~ TRY AGAIN ~

WARNING: su1c1de, death, swearing, mature content

WORDS: 1.5K

     A/N: Sorry, I changed it up a bit from the post I made about this fic the snippet of text. So, it's not exactly what I said it would be!

      Hermione finally decided to go outside. The library was far too stuffy and there was a chattering group of third year girls nearby. As she placed her book back on its shelf, Draco rounded the corner of the aisle and stopped at the sight of her standing there.

     "Shit! Malfoy!" Hermione yelped quietly in surprise.

     "Oh, finally," he sneered, staring at her. "I was looking everywhere for you."

     "Of course you were! And I bet I know what you want to talk about," Hermione whispered harshly, turning around to face Draco. "All you ever want to fucking talk about is us!"

     Draco's face registered hurt and then quickly switched back to his usual sneer. "So? You're scared to talk about it at all," he muttered, leaning forward so that Hermione could feel his hot breath on her cheek. "Are you scared of me, darling?"

     He felt her body tense underneath him and he smiled. He tilted her chin upward and put his arm on the bookshelf behind her so that his body was practically touching hers, but not quite.

     "Draco!" she gasped."Not here!"

     "Hmmm... perhaps an empty classroom?" he suggested.

     Hermione tried to object but then she realized there was no point and settled for a look of pure hatred instead.

     She followed him to an empty classroom and closed and locked the door behind her.

     "I think we could try again. Please trust me. It's okay, don't worry," Draco assured her as he sat her down on top of the teacher's desk.

     "Draco, I really don't know," Hermione mumbled, closing her eyes and taking Draco's hand in hers.

     "Please, darling? For me?" Draco pleaded with her, squeezing her hand tightly.

     Even though she enjoyed watching him beg with her, she reluctantly sighed and nodded her head. Draco smiled and felt grateful for the opportunity. He knew he only had one chance and he had to be careful.

     Draco placed a hand on her waist and leaned forward so that their lips almost met, but he paused, thinking of how lucky he was to have this opportunity and how beautiful Hermione was at that moment. He slowly breathed in and then tilted his face forward so that his li-

     Hermione pulled away, hopped off of the desk, and landed with a dull thud as Draco tried to comprehend what had just happened. She had just been sitting in front of him, lips awaiting his touch, or so he had thought. Now, she seemed to be a completely different person, fierce and fiery beneath his gaze.

     "Draco... I really can't do this," Hermione began regretfully. "You're a good person, but I really don't think this is going to work out. I'm so sorry, Draco."

     The realization and fact of what was going on hit Draco like a huge bullet, his heart dropping immediately and his mind drowning in despair. No, no, no, no, this couldn't be happening! What had he done to earn this? He had been careful and slow. Was he too slow!? What ha-

     "This isn't your fault," Hermione assured him, reading his mind. "It just doesn't feel right to me. Do you understand?"

     "Y-yes," Draco choked out quietly, stuttering in his confusion. "I understand."