Romeo && Juliet: A Harry Potter Love Story Chapter VIII

Hermione had something to look forward to this morning. Ron and Ginny were finally coming home after six months in Romania. At least now she had Ginny whom she could talk to openly about anything. At least Ginny would understand how she felt and wouldn't jump on her because Ginny had told the older girl that she had a crush on Blaise, so basically, they were facing the same problem. "Oh yeah, Hermione, Malfoy said that McGonagall wanted to see you in the Drama Room," said Harry to Hermione just as she was about to leave the breakfast table. She froze. She felt oddly nervous, for some reason. "Um… h-he did?" she stammered. "Er… Did he say why?" Harry shrugged as he turned back to his cereal. "I dunno…Hermione? Is everything okay?" "Yeah. Yeah, Harry, everything's fine." Hermione sighed as she made her way to the Drama Room.

'McGonagall did NOT pick Malfoy to play the lead role. McGonagall did NOT pick Malfoy to play the lead role. McGonagall did NOT pick Mal—' "In case you haven't noticed, Granger, I'm holding the door out for you," drawled a voice Hermione unfortunately knew. She was so busy trying to convince herself that Malfoy wasn't going to play Romeo that she didn't notice she was already outside the Drama Room, and Malfoy was indeed holding the door open with, Hermione was shocked to see, a sort of bashful smile. She glared at him and roughly pushed her way in. When she looked back, she was pleased to see there was still a faint imprint of her hand on his cheek, proof that she had slapped him hard last night.

"As you know, the two of you have been selected to play the lead roles in our new play, Romeo and Juliet. We'll just do half a scene today to see how you cope. Here, take your scripts up on stage. Now, let's practice."

"She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel, for you are as wonderful to this night, being over my head as is a winged messenger of heaven unto the white-upturned wondering eyes of people that fall back to gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds and sails upon the bosom of the air," read Draco. "Er. Um, o Romeo, Romeo, where are you, my Romeo? Deny your father and refuse your name; or, if you won't, swear to me our—" Hermione gulped nervously. "l-love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet," said Hermione, stammering slightly. "Well done, both of you," said Professor Flitwick cheerfully. "You two make the perfect Romeo and Juliet, you know," Hermione laughed awkwardly at this while Draco just stared at his shoes.

"Well, I think that's enough for today," announced McGonagall. "Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy, I think the both of you can leave now. Oh, and our next practice will be same time, same place next week. Understood? Good." Hermione shouldered Malfoy out of her way as she walked briskly out the door.

"Hermione, wait." Hermione wasn't sure if she should be pleased he was being so persistent, or very annoyed. She ignored him and kept walking. Draco ran towards her. "Hermione… please. I'm sorry about everything. A-about the potion, and me being an—" he sighed, "arrogant pig last night. Please. I've changed, Hermione. Look, I'm not the same person I was last year. I hate it when I see you avoiding me," Hermione faced him with sad eyes. "Malf—Draco, why do you care so much about me?" Draco looked into her eyes and said one of the best things she ever heard. "Because… I like you. A lot. So much that… I dunno, I guess you could even call it love."

Hermione looked away. Never did she think she'd see the day Draco would have feelings for her. Or even have feelings, for a start. Those icy gray blue eyes were filled with so much emotion…wasn't this what she wanted? Wasn't this the thing she had always dreamed about since she saw him six years ago? "Draco I… I don't know. I mean… How'm I going to tell Ron and Harry? They'll kill you if they find out. And… what about your friends?" He shrugged. "Blaise is really my only friend. And he already knew so… it's fine."

Then, before he knew what he was doing, Draco kissed Hermione. Shockamazementlovefearadrenaline went shooting through Hermione's mind like a bullet to her head. "Draco why the hell did you just do that?" she asked him as she tore herself away from his lips. Draco sort of hung his head. "I don't know… I just wanted to know what it felt like… I'm sorry." Hermione shook her head slowly as she watched him. Then suddenly, as if she meant to do it all along, she kissed him back. And it felt good.

This was what they had both been waiting for.

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