Wednesday 3:25 pm
Draco leaned against the stone of the castle, staring down at the lake, which had become rather popular with the heat coming in. Hermione, Ron, and Sen were all swimming and Draco longed to go join them, but knew he'd be rejected, perhaps not orally, but never the less. Only Hermione would be glad to have him there. He longed to be with her every moment of the day, feeling his heart ache whenever she wasn't near, though he tried to remind himself that she was in the same building, they could be apart for a few hours.
Hermione looked stunning in the hot afternoon sun sitting on the dock letting her feet dangle in the water, unsure about how cold it was. Her hair was tied back loosely, several strands dangling free and others straining to do the same. She wore a one piece bathing suit that fit her form nicely. She'd gained weight in the past weeks since getting out of You-Know-Who's lair, and even more since she'd come out of her coma, no longer pale, malnourished and underweight. Her skin was still fairly white, but then neither of them had had much of a chance to get out in the sun, her cheeks had a soft red flush to them though.
Ron nearly choked when Sen splashed some water right in his face and he quickly splashed some back in her direction but she'd already disappeared underwater again.
"Hey Ron, watch out! I think the giant squid is coming!" he heard Hermione shout then a soft splash as she slipped into the water.
"So why'd you just get in?" he asked then felt something pull his ankle, jerking him underneath briefly. He moved his arms about trying to grab Sen without going under water.
Hermione laughed and went under coming up with her hair sopping which she pushed behind her ears. A moment later Ron felt himself fully dragged under and he kicked his legs reaching down to grab Sen's arm only to have it slip out of his grasp. He came up and saw Sen surface a few yards away.
"You're like a fish!" he accused faking anger.
"More like an otter I'd think," Hermione said with a smile, "Didn't Harry say he was coming?"
Sen nodded then said, "He's probably with Ginny. I think he was going to bring her along as well."
Ron coughed again and Hermione looked at him questioningly.
"We found them, kissing," Ron explained to her. Hermione 'ah-ed' and nodded.
"So they are together!" she said then looked at him again curiously, "How do you feel about it?"
Ron shrugged, "A little angry. I think I want to talk to Ginny, I don't think she's even told Mom, because then I'd know also, you know how things get around."
"Reminds me, my parents are coming up today at 4:30," Hermione told them, "They're probably going to stay the rest of the school year."
"That's good then!" Sen said, "They did come up once when you were in your, um, coma, you probably won't remember that though."
Hermione shrugged, "I can't really remember much."
Ron once again got the feeling Hermione wasn't telling them something, that perhaps she did remember lots, but didn't want to talk about it. He left it at that and instead climbed up onto the dock to jump in, splashing Sen and Hermione.
Hermione found herself wishing Draco was there, but wasn't sure how Harry and Ron would feel about spending so much time with Draco. They both seemed to be handling it okay, but Hermione could feel the tension between them.
"Hermione! Ron! Sen!" Harry yelled, grinning as he came running down the slight slope to the lake, with Ginny running behind him, a grin on her face as well.
"Hey Harry," Hermione said as he walked onto the dock. Ginny hung her towel on one of the dock's posts next to where Harry had dropped his. The sun shone hotly down and Hermione sunk a little lower in the water, hoping the spell she'd done to protect them from getting sunburnt would work. Harry got in slowly while Ginny dived in then came up and pulled Harry the rest of the way in. He yelped upon hitting the water and curled up sinking to the bottom before standing up and shaking the water out of his hair.
Glancing up towards the castle she caught a glimpse of Draco standing near the doors his gaze fixed on her. She blushed and caught his eye, he raised his eyebrows questioningly and she grinned nodding her head slightly, saying that she'd finish swimming soon and come see him. Hermione watched as he disappeared back inside the castle.
"Guess he knows Harry and Ron aren't quite comfortable with him yet," Sen said swimming up beside her. Hermione glanced at her and Sen gave a little smile.
"They're both good people though, they'll see how he's like soon enough," Sen continued lowering her voice slightly, "You're lucky to have friends like them, and to have someone like Draco."
Hermione smiled back remembering that Draco had said she had figured out somehow that he loved her, it was nice to know that at least one person knew and accepted it. Of course Sen hadn't been here long enough to develop hate for him or Slytherins.
3:55 pm
Hermione climbed up the steps to the top of the tower, knowing she'd find Draco there. It'd become somewhat of a meeting place, and a place they both now went whenever they couldn't sleep or felt the need to get away. The trap door was already open letting sunlight shine down.
Draco leaned down smiling when her saw her and gave her a hand as she stepped up, pulling her into a sweet kiss the moment she was standing.
"I missed you," Hermione said softly
"We've only been apart a few hours," Draco murmured stroking her hair.
"That's too much," Hermione told him, then added, "Remember you said you never wanted to let me go? I don't ever want to let you go either. I want you to stay here, be with your forever."
"I love you," Draco replied kissing her forehead.
"I love you too," Hermione whispered as he kissed her nose then her lips again. She pulled him closer feeling her blood pounding hotly through out her body as their kiss deepened. She felt a distinct dislike for the cloth that was the only thing between them and found her hands moving to pull of Draco's robes as she felt his hands doing the same.
A rumble of thunder seemed to wake them both up and Hermione suddenly stepped back, glancing at the large clouds starting to billow in the distance. Draco blushed furiously seeing his robe tossed aside along with his t-shirt and Hermione, just coming back from swimming, had only her bathing-suit beneath her now shed robe.
"Sorry," he said softly, "I think we got carried away."
"Don't be," she replied, "I was part of it too. Though I don't think I'm ready for..."
"I know," Draco said and leaned down to pick up his shirt.
"Wait," Hermione said reaching for his hand then she reached up and eased the top of her bathing suit down revealing her breasts.
Draco started to open his mouth but Hermione interrupted him, "Call this a sneak preview or something."
"Hermione," Draco said.
"Hold me?" she asked and Draco stepped forward pulling her close. She leaned her head against his bare chest listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. They held each other close like that, skin against skin, until the sun disappeared behind clouds and another rumble of thunder shook the air.
"My parents will be here soon," Hermione told him quietly. Draco nodded and they stepped apart turning around to pull on his shirt and then his robes. Hermione had her robe back on as well when he turned back around.
"You're beautiful," he said and Hermione blushed and bit her lip, smiling. Then Draco asked, "Are you going to tell them? Your parents I mean?"
"About us? Or about, down there?" Hermione asked uncertainly.
"Both I guess," Draco said hugging her reassuringly.
"I don't know, maybe," Hermione said, "I hate thinking about it, I just wish I could erase it from my memory. About you, they don't know you, and I don't think they'd mind too much that I have a boyfriend."
"Not thinking about it won't make it go away, and it won't make it any better either," Draco told her tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ears, "You need to talk about it, let it go, let it out."
"I don't want to though," Hermione said shivering, "I feel like I need to bury it away, but that's what I did before and then well you know what happened."
"Tell them," Draco encourage her, "Your parents are the most important people in your life, they'll be able to help you. You don't have to tell Harry and Ron or anyone, you don't have to talk to me about it, but at least talk to your parents about it."
"Okay," Hermione said, "I will."
"Ask about getting a counselor also," Draco said, "I got counseling slips from the Hogwarts counselor, did you know Hogwarts has one? All we have to do is fill them out."
Hermione nodded, "Okay. I want to get over it, Draco, but it haunts me everywhere I go."
"I know," Draco said, "In every dark corner, I can see them, standing there watching me, watching us."
Hermione buried her face in the front of his robes, but she didn't cry, and Draco held her murmuring softly to her.
A/N: Sorry for taking so long in getting this chapter up! I was going to put it up a few days ago, but the internet wasn't working and I haven't been on my computer since. Summer vacation and all... I'd like to dedicate this chapter to:
Marissa03
duochang97
SkittlesStar25
Balsam
Dreammergurl2007
may-ann
hollyshort13
LiLbLueangeL1223
Saiya-jin Patricia
dracohermioneluver