Ok here's a prompt, but it's totally OK if it doesn't inspire you, but maybe it will? đĽ°
"How can I convince you not to?"
These words are significant for me personally (I won't bore you with the details) and by putting them out there to see what someone could do with them creatively gives me a weird sense of peace. But again, I have no expectations and totally OK if you don't do anything with it.đđđ
hi anon! i know you sent this prompt ages ago. i was finally in the mood to write again. not sure you'll even seen this, but here we go:
A sharp grip sank into Hermioneâs arm, stopping her short. âDonât do it, Granger,â heaved Pansy. She must have chased Hermione all the way to the fireplace. In stilettos. âDonât leave.â
Hermione pried herself from Pansyâs stabby claws. âHe made his choice.â
âWeâre at his engagement party.â Her voice cracked.
âYou think he agreed to this obnoxious farce?â Pansy arched an ebony brow. âNarcissa blindsided us all.â
A few minutes ago, Hermione had entered the Malfoyâs Rose Garden to find a pedestalled portrait of Draco and Astoria at the entrance, posing like a pure-blood poster-couple. Sheâd been so shocked and hurt that sheâd bolted.
âThis was never going to work,â she told Pansy sadly.
Whether Draco knew it or not, this was Narcissa issuing a her or us ultimatum. Draco loved his family, and a three-month fling with Hermione didnât merit sacrificing them. She had lost her parents young and wouldnât dream of hurting him in that way. Even if it broke her heart.
Pansyâs lips pressed together. âDonât you see how happy you make him?â
âWeâre still in the honeymoon phase,â she half-told herself. âHe canât go a lifetime without his family.â
âYouâre too rational for your own good. Be romantic for five seconds and open your bloody eyes!â Pansy snapped. âHe wonât lose his family. He has me and Theo and Blaise and heâll have you, Granger.â
âYou canât possibly believe that I mean more to him than his mother and father.â
âDo you honestly think Iâd succumb to this gods-awful conversation if I didnât? I donât even like you.â
âWell, this is the perfect opportunity to get rid of me.â
âBut I donât have to like you,â Pansy proceeded. âI just have to like you for him. And I do. You make him less serious. More like the Draco I used to know in school. Always having a laugh, playful again, a little mischievous.â
Hermioneâs eyes filled with tears.
As Pansy listed all the ways Hermione had changed Draco, she considered all the ways Draco had changed her. Her nerves had virtually evaporated when public speaking, and she suspected it had everything to do with the way Draco vocally, physically, openly admired her. He made her feel beautiful and seen, and it made all the difference. Resulting in a fiercer version of herself. A Hermione 2.0, radiating with confidence.
But making Draco choose between her and his parents was graver than Pansy made it out to be. It was life changing. Lifestyle changing. There was no guarantee he could continue to depend on his family vaults. No guarantee he would even have a home after tonight if he chose Hermione. Eventually, he would realise she wasnât worth it. And that would hurt more.
âHeâs lucky to have you, Pansy. But Iâm going home.â
âHow can I convince you not to?â
Hermione gasped at the sound of his voice, whirling around to find Draco standing behind her. For how long? Surely not the entire conversation?
Her stomach fluttered when their eyes met. It was unfair how beautiful he looked, half lit by the corridor sconce, silky hair drawn back and expression stormy with resolve. It took everything not to cross the room and kiss him. She was fiercely jealous of Astoria Greengrass and needed to confirm that she was still his first choice. That Draco would choose Hermione purely out of his own selfish desire.
The click of heels drew Hermioneâs attention back to Pansy, who gave her a meaningful look before disappearing around the corner.
Draco said, âPlease, Hermione. I had no ideaââ
His face flashed with relief. âPlease donât leave. Or better, let me come with you. Just promise weâre still us.â
She dabbed her cheek hastily. âIt might be devastating now, but youâll understand why this canât work. Youâll lose everything, Draco.â
He stepped forward, clutching her arms and looking at her with blazing eyes. âThis,â he said, pressing his forehead to hers and lowering his voice to a whisper, âis everything.â
There was fight in the way he kissed herâone arm tight around her waist, the other planted like tree roots in her curls. It was more than lust as their lips touched, more than sexual attraction as his tongue slipped between her teeth and coaxedâit was a plea.
In the back of Hermioneâs mind, Pansyâs voice sniped, Youâre too rational for your own good. And she considered whether the icy bitch with a surprising heart was onto something. Love wasnât rational. It couldn't be alphabetized or stored in a filing cabinet. It was hardly containable. Love was like magic.
Hermione sank her face into Dracoâs chest, twisting her arms around his waist and inhaling the scent she recognised like her own skin.
The tension in Dracoâs body melted and he sighed softly.
âLetâs go home,â she said, mentally rearranging shelves and casting extendable charms to make room for him in her one-bedroom flat.
Dracoâs mouth brushed her ear, as if reading her mind, âI get the larger wardrobe, right?â
And Hermione delivered the final blow by replying, âThereâs only one wardrobe, love.â
Pansy watched, relieved, as a cloud of Floo powder ferried her stupidly happy best mate away.
(872 words... am i back in my tumblr prompt era? maybe. submit a ficlet/drabble prompt here.)
