Just Reality

Hermione forced herself to concentrate during the whole dinner. Draco was calm, reserved, polite, and inquisitive. He asked questions and took in all the information from her notes. He was in every sense the consummate business man looking into a new investment.



Mr. Boyd was very complimentary of her work and achievements, mentioning several rewards she had received and the notable names she apprenticed under. He took it all in and rarely spoke. He was focused, but kept his gaze on her.



She wondered what he was doing. He had to know she was the one who designed this. Mr. Boyd would have told him that when he suggested becoming involved wouldn’t he?



The sounds of strings filled the air as the band began to play. The dance floor filled with couples. “Miss Granger, why not dance with Mr. Malfoy here. The waltz is a favorite of yours I believe.” She froze and looked at Draco who was staring at her with stoic eyes.



“No, its not necessary really. I still have the projections to show Mr. Malfoy…….” She stopped when he rose.



“I agree with Mr. Boyd, a break is warranted.” He held out a hand and Hermione knew she couldn’t refuse with Mr. Boyd smiling at her. She took his hand and willed her body not to respond to his flesh but she failed miserably.



She assumed a proper dance stance and had managed to avoid his eyes until he tightened his hold on her and pulled her body flush against his. She changed a look to his face and found his eyes drilled into his.



She looked away and kept dancing, trying to dance without distraction. “Nothing to say Hermione?” He said. His voice affected her as it always had.



“I’m curious as to why a criminologist would want to financially fund a Ministry research lab.” She said still not looking back at him.



“It seemed like a sound project.” He answered.



“It is. The research on the long term benefits……..”



“Yes, I heard your presentation.” He said. She fell silent and kept dancing. “Still nothing to say?” She stayed silent. “Why didn’t you talk to me?” He asked.



“There was nothing to say.” She said.



“There was plenty to say.” He countered in a firm voice. “You refused to meet me, you returned my letters unopened and you avoided me at every moment.”



“I said all that needed to be said. There was no point in drawing it out.”



“Did it ever occur to you that we may have had something special.” He said.



“It wouldn’t have worked.” She said.



“You are so sure about that?” He asked.



“I had an apprenticeship followed by an internship and two research studies to complete before I got where I was. It would not have worked.” She said.



“You are just making excuses.” He said.



“You thought it could have worked?” She challenged.



“It was worth making an effort to try.” He said without any hesitation. She averted her eyes and kept dancing. “We have talking to do Hermione. You were running and I want to know why. You walked out without giving me a chance, and that is not going to happen again.” She started to object but the song ended and the dancers applauded the band.



The next song began but Hermione was making her way to the table before Draco could stop her. She was stopped halfway there by a former colleague and immediately accepted a dance request.



Draco continued on to the table. “Miss Granger’s design had merit, I’m sure you can see.”



“Yes I can, it’s a fabulous design. With consultations from Professor Snape and Slughorn I’m sure it will pay off handsomely.” He said.



“Can we count on your funding to get it underway?” Mr. Boyd asked.



“You just might be able to. I would however like to see all the research first, the design process notes and the notes from the outside analysts.” Draco told him.



“Of course, Miss Granger has them all. She has no appointments that I am aware of and even if she did, she would give this project top priority.”



“I’m glad. She has an invested interest in this lab does she?”



“It will allow her to do her job better in a facility she designed, so she will know what it can handle.”



“I see. I will make a point to see her tomorrow.” He said firmly.



Hermione returned to the table. “Miss Granger, we were just about to order desert. I believe Mr. Malfoy mentioned a sweet tooth.”



“Thank you, but I’m afraid I must decline. Unless you have any further questions Mr. Malfoy I think I will retire for the night.” She took up her purse and shrunk her notes.



“I think I will retire as well Mr. Boyd but please feel free to order desert and enjoy the band if you wish. I think in fact I see a lovely woman who has been watching you from the bar.” He said with a wink.



While they said their goodbyes, Hermione moved fast, grabbing her cloak and hurrying out of the restaurant. She was half a block when she felt a hand on her shoulder. “We aren’t done Granger.”



She spun around and saw him in a fine cloak, looking as perfect as ever. “Yes we are. We were done eight years ago.” She said. “Face it Draco we both know that with further studies that I needed and the further studies you needed, that it was best to just end it.”



“Or what? You would have gotten too attached?” Her looked brought smile to his face. “Is that what you were afraid of? The courageous Gryffindor was afraid of her own feelings?”



“I was not afraid Draco.” She stood face to face with him even if she had to look up. “I knew how good we were physically, I wasn’t blind, but can you honestly say that we would have had time to carry on like that? Think about it, once a month maybe?”



“It would have been better then the celibacy and we would have known that we had someone to turn to. Once a month would have made the anticipation all that much sweeter.” He said. “Now you think about it Granger, have you been lonely at all during those years? How did you handle it?”



“What I felt is of no concern. And I handled it. I focused on my studies.”



“So did I, but you can’t deny that the once in a while lonely night would have been better if we had someone to go to.”



“That’s neither here nor there and it’s over now. It doesn’t matter.” She said getting upset.



“Then why not talk to me? If you were able to break away and not look back, why didn’t you speak to me those last few months of school? Why ignore me if it was so easy for you?”



“Draco why are we going through this?” She turned but he reached out and spun her around taking her shoulders and giving her a shake.



“Stop ignoring me. This is more then just a date or a one night stand, we had feelings you can’t tell me that you didn’t.”



His grip was tight but she ignored it. “Draco that’s in the past.”



“Why were you so willing to just walk away from me? Explain that. Did I mean so little to you that you wanted to get away? Was I just an amusement o make your notebook come to life?”



“No!” She cried out. “I never used you like that. How could you think I was like that?”



“Then tell me why? Why was it so easy for you to leave? He demanded, still not releasing her. She didn’t say a word, but having her this close to him was torture. He dropped his lips and took her lips in a crushing kiss.



Her lips were being bruised and for a moment she was taken back to Hogwarts where they partook in each others bodies. Long dead sensations came to the surface. Now this couldn’t happen!



She pushed hard on his chest and the moment she was free of his embrace she apparated away with a loud crack. Draco stood on the street holding air in his arms. Now that he had a taste of her again he had to have more.



Hermione you had better watch out, he thought, because this time, I won’t be easy to get rid of.