Disclaimer: Although I wish dearly that these characters were mine, they're not. sigh Poor me.
She floated into Draco's flat in the wee hours of the morning, a smile still on her face. She and Ron had danced together twice, which was highly enjoyable. She had also danced with Seth once before he and Sabrina stole away into the night. She had been afraid that she would be a wallflower for the rest of the night, but she was mistaken in that assumption. Zach had claimed a dance, as well as every other wizard in her band. They introduced her to their friends, who also wanted to claim dances. In fact, in the end, she was pretty sure that the only wizard that she hadn't danced with was the one she was currently sharing a house with – Draco.
She sighed at that thought. She had seen him dancing earlier in the evening, but as the night wore on, she saw him less and less often on the dance floor, and when she finally had a chance to look for him, he was gone. He's probably already in bed. She thought as she moved quietly towards her bedroom. The living room was flooded with moonlight, so she avoided the large furniture with ease.
She had just gotten to her door when a voice behind her drawled, "Thanks for the consideration, but I'm still up. You can be as noisy as you want."
She turned sharply, startled. There Draco stood, leaning against the kitchen doorframe, still dressed in his finery from the wedding.
"I thought you would be in bed…" She said, having nothing else to say. What else can I say? That I thought he might save me a dance? She shook her head at that thought.
"I thought you would have saved me a dance." He replied quietly.
Now that's just weird… He just basically said the same thing I thought. She stared at him. "I tried. I looked for you, but you were gone…"
He shrugged. "Only so long you can be happy for others when you yourself aren't happy."
She sighed. So that's why he left. Oddly enough, it felt comforting to know it wasn't because he hated her, or didn't want to dance with her. "Oh, Draco. I'm sure the right girl is out there somewhere…"
He looked her in the eye. "What if the girl is right here, and just can't…" He stopped suddenly, a look she couldn't quite figure out crossing his face. "Forget it." He muttered, before heading towards his room. "I hope you had a good night, Hermione. Pleasant dreams."
"Wait." She said. He turned to look at her, one eyebrow quirked, but he remained silent. Say it Hermione; just say it. "Want to dance?" She blushed after she said it, realizing how remarkably stupid she must sound.
"Here? Now?" He questioned.
"Well, why not? After all, we didn't get to dance at the wedding reception." She replied.
He stood there for a minute. "Alright." He said slowly.
"Good." She said. "Canzone lenta." Instantly, slow music began to play. As Draco gathered her into his arms, she recognized the song. "If I Let You Go…" she mumbled to herself.
To her surprise, Draco replied. "By Westlife." She stared at him. "What?" He asked defensively. "Like I can't know a band name?"
She shook her head. "Never mind, Draco."
They danced in silence for a few minutes, Hermione leaning her cheek against Draco shoulder as he effortlessly led her around the room. Why does this feel so … right? Even dancing with Ron doesn't feel like this… She smiled up at him. "You know you're the perfect height?"
He raised an eyebrow. "The perfect height for what?"
Something about his expression made her blush. "Not whatever you have in your head right now!"
"Pity." He replied, smirking down at her. "Seriously, now. I'm the perfect height for what?" She was silent, having lost most of her train of thought because of his teasing. After a few seconds of silence, he continued, "The perfect height to hit? To hug? To make you feel safe? To look in the eyes while you're wearing those ridiculous high heels?" She smiled at that one, and shook her head. Trust Draco to make a comment like that. His voice seemed to grow a little husky as he said the next one. "To kiss?"
She started. Where did he come up with that one? I hadn't even thought of that…
*Liar*
I have NEVER thought of kissing him – at least not on the lips!
*Sure…*
"Hermione…" She woke from her inner debate to see Draco staring into her eyes.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
He smirked. "So which is it?" His voice was back to normal. Apparently, I just imagined his voice changing…
"Hmmm?" She said noncommittally.
"What am I the perfect height for?"
No, it couldn't have been her imagination – either that, or her imagination was overactive, because she could have sworn that his voice had just become husky again.
"Oh, that." She felt a blush begin to rise up her cheeks. Damn my fair skin! "I was just going to say you're the right height to dance with." Right. Good save, Hermione. She congratulated herself.
He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Now I'm hurt. You don't think I'm the right height to kiss?"
Something in the tone of his voice made her stop from answering right away. Or maybe it was the way he looked at her. Either way, instead of answering in a joking manner, as she normally would have, she replied, "I never really thought about it…" Oh, that was real smooth, Hermione. Quick, think of a way to change the subject…
But before she could come up with a topic, he was talking again. "Maybe we should find out…"
Her eyes widened. "Don't even – !"
That was as far as she got in her protest, because he bent his head and he was kissing her. For an unexpected happening, this one could have won her a prize. Never would Hermione have thought that something like this was possible, yet Draco's lips were moving over hers in a light, hesitant manner, and then suddenly, with no hesitancy at all as his kiss deepened for a full tasting.
Hermione was thoroughly entranced. She didn't move. She barely breathed. She certainly didn't think. She simply stood there and experienced the wonder of that kiss and all the pleasant sensations that accompanied it. Even when his tongue made a foray into her mouth, her shock didn't counter the pleasure of it. There were too many unique feelings coursing through her to be overly disturbed by the unexpected.
When he finally leaned back, she was totally bemused. He could have left right then and she wouldn't have known it. But he didn't leave. He was staring down at her rather intensely, and when her thoughts finally returned in a rush, they bombarded her with contradictions. Utmost was outrage alongside a desire to kiss him again, which really didn't mix.
Hermione had certainly never experienced anything even remotely similar to what had just occurred.
A/N: Yes, it's been a while, but I think these two chapters more than make up for it. Let me know what you think!
Laura Grace and Kali: Glad you're still with me on this. smileSiognee: Yes, Hermione has grown up, and become less book-ish. She's still book-ish, but she's got other interests now as well. I know it's been a while, but several chapters for you to read at once, so I hope you enjoy!
Daves_luver212: blush Wow, thanks for your compliments. I've thought about a writing career, actually, and have several short stories (original ones) which I'm considering sending off to a publishing company. I'm also working on a novel, but it's not fairing well at the moment… sigh Anyway, here's several more chapters for you to read!
SkiBum: Glad you like Draco. grin
~Lynx: Updating in Italy is a problem, cause my server doesn't work as well as I like. But here are several chapters at once to make you happier!
Headmaster Cromwell: Haven't had a chance to see your website, but I will try to get to it soon. In the meantime, enjoy these chapters!
Totally_2bular_girl: Thank you for the argument of Draco that you provided. However, he seems to be delivering a pretty good argument all on his own! Yes, Draco has stood by her, and she does see that, but she's still a little blind when it comes to love. You ever feel like that? That you can see everyone else's love life, but when it comes to yourself, you're hopeless? I'm like that, and I think Hermione (J.K. Rowling's Hermione) is also a little like that. And she goes back to Ron because how easy do you think it is to give up a life-long friendship? It's not easy at all. Trust me. But please keep giving me feedback – it makes the story better!
ShubbySpunkyChick: I haven't officially "stuck" Hermione with anyone. She leads the way, and I follow, frantically trying to capture her essence on the paper before she disappears again. I, personally, have gone back and forth on the H/Dr or H/R situation. It could be part of that made its way into my writing, and that's what you're picking up as you read. Or, it could just be that it's just that complicated – that all friendships are based on a degree of love, and you find yourself questioning whether it's love or LOVE. shrug You must decide which it is. grin
Tracey Claybon: I've made you torn as well? Good. At least I'm not the only one who's torn then. wink I think that's what makes this fic good – at least to me – the possibilities that could be. If you take Draco right now – from book 5 – you could see the possibilities for him are enormous. And, of course, JK helped my story out some with her prophecy (which I didn't even have a hint of when I first began this story), because of what it implies. (not revealing anything for those of you who haven't read book 5 wink) Anyway, hope you enjoyed these chapters as well.
Nikkifaro: I think Hermione's got a clue now about Draco. A kiss usually does that. smirk I'm trying to keep Ron from messing up too much more – it kinda gets old after a while, don't you think? And he's trying, poor boy. What's a girl to do?
Mystery303: I am SO honored. I'm glad you enjoy this fic. I've thought about being a writer. As I told Daves_luver212, I've got some original short stories that I'm considering sending to a publisher. I know I haven't updated in a while, but I hope these chapters make up for it! As for who Hermione will end up with… well, when I started I THOUGHT I had an idea… but it's changed so many times since then that I honestly can't say one way or the other right this moment. Who do you think she should end up with?
HermionesTwin: Welcome back! Out of curiosity, when you say Ron & Hermione are PERFECT for each other, are you referring to JK's Hermione and Ron, or my Hermione and Ron? raised eyebrow
Candygoddess: blush Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm truly touched.