Relentless - A Dramione FanFic

Together at Last??

Draco arrived at the Astronomy Tower twenty minutes early.  He was disappointed to find Hermione was not yet there.  He was curious to see what kind of a mood she was in since breaking it off with Ron, and since she didn't know that he already knew, he was a bit hopeful that she would see fit to share that information with him personally.  If she did, that meant she was starting to view him as friend, someone she could openly talk to, and not be guarded.  If she didn't, that meant he still had a lot of work to do to gain her trust.  Each second that ticked closer to class time felt like another lost chance to have that conversation.  To calm his nerves, Draco pulled out his sketchpad and began drawing the first thing he saw, the large telescope in the center of the room.  

Ten minutes later, Professor Sinistra emerged from her office next to the staircase.  "Good evening, Mr. Malfoy.  Do you know if Miss Granger is planning to join us today?"

"As far as I know, she is, Professor."  Draco replied, barely concealing the desperation in his voice.

"I guess she does have a few minutes more, but it is terribly unlike her to arrive with such little time to spare.  She's usually at least fifteen minutes early.  I hope nothing else has happened to her."  Her comment was absent minded and certainly she did not think harm had come to her student, it was simply a figure of speech, but it hit Draco directly in the gut.  

He had searched for her before class, and she was no where to be found.  "Did I give up looking for her too quickly?  She did just break up with Weasley... what if he did something to her?  What if she was miserable and distraught and alone somewhere in the castle?  What if she regretted her decision and was back at the cottage reconciling with him?..."

He was starting to feel the urge to pack up and go search for her once again when hurried footsteps could be heard coming from the stairwell.  "Sorry I'm late Professor,"  Hermione gasped, as she appeared in the doorway.  "I was studying and lost track of time."  She was careful to look only at Professor Sinistra as she spoke and made her way to an empty stool.  Once settled, she stole a glance at Draco only to immediately regret it.  His still dampened hair, loose tie and undone top button caused a flashback of his naked body to dance through her mind.  The blood rose to her cheeks and in her hurry to focus on something, anything else, she knocked her inkwell onto the floor.

"Miss Granger.  You're a bit out of sorts tonight."  Professor Sinistra mused.  Hermione was glad she was the most laid back teacher at Hogwarts.  "Might we take a few moments for you to get things back in order?"

"Yes, Professor."  Hermione managed a weak smile, although the only thing she wanted to do was run out of the room in embarrassment.  She moved to get off her seat and clean up the ink, but a simple flick of the Professor's wand left everything as good as new.  Hermione nodded to her gratefully, and took great care in laying out the rest of her supplies before indicating she was ready for the lesson to begin.

Draco could only assume Hermione was acting so strangely because of her breakup.  He felt disappointed that it was affecting her so much.  He knew she would be sad about it, but he had hoped she would view it as a relief rather than regret it.  He mentally kicked himself for getting ahead of himself yet again when it came to her.  He had hoped that with Weasley out of the way, he'd be able to fill that spot he knew rightfully belonged to him anyway.  "Friends, first, Draco.  Friends, first."  He reminded himself.  The remainder of Astronomy was spent in silence, both the students making sure it appeared they were completely focused on Professor Sinistra's lecture on using stars for navigation, when in reality they couldn't get their thoughts off each other.

***

"I trust you'll be able to pack up without supervision."  Professor Sinistra said as a statement not a question, as she swept her office door shut behind her.