Roses
Draco Malfoy sat with Pansy Parkinson, her current girlfriend, at the Three Broomsticks. From her table Hermione watched them. When she'd gone there that morning she had not expected to find him there. She'd felt some weird impulse that forced her to go there, but she had not wanted to find them. Observing him, like so many other times before, she realized he was wearing the cloak she'd wanted to buy for him but couldn't afford. Also, she was wearing the necklace she had fallen in love with so long ago. Lastly, he'd just given her a bucket of roses.
It was that that upset her most. They'd dated for over a year, and he'd never given her roses. She'd waited for him in the rain, she'd helped him with his homework, and she'd done anything he had asked. Yet he'd never given her roses, not even in their anniversary. She had expected it. She'd hoped that, the day of their anniversary he would give her roses. Simply because she loved that silly romantic stuff, and he knew it. But he had never given her a single rose.
Hermione had had a boyfriend now too. He'd broken up with her a few days back. The first day they'd gone out on a date, Dean had given her 12 roses, all in different colors. She'd loved the thought, but she just couldn't love him. And that's what had ended up destroying their relationship. She felt sorry for him, but she just couldn't love him, for her heart belonged to the very 20-year-old man sitting two tables away from her. Even though he had never given her roses.
"Mya? Is that you"
Hermione was snapped out of her memories by Draco's voice. She looked up and found his so-loved eyes staring at her. Pansy and him had stood up and walked over and walked over, obviously to Pansy's annoyance. Hermione smiled at him.
"Draco, long time no see"
Draco smiled and sat down in front of Hermione. Pansy groaned and left, deeply annoyed. Draco seemed not to notice.
"So, how have you been? It's been over two years since we saw each other last"
Hermione nodded. She looked at the tea mug in between her hands and just answered she'd been fine. She inquired about him, and he answered the same. He looked at her mug and raised an eyebrow.
"You used to hate tea"
Hermione looked up, surprised that he'd remembered. With a finger she started to trace the rim of the mug and shrugged.
"People change. I've changed more than you can think. Probably you have too"
"I guess I have. So, what else has changed? Have you stopped with your S.P.E.W. thing"
Hermione blushed and shook her head.
"No, I'm still going on about that. I guess I haven't changed all that much"
"I'm glad. So, did you accomplish your dream to become a healer and help the world"
"No. I've become a muggle librarian. In fact, I had abandoned the magic world"
"Why?" asked a surprised Draco, "Why did you give up on your dream? I thought you wanted to help people. And why did you leave our world? I mean, you are here today"
"I used to want to help…but I've seen too much. Now I don't think I can actually help anyone. Being a librarian gives me time to think and clear my mind. And…I left the magic world, because, when Harry and Ron died, in the War, I had nothing to stay here for. You were the only thing that kept me here, and you left me. The only reason I'm her today is that I just…I felt I had to come"
"Maybe," said Draco, looking her in the eye, "destiny put us together again. Maybe you had to join our world again"
"I…" Hermione looked down at her mug sadly, "I needed the muggle world. Magic reminded me of a past I had to forget. Life as a librarian gave me a chance to live a peaceful life. I had never been able to do that since I turned eleven"
Draco nodded, but looked at Hermione suspiciously.
"I thought you wanted to be a healer, and save other people. I thought you wanted to help"
Hermione shook her head.
"A healer only has time for others. I would have no time for myself, and would be worrying about others constantly"
"Mya," said Draco, taking her hand, "you used to be like that"
"And you used to hate silly romantic stuff, such as roses. As you can see, life changes"
Draco looked down at his feet.
"I learned to be romantic when the one woman I ever loved left me, saying I did not care. Mya, why can't you give us another chance"
Mya looked up at him, surprised by his declaration. In all the time they'd dated he'd never said he loved her.
"Draco, you are with Pansy"
"Mya, I don't love Pansy! I love you"
Hermione looked lost. She'd wanted to hear those words ever since they broke up, a bit less than 3 years ago. He had never expressed his feelings, saying that made him weak.
"Draco, I can't let you break her heart because of me"
"Yes I can!" answered Draco stubbornly, "the fact that you came here exactly today has to mean something! Plus, your leaving the magic world has nothing to do with Potter and Weasley's deaths, and you know it! You just couldn't see me with others"
Hermione was surprised to hear the truth out loud. She had known that deep inside, but she had always lied to herself. She just didn't want to admit it to herself.
"What would people think?" she said, almost giving in.
Draco smiled, realizing she was almost convinced, "I thought you didn't care about what others thought"
Hermione smiled back, "I don't"
As soon as she said that Draco took hold of her hand and apparated them away. Hermione gasped at the sight that surrounded her. They'd apparated off to a room full of roses.
"A thousand roses exactly. One for each day you've been away from me"
Hermione started crying of happiness. It HAD been one thousand days since their break up. A thousand days of pain. A thousand days of tears. A thousand "I love you"s to make up for.