Darkness Falls

Twenty Eight

1994 – Third Year

Hermione wandered through the castle, absent minded of her surroundings, completely lost in her thoughts - her daydreams. She walked with a grin plastered upon her face, oblivious to how goofy she probably looked to anyone who saw her.

She wasn't even sure why she felt so happy, nothing in particular had happened to make is so, but is was the prospect of something that could happen that filled her stomach with butterflies.

As she climbed off the last flight of stairs and made her way down the long winding corridor ahead of her, she though back to her last conversation with Draco, almost 2 nights ago.

**

"Are Theo and Daphne a thing then?" Hermione asked Draco as he played with a strand of her hair.

They sat together in their usual spot, at their favourite place, watching the sun set over Hogwarts out of the window to their room. Hermione lay curled up beside Draco, her head rested on his chest, moving with each calming breath he took.

"I'm not sure, I haven't really asked." Draco responded with a clear lack of interesting in the conversation.

"He's your friend, is he not?"

"Yes I suppose he is – but like I've said before, my friends are different to yours. We don't really talk about our feelings."

"Hmm... I just think it's a bit odd. They're sneaking around the castle together, clearly hiding what they have, you're his friend and you haven't once thought to ask."

"Nope."

"Strange."

"You seem very invested in their relationship, why don't you ask them?"

"Yes, because that would go down swimmingly. 'Hey guys, I know you hate me and my kind, but I just wandered, are you guys in a relationship of just hooking up?' I can imagine it now."  She mocked.

"Good point... besides, Theo might think your jealous."

"Of what!? Him?" Hermione sat up on her seat, turning to stare at him in disbelief.

Draco shuffled slightly, displeased by her movement away from, instantly feeling a chill once her body disconnected from his.

"Perhaps." He answered, with a smirk forming before he continued, "Or simply that you don't have someone to run around, hiding behind closed doors with."

"Well that's simply not true is it." She responded, with an overconfident wink.

"Yes but its not the same is it. My point was that you're not off hiding in supply cupboards locking lips with someone."

"True." Hermione said with a faint blush approaching her cheeks. The more time she had spent with Draco, the more hours she had put into learning how to hid her emotions, the better she had gotten in preventing her cheeks from turning a familiar shade of crimson around anyone. The ironic this was that it had become easier with everyone else, aside from Draco himself.

"I'm different though." She added before she moved to the other side of the window seat to sit opposite him.

"How so?"

"I wouldn't just do that, not with anyone at least. They may have feelings for each other but something tells me that its just hormones that are fuelling their desire, not any real interest. Why else would they want to hide it, I highly doubt either of their families would disapprove, their friends wouldn't care, clearly, so why else hide it unless they didn't really see it going anywhere, its all just for fun."