Forever and Always<3

Chapter Six: Of Broomsticks and Bicycles

6. I want to face my fears.

"Damn this storm," the brunette cursed softly, cringing every time thunder would roar or lightning would illuminate her apartment.

The brunette was in her living room, sitting on her couch. Her knees were drawn to her chest and her blue comforter was draped around her shoulders. She was wearing her pajamas as she was getting ready for bed. There was someone missing, though – Draco Malfoy. The blond had promised her that he would sleep at her apartment tonight after predicting that a storm would hit.

Hermione had seen in the Muggle news that the storm would soon leave London, making her relieved.

The brunette waited for hours, occasionally changing the channel on her television. The storm had already calmed down but Hermione was still uneasy. Where was Draco? He was supposed to be in her apartment right now.

She then busied herself by watching Tom and Jerry on Cartoon Network. It never ceased to amaze her or make her laugh. All right, the only thing the characters did was chase each other around, but still, she found the cartoon hilarious. She could remember watching it with her parents so long ago.

Suddenly, her front door burst open. Hermione shrieked loudly, eyes immediately landing on her front door while clutching her wand tightly. She released a huge sigh of relief upon seeing it was only Draco. He was, however, wearing his Quidditch uniform. He was also dripping wet, even though the storm had already stopped, and he was clutching his broom.

"Oh, finally!" he exclaimed, dragging himself inside Hermione's apartment.

"You'll dirty my apartment!" the brunette screeched, wand pointed directly at Draco to clean him up. She also cleaned the stains he had made on her carpet before beginning her interrogation. "Draco, what the hell happened to you? And why are you wearing Quidditch robes? And why are you holding your broomstick? And where do you think you're going?!"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Granger, you ask too many questions," he said. "And for your information, I'm going to take a nice, warm bath. Just wait for me here. We're going to do something."

"And what, pray tell, is that?" Hermione asked, eyes instantly narrowing in suspicion.

"Now, now, Beaver, I just told you that you're asking too many questions," the blond said, a large smirk adorning his pale, handsome face. His eyes briefly shifted from his beloved broomstick back to her, his smirk still plastered on his face. "See you later, Granger."

And with that, he disappeared behind Hermione's bathroom door.

Hermione, eyes glaring at the broomstick, had a sinking feeling that she knew what would happen once Draco was done taking his bath.

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"NO BLOODY WAY!" Hermione screamed, face absolutely red from screaming and fear. Her eyes were staring defiantly and frightfully at the broomstick clutched tightly in the blond's right hand. "There's no bloody way you'll make me, Draco Malfoy. I'd rather… I'd rather die than ride that… that thing!"

Draco flinched. A frown now was adorning his face while he cradled his broomstick, his precious broomstick, closer to his chest. "Oh, cut it out, Hermione," he said. "This thing" – he gave it to the brunette but she swatted it away – "won't harm you at all. It doesn't have any teeth or claws."

The brunette stubbornly crossed her arms and looked away from him. "No, I won't ride it. And that's final!" she exclaimed.

At the corner of her eyes, she watched as Draco rummaged inside his pocket and retrieved a crumpled piece of paper. He smoothed it and forced the brunette to look at the paper. "See, Granger. Look at number six on your list. '6. I want to face my fears.' So, don't you dare back out now! I thought you wanted to accomplish your list before you die."