Chapter seventeen – Under Stars

The Astronomy Tower's view was great in the early morning of late May. The arising sun turned the sky into a lovely orange colour and with no clouds in sight Draco knew it was going to be a sunny day. It wasn't the first time Draco visited the tower in the early morning hours by himself. He had done it frequently since they'd begun having Astrology classes up there at night. He'd wondered what the view would be like in sunlight, and therefore he had once sneaked up there. It had sort of become his resting place.

He was hitting lightly on the strings of the guitar he had brought along with him. It made a sweet, little sound. A melody.

He had pursued the Muggle device from a street-seller in Hogsmeade last summer. He'd taught himself how to play it. He didn't know, though, if he was any good, since no one in the magical world could tell him. He kept his instrument a secret – his father wouldn't approve.

Draco played out a little melody he had composed himself. While he did so, he had a caramel and curly haired girl on his mind.

But why, he thought to himself, why was Hermione constantly on my mind?

Harry, Hermione and Ron were waiting outside classroom 3C on the Third Floor. They were having Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Snape. Ron was for the first time in his life excited about the class, but that was only because he got to see his girlfriend Pansy. It was still only Harry and Hermione who, besides the couple, knew about them. Pansy didn't have the guts to tell any of her friends, which Hermione understood. Gryffindors could approve of Slytherins, but Slytherins could in no way approve of Gryffindors.

"Enter," Professor Snape said as he approached the awaiting students. They all hurried in and nearly fell over each other.

Professor Snape asked them to sit in pairs, so as Ron ran over to Pansy, Harry and Hermione had to sit together. That wasn't bad, though. Hermione had always thought herself a bit closer to Harry than Ron.

The duo did as Professor Snape told them to; rehearse to block unfriendly spells. That was something Hermione remembered having taught already in her Second Year, but since their teachers had come and gone constantly, they had never had a steady year. If it hadn't been for DA last year Hermione was sure they all would have failed the class.

"Why is it so hard for you to admit?" Hermione whispered. They had rehearsed what they should and even read a twenty-page text about it, so Harry and Hermione were trying to have a conversation. Talking in Professor Snape's class was prohibited and often ended with them getting their head slapped once or twice. "Admit what?" Harry whispered back. He was looking in his book, pretending to still be reading though he had finished several minutes ago.

"That you like her!"

"I like who?"

Hermione could tell that he was lying, pretending not to know what she was referring to. He knew exactly whom Hermione was talking about. She raised an eyebrow.

"Ginny, of course, you dumb!" In that moment Professor Snape walked by which also made Hermione pretend to be reading. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see that the professor sent the duo strange looks. He was looking for any reason to hit them, expel them. When he didn't find any reason to do so he continued to walk among the other students.

"I don't like Ginny!" Harry whispered back. He turned his head to make sure Snape wasn't looking.

"Come on, Harry. Ron isn't around." They both glared at their auburn haired friend who was seated a few tables away, working hard with Pansy. Once in a while they looked up at each other and smiled. Not before that moment had Hermione believed them to actually be dating. She hadn't been able to imagine Pansy as a kind person - especially not kind towards Ron.

Harry mumbled something under his breath, which Hermione didn't catch.

"Sorry?" Seconds went by where none of them spoke a word.

"All right… I like her," Harry finally admitted and blushed.

Hermione couldn't help herself but do a little jump in her seat of excitement.

"Satisfied?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded eagerly, but was stopped by Professor Snape who, unluckily, in that moment had passed by, and hit them with the book he was holding.

Arithmancy, lunch and double Potions flew by. At the end of Potions Hermione realised that she hadn't seen Draco around anywhere, which was odd since they took so many classes together.

"What are you going to do before dinner?" Ron asked as they left Potions.

"Homework. I have tons of it I'm never going to finish if I don't begin now," sighed Hermione. She really missed having some spare time. "Quidditch for you, I assume?" Harry and Ron nodded in tact.

"See you at dinner, then." And gone she was.

Even though she had taken the stairs up to The Astronomy Tower once a week in her younger years they were killing her. She truly was out of shape since she'd stopped Quidditch.

She had went to the tower to do her homework because the common-room was packed and so was her Dormitory and the library. She couldn't believe her luck. Sigh.

Only a few steps away from reaching the place where she wanted to sit, she stopped.

A sound caught her attention. It was a sound she hadn't heard for such a long time. Was it... No, it could not be... But it really sounded like a guitar! She continued to walk with the thought of rumbling into another Muggleborn wizard playing the instrument she had always admired.

But no Muggleborn was in sight as Hermione entered the room. Only the platinum haired Slytherin she had grown up hating and now wasn't so sure about.

"Draco?" Hermione asked, not masking her surprise.

Draco, who was seated in front of the big glass window that showed the stars in the night so wonderfully, jumped up in surprise. "Hermione? What are you doing here?"

He was all red in the face and his body was shaking. He looked embarrassed.

"I might just ask you the same question."

Draco looked unsure of what to do. But surely, he was standing with a guitar. He tried to hide it behind him, but it was nearly bigger than him.

"Where do you have that from?" she asked and took a few steps closer.

"Hogsmeade. What exactly is it?" He tried to sound ignorant.

Hermione rolled her eyes, seeing right through his disguise.

"As if you don't know. You can play it, Draco! Who taught you that?"

"You mean, it sounds good?" Hermione was right in front of him.

"Indeed. I don't know how you do it. I've tried and I absolutely can't."

"Well, perhaps I'm just better?" he smirked.

"Will you play something for me?" Hermione took a seat just in front of the window and glared out of it.

"S-sure." Draco took place right next to her and began to play. He knew exactly which one, and he couldn't help himself but sing aloud the words he had written down to the melody. He found himself wishing it was dark – the lyrics would've been suiting.

"I wish I knew everything there is to know about you. And I want you to see just exactly what you mean to me.

You, you think you know me. I guarantee there's a lot more to see. And you, you don't believe it's true that if I'm dreaming I'm dreaming of you.

And I wish that I could hold your hand, feet beneath the sand. And I wish that I could drive you in my car, to kiss you under stars.

I wanted you to be everything that you deserve to be and If I close my eyes I can see you perfectly.

And I, I don't know where to go, I wrote a song just to let you know. That we, we could be together I'll hold you forever

And I wish that I could hold your hand, feet beneath the sand. And I wish that I could drive you in my car, to kiss you under stars. And I wish that I could hold your hand, feet beneath the sand. I wish I could feel your touch, I think about you so much."

As Draco finished the melody, Hermione couldn't move an inch. Her gaze was glued to Draco, her knees as weak as never before and her entire body shaking. Draco was looking at Hermione as well. But as soon as he realised what he had just done, he was out of the room before Hermione could say a word.

"Let me get this straight. You want me to what?" Draco's eyes were steady at the beautiful girl opposites him. She had found him in one of the corridors not long ago and asked him if they could have a word in his Dormitory.

Her eyes were shining with eagerness, lust and shame. Draco wondered why he had never before noticed just how beautiful her face was. And her body wasn't that bad either, he could tell.

"What it is you do," her sweet voice replied. He saw a different side to her, which he – and probably no one else – knew of. She was nervous, but determined. He nearly couldn't help himself, although he wanted to say no.

"It'll be good for both of us. It'll save my life. And I heard you like this thing," she continued.

"You have a point." He gave in.

"Then, help me." She bit her lip. "Please."

Draco felt a bit as if he was cheating. But cheating whom, exactly? The girl was pureblood, delicious and beautiful. Just like all the other girls who had come begging for him through the years. But there was something about this girl that made him feel as if she was different than the others. Not that he could imagine himself marrying her, over even dating her in the nearest future. How disappointed wouldn't his parents be if he did? "All right, lay down," he demanded. She sat at his bed as Draco walked up to her and slowly began to unbutton his shirt...