Disclaimer: I don't own a thing except the story. The song is "Put a Little Love in Your Heart."
Warnings: yawn- AU, some language...blah blah blah...
The light was waning as they made their way back to the castle. Two lonely figures traipsed through the aching snow, each carrying a bag in their hand.
"It's been a funny sort of day hasn't it?" Hermione asked.
"No arguments there. No doubt it was certainly…different." He replied.
She had been toying with the idea of asking him if he had given up hating her. But she was very unsure ofhow to bring it up. They always got a little weird when that subject came up.
"You're just the same though." He continued. "Still trying to save the world." He joked.
"And you are still trying to run it." Was her reply.
He grinned a bit broader. He had to, grudgingly, admit that she was a good deal better company than his friends. He tried to think of something, anything, to convince himself that he still hated her. He found that he couldn't. He couldn't hate her anymore. It felt weird to admit it, but if he was honest with himself, he actually liked her.
He heard a small rumble beside him.
"Hungry Granger?" He smirked. She glared.
"Yes, if you must know. It is nearly dinner time anyway."
They made their way to Hogwarts a fast as possible. The temperature outside was dropping quickly.
When they entered, Draco headed towards the Great Hall, but Hermione stopped him.
"Don't you think we ought to eat somewhere else other than in front of the whole school?" She said with a "duh" tone in her voice.
"Who says we're having dinner together? Are you sure this wasn't a date?"
"Ugh! You are impossible!" She raised her voice a little.
"Calm down, I was only joking. You really are amusing when you're angry." He said laughing a bit.
"Well, I am glad that you are having a laugh at my expense." She huffed. "Now, I'll get the food. Where would you like to eat?" She asked with her same authoritative air.
He rolled his eyes.
"I vote for the Head's common room." He said.
"Alright, I'll meet you there."
He nodded and walked off.
As he walked down the hall, he was trying to think about this whole situation. There was a lot he wanted to say to her. He acted like he didn't appreciate what she was doing for him, it really did mean a lot to him. She was the only one to actually try to make him feel like a human. He felt…good. He hadn't felt that good since…ages. He didn't think he loved her, but he felt like he could…
He heard someone singing. He stopped to look around and saw a couple of people practicing for a little late night caroling.
"Think of your fellow man
Lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart
You see it's getting late
Oh please don't hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place
For you and me
You just wait and see"
He shook his head. It was just a song. Why was it affecting him? He looked down at the bag in his hand. He hoped she liked it.
"What is this woman doing to me?" He thought.
He continued on down the hall.
Hermione was busy trying to avoid Harry and Ron. She didn't know if Ginny had told them she was out or not. She walked to the doors of the Great Hall and peaked through.
She didn't see them at the Gryffindor table, so she went in quietly. She piled several items of food on to a plate and tried to balance everything. It wasn't easy, but she managed.
The moment alone gave her a chance to think about the day. What did she hope to get out of this? It was all muddled and very confusing to her. She knew she cared about him, that much was certain. Did she want more? It was so mystifying, that she wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms and hear him say that everything was alright.
"I love him." She said to herself. It came so simply, even naturally.
"I love him." She tried again.
It felt so good to say it. Finally a little clarity! She loved him even though he was an egotistical, sarcastic, horrible little wanker. She was in love! She smile to herself. It faded. She stopped. Her eyes widened.
"Oh crap! I love him!" She almost dropped the food. She really was scared by this new revelation. He wasn't right for her. He was an egotistical, sarcastic, horrible little wanker. It was useless to deny that she was irrevocably in love with the sod.
"Where is she?" He thought. He was getting hungry. He heard a small voice outside the door, and it swung open.
"Well it's about time you showed up." He said only a little annoyed.
"Excuse me, but I have a lot to carry. I've got food, drinks, and a bloody present to give to you, all in my arms, so shut it Malfoy."
"A present?"
"Yes, now help me!"
He ran up to her and relieved her of the plates and drinks, but looked at the bag.
"What is it?" He asked as they set down.
She smiled.
"Here, open it."
He pulled the book out of the bag.
"The Problem of Pain. C.S Lewis?" He didn't know what to say. Why would she give him a book like this?
She smiled at the fact that she had made him speechless.
"I wrote you a note too. It's in the front."
He opened up the book and took out the note and read.
He couldn't breathe. It was too much. He, he needed...
"I need to go." He said. He got up off the couch placed the note on the table and just...left, with out a look back.
She started at his retreating figure, stunned. She didn't think he would leave because of that silly little note. She went from shocked, to sad, to angry in a span of just a few seconds. She got up off the couch and ran after him.
"Dear Draco,"
She was breathing hard, running down halls. Not caring who saw her.
"words can not express how much it means to me that you are here giving me the chance to make things right between us. I know living with the family that you have must be difficult and lonely at times, though I do not pretend to understand how you feel."
She looked down corridors and classrooms, she just couldn't find him anywhere. Surely he didn't just disappear. She needed him to know how she felt...
"This book has helped me get through some rough periods of my life at home and some lonely times when Ron and Harry weren't talking to me. My only wish in giving this to you, is to make you understand that you are not alone, and that the pain you feel doesn't need to be yours alone."
He was running away from it all. He was running...like a bloody coward...
She was desperately searching for him. She had tears in her eyes. She couldn't lose him. Not when she was so sure that she loved him.
"Draco, my motives for today I have made clear and all were true. I didn't tell you the one thing that convinced me to do this. I wanted you to be happy, I wanted you to feel loved. I..."
He walked to the lake and stared at the cloudy, snow filled sky. He was so overwhelmed at the emotions going on, that he felt as though he was drowning. Drowning in the lake he was at the edge of...
She decided to search the grounds. By now she was running as fast as her legs would carry. She called out his name. She screamed it in pure anger and frustration. She reached the lake...
"Draco where are you, you stupid son of a b..."
"No need to scream woman!" He appeared from behind her.
She turned around and saw him leaning against an old tree. He was beautiful.
"Why didn't you answer me?" She said angrily.
"I like hearing women shouting my name over and over again." He smirked at his dirty comment. She stormed up to him and did all she could to try to make herself as tall as he was.
"You are a filthy wanker!" She poked him in the chest as she shouted. She was not amused.
"You forgot charming, witty, and good looking. But I try." He said as he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Ugh! I told you, you were not getting away from me today!"
"No, you listen! I don't want to..."
"Draco, I care about you. You are loved."
"I care about you, you stupid moron!"
They could only hear the sound of the wind blowing.
It was so strange to hear those words coming from her. Even though he had read them, hearing them made them concrete.
"Why do you think I have been doing this? I've listened to you all day insult my friends, I've tried to do you a favor that no one else would do, and all you can do is run away! You are nothing but a coward! I..."
He had slammed her against a tree. The rage that was in his eyes almost scared her. She had crossed a line she didn't know existed.
"I am not a bloody coward!" He screamed at her.
"Prove it. Tell me you don't hate me. Get over this petty difference of what I am, of what we are and just tell me!" She needed to hear him say it.
He looked her angry and challenging eyes. The problem wasn't that he didn't hate her. It was that he really did love her. That's what frightened him.
"I don't hate you. I..."
She flung her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. He wrapped his arm around her waist. She knew he would have said that he cared, even loved her, but she didn't need to hear anymore. She knew.
A/N: Yay another chapter! One more to go! I am really sorry, but I needed to do a grammer check on chapter three because it was absolutely atrocious! Anyway, the story is back up now, I hope your reviews are still there. If not, I am deeply sorry.