Isn't this the best part of breakin' up,
Finding someone else you can't get enough of,
Someone who wants to be with you too.
"So it's over then?"
"Shane, I am really sorry." She sobbed, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
"No Hermione, I don't want to hear it."
"I'm sorry!"
He turned and walked away down the steps off the front porch. As he reached the bottom step he turned around and Hermione felt a sinking feeling in her stomach when she saw the tears in his eyes. He had always been so strong, he had been there and supported her when she thought there was no point in going on.
"I hope he makes you happy, whoever he is." He said quietly.
"W-what?" she spluttered. "What are you talk-" she hadn't said anything about Draco, or any other man, how could he have possibly known, could he read her that well?
But he held up his hand. "Don't Hermione, just… don't" he sighed dejectedly.
And with that he was gone. And so ends another chapter in my life. She thought miserably to herself as she collapsed into the swing chair, her body racking with sobs. For a moment she felt the beginnings of regret swirling around in her stomach but they almost immediately disappeared. She had done the right thing, it would not have been fair on Shane to have kept the charade going on any longer, and she had to admit to herself, these feelings had begun a while before Draco had made his stunning entrance into her life.
Hermione felt Ginny come and sit down beside her. "I-I'm sorry, I heard what happened. Are you okay?"
Hermione sniffed and shook her head, unable to form words in her mouth.
"It's for the best." She soothed as she ran her hand up and down Hermione's back. "Do you need anything?"
"I think I will just sit out here for a while." Hermione told her. "But thank you." She added gratefully.
"I'll just be inside if you need anything."
Hermione nodded as she hugged her knees to her chest, closely examining the boards of the porch as if they held all of life's answers.
She had been sitting there for a little over five minutes, the tears showing little sign of easing when she heard someone call her name.
"Hermione?"
She looked up and saw Draco standing at the bottom of the steps. She only looked at him, she did not speak. Her hazel eyes met his silver ones and were shocked by the amount of concern she saw in them.
He slowly walked up the steps towards her, his eyes never leaving hers until he sat down beside her on the swinging chair. "Hermione, what is wrong?" he asked gently.
She did not answer as she shut her eyes, tears escaping through her closed lids. She felt his hand take hers up with his.
"Please tell me."
"I-I…" she started to say.
"You what Hermione, please. I can't help you if you don't tell me what is wrong."
She looked up at him, and his eyes searched hers, looking for the truth.
"I broke up with Shane." She told him quickly before a fresh set of tears reached her eyes.
Draco pulled her into a hug, whispering soft words of comfort as he held her close and stroked the hair on the back of her head.
"I-I'm sorry." Hermione said embarrassedly as she pulled away from him, wiping her eyes. She focused once more on the porch.
"It's no problem. Hey," he said taking her chin in his hand, "Look at me."
But she continued to look away from him, embarrassed.
"Hermione." He pleaded as he kissed her forehead.
She sniffled a bit then turned her face up to him. Her eyes were brimming with tears and Draco's heart almost broke at the sight.
"What's going on with us Draco?" she whispered almost inaudibly.
He pulled back a bit, surprised at her question, taking time to think through his answer, not wanting to say something that would upset Hermione further.
She looked away again, knowing without being told that this was all just a bit of fun for him, it didn't mean anything.
"Hermione I-"
"No, it's alright Draco, you don't have to say anything, I completely understand. This is all just a bit of fun. It's fine, really." She told him unconvincingly.
"No, you don't-"
"Please Draco, just don't." she said as more tears started to fall from her eyes.
"Bloody hell." Draco murmured as he grabbed Hermione by the shoulders and kissed her as hard as he could.
Hermione immediately fell into Draco's embrace, but just as quickly pulled away.
"What are you doing?" she asked as though he had just betrayed her. "I don't know what has been happening the past couple of weeks; you are all I can seem to think about. And here you are, sitting on my front porch kissing me and holding me like you care."
"What if I do? Hermione do you want to be with me or not?"
"Be with you? Of course I do, I have never felt this way in my entire life! You are on my mind at all hours of the day-"
He cut her off with another kiss. "Good, because I want to be with you too."
