Disclaimer: How many times do I have to tell you that I do not own Harry Potter, eh?
A/N: Yes, I know, I'm back after a long, long, long, long time. It's just that, I got sick, I reflected my Quarterly tests scores (lol, though, they're quite high, I'm proud to say), writer's block (okay, I always have that), and many, many more. Now, who cares? At least I updated! Anyway, enjoy! A hundred kisses to those who will review this chapter!
Date With a 10-year-old
June 5, 1990
Sunlight rushed inside Hermione Granger's temporary bedroom, eager to lighten up her room. Birds chirped happily outside while flying freely and searching for their food. Trees gently danced with the light breeze, their leaves happily rustling as the trees swayed right to left, left to right. Flowers blossomed beautifully as bees perched on their nectars to get food.
Hermione slowly woke up, opening her right eye first and then her left. Slowly sitting up on her bed and rubbing her itching eye, the brunette frowned. 'Weird,' she told herself as she stood up and looked outside the window. 'I have a feeling that today's something special.'
The brunette then walked towards her temporary bathroom to freshen up. She stopped as she stared at her old calendar of the year 1990. June 5 it says. Hermione frowned. 'Something's special about this day,' she told herself. 'But what?' Her eyes then traveled to June 12, 1990, her last day. Hermione counted the days. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. She only has 8 days left to persuade Draco to tell the Ministry of Magic that his father is a Death Eater. The brunette frowned and went inside her bathroom. It seems like she needs to work double time.
After freshening up, she walked out of the bathroom until downstairs to eat her breakfast.
Once again, she was wearing the turtleneck lavender sweater that Draco gave her. She was also wearing jeans, white sneakers and her hair was tied into a hair pony. Mouthwatering food greeted her as she arrived at the kitchen. Merlin was already seated on one of the chairs, holding a newspaper. Hermione squinted her eyes and realized that Merlin was reading the Daily Prophet.
The brunette's heart soared. If that was the Daily Prophet, then there's a chance that there would be news about the Great War in Hogwarts.
"Is that the latest news, Merlin?" Hermione asked as she sat down on her chair, not taking her eyes off of the Daily Prophet.
"Yes, Miss Granger," Merlin answered, casually flipping to the next page. "Hmm… interesting."
"What date?" Hermione asked.
The old wizard looked up from his newspaper. He stared at Hermione who was looking at him hopefully. A small, apologetic smile crossed Merlin's face. "I'm sorry, Miss Granger," Merlin answered. "June 5, 1990 is the date of this newspaper."
Hermione's smile fell. "Oh," she thought, her heart dropping, too. She really hoped that she'll hear some news about her own year… the year 1997. She then looked at Merlin, a little hope now flickering inside her body. "Umm… Merlin, you can see what's happening in year 1997, right?" she asked, sounding hopeful.
Merlin nodded his head.
The smile returned Hermione's face. "Then, you could tell me what's happening in Hogwarts now!" she softly exclaimed. "You could tell me who really won in the war!"
The old wizard shook his head. "I can't, Miss Granger," he said, watching as Hermione's smile fell again. "Fate's order. She doesn't want me to tell you what's happening in year 1997 right now."
"Not fair," Hermione whispered as she held her fork to cut a small piece of her sunny side-up. "I have the right to know, you know."
Merlin made a small smile. "Of course I know, Miss Granger," he answered. "But Fate has reasons. Please understand that, Miss Granger."
Hermione sighed. "M'kay," she answered as she placed her egg inside her mouth.
Then, there was silence between the two. Merlin could feel the brunette's gloomy mood and he couldn't help but smile. If only she discovers that today's a very special day for the young man she loves. Merlin had let her finish her food first before breaking the silence. "What do you notice today?" the old wizard asked.
The brunette looked at Merlin and frowned. "Well… today's a bit weird," Hermione answered, finishing her pumpkin juice. "I have a funny feeling today's something special. Awhile ago after I woke up, my environment was extra happy today and I don't know why."
"Do you have any idea?" Merlin asked.
Hermione shook her head. "I don't have any idea," she answered.
Merlin smiled. Raising three fingers, he asked, "Any guesses? I'll give you three tries."
The brunette smiled. She remembered that they also had a little guessing game the first time she met the old wizard. "All right," she said. "But I really don't know what to guess. Could you give me a clue?"
The great wizard Merlin nodded. "Today's really special," he answered.
Hermione frowned. "That doesn't help me at all," she answered back.
Merlin smiled. "All right, all right," he answered. "Think of this very day in your past years."
The brunette's frown deepened but she fell silent, thinking very hard. 'Think Hermione. Think,' she told herself, closing her eyes to concentrate deeply. 'What happens this day… think from the very morning of June 5.' She had remembered owls flying towards their owners, bringing their daily mails and packages. And something was ringing inside Hermione's memory.
"Happy Birthday!"
She remembered that. 'Someone has a birthday… but who?' she asked herself. Hermione looked at Merlin with a questioning look on her face. "I think I'm starting to remember it, Merlin," she told the old wizard. "I remember… someone is having a birthday today. I remembered in the past… some people were greeting someone. But who is that someone?"
"You're on the right track, Miss Granger," Merlin said, smiling at her. "You are right. Someone's celebrating his or her birthday today."
"But who?" Hermione asked, scratching the back of her neck. "I really don't remember."
"Three guesses," the old wizard said, raising three fingers again.
"Is it… Ginny's birthday today?" she asked. And then, she shook her head. "No, no, no. Ginny's birthday is on August 11." Hermione then frowned. "Hmm… Harry's birthday is on July 31. Ron's birthday is on March 1. My birthday is on September 19. Snape's birthday is… why am I even bothering to think when's Snape's birthday? Your birthday is…" – Hermione frowned and looked at him – "When is your birthday anyway?" A look of realization was seen on the brunette's face. "Aha! It's your birthday today!"
Merlin shook his head. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Miss Granger. But today's not my birthday," he told her. The smile on Hermione's face disappeared. "And besides, my birthday is on February 29."
"Oh," Hermione answered. "February 29… that's a nice birthday. I always wanted to have my birthday on February 29. Lucky you." A look of concentration was seen on Hermione's face again. "Whose birthday? Whose birthday? Hmmm… think Hermione. Think."
The old wizard looked at her in amusement. 'She still hasn't discovered,' he told himself.
Hermione's eyebrow furrowed. 'Whose birthday? June 5… There really is something special today,' she told herself. And then quite suddenly, a memory rushed back into her.
"Happy Birthday, Draco!" Pansy squealed in delight as she placed a sloppy kiss on the birthday boy.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," the blond answered, wiping the pug's saliva off of his face. An owl landed in front of him. "Oh look, presents from home," he said, a little loud so that everyone could hear him. "I bet Father has an expensive gift for me. Maybe the chess set made of diamonds? I bet Weasley there couldn't afford it."
The brunette gasped. "It's Draco's birthday today!" she exclaimed, jumping up from her chair. "Oh my God, I remember now! It's Draco's birthday today! And… and he's 10 years old already." Hermione looked at Merlin with a wide smile on her face. "I'm right now, aren't I?"
Merlin smiled. "Ah, yes, quite right, Miss Granger. Quite right," he answered, twirling his wand.
Hermione's grin widened. "Oh, how will he celebrate his birthday today?" the brunette wondered aloud. "Hmm… maybe a chocolate cake. Ugh, no. Too expensive. What about a bigger version of Mr. Beady? He loves teddy bears, anyway. But I don't know where to find one! How about a Firebolt?" Hermione shook her head. "Oh no, no, no. Firebolt wasn't introduced this year! How about tons and tons of Chocolate Frogs?" Hermione shook her head again and sat down on her chair again. "No, he has tons and tons of Chocolate Frogs in his own house. I shouldn't give him more sweets. It would give him cavities. How about… oh darn! I forgot! I don't have magic! And money! What will I give him, anyway?"
The old wizard stared at the problematic brunette. He then pointed his wand on top of the table and conjured… a money purse. Hermione immediately stopped talking to herself once she spotted the money purse on the table. Her eyes widened.
"Oh no, no, no, Merlin. I won't accept that," Hermione said while shaking her head. "Seriously Merlin! You're giving me money? I won't accept that. I really won't. I…"
"The money's not mine. It's yours," Merlin said, softly chuckling to himself and cutting Hermione off of her sentence. "I took the liberty to withdraw some money in your vault in Gringotts. I converted them into Muggle money, by the way."
"Oh," Hermione said, blushing as she also chuckled. "Right."
"Now, you can do whatever you want using that money to celebrate Mr. Malfoy's birthday," the old wizard answered. He then looked at the wall clock. "Now, off you go. Mr. Malfoy's been waiting for you already."
"Okay," the brunette said. She was just about to go out of the kitchen but then stopped to look at Merlin. "Thanks a lot, Merlin," she said with a smile.
"You're welcome, Miss Granger," Merlin said and watched as Hermione walked out of the kitchen. After he heard the closing of the main door, he flicked his wand to clean the used utensils. He then stood up and disappeared.
Little Draco Malfoy scowled. He hates this days. No, correction. He LOATHES this day. It's as if he once to shout at the top of his lungs that he bloody hates this day. He hoped that June 5 never existed. He wished that he would have the ability to skip June 5 and instead make it June 6. He cursed whoever made June 5. Why is there a June 5 anyway? Draco released a puff of breath. He really hates this day.
Because today is his 10th birthday.
The blond envies Peter Pan, a boy that never grows up. He had read it once in a Muggle book. Now, that's frustrating. He wished that he was just Peter Pan who's the leader of some lost boys. He would fight Ol' Voldie wearing Captain Hook's custom together with his men who works in his precious Jolly Roger. He wished he could fly above the clouds without using any broomsticks. And most of all, he wished he has a Wendy… a Wendy that suspiciously looks exactly like a particular 17-year-old teenager.
And that 17-year-old teenager was seen walking along the path, wearing the turtleneck lavender sweater (Draco pointedly noticed) with jeans. Hermione was also wearing a big, bright smile. With this sight, Draco's scowl deepened. Why does she have to be in a good mood while he's not? Not fair.
And the reason for her good mood was immediately known to Draco.
"Happy Birthday, Draco!" she greeted enthusiastically. If it's possible, her smile grew larger.
Draco groaned. 'How does she know?' he asked himself. He hissed softly. He has a suspicion that Dobby opened his big mouth and told Hermione that it was his birthday today.
Upon seeing his rather bad mood on this very special day, Hermione's smile faltered. She stopped near the bench and sat down on it just beside the scowling blond. Mr. Beady was seated on his lap while being supported by Draco's right hand. "Umm… didn't you hear me?" she asked.
"I heard you, all right," he said, sounding very annoyed.
A confused look crossed the beautiful brunette. "Is it your birthday today?" she asked, having a feeling that what Merlin had told her was a mistake.
"It is," he said. "My 10th birthday. And I hate it."
Hermione frowned. "It's a special day today, Draco. It's your birthday. Today's the day you were born here in this world. Aren't you happy?" she asked. "And for heaven's sake, put that scowl away, will you? It doesn't suit you at all."
Draco didn't obey the older girl. "I hate this day," he said again, his frown not leaving his pale, handsome face. He then looked at Hermione. "Hermione, why can't I be Peter Pan?" he asked.
The brunette looked confused again. "Peter Pan? The boy who doesn't grow up?" she asked. Draco then nodded. "Why do you want to be Peter Pan?" she asked.
"Because he doesn't grow up," the blond reasoned. "I hate growing up, Hermione. I don't want to be an adult."
"And why don't you want to be an adult?" Hermione asked, raising one eyebrow.
"I don't like what my parents are doing," he answered. "I don't like what the adult visiting balls in the Malfoy Manor do. I don't like the topic of their conversations. Boring, I tell you. I don't like the way they have to think about a lot of stupid things. And most of all, I don't like to have a wrinkly skin and super duper white hair. I think they won't suit me at all."
Hermione looked at him in amusement. 'Amazing,' she thought. 'He's showing his narcissistic side.' "Growing up is part of life, Draco. Everyone undergoes that stage. Including you. There's no exception. As for Peter Pan, he's fictional. And besides, aren't you excited to encounter more exciting things in life. You'll experience those once you grow up. You can't be forever young, Draco."
"But I want to be Peter Pan!" he whined. Hermione rolled her eyes. 'Uh-oh, here comes his stubbornness,' she thought. "I want to fly without using any brooms, Hermione! I want to have a secret island called Neverland. I want to… to be the leader of some boys. Now, that's exciting. I want to fight Captain Hook in his precious Jolly Roger. I want to… I want to meet Wendy ('Who looks exactly like you.')."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I told you, Draco. Peter Pan is not true. You can't fly without a broom. There are no lost boys. There's no Neverland. There's no Captain Hook. There's no Jolly Roger. There's no Wendy (Draco noticeably frowned when Hermione said this). Peter Pan and his gang are fictional. Okay? So, if you like it or not, you'll grow up," the brunette exclaimed.
Draco just continued to frown and hugged Mr. Beady to himself tighter.
The brunette sighed. "Anyway, don't you have any party in your Manor, Draco? It's the Malfoy heir's 10th birthday. Don't you have any planned balls?" she asked.
The blond shook his head. "Malfoys have balls when they're 13-years-old already," he answered the brunette.
Hermione then frowned. "Then, don't you celebrate your birthdays even if you're still not 13-years-old?" she asked.
Draco shook his head. "Nope," he simply answered.
A shocked look crossed Hermione's face. "You don't celebrate your birthday?" she asked.
The blond merely shook his head.
"Where are your parents?" she demanded.
Draco shrugged. "Having their umpteenth honeymoon somewhere in Africa," he said.
Hermione sighed and frowned. "You really don't celebrate your birthday?" she asked.
"I told you - ."
"Did your parents greet you already?" she asked, not letting him finish his sentence.
Draco frowned. "Are they supposed to?"
The brunette gasped and shook her head. "Let me guess, I'm the first one who greeted you 'Happy Birthday'," she said.
To her surprise, Draco shook his head. "It was Dobby," he explained.
"Okay, let me rephrase that," Hermione said. "I'm the first human who greeted you 'Happy Birthday'."
Draco nodded.
Hermione puffed a frustrated breath. "Okay," she said.
The blond looked at her with a curious look on his face. "Is there something wrong?" he asked.
'Of course there's something wrong!' she exclaimed in her minds. Hermione was about to answer the 10-year-old blond when she felt the weight in her right pocket. She inserted her right hand inside it and grasped her purse that was given by Merlin. An idea suddenly crossed her mind while a wide smile graced her lips.
Draco raised one, blond eyebrow at Hermione's sudden change of expression.
"Do you want to celebrate your birthday today?" she asked, excitement evident in her feminine voice.
The blond frowned. "I… don't know," he said slowly, watching Hermione carefully.
"Oh come on!" she exclaimed. "It's my treat!"
Draco sighed. "Do I have a choice?" he asked.
Hermione softly squealed in excitement and pulled Draco up. "Come on, then!"
The blond groaned. 'What now?' he asked himself and allowed Hermione to drag him in Merlin-knows-where.
Draco stared at the building in front of him, wide-eyed. Hermione was standing beside him, a wide grin plastered on her face. The blond frowned and stared at the illuminated letter 'M' on top of the building. 'What is this place?' he asked himself. Hermione had dragged him here… here in this weird place where people were wearing weird clothes holding weird things… Draco's eyes widened as he stared at Hermione again. "Are we in the Muggle world?" he asked her, starting to get a bit panicky.
Hermione's smile faltered. "Yes, we are," the brunette answered.
A look of horror crossed his face. "Oh no! I have to get out of here!" Draco exclaimed, making a move to run away from this… this weird place! "I can't be here! Father will get angry with me!"
The brunette sighed and calmly held the frantic boy's right arm. "Calm down, Draco," Hermione said. "You told me your parents are having their umpteenth honeymoon somewhere in the hot deserts in Africa. There's no way they would know that you're in a Muggle place. Unless… you have some tracking device attached to you."
The blond sighed. This teenager is absolutely, undoubtedly stubborn. "All right, fine," he said, pouting. "What do you call this place, anyway?"
"This," Hermione said, the wide grin back on her face, "is what you call ingenuity."
Draco raised one, lone eyebrow. "What?"
Hermione sighed and released a low chuckle. "McDonalds," she said.
"Huh?"
The brunette rolled her eyes. "You never heard of McDonalds before?" she asked.
Draco shook his head.
"Oh, poor, poor you!" Hermione exclaimed as she went inside the fast food restaurant with a confused boy trailing behind her. A security guard opened the doors for them. "Thank you," Hermione said, smiling at the person. The brunette then looked around for a vacant table. Upon spotting one, she immediately approached it and sat on one chair. Draco followed suit.
"What now?" Draco asked, looking around. He frowned as he saw kids happily playing around. Some where sliding down some slides, some were running around.
"Want a hamburger?" Hermione asked.
"A what?" the blond asked, scratching the back of his neck. Hermione had found it quite adorable.
"A hamburger," the brunette said again. "Want one?"
"Yeah, whatever," the blond answered.
"Oh come on, Draco!" Hermione exclaimed. "Cheer-up! It's your birthday today! You should be in a good mood!"
The blond just rolled his eyes.
Hermione sighed and stood up. "All right, wait for me here. I'll order our food." With that, Hermione then waited in line. Draco grew more and more impatient as he waited for the brunette to buy their food. Finally, she arrived, carrying a tray. She placed it on the table. She gave Draco his 'hamburger' which he accepted. Hermione also gave him a softdrink. Draco noticed that the brunette ordered a hamburger, too.
The blond stared at the hamburger on his hands. Carefully, he removed the wrapper. He stared at his food. No… he stared at the thing. It doesn't look like food to him. He frowned. It's shiny, which means it's oily. 'Bleh,' he thought, his face contorting into disgust. He opened the bun and greasy meat, cheese, mayonnaise, and a lot of other colorful things greeted him. He stared at the greasy meat. It reminded him of his Uncle Severus' hair. Draco shivered in disgust. There's no way he'll eat something closely resembling his Uncle's disgusting hair. He then raised the 'thing' towards his nose and sniffed it. 'Hmm… not bad,' he thought. Draco then looked at Hermione. She was closely observing him for his reaction. The blond shrugged then took a tiny bit. And then, he slowly chewed until, he stopped.
The brunette still looked at him. "Well?" she asked. "How was it? Is it delicious? What?"
Slowly, very slowly, a grin formed on Draco's face. He then swallowed the tiny piece of hamburger. "Yummy!" he exclaimed, taking another bite. "You're right, Hermione! This McDonalds is what you call ingenuity. Their hamburger is… is indescribable! I don't know how to explain how good it is into words."
Hermione laughed at the birthday boy's amusement with the hamburger. She also took a bite on her hamburger. "I bet you never tasted anything like that before," she said, a large grin plastered on her face.
Draco nodded. "Yeah," he answered.
They ate their food in comfortable silence. Some minutes, they talk about any things. Just anything. Once they finished eating, Hermione stood up. Draco was about to follow but the brunette stopped. "No, stay there, Draco," she instructed. "I would be going outside."
"Why?" he asked.
Hermione smiled. "Secret," she said. Draco rolled his eyes. He has a great feeling that what she was going to do outside concerns him.
The blond sighed. "Fine," he said.
The brunette then looked at him seriously. "Now, Draco," she said, eerily sounding like a mother. "Don't go anywhere else, okay? If you need something… umm… just wait for me. I will come back as soon as possible. Is that clear?"
"Yeah, yeah," the blond said, playing with the wrapper of his hamburger.
"Good," Hermione said. She then walked out of the fast food restaurant.
As soon as Hermione was out of McDonalds, she looked around, hoping to find a pastry shop. Yes, Hermione was going to buy the birthday boy a cake. Upon spotting one, Hermione immediately rushed inside the pastry shop. The small bell above the door tingled as she opened it. Some workers there looked up and smiled at her for greeting. Hermione, in the other hand, smiled back.
The brunette then looked at the mouthwatering cakes. There were different kinds of cake, different flavors. Hermione particularly chose one (the chocolate cake with caramel inside) but was shocked to find out it was too expensive. Hermione rummaged inside her pocket and pulled out her purse. She frowned. She doesn't have enough money anymore. She looked at the other possible cakes, but like the first one, it was too expensive. Hermione sighed. She guessed she couldn't buy him a cake anymore.
Hermione was just about to step out of the store when she spotted some cupcakes that they are selling. The brunette scratched the back of her neck. 'Hmm… maybe that'll do,' she told herself as she approached the cupcakes. Hermione chose one chocolate cupcake and bought it.
Thanking the worker, Hermione walked out of the pastry shop towards McDonalds again.
Once Hermione was inside the fast food restaurant, the first thing she did was look at the table where she left Draco. But there was something wrong. He was not there! A horrified look crossed on Hermione's face as she looked wildly around. The cupcake on her hands was in danger of being crushed into pieces.
'Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!' Hermione thought frantically, still wildly looking for the shocking, blond hair of the birthday boy. 'Okay, relax, Hermione. He would be all right. He would be all right,' she repeated again and again. Hermione was about to go ask the security guard if he had seen a little boy, about the age of 10 ("And actually, it's his birthday today," she planned to add), with blond hair which was almost white but then, her gaze landed on the mini playground in McDonalds. Hermione released a huge, huge sigh of relief as she saw him sliding down the mini slide. "Draco Malfoy!" she exclaimed as the blond planned to climb up again.
The blond immediately looked at the owner of the voice and his smile became larger (if possible) at the sight of her. "Hermione!" he said happily and ran towards the waiting brunette. Hermione noticed some parents admiring Draco. 'Maybe wishing that he could be their child. Ha! If only they know him,' the brunette thought. "You're back!"
"What did I tell you awhile ago, young man?" Hermione scolded, frowning at the blond. "Didn't I tell you to be a good boy and wait for me in our table?"
Draco adorably pouted. "I'm sorry, Hermione," he said, sounding really sincere. Hermione raised an eyebrow in amusement. "It's just that… well… I saw some children playing there and I wanted to play, too, so I played. You get me?" he asked, now smiling widely.
Hermione sighed and couldn't help but return his smile. "All right, all right, I forgive you but don't do that again, okay?" she said. "Don't make me worry for you again."
The blond eagerly nodded. "Okay," he said. Both then sat down on their place again. "Where'd you go, Hermione?" he asked.
The brunette smiled and showed him the chocolate cupcake she bought. "I'm sorry. I was supposed to buy you a cake but the cakes they're selling were too expensive." Hermione frowned a little, but then, it transformed into a smile again. "Oh well, at least I bought you a cupcake."
And there was silence except the noises of the other customers.
Hermione frowned. "Draco?" she asked, looking at the expressionless face of the blond. "Don't you like it?" The brunette was startled when he snatched it quickly.
"No, no, no, I like it. I like chocolate cupcakes," Draco said softly. He was avoiding Hermione's gaze. "I just… I had never eaten cake in my whole life. My parents weren't bothered in making or buying cakes for their birthdays or my birthdays."
The brunette smiled and pinched Draco's cheek. "Oh, you're so cute," she said, making the little blond blush. "I'm really sorry for not buying you a cake."
"Maybe, you can buy me some on my next birthday," he suggested, now smiling endearingly.
That wiped away Hermione's smile because on his next birthday, she'll be gone. 'Only 8 days, Hermione,' the brunette reminded herself. She cleared her throat and forced a smile. "Oh, right, maybe."
Draco smiled. He was about to take a bite from his cupcake but stopped. Raising an eyebrow, Hermione watched as the blond broke the cupcake into two. The other half was his and the other half, he gave it to the brunette. "I can share," he said.
Hermione smiled and took the other half of 'Draco's shrunken cake'. The brunette took a bite. "Hmm… that tastes nice," she said after swallowing.
Draco took a bite and then nodded. "Yeah," he answered back.
"Say… do you want to go to a bigger playground?" Hermione suggested.
Draco Malfoy never smiled so wide before.
"Careful there, Draco!" Hermione warned the blond who just climbed on the slide and slid down on it for the umpteenth time.
"Aw, you're no fun, Hermione!" the blond shouted back as he climbed on the slide again and slid down again.
The brunette sighed and just smiled. She was back in a playground. The last time she remembered going here was when she was 10-years-old, just like the little blond right now.
She was sitting on the swing, her favorite part in the playground. She likes to swing back and forth, back and forth. She loves the feeling of the wind against her face. The brunette closed her eyes and sighed again. Truly, she feels like a child again.
Across the playground, she could hear Draco's laughter. Something warm was forming in her heart. Again, she had heard him laugh. She remembered his laugh on the day he agreed to be a friend to her. His laugh was so, so sweet. She was forgetting again that this boy became a bully once he started to study in Hogwarts.
Hermione immediately cracked her eyes open once she heard the neighboring swing creaking. Sitting on one of the swings was Draco Malfoy. He was still softly laughing as he swung back and forth, back and forth.
"It's so nice to be here, Hermione," the blond said. "I want to stay here forever!"
The brunette chuckled. "You don't want to go home anymore?" she asked.
Draco's smile faltered. "Umm…" he said, not really sure what to answer.
Hermione became alarmed. "Err… don't answer that. Never mind," she said hastily. The blond nodded his head and swung back and forth again.
There was silence between them as they continued to enjoy riding the swings. Draco gave the brunette a side-glance and admired how her hair billowed behind her, how her smile widens when she meets the wind, how her cheeks turn into a shade of pink because of happiness. The blond immediately averted his gaze away from the teenager, blushing a little.
The brunette then fingered the ring worn on her hand and an idea struck her. She abruptly stopped swinging and looked at Draco. "Hey, birthday boy," the brunette said, now holding her ring. "I'm going to give you something."
Draco immediately stopped, too, and looked at Hermione. "What is it?" he asked.
"Well…" the brunette removed her ring. A horrified look crossed on Draco's face.
"You're engaged?!" he exclaimed, jumping into conclusions. Well, he wouldn't be blamed. A girl plus a ring equals engagement or marriage. Draco chose engagement since he didn't want to believe that Hermione, his Hermione, is married with some other guy already.
Hermione, in the other hand, was looking at Draco with wide-eyes. "Of course not, silly," the brunette said, chuckling slightly. She pointedly noticed the huge sigh of relief that the birthday boy released. "This ring was given to me by my mother. It's very important to me." She then handed it to Draco who accepted it.
Curious, the blond frowned. "What will I do to this?" he asked.
"It's my birthday present," Hermione simply said.
Draco looked at the design of the ring Hermione gave him. It was designed with rubies and diamonds organized in a beautiful shape of flower. In short, it was really designed for girls. The blond scowled. He then gave it to Hermione who was looking at him curiously. "I don't want it. It's too sissy for me."
Hermione huffed. "Fine, then don't want it," the brunette said. "Remember, it's important to me, Draco. I gave it to you. It means something."
Yes, it definitely meant something for the blond because he snatched it away from the brunette again. He was still scowling, though. "Fine, fine, I like it," the blond said (who knew that he was slightly lying). "But…" he examined the ring again. "It's really too sissy for me, Hermione. Too sissy."
The brunette sighed. An idea then struck her again. "All right, just promise me that you'll give that ring to the girl you will love for the rest of your life," Hermione told the blond.
Draco made a face. "That wouldn't happen. Malfoys don't love."
Hermione snorted. She honestly thought that it was loads of rubbish. "Just promise me, Draco."
He rolled his eyes. "All right, fine, I promise."
The brunette grinned widely. "Now keep that ring and don't you dare lose it," she said. "I'll hate you forever if you did."
"Yeah, yeah," Draco said as he unclasped the necklace he was wearing (Hermione noticed that he was wearing a pendant with the Malfoy crest) and inserted the ring inside it. "I won't lose it."
Hermione smiled again. "Then, that's settled."
Draco and Hermione were now strolling back towards their meeting bench. It was almost dinnertime now so they both decided to return back.
"It's fun today, Hermione. It really was," the blond honestly said. "Though, my parents would get furious if they discovered that I went to Muggle places on my birthday. But still, I greatly enjoyed it."
Hermione chuckled. "I'm glad you did, Draco," the brunette said. "That's what you are supposed to be feeling on your birthday. Enjoyment. Now, I'm glad you felt that."
The blond grinned. He then looked at his magical watch and sighed. "Well, I guess I got to go home now. My parents would be arriving in the Manor any minute already," he said.
The brunette nodded her head. "Well, I go to go now, too. I'm still making my dinner," she said, though, she knew that Merlin already made one for her. Hermione grinned. She made a mental note to thank the old wizard once she's in her temporary home already.
"Well, then, goodbye Hermione," the blond said. "I'll see you tomorrow… ugh, I remembered I can't. My parents and I will have a dinner somewhere…"
"It's all right," Hermione answered. "Then I'll see you on June 7, then."
"Yeah," Draco said. He then smiled. "Goodbye again."
And then, Hermione did something really unexpected. When she did this, Draco's eyes widened. When she did this, pink patches formed on both of his cheeks. When she did this, Draco saw fireworks. When she did this, somewhere in the forest, a wolf howled. When she did this, Draco's heart started to beat faster. When she did this, it absolutely, definitely, certainly completed his day… his 10th birthday.
Hermione kissed his right cheek.
"Happy birthday again, Draco," the brunette said while grinning. She then turned around and walked back to her temporary home.
The blond still stood rooted on the spot, staring at Hermione's retreating back. He touched the place where Hermione had kissed him and blushed deeper. Somehow, he managed to think that he didn't mind if he's not Peter Pan anymore. He didn't mind anymore if he grows up. He didn't mind anymore if he couldn't fly without any broomstick. He didn't mind anymore if he couldn't fight Captain Hook and his troop in their precious Jolly Roger. And his reason?
He already has a Wendy.
Chuckling to himself (still blushing), Draco walked back home. Truly, his day was complete.
Up in the sky, Merlin chuckled to himself in astonishment and disbelief. Of course he witnessed everything. "This is getting more interesting," he told himself aloud. Merlin then sighed. He apparated to go back to Hermione's temporary home.
A/N: And that's the end of Chapter 9, my dear readers. I made it quite long for all of you! Anyway, I really thank all of my dear readers of being so patient and still supporting this story. Thank you so much! Okay, I'll only remind all of you that Hermione only have 8 days to go. Though, my next chapter would already be on June 7, 1990. I'm skipping days, okay? Since this is Chapter 9 already, there would only be 6-7 chapters to go. I estimated this story to have a total of 15-16 chapters. That's all :D
With love xoxoxoxo,
2booklover4
PS:
Okay, my next update will be for PiD! That's all. 2booklover4 xoxoxoxo