Chapter 3: Change in the atmosphere

"Draco."

The only word that escaped from her lips before she fainted into his arms. He cursed to himself and lifted her in his arms.

"Mobulous."

He called out, then her bag floated and followed them as he carried her all the way to their dormitory.

The next day Hermione woke up blinking as she looked up at the ceiling. She was in her room, she noticed then tried to sit up but as she did, fell back down and held her head as she felt like hammers were pounding on it. She groaned as she tried to remember what happened last night. Detention with Malfoy. She blinked again. She remembered that he cornered her to the wall after detention but that was all. She cringed hoping nothing happened to her… or to the both of them. She looked around and noticed that she was in her room, she sighed in relief then noticed a chair facing her. Her brow furrowed, Was he here last night? She thought then shook her head and laughed slightly to herself. Impossible, he wouldn't enter my room… or did he?

Draco Malfoy yawned, wiping his tired eyes as he started pouring coffee on his cup. A muggle drink that he liked, which made him alert at mornings when he didn't had much sleep. Aside from his pale complexion, he had eye bags that were visible making it obvious that he hadn't had a wink of sleep last night. He sighed, remembering last night.

After putting Hermione's weakened body to bed he drew the covers to her chest then pulled out a chair and sat. He just sat as he watched her sleep. Shaking his head, he placed his face to his hands. Why am I doing this? Why did I do this? What's happening to you, Draco. He asked himself, questioning himself, but still he had no answer. He moved his hands from his face and entwined it together and let it rest on his mouth as he rested his elbows on his knees. He didn't know himself anymore. The Draco he knew would have left this mudblood on the floor of the dungeons but he couldn't leave her. Holding her in his arms was… well for one thing he liked it. He shook his head and pounded his forehead gently with his entwined fists. Remember the bet. Only the bet. She's just a bet… she's just a bet.

She murmured something incoherently and moved to her side that made the moon's ray hit her face. He walked up to her and brushed a strand of hair away from her face marveling in her beauty, in her simplicity. Most girls he knew had make-up on their face that made them attractive with the tight clothes that they had to impress, to show off. She… she did nothing but still her beauty shown. He absentmindedly traced her cheeks with the back of his fingers. Then to her jaw-line… to her lips, her soft full lips that he longed to taste. She was so pure, so innocent that made him crave for her more. Aside from her maturity she had a child like personality that always amused him when he was able to steal glances of her. She groaned slightly, which made him pull back his hand and decided to sit down then sighed as he just looked at her. I can't do this…

"What can't you do, Malfoy?"

He was startled by the voice that he almost dropped the coffee but instead he felt pain shot through his hand and cursed, placing the pot on the counter.

Hermione quickly got a hand towel and went to the faucet, wetting the towel with the normal temperature water then placing it around Draco's burnt hand.

"Thanks." He said forgetting who he was talking to then stared at her. She also looked up a bit shocked from their being civil to each other then looked away and tired to focus on his hand. Noticing the coffee she slightly smiled to herself.

"Making coffee? Thought you purebloods weren't accustomed to muggle contraptions."

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Granger." He said answering her honestly, which left her speechless.

"Um, yeah… that is true. By the way, I wanted to thank you too about… last night."

He just mumbled something like it was fine and that it was no big deal. Then got the towel from Hermione's hands and took it off, which showed a slightly reddened hand. He started moving his fingers ignoring the pain and placed the towel back on the rack

He went to the cupboard and got another cup and put it down the counter. He got the pot again with his other hand and poured coffee on each. As he got both cups he leaned on the counter as he handed Hermione one.

"She smiled up at him and held the cup brushing his hand lightly but he ignored it and blew on his coffee. Hermione did the same and took a sip then closed her eyes and sighed.

"Mmm… that's good coffee." She said looking up at him and gave a slight smile. He just gave her a grin but didn't say anything.

Then Hermione made her way to the common room. As she turned against the light that was entering the room from the window, Draco noticed that her figure was visible through her large white shirt. He tilted his head a bit to look at her hips sway, biting his index finger as he envisioned her hips moving somewhere else as he observed her curves. Her perfect petite body was driving him crazy, he needed a shower.

Hermione sat on the couch drinking her coffee slowly as she just stared into nothing. Her legs pulled up to her as her long shirt was covering her knees. Thoughts raced in her head as she was partly confused at the conversation that she had earlier with Malfoy. It feels like he had changed. Well, for one thing he was civil to her and had a normal talk with him. She felt warm. She felt good to feel this way towards Malfoy, wondering if he has changed or not but she was happy at least starting the day with a decent conversation with him.

She looked up noticing Malfoy passing the common room then walking up to his flight of stairs. As she heard him close his door she got her journal from under the couch and pulled the pen out from its rings. Putting her coffee on the small table on her side she opened the pages and started to write.

She looked at her watch and noticed that it was time for breakfast. Closing the journal, she placed it back under the couch and brought her now empty cup into their little kitchen and washed both cups then made her way to her flight of stairs and walked into her room. She knocked on the door leading to the bathroom and waited for Malfoy to reply. No one answered. She knocked again to make sure. Still no answer but when she turned the knob, it was still locked.

"Malfoy!" She called out to him but she was only answered by silence. Maybe she just turned the knob wrong or it was only her imagination but still to her dismay it was still locked. After a few minutes of pounding and calling out to him she gave up and in a huff she leaned on the door only to fall backwards on his chest.

"What tha-" Her sentence cut short as she felt into his chest on her back then he quickly held her gently to steady her as he rested his hands on her waist. She felt her heart pounding feeling that same feeling when he was this close to her but this time she wouldn't faint. Only weak-kneed that she thanked him silently for holding her but at the same time cursed under her breath because of the rising feeling inside.

"Knew you would fall for me."

She felt her mouth drop and moved away from Malfoy to try to disagree from what he had said but the moment that she did she regretted it. Malfoy was dripping wet as his now darkened hair fell loosely to his forehead, some of the strands covering his grey eyes. He had a smirk on his face and a mischievous gleam in his eyes. She couldn't stop her eyes from trailing down to his perfectly muscled arms that was crossed on his well-built chest up to his waist. Her eyes widened as she noticed that he was covered only in a green towel that hung dangerously around his hips. She felt her throat tighten again and her breath was caught in her throat when she tried to breath.

His smirk grew wider.

"See something you like, Granger?"

She suddenly snapped back her head upwards to stare into his eyes. She didn't want him to think that this was affecting her though it was quite obvious. All she thought about now was how to wipe that smirk from his face and get the hell out from here. She got composure and walked up to him, holding her hand up, she tried to slap him but failed. His reflexes were too fast as he grabbed her wrist before it got close to his face and pulled her forward, her body against his. His body was stiff as his face was emotionless. He stared into her now widened eyes then he suddenly smirked and let go of her hand but moved close to her ear. Her pulse quickened as she felt his hot breath on her skin. Her body tingled and as if he knew what she was thinking held her waist with one hand as he moved his face to her neck, teasing her.

"Malfoy, I—" She started to say but her words were caught up in her throat that she couldn't get the exact sentence out. Her mind went blank. She placed her hands onto his chest thinking that she could push him away but as she did, she lost her strength to move away from him and just held onto him thinking that if she would let him go, she would fall.

She felt him lift her and moved her against the wall to support her, not taking his eyes away from her. Her eyes registered confusion but at the same time had longing. Longed for him, longed for his touch… longed for his comfort and maybe security. One thing's for sure, whenever she felt Malfoy's arms around her she felt safe, secure… like nothing in the world could harm her when she was with him. But then, this was Malfoy… her enemy since first year. But why did she feel like this towards him. She also felt comfort from Ron and Harry but Malfoy's was different that she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Hermione moved her hand from his chest to the back of his head, playing with the short strands of hair, which felt smooth like silk. He moved in again but this time teasing her on the lips. Slightly brushing his on hers. She was speechless. She wanted him, she wanted to feel his lips on hers... to taste him… He brushed his lips again on hers and felt her body tingle. Then he couldn't take it anymore as he planted his lips on hers gently… passionately. She felt her body weaken to his touch that she held him tightly around his neck. He pulled her closer and moved her up a bit so that he had better access to her lips. He bit her bottom lip like he wanted to since then, which made a moan escape her lips that made him grin at this. Having access now to her mouth he inserted his tongue. At last, tasting her like she was a drink he couldn't have enough of. Their passionate kiss grew intimate and had more wanting. All thoughts disappearing from her head as this moment was all that mattered to her. She wanted him, she had no reason for it but she knew she wanted him. She felt safe, she felt happy… with him. But this also has its end. She felt like time had stopped even if this just happened in minutes. He broke away from their kiss, which made her whimper. Shock and wanting registering in her eyes as he looked at her when he put her down to stand on her own feet but she leaned against the wall, her strength not yet returning. He brushed a strand of hair that fell on her face and moved it behind her ear. Then moved away from her. He smirked at her looking at her face that was now flushed as she had swollen kissed lips. He just stood there, trying to get this all in as he marveled at his work. He was pleased with himself at how he affected her.

"Bathroom is all yours, granger." Then he left.

She still leaned on the wall, not believing what had just happened. She felt her hand move up to her lips, touching it… tracing it then licked her lips as if she could still feel him… taste him. Then her eyes widened and glanced down in shame.

Payback.