Chapter 9-Jezebel

Draco stayed awake for hours just watching her sleep. How could he have ever thought she was anything other than beautiful? He asked himself. He caressed her hair lightly as she lay there her head resting over his heart, the heart that she had stolen and he knew he was in all kinds of trouble.

Draco was in no doubts where this was heading and although they hadn't done anything but cuddle, she clung to him like a lover and he knew, if he stayed here, it was only a matter of time. Their relationship was like an impending train crash, you knew the train was going to crash but it was far too late to apply the brakes. Draco could not imagine any scenario where a relationship between himself and Hermione would end well despite his desperate desire to keep her safe and his desperate longing to be with her.

He was beyond fooling himself now. He knew, the moment she placed her head on his shoulder, that she was all he ever wanted. At first he had struggled to understand why he had fallen for her. Yes she was intelligent, no brilliant, and beautiful but what really sucked him in was her kindness.

He had been little more than an enemy to her and still she had cared about him. She had not wanted him to be bored, to feel isolated. She had spoken to him as a friend, reassured him, apologised when they had abandoned him. No one else had ever cared for him like this, except his mother, and he craved kindness like a man starved.

Draco knew that in another universe, one where there was no war, no blood prejudice he would have courted her-he would have married her. He knew that Hermione Granger was peerless. His parents could search the length and breadth of the Earth for his bride and they would never find her equal.

He contemplated asking her to run away with him but he knew it was hopeless, even if she would agree, which he doubted, they would be hunted. The dim bat duo would think he had kidnapped her or 'imperioed' her to go with him and Voldemort…he could barely dare contemplate what the Dark Lord might do to a Death Eater and Potter's infamous 'mud-blood' if they were found to be together.

Draco felt the tears prickle his eyes and he lay there letting them fall silently knowing it was hopeless but that he would take what pleasure she would allow him, whilst he could.

Hermione awoke to a feeling of comfortable warmth, her brain, dazed and still thick with sleep, did not immediately recognise where she was or who she was with. She gently smoothed her hand across the pectoral muscle beside her it was only then that it occurred to her that it was paler than it should be. Malfoy. She shuddered as she registered her surroundings.

Her legs were wrapped around Draco's, his hands were tangled in her hair as he slept peaceful. Draco's own hair was muzzled from sleep and he looked- edible. Hermione was suddenly alive with longing she wanted to nip, lick and kiss every millimetre of him. She had a sudden feeling of insatiable lust. She knew that, since their talks in the garden, they were friends, that Draco Malfoy was a better person than anyone thought, but this lust for him was something else. It was like there was some kind of bond between them a cord that was tightening and inexorably pulling them closer. Hermione took a deep breath willing herself to calm down.

The logically part of Hermione's brain finally kicked in and she realised that she must be insane, she had just left Ron's bed to slip into Draco's arms. What sort of woman was she? She asked herself. This was the greatest act of betrayal, they might not have even kissed last night but she had slept in Draco's arms entwined with him like a lover. She ought to be overcome with guilt so why wasn't she? Deep down some innate part of Hermione recognised that this was where she was meant to be- in Draco's arms.

There was no turning back now, she had no idea if she had any future with Draco but she had to break it off with Ron. She burned with a passion for Draco that was lacking with Ron and she knew with absolute certainty that she would betray Ron again. That kiss Draco had given her, brutal and unexpected, had ignited something. Logically Hermione knew that any relationship she had with the Slytherin Prince could be short and brutal but…would any of them survive? She asked herself and she determined that whilst she still breathed she was going to saviour every moment of life.

It seemed deeply selfish, in the midst of a war, to destroy Ron's hopes. Hermione knew he adored her and she loved him but the love she felt for Ron was not enough and she knew the greater betrayal was to live a lie, to lay with Ron and think of Draco. She wanted Draco in a way she had never experienced before, this was not a school girl crush it was a woman's passion.

Reluctantly Hermione moved to extricate herself from Draco's arms. Sensing her movement Draco tightened his grip, pulling her closer. She couldn't help it the temptation was too much. She grazed his jaw with her lips. It thrilled her to hear him utter a needy groan. 'No', she told herself sternly she had to get up, she had to speak to Ron.

"Draco," she whispered, "I need to go."

"Stay," he muttered incoherently still not quite awake.

"I can't," she told him biting her lips in frustration, "I need to speak to Ron."

That seemed to snap Draco out of the stupor of sleep.

"Why?" he asked her cautiously, not daring to hope this might mean what he thought.

"Because I know I can't be with him anymore," she told him, "no matter what this is," she motioned between the two of them, "it has shown me one thing," she paused.

Draco waited holding his breath.

"It has taught me that what exists between Ron and I is not… the 'real thing'." Flushed with embarrassment Hermione turned away.

Hardly daring to hope that there might be a possibility of something between them Draco needed her to spell it out.

"And what about us?" he asked her terrified of what she might say.

"Us?" she questioned, "I don't know."

She didn't deny that there was something between them but, like Draco himself, she seemed to understand the barriers in their way.

"I don't know how there can be an 'us'," Draco looked crestfallen so Hermione added, "though I wish I knew a way."

Still flushed with embarrassment she left his bed determined to make it right with Ron.

Hermione has betrayed me with Draco Malfoy; it was the only thought that passed through Ron's head. Ron didn't know how long he had sat there. He was numb, not only from cold but emotionally. Any hope he might have entertained that he had been mistaken in what he had seen, that he had misconstrued the situation faded as the night wore on and she didn't return to their bed.

He would have revenge, Malfoy will not get away with this, Hermione is mine, his brain screamed out. Ron knew she was too good for him but she was too bloody good for the blond haired ferret too. Strangely he didn't blame Malfoy. He was a Slytherin; it was in his nature, he would betray anyone to get what he wanted but Hermione…it made no sense.

He would give her the opportunity to explain. Taking a piece of parchment he wrote a note to make it clear that she had been found out. He wrote quickly and placed the note on her pillow where she was certain to find it. The note was simple, one word;

'Jezebel'.

Author's note

Thanks for those kind souls who have reviewed and thanks to all who are following I would really love some more feedback by way of encouragement. To those who are wondering- Yes this is still Dramione and Yes it is M rated-patients people- soon!