1000 prompts - 999. (first line) She remembered easier days, when her life didn't seem ready to just fall to pieces around her.

Herbology Hangout - (plot action/event) arriving somewhere late

HA - Hermeticism - Task 2 - Write about someone inspiring others

Romance Awareness - Day 1 - Matching Soulmate Marks; (emotion) surprised

Galleon Club - 5. (colour) white

Pinata - Easy - Coffeeshop!AU

Summer Challenges

Day of the Year - World Snake Day (Write about a Slytherin)

Elemental - (word) burn

Mix it Up - Draco Malfoy/Soulmate!AU

Writing Club

Trope - 15. (relationship) soulmates

All sorts of space - 1. (word) breathless

Angel's Archive - Soulmate!AU

Bex's Basement - 7. (weather) thunderstorm

Film Festival - 7. (weather) rain

Word Count: 1177

That Itch

She remembered easier days, when her life didn't seem ready to just fall to pieces around her. Today was not an easy day. Nor was it made any easier by the relentless pounding rain and ominous rumble of thunder; nor the unusual amount of foot traffic on the street as she picked and pushed her way through the crowds. She reached her destination, pushing into the steamy windowed coffee shop almost 20 minutes late. The tinkling bell sent all eyes in her direction and Hermione smiled sheepishly at the sea of faces, all of whom were waiting for her.

A harassed-looking, portly woman bustled over wisps of hair escaping a hasty bun. She grabbed at Hermione's coat and scarf as she removed them. "Miss Granger! At last, we are so pleased to have you. Please, go on right up."

Any attempt at apology or explanation was quickly shut down, though not unkindly, and before she could gather herself Hermione was up on the makeshift stage for musicians and speakers. For a moment her mouth opened and no words came out, the familiar sensation of panicked nerves gripping her lungs and forcing all the air out. There were no familiar faces in this crowd, though they looked at her with a mixture of respect and skepticism and Hermione cast around desperately for someone to anchor her - someone who's opinion wouldn't be changed by her performance tonight.

She spotted him, tucked away in the back corner almost lost in the shadow. A man, young or old she couldn't particularly tell - only noticing the shock of white blonde hair and the fact that his back was to her. She hesitated for a moment when her eyes came to rest on him and she rubbed her wrist absent-mindedly noticing that it had begun to itch. There was something magnetic about him, her eyes had found him almost immediately. She felt an odd sensation in her stomach and caught herself leaning towards the corner. Perhaps it was his indifference, the obvious fact that he didn't care. She wasn't quite sure what it was.

An impatient cough broke through her thoughts and she smiled sheepishly at the owner of the shop. Hermione fixed her eyes on the indifferent man, and began to speak.

X

A speaker. Lord save him from the constant interruptions of this world. His fingers cramped over the keyboard, automatically curling into claws as the only outward sign of his frustration. Luckily, Draco had his back to the little stage so the visual disruption but still the voice was distracting.

After 10 minutes of staring blankly at the flashing cursor on his blank, white page, Draco realised to his embarrassment that he'd been listening. He couldn't recall the words, or cause that the woman was preaching but rather he'd been distracted by her voice. It was… compelling. He felt gripped by her need, hurt by her grievances, he felt inspired to get up and take on the world.

With a furious shake of the head, Draco returned his attention to the document in front of him. He needed to be inspired to get through the last few chapters, not to take on the world. First the battle through his own head, he could see it in his mind's eye - a ridiculously cartoonish version of himself battering against a brick wall. It had been days since he'd managed to force a single word out.

"We must look inside," she continued behind him - her voice compelling. "How can we expect anything to change if we do not trust ourselves? Who will follow us if we don't follow our own hearts?"

It was an almost unbearable itch, this urge to turn and look at her, to listen and give his full attention. Though it sparked a burning annoyance as well, this was yet another distraction that he did not need. He rubbed at his wrist, a familiar action of self distraction, though the frustration felt like bugs crawling over his skin. It wasn't her fault, she was simply doing her job. Preaching her message and believing in herself and her cause. Perhaps that was what annoyed him so much, maybe Draco needed to spend a little more time trusting himself rather than trying to force something that wasn't going to happen.

So he took a breath, and turned in his seat.

X

Hermione was inordinately pleased that when the man finally turned in his chair, she was finishing her speech. For she went suddenly breathless and her words faltered as she was confronted with him head on.

"Thank you," she finished quietly, her cheeks now burning as she hoped he hadn't caught her staring at him. There was a polite applause from her gathered audience but soon they broke into conversation, debating her points and expressing their own opinions. Hermione was distracted into several conversations contradicting or debating her points, asking more from her than she wanted to disclose.

Really, Hermione was just tired. It had been such a long day to begin with - with the rain and the traffic and being late. She just wanted to go home and curl up in her bed. She excused herself as quickly as she could without being deemed impolite. She thanked the woman who owned the shop, who now looked far less distraught, and gathered together her papers and headed for her freedom.

The door loomed, everything was less steamy now that some of the audience had left and the rain had stopped. As Hermione reached a hand to push open the door, a sudden pain flared in her wrist and the next thing she knew she was sprawled on the floor.

"God, are you alright? I'm terribly sorry, I wasn't paying attention and I was distracted."

Through a haze of confusion Hermione looked up and registered the familiar blonde hair - this was the man she had been staring at. "It's okay," she said, though it came out more as a question as she sat up. "I was distracted too, my wrist…" Hermione trailed off, speech momentarily robbed from her.

The young man had reached to gather up her discarded papers, the sleeve of his jacket riding up in the process to reveal a mark. A very familiar mark. Hermione felt like all of the air had left the room. This was unheard of. An accidental meeting almost never happened, that's why there were apps and services designed to help you locate them. They were normally on the other side of the world and most people went their whole lives without ever finding their match. What was she supposed to do? How should she act?

"What's wrong?" he asked, looking up and noticing her staring dumbly at his wrist. "Are you injured? Did you hit your head?" he followed her eyes to his exposed mark and frowned in confusion. "That, that's just my-"

"Your soulmate mark," she murmured interrupting him to meet his grey gaze. "I know," she said still dazed but reaching for the sleeve of her own jacket, "it's mine too."

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Much Love, MaryandMerlin x