The ceiling towered, and from it hung streamers of alternating colors - red, green, gold, silver, red, green, gold, silver - two houses fused together as one. The room was lit only by candles, and was furnished with a table, two chairs, and a bed.
They were alone. Finally.
Draco was a little frightened. He knew he had to be strong for Hermione, but seeing her broken again...it might break him. He was scared of what she might tell him, and scared for his response.
He and Hermione sat down at the table, directly across from one another. Above the table, she seemed far away, but their bare legs touched beneath, a primal action that was surprising but not unpleasant. They sat in silence for a while, and then Hermione cleared her throat and spoke.
"Look, Draco, I know I'm confusing. My life right now...it's far from simple. I can't tell you what has been happening, nor can I ever promise to tell you. However, if you're willing to accept that, I have something to say. Something that I've been needing to say."
Draco was silent for a moment, and looked at his hands, folded neatly on his lap. It wasn't so much that he was nosy, it was just that he wasn't sure he could see her bruised and sobbing and hurt and not know the cause, be completely helpless to stop it. He looked up into Hermione's face, and looked deep into her eyes. Grey stared into brown, both a little uncertain and unsure.
And looking into Hermione's eyes, Draco's answer was clear.
Tentatively, he reached up with his hand, and took Hermione's hand in his own.
"No words are necessary, Miss Granger."
Then, knowing full well the consequences of his actions, knowing that she was married and hurt and sad and brilliant and accepting all of these things with doubt no longer present, Draco leaned in and kissed Hermione.
The kiss was scared and hesitant at first - Draco knew the rules against what he was doing. Not only was Hermione married, she was one of the Golden Trio; Draco was one of the most infamous wizards of his time. But despite the fact that they were forbidden, the feelings Draco had for Hermione were strong and true - he was done hiding behind his past. The kiss became more passionate, until Draco and Hermione were enveloped in each other, far past the point of looking back and ready to continue.
Draco pulled back and looked at Hermione, unsure of what her reaction would be.
She smiled and said,
"You are much more eloquent than I, Mr. Malfoy."
And they moved toward the enormous bed.
x-x
Minerva McGonagall was monumentally pissed off.
What the hell? How can two professors vanish without any bloody warning?
...
Keep your composure, Minerva.
And indeed, the headmistress's mask of serenity did not break as she calmly walked the halls, with the confidence of a person who was rarely challenged. Nonetheless, Professors Granger and Malfoy were a quarter of an hour late to their respective classes, and after the former's unexplained absence that morning, McGonagall's patience was wearing thin.
As she turned one last corner, Minerva saw two figures running towards her - one a tall blond man, the other a shorter brunette woman. Both wore Hogwarts robes, and both were redder than Gryffindor scarlet.
"Sorry, Sorry Headmistress!" said Hermione. "We...got caught up." she panted heavily, catching her breath, "Oh, dear, I'm so sorry, I've never done anything like this before! Oh dear, Oh dear! It's like first year all over again!" Hermione was flustered, and as she glanced at Draco, she turned away and turned an even deeper shade of red. McGonagall raised an eyebrow.
She turned to Professor Malfoy, who was much more composed.
"I'm sorry, Headmistress - I was just showing Professor Granger some new classroom texts that might interest her, and we lost track of time. Knowledge, you know," he said with a wink, "has all kinds of power."
Something wasn't right.
"Mr. Malfoy." McGonagall said in her coldest tone.
"Yes?"
"The library is in the other direction."
Malfoy's grin faded, and he grew a flustered as Granger. "Yes, well…" he said frantically, "better be heading off to class - don't want to keep the students any longer! Come on, Herm-er...Professor Granger!"
The two professors ran as fast as they could to their respective classrooms.
What the hell?
Minerva McGonagall did not like being lied to.
She'd get to the bottom of this.
x-x
Hello hello!
I know its been a while, what can I say? School started.
I'm sorry this chapter is so short, especially after a long wait, but I think this is the best way to end it.
Also I am not comfortable writing sex scenes, and want to keep this T, so sorry if you were expecting more.
Lots of Love,
TOAO
