Chapter Six: If You Could

A/N: A BIG thanks to AllApologies, ShadowHexx771, iluvsmallville1, and SlytherinPrincess5489 for reviewing! Now, after a long wait, here's chapter six! So..READ, REVIEW, AND ENJOY!

Draco's POV

Ah, the water was great. And so is she.

Of course, I'm sure you know who the 'she' I'm refering to is. Not as if there are millions to choose from on this island..but I'm straying from the point.

I don't know why, but I suddenly have an attraction for her. Probably thanks to her not shutting up, and because of the snog we shared because of that. Don't get me wrong, though. I've snogged many people, many of them more attractive than her. But I'm not saying that Hermione is completely unattractive. Actually, she's quite cute. Her hair is unmanageable, but it wasn't all that bad. She was buck-toothed in the past, but she got that taken care of, leaving her with a brilliant smile. She had an average figure; her cleavage wasn't the best I've seen, but she wasn't completely flat-chested. And her eyes. Well, they aren't particularly special, but they are friendly. They are lively. They also had a trace of stubborness in them..

Overall, she wasn't so bad. The physical aspect of her, anyway. Her personality, however, is another story.

She's stubborn! Argumentative! Perfect for someone who wanted to be..what was it that Muggles called them? Loyures? That's how it sounds out loud, anyway. But yes, that would be the perfect occupation for her, out there in the Muggle world.

Still, she can also be kind. Friendly. Charming, even. It's harder for me to see that side of her though, because she doesn't show that side of her for me often. Why? Well, you already know. It's not like we've been the best of friends throughout the years. And it's not like she'll warm up to me over a period of a few days, even under the circumstances that we're in.

And don't get me wrong. This whole thing is just a crush, and it hopefully won't develop into anything more. I just have to avoid anymore physical contact between her lips and mine. It'll be easy..I hope. But who was I kidding? I don't think I'll have the willpower to avoid her and her lips..

But there's still that one, tiny factor. I told her that I would leave if she wanted me to. My fault, all of it. And I regret that I ever offered that option. But I'll hold to my word, and praise Salazar if she allows me to remain with her. Sadly, this isn't even a matter of getting out of this place anymore. It was a matter that..I like her. A little more than that, as I'm sure you know. Have I mentioned that yet? But really- how could I have ever developed a crush for a Mudblood?

Right now we're still near the pool of water, the waterfall cascading down into it. We're relaxed, sitting alongside the pool with our bare feet dabbling in the water. It's sunset, but we can only see the reddish sky, because the trees block our view of the horizon. It's fairly hot out, but with the sun going down, it's becoming cooler. It's all very peaceful. A typical paradise. It's all very nice, but I'm starting to really miss home. Home meaning Hogwarts. Surprising, isn't it? You wouldn't think that one who lives in a manor would prefer an old castle, but alas! My parents probably don't miss me. And I certainly don't miss them. I guess I miss the surroundings that I'm very familiar with..the Great Hall, the dungeons (Snape is my favourite professor. Only Snape and Dumbledore do I have any respect for, when it comes to teachers). Yes, I miss it all.

"So, you've pulled yourself together, and we have found water!" I say, in a falsely cheery voice. "I guess it's up to you now on whether or not you want me to go." Please, just give me another chance.

"Well.." She says, clearly thinking about it. That makes me partially hopeful, and annoyed. Hopeful because she might accept me, eventually. Annoyed because she had to think about it! I might be a fool that has this pathetic crush on a girl, but really! I know she feels at least something for me..pardon my cockiness, but who wouldn't?

"You haven't tried to kiss me since you said that. I guess..I guess I don't mind if you stay. Besides, wouldn't we both become insane if we were alone out here on this island? I would, anyway."

I give her a genuine smile. "Me too. I would go insane." Because I'd be alone, without you. Great. I keep thinking about her. It's almost all too much, even for me. Athough I'm the one thinking these thoughts..but this is brilliant! I now know that she does probably have something for me, or at least we're on the verge of some kind of friendship. Friendship is a good start..then it moves on to friends with benefits. And it moves along from there.

She gives me a small smile, and then says, "So what do we do now?"

"I don't know. We'll find something to do.." What I wouldn't give for that something to be snogging. Or at least a kiss. But I'm not about to press her for that. Not for now, anyway.

"Yeah.." She pauses, and then asks, "Draco, do you think I was hallucinating earlier? I was kind of crazed, maybe. But I know what I saw.." She's a smart, sensible girl. I don't think she could have been hallucinating. But what could have happened to the body? I suppose it might have submerged into the murky depths of this water, but I would really not like to think about it. That could be..or something could have eaten it. Or dragged it off somewhere. Either way, it all sounds creepy to me, if he was here in the first place. If he wasn't..well, that's something else.

"I don't know," I answer, finally. "But either way, we're no closer to getting off of this island. But if that man was there, at least we'd almost be immortal..endless possibilities."

"Endless possibilities," Hermione echoes. Yes, in speaking of endless possibilities, what would you say to the possibility of me snogging you again? Hmm. I'm not quite dumb enough to say what I'm thinking. Yet.

"I have an idea," I say, suddenly. Maybe if there was more of a romantic feel, she'd want to kiss me. Or snog, which would be even better. Bloody. Is that all I wanted to do? Did I like her for who she was at all? But I know the answer to that- I do. She's brilliant, and pretty good-looking. She has a great personality..sometimes. But right now, my mind is too intent on wanting to kiss her. It'll stay that way until I do.

"What?" she asks.

"You'll see," I reply, getting up, offering my hand. She takes it, and I help her up. We then charge on into the depths of the forest. In some random direction, of course. I didn't know this place any better than she did..

I guess the waterfall and sunset was a marvelous romantic setting, but we needed something different. More..breathtaking. And where? Well, we'll just have to find it. If we can ever get out of this tangled mess of trees in what was nearly pitch black..

"Draco," she says, calmly, "You realize that we can hardly see anything?" I just noticed that we were still holding hands. Maybe she likes me afterall..

"We won't run into anything. You can see the shape of the tree right before you're about to run into it."

"That makes me feel all the more better," she replies, sarcastically. Though she says that in a more..friendly way, without an edge, at least.

"Hermione?"

"What?"

"You know that I know no better than you as to where we're going?"

"Er, no I didn't. But thanks for informing me, now that we're somewhere in the middle of a forest, lost, again. At least it isn't my fault this time.."

I laugh. "We'll get out of here eventually. Then we hopefully won't have to ever come back in here again."

"I doubt that'll ever happen. But I'm beginning to like this forest."

"And why is that? You only seem frustrated whenever we're in here."

"Well, we always seem to end up getting along a bit more, eh? And, surprisingly, we aren't arguing right now." We've only been in this forest together once, and that was earlier. But I suppose she was right. Already she's started to warm up to me. And I suppose that for her, I'm becoming less..what I usually am. And more..human.

"I guess you're right," I say, smiling. It was rather pointless though, you can barely see anything in the dark.

We remain silent for awhile, trudging on ahead to..who knows where. Well, not trudging. More like stumbling on ahead.

Finally, we see some light among the brush. I pick up my pace and move towards it. Once we're there, we walk out of the brush to see..an amazing sight.

We were standing on a cliff, which was jutted out over the sea. We must have been in the forest for awhile, because the sun was down, and a crescent moon was there to take its place. It was a starry night, with not a cloud in the sky.

"It's..beautiful," Hermione says, breathless. "Did you know of this place?"

"Not until now, no," I reply. This was an impressive view. I let go of her hand and walk to the edge of the cliff.

"Don't do that!"

"What?"

"You could fall!" That's extraordinary. Her, concerned for my well-being? But I know better than that. We see each other differently now.

"I won't," I reply, confidently, looking down. We were far above the sea, but it didn't make me nauseous. I'm not one of those people who are afraid of heights.

"Come here," I say. She hesistates, but joins me. I hear her take a sharp intake of breath as she looks down.

"I-I'm not that f-fond of heights," She says, shakily. I step behind her, and wrap my arms around her waist, resting my chin on her shoulder. She doesn't protest.

"See? Now if you do fall, we'll fall together."

"That doesn't make me feel much better," She says, but her tension seems to lessen anyway. She snuggles closer to me. It's very nice.

Before I stop to think about it, I turn her around and give her a light kiss. That was all it was. Innocent enough, right? But before I can tilt my head back, she kisses me back. I wasn't expecting this, but I let her. Have I ever mentioned that she's a good kisser? Well, if I haven't, she is.

It gets to the point where we're snogging, and I want to taste her- or as one would so politely put it, jam my tounge down her throat. I gently try to pry her mouth open wider, but she refuses to let me. I relent and tilt my head back, breathing hard. That was by far the best snog I have ever had in a good while. It would've been even better yet if she would have let me taste her..

"I.." I start.

"No, you don't need to apologize. It's just that.." Hermione pauses. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really like you now."

"Well, I really like you, too. But then why..?"

"It's just that.." There she goes, interrupting me again! "If you could, could you just give me some time?"

"Time! Why? It isn't hard to figure out if you like someone or not, and you just admitted that you did!"

"But you don't understand," Hermione says, quietly. "You know how I feel about Ron, and I still feel that way. It's just that..the bloke never got around to admitting what he felt for me, and I never got around to telling him how I felt. It holds me back from completely liking you. And now you hold me back from completely liking him." I guess that's true, I knew there was always some romance between them, even though they were the only two who couldn't figure that out for themselves. Until now, but neither of them completely know how the other feels. And somehow that holds her back! That makes me angry, but it also makes me pleased to know that I also hold her back from liking Ron the way she did. Overall, it still makes me angry. And hurt because I'm not good enough for her. Ron..bloody Ron is in the way!

"Look," I say, impatiently, "I know you're tied up about Ron. But where is he right now? And what's he going to do when we're millions of miles away from him! Besides, we're supposed to fall in love to get out of here. So why don't you just make up your mind about me! That way we can both get out of here!"

"Is that all that you want?" She says, coldly. "To get out of here? Is that all you care about?" Great. Now she thinks I don't care about her at all, but that I only want to get off this island..which I do. But I care about her! And that's the point.

"That's not what I meant," I say, quickly. "I meant that-"

"I know your intentions now. So just save it for someone who cares! Which I doubt, because no one could care for you- considering you don't care about them!" I don't say anything else, because I have nothing more to say. She obviously doesn't want to hear it. But instead of her storming off, it's me. I walk away, not once looking back. I couldn't care less if I ever see her again- which I guess she was right. I don't care. Not anymore.

Funny. I was the one that ended up walking away, but this time, I was the jerk. Great move. I just ended up leaving both of us hurting. But I'll relieve her stress. She can go on liking Weasel, or Potter, or whoever the hell she likes! I'm not going to wait around for her to like me, because it's usually me the person has to wait on. I'm not used to it, what's that word..rejection. But I'm not about to get used to it. I'll somehow get back to Hogwarts by myself, where every girl will want me! Every Slytherin girl, at least. There are many to choose from, and most of them better than THAT Mudblood..

I honestly wish I could believe that.