'Harry, I think that's enough massaging for today.' Hermione said as she reluctantly plucked herself out of the firm grasp of the Boy Who Lived. Harry's fingers were like heaven, in the midst of a bloody headache. She smiled gratefully at him as he sat down on the seat beside her.
'Hermione, do you think, that Malfoy might be just interested in you?' Harry suddenly asked.
'Malfoy? Not possible!' Hermione scoffed as she faked a laugh. She could feel Harry's intense gaze sweep over her face, scrutinizing for any possible telltale expression. Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably, but willed herself to keep calm.
'Hermione...' Harry mimicked Hermione's warning tone.
'Harry, it's just not possible.' Hermione said, forcing herself to not look at Harry's eyes. They were always so intense and she knew she'd definitely let slip if she looked at them.
'Hermione, look at me. Now.' Harry forced Hermione to match his gaze. She broke down and this was how he found himself, half an hour later, listening to Hermione's guilty story between her sobs, while she laid against his chest, sprawled over her chair, looking like a huge mess between snot and tears.
'I told him,' she sniffed, 'that it was wrong, what we were doing, but he told me it felt right,' sniff, 'and that was all that mattered,' huge gasp, 'and he was right!' She spluttered. 'Harry—he was RIGHT! He told me he loved me. Harry, I think I do, too, Harry, I think I do! What am I supposed to do, Harry? What!' she started crying again.
Harry's mind was reeling. What was he supposed to do at a time like this? He was used to a composed and cool Hermione, not this huge human hosepipe now on his chest.
Hermione? Malfoy? Together? It simply wasn't possible! And why did Hermione turn on the waterworks, like Cho did? And why did she have to tell him now? It would make it so hard for him to face Ron. He knew, somehow, that Ron was only with Lavender to prove to people he could snog, but deep down, he loved Hermione. But now Hermione loved Draco. His brain was exploding with the new information fed to him.
He stroke her hair, trying to calm her down, by whispering words of comforts to her.
'It's alright, Hermione, it's okay...'
'No, it's not! Everybody in Gryffindor is going to hate me, Harry, for fraternizing with the enemy! Everybody, Harry. The Slytherins will think that I stole their prince form them, and that I'm a slut, I'm a whore!' Hermione said, gasping, her brown eyes wide with fear.
'Come on, now, Hermione, yeah right, it won't be that serious. Next thing you know they'll be murdering you in your sleep and flashing your knickers as your white flag.' Harry joked, trying to make her feel relaxed. But apparently that was the last thing she wanted to hear.
'Murder me?' she squeaked. 'My knickers? No, they can't! Mine have got rubber duckies on them!'
'No, no, I was joking, Hermione,' Harry immediately said, when he saw the frightened look on Hermione's face. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.'
'It isn't funny, Potter!' Hermione said, punching him in the shoulder, but smiled a bit in spite of herself. And the situation.
'Ow, that hurt, Hermione!' Harry winced, shocked at the amount of strength the petite brunette had. 'Look, Hermione,' he grabbed her by the shoulders and leveled their gazes.
'I don't care who you date, alright? Malfoy? Please, if you were dating Ginny I wouldn't mind,' he paused, 'okay, maybe I will, I have yet to ask her on a date, but anyway, look, I don't care who you date, nor do I care what others will call you, you'll always be my best friend, alright? And best friends stick together.' He added in an undertone, 'I just wished Ron could act like one now.'
'I'm sorry for driving a wedge between the both of you.' She said.
'Stop being sorry. He was being an arse. He only got with Lavender to make you jealous.' Harry immediately regretted saying it. You know, Potter, you really should consider getting a spell that will make you mute for the rest of your life, he thought to himself, because lately your mouth's been spouting things that causes most of the trouble.
'He likes me?' Hermione squeaked.
'Oh, don't be daft. Ron isn't one to speak his feelings. But I'm pretty sure he likes you that way, even though he doesn't show it.' Harry said, feeling surprised at the look on Hermione's face. He always thought that Hermione had a rough feeling about it. Apparently she didn't. Alright, Potter, time to head into the library and find that one spell that will mute you, he thought as he mentally smacked himself on the head.
'Oh dear. Do you reckon he might kill Draco? If he ever found out?' Hermione's eyes were as big as the moon now, her fear returning. Harry shook his head.
'He won't know, until you want to tell him. Look, tell when you're ready, but until then,' Harry swallowed. 'I'll help you cover.'
'You're... You're going to help?' Hermione asked. Harry winced. He was helping Hermione. And Draco.
'I know, as crazy as it seems... I'll help. Only for now. You and Malfoy had better think of what to do.' Harry said.
'Oh, thank you, Harry!' Hermione threw herself on Harry and enveloped him in a rib-crushing hug. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!' She said as she placed kisses on his cheeks, forehead, head and nose; Fleur Delacour style.
'Hey hey, enough of 'zat French cuztomz, Meez Granger.' Harry laughed.
'Right, sorry about that.' Hermione laughed, a wonderful sound to Harry's ears. Finally, at least he got one of his best friends to laugh. And once they started, they couldn't stop. They laughed until their stomach's ached and their jaws hurt.
'I needed that laugh.' Harry told her and winked.
'Yeah, so did I.' Hermione said, her expression turning solemn. 'Thank you, Harry, on the behalf of Draco too. You're the best type of friend anyone can ever ask for.'
'My my, 'Mione, Malfoy won't be appeased to know you're thanking me on his behalf.' Harry grinned as he accepted Hermione's hug.
'Come on, it's about time for dinner and I'm starving.' He said as he led her away from the room, and onto the slab of stone that slowly ascended.
'But you just ate a minced-meat pie after leaving the library!' Hermione protested. She wanted to have a good rest before meeting anybody. She knew she needed to strength to lie fluently, if needed. If Hermione was ever horrible at anything, it would be lying.
Harry gave her a blank look. 'So? Come on! Dobby said they're serving pudding today. The type that I like!' Harry continued pulling her across the corridor.
Hermione shook her head and grinned. Boys will be boys.
During dinner, Hermione kept getting secretive glances from Draco and she smirked at him everytime she caught his eye. This did not go unnoticed by Harry, who continued glaring at Draco during the entire dinner. People were whispering and pointing at her when she had entered the Great Hall; apparently the whole fiasco that afternoon with Malfoy was leaked. Gossip traveled in Hogwarts. Fast. Very fast. She only brushed off the questions by muttering up some excuse ('Malfoy had decided to use me as a dare-bait. The bastard.')
Ron was sitting far from them, with Lavender, who was busy spoon-feeding him Harry's favourite pudding. Usually the sight would have driven Hermione out of the Great Hall and into the girls' lavatory to start her usual cry fest. But not this time, now she had Draco. She had somebody to love. Well, she did love him, didn't she? But weren't they rushing things? She had questioned herself that question since last night when she made her dramatic exit from the awkward situation in the Common Room.
Was Draco for real? She had looked at his eyes a couple of times when they were first alone in their room; his eyes depicted a complete different personality that she was so accustomed to. Usually she'll see anger, loathe and sometimes even a tinge of sadness; something that she expected to see from someone like Draco, a boy who never received much love. But last night, she had seen so much more. She saw sadness, but there was hope, and even happiness. She made him feel like that, didn't she? She felt a flush of pleasure.
'Hermione?' Harry asked. She noticed that she was so caught up in thinking that her spoon was poised at her mouth for quite a while. She dropped her spoon and glanced around and saw that nobody had seen the hilarious sight; Hermione Granger was having an 'airhead' moment? Well, nobody had seen her except for a pair of intense grey eyes that was on a face with a hint of a smirk around the lips. She felt her cheeks redden.
'Yes?' Hermione turned her attention back to Harry.
'Don't look now, but Blaise Zabini is on his way.' Harry said. Hermione looked up to see if it was true. She saw a black head moving swiftly among the other students, before stopping at her seat, then dropping her a note.
'With love from you-know-who.' Blaise said and winked before walking off.
Hermione shook her head and laughed mirthfully. She unfolded the note and recognized Draco's lazy scrawl.
Hermy,
Meet me at our place right after dinner.
D
She shot him a pointed look with a raised eyebrow; her patent 'what are you playing at' look. Draco smirked. Harry read the letter.
'Hermy?' He spluttered. 'Why is he calling you 'Hermy'? And where is 'our place'?'
'He just calls me that, I don't know why.' Hermione was now muttering to herself, babbling in happiness. He caught the words 'unusual' or 'perfect' and he laughed.
Hermione peered at him. 'What?' she demanded.
'Nothing... You just seem so adorable! Love sick, you are.' Harry chuckled. He looked at Malfoy, and added, 'The both of you.' Hermione's gaze traveled to Draco's and realized he had a dazed look. She smiled at him, and it seemed to shake him out of his trance. He stuck a tongue at her and she laughed.
'Adorable!' She squealed.
'Yeah, adorable.' Harry said dryly. 'I'm going to be sick if you force me to endure this for another second. Go on, I can tell you're just about dying to go meet him. I'll cover for you.'
'Oh, thank you, Harry!' she gushed and pulled him into a tight hug.
'Go, before Malfoy decides to get jealous and use an Unforgivable Curse on me.' Harry laughed as he returned her hug before shoving her in the direction of the door. She shot him a smile before running out of it. Thank goodness everybody was so absorbed in their food that they didn't notice. Draco whispered something to Blaise, before following her promptly.
He chuckled as he broke into a jog. She had no idea how the tree looked like, and it was almost dark outside. Hasn't it occurred to her she might get lost? That's the last thing she'll want, there are centaurs—
He stopped short. 'Shit, Malfoy!' He cursed himself. What if she got into trouble? It had never occurred to him that she had no idea where the place was, much less that the entrance was either in the Slytherin Common Room or the Forbidden Forest and both places were as dangerous as a kitten was cute.
He broke into a swift sprint, running across a bend so that he could reach the Forbidden Forest in a shortcut. A hand reached from the other side of the bend and pulled him in by his collar and slammed him against the wall, planting her lips on his. Her kiss wasn't like what she had given him yesterday, or today. This time her kiss was demanding, and almost desperately searching for the essence of him.
'Glad to see you too, Granger.' He smiled as she pulled away slightly, so their lips occasionally touched while he spoke.
'I was on my way before I realized I had no idea where it was,' Hermione smiled back, relishing the innocent feel of his lips on hers as she spoke.
'Well, maybe I should show you.' Draco took her hand and they treaded around carefully; if Peeves was around here somewhere, he knew that their cover would be blown and everybody will know of what was going on and he would be on a one-way ticket to face his father's wrath.
She looked around as they entered the forest and Draco had tripped, pulling a surprised Hermione with him. 'Why, the aristocratic Slytherin prince tripped?' she asked in mock astonishment and grinned happily as he pulled her closer.
'Shut up and kiss me,' he growled and pulled her even tighter. She responded with her tongue as they both fought for dominance, ignoring their need to breath. Hermione needed air, but she wasn't about to give up now, and let Draco declare himself victor. Draco seemed to notice this and smirked against her lips as he continued.
Lack of oxygen... Her vision was blurring. Draco let go of her, took a deep breath then blew it in her mouth. 'Oxygen is on its way.' He whispered.
Hermione laughed and pushed him away, rolling. 'You only gave me carbon dioxide, you twit!'
'Oh? Well, my carbon dioxide is hard to come by, you know!' Draco replied, laughing as well, taking her hand and leading her to the correct tree. Hermione tried her best to remember how to get there, but after a while all the trees started to look the same.
'I've missed you,' Draco said breathlessly as he slammed her against the wall and started to kiss her senseless. He swiftly removed their robes and continued kissing her with much need, holding her wrists above her head. He trailed his lips across her cheek, leaving a burning trail behind it. He started kissing the her earlobe gently before trailing it down the side of her neck. She moaned as he started work in the hollow part of her collarbone.
He started kissing south, before fingering her shirt, half annoyed. In a heartbeat he tore the shirt open and freed her of it. Hermione smirked.
'Somebody's a little impatient.' She sang.
Draco only growled, and continued kissing her. He had rid her of most of her clothes, except for her knickers and socks. Hermione, however, had made a huge deal of removing his clothes, making Draco a bit... impatient.
'Get on with it...' Draco growled, his member becoming painfully aroused, and it was forming a tent. A huge tent.
'Hold on a minute.' Hermione feigned ignorance of the pained, needy look on Draco's face. She ran her fingers under his shirt and made slow, huge circles. He groaned. She smirked as he shivered under her caress. She slowly unbuttoned his shirt, before biting off the last button. She reached up to him and kissed him lightly, offering the button that was still in her mouth. He grinned.
She went about her business unzipping his pants. She reached into his unzipped pants and started making circles again, gaining groans from him. 'Hermione...' he breathed. His chest was heaving.
'What?' Hermione feigned ignorance, yet again. She slowly slid him out of his pants, gasping at the size of his throbbing member. Look at that thing, could it possibly grow any longer? Why hadn't she noticed before?
She slipped it gently into her mouth, expertly using the tip of her tongue to run up the length of it. He shivered. He propped himself on his elbows and angled his hips so she had better access. She kept sliding it up and down before abruptly pushing the whole thing in. He gasped and started moaning her name softly, like a chant.
He looked at her, but all he could see was her brown head bobbing up and down, giving him the pleasure. He was on a cliff. And he was being pulled to the edge of it by an invisible force. He was almost off, almost flying...
...But Hermione chose that moment to take him out of her mouth.
'Hermy!' He growled, annoyed.
'All in good time,' Hermione smirked, using his own choice of words against him. 'What we're doing, as what the Muggles will say, is called foreplay.' He pulled her close and turned her over, straddling her.
'What about my knickers...?' She asked, confused. Draco laughed and started kissing her, leaving a trail of bites everywhere. He paused just above her knickers.
'What, you going to rip that off too?' She laughed. Her voice was husky, and it sent a jolt of excitement through Draco.
'No, better.' He gave her his patent smirk. He stretched the undergarment to the side and with a groan, he joined the two of them. 'Oh!' Hermione squeaked. 'Like that, don't you?' he asked, smirking even more. He suddenly brought up her legs, bringing her ankles by the side of his head and began rocking his hips wildly at the same point. He noticed that Hermione had moaned louder than she ever had, and her head was being thrown from side to side when it dawned on him. I see I've the spot, he thought.
With more intensity, he pumped even more vigorously at that exact point, earning himself more screams from Hermione, who had grabbed the headboard and was shaking wildly as well. With a final thrust, the two lovers came together.
Hermione was seeing stars, no, diamonds! She never actually had gotten such an orgasm, not that she had many experiences but she was certain it was the best she could ever have. As the last bit of it left her, she felt herself being enveloped by a pair of strong arms as he snuggled up to her, burying his face in her neck.
'That was wonderful.' She paused, 'you were wonderful.'
'And so, were you. Now it's time to take some rest, Hermy,' Draco said as he kissed her neck. 'I realize you get lethargic after a round of good mind-blowing shag.' She felt him smile against her neck and she smiled too. She wanted to talk to him about their... relationship, but figured that he was right, on both accounts.
She snuggled even deeper to him and pressed herself harder onto the bed. With a final yawn, she surrendered to slumber. Draco, however, was studying her.
He fingered her knickers. Hmm, rubber ducks, interesting...
A/N: I rather like this chapter, what 'bout you? Sorry it couldn't be sooner but my internet sort of conked out on me just when I finished the chapter. Oh well.