Chapter 16: Draco Malfoy's Heart
A/N: Disclaimer in the first few chapters!
They chatted for almost two hours about San Telmo, which is one of them many barrios in Buenos aires. Orion praised the capital city of Argentina highly and went into extravagant detail for the mesmerized witch before him.
"I'd love to learn that," Hermione sighed softly as the Argentine finished describing the complicated but intimate Tango, the proclaimed dance style of Argentina.
"I can teach you if you want," he offered, chuckling slightly as she sat up a bit straighter in her chair.
"You would do that?" the brunette asked the man before her, nervously.
"Of course, Hermone," Orion replied, drowning in her chocolate orbs.
The woman visibly brightened before looking at her watch and muttering a string of colorful curses. the wizard across from her looked a bit shocked at her choice of words.
"Sorry!" she apologized. "But I have to go! I'm already ten minutes late!"
"No problem," Orion said, laughing quietly as she panicked. The usally organised witch started shoving items haphazardly into her bag, not caring of it was messy.
"Hermione." She looked up as she heard her name and felt a warm hand on her arm.
"Listen..." he started, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"I know we have only just met," the wizard continued and Hermione froze, knowing what was coming. "But I can't help but feel attracted to you and was wondering if you would ever consider going on a date with me?" he rushed on, nerves making his words slur together slightly.
By then, the English woman's posture had relaxed slightly and sorrow filled her eyes.
"Look, Orion," the brunette began. "I'm really sorry but I can't go on a date with you..."
"But...I thought you were single!" Orion blurted out, a confused expression flitting over his features.
"Yes! I am a single pringle!" she giggled. "But..." her face turned more serious,"I'm afraid that I am trying to pursue someone else."
"Alright," Orion sighed unhappily. "I understand."
The witch's stance visibly shagged with relief.
"Thank you," the brightest witch of her age said with sincerity.
"No problemo, amigo!" he replied in his thick Argentine accent.
"Well...I better go!" Hermione stated, swinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Go get him, girl!" Orion grinned at her. Hermione laughed and broke into a sprint towards the nearest Apparition point. Upon reaching it, she shut her eyes tight and thought of her destination.
Landing in front of her flat, brown eyes immediately caught sight of an impatient blonde. Pacing in front of her green door, the witch heard Draco Malfoy mutter things like "where is she" and "bloody cold". Hermione couldn't help it, she giggled. Blonde hair whipped in the breeze as he turned around at lightening speed when he heard the sudden sound. His irate features softened as he realized who it was.
"Oh, Mione," ambling towards her, the handsome young man gave her a bear hug which she responded to, warmly.
"Way to give me a heart attack!" came Draco's voice from above her./p
"Sorry, I kind of lost track of the time," she apologized, pulling away from the hug to get much needed oxygen.
"It's OK," Draco stopped her from apologizing some more. "Shall we?" he enquired, gesturing towards the closed door.
"Yes we shall," Hermione agreed. Five minutes later saw the pair of them inside her flat and settled on the red leather couch.
"Tell me about your day," Draco suggested, when there was a lapse in conversation.
The brunette witch told him about her shopping and all the people she met, including Orion.
"He was just so nice!" she gushed. "He even asked me out on a date!"
Crestfallen, Draco looked at the floor, feeling as though his heart and stamped upon. Silver eyes wet with tears, he couldn't bear to look up at the love of his life while she retold a story of being in another man's arms.
"But, do you know what I told him?" she continued in a softer tone.
"No," Draco said in a hopeless sort of voice.
Two delicate fingers slid under his chin and forced his head up to be level with hers. The blonde was shocked still at the obvious love and passion in her eyes.
"I told him that my heat belongs to another," she whispered, tracing patterns on his cheek with her other hand.
"You, Draco" she smiled. "My heart belongs to you."
Suddenly, her lips were on his in a tender, loving kiss. Shocked out of his frozen state, Draco responded by wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer and moving his lips in sync with hers. As she explored Draco's mouth and lips, Hermione Granger didn't spare a thought for Ron or Orion, for that matter. She was well over Ron and was on her way to discover a new relationship with someone she had had feelings for for a long time. She just never thought that Draco would return her feelings. The only thought that entered her mind during the kiss was:
This is home.
A/N: Two out of five!