Getting to Know Malfoy
BY: Tammyfait69
Rated: M
Notes: I do not own these characters, they belong to JK. Rowling, I just like to play with them. :)
xxooxx
Summary: On a dare from Ginny, Hermione takes a class for self-awareness and intimacy through sexuality. To her shock, Draco Malfoy is also in the class. See what happens when Draco and Hermione are forced to pair up throughout the course and Hermione finally gets to know the real Draco Malfoy in every way possible.
xx-oo-xx-oo-xx-oo
The Leaky Cauldron: June 2004.
Hermione took a seat at a table in the Leaky Cauldron. She had her bi-weekly lunch date with Ginny and was eager to hear the latest tales of the antics of James Potter, Harry and Ginny's three-year-old son. Ginny's stories of the precocious tot never failed to make Hermione laugh, and Hermione desperately needed cheering up today.
She had just ordered a glass of wine for both herself and Ginny when the red-headed witch hurriedly made it to the table.
"Sorry I'm late," Ginny said, tossing her handbag into the booth before collapsing into her seat next to it. "but I'm utterly knackered." She let out a long sigh. "James decided today would be a great day to discover how to open the fridge."
Hermione's eyes widened. "No!"
Ginny rolled her own expressive blue eyes. "Yes. My kitchen floor was utter shambles, let me tell you. He got his little mitts on the milk, butter, eggs and pancake syrup and had the lot of it spread out on my kitchen floor." Ginny ran a hand through her long red hair. "All he needed was some flour and my son would've had a right proper pancake breakfast!"
Hermione put her hand over her mouth to stop her giggles since she could see Ginny had not found the humor in her son's actions yet, but it did not help, and a small chuckle burst forth. Ginny scowled, and Hermione immediately tried to stop herself. "Sorry, but you have to admit he's rather clever to put all those ingredients together."
Ginny gave her a look that said she was not amused. "Now you sound as chuffed as Harry."
That did not surprise the brunette witch. Harry thought anything his son did was brilliant. Hermione decided to change the topic until Ginny could talk about it without her face pinching in exasperation.
"Please tell me you ordered wine?" Ginny asked, hopefully.
"Yes." Hermione grinned. "It'll be here shortly."
"Thank Merlin," Ginny sighed.
The two old friends settled into an easy banter as they lunched, discussing everything from Harry and Ginny's upcoming anniversary to Hermione's new cases over at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
After a while Ginny broached the subject she'd wanted to discuss with Hermione. "You know, I spoke to Oliver Wood a few days past…"
Hermione could see where this was going but bit back her frustration. Ginny and Harry were constantly trying to fix her up with single wizards. However, she and Oliver had dated for a bit a couple of years past and it had not worked out.
"Oh?" Hermione replied, taking a sip of her wine. "How is he? Still playing Quidditch?"
"Of course. He's with England's World Cup Team actually."
Hermione nodded as if she cared. In truth, she did not. She had never been a fan of Quidditch and she never would be a fan. It was one of the main reasons she and Oliver and failed to spark the first time around; they simply had nothing in common.
"He asked about you, actually," Ginny said when Hermione did not carry on the conversation.
Hermione sighed as she set her wine down. "Gin, I appreciate what your trying to do but please stop. Oliver and I did not work out the first time because we are two utterly different people," she told her friend. "His world revolves around Quidditch. Mine doesn't. That will never change, so can we not do this, yeah?"
Undeterred Ginny said, "What about Cormac McLaggen? He could barely take his eyes off you at the Ministry fund raiser last month."
Hermione snorted at the mention of their old schoolmate. "Ha! I had one date with McLaggen in sixth year. He has more hands than a grindylow and is just as slimy. In fact, I'd rather date a grindylow than McLaggen."
Ginny giggled at the description but offered a hopeful, "Maybe he's changed."
Hermione shook her head recalling how McLaggen had tried to corner her near the women's loo at the aforementioned fund raiser; she'd barely managed to escape his attentions. "He hasn't," she told the red head. "Trust me."
"Hermione," Ginny finally said, "when is the last time you've been on a date?"
"Ginny…" Hermione warned. Her personal life was her won and, while her friends meant well, she did not need them meddling in her love life.
"Rubbish! Don't Ginny me, Hermione Jean Granger."
Hermione's lips twitched. "Oh, you must be serious to use my full name," the brunette teased.
"It's because I care about you, you ninny!" Ginny replied.
"I know you do, and I appreciate your concern I do but—"
"But nothing, 'Mione. Ever since you and Ron split three years ago, you've barely managed another relationship. You and Oliver dated for what? A few months before you broke it off? And last year you were with that muggle boy…"
"Thomas," Hermione supplied.
"Yes. Thomas. How long did he last?"
"I was with Thomas for nearly three months, Gin, but he wanted to get married and settle down. I'm simply not ready for that yet. It was the same circumstance with Ron. He wanted me to be your mother. I can't settle down straight away. I want a career first, then I can think about a husband and children."
"And how many other dates have you been on since then?" Ginny asked.
Hermione sighed. In the last year since she split with Thomas, she had gone on exactly two dates. Not from lack of offers. It was more along the lines of lack of interest in the offers. "I have standards, Gin. Just because I'm single and not dating a bloke every other night does not mean there is something wrong with me. I've just decided to quit dating for a bit."
"How many in the last six months?" Ginny asked again.
"Two," Hermione finally admitted on a sigh.
"Mmhmm," Ginny said. "Look. Luna told me about this class…"
"Luna?" Hermione exclaimed. "She's a relationship and marriage healer. Why would she recommend a class for me?"
"She didn't. She actually recommended for Harry and me when we were having problems communicating."
Surprised, Hermione asked, "Ginny, when was this and why am I only hearing about it now?"
"It was about six months ago. We had a rough go of it for a bit, but with Luna's help we've worked through it now. We didn't speak of it with anyone but Luna," Ginny explained.
Hermione nodded. "But everything is fine now?"
"Yes," Ginny confirmed. "But when Harry and I were having difficulties, Luna told me of this class. It's a muggle course being given at the Uni," Ginny said as she slid a bright pink piece of paper across the table. "The next session starts in two weeks, and I thought maybe it could help you with your issues."
Hermione frowned as she took the paper. "And what issues would those be?"
Ginny shrugged. "Just look at the flyer."
Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend as she turned the paper over and began to read it aloud. "The Art of Intimacy: A course for self-awareness and self-empowerment through learned intimacy and sexuality." Hermione's cheeks pinkened. "Ginny what the bloody hell is this?"
"It's a self-help course for people with intimacy issues."
"You think I have intimacy issues?"
Ginny placed her hand on top of Hermione's. "I think all of us who survived the war has intimacy issues, truthfully," Ginny replied bluntly. "But I believe you've become out of touch with how to be intimate, Hermione." When Hermione opened her mouth to argue, Ginny squeezed her hand, halting her defense. "Just give it a look. At worst, you bugger off an hour of your time—at best you develop an entirely new concept of how to have deeper, more fulfilled relationships."
Realizing Ginny wasn't going to let it go, Hermione finally gave a short nod. "I'll give it some thought, alright?" She stuck the flyer in her charmed carryall bag.
"I dare you to give it more than a thought, Hermione. I dare you to find that Gryffindor courage and actually have a go of it and see if it suits you."
Hermione sighed. She hated when Ginny worded things like that, as if she were being cowardly not to do something. "Fine. I'll have a look at one class. One Ginny to see if it fits."
Hermione signaled for the waiter and ordered them two more glasses of wine. "Now, I insist we change the subject, or I swear, next time I watch James, I'll make sure to take him to Sugarplum's and fill his tummy up with acid pops, caramel cobwebs and chocolate frogs just before I return him to you!"
Ginny gasped at the sheer horror of that threat. "You wouldn't dare!"
"I find myself daring a bit today, so don't push your luck."
Ginny laughed. "Consider the subject dropped."
"Merlin thank you," Hermione said with a grin.
And with that, the two friends started laughing, their easy camaraderie returned.
-xoxo-
Muggle London: July 2004
There were only a few others in the class when Hermione arrived fifteen minutes early. There were four rows of seating and she took a seat towards the middle of the second row, hoping to blend in. Usually, she would have selected a seat in the front row, however, this was unlike any course she'd ever taken; she did not feel the same level of confidence in this course as she did in transfiguration or arithmancy.
As Hermione waited for the instructor to make an appearance, she took note of her fellow classmates as they arrived. She felt more than a little nervous when she realized many of the other students appeared to be couples.
Oh no. Was this a couple's class?
"Granger?"
Shock made her freeze. That voice! No. It couldn't be, she thought, in a muggle class of all places? Surely not. But, when Hermione turned to her right and looked up, sure enough, standing next to her chair was none other than Draco Malfoy in… Hermione's jaw about dropped… muggle clothes of faded jeans, a white tee and a black leather motorcycle jacket; definitely not the typical Malfoy attire, but wow was all she could think as her eyes took him in.
The years had been good to Malfoy. He'd grown a few inches and put on some much-needed weight; he wasn't skinny or lanky any more. Her gaze traveled along his physique as he took off his jacket and hung it over the back of his chair. He had some lovely muscles now. Oh yes. Malfoy looked fit alright and if the way he filled out his denims was anything to go by, he had a very nice bum too.
She looked away quickly as it dawned on her that she was checking out Draco Malfoy!
"Malfoy," she said a bit breathlessly, too flustered to say anything more.
Merlin help her, she thought, was that really her voice? Luckily, he hadn't caught her ogling him.
Hermione had not seen her former school rival in years, not since his trial when he was found innocent of most Death Eater crimes, except allowing them into Hogwarts, for that he had been found guilty, but since he was a minor at the time, he had been sentenced to probation only rather than Azkaban.
That had been nearly five years ago and other than testifying on his behalf at his sentencing hearing, Hermione had not given him much thought. However, one thing she would have counted on for certain…Draco Malfoy was the last wizard in Britain she'd expect to find in a muggle class on self-awareness!
She nearly groaned aloud when he took a seat next to her; Hermione had to control the urge to scoot her seat as far away from him as possible.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed.
He slid the bag he had over his shoulder onto the floor at his feet. "What do you mean? It's a class. I'm here to take it."
"You do know this is a muggle class, yeah?"
He rolled his eyes. "I've been taking muggle classes here at the Uni for the last two years, Granger."
Well, that certainly explains the clothes.
"But that doesn't explain the why," she said. "Why are you really here, Malfoy? And don't tell me it's for a greater understanding of diversity or higher education."
His brow shot up. "Well, I'm not following you, if that's what you're implying, Granger," he retorted, with a smirk.
"I wasn't implying anything of the sort," Hermione shoot back. "But this is a muggle class on self-awareness and intimacy. Not exactly a course I see you gravitating towards."
"And how would you know what kind of course I would or would not gravitate towards?"
Hermione simply stared back at him, brow raised until Malfoy sighed. "Fine you nosy witch," he snarked. "Enrolling in muggle classes is part of my probation," he admitted.
She gave a small snort. "Really? And the ministry required you take this course?"
"I was given a list of acceptable courses that met the reform requirement." He shrugged and gave a little smirk. "This one seemed the most interesting."
"Of course, it did," she replied primly.
He chuckled huskily, and Hermione's eyes widened at the sound. She could not remember ever hearing Malfoy laugh like that. Her eyes took note of how an honest to Merlin smile transformed his haughty features and turned him into a truly beautiful wizard.
Hermione turned away quickly. Sweet mother of Merlin what was wrong with her thinking of Malfoy as beautiful!
Beautifully deadly and viperous is more likely!
"So, why are you taking this class, Granger?" he asked, breaking into her thoughts.
She could not tell him the truth. She'd rather eat a bowl full of flobberworms than admit to Malfoy how pathetic her romantic life had become. "Curiosity. A thirst for knowledge," she replied casually.
He gave another small laugh. "If it was anyone but you who told me that, I'd think you were taking the piss with me but seeing as I recall your insane need to be a know it all about everything…" His grey eyes studied her. "I could almost believe you…" He paused but then he flashed her a wolfish grin that made Hermione's breath catch and her hackles rise simultaneously. "If you weren't blushing so furiously, that is."
Hermione started to stutter out her denials, but Draco held up a hand to stop her. "Just stop right there, your rubbish at lying, Granger. Really you are, so don't even bother trying. Must be a Gryffindor thing."
"And I suppose you Slytherins are so much better at it, eh?"
He grinned again. "Of course, we are."
She gave him an eye roll but when he cocked a brow at her and reminded her she hadn't answered his question on why she was taking the class, she gave up her pretense. She supposed it served her right for demanding honesty from him. "Fine, you certainly are a nosy wizard," she said, turning his words back on him. "If you must know, I seem to have a difficult time relating to the men I date so I thought taking a class on how to develop deeper intimacy might help me."
He made an "mmm" sound and nodded, but didn't say anything more, so Hermione turned the direction of the conversation back at him.
"So, why does the ministry require you to take a course on intimacy for your probation?"
"This class was actually listed as a sexual education course on the list I have." He carded a hand through his shaggy blond hair. "My probation was supposed to end next month at the five-year mark, but the wizard handling my case just recently informed me he cannot terminate my program until I complete a sexual education course first." He hesitated then added, "apparently all former Death Eaters have to take a class like this before they can be released from probation or Azkaban."
Hermione stared at him blankly. "Why?"
He snorted bitterly. "Because, we're all rapists and sexual deviants. Don't you know?"
"But you didn't…" She bit her lip as a sickening thought assailed her. "Did you…?" The question was out there before she'd really given it thought and she didn't quite finish it before she saw his eyes widen in response.
His entire body tensed, and his jaw tightened. "Did I what?" he replied very, very softly.
Hermione's cheeks flushed. "I'm sorry," she answered, embarrassed at her assumption. "I never should have asked—"
"No," he interrupted, "you shouldn't have, but I'll answer you if only to stop your overactive imagination from losing the plot and running amok."
Grey eyes met amber and Hermione held her breath as he responded. "No, Granger, I never raped anyone. Luckily, I was spared that task," he told her with a sneer. "Probably because I'd failed so spectacularly at other tasks assigned to me, the Dark Lord assumed I'd fail at that one as well." He gave a short, bitter laugh. "And he'd have been right," he added under his breath.
"I really shouldn't have asked, Malfoy," Hermione said, worrying her bottom lip again. "I apologize."
He shrugged. "It's alright, Granger. I've heard worse. Believe me."
Just then their instructor entered the class room, drawing their attention away from each other and ending the uncomfortable conversation.
Their instructor's name was Dr. Jennifer Finley. She had a PhD. in Psychology and Psychotherapy and bore an uncanny resemblance to a young Elizabeth Taylor. Hermione noticed practically every man in the room, including Malfoy, was staring at the strikingly beautiful woman as if in a trance. After taking a roll call of the students and reminding the class to sign the sign-in sheet, Dr. Finley started in on the course description.
"The Art of Intimacy will explore how your capacity for and comfort with intimacy and desire, in all realms of your life, relates to your sense of self-awareness and self-expression."
Dr. Finley counted the students in class and then handed a man and woman in the front row a stack of manuals each. "If everyone will take one and then pass them back to your classmates. This is the manual we will be using for this course."
As the manuals were being handed out, she carried on what the class would cover. "Over the next ten weeks we will discuss how certain cultures can inhibit sexual self-confidence and how culture can impact intimacy and relationships. We will explore the externalized self, versus the internalized self and how to make both compatible in your intimate relationships. Through group interaction and exorcises, we will uncover, explore and develop the erotic nature; focusing on the capacity for intimacy and how you can develop genuine generosity when giving intimacy and allow yourself the capacity to deeply receive intimacy as well."
A group of three young men sitting towards the back of the class began to snicker as Dr. Finley spoke. Finally, she paused when one of the young lads raised his hand. "Yes?" she said, acknowledging the boy's request.
"You said we'll be deeply giving and receiving intimacy…yeah?" Dr. Finley nodded, and the boy hemmed and hawed for a moment before carrying on. "So…will there be any actual…you know…real intimacy in the class?" he asked, much to the giggling pleasure of his cohorts.
Hermione rolled her eyes at such a ridiculous question, but the instructor looked unfazed, almost as if she had expected such a question; Hermione supposed she probably got a few teenagers like that each class.
"By real intimacy…do you mean sexual intercourse?"
"Well yeah. My twigs and berries are hankering to meet the pink lotus!"
That sent all three boys into another round of laughter.
"No," she said, deflating their good humor with her answer. "There will not be any genitalia to genitalia contact or intercourse of any form in this class," she told the boy with a smile.
"So, no strawberries and cream then?" Another of the trio asked.
Dr. Finley shook her head. "No nudity either I'm afraid."
The three lads gave a collective groan before they gathered up their belongings and trudged out of the classroom.
Malfoy was hiding his grin behind his hand and it was all Hermione could do not to call him out for it. It figured he would find those wankers amusing. She couldn't resist giving him a little sniff of indignation and turning her shoulder towards him.
After the troublemakers left, Dr. Finley offered a resigned smile to the rest of the class. "There are always a few," she said confirming Hermione's earlier suspicions. "Now, are there any others who are unsure what activities we will or will not be engaging in during this course?" She waited but when no one else stood she went on. "Good. My goal for this class is to show each and every one of you how the Art of Intimacy course can be utilized to deepen your sexual self-development, your sexual self-awareness and create healthier, more passionate relationships that offer a true reflection of the authentic erotic self."
Once everyone had their manuals, Dr. Finley instructed the class to form pairs. "If you did not arrive with a partner, find one now and move to the back of the room where the bean bag chairs are located and find a seat with your partner. Since you will be working with the same partner throughout the ten weeks of class, I'll give everyone…" She glanced at the clock, "till half past to converse and get to know one another and then we'll be moving forward to the first exorcise for the remainder of class."
There were twelve students in all in the class and six were already coupled up when they arrived in class, so that left Hermione, Malfoy, the handsome brunette man on Hermione's left and three other young women. Hermione had no desire to be paired with Malfoy, however, when she turned to the man on her left, she found he had already paired up with the red head to his left. With the three boys bowing out of class, the two remaining girls had formed a pair…
"Looks like we're going to be partners, Granger," Malfoy said, sounding far too cheerful about the situation for Hermione's peace of mind. "Or…" he added with his infamous lip curl, "you could just quit now."
Fat chance.
The only thing worse than letting Draco Malfoy get the best of her and chase her from this class would be to wake up and be standing before the Wizengamot in nothing but her bra and knickers!
"I don't think so, Malfoy. It looks as if you and I will be getting to know each other in ways neither of us ever dreamed of or wanted for that matter."
That caused his smile to falter and Hermione felt lighter for it somehow.
Take that you ferret!
Xxooxxoo
Ok so that was the first chapter. I'm a rather new author so reviews are cookies to the muse and inspiration to the writer. ;)