Just Too Tempting

By Avadne

Chapter 20: A Moment

It turned out that Draco found Hermione before she could find him. But he was the bearer of even more bad news. And here Hermione was, thinking things couldn't get any worse. She was about to find out how wrong she was. And she was about to remember an old muggle thing, Murphy's law: anything that can go wrong, will.

"I thi-," she had began blurting something out as soon as she spotted his blonde head, but Draco looked at her sharply and only sighed, prepping himself up to tell her something else. Something bigger. So Hermione stopped to listen.

"Whatever it is, I'm sure that it's the least of our worries… Dumbledore requested we see him immediately on new information on how to get home," Draco replied hurriedly. Hermione turned her head violently. Draco simply nodded and began to lead her to Dumbledore.

The walk to the office was silent, as both were lost in their own thoughts. Dumbledore met them outside his office and ushered them in quickly, offering them seats. Hermione and Draco sat down quickly and looked at Dumbledore expectantly.

"Sir, Hermione told Sirius about everything," Draco put in grimly. Dumbledore nodded calmly, expecting something like this to happen eventually. Actually, he had been rather amazed that these two students had lasted so long.

"Yes, I expected you tell someone. Now, there's something you both must know. It's urgent business and I need you both to sit tight while I explain," Dumbledore began gravely. Hermione and Draco both nodded silently.

"Very well; I may have found a way home for the two of you. Your original home that is," Dumbledore continued. Hermione gaped at him, mouth down in shock.

"Now? We have to do this now? " she asked in horror, realizing what this meant. To leave. Leave.

"It would be an ideal time and I do recommend it," Dumbledore replied gravely. Hermione ran out of the classroom before she could hear the details. She only caught Draco's sigh before she left and his plea to Dumbledore.

"I'm all ears,"

"Mr. Malfoy, I request you do not walk out, like Miss Granger has just done. This is urgent business and you need to hear it," Dumbledore said firmly. Draco nodded strongly, making himself as comfortable as possible.

"I may have found a possible way to return you and Miss Granger to your original time," Dumbledore began. "This is an extremely complex procedure, one that I have set out the basis for. I have done everything I can, and now the rest is required from the two of you."

"So what do we do?" Draco asked, already bored. Even though Dumbledore was one of the few people Draco had even a hint of revealed respect for, that didn't stop his speeches from leading Draco into incredible boredom. Why couldn't the old fool just tell them what had to be done?

"I have separated it all into parts. The first is complete, I have done everything needed. But the next are complicated; tonight, at midnight, there is a designated spot for you both, exactly 30 paces east of the Whomping Willow; you will know. There, you must set up a circle; take your wands and each trace a semi-circle; step inside then close it off," Dumbledore went on.

"Right; make a circle. What is this, Wicca?"

"Well, it's related, as all magic is. Once you have made the circle, you're ready to transfigure. It's required that you bring an item each, one that you gained here and are dearly attatched to. Then you must transfigure it into something that you had in your own time, something equally dear," Dumbledore's face was grave and the standard twinkle in his bright eyes was absent.

"What kind of item?" Draco asked nervously.

"Anything, really. Just make sure it will fit inside the circle; I would suggest a valued gift or something perhaps made by yourself that you're proud of. Once that's done, turn to face each other. Mirroring one's movements, Hermione and you must press the palms of your hands together while keeping firm hold of your item in the other; hold both hands at eye level. Utmost concentration is essential here; without it, you will fail," Dumbledore droned on and on. Draco had a feeling he would never stop, or at least be repeating some of this. Draco had no clue as to what the hell the Headmaster was on about. Of course, he didn't say so.

"Right…" Draco trailed off, trying to look as though he was comprehending Dumbledore's words. Dumbledore gave him a clear look that read through Draco as if he were glass. Then he levitated a vial of shimmering silver potion towards Draco, taking care to keep it away from himself.

"The final stage will be done now; I must not touch the potion. Only you and Hermione can, or else the essence will be muddled. Still staring at each other, hands connected, let exactly 20 drops fall inside the circle; for twenty years, this is the representation. Then take a single drop on your item and Hermione's, and one on the tip of your tongue. You must swallow simultaneously and finally say the incantation. It will come to you at that moment," the Headmaster had finished his grand scheme while Draco sat there, dumbfounded.

"Ok… so, do you think you could write that down for me?" Draco asked hopefully. Dumbledore let out a barely audible sigh and started repeating the steps again. This time, Draco sat up straighter and tried to pay a bit more attention.

Hermione was nervous all over. She and Draco had just arrived at their destination, a possible chance at returning home, one that Dumbledore recommend they try. It was midnight and freezing cold, but the temperature didn't bother Hermione. She was too numb inside to feel the gushing winds against her body, easily pushing aside her cloak to get to her flesh.

Draco had explained it to Hermione as patiently as he could manage, but was still pissed off at the fact that she had just run out, leaving him to listen to Dumbledore alone and not understand a word of what he was saying. Therefore Dumbledore had to repeat it two more times. Which left an incredibly bored Draco, meddled with confusion.

But Draco had done his best in repeating the words to Hermione. Hermione had too been confused, but understood it now after a few moments of thought. The procedure was made of 3 simple steps. But these steps overlapped each other and blended it together, making it not so simple. Unless worked part by part, which is exactly what Dumbledore had done. Everything was ready, now the rest was up to Draco and Hermione.

Making their way to the place of the circle, Hermione thought carefully. She hadn't really even gotten the chance to say good-bye. Her and Draco silently reached the designated area and began drawing up the circle. They had just stepped in and were about to close it when Hermione was distracted by the flapping of wings. An owl was nearing to them at an alarming speed and Hermione was sure it would crash head-first into Draco if he didn't move. But surprisingly, the owl stopped smoothly on Hermione's own shoulder. It stood there for a second before flying up again in front of Hermione's face, waving around a letter.

Hermione untied the letter from the owl and stroked it lightly before it flew off. Hermione was sure she had seen it before somewhere but couldn't quite place it. She looked at the envelope; a single word was written on the front. Just her name. Hermione.

Hermione opened the letter hesitantly, recognizing James's immensely neat, slanted scrawl immediately. Her hands trembled as she took out the parchment and read…

Hermione,

If you would ask me whether you are pretty, I'd say no.
If you would ask me whether I like you, I'd say no.
If you would ask me whether you are in my heart, I'd say no.
If you would ask me whether I'd cry if you'd walk away, I'd say no.
So you'd turn to walk away. And I'd grab your arm and say;
You're not pretty, you're beautiful,
I don't like you, I love you,
You're not in my heart, you are my heart,
And I wouldn't cry if you'd walk away, I would die.

James

A tear dropped onto the piece of parchment. And another one. Three more. Soon, Hermione was openly crying.

"I love you too, James," she mumbled quietly. Draco sighed impatiently; they had to get going or someone would find them. Although he was getting restless, he didn't run around or call out to Hermione. Now was not a good time.

"Then don't go," a voice said from behind her. Hermione turned around and gasped. All of James Potter's tall frame, messy hair and endless eyes were there.

"J-James," she stuttered out.

"Don't go, Hermione," he begged her, stepping closer.

"I have to, Ja- wait, what did you call me?" Hermione asked. He had just called her Hermione. Oh no.

"I called you Hermione. Your name, isn't it? Your full name… I assumed it was shortened to something, but didn't quite know what. Sirius told me exactly that it was Hermione," James asked calmly, his eyes shadowing over slightly from jealousy that Sirius had known over James.

"I-Ja… I'm sorry, James," Hermione whispered, backing away.

They had to leave, leave to save everyone.

"No you don't, Hermione," James told her quietly. Hermione looked surprised, but James only smiled somewhat sadly, as if it were normal for someone to practically read her mind.

"James, I-I love you. But I have to," Hermione's heart was breaking. In 2 strides, James was right in front of her, only inches away.

"I love you, too," James whispered, so quietly now that if they weren't so close, Hermione wouldn't have heard it. James's eyes were directly on Hermione's. And he could see every single feeling displayed through them. Hesitating for a brief second, James lowered his head and very softly kissed Hermione.

Hermione was lost in the moment. She wasn't thinking clearly; kissing James tended to do that to her. But Hermione was enjoying herself way too much. As she realized this, she broke away.

"James, this isn't meant to happen," Hermione said, trying to sound forceful but failing miserably.

"God, Hermione, just do it, we all know you want to. We can stay a few more days; Dumbledore said it was best to leave today, but not urgent," Draco burst out. He was really sick of seeing Hermione all depressed; it was downright annoying. Without further ado, Hermione jumped into James's arms and kissed him again. Draco rolled his eyes.

"I have got to get away from this,"

Hermione and James were a bit preoccupied, so Draco quickly sneaked away to leave the happy couple in peace, shuddering in the process. The things I do for that girl, he thought to himself in exasperation. She owes me so badly. Draco stepped into the main passage into Hogwarts with a smug smile. But he was stopped almost immediately.

"Staying, are we?" a soft, feathery voice asked. As usual, Draco was enthralled and recognized Marlene immediately, even before he saw her.

"Just for you," Draco answered, a hint of sarcasm, walking closer. Marlene smirked but shook her head.

"You won't leave; you think you will, but you wont," she told him. And for some strange reason, at that moment Draco was 100 sure that Marlene was right. Draco was sure that they wouldn't leave. That had been their last possible chance, and Draco had given it up for someone else to be happy.

A strange action at that. And it led to another strange feeling, one Draco wasn't used to.

And as he watched Marlene, her blank face and intense eyes, glowing inquisitively with knowledge beyond what was here, Draco knew she would be proven right. She had demonstrated her prophesizing abilities before and so far, Draco had not seen them fail.

But somehow, such thoughts escaped Draco the second Marlene's lips met his own. Funny how that works

End 20

I don't own that piece of 'poetry'; I only wish I did. I got it through an e-mail forward a while back from a friend. Thanks hun, I love ya.

I'm extremely sorry for the long wait. I PROMISE you won't have to wait that long for the next chapter… and just so you know, it's a good one. I swear.

Review!

Avadne

Massive thanks to… (and also great apologies to anyone I've missed. I ahve seriously NO TIME to check it all...)

megafreak… thanks! Sorry about the long wait /blushes/. True, I didn't say NO Pettigrew, but then again, I didn't NOT say NO Pettigrew. I'll just leave you to work out the clues /wink/. Loved your theories though. Grr I'm hoping to catch up with your fic soon, I know how many chapters I must have missed…

chelsea… I don't even know how many times you did end up reviewing, but I'd like to thank you very much for it. you totally boosted my self esteem. Yes, man slut is a hilarious word, hahaha. And no, sadly I haven't listened to every song in existence… but probably close! Yes, Evanescence is wicked, I have their album. My Beautiful Friend would've been hard to find; it was an Australian artist, and the song wasn't released… I like Good Charlotte a lot though. A Green Day fan? My friend Annie adores them, they are pretty cool. Anyway again thank you SO much for all the reviews!

Surrounded By Idiots… wow, thanks heaps for the flattery! It's true, I see some truly great fics with only like 6 or so reviews, while other crap ones got lucky and have loads! Well, in some cases anyway. I'm so sorry about keeping you in the waiting… I promise the nest chapter will be worth it though /wink/

LornaDoone… I'm really glad you like it, and also that you enjoy the pranks. Thanks very much for your review!

Monkeystarz… long time no… er, hear? Sorry, I know it's my fault. I think my hotmail has been deactivated cuz I haven't been able to log in for so long /hangs head in shame/. Your review amused me greatly though! Annie says hi back, hopes your well, and is probably going to drag me over to her hose so I can use hotmail and send you a bloody email! I loved your little angsty-story, humorous review rant. From what I could understand of it that is.

xLaceMeWithWindx... I love that you think I'm original... thanks so much! I like the pairing too, it is rather unusual. I hate Ron/Hermione with a passion. I may just go and check out this Hermione granger's Forbidden Love site... thanks for letting me know about it! And of course, also thanks for the review...

kransp... thanks, I'm glad you like it, and am overjoyed that I have a new fan. Sorry about the wait!