Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to ACupples. Thank you so much for your kind words and all of the help that you have given! It is definitely appreciated!
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Nervousness threatened to keep her frozen in place on the wrong side of the wall. She knew that if she didn't conjure the door soon she would end up getting caught but she could not make her legs follow her commands for movement. No matter how many times she counted to ten and tried to take the first step, she remained there. Completely immobile. Staring across the hall at the place the door would appear.
Well... If she ever got up the courage to call for it…
As Hermione stood there, her mind continuing to wrestle for control over her body, it struck her as odd that there was no sharp edge of hysteria that signaled a panic attack. There was no hammering heartbeat in her ears or vice-like grip around her throat making it hard to breathe. The only other outward sign of her internal dilemma, besides her stubbornly uncooperative legs, was the slight tremor in her hands and the sweat that was collecting on her palms.
This left little doubt that what she was experiencing was actually refreshingly typical-much like the jitters she had while waiting for the results of an exam. It was a completely acceptable biological response to an academically (or in this case, socially) challenging situation. The realization of the sheer normalcy of her situation caused an unexpected relief to flow through her veins. How long had it been since she felt like she could face a stressor without the feeling, fleeting or not, that the weight of her anxiety would crush her?
The small burst of confidence from this thought was enough to finally relax the tight rigidity that held her captive. She realized she had subconsciously been waiting for the moment that she would fall apart, and hadn't wanted Draco to see her blubbering and hyperventilating over something he wouldn't understand. The irony of her apprehensively waiting for her anxiety to take over was not lost on her. She shook her head and smiled at her own absurdity as her legs finally started along the familiar paced path.
I need the door to Draco Malfoy's room. I need the door to Draco Malfoy's room. I need the door to Draco Malfoy's room.
When the door appeared for her, the smile spread fully across her face. Grateful that she was no longer banned from entry like the last time, she rushed forward and closed the door quickly behind her.
Her gaze worked from one far corner of the room to the other and she saw that she was alone. The door to the loo stood open, squashing any hope that he may just be running late getting ready. Nothing had been done to change the room in any way, like her imagination had dreamt up. There wasn't even a note for her to wait for him…
Slowly her hand fell from the door knob and she made her way over to the couch and sat down, clinging to the chance that he was held up somewhere and would be there soon. She carefully inspected the room once again from where she sat, double checking that she had not missed anything on her initial sweep. Absolutely nothing had been moved since the morning she had woken up late- other than the bed was now made. Even her CD player was still sitting in the exact spot she had deserted it.
Or was it?
Hermione looked intently at her stereo, eyes narrowed in concentration. A whispering voice nagged at her that maybe there was something amiss from when she had been there last, she just could not put her finger on what it was. Ginny's purse, which she had borrowed to tote the CDs to the room, laid off to the side right where she had set it down. The small leather binder that had held the CDs was discarded a few inches away, the zippered teeth holding the fabric... closed?
She distinctly remembered setting it aside open, the empty plastic sleeves fanning out before the uneven weight had snapped the front of the binder back down into place at a slightly skewed angle. The thought that Draco must have closed it had her up on her feet to check that he hadn't tried to pack up her things and accidently wrecked the somewhat fragile discs in the attempt.
As soon as her fingers lifted the small little book from the floor she could tell there were more CDs than there had been previously. Had he really gone through her belongings and added to her little carrying case?
Her fingers found the zipper and slowly inched it open to sate her curiosity. She flipped the top open and started scanning through the now full binder. Every single sleeve was now occupied by a colorful disc. She tried to work out why he had made the choices he did, but she couldn't find any connection between the twenty CDs. They were all different genres and were from completely different decades. Had he really listened to each one? Or were they chosen at random?
Her mind whirled with the possibilities as she zipped the binder up and set it back down. She absently reached over and turned on the radio, figuring it would help calm her mind until Draco got there. The song that filled the room was a surprisingly upbeat number that had to have come from the newer selections her mother had sent since she had never heard it before…
To be young and in love in New York City.
To not know who I am, but still know that I'm good as long as you're here with me.
To be drunk and in love in New York City.
Midnight into morning coffee, burning through the hours talking.
Damn!
I like me better when I'm with you.
I like me better when I'm with you.
I knew from the first time, I'd stay for a long time.
'Cause I like me better when, I like me better when I'm with you.
I like me better when I'm with you.
I don't know what it is but I got that feeling.
Waking up in this bed next to you.
Swear the room, yeah, it got no ceiling.
If we lay, let the day just pass us by,
I might get to too much talking.
I might have to tell you something.
Damn!
I like me better when I'm with you.
I like me better when I'm with you.
I knew from the first time, I'd stay for a long time.
'Cause I like me better when, I like me better when I'm with you.
I like me, I like me better when I'm with you.
When the last note sounded she was still sitting there staring down in disbelief at her own radio. She never would have guessed that of all the different kinds of music he had access to that specific song would be something he would gravitate towards. Her lips pulled up into a bemused smile.
"Ahh... So you did decide to come," Draco's voice interrupted her musings and sent her gaze searching the room yet again. Her eyes came to rest where he was leaning against an open door frame that had definitely not been there five minutes earlier. Amused by her mute response, he continued. "I can never be sure with you."
Hermione couldn't stop the laugh that burst from her lips. The confusion that flashed across Draco's features only made her laugh harder. Once she was able to breathe again she offered up an explanation for her outburst, "I feel the same way about you all of the time."
As he processed her words, she took the time to take in his appearance. The perfected casual stance hinted at a deliberate betrayal of his "outstanding" pedigree and reminded her so strongly of Sirius that she felt a pang of guilt in the pit of her stomach. To distract herself from the memories that threatened to surface, she continued her lazy perusal of his body and noted that instead of dressing up he wore his traditional white dress shirt and black slacks.
She silently thanked the Gods for the fine specimen of male lounging in front of her as she dragged her eyes up to his face. A face that had almost completely thinned of any childish roundness and revealed sharp aristocratic features of an undoubtedly dignified man.
To stop the blush she felt creeping up her neck from her racy thoughts, she shifted her attention to the newly magicked door that Draco was conveniently blocking. Trying to deduce where it could potentially lead. Now that she was so close to solving the elusive mystery of his plans, she was immediately impatient. She stretched up onto her tiptoes trying to look over his shoulder into the room that was beyond…
Everything behind him had a weird hazy film over it, causing it to appear blurred. It was as if the room knew what she was doing and conspired with her host to keep her in suspense! Her brain could not conjure up a single detail that would give her any hint as to what was in store.
Draco cleared his throat to bring her attention back to him, his lips raised in a genuine smile, allowing for the rest of his face to relax and soften. "Your intolerance for ignorance is showing."
She instantly fell back on to her feet and felt the heat of a blush color her cheeks. She shrugged, "I am not a fan of surprises."
"Or, as most people like to say behind your back... You. Are. Nosy." He teased, mimicking her habit again.
"I am not nosy! I just...like knowing everything about everyone and everything at all times…" She made a show of putting her hands on her hips with feigned offense before concluding with a sheepish smile. "Besides! I think anyone in my place would want to have an idea about where they were going to be spending their night!"
"You will have to be patient for a few more seconds, Kitten." He said as he closed the door behind him, cutting off any hope she had for a sneak peek of what laid ahead. Instead of coming over to her like she had hoped, he moved to the right so he was positioned with his back to her as he rummaged around in the bedside table.
Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, Hermione snuck over as quietly as she could, making sure not to get too close and reveal herself prematurely. She leaned up so she was balanced on her tiptoes and whispered right into his ear, "What if I don't want to be patient?"
Her unexpected proximity caused him to jump violently into the air and hurriedly jam something into his pocket before turning around to face her.
"Maybe I should make you wait even longer, hmm?" He purred. "Take advantage of the chance to teach you a lesson?"
"You could," She conceded with a smirk, watching as he took the opportunity to let his appreciative gaze wander from her face down to her toes and back up again, "...But..."
"But... That would be rather stupid of me?" He interrupted as his eyes found hers.
"Well... Yes." She straightened up triumphantly, the smirk on her lips transforming into a full blown smile.
"Lucky for you, I am not stupid." He said and reached over and took her hand in his, leading her over to the mysterious new door. There was nothing particularly extraordinary about it. The worn-looking slab of wood could have opened to any one of a hundred broom closets found throughout the castle. Instead of reaching for the knob, Draco stopped their advancement and looked at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Close your eyes," he instructed gently.
She looked at him for a moment, but did as he commanded, the silly smile still firmly planted across her face.
The nervousness she felt earlier returned, but had transformed into an excited tension that knotted in her stomach as she waited for further instructions. With her sight cut off, the rest of her senses kicked into overdrive. She heard the rustling of fabric as he moved away from her, the warmth of his body next to hers disappearing, causing a shiver to run up her spine.
Her heart started to pound hard in her chest as her ears processed the sound of the doorknob clicking and she felt the whoosh of wind from the door swinging open.
For an immeasurable moment there was only silence and then Draco cleared his throat. Hermione was surprised to hear a slight tremor in his voice when he finally spoke, "Y... You can open them now..."
Was he... Was he nervous?
Any thoughts were immediately banished when she opened her eyes and saw what Draco had done with the room. Her jaw dropped in surprise.
She couldn't speak... She could barely breathe…
After a moment she was finally able to choke out the only thought that her mind could articulate-
"How?"
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Song Credit:
"I Like Me Better" by Lauv