Call Me Hermione

Call Me Hermione

By Katie

Draco's silver eyes gazed at the girl as she passed him, her light brown hair bouncing up and down as she walked. She had a playful smile on her lips as she talked to her best friends. When Hermione was near Draco, everything around him disappeared. All that he could hear was her voice. He loved every word that she uttered, and he marveled at her intelligence. She might seem plain, but she was more than that. She was above that. Everytime he saw her, all he wanted to do was to stare at her and admire her from afar, in silence and reverence.

"Ron!" she cried, laughing as her best friend whispered something in her ear. She reached up to slap his back, and lay her head on his shoulder. Then, she reached out for Harry's hand and held it tightly. They thought no one was watching, but Draco was. He didn't feel any jealousy, but he pictured her as an angel sent from above, to save everyone around her. She probably didn't know this, but he knew. The look on her best friends' faces was enough to prove Draco's point. Both of them had contented looks on their faces, as if they were comforted being around her, as if she was their sister.

He knew that he was supposed to hate her, but Draco could not bring himself to hate Hermione. She was everything he wanted to be, and he could not hate the person whom he wanted to be like. But Draco knew he could not change himself. He was fallen and condemned to malevolence for the rest of his life. He shook his head, clearing all the unhappy thoughts off his head. He didn't want to think of himself. He didn't even want to look at himself. Each morning, he would avoid himself from the mirror, much to his dorm-mates' surprise.

Right now, watching Hermione was the only thing that was able to help him find peace in his heart. The sixteen-year old was no longer the naïve, ignorant girl he knew. She was now someone different, someone who had matured over the years, someone kind, gentle, and precocious. Oh, how different she was from him. He was foolish, reckless, aimless, and had no mission in life, while she--she had everything she needed and desired. Draco had all the jewels he could buy, but she had all the love in the world.

Sometimes, late at night, he would dream of her walking down from the coral white steps made of crystal in a beautiful blue periwinkle dress, with her hair up in an elegant bun. There would be silvery lights sparkling around her, as if she was a shining star, and she would wear a beautiful smile on her rosy lips. She would approach him and took his hand, her eyes showed forever in them. He would lead her out of the ballroom and head to the garden.

The smell of jasmines would fill the air, and the sweet scent of her would entice him. There would be glittering marbles floating around them, as if trying to guard the two lovers. They would dance together, just the two of them, under the enchanting light of the moon shining from the heavens.

When you hold me, the fire will cease,

And turn into golden leaves,

As golden as your heart.

The next day, Draco found the chance to talk to her. He did not really know what to say, as he was afraid she would push him away. He was afraid that she would look at him with hatred burning from her honey brown eyes. She was reading silently in the courtyard, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. It was clear that she was preoccupied, but he approached her anyway.

She looked up when she heard his footsteps, and looked immensely surprised to see him. She got up quickly and turned away from him, starting to walk away. But he wasn't going to let her go. He reached out for her wrist and pulled her to him. "What is it?" she asked, her voice defiant.

"You're beautiful," he barely whispered.

"What?" Hermione frowned, puzzled. "What did you say?"

"You're beautiful," he repeated, a little louder this time. "You're beautiful in every single way."

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but he cut her off by brushing his lips against hers. It was something he had always wanted to do, ever since he had laid her eyes on her, and it was the only thing that he wanted to do. At first, Draco thought she was going to break away, but she didn't. In fact, she kissed him back and embraced him. Draco did not know why she did this, but he didn't want to find out. After the long kiss, he broke off from her, giving her a break.

Hermione kissed his forehead. "I'm sorry, Malfoy, but you can't love me."

"What do you mean, I can't love you? What was that, then?" he blurted out.

Hermione kept quiet, avoiding his eyes for some reason. Then, tears began to well up in her eyes and she hugged him. "I can't love you, I can't. We can't love each other,"

Draco didn't understand. "I thought you hated me... And why did you kiss me back if you didn't love me?"

Hermione smiled a mysterious smile and turned away from him, bowing her head. "I am sorry," she began, her voice soft and filled with regret. "I am sorry I didn't tell you. I am sorry that you don't know anything about my feelings, even though I knew yours. I knew what your eyes meant when I saw you looking at me, and I knew that I would feel the same way," she looked up, sighing. "I do, you know? I really do love you."

"But there is nothing that you like about me--"

"You're different, Draco Malfoy, and one day you will realize that you have something in you after all," she paused, taking a deep breath. "You do know that we're not allowed to love each other. You're a Pureblood, and I'm a Muggle-born. Things aren't just meant to be this way. Things would've been much better if I had fallen for either Harry or Ron."

"But you love me," he shouted. "You love me, Hermione."

Hermione faced him, a startled expression on her face. "You called me Hermione,"

And so he had. Draco stared at her in silence, while she seemed to be contemplating over something. "Malfoy," she finally said. "Please wait for me, and when we finally meet, one day, I hope you will call me Hermione again."

"I will."

You walked away, and so did I,

You left me puzzled; you left me dumbfounded,

But someday I will find my answers.

It was five years ever since he saw her, and not a day went by that he did not miss her. He had been waiting, faithfully and patiently. It was very unlikely of him to do so, because there were several women who wanted him. But his heart was only for Hermione.

Draco was in the garden of his manor, enjoying the sweet scent of jasmines as he looked up to the velvety heavens above. The garden had been decorated exactly like the one from his dreams. Being in the garden made him think about her, and made him miss her so much, he was willing to do anything to see her. He had been waiting all right, but now hope was fading away.

He was just about to go inside, until he sensed that someone was behind him. He turned around, and lo and behold, Hermione was standing in the middle of the garden wearing a periwinkle blue dress, just like he had been dreaming of. "How did you--" He was at loss for words. He went up to her and embraced her, feeling blissful and scared. What if it was just a dream?

"I'm not dreaming, right?" he asked.

"No," she whispered.

"Then how did you know that I wanted all of this?"

"Because I love you," she answered, placing a finger on his lips.

He took her hand and they began to dance, under the shining moonlight, just like he had fantasized.