Apologies and Advice

I was trying to sleep. There was a ping at the window. I tries to drown it out. It proved fruitless. He was persistent.

I sighed and headed out.

I stood on the grass, by the lake, facing Draco. He was holding a heart shaped box of chocolates. There was a patch of snow on the ground.

""So are you trying to avoid me forever?""

""I only think in five-year plans.""

""It's been six weeks, Hermione. I've been trying to say I'm sorry.""

"" "I'm sorry" doesn't always cut it, Draco God.""

""I couldn't stay at the Hospital with you, Hermione. I know I should've, but think how much more freaked out Ginny would've been if she'd had to see me.""

""Oh, I see, so you ditched me for my own benefit?""

""It's not like that. I didn't ditch you. I--I--okay, I--I freaked out. I'm not used to feeling this way about someone and it just, I couldn't believe I almost lost you, too.""

He reached out and gently touched the skin around my cast, handing me the box of chocolates.

""I'll help you eat them.""

""No, I don't want any. I cant see you anymore.""

""You're mum and Ginny will get over it eventually.""

""It's not them it's me.""

I turned to go.

""Hermione, I made a mistake. I'm sorry. But you should cut me some slack on this one.""

""Don't even try it. I never should have trusted you in the first place. When the opposite sex gets together, eventually they always end up hurting each other; I'm just surprised it took you this long to prove me right.""

As I put my hand on the door to go inside, Draco stopped me.

""You know what the saddest part is? You're so convinced that people are crap at heart that you cant even trust your own feelings.""

He began to talk about himself; I could tell:

""People are flawed. People screw up. But people love you, Hermione. Really love you. And you can't even see it.""

I turned from him, tears in my eyes. I hesitated a moment before I closed the door.

I had a meeting with Dumbledore. He wanted to discuss Graduation, it was approaching quickly.

We were done and I was on my way out, the he said the strangest thing:

""Now, tell me about this fellow of yours.""

""Who told you about that? It's really over.""

""First loves are never really over.""

I didn't say anything; I didn't know what to say.

""Nothing is ever perfect, Ms. Granger. But that doesn't mean it wasn't worth your while.""