CHAPTER 10

I miss you when I can't sleep

Or right after coffee Or right when I can't eat

I miss you in my front seat

Still got sand in my sweaters

From nights we don't remember

Do you miss me like I miss you?

Fucked around and got attached to you

Friends can break your heart too,

and I'm always tired but never of you

Gnash ft Olivia O'Brien - I hate u I love u

He tried he really did. He sent letters to her, went to her workplace to find her and even tried apparating to her house. But she didn't reply to his mails, instructed her assistant that he was not to be welcomed, and she even changed her wards so he couldn't enter. Hermione was going out of her way to block all contact from Draco and it was driving him crazy. He tried contacting Ginny, and the redhead was of no help at all, all she said was give her more time, she'll come around. But she was pleased, Draco had realised his feelings for Hermione. The reason why she didn't help him was because Hermione needed to get out of her complicated over-thinking head before the two of them can talk again. If they were to talk now it was bound to end up in a fight. So she decided to recruit the help of one Narcissa Malfoy.

She had floocalled the Matriarch and explained the situation to her, Narcissa was surprised to receive a call from the young wealsey and was almost hesitant to answer until she heard the call was for Hermione and her son. After the call ended she immediately stepped into her fireplace and flooed to Draco's office.

Hermione was tired, the day after her confession she had cried her eyes out to Ginny and spent the rest of the afternoon moping around the house. She had taken off from work and even though all she could think of was Draco she knew that he just didn't feel the same way. Her heart was broken and it's just doing her no good to keep thinking about him.

Ginny had given her her opinion about the matter, she believes that Draco does have feelings for her, he just didn't know it yet. As much as Hermione wanted to believe that she just couldn't, her walls were up. She had fallen so deep, she needs time to be back on her feet again so she decided to block off any contact from Draco for awhile. But Ginny had thrown in subtle hints about Draco, hoping that overtime Hermione would realise for herself that he did have feelings for her.

And he didn't disappoint, he did try to contact her, he sent mails and even show up at her office. Deep inside she was dying to see him but she knew that the moment she's in close proximity with him she would fall apart again. She didn't even know that Draco and Cassie were no longer together. And it was because of her.

So weeks passed by, then suddely the mails stopped coming. Draco had suddenly gone quiet, he no longer showed up at her office wanting to see her. The contact had stopped. Her heart ached at the thought of that, thinking that he had probably gotten together with Cassie and was living a happy life with her, forgetting all about her. She let out a sigh and grabbed her coat, maybe a lunch out would do her some good.

As she left her office she wrapped her coat tightly around her, missing the times when Draco would cover her with his coat, his intoxicating scent and that endearing smirk.

She didn't notice that a certain blonde was trailing right behind her.

Entering the cafe that they used to have lunch at she made her way to a table next to a window, she gave her order to the waiter and stared outside, lost in her thoughts again.

Draco entered the same cafe and sat at a table nearby, watching Hermione. He thought back to the conversation that he had with his mother a few days ago.

"Mother, what are you doing here? You never visit me at the office. Is there an emergency at home?" Draco was surprised to see his mother stepping out of the fireplace.

Narcissa Malfoy dusted the dust off her dress and sat at the chair opposite her son. "We need to talk about Hermione, Draco. I can see it from your face, you do love her. And you miss her don't you?"

"What? How did you - " He sighed. "Did you find out from Ginny?"

"It doesn't matter dear, what's more important is what are you going to do now? The poor girl's probably crying her eyes out because of you. How could you have not seen her Draco. You don't even like Miss Winsland." She frowned at Draco, he was exactly like his father, always a little slow when it comes to matters of the heart.

"I thought I did Mother. I thought that Cassie was someone that Father would have approved, he would be happy for me to end up with someone like her. I didn't want an arranged marriage but I didn't want to make him disappointed too. That's why I chose Cassie. She was perfect."

"She is if you liked her. Family status doesn't matter anymore to us Draco. The War has gave us clarity, blood purity is nothing but old rubbish. We want you to be happy with whoever that you've given your heart to my son. Your Father believes in that too, albeit a little too late but he did he really did. Isolation at Azkaban had brought him to his senses, his thoughts before he died, the words that he penned down to us said so. Didn't you read his letter?" Narcissa laid a comforting hand on Draco's arm, he was burying his face in his hands again.

He looked up at her, his eyes fighting back tears as thoughts of his father clouded his mind again. "No, I havent. I can't do it alone. I kept it somewhere safe, I'll read it.. just not now."

"Read it Draco, read it with Hermione. If I know Lucius which I do, his words will give you strength to move on from his death, he had instructed me to make sure you get the love and happiness that you deserve my darling." Narcissa moved over to Draco's side and gave her son a hug.

"Hermione.. She doesn't want to have anything to do with me anymore Mother. I've tried contacting her but she blocks me out. I can't sleep, I'm angry at myself for hurting her because I was so blind. So blind to not have seen her Mother, she was just there right infront of me. I know that I felt something when I'm with her but I chose to focus on Cassie instead. I was stupid Mother, so stupid. I hurt her in the end."

"It's never too late Draco, clear your mind and find her again. Talk to her, let her know how you feel. She's good for you, she can make you happy." Narcissa said softly over Draco's head. She was worried that Hermione might have moved on from Draco, it's been weeks since the confession. She looked down at Draco and kissed her son's head. "Go find her, and tell her you love her. Don't let her slip away."

Draco watched Hermione as she stared out of the window. He was deciding if he should approach her when he saw her wipe away a tear from the corner of her eyes. His heart ached. Don't cry for me Hermione, no more tears.

He walked over slowly to her table.

"Hi Hermione." Draco sat down opposite her.

She jumped when she saw him and quickly wiped her tears away, pretending to cough and sniff a little.

Draco frowned, he decided to play along. "Are you sick?"

No I was crying over you, you idiot. "What are you doing here Draco." Her face hardened. It's been weeks, she was strong enough to face him, at least that's what she thought.

"Cassie and I are not together anymore Hermione. I mean we weren't together in the first place but yea we're not seeing each other anymore." Draco let those words out slowly, he wanted to gauge her reaction before he continued to tell her why. He didn't expect her to become angry.

"IT'S BEEN WEEKS SINCE I'VE CONFESSED TO YOU AND THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO SAY TO ME IS ABOUT CASSIE? YOU INSENSITIVE GIT! I'M LEAVING." How dare he!

Hermione grabbed her bag and threw a few coins on the table. She was stomping out of the cafe when Draco grabbed her by the wrist.

"Wait Hermione, let me explain."

"No! I don't want to talk to you. Ever. Just leave me alone!" She broke out of his grip and started walking again, cursing under her breath.

"Would you just let me talk Hermione - " He grabbed onto her hand again.

"Let me go right now Draco Malfoy or I'll hex you. You know I would." Hermione had her wand out now, she was upset and when's she upset her threats about hexing somebody should really be taken seriously.

And that's what she did. She stupified him because he wouldn't let go. Draco laid motionless on the ground, eyes still staring at Hermione.

"Oh gods, why did you let me hex you Draco you idiot!" Hermione was deciding whether to leave or release him from the hex when Draco moved from his position and grab onto her, apparating her away. She didn't know that Draco had deflected her hex with wandless magic, he just wanted an opportunity to talk to her.

When she recovered from her shock she realised she was in Draco's room. He was holding her in his arms, staring at her face. She's so beautiful.

"Hear what I have to say Hermione. Please stay." He closed his eyes as he leaned in and kissed her. I miss you so much.

Hermione let her walls drop, it's that word again.

Stay.

AN:

ReadAloudToMe: there you go! a little hermione's pov of things after the confession!

shaymars: Lucius didn't exactly state a future with Hermione but something along that line I suppose! Wait for 11! :)

Thank you everyone for reading! Happy Halloween!