Hello dear readers and reviewers!
As always I want to mention the reviewers of my last chapter!

ChelseyJ
MaronTodai
SaruDM
Mihika
echizenochi
CinziaTwut

Thank you for taking the time to R and R!

Here is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy it!

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CHAPTER 20.

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"I really cannot get over how bright and cheerful your flat looks." Hermione said as she filled her plate with crepes.

"Also when did you learn to cook? And most importantly, why?" She queried.

"You're just jealous because your flat is dull and boring. That explains why we've been hanging out here more often than at yours. As for the cooking, well you see umm that's a funny story really." Draco blushed.

Draco blushed? Since when did Draco Malfoy blush?

He turned red with anger or due to the cold his skin would take a pinkish tinge. But blushing? No. That wasn't Draco Malfoy style.

"You're blushing?" Hermione stated matter of factly but it still came out as a question.

"What? Me? No. I'm just a bit embarrassed about it." Draco said.

"Don't stop. Go on. Something tells me I will want to hear this." Hermione said with a lopsided smile.

Draco sighed dramatically.

He continued to cut up his crepes and put a forkful in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed deliberately slowly for effect.

"Take your time. I'm not holding my breath here." Hermione remarked sarcastically.

"Fine. If you must know." Draco started. "This was about 2 years ago. Ginklehertz had us practicing in Lyon. Our PR manager for France was this pretty little strawberry blond called Giselle. Petite. Quiet. Spoke to the players only when spoken to. But you get on her wrong side and there would be hell to pay. Naturally I started fancying her."

Hermione had expected something like this. At first she mentally shook her head thinking that this was so typically Draco.

They were best friends. He always spoke to her about his crushes and girlfriends. In detail. At least until he had left for Quidditch.

Something about being his complete confidante warmed her heart but sometimes the cheering and excitement at every new crush seemed forced.

She used to be torn. Whether to be happy for him and curiously squeeze more details out of him or wish that he wouldn't go overboard with details with her.

For no reason whatsoever, she would find that after an initial few minutes of genuine excitement for him, she would dwell over his latest crush or girlfriend and feel funny or wrong about it.

There was no jealousy. This she had established long back. Because she had had these feelings concerning Draco's girlfriends even when she had fancied Ron.

So it couldn't be jealousy. Maybe it was a feeling of protectiveness bordering on possessiveness.

Yes. That was it. She was one of the most important people in his life till someone else would come along.

Then he would pay attention to the newest girl and everything would be about her.

Of course Hermione wasn't that petty. She knew that theoretically she would always hold more importance for Draco than any silly crush or new girlfriend.

But that would be in the beginning.

What would happen when the girlfriend would become a more important part of his life?

Surely any progressive relationship grows and soon the partner assumes increased importance in life of said person.

Hermione had reached the peak of importance in Draco's life. There was no 'up' to go to. She was staying put.

But what would happen when someone bypassed her and took themselves a level higher? It's not like she would be replaced.

Hermione in her wayward reasoning's had assured herself that she wouldn't be replaced. It's just that maybe she would have to share him or his affections.

Whenever Draco was single, she was the sole object of his attention. And she rather liked that.

And in some twisted way she in a teeny tiny manner resented being sidelined.

Not that Draco ever made her feel unwanted or sidelined, she knew he didn't. But in her own head she felt that way.

But somehow inspite of such contrasting feelings, she knew that she had had Ron as her significant other for the longest time.

Yet Draco had never displayed such thoughts.

Maybe the male mind worked differently.

Or maybe Draco had just gotten accustomed to Ron's presence. Ron, after all was a part of Hermione's life even before Draco was.

Or maybe Draco was entirely way too confident about his position in her life.

Whatever it was, she found herself mentally frowning at the mention of another girl.

3 years later and after so many events in her life and she still instinctively mentally frowned at the mention of this pretty strawberry blond.

She continued to keep her face neutral as she tried berating herself as to why it mattered whom he fancied or did not?

"The most infuriating part was that she completely ignored me. Snubbed me directly. I couldn't take no for an answer. I asked her out several times but she kept saying no. Then one day, she asked me what is the one thing I would keep a house elf for and would never ever willingly do on my own? Obviously cooking was the first answer. She smirked and said that when I learned to cook and cooked for her, she would consider me. I was appalled at her demand. But I didn't want to give up. I started with French dishes and surprisingly started to enjoy cooking. I was so engrossed with quidditch and cooking lessons that I completely forgot the reason why I took up cooking.

Our last day in France, I finally cooked her a meal but I'd lost any romantic feelings I had for her. I told her that this was just a friendly lunch where she could sample my cooking. She smiled and complimented me on the meal and congratulated me for embracing something I never would have.

I realised that day that I merely had a crush on her from what I'd seen of her. I didn't know anything about her. In the game of proving her wrong and chasing her, I discovered a new hobby that I grew to love and forgot about her, a sign that I didn't truly fancy her. She on the other hand was just testing me." Draco laughed.

Hermione was stunned. "Testing you? How so?"

"If I hadn't taken up her challenge she'd have a reason to deny me. She wasn't interested in me at all. I know. I was devastated." He joked. "But if I had cooked for her, she would at least give me a chance since I'd done something she asked me. But she was somehow scarily intuitive and knew that I would get over the idea of her."

"Wow. That's quite a story." Hermione said.

She made a small mental fist pump and found herself relieved.

Why does it make a difference? You were married. He was away. You'll had your own lives. You know he'll eventually find someone. You really have issues, Hermione. She mentally chided herself over her childishness.

"Yup. Now you remember your promise?" Draco asked, clearing their plates.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"It wasn't a promise. I involuntarily said yes to you when you wouldn't leave me alone at work." Hermione grumbled.

"You worked a double shift. I didn't see you for 48 hours. Of course you would have to make it up to me." Draco countered.

"Whatever. I stick by my diagnosis. It was coercion on your part." Hermione said stubbornly.

"Either way. You promised and now there's no backing out. You have the entire day off and we are going to spend it doing what I have lined up for us." Draco said pompously.

"The mere fact that you're pressing on the part that I can't back out makes me think that you've planned something that will make me instinctively turn on my hells and run." Hermione deduced.

"Some Gryffindor you are." Draco retaliated.

"Oh no. Now I'm sure you've planned something awful. Remind me to not take a double shift whilst you're here again." Hermione moaned.

"Oh come on Hermione. Don't be a baby. Just wait till you find out." Draco cackled.

"Ready?" He asked.

"Will I ever be?" She answered his question with another question.

"No." He said simply and apparated them together.

"Oof." Hermione cried. "Thanks for the heads up."

"Had to make sure you came." Draco smirked.

Hermione finished brushing off her pants and looked at him. But her eyes widened as she took in her surroundings.

"Draco Malfoy. Why are we so very very high on a bridge?" She asked with some knowing trepidation.

"I think you'll eventually fit the pieces together Hermione." He said sneakily.

"If it is what I'm thinking it is, I believe I have the green light to strangle you. Because after 4th year, I remember telling you specifically if something like this is repeated, it'll be your neck and my hands." Hermione threatened.

"Two more steps. Trust me. Will you relax? Your shoulders are so tense." Draco complained.

"Well you can't expect me to stroll without a care in the world on a land that ends in a cliff while being blindfolded?" She shot back.

"But my eyes are open. You really think I'll let you fall off?" Draco asked.

Her body lost some rigidity and she continued to move ahead feeling the reassuring pressure of his hand on her back and his other hand in hers.

"Ok stop." He commanded. "Now promise me you won't freak out. Just push aside everything and feel the second thing you feel and live in the moment. I say second thing because I know that the first will be fear. But just remember. You trust me."

She gulped and nodded as he took off her blindfold. She continued to keep her eyes shut for a few moments before she opened them slowly.

One two three four...

She gasped.

She held his hand tighter and her eyes widened as she took a 360 to take in her surroundings.

"Draco..." She whispered. "This is... Magical!"

Draco chuckled. Magical indeed.

In front of her lay a small mountain with a waterfall. The waterfall started at a much higher level. So she must be low below. Behind her was another mountain similar to the one in front of her minus the waterfall.

Mesmerising greenery all around her with clear white water cascading in loud waves.

She was deep in a valley and she had never been someplace like this before.

"You like it?" Draco asked softly.

"Like it? I love it. And to think that there's no way to come here except magic. It's almost sad that people without magic can't experience this." She said wistfully.

"There's another way we can come and go." He said. "And since we came by portkey I thought we could leave by my way."

Hermione looked at him quizzically. "How? We can't apparate yet."

"I know." He said removing a shrunken broom from his pocket and restoring its size. "But we can fly."

She took a step backwards. "No way Draco Malfoy. You know I hate flying. And more so on a broom."

"I know Hermione. But trust me. You'll get to see the whole mountain that way. And the view from the broom is even better than now if you can believe that. And besides, I brought you here to relieve you from the stress of the triwizard tournament. I know you're worried about Potter and you're trying to do all it takes to help him. And it's really getting to you. I just want to help you conquer your fear."

Hermione bit her lip.

"I won't let you fall." Draco added.

"I know. It's just that..."

"Trust me?"

"I do. But not having control over something freaks me. And that's how I feel on a broom."

"Just let go. This once. And let someone else take care of you." He forced her.

"Can't we take the portkey back?" She pleaded.

"It was a single journey portkey." He said with a mischievous smile.

Her features morphed into anger, "you purposely made a single journey portkey?"

"How else would I get you to fly?"

"And how is this going to help me relax? You know I get more tense in the air."

"I do. But this time you just have to sit. I'll even let you hold me tight. You can keep your eyes shut if you want. Though the view is breathtaking." He said.

She bit her lip and pondered for a few seconds.

"Fine. But only if you promise not to do any stunts in the air. I really won't appreciate it." She threatened.

He nodded excitedly.

"And Draco, next time you pull something like this, I won't think twice about throttling you." She warned.

Draco gulped but nodded.

"Okay. Get in front of me. I'll hold you. That way you can see better." Draco said.

"But I'm going to close my eyes." She countered.

"It will be a waste then Hermione. Really. Okay shut your eyes when we take off and when it's safe I'll tell you to open them. You can open, look and then if you wish you can shut them again till we touch the ground. Deal?"

Hermione thought again but she nodded. It sounded fair.

Her heart beating vicariously, she positioned herself on Draco's broom and he took his place behind her, his long arms circling her waist and pulling her snug to fit into his contours.

"There. All tucked in. You're going to be fine. I won't let anything happen to you." He whispered.

And she believed him. When he said those words, all her inhibitions and doubts abated and she settled her back into his chest and he took off.

She didn't even shut her eyes as he took off.

And she was glad for it.

"That view was something else." Hermione recalled.

"I had to practically beg you to sit on my broom." Draco said.

"Obviously! What did you expect?" She asked.

"But you enjoyed the ride." Draco stated grinning.

"I merely enjoyed the view. Who said anything about enjoying the means to it?" Hermione shot back.

"Oh then I must have misread the twinkle in your eye and your face lighting up then. Also the fact that you were barely tense on the broom once you looked around may have been my imagination." He smirked.

Git. She thought. Why did he have to know her so well?

"Either way. Why are we here now?" She asked again.

"I'll spell it out to you. We. Are. Going. To. Go. Bungee. Jumping." He enunciated carefully as if he was talking to a kid.

She made a wide 'O' with her mouth and shook her head multiple times before the words came out of her mouth.

"Noooooo wayyyyyy." She backed away from him.

"Yes way." He said simply and smirked further.

"How do you even know what bungee jumping is? It's so muggle." She said.

"Oh please. I know more muggle things now than you do now." He said with an air of importance.

Hermione scoffed. "Yeah right."

"Did you even know that we could go bungee jumping here?" He challenged her.

She faltered. "Like I said. I don't get enough time. Besides you of all the people should know I'd hate it."

"You promised." He said.

"But you had promised me you wouldn't make me fly again in 4th year. You didn't keep that promise. Then why should I?" She fired.

"Granger, I promised I wouldn't make you fly on a broom. You didn't say anything about a rope and a bridge." He grinned from ear to ear.

She gaped at him.

"I hate you." Is all that she could mutter.

"Oh you don't. Come on. The staff is waiting for us. They're starting to glare at us since we are taking so long." He urged.

"You can go. I'll wait." She said tersely.

"Oh no. I arranged for a couple jump. I couldn't let you go alone, could I now?" He stated.

"How about I just don't go at all? That'll be better for me." Hermione said.

"Just let go Hermione. Like you did all those years ago. Don't you trust me?"

"You keep cashing in on that. I think I'm going to revoke my trust now." She grumbled.

"Please Hermione." He said softly but pleadingly.

Something in his voice melted her resolve and also her latent fear and she knew that however much she refuted, in the end she would have to yield to his unreasonable demand.

"It's really high." She said craning her neck.

"I know. But these people are very professional. And the harnesses are extremely safe."

"We'll be falling down. We could die."

"Did we die on the broom? It went well didn't it?"

"Yeah. But that was a broom. And you were flying it. There was no chance anything could happen."

Draco felt an incredible warmth spread till his fingertips at Hermione's confidence in him.

"Nothing will happen here either. I'll be with you. As I said this is safer than the broom. Trust me."

Hermione smiled. "You're saying that an awful lot today."

"Because you need to be convinced."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Just do it. This once. And then tell me later." He urged.

"Fine. You owe me. But no more promises and no more surprises now okay?"

He nodded.

They went over to the surly instructor who rattled off a series of instructions and rules.

They donned their harnesses and were snugly fit against each other.

"Ready?" He whispered into her ear.

"Am I ever?"

He smiled. She clutched his waist tighter and held her breath.

He took this as affirmation and nodded at the instructor.

Hermione closed her eyes. She was at the very edge with Draco. She couldn't bear to keep them open when he would jump, taking her with him.

"It'll be fine. Feel it Hermione. Feel it. I'm right here with you." He said and glided off the ledge effortlessly like he had done this before.

Hermione felt the force of gravity hit her smack on her whole body and her breath left her lungs in a major whoosh.

She felt the air hit her body and her body's resistance against the air smacked back, enveloping her backside.

In the front, Draco was strapped to her.

They were chest to chest and Hermione's hold on him tightened.

The minute her lungs refilled with fresh, biting air, she screamed.

And screamed.

And screamed.

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So?

How was it?

I know this is a longer chapter than my usual ones.

But it just felt right going on and on.

I hope you'll liked the little inner banter Hermione had at the beginning of the chapter!

It may not have made much sense but Hermione is pretty confused about it herself.

And as for the jumping part, the latter half of it will be in the next chapter.

I hope it was okay.

I've never been bungee jumping before so it's only all made up. I can only hope it all fits!

I'm not getting enough reviews for this story so I don't know how you'll are liking this story.

So all you readers out there please do leave me some thoughts!

Thanks for reading!

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