February 14th 2004
It had snowed again this year, and as Hermione entered the graveyard and walked along the familiar path, she felt a heavy knot of nerves begin to swell in her stomach.
Their bizarre meeting last year had practically haunted her for the last twelve months, and she'd relentlessly scolded herself for misplacing her priorities. She'd reminded herself repeatedly in the past year that visiting Tonks was her main concern, and had told herself that she would try to forget what had happened with Draco. Or rather, what hadn't happened with him.
She'd done her best to eclipse the memory, but despite her best efforts to pretend she wasn't affected, it was difficult for her to ignore that there had been an unquestionable spark between them; a burning intrigue and connection that made little sense but had been too stark and striking to ignore. The urge to contact him before today had pestered her relentlessly, but she'd resisted, reasoning that being so fixated on a kiss that had never happened was far from healthy or logical. Nevertheless, she couldn't shift the anxiety, unable to determine if she was anticipating seeing Draco, or dreading it.
She frowned when she spotted him leaning against the oak tree, his ghostly breaths hanging in the air as she approached with that knot nerves practically ready to burst now. He lifted his head slightly to greet her, his expression staying the same except for a slight twitch of his jaw.
"Why aren't you by Tonks?" asked Hermione
"I didn't come to see her," he said. "I came to see you."
Her heart shot up into her throat but she clung to her rationality and looked past him at the elm tree. "Well...well then you shouldn't be here at all. I am here to pay my respects to my friend-
"You sound like you did the first time we met here," he grumbled, rolling his eyes. "I thought we'd moved on from all that-
"Draco, I'm not here to entertain whatever game you're playing."
"I don't have a game, Granger. Just some unfinished business."
She swallowed hard. "If you wanted to...discuss something, why didn't you contact me?"
"The same reason you didn't contact me. I've been deliberating whether or not our last meeting was a one-off moment of misjudgement or...or a catalyst." He paused and rubbed his lips together. "And as twisted and fucked up as it is, meeting here is somehow apt for us. "
"That's not a legitimate reason."
He shrugged and stepped away from the oak tree. "Perhaps not, but it makes sense, doesn't it?"
"You are such a prat," she scolded. She made to walk past him, but he blocked her path. "Get the hell out of my way, Draco."
"What's your problem?"
"Don't you dare-
"No, come on, Granger," he pressed persistently. "You clearly have something to say-
"I have a few things I would like to say-
"Well, go on then!" he goaded. "Let it rip, Granger! Why are you so pissed off when-
"Because you just walked off last year after...after what happened!" she yelled angrily. "You made me feel like a bloody idiot!"
"What, and I felt brilliant when you recoiled away from me, like I was poison?" he challenged, taking another step towards her. "You weren't exactly encouraging, so forgive me if I didn't feel like hanging around-
"And you decided it would be a good idea to just show up here?"
"Well, as I said, this somehow seems fitting for us, and why break the routine?" he said. "Plus, judging by your reaction, I doubt you'd have been welcoming if I'd just turned up at your office or your home, and I can tell by your face that you know I'm right."
