Fic: She Drives, He Walks - Chapter 10
Title: She Drives, He Walks - Chapter 10
Author: Carol Rodrick ( carollinali or Carol on FF.net )
Category: Harry Potter
Pairings: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy
Summary: After the war, Hermione decides to live in the muggle world. She never expected to find Draco in there as well...
Rating: M
Genre: Angst/Romance/Slice of Life
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Harry Potter universe. They are property of JK Rowling and Warner Bros. Studios. I make no money from the writing of this story.
WARNING: Prostitution. DH spoilers. Ignores epilogue.
She Drives, He Walks - Chapter 10
Hermione Jean Granger stares at the pizza box that lies in the passenger seat. Then her eyes gaze at her cottage. Will he be there? She bites her lower lip. I hope he is.
She hides her face within her hands. Hermione has never felt this nervous. Not scared nervous. Just... The expectation was eating her. Or maybe it’s butterflies? She doesn't know, but whatever it is it's driving her insane.
“Focus, Hermione. If he is there, then he is there and that’s fine. If he isn't, then he ISN'T AND THAT'S FINE TOO.” Trying to sound reasonable to herself. Then she snorts; who is she kidding? It's no use to lie to herself. She gets the dammed pizza box, and gets out of the car, storming to her front door. She stares at it. And then mumbles, slightly furious. “He better be there, I can't eat this whole pizza by myself!”
And she swings the door open. And is all dark. She turns on the light, sets the pizza at the dinner table. He isn't there.
That can't be true. He has to be there. It is like it was supposed to be, he would be there, and would smile to her when she showed up with the pizza, and they would awkwardly eat while eyeing each other while being afraid of getting caught, and then they would talk and talk till they couldn't stay awake much longer and she would end up sleeping on his lap, and...
But he isn't there. Hermione lets a sigh of sadness and acceptance out while she gets her wand, and then she kicks the front door shut so hard that it wakes up the sleeping man in her room with a scream.
She forgot to check her room. Soon she gives a scream too, startled. Her reflexes are faster then her brain and she has already cast a petrificus tottalus followed by a lumos charm. Her brown eyes widen up.
“Oh dear Merlin... Sorry.”
Draco Malfoy rolls his eyes at her. Though that inside he is relieved it's her. What a way to wake up a person. He watches as Granger starts to mumble, nervous. “Oh, Merlin, sorry, I though you chose not to stay, I-”
Draco narrows his eyes, and cuts her off. “Unbind me, Granger!” His commanding tone startles her.
“Ah, what? ...Oh, OH! Damn.” She waves her wand hand and he is free. “Sorry about that.”
“Gryffindors are so weird. Do you usually do this to every visitor? Or are you still scared of me, Granger?” He snorts, being a brat.
“I- WHAT?! Oh bullocks! Some courtesy is too much to expect from a Slytherin!” She points a finger at him, really pissed. “For your information, it was YOU who scared ME with your screaming!”
He seems affronted, and responds with a frown. “I was SLEEPING, and then YOU made a LOUD noise - What was I supposed to do?!”
She stares at him. Her finger still pointing. A minute goes by.
“... I brought pizza.” And she goes to the dinner table, sits heavily on a chair, and without much care start eating a slice of pizza with her hands. She hates to admit that he is right, and she is mad about it. Bloody ferret.
“Pizza? What kind?” He says, getting up the bed and approaching the kitchen.
She answers grinding her teeth, rude. “Half cheese, half pepperoni.”
He sets his eyes on the food. “Hmm... Can I have a slice of cheese?” Not offended at all. Feeling actually good about himself.
She feels embarrassed. Hermione points him a chair, while pouting a bit. “Be my guest.”
“Thanks.” And he does so, looking really relaxed, and helps himself some pizza. He takes a few bites and uses that moment to take a look at her. She wears a plain white t-shirt, some dark jeans and Mary-Jane shoes. She places her slice of pizza aside, and while deep in though she licks her fingertips and then makes a bun with her hair, using her wand to lock it. He blinks at the sight of her neckline. That is not good. Small talk. Time for small talk.
“So... How was work?” What the fuck is wrong with you, MALFOY?
She blinks and moves her eyes to him. Some soft lines appear on her forehead. “It was... Fine. The library was a mess though.” She gazes at him, some concern on her face. “Ah... Did you sleep all day?”
“Well... Sort of. I usually sleep in the morning, since... I work at night. But I did sleep more than normal today.” And he fills his mouth with more pizza, not wanting to draw attention to his career.
But Hermione doesn't look like she will let that pass. She has been wondering about that since they first met. She sighs. “Must be because of the spell from last night. Drives people to exhaustion. But don't worry, it happens. 24 to 48 hours and you will be good as new.”
She feels questions about his job on the tip of her tongue, tickling to get out. She keeps staring at him. Draco starts to get a bit uncomfortable. “Oh. Ah, I though it was because of all that alcohol. I should have known. I don't usually drink that much though.” Please, let it go.
The little Gryffindor remembers that he called her by her first name the night after. She senses her cheeks burn, but doesn't look away. “Neither do I.”
She won't give up. Damn... He finishes up his pizza. Then he blurts out, his eyes narrowing, his face serious. “What is it, Granger?”
“Do you remember yesterday? Before I cast the spell?”
He does. He called her by her name. He held her hand. He cried in front of her. She cried too. And after all that, he remembers the feeling of her arms around him, rocking him softly between sobs.
“No, I don't. The whole thing is blurry. All that drink, you know?”
She nods, slowly, and looks away. Seconds goes by until she speaks again.
“You stayed.”
“Obviously.”
“Why?”
“Your letter. And I hate my place.” His tone is matter-of-fact, as if he doesn't care at all. “So I stayed.”
She sighs. She suddenly feels really tired. “Riiiiiiight. Well... You're free to use the library loft when you don't want to go to your place. You should stay again today, if you feel too tired. I placed some pajamas at the loft bed.”
She stands up. She scratches her head a bit.
“My letter.” She gazes at him.
Slowly, his eyes lock with hers. “What about it?”
“...I meant it. Everything.” She sighs again, still looking at him.
“Good night, Draco.”
And she walks to her bedroom. She closes her door gently. She never hears his whisper.
“Good night, Hermione.”
Continues...
Chapter 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13
Author: Carol Rodrick ( carollinali or Carol on FF.net )
Category: Harry Potter
Pairings: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy
Summary: After the war, Hermione decides to live in the muggle world. She never expected to find Draco in there as well...
Rating: M
Genre: Angst/Romance/Slice of Life
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Harry Potter universe. They are property of JK Rowling and Warner Bros. Studios. I make no money from the writing of this story.
WARNING: Prostitution. DH spoilers. Ignores epilogue.
She Drives, He Walks - Chapter 10
Hermione Jean Granger stares at the pizza box that lies in the passenger seat. Then her eyes gaze at her cottage. Will he be there? She bites her lower lip. I hope he is.
She hides her face within her hands. Hermione has never felt this nervous. Not scared nervous. Just... The expectation was eating her. Or maybe it’s butterflies? She doesn't know, but whatever it is it's driving her insane.
“Focus, Hermione. If he is there, then he is there and that’s fine. If he isn't, then he ISN'T AND THAT'S FINE TOO.” Trying to sound reasonable to herself. Then she snorts; who is she kidding? It's no use to lie to herself. She gets the dammed pizza box, and gets out of the car, storming to her front door. She stares at it. And then mumbles, slightly furious. “He better be there, I can't eat this whole pizza by myself!”
And she swings the door open. And is all dark. She turns on the light, sets the pizza at the dinner table. He isn't there.
That can't be true. He has to be there. It is like it was supposed to be, he would be there, and would smile to her when she showed up with the pizza, and they would awkwardly eat while eyeing each other while being afraid of getting caught, and then they would talk and talk till they couldn't stay awake much longer and she would end up sleeping on his lap, and...
But he isn't there. Hermione lets a sigh of sadness and acceptance out while she gets her wand, and then she kicks the front door shut so hard that it wakes up the sleeping man in her room with a scream.
She forgot to check her room. Soon she gives a scream too, startled. Her reflexes are faster then her brain and she has already cast a petrificus tottalus followed by a lumos charm. Her brown eyes widen up.
“Oh dear Merlin... Sorry.”
Draco Malfoy rolls his eyes at her. Though that inside he is relieved it's her. What a way to wake up a person. He watches as Granger starts to mumble, nervous. “Oh, Merlin, sorry, I though you chose not to stay, I-”
Draco narrows his eyes, and cuts her off. “Unbind me, Granger!” His commanding tone startles her.
“Ah, what? ...Oh, OH! Damn.” She waves her wand hand and he is free. “Sorry about that.”
“Gryffindors are so weird. Do you usually do this to every visitor? Or are you still scared of me, Granger?” He snorts, being a brat.
“I- WHAT?! Oh bullocks! Some courtesy is too much to expect from a Slytherin!” She points a finger at him, really pissed. “For your information, it was YOU who scared ME with your screaming!”
He seems affronted, and responds with a frown. “I was SLEEPING, and then YOU made a LOUD noise - What was I supposed to do?!”
She stares at him. Her finger still pointing. A minute goes by.
“... I brought pizza.” And she goes to the dinner table, sits heavily on a chair, and without much care start eating a slice of pizza with her hands. She hates to admit that he is right, and she is mad about it. Bloody ferret.
“Pizza? What kind?” He says, getting up the bed and approaching the kitchen.
She answers grinding her teeth, rude. “Half cheese, half pepperoni.”
He sets his eyes on the food. “Hmm... Can I have a slice of cheese?” Not offended at all. Feeling actually good about himself.
She feels embarrassed. Hermione points him a chair, while pouting a bit. “Be my guest.”
“Thanks.” And he does so, looking really relaxed, and helps himself some pizza. He takes a few bites and uses that moment to take a look at her. She wears a plain white t-shirt, some dark jeans and Mary-Jane shoes. She places her slice of pizza aside, and while deep in though she licks her fingertips and then makes a bun with her hair, using her wand to lock it. He blinks at the sight of her neckline. That is not good. Small talk. Time for small talk.
“So... How was work?” What the fuck is wrong with you, MALFOY?
She blinks and moves her eyes to him. Some soft lines appear on her forehead. “It was... Fine. The library was a mess though.” She gazes at him, some concern on her face. “Ah... Did you sleep all day?”
“Well... Sort of. I usually sleep in the morning, since... I work at night. But I did sleep more than normal today.” And he fills his mouth with more pizza, not wanting to draw attention to his career.
But Hermione doesn't look like she will let that pass. She has been wondering about that since they first met. She sighs. “Must be because of the spell from last night. Drives people to exhaustion. But don't worry, it happens. 24 to 48 hours and you will be good as new.”
She feels questions about his job on the tip of her tongue, tickling to get out. She keeps staring at him. Draco starts to get a bit uncomfortable. “Oh. Ah, I though it was because of all that alcohol. I should have known. I don't usually drink that much though.” Please, let it go.
The little Gryffindor remembers that he called her by her first name the night after. She senses her cheeks burn, but doesn't look away. “Neither do I.”
She won't give up. Damn... He finishes up his pizza. Then he blurts out, his eyes narrowing, his face serious. “What is it, Granger?”
“Do you remember yesterday? Before I cast the spell?”
He does. He called her by her name. He held her hand. He cried in front of her. She cried too. And after all that, he remembers the feeling of her arms around him, rocking him softly between sobs.
“No, I don't. The whole thing is blurry. All that drink, you know?”
She nods, slowly, and looks away. Seconds goes by until she speaks again.
“You stayed.”
“Obviously.”
“Why?”
“Your letter. And I hate my place.” His tone is matter-of-fact, as if he doesn't care at all. “So I stayed.”
She sighs. She suddenly feels really tired. “Riiiiiiight. Well... You're free to use the library loft when you don't want to go to your place. You should stay again today, if you feel too tired. I placed some pajamas at the loft bed.”
She stands up. She scratches her head a bit.
“My letter.” She gazes at him.
Slowly, his eyes lock with hers. “What about it?”
“...I meant it. Everything.” She sighs again, still looking at him.
“Good night, Draco.”
And she walks to her bedroom. She closes her door gently. She never hears his whisper.
“Good night, Hermione.”
Continues...
Chapter 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13