Author's Note: Thank you to all those who took the time to read and review the previous chapter. As promised, here is the next chapter, which has been uploaded earlier than the last one. Hope you enjoy. :)
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EXCEPT HER
Chapter Fifteen
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Draco ran his hand through his hair, surveying the grandfather clock that stood beside the wall. It had already struck two in the morning, and yet he was still wide awake; here he was in the Slytherin Common Room, resting his feet on the coffee table in front of him with the rest of his body on a green leather sofa. He whiled away the night by strumming his fingers impatiently on his lap, anxiously anticipating the coming of the morning and, though he didn't want to admit it, the coming of the time he'd see Hermione.
Try as he might, he still couldn't find it in himself to hate her and forget all about her. He tried so many times to stir and reawaken the contempt and childish hate he felt for the girl for the past six years, but the love he felt for her was stronger. He loved her with a passion as much as he hated her once with a passion.
Every single moment when they had a chance to see each other, Hermione would always grab a chance to gaze at him with her expressive chocolate brown eyes and, if she was lucky, talk to him. But now, now that she knew the truth, it was of no use to talk to her. He knew what she was going to say…
And he feared rejection. He didn't know what he would do if Hermione herself would tell him that she didn't love him. He had thought of this before at the Owlery, and just thinking of it was painful enough.
But every time he'd see her, he'd be drawn to her automatically, The only way he could resist was to insult her and put on a façade that hated every fiber of her. And yet, every time he'd see her scowl with surprise and sadness, he desired to reach out and place his hand lovingly on her cheek.
The fire in front of him crackled merrily, intruding on the hostile silence in the room. It cast shadows upon everything around Draco and shed warmth to his already shivering body. His mind was dead tired from all his thinking; there was nothing else to do for him but to go down to his dormitory and rest until the sun finally rose.
~***~
"Quidditch practice again tomorrow, you lot," Draco shouted to the rest of his team as they all bounded up to the castle again. Being already seventh year, he was appointed captain of the House Quidditch Team.
The others murmured in reply and disappeared inside, leaving him alone in the field. None of them looked back to notice that their captain had not budged from his spot. Draco sighed and looked around, clutching his broomstick tightly with his gloved hands. The night was cool and pleasant; the air invited him to it, as if to say, Don't waste such a perfect night like this. Enjoy it while you can.
And so he did. Fortunately, it was a Friday night, and he had no classes the following day or prefect duties during Fridays. He swung his leg over and kicked off into the night in a speed he only used for important Quidditch games. The wind rustled through his hair and deafened his ears with its roar as he flew around the castle grounds as fast as a dragon's flight yet as silent as a Silencing Spell.
He could see various figures roaming in different directions inside Hogwarts. Through the huge glass window of the Great Hall, Draco could make out about more than a hundred students in black robes seated in their assigned House tables.
Would she be there? He asked subconsciously to himself.
But before he could answer his own question, he sped up to the many towers and turrets of the castle. The countless balconies up there were all vacant and quiet, and he landed himself on one of them.
This certain balcony overlooked the lake occupied by the giant squid and the many mountains in the distance. The night, with its cloudless sky dotted with countless of stars seemed to participate with it, enchanting him greatly. It was such a serene view that Draco took a while to gaze at it, calming himself through the process.
Oh, how he wished to take Hermione up here with him and show her this spectacular scene… He was so sure that she'd love him even more… if she did love him in the first place.
Which he was sure she didn't.
Draco sighed and rested his arms on the ledge of the balcony. And suddenly, he heard the faint footsteps of someone, possibly making his or her way to where he was. Draco climbed onto his broom once again and flew up and hid himself behind a stone gargoyle.
Sure enough, that someone entered the balcony, carrying a wand in one hand and what looked like flowers in the other. It was a girl, probably Draco's year, with flowing brown curls cascading down her shoulders, and wearing a black cloak over her uniform. She looked up at the sky, and Draco inhaled sharply.
It was Hermione.
His heart began to race. What's she doing here? He wondered, surveying the girl down below him. And in this balcony?
He watched her as she took her seat on the cold stone floor and sighed a heavy sigh, and then cast a Warming Spell on her body. She twirled the roses in her hand and then suddenly, Draco gasped as if he suddenly remembered an important memory.
"The roses," he whispered hoarsely, now gazing at them. He forgot all about them and how they would never wilt until his love would die.
But surely, she wouldn't know that, would she? He thought. Not many people knew about Everlasting Roses; only those in the magical plant business and hopeless romantics would ever recognize them and Hermione was definitely neither. He sighed in relief.
"I know you don't hate me," Hermione said quietly to the roses. "I know what you really feel."
Draco's heart skipped a beat. Did he just hear right?
She caressed the petals of the roses and smiled sadly. "Give me a chance."
And she stood up and prepared to leave.
Draco, on the other hand, had no idea what to do. His mind was confused, boggled. What did she mean when she wanted him to give her a chance? He watched her as she turned around and slowly entered the castle…
And before he knew it, he was there on the balcony again, standing behind her and calling her name.
"Hermione."
~***~
Author's Note: This will be the second to the last chapter… hehe. I do hope you found this chapter quite contenting, due to its unusual length… I made it especially long. :)
The next chapter, I hope, will be uploaded as soon as possible. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please don't forget to review! Thank you!
Btw, if you have the time, I invite you to read my other one-shot fic, Just Like Before, if you haven't read it yet… and if you've got loads of free time, why not review? :-P Thanks a bunch!
