Pray for love and a lap dance
After their meeting at the café, Hermione and Draco began to run into each other more often. It seemed that every time she went out; he was there, haunting her being.
Three weeks prior…
Hermione was currently at the bookstore in Diagon Alley trying to find the book, More Dark Spell Counter Curses Then You Should Ever Need. She heard the little bell above the entrance of the shop ring as the door hit it. She didn't even bother to turn around to see who had entered the shop, she was much to engrossed in her own search; books always had that effect on her. She was squatting on the ground and running her finger along the bottom most shelf of books past titles such as: Potions For Ever Lasting Sleep and Other Things To Make It Look Accidental, and another that read: He Doesn't Love You: Ways to Deal With The Bitch He's Fucking Instead, this hardly seemed like the area she needed to be searching in, so she hastily stood up and succeeded in bumping into another body.
Her backside hit this persons hand as he tried to cover his bits from getting smashed. She was startled at this sudden interaction of a hand on her behind, causing her to jump forward, both hands on her butt, and slam head first into the shelves that were home to hundreds of books. Thankfully none fell down. She grabbed her head instantly from the pain.
She turned around rubbing her forehead, her eyes were tearing up. She could make out that culprit who was responsible for her current state was in fact a man, and that this man in particular, had vividly bright hair, almost like the sun; he was also laughing so hard that he had doubled over and was holding his gut. Hermione drew out her wand and muttered a simple spell for head pain such as this and to her relief her head instantly felt completely better; she wiped her eyes and where the salty droplets had made their way down her face.
The man in front of her reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, the other hand still on his gut and his head hung low, bobbing up and down from laughter. How dare he use her shoulder to brace himself? She glared at this boy in frustration.
"Woo, Granger, you sure made my day! Hahahahaha!" he was still laughing at her, practically hyperventilating now.
"Malfoy?" she asked in uncertainty because her focus was still hazy enough to where she couldn't make out the person in front of her.
"Yes?" he asked. She quickly swatted his hand away and made for the door. "Wait." She slowed down and turned to look back at him. He did look in a right state. His face was red, tears were falling down his pale cheeks, and he was out of breath. But this was all because he had been laughing at her, just like in their school days where he would pick on her and her friends and then have a laugh about it later. She stood where she was and crossed her arms defiantly over her chest and took the defensive stance; feet slightly apart. She looked at him, eyebrows raised and lips drawn into a pursed fish look. "What are you doing here?" he asked, picking up a pink book casually, upon reading the title he hastily put it back looking embarrassed. He cleared his throat.
"I was buying a new outfit." She said sarcastically; arms spread out as if to show him what she meant. He looked at her in confusion; head cocked to the left side a little. "Really, Malfoy, what do people usually go to a bookstore for? I…was…looking…for…a…boooook." She made sure to draw out the last word and spell it in the air for him with her finger, just to add to the effect of making him look stupid. He took a few steps forward so that there was only about two feet of space in between them. He looked angry, but Hermione didn't move, she only dropped her hands to her sides.
"Sarcasm isn't very becoming of a lady, Granger."
"Oh, so I'm a lady now? What happened to mudblood or what ever else you're calling me now a days?" she still had a sarcastic tone about her voice. He took another step towards her, closing the gap so that they were only inches apart. She could see every detail on his face, from the small brown freckle just above his right eyebrow, to the barely visible, millimeter long scar beside the left side of his mouth. She was very aware that his left hand had gracefully placed itself underneath her chin, and also that Draco's face was coming towards her own. She could feel his breath against her own lips as his were only a hairsbreadth away. She felt him snake his arm around her waist and his palm rested on the groove of her lower back. He forcefully put pressure on said spot and pulled her torso onto his own. She groaned at the sudden intimacy. Hermione closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss.
"I told you," her eyes darted open, his face gone, now all she saw was white blonde hair, he was whispering in her ear, "that sarcasm was unbecoming of a lady Granger, but while we're this close I can't forget to mention how lovely you look in that skirt." He stepped away breaking their contact and reforming the space between them. Draco winked at her and then took off out of the door and into the busy streets of Diagon Alley, the ringing bell sounding behind him.
That was their first encounter since the café.
She saw him a week and a half later at the ministry of magic. Their meeting there was brief. Hermione had been walking quickly back to her desk at the auror's office when she bumped headfirst into Draco, causing her to spill the contents of her complementary auror coffee mug onto her black ministry of magic approved robes. She had sworn loudly and so had Draco, seeing as droplets of scalding hot coffee had been spilled onto his perfectly polished white shoes. Hermione had called him an insufferable prat and walked off; only to shouts from him asking her to 'wait', seeing as she didn't want a repeat of the book store incident where she had been left standing humiliated, she kept walking, pretending not to hear him.
This brings us to present times.
Hermione was currently being led across the lavish gold dance floor by Draco Malfoy. They were at the ministries New Year's formal ball. Draco had been invited because of his family's predominant history within the ministry, and Hermione was there because she worked for the hosts. They were dancing in the same tango-like position they had been at the masquerade, absorbed in a sea of faceless people because all Hermione could see was the face in front of her, and vice versa.
Step…step, step, and spin.
Draco was slowly leading in her in the direction of the terrace outside; Hermione knew what he was doing and quickly diverted him in the opposite direction.
Step…step, step, and spin.
He grasped her right hand tighter in his left so she couldn't escape and continued leading her towards the balcony once more. She was not afraid to be led outside; she just didn't want to be outside with him. Practically every encounter they had with one another had been disastrous, with one or the other always being left behind.
"Malfoy everyone can see us, they will watch us go outside with one another." She whispered.
He smiled at her and dipped her, leaning forward and whispering in her ear. She shivered and closed her eyes.
"Look around Granger, nobody is paying attention to anyone but themselves." He pulled her out of the dip and she looked around. It was true, everyone was either drinking wine and talking amongst one another, or they were dancing about the floor instep to the beat that Hermione and Draco were.
Step…step, step, and spin.
She looked at him once more and truly appreciated his handsome features against the light the floating chandeliers were giving off. She looked him over and took in his attire. He was clad in black dress pants, black shoes, a black long sleeved button down shirt, and a black tie. She swallowed hard as she pressed herself up against him and felt his right bicep flex as he pulled her closer as well. She tightened her grip on his shoulder pressed the side of face up against his. He was breathing huskily in her ear. She closed her eyes and fully embraced herself within the moment, the music and his throaty breathing completely blocking out all outside chatter, all the while following his lead and staying on beat to the music.
Step…step, step, and spin.
Sooner than she was prepared for she found herself outside and on the terrace. A white roman style barrier leading around a quaint sized balcony, a single white washed bench sat across from the doors, and a potted flower was tucked away in the left corner. They broke apart almost instantly when the door closed itself behind them, the clicking sound bringing them out of their reverie. Malfoy stepped back and bowed as he had done at the masquerade. Hermione chuckled, the memories coming back from that night.
He stood up smiling, obviously pleased that he had that reaction on her. Upon seeing him stand up she sighed, turned around, and walked to the white railing. Malfoy stood there, staring at her dress; an elegant black strapless, full length evening gown that sparkled against the moonlight. Her hair was all down this time, but she had straightened it so the mane came all the way down to rest in the middle of her back. He smiled to himself and walked next to her, resting his elbows on the hard stone balcony railing, promptly leaning over and placing one foot behind the other. She stood straight up with one hand on the railing and the other hand placed over it. They were in absorbed in their own thoughts; glancing over the crowds and couples outside that were two stories below them.
She tilted her head back, taking in a breath of fresh air, and looking towards the stars.
"They're beautiful aren't they?" she asked, seemingly to no one, but Draco looked at her, captivated by this woman. Her creamy neck was fully exposed and waiting, as if mocking him, daring him to taste her flesh.
'Yes', he thought, 'you are beautiful.' he wanted desperately to say that, but instead he looked upward, pondering what she said.
"How can there be so much hate in a world full of glorious moments and exquisite scenery like this?" he stared at her awestruck, taking in her glistening lips and shimery eyes. She brought her head down to the normal position and breathed in deeply, then let it out again. "How can the air still smell so sweet when people pollute it with the stench of death?" her questions were alluring and only added to the attraction he was feeling towards her. She turned he head slowly to face him, whispering she said, "And how can I be so enthralled by the one person that I am supposed to hate?"
He instantly came out of his trance and found his body parts doing things without his head's consult. His right arm snaked around her neck and his hand came to rest open palmed on the back of her head; his left hand on her cheek. Her breath had quickened and he could almost taste the sweet peach wine they had earlier at dinner, coming out of her mouth. He felt her hands wrap around his back as she pulled herself closer towards him. He pressed his forehead up against hers and watched as she closed her eyes; leaning in to his left hand as he stroked her cheek.
Draco turned her ninety degrees and backed her up against the terrace railing. They were a hairsbreadth apart as if afraid to come in full contact with one another. He kept his right hand on the back of her head as he ran his left hand down the nape of her neck. His thumb traveled across her throat, up her jaw line, and caressed her lips. They parted and before she could help it she groaned, as if in response to this Draco swayed into her, their clothes coming into full contact with his head still bent down as their foreheads remained locked together. He released his forehead from hers and bent down to her ear; she stood perfectly still, afraid to move and lose the moment.
With his eyes still closed he breathed into her, "Why do you captivate me so?" he whispered into raggedly.
He adjusted his grip on the back of her head and slightly leaned it back; she took her hands off of his back and placed them on the railing behind her so she would not fall off of the balcony. His husky breathing in her ear was sending shivers throughout her core. He gently blew hot air out of his mouth onto her neck, causing her to draw in a quick breath and the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up. Draco brushed her hair behind her back to reveal her ear and slowly bent down towards the now exposed lobe. He gently grazed his teeth over the earring-less hole in her ear.
"And why," he asked, between nips and flicks of his tongue on her lobe, "do you captain over my dreams?" she breathed harder as he sucked on her ear. She instinctively thrust her hips out and came in contact with his own hip bones. She felt cool air rush over her ear as he left it for now and she felt him come in contact with her forehead again.
"And why," he paused momentarily because Hermione had just grinded her pelvis against him, "do I have a distinct urge to kiss you?"
There was a banging noise behind them and they immediately parted from one another. With Draco standing beside her now Hermione saw that a drunken couple had slammed out of the hall and onto the terrace for their own rendezvous. The other pair were stunned out of their frantic challenge to keep upright and stared at Hermione and Draco.
"Oh sorry," the woman slurred, "we didn't mean to interrupt." She finished snorting into her glass as she took another drink.
"It's perfectly fine," Hermione said, Draco chimed in, "yes, we were just about done." Which was the farthest thing from the truth he had ever said, but never the less, he followed Hermione back through the double doors and into the crowd that had now formed around the large stage where the orchestra had been playing all night.
The minister of magic was currently taking center stage and was booming over the vast audience.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen! I hope you all have had a splendid evening!" there were shouts and applause of agreement from the guests below him. "Ha yes. Now to begin the count down, there are 12 seconds left."
"Twelve…" the crowd shouted. Hermione felt Draco's hand on her lower back.
"Eleven! Ten! Nine! Eight!" he had turned her and she was looking up into his pale blue eyes.
"Seven! Six! Five!" Fudge was louder than all the others because of his sonorous charm.
"Four!" Hermione felt Draco's grip tighten as both hands were on her lower back now.
"Three!" Draco chimed in with the rest of the crowd this time. Taking her cue from him Hermione followed with the rest of the countdown.
"Two! One! Happy New Year!" glasses of wine appeared in everyone's hands, one appearing in her own which startled her out of the intimate hold Draco had her in. They smiled at one another and toasted just like everyone else was doing. Hermione downed the whole drink in one and threw it above her head, where it burst into confetti.
"Happy New Year!" she shouted, followed by a down poor of colored bits of papered that disappeared before they could touch the floor.
A/N:
So what do you think? They haven't even kissed yet but that just adds to the growing tension between them doesn't it? They should at least kiss in the next chapter, I'm not sure, I guess you'll just have to read to find out, lol.
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