Beginning at the End ⏃ Dramione

Chapter 13: Surrender

Hermione sulked back inside the tent. Instead of immediately helping her to search however, Draco stopped near the wood-burning stove and used his wand to summon some logs he had stored in his bag. As he placed them in the stove, Hermione slowly paced over in astonishment.

"You were out to get those?"

Glancing back at her, he queried, "You wanted a fire, didn't you?"

Already in an emotional state, his kind gesture only made her feel more guilty. He casually ignited the logs with a spell, acting oddly indifferent about her losing the medallion. "Draco... you have to stop doing nice things for me."

"What do you mean?" Finishing with the fire, he turned to her and sassily continued, "Isn't that what friends do?"

She stared at him for a moment, breathing deeply, while a few cool droplets of water dripped off the end of her nose. She could tell from his expression that he was wondering what he could possibly have done wrong to offend her this time.

Heart racing, she closed her eyes for a moment. I can't continue like this, it's torture. She tried to focus on the sound of the rain and the crackling of the fire as she attempted to figure out how to tell him how she felt. I just need to do it.

Stepping closer to him, she swallowed hard. Before she knew it, her eyes opened and the words simply fell out, "I don't think I can be your friend."

Taken aback at first, Draco quickly attempted to translate her meaning, but found himself fixated by the vivid reflection of the fire in her eyes dancing from under her rain-soaked eyelashes. She was standing intimately close and the grim set of her mouth made it seem as if she were delivering a serious message. When it finally hit him, his heart began to race and he realized that she was standing there waiting on his response, despite not actually having asked him anything.

Trying to read his eyes, Hermione began to wonder if her statement had been clear. He gave himself away when he glanced down at her lips, and removed all shadow of doubt. But did he feel the same? Is he going to reject me? She was not sure her pride could handle it if he did. Do something!

She inhaled sharply when he slowly reached out to brush some wet strands of hair from her cheek. Feeling that if she had made it this far without his laughing at her or rebuking her, she might as well fully confess her affections. After all, there was something she had wanted to do for a long time. Despite her resolve, she was hesitant as she stepped closer and swept her fingers through his hair. She hoped he would not object, as she was convinced that if he allowed her to do this, it was as good as a confession that he felt the same.

The trace of her fingers running across his scalp sent goosebumps down Draco's arms, and he exhaled deeply with the faintest whisper of, "Hermione..."

It was impossible for him to deny the magnetic pull he felt toward her. Though she appeared shocked, he swiftly leaned down, stopping just shy of making contact and appearing to tease her, though really he was taking the time to savor how it felt to be this near to her. He could feel the heat of her breath on his own lips, while he studied her closely, trying to determine if this was what she truly wanted.

Lifting his arm to reach for her waist, she inched forward still closer and pressed her lips to his. He instantly pulled her in and firmly reciprocated.

For him, it was a relief, to finally be doing what he had always wanted... though he could not believe she had been the one to initiate it. He had wished to kiss her for so long but had never believed Hermione Granger would be the one to make the first move. His body against hers felt so right, like a place made just for him, and he was assaulted with a mix of emotion: a sense of surrender, but also a fervor of lust.