Anyone But Me

Chapter Fifteen

Draco raised an eyebrow as she stared up at him silently, not answering his question. He was relaxed and very much the one she had initially hoped would come. Not the cold hard person that she had seen in the hallways. Or during classes and meals. Or walking in the hallways. Or pretty much any time her eyes had wandered his way over the course of the last few days...

He flashed a smile down at her. "Don't leave me quivering in suspense. Where were you headed?"

"I was going to go back to my dorm. I thought you were a no show." She told him truthfully.

"Ahh... That does sound like something I would do, doesn't it?" He stated before letting go of where he had grabbed her arm to stop her fall. His hands were covered by leather gloves in a black that matched his double breasted long wool coat. He wasn't wearing a hat, leaving his hair to blow in the wind caused by the storm.

She shrugged as she took a careful step back from him this time. Her mind was already racing from his proximity and she needed to keep her head on straight so she could get to the bottom of why he had asked her here. Being that close had her worried she would be distracted by how good he smelled... Or how his eyes seemed to echo the storm outside when he met her gaze... Or how all she wanted was a replay of the other night... She shook her head again, trying to focus.

The movement caused some of her curls to fall from behind her shoulders. Almost instantaneously, the wind picked up the rebellious strands and wildly tried to rip them from the confines of her hat. When the gust died down the curls settled across her cheek and lips. She didn't reach up to push them away, nor did she break eye contact with him. She had no clue how to start the conversation that she needed to have. Not with Draco Malfoy. If it had been anyone but him she wouldn't have had any qualms requesting the information. He made her nervous... For more reasons than the obvious conundrums.

"You are not very talkative tonight..." He observed as he reached up with a hooked finger and brushed the curls from her face for her. Flicking them back behind her shoulder where they belonged.

"I don't know what to say." She responded, having nothing to gain with a lie, but still being cautious.

"Say that you would like to go somewhere warmer?" Draco suggested.

Hermione did not stop the chuckle that burst from her, somewhere warmer would be nice. "You are the one who came up with the idea to meet here. You should be the one to come up with the back up plan."

"Alright." He said simply with a shrug of his shoulders before turning around and starting back down the hall they had both come down. He walked with a purpose. His shoulders held back and his strides long, the natural air of confidence that he was known for exuded from him. She did not know how he could seem so calm while the world was going to hell in a handbasket...

She quickly caught up with him and matched his lengthy tread. It was a struggle to keep her head down and only occasionally sneak peeks at him out of the corner of her eye as she followed. She didn't have the faintest clue where he was taking her but the answer had her curiosity peaked. Between that and the questions that burned on her tongue about why he had asked her to meet, she had a hard time staying quiet.

He, on the other hand, acted as if this was all completely normal. Leaving her to wonder how often he made it a habit to sneak around the castle with people he supposedly hated...

They had been walking a decent amount of time before she finally caved and cleared her throat before asking. "What is it that you want Malfoy?"

Draco glanced over his shoulder at her but left her question unanswered. He continued on the path only he knew as she rushed to keep up with him. It was a surprise when he abruptly reached over and grabbed her elbow, pulling her into the first deserted classroom he came upon.