Forgive and Forget (Chapter 14)
Chapter 14: Defying Gravity
And indeed there will be time
To wonder, "Do I dare?" and, "Do I dare?"
Time to turn back and descend the stair…
Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
~ From "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Elliot
"Hermione? Are you okay?"
One of the curtains of Hermione’s four-poster bed slid aside to reveal Ginny's concerned face, peeping in at her.
"Hermione, what's wrong?"
Sniffling somewhat, Hermione handed Ginny her copy of the Daily Prophet, which was folded open to the picture of Ron kissing Corianna Warbeck. Ginny looked down at the page and let out a resigned sigh before tossing the article in the trash.
"Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry," she murmured. Hermione sat upright, her eyes widening.
"You knew?" she asked sharply, her voice tinged with accusation.
"Yes, I knew. Ron made Harry and I go on a double-date with them two weeks ago..."
"You knew about this two weeks ago, and you never told me about it!?"
Ginny sighed again, her face bearing an expression of pain and guilt.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, but Ron made me promise not to tell you. Just like you told me not to tell him about what happened between you and Malfoy."
Hermione's anger immediately faded when she noticed the expression on Ginny's face. She looked absolutely wretched, and Hermione felt terrible about the awkward position she had put her friend in.
"I understand, Ginny. I'm sorry for getting angry. I'm just so stunned by all of this."
Ginny nodded and sat down on the edge of Hermione's bed, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry I had to keep it a secret from you. If it's any consolation, Corianna is a complete airhead. She's so stupid that she makes Lavender Brown seem borderline genius. Ron's really lowered his standards if he can date an idiot like her after he dated someone as brilliant as you."
"Thanks, Ginny," Hermione said, giving her friend a weak smile. "I just don't think I was prepared to see Ron kissing someone else again. I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised that he's moved on."
Ginny gave her an oddly penetrating look
"Yes, but you've moved on too, haven't you?"
"Yes," Hermione said with a resolute nod, "I have."
Hermione went through the rest of the day with steely resolve, determined not to care what she had read in the Daily Prophet. She was happy for Ron, she really was. He had said that they should both date other people, and that's what was happening. Well, at least Ron was dating someone else. She figured that whatever she and Draco were doing, she couldn't exactly call it dating. After all, Ron was taking Corianna Warbeck out to romantic dinners and kissing her in public - all things that Hermione and Draco could never do.
All day, Hermione could feel Draco's eyes upon her, but he never broached the subject and neither did she. She thought maybe he hadn't read the article, or maybe he sensed she didn't want to talk about it. It was more likely that he didn't want to talk about it until they were alone that evening. It turned out her last guess was the correct one.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked Hermione the moment she arrived at the Astronomy Tower for their nightly "flying lesson".
"Nothing," she said, forcing her tone to be brighter than she felt. "Nothing at all."
She walked over to greet him with a kiss, and with some hesitation he complied, gently caressing her lips with his. Suddenly, Hermione threw her arms around Draco's neck and deepened the kiss, desperate to taste more of his mouth, to feel more of his skin. She wanted to drive thoughts of Ron out of her head for good, and she was so determined to do so that she didn't even notice the tears streaking down her cheeks.
Abruptly, Draco pulled away, leaving Hermione feeling cold and lost.
"Stop!" he hissed, gripping her shoulders to hold her at bay when she tried to lunge back into his arms.
"Don't you want to kiss me?" Hermione asked, frowning up at him. She was surprised to see that Draco's eyes were dark with anger.
"Yes, but not like this. You're not the only one who reads the Daily Prophet, Hermione. I'm not going to let you use me to get some sort of sick, twisted revenge on Weasley."
Feeling a rush of anger in response to his accusation, despite the fact that it was at least partially correct, Hermione wiped her tears away and gave Draco a fierce glare.
"Give me a break," she said bitingly. "We both know you don't care why I'm doing this, just as long as you have the opportunity to get in my pants again. It's not like you're afraid of getting your heart broken or anything."
Draco sucked in his breath sharply, looking as if he had been slapped. His eyes darkened to the point that they were practically black.
"Of course," he said, his voice laced with venom, “because I'm Draco Malfoy and therefore I don't have a heart to get broken, right?"
Despite his obvious anger, Hermione could sense that Draco was also hurt by what she had said. She swallowed hard, instantly wishing she could take it back.
"Draco, I'm sorry I -”
"Just forget it," he snapped. "Flying lessons are cancelled for the evening."
With that, Draco mounted his broom and flew away so quickly that his hair became a whitish blur in the night. Hermione waited for several minutes in the Astronomy Tower, hoping he would return, but he did not. Finally, she went back down into the castle, feeling even more miserable than when she had seen Ron snogging Corianna Warbeck again and again across half of page six.
Hermione did not see Draco all day the next day, but she knew that he had Quidditch practice on Saturdays, so this wasn't out of the ordinary. They usually met in the Astronomy Tower every night at eleven o'clock, unless one of them specified otherwise, and when she did not receive any notice from Draco, she made her way up to their meeting place at the usual time. She desperately hoped he would be there.
When Hermione saw Draco waiting for her with his Nimbus2001 in hand, she felt an irrational surge of joy. Wordlessly, he mounted his broom and held out his hand so that he could help her climb up in front of him. Once she was seated, he flew them out over the school grounds, but to her surprise, he brought them down just shy of the front gates. He opened the gates and gestured for her to follow him outside.
"What's going on?" she asked, finally breaking the silence between them.
"I thought you might like some new scenery for our flying lesson tonight," Draco said, clasping her hand once they were outside of the school grounds. "Don't worry, we won't be gone long, and I let McGonagall know we were leaving."
With a wave of his wand, they Disapparated from Hogwarts. Once Hermione heard the crashing waves, and smelled the salty sea air, she knew exactly what location they had arrived at. Turning, she saw the familiar white edifice that was the Malfoy summer home.
Draco remounted his broom and motioned for Hermione to do the same. Once she was seated in front of him again, he pushed his feet against the ground, sending them rocketing away from the earth. Within seconds, they were soaring out over the cliffs of Dover, which were an incandescent white in the light of the full moon. Draco expertly steered them out over the sea, following the rippling path of moonlight across the water. Hermione gripped his arm nervously with both of her hands.
"I think it's time to progress a little further with your lessons," Draco said. "It's time for you to take control of the broom."
"I-I don't think that's a good idea," Hermione protested. "I've never been a very good flier."
"You're good at almost everything else because you take the time to figure out how things work. Maybe you'll feel better if we talk about how a broom works."
"I know how a broom works, but I also know how gravity works. I know that what goes up must come down, and when it comes down it falls towards the earth at an acceleration of 9.8 meters per second squared, to be precise. In other words, if we fall, we're dead."
Though she couldn't see him where he sat behind her on the broom, Hermione could sense Draco shaking his head.
"You're thinking about this all wrong," he said. "First of all, we're over the water, so the worst thing that can happen is that we'll get very wet if we crash. Also, what you've just described is how things work in the Muggle world. In the Wizarding world, we have ways to defy gravity, like Wingardium Leviosa and magic brooms."
"Muggles have ways to defy gravity, too - like helicopters and airplanes - all of which are quite capable of crashing, I might add. I doubt you've heard of the Hindenburg?"
"Hermione, I don't care about your damn Hindi-burger, or whatever it's called," Draco said impatiently. "Let's focus on the broom, and how it works."
"I already told you, I know how a broom works. It has a modified Levitation Charm combined with a complex sensory enchantment that enables the rider to -”
"No, don't think about how a broom works," Draco said, cutting her off. "Feel how it works."
To Hermione's anxiety, he took her hand and placed it on the broom where his had been, wrapping her fingers around the wood handle. He kept his hand on top of hers, and Hermione was grateful for its reassuring warmth.
"Now, do you feel the broom connected to your mind?" Draco asked.
Too nervous to speak, Hermione merely nodded.
"Okay, now tell the broom that you want it to go left."
Hermione mentally commanded the broom and it swerved gently to the left.
"Good," Draco said. "Now tell it to go right."
Hermione did so, and once again, the broom obeyed her command.
"Good," Draco said again softly, his lips close to Hermione's ear. "See, even though we're high in the air, what happens up here is all up to you. You are the one in control - not me, not the broom, not even gravity. Now which direction do you want to go next?"
"Up," Hermione whispered, and the moment she wished it, they were rising higher and higher until they were hovering several kilometers above the earth. They were up so high that Hermione could see the coast of France on the southern horizon, and all of the car lights and streetlights were tiny twinkling dots far below. At this height, the noise of the crashing waves had disappeared, leaving the world around her silent, other than the sound of her and Draco's breathing. It was the highest Hermione had ever willingly gone before, and despite her fear, she was awestruck by the view.
"Are you afraid?" Draco asked her.
"Yes," she said honestly, “a little."
"We can go back down."
"Draco, just because I'm afraid, doesn't mean I want to turn back".
"Okay," Draco said, resting his chin on the top of her head.
They hovered up there for several minutes more, until the cold air finally forced them to return to earth. Still a little uneasy about her lack of flying experience, Hermione had Draco control the broom as they came in for a landing on the veranda behind his summer home.
Once their feet were on solid ground once more, the two of them stood in silence for a few minutes, watching the moonlit sea. Finally, Draco spoke.
"I know that you're hurt by what Weasley did, Hermione. I also know that our situation isn't exactly ideal. I just want you to know that whatever is going on between us, it's not a game to me."
"It's not?" Hermione asked, blinking in surprise.
Draco shook his head, lightly running the back of his hand along her cheek.
"Well, it's not a game to me, either," Hermione said softly, stepping closer and resting her hands on his shoulders. She gazed up at him with a ponderous expression on her face. "You are such a puzzle, Draco Malfoy. As hard as I try, I don't think I'll ever figure you out."
Draco chuckled and looped his arms around her waist.
"You still have a thing for lost causes, don't you?" he teased, and then bent down to press his lips against hers. His kiss possessed all of its usual heat, yet it was uncharacteristically tender, and therefore left Hermione feeling more breathless than usual.
As Hermione kissed Draco back, she felt a familiar swooping sensation in her stomach. She had felt it before, though she had never thought she would feel it in the presence of Draco Malfoy. The sensation felt remarkably similar to the one she had experienced two weeks before, while plunging towards the ground during their first flying lesson. There was a reason they called it "falling in love."
"Good!" Draco called out. "Now try again, but this time, keep your head up so you can keep an eye on where you're going."
He leaned back and watched Ginny attempt the upside-down barrel roll for the tenth time in a row. They were out at the Quidditch pitch, Draco sitting with his Nimbus2001 propped up against the bench on his left side, and Hermione sitting to his right. He had been up in the air with Ginny for awhile, but had returned to the stands in order to get a better view as his pupil put his lessons into action.
Both Hermione and Draco groaned in disappointment as Ginny tried to throw the Quaffle while hanging upside down, but once again, it bounced off of the goal hoop and did not go in. Flushed with frustration, the redhead flew over to her friends and landed on the stands beside them.
"I just can't get it!" Ginny huffed. "I can't aim so well when I'm upside down!"
"You'll get it after more practice," Draco said.
"You've been saying that for the past hour!"
"Yes, and I'll say it for the next hour if I have to - but you will get it eventually. It'll be a good skill for you to have as a Chaser. Throwing the Quaffle from that position will catch a Keeper off-guard, not to mention it's a good way to dodge Bludgers or opposing players as you enter the goal area."
To Hermione's surprise, Ginny let out a sigh and stopped arguing with Draco. Hermione was surprised at how good of a teacher Draco could be when he had the patience to demonstrate it. He had already taught Ginny a few useful maneuvers, and had not given up on her when she didn't get them on the first try. The upside-down barrel roll was giving her a lot of trouble, however.
"Why don't you two take a little break?" Hermione suggested, passing a canteen of pumpkin juice to Ginny, who accepted it gratefully.
"Sounds like a plan," Ginny said, taking a swig of the juice.
"But she'll never master this trick if she doesn't keep trying!" Draco argued.
"And you think I'm a slave driver when we study," Hermione said with a laugh. "You're ten times worse when it comes to Quidditch."
"Yes, well Quidditch is different," Draco grumbled, though he quieted down as Hermione playfully tousled his hair.
Ginny made a gagging noise and turned away, but suddenly brightened as she noticed a dark-haired young man climbing up the stands to join them, carrying a broom in his hand.
"Harry!" Ginny called out, and Hermione instantly removed her hand from Draco's hair.
From the odd expression on Harry's face when he approached, Hermione thought she might have been too late to keep her friend from seeing the display of affection between her and Draco. Harry looked as if he was about to make some sort of comment, but was distracted by Ginny rushing over to greet him with a kiss. Then it was Draco's turn to make gagging noises.
"Hi Gin," Harry said, once they had parted lips. "I came to give you some help with your Quidditch training, but I see you already have a teacher."
He glanced at Draco, but there was no malice in his tone or facial expression, merely bemusement. Sensing Harry's calm reaction to the situation, Draco simply shrugged.
"I was just showing her a few maneuvers," he said, rising to his feet. "Now that you're here, you can take over."
"Wait, Malfoy, let me try the barrel roll one more time before you go," Ginny said, grabbing her broom and Quaffle and flying back out over the pitch. Zooming in towards the goal posts, she suddenly flipped upside down and hefted the Quaffle into a throwing position.
"Keep your head up!" Draco and Harry called out to Ginny in unison. They both turned to look at each other in surprise, then directed their attention back out to the pitch, where Ginny successfully launched the Quaffle through one of the hoops.
Harry whooped enthusiastically, but Draco remained silent, giving a nod of approval.
"All right I'm off," Draco said, turning towards Hermione. "Do you want to go study?"
"Malfoy wait," Harry said, and Hermione's heart sank as she prepared herself for the inevitable confrontation to follow.
Draco swiveled to face his arch rival, his grey eyes narrowed in challenge.
"What is it, Potter?"
"I was just thinking...why don't you stay for a bit longer? If you go and play Keeper, it will help Ginny learn the maneuver more effectively. She won't have unguarded goal posts at the tryouts, you know. I'll come up and show her a few more tricks that she can test out on you."
Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise. He glanced at Hermione, who smiled encouragingly at him.
"Fine," he said with a shrug. "Meet you up there, then."
Draco grabbed his broom and soared up to join Ginny, leaving Hermione alone with Harry.
"So what's going on with you and Malfoy?" Harry asked quietly, the moment Draco was out of earshot.
"Nothing, Harry. We're just good friends."
"I see the way you look at each other. How ‘good' of friends are you, exactly?"
"Harry..."
"Ron misses you, you know."
Hermione immediately felt a rush of anger. How dare Harry try and make her feel guilty when it had been Ron's decision for them to break up in the first place?
"Yes, I'm sure anyone who reads the Daily Prophet can see just how much Ron misses me these days," she said scathingly. To her satisfaction, Harry flinched at her words.
"Look, about Corianna Warbeck...."
"Harry, please," Hermione cut in. "Ron's a big boy, and he doesn't need for you to defend his actions. We're all adults now, and since he and I are no longer a couple, he's free to date whomever he chooses."
"Will you just listen to me for a minute?" Harry said, his green eyes flashing with impatience. "Ron does not love Corianna Warbeck. He loves you. I'm his best mate. I know these things."
"Aren't I your best friend, too?" Hermione asked, and Harry's expression immediately softened.
"Of course you are, Hermione. That's why I want you to be happy, and I just know that you'll be happy with Ron once he...grows up a bit. He was a complete arse to break up with you the way he did, and I think he realizes it - no, I know he realizes it. I think if you just spoke with him -”
"No, Harry," Hermione cut in, shaking her head. "Ron broke up with me, remember? I've been waiting almost eight years for him to ‘grow up'. If he wants to talk to me, then he needs to be the one to swallow his pride and apologize. Not me."
Harry sighed, suddenly appearing very tired. Looking at him, Hermione was surprised at how much he had matured in the past year. He had grown a bit taller and broader across the shoulders, and he was definitely more muscular, most likely because of his intense Auror training. However, the biggest changes were in his face. It was harder somehow, all of the childhood softness having melted away to leave a firm mouth and strong jaw. There was very little trace of the young boy she had first met on the Hogwarts Express all those years ago, except for the occasional sparkle in his green eyes whenever he laughed.
"Hermione," Harry continued, changing his tactics, "let's just say - theoretically speaking - that you are pursuing something with Malfoy. I'm not as blind as Ron is about him. I know Malfoy's changed - I mean look at him."
They both glanced up at the Quidditch pitch where Ginny was currently mimicking Draco and his clumsy skills as Keeper, a position he was clearly not very familiar with playing. Ginny mockingly flailed her arms back and forth, nearly falling off of her broom as she copied Draco's attempts to block her goals. Draco flung the Quaffle towards Ginny's head in retaliation, but Harry and Hermione could both tell he was struggling not to laugh at the redheaded girl's antics.
Harry shook his head, a look of incredulity on his face.
"Seeing Malfoy act like a human being is something I never thought I'd see," he muttered. "Kind of like seeing Hagrid dance ballet in a fluffy pink tutu."
Simultaneously, both Harry and Hermione shuddered and laughed at the mental image this generated.
"As I was saying, I know Malfoy's changed, but there are some things that will never change," Harry continued, his face sobering once more. "His family, for example. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy may be walking around saying that blood purity no longer matters to them, but you can bet behind closed doors, they're singing a different tune."
Hermione squirmed uncomfortably, not wanting to tell Harry about the conversation she’d had with Draco a few weeks before, when he had pretty much confirmed what Harry just said.
"They would never accept you, Hermione. Even if Malfoy could get over his prejudices to the point where the two of you decided to get married someday, his parents would probably disown him for marrying a Muggle-born, and you would have to live with the guilt of being the cause of it. Is that what you really want?"
"Harry, I'm not exactly planning to marry Draco Malfoy," Hermione said.
"I know," Harry acknowledged, though he still seemed relieved to hear Hermione say it. "But just think about how different things would be with Ron. His family loves you, and already treats you like a daughter. With Ron, no one would criticize you for your choice to be together. You wouldn't have to keep it a secret. And you would know that Ron loves you no matter what, and doesn't give two shits about your heritage."
Harry suddenly frowned, his eyes clouded with troubling memories.
"You weren't there, in the cellar, the night we were captured and brought to Malfoy Manor. You didn't hear him, Hermione. You didn't see how Ron acted when he heard you being tortured. He was sobbing and screaming your name..."
"Harry, please," Hermione pleaded, shuddering at the memory of that night. Tears welled up in her eyes at the thought of Ron calling out her name while Bellatrix Lestrange hit her with one Cruciatus Curse after another. And she pictured a different face - pale, with wide grey eyes watching her suffer, yet doing nothing...
Harry nodded at her, as if reading her thoughts.
"That night, Malfoy chose his family over you, Hermione. If he had to make the same choice today, do you really think he would choose any differently?"
Hermione closed her eyes, an indescribable feeling of pain rising from deep within her. She wanted to say "yes". She wanted to say that Draco would choose differently, and that if Bellatrix Lestrange were suddenly back from the dead, torturing Hermione once more, this time Draco would step in and save her. But somehow, she had a feeling that was not true.
"Oi, Potter!" Draco called out suddenly, and Hermione opened her eyes to see him hovering in front of the goal posts, waving his hand to get their attention. "Get your scrawny, bespectacled arse up here! I haven't got all day you know!"
Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head while he mounted his broom.
"Some things never change," he muttered, then turned to Hermione once more. "Just think about what I've said, okay?"
Hermione nodded, and Harry took off to join Draco and Ginny. She lingered there in the stands, prepared to act as a referee in case things got out of hand between the two boys, but to her surprise they were remarkably civil towards each other, united by the common purpose of helping Ginny prepare for her tryout. Hermione suddenly noticed how uncannily similar their teaching styles were - both were direct, yet patient, and usually taught via demonstration.
It now made sense to Hermione how Draco's wand had worked so well for Harry the year before. She had been right in suspecting that it was more than a mere coincidence. Really, the more she got to know Draco, the more she had come to realize that in many ways, he and Harry were more alike than different. After all, Harry had been a heartbeat away from being sorted into Slytherin House himself. Perhaps, if circumstances were different, and Draco had not been raised by close-minded, bigoted parents, he and Harry would even have been friends.
However, circumstances weren't different.
Harry was right. Draco had chosen his family over her once before, and she had no doubt that he would make the same choice again in the future, if it ever came down to it. He had said as much himself when he insisted that he would only marry a Pureblood. Why then, was she wasting her time (and his) pursuing something that they both knew could never be?
"So what were you and Potter talking about so intently this afternoon?" Draco asked as he and Hermione sat on the floor of the Astronomy Tower later that evening, Draco sitting with his back pressed up against the balcony rail, and Hermione leaning against his chest. They had just finished one of their flying lessons, and one of the serious snogging sessions that usually accompanied it.
"Oh, we were just talking about our plans for Easter Break," Hermione lied smoothly.
"I see," Draco said, gently sucking at the sensitive spot beneath her ear that he knew drove her wild. "You are such a talented witch, Hermione…except when it comes to lying. In that department, I'm afraid you still have a lot to learn."
"As someone who prefers honesty, I'd rather not learn to be a better liar, thanks."
Draco pulled away from her neck, a triumphant smirk on his face.
"Aha, so you do admit that you were just lying?"
"Prat," Hermione muttered, giving him a half-hearted smack on the arm.
"Such an abusive little wench," Draco said, feigning an expression of pain. Then his face grew serious again as he pressed, "So what were you and Potter really talking about?"
"Us, of course. What else?"
"Ah yes, and I'm sure Potter had a nice long list of all the reasons why you shouldn't be involved with a cad like me."
"Something like that."
"And you agree with them?"
Hermione glanced up at him, trying to determine whether Draco was being serious or sarcastic. With him, it was sometimes difficult to tell.
"I agree with some of Harry's reasons, yes," she answered truthfully.
"Such as?" Draco pressed. His golden eyebrows had lowered somewhat, but he otherwise did not appear distressed by Hermione's statement.
"Well, I wish we could spend more time together in the open without worrying about being caught. I wish I could be with you in broad daylight, instead of having to wait until we have our secret meetings at night."
Draco frowned thoughtfully for a moment before saying, "What if I told you there's a way we could do all that - at least for a little while?"
"Really?" Hermione asked, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"Well, have you actually made any plans for Easter Break next week?"
Hermione shook her head. Her parents were taking a trip to Australia; apparently they had made some good friends during the time they had spent hidden there under Hermione's Memory Charm. Mrs. Weasley had been kind enough to extend Hermione an invitation to the Burrow, mentioning in her note that no matter what happened, Hermione would always be welcome at the Weasleys'. While Hermione had found this touching and reassuring, she had politely declined the offer. She didn’t think she could deal with the awkwardness of spending one whole week around Ron.
"Then, since neither of us has any plans, why don't we spend the week at my summer home?" Draco asked, breaking into her thoughts.
Hermione's eyes widened.
"You would really do that? Spend the whole week with me? Are you sure it's safe?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Like I said before, my parents never go there, so we won't get caught. I'll just tell them I'm staying with some of my Slytherin friends for the week, and they won't think to question it. This way we could be together as much as you want."
"All right," Hermione said, after only a moment's hesitation. "Let's do it."
"Fantastic," Draco murmured, grinning in a way that made Hermione eye him nervously.
"Draco, just because I'll be spending the nights at your house doesn't mean...."
"Don't worry," Draco said, rolling his eyes, "I promise there'll be no funny business - unless you want there to be, of course."
He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, and Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to regret this?"
"Hermione, are you sure you're not going to regret this?" Ginny said for the millionth time the following Friday.
"Do we really have to keep talking about it?" Hermione said with a sigh. "I'm starting to get a headache."
Ginny frowned and perched on the edge of Hermione's bed, watching as she finished packing her suitcase for her week-long stay at Draco's summer home.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, I don't mean to sound like a nag," she continued. "I'm just worried about you. Three weeks ago you were talking about the need to take things slow with Malfoy, and now you're going to spend an entire week alone with him. You can't blame me for finding some flaws in your logic here."
Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose in order to assuage the throb that was building behind it.
"Ginny, I already told you. Draco and I have been taking things slow and we'll continue to take things slow this week. I just need to figure out some things about us, and I think I'll have a better opportunity to do that when we can spend some time alone together."
"You know, Mum would really love it if you came to stay at the Burrow with us..." Ginny began in a plaintive tone.
"No, Ginny."
Ginny's face fell, and Hermione could picture all the "let's-get-Ron-and-Hermione-back-together" plots that Ginny and Harry must have concocted, and how her refusal to come to the Burrow for Easter Break was foiling those plots.
"All right, Hermione," Ginny said with a resigned sigh. "I can see there's no convincing you to change your mind. Just promise me you'll be careful. You know where to find me if you need anything."
Hermione smiled and gave the redhead a grateful hug. She felt lucky to have a friend as thoughtful and understanding as Ginny. Without her, the past several months would have been more trying than they already were.
Several minutes later, Hermione was strolling through the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts, lugging her heavy suitcase with her. Along the way she happened to bump into Luna, who also had a suitcase in tow.
"Hello Luna," Hermione said, greeting the blonde with a smile. "I thought you were staying at Hogwarts for break?"
"Nope," Luna said, falling into step with Hermione as they walked outside. "Daddy's heard rumors of a new creature: a Mexican goat-sucker called El Chupacabra. We're going to go see if we can find one. What about you?"
"Oh, I'll be spending the week with my parents," Hermione answered, trying not to blush or otherwise give away her true plans.
"I see," Luna said brightly, giving no indication that she found this response suspicious.
"Well, have fun looking for El Chupacabra," said Hermione, once they reached the Apparition point outside the front gates of the school.
"Thanks! Say hello to Draco for me!" Luna called out.
Sometimes Hermione wondered if the Ravenclaw's vacant expressions and dreamy voice were really just an act she used to make people underestimate her.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione prepared to Apparate herself and her luggage to Draco's summer home in Dover. For a moment, she hesitated, her wand in hand as she weighed the sanity of her decision to do this. She knew Ginny was afraid of her going too far with Draco physically, but that was not Hermione's greatest concern. She was more afraid of going too far emotionally.
The realization that she was falling in love with Draco had been startling, and more than a little frightening. It was also confusing, because in spite of evidence that Ron had already moved on from their relationship, she still had lingering feelings for him. Was it possible to be in love with two people at the same time?
Hermione wanted to put the brakes on her feelings for Draco, and stop herself from falling any further in love with him. But she knew she couldn't stop falling for him, even if she tried. After all, there were many things in the world that defied the laws of gravity, but she had a feeling that love wasn't one of them.
A/N: Believe it or not, there really is a mythological, "goat sucking" creature called El Chupacabra which is rumored to exist in Central America. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it.
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And indeed there will be time
To wonder, "Do I dare?" and, "Do I dare?"
Time to turn back and descend the stair…
Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
~ From "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Elliot
"Hermione? Are you okay?"
One of the curtains of Hermione’s four-poster bed slid aside to reveal Ginny's concerned face, peeping in at her.
"Hermione, what's wrong?"
Sniffling somewhat, Hermione handed Ginny her copy of the Daily Prophet, which was folded open to the picture of Ron kissing Corianna Warbeck. Ginny looked down at the page and let out a resigned sigh before tossing the article in the trash.
"Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry," she murmured. Hermione sat upright, her eyes widening.
"You knew?" she asked sharply, her voice tinged with accusation.
"Yes, I knew. Ron made Harry and I go on a double-date with them two weeks ago..."
"You knew about this two weeks ago, and you never told me about it!?"
Ginny sighed again, her face bearing an expression of pain and guilt.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, but Ron made me promise not to tell you. Just like you told me not to tell him about what happened between you and Malfoy."
Hermione's anger immediately faded when she noticed the expression on Ginny's face. She looked absolutely wretched, and Hermione felt terrible about the awkward position she had put her friend in.
"I understand, Ginny. I'm sorry for getting angry. I'm just so stunned by all of this."
Ginny nodded and sat down on the edge of Hermione's bed, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry I had to keep it a secret from you. If it's any consolation, Corianna is a complete airhead. She's so stupid that she makes Lavender Brown seem borderline genius. Ron's really lowered his standards if he can date an idiot like her after he dated someone as brilliant as you."
"Thanks, Ginny," Hermione said, giving her friend a weak smile. "I just don't think I was prepared to see Ron kissing someone else again. I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised that he's moved on."
Ginny gave her an oddly penetrating look
"Yes, but you've moved on too, haven't you?"
"Yes," Hermione said with a resolute nod, "I have."
Hermione went through the rest of the day with steely resolve, determined not to care what she had read in the Daily Prophet. She was happy for Ron, she really was. He had said that they should both date other people, and that's what was happening. Well, at least Ron was dating someone else. She figured that whatever she and Draco were doing, she couldn't exactly call it dating. After all, Ron was taking Corianna Warbeck out to romantic dinners and kissing her in public - all things that Hermione and Draco could never do.
All day, Hermione could feel Draco's eyes upon her, but he never broached the subject and neither did she. She thought maybe he hadn't read the article, or maybe he sensed she didn't want to talk about it. It was more likely that he didn't want to talk about it until they were alone that evening. It turned out her last guess was the correct one.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked Hermione the moment she arrived at the Astronomy Tower for their nightly "flying lesson".
"Nothing," she said, forcing her tone to be brighter than she felt. "Nothing at all."
She walked over to greet him with a kiss, and with some hesitation he complied, gently caressing her lips with his. Suddenly, Hermione threw her arms around Draco's neck and deepened the kiss, desperate to taste more of his mouth, to feel more of his skin. She wanted to drive thoughts of Ron out of her head for good, and she was so determined to do so that she didn't even notice the tears streaking down her cheeks.
Abruptly, Draco pulled away, leaving Hermione feeling cold and lost.
"Stop!" he hissed, gripping her shoulders to hold her at bay when she tried to lunge back into his arms.
"Don't you want to kiss me?" Hermione asked, frowning up at him. She was surprised to see that Draco's eyes were dark with anger.
"Yes, but not like this. You're not the only one who reads the Daily Prophet, Hermione. I'm not going to let you use me to get some sort of sick, twisted revenge on Weasley."
Feeling a rush of anger in response to his accusation, despite the fact that it was at least partially correct, Hermione wiped her tears away and gave Draco a fierce glare.
"Give me a break," she said bitingly. "We both know you don't care why I'm doing this, just as long as you have the opportunity to get in my pants again. It's not like you're afraid of getting your heart broken or anything."
Draco sucked in his breath sharply, looking as if he had been slapped. His eyes darkened to the point that they were practically black.
"Of course," he said, his voice laced with venom, “because I'm Draco Malfoy and therefore I don't have a heart to get broken, right?"
Despite his obvious anger, Hermione could sense that Draco was also hurt by what she had said. She swallowed hard, instantly wishing she could take it back.
"Draco, I'm sorry I -”
"Just forget it," he snapped. "Flying lessons are cancelled for the evening."
With that, Draco mounted his broom and flew away so quickly that his hair became a whitish blur in the night. Hermione waited for several minutes in the Astronomy Tower, hoping he would return, but he did not. Finally, she went back down into the castle, feeling even more miserable than when she had seen Ron snogging Corianna Warbeck again and again across half of page six.
Hermione did not see Draco all day the next day, but she knew that he had Quidditch practice on Saturdays, so this wasn't out of the ordinary. They usually met in the Astronomy Tower every night at eleven o'clock, unless one of them specified otherwise, and when she did not receive any notice from Draco, she made her way up to their meeting place at the usual time. She desperately hoped he would be there.
When Hermione saw Draco waiting for her with his Nimbus2001 in hand, she felt an irrational surge of joy. Wordlessly, he mounted his broom and held out his hand so that he could help her climb up in front of him. Once she was seated, he flew them out over the school grounds, but to her surprise, he brought them down just shy of the front gates. He opened the gates and gestured for her to follow him outside.
"What's going on?" she asked, finally breaking the silence between them.
"I thought you might like some new scenery for our flying lesson tonight," Draco said, clasping her hand once they were outside of the school grounds. "Don't worry, we won't be gone long, and I let McGonagall know we were leaving."
With a wave of his wand, they Disapparated from Hogwarts. Once Hermione heard the crashing waves, and smelled the salty sea air, she knew exactly what location they had arrived at. Turning, she saw the familiar white edifice that was the Malfoy summer home.
Draco remounted his broom and motioned for Hermione to do the same. Once she was seated in front of him again, he pushed his feet against the ground, sending them rocketing away from the earth. Within seconds, they were soaring out over the cliffs of Dover, which were an incandescent white in the light of the full moon. Draco expertly steered them out over the sea, following the rippling path of moonlight across the water. Hermione gripped his arm nervously with both of her hands.
"I think it's time to progress a little further with your lessons," Draco said. "It's time for you to take control of the broom."
"I-I don't think that's a good idea," Hermione protested. "I've never been a very good flier."
"You're good at almost everything else because you take the time to figure out how things work. Maybe you'll feel better if we talk about how a broom works."
"I know how a broom works, but I also know how gravity works. I know that what goes up must come down, and when it comes down it falls towards the earth at an acceleration of 9.8 meters per second squared, to be precise. In other words, if we fall, we're dead."
Though she couldn't see him where he sat behind her on the broom, Hermione could sense Draco shaking his head.
"You're thinking about this all wrong," he said. "First of all, we're over the water, so the worst thing that can happen is that we'll get very wet if we crash. Also, what you've just described is how things work in the Muggle world. In the Wizarding world, we have ways to defy gravity, like Wingardium Leviosa and magic brooms."
"Muggles have ways to defy gravity, too - like helicopters and airplanes - all of which are quite capable of crashing, I might add. I doubt you've heard of the Hindenburg?"
"Hermione, I don't care about your damn Hindi-burger, or whatever it's called," Draco said impatiently. "Let's focus on the broom, and how it works."
"I already told you, I know how a broom works. It has a modified Levitation Charm combined with a complex sensory enchantment that enables the rider to -”
"No, don't think about how a broom works," Draco said, cutting her off. "Feel how it works."
To Hermione's anxiety, he took her hand and placed it on the broom where his had been, wrapping her fingers around the wood handle. He kept his hand on top of hers, and Hermione was grateful for its reassuring warmth.
"Now, do you feel the broom connected to your mind?" Draco asked.
Too nervous to speak, Hermione merely nodded.
"Okay, now tell the broom that you want it to go left."
Hermione mentally commanded the broom and it swerved gently to the left.
"Good," Draco said. "Now tell it to go right."
Hermione did so, and once again, the broom obeyed her command.
"Good," Draco said again softly, his lips close to Hermione's ear. "See, even though we're high in the air, what happens up here is all up to you. You are the one in control - not me, not the broom, not even gravity. Now which direction do you want to go next?"
"Up," Hermione whispered, and the moment she wished it, they were rising higher and higher until they were hovering several kilometers above the earth. They were up so high that Hermione could see the coast of France on the southern horizon, and all of the car lights and streetlights were tiny twinkling dots far below. At this height, the noise of the crashing waves had disappeared, leaving the world around her silent, other than the sound of her and Draco's breathing. It was the highest Hermione had ever willingly gone before, and despite her fear, she was awestruck by the view.
"Are you afraid?" Draco asked her.
"Yes," she said honestly, “a little."
"We can go back down."
"Draco, just because I'm afraid, doesn't mean I want to turn back".
"Okay," Draco said, resting his chin on the top of her head.
They hovered up there for several minutes more, until the cold air finally forced them to return to earth. Still a little uneasy about her lack of flying experience, Hermione had Draco control the broom as they came in for a landing on the veranda behind his summer home.
Once their feet were on solid ground once more, the two of them stood in silence for a few minutes, watching the moonlit sea. Finally, Draco spoke.
"I know that you're hurt by what Weasley did, Hermione. I also know that our situation isn't exactly ideal. I just want you to know that whatever is going on between us, it's not a game to me."
"It's not?" Hermione asked, blinking in surprise.
Draco shook his head, lightly running the back of his hand along her cheek.
"Well, it's not a game to me, either," Hermione said softly, stepping closer and resting her hands on his shoulders. She gazed up at him with a ponderous expression on her face. "You are such a puzzle, Draco Malfoy. As hard as I try, I don't think I'll ever figure you out."
Draco chuckled and looped his arms around her waist.
"You still have a thing for lost causes, don't you?" he teased, and then bent down to press his lips against hers. His kiss possessed all of its usual heat, yet it was uncharacteristically tender, and therefore left Hermione feeling more breathless than usual.
As Hermione kissed Draco back, she felt a familiar swooping sensation in her stomach. She had felt it before, though she had never thought she would feel it in the presence of Draco Malfoy. The sensation felt remarkably similar to the one she had experienced two weeks before, while plunging towards the ground during their first flying lesson. There was a reason they called it "falling in love."
"Good!" Draco called out. "Now try again, but this time, keep your head up so you can keep an eye on where you're going."
He leaned back and watched Ginny attempt the upside-down barrel roll for the tenth time in a row. They were out at the Quidditch pitch, Draco sitting with his Nimbus2001 propped up against the bench on his left side, and Hermione sitting to his right. He had been up in the air with Ginny for awhile, but had returned to the stands in order to get a better view as his pupil put his lessons into action.
Both Hermione and Draco groaned in disappointment as Ginny tried to throw the Quaffle while hanging upside down, but once again, it bounced off of the goal hoop and did not go in. Flushed with frustration, the redhead flew over to her friends and landed on the stands beside them.
"I just can't get it!" Ginny huffed. "I can't aim so well when I'm upside down!"
"You'll get it after more practice," Draco said.
"You've been saying that for the past hour!"
"Yes, and I'll say it for the next hour if I have to - but you will get it eventually. It'll be a good skill for you to have as a Chaser. Throwing the Quaffle from that position will catch a Keeper off-guard, not to mention it's a good way to dodge Bludgers or opposing players as you enter the goal area."
To Hermione's surprise, Ginny let out a sigh and stopped arguing with Draco. Hermione was surprised at how good of a teacher Draco could be when he had the patience to demonstrate it. He had already taught Ginny a few useful maneuvers, and had not given up on her when she didn't get them on the first try. The upside-down barrel roll was giving her a lot of trouble, however.
"Why don't you two take a little break?" Hermione suggested, passing a canteen of pumpkin juice to Ginny, who accepted it gratefully.
"Sounds like a plan," Ginny said, taking a swig of the juice.
"But she'll never master this trick if she doesn't keep trying!" Draco argued.
"And you think I'm a slave driver when we study," Hermione said with a laugh. "You're ten times worse when it comes to Quidditch."
"Yes, well Quidditch is different," Draco grumbled, though he quieted down as Hermione playfully tousled his hair.
Ginny made a gagging noise and turned away, but suddenly brightened as she noticed a dark-haired young man climbing up the stands to join them, carrying a broom in his hand.
"Harry!" Ginny called out, and Hermione instantly removed her hand from Draco's hair.
From the odd expression on Harry's face when he approached, Hermione thought she might have been too late to keep her friend from seeing the display of affection between her and Draco. Harry looked as if he was about to make some sort of comment, but was distracted by Ginny rushing over to greet him with a kiss. Then it was Draco's turn to make gagging noises.
"Hi Gin," Harry said, once they had parted lips. "I came to give you some help with your Quidditch training, but I see you already have a teacher."
He glanced at Draco, but there was no malice in his tone or facial expression, merely bemusement. Sensing Harry's calm reaction to the situation, Draco simply shrugged.
"I was just showing her a few maneuvers," he said, rising to his feet. "Now that you're here, you can take over."
"Wait, Malfoy, let me try the barrel roll one more time before you go," Ginny said, grabbing her broom and Quaffle and flying back out over the pitch. Zooming in towards the goal posts, she suddenly flipped upside down and hefted the Quaffle into a throwing position.
"Keep your head up!" Draco and Harry called out to Ginny in unison. They both turned to look at each other in surprise, then directed their attention back out to the pitch, where Ginny successfully launched the Quaffle through one of the hoops.
Harry whooped enthusiastically, but Draco remained silent, giving a nod of approval.
"All right I'm off," Draco said, turning towards Hermione. "Do you want to go study?"
"Malfoy wait," Harry said, and Hermione's heart sank as she prepared herself for the inevitable confrontation to follow.
Draco swiveled to face his arch rival, his grey eyes narrowed in challenge.
"What is it, Potter?"
"I was just thinking...why don't you stay for a bit longer? If you go and play Keeper, it will help Ginny learn the maneuver more effectively. She won't have unguarded goal posts at the tryouts, you know. I'll come up and show her a few more tricks that she can test out on you."
Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise. He glanced at Hermione, who smiled encouragingly at him.
"Fine," he said with a shrug. "Meet you up there, then."
Draco grabbed his broom and soared up to join Ginny, leaving Hermione alone with Harry.
"So what's going on with you and Malfoy?" Harry asked quietly, the moment Draco was out of earshot.
"Nothing, Harry. We're just good friends."
"I see the way you look at each other. How ‘good' of friends are you, exactly?"
"Harry..."
"Ron misses you, you know."
Hermione immediately felt a rush of anger. How dare Harry try and make her feel guilty when it had been Ron's decision for them to break up in the first place?
"Yes, I'm sure anyone who reads the Daily Prophet can see just how much Ron misses me these days," she said scathingly. To her satisfaction, Harry flinched at her words.
"Look, about Corianna Warbeck...."
"Harry, please," Hermione cut in. "Ron's a big boy, and he doesn't need for you to defend his actions. We're all adults now, and since he and I are no longer a couple, he's free to date whomever he chooses."
"Will you just listen to me for a minute?" Harry said, his green eyes flashing with impatience. "Ron does not love Corianna Warbeck. He loves you. I'm his best mate. I know these things."
"Aren't I your best friend, too?" Hermione asked, and Harry's expression immediately softened.
"Of course you are, Hermione. That's why I want you to be happy, and I just know that you'll be happy with Ron once he...grows up a bit. He was a complete arse to break up with you the way he did, and I think he realizes it - no, I know he realizes it. I think if you just spoke with him -”
"No, Harry," Hermione cut in, shaking her head. "Ron broke up with me, remember? I've been waiting almost eight years for him to ‘grow up'. If he wants to talk to me, then he needs to be the one to swallow his pride and apologize. Not me."
Harry sighed, suddenly appearing very tired. Looking at him, Hermione was surprised at how much he had matured in the past year. He had grown a bit taller and broader across the shoulders, and he was definitely more muscular, most likely because of his intense Auror training. However, the biggest changes were in his face. It was harder somehow, all of the childhood softness having melted away to leave a firm mouth and strong jaw. There was very little trace of the young boy she had first met on the Hogwarts Express all those years ago, except for the occasional sparkle in his green eyes whenever he laughed.
"Hermione," Harry continued, changing his tactics, "let's just say - theoretically speaking - that you are pursuing something with Malfoy. I'm not as blind as Ron is about him. I know Malfoy's changed - I mean look at him."
They both glanced up at the Quidditch pitch where Ginny was currently mimicking Draco and his clumsy skills as Keeper, a position he was clearly not very familiar with playing. Ginny mockingly flailed her arms back and forth, nearly falling off of her broom as she copied Draco's attempts to block her goals. Draco flung the Quaffle towards Ginny's head in retaliation, but Harry and Hermione could both tell he was struggling not to laugh at the redheaded girl's antics.
Harry shook his head, a look of incredulity on his face.
"Seeing Malfoy act like a human being is something I never thought I'd see," he muttered. "Kind of like seeing Hagrid dance ballet in a fluffy pink tutu."
Simultaneously, both Harry and Hermione shuddered and laughed at the mental image this generated.
"As I was saying, I know Malfoy's changed, but there are some things that will never change," Harry continued, his face sobering once more. "His family, for example. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy may be walking around saying that blood purity no longer matters to them, but you can bet behind closed doors, they're singing a different tune."
Hermione squirmed uncomfortably, not wanting to tell Harry about the conversation she’d had with Draco a few weeks before, when he had pretty much confirmed what Harry just said.
"They would never accept you, Hermione. Even if Malfoy could get over his prejudices to the point where the two of you decided to get married someday, his parents would probably disown him for marrying a Muggle-born, and you would have to live with the guilt of being the cause of it. Is that what you really want?"
"Harry, I'm not exactly planning to marry Draco Malfoy," Hermione said.
"I know," Harry acknowledged, though he still seemed relieved to hear Hermione say it. "But just think about how different things would be with Ron. His family loves you, and already treats you like a daughter. With Ron, no one would criticize you for your choice to be together. You wouldn't have to keep it a secret. And you would know that Ron loves you no matter what, and doesn't give two shits about your heritage."
Harry suddenly frowned, his eyes clouded with troubling memories.
"You weren't there, in the cellar, the night we were captured and brought to Malfoy Manor. You didn't hear him, Hermione. You didn't see how Ron acted when he heard you being tortured. He was sobbing and screaming your name..."
"Harry, please," Hermione pleaded, shuddering at the memory of that night. Tears welled up in her eyes at the thought of Ron calling out her name while Bellatrix Lestrange hit her with one Cruciatus Curse after another. And she pictured a different face - pale, with wide grey eyes watching her suffer, yet doing nothing...
Harry nodded at her, as if reading her thoughts.
"That night, Malfoy chose his family over you, Hermione. If he had to make the same choice today, do you really think he would choose any differently?"
Hermione closed her eyes, an indescribable feeling of pain rising from deep within her. She wanted to say "yes". She wanted to say that Draco would choose differently, and that if Bellatrix Lestrange were suddenly back from the dead, torturing Hermione once more, this time Draco would step in and save her. But somehow, she had a feeling that was not true.
"Oi, Potter!" Draco called out suddenly, and Hermione opened her eyes to see him hovering in front of the goal posts, waving his hand to get their attention. "Get your scrawny, bespectacled arse up here! I haven't got all day you know!"
Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head while he mounted his broom.
"Some things never change," he muttered, then turned to Hermione once more. "Just think about what I've said, okay?"
Hermione nodded, and Harry took off to join Draco and Ginny. She lingered there in the stands, prepared to act as a referee in case things got out of hand between the two boys, but to her surprise they were remarkably civil towards each other, united by the common purpose of helping Ginny prepare for her tryout. Hermione suddenly noticed how uncannily similar their teaching styles were - both were direct, yet patient, and usually taught via demonstration.
It now made sense to Hermione how Draco's wand had worked so well for Harry the year before. She had been right in suspecting that it was more than a mere coincidence. Really, the more she got to know Draco, the more she had come to realize that in many ways, he and Harry were more alike than different. After all, Harry had been a heartbeat away from being sorted into Slytherin House himself. Perhaps, if circumstances were different, and Draco had not been raised by close-minded, bigoted parents, he and Harry would even have been friends.
However, circumstances weren't different.
Harry was right. Draco had chosen his family over her once before, and she had no doubt that he would make the same choice again in the future, if it ever came down to it. He had said as much himself when he insisted that he would only marry a Pureblood. Why then, was she wasting her time (and his) pursuing something that they both knew could never be?
"So what were you and Potter talking about so intently this afternoon?" Draco asked as he and Hermione sat on the floor of the Astronomy Tower later that evening, Draco sitting with his back pressed up against the balcony rail, and Hermione leaning against his chest. They had just finished one of their flying lessons, and one of the serious snogging sessions that usually accompanied it.
"Oh, we were just talking about our plans for Easter Break," Hermione lied smoothly.
"I see," Draco said, gently sucking at the sensitive spot beneath her ear that he knew drove her wild. "You are such a talented witch, Hermione…except when it comes to lying. In that department, I'm afraid you still have a lot to learn."
"As someone who prefers honesty, I'd rather not learn to be a better liar, thanks."
Draco pulled away from her neck, a triumphant smirk on his face.
"Aha, so you do admit that you were just lying?"
"Prat," Hermione muttered, giving him a half-hearted smack on the arm.
"Such an abusive little wench," Draco said, feigning an expression of pain. Then his face grew serious again as he pressed, "So what were you and Potter really talking about?"
"Us, of course. What else?"
"Ah yes, and I'm sure Potter had a nice long list of all the reasons why you shouldn't be involved with a cad like me."
"Something like that."
"And you agree with them?"
Hermione glanced up at him, trying to determine whether Draco was being serious or sarcastic. With him, it was sometimes difficult to tell.
"I agree with some of Harry's reasons, yes," she answered truthfully.
"Such as?" Draco pressed. His golden eyebrows had lowered somewhat, but he otherwise did not appear distressed by Hermione's statement.
"Well, I wish we could spend more time together in the open without worrying about being caught. I wish I could be with you in broad daylight, instead of having to wait until we have our secret meetings at night."
Draco frowned thoughtfully for a moment before saying, "What if I told you there's a way we could do all that - at least for a little while?"
"Really?" Hermione asked, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"Well, have you actually made any plans for Easter Break next week?"
Hermione shook her head. Her parents were taking a trip to Australia; apparently they had made some good friends during the time they had spent hidden there under Hermione's Memory Charm. Mrs. Weasley had been kind enough to extend Hermione an invitation to the Burrow, mentioning in her note that no matter what happened, Hermione would always be welcome at the Weasleys'. While Hermione had found this touching and reassuring, she had politely declined the offer. She didn’t think she could deal with the awkwardness of spending one whole week around Ron.
"Then, since neither of us has any plans, why don't we spend the week at my summer home?" Draco asked, breaking into her thoughts.
Hermione's eyes widened.
"You would really do that? Spend the whole week with me? Are you sure it's safe?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Like I said before, my parents never go there, so we won't get caught. I'll just tell them I'm staying with some of my Slytherin friends for the week, and they won't think to question it. This way we could be together as much as you want."
"All right," Hermione said, after only a moment's hesitation. "Let's do it."
"Fantastic," Draco murmured, grinning in a way that made Hermione eye him nervously.
"Draco, just because I'll be spending the nights at your house doesn't mean...."
"Don't worry," Draco said, rolling his eyes, "I promise there'll be no funny business - unless you want there to be, of course."
He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, and Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to regret this?"
"Hermione, are you sure you're not going to regret this?" Ginny said for the millionth time the following Friday.
"Do we really have to keep talking about it?" Hermione said with a sigh. "I'm starting to get a headache."
Ginny frowned and perched on the edge of Hermione's bed, watching as she finished packing her suitcase for her week-long stay at Draco's summer home.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, I don't mean to sound like a nag," she continued. "I'm just worried about you. Three weeks ago you were talking about the need to take things slow with Malfoy, and now you're going to spend an entire week alone with him. You can't blame me for finding some flaws in your logic here."
Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose in order to assuage the throb that was building behind it.
"Ginny, I already told you. Draco and I have been taking things slow and we'll continue to take things slow this week. I just need to figure out some things about us, and I think I'll have a better opportunity to do that when we can spend some time alone together."
"You know, Mum would really love it if you came to stay at the Burrow with us..." Ginny began in a plaintive tone.
"No, Ginny."
Ginny's face fell, and Hermione could picture all the "let's-get-Ron-and-Hermione-back-together" plots that Ginny and Harry must have concocted, and how her refusal to come to the Burrow for Easter Break was foiling those plots.
"All right, Hermione," Ginny said with a resigned sigh. "I can see there's no convincing you to change your mind. Just promise me you'll be careful. You know where to find me if you need anything."
Hermione smiled and gave the redhead a grateful hug. She felt lucky to have a friend as thoughtful and understanding as Ginny. Without her, the past several months would have been more trying than they already were.
Several minutes later, Hermione was strolling through the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts, lugging her heavy suitcase with her. Along the way she happened to bump into Luna, who also had a suitcase in tow.
"Hello Luna," Hermione said, greeting the blonde with a smile. "I thought you were staying at Hogwarts for break?"
"Nope," Luna said, falling into step with Hermione as they walked outside. "Daddy's heard rumors of a new creature: a Mexican goat-sucker called El Chupacabra. We're going to go see if we can find one. What about you?"
"Oh, I'll be spending the week with my parents," Hermione answered, trying not to blush or otherwise give away her true plans.
"I see," Luna said brightly, giving no indication that she found this response suspicious.
"Well, have fun looking for El Chupacabra," said Hermione, once they reached the Apparition point outside the front gates of the school.
"Thanks! Say hello to Draco for me!" Luna called out.
Sometimes Hermione wondered if the Ravenclaw's vacant expressions and dreamy voice were really just an act she used to make people underestimate her.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione prepared to Apparate herself and her luggage to Draco's summer home in Dover. For a moment, she hesitated, her wand in hand as she weighed the sanity of her decision to do this. She knew Ginny was afraid of her going too far with Draco physically, but that was not Hermione's greatest concern. She was more afraid of going too far emotionally.
The realization that she was falling in love with Draco had been startling, and more than a little frightening. It was also confusing, because in spite of evidence that Ron had already moved on from their relationship, she still had lingering feelings for him. Was it possible to be in love with two people at the same time?
Hermione wanted to put the brakes on her feelings for Draco, and stop herself from falling any further in love with him. But she knew she couldn't stop falling for him, even if she tried. After all, there were many things in the world that defied the laws of gravity, but she had a feeling that love wasn't one of them.
A/N: Believe it or not, there really is a mythological, "goat sucking" creature called El Chupacabra which is rumored to exist in Central America. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it.
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