Here we are another quick update!
Chapter 3: Embarrassing situations and last chances -Secret Love
"We can't leave her alone in the house with him!"
"She'll murder us when she wakes up and finds out!"
"Well I'm sorry boys but we really need to go to the ministry and I need you help. I don't want to wake either of them up…" Hermione lay I bed with her eyes closed, groggily listening to Ron Harry and Tonks' voices in the hallway.
"Maybe we should wake her, bring her with us."
"Ron, she's exhausted" There was Ginny.
"But what if…what if he does something to her?"
"Ron" Tonks was back "I trust him ok? Don't ask. Now we have to leave" Hermione heard footsteps on the staircase, and eventually a door slamming and locking loudly. She guessed from the conversation that her friends had just left from their meeting at the Ministry about fighting Voldemort, and had left her alone in the house with Draco.
He must still be asleep she thought, and she began wondering where his room was. Pure curiosity carried her up the stairs to the very top floor just below the attic, and she began peeping in each room.
She got to a door near the end and peered in to see a shirtless Draco lying twisted in the sheets of a bed in the corner. She paused to look at him, taking her time because he was asleep, and would never know.
He groaned in his sleep, which brought her back to reality. Not wanting to be caught staring; she rushed back to her room, and changed into muggle jeans and a singlet top, having always preferred these clothes to her robes. And just a tiny part of her was wanting to impress the young man sleeping upstairs, so she smoothed her hair down into sleek curls and applied a tiny bit of makeup. Then she ventured out into the house, but finding it silent as before, went into the sitting room and sat on the couch, wondering what she was going to do with herself.
Once again, she felt a presence. How is it I can always feel him around she mused. She looked up to face a tired worn Malfoy, barefoot and wearing jeans and the same t-shirt as last night.
The silence stretched between them.
"I was awake before, you know" he said evenly.
"Oh well I was just seeing if anyone else was in the house with me" she lied pathetically, she could feel the colour rising in her face
"Would you like to sit down?"
"Ok"
She eyed the hand placed on the arm of the couch.
"I'm sorry I asked about-"
"Don't mention it"
She reached out and took his hand, covering it in both of hers. She could feel the raised bumps, and it made her want to cry, she guessed there had been a lot of pain involved with those marks, but didn't dare ask.
She raised her gaze to meet his own, and it was clear they were both thinking of the night before.
"I really am sorry about that you know" he spoke gently, something Draco would never have done before. What made him change?
"I'm not. I'm glad" she whispered defiantly. This felt right. Very right.
He searched her eyes for a moment before replying "you're too good for me."
This shocked Hermione so much she nearly fell to the ground. Her? Too good for mister pureblood? She calmed herself down and said carefully
"I wish one day you'll tell what happened to you." His eyes filled with misery hearing her say this, and judging but the distant fear on his face he was remembering something unpleasant.
"Maybe" He hesitated, then pulled her into an embrace.
"Draco Malfoy if someone had told me I was going to say this 4 years ago I would have been shocked but please will you just kiss me?
Draco was startled but nevertheless glad for a reason
He pulled her towards him, shifting her so that she was just about sitting on his lap. He kissed with hunger and need; she kissed back just as fiercely. Everything else was out of the picture as Hermione ran her hands over hard abdominal muscle; then reached up to feel powerful shoulder blades through his shirt.
Draco smoothed her hair back from her face, then wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her even more against him.
They fell sideways onto the couch, but soon came up for air. Neither felt any need to take it further at this point Draco sat up, head tipped back against the couch, breathing deeply. As Hermione snuggled up next to him she felt is arm snake around to her back. She let her head lie on his chest, and promptly fell asleep.
He sat stroking her hair, and eventually drifted off to a blissfully dreamless sleep.
"Well of course there aren't any members of the Order around, they're all abroad on missions. I'm only here to look after you guys…not that you need looking after of course…but-"
Tonks strode into the sitting carrying a plate of sandwiches, Ginny close behind. The both stopped when they saw Hermione and Draco, curled up asleep on the lounge, her leaning on him with his arm around her.
"oh my" muttered Tonks. Ginny stared. What a sight! There was no denying they actually looked quite cute together.
"Oh come one more game after lunch Harry? I won't get your bishop right off this time…" Ron trailed off as he saw the scene in the sitting room.
Right on cue, the couple stirred and woke up to see two inquiring faces, one shocked, and one disgusted face.
The four intruders seemed at a loss of what to say.
"Oh. Hello!" Hermione stammered. "We were, just tired that's all. I must have er, slipped onto you while I was sleeping Draco, erm, sorry!" she drew back hastily as Malfoy did the same, his face flushing.
"Uh" Harry looked as though trying to comprehend the situation. Ron however seemed very clear with what he had just walked into.
"Hermione! What. Are. You. Doing?" Ron radiated barely suppressed anger.
Hermione and Draco decided it was time to leave, so they both pushed through the door and hastened to their separate rooms.
"oh don't go! We have lunch!" Tonks called halfheartedly. "Ginny..."
"I'll go talk to her"
"I'm coming" growled Ron
"Oh no you're not! She needs a friend right now and you're not being one!" Ginny flounced huffily from the room.
"'Mione?"
"C'min" Despite the embarrassing confrontation, Hermione was feeling good
Ginny came in and sat on her bed.
"Please tell me what's going on. I won't tell the others if you don't want." She said gently.
"Well alright. It seems to me, I suppose" Hermione fiddled with her bedspread "well, I think that…Ginny I think I'm in love!" She looked up at Ginny, dreading her response. Instead Ginny merely pondered what she had said with the same thoughtful look she had word yesterday.
"Well. If he has changed, I think you would be able to tell 'Mione. I trust your judgment on this one. Though perhaps it would be better to keep this a secret for the time being"
Hermione sighed deeply with relief.
"oh Thank goodness you understand Ginny. I feel so strange with him, as if were connected, meant to be, there's just something there, oh I'm sorry I'm rambling!"
Ginny laughed "that's quite alright. Actually what your saying is sort of what I feel like with Harry" she stared dreamily into space. It was Hermione's turn to laugh.
"Good for you. But listen Ginny; do you think you could get us some time together, just every so often? It would mean so much to me."
"Of course. I'll keep them busy whenever possible. You helped me once right?" her thoughts drifted back to Harry.
The girls hugged tightly and Ginny left to go back to the others.
In the following days and weeks, with the help of Ginny, Draco and Hermione met up in any deserted rooms they could find, when they were sure the others were not going to barge in. The rest of the time they kept their distance, and though Hermione Decided that Tonks suspected something, Tonks was smart enough to keep her mouth closed and the boys remained in the dark.
In the time they did have together, their relationship moved much faster than Hermione's with Ron ever had. The laughed, kissed, cuddled, cried and debated with each other. They told each other things they had never said to another before. In just two weeks they knew each others fears, hopes, dreams, dislikes and passions.
However it came to Ginny's last day in the mansion. The next day she would be going back to Hogwarts, and Hermione was worried that Ginny had been such a help that her and Draco wouldn't be able to find time by themselves. However it came to noon a Ginny suddenly "realized" that she had forgotten to pick up potion ingredients and new dress robes. Tonks had to go of course, and Harry wanted to come along with Ginny. Ron eventually agreed to come and see Fred and George. There was no question about whether Draco was invited. Harry and Ron were still feeling hostile towards him, so he would be left behind.
"What about you Hermione? Up for a visit to diagon alley? We're all going" Tonks asked.
Hermione was quick to work out the situation and so made up a story.
"Oh no I'm sorry I don't think I am er, up for it. I have a terrible headache; I might just go nap the afternoon away." Ron looked disappointed, Harry only mildly so, for she noticed he had his arm around Ginny's waist. Tonks was looking suspicious but resigned, and Ginny was beaming.
"Oh well then see you later! Hope you get better soon alright?" Now come on everyone there are at least three dress robe shops I want to see before they shut!" Ginny bustled everyone out the door, before turning around and giving Hermione a big lusty wink
Hermione was determined to make this day count, who knows when they would have time together again?
A cliffhanger-ish ending, sorry. Also sorry if you found this chapter just a little bit slow, but don't worry because the next couple of chapters are really good! Two of my favourite chapters so far, they really explore things more. Review please, please, please! Thank you !
