Even under the dim glow of the candles, Hermione was fairly certain Draco could see her blooming blush. Sitting across from her wearing a devilish grin and far too tempting look, she was growing flustered in the best ways possible. It was impossible not to have a physical reaction to him.
He had complimented her five times in the span of time it took for him to come through her floo, leave her home, walk two minutes and arrive at the restaurant to immediately be seated. About one compliment per every minute and 22 seconds.
They varied as well. One about her lovely, yellow dress, two about her general beauty, a comment about her smile and one final one mention of how he was the luckiest man in the building.
Thus, her deepening blush. That and the fact that Draco had not stopped smiling since he arrived. The moment his eyes looked her up and down, his grin didn't seem to fade.
"Tell me of the trip, please. How was your mother's birthday?" She tried diverting the conversation to a safe topic. Anything to keep her mind from the foreboding conversation they still needed to discuss, and possibly get him to stop looking at her in such a way that caused her to squirm.
"It involved a lot of shopping and drinking. She seemed very happy so I'm happy." He said with a smaller smile, one of a proud son.
"Any sight seeing?" She asked.
"Not really." He replied with a shrug. "It can be a bit overcrowded with tourists. Muggle and magical. We stuck to things she liked to do and see."
Hermione nodded, ready to ask another question as her eyes sifted through the drink menu, but he cut her off as her mouth parted.
"You are jaw dropping-ly stunning, Hermione." He said, eyes glittering with mischief and want.
Any other time, she might have thought the compliments were overkill, but today, she was thoroughly enjoying his deep tone and sultry eyes. Her chest glowed warm but she still rolled her eyes.
"You've mentioned." She said, cheeks stinging as she smiled. "If your goal for the evening is to distract me from everything that we're supposed to discuss then I hate to inform you, it's only slightly working."
Draco smirked at her over the top of his glass. The light from the candle bounced through his glass and straight into his prosthetic eye, the gray nearly sparkling.
"Not trying to distract you," He said after a swallow, "Just wanting to make it known how utterly beautiful you are."
There was compliment number seven.
The words, while lovely and entirely butterfly inducing, were nothing compared to the way his soft touches felt. Draco took her hand the second she reached for her water, not evening giving her the chance to lift the glass. Her fingers rested delicately in his palm, his thumb softly tracing the length of her middle finger.
The moment felt surreal yet completely standard. The two of them at an intimate dinner, flirty smiles sent from across the table, a bottle of wine ordered and their servers smiling at them like they were regulars. As far as their first public date, all things were going swimmingly well. Hermione noted everything was dream-like.
"How was your weekend?" He then asked, eyes darting from where their fingers were connected back to her face. Hermione sighed then leaned her chin on her free hand.
"Just picked up a shift. Treated a child who was struck by an ancient curse from his family's vaults. He's okay though." She recalled then flickered her eyes back up to his, words getting caught in her throat. Draco looked patient as he saw her mouth open and close, letting her take her time as she decided her next words.
"I—I know you weren't really gone for any extended amount of time but…I-I'm happy you're home."
She looked down at their hands, attempting to contain the growing warmth up her neck and ease her beating heart. Her hand was suddenly lifted and she watched Draco slightly lift himself out of his chair and bend down to kiss the ridges of her knuckles. When he sat, there was a coy smile that spread over his handsome face.
"I missed you too, Granger." He said and Hermione rolled her eyes but still felt her heart ache with joy.
"I didn't say I missed you." She countered immediately. Almost childishly.
"You didn't have to. I know you did." He smartly replied.
"It would be silly to miss you when you were only gone a day and some."
"But yet you still did and I'm equally happy I'm home, because like I already said, I missed you too."
Hermione blinked, realizing she was doing it again. Fighting herself and her feelings to appear like she cared less. It was an automatic defense mechanism. Though she told herself she would be openly vulnerable with him, there was a long road ahead to undo her aloof reactions and retrain her brain to realize when he was being serious with her.
"Draco I—" She breathed once, jumping right into it. "I'm not entirely sure I know how to be open with you."
The smile was slow to fall off his face, and though he didn't look mad, his reaction was hesitant.
"You're open with me now. What do you mean?" He asked calmly and she took another breath.
"I-I mean, by directly saying things about my emotions. I know I'm open with you about things in my life or what I feel about the world, but I mean more with you. I'm not good at telling you exactly what I want."
Draco's eyebrows raised.
"I know." He replied simply, softly.
"I just—" She began rubbing her thumb against her pointer finger. "Sometimes I think this…this means more to me than you and I'm too afraid to say anything about how I feel."
Hermione stared at their connected hands for a while until the silence became longer than appropriate. She chanced a glance up, surprised to see a deep frown on his face.
"Why would you say that?" He whispered, a swallow taken after his words. Hermione's eyes rounded, full of guilt that she made him feel bad with her observation. With a shrug, she pulled her hand away and stared at her lap.
"Don't know." She sniffed. "I thought for some time this was just physical for you. Or, that you were grateful I saved your life and…had an affixation on me because of it."
Draco stared at her, the crease in his brow deepening as she continued.
"I know I don't tell you how I feel about you, but you also don't—" She paused then looked back up at him. "You don't tell me much about yourself."
In fear that she was pushing the lid, she refrained from saying any more. Her words, though not exactly harsh, were making an accusation, one he clearly didn't need to be repeated to understand.
Draco sat with hard lines racing his face. He looked genuinely upset by her assessment and Hermione, though she was happy to finally voice her frustrations, wished she would have explained it differently.
"You think…" he began slowly, "I'm only interested in you because…you saved my life? That I'm only physically attracted to you?"
The end of his sentence rose high with hurt and disbelief. Hermione bit her lip as her chest ached.
"Initially…yes." She admitted, words falling out of her mouth when Draco's shoulders slumped. "But I know that's not the case now! I know better—"
"Do you?" He cut in, face doubtful. She swallowed then nodded, blinking rapidly.
"Y-yes. I-I know that now. I realized that—the way you show me you care is different from the traditional ways I'm used to receiving, but…I'd still like to know things about you. I want you to share more with me. About—about life before we became this—this um—this…thing."
The flimsy and awkward hand motions she did made Draco quirk an amused brow. It was the first time his lips pulled up in a few minutes. She sighed with heavy relief she hadn't buggered the entire evening yet.
A hesitant look up revealed his smirk was slowly falling into a pensive expression. His eyes stared deeply at her, mouth slightly parted like he was working out an equation. Finally after a long moment, he leaned forward and traced the outline of her finger.
"I prefer showing you I care about you in my own 'nontraditional ways,' but I understand where I may be lacking. I'll—be slow to speak more but I will try. You are—" He stopped then wrapped his fingers around hers, his eyes glancing up. "You've made me feel more like myself than ever before. There isn't a moment when I'm with you where your presence doesn't bring me automatic comfort."
Her heart melted much like the wax dripping along the side of the candle. Tender and warm words reduced her to nothing more than a grinning, lovesick fool.
"And no, it's not because you saved my life." He added with a teasing glare and Hermione scoffed a laugh.
"Noted." She softly said while looking down and smiling into her lap.
"But I do want something as well." Draco added, biting his cheek. Hermione nodded once for him to voice his thoughts. "I want to be wanted too, Hermione. I want to hear your words because you want to say them. And I want to feel your touch because you want to touch me. I can understand your hesitation from before but I still need it as well."
There was a small pounding in her chest, a dull ache that made her realize they had both been withholding intimacy from one another without realizing. And how easy it would have all been if they just would have had a conversation earlier. Narcissa and hers' interaction rang in her head and Hermione was very curious to see if Draco would own up to his suspected doings.
"Do you…refrain from saying anything to me or-or touching me unless I also verbally or physically initiate it?"
A piece of blonde fringe fell over his blue eye as he looked down. A poor attempt at hiding his grin was taken and Draco looked back up with a small chuckle.
"So you've finally caught on?" He inquired and her mouth fell open in surprise.
"So you actually do it?" She asked with a scolding look. Draco this time, let out a loud laugh.
"Hermione I only do it a little. Psychology or whatever the muggles call it." He waved his hand in the air and then their server brought over their starting cheese souffle.
She tightened her jaw as she picked up her fork, eyeing him suspiciously.
"It's not only for me but I do it for you as well. You should feel comfortable touching your lover whenever you want. I certainly wouldn't mind if you did it more. But I also want you to tell me you missed me without denying it, or, I don't know it's rather du—"
"No it's not." She stopped him. "I– you're right I should be doing those things more. That's not fair of me to ask something of you and not be able to fulfill your wishes as well."
Draco softly smiled at her. Appreciation beaming over his features.
"I don't know why I try to hide it. Verbalizing my feelings just makes this all—" Her eyes darted over the table, searching for courage to voice what she wanted.
"Real?" Draco finished.
Brown eyes went round, she couldn't make a sound to respond. A faint nod was given instead.
"Everything about what I feel for you is real. Authenticity is important to me, and I believe that's one of the driving explanations of why I'm so attracted to you. Hermione, everything about you and us is pure and genuine."
Hermione— currently a puddle of feelings on the floor—smiled broadly at him. With a small laugh she shook her head.
"How am I supposed to say anything to compete with your sonnets?" She asked, finally biting into her creamy appetizer.
"They're hardly poetic. But anything. You could say anything of how you feel for me and it would cause my own personal sun to form inside my chest."
"Draco—" She giggled.
"I mean it. Anything." His tone turned serious but his eyes were pleading.
A breath was held inside her lungs and she knew he was silently asking for her words right now. If she were going to stick to her promise, she might as well try right now.
"I did miss you." Her voice was quiet but she found herself growing louder with every second his eyes grew brighter. "Didn't fancy the silence in my kitchen as I cooked. Your usual ramblings and inquiries about what I'm doing are surprisingly enjoyable."
Draco chuckled, licking his lips from the crumbs of his soufflé.
"Lucky for you I fully intend on bothering you in the kitchen tomorrow morning."
"You're coming over for breakfast?" She asked, eyebrows high.
"No, I'm spending the night." He stated matter-of-factly, body was entirely relaxed. His stare darkened as it met hers, a smirk on his face. "Unless you'd rather I not?"
A shiver crawled over her back. Of course he was challenging her, but did he have to do it in such a tantalizing way?
"Stay over." She leaned back in her chair, hoping her face didn't betray how nervous she felt as she attempted to flirt back with him. "Dessert is served at mine, anyways."
Despite her heating cheeks and quickened breath, Hermione met Draco's eyes. The desired reaction was received, he sat up in his chair, literally sitting on the edge.
"Oh? I was under the assumption we would be eating our final dish here." The crooked smirk of his did nothing to settle the butterflies in her stomach.
Hermione also leaned on the edge of her seat, tucking her palm under her chin and looking up at him under her lashes.
"Mm, no. I have something far more decadent at home than anything they have here on the menu."
Hermione suckled the last bit of her melted cheese from her spoon, cheeks siphoned inwards. Draco's tongue peaked out to wet his lips, heavy focus on what her mouth was doing.
"Let's—" He cleared his throat as his voice cracked. "Let's take our food to go."
Hermione laughed rather hard as she took the spoon out of her mouth. She shook her head.
"Absolutely not." She said, placing the utensil in her empty ramekin.
"Why not?" He questioned, nearly whining.
"Because I haven't seen you and I want to enjoy a nice, unhurried dinner with my boy—"
Hermione ended rather abruptly, catching her slip but it looked like Draco was patiently waiting for her to finish her thought.
"Yes?" The tone was urging.
She straightened her spine, bringing her glass of wine half way up to her mouth.
"A nice, unhurried dinner with my…boyfriend." The sentence left her breathless.
Silence followed but the air between them was electrified. Draco looked like the cat that got the cream.
"Whatever my girlfriend asks of me then," his voice lowered, eyes heavy with a look that made her thighs clamp, "I shall deliver."
Their meals soon arrived, conversation floated with ease between them and Hermione felt the anxiety leave her body with each flirty stare he passed to her. As their discussion deppened , Hermione would occasionally throw in a sentence or two voicing her likes about Draco or things he did. Few were compliments, more were just comments, but he soaked them up with vast appreciation.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked, noting the dreamy expression as she looked into his eyes.
She paused for a moment then released a breath. A barely visible grin took place on her lips.
"I like it better when we eat at home." She told him and watched his eyebrow jerk up.
"Why's that?"
The grin grew, Hermione laughed at herself as she blushed.
"It's—nicer to have you right beside me. I'm used to you being next to me while we eat and having your hand on my thigh."
Sharing the little secret somehow made her feel like she was flying. Admitting all the things she thought about Draco wasn't scary after all. He wasn't laughing in her face, or looking at her like she was insane. Draco made an amused face then promptly pushed his chair back, a screeching noise hollering as he moved.
She looked wide eyed, slightly panicked.
"Draco you're not—"
He smirked at her, not saying anything as he picked up the chair.
"C'mon this is—no you can't." She protested as he took a few steps towards her. "You're being ridiculous. Draco stop."
"You said you like it when I'm next to you. I can't ignore the desires of my witch." He stood beside her now. "Scoot over. Now."
Hermione looked up, her head tilted all the way back as she gaped at him.
"You can't be serious." She said with a laugh, reluctantly sliding her chair over while looking around the restaurant. No one was paying them any mind but she was still a bit embarrassed.
"Ah, there we are." He said lowly as he sat down. Their bodies were nearly on top of each other, sharing the small edge of the table. His large hand then palmed her thigh and he quickly kissed her cheek.
"Draco." She said, cheeks flaming. Her tone was meant to be scolding but it seemed it only encouraged him further.
"What? Our meals are done, we just have our drinks to finish. Why can't I sit by you here?"
He kissed her ear, the noise and sensation making her shiver. It wouldn't be incorrect to state she was a little tipsy and the way he was quietly whispering to her sent a shiver up her spine. Hermione basked in his attention, his public attention. It's what she had wanted for the longest time, no harm in taking it all in.
She licked her lips then leaned forward to grab the stem of her wine glass. Her hand wrapped around his wrist, fingers tracing over his knuckles and watching the way his thumb stroked the material of her dress. With a pleased sigh, she let her body sink into his.
Hermione never foresaw herself being one for open displays of affection. Being handsy was something she didn't understand, but being with Draco now made her feel like something was amiss if he wasn't close in proximity or placing even a pinky on her.
They quietly finished their drinks, Draco's hand going from a sweet and caring touch to far more inappropriate and greedy. His fingers began clenching around her thigh muscle, shifting higher on her leg to bunch up her dress. She gave him a look but only received a dark and heated stare, showing absolutely no remorse for his actions.
"If you're going to continue doing that then I think it's best we leave." She murmured into his ear, pulling back to give him a stern look.
"If you insist." He replied and stood quickly, offering his hand to hers. Of course he had been ready to leave, purposely touching her like that so she'd take the reins and make the move to head home for the night's second round of activities.
Hermione smoothed out her dress then linked her fingers with his. The two walked out of the dim restaurant and onto the streets. A quieter Sunday evening, a few people still loitering about. Some stared and whispered but they paid them no mind, too wrapped up in each other's company.
"Let's zapparate." She suggested abruptly with a sneaky smirk. Draco paused in place, his shoulders tense. Hermione was choking on her giggles. Slowly, he turned to face her.
"What did you just say?"
Biting her lip to feign utmost innocence, she blinked questionably at him.
"What? Apparate?" She said, walking past him. Ignoring him as he protested.
"No. Hold on—no. You said—" He stopped himself.
"Hm?" She said, peering over her shoulder at his perplexed face. He squinted his eyes accusingly.
"You know what you said, Hermione."
"And what was that?" She teased, failing to conceal her chuckle.
"Bloody hell. I'm going to kill my mother." He groaned, causing her to laugh wildly. "Oh bugger off."
He grabbed her hip and tugged her body into his, jerking her a bit but it only enhanced her giggles. She fell into his side with ease, ducking her head into his chest and wrapping her arm around him as well.
"Mine or yours?" He mumbled into her hair.
"Desserts at mine, remember?" Hermione replied, looking up towards him with sultry eyes. Draco's eyes darted to her lips, his tongue dipping out for a brief second. He stopped walking, the hand on her hip tightening.
"Yours it is." He murmured.
Disapprating from the pavement and landing in Hermione's living room, the couple took a minute to reassemble themselves. A single light was on in her other room provided the only source to see. It was hard to see anything, but even looking up at Draco's shadowy face, the unnatural glow from his silver eye and the smallest turn of his lips upwards was still detectable.
Draco wrapped his arms around her, palms splayed on her back.
"Good night?" He whispered, kissing her forehead. Eyelids fluttered as his warm breath hit her face. She breathed deeply, standing straighter to get closer.
"Mhm. Thank you." She said, equally quiet.
"For what?" He questioned, taking a step so his body was flushed against hers. Hermione looked up, lifting her hands and cradling his neck.
"For…taking me out? Having a conversation with me and letting me work out all my…troubles?" They both chuckled in the quiet space. She lifted a hand, fingertips gently stroking the now silvery line of his scar down his face.
"For…being patient with me and giving me a new vision."
The gentle words made him vaguely smile. Draco's eyes twinkled with obvious admiration. He leaned down and Hermione sank into his embrace.
Draco pressed his lips firmly against hers, waiting before they moved their lips. The moment required an appropriate pause, both needing to savor the taste and tingling sensation rising in their stomach.
Hermione slacked her jaw, tilting her head to deepen their kiss. He tasted of sweet wine and his specific flavor, the mixture causing her eyes to roll upwards. His palms pushed her closer, a deep sigh released from his mouth. The wet sounds of their kiss amongst the otherwise silent house made her acutely aware of him. Hard body, soft hair, slow breaths, hot palms. She suddenly couldn't stand not feeling his skin. She hadn't in so long.
With an impatient noise, she pulled his shoulders towards her. Draco immediately knew what she wanted and began teasingly poking his tongue into her mouth, waiting for her shy licks. She danced her tongue with his, the feeling caused her cunt to squeeze and her navel to pull. Hermione melted into his embrace. One of his hands slid upwards, wrapping around the base of her skull as the other began bunching up her dress from behind. Greedy noises were transferred from one another's mouths.
She rolled her hips, gasping when she made contact with his growing erection. She whined when his hand grabbed the flesh of her arse, grinding her harder into him.
"Hermione." Draco groaned, both hands moved to her arse. Rapid guidance pushed their centers together, hot sparks flying between them.
Clumsily pulling him in the direction of her room, Hermione lapped at his neck, whispering into his warm skin.
"Don't make me wait any longer." She pleaded through soft pants. Draco's hands skimmed around her waist, looking for a zipper or a tie, anything that would free her of the fabric on her body.
Her back hit the door jamb, fingers pulled down the straps of her dress and his mouth attached to her collarbone and found sanctuary on the sweetheart neckline.
"Take this off then." He commanded quietly, teeth nibbling where freckles were scattered.
Hermione blindly reached for her zipper on the side, pulling it down and feeling her body relax as it slid off her shoulders and waist. Draco's hands pulled the rest of it down, body straightening to run his hands over the newly available skin. Her nipples pebbled from the soft attention, her skin felt wired.
As he touched and explored with the most patient pressure, Hermione undressed him with a quiet spell. Soon Draco's clothes vanished, all of them. With an amused noise, he tilted his head down to inspect her work.
"Eager?" He teased quietly, reaching to remove her knickers, the only other article of clothing she wore tonight. Goosebumps exploded over her skin as his finger traced the material line from hip to hip.
"Should I not be?" She questioned smartly. Draco snorted then pulled her knickers down.
"No you absolutely should." He replied, kissing her ear and suckling on her lobe. He preened when her nails scratched his neck and back. "Trust me I'm incredibly eager for you as well."
With his words, he pushed his hips forward the same time he grasped her hips. His cock was pressed against her stomach, hot and thick and precum sliding against her skin. Hermione groaned and pulled his face down to hers, pressing their lips together.
Tongues thrusted, wandering hands groped and squeezed. Teasing licks left hot trails of salvia over their bodies. The couple fell backwards onto the mattress, Draco grabbing her hips and rutting his length between her sopping folds. Hermione gasped, and he sucked her tongue into his mouth, flicking and stroking it with fiery quickness.
"How do you want it?" He groaned, pinning her hips to his and clutching her thigh over his own leg. She was spread open on her side. His length covered in her juices as they ground on each other.
She blinked in the darkness, whining impatiently.
"I—I don't care." She said a bit peeved. Her lips trailed from his mouth to the point where his jaw bone connected. "I just want to feel all of you."
Draco's hand suddenly lifted her thigh so it hitched on his hip bone. In a quick movement, he rolled on top of her and positioned his tip right at her entrance. He pushed inside of her swiftly, eliciting a loud cry from her followed by a nibble on his collarbone.
"Oh my—oh gods." She moaned and Draco began slowly thrusting. His eyes scrunched closed as his head fell onto hers.
"Fuck Granger. Why do you feel so tight? It's only been a couple days."
There was no answer given, he simply kissed her lips and swallowed her moans. He was exceptionally hard, Hermione was going to make a comment but couldn't find the air to do so. She was suffocated by his heaving pants and prodding tongue. The tip of him was pressed so deep inside her that she was feeling a sharp pinch in her belly.
Draco rolled his hips faster, grinding rather than thrusting as he laid most of his weight on top of her. The effect caused him to be buried to the brim, her canal clutching to get him deeper even if there was no room left. Hermione's wheezes were directly in his ear, his own face hidden in her neck.
"Right there." She whispered during a particularly deep thrust. It jolted her with a stomach flaring possessive burn. One of her hands held onto his hip while the other held onto his neck, she began just barely jutting her hips to feel more of him. Her pubic bone finding contact against the coarse hairs sitting just above his shift. The pressure on her clit made her call his name.
"Yes, Draco–yes!"
Her cunt was absolutely slick and even then Draco still felt a bit too much for her. Her stomach was totally full, legs quaking as her body accepted him. He kissed her ear, then ran his tongue along the outside of it. Hermione again moaned and her insides tightened.
"Gods, don't—fuck don't do that." He warned then lifted his body off hers.
"Can't help it." She sighed. "Feels too good."
He quickened his pace, head thrown back as he got to his knees. The faster speed made her cunt to quiver and thighs shake. She reached for him, clawing at his chest and signaling she wanted him back down towards her.
Instead, Draco placed his arms around her back then lifted her. With her legs already circling his waist, the position allotted him to sink just a bit more. Hermione held on tightly to his neck as his own hands grasped the flesh of her arse and hips. He thrusted upwards, bouncing her off his hips.
"Draco—Draco—"
She chanted his name, eyes shut and head thrown back. Draco's neck bent down, his tongue licking a path between the valley of her breasts until he found one of her nipples. He quickly sucked it into his mouth, the heavy flesh still jolting with every thrust.
Hermione's cunt couldn't get any tighter. The burn of her climax spread from her stomach then down to her center.
"Come for me love, show me you're mine." Draco darkly ordered and Hermione gasped.
"Yes—yes! All…yours!" She shouted then moaned wildly as her orgasm took over. Millions of electrical jolts and electrocutions vibrated throughout her body. Draco groaned as he felt her release and pulled her over and over again.
Draco groaned as her walls fluttered, the waves of her heat bringing him closer to his own edge.
"Mine." He told her. Hermione heard the groans above her own delirious sounds. "You are mine. You've been mine."
With another depraved cry, Hermione threw her body forward, hugging him till her breasts were pressed tightly to his chest. She untangled her feet, planting them firmly on the mattress and began squatting on his cock, meeting him thrust for thrust.
The burn in her legs wouldn't allow her to hold the position for long, but Draco was already losing his rhythm.
"Draco—" She moaned, feeling his cock grow harder. He was pistoling into her, the bed rattling with warning creaks.
"Her—fuck you're mine…all…mine. Oh!"
He exploded inside her, piercing her with one sharp thrust to empty himself before slowly thrusting again to finish completely. Hermione was heaving air, clinging to him so tightly that her muscles began to ache.
Draco carefully bent forward, throwing them back onto the mattress and landing with a small huff. He gathered them on their sides, damp with sweat and their own fluids, panting humid air as they caught their breaths.
Hermione's cunt continued to flutter even after he pulled out of her. Draco tugged her body until it was huddled in his arms, legs draped between hers. It was a bit uncomfortable since she was so sweaty, but she knew better than to pull away.
He planted lazy kisses over her skin, ranging from her neck, chest, chin and cheeks. Soft hands pulled her hair back then cupped her cheek, stroking his thumb over her blushing flesh.
"Okay?" He whispered.
"Mhm." She tiredly replied, sighing when he kissed her head again.
"Need anything?" He checked.
"Just this." She told him.
The buzz of a slow and pleased hum vibrated through his throat and into her chest. Draco adjusted his arms so she was laying on him the way they both liked and could remain in through the night. Her eyes drifted low when his careful touches continued over her skin, soothing her like a lullaby. She tucked herself deeper into his embrace, melting with the way she felt protected and cared for.
A powerful peace sifted into her body as she drifted off to her own thoughts.
There was nothing else to discuss, no air to clear or words to dissect and analyze. Only 20/20 vision, no blurriness, no squinting to guess what something was from afar, no fuzzy grayness. Hermione was completely self assured with her place in Draco's life. Everything was clear as day.
A/N: Wow it has been a hot minute. It was never my intention to prolong this ending and i feel like since I have, it's just not... idk good? Enough? These last couple months have been some of the most hectic and time consuming for me. I got a new job but my old dept kept pushing my end date back. That caused a pile of work to load up on me in preparation for my leave. I moved into a new place with my bf and we're moving again in two weeks. Life has been a lot, and writing became an afterthought which i apologize for. I'm getting back into the rhythm. i think the biggest issue with me is that i have all these ideas and not the best at finishing them. Constantly being interrupted while i write and sift thru my stories was the biggest issue. So all this to say I'm incredibly sorry to all of you for prolonging this and maybe not giving my best effort with writing lately. I'm not entirely satisfied with this story now but still think it's cute and short and wholesome enough. Not a lot of plot more just a feel good I guess. Anyways, the flow is coming back. there's a lot im hoping to accomplish these next couple days to get back into it. Thank you for sticking around with me for so long and being patient.
