Chapter 2

Draco ran a hand through his disheveled hair. It was a tiring evening indeed with having to take care a woman who was in distress and drunk. His eyes automatically traveled to the bed which was occupied with the woman who was deep in sleep.

 

His body was truly tired with having to answer all of the questions the check-in counter of the hotel gave to him. They thought that he was kidnapping or trying to take advantage of her.

 

Not long after Draco rested his body on the same bed, Hermione leaned in to him and put her head on his chest. He was shocked but then a soft smile crawl up.

 

~ * ~

 

Hermione slowly opened her eyes and regretted it after. A hit of headache made it to her head and she groaned. Had she been drinking much last night? To think of it..... Where was she?

 

She quickly brought her body up and rested her back on the headboard. Opening her eyes, she tried to adjust on the light.

 

"Drink this." A recognizable voice pierced through her ear.

 

"D-Draco?" Her voice was hoarse. She took the cup from him and drank the warm tea. Ginger tea, she tasted it. "Thank you." Draco took the cup back from her hand.

 

"Where am I? And how can I be with you?"

 

"Hotel. You were so drunk last night you barely survive to stand up from your seat."

 

Hermione realized that she had been drinking in a bar at the corner of the road. Other than drinking her heart out and playing music from her iPod, she didn't remember anything.

 

Her eyes set on Draco, who was currently placing the cup down and took sip of his own coffee. His shoulders were broader than she remembered the last time she saw him.

 

It was four years ago since the last year at Hogwarts after the war.

 

And somehow, in those time span of a year, she had developed a thing more than friendship with her ex-partner of Heads.

 

The knock on the door totally awaken her from the train of thoughts.

 

"Good morning, monsieur. Here is your laundry." She had heard the man from the outside said. Draco nodded and took it.

 

Upon seeing her clothes in his hand, she quickly checked on her clothes and her eyes widened. She was wearing a pajama with Slytherin crest on it.

 

Did he—?

 

"I used magic to change your clothes," Draco quickly said when he read her mind. She looked at him with those brown orbs without saying anything.

 

"On second thought, if you feel comfortable enough on using my pajama, I shouldn't have laundered-"

 

Hermione snatched her clothes from his hand before he could even finish his words. He chuckled lightly.

 

After waiting her changing, they went down to the lobby and made their way into the restaurant.

 

"So, mind telling me why are you in Paris, Granger?"

 

She looked up from her food and stared at him for few seconds. "I'm trying to escape from London."

 

"Or more likely from your boyfriend?"

 

"Ex," she quickly added. "Wait a minute, do I-"

 

"Yes, you are telling me about your bastard—that's how you describe him—boyfriend cheating on you. Then your mother said that he would make a great husband for you."

 

Hermione cheeks were crimson. "I did tell you all of it then."

 

They ate again in silence when she asked him, "But what are you doing here, Draco?"

 

"Blaise forced me to come with him. Apparently he said that he wanted to catch up with his friends and he would show me a good night club."

 

"You are still a womanizer after four years long."

 

"And I see that you are still a prude."

 

"Am not!"

 

He laughed. "I do miss this."

 

"Did you just laugh?" Hermione blinked.

 

"Can't I?" He sent his infamous smirk. "Why are you choosing Paris of any other cities in Europe anyway?"

 

"No one knows me here and well, I have a good memory here."

 

"Memory?" Draco's eyebrow raised.

 

"Yeah, happened when I was still a kid."

 

"Do tell."

 

"Hermione, mommy and daddy have to go to a seminar. You stay right here, okay?"

 

"Okay, mommy!"

 

His father picked her up and kissed her daughter lovingly. "Don't play outside the hotel, do you hear me, young lady?"

 

"Yes, daddy."

 

"We'll see you later in the afternoon then. Bye, sweetheart."

 

The door closed and little Hermione was trying to search for activities. She then decided to take the morning air and went outside into the hotel's garden.

 

There was fish pond, benches and playground in the garden. Rather playing in playground, Hermione chose to sit on a bench. She would often ran to the fish pond and then back to the bench again.

 

But then she stumbled on a rock and fell. Blood oozed out from her knee. Slowly she sat on the bench again and sobbed quietly.

 

"Are you okay?"

 

Little Hermione wiped her tears away and saw a kid her age using a pullover hoodie. "M-my knee is bleeding."

 

"Wait here!" Hermione nodded and wait for the boy to come back. A minute later, the boy came back with her mother.

 

"What is it, prince?"

 

"Mother, she's hurt! We need to help her!" The boy's mother smiled softly. She took care of Hermione's wound.

 

"Does it still hurt, dear?"

 

Hermione shook her head. "No, thank you."

 

"You're welcome, dear." The woman replied. "Now, prince, mother wants to search for breakfast first, alright? You go play with her."

 

"Okay, mother." His mother then kissed Hermione's and the boy's forehead. Not forgetting to ruffle Hermione's hair, but when she wanted to ruffle his son's hair, he pouted in disagree. She laughed softly and went back to inside of the hotel.

 

Hermione then studied the boy. He was wearing a gray pullover hoodie with a big letter 'D' with green colour imprinted on it. Hermione couldn't see his hair colour since he was using the hoodie, but she could see some of his blonde bangs falling over his forehead. His eyes were the colour of steel gray.

 

They played a long and having fun; even though they didn't know each other's name yet. Later then the boy's mother came and said that they should go. The children were obviously not happy with it. An idea came to the boy's mother, she searched for a camera and told them to pose.

 

The two children linked their arms and smiled brightly to the camera.

 

"So yeah, that's the story. I still have the photo with me now."

 

"Worth a tear." Draco pretended to cry and Hermione smacked him lightly then laughed.

 

"You're lucky to have such a good memory here," Draco paused. "I don't know why but something is making me to dislike Paris. Perhaps, a bad memory."

 

Hermione was thinking to ask about it, but thought that it was a bad idea. Soon silence was in the air again.

 

"Hermione....." he called out softly.

 

Chills ran down her spine when she heard him calling her first name. She straightened up and met up with his cold gray eyes, which seemed warmer.

 

"Have you ever thought of getting back ..." The gray orbs glint with hope for a second. "... to where we are before?"

 

Her breath hitched. Why did he have to bring up this topic now? When she wasn't ready at all; when she thought that they could converse again as a best friend?

 

"Draco, I—Why—What do you—" She shook her head.

 

"Hermione... Please?"

 

"You've hurt me, Draco." He jerked hearing hurt in her voice. "And I still can't get over it."

 

"I promise-"

 

"You promised me too before!" She snapped. "And you broke it."

 

"I'm sorry," Draco said softly without tearing his sight from her. Hermione looked up and saw sadness in those beautiful orbs. "I'm sorry," he said again.

 

Hermione stood up. "I don't want to get hurt again." She walked passed him and out of the restaurant with tears brimming in her eyes.

 

Draco pounded the table with his trembling fist. "Damn it!"

 

~ * ~

 

---