Disclaimer: Weh.
A/n: Lol.ü Wow. The story is really ending. I couldn't believe it myself.ü
By: Aningme
Chapter 41
Dilemma
Draco Malfoy stared at his amazingly boring computer screen, filled with field reports and data consumptions of his product consumers. He was practically checking nothing, feeling like he had been in a reverie for a year. He had done his progress reports. He had finished polishing up his HG02 computer programming that concerns security special codes, voice scanning system and advanced DNA checks and fingerprint follow up that he had been working on. Everyone seems to demand security programs these days. Talk about paranoia. HG02 stood for Hawk Guard Model 02, which refers to his implausible system of security guarantee in ranges almost impossible to cover. He laughed at the silly name of HG02; thinking people would not know that there is a story behind those characters.
HG02… Hermione Granger... Whom I have been searching for 02 years…
It was silly, he knew. He intended to put her initials in that particular program, knowing it was that program that gave him the chance to make the greatest mistake in his life. And worse, he took it.
He stared at the outline of his program, his seething hatred for it steaming a little.
His anger at himself suddenly permeated in him too.
He spun his revolving chair away from the screen and faced the implausible view of Ottawa City in the hotel window. He suddenly felt tired, feeling the heaviness of fatigue slowly dominating his body. He lifted his hands on his face and pressed his knuckles down his eyes, releasing some of the pressure. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment.
"I brought you some coffee." A voice suddenly whispered, the voice sounding melodious in his ears.
Unconsciously drawing a smile on his face, he wheeled around and looked at her, her body clad in his white polo shirt, her plain jeans sweeping the floor along with her feet. Her hair was utterly wet, making him deduce she had just taken a shower.
But it was not only her striking physique that made him lulled and shocked in awe at her. He saw her eyes, those beautiful eyes, glitter with… something. He could not read her emotion in them. But he was sure there was something. It was something like he was feeling for her now.
Hermione stared back at him, noticing the way he stared at her. He must've seen something in her this morning that made him smile like that. She missed that smile of his. He rarely smiles like this.
"I just thought you'd want some." She added and walked up to him, handing him the mug.
He sniffed the steam eddying around it and sighed, sipping coffee. He then placed the mug on his table and looked up at her again. He was staring at her, still.
She was starting to feel uneasy already. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
Draco suddenly burst in laughter. How terribly he missed that sarcasm of hers! He took her hands and kissed them, placing them on his warm cheeks.
She smiled, watching him play with her hands. She couldn't take his eyes off him. "So… what is that?" She pointed at the bunch of symbols on his screen and some words that she could not decipher.
He turned to where she was pointing at and smiled. "That is my work."
She leaned closer to the screen, almost slamming her face on it. "How the bloody hell do you read this?"
Draco laughed again at her reaction and leaned with her. "They are what you call symbols."
"Symbols of what?"
"Symbols of my work."
"What is your work?"
"What do you think?"
She frowned. "That's unfair. You still haven't told me what you do." She turned to the screen again and tried to understand it. "You told me you would tell me one day. You promised."
He couldn't take his eyes off her. He couldn't stop watching her. "Yes, I guess I did." He agreed. "Now, this is my work."
She frowned. "Okay… and?"
"What you see is my work."
She furrowed her brows. "I can definitely see that. Would you mind to explain?"
He just loves playing with her. "Come over here."
She gave him another baffled look. "What?"
"Come here." He said again, his smile so cool and calm.
She gave him a side long look before she followed him.
Watching her move a little, he quickly reached for her arm, gripping it so tight, startling her.
He practically pulled her at him, jerking her body on her lap. She fought him playfully too, but with his strong built and physique, he actually pinned her down, her back resting on his lap, her legs struggling wildly on the arm of the plush chair.
"Hey!" She yelped at first, trying to free her arms from him.
But, of course, she still couldn't break free. Finally growing tired, she sighed and gave up. "Pervert."
He wiggled his brows and grinned. "I just want to hold you."
She smiled at that and finally leaned back against him, resting her head on his cheek. "So… what's with the work?"
He inhaled her scent and wrapped his arms tighter around her waist. "Well, this is an outline of a program I have just created recently." He briefly explained.
"Oh… So you're an e-man?"
"E-man?" He chuckled at that. "Yes, I guess you could call me that if you would like."
She nodded. Finally. "So I guess you are quite rich with those..."
"Programs." He filled in.
"Yeah, programs." She smiled, beaming at him. "That's kind of cool. So you do those David Milgates stuff?"
He almost choked. "David... Milgates stuff?"
"Yeah, you know, design programs and stuff the like." She turned to him abruptly, her brows knitting together into a questioning look. "Don't tell me you don't know him. He's practically the god of e-men."
He so wanted to laugh at that. I am practically David Milgates. "Of course I know him. I have actually seen him face to face." On the mirror. He playfully thought, chuckling at himself.
"You have?" She tilted her head, thinking. "Peoplearound the world talks about him and writes about him. But he never shows his face to the media. What does he look like? Maybe he has something on his face that he doesn't want people to see. A mole perhaps." She chuckled at herself. "Well, that is just silly."
"I agree." He imagined himself having a mole. It didn't quite fit him. "Actually he's kind of handsome." He amended, a smug face slowly carving on his face. "I have never seen a man so handsome like him before." God, he wanted to laugh out loud.
"Really." She smiled. "Too bad he's a jerk."
"Excuse me?" Draco furrowed his brows.
"Well," She cleared her throat. "Ron had this particular meeting with him before. And when Ron came back, he was really pissed off at him."
Let me guess. Draco thought.
"He said he was a jerk, or something. He really didn't want to talk about it at all." Hermione explained.
"Well, hechanged. He's a better man now." He insisted.
Hermione shrugged and smiled. "I wouldn't know for sure."
He sighed and suddenly changed the topic. He abruptly became serious in a snap. "May I ask you a question?"
She looked up at him. "What is it?"
He took her hand again and played with it, softly caressing it. She watched him with a big rumble of emotions rolling inside her. She felt her stomach knot and a bunch of butterflies fluttering around them, feeling his touch.
"I just… well…" He was suddenly feeling uneasy.
She smiled at him. He was so adorable stuttering like that.
"I want you to come with me." He tried to smile off his nervousness. "I have something to show you." He blurted. "And I want you to be there with me."
Hermione stared at him, trying to read his mind. "What is it?"
"You wait and see." He muttered. "Will you go with me?"
Hermione nodded and pecked his lips. "Of course."
A/n: Lol.ü I know this chapter is kind of vague.ü But the next chapter will clear it up. promise.ü
The messages:
The Gryffindor Drummer - I thought of ending it there too. But I guess I wanted something else on this story.ü You'll find out.ü TC!
mysteriouscharm - Yes.ü More chapters. Maybe two more or so.ü
contagiousbeauty - yeah, it's pretty sad to think it is ending already. But heck, all stories end.ü
his-lil-shortie - Thanks for the comment.ü I rewrote this chapter twice actually.ü I wrote the first one when I was feeling gloomy and all about myself and figured I have written a lame chapter for an event like that one. But when I cheered myself up, that scene came popping in my head. Just luck.ü
Liz - Thanks for the rev.ü Writing a sequel won't be that bad of an idea, but i'll think about it.ü And thanks for reviewing this all through out.ü Thanks so much!ü TC!
chaste-aeon - Lol.ü Yeah, it was a holiday for us the last two Mondays.ü It was quite fun, actually.ü
Anyway, I'm glad you are working on your story.ü Though I am really sorry if I hadn't reviewed it yet. I have this volleyball thing and I had to stay in school for a few hours to train. Darn, it was mostly tiring and everything. I can't even move my cursed body anymore!ü Honestly I am not that sporty in terms of physical fitness. I am a sickly person, in fact. I always get confined in hospitals and all. Poor me.ü
Oh, about the spacing errors, forgive me about that.ü I am always in a hurry because I am already paranoid of my brothers. One moment you are free with the computer and all, then the next they would come barging in you and bug you to get off the computer and scram. I actually hate them for doing that to me. But heck, brothers do that to their sisters.ü Anyways, thanks for the rev.ü TC!ü
siriusndharryluvrr - Thanks for considering my story top 3 of your faves.ü That is just good to hear.ü And don't worry about missing one review.ü I am just glad that you liked this story.ü Anyways, until the last two chapters to go! TC!ü
swivelchair- Are you new here? Welcome Aboard!ü I believe I haven't seen you yet. But if I already have and I have forgotten, I am really sorry. (My head hurts a little today. Too much coffee I guess.) Anyways, thanks for the rev.ü And yep, you'll know the answer to your questions in the following chapters.ü They're the last ones anyways.ü Lol.ü
SpiritWell - Thanks for that rev!ü And I still thank you for the great name!ü
skittlelove - Yeah, it is a great relief for them to be back.ü And I think Hermione won't be too harsh on Ron about that.ü He's just being too protective. Lol.ü
eeesah - Yeah,finally they met.ü I know what you mean about having too much to do. Life is just fricking busy. But, hell, we can't do anything about it.ü Anyways, thanks for the rev.ü And it's alright about the review thing.ü I'm just glad you liked the story.ü
Queen of Duct Tapes - Lol.ü Our president of our country seems to like having lots of Holidays every monday.ü But unfortunately, this monday we already have classes. I guess they couldn't make up anymore events on that day. Lol.ü
Yeah, we have Starbucks.ü And I'm glad that we have something in common.ü I am a coffee fiend, if you don't know.ü I can't live without Starbucks too even if I'm only fifteen. My parents are actually forcing me to go toa rehab facility for coffee addicts. (If there is one.ü) I am totally addicted to coffee.ü
I like school sometimes.ü But I was a little traumatized with something at school that triggered my hatred for school. I couldn't stop that from happening and, well, I was traumatized.
Sigh, I don't want to talk about that.
Anyways, about the athletics blahblah, I actually passed that volleyball thing. I didn't expect that to happen because, honestly, I am a weakling. I get sick too much and always see myself confined in hospitals and all that tubes sticking on my skin! I hate myself for being too weak, but I was a little surprised at myself for managing to make it on the team. Heck, I just hope I don't get sick during the competition!ü
Anyhows, thanks for the rev again.ü As always, loved it so much.ü Tc!ü
Magicalflame - Lol.ü I was actually having trouble on how to end this.ü But I guess I have it all worked out.ü You'll see.ü
Foreverasecret01 - Lol.ü thanks for the rev!ü Will update soon.ü TC!
curlyqntx - ü Yup, I will post more.ü Well, at least two more.ü
Pessimistic Eyes - Thanks you so much for that comment.ü I wanted it to be.ü
Aurum Potestas Est - Hey! We missed you here!ü Lol.ü
It's okay if you haven't reviewed regularly.ü You have a life too, you know.ü And life doesn't consist of only fanfics.ü Lol.ü I understand.ü I myself even update late too sometimes.ü Lol.ü
Anyways, I am just glad you are back.ü And I hope you liked the chapter previously.ü TC!
To everyone...
Well, it is near its end...ü And I am so thankful for all of you... It's a first for me to have 400 reviews in a story.ü THANK YOU SOO MUCH!ü
Until next update.ü