Looking at the girl in front of him, the faint redness still lingering at the corners of her eyes, Draco understood.
After all, there was nothing wrong with his emotional awareness.
If, in the past, he had regarded Hermione and the others as nothing more than close female friends, then as time passed and they grew older together, something inside him had gradually begun to change.
More importantly, perhaps without even realizing it, he had already grown used to having Hermione by his side.
Quietly. Gently. So subtle it was almost impossible to notice.
And so, even though he still couldn't clearly sort out his own feelings, Draco had no intention of ignoring the sincerity she was offering him without reservation…
…
Soft music drifted through the night air atop the Astronomy Tower, while the cold wind rippled across the surface of the lake below.
In that atmosphere, Draco stepped forward, carrying a hint of natural assertiveness.
His left hand rested over his chest, while his right hand extended toward Hermione, palm up.
His head dipped slightly, a gentle smile on his lips, one that could easily make a girl's face warm and her heart race.
And beneath that smile, his gray eyes, so subtle they were almost impossible to notice, even carrying a trace of nervousness, remained fixed firmly on the girl before him…
"Would you care to dance?"
"I… you…"
Completely unprepared for Draco to take the initiative, Hermione tried to say something, but under his steady gaze, she grew so flustered that she couldn't manage a single complete sentence.
At that moment, every movement Draco made seemed to catch and reflect the moonlight, dazzling and impossibly captivating.
Compared to the awkward, half-understood invitation she'd learned from books, her own attempt felt utterly inadequate.
Her heart was a mess of urgency and frustration…
Sensing the embarrassment and tension in her eyes, Draco didn't withdraw his hand. Instead, his eyes filled with a quiet smile.
"Then… consider it my apology."
"N-no… that's right. You should apologize properly!"
As if trying to cover things up, Hermione placed her small hand into Draco's palm, loudly repeating the reason she was giving herself to him.
Her face was serious, but the forced steadiness in her eyes and the frantic heartbeat that drowned out the music had already betrayed her completely…
Draco, long accustomed to Hermione's words not matching her feelings, didn't comment.
Holding her soft, small hand, he began teaching her from the very basics.
"The informal dances held by the school aren't quite what you imagine. There aren't that many rules or formalities, so you just need to focus on…"
Whether it was magic or dancing, when it came to teaching, Draco was undeniably competent.
The only problem was that, while focused on instructing her, he seemed to have overlooked their current position.
They weren't pressed tightly together, but the distance between them was still very close…
"Now, feel the steps. Don't worry, I'll guide you."
"…"
Staring blankly into eyes so close she could already see his eyelashes, Hermione seemed to lose the ability to speak altogether.
In truth, the moment Draco pulled her closer and his hand settled at her waist, Hermione's mind completely shut down.
With her thoughts gone blank, she could only move her feet stiffly, like a wooden doll being guided along.
To anyone watching, it might have looked as though Hermione had been hit with the Imperius Curse…
…
Draco wasn't blind. The tension in Hermione's body was transmitted clearly through his hands, and of course, he noticed that something was off.
However, he didn't point it out, nor did he try to remind her of it.
Instead, Draco simply led Hermione again and again through the steps, repeating the most common kind of paired dance in the wizarding world…
The music looped who knew how many times. Hermione's small feet stepped on his instep more times than she could count, yet Draco never once stopped the dance he was guiding.
He was patient.
He could wait until Hermione settled down.
And Hermione didn't make him wait long.
When Draco noticed that the blankness had finally faded from her eyes, he spoke again.
"Match my steps. Listen to the music. You'll start to like it."
"Mmm."
Although her heartbeat was still far from calm, with the time Draco deliberately gave her to adjust, Hermione gradually regained the ability to think clearly. Of course, the persistent blush on her face would take a little longer to fade.
Under Draco's patient guidance, Hermione finally realized that dancing could actually be this enjoyable…
The gentle melody, paired with the moonlight spilling down, seeped quietly into her heart. Just that alone was enough to make one lose themselves in it.
And beyond that—
Even without seeing it, Hermione could feel it clearly. She could feel just how refined Draco's footwork was, refined enough that even a complete beginner like her could genuinely enjoy the act of dancing.
Every step landed perfectly on the beat. Each turn was light, smooth, and graceful. This beautiful process gave Hermione an undeniable sense of accomplishment…
…
The surroundings lifted her mood.
The atmosphere invited impulsiveness.
With the two combined, courage seemed to return to Hermione. Her attention, once focused entirely on footwork and music, began drifting elsewhere.
Every step felt like walking on clouds. Every breath from her partner seemed to scratch gently at her heart. Hermione's eyes, soft and bright like water, boldly lifted to meet Draco's gaze.
Her heartbeat sped up once more, and the fading warmth returned to her cheeks.
Because in Draco's eyes, she saw only herself reflected.
What had begun as a lesson seemed to change in nature under Hermione's softened, alluring gaze…
"..."
"..."
The delicate tension in the air caused Draco's breathing to grow heavier as well.
Without either of them realizing it, the distance between their bodies visibly shrank, a change both dancers silently accepted.
A paired dance, this kind of almost-touching, almost-withdrawing closeness, was an addictive poison. Even someone as rational as Draco couldn't help but sink into it.
And it was precisely because of this brief lapse that Hermione found her chance.
Hermione Granger was a Gryffindor student.
She possessed the qualities unique to Gryffindor.
Bravery and passion, just like the red gown she wore.
In the instant the moon slipped behind the clouds, Miss Granger rose onto her toes.
Her skirt fluttered.
Her heels lifted.
Under the vanished moonlight, as the music abruptly fell silent, the figures atop the Astronomy Tower seemed to overlap into one…
...
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