Hermione faced the Fat Lady's portrait, not knowing how to look at her friends or what to say. She obviously couldn't tell them the truth, but she didn't know if they'd see it in her eyes. After a few deep breaths, and about a thousand thoughts, she said the password and walked through.
"Hermione!" Ron said getting up, nearly running towards her and embracing her. Hermione hugged him back.
"Are you okay?" Harry said, placing a hand on her shoulder and looking at her quizzically.
"I'm fine," Hermione said, not looking at either of them.
"I'm so sorry, Hermione," Ron said, "I never should have left you."
"It's fine, Ron," she said, "nothing bad happened. I'm alright."
Harry posed the question she had been dreading, "What happened?"
"I got everything we need," she said, somewhat avoiding the questions and pulling out her pockets and revealing the loot.
"Good, but what happened?" Ron asked this time. "I waited for you so long, and you never showed up."
"I was just on my way back here, and somehow ended up in an empty dungeon with Malfoy," she said, instantly regretting saying his name.
"MALFOY?" Ron and Harry said at the same time.
"Yeah…" Hermione said.
"God, are you sure you're alright?" Harry asked, placing his hand on her shoulder again.
"Yes," Hermione said, "it wasn't that bad. He just called me names at first, and then we just waited for someone to get us out."
"I told McGonagall what we were up to after you didn't come back for a couple hours," Ron said, scratching the back of his neck and not looking at her. "I'm glad she got you quickly."
"I figured," Hermione said, "it was better that way. Otherwise, we never would have gotten out of there. Thanks Ron." She said, realizing it might have been too much. Ron looked at her in disbelief of her gratitude, but brushed it off as a compliment. "I'm tired, and sore. I'm going to bed. See you in the morning."
"Good night," both Harry and Ron said, all walking back to their respective rooms.
Hermione tossed and turned all night, trying to figure out what had happened. She could have sworn for her entire time at Hogwarts, six years now, that Draco hated her. However, he had come on to her, willingly. Or, was this all part of some sick plan to get information. She didn't know, and she couldn't be sure. That kiss was something more than Hermione expected, though. She didn't expect to have liked it, and much less to crave more of it. She wanted to kiss him again, as much as she would not admit it to anyone. But, she didn't know what he was thinking. It would be hard to tell. She slowly drifted to sleep.
Hermione woke up earlier than usual, took a shower, got dressed and went to breakfast. There was hardly anyone in the Great Hall. The sun had not come up yet entirely, so there was a tinge of orange everywhere she looked. She sat at a table by herself, and only ate a slice of toast with some coffee. The entire time reliving the events of the night before in her head. She was anxious to see Draco, unsure of what his eyes would reveal to her. After about a half hour, she walked to the library and got to work on some homework that wouldn't be due for another week.
About a half hour before the beginning of the first lesson, the librarian came up to her and told her Professor McGonagall expected her in her office. She had forgotten about her impending punishment. She walked up to McGonagall's office and knocked on the door. "Come in," the professor's voice told her. She opened the door to find the professor at her desk and Draco sitting nonchalantly at one of the front desks. He didn't turn to look at her. She sat a couple desks away from him, and faced Professor McGonagall.
"Well," the professor started, "would either of you like to tell me what you were doing in that part of the dungeons so late at night?"
"We weren't together," Hermione blurted out, cheeks flushed.
"I think that is obvious, Ms. Granger," McGonagall said.
"Professor, I was just taking a walk to clear my head," Draco said .
"I don't recall the Slytherin dungeons being in that part of the castle, Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall said. Draco stared at her. "Would you care to explain, Ms. Granger?"
"I..." Hermione said turning red and not really knowing what to say. She had never been in trouble without Harry and Ron before. "I was looking for some ingredients for a potion. I wanted to practice before class."
Draco stifled a laugh. McGonagall didn't ask any more questions.
"Have you got something to say, Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall said.
"Know-it-all," Draco mumbled. Hermione blushed, picking at her fingernails.
"Well, I'm obviously not going to get anything else out of either of you. Prefects," she said shaking her head. "You both have detention for the remainder of the week, four nights, cleaning with Mr. Filch," McGonagall said finally. Draco groaned. "Now, get to class."
Draco and Hermione got up and walked to the back of the classroom. She turned to look at him, as he did too. He winked, and turned away, walking away from her. She didn't know what to think of any of it. It seemed he was only willing to be decent to her when no one else could see.
After class, and dealing with Harry and Ron's questions and concerns, she walked to Filch's office for detention by herself. She noticed Draco wasn't there, yet.
"Ah, other my helper," Filch said upon seeing her. "Follow me."
She followed Filch to a classroom that looked like it hadn't been used in years. There were cobwebs everywhere, and dead spiders on the floor. The blackboard looked gray from not being cleaned properly and the desks and chairs were covered in a layer of dust that looked like it had been building up for years. Draco was leaning on a desk, arms crossed.
"You will be cleaning this classroom," Filch said. "The old fashioned way," he added, handing them two buckets of soapy water, and couple of rags and brooms. Draco did not acknowledge the instructions, while Hermione nodded. "I will come back and check on your progress in an hour," he said walking out and leaving them alone.
Hermione headed for one of the buckets, and took one of the rags. She dipped it in the bucket, and headed for the blackboard. She noticed Draco did not bother to move.
"You're not going to help me?" Hermione asked, turning to him.
"How is he going to notice whether we did it using magic or not?" Draco said. Hermione shrugged. "Scourgify," Draco said pointing his wand at a desk. Instantly, it was spotless. He repeated the action a few more times, only leaving enough clean desks to seem that they had actually done the work themselves. "This gives us time for more important things," he said. Hermione's heart sank to her stomach, understanding at once what he meant.
"No," Hermione said. "That's not going to happen."
"Why not?" Draco said smirking and walking towards her.
"Because, I don't like you," Hermione lied inching backwards as he came closer.
"That's not a problem," Draco said, still getting closer.
"It most..." Hermione started, but stopped as soon as she hit the wall behind her. The words escaped her. Draco smiled, a smile that melted her insides. When did he get so handsome, she thought. Draco placed both hands on the wall at each of her sides.
"Now, where were we?" He asked.
Closing the distance between them, and catching her lips with his. The warmth of his lips consumed all of her thoughts, and all she could do was reciprocate. He took the back of her neck in his right hand, pulling her closer to him. His body pressed against hers. Her hands traveled to his chest as if they had a mind of their own. They kissed for what seemed like an eternity, and no time at all, all at once. Breathing more heavily as they did so. Every second, her breath got caught in her throat more, but she couldn't get enough of him. His left hand on her waist, moved lower until he grabbed her bottom. She suddenly stopped. Pushing away from him.
"Draco..." she whispered, looking in his eyes.
"Draco, is it now?" he whispered back with a grin. "Please?" He begged her. She wasn't strong enough. She succumbed to his demands. He once again put his lips on hers, this time placing both hands on her behind and picking her up. Unwittingly, she wrapped her legs around him and he placed her on one of the clean desks. He took his hand under her skirt, squeezing her bottom once more. It felt good.
He stopped kissing her, only to devour her neck with his mouth. She had never been with anyone like this before, and never dreamed it would feel this way. She was lost in him. She couldn't think of anything else. Her actions were not controlled as they usually were. She held herself up with her hands, on his waist. She took the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his shoulders and off. She was surprised by her own actions, surprising him as well. She wanted to see his pale, chiseled body again. Taking a deep breath as he stood, half naked in front of her.
"Now, it's your turn," Draco said. Suddenly, realizing the consequences of her actions, she felt hot all over.
"I don't..." Hermione started but he interrupted her. His mouth tailing kisses from her neck to her clavicle. His hands at the buttons of her shirt, undoing them one by one, slowly. She didn't protest. He undid the last one, and slipped the shirt off her shoulders. Taking a step back, and relishing in the view. She was wearing a black bra with white lace that was almost see through. He only took a second, before getting lost in his own desire and taking her lips with his once more. He placed his hands on her thighs, as she tangled hers in his hair.
He trailed kisses down her neck and to her right breast. He kissed her nipple on top of the bra, making her exhale harshly from the new sensation. He cupped her breast with each hand, making circles on top of the soft material with his thumbs. Hermione arched her back to him. His left hand moved to her knee, and traveled slowly up her leg, and under her skirt. This time close to her sex. Hermione stopped him. Draco groaned.
"What now?" he asked.
"Draco, I've never..." Hermione got lost in her own words.
"I know," her said looking directly in her hazel eyes. "I'll be gentle." She nodded.
Before they could do anything else, they heard footsteps coming from the corridor. They both jumped and got dressed as fast as they could. Each taking a bucket, and pretending to clean a desk. Filch walked in the door, and looked around the room.
"That seems like enough for today," Filch said. "You can each go to your dormitories now."
"We'll finish this tomorrow," Draco said. Hermione turned to him abruptly, noticing that the comment was directed at her.
She walked back to the Gryffindor common room, not paying attention to where she was going. What did he mean by 'we'll finish this tomorrow', she thought over and over again. She bumped into someone.
"Hermione!"
"Oh, hi, Luna" Hermione said. "I'm sorry."
"Lovely night, isn't it?" Luna said with a slight smile.
"Yes, lovely," Hermione said absentmindedly.
"Are you alright?"
"Just going to sleep. I had to clean one of the old classrooms for Mr. Filch."
"Oh. Wow." Luna said. "Bummer. See you later then," she said skipping away from her.
Hermione did not care where Luna was going. Her head could only drive her to one place, and that was Malfoy. She just wanted to get into her bed.
