As promised! I will try to update again soon, and I hope you enjoy this chapter... finally some honesty;)

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Enjoy, xx

Chapter 10: Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Hermione

She was feeling good. No, great. He had feelings for her, and had expressed them. But she needed to know for sure. She couldn't be wasting her time.

She decided to test him. After he'd tried to know if Hermione wanted to be 'his', she'd said, "Well, Draco," adding emphasis on the name she had never dared utter aloud before, "what about Pansy?"

And the look on his face did not garner her the response she'd wanted. In that moment, all the energy in the room had shifted, and his face became unreadable.

He did not break her gaze when he'd said quietly, "It's—complicated with Pansy," and he sucked in a breath... appearing—nervous which was very unlike him.

Draco continued, "she and I have a lot of history," sighing, he added, "and I just don't quite know where she and I stand."

Hermione felt something tighten in the pit of her stomach, and thought maybe it was all the food she'd eaten ready to resurface at her sudden nausea. How could he be unsure of where he stood with Pansy? After the night they'd had just had together she'd been so sure of her feelings for him. The connection they'd had… Hermione had never felt that way with, or for anyone else before.

Not wanting to show too much emotion, she steadied herself and said simply, "I understand."

As she got up, she murmured a spell to clean up the kitchen, and watched as Draco too, stood up from his chair.

"Granger," he began, "my confusing situation with Pansy doesn't mean I don't care for you," he grabbed her arm, as if on instinct and added, "I do care for you, and would like for us to become something more."

She recoiled at his touch, his words, feeling even worse. "How?" she breathed, "How could you want something with me, and still have something with her?" She realized now, how jealous she was. She could never share him, and why should she? Most people just wanted a healthy, normal relationship. Hermione was cursed in that regard, it seemed.

"You don't understand," he said, seeming even more nervous than before, "there's just so much you don't understand."

Draco

Hermione stared at him with a face of horror and something like betrayal at his words. How could he tell her about his and Pansy's arrangement? She would never understand, he barely did.

And before he could stop himself he said, "You don't understand, there's just so much you don't understand," realizing that Hermione would take that as condescension. And did she ever.

She did not even let him correct himself, as she glared at him and spoke, "I would—could try to understand if you explained yourself to me," her voice cracking as she added, "but I see now that no matter what I do I'll never be enough."

He noticed her eyes beginning to water, and still she held his gaze as he felt a pang of guilt course through him. He realized how much those last few words had hurt her. Hermione Granger, the know-it-all, the brightest with of their age, the brains. He'd insulted her brains when he'd said she could never understand, and that was her favourite thing about herself, where most of her confidence stemmed from.

"That's not what I meant," he breathed, trying not to say anything that would cause more damage or completely ruin his chances with her, "What I really meant was that it's far more complicated than it seems with Pansy, and with the life you lead, the life of freedom and love and happiness, I just didn't think you would totally understand my situation with her because you have not experienced it."

Hermione

Realization struck her then. Draco and Pansy were both purebloods, with very old, prestigious families, and he had a "situation" with her that Hermione had not experienced… 'Oh my god' she thought to herself.

"Are you two… betrothed or something?" she asked, without thinking and for the first time, she'd wanted to be wrong.

Draco's eyes widened, and she knew, without him uttering one word that she'd been right.

"How did you—" he began, before she interjected.

"I just…understand things," she quipped.

Draco finally sighed, "Well, it's true. Our families made an arrangement a few weeks ago for Pansy and I to wed. I didn't think you'd understand, because I know you would never agree to something so—backwards."

She chuckled, "You're right, I would never, and I kind of see why you didn't tell me. But why would you agree if you think it's backwards? Do you have feelings for her?" They had been together in the past, so perhaps it was easy for him to agree to wed her.

He sat down then, and fixed his gaze on his now crossed hands. "Sure we dated in the past, but it was never anything serious. Pansy is the type of girl who will give all her attention to whoever is willing to give it back. I agreed to the arrangement simply because I wanted to make my mother happy, not because of anything else. I could never love Pansy," he admitted to her, but it seemed to himself as well.

She too, now stared at his crossed hands, scanning his fingers and finding scars, as well as callouses beneath his fingertips. They were difficult to notice against his alabaster skin, but they were there. She wanted to kiss them. He looked up, as if knowing she'd been staring and she quickly met his gaze.

"You're willing to sacrifice your own free will and happiness for the sake of your mother's?" she asked quietly.

She'd been so wrong about him. For so many years she'd thought of him as a selfish, spoiled brat who had never known how to respect others, never known sacrifice or pain as she and her friends had. But he'd been forced into becoming a death eater by his father and was now being pressured, if not forced to marry Pansy by his mother. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so angry and sad for someone else.

"Yes," he'd said quickly, without hesitation and added, "my mother has been through so much, and losing my father was too much for her. It changed her. At the time I received the letter announcing the arrangement, I was willing to do anything to make my mother happy again."

Heart aching for him, she simply asked, "and now?"

He did not break her stare when he said, "and now, I want nothing more than to be with you, Hermione."

She sucked in a breath, hoping, nearly praying for that exact response. "Just me?" she asked again.

He snorted, "Isn't it obvious?"

"Isn't what obvious?" she quickly countered.

He stood up then, inching towards her. "Isn't it obvious," he said, voice husky, now inches from her face, "how badly I want you?"

His words echoed in her mind, her heart racing as she looked up to him and found his silver eyes looking at her open mouth. He wanted her, and now, she knew it for certain not because of his words, but because of the predatory gaze that had fallen over his face.

Without hesitation, she kissed him. Softly at first, but it quickly shifted into a hard and deep kiss, much like the previous night. Instantly, his hands were all over her, touching her and without her noticing, he'd lifted her onto the now empty table and was between her legs.

Draco then began kissing her neck, and she moaned at the feeling of his tongue on her skin. She was burning from his touch, wanting more.

"More?" he said breathlessly, while smirking as he momentarily broke away from her. 'Shit' she thought to herself, 'did I say that out loud?'

She gave him a smirk, feeling her cheeks warm at what she'd involuntarily said aloud, but added, "I want you too Draco, badly."

Draco

"More," she'd whispered into his ear while he sucked on her neck.

He felt himself beginning to harden, and to distract himself he replied, "More?"

Her cheeks pinked, but she smirked, "I want you too Draco, badly."

He instantly hardened at her confession, and lifted her hoodie off in one quick motion. He froze, as he discovered there was absolutely nothing underneath. Nothing, but her perfect breasts, and creamy skin.

He palmed one of her breasts, and smoothed his thumb over her nipple, while taking the other into his mouth, licking and sucking it. Gooseflesh appeared all over her body. Hermione moaned again, this time nearly undoing him. Her taste, her smell, and the sounds she was making filled his senses until he could no longer think. No girl had ever had this effect on him, it was like she was made for him.

He too, wanted more. He wanted everything, he realized. He never wanted to let her go. He would do anything for her, say anything as he had tonight—with ease. He had originally dreaded telling her the truth about him and Pansy, but she had understood and he had adored her for it.

He began kissing her all over. From her eyelids, to her cheeks, her lips, making his way down from her neck, to her breasts and began moving even lower until he reached her navel.

He looked at her then, as if to ask her permission. She met his gaze, nodding and arched her back. He grinned, and swiftly removed her pants. He looked up again, raising his brow at her, as she was also not wearing underwear.

She innocently asked, knowing what his look was for, "What? I hardly ever wear undergarments when I'm here."

He barely processed her answer, as he beheld the sight in front of him. Hermione Granger, in all her naked glory, laid upon the kitchen table like a feast. And he would devour every inch of this feast, he thought to himself.

As quickly as he'd looked up at her, he resumed his kisses going all the way down both legs, and then began kissing between her thighs. She began shaking, and he smelled her arousal now.

He hardened even more, if that was possible. And she'd noticed, her opened mouth beginning to water.

Finally, he'd laid a kiss on her centre, and she'd moaned loudly. He spread her legs, and licked her slick folds, not being able to resist after the first taste. She was like a drug.

He continued, and entered a finger into her womanhood, feeling her, so tight around him. He knew she was close, as he licked and pumped rhythmically, hearing her moan and pull at his hair. "Draco," she breathed, arching her back.

And right before he could finish pleasuring her, there was a knock at the door.