A/N: Another guest appearance by Coldplay. In My Place is used here, try playing it when Hermione pauses her quill
The weather that evening gave way from the pleasant sunshine to blackened sky and by that Saturday visibility on the grounds was reduced to zero because of the thick rain. While students were thankful that they didn't have to face classes in such weather, most felt that their weekend had been shot. Hermione, on the other hand, felt it to be the perfect opportunity to snuggle in her cozy armchair near the fire and read. Draco took the opportunity to either nap or brood.
Hermione slept in until around noon, and after a small lunch, sat down at the desk provided for her and Draco. Her homework was easily distinguished from Draco's because of the neat, orderly piles as compared with his haphazard stacks, lopsided and perilously near falling over. With a small sigh, she engaged herself in catching up her schoolwork.
Sometime shortly after five, with a few stretch breaks and two visits to the kitchen, Hermione was finished. She put away her school things, happy to have accomplished something, and went down to dinner.
"Hello, boys," she pulled a chair out from under the table after acknowledging her two best friends.
"Boys," scoffed Harry, spilling a little pumpkin juice down his shirt. "You are sadly mistaken. I see no boys here… just men."
"'Ea, me'," Ron added, his mouth full of pudding.
"Ah of course, forgive the mistake." Hermione fought against her gag reflex. When would these boys ever grow up?
"Anyway," Ron swallowed his food before continuing, "where've you been all day miss Head Girl?"
"Oh just catching up on my schoolwork."
"On a Saturday!" Both boys looked astounded.
"Well what else am I supposed to do when it's raining like this?" Hermione pointed at the enchanted ceiling, which clearly showed the turbulent sky.
Ron snorted, his face a little pink. "And what about Malfoy?"
She shrugged. "Don't know, haven't seen him all day."
Ron had no choice but to leave things at that as Hermione casually ate her dinner.
Upon returning to the dorms, Hermione noticed the curled up ball of paper underneath the table, untouched after Draco threw it the previous evening. Curiosity getting the best of her, she cautiously picked up the discarded parchment and went into her room. Being sure not to make too much noise with the crinkled paper, she opened it.
"My dearest Draco,
Well, I've just heard from Mrs. Martin, and Karissa is not doing so well at school. She's really desperate for dear Kari to achieve great things, and you would think that her being in Ravenclaw would mean intelligence, but I guess the hat makes a mistake every now and then. But listen to me be so cruel to poor Mrs. Martin and Kari!
At any rate, Mrs. Martin was so graciously wondering if maybe you would tutor Kari, and of course I told her you'd be more than willing, what with the two of you having hit it off so well this summer. I am so glad that you've found someone you can at least tolerate! After all the beautiful young ladies I paraded through the house this summer, it seems like maybe this young Kari may become your betrothed! Oh and wouldn't things be so beautiful, Mrs. Martin and I becoming relatives, and of course the lovely grandchildren, and all the society parties... but, there I go ranting again.
Draco, darling, your father and I feared for so long that you might be... well... different. Truthfully, dear, gay. But then you came home from school this year ranting and raving about some delicious young lady at Hogwarts, and we were quite relieved! Unfortunately my love you know your father's standing on muggles, so I'm afraid you might just have to settle with Kari. I mean, she is so beautiful, and from a rightful wizarding family, and so much better than that Parkinson girl! What a downright disaster that was!
Darling, my only request is that you settle yourself down before you graduate. You know I'd like to see you married and continuing the Malfoy line, the sooner the better. Send Severus my regards!
With love, Mother"
Hermione chuckled at the letter. To think Draco could be gay! It was so absurd, and while she was sure that Narcissa had Draco's best interest at heart, she reminded Hermione so much of a Mrs. Bennet from a book she had once read. She returned the letter to where she had found it and retired to writing in her journal.
"Well, lately the Draco situation has become nothing short of perplexing. I know I was so set on moving on, on getting over him, but that has proved to be an impossible task. I can think of nothing but him, he's the last thing I think about before I fall asleep and the first thing when I wake up. I want to be around him all the time, if nothing else but to hear him laugh. But the way I talk, it almost sounds like my feelings might run deeper than simple affection. Indeed, for a while I feared that I was falling in love with him. But that would be very laughable indeed. For what Malfoy could love or marry a muggle? The very idea of being in love with Draco is absurd."
Hermione paused her quill. Her bathroom door was wide open, and it sounded to her like there was a guitar being played. She put down her journal and cautiously crept toward the open door. A small stream of light emerged from Draco's door, and being careful not to make a sound, she walked close enough to see Draco sitting on his bed and strumming his guitar. She felt like she was invading an extremely personal moment, and yet she couldn't tear her eyes away from the beautiful sight of Draco relaxed. Draco was staring aimlessly out the window, his able fingers strumming the strings. Her heart absolutely melted. She could hear his voice softly begin to sing.
In my place, in my place
Were lines that I couldn't change
I was lost, oh yeah
Draco shut his eyes as he sang, his fingers playing the familiar song.
And I was lost, I was lost
Crossed lines I shouldn't have crossed
I was lost, oh yeah
Draco's voice grew a little louder, his face a little more passionate.
Yeah, how long must you wait for it?
Yeah, how long must you pay for it?
Yeah, how long must you wait for it?
Oh, for it
This was obviously a song Draco was familiar with, not missing a single chord, not messing up a single lyric. His eyes opened and he looked back out of the window, this time as though he could actually see something. Hermione knew he was remembering something, but as to what, she didn't know. His voice grew stronger as he sang.
I was scared, I was scared
Tired and under prepared
But I wait for it
He looked down at the guitar, a little sad or forlorn.
If you go, if you go
And leave me down here on my own
Then I'll wait for you, yeah
Yeah, how long must you wait for it?
Yeah, how long must you pay for it?
Yeah, how long must you wait for it?
Oh, for it
Hermione no longer knew just where she was, no longer knew just what she was doing. All she knew was Draco's angelic voice, his able guitar playing, and the gorgeous man that could be no more than ten feet away from her. Her heart was nearly bursting with pent up emotion, with feelings that she could never attest to having before, and her heart quickened with a sudden realization. No logic, no rationalization could get her out of this, and she knew that she had truthfully fallen for Draco Malfoy, and she had fallen hard. This moment, this song, this shared electricity that she felt like she was sharing with Draco was one that she knew not even time would erase. Tears welled up in her eyes, a mixture of both fear and absolute rapture, and she observed Draco even more carefully as he again shut his eyes and sang his heart out.
Sing it please, please, please
Come back and sing to me
To me, me
Come on and sing it out, now, now
Come on and sing it out, to me, me
Come back and sing it
In my place, in my place
Were lines that I couldn't change
And I was lost, oh yeah, oh yeah
Being very careful not to be discovered, Hermione snuck back into her room, leaving Draco alone again. She shut the bathroom door and leaned against it, her heart fluttering so hard in her chest, and she could feel the flush that had overcome her body. After a moment, Hermione sat back down and resumed writing in her journal.
"And yet, I am absolutely certain that I am very much in love with Draco, and could never have such strong feelings for any other man..."