The next few days passed by with magic for Hermione. He was surprising her in the most delightfully, unexpectedly, romantic ways possible. As she sat in her dorm room, alone, reading a book before dinner, an owl flew down the windowsill and tapped on the glass.
" Something for me? " she asked as the owl hooted and shoved a letter into her hand.
On the middle of the envelope, scrawled in elegant handwriting (for a male), was her name.
She opened it, wondering what it was. He had been fairly nice to her since after the ball and the tower incident. Although he did not really converse with her, he was being quietly nice. He no longer taunted her, called her names, and gave her smug looks. He merely nodded when he found her alone in the hallways or in the library.
'Hermione, ' it began. ' It's been a week after the ball, and still the memory of your kiss lingers strongly. I hope you like this. D. '
Hermione's eyes widened seeing a long chain, a necklace, albeit a simple one made out of silver. She held it high and stared at it. Suddenly she recalled his eyes, and she felt her cheeks burn.
" It's just a gift, " she told herself strongly.
But she couldn't help but smile and feel giddy at the thought of it. It seemed like a fairytale, a muggle romance movie. Was it too fast? The tower proved everything he felt for her? Or did it not? Another elaborate plot from Malfoy?
She shrugged the thoughts away once more and gazed at the necklace. Suddenly Draco was being romantic. Perhaps he was afraid to show it before?
She heard the sound of voices and quickly placed the necklace inside her pocket. Lavender came in, along with Parvarti.
" Oh Hermione! " sighed Lavender. " Isn't this divine? " she asked, showing a moving picture of her twirling around in a dress. " I just love this! "
Hermione smiled genially.
" But I suppose no one can ever beat yours! " she said with a smile. " You were beautiful, really! "
Hermione rolled her eyes. " That was a week ago, " she said sighing. " I'm off for a read in the library. "
She didn't wait for a reply from either of the two. Hermione got down the stairs and entered the common room to see Harry and Ron, in another chess match.
" Oy! " Ron said with a smile. " Library again? "
She nodded.
" Meet you in the great hall then, six o'clock? " he said.
She nodded and saw Harry. Harry said nothing. Instead he nodded and resumed looking at the chess board. His knight had just been whacked off by Ron's. And he frowned.
" Bugger, " Harry muttered.
Hermione wanted to get out fast. Harry had been acting strangely, well of course; only a girl would have noticed it, only her. Ron was too…Ron to even notice it. Suddenly she thought…what if Harry really knows about Draco and- ? She was being silly, nothing was going on between her and Draco, and they were only friends after all. Why did she feel guilty! But probably- she shrugged off the thought. She was thinking too much then. Harry would never-!
She walked for the library and passed by a corridor, that lead to one of the many turrets in the castle. And suddenly, someone grabbed her hand.
She gasped, and a hand was on her mouth. Her eyes widened in fear and she began to struggle.
" Don't scream, it's me, " a voice said.
Draco.
He let go of his hand.
" You gave me a fright- " she said, breathless.
He grinned. " Sorry, I can be quite surprising. "
She laughed.
" I had to see you, " he blurted out.
" You see me every-"
" See you and touch you, " he said. " Did you get-? "
She nodded. " Yes, thank you. It was…very nice- "
" I was hoping you would like it- " he looked away for awhile and sighed. " I- do you mind? Me suddenly being like this to you-? "
She shook her head. " I'm just surprised- that's all- or of what Harry and Ron might think when- "
" You do understand I have to hide this-? " he said quickly. " It's not that I haven't got the guts to fight both your chums- " he grinned. " It's just that- so much is at stake- you do know what I'm saying? Talking about? "
She nodded, although she was unsure of what it meant.
He took her hands and held them for awhile. " I'm sorry, Hermione. That I'm being this way- I can't help it- it's the first- " he shook his head and dropped his hold.
She smiled and tiptoed to kiss his cheek. " It's okay, " she said as she kissed him.
He could feel his ears burn at the slightest touch of her skin to his.
He grabbed a hold of her face once more, only gently. " Be mine, Hermione. "
She blinked and held the hands that held her face. " Malfoy- Draco- it's been only a week- "
" The week doesn't matter to me- I'm willing to take the risk- it's you Hermione. This is all for you- I may sound brash, forward- thick-even- but, be mine, and I'm yours, for as long as the hours tick by everyday- "His heart pounded fast. He couldn't beleive he had just said all of those!
She nodded once.
He smiled and bent down to kiss the girl that his heart now solely belonged to.
TBC? Comments? Suggestions? Violent reactions?