"In My Life"
Chapter 6
Hermione went to answer the door. Draco stood outside, looking pale. "Draco! What's wrong?" she asked. He shook his head.
"Never mind that." Then, as casually as he could, he asked, "Have you, by any chance, gotten any mail today?"
Hermione eyed him curiously. "Yes, actually, I got an invitation." She looked at him. "From you."
"Did you reply to it?" Draco asked hurriedly.
"No..."
Draco sighed, relieved. "Good." He walked into her hotel room and sat on the bed, his head in his hands. Hermione closed the door behind him.
"Draco, what is going on?"
"Nicole," Draco tried to find a way to tell her. He couldn't. "October 10, that's your birthday, and one of the last times I'll be able to see you before you leave to go home. The party's not that important, so let's just have dinner, the two of us." He looked at her and smiled. She smiled back.
"Okay, Draco." Even though she didn't believe a word that he just said had anything to do with the invitation, she thought it better to wait until he decided to tell her about it, and not press him. She put her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss. "Don't worry so much, Draco. Whatever you're so upset about, it'll be fine."
'I doubt it,' thought Draco gloomily.
"Ah, Dante, I'm so glad you could make it." Lucius extended the hand of greeting to his guest.
"Lucius," Dante smiled, though it was clear that this man hardly ever did this action; his face appeared oddly disoriented. "Long time no see. How may I help you, my old friend?"
Lucius grinned wickedly. "Yes, there is a girl my son is dating." Dante raised his eyebrows. "A muggle girl."
Dante's eyes popped wide open. "Draco Malfoy? Your son? Never."
"Oh, yes, unfortunately so." Lucius nodded grimly. "Perhaps further explanation is not needed?"
Dante smiled again. Lucius tried not to wince. "Not really. Only instructions."
"Good." Lucius sat down in his study, gesturing for Dante to do the same. "This girl, Nicole Madison," Lucius paused for his words to sink in. Dante did a double take.
"Nicole Madison? Movie star Nicole Madison?"
Lucius smirked. "Surely you don't take my son for a person who would date any muggle?"
"Of course not." said Dante hurriedly.
"Good. Now, for my plan." Lucius drew his wand and made a drawing in the air. It looked like a rectangle. "This here," he said, gesturing toward the rectangle, "Is Miss Madison's hotel. It is a very expensive one, and security is high." Dante nodded. Lucius drew three lines in the rectangle, then a dot above the third line. "Apparition should be done here," he said, pointing to the dot. "Now, security cameras line the hallway, but, fortunately for me, you have the honor of figuring those out on your own." He smiled. He pulled a piece of parchment from his desk. "Address and remaining instructions are on this sheet. You are free to bring along your own team, and the reward for this opportunity is generous. In other words, bring the best." He looked meaningfully at Dante. "A great deal is at stake if this does not go smoothly. A great deal for us all." He raised the robes on his left arm up past his forearm.
Dante nodded, no trace of a smile on his face now. "Point taken."
"Wonderful."
Hermione woke up the next morning with the queasy feeling of tension in her stomach. She had truly realized for the first time yesterday that she had fallen in love with Draco, something she had never intended. She was still angry with herself for it; after all, she was going to return to America in a matter of weeks. She got dressed, and then left the hotel to take a walk in the park. She was enjoying a cool breeze sweeping through the multi-colored trees, trying to forget her dilemma, but something inside her kept nagging, making her thoughts continually stray back to Draco. She knew she would forever regret it if she returned home without ever telling him. She was an honest person, and hated lying, even in the vaguest sense. Of course, she knew Draco had done his own fair share of lying in their relationship. Throughout the past few months he had obviously been trying to hide their relationship from the public, for reasons that he never told her. And what was with the whole invitation issue? Surely he could tell her, his girlfriend...his love? Hermione wondered. Did Draco feel the same way as she did? Was it possible that he didn't care for her at all, that this was just some scheme, part of a great plan? Hermione almost laughed out loud at herself. What was she thinking? The new, improved, changed Draco, an actor? Trying to convince her that he cared when he didn't? No. She decided that Draco wouldn't do that. Would he? Hermione shook off these ridiculous thoughts, kicking herself for thinking such things. What she would do to have someone to talk to about this. Harry? Ron? Where were they now? She remembered that first day back in London. It seemed do long ago now. Harry seemed to be the same, good-humored person he had always been. Luckily, he hadn't managed to get himself killed...yet. She began to wonder if she could see him again. Tell him her real name, but to keep it secret. She wanted to tell people on her own. Especially Draco. How would they all react? Would Harry welcome her with open arms? Would Draco push her away, break her heart? My life is so fucked up, Hermione decided, frustrated. She knew she needed to tell Draco. The sooner, the better. She wouldn't know how he would react until she tried. She would tell him that night. She and Draco were going to dinner, and it would be the perfect opportunity to let him know. She sighed and took a deep breath. A reunion with Harry would have to wait.
Draco and Hermione entered Hermione's hotel room, laughing and content, having just finished a satisfying dinner. Draco eased himself into an armchair and Hermione sat on the bed across from him. After some conversation, Hermione knew it was finally time to let Draco know how she felt and who she really was.
Hermione mentally took a deep breath and spoke, "Draco, I think I need to tell you something." Draco looked at her curiously and left his chair to sit beside her on the bed.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I…" Hermione hesitated and mentally hit herself for not just saying it, "I love you." She looked into Draco's deep grey eyes, waiting for a reaction. To her immense relief, he smiled.
"I love you too, Nicole." He leaned down and caught her in a kiss that Hermione would have been very happy to continue but made herself pull away from.
"Wait, there's something else." Hermione said, full of anxiety.
"Yes?" Draco asked, slightly apprehensive.
"I…I don't really know how to say this, but…I'm not who you think I am." Hermione inwardly cringed at what she had said. What was with the drama? To increase her anxiety further, Draco was smiling…was that normal?
Relief was evident on Draco's features. "It's okay. I know."
"What? No, you couldn't know, not what I'm talking abo-" Draco silenced her by placing a hand over her mouth.
"It's okay," He took a deep breath, hoping against hope that he was right about this… "Hermione."