Haunted Together

Chapter 1: The Nightmare Begins

Just as Hermione reached out her hand to touch the silvery wisps swirling in the air around her, she woke up with her bedsheets wrapped around her thighs and a sigh on her lips. Her heartbeat pulsed beneath her palm as she wrapped her fingers around her throat. Every night for the past week she had woken up from this dream right before she could slide her fingers through the smoke, and every night there was a whisper caught in her throat upon awakening.

She thought that if she massaged her throat, the feeling would dislodge itself.

It didn't. In fact, every day for the past week, she had to rush into work with this lump in her throat that wouldn't go away. She tried drinking more water. Nothing. Clearing her throat whenever she was alone. Nothing. Screaming into her pillow right before she went to sleep. Still nothing.

What made matters worse was that every time she lifted her eyes from her paperwork, she caught the flicker of another's turning away from her. And it was someone she did not want anything to do with.

"Draco," one of the office's loveliest ladies purred. "Are you ready to go to lunch? I've got a reservation at that little rooftop cafe you like so much."

The man's shoulders tensed and Hermione tried not to notice from her spot on the other side of the room. When Cassandra brushed her fingertips across Draco's shoulder, the man positively glowered. He said something Hermione couldn't hear and Cassandra flinched and removed her hand from his back.

She turned her attention back to her reports and only knew that Cassandra had left by the waft of perfume that drifted past her. The rumble in Hermione's stomach reminded her that it was indeed lunch time, and she had skipped breakfast this morning when she couldn't stomach the thought of forcing food down her throat.

But now she needed nourishment before her stomach scared everyone in the office. She had just gathered her belongings and pushed her chair back when a startled oh escaped her. As she stumbled, a set of firm hands grasped her forearms to steady her. "Sorry, I--"

The words died on her lips and her mouth dried as she locked eyes with the one whom she bumped into.

"It's okay," Draco breathed, taking a second's pause to return Hermione's gaze. When he forced his eyes away and removed his grip from her arm, Hermione could breathe again. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. He turned his back to her and took a step before fumbling with his coat. "I'm headed to Lott's," he murmured, a hint of hope woven into his words. "You're welcome to join me."

That was all he said before he tore through the office and out the door. Multiple people watched the man leave before they turned back to the woman he had addressed, wondering what she was going to do.

Clutching her purse tighter against her, Hermione's face warmed as she followed Draco outside, careful to avoid the stares trailing her out the door.

- o -

She hadn't meant to go to Lott's. Her feet clicked down the sidewalk and she was determined not to go to Lott's. She had even insured that she turned the other direction once outside the office to make sure she didn't run into him.
But by a stroke of fate, she ended up at Lott's anyway. Draco was standing outside the cafe's doors and when he noticed her approach, his face lightened in a way that made Hermione's breath hitch.

"I wasn't sure you'd come," he stated, rubbing his hands together and blowing on his knuckles. A plume of smoke curled from his lips. "For fuck's sake, let's go inside before we freeze our asses off." He held the door open and gestured for Hermione to head inside.

As the doorbell jingled behind them, Hermione tried not to panic. She couldn't back out once he saw her or she'd feel terrible, but now her stomach churned. What was she doing here? What was she doing here... with him?