Chapter ten: the difference between my room and my other room

Draco sat at his desk with a quill in his hand and parchment underneath, he couldn't figure out what to write. He had seen the tears shining in her eyes as he told she wasn't allowed to see Addae, well that's her own fault! It's not my problem if she's lonely. Draco's kitten, Ruby, wandered up to him and rubbed her face against his hand, Draco picked up the kitten and placed it on his lap. Draco finally had a wonderful idea:

Dear Hermione,

I know you feel lonely in your room with the absence of people or even your owl. But this is the way it was meant to be. In this box is my kitten, Ruby. I believe she will prove more of a comfort to you than she ever was to me. Please take good care of her and make sure you give her a lot of attention, she loves being cuddled and likes to sleep with you in bed. As for you being lonely, if you wish for someone to talk to, your door will unlock at two o'clock. I will wait for you in the room opposite yours.

Draco.

Draco finished writing with a ghost of a smile on his face, even though his father had told him to stay away from her he just couldn't. He wanted to see her again; he wanted to touch her again. Draco put the letter into an envelope and placed Ruby gently into a box. Draco walked down the hallway to Hermione's room, he pushed open her door and saw that she was sleeping; he crept into the room and put the box down and the letter on top. Once done, he looked over at Hermione again and left the room. Draco entered the room opposite hers and began enchanting.

An hour later, the room looked like a forest. Draco had enchanted a stream to run down the middle of the room and trees to grow along side it. There were moss covered rocks to sit on and the grass was thick and soft. There was even the occasional rabbit jumping around. Draco looked at his watch, it was five to two. Draco sat down on a rock and waited for Hermione to walk through that door. He had never been more nervous in his entire life. Draco was still sitting there two hours later, he wasn't nervous anymore, he was furious. Draco stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He yanked open the door to see Hermione, standing just outside the bathroom with his letter in her hands. She must have just had a shower for she had clean clothes on and her hair was still wet. She hadn't noticed him yet.

Draco walked towards her and with two fingers, lifted her chin up so he could see her properly, 'You didn't come.' Draco breathed into her ear, 'I waited and you didn't come.' Hermione took in a shaky breathe and looked Draco in the eye, 'I'm so sorry Draco, I just read the letter then, I would have come had I read it earlier.' Draco felt a pang in his chest, she had said his name. Draco lifted his hand up to her face and cupped her cheek, 'You said my name,' Draco noted quite astonished. Hermione let out a laugh, 'If I'm going to marry you then I should call you by your first name. Which reminds me, you never told me why you chose me.' Draco didn't know how to reply so he didn't.

Draco leant into Hermione and pressed his lips against hers, he heard a moan escape her lips and felt his chest swell up with pride. It was him who made her weak at the knees. He bent down at the knees and scooped her into his arms. He walked out of her room and into the enchanted room opposite hers. Hermione laughed in surprise at being carried in that manner. Draco put her down in a clearing of grass. He leant over her and continued to kiss her. He felt her arms snake up and around his neck and he kissed her harder. Draco could felt her lips curve up in a smile and he moved his hand down onto her chest. Hermione instinctively pulled away from him at being touched in that manner. She broke off the kiss and sat up.

Draco was confused, didn't she like it? He moved over to let her sit up properly, 'Why-.' Hermione's voice cracked and she licked her lips, 'Why did you kiss me?' Draco was too distracted by her tongue to hear her question, 'What did you say?' still looking at her lips. 'I said, Malfoy, why did you kiss me?' Hermione looked quite mad which Draco couldn't understand for he was in heaven, 'Because I wanted to, Granger. Haven't you ever done something just because you've wanted to?' Hermione shook her head, 'Well then. What a better opportunity than now to start doing things you want.' On that last word Draco gently pushed Hermione back down and continued to kiss her. Draco loved the feeling of the silk against his hand but would have preferred to feel her skin against him so, without asking for permission, slid his hand up under her shirt. He felt a shiver spread through her body and smirked because it was him who caused her to shiver. He felt Hermione's hand move down his chest and under his shirt for a second before pulling it off. Draco felt her hands smooth down his shoulders and onto his chest, he shivered at the physical contact of it. Draco lifted them slightly off the ground so he could hold her better. Hermione broke the kiss so she could have some air but Draco only allowed her a couple of seconds before diving back in.

Neither of them noticed the door opening and closing. They didn't noticed someone else standing in there until it was too late, 'Well, well. What do we have here?'