Chapter 31

"Why haven't you answered my letter?!"

"Draco!" Hermione squealed and jumped a little. "What are you doing here?"

Draco ignored her question and with blazing eyes took a step closer to her. The look in his face of sheer fury was underlined with something she didn't think she would see there: uncertainty.

"You haven't answered my letter," Draco said. "I sent it to you three days ago!"

"Draco, listen…" Hermione started saying but Draco raised his hand to cut her off mid-sentence.

"I don't want to hear you apologies, Hermione, if they just revolve around you rejecting me," he said and sighed. "I can live with the rejection, I guess. As long as you would just be my friend."

"What rejection?" Hermione asked all perplex and confused. "Why would I reject you?"

At those words Draco's eyes became wide and wondering. Could he possibly have been wrong?

"Then why haven't you answered my letter?" he asked and stepped closer again, but this time his step was hesitant as opposed to angry.

"There was a storm a couple of days ago," Hermione said and smiled. "I just got your letter today."

Draco blinked in surprise. That he did not expect. He had been over every possibility, or so he had thought. In the end he had decided that the reason why she hadn't answered his heartfelt letter was because she didn't want what he had to offer. The realisation of that had nearly driven him mad. He knew she wouldn't be back for another couple of days, and he simply couldn't wait that long to confront her. So he had apparated to Melbourne, and had ended straight right next to Hermione in her parents' living room. How he had managed that he had no idea since he had no idea where their house was. But here was there and so was she.

"Draco," Hermione softly said and brought him back to reality. "Draco, did you really think that I didn't answer you because I didn't want you?"

"Well, yes I did," Draco said suddenly defensive.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because you just left me!" the exclamation was nearly a yell, but Draco didn't care. All the frustrated emotions that had build inside him for the many last days were suddenly erupting and forcing their way out of his system.

"I didn't leave you," Hermione said as calm as ever. "I did say goodbye."

"You spend five minutes with me in my doorway! That can hardly be considered as a fair goodbye!"

"I didn't have more time than that. I was in a hurry."

"A hurry to do what?"

"To get here, of course." Hermione was practically giddy.

"I'm not following," Draco said and shook his head while he heavily sat down on the flowered couch. Hermione gracefully followed him and laid her small hand on top of his.

"My mother called me just before I went to your house," she started explaining. "My father had an accident – he fell down the stairs and broke his arm – and my mother wanted me to come straight away. So I went to you to say goodbye and then I took off."

"Is your father okay?" he knew that there were so many other questions that needed to be answered, but he had seen the expression of worry on Hermione's face when she mentioned her father, and suddenly Draco's own needs had faded into the background.

"He's fine," Hermione answered with a week smile. "But when I was at your place I'm afraid I wasn't quite myself. I was distraught and worried, so I didn't think clearly. I forgot to even tell you what had happened, I just knew I had to say goodbye to you before I left. And when I came back home I kissed Teddy goodbye, hugged Harry and took off. There was no farewell party as you suggested in your letter."

Draco felt himself blush when he realised how foolish he had been.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I jumped to the conclusion and I shouldn't have."

"Oh, it's not you that should apologise," Hermione said and grabbed his hand tightly. "I'm sorry Draco, I should have written you and explained as soon as I found out my father was okay."

"Yeah, you should," Draco couldn't conceal the sarcastic comment. "Sorry," he muttered in apology.

Hermione smiled a little and gently shook her head.

"Don't apologise," she said. "I take all the blame for this."

They sat together silently for a while. Hermione was still holding Draco's hand and he couldn't stop looking at their joined hands. He knew that had she done this before she went away he would probably have shook off her hand. But now it felt natural and right. Like breathing or sleeping. It was even quite nice.

"I'm actually kind of glad you didn't do anything," Draco said and lifted his face to meet her eyes. "If you had told me about this then I wouldn't have been here."

Hermione smiled widely and the smile made butterflies go crazy in Draco's stomach.

"And if you hadn't left me wondering I probably wouldn't admit what I've finally admitted," Draco unconsciously made his voice low and husky. "I admit it Hermione, I'm in love with you."

Hermione gasped at his words and the smile turned even wider yet. A delicate blush formed in her cheeks and Draco reached out to stroke it. Lightly his fingers traced the small, red sparks on Hermione's cheek and he felt her shudder a little under this new and foreign touch. His fingers ran from her cheek to her temple and traced the line of her jaw. She closed her eyes and leaned into the caress. Draco had never before seen a sight so erotic and yet endearing and romantic.

"And if you hadn't forced me to question you feelings for me, I would have never found out how I feel for you. And then I wouldn't want to do this now…"

Then he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Hermione's. She instantly caved in and became soft against his lips. The kiss was sweet and meaningful to the both of them. Their lips moved together so perfectly that they wondered why they had never done this before. It was clear to them that this was what they were meant to do: be together.

So, what do you think? To sappy? Or anticlimactic? Or just right? Tell me your thoughts!

I have considered making a sequel to this about their seventh year at Hogwarts, but I would really like some feedback before I do that. If people think the story has now ended then I don't want to continue it.