The Dragon Exposed

"My, my Granger, fancy meeting you here," drawled a cold voice from the shadows.

Hermione's eyes narrowed as Draco Malfoy walked towards her. "So you're the one who sent me the letter?" She held up her hand which clutched tightly onto a small piece of parchment. Hermione's voice was icy and wreaked with disdain, but her eyes betrayed her, as they spoke louder than her words.

Realizing this, Draco smirked.

"Why yes, my dear Granger, I am the one who sent you the letter." He stepped closer to Hermione to where their faces were mere inches apart, then he leaned in, his warm breath teasing her skin as he whispered in her ear. "I must say, that your eyes quite vividly betray the tone of your voice."

His warm breath lingered on her skin, as he looked her in the eyes. Hermione looked away as a blush spread furiously across her cheeks. Draco raised her head back up to meet his gaze.

"What do you want Malfoy?" No matter how much her looks deceived her, her voice still remained icy and defiant, Draco smiled slightly as he grabbed her hand and brought it up to meet his lips. He tasted the fresh sweetness in her skin and longed for more.

"I've missed you Hermione," he said as his stormy grey eyes softened, revealing to her once again all the warmth he held within.

Hermione was baffled as she watched the warmth inside him unfurl within his eyes. Draco hadn't looked at her like that since they had broken up. She didn't understand what this was all about. When they broke up their closing argument left them in agreement that he was a vile, nasty, little snot, and she was a filthy Mudblood.

"What are you playing at Mal--" Hermione was silenced as Draco invaded her lips with his own. Those soft lips that she had once been so acquainted with now pressed harder and desirously about her own. After the initial shock of the kiss, Hermione closed her eyes. They both released all the passion, all the love, and all the pain that they had been concealing from each other in that solitary kiss. Draco's hands cupped her face as Hermione's own hands rested upon his chest. Their mouths separated as a lack of oxygen burned their lungs. Finally, finding enough air for words, Draco whispered softly against Hermione's lips,

"Please, call me Draco."

They had not uttered one syllable towards each other for months. But after that night they knew not to call each other by their first names, that was specifically for people who were on friendly terms, not ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends. Hermione was hurt deeply that night, and ever since then she thought that her heart was the only one broken that night, but little did she know that Draco's was as well.

Hermione's look softened as she eyed Draco closely.

"All right, but answer me this, Draco, why am I here?" At this point, Hermione had taken a step away from Draco, her cinnamon eyes burning, waiting for him to respond.

"But I thought I had already explained that to you," he said, a small, but genuine smile spreading across his face, as he drew Hermione closer to him.

"I miss you Hermione."

He leaned down to kiss Hermione, but she swiftly avoided his lips.

"I want the truth Draco . . . The whole truth, of why I am here. You would not have gone through all this trouble of getting me alone if it was just to tell me you missed me."

Draco chuckled silently to himself.

"Nothing gets past you, does it?" He smiled warmly at her, and was pleased to see a deep blush spread across her cheeks. Hermione shot Draco a smug smile. But her smile faded softly as she spoke, "But seriously Draco--" Hermione reached up and cupped the side of his face in her hand, "What is the real reason I am here?"

Draco looked deeply into Hermione's cinnamon colored eyes. Love resonated from her eyes, and he knew that at that moment that his eyes reflected that same depth of emotion. Draco had fallen completely in love with Hermione. A boy --a Malfoy at that, inadequate of feeling and taught all his life that no such thing existed, found love. Real love.

"Hermione, I have something to tell you." Concern flashed in her eyes, expecting him to reveal something unpleasant, she braced for the worst, but Draco simply smiled as he looked lovingly into her eyes.

"--I'm madly in love with you."

Hermione blushed.

"I know I hurt you, and I am sorry. I was afraid back then." He took Hermione's hand in his, and guided it up to his heart. "Afraid of feeling. I never thought that I could love. Malfoy's aren't suppose to love and feel anything as complex as that. But I'm not a Malfoy, I'm Draco and you helped me realize that. You have to know I need you Hermione. When I lost you, I lost everything. I know you still love me, and I confess this all in hope that you will forgive me, and once again let me into your heart."

Draco looked into Hermione's eyes hoping for her to give away what she was thinking. His eyes flashed with insecurity as he waited for Hermione to respond. Hermione's warm eyes looked into his stormy grey ones, and knew that what he said was sincere. She put her forehead against his, and smiled sweetly against his lips.

Draco, taking this as a good sign, wrapped his arms around Hermione and spun around in a circle, Hermione let out a wild giggle as Draco kissed her forehead. He could never remember ever being so happy or relieved in his entire life. He stopped spinning around with Hermione in his arms and kissed her. When drawing back for breath, Hermione lovingly traced the outline of Draco's face.

"I love you Draco," she said as she smiled. He brushed noses with her.

"I know, and I love you too."

At that moment, Draco knew that risking it all and exposing his heart to Hermione was worth it.

-Georgia M. Boyce-

August 12th 2003