Chapter 3.
Stepping once more into the hazy atmosphere of the Smoldering Toad I took a quick glance around. He wasn't here. I scanned the pub slower this time, but he was nowhere in sight. He wasn't here. He. Was. Not. Here. My heart seemed to plummet and smash on the scuffed, worn wooden floor. I had seen this coming; of course I had. I had been dreading this happening since I left my apartment 10 rushed minutes ago. How could I have ever been so stupid as to believe he could change? Once again I had set myself up for heartbreak. For the thousandth time in my life I cursed Draco Malfoy. I cursed the day I met him until the day I thought I had seen him for the last time. For the first time in a long time I was on my side. My own side.
My mind floated back to the day I had heard the news. Front page of the daily prophet. Ron had scanned the article with a look of malicious bliss on his face, but I had read and re-read it periodically through out the day, sorrow welling up inside me, my heart going out to the Malfoys…or what was left of them. I had been frustrated with myself of course. I had no control over the outburst at supper. I was powerless over the angry words aimed at Ron as he scoffed and grinned stupidly to himself. Six years of hell from Draco Malfoy, and I had pitied him.
Something in his eyes last night had made me so sure he was different, but I was used to making mistakes. This too would pass. The lump in my throat abruptly turned into a scream of anger, which was on the tip of my tongue when I heard a voice behind me.
"Looking for me?" I almost choked. Trying desperately to look cool and composed, I turned to face him. Once again, I almost choked on the freshly swallowed scream of rage. He was grinning sheepishly, revealing a set of pearly whites to give Lockhart a run for his money. His hair, no longer slicked back in his old egotistical fashion, but still a breathtaking blonde, fell into his steely grey eyes. But something was not right. His eyes, although shining happily seemed oddly closed off. But…on second thought, perhaps that's how they had always looked; I had never bothered to notice. He was tall. Almost as tall as Ron, although firmly built as opposed to my brother's scrawny, slightly wimpy figure. I flushed a little, embarrassed at my slight panic attack. Masking it with one of my rare true grins, I nodded. He opened his mouth to say something apologetic, but I cut him off before he had even began.
"It's okay. I only just got here too." Looking slightly surprised, he grinned back.
"Looks like I've found the next Trelawney…" I laughed, and he motioned for me to sit down at one of the small wooden tables in the smoky corner of the tavern. "Did you…go to Hogwarts?"
"Yes," I replied without thinking. He looked thoughtful.
"I knew you looked familiar…Ella…what house were you in?" His words seemed to float across the table to me; I was comprehending them much slower than I should be. I could not help but marvel at the way my fake name rolled off his tongue. 'What house were you in?' A good five seconds after the question had been asked, my eyes widened a fraction, and my heart jumped into my throat. Good one Weasley.
"Gr—Huffle—Claw." I stammered. Smooth Ginny, real smooth. He looked at me for a second, a smile creeping onto his lips.
"Grhuffleclaw." He repeated calmly, as if this were an actual house, the trace of a laugh in his voice, a hint of a smirk on his lips. I closed my eyes for a moment, willing the embarrassment to pass.
"Gryffindor," I laughed. He did not look disgusted, "What about you?" I tried my best to put on a convincingly interested face. He looked me in the eyes, expression faltering slightly.
"Ah…Slytherin," He said quietly. I pretended to laugh.
"What a match we are," It sounded forced. I sensed that he could tell, but he simply laughed too. A normal, human laugh. All malice gone without a trace.
"Yes indeed…"
After the small pothole at the beginning of our conversation, we started to talk smoothly again. Amazing how I felt I could talk to him all night. Astounding how we had reached an unspoken agreement to stay off the subject of Hogwarts. It was obvious that we were both not entirely comfortable, and not entirely truthful about this topic. I could tell he wanted to tell me more than he was limiting himself too. I myself came close to telling him who I really was. But I couldn't. Not yet.
Always having a bit of an unhealthy fascination with people, I could not help but watch him more intently than I should have. I tried to pick out bits and pieces of the old Draco. There were definitely a few of the old mannerisms in him; they way he could look casual, and coolly uninterested in any position. Whether it was leaning placidly back in his chair, hands behind his head or straddling the wooded arm of the chair, an incident that was the result of a rather humorous conversation about broomsticks. I noticed how he could twist sarcasm smoothly into the conversation, always making me laugh. It was not directed at anyone, so while it had been humiliating at school when I was the target of the nasty humor, it was funny, and dare I say, sexy in a way.
At the end of the night we parted with an awkward goodbye handshake, and his word that he would stop by my place if I owled him the address. I watched him disappear down the dark street before turning and walking…no…floating back home.
I looked quickly over my shoulder as I drew my wand out of my pocket when I came to my locked door. No one in sight. With a swift movement, the door was open and my wand was back in my pocket. Turning the pitiable light on, I almost screamed.
"Hermione!" I gasped, shutting the door, trying to slow my pounding heart. The figure curled neatly up on my couch stirred.
"Hey Gin," She said groggily, sitting up, a hand over her eyes, momentarily blinded by the little light produced by the 'trustworthy' muggle appliance in the corner. I kicked my shoes off, threw my jacket onto the coat rack and sat down next to her.
"So I guess my brother found you at last, then," She scowled.
"Harry found me…Listen Gin…Would it be alright if I stay here tonight?" She looked me in the eyes for a brief second, a brooding expression settling on her face. I decided not to ask. I nodded, and hesitated, wondering whether I should tell her about Draco. Who else would I tell? Who else would she tell? After all, she wasn't exactly on speaking terms with my brother...
"Hermione, listen—," She did not obey. Words were spilling out of her mouth, and as usual, when she was distressed, they seemed to come in an incomprehensible stream.
"Gin, Idon'tevenknowwhatwe'refightingabout!" She wailed. I frowned, looking sympathetic, while trying to piece together what she had just said. "I mean…it could be about anything. We argue a lot—about the stupidest things—but then it turns into a huge argument. Never this big, of course, but we were yelling…and then…I—I just left. I don't even know where I went…I just kind of wandered around Diagon Alley all day until Harry found me. I was hoping it would be Ron…but he's your brother, you know him as well as I do. He's just so stubborn! He'll never admit when he's wrong—," She jabbered, most likely talking to the burn on the coffee table.
"Hermione. Hermione!" I cut her off, anxious to stop the blabbering. She looked up, a fire still in her eyes. I suddenly felt at a loss for words. She looked at me expectantly, and then opened her mouth as if to start talking again. "I—I'm…" I made pointless gestures in the air, stalling for time. She seemed to notice my struggle, and looked slightly concerned. "I'm…sort of…datingDracoMalfoy." The words that spilled out of my mouth sounded mixed and rushed, as hers often did.
The silence hung in the air for one unbearable moment as she processed the words. Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened dramatically.
So, as always, R&R, and I'll love you forever :D
