Last chapter, at least before the epilogue. Draco does something quite impressive.

Chapter 6

The due date came and Draco wasn't there. His seat was always next to hers, but now it was empty. She felt the emptiness of the seat, and it drained into her heart.

Professor Snape was going around to each table, observing each potion that his students had produced. One exploded right in front of him, but he cast a spell to repel the dark liquid away from him and back into the cauldron. He didn't seem to notice that there was no cauldron on the table in front of Hermione—until he stood next to it.

"Miss Granger," he said in his monotone voice. "Yours and Mr. Malfoy's potion?"

Every eye in the classroom landed on her, and she felt the heat of embarrassment, and the vile rising in her throat. She swallowed it.

"There was a mishap," she said, looking straight at the front of the room, and her chest ached. "It spilled a few days ago shortly after we finished it."

Snape lengthened out his wand until both hands had each end. "I see… So… unfortunate. Especially for you, Miss Granger."

"Yes, sir." She gulped down a sob.

He moved on without another word to the next table and observed Pavarti and Padma's love potion, billowing pink steam from the top of the cauldron.

Hermione wanted to cry. She didn't want to remain in the classroom. She knew Professor Snape would notice, but she stood up and left the room without a word. As she walked down the corridors, her chest tightened with every step. She needed a quiet place to cry, and the nearest lavatory was the one that she and Draco worked in for long hours each day. She had her hand on the door, ready to open it, but she let go. She imagined Draco's smiling, handsome face as he won that chess match. More tears came. She walked away from the door.

"I think you should go in," she heard a voice say. She whirled around and found Myrtle floating there to the right of the wooden door.

"No," Hermione she said. "I never want to go in there again."

She began to walk away, but Myrtle floated right in front of her. "I would, if I were you."

Hermione sighed in defeat. "Why?"

Myrtle smiled, biting her lip between her teeth. "Go see. He's been at it the past few days."

Her heart made a strong lurch. "Who's been doing what?"

"Go. See."

Hermione took in air through her nose and walked into the lavatory. The place was filled with the morning light that was pouring in from the windows. She heard clanking. She walked more into the room and found…

She gasped in shock, which caused a very frazzled Draco to turn around, then instantly stand at the sight of her. The floor near the sink was cluttered with bottles and boxes, and the air smelled of lemons - the scent of the finished healing potion. The cauldron sat there, yellow steam billowing out of it. Sparkly yellow steam.

"Granger," he breathed.

Hermione couldn't form words for the life of her. She tried to force her heavy tongue to work. "What…?" was all that came out.

"What does it look like?" he said, placing both hands on his hips, which were over his white shirt that was untucked from his pants. His very blonde hair was a mess, and he had dark circles under his eyes.

"How…? Why…?"

"So touched you can barely speak?" He gestured towards the mess. "I found everything in the potions book by taking apart Snape's storage. And I nearly sacrificed my own leg to get the gold stuff from Pomphrey."

Hermione stared at him, still stunned out of her wits.

"God, Granger, wipe that look off your face."

She gave herself a mental shake and took the few steps to the cauldron. Its inside looked exactly like it did before it was tipped over—thick liquid gold.

"You… made this in just three days?"

"It wasn't easy. I had to tweak a few things. I don't know if it'll even work."

She looked at him, at his blue eyes. Emotion overcame her, and before she could stop herself, she flung her arms around his neck, smelling a soft pine scent, as well as sweat.

"Hey, what—"

She held him tighter, feeling his feathery hair through her fingers, her nose against his bare neck, and feeling a rush of thankfulness and happiness that reduced her to tears. He stood limp as she shook against him, crying into his shoulder. She could feel his heart hammering under his chest.

"Thank you…" she let out.

Draco audibly gulped as he took in her flowery scent. His shaking hands… he didn't know what to do with them. He just placed them lightly on her back. He started. For being only thirteen, Hermione had curves. His cheeks took to burning.

"Yeah," he said as answer to her thank you.

She loosened herself from him and looked back at his face. They realized how close they were, and what kind of hold they were in, and they instantly let go, standing a meter apart from each other.

"We have to get this to potions class," she said suddenly after clearing her throat. "Now."

"You think I don't know that? I've been working in here sleepless nights to get this thing done in time."

She gasped. "You haven't slept?"

His brows pushed together. She eyed his dark circles. Of course he hasn't slept. She forced herself to think that he did this for the class and not for her.

"Wengardium Leviossa," Hermione said, and the cauldron started floating in the air at her command. "Let's go."

The two made it in time for Snape to give them a grade—three-fourths marks for being late. Better than nothing.