Chapter 10

Explaining to Ron what had happened between Malfoy and herself had been difficult. For some reason she didn't want to betray Malfoy's trust, but at the same time she didn't want to hurt Ron. No matter what had occurred between them he was still her best friend and, for the time being, her boyfriend.

"That's something you have to deal with sometime soon as well." She thought to herself. "Are you going to stay with Ron, or have you decided he isn't the one you want? And if he isn't the one you want then is there someone else?"

The problem was that she didn't know what it was that she wanted. After Ron had found her in the hall with Malfoy he had stormed away in anger, glaring at every student who passed in his way. She had followed him to Gryffindor tower and now was sitting in the seventh year boys' dormitory trying to smooth things over with the one person she didn't know how she felt about.

"But Ron isn't the only one you don't know how you feel about. There is more then one person that could possible own your heart." the voice in her head wouldn't stop.

"So." Ron took her hands in his. "You weren't actually, voluntarily holding his hand then. He had just helped you up after he stopped a bunch of Slytherins from attacking you?"

"That's what I've been telling you Ron. Michael Delecoix grabbed me and tried to... I don't even know what he was going to do. All he said was it was time to sample some of what you were having. I think he was going to try to rape me."

Ron brought her fingertips to his lips and gently kissed them. "I'm sorry Moine. I don't know how that must have been for you. I am sorry that you had to go through that. The only thing I don't understand is why Malfoy helped you. Why would he send the Slytherins away and then why would he lend a hand to help you up?"

Hermione closed her eyes. "I don't know Ron. I guess eh felt sorry for me, or maybe it was because of what I saw in Diagon Alley."

Ron's eyes widened. "What did you see in Diagon Alley?"

"Nothing." Hermione knew she had made a mistake. She wasn't planning on telling Ron about what had happened when she left him to look for Harry. She knew she had to distract Ron. She pulled her hand away from his and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ron honey. I really don't want to talk about Malfoy anymore." She purred into his ear. "Is there anything I can do to make up for what you saw in the hall?"

Ron smiled. There were lots of things she could do for him, but he didn't want to push her to do something she wasn't ready for. That was what had caused problems between them the last time. No he wanted her to be the one to make the first move to move it to the next level. "Well Mione, I can think of a few things." Ron tilted his face to meet hers.

Slowly Hermione closed her eyes as Ron began feathering her face with soft kisses. Starting at her temple he moved across her forehead, down her cheek and finally settled right above her lips. "You know Moine, I think I'm the luckiest wizard in Hogwarts right now. I have you."

Hermione barely had time to nod before Ron's lips met hers.

The three Slytherin boys were sitting around the common room when Draco stormed in through the portrait. "What the hell did you think you were doing out there Delecoix!"

Michael looked up from his potions essay. "Draco my man, what's the problem?"

"I'll tell you what the problem is you imbecile. You were in the middle of the hall, close to where the entrance to Gryffindor tower is, attempting to rape the best friend of Potter. What the hell has come over you? You could have been caught." Draco was fuming. Not for any of the reasons he had just given, but what right did Delecoix think he had touching Granger like that. Granger was his, and only his.

"Whoa." Draco said to himself. "Did you just say that Granger is yours?"

Michael stood up. "Settle down Malfoy. If I didn't know better I would think you were more upset that I was about to have her then at the thought of me getting caught over it."

"That's absurd." Trying to control his rage he grabbed Michael by his collar. "She is a worthless Mudblood. Not even worth my time, or yours. My job is to protect the members of my house."

Prying Draco's hand from around the material of his robe, Michael smiled. "Mudblood or not, she is the hottest piece of ass in this school. Why the hell should Weasley be the only one to sample her sweetness? I mean, just look at her body. Last year she wore nothing but baggy clothes under her robes, and Draco man, she was barely wearing anything under there today. I mean, I had my hands under there and all I felt was skin, not cloth. She's just a flower waiting for a real man to pick her up and show her what she's been missing out on."

Draco let go of Michael's robe. "Just don't do it near Gryffindor tower where Potter can come by." Trying to save some composure he turned towards the stairs and up to his room.

Halfway up the stairs he heard Michael call up "Hey Draco, her lips taste as sweet as they look too."

Feeling her back press against the mattress of Ron's bed, Hermione knew it was time to either stop things or slow them down before it went too far. "Ron, maybe we should go find Harry and Ginny."

Ron mumbled something and pressed his lips to hers again. His tongue moved hungrily past her lips and began to explore. God she tasted good. Almost like the strawberry's they had for desert. But then again she hadn't stayed that long in the hall. He moved his hands and opened the clasp on her robes. Immediately his fingers met with flesh. Ron lifted his lips from hers and looked down. "My God, she's wearing next to nothing." He thought to himself. "She's totally ready for the next step. If this isn't a sign then I don't know what is."

Hermione had no idea what Ron had said but she knew he wasn't going to be stopping anytime soon. Oh how she wished she hadn't worn the belly shirt she had that morning. But Lavender had said that it looked good and if you couldn't feel sexy under your robes then what was the point of living. But then again that was Lavender for you. Ron lowered his head to stomach and started kissing and caressing her.

"Ron I really think we should go find Harry and Ginny."

Ron ignored her. He wanted to kiss and suckle every inch of her flesh. He reached down and started to stroke her through her skirt.

Hermione was frightened. What was the point of Malfoy saving her from one possible rape, only to be taken advantage of by her boyfriend. She tried to push Ron's hands away from their task.

"Come on Moine. I know you like it. Can't we just play for a while?" Ron met her eyes and pleaded. "I promise you we'll have fun."

"Ronald Weasley if you don't let me up right now."

"Shhhh." Ron pressed his finger against her lips. "You'll ruin the moment." He gripped her hands in one of his and let his other hand roam down to her skirt again.

"Ron." Tears welled up in her eyes. ".Please." She struggled against him, but all his years of playing quidditch had made him stronger then her.

"Hey Ron!"

Hermione closed her eyes. That was Harry and he was looking for Ron. That meant he was on his way up to the dorms. She smiled when she heard the door click open.

"Oops. Sorry mate. I'll just wait for you downstairs."

Hermione seized this opportunity. "No that's okay Harry. I'll go."

Ron let go of her and she got up to leave. He never even noticed the tears slowly making their way down her cheek. But Harry did.

Once in the safety and privacy of his own room Draco sat down on his bed. What was going on? Why on earth was he thinking of her like this. He shouldn't be worrying about her, or thinking of her and what he'd like to do to her.

"Why not Draco? It's not like you believe all that crap that you spout out in the halls in front of your friends. You would have killed Delecoix if he had actually hurt her and you know it."

Draco closed his eyes and fell back onto the bed. Why did it have to be like this. Why was she plaguing his thoughts? It's not like he cared for her. He was a Malfoy, how many times did he have to remind himself that Malfoy's don't care about anyone about themselves? They are incapable of love. Wait a minute did he just say love. Did he love her, or believe himself to be in love with her? No. He couldn't be. He was incapable of that.

But then again, there had to be a reason for what he was feeling. Although he figured it couldn't be love, he knew it wasn't lust either. He was beyond that. He had passed just lust last year.

So then what was it? He knew it was time to figure it out.