A/N: thanks to Beta Mabel. Also, it's a bit wordy in the beginning, but it's a reflection on both of them and their feelings for each other. Please bear with the fluff! LOL
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Sunlight
When Hermione woke up the next morning she was startled to see a Hogwarts trunk with Harry's initials sitting against the wall. It took her a moment to realize why she wasn't in her room, opening her eyes to her childhood wardrobe. Piece by piece, as her body began to wake up, last nights events came back in a rush and if it wasn't for Harry's warm body behind her, she would've been up searching for him, making sure he was indeed up and alive. Shifting a bit and rearranging her head on her pillow, she felt Harry press closer, comforting her. His arm which was draped over her side tightened momentarily then relaxed.
Warmth flooded through her, causing tears to well up unexpectedly. His promise last night, sealed with a kiss and everything, was so raw and innocent she thought she might fall apart from the dam of emotions in her heart. For him to kiss her, on the mouth and breathe the words "trust me" had forced her to inhale them and hold onto his promise. His kiss had been full of meaning, full of promise and he had made her believe him from the moment his lips had touched hers feather brushing her arm. He was pressed up so tightly she could feel his heart beating and the rise and fall of his chest against her back, solidifying the fact that he was very much alive. As her eyes traced the contours of the trunk, she wondered what it was like for Ginny to wake up with Harry, especially after having intimate moments with him.
Ginny had talked to her a bit about sleeping with THE Harry Potter. She quietly told Hermione how their first time was on his nineteenth birthday and how it was sweet and awkward all at once. Piecing together several different conversations with Ginny, Hermione had learned that Harry was very attentive, moving somewhat slower than what Ginny wanted, almost as if he was unsure of himself; though, Ginny swore no one could hold a match to Harry and professed this knowledge based from the conversations she had with her old school friends and her experiences with previous boyfriends. Ginny had been pretty sure Harry's reputation of being a powerful wizard had crossed over to his intimate side as well. When the conversations turned towards his aptitude in bed, Hermione remembered feeling very uncomfortable and usually changed the subject. There wasn't any way she was going to tell Ginny that Ron seemed just as attentive but could turn goofy in a moment, tickling or blowing raspberries on her stomach.
Feeling a blush rise furiously to her face as she thought more about Harry than she ever had (and recalling that side of Ron) she squirmed a bit, causing Harry to press his knees into the back of hers, seemingly still asleep. Stilling her movements, she concentrated on regulating her heartbeat and breathing, quickly becoming aware of a slight pull that seemed to pulse out of Harry. Concentrating on that faint vibration he was emanating, she rifled through the stores of her mind, trying to figure out what she was feeling. Very slowly, she arched her back off his chest and stomach and felt the pull lessen. Relaxing again, the pull seemed stronger, subsequently leading to her to confirm he was performing something she had only read about.
His magic was creating a kind of shield around him and she had read very powerful wizards could control this in ways that almost manipulated other people and small objects. They could call small objects to them without an accio charm, cause people to feel stronger than usual emotions or even enabling the other person to receive what they are feeling on a bio rhythmic level. Hermione briefly wondered if Harry even knew he was radiating an energy. It certainly made her feel warm, safe and even loved. Half of her wondered if it was intentional. She had been uncharacteristically upset lat night, but she had to admit that the fact that he kissed her (she knew how difficult it was for him to express affection in any way) had been a comforting and a slightly pleasurable way to abate her fears.
Feeling sleepiness over come her again as the first gray light shown through the window, Hermione closed her eyes and listened to Harry's deep, even breathing. Her last thought, as she floated into sleep, was how nice it would be just to lay in bed all day, surrounded by Harry and his warmth.
It wasn't long after Hermione had fallen back to sleep that Harry had woken up to find himself curled around Hermione, holding her tightly against him and for a brief moment he let himself relax and relish the closeness. She fit perfectly, like a puzzle piece he had always known he was missing but hadn't found until now. That thought startled him and his brain raced to figure out what was missing when he was with Ginny. He remembered that she wasn't one to sleep curled up against him as she constantly moved or spread out over the bed. The close contact with Hermione filled him with comfort and warmed him in places that never, until now, responded when he thought of Hermione. Shifting his hips back from her he tried to push back the not-so-pure-thoughts he was having of his friend and was glad when he heard Neville making his way down the stairs. He forced himself to roll out of bed, careful as to not wake up Hermione and took a quick shower, dressing in his bathroom.
As he walked out of the steamy room, he was surprised to see her still asleep, not on her stomach, her hair falling over her cheek. Quickly, before the urge to push her hair back overtook him, he walked out quietly shutting the door behind him.
Lightly, he ran down the stairs and encountered Neville and Luna in the kitchen, drinking juice and feeding Hedwig some
owl treats.
"Harry, about last night," Luna started apologizing but Harry held up his hand.
"Luna, I know you didn't mean anything upsetting by it; you never do. It took me by surprise and seemed a little…surreal to me. I'm okay now."
"Are you sure? You were really pale there for awhile," Neville asked sympathetically filling up a glass with pumpkin juice and handing it to Harry.
"Thanks, but I'm okay. Got a pretty good night's sleep."
"Did Hermione go home?" Luna asked so flippantly that even Harry picked up that she was asking a question when she already knew the answer.
"She's upstairs, asleep," Harry admitted and he saw Neville smile and wink.
"So you and her…?" He made a motion with his hands for Harry to hurry up and tell him the details.
"No," Harry quickly interjected, looking down at his juice.
"Not yet," Luna said in the same flippant voice and saw Harry's face flush a bit. "Be patient Harry."
"What?" Neville asked looking back and forth. "Patient with what? Luna, you can't be this vague around me…."
"Sorry, Nev. I'm just telling Harry to be patient and in time he and Hermione will be together."
"How do you…think that?" Harry asked quickly changing his mind from saying "know" to "think". He busied himself with drinking the rest of his juice, while trying to remain relaxed against the counter. His question was never answered as Hermione came in, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, her shirt un-tucked and wrinkled, crease marks making light patterns on her cheek and her dark eyes were still looking sleepy.
"Morning Hermione!" Neville said brightly, accioing a glass over and pouring her some juice.
"Thanks, Neville." Hermione took her glass and drained it before saying anything else.
"Luna…you sleep okay after last night?" she asked letting her friend know she wasn't angry about the events that happened. Rifling in the cupboard she pulled out some bagels and cream cheese. Harry found a knife and went through the motions of making a bagel; anything to distract him from thinking that a sleepy Hermione was a very cute sight.
"I did. That wore me out. I've only ever channeled someone once before for my dad. I hope I didn't upset you either, Hermione."
"I'm fine," Hermione answered her sleepy eyes drifting over to Harry. He gave her a small smile then bit into his bagel he had prepared, forcing his eyes back to his owl. Obviously, neither Neville nor Luna had heard her cry out in her sleep. "I need to go get a shower at my place, so I'm taking my bagel with me. Did you all want to meet up later?"
"Sure. I have to get ready for next weeks lesson but I'll do that later. I'm free this afternoon," Harry said watching Hermione prepare her bagel, managing to catch her eye. He wanted to ask if she was alright, if she had slept anymore, but he felt that Neville and Luna didn't need to know about her nightmare.
"Neville and I are going flat hunting, but we'll be back in time," Luna answered smiling then receiving a quick kiss from Neville. Harry politely let his eyes drift towards Hedwig seeing Hermione give him a small nod, as if answering his unspoken question. Telling everyone she would see them later she disappeared with a small, silky sounding "pop".
Harry found that he had nothing else to do after Neville and Luna left, so he pulled out the school work he still had to grade, which wasn't a large amount. He had eased up on the homework for his students, remembering how hard he worked at the end of each year, especially when the all important exams were to be taken. Finishing the grading, he took another look at the houses for sale when an idea popped into his head. For a moment he sat there at his desk looking at his calendar seeing that he did have a large block of free time on Tuesday, Friday night, and Saturday most of the day. In another week, school would be winding down and there was no way he could look for houses when he needed to be around to proctor exams. Walking to the floo, he called on Hermione.
"Hi Harry." Hermione was holding a book crouching in front of her fireplace.
"I had a thought…you know how Luna and Neville are looking for a flat? Well, what if I speed up the house process and if I find something sooner than later, and you could offer then your flat? You know how hard it is to find reasonably priced flats IN Hogsmeade and you are near the--," Harry stopped, seeing understanding dawn in her eyes.
"Harry! That's a great idea, but...remember? I'm waiting until you're in the house for a bit."
"Hermione, come on. You know I won't find it any more…scintillating to be on my own there than here, so you should just move in at the same time."
"Did you just say "scintillating"?" Hermione gaped at him, seeing him smile.
"I did. I do have a few big words tucked up my sleeve you know."
"Wow, I'd say so," Hermione shook her head getting back to the subject, "Harry, I really think I should wait."
"Hermione, just move in at the same time, then we don't have to hire two movers. You know we can't accio or levitate our stuff in the middle of the street. We'd knock someone over," Harry told her, appealing to her sensible side.
"I don't mind hiring-," Hermione began stubbornly, but the next thing that Harry said surprised her.
"I want you to. Please. Look with me and move at the same time. If Neville and Luna like your flat, then it'll work for everyone."
I want you to. Please.
Hermione couldn't stop those words from ringing in her ears and just nodded mutely. She had never known him to be so insistent with her and found she couldn't resist him asking her in that coaxing voice.
"Great," Harry smiled happily. "I finished my grading, figured I'd call Miss Wallengampit and we could go looking on Tuesday. Are you free then?"
Hermione nodded again struggling to find her words which seemed to have escaped her for the moment. When did the tables flip so Harry was actually planning out his week? She was still stunned at the whole conversation so she just nodded again, giving him a small, unsure smile.
"I'll let you know the specifics then; I'll send her an owl now. I do have a meeting with McGonagall in the morning but I can probably look at three or so in the afternoon." Harry said goodbye and disappeared from Hermione's fireplace, leaving her staring at an empty grate, wondering when Harry had become confident that almost pleading with her would work in things going his way. It made him happy, the smile that crossed his face had light up his eyes and she figured it was worth giving in. Not to mention the fact that his idea was very practical.
---
After lunch, Harry played a game of chess with Neville, telling him his thoughts of moving. Their conversation steered from finding flats and houses to Draco's death then to Neville's degree. He had taken a position as part owner of an Herbology store in Diagon Alley, where he would supply Hogwarts with the items they needed to instruct their Herbology classes.
"Do you remember Hermione's flat when you were there over Christmas?" Harry asked taking Neville's Castle and getting an earful from his pieces.
"Yeah." Neville moved his Bishop protecting his King and Queen.
"Well, Hermione said she'd move in with me as she does need a bigger place. Do you think you and Luna would be interested in taking over the rent on her flat?" Harry got Neville into checkmate and his friend sighed.
"Damn…ummm…I think so. Have to check with Luna you know." Neville moved his Queen then realized that there was no way he was going to win, so he knocked it down, hearing curses from the other pieces on the board. "When are you going to look for a house?"
Harry began picking up the pieces and placing them into the case he had received two Christmas's ago from Ron and Hermione. "We are meeting tomorrow around two thirty with the estate agent."
"We?" Neville questioned leaning back in his chair, finishing off a bottle of butterbeer.
"Yeah. She's pretty good at asking the right questions and stuff. Plus, I want Hermione to like whatever I buy, too."
"What happens if…well, you know, one of you gets a significant other…again," Neville sounded uncomfortable asking the question and Harry didn't blame him. Not many people, except Molly, had asked if they were going to start dating again. She had asked just a few weeks ago and Harry had only shrugged, not knowing how to answer that without making himself, or Molly uncomfortable.
Lifting a shoulder Harry shrugged. "I'm not worried about that. I'll deal with it when or if it comes about."
"You're bloody Harry Potter…you'll have no trouble finding anyone to date you," Neville complimented. Harry gave him a shy smile and shook his head hearing laughter break out in the next room. Neville shot Harry a glance.
"Should we go investigate?"
Vehemently, Harry shook his head. "They're watching a movie called, "When Harry Met Sallie" and if you watch it you'll get roped into the same conversation I did."
"Uh-oh."
"Yeah, `can women and men be just friends without the sex thing getting in the way'?" Harry told him laughing when he saw Neville shudder.
"I think I'll avoid that area. Want to show me the houses you're going to look at?" Neville quickly steered the subject away from sex. Just the mention of it made him turn red and he avoided mentioning the word at all costs. It actually made Harry grin a bit, he knew Neville was easily embarrassed but they weren't sixteen anymore. One day, Neville was going to have to say the word aloud, or even admit that he had sex; especially whenever he and Luna started having children.
Kids. Neville and Luna. That thought made him smile even more and he hid it by turning around and waving his hand in the direction of his desk.
Accioing his specs to the kitchen he laid them out for Neville, showing him the ones he liked best, at least on
paper.
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Tuesday afternoon was bright and sunny much to everyone's relief. Three solid days of rain had finally ceased and the residents of Hogsmeade were in happier moods than usual. Neville and Luna decided to stay at Hermione's and scope it out, while the two of them met Miss Wallengampit at her office next to Honeydukes.
As Harry held the door to Frieda Wallengampit's office for Hermione, she paused halfway through and looked up at him, confusion apparent in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly, hearing the estate agent talking to someone in the next room. Shaking
her head, Hermione quickly passed him and walked up to the counter waving to a gray haired lady in the back. The woman
returned the wave and held up a finger telling them she'd be there in a moment; Hermione and Harry took a seat on
the wooden chairs that lined the room.
Pictures adorned the walls, occasionally changing from interior views of each room to exterior shots of the front of homes, sides and backs. As Harry's eyes traveled the walls, Hermione was debating with telling him that she felt him radiating that energy again. As soon as she passed by him, her shoulder touched his arm and she felt it grab hold. As she moved away it lessened until now; because they were sitting in different chairs it had faded totally away. The unsettling way it had stopped her in her tracks scared her. It was something she didn't understand and she realized she was going to have to talk to him about it sooner than later. It'd be interesting if Miss Wallengampit felt anything, so Hermione decided to pay closer attention than usual to how someone reacted around Harry.
"Mr. Potter, it's an honor to meet you," Miss Wallengampit interrupted Hermione's thoughts as she came out from her desk, hand extended towards Harry. He rose and shook it firmly.
"Thank you, nice to meet you. Hermione said you were a tremendous help in finding her flat."
Miss Wallengampit waved her hand, dismissing his compliment, then shook Hermione's hand. "It's my job, Mr. Potter."
"Harry," he said, letting go of her hand.
"Harry. Well, shall we go look at the closest one first? It's a lovely four bedroom right behind Honeydukes." She directed them out the door, grabbing her bag and wand and following them outside to the busy street. "It's back this way."
Hermione walked next to Miss Wallengampit talking about her semester at school as Harry took in his surroundings. Some witches and wizards seemed visibly surprised to see him walking about during the day, knowing he taught at Hogwarts. But, being polite, they raised their hand in greeting instead of rushing up to him to chat or ask numerous questions. He was thankful for that. He had enough attention after the defeat of Voldemort, and on the anniversary every year to last him six lifetimes. Nodding in reply, he then turned back to the women in front of him. They had stopped by a pleasant looking house, though it was to close to the street for his taste.
"Shall we?" Miss Wallengampit opened the wrought iron gate and walked up the sidewalk that parted two small gardens. She muttered the password and she pointed her wand at the lock. Opening the heavy wooden door, the three stepped inside and Hermione immediately started walking around looking out windows and in closets. The first thing Harry noticed was how dim it was inside even with the sun out and not a cloud in the sky. Slowly he walked through the rooms, not feeling anything less than ambivalence for the house.
"I don't think so," Harry said coming out of the dining area, not even making an effort to go up the stairs
"I honestly didn't think so, either. But, I wanted to show it to you since we were close," Miss Wallengampit agreed ushering them back outside. "Now, let's head on to the other side of town where it is a bit more secluded."
The three of them linked arms and disapparated from the corner of Honeyduke Alley and appeared near the train tracks. Harry noticed at once it was much quieter, except when the Hogwarts Express would go through and that wasn't too often.
"Much quieter," Hermione voiced and Harry agreed realizing it was the first time she spoke to him since they had entered the 3W offices.
"Up here on the hill we have a newer home. The owners were transferred by the Ministry to work in Greece, so they are all moved out and anxious to sell," Miss Wallengampit explained as they walked up a curving stone walkway towards a large, one story home. Instead of a door, there was a blank wall between two windows.
"There isn't a door," Harry pointed out, but much to his surprise when Miss Wallengampit pointed her wand at it, and whispered a few words, a door the same shade as the blue house appeared.
"They were very private individuals and if there isn't a door, people don't usually bother you," she took a few steps up to the porch and pushed it open.
Hermione walked through and stood to the side looking around a the nice sized living room. A modern looking kitchen graced the back of the house and looked out over a small grove of trees. Off the kitchen was the living room which merged into a small hall that led down to three bedrooms. As Hermione went into the kitchen he decided to look at the bedrooms but was disappointed to see only one full bath, and that was in the hall. Instinctively he knew one bath wouldn't work. Personally, he had no problems sharing a bathroom with Hermione, but if they had a guest, she would stress out about how cluttered it would look. He didn't think he could conjure up a new bath either, so that idea was out. Feeling only a small sense of disappointment, because it was a nice open house, he truly felt deep down it wasn't THE ONE.
"Well?" Miss Wallengampit asked him as he approached the kitchen. Hermione had her head out the back door surveying the yard as Harry shook his head "No", feeling guilty that he nixed two in a row.
"Not a problem, Mr. Potter. You need to find the one that is right for you…that's what this whole process is about."
"It's Harry," he reminded her as she turned and walked back towards the door.
"No?" Hermione asked as she came up along side of him outside. He shook his head as Miss Wallengampit pointed down the hill, towards Hogsmeade Lane.
"There are two down there if you want to go look. The last one is up towards Hogwarts a bit."
"We can look at the two down there, then maybe the last one Friday evening? I know Hermione still has paperwork to do."
"I'm okay, Harry," she interjected, moving away from him as they walked down the hill. Trying not to make a big issue out of her not walking next to him, he hung back wondering if she was re-thinking her decision to move in. She had been awfully quiet and seemed to be avoiding him the hour they had been together. As he walked down the hill, watching Hermione pointing towards Hogwarts while chatting, he made a mental note to treat her to ice cream before heading back to her flat and ask her what was wrong.
After he nixed two more houses due to one being way to small and the other just being to dark and eerie feeling, he and Hermione were enjoying some ice cream at Fortesque's.
"Hermione is something wrong?" Harry asked timing the question when she didn't have a spoonful of vanilla ice cream in her mouth. She paused in scooping the sides of her bowl for just a moment, and then continued.
"No. Why?"
"You just seem distant. Are you sure you want to move in? I didn't mean to pressure you-," he began but was abruptly interrupted.
"Harry, I do want to move in with you. I'm just tired, that's all," she insisted, still working on scraping every last bit of vanilla off her bowl. "Do you still want me to look with you on Friday?"
"If you don't mind," Harry hedged and she nodded.
"Not at all." She stood up and tossed her bowl into the trashcan, hearing it burp quietly. She cast a look at Harry's empty bowl and he realized their conversation was over. He wasn't too sure if she was telling him everything, but an hour later she had hugged him at her flat before he, Neville and Luna disapparated to Grimmaould. That one small hug helped him feel a bit better about her actions earlier that day.
He had no clue that as he and his two friends walked around Grimmauld Place talking about who would be best suited to occupy the house, that Hermione was diligently pouring through her Extraordinary Witches and Wizards collections. She was trying to figure out why Harry seemed to be radiating magic that only she was able to discern. Miss Wallengampit seemed totally unaffected when she shook his hand or stood next to him, looking over the spec sheets and this both bothered and intrigued Hermione. She had to find out the answer.
----
Ginny floated up and down Hogsmeade Lane looking at the last house Harry was going to walk through. She hadn't been following them earlier that day; in fact she had been at The Burrow watching her mother play with her grandson. She heard that Fleur was expecting another baby in February, and Ginny secretly hoped it was a girl. Later that evening, she and Ron decided to visit Honeydukes just to enjoy the smells. She then found out all the talk was about Harry Potter and how was looking to move to Hogsmeade. Numerous people had spotted him with an agent from 3W looking at a few houses.
"He had his friend Hermione with him," a tall dark haired witch said to the elderly wizard behind Honeydukes counter.
"She's a smart one, that witch. Wouldn't be surprised if she was helping him," he said waving his wand over the counter, watching it magically become clean.
"I heard she's going to move in with him," the witch gossiped, lowering her voice, even though she was the only customer in the store at the time.
"Might be good for both of them. People are getting anxious you know. Ever since his girlfriend died, no one has seen him with any other witch," said the wizard, restocking the candy cases with a few flicks of his wand.
"I hear you. I really thought they'd both be out there dating, as cute as she is and as famous as he is, but I bet it's hard teaching and having a social life."
Ginny felt the need to go search for the homes with the 3W sign in front of them and motioned for Ron to follow her out of the store and down the lane.
"I've wondered why Hermione hasn't dated anyone. I've heard blokes ask her when she's just shopping in town. I think even Seamus asked when they ran into each other a few months ago," Ron mused, glancing at his brother's store which was locked up tight.
"Knowing Hermione, she didn't feel right dating if Harry wasn't ready at the same time." Ginny turned left onto Hogsmeade Lane and headed back towards the railroad tracks.
"He seems to be ready now. Maybe Lavender will find out he's moving here. They could have fun together," Ron mused stopping at the end of a small sidewalk. Ginny made a non-committal noise, remembering the "relationship" he and Lavender had years ago.
Ginny looked at the outside of the house Harry hadn't seen yet and immediately shook her head, then proceeded up the road a bit. She shot past a small walkway then suddenly stopped, backing up right into Ron.
"Let's go up here, Ron," Ginny called making her way up the dark walk to the house with the shiny roof.
Ron appeared behind her a moment later and let out a low whistle.
"Nice house."
"Harry needs to look at this one."
"How do you know it's not on the list?"
"Because this is the Gladrags house and has been up for a year. They want something like two hundred thousand galleons for it and I bet that estate agent doesn't know Harry can afford it. But I feel…he needs this house."
"Who owned it before the Gladrags did?" Ron floated through the wall and Ginny followed him. As they made their way through the house, they talked about how to find out the answer to his question. Some of these houses had very interesting histories and if the wealthy Gladrags had lived here, it probably had some history to it. They would've called upon that and added it into the price, just for historical reasons.
"I believe Phineas Nigellus originally owned this house, or one of his sons did," a voice came from behind Ginny as she sat on the porch with Ron.
"Draco, what've you been up to?" Ginny asked conversationally.
"I watched my mother go out to dinner with a friend. First time she actually got out of the house in awhile actually."
"Good for her," Ron said swinging his legs back and forth. He was "sitting" on the railing to the porch looking up at the stars in the night sky.
"What're you doing at this house? Moving out of the dungeons?" Draco eased himself down next to Ginny, who again felt something akin to warmth as his shoulder brushed hers.
"Looking for Harry. Ginny here says he must have it."
"Why?" Draco turned and looked at Ginny who seemed to be staring into the trees.
"I don't know why yet. I just feel this would pretty much…," she paused trying to word her thoughts aloud, "that this one would make him feel at home more than the others."
Draco gave a nod but didn't say anything and looked in the direction she was staring. "What're you looking at?"
"Hmm?" Ginny turned and looked at him, catching his gaze. For a moment she searched his features trying to figure out why he felt different and even looked a bit different but she didn't notice any outward signs of change.
I'm just thinking," she said softly then forced her gaze from him and over to Ron.
"I'm going back, are you two joining me?" Ron floated down and stood in front of Ginny and Draco.
"Be there in a few, Ron," Ginny said distractedly. Ron disappeared leaving Draco and Ginny alone on the steps. The only sound surrounding them were the distant hoots of owls as they flew over head on their way to or from Hogwarts.
"Not going to go play poker and kick everyone's arses again?" Draco questioned trying to get Ginny to converse. He wasn't sure why she was so quiet but just in the week he had been stuck with them, he knew it wasn't her normal behavior. Being a Malfoy he still had the need-to-know gene and wasn't happy when he couldn't figure something, or someone, out.
"No, it's nice to just sit here, quietly, sometimes," Ginny leaned back on her elbows and her eyes skipped over the tops of the trees that graced the front lawn of this house.
"You're moping," Draco pointed out.
"What? No, I'm not," Ginny retaliated in a sharp voice, shooting up from her relaxed position.
"Yeah, you are. I think you are realizing that Harry doesn't really need you to be happy and as much as you want him to be happy, it still hurts that you are just a memory to him now."
Ginny turned and stared at him seeing him watching her carefully. "I…what? I never said anything except I want him to be happy."
"I know, but it's evident from the way you've been so quiet that you're thinking of what the past was like."
"Who are you to tell me what I need to feel? I've been Light for a year, you've been here a week!" she said angrily. Her words drew a smile across Draco's face. "Stop being so smug! And I don't appreciate-," Ginny continued but a moment later she felt his mouth on hers. Shocked she sat there, completely still as warmth flooded her chilled form.
"Shut up and let me finish," Draco whispered against her mouth and mutely she nodded, their eyes locked onto to each other. For a moment, Ginny wondered if this was the same Draco Malfoy that attended Hogwarts with Ron. That Draco would sooner push her off the porch and laugh, than lean in and kiss her. The unfamiliar flood of emotions rendered her speechless and motionless so she had no choice but to listen to him.
"I think that one of my jobs here is to help you. You've become something akin to Potter's guardian angel and he's never needed one; with all the times he has survived, he has one already or he's incredibly lucky. Or, maybe he does actually know what he's doing. Anyway, he's moving on with his life now, and I think once you see that he is happy, whatever that takes, then it's going to be very hard for you to let go and move onto the next `great adventure', as you say. Then again, maybe I'm here for my own personal reasons, making sure my mother is happy and all that crap. Either way though, you need to realize now how attached you still are to him, and to Granger too. You need to come up with a way to become unattached without hurting yourself more than you are hurting now."
With that being said, Draco sat against the post, crossed his arms and looked at her as if daring her to argue against anything he just told her.
For once, Ginny had nothing to say. Not only did that unexpected warm kiss shock her senseless, the thought that maybe some small part of what Draco Malfoy had said was true kept her mind reeling. Without saying anything, she stood up with Draco following her, and she floated above the trees back to Hogwarts, fully aware of him watching her from behind.
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