(A/N: Chapter 14! Thanks for the support loves! Story is coming to an endddd soon, lol. Take a look at the plot ideas I have in my profile, will you? Let me know what you think and want. Read, enjoy, & review!)
Draco lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His face was void of expression and he was deep in thought. He was certain now; he had deep feelings for Hermione and there was no denying it. He just didn't know what to do. She acts like she needs me. Maybe she feels the same and her and I can work something out. I mean, I have asked her out before. She obviously didn't want to commit but now? Shit, what has Hermione done to me? I believe this is the worst sort of karma. I bid on her heart and now look where it has led me. Maybe I should stop being an arse…maybe I should swoon her. But why, if she is so like me? Oh bugger…I think I lo—oh, bugger, bugger, bugger!
He quickly climbed out of his bed and for the first time, he was considering actually doing something romantic for Hermione. Then, perhaps, she will willingly go out with me.
Hermione wrote her Transfiguration notes in neat, loopy handwriting. She listened intently to everything McGonagall had to say and didn't let a single important fact surpass her. Being evil doesn't mean I've turned into a bad student.
"Now students, please pair up with someone and together attempt turning the candle into a canary. Remember that this lesson isn't necessarily about the transformation because you have all mastered that; it is about getting all of the traits that you want, such as color and size, correct and precise."
Ron smiled at Hermione and started making his way towards her but Draco grabbed her arm gently and led her to his table. Ron stared at her, confused, but she only shrugged and gave him an apologetic look. The Slytherins eyed Draco suspiciously but Blaise quickly confirmed them that it all had to do with the bet. He knew better though; he knew that Draco's feelings had interfered with the bet long before he had told him he wanted nothing to do with it.
"Watch yourself," Blaise mouthed to Draco. The blonde nodded slightly.
"I hope Weasley isn't too upset I've stolen you for the rest of the period," Draco said.
"Don't worry about it. Any particular reason though? You've never been so bold to do something like this," said Hermione, pointing her wand at the candle. With a swish and a flick, the candle smoothly started sprouting wing and a beak. It had turned into a pretty, yellow canary with a few orange feathers. Hermione let it perch of her finger and she put it into a cage.
"I thought we were supposed to do this together?"
She shrugged. "She'll never know the difference. I wanted to get it over with so we can talk. Besides, I'm confident you could do the spell just as well."
"Well done. 5 points to Gryffindor and 5 points to Slytherin," McGonagall said, as she passed their table.
"Told you," Hermione smiled.
Draco returned the smile. "Well, I wanted to work with you so I can ask you if you wanted to hang out tonight. I want to spend some time with you."
"Sure but we can't do anything very special in the castle."
"Don't worry about it. I've got something in mind."
"It's a date then."
Hermione tried on numerous outfits that night. She sighed in exasperation as she threw a purple shirt behind her and continued rummaging through her trunk.
"Calm down," Ginny said. "You'll find something. Besides, you can go wearing Dumbledore's clothing and he'll still see you as precious."
"I just want to make his jaw drop, you know?" Hermione muttered, running a hand through her neatly curled hair.
"Well, you can exaggerate a bit and wear a dress or something."
"I want to look like a sex kitten."
Ginny giggled loudly. "You are something special. Just do your usual subtle and sexy approach!"
"Okay, okay," Hermione said.
Finally, she decided on an outfit. She was wearing an extremely short jean mini-skirt. It had a nice rugged and worn look to it. She slipped on dark green flats and a matching v-neck shirt. White beads adorned her neck and she wore matching bracelets and earrings. Her hair was very curly but soft to the touch. For the first time, she put on eye shadow. It was a soft, gold color and she made sure to not over exaggerate with it. She finished herself off with black eyeliner, mascara, reddish gloss to her lips, and a spell that gave her lasting rosy cheeks.
Ginny whistled. "Gosh Hermione, you look great. Way to make a man drool!"
She blushed. "Oh please, Ginevra."
"Seriously though. He's going to fall flat on his face."
"Well, I hope not. He's picking me up in a few minutes through my window on his broom."
"That buffoon better fly well."
Hermione laughed gently. "You're telling me. I wonder what's going to happen. He's never actually asked me on a date."
"Well, if you're going to gain anything good besides even more revenge, get a damn good shag."
"Ginevra Weasley!"
"Oh shutup."
Just as Hermione was going to retaliate, she heard a gentle tapping on her window. Ginny and her turned to see Draco hovering on his broom, rose in hand.
"You have got to be kidding me," Ginny muttered, with a giggle. "He's being romantic with you. This is hilarious, what a fucking riot."
"Shush!" Hermione said sternly, heading towards to the window. "I'll see you later on." She opened the window and was about to start climbing out but Draco reached in, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her out. He mounted her on the back of his broom and closed the window.
"Hold on tight," he whispered in her ear. Hermione looked into the dorm one last time to see Ginny turning slightly purple from holding in her laugh.
"You're a really good flyer," Hermione commented as he soared through the sky.
"Thank you," he answered. He flew towards the Black Lake and as they got closer, her eyes widened in surprise.
Draco had set up a late night picnic for them. There was a red blanket on the floor and another fuzzy black one beside it. On the red one there were all sorts of desserts and he had not forgotten her favorite—cherries and ice cream.
"Darling, this is so sweet," she found herself saying.
"It's nothing. You look gorgeous," Draco said, placing the rose in her hair, behind her ear. He kissed her tenderly and then kissed her nose. "C'mon."
Hermione couldn't believe how different he was being. Her heart ached. Could she really break this boy's heart? I already am. She sat beside him on the red blanket and instead, he pulled her between his legs. He pulled the plate of cherries and ice cream towards them.
"You're a man of very little words tonight," she commented. "No drawl, no smirk, no sexual innuendos…"
"I'm appreciating having you around," Draco answered. He brought a cherry to her lips and pulled the stem off for her.
"How do you feel about me?"
"I feel many things. I don't want to pinpoint them just yet."
"Is this going beyond sex then?"
Draco nuzzled her neck. "Far beyond, babe."
No more words were exchanged between them for a long time. They ate the desserts and he would pause for long periods of time to play with her hair. He buried his nose into her hair and took in her scent. Soon they put away all of the empty bowls and they lay on the red blanket. Draco pulled the black one over both of them and brought Hermione close to him.
Hermione put her head on his chest and he continued to twirl strands of her hair in his fingers. Her hands went under his shirt and she let the tips of her fingers trail along his stomach. Draco put a finger under her chin and lifted her face up to his. He kissed her deeply and pulled her on top of him. He kissed her bottom lip repeatedly and then placed kisses along her jaw line.
She placed her hands in his hair and whimpered slightly when he pulled away. Hermione straddled him and was about to pull off her shirt when Draco stopped her.
"You don't want to…?" she asked, very confused.
"I don't want it to be about sex tonight. I want it to matter."
"Oh?" Hermione was extremely taken aback. "That's a first."
"Yeah, well…I want a lot of things to change between us," Draco explained. He played with her fingers as he spoke.
"That so? Such as…?"
"That status of our relationship."
Hermione's eyebrows shot up. "Right now we are…?"
"Well, two people who argue and shag. We're nothing really but I don't see you as nothing."
"You see me as…?"
Draco laughed lightly. "I only hear questions out of you. What do you want between us?"
"I want…what you want darling."
"Well, I want us to be happy together. I really care about you and I understand I've been harsh but…I want everything to change between us."
"What are you saying?" Hermione asked.
"I've asked you out before but now I'm putting my pride aside and doing it again."
"Oh, I…umm…"
"Look, I don't want it to be forced," said Draco.
"It's not…I'm just taken aback again."
Hermione stared at him, wide-eyed. The first time he asked her to be his girlfriend she had narrowly missed it but this time it was serious. He wanted to commit and the sincere look in his gray eyes was making her heart wrench. Am I really going to do this? I could either break his heart now or wait to inflict more pain and do it later. Images of Draco calling her Mudblood flashed through her head. The scene in the library where they wagered her heart for 1,000 galleons was playing in her head like an old movie and she was angered. Her blood started to boil and it took every muscle in her body to restrain herself from scowling and slapping him. I want to hurt you, you insignificant piece of nothing. I want to dominate your heart, your mind, your everything. The power I have over you is all I fucking need to get through this and break you.
"Hermione? Baby, are you alright?" Draco asked. He was staring at her, right eyebrow raised.
"Huh? What?"
"You've been staring off at the sky."
"I was lost in thought."
"About your answer?"
"Yes," Hermione smiled. "I accept. I want to be yours."