Chapter 13 - Interruptions and Ponderings
When the Trio finally retired for the night, Hermione tried to sleep off what happened earlier that night. Unfortunately for her though, she couldn't get any sleep. She was bothered by Malfoy's note that he gave that afternoon before meeting up with her.
He wrote that he will not disclose who he was for fear of me not showing up. She thought while lying facing the ceiling. So he wanted me to come despite knowing I'm the "mudblood" he's been torturing for years. And why is that? He even gave me flowers! He called me "Hermione" the whole time. Now, that's certainly a surprise. Plus he was so nice to me during the whole meeting. Why was he like that? I do not like where these thoughts are taking me.
She kept on thinking and analyzing what just happened until she heard a soft knock on her bedroom door.
"'Mione? Can I come in?" came Harry's muffled voice.
Hermione immediately got up and quietly opened her door, so as not to disturb Ron and Luna sleeping in the last room. "You could have just entered via the bathroom, Harry. I rarely leave that closed now."
Harry grinned sheepishly. "Um, is it ok if stay the night here? Just to sleep beside you, I mean," he added hastily upon seeing the shock look on Hermione's face.
"Oh," Hermione replied, still unable to process what Harry was proposing. "Oh. Oh, all right, Harry." She walked towards her bed, laid down and patted the space beside her, gesturing for Harry to join her.
Harry walked towards her and laid down, the bed shifting a little due to his added weight. Hermione immediately snuggled beside him and rested her head on Harry's chest. Harry's right arm went around Hermione. He extended the other and summoned for the blanket at their feet to cover them up. Then he started to stroke Hermione's hair, kissing her forehead in the process. "What were you thinking, love? I knew you weren't sleeping," he asked.
Hermione sighed and didn't answer right away. "'Mione?" Harry inquired. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, Harry."
The two lapsed into silence. Hermione clung more to Harry while he continued to stroke her hair. She was about to drift off to sleep due to Harry's ministrations, when he suddenly asked, "Its Malfoy, isn't it?"
Hermione lifted her head to stare at Harry. Harry gazed back and kissed her softly, assuring her. "You can tell me anything, love. You know that."
Hermione nodded then laid her head back on Harry's chest. She sighed once more and said, "Yes, I was thinking of Malfoy."
Harry tensed a bit but continued on stroking Hermione. "Why are you thinking of him, love?" he asked softly.
Hermione thought that now was a good time as any to tell him everything that had happened and not to leave any detail of what took place that night with Draco Malfoy. I mean, he's my boyfriend. Not to mention, her best friend as well. He would understand, right? And so she proceeded to tell him everything. Including where they met at the hotel, how he was nice to her, the anonymous note and what was written on it plus the other dozens of roses he gave her. She also told him of her thoughts about his intentions.
After she finished, Harry didn't say anything but tightened his hold on Hermione. Finally he whispered, "I love you, Hermione."
Hermione snuggled closer into his arms. "I love you, too Harry." That said, she closed her eyes and after a few minutes, drifted to sleep.
Harry gazed down on the sleeping witch beside him and kissed her softly on the forehead. "I did not mean that in a platonic way, `Mione," he whispered. "Not like the usual way we tell it to each other. And I swear over Dumbledore's grave that Malfoy's not going to take you away from me…" Then he also closed his eyes and was lulled to sleep by Hermione's deep even breathing.
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Draco Malfoy sat in his study in front of the fireplace in the Malfoy Manor, a glass of firewhisky in one hand. He was completely lost in thought about the witch he just met that night. He had been watching her from a far for quite some time already even during their Hogwarts days. He was mystified by her intelligence and confidence in everything she did. It was a common wonder among those who barely knew her as to why she was in Gryffindor when she could do very well in Ravenclaw. He was also baffled by her dedication to what is right and bravery. That's why she was placed in Gryffindor, I suppose.
He raised his glass to the firelight before taking a big gulp, emptying it. He then summoned one of the house-elves to bring him another glass from the kitchens. Once he had his glass, he resumed his thinking of that certain witch he met that evening, taking a sip of his whisky every once in a while.
While at Hogwarts, she intrigued him. How she answered all the teachers' questions precisely, how she made potions correctly and performed numerous spells perfectly even if they were not yet taught to them. He watched her friendship with Potter and Weasley and though he hated to admit it, was jealous of the closeness and the bond they shared. He never had that with Crabbe and Goyle or with whomever from the Slytherins, never friends; it was always a power struggle.
He watched her fight during the war, her relentless loyalty towards Potter never wavering as she fought side by side him. He watched as she rose through the ranks inside the Ministry and became the youngest assistant Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. He watched her grow up into the very beautiful and stunning woman that she is now. How her friends never noticed that, he could never tell. At one point, he thought that Weasley might try something but that Ravenclaw girl suddenly came into the scene. Then he thought that Potter might try something as well. But so far - he didn't see anything going on between them.
Even though he called her a "mudblood" and considered her below him because of what he was taught, he realized back then that he could never compare to her. She was perfect. Special. Different from any woman he had ever been with. His calling her a "mudblood" was his way of catching her attention, if that was any possible. When they got older though, he had to find other ways of grabbing her attention. He needed to win her over, not just get attention from her; he wanted her admiration, not scorn.
When he learned that she was working in the Ministry, he found ways to sponsor Ministry events if only to know if she's going to be there. He was always there just to get a glimpse of her. He kept himself anonymous every time he made his donations and sponsorships for fear of her finding out and getting the wrong impression. He only interacted with the Head of her department so as to keep abreast of proceedings within the Ministry. Because of his charm, he was able to find subtle information about her through her Department Head.
And finally, he met with her that evening. He still marveled at how gorgeous she became. Her hair, her face, her figure. Damn, her figure. The little smile she gave him once. Or was that twice? Don't really care as long as she smiled at me. She was still confident and right down onto business. She knew what she wanted and she was very eloquent to achieve that.
"Hermione… Hermione Jane… Hermione Jane Granger…" he said softly. "Damn you… You've been haunting my dreams forever…"
"Draco? Draco, darling?"
He shook his head out of stupor and called, "Yes, Nicolette? I'm here at the study."
Nicolette Lestrange, daughter of the brother of Rodolfus Lestrange, Bellatrix's husband, fiancé of Draco, poked her head in to check on Draco. "I thought you were already in bed," she said while sauntering in, sitting opposite of him. "How did your meeting go?"
"It went well, Nicolette."
"You know, love. I'm not sure your father would approve of all these - these charity as he called it, that you're doing. Financing filthy mudbloods' events. It would do you better if you put more into your father's cause than in those," she said nonchalantly, gracefully shaking her loose auburn waves.
He didn't reply immediately. He just continually gazed at the fireplace. He suddenly grew cold towards his fiancé at the mention of "filthy mudbloods' events."
"Lucius is already dead, Nicolette," he replied coldly. "I don't care what he thinks. He never cared for me when I was younger. He thought he was already showing love by buying me everything. He neither cared nor loved me. So why should I care for him? He's dead now. Why still think of him?" he turned his gaze towards her.
Nicolette shrugged. "I know he's dead. But he's still your father. He left you everything of the Malfoy fortune. He expects you to do something about it that he would approve of. Besides, you're a Malfoy. It is what's expected of you," she said haughtily while examining her fingernails.
Draco suddenly stood up and walked over in front of the fireplace. "I told you before, Nicolette. I renounced my father's ways and causes long before the final battle took place. I made my choice already back then and I'm not going to change it." He paused and took a sip of his firewhisky then turned to face his fiancé. "I don't care what you think, what Father would think, what everyone would think. I'm a man of my own now. Even you can't tell me what or what not to do."
He then placed his glass on the table by his seat and walked towards the door. Without turning, he said, "Good night, Nicolette." And left.
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The following morning dawned on bright and clear. Hermione awoke to a warm and fuzzy feeling surrounding her. She opened her eyes slowly and was greeted by emerald colored eyes smiling down at her.
"Good morning," Harry said, kissing the tip of her nose.
She smiled and stretched. "Good morning to you, too. You know, I kind of like the idea of you waking up in my bed."
Harry grinned mischievously. "Is that so, Miss Granger? Is that an invitation for me to spend the night again in here tonight and you know - ?" he asked, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Harry!" Hermione squealed, while playfully punching his arm. She stood up and stretched once more, walking towards the bathroom. "What time is it, anyway?"
"It's already 9:00AM."
Hermione abruptly stopped her stretching. Her arms raised above her head, she turned to Harry and shouted, "9:00AM?! 9:00AM?! IT'S 9:00AM ALREADY?!" When Harry nodded, she cursed under her breath, grabbed her towel by her dresser and stalked off towards the bathroom, muttering softly about Harry being a distraction that she overslept.
Harry chuckled and stood up as well. "It's nice not having training for once today. And I can be late!" He stretched and called out to Hermione. "I'm going down and making breakfast, love! Come down after you finish there, all right?"
"Don't bother! I'm late for work! I'll be Apparating as soon as I'm done here in the shower!" he heard her respond.
"I'll owl it then!" He didn't hear her respond and so he went down, still chuckling to find Ron and Luna at the table already eating.
"Hey, you guys," he said while going over the counter to have a cup of brewed coffee.
"Hey," replied Ron. Luna merely smiled as she was munching on a toast and was reading The Quibbler. "There's bacon and eggs and kippers and toast here already, Harry. All cooked by Luna."
"Wow," said Harry. "You outdid yourself on this, Luna. Everything smells delicious. And I bet it all tastes delicious as well." He then got himself a plate and a helping of everything.
"Hermione on her way down?" asked Ron while sipping his orange juice.
"Yeah, I suppose so. She's late for work apparently. I don't think she'll stay for breakfast. Told her I'll cook for her and owl it to her but Luna already prepared it here."
That said, Luna glanced up from The Quibbler and waved her wand, getting helpings of everything she prepared and placing them in a lunch box. Upon noticing Ron and Harry's bemused looks, she only muttered, "For Hermione," and went back to reading her magazine.
Harry only arched his eyebrows and resumed eating while Ron just shrugged. At that precise moment, Hermione stepped in the kitchen, fresh from the shower.
"I gotta go," she hastily said, sauntering over to Harry and giving him a peck on the cheek. "I'm so late for work. I have a 9:30AM meeting and I still have to prepare!"
Before Hermione turned around, Harry grabbed her hand and placed in the lunch box Luna prepared. "Here, before you go - take this. Luna cooked that and I tell you, it's wonderful. Eat it during your break, ok?"
Hermione looked at the lunch box and smiled. "Thanks a bunch, Luna. I'll try to cook dinner tonight to make up."
"I'll walk you to the door," said Harry, rising up in his seat.
"No, really. I can manage, Harry. Just finish your breakfast there, all right?" But Harry was already beside Hermione and walking along with her. When they reached the door, Harry turned her around to give her a proper goodbye kiss.
"We could see you two lovebirds from here, you know!" hollered Ron.
Harry ignored them and continued on kissing Hermione. Finally breaking the kiss, Hermione said, "Look, Harry. As much as I would like to kiss you more, I really am late for work. So I should…" But what she should do, Harry never heard for he was kissing her again.
"I can't (kiss) seem (kiss) to stop (kiss) kissing you," he replied breathlessly.
Hermione, still with her eyes half-closed, said softly, "Right. We'll continue this later, all right?"
She brushed her lips against Harry's one final time, walked to the Apparation point and vanished. Harry just sighed and went back to the kitchen to see Ron grinning like an idiot.
"What?"
"Nothing," said Ron. "That was a great morning show, don't you think so, love?" he said while nudging Luna.
Luna mumbled her assent, still engrossed in what she was reading. Harry just shook his head and smiled.
"Last night was a total surprise, eh - Harry?" asked Ron while munching on the nth toast he had that morning.
Harry simply nodded as he was sipping his coffee. "Say, mate. Do you think I should tell Remus about Malfoy getting in touch after a long time?"
"Yeah. That's a good idea. And tell him as well about how he met with Hermione," replied Ron immediately.
"Well," butted Luna, a bit dreamily. "I also think that's a good idea but don't you think you should wait and see first if Draco Malfoy would try anything else aside from last night?"
Harry was quiet. He pondered what Luna was suggesting. Ron simply shook his head and was about to retort when Luna continued on astonishingly briskly. "I mean, last night could probably be the last time Draco meets with Hermione. I'm merely suggesting that you should see first if Draco makes any more overt moves before getting in contact with Remus. He didn't do anything drastic, did he? I think he must be charged `innocent' until we prove that there's something else."
Ron snorted. "Innocent? Malfoy? Yeah, right! Like he'll ever be innocent!"
"I think that's reasonable enough though," replied Harry. "Yeah, I think I'll take Luna's advice on this one. Thanks Luna."
Luna beamed at him and turned to her magazine once more as if they didn't converse about Draco Malfoy. Ron just rolled his eyes. "Whatever, mate. I still say that Remus must be kept in the loop."
"Yeah, thanks for that as well, Ron." Harry looked at the wall clock and exclaimed, "Look at the time! I need to get going! I don't have training today but that doesn't mean I should be super late. Kingsley wouldn't be too happy." And with that, he dashed off to his bedroom to change.
Ron laughed. "Right. I've heard that Kingsley's dying to kick your arse for being absent-minded lately!" he called after Harry.
Harry didn't answer, merely stretched his arm towards Ron and then, Ron dangled in the air upside-down by his ankles all of a sudden.
"Hey, Harry! Put me right! Put me right, THIS INSTANT!" he screamed. Luna merely looked at him curiously and then giggled. Harry acted as though he didn't hear him and proceeded to shut his bedroom door.
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(A/N - My greatest gratitude towards my lovely beta, Lady Starlight. Without her, I am absolutely at a loss and a big mess.)
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