RUMOURS

Chapter 3

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It was a quiet and somber dinner this particular night at Hogwarts. People poked their food and sipped their drinks slowly.

N.E.W.Ts were coming to a close, and if it weren't for the war that awaited them, they would have cheered or collapsed in bed to catch up on sleep. Graduation usually meant new beginnings signified by a new journey in life – adulthood. Yet the soon-to-be graduates of Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry did not look forward to what lay behind the doors. The war continued to brew and soon enough, they would face the harsh reality of the outside world.

There was no great surprise when all heads turned to the doors of the Great Hall when a panting Hufflepuff burst through.  She was so excited that she proclaimed the news out loud for everybody to hear: "They're together!!"

Automatically, ears perked up and the Great Hall was alive again.

First to hear the details of the news were the Hufflepuffs and a few people from other houses that made their way through.

The Hufflepuffs romanticized and emphasized that drama and emotions of the event that they believed to occur in the Astronomy Tower, or better yet, outside by the lake. They pictured desperation as the rain poured down on them, with slaps and heated arguments to complete the picture. They pictured Draco waiting outside holding flowers, chocolates and jewelry in an attempt to win her over. Hermione, having gone outside without a cloak, was shivering as her white shirt was completely soaked in the rain. Like a proper gentleman, Draco offered his cloak to her.

Ravenclaw, after much debate of the personalities of Head Boy and Head Girl, concluded that they would have dealt with it in a calm and professional manner, where they laid out their priorities to reach a mutual agreement. After which, they would share a passionate kiss on top of Madam Pince's desk.

Once again, Gryffindors and Slytherins shared the same sentiments – beneath their jokes and denial, they accepted them.

Gryffindors laughed uproariously at the re-enactment of Draco's pitiful attempts to win Hermione. They used the term 'win' loosely as they were sure Hermione took pity in him.

Slytherins on the other hand, snickered and mentally acknowledged Draco's skill in bed. They were sure that Draco bound Hermione to bed and seduced her to submission. Either that or Hermione begged him to teach her, first hand, how to seduce men.

The truth of the matter was that it started similarly to what Ravenclaws deduced; it started and ended the same way. Hufflepuff's romantic sentiments filled the middle of the story, but no rain was present. And the remaining two houses were completely off track - if only they let go of their House rivalry. Some things were hard to let go, it seems.

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Hermione followed him not but two seconds after he exited the room.

She thought back to that day months ago, a week after he kissed her on Valentine's Day, when she told him that she couldn't risk a relationship with him. Looking back, she could appreciate her good logic for not starting a relationship then; now, she wanted nothing more than to slap herself on the forehead.  

If she had known the fear, the worry, and the helplessness she felt when Professor Dumbledore told Harry, Ron and herself that Draco would embark on a mission that risked his life for the Order of the Phoenix, she would have succumbed then, if only to have been able to spend more time with him.

"Draco!  Stop," Hermione called out, "I need to talk to you."

This was her last chance. She desperately needed to tell him what she really felt. This was the man who was closest to possibly ever making her feel complete, whole, loved, cherished, everything that she ever wanted and he had a right to know that.

Hermione supposed that he may not have anything worth fighting for – with his mother dead and his name nearly dirt in the world. He would stupidly risk his life to renew his family's honour and she was afraid of that. She wanted him to live. She wanted him to survive.

And if he had nothing, then she would give him something to come back to.

"Please, Draco. This is important," she pleaded.

He never forgot that night when he made up his mind to respect her wishes.  And now, after months of awkward silences when left alone together, still putting on the façade of friendship for the sake of the school and the students, she wanted to talk to him.

Well, bloody hell, he didn't have time for it right now. He had to stay focused and determined; he had to stay strong to do what needed to be done and damn whatever she had to say. He told himself that he was unaffected by her reaction – that he didn't hear her gasp in surprise, or notice her body stiffen at the implications of his dangerous mission.

He left Professor Dumbledore's office as soon as he relayed the news, hoping to escape the interrogation, or accusations, or whatever the three of them had to throw at him.

Of course, that hadn't happened for as soon as he reached the hallway, he heard the staircase move and the echo of her approaching footsteps in the empty hallway. She had insisted, persisted, and annoyingly followed him, calling out to him in a quavering, yet demanding voice. No longer was he able to deny himself of the truth. She still harbored some feelings for him, it was as clear as the tears in her eyes.

"What, Hermione?" he asked bitingly as he turned around. His eyes were a steely gray that glared at her with loathing. He was annoyed and frustrated and obviously just wanted to be left alone. Hermione did not care because she had to talk to him.

She didn't know what to say. All she focused on was her need to talk to him and actually getting him to talk to her. She didn't think past that, and was at a loss for words.

Jumbled words attempted to form sentences to tell him exactly what she felt, and wanted to know. Sentences tried to readjust themselves so that a question mark formed at the end. Her teeth bit on her lip, her feet dug on the floor, and her eyes stared at his nose, then his cheeks, and his forehead, then his hair. She looked everywhere but the eyes that bore into her soul.

'Focus Hermione' she scolded herself. She needed to focus and find the words to communicate what she had wanted to say since he flew away that night - the words that he never got to hear. Was it wishful thinking to believe that if he heard the words all those months ago, that things would have been different – that he would have understood?

He stood impatiently waiting for her to say something.

Deep inside, in a part of him that refused to let his emotions out, something begged, pleaded and wanted her to continue. If what she needed to say was so important, then she would tell him regardless of what feelings delivered. After all, it was she who rejected him when he put his heart out on the line.

"Don't tell me I need to get your copy of uHogwarts: A Historyu to mark today as the second time I've rendered you speechless." He drawled.

Hermione looked at him confused for a moment, wondering what he was trying to accomplish. She perfectly remembered the first time he commented on her inability to produce speech.  Was that an opening he offered, or was he simply mocking her? She didn't put it below him to think that he meant both. It was classic Draco to confuse her like this.

"That night, you left before I finished what I had to say," she began.

"I heard enough, Hermione," Draco replied, his frustration growing for she had called him to recall past events that had already been dealt with.

"What was the last thing you remember?" she continued, undeterred by his dismissive replies. 

"You couldn't do ithis/i," he answered, emphasizing the last word.

A deep sigh escaped his lips.  He brought his fingers to massage his forehead. He looked like a tired man, an emotionally exhausted man, who seemed almost heartbroken. Almost.

"Whatever 'ithisi' was,' he added sarcastically, 'I am a gentleman, Hermione, and I respected your wishes."

"And I thank you for respecting my wishes."

Once again, she confused him. Women, in general, he understood. He was able to read their behaviour to predict their reactions. The most useful skill he acquired was his ability to avoid any situation that involved an emotionally distraught female.

Hermione Granger took him for the most confusing vertigo he'd ever experience. This was the woman whose emotions he could not simmer by saying a few appeasing words, or with bright expensive jewels. She stood in front of him, not yelling, nor crying, nor demanding.

If what Hermione said months ago were anything to go by, then she should be happy that he respected her wishes. However, if that were the case, then she wouldn't have called after him.

"So why did you call me, Hermione? You got what you wanted."

She gathered the courage and bravery associated with her house to tell him exactly why she called him – to deliver her heart onto a silver platter for him to stomp on if he chose to.

"I was scared, Draco," Hermione said. At his silence, she continued to explain.

"I couldn't bear to handle all the emotional repercussions if we ever ventured into a relationship. We had N.E.W.Ts, our duties and the war to worry about."

"So now that two things are crossed of your list, you think you can uncross my name? It doesn't work like that, Granger."

"I'm not saying that.  I am letting you know, I am confronting this issue now because I am scared…"

"Again?" he scoffed.

"Yes, again, because I'm afraid that I'll never have the chance to tell you how much you mean to me!"

With each passing syllable, Hermione voice increased. A sob escaped her lips and her body visibly shook in a struggle for control. She wrapped her arms around herself. Too weak and tired to hold herself up, she leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes to seek comfort in the blankness of her surroundings. She saw darkness and heard nothing but her ragged breathing as she waited for her throbbing heart and headache to subside.

The chilling feeling Draco felt all those months ago hit him in full force and he could do nothing but go to her and hold her in his arms. She instinctively held onto him and they stood in the empty hallway holding each other. She cried then, when his arms encircled him. The dam broke loose and her body wracked with a sob. 

Draco ran his hand up and down her back to soothe her. He held on tighter, trying to convey all the emotion he felt in holding her. He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead, doing anything he could to make her feel better. Her sniffles eventually died down under the attention he was giving her and she was calm again.

"What do you want, Hermione?" he softly asked.

She was reminded of a time when the tables were turned and she asked that question. Looking up at his lips, she understood that the only way to ever properly answer was through actions. No words could ever express what needed to be conveyed. She could try, but they didn't have time. Reality set in and she answered him.  

"This," she whispered quietly.

Imprisoned emotions escaped. Fueled by desperation and last chances, their lips met hungrily. The fire burned reaching new levels of intensity. Never had they felt this much desire, need, want, hunger for the other's touch, for this type of intimacy. Months of holding back, respecting wishes, and doing what one thought was best, unleashed.

Oxygen burnt just as quickly in the past, but they refused to part; absolutely refused to separate, to be individuals again. Hands grabbed, holding on tightly trying to get as close as possible.

They ignored the approaching footsteps. The audible gasp fell on deaf ears and the couple remained kissing. Only the sound of a delighted squeal quickly broke them apart. Draco and Hermione didn't bother to identify the figure whose quick steps ran back to where they came from.

Draco leaned his forehead against hers and was content in staring at her beautiful brown eyes.

"What does this mean, Hermione?"

"It means," she said looking up into his eyes, "my heart is yours; that you have to come back and return it."

"Are you sure about this?" Draco asked.

"Very. And besides," she answered, "we can't very well disappoint the students now, can we?"

He laughed, certain that the intruder was running the rumor mill now.

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The End

What did you think? Please review!

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The following fic is in response to Fic Request #32 which stated the following conditions:

Rating(s) of the Fic: PG-13 or R

3-5 Things to Include in the Fic:
1. Seventh year. They could be Head Boy/Head Girl, or not.
2. Draco and Hermione must, I repeat must, fall in love with *each other*; meaning, with one another's intellect, spirit, ideals, soul, what have you- not just hook up because they are suddenly both HOT.
3. A lot of good drama/angst.
4. A nice fight is good for creating said drama/angst.
5. A life-threatening situation to one or both of them; could be the "final battle", or something else entirely. Your choice. Should force them to confront their feelings for each other. There should be a happy ending, though!

What Not to Include in the Fic:
1. A whole lot of fluff or a whole lot of sex. A little is fine- tantalize me! But I prefer a good plotline to bunches of senseless snogging!
2. Bronzed God Draco, Supermodel Hermione.
3. Endless inner dialogues, i.e., "She's so hot all of a sudden- but she's a mudblood! But she's hot! But she's a mudblood! But she's hot!"
4. No shared bathroom! They can be HB and HG, but they do not share a bathroom! It's just not realistic. (Major pet peeve of mine!)

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