Rescue Love, Part 4: Double Shock

Winter swept in early, coating the school in a light layer of snow though it was only early November. Since the trip to Hogsmeade Hermione hadn’t heard at all from Draco. She purposely avoided even making eye contact with him in the hall. Still, she wondered what he was thinking when he saw her.1

It was a Saturday morning when she heard from him again. She had been planning to sleep in, but a tap on her arm woke her up. “Hermione!”2

Hermione rolled over and blinked her eyes slowly open. Macy was standing over her, looking excited. “What is it, Macy?” she yawned, sitting up.3

“There’s a message for you on the window!”4

She wasn’t sure how, but she knew who it was from before looking. She quickly got out of bed, not even bothering to grab her slippers and running straight for the window. Written in the frost that crusted the window was a message:5

Meet me at the room- Chance DraMa6

Hermione smiled, immediately understanding the fake name, and where Draco wanted to meet. She rushed to find clothes while Macy watched.7

“Who’s Chance Drama?” She asked, sitting down on her bed. “Weird name- is it a boy or a girl?”8

“Dra-” Hermione stopped, restarting her sentence. “Chance is a boy.”9

“What’s the room?” Macy asked, looking at the message. “And how did he get this up here?”10

“Who knows?” Hermione smiled, pulling on a grey hoodie sweater. “Thanks for waking me, Macy, I’ll see you later!” She rushed down the stairs, taking two at a time and jumping the last three.11

“Hermione, I-” Ron started, smiling and standing up when he saw her.12

“Gotta go, bye Ron! See you, Harry!” Hermione said hurriedly, kissing Ron quickly and running out of the room.13

Ron sat back down and sighed, looking at Harry. Harry shrugged. “You sure about this?” Harry asked. “I mean…this is a big decision.”14

“This is the most sure I’ve ever been about anything, Harry,” Ron said seriously.15

“Well, I’m glad she was in such a hurry,” Harry said, leaning back in the armchair. “This isn’t exactly the best place to do it.”16

“Maybe you’re right,” Ron sighed. “But…I feel like she’s drifting away from me. I want to be sure that she’ll stay with me.”17

Harry sighed and looked up the stairs, wondering what Ron would say if he knew Harry had similar plans for himself and Ginny.18

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Hermione paced past where the door should be. “I need a place where me and Draco can meet. I need a place where we can meet…”20

She glanced at the wall and saw a seemingly ordinary door. She smiled and pushed it open. Before looking around the room at all, she closed it and breathed a sigh of relief. It felt good to get away from everyone.21

The room was similar to the Gryffindor common room. At least, it had a fire place and two cushy armchairs with a coffee table between them. In the corner there was a bar with two stools. An acoustic guitar was playing softly, though she couldn’t tell where it was coming from.22

Hermione took a few steps forward and saw that there were two cases of games on either side of the fire. On one side had wizard games, the other had muggle games. She knelt down and smiled, recognizing games like Yahtzee and Uno.23

“Long time no see.”24

Hermione jumped and stood up. Draco smiled at her from behind the bar. “Really, more like long time not speak,” he said, setting a guitar on top of the bar. “How are you?”25

“Well, thanks,” Hermione smiled. “How did you write on my window?”26

“I didn’t use house elves, don’t worry,” he walked around the bar, and she noticed he was holding some kind of smoothie in his hand. “But how I did it is a secret.”27

“Were you playing the guitar?” she asked, her eyes traveling to the instrument sitting on top of the bar.28

“Well, it wasn’t playing itself,” he chuckled. “Yes, I found it in here last year, and I really enjoy playing it.”29

“You’re really good- I’m guessing you taught yourself,” she said, approaching the him slowly, unsure.30

“Well of course,” Draco chuckled dryly. “Music isn’t exactly something that most Death Eaters appreciate.” He sipped his drink, then hit shook his head. “Sorry, I’m being rude. Would you like some bubble tea?”31

“Bubble tea?” Hermione asked. “You know how to make that?”32

“Holiday in Japan,” Draco explained. “You’ve had it before?”33

“At a café at a mall,” Hermione said, sitting down on a stool. “Only once, though. It was really good.”34

“I hardly ever have it, I’m really glad the room has the right stuff for it,” Draco said. “What flavor do you want?”35

“Strawberry,” she said. “What do you have?”36

“Mango,” he replied, mixing her drink. “They have instructions back here for how to make it. Do you want bubbles or jelly cubes?”37

“Jelly cubes.”38

The day passed quickly as they talked and drank many glasses of bubble tea. She taught him how to play Uno and beat him three times.39

“This game is fixed,” he concluded after being beat yet again. “I don’t like this game.” He shook his head and Hermione laughed.40

“How about we play for a bet this time,” she suggested. Draco sat up straighter in his armchair.41

“A bet?” he raised his eyebrows, his green eyes twinkling. “Challenge excepted!”42

“Alright, if I win, you don’t make fun of Ron or Harry for a week,” she said, barely holding back her laughter at his shocked expression.43

“I can’t do that!” he cried. “That’s not fair!”44

“Well, what if you win then?” she laughed.45

Draco tapped his foot, obviously thinking hard. Then he smirked at her. “If I win I get to kiss you.”46

Hermione felt slightly taken aback. “Draco- I have a boyfriend.”47

“Well then, you better win,” he chuckled, dealing the cards.48

The last game was the longest. Several times Hermione thought she had won, and several times she had braced herself for Draco to win. She was about to lay down a Wild Draw 4 when Draco took his last turn.49

“I win,” he smiled. Hermione lay down her hand, laughing. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice you had only one card left.”50

“I took a risk by not saying Uno,” Draco nodded, his blonde bangs falling into his eyes. “But sometimes risks need to be taken.”51

“Sometimes,” she nodded, collecting up the cards and shuffling. She felt his eyes on her and she looked up. “What?” she asked.52

“I believe you owe me something,” he said confidently.53

“I never said I’d kiss you,” she said, looking back down to hide her blushing. “You said you’d kiss me.”54

“Fine.” She heard a creak and suddenly his cold hand was on hers, stopping her shuffling. She looked up and he pushed his lips against hers.55

When he pulled away she was breathless and her hands were cold from his. “Your hands are so cold,” she said quietly, feeling shy.56

“Dementors have a permanent affect if you’re around them often enough,” he said, sitting back in his chair. Hermione stood up and he sat forward, looking concerned. “Are you alright?”57

“I have to go,” she said quickly, slipping her sneakers back on.58

“Hermione, wait!” Draco cried, standing up to stop her.59

But she was already out the door.60

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“Hermione!” Ron cried happily as Hermione entered the nearly empty common room. She hadn’t realized how late it was until now. “I’m glad you’re back, I’ve really been wanting to talk to you.”62

“Ron, now is really not a good time,” Hermione sighed, feeling guilt rain down on her as soon as she saw her boyfriend.63

“But Hermione, I- I want to talk,” he sounded almost in pain. Hermione stopped, one foot on the staircase. She turned back to him to see him half standing and Harry sitting next to him, looking resigned. Ron took a deep breath. “I want to talk…about us.”64

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked, walking back to him.65

“Well, us… you and me,” he said, sitting back down. Hermione sat across from him, and for a second she flashed back to the Room of Requirement.66

“What about us then?” she asked, forcing herself back to the common room.67

“Well, you know that I love you,” Ron said quietly. “Right?”68

Hermione felt her eyes widen. “What?”69

“I love you Hermione,” he said, his face flushed. “And…I want to know if you love me back.”70

“Ron…why wouldn’t I?” she asked, her voice catching in her throat.71

“Because…I don’t know,” he looked frustrated now. “I feel like you’re not even with me half the time you’re with me… If that makes sense.”72

“I don’t understand,” Hermione said.73

“Just answer this question,” he said, leaning towards her and taking her hands in his. His hands were warm, contrasting to her that were still cold from being held by Draco. She swallowed as she looked into his eyes. “Do you love me?” he asked.74

“I…yes, Ron. I love you,” she said choppily. Ron leaned closer and kissed her. The guilt was overwhelming her; she felt like a tiny sail boat caught in a colossal storm.75

“Then, Hermione Granger,” he said, smiling as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a tiny black velvet box and Hermione’s heart plummeted and rocketed at the same time, tying itself into a knot. He opened the box, revealing a ring with a gold ring with a diamond on it. “Will you marry me?”