Before I Fall Any Deeper

Chapter Four - Just Like I Said

"Not you again," Hermione sighed, putting her head in her hands; her desk was unrecognizable due to all the papers strewn all over the place, but there was room for her head to rest. It was late at night, and she'd stayed later than anyone else again, which meant that they were alone in the office. Something about this made her heart race in excitement, and also made her feel really ill.

"I'd just like you to know that I've come round here everyday for the past four weeks

to see you just so I can hear these endearing welcomes you've always got for me. I liked yesterday's the best. What was it? 'Piss off, you tosser?'" He flashed her a grin and perched on the side of her desk. (How he found room to do so was beyond her, but she didn't try and stop him.)

"What do you want, Draco? I'm terribly busy." She gestured to all her work, and he nodded.

"I can see that. I was wondering if you'd like to go out for a quick drink. No strings attached. Just you, me, and a bottle of something that'll get us pissed. It's Friday, you've had a hard week, and so have I. I thought we could help each other unwind a bit."

"Will you ever quit?" She asked, more to herself than to him.

He justified her with a response, anyway. "I can honestly say that I never will."

She was tired, she was agitated. She wanted to go home and run a hot bath, then curl up with a good book and lose herself until Monday morning. She didn't want Draco Malfoy, looking incredibly hot, sitting on her desk and asking her out for a drink.

Mostly because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to refuse him again.

She shuffled some papers around. "I don't know if I'm leaving work until mid-April, but maybe we can go out then."

Draco chuckled and leaned towards her. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

Hermione looked up, took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. "Okay."

He jumped up, smiling. "Brilliant. I've got my car out front---"

"Draco."

Draco turned around, his grin still in place as he stared at her; she stood up beside him. "I want to know something first."

He shrugged. "Anything."

"Why do you want to go out with me so badly?"

Draco took a step towards her, the grin slipping off his face; he held a finger out and slid it down her cheek. "Want the truth?"

Hermione gave him a look as if to say 'Why wouldn't I?' and nodded. "Yes, I do."

He dropped his hands to his sides, one hand slipping towards hers to caress her palm with his thumb; she nearly fell over from the swoon she felt coming on.

"I've fancied you since day one."

One of her eyebrows rose in doubt. "If you're not going to be honest, then I'm not going anywhere with you." Flat. Direct. To the point. He couldn't avoid it with his charms.

"Okay, maybe not day one. But day three, definitely." He dropped her hand and shrugged a little; the sincerity in his voice melted her heart, and her reservations about him. "When I realized you could beat my arse in everything, and that you were sixteen hundred times smarter than me, I realized that I couldn't go through life without you beside me."

Hermione wasn't sure if she could speak, but when she tried to, words did come out. "Why were you so terrible to me, then?"

"It was how I had to be," he answered seriously. "I didn't have a choice, and I hope you believe me when I say I regret every second of it."

"For some really strange reason, I do believe you. Despite the fact I'd much rather just slap you in the face."

Draco smiled brightly at her. "Time to get pissed, I think. You up for it?"

"For once, yes, I am."

He took her hand and they left the building.

"You want to come up?" Hermione asked, trying desperately to get the key in the blasted lock.

"You're quite tipsy," Draco remarked wryly, guiding her hand so the key went in; it clicked and he pushed it open.

"So?" She swayed slightly on the spot and fell into him.

"So, perhaps this evening isn't the best time to do this."

"It's a good a time as any." She leaned up and kissed him softly.

"I'm too drunk to hold you back too much longer, just so you know."

"You don't act drunk." She giggled, and couldn't stop herself.

He smirked. "I never act drunk, but it doesn't mean I'm not."

"I want you to come inside," she said eventually, after they stared at each other for a few minutes, their breaths, smelling of alcohol, mingling with the night air.

"I want to let myself," Draco responded quietly, leaning in to kiss her deeply under the porch light, his arms wrapped tightly around her. When he pulled away, she fell backwards into the flat and he tumbled in with her.