DISCLAIMER: I don't own hp or any of the characters.
A Journey to Hogsmeade
Hermione Granger sat in Hogsmeade square alone. She had gone to the little village for just a trip of solitude. Harry and Ron had wanted to go with her because they were afraid she would get kidnapped or something. She finally persuaded them to let her go by herself as long as she didn't wander out of the town itself.
So far her expedition was going crummy. The books she had wanted at an extension shop of Flourish and Blotts were either sold out or out of print. She had wandered into a cosmetics shop only to bump into Pansy Parkinson. That had not gone over very well because Pansy, being the Slytherin that she is, poked fun at 'Miss. Bookworm' crawling into a makeup store. Hermione's response was that she was there to pick up a few things for Ginny. Though she did add that bit of information wasn't any of Pansy's business. Pansy had just laughed and said that getting Ginny mascara is just as worse. Hermione is proud to say that she gave Pansy a piece of her mind before leaving the shop. That is after picking up a couple things of eye shadow and a few tubes of different shaded lipstick that were definitely not for Ginny.
As she sat with her few bags of purchases she looks around at the miniscule number of people who were brave enough to face the frigid weather. A witch in her mid thirty's hurried along the cobblestone walkway towards the Three Broomsticks where she yanked open the door and briskly slipped in letting the café door slam behind her. An old man hobbles his way down the street with a bit of parchment in his hand. He's stopping periodically to check the slip of paper in his hand.
"Must be looking for a street or something." Hermione thinks to herself.
Her vision catches a glimpse of a couple no older than early twenties with their arms intertwined, sauntering down the street peering into shop windows. They halt at a jewelry shop window where the young woman squeaks and points to a ring or other. The young man tugs softly on her arm and escorts her away from the window. He takes a look back at the store. He memorizes the shop name and when his eyes travel over the piece his significant other spotted commits that to memory as well. Leading her away he gives her a gentle smile and wraps his arm around her waist.
Hermione lets out a lonely sigh and looks away. It hurts too much to see happy couples like that. She scans the plaza only to see a pair of steel-blue eyes staring back at her. Even though the temperature out there is a little below freezing and she's enveloped in winter wear, she feels her face grow hot as those eyes stare her down. Abruptly those eyes begin to move closer and closer to her. Hermione notices her eyes become wider and wider with every step he takes nearer to her.
Then, suddenly, there they are, owned by a blond young man in front of her. He looks her up and down and gives a nod in greeting. Hermione gives no sign in answer. She merely stares at him with her big sandstone colored eyes giving the impression of a deer caught in the headlights of a muggle car.
"You know, I never would have let you out of my sight if I were either of your brain dead friends." He tells her. Brilliant blond hair, slicing silver orbs, rude comments about her friends… that could be only one person, Draco Malfoy. He plops himself down beside her on the fountain wall in the middle of the square.
"You wanna know why? 'Cause bad people like me could pluck you off the street and no one would notice you're gone before it's too late." He says in a low voice.
Hermione was stricken with fear at his speech. She knew he was a Slytherin and the things that normal Slytherins become, death eaters. Her body went rigid at the last of his words. She didn't know what he wanted or what he was sitting with her for but she wished he would –
"Just go away!" the words spout out of her mouth before she can stop them. She hops up off the fountain wall and covers her mouth. Draco blinks a few times as if he were trying to comprehend what she had said.
"Now why would I want to do that?" he asks. He looks her in the eye, "Someone might jump out of the shadows and kidnap you." He pauses again and his intense ogling eases into a soft gaze.
"You know what? Since you look like a frightened mouse in a storm, I'll be kind and escort you back to the castle." He smiles; a genuine smile, one that would make a heart melt, that is if it weren't on his face. The smile merely scared Hermione further.
Draco rises from the edge and appears at her side. By prodding her back he gently pushes her towards the castle. She jumps at his hand on her lower back. In response Draco lets out a low series of chuckles.
Hermione didn't know why she allowed him to usher her out of the town with their arms linked. As they passed by an alley in the dark she could have sworn she saw a hooded person with a death eater mask placed in front of where their face would be and heard a muffled hiss from that general direction. At that sight Hermione picked up her speed slightly to keep up with Draco's long strides. He slid a strong arm around her waist and pulled her to him so their hipbones brushed as they walked. Hermione blushed and looked up at Draco.
She took the little time she had to admire his complexion. He had high cheek bones, pale skin, and he was quite a bit taller than her. A small grin graced his lips, which was contagious for Hermione felt a smile grace her lips as well. She quickly looked away as she saw his eyes turn their gaze on her. As his stare drilled holes into the side of her face, she felt herself redden with each step.
While the two climb the stairs from the base of the hill to the castle steps, they both stole glances at each other when the other one wasn't looking. In a perfect fairytale this would signal that they liked each other, but this isn't a fairytale now is it? Hermione wondered what in world was going on in Draco's head. Why would he want to see her back to the castle so that she wouldn't, as he so put it, become kidnapped? She mentally shook her head. Nothing made sense. What was Draco's motive?
A number of paces to the castle door is when he stops Hermione. She looks back at him with a questioning look in her eye. He turns toward her and speaks in a sorrowful tone,
"Look, Her-Granger, you're probably wondering why I did this. Well here's your answer: it's because I care, I care about you a lot and I didn't want to see you die tonight. There really was a person out there tonight sent to eliminate you. I knew it and I couldn't watch you die. You may think this is a joke, go ahead, believe that, I don't blame you for doing so but I had to tell you. I had to tell you that – that, I love you." His words were met by silence. The wind blew lightly enough so that Draco's hair shifted and fell into his face covering his eyes. If Hermione looked close enough she could have seen his face flushed with color.
Though she couldn't have seen or done anything in that moment because she was so shocked. Her enemy of nearly 7 years tells her that he loves her? Preposterous! It – it just can't be! Hermione struggles to regain her thoughts but his voice cuts into them.
"I'm sorry for telling you right now it's just I may not live to see another day. There's no telling what they will do to me. That was my dying wish, to tell you that I care, that I love you. I don't expect anything in return. It's something I just had to do. You understand right?" his eyes don't look at her, it's as if he does he will do something he will regret, "Of course you do, you're practically the smartest witch in the Wizarding World! I have to leave now. Be careful and be safe, I couldn't bear to see anything happen to you. Don't go on nightly trips anywhere alone ok? Promise you'll take one of your idiots? They may be stupid but at least I know their possessive of you, just like I am." He gives a weak smile to the stars above them, "You have to promise me." Draco's eyes are now upon her, "Please promise me." He pleads again.
Right now Hermione couldn't say, do anything. He turned her world upside down. Finally she manages to choke out,
"I promise." He smiles at her sadly.
"That's my girl." He turns to walk away but he's stopped by a small hand grasping his arm. He spins back around to face Hermione. Her beautiful brown eyes were watering with tears. He casts his head away unable to look at her. He feels a small hand touch his cheek and pull his jaw to look at her. When his eyes meet hers tears begin to fall down her face. She shoves her head into his chest and winds her arms around his torso.
As Hermione cries fairly softly into his upper body Draco is astonished but embraces her in return. He strokes her hair lovingly as her tears slow to a stop. She releases him and pulls back from his hold on her. She wipes the rest of her tears by the back of her hand and smiles dejectedly.
"Thank you." She says in a small voice.
"For what? You have nothing to thank me for. I haven't done anything for you." He tells her incredibly amazed.
She looks at him like he's stupid, which he is not.
"For saving my life of course!" she exclaims. He looks away sheepishly. Draco lightens up after hearing Hermione crack up laughing. He presents an authentic grin which ends Hermione's laughter.
"You actually look attractive when you smile." Hermione enlightens him. His grin drops a little. "No! I meant that in the nicest possible way!" Hermione tells him.
"Right and humans have gone to the moon." Draco says airily.
"Actually men have gone to the moon." Hermione informs him. Draco looks at her like she has grown a second head. "It's true, they've sent people up into space and we've actually claimed the moon with our flag, or rather the United States claimed it for Earth." She rambles on but that's ok 'cause Draco just gawks at her lips moving to form words. He's thinking of other things not of space shuttles and how they work. He places a solitary finger over her mouth to silence her. Her babble abruptly is hushed and she gazes up at him.
"For someone so small you sure talk a lot." Draco tells her. His comment gets her fired up.
"I am NOT small thank you very much!" she huffs and turns on her heel and stocks towards the castle door. She's held back by a strong grasping hand.
"Let me go!" Hermione yells at him. He laughs lightly and she stops.
"I meant it in the nicest possible way." He mocks her. She whirls back to face him.
"Is that so?" she inquires. He nods earnestly. She smirks and giggles, "I suppose I could forgive you."
"Oh thank you, beautiful angel from above." Draco bows lowly leaving Hermione to blush at his remark.
"Stop that." She insists.
"If you wish it." Draco obliges. Hermione just rolls her eyes. He skims his eyes across the horizon, which has become dark but above the stars are twinkling vividly. He takes one look at Hermione and without warning scoops her up into his arms. She yelps from the suddenness but begins to giggle as he twirls her around and around. He stops and gently sets her back onto the ground. She gazes up with her big sand-colored eyes and he smiles back. Sadly his smile is short lived.
"I have to go, Hermione." He states. Her eyes get sad.
"But why? Why can't you… stay here… with me?" she asks attentively. He sends her what she thinks is the most gorgeous smile in the world.
"I would love to, but I can't. I have to meet THEM. If I don't, there's no telling what they'll do to me."
"But – but…" Hermione tries to grab straws.
"It's ok. Well see each other again." He smiles awkwardly as if to cover up a secret. She studies him and the depressing expression does not vanish from her face.
"Your lying." She declares. He sighs.
"I guess I can't fool you. You really ARE the smartest witch of our age." He smiles.
"Draco – " She's cut off by his voice.
"Say that again." He practically pleads.
"Huh?" Hermione asks bewildered.
"Say my name again." He persists.
"Draco." Hermione says. His smile becomes intense. "Draco." she pronounces again and smiles. He pulls her into a powerful squeeze and kisses her forehead.
"No matter what happens to me remember that I'll always, always love you." He hugs her tighter, relishing her body pressed up against his. Hermione's eyes are watery with tears that stain Draco's oxford shirt. He lifts her head up by her chin and wipes away the tears with the pad of his thumb.
"You look beautiful when you cry but even more so when you smile, so don't cry anymore." He whispers to her. Their heads aren't far apart; close enough to bump foreheads. He gazes fondly at her with a slight smile as he caresses her cheek with his thumb.
Hermione tries not to cry from his tenderness with her but the drops slide down her already tear-stained face.
"What is your final wish?" she asks as she leans in and nudges the side of his face with hers. He doesn't say anything. He bends towards her and searches her eyes as if asking for permission to do what he's about to do. His inquiry is answered. Draco brushes his lips against hers, teasing her as he does so. Then he presses his lips against hers with eagerness. They battle it out one trying to out do the other. Draco affectionately nibbles her bottom lip while one of his hands supports her neck. Her hands have wound their way around his neck and her mouth tries to bite him back.
He pulls away and bestows upon her two chaste kisses. After the second he rests his head on her forehead.
"Don't stop." She murmurs.
"As you wish." He murmurs in return and captures her mouth in another searing kiss. When he hears her moan quietly he draws back.
"I have to go now." Draco persists. Hermione stands on her tippy toes and gives him her own sweet goodbye.
"I don't want you to." She tells him. He smiles sadly at her.
"I'm sorry Hermione, that's one wish I cannot grant. I wish I could, really, but – well you know… I promise to visit you again when I can." Draco nuzzles her throat.
"You better," she jokes, "I look forward to them." With a sad smile and a silent kiss they part ways.
Rizahawkeye21
A/N: ah, the last onefinished. A few of the lines are from various movies, I know. I don't own those either! Just so everyone knows. Well I hope you enjoyed the fic. i had fun writing it.Oh and thanks to Haley.Infinitely.Weird. for being my beta! Please review.