Disclaimer: Uhm... I am not the owner of this. Period.

A/n: ... Bad news everybody... School is coming up fast. (Precisely 2 days away) And I'll be able to use this computer every weekends onlyso... It'll take that long before I could submit a new chapter. Starting this very day...

I am sorry guys...

This really sucks.

By: Aningme

Chapter 18

Dilemma

She wasn't able to sleep that night. Her mind was too busy thinking about stuff. She thought of her hospital, Mrs. Dubley and her patients. She thought of Seamus, Ginny and their baby. She thought of Ron and his businesses and his never ending meetings. She thought of Neville, in his department in his slacker jobs. She thought of her apartment and how she left it in a real mess. She thought about her life and her dilemmas. She thought about Harry and Draco.

She thought of so many things that she was so tired as ever as the sun rose from the mountains. They packed up early and returned to the road the moment the sun rose. And she was still groggy and hungry for sleep.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked, as Hermione did nothing but closes her eyes, opens them again, then closes it again, then opens it again.

She pried them open one last time and turned to Draco. "I couldn't sleep last night." She muttered.

He knew. He felt her twist and turn on her bed last night. He watched her for the whole night. And he was as tired as her. "Try to sleep the trip off. You'll feel better when we get there."

She considered and slumped her back on the leather seat. And in a snap, she fell asleep.

He wondered what she was thinking. She could be thinking about her work. Hospital work is always stressing. She could be thinking about Weasley and her baby. Or even Ron Weasley. He heard that he was a successful businessman. He would have guessed.

Or, most probably, she's still thinking about Harry Potter.

Maybe she is… He thought.

But then he shook his head. He didn't want to think about that. He had to enjoy and relax in this trip. It's their last one anyway. Last one.

She was sleeping dreamless when she suddenly woke up with the sudden stop of the car. She jerked from her seat and almost hit her head on the roof.

Draco was staring at her. "Did you sleep well?"

Hermione just smiled glumly at him. "Yeah. I think so."

He smiled back at her and went out of the car.

"Where are we?" She questioned, as she rubbed the sleepiness off her eyes.

He was already starting to unlatch their luggage. "We're here."

Hermione eyes grew wide. "Really!" She stepped off the limits of the car and stepped on the fresh grass.

The scenery was out of this world. She could actually see the entire forest where she stands. It seemed they were on top of a mountain.

"We better get inside the cottage before it gets dark." He muttered to her.

She turned around and saw the huge cottage before her. She did nothing but gape.

"Woah. This is awesome!" She exclaimed. She took her bags and hurried inside. And as she opened the doors, it was magnificent. The whole place smelled of fresh oak wood. The chairs and tables and all furniture were made of premium wood. There was a huge bear rag on the center of the living room. An actual bear skin. And there was a great fire place across the stylish center table.

Everything was mag.

"You… you own this place?" She muttered.

He grinned.

"Woah. How much do these places cost?"

"You don't need to know that." He smiled and dumped their things in a corner. "So… you want to eat?"

She walked towards the native sofa. "Nah. I want to explore the whole place first."

He smiled. "That's a great idea. I'll tour you."

He brought her to the bedrooms, the shower rooms, steam cubicles, Jacuzzis, and entertainment rooms. The place didn't look like a cottage at all. It looked like a mansion. A native mansion.

She was sitting by the fire as Draco brought her some salad. The night was growing cold. And she loved it.

She sniffed the burnt wood and sighed at its magnificence. "It really smells good…"

"Yeah, it does." He muttered, giving her a blanket to warm her.

"It's pretty cold here." She smiled at him. "I like it."

"Well, it's because we're on top of a mountain." He explained and ate his salad.

Hermione just watched him eat. "Malfoy?"

"Hmm?" He hummed, looking at her.

She smiled at him again. "Thanks."

He smiled back at her.

She looked away and stared at the crackling wood. "I want to go outside." She suddenly muttered.

He stopped eating. "Now?"

"Yeah." She nodded. "I want to see the forest at night."

"Well," It was getting dark really fast. But he considered. "Okay. Let's go?"

She shot up from where she was sitting. "Let's go!"

She was standing at the edge of the mountain. She could feel the wind blow past her, as the darkness of the night draped over her. She remembered the roof top. She remembered the feeling of flying. She remembered the sound of her cries. The sound of his voice.

"Granger." He suddenly called, snapping Hermione out of her thoughts. She was holding her arms high up to the heavens, catching the touch of the wind.

"What is it?" She muttered, closing her eyes. She felt like flying.

"You want to fly?" Draco asked.

Hermione sighed. "I am flying."

He smiled. "I mean, literally fly?"

She turned to him. "How?" She muttered.

He took out a long something wrapped in a black silk cloth. It was a broom. A broom like in quidditch.

Quidditch…

She remembered the game pretty well. She remembered Malfoy flying up in competition with Harry. Both of them were always fighting each other.

Her eyes brightened up. "Why not?"

Riding up on the thin body of the broom, Hermione held tight behind him, feeling a great excitement and fear at the same time. Her heart was literally banging on the walls of her chest. She was having an emotional rumble.

"Hold on." He whispered and lifted off.

As her feet left the ground, she clutched tighter on Draco, holding him closer to her.

He smiled as he felt her delicate heart beating against him. It was beating pretty fast.

"Scared, Granger?" He chuckled.

She frowned at him. "Me? I'm not scared." She answered.

"Then look ahead." He challenged.

Doing so, Draco fastened the pace of his broom and made a continuous exhibition, almost dizzying her.

He seemed to remember everything about flying.

"Try this!" Draco exclaimed. He slowly stretched out his arms, balancing himself on the broom. Hermione's eyes shot wide.

"Malfoy! Are you insane!" She screamed. She clutched at him and the broom tighter.

"Trust me! Just try it!"

Hermione stared at him and hesitated. But then, she found herself following him.

It felt great.

"I'm… I'm flying!" She screamed.

"Yes you are!" Draco exclaimed beyond the sounds of the wind.

Hermione closed her eyes and hugged the wind. "I'm flying…"

A/n: Yeah, I know. This is full of mushy stuffs. Forgive me.ü And it's a little bit weird too. But don't be disappointed yet... This is not the end.ü

Anyways...

JinxTwix - Malfoy melting McGonagall is indeed a mean feat. lol.ü And about that exciting thing? There will be as such.ü I'm not sure though, about Malfoy not getting hurt.ü You'll see why...ü

SpiritWell - ahehe.ü Yes, I guess cuteness abounds in the previous chapter.ü

Bookworm1214 - Hey! New Reviewing Reader!

WELCOME ABOARD!

(claps! applauses! screams!)

I'm glad you could join us.ü And thanks SO MUCH for reviewing. And I'm glad you liked the story.ü Hope to see you until the end of this fic!ü

hplucky - I'm sorry about the bad news thing... I'll just try to update two chappies everytime I get the chance to submit.ü

And for all of you - please Review!

And last but not the least,

catgurfurreel - I still thank you a million BUNCH!ü