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Draco Malfoy awoke as the early morning sun shone through his window and into his eyes. He stretched luxuriantly, enjoying the feel of the warm sun on his face. Running his fingers through his mess of white-blonde hair, he smiled as he reached for her. But she wasn't there. Of course… it had been another dream about her. A shadow came over his face as reality checked in; he just wanted her back.
Since their bitter breakup at the end of their 7th and final year at Hogwarts, he had missed Hermione tremendously. He, like Hermione, had attempted to totally immerse himself in his work for the Order, getting up early mornings and staying up late nights so he wouldn't have time to think on that painful night…
*
They had started out arguing over some stupid little thing, but now it had escalated to more serious matters, and they were both shouting in each other's faces. "I won't have you running around fighting Death Eaters!" Draco spat, his face flushed and his chest heaving.
"Excuse me?! I will say what I'm going to do with my life, thanks! I don't like what YOU'RE doing for the Order either! But am I forbidding you to do it? Of course not! Don't you think I won't worry about you every single moment of every single day knowing that you're out there risking you're life?! And you expect me to sit at home and knit?! I will NOT do that, Draco!! I'm not some selfish, useless bint, and I'm not going to act like one just because you insist I do!" Hermione roared back at him.
"I'm asking you to do this because I love you, goddamnit! I can't take it if you're out there, knowing you could be hurt, knowing you could be DYING and not being able to do anything about it!" Draco yelled, his gray eyes fiery as he continued, "What the hell would I do if you died?!"
"You're unbelievable! You're taking a risk even greater than mine out there! What if I died? Then so be it, but not using my skills to fight would be incredibly selfish and cowardly!" Hermione shot back. "I'm not just going to stand on the sidelines and watch as all the ones I love get killed because you worry, Draco! I would think that you know me well enough by now to understand and respect that! I'm not going to compromise my decisions for you. I'm not a child. It's my life, and if this is the way you're going to react, there is no room for you in it!" And with that, she turned her heel and stormed out of the room, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wanted him to stop her, to hold her and never let her go. But he just stood there and watched her go.
*
And every day after, he regretted that night, willing to give up everything just to take back all of the hurtful, stupid things he'd said. And every day, he'd missed her, even though, most of the time, he managed to forget it… for a while. He wondered if she could ever forgive him, but he hadn't seen or talked to her since that night. Sighing wearily, he made his way into the kitchen in search of breakfast.
Suddenly, he heard tapping behind him. He whirled around, to find his great owl, Hawk, named for his piercing glare and his noble air, standing impatiently outside his window.
"Hey, Hawk, whatcha got there?" Draco asked the great bird as he opened the window and let the owl in, taking the scroll from his leg. Hawk flew into his cage, which was in a corner, and started on his own breakfast. Draco shut the window and sat down at a kitchen chair, unrolling the parchment and reading the script within…
Draco –
Please meet me at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix at 9 P.M. tomorrow night. It is urgent.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Wondering what Dumbledore had in store for him, he finished breakfast and, for lack of anything better to do, went to do his grocery shopping. Never an idle moment, for he knew his mind would wander to undesirable places... although he found her to be very desirable, indeed.
Thanks for reading! Questions? Comments? They're both very much appreciated :)
-Lady Hurricane