Disclaimer: I really don't know why I'm typing this part. But what the heck, J.K. Rowling owns HP.
A/n: Hey guys! I'm sorry again if this is way late. But I can't do anything about it since school has started. But then, don't worry. I will pass two chapters again so... I don't know. So you'd be satisfied and forgive me for posting this late.ü
By: Aningme
Chapter 19
Dilemma
They flew around the forest for quite a while when suddenly, the sky broke and grumbled into lightning and rain poured down on them. Draco hurriedly landed on the edge of the mountain, not being able to reach the cottage. It was dangerous to fly with thunders getting on the way.
"Come!" He shouted, grabbing her hand.
She followed him and they ran through the swaying trees back to their cottage.
Yes, blame it on Hermione, she was wearing slippers. And of course it's hard to run on muddy grounds with slippers. She tripped lots of times, soaking herself in mud. She even pulled Malfoy with her one time, having their hands clamped together.
They were laughing, they were running, they were like drunken teenagers. When Hermione tripped for the third time, Draco grabbed her and carried her on his back.
Hermione lost her slippers, being swallowed in the quicksand like mud.
But then, she didn't give a damn. She was still laughing.
Reaching the limits of the cottage, Draco dove on the wooden floor below the shed, hiding from the rain. They lay still on the floor, still laughing.
"That was awesome!" Hermione screamed. She stretched her arms on the floor and laughed and laughed and laughed.
Draco watched her and laughed too at her mud clad body.
She was messy as she could be. Her hair was cropped in mud. Her supposedly cream shirt was dark brown now and her feet were covered in big cakes of mud. Her face was streaked in brown, but still, the gleam in her eyes was there.
It was only a second, but he felt something in her eyes. She glanced at him and stared at him, with a certain smile. A smile he had never seen in her face before. A smile he would never forget.
He then turned to her, staring back at her. He was expecting her to look away as she always did. But she didn't. She was staring back at him.
"Well, we better get cleaned up." Draco said and stood up.
She just watched him stand up and stared at his muddy clothes. She glanced at his face, looking gorgeous even with mud. No matter what you do to him, make him dirty or beat him to death, he was still looking gorgeous. But then, as she gazed at his hair, his blond hair covered in mud, it looked like dark brown hair. Brown messy hair. Harry's hair.
At the thought of it, she looked away from him and quickly stood up.
He felt her sudden reaction. He just smiled at her.
Walking towards the front door of their supposedly cottage, Draco took of his muddy shoes and walked bare feet. He stopped as he felt Hermione still standing outside.
"Aren't you going inside?" He asked her.
She looked down at her feet. It was still dirty. "I can't walk in there with these feet." She mumbled and chuckled.
He smiled and went back to her.
"Hop in." He offered, turning his back to her.
Hermione stared at him for a while and finally jumped on his back.
Reaching their luxurious so-called bathroom, Hermione sat on the toilet seat and watched him prepare her bath.
He checked the water in the tub and grabbed some towels. He handed her one and noticed her face. Her eyes were soaked in tears.
"Hey," He whispered, kneeling before her. He held her muddy cheeks and caressed it. "What's wrong?"
Hermione sniffed and looked down on her messy hands. "Nothing." She answered. "It's just that…"
"Just what?" He asked, wiping her face with a clean towel.
She looked up at him and smiled. "This is all beautiful. The cottage. Us, flying. And the mud bath?" She chuckled. "It's all beautiful…"
Draco smiled at her. "Then you shouldn't be crying, Hermione." He whispered to her.
She looked at him abruptly. "You called me Hermione." She said.
He still smiled at her. "So I did?" He uttered and caressed her cheek. "That's your name, isn't it?"
She nodded. "That's my name…"
She looked so beautiful. He stared at her face, her eyes still shining with tears. Her hair. It is a mess. But is still beautiful. Her lips. They were red and plum with all the biting it went through. She always bit her lip when she's crying. He thought it was cute.
And, still staring at her, he felt the sudden urge to kiss her.
His hand on her cheek, Hermione felt him leaning over to her. She was frozen paralyzed on the toilet seat. He is going to kiss her.
What should I do?
Should I run?
Should I kiss him back?
Should I push him?
She doesn't know what to do.
But then, flashing back into reality, he was half an inch from her face already. In surprise, her body jerked away from him, accidentally slipping off the toilet seat.
Draco, in reflex, tried to catch her from falling. And Hermione grabbed his shirt involuntarily, pulling him close as she fell.
And when they both reached the floor…
Tada!
They stared at each other in shock. They were lip to lip.
Draco abruptly sat up. He was still in shock.
Hermione weakly sat up too and settled herself.
"You alright?" Draco muttered.
They were both entirely embarrassed. "Yeah." She answered and looked away from him.
Draco tried to smile at her and settled himself. "I'm… sorry about that… I didn't mean to—"
"It's alright." She smiled.
Standing up, he pulled her up from the floor and gave her the towel. "Your bath is ready. Just come downstairs if you're hungry." He uttered and left.
Hermione just stared at the door and absentmindedly touched her lips.
A/n: Aheehe... I've been thingking about that part for a long time.ü Anyways, my messages...
SpiritWell - Thanks for understanding my pain...ü It is indeed hard. But anyways, I WILL post my works on weekends. And thanks for waiting for this.ü I hope you finished your major project and moved out successfully.ü
chaste-aeon - Lol.ü Good guess! I am from the Philippines. (And I am guessing you are too.ü)And yes, school has started. though I still hoped it is still summer... I don't like waking up early and everything.ü About the other doctor, most probably he will.ü I wasn't really sure on that but I guessed, what the heck. He may be useful.ü I know life is busy and all, but it would be really nice to work on that chapter.ü Who knows? You might be a very great writer and when you post it here, you'll get hundreds of reviews.ü Just keep writing.ü It'll be great!ü Oh, before I forget, Thanks for that fab review!ü
JinxTwix - Ah, I see what you mean. Hmm... I think it'll be possible for Hermione to hurt Draco... or vise versa. But I won't tell!ü It will ruin the element of surprise, if you know what I mean?ü Ahehe. And thanks too for your review.ü Thanks so much!
Bookworm1214 - You're indeed welcome.ü And yeah, it feels good writing Hermione being cheery and all.ü I feel aweful when I write her in her sad state. I could feel her pain... LOL!ü Well, it is hard to lose someone but... We have to move on with it. That's the way of life, anyway. Thanks for the review too! I'm glad you liked how their relationship works.ü Thanks again!ü
Aurum Potestas Est - Ahehe.ü Maybe they'll be parting. Maybe they won't.ü It will depend on Hermione entirely, though. You'll see that on the coming chapters.ü Thanks for the reviews anyway!ü Glad you liked it.ü I haven't written anything this long before.ü It's great!.ü See you on the next update!ü
ATTENTION PLEASE! We have new reviewing readers.ü And as for every NEW Reviewing Readers...
WELCOME ABOARD!ü
The ff. are the welcomed readers. Millions of gratitude to you all.ü
MysteryALASKA - Thanks for liking it.ü I actually found it really impossible for other reviewers to read this story anymore.ü But anyhows, you proved me wrong.ü THANKS so much!ü
Fan-Of-HP - Thanks for the review!ü I'm glad you liked it.ü I'll be updating this every weekend. That's a promise.ü
Vegas Chick - Yes, he killed Harry. That's the sad truth. But anyways, I couldn't tell the whole story about that yet.ü The element of surprise would be ruined.ü But don't worry.ü I'll post that part some day.ü Thanks for reviewing!ü
zafro - Thanks for liking this story!ü It means a lot! And about your question, no. Ginny and the others haven't got any clue about their engagement. All they knew was that they loved each other and all that.ü It was like those secret engagement stuffs.ü They were supposed to tell them that, but it was too late. Harry died to early I guess...
There!ü I'm so happy! I really am! HAHA!ü AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA!
Okay okay. Aningme, stop being weird.
Anyways, see you guys next tym!ü
And catgurfurreel, I still thank you! FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVERAND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVERAND EVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER!ü