8

I Will Be Waiting For You

Hermione felt tears welling up in her eyes as she ran away from Gryffindor Tower.

How could Ron ask her a question like that? He didn't know how much she liked-loved him, but even if he did, why would he do it?

The tears spilled over the rims of her eyes, dropping onto her wool coat.

She sniffed and wiped her face with a sleeve. She didn't want Draco to see her crying.

Hermione reached the courtyard promptly and looked for a sign of Malfoy. She found none and immediately thought that he had stood her up. This brought a fresh round of tears that streamed down her face. She walked forward and sat down on a stone bench, sobbing into her gloves.

She hardly noticed someone running into the courtyard. She didn't stop crying when the person sat down next to her or when the person took her hands in theirs. She didn't open her eyes as the person's lips met hers.

Her hand found its way to the person's cheek. She was certain this person was a boy, and she was hoping she wouldn't open her eyes to find out otherwise. She ran her hand through his hair, which was indescribably soft. She thought, for a split second before she realised how outlandish the idea was, that the boy was Ron.

He pulled away, and Hermione dared to look at him. Two steel grey irises that were uncharacteristically warm met her brown ones as her eyes opened.

"Draco," Hermione breathed.

If Draco's genes had allowed him to blush, Hermione was sure he would have, but he merely went pale. She flew into his arms, nestling there for comfort. Draco held her tenderly with his chin resting on her shoulder, running his hands as best he could through her bushy hair.

"What happened?" he asked as she sobbed.

Hermione knew she couldn't tell Draco about what Ron had asked since she would then have to tell him why it had upset her. Naturally, that secret couldn't be told after what had just happened.

"You weren't in the courtyard when I arrived, and I lost my composure. I don't know what came over me."

Draco pulled away from her suddenly. "Did you hear that?" he asked, looking around warily.

Hermione looked at him questioningly. "Hear what?"

"That noise," Draco answered, standing up and reaching for his wand.

"Draco," Hermione said, "it's probably just the wind. There's no need to be so paranoid."

"I could've sworn I heard something over there," Draco insisted, pointing towards the pillar near the opening Hermione had come through, "It was like a gasp or a cough or something."

"You're overreacting," Hermione said, grabbing Draco's hand, which was slowly inching toward his wand.

Draco stared at her intently as she held his hand in hers.

"Just calm down," Hermione whispered, pulling Draco back onto the bench.

"But someone-"

Hermione silenced Draco's chatter with a kiss. She had no idea what she was doing. Where were her morals? Much more importantly, where was her common sense? This was Malfoy that she was kissing; Draco Malfoy.

Draco began to kiss back, but Hermione ripped herself away, shaking her head. "I shouldn't have done that," she said, frowning and turning her back on him.

"Why not?" Draco asked, putting his hand on her shoulder and making her face him.

He looked into her eyes, and she struggled not to open her mind to him. She was beginning to feel that verotis was a communication just for her to share with Ron only; not Harry; not Draco; just Ron.

Hermione felt her control over the power slipping and looked away quickly. "I just met you," she said almost inaudibly.

"What? We met seven years ago!" Draco exclaimed in confusion.

"But we-I just figured out who you are a week ago. I mean, I'm not a spontaneous person. I don't do things on impulse. I always take time to think about what doing them could mean. I can't do this."
"If it's so wrong, why did you kiss me in the first place?" Draco asked, the hurt he had kept from showing on his face tumbling out in his voice.

Hermione looked at him and then looked down, deep in thought. She suddenly felt that she needed to talk to Ron.

Draco tilted her chin up and stared at her. He brought his lips to hers, wrapping his other arm around her waist.

Hermione thought about pulling away, but she didn't. Instead, she kissed back, hoping that she was making the right decision.

As she and Draco kissed, Hermione couldn't sweep away the feeling that they were being watched. Had Draco's worries been a reality?