Chapter 14
Hermione turned confused as the shiny black car beeped twice and pulled up on the side of the street. She removed her headphones, confused. The window rolled down, revealing Draco in the drivers seat.
"What on earth?" Hermione said, huffing a laugh and bending down to the height of the window. "This is new!"
He stepped out the driver's door, looking onto the car. "Very. Just bought it," Draco said, smiling. "Get in, we'll go a drive." He stepped in front of her, opening the door for her to get in. She smiled and placed her bag on the floor before getting in herself.
The seats were soft leather and felt like she was sitting on at least a thousand pounds. The infotainment screen spanned from the middle console across to the speedometer with everything looking expensive. Draco got in, pulling his seatbelt on and pulling onto the road.
"What on earth made you go buy a car?"
"Been looking for a while. Theo and I just shared a car because it was easier, but with uni being over we're not always in each other's company now. And I wanted it." He winked.
"You're crazy."
"Maybe I am darlin'." He put his foot down and they accelerated down the streets.
They ended up two hours away in Camber Sands, Sussex. The sun was beating down but the beach was relatively quiet for a rare sunny day at the beginning of May. Hermione had kicked her shoes off the second her feet hit the sand. It was warm from having the sun on it for hours and she had the urge to just run. Draco followed her although not kicking his shoes off.
They found a quiet spot, away from the screaming children running as though they owned the beach. Just by luck she had a pair of sunglasses in her bag and had worn a summer dress. Draco was in shorts and a loose t-shirt - having just come from the gym.
"Thanks for picking me up, this is exactly what I've been needing," she said quietly.
"You're welcome, Granger. Thought you could be doing with some sunlight, been looking a bit pale," Draco joked.
She feigned hurt, dramatically grabbing her chest. "You would me, Malfoy."
He shook his head, flicking sand at her. She got him back, right in the eye. "Fucking hell, Granger!" He vigorously rubbed his eye, leaving it painfully bloodshot. "I'll get you for that."
He had a huge handful of sand and was ready to launch it. He never got a chance to before she leapt to her feet and started running for the open sea. He was only a second behind her, his longer legs carrying him further than her. The water was freezing, but the warmth she had purely from laughter could keep her going.
Arms grabbed her from behind and before she knew it she was hitting the sandy floor. "Malfoy no!" She laughed between breaths of air.
"Told you I would get you," he yelled over the lapping waves.
"Yes, yes okay you got me!" She squealed. Draco stood behind her and hoisted her up, his arms firmly placed on her waist. She giggled, trying to pull her hair from her face. His own hair was flattened and poking him in his left eye. She slowly raised her hand, above her head and to his forehead, fixing it for him. He smiled, that stupid smile she had become to like.
There seemed to be a magnet, something dragging their faces closer together, their lips closer together. She didn't know if it was a mutual feeling, but the way Draco was tilting his head to the left seemed to confirm it was. They were inches apart and she was over thinking about it, ready for it to happen if it was going to -
"Help! Help me please!" A woman's voice yelled from a couple metres from them. She was deeper in the ocean than them, frantically looking round her. "Anyone help, please!"
Draco's head snapped towards her as soon as he heard her yelling and he set off running as best he could through the sea. Hermione followed, going to the woman.
"What's happened?" Hermione asked her, lightly rubbing her back as the woman frantically grabbed onto her for some kind of support.
"My daughter, my daughter she was swimming and went under before I could catch her! Sh-she hasn't come back up! She's only seven!" The woman shook with sobs, so fiercely Hermione began to shake herself.
Hermione's heart clenched as she watched Draco dunking his head under repeatedly trying to find the little girl. He went deeper, further along the water and she couldn't see anything. A few minutes later she finally saw him, cradling a small girl who was coughing and fighting to breathe.
"Sophia!"
The woman ran behind them as Draco carried her ashore, laying her down softly on the beach and coaching her through breaths. Hermione sighed and sat in the sand, saying a silent prayer he could get her quickly enough.
