Never Look Back

Never Look Back

Hermione Granger ran away from the library, her heart in her throat. Confused tears swept down her face. She ran hard and fast, jostling students as she went. Her robes billowing behind her. Her footsteps made a pounding noise as they connected with the hard ground. She ran and ran until she stumbled into a large classroom. She walked over and sat down on a desk, holding her head in her hands.

Hermione was so confused! Why had he kissed her? Better yet, why had she kissed him back? It was all too surreal. She had hated him since her first year and he had hated her too. So why was she drawn to him? Sure he was handsome. But that wasn't the point. And he was a good kisser; she had to give him that. They had both felt something. Like fireworks. She never had fireworks when she kissed Harry.

******

The next day in Potions was torture. For both Hermione and Draco. Never mind the fact that it was scorching outside, and the flames on the cauldrons only made it worse. There was tension between the two that only they noticed. Hermione carefully kept her head down as she carefully chopped up her sassafras roots, avoiding Draco's gaze. While Draco, on the other hand was trying to catch her gaze. He moved his body closer to her, only to find that she moved away. Frustrated by not getting a single word out of her he clenched his fists. Why did she have to be so difficult!

He hung back in the potion classroom a slight minute after the bell. Draco peered out the door and caught a glimpse of Hermione's bushy brown head. He pointed his wand at her bag and murmured "diffindo." He smiled and thought, "Potter shouldn't have used that on Diggory in fourth year, while I was watching." She immediately stopped and motioned for Harry and Ron to go away while she repaired her bag. She muttered reparo and stood up. Making his move, Draco dashed over and grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into a neighboring classroom.

"What the hell!" Hermione shouted, fighting his strong grasp. Draco leaned in and laid a soft kiss on her lips. She stopped struggling and kissed him back.

"God, I've wanted to do that all day." Draco said, not taking his eyes off Hermione, "What was with the cold shoulder in class today?" Hermione said nothing for a moment, biting her lip as she thought. His grip tightened painfully on her wrists.

"You really want to know?" She asked. He nodded. "Harry was first guy I ever kissed. I never kissed anyone else before. I was scared okay? And it was you! The guy who has hated me since first year!"

"So?" Draco snorted. She gave him a harsh glare.

"There really was no point to kiss me was there? Except to toy around with my feelings. Hm?" Hermione gaze turned steely, penetrating his face.

"Well, I wanted to kiss you, which I know." He shifted nervously, "And that maybe I wanted you to go out with me." This last remark caught her attention.

"W-what did you say?" Hermione stammered.

"You heard me Granger, I want you to go out with me." A confident smile appearing on his face.

"Is this some elaborate plot to get back at Harry?"

"No. If I wanted to back at Potter, I'd post a picture of him naked on the notice board."

"It would never work. I'm a Gryffindor and you're a Slytherin. We just don't mix!" said Hermione

"Well then we'd make it work." And with that he leaned and kissed her. This time she didn't even try to stop him. They kissed for a moment until Hermione broke away.

"You do realize that this would have to be secret. We can't let anyone know. Imagine the turmoil between the houses. And your fathers reaction!" She said, her sienna eyes staring into his. He just nodded understandingly and pulled her in for one last kiss.

******

Hermione and Draco had been going out for a week. They had secretly met in empty classrooms to talk and exchange sweet, stolen kisses. Hermione felt happier then she ever had with Harry. The potion project was over and yet they still hung out.

"Hermione? Are you okay? You seem so distant lately." Ginny asked, prodding Hermione with her pencil.

"Um, Yeah. I'm fine. Just this potion project has been wearing me out." she smiled at her little half-truth. They were sitting on a large Oriental rug doing homework and chatting amongst themselves. Ginny rolled onto her stomach.

"Hermione, you know as well as I do that your potion project is over. It's something else. I know it." Hermione sighed.

"Yeah, you're right. Something is going on. Maybe it that time of the month." she giggled.

"You're hopeless, Hermione." Ginny said shaking her head.

********

Draco sat on a black dragon hide coach in the Slytherin common room, his fingers tangling the fringe of a green chenille pillow, lost in thought. He was thinking of Hermione, (he usually always was nowadays,) and the upcoming graduation ball that was being held. He naturally would take her. But how would they do it without arising suspicion? He furrowed his brow in deep thought, unaware of Pansy Parkington taking a seat next to him.

"Hey, Draco baby" said Pansy placing her arm around his shoulder.

"Get off, Pansy" he said, moving her arm away.

"Humph." she said and crossed her arms. "So, whom are you taking to the ball, Draco?" she asked innocently enough.

"No one." Draco said in a surly tone.

"Oh, then why don't you take me?" she said harmlessly enough, batting her eyelashes. He defiantly ignored her charms.

"Because I want to keep my options open."

"Fine. Be that way." Pansy leapt off the couch and stomped up to her dormitory.

Draco laughed silently at her stupidity. He would never take her to another ball again after what happened in their fourth year. Pansy clung to him worse then Crabbe or Goyle ever had. He had seriously considered hexing her off him that night just so he could have some peace. Draco leaned back and stretched, closing his eyes for a moment, and headed to sleep.

******

The next day was Saturday, a break from classes and their ever-growing homework pile. Hermione of course wanted to catch up on her homework. Draco entered the large mahogany doors of the library and instinctively headed towards the far corner where Hermione usually dwelled. He casually sauntered over, checked over his shoulder for any wandering eyes, and continued on his way. Hermione was tilting back in the chair, tapping her quill on the table rhythmically, her brown tresses glinting in the late afternoon sun. He pulled back her hair and planted a kiss on her neck. A smiled danced across Hermione's face as she turned her head and kissed him back. They broke apart and Draco took a seat on the tabletop.

"So... are you going to the ball?" he asked, putting all the Malfoy charms into effect.

"Why do you ask?" she smiled naively up at him.

"Maybe, because, I want to take you." Draco said as he pulled her into his arms.

"Is that an invitation?" she asked.

"Yes I guess it is. So will you come with me?"

"Of course." She leaned up and kissed him lightly. "But Draco, How are can we go without anyone knowing we're involved romantically with each other?"

"Well darling, that's where some of my genius comes in. We'll say we had to come together because someone dared you. And if they ask, you name a friend."

"That's a great idea! But who would be our cover?" A look of worry appeared on her face.

"That is where you need to tell someone about us. It has to be an extremely trustworthy person." Hermione nervously bit her lip at the notion she would have the spill her secret.

"Okay. I'll tell Ginny. She's trustworthy." Draco just nodded before pulling her in for one last soft kiss.

******

"Um, Ginny... can I talk to you?" Hermione nervously asked, wringing her hands. Ginny set down the book she was reading and looked up.

"Yeah, sure Hermione. What's up?"

"Um, well. I have something to tell you." she cautiously looked about the common room. "Can we go somewhere else? Somewhere we won't be overheard?"

"Um okay." and with that they headed towards the sixth year dorm. Ginny opened the door and took a seat on her four poster bed.

"Aright, Hermione. What do you want to tell me?"

" Okay, well you can't tell anyone. I mean anyone! Especially Ron or Harry." Hermione added.

"Okay! What is it!"

"Promise you won't be mad and start blabbering about in French?"

"Yes! Fine! I don't even know French!" Ginny anxiously waited for Hermione to speak. Hermione absent-mindedly bit her lip.

"I'm going out with Draco Malfoy."

"WHAT?" Ginny shrieked. "Hermione! How could you! He's a Malfoy!"

"I know, I know. But when we were doing that project together, something kind of 'clicked', you know what I mean?" she took a deep breath and continued. "And then there's the whole graduation ball coming up and he asked me. We're keeping our relationship a secret. But the ball is where we need your help."

By now Ginny's face had become scarlet with anger but was slowly diminishing.

"And what do you guys want to do that requires me helping you?"

"As I said earlier, he asked me to the ball. And we can't let anyone know we're dating. So here's the deal: We're going to say that we only went together because you dared us."

"And if people ask me if its true?"

"Tell them you did dare them, but they aren't happy about it."

"Just how am I going to go to the ball? It's for 7th years only."

"Well, I may have to bribe Harry into asking you." At the sound of this Ginny's face lit up.

"Really? You'd do that for me?" a smile spread across Ginny's face, Hermione nodded. "Well in that case, I'm in!"

"I knew it! Thanks so much Gin!" She gave a Ginny a quick hug and sped off to tell Draco.

******

A week passed and the ball was fast approaching. Ginny had so far kept her promise of not telling anyone about Hermione and Draco. One day Hermione was sitting in the common room, humming to herself and doing her homework quietly, as Ron approached her.

"Hey, Hermione." said Ron, as he approached Hermione.

"Hey, Ron." she said lifting her head from her book.

"So, Hermione, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the ball with me. That is if you don't already have a date."

"Oh Ron, I'm sorry. I already am going with someone." she seemed genuinely sorry. The tips of Ron's ears reddened at the mistake he made.

"Oh, okay. Who?"

"None of your business." she said hotly.

"Fine. I'll find out anyhow." And he turned around and started stomping towards the portrait hole. Hermione sighed. She hated hurting Ron's feelings like that, but if she was already going with Draco, how could she go with Ron? She slammed her book shut and strolled over to Harry, who was sitting in a red armchair at the other end of the room. She leaned over and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey, Harry," she said politely. He closed his book and turned around to face her.

"Hey, Hermione," Harry replied as Hermione sat down next to him.

"So whom are you taking to the ball?"

"Oh I don't know. Depends on who's left. Say, you're not going with anyone are you?"

"Sorry, I'm already going with someone." she shook her head.

"Well, you could always ask Ginny. She'd love to go with you."

"Yeah true, I don't know how Ron would react."

"Well, just ask her. You should ask Ron first though."

"Okay."

"Great! See you Harry!"

"Yeah, bye," with a feeble wave he returned to his book.

*****

It was the night of the ball. Every girl in the seventh year and the few in the 6th had taken the afternoon off to prepare. Harry of course had asked Ginny when Ron said it was okay and Ron asked Luna when he discovered there was no one left to ask except Pansy Parkington. He wasn't too please about asking Luna though.

In the prefect bathroom, Hermione took a long, luxurious bath, with multiple bubbles. She stepped out of the pool; the sea green tiles feeling cold on her feet and let her hair down out of the towel. Hermione had taken a family sized bottle of Sleekeasy's hair potion and de-frizzed her hair. She applied her makeup and pulled her hair up into an elegant French twist. Pulling on her midnight blue dress robes she stared at herself in the king sized mirror, gazing at her image. She lifted a hand to her face and realized how different she looked. Gingerly she extracted a powder brush from her makeup kit and attempted to put make up on. But with great difficulty. She sighed, took one last glance at the mirror and headed out the door.

Hermione and Draco had agreed to meet in the main hallway before entering the Great Hall. Draco stood there with a bored expression on his face, masking his eagerness to see Hermione. He impatiently looked around the corner and scanned the hall for her. His eye's rested on a girl with brown hair and midnight blue dress robes, stepping elegantly down the staircase. His heart gave a leap when he saw it was Hermione and he strolled briskly forward to greet her.

"You look beautiful." Draco told Hermione, extending his hand. A slight blush crept across Hermione's face.

"Thank you." She said modestly, and clasped her hand around Draco's.

"Shall we go now Milady?" He said teasingly

"Draco, don't be so serious! Oh and do try to look like your in a bad mood! Remember that we don't want to be with each other."

"Right." He pulled a grotesque face full of displeasure. "How was that?" a grin creeped across his face.

"Perfect." She smiled and looked up at him expectantly. He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into a small alcove where he laid a kiss upon her lips.

"So much for pretending to hate me." she said, kissing him back. "C'mon, we got to go!"

"Okay, okay. Don't want Potty and Weasel worried." A look of disgust when he said their names appeared on his face. He gave her a quick kiss and then headed off towards the hall.

"Who's that girl?"

"What's Draco Malfoy doing with her?"

"Is she new?"

Whispers followed Hermione and Draco the moment they entered the hall, hand in hand.

"What are they doing here?"

"I thought they hated each other?

"Is this a joke?"

When everyone realized who the mystery girl was, a flurry of whispers and fingers were directed at them. When they passed Ron, Luna, Ginny and Harry, the boys dropped their goblets of pumpkin juice at the sight of her, Ginny smiled secretly to herself, gave Hermione a warm smile, and Luna, as usual was staring up at the enchanted ceiling dreamily, swaying as she sat.

A short while later, a slow ballad began to play. Hermione and Draco instinctively walked onto the floor, and began to dance. Ginny, with many struggles, had managed to drag Harry to the dance floor. Ron didn't even bother asking Luna to dance, even though she began to dance with another Ravenclaw boy. He was busy giving Malfoy the evil eye and adding another item to the list of reasons why he hated Malfoy.

"This is so cool. The whole ball I mean." Hermione said, staring into Draco's eyes.

"Yeah, and we must be the main attraction." Draco said jokingly.

"Haha. Did you see all those people staring at us?"

"Yeah. Did you see the look on Pansy's face? Priceless." they chatted amongst themselves for a bit until Harry came up and tapped Hermione on the shoulder, wanting to talk to her. They walked back towards the table, where a surly Ron sat glaring at Hermione.

"Okay Hermione. Spill. What's with you and Malfoy going to the ball together." Harry asked.

"How did I know this would come up? It's quite a funny story actually." Hermione gave a small chuckle.

"Do tell." Ron said quite nastily.

"Ginny dared me. It was that simple. We were playing truth or dare and she dared me to ask Draco to the ball."

"Okay then... he said yes?"

"Well I wouldn't be here if he didn't."

"He's still a slimy git." Ron said hotly. Hermione just rolled her eyes and headed back to Draco.

Another slow song came on; Draco and Hermione were dancing once more. They stared into each other's eyes, never removing their gaze.

"Come with me out into the garden." Draco whispered seductively into her ear, sending shivers down her spine. They carefully sauntered off the ballroom floor and out the doors into the garden.

The garden looked just as much as it did at the Yule Ball all those years ago. The elaborately cut hedges still remained, and fairies still chattered in the bushes. It was a clear night, the moon a perfect crescent, every star visible.

They walked silently, hand in hand, along the cobblestone path until Draco pulled Hermione behind a large bush. He wrapped his hands around her waist and placed a long slow kiss upon her lips. She responded by kissing him back wrapping her arms around his neck. They broke apart and stared at each other lovingly. They walked a few paces back and fell laughing to the ground. She sat cross-legged as he laid his head upon her chest, together staring up at the stars. Hermione cupped Draco's face in her hand and leaned down and kissed him, her hair falling out of its twist, sheltering her face.

"I love you." She whispered, and she meant it too, never feeling this way about someone. He smiled up at her, a warmth spreading through his body.

"I love you too." He as well meant it. "What am I saying? Malfoy's" are incapable of loving someone. He thought, yet he knew he loved Hermione. "Aw shit. I love her." They broke away and Draco stood up and embraced Hermione, kissing her softly. Together they gazed up at the stars, pointing out constellations, the stars the light of their world, and the sound of the wind a song creating a perfect night.

By the time Hermione and Draco had returned to the ball, The band was still playing and a few couples were dancing. Ginny and Harry were one, the other couples were off in far corners whispering. Dumbledore was sitting at the head table, talking lightheartedly with Professor Sinstra. Hermione glanced around for Ron and saw him eating toffees, throwing the wrappers behind his back. Draco gave her hand a tight squeeze before leaving to go see his friends. She gave him a curt nod before heading out of the hall.

Her mind was full with thoughts as she traced her steps back to Gryffindor tower. Draco loved her! She couldn't believe it! She loved him too and she wanted to spend forever with him. She entered the common room and flopped onto a large chair, closing her eyes momentarily, an image of Draco Malfoy embedded in her head.