AUTHOR'S NOTE: First off, thanks to all those who reviewed! Secondly, here is chapter five of this fic! Hope you all enjoy!
OF PICTURES AND MOMENTS
Chapter Five
It had been a habit of Stella's to watch her boyfriend practice flying alone in the Quidditch field ever since they began to date. She would sit by the bleachers in her cloak and scarf, rubbing her hands together for warmth, as she gazed at Draco zooming by her like a blur on his broom. One moment or another, he'd stop by where she sat and invite her to take a ride with him around the castle grounds, which she'd gladly accept, and then they'd be up in the air in an instant, flying around Hogwarts.
Unfortunately, she could not make it tonight, for she had caught a cold, and she had to attend to an important errand. She then explained this to Draco, who, she noticed, looked disappointed by the way his features drooped as he scowled.
"That's alright," he replied, "I won't practice tonight then."
"Oh, come on, Draco," she said, grabbing his arm lovingly, "I'll tell Hermione to watch you then as a substitute for tonight."
"Hermione?"
His gray eyes flickered brightly for a second at the sound of her name. Stella wasn't surprised to see this reaction from him—after all, this wasn't the first time it had happened. She shook her head mentally, sighed and glanced up at the Slytherin.
How stupid and ignorant boys really were, even of their very own feelings. Stella fully knew that Draco felt strongly for the Gryffindor, though he didn't know it. At the very sight of the brown-haired girl and the mention of her name, his very mood seemed to change and lighten, and his eyes always brightened up. His face would break into a very small smile, as if he kept himself from smiling, and yet, his happiness was obviously apparent. She knew all this, and yet, she didn't keep Hermione away from him.
"Yes, Hermione," she repeated. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
"But she's the Head Girl," he said. "She's bound to be—"
Stella waved her hand impatiently. "Just be in the Quidditch field tonight like always, alright?"
Draco kissed her on the cheek and nodded. "Yes." And with that, he left, with Stella watching his figure disappear.
She sighed yet again and smiled in glee. It was as if she was playing Matchmaker—yet she didn't know why she was doing this-- but it wasn't as if she didn't love the Slytherin boy; it was just that he deserved more than her, and besides, she knew that Hermione was in love with him.
Only, like the rest of the male population, he was too ignorant to miss it.
Hermione sat herself down on one of the bleachers, eyeing the night skies for any blur that might resemble a person. She grasped her scarf and blew on her hands for warmth, for it was chilly that night, and though all she wanted to do at that moment was to stay cozy in their Common Room, she chose to stay out at the field and watch her beloved as he practiced. After all, it had been an immensely long time since they'd spent time alone with each other—at least watching Draco by herself without anyone knowing but Stella and him would make her a bit happy.
At that moment, she heard a slight rustle in the air and a fast but gentle breeze blew past her. A smile formed on her lips, and she squinted her eyes in time to see a boy on his broom.
Draco.
Standing up and leaning on the rail, Hermione laughed and broke the still silence of the night. Draco stopped in midair and hovered for minutes, looking back at her, bathed in the gentle moonlight. His blonde hair was unusually lighter than usual as the light bounced off on his head; he wore a smile that he rarely showed anyone save her and Stella, and for a second, Hermione was convinced that he was a heavenly apparition. Her laughs died down as she gazed up at him and gasped softly at what she saw.
How beautiful he looked at that very moment!
Hermione was certain she'd fallen in love all over again. But like always, that one priceless moment was gone in a flash. Draco sped through the air and whizzed around the Quidditch field, and Hermione sat back down and sighed. She followed the dark green blur fly around the golden hoops and zoom from end to end.
For half a second, Draco slowed down and glanced back at her, throwing her a proud look as he made a fancy loop in the air. She laughed and clapped her hands enthusiastically…
And then in an instant, after his fine move, he lost sight of where he was going, hit one of the poles…
And fell to the ground.
Draco groaned in pain, as he writhed on the dusty ground. His broomstick lay limply on his side, and he opened his eyes, his sight slightly blurred. He smacked himself mentally, blaming himself for his stupidity in making a loop and accidentally smashing into the hard, golden Quidditch hoop.
He could hear Hermione rushing to him, calling his name over and over again in worry. He chuckled lightly and was flattered that she was immensely concerned for him, the one person who tormented her and her friends for most of their adolescent life.
"Draco!" She finally reached him and kneeled beside his body, helping him sit up. She brushed her hair aside and looked him over, asking if anything hurt. "Should I bring you to Madam Pomfrey? Should I cast a simply healing spell? Are you alright?"
And she continued rambling on and on. Draco laughed out loud. "Concerned, are we? I'm so touched."
"You could have gotten yourself seriously hurt!"
"That's a risk every Quidditch player has to take."
Hermione shrugged and muttered under her breath, "Boys." She looked him over, checking and rechecking for any wound. Draco watched her in silence as she did so, and then, realized how pretty she looked up close.
Her eyes were of a lovely shade of brown, with a hint of gold here and there, which, Draco never noticed before. They were intimate, expressive. He would have appreciated it if time stood still for him to look into them a bit longer. His eyes then traveled down to her lips; how seemingly perfect they seemed to be! Then again, he came to understand that everything about her seemed to be flawless.
How could he have missed this before?
He had to remind himself that he was already committed to a relationship—he already had a girlfriend and a very good girlfriend at that. He looked away, and tried to interest himself with the outline of the castle in the distance. Only, it wasn't easy to, for Hermione spotted a bruise below his left eye.
"This is the exact reason why I try to avoid flying at all times," she mumbled. She reached out and touched his face, gently tracing the bruise.
Draco shuddered slightly. He had embraced Stella, he had kissed her, held her hand for numerous times, and yet, how come he enjoyed the feel of Hermione more? He gazed at her, and she at him, and a slight tingle ran through his body.
It was uncomfortable being near her nowadays, and yet, he liked being near her…
Weird.
He would have loved to have her hand on his cheek a bit longer, but Hermione pulled away and stood up. "Be careful next time," she told him, "Or else you'll give Stella a heart attack."
She was about to walk away and go back to the bleachers, but Draco held her back. She looked at him curiously.
"Come with me."
And he pulled her along with him and they mounted his broom before Hermione could respond.
"Bring me back to the ground, Malfoy!!" Hermione shrieked at him, her arms around his waist as they flew over the lake. The wind was wailing loudly in her ears, and she shut her eyes tight in fear. "Oh dear Merlin, I'm going to fall to my doom and die!"
They flew higher and higher, and her hold on him grew tighter. She despised flying, ever since they had their very first Flying Lessons in first year. She knew that flying on a broomstick would be the cause of her death, unless she were to be killed off by a dark wizard. And here she was, only seventeen, on a broom with Draco Malfoy, ready to plunge into doom.
They suddenly halted in midair. She refused to open her eyes, and she leaned onto his back. If they only weren't suspended high up in the air, Hermione would have thought the moment as romantic.
"Open your eyes," Draco whispered to her.
She didn't. "I don't want to. I can't."
"Do you trust me? I promise you won't fall."
She felt his hand grasp hers in an attempt to soothe her. And slowly, she opened her eyes and gazed at what instantly met her eyes.
They were right in front of the moon, with all its light seeming to bask only on them alone. She was mesmerized, entranced… she looked at the boy with her, and he looked back at her, smiling slightly and glancing back at the silver orb before them.
And she realized that he looked the same way as before when he was practicing in the field. His hair was golden, his features perfect in every aspect, his complexion glowing beneath the white light… He was beautiful.
Then he looked back at her and smiled. His hand was still on hers, and she blushed.
And for the third time, she fell in love all over again.
Author's Note: Done! Like I promised, I uploaded this chapter before school here officially starts! I hope you all liked it, and whether it's a good criticism or not, I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to review! Thanks! It would really help me improve!
Thanks!!!
