Aching
Hermione Granger walked through the streets of Diagon Alley at a leisurely pace taking in everything around her. She quickened her pace when she spotted one of her best friends up ahead. He didn't realize she was there until she was almost upon him.
"Hey Harry!" she greeted when she reached him.
Harry Potter, Hermione's friend, mentor, and confidante smiled as soon as he spotted her.
"Hey 'Mione. What are you doing here? Wouldn't the Ministry of Magic collapse without you?" he joked.
"Even public servants deserve a day off Harry. And I'm here because I just needed some quiet time on my own. After that fiasco last week, I'm taking all the personal leave I can get," she responded referring to the crisis from a week before.
Hermione worked in the Department of Magical Misuse. A few days ago, a witch had helped a muggle friend of hers gain a promotion at her workplace by charming her bosses. It had taken the Ministry over a week to de-charm all the bosses and find and modify the memories of everyone involved. Needless to say the Ministry was not pleased with the witch in question and had subjected her to 40 hours of community service as punishment. This might not have seemed too bad, except that she had been forced to do all her service the muggle way.
Hermione smiled as she recalled the look on the woman's face when she had passed her in the hallway a few hours earlier. The woman had been extremely red faced as she mopped the floors. Normally Hermione would have been sympathetic, but she was not happy about all the extra hours she had had to put in because of the woman.
"Hermione! Earth to Hermione! Hello! You there?" Harry asked as he waved a hand in front of Hermione in an attempt to gain her attention.
Hermione snapped back to notice. "Sorry Harry, Just thinking about something else. Anyways what are you doing here?"
Harry blushed. Hermione was intrigued. What had made him blush?
"Well you see…"
"Yes?"
"It's…um…well…um…"
"Harry come on. It's me you're talking to."
"It'smineandGinny'sthirdanniversaryandIwasgoingtosurpriseherwitharomanticdinner," Harry said all in one breath.
Hermione stared at him. "I have absolutely no idea what you just said. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Harry responded. He took a deep breath and tried to explain once again. "It's mine and Ginny's third anniversary tonight. I was just going to surprise her with a romantic dinner, that's all," he said, his blush darker than ever.
"Oh Harry, that is so sweet. Congratulations!"
"Thanks 'Mione. Is there anything you need help with?" Harry asked always the gentlemen.
"No, it's all right. I'll be okay on my own. Thanks anyway. You go ahead."
Harry looked at Hermione gratefully. As sincere as the offer for help was, he couldn't afford to waste any more time. "I'll see you later."
"Bye. Have a good anniversary. Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Hermione said laughingly as she turned around and left an embarrassed Harry behind.
Hermione was still smiling to herself a few minutes later as she left Diagon Alley and turned into a nearby park and made her way to a bench. It was dark outside now. The moon was full and the stars winked back at her from every direction imaginable.
Hermione sighed to herself as she watched a family of four walk by. The mother was holding a baby no more that six months old and singing to her softly to put her to sleep. The father had his six year old son on his shoulder and both were enthusiastically discussing Quidditch with periodic shh's from the mother when they got too loud.
Hermione gazed at them enviously. What she wouldn't give for a family of her own. She was already 24 years old and she had never been in love, let alone considered starting a family with anyone. As happy as she was for Harry and Ginny for having found each other, a small part of her was also jealous that they had found their soul mates and she hadn't. Hermione knew it was petty but she just couldn't seem to help herself. There were times when she was so lonely that she thought she would die. She often wondered how it was possible to feel so lonely when there were about six billion other people on the planet.
"I guess I'm just not destined to find that special someone," Hermione said to herself quietly.
"Talking to ourselves are we Granger?" asked a voice from directly behind Hermione.
She abruptly turned around, almost pulling a muscle in the process. When she had turned around fully, she found herself staring into the steel gray eyes of none other than Draco Malfoy.
"What do you want Malfoy?"
"Can't a man walk through a park at his will?" he asked.
Hermione stared at him. As much as she hated to admit it, the years had been good to him. Years of Quidditch had honed his muscles to perfection. His blond hair fell over his eyes in a way that made Hermione want to brush it back into place.
"What is the matter with me?" Hermione thought as her mind caught up with her heart.
"I know I look good Granger, but I'd appreciate it if you could stop staring at me." Malfoy stated, his trademark smirk in place.
Hermione blushed as she realized that she was staring. She quickly stood up and once again faced him. "I wasn't staring," she lied. "I was just wondering how you can still look like a ferret after so long."
Draco's face lost its smirk as a frown took its place. How dare she insult him, a Malfoy and a pureblood? She wasn't fit to clean the dirt off his shoes, let alone insult him.
"And I was just wondering how you can still look like a buck tooth little weasel after so long," Draco responded, his smile at the comeback anything but sincere. She looked nothing like a weasel to him. In fact she looked drop dead gorgeous in a sky blue sundress with her wavy chestnut hair cascading softly down her back all the way to her waist and her golden brown eyes sparking at the insult. Obviously the years had been good to her as well
Hermione was the one who frowned now. She wondered how he had always been able to pinpoint her vulnerabilities and attack them. His insults had always been short and well directed. Every one of them had always found its mark. She had never told anyone, but she had spent many a night crying, usually due to a well placed insult from Malfoy. Although she wasn't that insecure teenager anymore, she wasn't completely invulnerable either.
"What no come back?" taunted Draco.
Hermione was in no mood fit to trade barbs with Malfoy, so she hit where she knew it would be quick and painful. His pride. "Why don't you crawl back into the sewer you came out of?" she asked sweetly.
"I'm not the one who came out of the sewer mudblood. You are. So maybe you should go back. No one would notice."
Hermione frowned even more. "You're wrong Malfoy. At least I have friends who would care and look for me were I missing. That's way more that you can say."
Draco winced inwardly at the truth of her words. It was all true. No one would care if he was missing. He didn't have anyone he could count on for absolute loyalty. Sure he had "friends," but they'd watch their own back before they would watch his. Draco tried not to let Hermione see how close her words had hit to the truth.
"My my, aren't we crabby today? What's the matter? Not getting what you need?" Draco asked, his smirk back in place.
Hermione blushed. There was no mistaking what he meant. "I get more than you could ever give Malfoy. Now sod off!"
Draco frowned again. "That's what you think. I bet I'm way better than anything you've had before."
"I sincerely doubt it." And with that comment Hermione started to walk away. Unfortunately she had barely taken two steps before Malfoy grabbed her hand.
Draco didn't think. He just acted on instinct. She had insulted him. She deserved to be punished.
"Let go of me Malfoy!" yelled Hermione.
Draco started walking forward as if he didn't even hear her. He stopped until they were almost nose to nose. Hermione tried to back off, but she couldn't because her arm was still held captive in between them.
"I'll bet you twenty galleons that I'm better," he whispered, his warm breath on Hermione's face making her tingle. Hermione tried to answer but it was as if she had lost her voice. No sound would come out, no matter how hard she tried. She tried not to think about how Malfoy had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. If his eyes had been cold, she would have resisted. Regrettable fate didn't want to cooperate. His eyes were bright and full of the passion that she could see was simmering just beneath his cold exterior. Again Hermione tried to speak, but nothing came out.
Draco had forgotten that he had wanted to teach Hermione a lesson. The only thought in his head was how breath-taking her eyes were. Her eyes had widened and darkened with innocent desire. It took all of Draco's self-control not to crush her to him and devour her. Instead he leaned in, inch by agonizing inch.
Both of them were breathing hard now. As Draco leaned in even closer, it became impossible to tell whose breath started and ended where.
Finally there was only one inch left in between them. Just when Hermione thought that she couldn't take anymore, Draco's mouth touched hers. Her eyes drifted shut. Whatever she had expected, it had not been this. She thought that he would be aggressive and take without asking, but instead he was incredibly gentle and patient almost as if asking for permission to continue.
Hermione knew that this was wrong for thousands of reasons, but for the life of her she couldn't think of a single one. She moaned softly as she parted her lips and gave him access inside.
Draco never dreamed that kissing Hermione Granger would be like this. She was everything that he thought he could never have. When she moaned and granted him access inside, he almost groaned aloud. She tasted amazingly sweet. Draco couldn't take it anymore. He crushed Hermione to himself, letting go of her hand in the process. Hermione took her now free hand and passed her hair through Draco's hair.
The rest of the world disappeared. It was as if they were the only two people left in the universe. It had started to rain, but neither of them noticed. They were too absorbed into each other.
Suddenly, they heard a small child yell as she was chased by her brother. Draco and Hermione broke apart. They were both panting and staring at each other. They immediately realized what they were doing stepped away from each other. Both were blushing and still breathing hard.
Grey eyes stared at golden brown eyes, neither willing to look away first. Finally Draco realized that he couldn't take anymore. He frowned at Hermione as if it was all her fault that he was so confused. He knew that if he looked at her anymore he'd be snogging her senseless. So, he did the only thing he could. He turned around and walked away. Neither noticed that the bet hadn't been mentioned again.
Hermione stared at Draco's back as her brain processed what she had just done. She had kissed Draco Malfoy, her worst enemy. What was worse was that she had actually enjoyed it.
Hermione kept standing in the pouring rain until she couldn't see Draco anymore. She continued standing there even after he disappeared. Her clothes were completely soaked through by now.
Eventually she realized what she was doing. She was getting herself sick over Draco Malfoy. Hermione slowly turned around and walked back home.
Well what do you think? Did you like it? This is only part one of two. I'll continue only if I get reviews, 'cause without them I'll assume no one is reading. Therefore if you like it, please review and let me know. It would be greatly appreciated seeing as this is my first attempt at this kind of fanfic.
