Through the Eyes of Another (H/D, PG-13)
Title: Through the Eyes of Another
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1795
Pairing/Characters: Harry/Draco, Hermione, Ginny
Challenge: A birthday fic for softly_sweetly who asked for “Something sweet. No angst at all, just a peek into a functioning relationship.” I hope you enjoy this, sweets!
Warnings: No beta. Please point out any errors you find.
Summary: Hermione finds herself somewhat preoccupied at a party, as she watches Harry and Draco.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
Hermione sat watching them from across the room. The wistful look on her face reflected her emotions well. Never would she have thought that those two would last. And she certainly never expected to view their relationship with awe, and perhaps even a hint of envy.
Theirs was not a perfect relationship. Hermione was not naïve enough to think such a thing existed. But in her mind, it was about as close to perfect as one could be.
They teased each other, and argued as they had from the day they had started school, but now it was done in a carefree and joking manner. Gone were the sneers, caustic tones and venomous looks they used to direct at one another. Those had been replaced my mischievous twinkles of the eyes, playful smirks, and knowing glances. Those glances they exchanged, filled with such unabashed love and passion, made her stomach perform flips; she could only imagine the effect they had on each other.
Hermione noticed that, even when they were at opposite sides of the room, they remained connected. She caught both of them casting glances, smiles, and even occasional winks across the room. Sometimes she thought that they couldn’t be closer if they were physically joined at the hip.
A longing tugged at Hermione’s insides. She wondered if the men had that effect on everyone, or if she just noticed more than others. She felt their connection as though it were a physical force. It practically pulsed around them.
How did they get to this stage? she wondered. Hermione couldn’t recall ever seeing or feeling anything like this before. Perhaps because they’re both such strong wizards in their own right, their bond has a strength that reverberates around them.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were a lovely couple, not all that different from Hermione’s own parents and other couples -- Muggles and magical -- but they didn’t have that intensity. Not even young couples that Hermione knew projected such passion.
Hermione sighed loudly. “What are you thinking about?” asked Ginny as she approached Hermione. Thankfully, she and Harry had come to an understanding a few years back. Her initial infatuation with Harry the Hero had evolved into a more mature attraction, feelings that Harry had reciprocated. Then they had separated before the war, Harry having wanted to shield Ginny from harm.
In the weeks that had followed, after they stopped seeing each other that way, the two of them had spoken and come to a mutual understanding. That it wasn’t meant to be. They were not the star-crossed lovers they had both thought at first. Rather, they had had their time, and then it was done. Ending things then had enabled them to part on good terms. Since then, they had remained friends. Neither regretted their time together, nor did either look back.
Knowing all of this, Hermione felt comfortable discussing her feelings with Harry’s ex-girlfriend. “Just look at them,” she said thoughtfully.
Following Hermione’s gaze, Ginny asked, “Harry and Malfoy?”
“Mhm. Have you ever seen two people more in love, more into each other?”
“I haven’t really paid that much attention.”
“Watch them. Just watch. They’re so … connected.”
“You sound sad about that,” Ginny pointed out, giving her friend a confused look. “Is there something you’re not telling me?” she asked as she turned her gaze back to watch Harry and Draco.
“Oh, no! It’s just --” How could she tell Ginny that her brother, whom Hermione was very much in love with, just didn’t bring out such noticeable feelings in her?
“It’s just that you wish that you and Ron had that kind of passion?” Ginny ventured.
“Yeah,” Hermione agreed, glad that she didn’t have to be the one to come out and say the words. Even still, it felt like she was betraying Ron with her thoughts.
Ginny placed a hand on Hermione’s shoulder in a reassuring way and continued to watch the two men. After a few minutes, Ginny sighed. “Wow!” she breathed. “I never really paid attention before, but you’re right. They hardly go a few minutes without connecting with each other. But they aren’t obvious about it,” Ginny continued. “They seem to be having a private exchange with each other, to the exclusion of everyone around them, but nobody else has noticed.”
“I know. Intense, aren’t they?”
“Are they ever! You know, Hermione, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a couple so … so … “
“Exactly.” Hermione’s eyes glazed over as she seemed to drift off in thought.
“Uh-oh,” said Ginny, bringing Hermione out of her reverie.
Looking at Ginny quizzically Hermione asked, “What?”
“I do believe we just got caught staring,” she said.
“Ron?” Hermione asked frantically.
“Worse.” At Hermione’s confused look she replied, “Malfoy.”
“Oh, God,” Hermione groaned. She chanced a glance back at Harry, to see Draco sidle up beside him. At the light touch of Draco’s hand on his back, Harry’s body stilled and his breath seemed to catch. Hermione marvelled at the effect that simple touch had on her best friend. Again she felt a wave of emotions pour over her. She was happy for Harry and yet … she felt that something was missing in her own life. Something just out of reach.
Draco leaned in to whisper something in Harry’s ear, and suddenly Hermione was facing Harry’s gaze. Shit! Too late. She turned to talk to Ginny, but it was no use. “He’s coming over here,” Ginny said.
“Draco?”
“No, Harry.”
Hermione took a calming breath, thankful she would be facing Harry and not Draco. She looked up to see Harry approaching, and Draco glaring at her from across the room.
“Hermione, might I have a word?”
“Um … sure.”
Harry led the way to an empty corner of the room where they could speak more privately. “So, what’s wrong with you?” he asked.
“Oh, nothing.”
“Don’t give me that, ‘Mione. You were staring at Draco and me, and you looked close to tears. What gives?”
“Really, Harry, it’s nothing. Silly really, but nothing for you to concern yourself with.”
“Draco thinks otherwise.”
“What do you mean?”
“He thinks that perhaps you fancy me, and you are upset to see us together.” Hermione bit her lip in an attempt not to laugh and potentially hurt Harry’s feelings. “I told him that was ridiculous, but he insisted that you’d been staring all night, and that I needed to talk to you or he would.”
She smiled at her friend. “No, Harry, I do not fancy you.” He visibly relaxed at those words, then suddenly tensed up again. “Nor do I fancy Draco,” she added hastily. She almost laughed as Harry let out a long breath.
“I will admit that I was watching the two of you all night,” she continued. “But it wasn’t for the reason Draco suspects.”
“Why then?” Harry asked, confusion written all over his face.
“He really makes you happy, doesn’t he?” she asked. The smile on Harry’s face lit up the room and took Hermione’s breath away. Awash with emotion, she flung herself at her friend and pulled him into a firm embrace, then quickly released him, aware that Draco was watching from across the room. “Oh, Harry!”
“You are acting daft, Hermione. What’s wrong?”
“There’s nothing wrong, really. First, I want to tell you how thrilled I am that the two of you have found each other. I don’t know if you realize this, but your love for each other is palpable. I can actually feel it.”
“What are you on about?” Harry asked, a hint of pink colouring his cheeks.
“I’m talking about the two of you. I have never seen two people so in love in all my life. You barely take your eyes off each other. You are so in tune with Draco, and he with you, that you project this … I don’t know how to explain it.” Harry’s cheeks were getting redder by the minute.
“I’m not sure I understand why that would make you so sad, unless --”
“I’m not exactly sad, Harry. My feelings are in conflict. I feel happy for the two of you, because you have clearly found something very special in each other.” She looked up at Harry, hoping for understanding for what she was about to say. “But I can’t help feeling that something is missing from my life.”
“But you have Ron. You two --”
“Are very much in love, yes,” she finished for him. “But Harry,” she paused to ensure she chose her words carefully, and didn’t hurt Ron in the process. “I have never, ever seen a couple like you and Draco. You personify the term ’two parts of a whole‘ and I am mesmerized by the connection you two have.” Harry’s cheeks were now crimson. “And I don’t think it’s anything I will ever feel,” she finished on a sombre note.
“Of course you will, Mione. Surely you --”
“No, Harry. I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. I love Ron with all my heart, and I can’t imagine my life without him, ever. But I just know that we will never have what you and Draco have. It’s special, Harry. You must know that.”
“Yes, I do. But I still think --”
“Harry, just trust me when I say that you are two very lucky men. You exude passion with every look, every word, every touch you give each other. Don’t ever lose that.” She wiped a stray tear from her cheek, gave Harry a quick hug, and excused herself from the room, leaving a baffled looking Harry in her wake.
Hermione went to the washroom to splash some water on her face and regain her composure. A few minutes later, feeling that she could return, she made her way back to the main room, only to find Harry and Draco huddled together, whispering in each other’s ears. As she had been all night, she was unable to look away.
Draco looked up unexpectedly, catching Hermione looking their way again. This time he smiled at her. She watched as Draco pulled Harry into his arms, and the two men embraced, lost again in their own world. Draco placed a chaste kiss on Harry’s cheek, then looked over his shoulder directly at Hermione. With a wink in her direction, Draco Apparated them both away, his hand slipping at the last moment to cup Harry’s bum.
Hermione smiled at the empty spot where they had stood just a moment ago. She had the feeling that she would be having a rather restless night, no doubt dreaming about the two of them and what they were probably doing at this very moment. Yes, they were two very lucky men indeed.
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1795
Pairing/Characters: Harry/Draco, Hermione, Ginny
Challenge: A birthday fic for softly_sweetly who asked for “Something sweet. No angst at all, just a peek into a functioning relationship.” I hope you enjoy this, sweets!
Warnings: No beta. Please point out any errors you find.
Summary: Hermione finds herself somewhat preoccupied at a party, as she watches Harry and Draco.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
Hermione sat watching them from across the room. The wistful look on her face reflected her emotions well. Never would she have thought that those two would last. And she certainly never expected to view their relationship with awe, and perhaps even a hint of envy.
Theirs was not a perfect relationship. Hermione was not naïve enough to think such a thing existed. But in her mind, it was about as close to perfect as one could be.
They teased each other, and argued as they had from the day they had started school, but now it was done in a carefree and joking manner. Gone were the sneers, caustic tones and venomous looks they used to direct at one another. Those had been replaced my mischievous twinkles of the eyes, playful smirks, and knowing glances. Those glances they exchanged, filled with such unabashed love and passion, made her stomach perform flips; she could only imagine the effect they had on each other.
Hermione noticed that, even when they were at opposite sides of the room, they remained connected. She caught both of them casting glances, smiles, and even occasional winks across the room. Sometimes she thought that they couldn’t be closer if they were physically joined at the hip.
A longing tugged at Hermione’s insides. She wondered if the men had that effect on everyone, or if she just noticed more than others. She felt their connection as though it were a physical force. It practically pulsed around them.
How did they get to this stage? she wondered. Hermione couldn’t recall ever seeing or feeling anything like this before. Perhaps because they’re both such strong wizards in their own right, their bond has a strength that reverberates around them.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were a lovely couple, not all that different from Hermione’s own parents and other couples -- Muggles and magical -- but they didn’t have that intensity. Not even young couples that Hermione knew projected such passion.
Hermione sighed loudly. “What are you thinking about?” asked Ginny as she approached Hermione. Thankfully, she and Harry had come to an understanding a few years back. Her initial infatuation with Harry the Hero had evolved into a more mature attraction, feelings that Harry had reciprocated. Then they had separated before the war, Harry having wanted to shield Ginny from harm.
In the weeks that had followed, after they stopped seeing each other that way, the two of them had spoken and come to a mutual understanding. That it wasn’t meant to be. They were not the star-crossed lovers they had both thought at first. Rather, they had had their time, and then it was done. Ending things then had enabled them to part on good terms. Since then, they had remained friends. Neither regretted their time together, nor did either look back.
Knowing all of this, Hermione felt comfortable discussing her feelings with Harry’s ex-girlfriend. “Just look at them,” she said thoughtfully.
Following Hermione’s gaze, Ginny asked, “Harry and Malfoy?”
“Mhm. Have you ever seen two people more in love, more into each other?”
“I haven’t really paid that much attention.”
“Watch them. Just watch. They’re so … connected.”
“You sound sad about that,” Ginny pointed out, giving her friend a confused look. “Is there something you’re not telling me?” she asked as she turned her gaze back to watch Harry and Draco.
“Oh, no! It’s just --” How could she tell Ginny that her brother, whom Hermione was very much in love with, just didn’t bring out such noticeable feelings in her?
“It’s just that you wish that you and Ron had that kind of passion?” Ginny ventured.
“Yeah,” Hermione agreed, glad that she didn’t have to be the one to come out and say the words. Even still, it felt like she was betraying Ron with her thoughts.
Ginny placed a hand on Hermione’s shoulder in a reassuring way and continued to watch the two men. After a few minutes, Ginny sighed. “Wow!” she breathed. “I never really paid attention before, but you’re right. They hardly go a few minutes without connecting with each other. But they aren’t obvious about it,” Ginny continued. “They seem to be having a private exchange with each other, to the exclusion of everyone around them, but nobody else has noticed.”
“I know. Intense, aren’t they?”
“Are they ever! You know, Hermione, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a couple so … so … “
“Exactly.” Hermione’s eyes glazed over as she seemed to drift off in thought.
“Uh-oh,” said Ginny, bringing Hermione out of her reverie.
Looking at Ginny quizzically Hermione asked, “What?”
“I do believe we just got caught staring,” she said.
“Ron?” Hermione asked frantically.
“Worse.” At Hermione’s confused look she replied, “Malfoy.”
“Oh, God,” Hermione groaned. She chanced a glance back at Harry, to see Draco sidle up beside him. At the light touch of Draco’s hand on his back, Harry’s body stilled and his breath seemed to catch. Hermione marvelled at the effect that simple touch had on her best friend. Again she felt a wave of emotions pour over her. She was happy for Harry and yet … she felt that something was missing in her own life. Something just out of reach.
Draco leaned in to whisper something in Harry’s ear, and suddenly Hermione was facing Harry’s gaze. Shit! Too late. She turned to talk to Ginny, but it was no use. “He’s coming over here,” Ginny said.
“Draco?”
“No, Harry.”
Hermione took a calming breath, thankful she would be facing Harry and not Draco. She looked up to see Harry approaching, and Draco glaring at her from across the room.
“Hermione, might I have a word?”
“Um … sure.”
Harry led the way to an empty corner of the room where they could speak more privately. “So, what’s wrong with you?” he asked.
“Oh, nothing.”
“Don’t give me that, ‘Mione. You were staring at Draco and me, and you looked close to tears. What gives?”
“Really, Harry, it’s nothing. Silly really, but nothing for you to concern yourself with.”
“Draco thinks otherwise.”
“What do you mean?”
“He thinks that perhaps you fancy me, and you are upset to see us together.” Hermione bit her lip in an attempt not to laugh and potentially hurt Harry’s feelings. “I told him that was ridiculous, but he insisted that you’d been staring all night, and that I needed to talk to you or he would.”
She smiled at her friend. “No, Harry, I do not fancy you.” He visibly relaxed at those words, then suddenly tensed up again. “Nor do I fancy Draco,” she added hastily. She almost laughed as Harry let out a long breath.
“I will admit that I was watching the two of you all night,” she continued. “But it wasn’t for the reason Draco suspects.”
“Why then?” Harry asked, confusion written all over his face.
“He really makes you happy, doesn’t he?” she asked. The smile on Harry’s face lit up the room and took Hermione’s breath away. Awash with emotion, she flung herself at her friend and pulled him into a firm embrace, then quickly released him, aware that Draco was watching from across the room. “Oh, Harry!”
“You are acting daft, Hermione. What’s wrong?”
“There’s nothing wrong, really. First, I want to tell you how thrilled I am that the two of you have found each other. I don’t know if you realize this, but your love for each other is palpable. I can actually feel it.”
“What are you on about?” Harry asked, a hint of pink colouring his cheeks.
“I’m talking about the two of you. I have never seen two people so in love in all my life. You barely take your eyes off each other. You are so in tune with Draco, and he with you, that you project this … I don’t know how to explain it.” Harry’s cheeks were getting redder by the minute.
“I’m not sure I understand why that would make you so sad, unless --”
“I’m not exactly sad, Harry. My feelings are in conflict. I feel happy for the two of you, because you have clearly found something very special in each other.” She looked up at Harry, hoping for understanding for what she was about to say. “But I can’t help feeling that something is missing from my life.”
“But you have Ron. You two --”
“Are very much in love, yes,” she finished for him. “But Harry,” she paused to ensure she chose her words carefully, and didn’t hurt Ron in the process. “I have never, ever seen a couple like you and Draco. You personify the term ’two parts of a whole‘ and I am mesmerized by the connection you two have.” Harry’s cheeks were now crimson. “And I don’t think it’s anything I will ever feel,” she finished on a sombre note.
“Of course you will, Mione. Surely you --”
“No, Harry. I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. I love Ron with all my heart, and I can’t imagine my life without him, ever. But I just know that we will never have what you and Draco have. It’s special, Harry. You must know that.”
“Yes, I do. But I still think --”
“Harry, just trust me when I say that you are two very lucky men. You exude passion with every look, every word, every touch you give each other. Don’t ever lose that.” She wiped a stray tear from her cheek, gave Harry a quick hug, and excused herself from the room, leaving a baffled looking Harry in her wake.
Hermione went to the washroom to splash some water on her face and regain her composure. A few minutes later, feeling that she could return, she made her way back to the main room, only to find Harry and Draco huddled together, whispering in each other’s ears. As she had been all night, she was unable to look away.
Draco looked up unexpectedly, catching Hermione looking their way again. This time he smiled at her. She watched as Draco pulled Harry into his arms, and the two men embraced, lost again in their own world. Draco placed a chaste kiss on Harry’s cheek, then looked over his shoulder directly at Hermione. With a wink in her direction, Draco Apparated them both away, his hand slipping at the last moment to cup Harry’s bum.
Hermione smiled at the empty spot where they had stood just a moment ago. She had the feeling that she would be having a rather restless night, no doubt dreaming about the two of them and what they were probably doing at this very moment. Yes, they were two very lucky men indeed.