My Soul Mate

Chapter Nineteen - ReuniOn and Insights...

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I've kissed the moon, a million times,

Danced with the angels, in the sky.

I've seen snowfall, in the summertime,

Felt the heal, of the powers above.

I've seen the world, from the highest mountain,

Tasted love, from the purest fountain.

I've seen lips, that spark desire,

Caught the butterflies, a hundred times.

I've even seen miracles, I've felt the pain disappear.

But still haven't seen anything, that amazes me quite like you do...

You bring me up, when I'm feeling down,

You touch me deep, you touch me right.

You do the things, I've never done,

You make me wicked, you make me wild.

Cause bebay, you are my, number one.

I've sailed, in a perfect dream,

I've seen the sun, make love to the sea.

I've kissed the moon, a million times,

Danced with the angels, in the sky.

I've even seen miracles, I've seen the pain disappear.

But still haven't seen anything, that amazes me quite like you do...

You bring me up, when I'm feeling down,

You touch me deep, you touch me right.

You do the things, I've never done,

You make me wicked, you make me wild.

Cause bebay, you are my, number one.

- Enrique Iglesias, 'You Are My #1'

____________________________________________________________________

It had become quite a common sight to see Harry and Ron in a closed dormitory, discussing Hermione back in September, when everything had went wrong, when Hermione had returned from her abduction with the abductor as her new friend. And now, it was a common sight again, to see them pacing a closed dormitory, tension-filled, discussing Hermione. Though, their reasons were different this time.

This time, they were finding themselves guilty, unlike the previous season, when they had been slandering Hermione and thinking of murdering Draco. On this occasion, they were planning to compromise with him instead.

You don't even have to say sorry, just tell him that since now you're both on the same ship, you should sail it together to reach the shore faster.

They were on the same ship.

They had to get to the shore before the sea-monster eats them up.

So they would have to sail it together.

And they would apologize to Hermione.

"All right," said Ron. "We have both been idiots to believe the Prophet and walk out on Hermione. We'll apologize. But she'll want us to befriend Malfoy, and I can't stand to be in the same with that git even for a minute."

"We've got to Ron," said Harry. "I am not happy about this, but we've got to. All right, not friends, but ... at least we'll have to find a way to work with him. We'll have to get along. Otherwise we'll lose to Voldemort. Dumbledore and the others were right in forgiving Malfoy, actually. Remember what he had said back in our fourth year? That united, we stand strong but divided we fall apart."

"You remember it too?" asked Ron, somewhere between amazement and slight repulsion.

"Nah," Harry shook it off. "Hermione told us in our fifth year, so I remember it. And by the way, even the Sorting Hat last year told us to stay united. We're fighting a war with Voldemort already, you know."

Even after being with Harry for more than six years, Ron flinched when Harry said 'Voldemort'. He still felt uncomfortable at hearing Harry say 'Voldemort' casually as though he was the next door neighbor and a rival in the most well kept garden competition.

But Ron had other things on his mind. Something that had been nagging on him for the whole day and he hadn't got the time to broach it to Harry.

Harry's words that very morning, back in the at Grimmuald Place.

"Harry," said Ron tentatively, "can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Ron," said Harry, deep in thought about the seriousness of the situation.

"This is woolly, Harry, and perhaps you wouldn't like to answer," said Ron, grinning slightly. "Er, Harry ... do you-do you like Hermione still?"

Harry started at Ron's words. He looked at him blankly for a long moment and then said, "What makes you think so?"

"It's just what you said back at Sirius's. It bothers you to acknowledge Malfoy's love for Hermione."

Harry's incredulity dropped and a somber expression took its place. He looked away from Ron and instead stared at the crackling fire in the furnace, as though trying to read an answer behind the flames, which were naughtily coming into the way, blocking his vision.

After a few even longer moments, he replied, "I don't think so ... I didn't miss her after we had the row. Well, not very much, but that could be because of the training pressure and Voldemort and Cho. Cho keeps me happy. After her, I never felt that I had lost Hermione to my heart. I s'pose I was too worried when Malfoy took her and I misinterpreted it as love. I think its Cho for me. But..."

"But what?" asked Ron, feeling a bit relieved.

"I haven't given Cho a single thought today. Believe me, its not only Voldemort and Hermione on my mind today, but its also Malfoy. I ... I hate the idea of him loving Hermione. The very thought of them being together, makes me feel as though my blood is boiling in my veins. I want to strangle him. I don't want him touching Hermione."

Ron looked a bit alarmed. Harry's predicament was becoming difficult to understand. But he felt as though Harry would wrong Hermione to love her now, when he was with Cho. First Cho, then Hermione. Then Cho again and then Hermione again. Maybe Harry's losing his mind, Ron thought. Too much pressure from You-Know-Who.

"Ron," said Harry suddenly, looking at him. "D'you think that ... that this could be because of ... jealousy?"

"No!" said Ron, perhaps a bit too quickly, because Harry raised his eyebrows at him. "No," Ron repeated, a bit calmly and somewhat sagely. "It's not jealousy. It's hatred. We hated Malfoy for too long, and I still do obviously. Anyway, even if we had a run in with Hermione we care for her. It's instinctive to loathe the idea of the sticky Slytherin Malfoy with Hermione. That's all."

Ron emphasized on 'we'. Perhaps to make Harry feel no different than he did about Hermione.

"Yeah, might be," said Harry, his voice trailing away again as he looked into the flames, crackling merrily, trying to find an answer.

But the innocent flames were hiding none.

He long ago had given friendship the name of love. Draco had called love friendship before. Hermione had given love the name of friendship too.

But Draco and Hermione realized their errors.

And unbeknownst to him, Harry was giving love the name of friendship also.

____________________________________________________________________

It was past dinnertime when Hermione and Draco returned from the Room of Requirement, walking hand in hand, snug with each other. Luckily for her, they met no teachers. Or worse, Filch. Hermione knew for a fact that Harry and Cho had served a detention with him for kissing down a hallway. And if Draco did that to her, she would not be able to resist, but she didn't look forward to a detention either.

Draco had one arm around her waist when they entered the Prefects' quarters (Allegro Passinato). Hermione blushed when Rowena Ravenclaw passed a few comments at her before the portrait hole (and Slytherin looked highly disconcerted). And inside the living room were Ginny, Harry and Ron. Dinner plates and dishes out.

"Where have you both -" started Ginny but stopped in mid-sentence, obviously stunned to see Draco and Hermione in such an intimate position.

Ron's jaw dropped to the ground and Harry's visibly clenched.

"Hi!" said Hermione cheerfully, walking towards them with Draco. They both had contented little smiles on their radiant faces.

"Hermione..." said Ginny weakly.

Hermione glanced at Draco before saying, "Yes, I know what you're thinking. Actually, Draco and I ... we're going out."

"What!" said Harry, Ron and Ginny together.

Hermione and Draco nodded.

"That's great!" exclaimed Ginny, dropping the glass of pumpkin juice from her hand.

Hermione rolled her eyes and pulled out her wand and muttered, "Reparo!"

The glass shards flew and joined to form a perfect goblet on the floor. The carpet however was soaked with juice and Hermione dried it too.

"I don't believe it!" said Ginny, grinning broadly. "Finally!"

"Thanks to you, Ginny," said Draco, sitting on a chair, as did Hermione next to him.

A bit too close for Harry's liking.

"Yes, thanks to you, Ginny," said Hermione happily. "If it hadn't been for you, we might have never been together, I guess."

"Come on, you both would have gotten around to it," Ginny said in mock modesty, since she did look quite proud. "I just helped you out."

"You did?" asked Harry suddenly, glaring at Ginny.

Ginny nodded, unperturbed. An awkward silence fell among them.

Ron kicked Harry in the shins to stop him from asking more awkward questions. Harry dropped his gaze from Ginny's face.

Ginny, to make up for the silence, said, "What a wonderful day this is! You both are together and Harry and Ron have made their decisions!"

Draco was curious but wouldn't ask them anything. He served himself and Hermione roast pork.

"What decisions?" voiced out Hermione.

"Harry and Ron, here," said Ginny, looking pointedly at them, "wanted to tell both of you something."

"Me too?" asked Draco incredulously, looking up from his pork.

"Yes. So Harry, Ron - better get done with it."

Ron leaned in and whispered to Harry, "You speak with Malfoy."

And without waiting for Harry's response (who was viable to protest), Ron cleared his throat. "Er ... yes, actually we ... wanted to ... we wanted..."

"We wanted what, big brother?" asked Ginny sweetly, though her teeth were clamped tightly inside her mouth.

"Spit it out, Ron," said Hermione in a small voice.

"We ... we are sorry, Hermione!" said Ron, his ears reddening. "We are very sorry."

Hermione stared at him for a moment. And after a moment, she surprised everybody as she jumped from her seat and rushed to Ron, hugging him.

Ron gave Ginny an uncomfortable look and patted Hermione on the top of her head. Hermione, meanwhile, had dissolved into silent tears.

"Oh, Ron," she said in a slightly choked voice, "what took you so long?"

"We were just angry, Hermione," said Ron soothingly. "We have been gits and we apologize. You forgive us, don't you?"

"Of course I do," said Hermione withdrawing. She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.

"Thanks, Hermione."

Hermione turned to face Harry. He looked up at her too. Her emotional face broke his outward shield of hardness. Her eyes glinted innocently and he found himself saying, "I am sorry too, Hermione. We never meant to hurt you."

"Course you did not." said Hermione, smiling shakily.

"Thanks Hermione." said Harry and then forked his pork quickly. He didn't want Hermione to hug him too.

Hermione, perhaps getting the cue, went back to her seat and looked at Draco. He was tightlipped at first, but then smiled at her. Hermione was grateful for his attitude. He clasped her hands with his and said, "So, this is a lovely day, right?"

"Right," agreed Hermione. Then turning to Harry and Ron, she asked, "And what did you want to say to Draco?"

"Er..." started Ron first, running his fingers over the base of his throat uncomfortably, "well, keep her happy, Malfoy." In an undertone, he added to Harry, "You do the rest."

Harry glowered at Ron but turned to Draco and said in one breath, "Look here Malfoy. We have learnt that you're innocent but that doesn't mean you're our friend. We are both on the same side and I, I mean, we acknowledge it. Don't expect anything else."

Draco let go of Hermione's hand and dropped backwards onto his seat in a princely manner before replying, "I would hang my head in the Hog's Head rather than befriend you, Potter."

Harry glared at him. "Feeling's mutual," he replied. "I just wanted you to know that if not now, one day we'll have to overcome our differences and work together. I would hate to do it but we need to set aside our clashes. And once we're through, we'll go in our separate own paths. We'll never cross."

Draco considered him for a moment. "Are you asking an alliance?"

"Apparently worthless alliance, Malfoy."

Draco smirked. "Oh god, Potter," he said, "I agree but I won't sleep with you."

"Draco." said Hermione warningly.

Harry remained cool. "Drop it, Malfoy," he said. "If you sleep with me, then you'll lose your sweet little girlfriend."

Draco's face hardened. "All right," he hissed. "Cease-fire."

Harry nodded in acknowledgement.

"Well," said Ginny, clapping her hands together. "This is great! It certainly calls for celebration."

"Celebration to compromise with my archenemy?" asked Draco in a hollow tone. "You're mad."

"Draco," said Hermione sternly, "I thought you were supposed to set aside your differences."

"I'm sorry," said Draco in a quiet voice so that only she could hear him.

And there were no snide remarks after that. Ginny, Hermione and Ron chatted merrily throughout dinner. They talked about what they had been doing for the past two and a half months. Hermione was all on homework and assignments. Ron came up with new funny jokes and Hermione was laughing her head off.

Harry and Draco, however didn't participate too much. They just chimed in sometimes, but for the rest of time, shot daggers at each other.

"And in Divination, Hermione," Ron said. "Harry created a wonderful scene of You-Know-Who killing him. And you know what? Trelawney gave him a zero because she believes that Harry will kill You-Know-Who. She ranted on and on for the whole period and then when the bell rang, she beckoned him to stay back. What did she say Harry, again?"

"Er ... she said that she found a bird trail the other day," said Harry. "Which said that she would become more famous and successful than Cassandra Trelawney, you know, her grandmother or something, who was a great Seer. She also said that the Prophecy she had done about me will come true."

"And the next class," continued Ron. "Harry had become annoyed with Trelawney fawning him. So he wrote a composition on how You-Know-Who's pet anaconda ate him and Harry midway through dwelling. Trelawney was so furious that she gave him a week's worth of detentions with Filch."

Hermione and Ginny burst out laughing. Draco couldn't help but smile too.

After dinner was over, the plates and empty dishes cleared away. Hermione gave a disgusted stare to the table, as though it had told her something rude. Draco or anybody else wasn't surprised. Obviously, the house-elves were still overworked.

Ginny got up and stretched. The time was around eight in the night. They all had their dinner late because Draco and Hermione had come late. Ginny had waited for them and insisted Harry and Ron wait too.

Everybody settled down for a match of Gobstones, Exploding Snap and Wizarding Chess after the meal. All lost to Ron in chess (except Draco, because he deliberately avoided playing with him). But in a game of Gobstones, Harry and Draco came up stinking in the foul smelling liquid skirted on a player's face when they lost a point. Draco had disappeared for a whole ten minutes and when he returned, filled the entire place with the fragrance of his cologne. Harry had wanted to go too, but he didn't want to be called Draco's copycat, so he just washed his face and dabbed it dry.

It was noticeable that Harry was avoiding talking with Hermione too much. He had two reasons: one, he was afraid of finding out his true feelings for her (and Ron knew this, so he kept Hermione well occupied). And second, he felt uneasy under Draco's hard gaze when he even neared Hermione. But Draco was glad anyway.

Hermione didn't want to question Harry in front of everybody. Ginny made it a point to have a word with him later.

So after an enjoyable night, everyone went to bed. Ginny left first. Harry and Ron went to the Ravenclaw room (which was next to the Slytherin room). When all were gone, Draco and Hermione were found outside the Gryffindor prefects' room, talking.

Draco wished Hermione a good night. After making sure no one was there, he pulled her to him and kissed her again. Hard, yet tender in its own way. He was trailing down her neck again, wishing to be able to kiss more of her.

After complete five minutes of snogging, Draco went to his room and Hermione to hers.

The door, which was ajar in the Ravenclaw room, snapped shut.

____________________________________________________________________

On her bed, Ginny was hugging a pillow close to her. Silent tears were rolling down her cheeks from her eyes, making the silk pillow cover dank. It was not an uncommon thing; Ginny had been weeping a lot quietly after Harry had started going out with Cho. She sometimes felt foolish, for chasing after him like a lovesick puppy, when he looked at her as a sister. Harry had never been able to fathom her feelings.

So in her fourth year, Ginny forced herself to go out with Michael Corner. Mike was sweet but rather selfish. Ginny didn't find any satisfaction when she was with him.

One thing was clear to her: she couldn't love anyone other than Harry Potter.

And Harry Potter was utterly oblivious.

That very morning, Ginny felt as though Harry had some feelings, any feeling, for Hermione. And she had felt white-hot anger radiating from him whenever Draco touched Hermione that evening. But Harry can't possibly like Hermione, Ginny thought.

But no one ever knew for sure. So she decided that she would talk to Ron.

And even if Harry had felt something for Hermione, Ginny would squash that feeling flat in it's beginning. Hermione would be wronged, and so would Draco. And Ginny knew one thing, Draco would surely help get Harry rid of his faltering emotions.

But Ginny was glad that Draco and Hermione made it, anyway. There couldn't possibly be a more charming couple than them, she thought.

*

Ron had a number of feelings about the events of the evening. He was a sort of glad that Hermione had settled, though Draco Malfoy would not be his favorite choice. But anyhow, it was good Hermione was going out with someone, lest Harry tried to get her.

Harry was actually fluctuating. Cho, Hermione, then Cho again and then Hermione again. Ron didn't think him to be a flirt, but the world would see it as that. If Harry went on like this, the outcome would be devastating.

Firstly, Harry would never be able to settle peacefully. Hermione would be hanging between Draco and Harry. Draco would be downhearted too. Cho would perhaps become severely depressed. And in some way, their friendship would break forever. Many concerned would be hurt also.

Ron had to do something and stop Harry from developing full-fledged feelings for Hermione.

*

Harry twisted and turned on his bed. He had seen Draco kissing Hermione before going to bed. Draco was so damn passionate. Harry had a sudden urge to rip Draco limb from limb. And why did he feel that way, he had no answers.

Perhaps he was falling for Hermione.

But there was Cho too. How would she feel if Harry dumped her for Hermione? Harry felt a sudden bottomless feeling about Cho. As though it had been ages since he had last known her.

Harry pushed these thoughts and feelings out of his mind and tried to sleep.

He could not.

*

Hermione turned the elegant emerald pendant between her fingers on her bed. It glinted in the scarce light from the moon that fell into the room, in slanting slats. She remembered the moments she had spent with Draco in the Room of Requirement. A warm feeling rose to her heart.

She had an elated feeling that could not be deflated. Draco was wonderful. He loved her so much. She loved him so much. Hermione shuddered with excitement when she remembered the fire that had surged between them. His lips on her skin, caressing it, biting it. When Hermione had been changing in the washroom, she had found a large hickey above her collarbones.

Draco's love-bite.

She was marked as his and nothing could be more pleasing than that for her. She had an impulsive feeling to be with Draco and have him kiss her. With more ardor than the last time. The way his hands trailed patterns on her waist had left her squirming under him. The feel of his soft, blonde hair under her fingers and his pristine mouth on hers.

Paradise.

Hermione could never find anyone better than Draco. She knew it.

*

Draco sat by the fireside, unlike all who were in bed. He had a longing ache in his chest. An ache for Hermione's touch over there. Her tender, long fingers, tracing his neck and cheeks, making goose bumps arise on his hands and legs. She was the entire woman a man could need.

Her slim figure with perfect breasts and long, fair legs.

Draco groaned. He would give all the money in his vault in the Gringott's Bank to have Hermione next to him, so that he could explore her virginal wealth. He looked at his hands. It was as though they were begging him to pin down Hermione and strip her so that they could touch her properly. Feel her properly. His groin shouted at him to close them around Hermione's legs. He wanted her madly. Absolutely madly.

It was difficult for him to get sleep that night.

The snow fell heavily outside. Tinted blue by the moon's rays. And perhaps disappearing a foot above the ground.