Just a Kiss

Chapter 26

After cleaning up the books they had pulled out before their game, Hermione douses the fire and together the pair walk outside into the cold winter. They talk as they move through the forest, voices lowered so they don't disturb the silence of the environment. It's only when Hermione steps into a deep bank of snow that their noise rises above a whisper. 

"Merlin, that's cold!" She hisses as snow slides up her pant leg and bites at her leg. A shiver works its way down her spine and her teeth start to chatter. 

Draco chuckles beside her. "Don't look so upset," he says, smiling and shoving her playfully. Hermione stumbles and nearly falls, only just managing to catch herself against the trunk of a tree. Huffing, she crosses her arms and stalks ahead of him. Draco chases her, and then a warmth is enveloping her form. His coat is heavy on her shoulders but the heat is enough to outweigh any complaints. "Better now?" he jokes. 

Unable to find the words to thank him for the oddly kind gesture, she just hums and curls her hands in the folds of the cloth. They fall quiet again. 

He's the first to notice the small owl perched on the sill of her kitchen window. "That has to be for you. Mine usually sit by my bedroom window," he states. 

Hermione reaches out from beneath the black coat and catches the owl between her hands, letting Draco carefully take the letter before the bird flies off. She pushes open the back door and enters the house, taking the letter from him in the process. 

Draco follows her to the kitchen, craning his neck in a very unsubtle attempt at reading the letter. He asks, "who's it from?" It isn't what he wants to ask, but she can hear the unspoken question. She shrugs and breaks the seal, slowly letting her eyes rove over the words. A sigh slips out when she recognizes the words. 

"It's not from him," she replies. "Harry, actually." She reads on and a frown blossoms. "I'm not sure why..." she trails off, letting out a sharp breath when she reaches the end. "I've got to go. I'll choose where we go another day, but I really do have to leave." 

"It's fine," he says, waving his hand dismissively. 

Hermione pulls out her wand, preparing to apparate out, then remembers she's still wearing his coat. Hurriedly, she takes it off and passes it to him, missing the warmth it had provided. 

He takes the coat and tosses it carelessly onto the kitchen table. "When will you be back?" 

"Tonight maybe. I'm not entirely sure though, he didn't really say what's wrong," she replies, voice distant. "There are leftovers in the fridge." For a moment, her eyes meet his, and there is a flash of mischief that overpowers the worry in her cinnamon orbs. "Don't burn the house down." It doesn't make him laugh, as confused as he is, but she doesn't stay long enough to see that. With a pop, she's disappeared from the house. 

Draco sighs and drops onto a kitchen chair, preparing for a long night of restless waiting and no sleep. 

Hermione arrives at Harry's home and stomps to the kitchen where she can hear glass clinking. "Harry James Potter, you had better have a good reason for sending such a vague letter or I swear I'll make you regret it," she grouses, the stutters to a stop at the kitchen doorway. 

He's sat at the table with a cup clenched tightly in hand, though he doesn't seem to have any plans of drinking it. Harry's completely still except for the slight swirl of the cup between his fingers that occasionally makes the glass collide with the wooden table. Her voice makes his gaze jerk up to her. 

Softer than before, she questions, "is something the matter, Harry?" Hermione walks forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

His head tilts and he gives it a slight shake. "Nothing is wrong. I'm just thinking."