Nautical Paramour

Chapter Seventeen

When she had first met Draco, she had found him to be quite attractive, but any attraction she had to him was completely erased by his attitude. However, as she got to know him better and he opened up to Montrose, and his layers of cockiness and entitlement melted away, she found that attraction blossomed quite naturally. When it became clear that he might actually be interested in her as well, Hermione knew that he was only going to be there for a short time.

She wasn't sure why, but that somehow made it infinitely easier to find herself in a little spring fling with him. It was just for fun, it wasn't going to last, and they were both getting something enjoyable out of it. But at some point over the last few months, that easy fling had grown into something far more meaningful to her. She wasn't sure when it was — maybe it was when he'd told her about his love of astronomy over Thai food or maybe it was being held in an Italian interrogation room with him — but she had genuine feelings for him now. She'd told him she was falling for him, but Hermione was afraid the fall had ended and now she was in deep with Draco.

She couldn't bear the thought of it coming to an end.

To her utter mortification, she realized that she had started crying. First, it was just a quick tear down her cheek, followed by a little sniffle, only to be revealed as a full blown sob. She couldn't hide her reaction from Draco.

"Jeez, Hermione? What's the matter?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her head to his chest. His heart beat steady and sure under her ear. "I'm sorry my mum is such a bitch. I really don't think any differently about you because of her reactions."

"It's not that," she managed to gasp out, almost amused that he thought she would be quite so devastated at the idea that Narcissa Malfoy might not like her.

"What's the matter then?" he asked, gently.

"It's just that... it's just that—" she tried to figure out how to get the words out, only to be thwarted by her sobs. Determined, she took a deep breath. "It's just that I was thinking... what are the chances that we are even still together in a year's time?"

"Are you... are you trying to break up with me?" he demanded.

Chapter Sixteen

If they had been playing anyone but Pride, Draco wasn't sure that he would have been given the go ahead to play at all in the final game of the season. Even though he was technically cleared for team play, Draco knew that the trainer was less than enthused about his rush to return to the pitch for fear of re-aggravating his injury. But, he'd firmly reminded Potter that Pride was the absolute dregs of the table and they were unlikely to put up much of a fight in their game. He promised to let them know the minute that he had so much as a twinge so he could be subbed off.

But, he thought that Potter must have realized there was no other outcome but him playing — it was the last bloody game of the season and if they won, they would win it all! They needed Draco Malfoy, even a slightly less than fit Draco Malfoy, to help push them over the edge.

It felt good to be back on the pitch again in the pale blue away kits of the Magpies after so long out of them. When he got dressed, he'd taken a long look at himself in the mirror and felt his stomach churn a bit at the idea that this was probably the last time that he'd wear the kit.

And the roar from the away fans when they saw him jogging out on the pitch — that had gotten him choked up. He didn't think he'd ever felt so... so wanted as he did here in Montrose. It was going to be hard to say goodbye.

He decided that he was going to leave it all out on the pitch for them. He never wanted anyone to suggest that Draco Malfoy hadn't even every ounce of himself to the club. He was relentless in his play, linking up effortlessly with Adrian even after a few weeks off. They had barely played ten minutes before he'd scored their first goal of the match. And then, he followed it up with a second after thirty-six minutes.