Cry Me a River (7/?)

By: granger2malfoy

Disclaimer: Not Mine.

A/N: My muses are slowly coming back to me and this has a few more chapters. Song- When You're Gone by Avril Lavigne

Part 7 – When You're Gone

*I've never felt this way before
Everything that I do
Reminds me of you*

Draco's could smell the vanilla that Hermione always wore and caused him to cuddle deeper… into her pillow. He opened his eyes to find she had left him yet again. With a loud sigh, he turn to lay on his back as he looked up yet looking at nothing at all. A smile crept on his lips like a cat that had gotten the bird and quite content. Never had he imagine that she would come to him asking for him to take control of her. He had thought those times were behind him, but if she truly enjoyed herself; then that was absolutely fine with him too.

He shot up to a sitting position as the thought that maybe she had fled his bed because of what he had done. Had he scared her? Was she embarrassed? He pulled his boxers from the floor and got up to look for a note. Shite! Well, at least she didn't turn me into a ferret, so that's a least one good thing.

*And the clothes you left, they lie on the floor
And they smell just like you
I love the things that you do*

He found her note on his desk and breathed a sigh of relief. Morning-after regret could always be disastrous. Her tone did not seem regretful and actually appreciative. Draco gave her exactly what she needed and she didn't hate him. The sight of her shirt on the floor caught his attention and he picked it up as visuals came flooding back from last night as her scent mixed with a hint of her sweat. That sexy witch came to him yet again but for more than just sex; but she demanded he helped her healing. Hermione kept surprising him and it just caused him to fall for her.

*When you walk away
I count the steps that you take
Do you see how much I need you right now?*

An hour went by as Draco got dressed for the day, finished his breakfast and he leaned against his desk sipping his tea as he thought about her note. Hermione hadn't confessed her undying love, which he partially glad of and partially sad about. Though her words spoke of going their separate ways but that was the last thing he wanted to do. Why live without him?

*When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missin' you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missin', too
When you're gone
The words I need to hear
Will always get me through the day
And make it okay
I miss you*

Things between them had gotten better after the years since the war. Yeah, he had been dating Ginny for the past six months, but it hadn't been super serious. Their fights and make-up sex were the usual the past month or so. When he had discovered she had gotten back with Boy Wonder, his heart had hurt more for Hermione not knowing that she was also getting cheated on than Ginny's betrayal.

Honestly, Hermione made his days' worth getting up for just to see her smiling face and their friendship meant more than anything to him. They would run into each other in the halls of the Ministry where she worked and where he made many excuses to go there; just to see her. Together they chatted from everything from her day to her favorite muggle things to her input on laws or regulations that he questioned as he ran the family business. Her sweet smile, charming laugh, and beautiful personality made all his self-doubt and loathing slowly eliminate because if this amazing woman could befriend him, than he couldn't be that bad of a person.

*We were made for each other
Out here forever
I know we were
Yeah, yeah*

He would give her some time and space after all she had just ended a long-term relationship. Draco was smart enough to know that her heart had been broken by Scarhead and he could just take it easy for a while. Maybe just correspond with her to make her smile and know that she isn't pushing him that away that easy. And just maybe for his own sanity too.

Yes, they had been raised totally different but after the war things between them changed. Their differences softened and even complimented each other as they began to understand those differences. He knew the wizard world for a law and history stand point and gave some insight as Hermione would question certain laws that she came across. Draco's charm, ambition, and wit had fit perfectly with her honesty, intelligence and bravery, which to her friend's dismay.

*And all I ever wanted was for you to know
Everything I do, I give my heart and soul
I can hardly breathe; I need to feel you here with me
Yeah*

Since the war ended and they had started talking to each other, Draco's actions were all about getting to know Hermione. He attended charity balls where he knew she would attend with Pottyhead and would always donate the most money. Many, many nights were spend reading the books she would mention in conversations. So the next time they would meet, he pointed out certain concepts or details that would support or challenge her thinking.

Yes, even dating Ginny had been a plan to spend more time with a woman he thought he would never be with. Draco silently hoped that Hermione's fiancé would slip up as he had seen the signs and he had positioned himself to there should she fall. That time finally came and he began to plan for the next step because she made him want to be a better person than who had been raised to be. Draco needed that rare Gryffindor and to show how much she needed him too.

~*~*~*~ to be continued*~*~*~*~