Haunted Angel

Storm

Love is like a storm.

It is unexpected, often unwanted, extremely powerful and once you've heard the roar of its booming thunder or struck by its crashing lightning, there's no escape. You either accept it, learning to enjoy the beauty that love is, or, you to fear its awesome power, wanting to cover your ears from its magical melody.

Love drives you out of sanity. To hell with what everyone else thinks!

Love is a game.

You fight for no reward.

You either win or you loose.

But what happens when you're no good at playing games? What if you were afraid that love would blow you away, change you, till there was nothing of the old left?

You can't plan love. There's no logical, strategical plan to love. Whether you win or loose, you grow, change and blossom from knowing it.

But what happens when you've lost to the game of love more than once already? But what happens when someone used to thinking logically, to planning and organizing, found herself in a world of confusion, misconceptions, obsessions and a lack of control?

One would of thought that a courageous Gryffindor like Hermione Granger would have battled it out. Instead, Hermione had run from love.

It scared her; the commitment, the trust, all things that the old Hermione Granger would have believed in.

Once, many years ago, maybe she had…

But now, the Hermione tossing and turning in her sleep was afraid of falling in love herself. She didn't want the unpredictability that it brought. She'd already had her heart broken twice already, both times by people she loved.

Now, she was angry that love meant that almost every night now that she went to bed in tears.

As she tossed and turned and turned her sleep, Hermione failed to hide from haunting memories in her dreams.

Maybe, love was worth the support…worth the needing, the holding, and the pleasure of being chased. Worth the satisfaction that at least one person thought that you were beautiful.

So, maybe Hermione wanted to change her ideas about love.

But she wasn't about to admit that she was wrong…

Yet.

With a groan and a grumble, Hermione got up from her cozy bed, dashing to the shower, hating winter for being so cold. She never wanted to leave the hot shower and reluctantly stepped out of the steamy bathroom, dressing swiftly to get to work on time.

She was in a foul mood by the time that she apparated to the front of the Ministry of Magic. It was pouring down half snow, half-defrosted water, and 100% bone chilling, ice-cold, slush drenching her completely. She stormed into her office, ignoring the startled looks on her work mates faces around her.

“Get to work.” she snapped, small puddles forming as she walked down the hallway. She arrived in her personal office and after a simple charm to dry herself, a quick cup of coffee and a deep breath, everything went back to the its usual calmness.

“Hermione, good to see you!” Draco said brightly, stepping cautiously into the room. If Hermione knew him as well as she thought she did, she would say he was up to something. His gray eyes were uncertain. Of what, she didn't know.

“Hmm…” was all Hermione managed to say, sipping on her second cup of coffee. “What is it you want?”

“You're in a cheery mood this morning,” The blonde man teased, his eyes twinkling mischievously, “Everything go all right with Potter?”

So that was what it was all about.

Hermione had the decency to act shocked. Somehow, she figured that Draco Malfoy, almighty-know-it-all would have found out something about what had happened yesterday.

“Oh, yes of course. You know, the usual.” Hermione ranted sarcastically, “Just told me he loved me, that's all.”

Draco visibly swallowed, trying not to meet her gaze. Obviously he had known about how Harry felt for her. But why hadn't he told her?

“Get out.” She told him flatly, wanting nothing more than to wallow away in her own self pity.

“Touchy, Granger!” Draco taunted. So now they were back to surnames. Two could play at that game.

“Malfoy, Get out!” she repeated, no longer wanting to out up with his games.

“Hermione, why are you so afraid of Harry loving you?”

“Out.”

“Hermione! Tell me why!”

“Malfoy…”

“Too chicken are you?”

That touched a nerve.

“No! I am not! All right, you want to know. I'm scared because I bloody love him! Is that fine with you Draco? Huh?” she yelled. Outside, Bonnie winced hearing her boss' voice reach another octave.

“Oh.”

“Yes, Oh!” Hermione sighed, sinking into her chair. “I'm in love with him Draco but I can't tell him.”

“Why?” Draco asked, sitting on her desk, unceremoniously knocking a mountain of paperwork onto the floor. He chuckled when Hermione glared at him.

“Because I've lost too much already. I don't want to loose one of the few people I consider a friend as well! Every time I've given my heart to somebody, they've torn it in two. I can't do that again. I can't go through that hell anymore. It hurts too much!” Hermione sobbed. Her friend reached out and squeezed her hand.

“Hey, what are you crying for? You've got me! Keep your chin up because there's always someone watching over you.” Draco cooed. Hermione sniffled and let out a small giggle.

“Is that suppose to be reassuring Draco?” Draco frowned, going over what he had said. When it hit him what she was teasing him about he laughed as well.

“Hey, I was just trying to be nice,” he said, his tone mocking anger, “But it's true, I'll always be here for you.” He told her, a serious look on his face. Hermione couldn't help but smile. She knew that she could trust him. Draco jumped off the desk, making more papers fly everywhere and came around to where she was sitting. He leant forward and began tickling Hermione's sides.

Maybe scrap the idea of trust.

Hermione yelped and tried to escape.

“Excuse me,” Bonnie stood at the door. Draco stiffened and turned to face her while Hermione blushed, not meeting her secretary's eye. She could see there was a small smile on the woman's face.

“Yes Bonnie,” Hermione muttered. The woman nodded.

“Mr. Malfoy, your wife is here to see you.” Bonnie told him, leading him out of the room. Hermione was curious.

What was Celicia doing here?