Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any part of JK Rowling's fabulous universe! I only embellish. :)

It was a single request.

"Spend the night with me."

She looked at him, gaping at him, mouth resembling that of a dead fish's, just flopping about.

"Are you serious?"

Draco lifted a corner of his lips. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Because no one has asked me that before. Because no one has wanted me like that, before. Because you're you and I'm me, and things like this don't happen to me.

Oh, how she wanted to. She wanted to shag Draco Malfoy. Not because he was desirable- he was, of course he was; who could deny those taut and wiry muscles, sturdy shoulders, full lips, and those flashing, penetrating eyes- but because he was forbidden. Dangerous.

Harry and Ron would hate her, she knew. Instantly. Without question.

It didn't help that their narrow-minded views of loyalty further clouded their dislike for Malfoy's sleek arrogance and general disregard for others. No, they would never like him, never approve of any sort of relationship with him. Let alone a no-strings-attached sexual escapade.

Hermione bristled at her evaluation. So what, she angrily debated, So what if Harry and Ron disapprove. They don't own me, they shouldn't care what I do. I help with their homework and I get them out of trouble and I might as well bloody cook and darn their socks for them, but that is all I'm good for as far as they're concerned.

Draco's offer was so very tantalizing. She stared at the boy- no, man - leaning casually against the stone column of the hall, noting his amusement as he watched her mull over her choices. He licked his lips, his eyes raking across her body, from her stormy dark eyesto the subtle curve of her hips outlined in her form-fitting slacks. Blood pooled in Hermione's cheeks.

"I-" she began.

Draco lifted a hand in the air, regally, like some goddamn prince, Hermione noted irritably.

"You'll meet me in the Herbology greenhouse at midnight if you decide to accept," he said, smirking. "If not... this offer will no longer stand. And you are not to come approaching me on this matter."

He left her standing, his footsteps padding quietly towards the dungeons. Hermione sagged against the column , hugging herself tightly as she contemplated the utter unfairness of it all. He was in control, she realized, and she hated it. She had always wanted more control of her life, of relationships, of people. She should have known better that Malfoy was one to take it from her. He was a Slytherin brat, after all.

Shakily, she traced the outline of her lips with one finger, moistening it with her tongue. She slid her left hand down the side of her body, feeling foolish yet strangely desperate. She needed release, that much was apparent from her latest dreams. And yet, taking care of that itch herself didn't feel quite right. There was something cheap and tawdry about the sensation of touching herself, and with a sense of shame she realized she only touched herself because there was no one else to. No one else to turn to finish the job.

Except Malfoy now...

She bit her lip. If she said yes to him, showed up at the greenhouse per his request, would that mean she was nothing but another slag to him- just another girl he had claimed? Nothing more than some bint with jelly-loose legs?

She didn't mind the concept of extramarital sex; if anything, she found the traditional view of preserving virginity until marriage quite archaic. And archaic didn't suit her; she was a modern girl, a logical one who hated subscribing to convention just because.

No- it wasn't the thought of losing her virginity that made her hesitant. It was her pride.

She couldn't be just another one of those cheap women who threw themselves at Malfoy's feet. She didn't want to be that girl that people whispered about and made side-eyes at. No, Hermione Granger was above all that-

-Or was she?

Mindlessly, she watched the Gryffindor Quiddtich team assemble on the lawn across from her post. There was Harry, calmly yet firmly barking something to new recruits. And there was Ron, sullen as ever, looking despondently on the grass beneath his feet. And then, there was Ginny, who recently had become the object of nasty rumors in the bath-room...

Slut.

Nasty little bitches, Hermione thought with disgust, thinking of the way girls would easily judge and gossip about Ginny. Those jealous harpies, they're only disgruntled just because she sleeps around.

"Oh, hullo, Hermione!"

Hermione turned her head, caught off-guard at the sound of her name. Luna approached her, dazedly looking around her surroundings as though mesmerized by invisible nothings. Hermione tried her best to hide her annoyance. Luna may be her friend, but Hermione scorned her erratic, nonsensical behavior.

"Hello, Luna," she said grudgingly, and a bit too harshly asked, "What're you looking for now, more rackleburts?"

"Wrackspurts," Luna corrected her, calmly clasping her hands in front of her. "But no, not today. I'm just noticing some odd glints of light. It's red here," she clapped her hands at something to the left of Hermione. "But blue here," she pointed at the top of Hermione's head.

"Interesting," Hermione said snappily. She stooped down to gather her things. "I really should be leaving, though. I'll see you around."

She began walking away briskly, and almost succeeded in clearing Luna, when she heard Luna's distant voice calling her. "The love-trouts want you to go."

Hermione spun her heel. "Excuse me?" she asked incredulously.

Luna spun around in a circle, teetering dizzily as she came to a halt. "They're telling me you ought to go," she said airily when she caught her breath. "And that you won't regret it."

Hermione turned away, spooked. But this was Luna, she remembered, heaving a sigh. Loony Luna, who always seemed to say the damnedest things that, in her own way, seemed to have the heaviest weight of relevance.

Ehh I know there are a lot of fics like these! Too many xD What I'm trying to do though, is to make this fic hopefully more psychological and thoughtful than some of the others I've come across. Not sure exactly what direction I'm going to take this story; it might be very short or, if I like it, and if YOU like it, may become longer (so make SURE to review please!). I'm still working on "Victors of Nobility" which is my priority here, so stay tuned! Please check out "Victors of Nobility," it's worth a read! (;

xoxo, Besos