Smirks, Books and, Dirty Looks

Lilac and Roses

Draco stood outside the door with the gold lettering. 'This is it Draco, you're going in there and you are going to make her see you, for you.' He cleared his throat, straighten himself out and took one last breath to prepare himself to see the witch that filled his mind. As soon as he opened the door he was greeted in a cheerful voice, "Mr. Malfoy, good morning! Please, come in and sign in." He heard Lavander call to him. He waved his hand and his name appeared on the list. Lavander just stared down at the sheet and back to him. She had remembered that he was a skilled wizard but to perform wandless magic was pretty much unheard of. Then again her husband seemed to possess the same skill here and there so she let it go. 

Looking back to Draco she hesitantly smiled, "Theo, misses  you and Blaise. He wants to be able to see his friends, if you have time maybe I could set up something?" Draco stayed silent for a moment then nodded and said, "Is she here?" Lavander sighed and responded, "I believe so. I heard a whoosh about five minutes ago. She should be in there." He walked closer to the reception desk and smirked at Lavender, "How is it that Nott chose you?" She scoffed and turned up her nose. "I don't think that is any of your business really." He chuckled and waved. "Let Theo know I expect to see him soon." She looked at him and nodded once a slight smile on her lips. The door opened suddenly and there she stood. "Mr. Malfoy." Draco stood there with no emotion on his face. 

His breath coming in quiet and shallow. "Granger." Lavander had looked away and continued her work ignoring the pair. Hermione looked tired the bags under her eyes were more prominent since they last met. "Shall we begin?" She waved an arm inviting him inside. Hesitantly Draco made his way towards the door, his eyes trained directly onto hers not once missing the gleam in them. He made his way to a pair of chairs and sat down. Hermione sat opposite of Draco and crossed her legs. "Mr. Malfoy." She nodded towards him and he nodded back, "Hermione." He was thinking carefully about what he was about to say when she spoke. "You look like you're thinking a little too hard, what's on your mind?" She quietly stated not really wanting to look at him. 

Draco stayed quiet intently looking at her almost study like. She could feel the heat of his gaze on her, she spoke still not looking directly at him the images from last night still vivid in her memory. "I'm sorry I might have misinterpreted your silence, I just assumed that it was something you wished to diss--." He interrupted. "You are." Hermione looked up at him and shut up. Draco felt a small blush start to creep up on his cool cheeks. Both were staring at each other, neither knew how to continue. Everything seemed like it was frozen in time, cool blue grey looking back at chocolate brown eyes. Hermione was the one to break the silence, "I'm sorry, what did you say?" 

Draco took a steadying breath before he timidly spoke, "I said you are." Hermione looked puzzled. "I am what?" Her eyes dared him to speak. In that moment he wished that a hypogriff would come in through the window and swoop him up. Clearing his throat for the hundredth time that morning he stated matter-of-factly. "Hermione, you are what is on my mind." Without hesitating she put her palm up. "Stop." Draco on impulse stood and walked over to her. "Why?" Hermione refused to look up at him fearing all her resolve would disappear. "I don't know how or why you are trying to prank me." Anger was slowly starting to creep in while she continued, "I thought we agreed that this form of bullying was going to be put aside. I am far too busy to be dealing with this kind of sarcasm this morning."

 Draco was kneeling in front of her taking her hand in his making her stop and look at them. "Who said I'm playing at trick on or trying to bully you? I am just answering a question you asked me Hermione. Why is it so bad that I finally answered something honestly?"  Hermione couldn't figure him out, there had to be an ulterior motive. She removed her hand from his leaving a distressed expression on his face further confusing her. "Why are you telling me this? Are you being serious right now Draco?" The hopeful question left her mouth before she could stop it. Feeling stupid and a little embarrassed she turned her head. "You should just leave." 

"No, I'm staying right here." His response only seemed to fuel her growing anger. Hermione felt like she was about to cry from frustration when she spoke each word slowly. "What. Do. You. Want?" Draco looked at her and smiled, "You." Hermione looked at him and laughed cynically. "You have got to be joking. I must be dreaming still right?" Draco could only smile at the beautiful witch as she continued to look back at him. "Merlin, next are you going to tell me you felt this for a while?" He nodded back in response. Hermione felt electricity run from him to her in that moment because while she looked into his eyes she could see that he was being honest and that scared her. 

Instead of accepting that he was blatantly confessing to her in this moment she continued to deny his sincerity. "Right. Draco look, I am not that mad little witch who was in love with you all those years ago in Hogwarts anymore. All I want is for you to let me treat you so we can both move on with our lives." She looked at him and knew she messed up, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole she put her hand on her face and waited for his response. "Wait you were in love with me?" He smirked as he got closer. "Were you really?" She could hear the excitement growing in his voice. 'Well there's no going back now is there?' Removing her hand she slowly looked at him clearly seeing how pleased he was. Sighing she responded, "It was a long time ago Draco. Forget I even mentioned it. You never really noticed me anyways what's the point of reliving it." Draco's smirk faded and he was looking at the floor too embarrassed to even make eye contact now.

 "Who said I never noticed you?" This caught Hermione off guard but he continued before she could speak. "I did, even though I acted like a git, I was just in the wrong growing up. I may be in the wrong in this moment for blurting all this out now but honestly, I don't give a damn anymore. I'm tired of having to pretend that you aren't constantly on my mind." Draco looked up at Hermione and saw that shock had overtaken her face but that she was intently listening to him and continued. "I want to allow myself the privilege of getting to know you all over again Hermione. I really mean it." 

Not knowing what else to say she responded. "Why me?" Draco had gotten so close to her he could smell her shampoo. It smelled like lilacs and roses, her skin was bright and smooth. Getting nearer and nearer he whispered, "Why not." Her chocolate eyes looked mesmerizing and he felt like he was getting drunk on her. "Draco?" He could feel her skin radiating heat, he didn't know what he was doing he hadn't planned any of this. All he knew was she was close, and she smelled so good. "Hermione." They were both so near to one another that their lips hovered over each other. 

Hermione whispered, "Draco, what are you doing?" He smirked slightly and whispered back "Something I've been wanting to do since the first day our eyes met." Her breath was shaky,  unsteady, intoxicating before he knew it he had leaned in and kissed her.