February 14th 2003
He was late.
She always came to the graveyard for eleven at night, and he'd always been there before she'd arrived. Always. It was what she'd come to expect, so when his silhouette hadn't been lingering by Tonks' grave tonight, she'd instantly felt unsettled. Her chest had turned cold with concern, wondering if something had happened to Draco, and then she'd felt troubled, thinking that perhaps he had simply grown tired of mourning the dead.
The worst thing was she felt like they had some unfinished business from last Valentine's Day, and it had been playing on her mind for the last twelve months, popping into her head at impromptu and inappropriate times. She had even contemplated trying to contact him but had always talked herself out of it. As odd and macabre as it sounded, the graveyard had somehow become their secret sanctuary, and she questioned whether she would breaking some kind of unwritten contract between them if she asked to meet outside of this place.
She started when she heard footsteps behind her, but relief swept through her when she saw Draco making his way towards her, his shoulders slumped and his hand tucked into his pockets. She found herself greeting him with a warm smile as he stopped at her side.
"I wasn't sure you were going to come."
"I was delayed," he told her. "Issues with work."
"I see," she said quietly.
He arched a curious eyebrow at her. "What's wrong, Granger? Would you have missed me if I hadn't turned up?"
"I was...disappointed when you weren't here," she confessed, blushing when his eyes widened a little. "Well...it's lonely here, and I quite...like meeting here with you."
His expression remained subtly stunned as he regarded her. "Are you saying you enjoy my company?"
"I guess I am," she nodded shyly. "I was puzzled when you weren't here. You're always here before me."
"As I said, I had issues with work. The Ministry have been trying to buy exclusivity for my supplies of potions ingredients, and they decided to-
"You're not going to mock me for confessing that I enjoy your company?" she asked suddenly.
"Why would I?" he replied. "We established a couple of years ago that I didn't mind your presence, and you didn't mind mine."
"There's quite a difference between enjoying someone's presence and being indifferent to it."
His features changed slightly, like he was drinking her in. "Yes, there certainly is."
She nibbled her lower lip anxiously. "Can ask you something?" she questioned, waiting until he nodded. "What do you usually do before I come here?"
"I wait for you."
That caught her off guard, but she was smiling again before she could help it, warmth gathering in her chest as she studied him almost affectionately. He stared back at her with an unreadable gaze, but when she thought it dropped to her lips, her pulse accelerated slightly, and her throat became dry.
"Tell me something about you," said Draco.
Hermione faltered and glanced at Tonks' grave. "Don't you mean her?"
"No, you. Tell me something about you."
She thought about protesting or changing the subject but decided to see where this would go. "My favourite colour-
"Is blue," he finished. "I know that."
"Wha...you do?"
"Of course," he said with a shrug. "We've already discussed that we've known each other for years. Over a decade, in fact. I know your favourite colour is blue."
