Perfect Two...

Chapter Forty Four: The Ball Part II

"Our place?"

"You can't have forgotten?" he stopped moving, Hermione frowned, looking at him questioningly "We spent almost the whole year there, Hermione!"

"The black lake?" she was asking him or herself she didn't know, a cheeky smile on her face

"The room of Requirement." he corrected her

"Oh I was just about to say that.." she smiled

"Yeah, of course." he started moving again still holding Hermione's hand tight to his until they reached the seventh floor.

"Oh -- God!" she said panting "How we actually -- used to -- climb this all years?"

"You're acting like my grandmother, Hermione!"

"Shut up! Just a friendly reminder that I'm doing everything you're doing in high heels and this long-"

"Sexy dress." he smirked, walking to the left corridor. Hermione's eyes studying the wall in their front and then a door appeared and a smile grew on her face.

They walked hand in hand to the room, Draco let her hand go and Hermione took a few steps forward. Her gaze was fixed on Draco when she heard the door closing "It's just how I remember it." she said softly

"Yeah.. We used to fight a lot here." he walked to the sofa, his back to Hermione as his fingertips touched the fabric of the sofa.

She bit her lip, walking towards him, slipping her arms around his waist "And.. Snogged.." she teased and Draco turned to her with a smile lighting his face up, her hands slipped up his back to hook over his shoulders. She buried her face against his chest, breathing him in, forgetting time and place and circumstance and just holding him. She snuggled against Draco, grateful to have him back and ready to face any obstacles to their happiness. "You won't leave again," she demanded "No matter how difficult things might get for us."

"Never again." He promised. Lifting her face to kiss him. He couldn't refuse her offer and bent his head to cover her soft lips with his. The heat and pressure of her mouth took away all the residual anxiety, filled him with wild elation instead. Draco was finally going to tell her why he couldn't follow her that night, when she could escape from the manor expecting him to show up in any moment. Why he had to disappear for a good nine years, why he had to kill their love and leave everything behind him. After several long minutes of feasting on her mouth like a starving man, he pulled away and his eyes opened while hers still closed her lipstick smeared everywhere. She bit her lower lip gently, the heat was raising inside her "I love you." she whispered. Draco smiled, he kissed her forehead, her hands pressed on his chest. She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, smiling at him softly and he could read her expression, happy, glad, delightful, cheery, gleeful and so pleased.

"We have some.." his thump wiped up her chin "Lipstick."

"Here?" she asked touching where his thump was

"Everywhere.." he shrugged in a sorry way

"I'll fix that." she smiled taking her purse to the wall mirror

Draco sat on the sofa waiting her to finish fixing her makeup. Few seconds, Hermione joined Draco on the sofa watching his odd expressions "What's wrong?" she asked her hand running up and down his back

"Hermione, we need to talk." he said earnestly

Hermione raised her eyebrows "Okay," she nodded "What about?"

"Look," he turned to her to meet her gaze "I know you want to know why I didn't come after you that night. And I believe you have to know."
Hermione's stomach dropped, she didn't say or gavs any sign she just waited him to speak.