Relentless - A Dramione FanFic

Unintended Consequences & An Unexpected Ally

Hermione counted to sixty after the door had closed behind Draco before she let out a scream of frustration mixed with confusion and sadness. Tears spilled down her cheeks and she did nothing to stop them. They weren't tears of any one emotion, rather they were the manifestation of so many emotions happening at once:

Anger - toward herself for losing control and kiss Draco back. But also toward Draco for ignoring her afterward. Frustration - toward Ron for insisting they not forgive Draco for all his past actions. Guilt - that she thoroughly enjoyed kissing Draco, and that Ron didn't cross her mind once while it was happening. Also, for wanting more alone time with Draco even though it would infuriate her friends.
Confusion - Why was Draco so different? Things between them had always been so black and white... He hated her and she hated him. Now they were swimming in all sort of grays. Disappointment - toward Draco for leaving without so much as a goodbye, and toward herself for hoping for more from him. Sadness - that the one thing that had made her truly happy since Voldemort's return was the one thing she knew she shouldn't want.

Why? Why did he have to come back this year? Why did he have to be so different? Why did Professor McGonagall set up such an outrageous living arrangement? Why did he have to kiss her? Why did she have to kiss him back? Why? Why? Why? The only thing she could think of were more questions, and not a single answer to any of them. She felt as if her head was about to burst into flames due to all the friction of conflicting thoughts pounding against each other. It made her do something that she'd never done in her academic career... lose focus on the assignment in front of her. The Amortentia was slightly over-brewed, but she dipped out a vial and placed it on Professor Slughorn's desk anyway.

***

Draco was still sulking outside the Potions' classroom when he heard Hermione let out a blood curdling scream. He cracked the door open to find her sobbing over her cauldron, obviously believing she was alone. He wanted to go to her, to comfort her, but he knew he was probably the reason she was screaming and crying in the first place, so he silently shut the door, leaving her to her thoughts.

He'd been wandering for ten minutes when he rounded a corner on the fourth floor and found a shoeless blonde sitting on a window sill, apparently having a conversation with herself. He was preparing to turn around, hoping she hadn't seen him, when her airy voice spoke to him: "Running from your feelings isn't going to make them go away." Her head turned slowly toward him, a knowing smile resting on her face.

"What?!?" He asked, trying to sound as confused as possible, but he had the feeling she was reading his soul like a book.

"She is different this year, too, you know. You've got a chance. As much as they'd like to deny it, she and Ron just are not meant to be together. Ron likes the spotlight too much, and she would rather be at home with a book. They are better as friends, and I have a feeling it won't be long before they realize it." Draco was sure his mouth had fallen to the floor, but he couldn't force it back shut. How did Luna, LUNA of all people, know about his feelings for Hermione? But he didn't have time to contemplate an answer as she continued, "She's always known there was more to you than you let on. If you'd given her any reason to, over the last seven years, she would have been the first to defend you. She's still looking for that reason, so give her one. Forgiveness just might be in season..." she hopped down from her perch, glided over to him and added, "Blake" with a wink.

She had skipped off before Draco had time to comprehend what had just happened. "She called me Blake. SHE CALLED ME BLAKE." His thoughts became internal screams. "WHAT IS HAPPENING? HOW DOES SHE KNOW? SHE CAN'T POSSIBLY KNOW! NO, I MUST HAVE MISHEARD HER." His heart rate began to slow as he convinced himself he'd misunderstood the quirky Ravenclaw. "She doesn't know. She can't know. No one but McGonagall and I know." He had almost convinced himself when her smiling face and that wink popped back into his head... "She knows." He resigned himself to the truth, "but how???"