Wonderwall

By tearsofher

Disclaimer: don't own Draco or Hermione or any of the characters.. Just the plot..

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Unexplainable Warmth

Hermione sat beside the window, staring outside. Today was the start of the first weekend since they had started school, and she felt as if she had nothing to do. Ron and Harry were going to practice with their brooms outside today, and well.. She didn't feel like watching them. Although, it was rather tempting to go outside and breathe in the fresh air. The skies were clear and blue; the breeze was soft but refreshing. But she sighed, as she pulled it shut. She felt so out of place, sometimes. Ron and Harry would always go on and on about quidditch, and sometimes they would even forget she was there. She would look at them with hurt eyes, but when they would ask her what was wrong, she told them it was nothing. They were always far too blind to see that she was lying, or what she truly felt. She took a deep breath, and headed for the bathroom.

Hermione dressed in a simple blouse and skirt, as she grabbed her book bag. As always, she was going to the library. She walked down the empty corridor, her footsteps echoing off the walls. She could hear voices, and laughter, but she looked down. The floor was shiny, and she could almost see her reflection in them. Sad and drained. She entered the library, and went to the tall shelves. Somehow she seemed to think she would find solace in the pages of the books, getting lost in every word she read. It had seemed so easy in her earlier years. But now her thirst for knowledge was strained, and she was aware of everything else around her, besides her schoolwork. She picked out a blue book, and opened it. She could feel her throat tighten, as she tried to read the words, but they became unfocused and unclear, as she could feel tears fill her eyes. She hastily wiped away her tears on her sleeve, and shoved the book back. She willed her tears to stop; she felt as if she had no reason to cry. So why was she? Why was she crying, letting these tears escape? So what if she felt alone sometimes? Millions of people, she was sure, felt like that every single day. She shouted at herself, mentally, but she slid against the bookshelf, sitting on the floor. She stared up at the tall shelves that had seemed to always make her happy before. What had happened? Why was she like this? She could never be into quidditch like Harry and Ron.. She knew her heart just wasn't into it, and it was never going to be. She enjoyed reading, and studying, but she could almost hear people snort at her whenever she raised her hand to answer a question. She let out a ragged breath. She was tired of being known as a know it all. She was tired of hearing Harry and Ron ask her to help them with their assignments, then going out and leaving her there to do it all by herself.

She had never told anyone. Why she covered herself with books, always done with her homework three weeks before they were overdue. It was her insecurities, her fears and thoughts. They had driven her to this, up to her neck with books, sad. She shut her eyes tightly, and sighed. Her eyes were aching, and they felt as if all the moisture had been sucked out of them. She hadn't gotten as much sleep, these past nights. They were often plagued with thoughts about the boy a room away from her, and the way he looked into her eyes. It seemed as if he looked deep inside her, seeing all her thoughts and reading all her feelings. And how his attitude had changed towards her.. He seemed friendly, and 'mudblood' seemed to be out of his vocabulary ever since they had gotten off the train. Which, if you can imagine, was quite shocking. She had the feeling there was something different in him, as if something in him was shifting and changing. She didn't know if he knew it or not, or if he was doing it on purpose, but it seemed to warm her heart whenever she saw him.

And somehow, as weird as it was, he filled in that void that she had. Being in that same room, the other night.. Her fears and negative thoughts were pushed away, and they disappeared. Ron and Harry could never do that to her, as close as they were.

He seemed to dissolve all her pessimistic thoughts about him in the past, and every time he looked into her eyes, she became flustered.. She could almost remember that eruption of the hyperactive butterflies inside her stomach. She didn't quite know what it was, but something inside told her that she would find out. If not soon. Just then, she felt warm breaths on her skin.

"Granger? You alright?" Hermione's eyes bolted open, and she found herself staring into those all too familiar silver eyes of his. She felt her heart stop for but a second. Draco was looking at her, knee down on the floor. Her eyes were red, and they seemed glossy. He knew she had been crying. He felt something inside cry out, telling him to ask her why, or even to wrap his arms around her..

"I-Uh, I'm fine, Malfoy," she said. She noticed the closeness between them, and she could feel his soft breaths on her skin. She could it feel a burning tingle wherever it lay. Draco looked at her, and she thought she could see a hint of worry in his dark cloudy eyes. He searched her eyes; trying to find something, a reason maybe, to as why she had been crying. She looked troubled, and sad. If only he could just open his mouth and ask her why.. Then maybe this slight strain on his heart would ease.

Hermione could feel her heart pounding in her chest, blood rushing in her ears, as Draco remained still so close to her. She could feel her body getting warm, and she felt as if her throat was closing up. She couldn't swallow. Draco felt hypnotized, mesmerized. He was aware of their closeness, yes, but he couldn't help but to want to stay this way. He didn't want to pull away. He was drawn to her, somehow; the warmth he often found in her eyes was pulling him to her, and he could feel his body and heart screaming at him, telling him to comfort her, somehow. But he pulled back. He was a Malfoy; and as he said that to himself, stating that was the reason, he felt a twinge of pain weighing down on his heart. Because that was a lie. There was something holding him back, but it wasn't his name or pride. Maybe it was fear; he was scared of wanting to be near her, wanting to wrap his arms around her. He was scared of longing to whisper comforting words into her ear, and wipe those tears away. He swallowed hard, and finally stood up, and walking back until his back was pressed against the bookshelf. He looked at her, as she stared back at him. He felt as if all of a sudden the air had become cold again, and he knew it was because that she was no longer near him. But she gave him a different kind of warmth. It was the kind of warmth not even the sun could dream of giving. It was the kind of warmth that seemed to melt everything inside him, made him lightheaded, but filled his soul like a stream of holy water.

He recognized it. He knew what it was. It was the kind of warmth only Hermione Granger could give him.

"What are you doing here, Granger?" he asked her, quietly. He could see something cloud her eyes, as she looked away. She was still sitting on the floor, and she urged herself to get up, but she felt as if she were frozen stiff.

"I needed to get a book," she said to him, firmly but he heard the shakiness in her voice.

"Are you alright?" He asked her, again, his voice still soft and gentle. She looked up at him, as she struggled to get up, her hands hanging on to the shelves.

"I'm just fine," she said again. But Draco could see right through her lie. He knew she knew it too. Although, he just nodded at her, never looking down or away.

"I just," she sighed. " I just needed, a break, that's all," she said. Her words, she felt, were heavy on her heart. She could see his piercing eyes see right through her lies, but she couldn't tell him the truth. He looked at her, his gaze unwavering. He was wishing he could bore into her so much that she would break down that stubborn barrier she had, and tell him. But she could see she wasn't going to give in. He had to ask if he wanted to know. He could see in her eyes that she wanted him to ask her, but at the same time begging him not to.

"We both know that's only part of the truth, Granger. And I don't settle for half of anything," he said to her, calmly. He was standing tall, but he could feel his heart pounding harder and harder, his conscience screaming at him.. Her gaze seemed to be breaking down everything inside him.. He saw the hurt and pain in her chocolate eyes, and he could feel his heart buckle. He wasn't used to seeing her this way.. He had always seen her happily laughing along with her friends, and only slightly angry when he used to torment them. But.. Even with the words he had said to her in the past, they had never hurt her. Not like this. He could see she tried to hide it as much as she could, and kept it bottled up inside for too long. His hands were shaking at his side, they urged to touch her, to reach out to her.. Wipe away those tears, caress her smooth face.. His body's reactions and urges were driving him crazy.. He couldn't breathe, and he felt his teeth gritting inside his mouth. What was she doing to him? He realized this was what was triggering his anger; it was the unfamiliarity of his reactions to her, his feelings. He wanted it to go away, but he couldn't let it leave. He felt his anger boil, and his nails were digging into his skin, in his clenched fists.

"Answer me, Granger," he whispered to her. Hermione didn't want to tell him.. Why was it his business anyway? It's not like he cared about her, or anything as much. Hermione glared at him, and felt anger rising in her. But she couldn't figure out why she was getting angry. Was she getting angry that he was telling her to speak the truth? Did it anger her that he could see right through her, when nobody else could?

Or did it anger her that she knew that he couldn't possibly care about her?

"Answer me," he said to her, firmly but she could hear strain through it. Hermione felt her eyes blaze with fury, as she tried to blink back the tears. She looked away, her hands clenched into fists. She could feel her fingernails digging into her flesh.

"I'm leaving, Malfoy," she said, as she started to walk away. But Draco was faster, and grabbed her by the shoulders. Hermione gave out a strangled cry, as his strong hands held her. His dark eyes were flashing, gleaming with anger and frustration. Hermione felt her heart beating in her chest, like it was going to stop jump out all of a sudden. Hermione looked into his eyes, and she couldn't figure out how he could possibly angry. Why was he angry? Why did he want to know? All these questions and assumptions were swarming through her mind, and she had to block them out. All the answers she wanted to be true were even farther from it. She let out a ragged breath; she was terrified.

"I told you to answer me," he whispered to her, harshly and furious. Draco didn't know what he was doing, but he was blinded. By his own rage.. By her stubbornness.. By what he thought wasn't supposed to be. He wasn't supposed to be feeling this way about her. He wasn't supposed to care. He wasn't supposed to want to know why she was crying, so he could somehow find a way to comfort her.. He was supposed to hate her. She was a muggle born.

He was supposed to hate her.

He saw fear in her eyes, as he held her close. He could feel her warmth rushing to him, and he suddenly aware of how tightly he was grasping her. He suddenly became aware of how close they were, closer than before. But not close to her enough that he wanted to be. He softened his grasp, but didn't let her go. He saw her eyes become wet and glossy again, and he felt his heart fold. Had he hurt her? He let his hands open and he brought them down. He swallowed hard, as he brought his hands to her sleeve, and raised it up to where he had held her. Hermione had closed her eyes, and she felt as if she had stopped breathing altogether as she felt his warm hands on her shoulder, tracing the marks he had given to her. They were burning, and her shoulders ached, but she felt an icy hot sensation when Draco's fingers touched it, gently outlining it. She could feel her breathing get rapid, and tried her best to shallow it. There were butterflies in her stomach, and they seemed to be in hyper speed, bouncing off her insides.

Draco felt his fingertips graze her skin, and he felt their smooth surface. He saw the red marks, and he knew she would have bruises.. And he couldn't help but let his breathing get heavier. What was he doing? What was happening to him? He raised his gaze to her face, and he saw that her eyes were tightly closed.. He looked down and he could see her slightly shaking. He let go of her, and her sleeve slid back down, but he didn't back away. He looked at her, and he could feel the anger drain from his eyes, and body.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, and Hermione opened her eyes, slowly. She saw his eyes were dark and cloudy.. She saw regret, confusion.. Her shoulder was still tingling from where he had touched her, and she could feel the pit of her stomach caving in deeper. She swallowed hard. Draco looked at her, his thoughts were buzzing and his nerves were going crazy. His fingers felt as though they had been kissed with an eternal white fire.

"The truth," Hermione whispered, her voice shaky. She looked down. "Isn't always what hurts someone. It's what they can't see, what you have to explain. Because they were too blind. That's what hurts, that's why I was crying.. There's your answer," she said, painfully. Draco felt his heart crumble little by little.

Draco saw her solemn and hurt expression, and he knew there was nothing he could say. He couldn't even speak, even if he tried. She had answered him, and he understood all too well, but.. Was it enough? Was it enough to keep him from wondering about her? Was it enough to finally letting him fall into a deep slumber, without her tear-streaked face haunting him? Was it enough that he wouldn't think about this day, remember the hurt in her eyes that made him feel.. Guilty and sad? No. It wasn't enough. It would never be enough. Only she was enough, but he knew she was too far out of his reach. She would keep haunting him, every night always restless and straining.

"I-" she whispered, she looked up at him. "I have to go," she said softly, and she walked past him, feeling a soft breeze cover him from her retreat. Hermione took one last glance at him, unmoving, before she closed the library doors.

Draco stared down at his feet, feeling as if someone was stirring all these foreign and strange ingredients in his stomach. She had left and he could feel his heart's beating get softer and slower, but that didn't erase everything else. His fingers still burned pleasantly, and he still found it hard to breathe properly, at his pace. He felt the air surrounding him fall, making a shiver travel up his spine. It was cold, but this was not how it was when she was here. He sighed, as he ran his trembling fingers through his hair.

Nothing was the same when she was here. And when she was gone.. He couldn't help but long to have her back here, with him. To feel that warmth, those butterflies, his heart beating rapidly. Sure, it drove him crazy, but it wasn't better when she wasn't here. He found himself missing her.

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well.. so what do you think? Its..erm.. well.. Draco's feelings are starting to show, and Hermione's confused.. and so is he.. I don't know when, or what will happen.. But I've got some ideas in my mind and I've jotted them down. I'm hoping this will be a good fanfic, just like SeRS (Silver eyes restless sleep), but if it's even better, then that's really great. Thanks to all the reviewers.. LeslieGlady, thanks for being so faithful, haha.. I appreciate all your reviews, and again, thank you. Until tomorrow..

-tearsofher