Draco couldn't get her touch out of his head. Her soft skin against his made his cheeks flare at the thought. All he could see was her body and how badly he wanted to run his hands down her back.
As he walked home, another thought consumed him. Another face burned in his mind: Astoria's. Without any reason, his fists balked up. He would never hit a woman, but as far as Draco was concerned, she was a monster.
As he entered his apartment building, he took the magical elevators to his room and burst the door open. There, sprawled out on the couch was Astoria, smiling a glamorous smile that made Draco's blood boil.
"Hello love," she started as she stood.
Draco pushed past her and into their room. He went to the closet and pulled her clothes from the hanger. He threw her belongings on the floor. She marched in and screeched, "What the hell are you doing?!"
"What the hell am I doing? WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING? The question is what the hell were YOU doing? Sleeping with Blaise? I know Astoria. How long did you think you could keep that a secret?" He yelled.
Her eyes widened and she froze, her lip quivering.
"Get the fuck out of my apartment."
"Draco-"
"GET OUT."
"I'm sorry! Let me explain-" she cried.
"There's nothing to explain! You slept with another man. If I had slept with another woman-"
"I would've forgiven you! Because the love I bear for you is so strong!" She protested as he grabbed and armful of her thugs and threw them into the living room.
"Like hell you would've. I reckon you'd find her and killed her before she could ask your name."
"Please Draco-" she sputtered as he pushed everything- including her- out the door. He could hear her scratching like a cat begging for food at the door, her screams echoing out.
He collapsed onto the mattress, tired and stressed. Draco gazed at the ceiling. As the blades of the fan swung, he felt the cold loneliness he had felt at Hogwarts.
He needed to talk to her. Grabbing the wizard phone book, he picked up his mobile longing to hear her voice.
"Hi. I normally wouldn't call you, but I don't have anyone to speak to," he said after she picked up.
"Meet me at Chesterfield park in 30 minutes."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione changed into a new dress before going out. This one was a peach summery calico with thin straps hugging her shoulders.
Strapping on her sandals, she pranced out of her hotel room and outside.
The sun was shining gloriously bright and there was a light breeze dancing around her body. With every step, wonder pondered her mind as she thought of reasons as to why he would call upon her.
She remembered feeling his heart beat inside his chest as she pushed him out of the bar. Draco had changed in some ways, however in anger, he hadn't. He was still unhappy, and for some reason, it pained Hermione to see him so.
As she arrived at the park, she saw him sitting on the bench staring at little kids swinging and playing happily. He was still wearing his work clothes: a blue dress shirt and black dress shoes.
"You know, it's a bit creepy to stare at young children," she said as she sat next to him.
Draco jerked his head to see Hermione smiling a wide eyed hello. The corners of his mouth rose and let out a chuckle.
"I'm sorry. I haven't actually spoken to you since... I don't remember. But I wanted to thank you, for today," he said.
Hermione's eyebrow tilted up. Malfoy saying thank you? "You're welcome. I didn't want you to kill Zabini and end up in Azkaban. Even he didn't deserve it."
"He kind of did. And I kicked Astoria out as well. I guess I truly am alone now. Even my mother..." He trailed off.
Hermione could recall the daily prophet mentioning that the Malfoys had ended up in Azkaban. Lucius for life and Narcissia for 8 years. She would be released soon, but Hermione couldn't imagine not being able to be with her own mum.
"Well, I guess you have me."
Draco looked at her again. "Potter and Weasley?"
"Well, Harry's furious that we ended things, though it was mutual. And Ginny's got her hands full with James. With Ron, it's just awkward. So in a way, I'm alone too."
Draco put his hand over hers, a risky move, but one he had been thinking about all day. Her skin felt warm and soft against his cool one. Tingles electrified across his nerves and he could feel her respond as she gasped slightly.
"I'm sorry... for everything."
Her brown eyes met his grey, and she could see each fleck of honesty and guilt embedded in them.
"It's okay. How about you make it up to me?" She said shyly.
"Of course, anything," he said smiling.
"Luna's wedding is next week. Be my date?" She said nervously.
Franco's heart pounded and his stomach dropped. Here he was, sitting on a bench with a muggle born, apologizing and saying thank you. This was not what would have happened 8 years ago. But times have changed, and he was more than thrilled to score a date with Hermione. Even if it was to Loony Lovegood's wedding.
"Yes."
And so Draco's lucky strike with Hermione began.
(I had writers block if you couldn't tell:P but thanks for the reads and reviews! Means a lot:) love you all! xxVienna)
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