" I hope we can do this again..."
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And his mind went blank and all he wanted to do was move closer and closer to her lips, hear her say his name….
And her mind went blank and all she wanted to do was move closer and closer to his lips, hear him say her name…
The doorbell rang.
Draco closed his eyes. Perfect timing. He quickly got up without looking at her. He had to get some control. " How could I let myself get carried away?" he scolded himself as he headed for the door.
Hermione closed her eyes and buried her face in one hand. " How could I have been so stupid! " she screamed to herself. " What the hell was I thinking! "
A small-looking teenager smiled as Draco opened the door. " Fat Ching's China-in-a-box! " he said in a very animated voice. " We deliver in under thirty minutes! "
Draco smiled pleasantly; not knowing whether he should sent the boy away without a tip for the perfect timing or knock the daylights out of him and take the food without paying.
" Thanks, " Draco said paying the exact amount.
" Enjoy the new taste of China-in-a-box, sir! "
Draco closed the door and breathed in, suppressing the humiliation of not being able to kiss her and because he had thought of kissing her.
Hermione was in the dining room, holding two glasses as Draco came in.
" He was a relatively pleasant boy, " Draco said with a small grin. He placed the red boxes on the table.
Hermione smiled, still feeling the fringes of embarrassment at her heels. She pretended she was alright and that it didn't happen, although it was a little difficult. Damn it. It was very difficult.
They sat down together and Draco passed her a box that contained steamed rice. Their meal consisted of small talk and long silences and glances.
" So… how's the food? " Draco asked lamely. Damn it. Elegiac. So…Shakespeare!
She smiled and nibbled on her chopsticks. " Good, it's okay. " Ugh. What the hell did I say!
Silence.
" What was your job again, Granger? " he asked suddenly.
" Auror and…fashion columnist - "
He laughed. " You? So that's why…"
She raised an eyebrow. " What? "
" The way you dress, your style. " He smiled. You're hotter than ever- stop it, Malfoy, he told himself.
" Which magazine? " he asked.
" British Vogue. "
He grinned. " Mother loves that, although she hated the idea at first that none of the pictures moved. " He laughed and so did she.
Then silence again.
" I should never have, " he thought. " I shouldn't have! I initiated that kiss! How could I have been so stupid! So careless! So…not me! " He was picking his food with chopsticks but not eating at all.
Hermione didn't notice. She was too occupied in her own thoughts. " Why did I! I was so careless! It's not right! It wasn't…and yet! " She was nibbling on her chopsticks without it having any morsel to bite on.
" Is it me or is it too quiet in here? " Draco's voice said.
Hermione looked up. " Huh? Oh, look at the time! " It was nearly seven in the evening. " I can't believe I spent the whole Saturday-wasting your time! " she blurted out.
Draco looked taken aback. " No, you didn't… "
Hermione stood up.
Draco stood up as well. " I'll take you home, " he quickly offered.
" No, just sit there and finish your meal, I'll take a cab. "
" I'm full, " he protested.
She looked at his box. It was half full. " You haven't even eaten half of your chopsuey yet. "
" Neither did you. " He smiled. " I'm full. "
She nodded and he got his car keys. Later on as he drove, he turned on some music. A popular alternative song was playing.
" Hey, I like this band, what's their name? " Draco asked with a grin. He looked sideways. Hermione was quiet. She was looking at the scenery that blurred past her. Draco slowed down. Hermione looked at him.
" Why'd you slow down? " she asked.
" So you could appreciate what's passing by your eyes, " he replied, not looking at her.
---
It had been a cold night and she and Harry were getting home from a late snack.
Harry slowed down. Hermione looked at him.
" Why'd you slow down? " she asked.
" So that you'll see what you're passing by, " he replied with a smile.
---
Harry's voice in her head again…but she smiled. " Thanks. "
" Granger, I'm sorry…about the- that thing that happened. I didn't mean to- " he began.
She stared at the windshield. " I- I'm sorry too. It was stupid of me. "
" No, I was stupid. I started it. "
" Whatever, " she finally said.
He laughed. " So…it's been some day…" he began again. Lamely. And he wanted to kick himself if he could.
" I didn't even get to take a bath…" she said.
He laughed. " Please, don't remind me. I feel so unhygienic right now."
They finally arrived in front of the flats.
" Your stop, " Draco said.
---
" Your stop, Mione- " Harry said resting his hands on the steering wheel.
---
Hermione shook her head and smiled. " Thanks. "
" Her- Granger, I had fun today…really, " he said not looking at her.
Hermione stared at him as he fiddled with his keys.
" Yeah, I did too, " she said.
" I hope we can do this again…" his voice trailed off. " What the heck. " He laughed and so did she.
" Sure, " she finally said.
" I'll… see you around, " he said as he turned on his engine.
Draco started backing up on the driveway when Hermione ran up to him. She had to say it. For some reason, she had to.
" What? " he asked, a little bewildered at her sudden action.
" Take care; Malfoy, " she finally said, quietly.
He smiled and nodded. " I will. "
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It had become a routine for them, seeing each other on weekends. It had been going on steadily for a month now. They were careful around each other. Yet they had fun. Today, they were walking around London's fashion district. She was sipping some mocha and caramel frappe, and he, an espresso.
" I knew it! " she said. " So it was you who placed egg yolks on Ron's jacket!
He laughed. " Guilty. "
" Why'd you do it? "
" I just wanted to annoy him, again," he replied. " Besides, he gave me a nasty bruise while we played a game, that redhead- "
One corner of her mouth twitched. He laughed.
" And they thought Peeves had done it! " she said.
She stopped infront of a bookstore. " Can I-? " she asked.
He shrugged. " Bookworm. "
She made a face and he laughed, but still he followed her.
" Hermione? " a voice said.
She spun around to see…
" Ron! " she breathed.
" What are you doing here? "
" Charlie asked me to get a muggle book on- " His eyes hardened upon seeing who was behind her. " Is he bothering you? " he asked eyeing Draco.
Hermione looked at Draco. His eyes showed a sudden glare of malice. " Hello, Weasley. "
Ron's jaw tightened.
" No, " Hermione said placating his growing annoyance. " He's with me. "
Ron's face fell. " Right…" he began. He took Hermione's arm. " Excuse us, Malfoy. "
Ron steered her to a corner. " What the hell! "
" Ron, he's not as bad as you-"
" Still! Mione, he's a Malfoy! He almost got us killed back then while he cavorted with he-who-must- Voldemort! " Ron hissed.
" He helped me, my car broke down, that's it. Now I'm trying to gain a friend- "
" Or a new lover? " Ron said coolly.
She frowned. " I don't believe you! You know I'd- "
" Harry over him? I'd have his corpse any day! " he said spitefully.
Hermione's hands trembled. She so desperately wanted to slap him. " Ronald Weasley! For once in your life, be mature about things like these! That was five- six years ago-! " Her voice cracked. " And don't remind me about- "
" Harry! Bloody hell I wont'! "
She looked away and he saw a tear escape from the corner of her eye.
Ron's shoulders slumped. " I- "
He saw Draco come their way.
" Is everything alright?" he asked.
Ron looked at him. " Yes, thanks to you. "
Hermione brushed against Ron roughly and left the shop in a hurry.
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TBC…
Disclaimer: Vogue, one again, isn't mine!
oh yeah, great news for all of you faithful readers! The next chapter will be the turning point of the story! You won't regret! So...reviews away! Erm...expect the unexpected too! I hope i get about 90 reviews before i upload the next chap? hehehe
p.s: just in case you're an anonymous reviewer, please don't hesitate to leave your email add? i like personally thanking my reviewers and i can't thank you and stuff if you don't leave an email add.