I'd help with lunch. I'll leave you in your favorite room." Narcissa chuckled and left. Hermione stayed in her spot for a bit, pondering over what had happened. Finally, she grabbed her book from the table, once again getting lost in the fairytale.

It was late afternoon when Draco found Hermione in the library. She was reading a rather old, large book while her body was snuggled in the chair she sat in. Her legs were curled to the side so her dress covered her thighs up. He couldn't help but stare at her, her brown eyes bright with excitement from her reading, her sensuous mouth curved upwards in a sweet smile that made Draco weak in the knees. She was beautiful, pure and simple.

          He pushed himself from the doorway, the door making a soft click as it closed behind him. Hermione looked up, not really surprised, but smile more as Draco walked towards her.

          "What are you reading?" he asked softly, sitting on the arm of the chair, leaning over to see the cover. 

          "Thumbelina. It was my favorite when I was little," she gushed, putting her book mark in her spot before closing the cover.

          "I thought you'd be more of a Cinderella type of girl," he wondered.

          "Well, it was a great story too. Why would you think that?"

          "A story of a girl who fell in love with a prince. Wow, that's the plot to a lot of stories," he said, making her giggle.

          "This is true," she agreed.

          "I don't know, it just seemed more like you I guess. But I have been wrong before," shrugged Draco.

          "Yes," she replied. "So, what are you doing? Getting something to read?"

          "Actually, no. I wanted to find you," he grinned, making her blush.

          "Oh," she mumbled, folding her hands in her lap and looking down at them.

          "Hermione, I wanted to talk to you about the other night…" Draco started and she looked back at him instantly.

          "Okay, then talk," she said and turned in the chair she was in to face him, giving Draco all her attention.

          "Well," he swallowed, trying to be careful with his wording. "What would have happened wasn't planned. And I hope you aren't mad at me about it."

          "Mad? Why would I be mad?" she questioned.

          "Because I didn't want to confuse you. But I want to lay everything out so it'll be cleared up once and for all. Alas, before I do that though, I have one small request," he asked, looking at her expectantly.

          "What?" she breathed out, seeing him lean a bit closer.

          "Kiss me," he murmured before settling his lips over hers. Hermione's eyes closed at the contact, seeing fireworks behind her shut lids. Draco's mouth caressed hers eagerly, trying to get as much of her taste that he could get, but he only wanted more as the seconds of kissing her became minutes. Out of breath, Draco pulled away watching her reaction of their passionate embrace. Se wore a woozy look on her face and he never saw her so beautiful.

          "What did you want to tell me?" she asked after her breathing slowly became normal again.

          "I'm in love with you," he replied and he watched her close her eyes and faint into his arms. "I didn't think I had that much of an affect on women," he murmured before picking her up and taking her to the nearest bedroom: his.

          Hermione woke up, thinking all was a dream. Draco's kiss and his words, all of it she imagined in her dreams. She must have fallen asleep while reading earlier in the library. 'Then why am I in a bed with a snake picture across from me?'

          "It wasn't a dream," she said to herself, shaking her head. She had fainted at Draco's declaration and he had brought her to his room to rest. She wrapped his sheets up around her body, letting the smell of him fill her sense. She closed her eyes and pictured the scene in her mind. "I'm in love you with," he had said. And her response had been to faint? She didn't understand and was extremely confused but she had the sudden urge to giggle. So she did and fell back asleep with a smile on her face.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: First off, I'm sorry it's taken so long to update this chapter. I've been kinda busy, yet kinda lazy so it's been my fault almost completely. And although I really enjoy this coupling, I probably won't write anymore of it after this is done. I don't think I write Draco that good as a nice character and I don't like having to change much of him from the book. I'm not writing off this couple though, because I might change my mind later on. Although, that is most unlikely.

Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Only one more to go… then it's the epilogue.

Thanks for everyone who's still reviewing and reading!

 Ponderer