They don't know about us.
They don't know about us.
"Who is it?" Hermione asked in a tone of voice barely audible.
"Astoria Greengrass. Slytherin, pureblood, a year younger." he muttered shredding the letter angrily.
"So it's done then?" she asked gazing at the flickering fire.
"Not quite. He has found a suitable family using that contracting company and now, all the family contractor has to do is propose the deal to the Greengrass family and it takes roughly 4 months for the deal to be approved and for the dark magic to work properly." he said shutting his eyes. "We'll be out of school by then."
Hermione was quiet as she considered this. About four months to spend the rest of her small forever with Draco until he was legally betrothed to someone else.
"We'll find something." Draco said quietly. She didn't say anything because right now, she knew, that neither of them really believed that anymore.
Hermione sat stonily in Transfiguration as she read the chapter she'd already read before again. She had received an owl from Harry that morning stating that Lucius had no ability to withdraw or transfer money and if a family contractor wanted to contract an unbreakable pureblood betrothal he could. But the impossibly unbreakable, bounded for life and broken by death contract owned by the dead shop owner was indeed an illegal shop and if the family contractor really had managed to get a copy without paying, it was already a done deal. Harry was looking into it, but it was likely that there would be no proof.
The bell rang and Hermione packed her stuff and began making her way to charms.
Just that moment, she spotted Pansy chatting loudly with Astoria Greengrass as they walked by in the halls.
Astoria had pretty brown hair that fell in smooth waves till mid back. Her eyes were a honey brown and her lips were always glossed in something pink. Her hair was never without style and she did have a good figure.
How would she ever compare?
The day passed in a haze of her seeming to bump into Astoria everywhere. She annoyed by the time she walked out of the great hall after dinner and knocked straight into her.
"Oops oh I'm so-" she broke off when she spotted Hermione. "Hello! Sorry about that." she smiled politely before strutting off. She was nice too?
In a sour mood, Hermione stalked off to the library where she found an empty lounge chair to begin her homework. Draco was at quidditch practice till 8:30.
As a head she had permission to stay in the library after hours. So at 9 she finished her homework and began flipping through more books on breaking the contract or a way out.
At 11:30 she slammed a book shut and returned exhausted to her room. Draco was in the shower and she slipped in to brush her teeth. When she entered Draco was in the process of pulling on a shirt. He had boxers on and his hair was a mess.
"Sorry." she muttered roughly squirting tooth pace.
"What's the matter?" he asked quizzically.
"Nothing. Just a tough day." she sighed leaning against the wall. He narrowed his eyes before grabbing a brush and dragging it through his silky hair.
"You know I don't want to marry Astoria right? She's a little whiney princess who always got what she wanted as a kid and she is always, I tell you. Sweet on the outside but that's just so she can weasel her way close to you and then she turns ugly." Draco said following her into her bedroom. She magically switched her clothes and crawled into bed.
"I know." she replied as he slipped in and pulled her close. "It's just difficult. I won't ever fit into your world. Not with the pureblood traditions and the looks and everything-it'll never be me."
"You are my world. Not anything or anyone else. Life's been so tough, that now, when the one good thing comes into my life, I'm not easily giving up on it." he murmured into her ear. She felt her uneasiness the entire day fade to nothing.
"You can't fight fate Draco." Hermione responded turning to face him.
"Why would I fight being with you? Because that's my fate now, not anything else, not what my father says or what the Greengrasses and the rest of the world think, or a damn contract. Just you and I. You're my today, tomorrow and forever." he whispered and just like that, Hermione began to have hope again.
It was the middle of March and Hermione had just received top marks in a practice N.E.W.T's in potions and she was eager to start the weekend.
She stumbled into her common room intending to start some homework when Draco walked in. Upon spotting her, he grinned and sat down beside her.
"Tired?" he asked nipping her ear.
"Very. But I still have loads of homework, not to mention double patrol tonight and I still can't find anything to get you out of that pureblood dung." she sighed.
"I think we need a break. All this stuff it's clearly clouding your mind. You forgot me, where's the you and I time on that list?" he asked huffing.
Hermione laughed and swatted his chest. "How could I forget my sarcastic and weird boyfriend? I kissed you before we left this morning. And I saw you when we totally won that challenge in DADA." Hermione reminded.
"Yeah, we won that "N.E.W.T Trivia Maze didn't we?" he chuckled recalling their rush through a virtually transfigured maze that questioned them N.E.W.T practice questions.
"That's 3-2 for us." Hermione smiled happily. "Halfway through."
"No that's not what I meant. I think we should go on another date." he said trailing circles on her palm.
"Yeah why not? When?" she asked stretching her legs on his lap.
"Next Hogsmeade?" he offered, his hot breath tickling her neck. She nodded.
"Come on, we have homework. We won't have time to do it tomorrow when it's the "Prefect Planned Party". They've been working hard to plan it for the seventh and eighth years tomorrow night." The Prefect Planned Party was offered to let the prefects show their capability of working together to plan something in preparation of head duties they may receive in the future.
"Yeah, Blaise convinced them to host it in the Slytherin dorms. Perfect place to cause a racket." he grinned kissing her softly.
Hermione moaned arching her back to meet his kiss. Draco smirked as he gripped her waist and trailed kisses from her jaw and down her neck.
"We...have….homework." she whispered gripping his hair. Draco sighed and moved off of her.
"Sometimes I wonder if you love homework more than me." he smiled slightly.
The next day, Hermione spent the morning and afternoon with Ginny as she watched their quidditch practice before joining her in the common room.
The Gryffindors were all treating her at least politely and civilly now.
"I can't believe you guys decided on a club type theme. And that you get to pick my outfit? That's hardly fair." Hermione complained as Ginny walked out in a silver strapless dress that complimented her pale face. Her hair was down straight and made her look stunning.
She had chosen a black v-neck dress in the front and back that was about mid-thigh for Hermione.
"You fashion sense is so innocent! And you really would have worn a professional dress to this. And a club theme is fun Hermione, we're graduating soon, we need to relax a bit." Ginny chided. Hermione huffed pulling down the skirt to cover more. "Come on, it's 10, we should get to the Slytherin commons. I still can't believe Zabini convinced the other naive prefects to host it in the Slytherin common room. Do you know how much bigger the great hall is?" she continued rambling as they winded through corridors to get to the Slytherin commons.
About three corridors away, they could hear music blaring a muggle rock song. When they entered, there were people yelling and dancing on a big dance floor. The prefects had made a magical Dj and set the room up in a very modern club style. Lights flashed and to her horror there was a bar in the corner where people were laughing and taking shots.
"You guys smuggled in firewhiskey?!" Hermione shrieked turning on Ginny who matched her towering temper.
"No! ZABINI!" Ginny screamed shoving through the crowd to get to a cheering Blaise. Hermione smiled a little as little hotheaded Ginny yelled at the fearful tall Blaise.
"Don't worry. I have no doubt Weasley will handle him." Draco smiled wrapping his arms around her. "Hey you."
"You haven't been drinking have you?" Hermione asked narrowing her eyes.
"No Mya. I promise. And I don't even get a proper hello? Straight to the accusations? I'm hurt…" he smirked his hands on the small of her back.
Hermione grinned and crushed his lips to hers. She bit his lip and her tongue slipped in, beginning a fierce battle with his. One hand remained on her back while the other was in her brown curls. She groaned pulling him by his blue dress shirt closer. Her other hand was at the back of his neck as she devoured his lips.
There came loud catcalls and wolf whistles. They broke apart both out of breath, breathing heavily.
"Get a ROOM!" Theo yelled to howls of laughter. To her surprise, Hannah walked over to her blushing pink.
"I'm sorry. To the both of you. I see how much you love each other." she smiled shyly. Hermione grasped her hand and smiled back. After she walked away Draco turned her towards him.
"I think that girls right. I think I do love you." Draco grinned cheekily.
"Oh do you Mr. Malfoy?" she asked smiling as she playfully fingered his collar.
He groaned and their foreheads touched. "If you keep doing that little innocent little Gryffindor act, I might devour you right here, in front of everyone and no yells from Theo can stop me." he warned kissing her neck.
She laughed. "I'm going to go get a butterbeer." she whispered pecking his lips before striding off towards the bar. Hopefully they had something that wasn't going to get her high.
She managed to get a butterbeer that hadn't been tainted with booze after yelling at the poor Hufflepuff bartender over the noise.
She took a gulp and surveyed the crowd. Ginny was yelling at Blaise and he was laughing and stumbling around. Lara to her surprise, was not drunk but was dancing heatedly with Blaise as he purposefully, ignored Ginny.
"You insufferable prat!" Ginny screeched before stomping off to tell off people who were drunk. After her round of scolding, she approached Hermione.
"Can you please ask Draco for some hangover potion? Theo says he has it and I need anything to get them sober. It should be strong enough to work now." Ginny asked massaging her head.
Hermione nodded before walking between the crowd in search of Draco. He was nowhere to be seen, she had to yell in Theo's ear before he heard her and he directed her to the eighth year's dorm for boys.
"HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT GETTING LOTION! I DON'T KNOW WHY!" Theo screamed in response. Hermione shook her head in disbelief.
"Potion Theo and stop drinking!" she snapped before running up the stairs.
At least Draco was smart enough to already have the potion on hand.
Hermione sighed as she opened the door and her stomach dropped.
She was crushing her lips onto Draco's using her leg to wrap it securely around his waist and shoving him onto a bed. Her hands tore at the buttons of his shirt and her skimpy white dress rode up. She was Astoria Greengrass, and she was currently making out with her boyfriend.
Hermione felt her worst fears confirmed, despite how much she had forgotten about them these past months.
Astoria had successfully prised his shirt open when he managed to roughly shove her off and she landed with a light thud on the floor.
"What the fuck!" he demanded. "What the hell is your problem? I-" Draco sputtered absolutely seething with anger.
Astoria stuttered. "Well….we're going to betrothed….and I thought you would be smart enough to break things off with her. And I don't see why we can't get ahead of the marriage and-"
"I DON'T INTEND TO EVER BREAK UP WITH HERMIONE. Do you know what you've done?! I am not following the proposal you-" Draco yelled in a tone and volume Hermione had never ever heard him use with anyone. It scared her. She decided she was done with this party and she turned to leave when she heard her name.
"Hermione," Draco whispered catching sight of her. "I-you saw what happened-I-"
"I know." Hermione replied before tearing off down the spiral staircase. She saw what happened so why was she overreacting?
She had always been worried about not being like the other girls but that was also not what was bothering her. It was happening. Again. Even if it wasn't the same case, she had caught her boyfriend in the process of cheating with another woman in bed again.
The memory was still haunting her as she recalled the surprised look on Ron's face. On Draco's face, it was full of horror and sorrow.
It couldn't be happening again, it felt so familiar and it just couldn't….
She raced out of the Slytherin common room and out into the hall. She broke into a sprint as she made her way to her dorm. She grabbed some clothes and ran the long route to Gryffindor tower.
She found an empty bed in the eighth year girls' dorm and collapsed on top of it.
She shut her eyes as tears began making a path down her cheeks.
"But he pushed her off and yelled at her." Ginny said furrowing her brows at 2 in the morning as they sat in the common room. Hermione had just retold the story to her and she seemed disgusted until she heard the last part.
"But Ginny, it was so...so...deja vu. It reminded me so much of when I caught Ron in bed with that veela and it doesn't matter that this wasn't intentional, it hurts Ginny, it hurts to see it with someone I was considering marrying!" Hermione whispered crying softly. "Why does it hurt?"
Ginny studied her for the briefest of moments before wrapping her arms around Hermione. "It hurts because it was a repeat of something that broke your heart. It hurts because your heart is in between heartbreak and heart healing. It hurts because you really loved him." Ginny whispered.
Hermione cried a little more and Ginny allowed her to cry into her shoulder rubbing her back. "Are you breaking up with him?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know. I know it's not his fault but it hurts so much I don't know if I can look at him. I just need a little space." Hermione sniffed.
Ginny led her to her dorm and they got dressed before returning to their bed. Hermione curled into a ball feeling the absence of Draco's arms that had always wrapped themselves around her at night. He had always warded off her dreams and gave her that safe sanctuary. How did that disappear so quickly?
Hermione woke up at 5 again in the morning and sighed when she couldn't return to sleep. She decided to retrieve her school stuff from her dorm. He should be asleep by now. Maybe Astoria was with him she thought bitterly.
She then shook her head as she remember his quick defense.
I don't intend to ever break up with Hermione.
He had said that, it was true, but she just couldn't face him right now.
She crept through the halls pretending to be patrolling and finally reached her dorm. She snuck in and peered around. To her surprise, he was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands gazing mournfully into the dying fire.
She tried to slip into her dorm but he had seen her.
"Hermione?" he croaked. She stopped in her tracks and turned to see him.
He was looking deeply into her and she felt herself look away.
"I'm just getting some stuff….I'm staying in the Gryffindor dorm for a while." she mumbled turning to leave. She felt his warm hand grasp her arm and he turned her to face him.
"You saw what happened right? And you heard me? I-I didn't-" Draco said sounding almost like he was pleading for her to understand.
"I know. I'm not….I just need some space. It was all too familiar to me…." she whispered chancing a glance at his defeated face. "I love you." she whispered.
He looked up and raised a hand to wipe a tear away with his thumb. "I love you too." he murmured slowly resting a hand on her waist and pulled her closer, pressing his lips gently on hers.
When the tears were covering her entire face, she pushed him back gently and wiped her face with the back of her palm. She looked one last time into his desperate grey eyes before grabbing her school bag and racing back to Gryffindor Tower.
Hermione was an emotional wreck as she sat through the longest Herbology class she had ever attended. After receiving a long essay, she departed for Astronomy feeling miserable.
I just need time to sort my emotions out. I'm not breaking up with him, I love him...but I just need to get my heart back in place. She thought decidingly as she sat down and began taking notes.
In every class, Hermione's mind always drifted to Draco. And every class they had together, her eyes kept locking with his. She glared down at her DADA assignment and waited as Blaise settled himself into the chair. They had been assigned with their partners to practice the new spell.
He looked her up and down particularly studying her face. "You know it was a misunderstanding in sorts right?" he asked.
"Yes." she replied not needing to confirm what they were talking about.
"Then why the hell do the both of you look like crap?" he asked none to polite.
Hermione shrugged and began practicing wand movements.
"Why are you guys killing yourselves when there is no reason to?" he asked pursuing the subject.
"I don't know." she muttered focusing hard on her wand.
"He loves you." Blaise reminded as if she needed reminding. "And you love him. So what the bloody hell is the problem?" he demanded.
Hermione felt her anger begin to peak. "I don't know." she said again through gritted teeth.
"Just make up already! I don't see what the issue is. You two are disgustingly in love and it wasn't really cheating and there's no reason to be miserable! I don't under-" Blaise continued when there was a crack.
"It doesn't matter if there was no cheating! It's too familiar, you don't understand...he broke my heart!" Hermione screamed tears falling again. The crack had come from her as she lost control of her magic as it reached a towering height and shattered the window nearest them. Wind began blowing in as she turned and grabbed her bag.
"May I be excused?" she asked Giurbin. He nodded solemnly before fixing the window. Hermione turned on her heel, ignoring the stares, particularly the grey eyes before racing out and back to the Gryffindor common room.
It wasn't often that she lost control of her magic like that. She handled situations much more maturely than that usually, but Blaise had reminded her of all the things she knew were true but needed to put aside for her to get her emotions back in check.
She did love Draco, it wasn't cheating. Wasn't that all she needed to know?
She skipped dinner that night and Ginny came in looking sternly at her before they did their homework together. Ginny was downstairs notifying the quidditch team of their practice in three days time when she returned looking serious.
"Hermione," she said tentatively. Hermione looked up. "Er-someone wants to talk to you. Er….Draco's waiting in the common room."
Hermione felt her face drain of colour. "What does he want? If it's the plans for the graduation ball I left them in the heads common room for him." she said in an oddly strained voice.
Ginny looked incredulous. "He wants to talk to you." she said softer. Hermione looked at her hands. She sighed and stood up before walking down the stairs.
It was late and no one was in the common room except Draco who looked almost as bad as her. His hair was a mess, his robes were askew and he looked like he hadn't shaved recently.
His eyes lit up brightly when he saw her but his face remained grim.
"Hermione I know you want space but you have to understand that I never meant for any of that to happen. She just came on me. You saw that right?" he asked hopefully. She gave a small nod.
"Have you talked to her?" she asked still looking anywhere but at him.
"Yes. You heard me yell at her that we were together and that I didn't intend to break things off with you or go through with the arranged marriage. I also apologized to her. I told her that I was sorry that we were in this position as it was probably my father's fault and that we both deserve to choose the ones we want to be with forever. I told I was sorry that I could never love her the same way I loved you and that, that wouldn't change no matter how many years we were betrothed. And that it wouldn't be fair to her for me to be completely and irrevocably in love with you." he said staring intently at her that she felt her eyes draw up to meet his.
"How did she take it?" she asked now staring at the floor between them.
"She adjusted her skirt walked up to me kissed me on the cheek and smiled before walking away. I honestly can't understand how girl's minds work. Is that a 'yeah okay' or 'we'll see'?" he asked trying to make her laugh. She gave a small smile and she walked up to him slowly and kissed him on the cheek gently before smiling lightly and retreated back to her dorm.
Hermione felt hands shaking her awake and she jerked upright staring around her. It wasn't the familiar room she was used to with either green and silver bed sheets or red ones. But there was a mop of red hair belonging to Ginny who was shaking her madly.
"Hermione are you alright?" she asked sounding worried. "You were screaming."
"Yeah just a nightmare." Hermione replied hugging her knees.
"Again? You have one last night too." Ginny said recalling Hermione's screams.
"They happen every night. Ever since I started sleeping with-" she broke off feeling her stomach go cold. Draco, ever since she started sleeping with Draco.
Ginny seemed to understand and didn't push the matter. "Get some sleep. The Slytherin, Hufflepuff match is tomorrow and your coming, if not for the boyfriend you love but need space from, or the best friend who needs to take notes on how to beat that boyfriend." Ginny decided walking off to her room.
Hermione woke again to another nightmare at 9 in the morning and headed down with Ginny for breakfast. Slytherin had their match against Ravenclaw and winner played Gryffindor in the finals.
"Hufflepuff is already out on the pitch." Ginny noted scribbling that down. Hermione rolled her eyes as they ate a good breakfast before they headed out to the bleachers for the match.
She spotted Draco entering the Slytherin change rooms with Theo and Blaise and was severely tempted to walk up to him and kiss him before wishing him good luck but forced herself to follow Ginny who was commenting on the odds of the match.
"I mean Slytherin overall has the better chance because their team is much more professional. Hufflepuff's only good players is one of the beaters, two chasers. The Slytherin team has majority good players and the rest are decent since Draco picks on skill rather than size like the previous captains. Oh but would you look at that! The beater is coming off an injury!" and Ginny continued on and on about the chances of the match.
Hermione told herself that the outcome of of the match shouldn't matter, but it did. Of course she had to want Slytherin to win because of another particular Slytherin.
"And this is the Slytherin Hufflepuff match that will determine who faces off Gryffindor in the Quidditch Cup match on May 31st." Luna's voice drifted into the stands as the players began marching out.
Hermione observed that aurors were surrounding the pitch. Probably because of the last time, and how vulnerable the students were descending from the sky. She even spotted four-five of them circling in a large circle in the sky.
The red head beside her was no longer there. Instead she was racing towards the head auror who was standing under a large tree speaking into his wand when Ginny jumped onto him. Hermione smiled as her notepad and quill lay forgotten on the bench.
She turned away for she didn't want to see how the two lovers were reuniting.
"And Slytherin team chasers-Zabini, Nott and Flint. Keeper-Bletchley, beaters-Plow and Harris. Seeker-Malfoy." Luna recited before introducing the Hufflepuff team. Hermione's eyes followed as Draco led them onto the pitch looking the same way he looked last night. Mournful and sorry. She looked away as the captains shook their hands and mounted their brooms.
"Hufflepuff is off, the chasers are really working on this new tactic I see, and they're soaring to the Slytherin hoops, Matthew shoots he scores! 10-0 for Hufflepuff." Luna said to loud cheers from Hufflepuff.
Ginny had returned looking flustered. "What's Harry doing here?" Hermione asked smirking slightly.
"He's supervising the match so there isn't a repeat." Ginny said blushing as she picked up the notepad and began taking notes.
"Hufflepuff scores again making it 20-0 for them. Nott takes the quaffle as he makes his way to the other end in hopes of evening out the score. Would you look at that! Hufflepuff's beater who just came off and injury has sent a speeding bludger but it is way off target! It soars by Nott and hits Slytherin captain Malfoy on the shoulder!" Luna gasped.
Hermione stood up and tried to get a clearer view. Draco was sent flying left a few feet before he readjusted himself, cursing and cussing as he rubbed his shoulder.
Once Hermione saw that he was okay, she slowly sat down, pursing her lips as she watched the Slytherin team score making it 20-10.
She ignored Ginny's knowing look and continued to closely watch Draco as he circled the pitch.
An hour later and the score was 150-140 Hufflepuff. If Draco caught the snitch now, they would win the match. The Hufflepuff seeker was actually yelling at one of the worse chasers for flying into another player and practically handing him the snitch. Blaise had looked smug as he scored their last point.
There was a moment when game play seized. Everyone was watching as Draco soared towards the ground beneath the Gryffindor stands and Hufflepuff seeker was on his heels. Draco was speeding at a pace Hermione severely disapproved of towards the ground as he suddenly adjusted his broom his arm up in victory. The small snitch was fluttering in his hand as he smiled.
Hermione was shocked to see him smiling directly at her. She looked at him smiling slightly trying to convey her congratulations as she clapped along with the others.
She was so trained on looking at those startling grey eyes and Draco seemed to be too because minutes later, he was toppling to the ground when he forgot to keep grip on his broom during their exchanged stares.
Hermione screamed louder than the others as she directed her wand hitting him with a slowing spell. She was at the bottom of the Gryffindor stands within seconds watching as Draco floated to the ground.
She strode over to him furiously. "You idiot! You need to be more careful, speeding towards the ground like you intended to collide with it and then catching the snitch and NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU WERE DOING! You idiot! You decide to fall off your broom and give me a bloody heart attack!" Hermione screeched once he spotted her. He stood up facing her grinning lopsided.
"It's your fault for distracting me." he said looking at her intently.
"My-how...how is this my fault?! I saved your sorry arse!" Hermione snapped her hands on her hips.
"You distracted me with those big brown eyes." he retorted tapping the corner of her eye.
"Git." she spat hitting him hard in the arm. "You absolute prat. You ought to be more careful, quidditch is one of the most deadly sports I've ever seen, the way you people get all serious and rough during matches, it's just a bloody game. Draco I'm going to kill you if you're ever that careless again if quidditch doesn't kill you first." Hermione scowled before she flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. "Idiot." she murmured caressing his hair.
She heard his laughter ringing out as he lifted her off her feet in a tight hug. "Are we good?"
She nodded and kissed him hard. Her body was going crazy missing him these past few days that now, she was taking this all in. His hands were soft against her skin as they pulled apart.
"I think we have company." he grinned at the laughing, raised eyebrowed, whistling, cat calling crowd.
Hermione blushed and disentangled herself looking at the ground. But Draco pulled her by the waist close to him refusing to let go of her.
She spotted Ginny smiling at her as Harry stood beside her looking slightly startled and disgusted.
Draco's teammates were surrounding them clapping Draco on the back and celebrating their victory.
"Don't get too excited, you're going down during your next match." Ginny called followed by the rest of the Gryffindor quidditch teams agreement.
"Yeah right little Weaslette. We're way better now that Draco's captain. And we also clearly have one of your species with us." Blaise snorted.
"We're the same species Blaise." Hermione rolled her eyes. "And I'd give you their tactics the day I lose my mind." she smiled.
Ginny was beaming and Harry seemed smug too. Blaise looked betrayed and he looked at Draco. "Can't you seduce her into giving us their tactics?"
"She can't be seduced Blaise. Believe me I've tried." Draco gave a wry smiled as he pulled her closer. She smiled at Blaise's disbelief.
"Once a Gryffindor always a Gryffindor." he muttered before retreating with the team to the changerooms.
Hermione bid goodbye to Draco before following the others back to Gryffindor Tower so she could get her things again.
Since Draco fell after their little staring episode, she had finally realized that he loved her that much. She felt more reassured than ever and felt her worries evaporate. The fear she'd had for him through her love, was overpowering any insecurities she had.
Dean and Seamus walked up to her as she walked to the portrait hall. "Look Hermione, we're sorry for being such jerks. After you told Zabini that you would never betray your house, we know your loyalty is always with us. Even if you snog a snake-but that's besides the point." Seamus said quickly at her glare.
"Thanks Seamus. I understand. Sometimes the rivalries between houses are just so stupid. Not to mention that quidditch doesn't help with that either." she said her lips thinning with disapproval.
Seamus grinned. "Maybe you would prove your loyalty by giving us their tactics?"
"Nice try Finnigan." she laughed exiting the portrait.
"Can't you steal it from his bedroom or something when you're snogging?" he called after her to laughter from the common room.
She shook her head and made her way back to her common room. A sudden thought struck her.
What if things weren't the same anymore? That was undoubtedly one of the most difficult periods of her life and would things be normal between them or awkward and different?
She hoped it wasn't the latter, if things were different, one of the strongest relationships of her life was gone.
She slowed her steps and carefully approached her common room. One more night in the Gryffindor Tower perhaps? No, she needed to muster her bravery and just go. It was Draco. And she loved him.
She entered the portrait and looked around. Draco wasn't in the common room. He was likely to be celebrating their victory with the Slytherins. Was Astoria there?
She inhaled sharply and began to put her things away.
When she walked in her room, Draco was sitting on the bed reading in only boxers. His hair was in a mess as he flipped the page.
He looked up when she entered. "Hey," he smiled.
She smiled back. "Aren't you supposed to be celebrating with the Slytherin's?"
"I'd rather celebrate here. With you." she blushed and magicked comfy clothes as she climbed into bed.
"I missed you." she murmured. She was looking at the ceiling as she said this, was this awkward already? She couldn't bring herself to look at him.
"I missed you too. And you know I'm sorry for what happened. I talked and yelled at Astoria and I'm really sorry it hurt you." he whispered staring at her.
"I know it wasn't intentional. But it was just all too familiar…" she trailed off.
"I know and I'm even more sorry for that." he responded tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know what happened and I'm so sorry you had to see it again."
"I'm sorry I made you wait while I sorted things out." she whispered.
He looked down at her and she finally brought herself to look back.
"I told you, I'd wait forever for you. If I had to wait a thousand years, whenever you're ready whenever you are okay, I'm here. You're worth the wait." he murmured.
She raised a hand and caressed his face lovingly. She was wrong to ever think that this, this thing between them would ever change. "I'd always come back." she said with a dry throat. "It hurt. And I didn't know why it hurt. I suppose it hurt more than the first time because this time, I actually really love you."
"I love you too." he said pulling her close almost tentatively.
"Seamus tried to get me to snog you and steal your quidditch tactics." Hermione smiled feeling at ease already.
Draco chuckled. "I don't mind the snogging….but I don't think you would." he smirked. He tapped her nose. "All goody-two shoes."
Hermione huffed. "If I weren't here to restrain Harry and Ron, they would probably have been expelled. If I weren't here to restrain Ginny, she probably would have done something rash in her temper. If I weren't here to restrain you, the world would be demolished." she smiled.
"Ahh, so you were here to mother us all?" he asked drawing circles on her shoulder.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You are hopeless."
"Hopelessly in luuurve." he growled kissing her neck. She squealed and tilted her head back.
"I really think you practice these pickup lines." she rolled her eyes.
"I don't need pickup lines. I have you." he grinned.
"Lucky you." she smiled turning to face him.
"Yes, I'm very very lucky aren't I?" he asked wrapping his arms around her waist.
"The luckiest." she laughed kissing him firmly on the lips.
He broke apart still holding her close, almost as if he were afraid that if he did, she would disappear.
"You and I are on a date next week during Hogsmeade." he reminded her with a slight grin.
"Do I get to know what your plans are?" she asked already knowing the answer.
"Nope." he smiled kissing her nose.
"How about now?" she asked running her hands up and down his chest and kissing him softly.
"No…." he grinned pushing her so he was on top. "I'm the seductive one here."
"I think you're a really bad influence on me." she said quirking her lips.
"I think you're a really good and bad influence on me. Making me fall off my broom with those eyes…." he whispered kissing the corners of her eyes.
She smiled as she turned towards him and closed her eyes.
She could only hope that the future held no more rough breaks between them. Because if another one, a much worse one were to happen, would they survive it again?
Author's Note
Hope you enjoyed!
Reviews?
