After the Sobs

Hermione hugged her savior, crying her heart out as she felt Draco's hands stroke her head softly, calming her. Finally, her heart was cried out, and she had nothing left to cry out. Slowly, she separated from the shoulder of Malfoy and whispered, "Thank you, Draco."

Malfoy's heart swelled as he heard her use his name. He supposed it was absurd, seeing that she was still a muggle-born. Bloody hell, I can't even refer to her as the Mudblood anymore. I…I can't possibly be in love…Lucius made it impossible. No Malfoy can ever fall in love…or can they? He thought. "Good night, Hermione." Draco loved the way her name just rolled on his tongue, and it was exactly what they were. In harmony. Surely, it wasn't just a coincident. It had to have some kind of… Fate?

Hermione paused for a moment, and then smiled before entering her room. "Good night, Draco." Once the portrait hole closed, Hermione slid down, clutching her pounding heart. What was wrong with her? She couldn't… no, it was impossible. Or was it? I… loved the way his skin felt on my lips, I loved the way his hand stroked my hair, I loved it when his lips touched me, but I can't possibly love…him, can I? She thought confusedly. But she was too exhausted to think, as crying had drained the energy out of her. Sliding into her muggle nightgown, she collapsed into her bed, and fell asleep, dreaming about dragons and kisses and hugs, with a smile on her face.

Draco went into his room, panting. He through his wet clothing aside, it was soaked with Hermione's bitter, sorrow-filled tears. Bloody hell, I love her. No…I can never love a muggle-born. But…I want her. I need her. She's changed me tonight. Who knew we could be so alike? We think alike, we act alike. It must be only lust…but lust and love is the same thing, just that love doesn't have any horny thoughts, right? But I don't have any smitten thoughts about her…. Sighing,he fell into his bed, falling asleep in his best shirt. He could almost still feel the kiss on his cheek, and he dreamt that night of a certain piano player, smiling.

Both awoke when an owl tapped upon their windows at five thirty. Hermione opened her window, and read the note, giving the owl a treat before it left. The note read:

"Miss Granger, please see me in an hour, the password is Sugar Quills.

-Headmaster Albus Dumbledore"

Grabbing her hairbrush, Hermione combed through her hair, until it was free of tangles, and looked slightly tamed, although it was still quite unruly. She quickly showered and then slipped on her school robes, and brushed her teeth. She rushed into the common room, almost smashing into Malfoy. "Oh… sorry, Malfoy, I wasn't watching where I walked." A blush had formed on her cheeks and she rushed to the Great Hall.

Malfoy flinched when she called him 'Malfoy' again. He had to resist the urge to run after her and say, "Don't' ever apologize to me, you never have to. And call me Draco, never again, call me Malfoy, Hermione." Biting his tongue, Draco counted to twenty before walking to the Great Hall.

Hermione was alone, chewing on a piece of toast. Her raven hair fell, framing her fair face. Malfoy could only watch from afar, he ached to help her put the curly lock of hair behind her ear, and kiss her cheek. But some things were forbidden, through place and birth and circumstances. Walking to the Slytherin table, Draco too, grabbed a piece of toast and ate.

Finally, the time came. Both wanting to be on time, as they were known for their punctuality, even if they had their indifference. The gargoyle swung open just as they reached the Headmaster's place at the same time. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and he said, "Good, I was just about to find the two of you. Lemon drop?" Both teens refused and Dumbledore's grin grew even wider, if it were possible. "When I saw your performance last night, I was struck by an idea." Draco groaned inwardly. This couldn't be good…

"And exactly what is your idea, Headmaster?" Hermione said cautiously. Obviously, she was thinking the very same thing, Malfoy noticed with a smirk.

"If we can arrange a band from Hogwarts students, it would be quite good. Mostly, I would prefer it to be you two and the prefects, but other students can also help."

Draco and Hermione stood, thinking amusedly at what could happen. Hilariously parody-like pictures flashed through both their minds. Who would've known that Albus Dumbledore, old as he was, could think of such mischievous ideas? They looked at each other, somehow speaking a silent conversation, something that supposedly only close friends could do, and nodded. Hermione said, "Very well, Headmaster. Malfoy and I will hold a meeting tonight."

Dumbledore smiled, Ah, young love. Neither realizes it yet, sadly. But I can see it in their eyes, they're in love. Quickly, he snapped out of his thoughtful moment, and said to the two young lovers and said, "Okay. I'll be looking forward to the band. They will be performing fairly much, and in fact, for every dance, I would like them to play the first song, before the Weird Sisters play.

Dazed, the two walked out of the Headmaster's office. Hermione was first to end the silence. "Well, that was quite… interesting. Don't you think, Malfoy?"

"Don't call me Malfoy, Hermione. Just call me Draco." Draco automatically said. With a smile, he stuck out his right hand to Hermione. "If you'd rather make it official, we can always properly meet again.

Hermione laughed, and shook Draco's hand. "I'm Hermione Jane Granger, but just call me Hermione, or Mione for short."

"I'm Draco Lucius Malfoy, but just call me Draco." He couldn't ignore the sparks he felt when her hand touched his. Nobody has ever made him feel this way before, but he liked it. He liked everything about Hermione. The way her angelic voice carried out in the breeze, the way her beautiful laughter could reach his ears and stand out, it was everything he loved. But Draco isn't an idiot, mind you. He knew it wasn't her qualities he loved. He loved her.

"Draco? Draco?" Hermione snapped her fingers in Malfoy's ear.

"Huh?" Draco said, as he finally realized he was still in reality.

"You're still...holding my hand," Hermione said with a blush. She'd felt the sparks too, she'd only realized a second before, that their hands were still within each others' and that it as if time had frozen them in that pose forever. She was disappointed when Draco finally dropped her hand, but it wasn't a moment too soon. The other students were starting to wake up, and had been coming from every hallway, trying to get into the Great Hall.