Hello! I'm so sorry about the delay. I was having major trouble writing this chapter. Thanks so much for every single review! I appreciate them a lot! Oh, just to clarify, Draco does not like Hermione yet. However, in this chapter, he really begins to see Hermione differently. Oh, btw, just to make it clear, this story is AU! Completely. Narcissa was being mentioned in here and yes, I know she's alive. In here, she plays a different role.
Mchs-angel08: hi! Yes, I totally understand why you would think the last chapter was irrelevant. There will be seduction and more scenes later on but I need to establish a base where Draco starts to love Hermione. He's not going to fall in love with her just he because he loves sleeping with her. And that's why I have to insert a few of these chapters to really establish a basis.
Please review! This chapter was actually really hard for me.
Chapter 11: True Friendship
"I'll have a coffee please," said Hermione to the waitress.
"And I'll have another tea," said Draco.
"Pride and Prejudice," said Draco slowly craning his neck to read the title. "I've never heard of that book before," said Draco as they slid into the soft red booth for two.
Hermione set her book down on the table and tapped the cover with a polished oyster colored nail. It had a picture of a distinguished looking man and an elegant looking woman plastered on the cover.
"Thank you," said Hermione as she took her drink from the waitress. She blew the hot beverage and then took a sip before answering.
"You've probably never heard if it because it's a Muggle novel. It's by a British author named Jane Austin," explained Hermione, "I've started to read it and it's absolutely beautiful."
"Who's on the cover?" asked Draco.
"It's the actor and actress from the movie," said Hermione running her hand over the smooth cover, "I saw the movie last year with a couple Muggle friends. They told me that the book was even better than the movie. The guy's name is Colin Firth; he plays Mark Darcy and the girl is Jennifer Elie. She plays Elizabeth Bennet."
"Hmmm," murmured Draco, "What's the story about?"
"It's set in Britain actually, many years ago. It's the time and period where society and connections were everything! So, Mark Darcy was one of the most prominent men is London's society. He had money, estates, good looks; he was the perfect ideal man. And then there was Elizabeth Bennet. She was much lower than Darcy. She had a few family connections, a tidy sum, and honorable values. Mark was disgusted with her inferiority of her lifestyle but he couldn't resist her beauty. Against his wishes, he fell deeply in love with her. He tried his hardest to break it off but nothing would work. You see, it was taboo for a man or woman of high class to marry a woman or man of a lower society rank. And he thought that he was doing Elizabeth a favor so when he proposed, he was arrogant, rude, and domineering."
"Did she accept him?" asked Draco with interest.
"Of course not! She would rather marry a man of lower rank than a jerk of wealth and status. She told him exactly what she thought of him and he finally realized what a jerk he had been. He thought that he would be able to live without her love, but he realized that he couldn't. Therefore, he slowly started to change himself," said Hermione.
"They did get married I presume?" inferred Draco.
"Oh, yes. It's one of the most romantic novels I've read. You should try reading it sometime. I know you'll love it," smiled Hermione.
"Romance isn't my thing but I'll try it," said Draco.
Silence fell between the two until Draco cleared his throat.
"So, um what were you doing here?" asked Draco.
"I needed to clear my head. Too many thoughts were floating through my mind as I lay in bad last night. I needed to relax and just start fresh. Reading always helps me do that," explained Hermione.
"I know exactly what you mean Hermione. Books provide me with a world, so magical, so real I feel as though I could fall into the pages." said Draco passionately.
"I feel exactly the same way," Hermione said.
An awkward silence fell between them. They looked down; Hermione fought to keep blushing rising to her cheeks.
He knew exactly how Hermione felt. He sighed to himself as he titled his coffee cup back and forth. That Mark Darcy reminded him of his father completely. Lucius had never loved Narcissa. He had only married her because of her social status and her wealth. He needed to establish a prominent position in society and he had simply used her for that. And when he had attained all he desired, he had disposed of her. Draco closed his eyes briefly as he remembered his mother's mangled and bloody corpse on the floor in the hall.
"Hey, what's wrong?" asked Hermione softly.
"Nothing," started Draco as he looked up and plastered a fake smile.
"Don't try it Draco. Don't; I've had enough experience with Harry to know when someone is lying about how they feel. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing really, I don't want to bother you with," started Draco.
"It's no bother," said Hermione seriously as she reached out and clasped his hands in hers.
"You wouldn't understand," said Draco waving his hand nonchalantly.
"Try me," urged Hermione.
Draco looked up and sighed. He looked into her chocolate brown eyes and saw the determination and concern sparkling within the depths. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He had no idea where to start. Emotion was swirling tenfold within him. He had never had anyone to confide in, let alone anyone who actually cared.
"Must be hard to collect your thoughts," said Hermione softly, her eyes observing him critically.
Draco's eyes snapped open. Hermione's face had broken into a sympathetic and sorrowful smile.
"Yes it is. You read my mind," laughed Draco forcibly.
"I know how it feels. You've never confided anything in anyone. Why is that?" asked Hermione.
"I had no one," said Draco, the words shooting out of his mouth, "I had no friends or family members around me in who I could turn to. My so-called father was a man who believed that emotion was a weakness. Keeping in emotion made a person stronger, more able to overcome hurdles. I believed every word that had come out of his mouth. Whenever I felt forlorn or stressed, I swallowed the emotions and bore in single-handedly, believing that I would come out in the end as a stronger person."
"That's where you were wrong Draco," said Hermione softly, "Bearing your emotions doesn't make you stronger. Overtime the bottling of emotions become unbearable. Showing emotions define who we are as humans. It's our emotions that show that we actually care and have the ability to feel."
"I was scared of my father," admitted Draco, "Everyday I had the threat of my father looming over my head. He controlled every movement, every word that left my mouth, and my every action. But luckily, that's over."
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione curiously.
"My father died last night," answered Draco curtly his voice void of emotion.
Hermione clapped a hand to her mouth.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
As he looked as her shocked face, he realized that she actually cared. She wasn't apologizing for the sake of apologizing. She actually meant the two words that had left her mouth. Her brown eyes were full of sympathy and sorrow.
"Don't be sorry," he said curtly. "I'm not."
"You don't mean that," said Hermione horrified.
"I do," said Draco steely, "Why are you sorry? He hurt you didn't he? I remember that day you fought against him with Harry at the Ministry. He hurt you didn't he?"
"Yes, but," started Hermione but Draco cut her off.
"But nothing," interrupted Draco, "My father was nothing but a selfish cold bastard who cared only about what he felt and thought. He didn't give a damn about me. You never knew how my childhood was in that so-called house. My father never spoke to me lovingly or hugged me. He never held me or congratulated me for my accomplishments. Nothing I did satisfied him. I came in second in our sixth year. I felt so proud when I received that letter. But of course when my father found out, do you think he was satisfied? NO! Of course not! He was angry that a young woman of a non-wizarding family that beaten his PureBlood son. He made me feel like I was the lowest and most pathetic scum on this planet. I felt like I was nothing."
Draco calmed down and lowered his head. Breathing deeply, he closed his eyes. Only when he heard Hermione sniffle, he looked up. Two clear raindrops were flowing down her pearly cheeks. Draco's heart ached for some unfathomable reason as the tears cascaded down her porcelain cheeks rapidly.
"Oh Hermione," said Draco as he got up and slid next to her. He wiped the tears from her face. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad by saying you had gotten first. I didn't mean to blame you."
"It wasn't that," sniffed Hermione wiping her cheeks with her hands. "I can't imagine anyone having a childhood like that. I'm sorry Draco."
Draco pulled her close to him. Hermione sniffled and wrapped her arms around his waist. Draco placed one muscular arm around her shoulders and plaid his head don hers. Hermione inhaled deeply and buried her face in his jacket. For some reason, it felt right. As his scent of musk and ocean filled her senses, she felt her nerves calm down. Her muscles relaxed as she embraced Draco. After a few minutes, Hermione drew away and smiled at Draco softly.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Anytime," said Draco kissing her on the forehead.
Hermione looked away as she smoothed her hair and fumbled for her purse. She had never been that close sentimentally and mentally to Draco as she had then. A blush rose to her cheeks as she remembered their close contact a few minutes ago.
"Stop it Hermione," scolded Hermione, "It's just sadness and pity that you're feeling. You love Ron remember?"
Meanwhile next to her Draco was trying to convince himself of the exact same thing.
"Draco, stop this man. Why in the world did you comfort her when she was crying?" thought Draco, "You can't get into this sentimental nonsense. You're only supposed to fuck her, get the information out, and then ditch her."
Just then the clock on the wall struck 3.
"Wow, the time just passed quickly," commented Hermione.
"Yes," agreed Draco, "Time does fly when you're having fun."
"Draco, I have somewhere to go," said Hermione apologetically. "Would you be angry if I left?"
"Of course not!" exclaimed Draco as he climbed out of the seat.
Hermione smiled gratefully and slid out. Grabbing her bag, she turned around and picked up her book.
"Would you like to borrow this book," asked Hermione holding out the thin paperback book.
"I would love to," answered Draco after a few moments of contemplating. "Come, I'll walk you to the door."
Swinging her bag on her shoulder, Hermione and Draco walked through the aisles towards the door.
"Oh my god," exclaimed Hermione suddenly, "I have been searching for this book for the longest time! I searched every bookstore but they were all sold out! Excuse me for a second!"
Draco laughed to himself as he watched Hermione flit over to the bookshelf and grab a thick book off a nearby shelf. She reminded him of himself when he saw a book that he had waited for. A few minutes later, a flushed Hermione came back clutching the book.
"Sorry about that," apologized Hermione.
"Don't be," said Draco as he pushed himself off the bookshelf.
"Listen," said Draco as the couple walked out of the doors of the store.
It has started snowing again and the town looked like a fairytale land. The snow was drifting gently and every cottage was covered with snow and thin wisps of smoke rose from each building. The streets were deserted.
Hermione turned around and pushed her hair behind her ears. Draco stepped closer to Hermione and looked down at the ground.
"I really enjoyed today," said Draco hastily, "I…I've never had anyone to talk to. And I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate today."
"I'm always here Draco. Always. All you have to do is come," said Hermione softly.
Draco smiled and leaned forward. Hermione closed her eyes as she felt his soft lips brush hers. Hermione wrapped her hands around his neck and responded. After a few seconds, they broke away. Hermione smiled softly at Draco.
"Thank you," said Draco tenderly. "How did you know I was sad?"
"Your eyes," she answered simply, "Draco. I've always loved your name. Dragon, it means, and you are. Secretive, powerful, and seductive. But you have one weakness. Your eyes. They're like an open diary. They tell me everything that you're feeling. I see you mirrored in the gray depths of your pupils."
Hermione smiled one last time and then apparated. Draco blinked and smiled. For the first time, he felt the rock in his chest slowly dissolving as the emotions multiplied tenfold.
Please Review! This chapter took hecka time to write! C'mon, I'm on 75 favorites and 80 alerts! Please write a tiny comment! Chapters will come out faster if I hit 30 reviews a chapter!