Chapter 4

Confrontations

Hermione's P.O.V.

It's Friday night. It started raining a few hours ago, and had been sitting by the window, watching it fall. I decide I'm going out.

Harry's still in the common room, playing Wizard's Chess with Ron.

"Can I use your cloak, Harry?" I ask.

"Sure, 'Mione. It's in my trunk."

I climb the stairs up to the seventh year boys' dorm, Find what I recognize as Harry's trunk, and prop it open. The cloak's somewhat buried, but after a little digging, it's free.

Looking out the window, I notice it's very dark. Perfect. Climbing back down the stairs, I head for the portrait hole.

"Where you goin', 'Mione?" Ron asks.

"Just to the library to study." What a quick and witty response on my part.

Just outside the portrait hole, I throw the cloak over me. I make my way down the stairs and out into the wondrous night.

Heading for the forest, so I can take the cloak off and enjoy the rain, I see all my favorite animals out dancing.

I make my way deep into the forest. I'm having one of the best times I've ever heard in the rain. Then, a twig snaps. It snapped harder than it would if it was one of the pleasant creatures out dancing. Spinning around, I ask, "Who's there?"

There's a pause, as if whoever it is is trying to decide whether or not to speak. Just when I start to think I imagined it, I hear my name.

"Hermione-"

At the sound of my name, a shiver runs down my spine, and my breath catches in my chest.

Draco's P.O.V.

I hear in raining again. It's after curfew, so I grab my invisibility cloak and head for the stairs outside the porthole, ready for my regular routine. When I look out the window, I see footprints in the wet grass, heading for the Forbidden Forest.

All of a sudden, it hits me. This could be my last chance. I'm still hesitant, but my body seems to be moving of its own accord. I'm walking down the stairs, and it isn't long until I find myself outside in the pouring rain. I follow the footsteps to the forest and find the breathtaking young woman I knew would be here, taking off an invisibility cloak. I step forward to get closer to her, but I step on a twig and it snaps. I curse silently when she spins around and asks, "Who's there?"

I take a long pause, trying to decide whether or not to say anything. As she starts to turn back around, I can't help myself and I cry out to her, "Hermione-"

She snaps back and locks her eyes with mine. It's kind of creepy, considering she still can't see me. I can see her tensity.

I take off the cloak and swell with pleasure as I see her relax when she finds out it's me.

"Hermione," I find myself saying, "I have something to tell you. You probably know this, but . . .I - I love you." She's waiting for more, so I take a deep breath and continue.

"I've loved you since the first time I laid my eyes on you. You're so beautiful, smart, incredible . . . and I love you."

She pipes up with a question. As always.

"What will your father think?"

"I don't really care what he thinks. I mean, he's in prison now, what can he do?"

"Well . . . What about your mother?" Again with the questions.

"She's basically the only one I trust. She's the only person who knows I love you. She doesn't care about blood. Only some purebloods are snobby. She says that from what I've told her, you seem perfect. And you are. She would never say anything to my father. She doesn't even really like him. It was an arranged marriage. She didn't have a say at all. She was never the snobby kind of pureblood. I love her and trust her."

"But what about your friends? What would they think?"

"Dammit, Hermione! You don't get it, do you? I love you! I don't care what anyone thinks. Please, Hermione! You've got to understand this!"

"I do, Draco!" she retorts. It's the first time she's used my first name. "I'm just concerned! For your well being, and for mine! Voldemort could be after us any minute!"

"He's already after us! And we'll worry about that when we have to! I've explained everything to Dumbledore! He's sworn to protect us as best he can! And you know we can fend for ourselves as well! There's really nothing to worry about!" I take a second to calm down.

"Hermione," I say in a calmer tone. "I'm going to drive myself crazy if the only thing I can do to get close to you is talk to my mother and watch you every time it rains."

"Draco, I – I have something to tell you too." I'm nervous knowing the possibilities of the following sentence.

"I really don't know how to say this, so I'll be really blunt."

I start to turn away, filled with disappointment, thinking that she doesn't feel the same.

"Draco, wait!" She grabs my arm to turn me back around. "I love you too, Draco."

I stand for a moment, not registering what she had said. As it finally dawns on me, I fell joy spread through my body, as a smile spreads across my face.

Hermione's P.O.V.

"I love you too, Draco." He stops, seemingly frozen with shock. Then I watch as a smile spreads across his face.

I start to laugh and cry, and I throw myself at him. He squeezes me closer, and I bury my face in his shoulder.

There it is. The mysterious scent that had me wondering for so long. It was the beautiful aroma of the who is holding me at this very moment.

Draco's P.O.V.

The next thing I know, she's in my arms, crying and laughing into my shoulder. I squeeze her tight, never wanting to let her go. I bury my face in her brown, curly hair, and the mystery that had been plaguing me for so long was solved. The unidentifiable aroma from the love potion was the scent of my one, true love.

The couple pulled out of the hug, to look each other into the eyes of the other, just before they came back together in a long, passionate kiss, soaking together in the rain.

THE END