Something In The Way She Moves

Chapter 16: Anywhere But Here









He wanted to be anywhere else, anywhere in the world that wasn’t Hogwarts. However, that would mean he would have to be away from her, and blast it all, that just wasn’t an option. He adjusted his robes and approached the table set up just outside the doors of the Great Hall. He was late, he knew that, but he had argued with himself for nearly two hours over whether or not he would be making an appearance.





It wasn’t an easy decision. He had sat on her bed watching her as she got ready. She was going early because she was joining Potter and Weasley to do a Q&A with the current student body of Hogwarts. When she walked out of the bathroom wearing a dark, ruby dress that hugged her curves to perfection he nearly suffocated. She took his breath away. She smiled and turned her back to him so he could help her with the zipper.





He didn’t want to raise the zipper, he wanted to pull the dress off of her and lay her back on the bed, make love to her over and over and keep her there with him. His possessive, almost obsessive thoughts frightened him a bit. But not as much as the thought of losing her. He had been thinking along those lines a lot in recent days. Wondering what he would do when she realized she deserved something better. It made him ill to imagine his life without her in it. What did that mean exactly?





He was certain that it was supposed to be telling him something. Not that he put any stock into divination, he was just as skeptical of the practice as she was, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that his thoughts and his strong reactions to them were telling him something. He was just too emotionally retarded to figure it out.





Watching her leave, looking so incredibly beautiful had left him with an embarrassing urge to cry. He went back to his flat and paced the floors while a bored Studly watched and listened to his dialogue with himself. No doubt he looked and sounded like a lunatic as he argued with himself. Finally he screamed, a litany of swear words spilling from his lips as he stomped through the flat to his room and began dressing for a return to school.





So there he stood, dressed in a new set of robes, his Malfoy armor firmly in place. He signed the scroll and accepted the nametag from a vaguely familiar witch with light blonde hair. She seemed to know him well; however he could not manage to come up with a name. With a tight smile he glanced at the nametag and saw the little heart drawn in the corner.





“Do I know you?” He asked.







“You don’t remember me?” The blonde pouted and it was easy to see that it was a well practiced gesture. “I’m hurt. It’s me, Lavender.”





Draco wanted to sneer in disgust. Now he knew why she looked familiar. The little slag ran a tight race with Pansy on who was easiest. He never shagged her, but she had given him a hand-job once in transfiguration. After that she had followed him about like a veela in heat for months before she got the hint that he wasn’t interested in anything more.





“Oh.” Was all he said as he shoved the nametag into his pocket, no way in hell was he putting it on his robes, and walked away. He could hear her shocked gasp behind him as he walked into the great hall and smiled. The smile didn’t last long however as he became lost in a sea of familiar and not so familiar faces.





He didn’t like being back, thrust into the environment that held so many memories and none of them good. People gave him wide berth, just as they had in his youth. Looks of shock and some of fear greeted him. He was uncomfortable and felt decidedly unwelcome. With his mask securely in place he began scanning the room for the prize he sought. His prize, his girl.





He saw Potter and his wife, Weasley and some buxom brunette talking with Flitwick, but Hermione wasn’t with them. He moved to the edge of the room and began slowly walking the perimeter of the room. Finally he saw her, standing near the front with Seamus Finnigan. He crept closer, sticking to the shadowed niches of the wall as he eavesdropped.





“So perhaps we could go to dinner sometime?” Seamus asked, his voice still thickly accented.





“It’s very sweet of you to ask, Seamus, but I’m sort of seeing someone.” Hermione said, smiling softly.





Sort of seeing someone? She bloody well was seeing someone! Draco thought as he watched.





“I didn’t see you come in with anyone; I just assumed you were single.” Seamus looked around the room for her date.





Well you know what they say about assume…





“He didn’t come with me tonight.” Hermione said sadly.





“He must be an idiot to let you go anywhere alone.” Seamus said. “I know if you were mine I would never let you out of my sight.”





Well she isn’t yours you bloody ponce! She’s mine!





“That’s a lovely thing to say, Seamus. Normally he wouldn’t, but school brings up bad memories for him.” She said.





“So it’s someone I know then?” Seamus asked curiously. “Are ye going to tell me who the competition is?”





There is no competition you idiot! She’s mine, period.





“Well…no, I don’t think he wants anyone to know really.” She said. “I think that’s another part of the reason he didn’t come. We’ve been seeing each other in the muggle world to avoid going public in the wizarding community.”





Seamus reached out and stroked his fingers up her arm lightly. “Then he is even more of a fool then I thought. Any man who had you should be screaming it from the rooftops.”





Draco had heard enough of the Irishman trying to charm his girl and stepped out of the shadows. He was at her side in moments, his arm sliding around her waist and pulling her against him, his lips covering hers. Hermione grunted in surprise and stared at him in open mouthed shock when he pulled back.





“I’m late, I’m sorry.” He said.





“Draco, what are you doing here?” She asked.





“I should have been here earlier.” He said softly for her ears only. “Took me a little while to get my head out of my arse.”





“You just kissed me in front of everyone; everyone is going to know…”





“Ashamed to be seen with me?” He asked.





“Not at all…I just thought you didn’t want…”





“I don’t want us gossiped about in the papers, Hermione, it had nothing to do with you.” He said, kissing the tip of her nose.





“Malfoy is your…boyfriend?” Seamus interrupted them, shock apparent on his face.





“That’s right, Finnigan.” Draco said, the look on his face daring the other man to say something about it.





“Well color me surprised, I thought you hated each other.” Seamus said, his eyes wandering to the proprietary hold Draco had on Hermione’s waist.





“We made up.” Draco said, the tone of his voice and the expression on his face was clearly a threat.





“And on that note I think I will just go have another drink.” Seamus said nervously. “It was wonderful to see you, Hermione.” He said, hurrying off when Draco glared at him.





“What in the world do you think you are doing?” Hermione said, slapping his chest and pulling away from him.





“What?” He asked, feigning stupidity.





“You know what! You just chased Seamus off!” She looked across the room to where he was tossing back a shot.





“The bloody leprechaun was chatting up my girl of course I chased him off!” He said, frowning in Finnigan’s direction. “It’s a good thing I came when I did, I knew some bloke would try something.”





Oh, I see.” She said softly. “You didn’t come here to be with me, you came here to make sure no one touched what you believe is yours.”





“I don’t believe you to be mine, Hermione. You are mine.” His eyes were narrowed and she could clearly see the Malfoy arrogance coming through.





“Think so?” She shoved past him and pushed her way through the crowd of people. Draco swore and followed after her, only to have Harry and Ron step in front of him before he reached the door.

|





“Hold up, Malfoy. What’s going on? What did you do to her?” Ron demanded.





“It isn’t any business of yours, Weasley.” Draco said, trying unsuccessfully to push between them.





“She is our business, Draco. She looked upset and you look angry. I’m not letting you out of here unless you tell me what is going on and I can be sure you won’t hurt her.” Harry said, easily slipping in to Auror mode. Draco took a deep breath, his eyes wide.





“I would never, EVER do anything to hurt her.” He said vehemently. “I got angry when I found Finnigan over there chatting her up and I ran off at the mouth. She misunderstood and took off.”





Harry stared at him for a moment then with a curt nod he stepped aside and let Draco pass.





“Oi, Mate! What the hell did you do that for?” Ron asked.





“Poor fool is so in love with her he is chasing his tail.” Harry chuckled.





“Malfoy in love with Mione? You must be mad; he loves no one but himself.” Ron scoffed.





“You’re wrong there. He loves her, she has him so tied up he’s losing circulation.” Harry said.





“Is everything alright?” Ginny asked, coming up beside Harry.





“Your husband thinks Malfoy is in love with Mione.” Ron said.





“Oh it’s so obvious.” Ginny laughed. “She has him acting all sorts of crazy.”





“I don’t think he realizes it.” Harry said. “I knew he loved her when I came over and found him doing her yard work.” Harry saw the incredulous looks on Ginny and Ron’s faces and laughed. “She had him mowing the lawn shirtless and the fool was enjoying it.”





“I don’t believe you.” Ron said. “No way would a Malfoy lower his self to playing gardener.”





“Draco did, he even helped me re-screen her door.” Harry said. “He loves her, she loves him too, they just have to figure that out for themselves.”





~@~





Draco found her after over forty five minutes of searching and a rather unfortunate run in with Argus Filch. The old geezer was still lurking about, anxious to catch students out of bed so he could relish in their punishment. He nearly cursed the old bastard when he jumped out from behind a tapestry. He didn’t know why he thought she would be roaming the castle, but he had searched it anyhow.



She was standing out in the rose gardens, staring out over the still waters of the black lake. The roses were growing lush and fragrant, despite the fact that they were out of season, magically assisted of course. She was shivering, her arms crossed over her chest and rubbing her arms.





He stepped up behind her and pressed into her back, opening his cloak and wrapping it around her as he pulled her tight against him.





“You shouldn’t be outside, it’s cold.” He said.





“I needed the fresh air.” She replied coolly.





“I’m sorry.” He whispered, kissing the top of her head. He heard the soft sniffling and reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and passed it to her. “Don’t cry.”





“This just isn’t going to work is it?” She asked, dabbing at the fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.





“Don’t say that.” He said, his chest aching as he tightened his hold on her. “You know I talk too much, ignore me.”





She shifted in his arms, turning around so that she could face him. He readjusted his cloak around them and stared down at her.





“We are just so different, Draco…”





“Don’t.” He said, warningly. “I will take full responsibility for being an idiot earlier, I am sorry.”





“It isn’t just that.”





“Just be quiet for a few minutes and let me speak. Please?” She closed her mouth and waited. “This may not come out right but forgive me; I have never done this before.” He said, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t come here just to keep other men away from you, though it was part of it. I put my…discomfort…aside because I realized that this was important to you and that I should be with you, sharing it. You look so beautiful tonight, Hermione, and when you walked out of the house my knees nearly buckled beneath me thinking that you would suddenly wake up and realize you deserved better.”





Her mouth opened to protest but he laid his finger against her lips to silence her.





“The thought of you leaving me hurt, it physically pained me. I spent two hours cursing and arguing with myself and confusing poor Studly before I decided to join you. Then when I came in I saw Finnigan all over you and I was furious. You are mine, Hermione, I don’t want anyone mistaking you for single again or even thinking of trying to coax you away from me.” He laid his hand on her cheek, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. “Granger…Hermione…I love you.”





The look of shock on her face matched his own. He hadn’t meant to say that, hadn’t even realized that he had those feelings for her, that he would recognize them as such. He was in unfamiliar waters and suddenly scared to death. He meant them, he loved her, and it terrified him because he had never loved anyone before.





“Oh god, say something, please…anything.” His heart was pounding inside his chest and her silence was killing him.





“I swear to god, Draco, if you are just saying those words to keep me from leaving you I will avada you on the spot.” She said, her eyes wide and slightly manic.





“No..I didn’t even know I was going to say them, they just…came. I mean it, Hermione, I love you and I have never said those words to another woman.” He said, softly. “I’ve said them to my dog but he doesn’t love me back.”





Hysterical laughter came in spurts as she tried to grasp what he had said. He loved her. Draco Malfoy, Mr. One Night Stand, loved her. She fought between laughter and tears as it sunk in.





“Oh bollocks, I’ve made her daft!” Draco said as he tried to figure out what was going on with the crying/laughing witch in his arms. “Hermione, Luv, please, you are killing me here.” He said, praying she composed herself soon.





She laid her hands on his cheeks and searched his eyes, tears clinging to her lashes and a smile on her lips.





“You mean it don’t you? You love me and you had no idea until the words came.” She was amazed to see the emotion burning in his eyes.





“I do.” He whispered.







“I love you back.” She said laughing. “I love you and I had no frigging idea.” His shoulders relaxed and he sighed in relief.



“It’s about time; I thought you had turned into a complete nutter!” He said just before he captured her lips with his. He kissed her for an eternity it seemed, holding her close and sliding his lips over hers, dipping in with his tongue to tease and taste. Love swelled between them until their smiles broke the seal of their lips and they pulled apart, laughing softly.





High pitched giggles drew their attention and they looked up to see several young girls staring at them from a tower window.





“We should go back inside.” Hermione said waving at the girls.





“A grand entrance to shake things up a bit?” He asked.





“Just back inside where it’s warm.” She laughed. He put his arm around her shoulder, tucking her into his side to keep her warm as he led her back to the castle. Shocked faces greeted the two of them as they walked back into the great hall hand in hand.





“I see that both of you are unharmed.” Harry was grinning.





“All’s well.” Draco said, squeezing her hand. “Better than ever.”





“You two have missed most of the reunion.” Ron said.





“Then I better get a dance before it is over. Excuse me for a moment.” He walked away for a moment, leaving Hermione with her friends while he chatted with the wizard playing the music. He walked back to her, smiling as he offered his hand. “The last dance is ours.”





She laid her hand in his and let him pull her into the middle of the crowd just as the slow strumming of a guitar began, the familiar words of the old Beatles tune drifting on the air.





“They’re playing our song.” He said, holding her close.





“Our song…I never had a song before.” She smiled.



“You didn’t have me before. Now your life will have a soundtrack.” He laughed.





“I think people are going to faint.” She said, catching some of the odd stares around them.





“Screw ‘em, there is no one here but us.” He bent his head and kissed her in the middle of their tenth year class reunion, befuddling the minds of the classmates who recalled them as enemies and were trying desperately to accept the image before them of two people very much in love.















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I KNOW! Its not much of a fight, but it was a tiff none the less. I cant help it, I just needed a romantic story, something to make me feel positive about love. Forgive me?