wildflowers // dramione

Chapter 18

Nightfall came and Hermione set her plan into action. The rain still poured, flooding the pond in the front yard and creating waves in the lake. Hermione had spent the entire day in her room, packing and planning. She hadn't heard any movement in the hallway so she assumed Draco hadn't left his room either. Hermione watched the sun set and she prepared herself for her escape. She set her duffel bag by her door. She opened the white door and walked into the hallway. She walked up to Draco's room. Being as silent as physically possible, Hermione pressed her ear to Draco's door. She heard nothing except for a light tapping sound, which she knew to be the tapping of Draco's feet against his floor. She became enthusiastic that her plan might actually work and she tiptoed back to her bedroom. She had left the door open and she quickly reached inside, pulling out her black bag. She didn't bother shutting the door, then moved fast through the hallway and down the stairs. She was so close to freedom. She knew she was only a few feet and seconds away from being on her own again. The fear of being alone for the first time in who knows how long, made her stop walking. She was already downstairs but was barely a few steps away from the staircase. She was right next to the dining room table, which had an emerald centerpiece. Hermione's Gryffindor heart made her feelings of doubt fade into the night. A small part of her didn't want to leave, because she knew when she left she'd be leaving Draco all alone and without a way out of his death sentence with the Dark Lord. But, a larger part of her longed to see her best friends again and was too angry with the blonde boy keeping her here to want to protect him any longer.

Hermione continued forward towards the front door. She knew Draco hadn't put charms on it because he always removed them when they took their walks, and since he had been too distracted with their first kiss and hadn't left the upstairs today, she knew the charms had not been replaced. With a hopeful grin, Hermione picked up her pace. Suddenly, her black leather bag that was strapped across her body, hit the dining room table's centerpiece, knocking it over and hitting the wooden table with a loud thud. Hermione cringed and she lifted the centerpiece back up, putting it back in its correct position. She knew the noise was heard by Draco, but she also knew he didn't want to see her so he wouldn't come downstairs and to see what it was. Hermione continued through the house and reached the front door. She twisted her fingers around the gold doorknob and with a final glance around the stunning lake house, she turned it to the side and pulled open the door.

Draco jumped at the loud thud that came from the level below him. He rolled his eyes and stood up from the end of his bed where he had been sitting.

"Idiot mudblood," he whispered to himself. He was bored and ready for another tension filled argument with Hermione. He opened his bedroom door and noticed Hermione's door was open, too.

A strange feeling of suspicion grew inside him. He felt cold, fresh air hit him as he moved closer to Hermione's door. Draco remembered Hermione's threats about leaving and he suddenly sped up. He barged into Hermione's room. It was completely spotless, not a single sign anyone was staying in it.

"Bloody hell! I can't believe that bitch!" Draco ran out of Hermione's empty room and pulled his wand out of his pocket.

Draco sprinted down the stairs and out the front door. The hard rain hit him immediately and it soaked his entire body. Thunder roared in the distance as Draco searched through the dark and foggy night for Hermione. She can't be far, he thought. He flicked his wand and the tip lit up with the light of a Lumos spell. He ran through the front yard, searching for the girl.

"Damn it, Granger! Where are you?!" He yelled into the darkness.

Hermione wasn't far from him and she jumped at the sound of his voice. She started to run. She hit a puddle and the splash gave away to Draco where she was. He ran towards the sound he had barely heard over the rainfall and listened closer for the sound of her feet. Hermione hit another puddle and she cursed under her breath. Her bag swung around her body, slowing her down. She pushed her wet hair out of her face but it was no use, she could barely see even without it blocking her vision. Hermione saw the faint light of Draco's Lumos glow from behind her. She pushed herself to go her very fastest.