Tears: a Dramione story

cupcakes-and-wisdom

Chapter 5

"Graaaanger? Heloooooo? Back to this world, please," An annoying voice interrupted her thoughts and a scowl disrupted her thoughtful features.

That evening, she created a near replica of the DA galleons in her fifth year. Using a series of complicated spells, she charmed her and Draco's badges to control the usual badges, making yellow the code for a meeting, green the time for an individual patrol and red for an emergency.

Draco watched her work, drinking in the way her eyebrows furrowed as she concentrated, and how she had that one mesh of hair that constantly fell in her eyes, only to have her brush it back with a sigh. His eyes wandered down from her face to her body, hidden mostly by her baggy sweats, but also visible through her tight gray tee. Her breasts had grown, he noted, and her hips were curvier. She had lost weight, and the caramel tan on her smooth flesh revealed that she had been spending more time in the sun than Draco would have expected.

When she finished, a small sigh of satisfaction slipped through her pale pink lips, and she turned to face him. "Right, that's the basics set in place. I can't activate the prefect's badges from here though, so in tomorrow's meeting we'll have to go through them.

"That's fine. What about the schedule?" He asked, leaning in front of her to retrieve a piece of paper to write on. "How about on Tuesdays, Corner and Abbot? I can feel the sexual tension between them. They need to figure it out."

"This is a patrolling schedule, Malfoy, not a match-making technique."

"Fuck it." He tried to brush it off, but couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at the fact that she had called him Malfoy.

"Well, I guess you're right. It is obvious that they're meant to be together…" She said thoughtfully, to which he replied that since they had power, they should use it for the best, earning him a smack on the arm by Gra- Hermione.

Hermione was actually surprised at how normal the two could act together, playfully teasing and jibing each other. But however much she tried, she could not stop drinking in his perfect features and comparing them to the boy who had once stood by while she was being tortured, and she could not help herself from repeating that there was no difference between the two boys; that they were and still are the same person.

Draco could tell something was wrong. Every time he finally got her to loosen up and to laugh, she would look at him and then something he couldn't identify would cloud her features. Draco wasn't good at this emotion shit, but he could tell that whatever it was which kept Hermione from opening up completely to him was something negative.

Somewhere amongst their casual conversation, Draco draped an arm around her shoulders, and she embraced it. It felt natural, and coming from her arch-enemy of 6 years now, she felt uncomfortable with the fact she was comfortable around him. So she said goodnight, and her stomach involuntarily fluttered when his deep voice replied.

Over the next couple weeks, Hermione fell into the rhythm she had craved for since the war with Voldemort had ended. Sleeping, eating, studying, attending classes… she felt back to normal. And her improved relationship with Draco only enhanced that. It became a habit to walk to classes with him, to eat meals with him in the great hall, and to have witty conversations which left her light-hearted with him. She admitted that the two had grown closer, and could see the effort he had put into making it better. He had, at one point, insisted she was studying too much, and had dragged her outside to sit by the black lake and talk. Then there were the times when she would accidentally forget a meal, and he would come find her in the library and sneak her meal up to her. It was completely against the rules but completely adorable, so it was ok. Naturally, a Malfoy will always be a Malfoy, so sometimes a spiteful comment, or an insult would spill out of his mouth, only to leave him ashamed and apologizing moments later. She accepted that it would take time for him to forget or leave behind the bad habits he had picked up during his childhood, as he accepted the moments where she would find herself too withheld by the memories still haunting her of the war to look him in the eye.

They became friends, though they never put that into words. It just sort of happened, and others would accept their relationship with raised eyebrows, but would say nothing. Most believed that they were such good friends that eventually they would turn into something more, while others thought they were already secretly dating. It's hard to look at society and accept that whenever there are two good friends of opposite sexes, everyone expects more. This was not the case with Draco and Hermione. They were comfortable with how they were, and while they both kept it to themselves, they both admitted internally that the other was attractive. Yet they were fine as friends. Many moments passed when they realized what a perfect, romantic scenario a moment could turn into, but they disregarded them, laughed them off. Yet slowly, I think everyone but themselves could see that they grew closer every passing da, and that either they were going to end up in love, or break each other's hearts.

The youngest Weasley couldn't, for example, accept the fact that a man and a woman can be that close and for their relationship not to turn into something more. She grew frustrated with Hermione for allowing her to get so close to Draco and yet not be attracted to him, not want to kiss him, or date him, or be romantically involved with him. Ginny had trouble accepting that the two were happy the way they were, which frustrated Hermione enormously and led to numerous debates. Luna and Neville, who had recently become an item, stood by and watched with identical, knowing smiles on their faces. Luna always had this knack for knowing things, and this knowing smile worried Hermione a little, yet Luna refused to elaborate.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in November when Draco had an idea. He had been sat in the library with Hermione for over half an hour, and he refused to study on a Sunday. After whining for a while, and after being smacked numerous times on the arm with a book, his face lit up with that expression which usually meant bad things were going to happen. Hermione groaned and shut her book, knowing that this Draco would not give up on whatever it was he had in mind.

"What is it, Draco?"

As reply, she only got his mischievous smirk and she found herself being pulled of their regular alcove in the concealed corner of the library. He dragged her to their heads' dorm, and he shoved her in her room and told her to dress warmly. Grumbling to herself, she changed into jeans, black shin-high lace-up boots, a thick grey coat, a fluffy white scarf and a matching fluffy white hat. She walked out of her room after tucking her wand up her sleeve and into it's holder as usual. Draco met her in their common room and nodded in approval at her outfit. He was holding his broom.

"No, no, No!" she practically yelled at the sight of it. "If you think I'm going to get on that thing, you're damn wrong!"

"Relax, 'Mione. We're going on together," he said, as if it would change anything. She kept her head firmly shaking from side to side, and nearly backed into the wall. With a huff, he opened the door, grabbed her and sat her on the broom before getting on behind her and leaving, all which happened in the space of approximately 2.6 seconds. They zipped through the empty halls, Hermione visibly shaking in front of him and clutching the broom as if her life depended on it, which it sort of did. He smirked into her hair, which earned her a shaky huff.

Finally they were out into the air, and the cold hit them like a slap in the face. By now Hermione had an eye open, half appreciating the view of the thinning trees, gray sky and frosty grass. Draco made sure to keep close to the ground, which gradually allowed her small body to relax into him. He was being half blinded by her chocolate hair whipping in his face, so the moment they arrived to the quidditch pitch he landed softly. She got off immediately, indecision clear on her face. He cooed her slowly, and hating that she was being treated like an 11 year old all over again, she came and settled behind him, arms attached firmly around his waist.

Not leaving any her time to change her mind, he took off, flying into the sky. He felt her tense behind her all over again.

"'Mione? Are you scared of heights?" he probed gently, understanding when she nodded into his back. It all made sense now. 'Mione liked being on top of things, which included two main things. Firstly, she had to know about what was going on, which explained her obsession with reading or studying. Secondly, she had to be one step further than anyone else; in control of the situation. Flying defied those two rules; no matter how much you read about it beforehand, only experience can help, and secondly, a broom acts according to your determination, authority or confidence. Having the fear of heights is sensed by the broom, which causes it to be out of your control. 'Mione being so afraid of flying made sense to Draco now, and he almost laughed.

The next two hours were spent in the air. First he flew around, and got her relaxed in the air. Next, he let her go in front of him to try and control the broom. A while, a lot of soothing words, and many gentle touches later, Hermione was enjoying herself.

Three hours of flying had Hermione exhausted, flushed and feeling much better. Her feet were killing her, so they dropped to the ground. Feeling the ground between her feet was stranfge, and made her feel dizzy, she swayed ad then landed on her bum. She scowled at the bursts of laughter Dray was having, and pulled him down by her. She stared up at the stars for a while, and his laughter subsided.

"Tired?" He asked her in his deep voice, and she found herself looking into his gray eyes. "Answer" he barely whispered, staring intently at her.

She looked away, blushing. "Yeah,I'm tired, and I really just want a milkshake," she said, whispering the last part. He chuckled and tucked an offending strand of hair behind her ear before taking her hand and pulling her to lie on the damp grass with him. She lay on his muscular chest, listening to the steady sound of his heart beating as he stroked her hair.

"I also really want a milkshake," he barely whispered and her giggle vibrated onto his chest. What they didn't know as they both looked up at the stars is that they both wore the exact same fond smiles on their faces.

"Dray!" She laughed as she swatted his hand away from her hair.

"Sorry." He mubled, not sounding sorry in the least bit. His hands drifted from her hair to her neck. "It's just so… brown"

"I'm aware of that."

"When it catches the sun t looks like you're on fire," he said, an intensity to his voice which made her smile slip. She curled up closer to him on the sofa, moving out of the direct rays of sun slanting in through the window. "We're supposed to be studying," she said, trailing a finger along his jaw.

He smirked. "Fuck studying."

"We've got a test!"

"Fuck the test"

She giggled, before clapping a hand over her mouth. His hands had been slowly creeping towards her waist, and she yelped when he suddenly tugged her closer to him, his arm wrapping around her hips to keep her from wriggling away.

"Dray!"

"Who cares about the test?" He murmered, his hands still twisting in her hair.

She gaped at him in mock horror. "Who cares about the test?" She repeated incredulously. "Who cares about the test? Are we talking about the same thing here? You know, the test that's going to make up one quarter of our Transfiguration N.E.W.T?"

Draco cocked his head to the side. "You're right." He said, leaning away from her and slapping the back of his hand to his forehead in a dramatic fashion. "What am I saying? The test;" he grabbed her again, and pulled her into his chest, one hand traitorously reaching out to tickle her sides. Her giggles caused him to smile fondly. "Merlin you're so distracting."

She nearly gave up at his touch. Why was he so addictive? And what was so important about the stupid test anyway?

"Draco!" she pulled back and tried to disentangle her hand from his. "The test!"

"Fuck the test."

"Merlin – you – are – impossible!"

He drew back marginally, an impish look on his face. "You know when you get mad your cheeks flash all red. Right here," he pinched her right cheek and she scowled. "You're just so red, 'Mione." He laughed as she tackled him back into the sofa, cursing spectacularly.

"At least I've got colour you albino!"

"Hey!" he rolled over so he was pinning her instead, trying to get a good grip on her hands but failing when she tickled his ribs. "That's – that's too far!" He buckled a little as she tickled him in earnest. "No – no s- stop!"

She grinned wickedly, taking the advantage while she had it. Sure enough, within a few moments Draco had recovered enough to tug her hands away from his midriff, shifting them above her head and giving her a reproachful look.

"That was unfair." He scolded.

"All's fair in love and war."

"Is it now?" Without warning he let go of her to cuddle her closer to him. She lay on him, so close she could feel the thumping in his chest.

"Now," he grinned, lifting himself off her and picking up the textbook that lay discarded at the feet. "About that test, 'Mione…"

A/N: Right, so school's out! Finally! That means its summer! (Duh). But… there's more to it! It also means that I have more time to write, update and generally immerse myself into the loving and waiting arms of fanfictions gentle embrace. Shut up. I'm excited.

So I would love to have some feedback? I'm not quite sure how fast I want Draco and Hermione's relationship to speed up, but I know I want some of his Malfoy attitude, and I want other boys to be there for Hermione, and other girls to be there for Draco. Adds some more complex to the plot, y'know? So, if you lovely readers have opinions on where you want this to go, or how you would like to see it evolve, just drop me a review, or PM me and I'll consider all your ideas. Thank you!

Oh, and I'm in serious need of a good Ginny Weasley fic to read? Any suggestions?

Right, I'm done here. To those of you on summer holidays, enjoy, and to those of you not, well, sorry. But you can all expect more frequent updates from now on ;)

cupcakes xx