Relentless - A Dramione FanFic

More Fun, More Heartache

"Its his class schedule. You're just doing what any decent person would do by delivering it to him. Its not his fault he wasn't in the room when it arrived. I wouldn't be fair for him to be late because you were too chicken to knock on his door." The more she tried to psyche herself up, the more nervous she became. She stood in front of his bedroom door, her hand in the air prepared to knock for a good minute. "You're just overthinking it. Pluck up the courage and knock on the damn door."

Her knocks were hesitant, but she'd done it. Now all she had to do was hand over the schedule and walk away. She waited for an agonizingly long time before raising her hand to knock again, harder this time. As she did, the door swung open and her closed fist hit nothing but air. It caused her to stumble forward. Heat rose to her cheeks, but she composed herself and thrust the parchment out in front of her.

"Your class schedule was delivered while the boys were eating." She stated while awkwardly shifting her eyes everywhere but his face.

He reached for the parchment, and though he knew it might backfire, he purposely brushed his fingers along hers as he took it from her. She started at his touch, but did not pull away. Rather, she looked him directly in the eye, turning the tables by catching him off guard.

"Um... Thanks." He barely managed to get the words out as her eyes bored into his.

She smiled shyly, but quickly looked away as she replied, "Its the least I could do after this morning's... incident. Anyway, the boys are gone...got called to a meeting with Professor McGonagall. So you should go down and eat, since you did put all the effort into making it."

"Only if you'll join me." His thought, the one that was supposed to stay locked away inside his head, somehow came out of his mouth. It was his turn to awkwardly avoid eye contact.

"Did Draco Malfoy just ask me to have breakfast with him? No, that can't be right. Is he blushing? He is. In all the years we've been going to school together, I've never seen so much as a crack in his tough exterior, but here he is, blushing and fidgeting. He's actually embarrassed. Oh crap, what do I say? I can't just pretend those words didn't come out of his mouth. I am starving, and lunch is a long ways away. How am I even considering this? He's Draco Malfoy. It would be too weird. Ron and Harry would be furious. But they aren't here, and they don't have to know."

He could see her mind sorting through multiple emotions at once. Shock. Amusement. Confusion. Panic. Self-Doubt. Uncertainty. Mischief. And finally... could it be? Yes, it was hope. "Ok." Her answer was just two letters, but to him, it meant the world.

They walked in silence, side-by-side down to the kitchen. Each stealing sideways glances at the other. Not a word was spoken, but Hermione somehow knew he wouldn't fill a plate unless she did first, so she compliantly began placing a little of everything on her plate. Draco was careful to maintain a good distance between them, but the kitchen was small, and she couldn't control the warmth that built inside her from being in such close quarters with him. When her plate was full, she settled onto the bar stool nearest her. Draco took the one at the opposite end.

So many thoughts tore through Hermione's brain as she nervously ate the breakfast Draco had quite expertly prepared. "Where did he learn to cook like this, the muggle way? Wow, its delicious. I know the boys will think I'm insane, but he's different this year. He's more at ease. There's not the sense of him trying to maintain an appearance. Its almost like, up until this year, he's been playing the role of someone else, and now he's free to be himself. He has actively avoided two confrontations with Ron. He isn't strutting around, seeking attention. He hasn't uttered a single insult. He was blushing, for goodness sake! And don't forget London..."