Draco's gaze switched between both of her eyes in a quick motion as he tried to figure out what his next words should be. It was a weird feeling to see her again and to be honest it was also kinda awkward to suddenly stand infront of her without the intention to insult her. It was weird to see her after all this time and to be honest, she has grown so much that Draco got lost in his thoughts for a split second. After a little moment he caught himself staring at her like a idiot and quickly raised his head a bit to look over her shoulder at the croud, clearing his throat before he spoke " Yea.. crazy right? Funny how the years have passed.." With his last word, Draco's eyes looked inside hers again. "Listen... " Malfoy paused " The past... i mean, the thinks i said.." he then became silent again, not sure how he should apologize.
Hermione looked him in the eyes kinda intrigued as she lifted her head up as he mentioned their past. She could tell he was trying to apologize to her for everything he ever said to her or about her behind her back over the years at school. Oddly enough Hermione always considered Malfoy to be one of them, part of their group. He was after all the only slytherin she had any contact with. " you don't have to say anything.." she said softly even if she did want to give him the chance to properly apologize to her for everything he put her through. At the same time it prepared her for life after Hogwarts. The ridicule she would faced with as an adult. " it wasn't you. Not really. I know it was just your fathers influence for all those years. One year you barely said a word to me. And then there was that one time Snape paired us up for a project. And I hated every second of it. Everything we said to each other was so forced. Like you didn't even want to be seen with me. "
Knowing that he actually never meant to be that way to her , he lowered his head a little, looked away and listened to her voice. She made him remember of his father and the way he raised him. Mixed feeling came up. Anger for what his father did and sadness for what Lucius should have done instead. Draco raised his hand and grabbed his black tie, fixing the position of it and slowly nodded to her words. Slowly his eyes wandered back in her face wítch he scanned for a few seconds. " And still i feel like it should be said that...i am Sorry" For the first time ever, he was talking to her in a soft tone. Draco wrinkled his nose slightly and straightened his posture. " I was a idiot back then i assume"
Hermione looked him in the eyes as he finally said what she had waited years to hear. She never thought they would have that moment. " it's okay it's not your fault. But thank you for saying it" she said with a small faint smile on her lips. She knew that took a lot for him to finally say an apology and she could tell he meant it. She fidgeted a little pulling down her sleeves to hide the scar that Bellatrix had left her with. That night still haunted her. It took a long time to get over that and move past it.
Draco swallowed a little as a moment of silence followed. It really took alot for him to say an apology but he had to. All the last years he had hermione in the back of his head. Despite everything, he had always been ascinated by how smart she was. Jealousy also contributed to Draco being the way he was to her. After all, she had that strong friendship with Weasley and Potter.. a friendship he only could have dreamed of. Draco noticed that she pulled down her sleeves and it made him remember his own scar the dark lord left on his arm. Clearing his throat once more he looked over to the big Door of the great Hall " Well i.. was going to check out the grounds of Hogwarts" He then looked back at her and his lips formed a faint smile " would you like to join me?" He asked. sounding a bit unsure.
She had spent 6 months trying to get rid of it but it was practically branded on her, carved into her permanently to remind her every day of what she was and made her feel like she was nothing more. She thought it would get easier when Bellatrix died , that she could remove it somehow and she tried everything she could think of and it just kept coming back. After a while she gave up. She crossed her arms over her chest and took a deep breath and nodded " okay. Yea I don't mind. Could use some fresh air " she said softly, she always figured in another life they might have been friends.
It was the first time people saw them talk alone. There was always something between them that noone could explain. Maybe it was the oddly good feeling of doing something forbidden that let them get closer at some nights in the middle of the corridors. They never spoke about it.. No words were needed but he couldnt help but get closer to her. Some of the people were looking over at them a bit confused. First of all, they never throught that Draco would join today and the next question was, why and what did both talk about? With a slight not he reached his arm in the direction to exit, letting her go before he would follow. Draco ignored the looks of the others when they walked through the hall, instead he focused on her. Soon they arrived the courtyard where Voldemort died. Draco stopped for a moment and stared at the stone-paved place. It was a dark and quiet night which gave this place a even more oppressive ambience. Quickly he was leading her to a different spot and they soon ended up walking along the way where Hermione punched him in the face. For Draco pretty much every place at the school was connected to a bad memorie. But this place , thinking about it now made him quielty chuckle. " Wonder how stong you are by now " he mumbled
She could feel everyone staring at them and the hushed whispers in the halls. Clearly everyone was in shock to even see them together and not bickering for a change. She smiled a bit and chuckled as he let her walk ahead of her that whole ladies first thing must have been drilled into him at some point. A lot had changed for Hermione , what Bellatrix did to her and the things that she was whispering in her ear as she cut into her arm, it was the tone in her voice that scared her the most. She wouldn't let that happen again. She really thought she was going to die that day. She locked herself in her room with hundreds of books around her trying to find a way to reverse it but nothing worked and she figured she was just damaged goods now.
Hermione walked with him through the grounds of Hogwarts walking past where Voldemort died and everything changed for all of them. Everything they were fighting for was over. How badly she wanted to go after Draco and make him stay with them. She always felt something for him. It was odd to her to feel anything at all beside annoyance. Part of her wanted to go with him just to make sure he would be okay. It broke her heart to watch him leave like that. She could see the hurt and confusion in his eyes.
She chuckled a bit hearing what he said as they walked past where she had punched him in their year. " you kinda deserved it. Running your mouth about things you didn't understand. How else was I going to shut you up and put you in your place?"
It is true, there were quite a few things that remain in his behavior. The classic Ladies first rule was one of it but besides that there were also a few habits he wished he could just change. For example, that arrogant tone in his voice that sometimes comes up without him noticing. Draco couldn't care less about the people whispering, he was simply happy about the fact that they did not have to hide anything by now. While Hermione was trying to get rid of her scar, Malfoy was dealing with basically the same problem. He even tried to scratch the scar off of his arm that it wouldn*t have the form of the mark anymore. Walking with her along the path he could feel that weird attraction again that he always felt when he saw her alone, which made him remember the times they bubmbed into each other at night. It didn't happen often but when they finally got closer it was that one time Draco didn't feel any pain, sadness or pressure of his task. Draco looked at the distance as he listened to Hermiones voice. He couldnt help but smirk at that. His lips slowly formed a mischievous smile and hi bit on his lower lip, stopping himself of speaking out his thoughts at that. " Well..." he said and cleared his throat a bit but didn't say anything else to it. She for sure could assume what he thought. Soon they arrived the lake and just how he was , he pointed at a big rock " You wanna take a seat here?.. we can also go somewhere else if you prefer"
Hermione was amused with him , they bickered and picked on each other like little kids that had a crush and didn't know how to tell the other. It was easier to be mean to each other. " you wish " she smirked a little turning back to look at him. She knew what he was thinking what the other option was to get him to be quiet for a change. " I'll race you. To the top " she said with a little flicker of excitement in her eyes. She wanted to have some fun. Go explore a little.
They really acted like little kids that had a crush. Mocking each other was way easier than speaking out the words both of them actually had in their minds. Instead he just kept throwing hints at her that she could easily mischievous glint in Hermione's eyes piqued his curiosity, and he decided to play along. Draco looked at the rock then back at her. His lips formed a slight smirk and he couldnt help but answer in his typical arrogant manner "A race, Granger? Well, I suppose it could be entertaining to watch you struggle to keep up. But don't think for a second that you stand a chance against me."
Hermione had this grin on her face as she bit her lip a little taking a few steps back. " oh I'm always up for a challenge. I don't think I'll be struggling.. I could always keep up. " she said trying to get a head start before she took off for the top of the cliff over looking the lake. She needed someone around to challenge her. It just took one night for her whole life to change. She spent years trying to prove herself to Draco and the rest of the school that she belonged here. She felt like an outcast the moment she stepped foot on the train. She had to blend in with her surroundings.
Draco watched Hermione's confident display, a mix of surprise and intrigue evident on his face. Watching her in silence he smirked at her for a moment. He quickly gathered himself and prepared to chase after her, determined to prove that he could keep up with her pace. As they raced towards the top of the cliff, their footsteps echoing in the crisp air, a sense of exhilaration filled the space between 's determination was unwavering, her every step purposeful and sure which facinated Malfoy alot. Draco matched her energy, feeling a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. Usually he would do everything to win this battle but instead, he gave in.. for once, simply to let her win. It was the first time that Draco Malfoy did put his pride asside only to make Granger happy. As they reached the summit, they paused for a moment to catch their breath, gazing out at the breathtaking view of the lake below. "You certainly have a knack for surprises.." he took a deep breath and looked at her " I suppose it's time I start acknowledging your capabilities hm?" Draco raised his brow.
"keep up or stay behind " she said as she ran as fast as she could picking up a little speed. She glanced behind her for a second to notice he wasn't that far behind. For once she did find someone that could keep up with her. She reached the summit and caught her breath letting her heart beat slow down a little. It was beautiful up here. She came here a lot. Usually alone just to clear her head from a long day. " oh you don't know the half of it " she said with a laugh sitting down for a moment. " it's been a while… " she said taking off her jacket tossing it to the side trying to cool down a little. " I come up here alot.. just to get away for a while. No one knows about it actually. " She said looking up at him for a second and reached up for his hand and yanked him down next to her. " get over here and relax a little. I feel like we have a lot to talk about and I don't know where to start. " she knew she didn't have a lot of time either. The wolves had her scent now, she couldn't run forever. Greyback had his eyes set on her since that night in the woods. " you don't know the things Bella said to me. No one heard .. I don't think. She gave me a choice. She told me what she had planned for me. I can still hear her laugh. She was just going to leave me to the wolves either way no matter what I chose. It was just for her own curiosity. She saw how I was looking at you and how I couldn't look away. I just figured if I died .. you were the last one I would see. " Draco enjoyed the view while he tried to calm his breath from the little race they had. Granger was really fast... faster than Draco thought. He raised his brow at her words when she tells him that he does not know half of it. He got slowly closer and as soon as he stopped next to her he already felt her pulling on his Hand. Malfoy sat down next to her, eying her from the side "Well.. it is a beautiful place to be" the young man looked up in the sky as he continued " And for my taste, nights make everything look even prettier don't you think?" Draco leaned back, leaning on his arms and looked at her again when she began to talk about the situation that happened in the manor. He frowned a little and instantly leaned forward to have a better look at her face " I am sorry...I remember the struggle when she was with you " he sighed softly and looked straight into the distance " you know... i really wish i could have helped you better.. "
" I just needed to tell someone. I just feel like something is still going to happen. That someone out there is still looking for me to finish me off or something. I just wanted you to know in case I go missing .. that way someone will know where to find me " she said softly looking over at him. She licked her lips and sighed a little. " I'm fine .. I don't think there's anything anyone could have done differently. " she kept her eyes on him for a moment " it is beautiful here though. So peaceful.."
His body tensed a little by the thought of it. The thought of her being in danger. Back then he wasn't able to do anything for her. But now everything would be different. His eyes wandered to her lips when she licked over them, he then looked back in her eyes and got lost in his thoughts for little moment. She was really beautiful that night, Granger has always been beautiful for him but now that he sat here with her in peace, Draco was finally able to eye her better. He could focus on her beauty without having to look out for people. Without having to hide. "Yea it is beautiful here indeed.." he answered quietly, not really talking about the place but about the witch right infront of him. Draco cleared his throat a little when he caughed himself getting lost in his thoughts again. His eyes wandered over to the school in the distance " I didn't have the chance to help you back then.. but you won't be alone this time Hermione..."
She smiled a bit noticing the way he was looking at her. " it's not like I'm gonna go looking for trouble.. " she said looking away for a second trying to relax a little and push those thoughts out of her head. She couldn't help but notice how gorgeous he looked tonight. Her eyes ticked from his lips then back to his eyes. The thought definitely crossed her mind from time to time. " I'm okay I promise. I do appreciate it though. " she said softly keeping her eyes on him , she was still trying to figure him out. while he was watching the school from the distance and listened to her speaking, a few old memories came into his mind. Even some moments from his first year in Hogwarts. It was quite insane how fast all the years passed by. From the corner of his eye he noticed that Hermione kept looking at him, which pulled him out of his thoughts. His lips formed a very soft smile " Well , you are not looking for trouble.. but, maybe trouble is looking for you?" With the end of his words, Draco turned his head again and looked deep into her eyes. Without noticing he looked at her lips for a second before locking eyecontact again. With the years it seemed that Hermione got even more beautiful which was breath taking.
Hermione smirked and laughed a bit hearing his words. " I'm not afraid of you. I got used to you. Besides .. I'm up for a challenge" she said locking eyes with him. It was amazing to her how at ease she was with him. She couldn't stand him for the first two years .. after that it got easier. She realized by the their year he was all talk and he wasn't going to hurt her.
Draco smirked back and shrugged one shoulder " Who said that i am going to be the trouble?" He raised one brow at that and leaned a little back. Holding himself on his elbows he bit his lower lip for just a few seconds . " Okay now that i think about it.. there is no Pottah who is going to pull you into trouble. Perhaps i could be the only trouble who is looking for you..indeed"
" I mean I always felt like I was being follow the last few months .. I haven't haven't spoken to Ron or Harry .. in a really long time. " she shook her head a little and tucked her hair back behind her ear. " it was a stupid petty fight .. I said some things I shouldn't have and I can't really take it back .. so I just left. I'm surprised they haven't tried to look for me actually. Maybe they just don't care any more or never did I suppose. " she looked back at him and looked him up and down for a second " it could be worse. " she said as more of a statement if she was going to have a stalker… could be worse.
He watches her in silence. By the way she acted, talked and the fact that he knew how close the three of them were, Draco could only imagine how she must feel about it. Malfoy would love to know what she told them but doesn't feel like it would be his business " Maybe they are already looking fo you.. don't you think they came back here as well? To meet old friends? " Draco didn't look away from her. Not one second, instead he secretly admired her beauty. It still felt surreal that they were sitting here together. She shook her head staring at the lake " I doubt they came looking for me. Ron didn't even want me coming back here. I just wanted a proper finish. We didn't exactly get that, ya know. " she said softly looking back at him. " honestly I don't think I care if I see him again. Either one honestly. " she could tell he wanted to know more about what happened and the big fight was about to end a 8 year friendship. " he wouldn't allow it. Trying to turn me into some little house wife and I wanted more. I get it that's how he was raised. But I wasn't. Mother always told me to be independent and not rely on anyone. I couldn't walk away from that. One thing lead to another and .. I couldn't take it anymore. So no.. I doubt they are looking for me "He raised both his brows lightly when Hermione began to explain a little more , without him needing to ask for it. His eyes remaind on her till she spoke the last words. Draco then looked into the distance again and watched the bright shining windows of the school that were glowing in the night. A little moment of silence followed until he broke the silence with a quiet " I am sorry to hear that" Malfoy always looked up to their friendship and doesn't believe that it would be over. Not because of something like that " You know... I can not imagine that this would we a reason for you three to break contact. Maybe you guys just need some more time to clear your minds" He then looked at her again. " I don't think there's any going back from that. Not after what I said. I mean come on can you imagine me dealing with 7 kids ? I could barely keep up with the two of them. " she shook her head with a grin on her face " I don't know why I'm telling you this. I finally feel free though, I can breathe finally. I can finish school and work my way up the ministry. Someday. .. I know that's a bit much for anyone to deal with. Too ambitious for me right? It's never gonna happen" she laid down for a moment and took a deep relaxing breath " you know .. even for a little while I wished you were one of us. Especially at the end. Broke my heart to watch you go. I knew it would happen but still. "" I can imagine you dealing with 7 Books... " Draco answered with a light chuckle. His eyes still on her even when she laid down " Well i wouldn't say too ambitious, i mean... aren't you ambition itself? " The blond joked and watched her for a moment before he decided to fully lay back as well. He rested his head on his arms which he crossed behind his head and stared up into the sky. It seemed like he counted the stars as he looked from one star to another but he actually thought about the moment he had to leave with his parents. Thinking about it, Draco couldn't help but swallow before he spoke " You know, i really wished i could have stayed.. All the years i was wondering how you have been. " He took a deep breath and stayed quiet for a moment before he continued " When my parents and i managed to escape, everything turned back to normal at some point.. It didn't take much time for them to tell me that i am supposed to marry greengrass.. to keep the Bloodline going... to assure the existenc of Malfoy" Draco wrinkeled his nose a little by the thought of it.
She laughed a little as he told her he could imagine her with 7 books at once but not kids " aww you know me so well " she grinned and giggled a bit as she was getting more comfortable with him." Well according to Ron I was too much to handle " She rolled over to lay on her stomach propped up on her arms. She blushed a little hearing that he had thought about her from time to time wondering what happened to her. " And did you ?" She asked curiously wondering if he did end up finding someone to carry on the name. She didn't fully understand arrange marriage and how that could possibly be anything real. She did a quick glance checking for a wedding ring. Draco shook his head lightly. His nose still a little wrinkled, he sighed a bit. His facial expression showed mixed feelings as he began to speak in a almost mocking way. Kinda disappointed of himself " I chose to stay the disappointment of my family... " Memories crossed his mind in which he had argued with his parents about Greengrass and his future. " Father said it would be foolish and selfish but.. how could i marry someone that i don't feel any connection to?" He asked and frowned a little before he turned his head to look to his side. His eyes met hers. She relaxed hearing that he didn't go through with it. " that's true I suppose. If the connection isn't there then it won't last. Physical attraction only goes so far .." she said softly looking him in the eyes and held him gaze for a while not saying a word. She understood from his fathers perspective of why he pushed for an arranged marriage for his only child. There was no way in hell that Lucius would ever approve of her. She had the scars to prove it. That constant reminder and she couldn't get rid of it. She heart was beating a little faster in her chest at this point and she had wondered for year what it would be like to kiss him as her eyes ticked back down to his lips for a moment before returning her gaze. Draco's heart raced as he locked eyes with Hermione, feeling a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. The vulnerability in her words and the intensity of their gaze made him realize just how deeply he cared for her. It was as if time had stopped, and there was no one else in the world but the two of them. Unable to resist the magnetic pull between them any longer, Draco reached out a trembling hand to gently brush a strand of hair away from Hermione's face. His voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke, " I couldn't go through with the marriage.. because" Malfoy then pulled his head back again and narrowed his eyes a little " How could i.. i mean " It was really hard to find the right words without making it weird " how could i marry someone when there is someone sitting in the back of my head all the time? .. I was really worried , to be honest." She perked up a little seeing how nervous he was to be around her and to be this close. She reached for his hand as she moved closer " it's okay I get it. I couldn't either. We couldn't agree on anything in the end. Anything I wanted he would always dial it back. Like I wasn't allowed to have an opinion all of a sudden " she said rambling a little just to distract him. " it's okay Draco I get it. " she laced her fingers with his " someone else was on my mind too. For a long time. Longer than what I would like to admit " she said with a small smile. " who was she? The girl you rather be with ?" She asked curiously wanting to hear what he had to say.
His body shifted a little till he laid on his side. Draco slightly lifted his upper body and rested on his ellbow as he watched her closely. He looked down at their Hands for a little moment then back into her eyes. Draco felt a mix of relief and excitement as Hermione's hand intertwined with his own. Her words brought a sense of understanding and empathy, making him feel seen and heard in a way he had never experienced before. With quick motions he switched his gaze between her eyes as he tried to find the right words. He has never been good in talking about emotions or actually showing them. At that point he wondered if it was the right thing to say what he said but there was no way out anymore. Slowly he brought his face down to her. Just inches away from her lips he stopped for a moment wondering once more if it was right what he was about to do but feeling her warmth he couldn't hold back anylonger and gently kissed her. The kiss was soft and lovingly. It didn't take long till he pulled his lips back a little. There wasnt much room between their lips but he wanted to wait for her reaction. His unspoken confession hung in the air, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew that his action could change everything between them, but he couldn't keep his feelings hidden any longer. He wanted her to know the truth, to understand the depth of his emotions.
She didn't say a word as she watched him lean into her, she didn't want to let go of him either. She closed her eyes for a moment as he hovered above her for a few seconds. It was intense but in the best way possible. It was years of build up and didn't expect him to kiss her with any sort of passion. She placed her hand on his cheek as she met him half way and kissed him back softly and lovingly the best way she knew how. She only pulled away when he did as she let out a little soft whimper. She kept her eyes closed for a moment as she let her mind process what just happened and the fact that she enjoyed it. " finally.." she said breathlessly and reached up pulling him back to her as she kissed him again a little more passionately this time wanting to show him how she felt without so many words. She kissed him deeply leaning into him a little more placing her hand on the back of his neck. She slowly pulled away breaking the kiss. Draco's heart soared as Hermione responded to his kiss, her touch and reciprocation conveying a depth of emotion that words could never capture. He melted into her soft, passionate kisses, losing himself in the moment as their connection grew stronger with each passing second. Time seemed to stand still as he explored the depths of her affection. His Hand automatically reached for her waist as he leaned over her a little more the moment she placed her hand on the back of his neck. Draco sighed into the kiss and enjoyed every second of it. When they finally parted, both breathless and consumed by the intensity of their shared feelings, Draco found himself staring into Hermione's eyes, his own filled with a mixture of awe and adoration. He was overwhelmed by the realization that their unspoken love had finally found its voice in that moment. "I've wanted this for so long.." He stated quietly Hermione'a body responded easily to him as he gripped her waist making her toes curl a little. She tried to catch her breath as she searched his eyes for everything she needed to know and it didn't take long to find her answer. " me too.. you have no idea for how long. " she said smiled a bit and kissed him very softly one last time. Hermione grinned and slowly pulling back from him. " I think that was actually perfect. Just the way I thought it would be. " she said blushing a deep red admitting for once how she always felt. It lived up to her fantasy that she had built up in her head over the years. " was that everything you thought it would be?" She asked softly biting her lip making sure she was good enough for him. Draco's heart swelled with joy as Hermione expressed her own long-held feelings, confirming that their connection ran deep and had endured for years. Her words reassured him that this was not just a fleeting moment but a profound bond they shared. He closed his eyes again kissed her back softly . Draco bit his bottom lip when she pulled back. The taste of her lips and her warmth was addicting and his body couldn't get enough of her. Slowly he opened his eyes again and looked deep into hers. He smiled back at her, his eyes sparkling with affection "It exceeded all my expectations, Granger.." Draco answered in his typical arrogant way which was followed by a evilish grin. Watching her bite her lip really drove him crazy, maybe it was also the fact that in a way they did something forbidden. If his parents knew about them sharing this moment , the trouble would be real. But rightnow he didn't care about anything else but her. He simply leaned in to place a tender kiss on her forehead, savoring the warmth and tenderness of the moment. Hermione laughed in the most comfortable way " oh I'm glad to hear that. It was better than I thought it would be. And that's saying a lot. I had high expectations " she grinned and tilted her head to the side keeping her eyes on him. Everything told her this was wrong and they shouldn't but she just wanted more, so much more. She smiled and leaned into him as he kissed her forehead, she hadn't felt like this in years. " Maybe it's our little secret for right now. I just want to keep you to myself. " she said , keeping it a secret for now sounded a little more fun. This was definitely forbidden which made it all the more exciting. She looked him in the eyes and didn't say a word as she knew he was about to turn her whole life upside down. Finally she had some excitement in her life. She was tired of the routine she had grown accustomed to , she wanted something new and fun. Draco couldn't help but feel a surge of exhilaration as Hermione spoke of keeping their newfound love a secret, adding an element of excitement and adventure to their relationship. The thought of their clandestine connection made his heart race with anticipation. A mischievous grin played on his lips as he met Hermione's gaze. "I couldn't agree more " he replied, his voice laced with a hint of playfulness. "Our little secret it shall be, for now..." She was right, the forbidden nature of it all does make it even more thrilling. Even tho he wished he wouldnt have to hide his feelings for her. But if his parents find out, he would end up in more trouble that he already was dealing with. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. " that means.. i will use any moment possible to kiss those lips " he spoke close to her lips, brushing her lips with his warm breath before locking them to a kiss again. The grip of his hand that was still resting on her waist, tightened a little, almost in a possessive way. She just hoped he didn't take it the wrong way when she wanted to keep it a secret for now. It wasn't forever just for a little while. Things were new and she just wanted to be sure first that it would last a while. She already knew when they were alone together it would be completely different than if they were in public. It would make it complicated at first but she was certain they would figure it out. she smiled and giggled a little " I hope you do more than that" she grinned and wrapped her arms around him a little tighter and kissed him deeply and passionately on the lips. It was just perfect, everything she wanted it to be. It was just a bit dangerous still for the world to know just yet, just trying something new and there was definetely a spark between them. It felt good to let it out and give in to how she felt after all these years. He kissed her passionately and didn't want to let go of her lips. As they pulled away, their breaths mingling, Draco's eyes held a mixture of desire and understanding. He could sense the complexities and reservations that lingered beneath the surface, and he accepted the fact to keep their feelings a secret for now. He knew that whatever they had was fragile and delicate, and he wanted to honor her wishes. his gaze wandered down to her lips as he spoke " you hope i do more than that? " His eyes then met hers and his lips formed a grin as well. She smiled and nodded her head as innocently as ever " yea you better. I want much more than that. It will all come together there in its own time. I'm selfish and I want to keep you to myself for a while. Just for a little while I promise " she smiled looking him in the eyes and leaned in for one more quick kiss. She pulled back slowly laying underneath him keeping her eyes locked on his. She was quite proud to be his girl and honestly she didn't care who knew about it. It didn't bother her or anything. She just wanted to be absolutely sure that he would stay.
Draco couldn't help but be captivated by Hermione's playful and confident demeanor. Her words resonated with him, echoing his own desire for a deeper connection and a shared future. He would never just leave how he did years ago. Sadly he was forced to but now he was able to make his own choises. At least somehow. Before he could speak, he already felt her lips on his again and kissed her back. When she layed back down he kept staring into her dark eyes. " Just for a little while hm? " He gently brushed his thumb against her cheek, cherishing the softness of her skin. In that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for having her in his life. She leaned her face into his hand closing her eyes for a second. She had changed a lot since they left school. " mmhmm .. I trust you though. Which I shouldn't be telling you that at all. " she said with a chuckle " giving you way too much power over me .. I don't trust easily is all. It takes a lot. " Most of all she was very comfortable with him. It was all so exciting and new to her and she wanted to see where this goes. She could play it out a million different ways. He understood the weight of her words and the significance of the trust she had bestowed upon him. Draco studied her face closely as a moment of silence followed. His thumb still caressing her cheek for a moment before his hand moved down again to rest on her waist. " Well you have my trust as well, Hermione " Draco responded, his voice filled with sincerity " But you must be crazy to trust someone like me.. after all that happened " She blinked a little and sat up placing her finger under his chin and tilted his head " I do trust you. Very much. It's not your fault what happened. I was worried about you … I knew something was right. You barely said two words to me. Practically ignored me. That was my first clue. " she said looking him in the eyes " we all walked away with scars. It was to be expected but you know what ? We walked away. Alive. And guess what.. you have me. All of me. " she was fidgeting with her sleeves and pushed them up a little trying not to make a big deal out it .. she couldn't help but notice it was basically matching. The same spot and everything. She wasn't ashamed of it any more. She hated how the scar got there but she couldn't do much about it. It had been carved into her for a reason. Draco sat up as well , listened attentively to Hermione's words. His heart was aching with a mixture of guilt and gratitude. He had carried his own burdens from their shared past, and he realized now the impact it had on their relationship. He hadn't been there for her when she needed him the most, and it pained him to know the distress it caused. He reached for his own sleeve and pulled it up a little more. Revealing the scar that still had the shape of the dark mark, but since Draco tried to scrape it off a couple of times, it looked a little deformed. Draco's eyes softened as he glanced at the matching scars on their arms, a reminder of the past. "We may carry these scars, but they don't define us..." He then slowly looked in her eyes again " Always remember that you have me, and i promise i won't leave like i did years ago" Her eyes ticked down as he rolled up his sleeve as she could see what remained. She could see the scratch marks where he tried to remove it. She she slid her hand up nice and slow over his arm. " why does it have to be in the same spot?" She mumbled a little just barely over a whisper. It was more of a question for her self , what was Bellatrix trying to do to her. It nearly matched in a way, some spot and about the same size. Hers was just a little smaller. " I know I do. And if you ever tried to leave me again .. I'd hunt you down. Don't think I won't. Just tell me this .. what do you really think of me? " He watched her when her eyes ticked down and she looked at his scar. Draco didn't dare to look down at his arm again. Most of the time he tried to avoid seeing it, cause whenever he sees his scar it felt like he is going through the hell once more. All the bad memories came up in his mind whenever he looked at his with scar covered pale arm. It was really weird that their scar's were almost the same size and at the same spot. As if it was fate , as if it was a sign of them belonging together. Draco swallowed and frowned a little as he lowered his head a bit. His eyes were focused on her scar and it really did hurt to read the word mudblood on it. When Hermione asked what he really thinks of her he quickly looked up in her eyes. His brows lightly lifted " What i think of you?" he asked quietly. His gaze then wandered down to her arm again " I still think that... you are the smartest Witch alive" Malfoy paused. He lifted his other hand slowly and gently traced his finger along her scar " But it didn't take long for me to understand that you are more than that.." Draco looked up in her eyes and sighed a little " You are beautiful, brave... unique" She flinched a little and didn't mean to when he traced his fingers over her scar. She always kept it hidden. She felt broken , damaged goods after that night. How could someone want her now? It was something she had to deal with on her own for a long time. She never felt like her self since. " oh.. now you're just being really sweet. I've been trying you know .. to remove it. Crystals .. knives .. basic magic. Nothing worked. The knife made it worse actually. No matter how deep I went it just came back worse as it was like it was fresh. " that was something she never told anyone. It took months to heal and she finally left it alone.