Losing It

After sending off a quick note to Ginny, explaining that she'd made her choice and was letting the men know first (something she was sure Ginny would protest), Hermione moved to her closet to pick out the perfect outfit for the day. It might even end with her losing her virginity - she didn't know how it would actually work now that she'd made a choice - so she at least wanted to make sure she had matching underwear.

Dressed in her favorite skinny jeans, a loose fitting, navy, sleeveless blouse, she applied the slightest touch of makeup and used her wand to tame her curls. Happy with the end result, she took a deep breath and tried to give herself a pep talk before she left the house.

She'd decided last night, after her date with Harry, that she wouldn't put off her decision as it was already made, and that owls were not appropriate. She had to tell them in person whom she'd chosen. They deserved that. Besides, she hoped to salvage some sort of relationship with the loser if at all possible.

As much as she knew what she had to do, she had been in the process of chickening out all day. It wasn't that she was unsure of her choice. She felt, deep inside, that she'd made the right choice. She just didn't want to ruin her relationship with the other. Sighing heavily, she made her way to the Floo. Activating it, she threw in the Floo powder and shouted, "Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place." Harry was the first stop.

She was glad to find him awake when she got there. It was a little past nine, and Harry wasn't known for being an early riser. Then again, he probably had to cart Teddy off to Andromeda's early. She'd forgotten about that. She hoped the little boy wasn't still there.

"Hermione!" Harry cried in surprise when he saw her exit his Floo.

Hermione smiled and kissed him on both cheeks. "Morning Harry. I should have warned you I was coming," she blushed. "Teddy's not here, still. Is he?"

"No, I just sent him off. What's up?" Harry asked. He was nervous, she could tell, but he was trying to hide it.

"Shall we sit?" Hermione asked.

"Okay," Harry smiled timidly. "I'll make us some tea. Just go on in the living room." Hermione did as she was told, and waited for Harry to return. With the power of magic, he did in less than a minute.

"So," he said, with a sigh, preparing his own tea while Hermione did hers. "I take it this is the moment of truth." She could tell he just wanted to fill the awkward silence, so she nodded and took a sip of her tea before clearing her throat.

"I've made a decision," she said, looking him directly in the eye.

"That was rather fast," Harry said. He hoped the reason was because she was so swept off her feet yesterday that she didn't need any more time to think.

"Yes," Hermione answered as she pursed her lips. "Okay, Harry. I'm going to start from the beginning. It's the best place to start." Harry just nodded and Hermione set her tea down.

"When I started this, I had initial feelings about all the bidders. As I knew all of them, I had certain emotions when I read their letters. From the very beginning, the three people that evoked the strongest reaction from me were you, Severus, and Draco." Harry shifted uncomfortably, but nodded. "I'm telling you all of this because you are my best friend and I want you to understand where my thought process is coming from." Harry just nodded again.

"I guess it wasn't a surprise that I narrowed the list of men down to you three. Ginny warned me that my initial reactions were important and I should have paid more attention to them. With Severus, I was excited to explore the relationship we never had that summer we lived here. With Draco, I'd had a crush on the boy in some form since I was eleven. And with you...well, I was terrified and excited all at the same time," Hermione said with a smile.

"Terrified?" Harry asked, needing some clarification.

"Yes, Harry. I was terrified that you only wanted to protect me from myself. I was terrified that if we went down this path, I'd lose the most important person in my life. Of course, after our first date, I do believe you would try not to let that happen," she added. When Harry nodded, she continued.

"It was amazing. You've been such a big part of my life for so long, but you were always off limits in my mind as far as romance." Harry smiled at her. "You proved me wrong. We could have both, easily."

"So, I was down to three. Because, honestly those first dates with the three of you were amazing in their own way, and I couldn't decide. Snape pulled himself out of the running, and I think he was right to do so. As much as I respect and admire him, I think the spark we had wasn't as bright as it once was," Hermione explained.

She took a deep breath, knowing that now was the moment of truth. "It was down to you and Draco. Two mortal enemies that tugged on different parts of my heart." She felt tears coming to her eyes but she had to keep them in. "You have always been my rock. You are a comfort to me, and being with you would be so easy. We'd probably have ten kids and they'd all be Gryffindors and it would be beautiful," she said, sniffling slightly.

"But..." Harry breathed, feeling his heart pounding harder in his chest.

"But as easy as it would be...I...I can't help how I feel for him. He's...Oh, Harry, I don't want to hurt you," she cried, finally letting tears slip past her eyelids.

"You want him," Harry said, letting her choice wash over him.

"Part of me knows I should choose you," Hermione explained, "and I know I could even be happy if I did. But a bigger part of me is begging to give him a chance, and I'm not sure I could forgive myself if I didn't. That is, unless it will ruin our friendship. If you can't deal with this...you know your friendship is the most important thing to me," she sniffled again. She couldn't look at him.

Harry watched his friend tremble in front of him and his heart broke. Moving from his chair to sit next to her on the couch, he pulled her into his arms. "Hermione," he breathed into her ear, "I don't want you to choose me because you are afraid to lose me," he said. "I do want you, I have for years. You are beautiful, and wickedly smart, and brave…but as I told you from the beginning, if you want him, you have to choose him. As much as it hurts, I understand. I really do."

Hermione looked up at Harry and, seeing the truth in his eyes, threw her arms around him. "I'm sorry, Harry. I wanted it to be you. I really did."

"I know, Hermione," Harry said, rubbing her back. "I'm here for you. If he does anything to hurt you, I'll kill him."

Hermione chuckled through her tears at that. "Thanks, Harry."

"I love you, Hermione. No matter what. It will be hard to see you with him, but I'll get over it," Harry said seriously. "Maybe now I can move on myself."

"I hope so, Harry. I want you to be happy," Hermione said, wiping her eyes.

"Come on, let's finish our tea," Harry said, moving back to his side of the table. Hermione nodded, fixing her face before she went back to her tea.

Hermione ended up eating breakfast with Harry because she couldn't bring herself to leave him right after dropping the bomb on him. By eleven, though, she knew she needed to speak with Draco. She was much more excited about that conversation.

She Apparated to the gates of Malfoy Manor and gave herself another pep talk as she walked herself to the front door. This time, her trepidation was not from fear of losing her best friend, but fear she'd have a nervous breakdown entering the house where she'd been tortured all those years ago. 'You can do this', she muttered to herself before reaching up to knock loudly on the huge wooden door.

The place didn't seem as ominous as it had the previous time she'd been there. Perhaps it had changed, or maybe it was just the circumstances, or the daylight that changed it.

A full minute passed before the door creaked open, and Hermione was surprised to find that it wasn't a house-elf that opened the door, but a young man wearing butler robes. "Good morning," she smiled brightly at him.

"May I help you, madam?" the man asked politely.

"I'm here to speak with Draco," Hermione said, peering around the man's shoulder. She thought she saw a flash of blonde.

"Miss Granger?" Lucius asked, pushing the door open to reveal himself next to the butler. "Do come in," he said, dismissing the man standing next to him. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

His smile was bright and Hermione was glad to note that he wasn't taking her rejection personally. Not that she had ever thought it would. "I wanted to speak with Draco, actually," she said, looking at everything other than his face. She was confident in her choice, but it was still awkward to consider that she had made out with Draco's dad.

"Certainly," Lucius said, with a warm smile. He muttered an incantation and soon, Draco was walking toward the both of them.

"Hermione, what are you doing here?" he asked, eyes wide with something that looked a lot like worry.

"I wanted to talk to you," she said, looking him directly in the eyes.

"Oh," Draco said, nodding in understanding. "I could have met you somewhere," he replied awkwardly. "Do you mind?" he asked pointedly, looking at his father who was still standing there.

Lucius just chuckled. "Okay, I'll be in my office if either of you need me," he said before turning and leaving the entryway.

"Shall we go somewhere more comfortable?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione, I...I understand if you aren't comfortable here. We...I can take you somewhere," Draco stuttered.

"No," Hermione said firmly. "I can do this. I need to do this."

Draco nodded in understanding before taking her by the hand and leading her to his own lounge. It was far away from the room where she was tortured and she was grateful for that.

Once seated, Draco snapped his fingers and a small house-elf, wearing clothes appeared with a tray of tea and biscuits. "Before you have a heart attack," Draco said, "they are free and paid."

Hermione just smirked and took a bite out of one of the cookies. "So, I think you know why I'm here," she said.

"Yes, you've made your choice," Draco said. If possible, he looked even more nervous than Harry did. She smiled at that. She had hoped his feelings for her were as strong as hers were. By the looks of his shaking hand as he stirred his tea, he was not unaffected by her.

"Yes," Hermione said. "I'm going to explain my reasoning first though; I think it's important." She gave him a similar summary of events that she'd given Harry about her initial feelings about the first letters.

"Then," she continued, "as you know it came down to you and Harry. Both of you stirred up passion in me. I was surprised to find that I could have that with Harry. With you, it made sense. We've always had an intense relationship." Draco just nodded, and she saw him swallow hard. He must have misinterpreted what she was saying.

"I know you don't want to hear about Harry, but it's important that you understand my reasoning so there is no doubt," Hermione said.

"I get it. He has the history," Draco said, his voice disappointed.

"Yes, he does. But we do too," Hermione said quickly. "With Harry, it was safe and comfortable. With you...it's...amazing..." she smiled, and his head snapped up to look at her.

"Are you saying?" he asked, his eyes wide with surprise. Hermione couldn't remember a time she'd ever seen him so vulnerable.

"I'm saying that I want to see where this is going. I've decided that I want to give you my virginity, and I hope that it leads to a lot more than that," Hermione said, taking a long sip of tea, hoping to calm her own nerves.

His shocked expression turned into one of elation as he moved off the couch and picked her up into his arms. "You aren't going to regret this," he breathed against her. "Merlin, I was so sure you'd picked Potter."

"It was hard," Hermione said, pulling back to look at him seriously. "But after my date with him, I didn't feel like I'd lost control. That night we watched movies, I was so close to letting you take me, and I knew that had to mean something. I didn't feel that with him."

Draco leaned down and kissed her, delving his tongue into the hot cavern of her mouth as he pulled her closer again. "When you talk like that, it makes me want to do naughty things to you," he said.

"You have my permission, you know," Hermione said, cocking her eyebrow at him.

Draco shook his head. "This might have started as an auction, but you are my girl now. I'm not going to simply have sex with you to get it over with. It's going to be romantic and spontaneous."

Hermione chuckled. "Okay, dear," she said, and he rolled his eyes at her. "But, just so you know, I've been holding onto my virginity for twenty-six years. Now that I've found someone to give it to, I'm not itching to hold onto it much longer."

"Noted," Draco said. "Let me take you out to dinner tonight. A real date in a real restaurant."

"Okay," Hermione smiled, kissing him again on the lips. It quickly turned heated and Hermione moaned against him. "I have to go talk to Ginny before she has a conniption."

Draco laughed, "Why don't I go with you. I wanted to talk to Adrian anyway." Hermione smiled and nodded, letting him lead her to the Floo near the entrance of the Manor.

"Spill," Ginny demanded when she saw Draco walk into the living room to greet Adrian.

"I think you can figure out what happened," Hermione said, trying to look serious. Somehow, she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"Yes, but how did Harry take it?" Ginny asked.

"With class," Hermione said. "I explained to him that it was just a matter of chemistry and that I would choose him if he really didn't think our friendship could survive this. He wanted me to be with Draco, though. He said that he thinks he might be able to move on now."

"Wow, he's a good guy," Ginny said. "How did we let him get away?"

Hermione laughed. "Two Slytherins snatched us up," she said.

"Oh yeah," Ginny laughed.

"Congratulations, my good man." Adrian said, slapping his friend on the back.

"I still can't believe she picked me," Draco replied. "Don't run off and tell the others, but I think I could love her. I mean, really, truly love her."

Adrian smirked at his friend. "You think they don't know? Draco, you've been acting like a love-sick puppy since this whole thing started."

Draco frowned. "Don't worry, it will wear off," Adrian said. "You know how I was with Ginny at the beginning. The longer you are together, the more comfortable you get. Then it becomes something even more amazing. But right now, it's new and exciting."

"That's for sure," Draco said. "I've just never done relationships, except with Pansy, and that really doesn't count."

Adrian laughed, "True."

"Well, I just wanted to come by and say 'hi' and flaunt my winnings," Draco chuckled. "I'd better go though. I've got a hot date tonight."

Draco kissed Hermione goodbye before leaving and Flooed back home.

"So, I'm going to find out anyway," Hermione said, sipping her coffee as they waited for dessert. Dinner had been fun and relaxing, and with the exception of one photographer, relatively press free. "How much did you end up bidding?"

Draco smirked. "Thirteen million galleons," he said. Her eyes doubled and she chuckled.

"Wow. Wonder whom the fifteen million came from?" She said more to herself.

"Already thinking about trading me in?" Draco joked. Hermione just rolled her eyes.

"No, I just can't believe that men actually put that high a price on virginity. It's kind of sick."

"Well, I think Blaise and my father were the only ones in this whole thing looking just for the sex," Draco reasoned. "And you are worth far more than thirteen million galleons."

Hermione smiled. "You're so charming, Malfoy."

"Back to Malfoy?" he asked.

Hermione just giggled, taking a forkful of the chocolate cake that the waiter placed between them. "Mmmm," she moaned, her eyes rolling into the back her head.

"You are going to make a bloke crazy if you keep licking your fork like that," Draco said bluntly. Her eyes went wide again before she laughed too.

"No one has ever talked to me like that before," Hermione admitted. "Thank you for being yourself with me."

"Well, I've already won, haven't I?" Draco smirked. "I don't need to be charming anymore."

'Well, you are still charming," Hermione assured him.

She was having a lovely time, but she was getting anxious to take the date to the next level. She couldn't believe how wanton she felt looking at him over the candlelight. "Do you want to get out of here?"

"Sure," Draco said. Placing some money on the table, he took her arm, leading her out of the restaurant and to the Apparition point just outside. Pulling him in, she Apparated them directly into her flat.

"I'll have to change the wards to allow you to do that yourself," she laughed, kicking off her heels. "Want a glass of wine?"

"I'd rather just stay here with you," Draco said, pulling her close to him, and attacking her lips. "Merlin, you are delicious."

"You too," she breathed, pulling him backward toward her bedroom, all while kissing him thoroughly all over his lips, face and neck. Kicking the door open, she pulled him inside.

"Hermione, we don't have to..." Draco breathed, still kissing an intoxicating line down her neck. He didn't want her to feel pressured to do this right now. They could wait as long as she wanted.

Hermione pulled away. "Listen to me, Draco. I want this. I'm not sixteen. I might be a virgin, but I know what I want. Just be gentle the first time," she said, smirking at him seductively.

"Fuck, you are going to be the death of me, woman," Draco groaned pushing her back until her legs hit the edge of the bed and they fell on top of it, a mass of tangled limbs.

His kisses became more fevered and Hermione moaned when she felt his hand move up her dress and dance along her inner thighs. Her hands were already working at the buttons on his shirt and soon she had it stripped off and flung as far away as she could throw. His toned chest was delectable and she leaned up to run her tongue along the ridges of his upper abs. Quidditch did his body good.

"Hermione..." Draco breathed, pulling her closer as her tongue assaulted his skin. He had to get that damned dress off. His fingers itched to touch every inch of her. Reaching behind her, he found the zipper of the dress and slowly pulled it down, trying not to ruin it in haste.

Hermione moved away from him long enough to slowly slide the dress down her body, and Draco nearly came in his trousers when he saw her reveal a black push-up bra and lace knickers. For someone who'd never done this before, she certainly knew how to press all the right buttons.

"Kiss me," Hermione moaned, pulling him back on top of her. She didn't care if she sounded wanton or not. The way Draco was looking at her, she didn't think he minded either.

He settled between her legs and she wrapped them around his waist, groaning when she felt how hard he was against her. He kissed his way down her chest pulling down the cups of her bra until it settled around her waist, locking her arms in place, and her breasts were free for his assault.

"Oh!" Hermione cried as his mouth wrapped around one of her nipples. She couldn't believe how intense it felt. "Yes..." she moaned, holding his head tightly to her chest with the limited movement she still had in her arms. He instinctively began moving against her gently, trying to get rid of some of the tension caused by his trousers. They were getting far too tight. With a sigh of frustration, he moved off her and began to undo his zipper.

Hermione watched him with hungry eyes as he slipped his black, tailored slacks down his legs and kicked them off behind him. She couldn't believe she was about to lose her virginity to this gorgeous man that she'd fantasized about for years. Moreover, by the looks of the tent in his silk boxers, he was just as excited about the prospect.

"Come here," she said in a husky voice, reaching out to pull him back to the bed. She'd removed her bra completely while he was getting rid of his trousers and now he had free access to explore all the way down to the top of her knickers.

"These have to go," he groaned, hooking his fingers into the sides of the lace. He pulled them down in one clean motion. Hermione felt slightly self-conscious but pushed the thought aside. It was just new, she'd get used to it, she hoped. "So, fucking beautiful," Draco moaned, kissing up her thighs.

He gently pushed her thighs apart taking in the sight of her already wet core. "I want to taste you."

Hermione's pussy contracted at his words and all she could do was moan in response. He took that as a 'yes' and dove in, licking her slit in one long, slow stroke. He did this twice more before stopping at her clit and licking a circular pattern against the hood.

"Oh Merlin!" Hermione moaned, throwing her head back and reaching down to run her fingers through Draco's, now, unruly hair. "So good..." she groaned, as his tongue moved harder and faster against her. Everything felt so real and intense. She didn't know it would be like this. She didn't know she'd feel so...amazing.

He loved the taste of her. Originally, he'd decided to do this for her for two reasons. One, to ease her into her first orgasm, and two, to make her wetter so it wouldn't hurt as much when he finally entered her. But damn, he could stay between her thighs all day.

The moans and gasps she was making were enough to drive him wild, and when he changed the motion of his tongue he was almost bucked off the bed when she came, screaming his name. It sounded exquisite on her lips.

Hermione had never felt that kind of intense explosion before and she wanted another one. Pulling him back up her body, she kissed him forcefully on the mouth. She could taste her wetness on his lips and moaned again. She'd never felt like this before. She didn't even know how to describe it. Sex had always just been a thing to her. Not all that important, rarely thought of. But with Draco, it was all she could think about. "That was amazing."

"That was just the beginning," Draco promised, loving how free she was in bed. He had really been concerned that the first time would be awkward because she was inexperienced. However, it seemed the books she'd read, or something, had prepared her for it, at least a bit.

"Are you ready for me?" Draco asked, looking up into her eyes with a deep intensity that made her shiver. Hermione nodded hesitantly.

"It's going to hurt," she said. It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes," Draco said, "but I'll be gentle." Hermione smiled and nodded at him, moving her feet to push down his underwear. After he kicked them to the floor, they both moaned when the slick, wet tip of his naked cock pressed against her now dripping folds. He grabbed his wand from the side table and used it to mutter the Contraceptive Charm and she smiled, glad that he remembered. She'd certainly been too preoccupied to remember any precautions.

Draco kissed her deeply as he took his shaft in hand and directed his swollen cock to her entrance. Dipping the head slightly in, he allowed her wetness to coat him before moving back to her opening. "Ready?" he asked.

Hermione just nodded, and held his shoulders tight. In one swift movement, Draco plunged into her, breaching her barrier, and stilling inside her. "Oh!" Hermione cried out in surprise. It hurt more than she thought, but it wasn't unbearable.

"Tell me when you are okay," Draco said, his voice strained and barely audible. She was so hot, wet, and tight; he thought he might come without even thrusting.

"Try moving," Hermione groaned, wiggling her hips against him. He was large and it felt uncomfortable, but it felt good too. It was hard to explain. Draco pulled out slowly and moved back in, causing them both to groan.

"Right there," Hermione moaned. He'd hit something inside her that made her see stars. Draco thrust into her again at the same angle. "Yes..." she hissed.

"I'm not going to last long," Draco groaned, thrusting a little faster. "I'm sorry; I've just wanted this for so long..."

"Me too," Hermione nodded, digging her nails into his back. She could still feel the aftershocks of her first orgasm and knew she wouldn't last much longer either. "I'm close too." He slipped his hand between the two of them and tweaked her clit, causing her to tighten around him. "Draco!" She moaned, arching her back and meeting his thrusts finally.

"Can you take it harder?" He asked, not wanting to push her too hard to fast.

"Yes, please harder!" Hermione moaned, and felt that tingling feeling growing in the pit of her stomach again. Draco gripped her hips and held her to the bed as he pumped in and out of her faster and harder, his pubic bone hitting her clit with every deep thrust.

"Hermione, fuck, I'm going to come," Draco warned.

"Me...OHHHHH!" Hermione moaned, "Draco!" she shouted, clinching tightly around him. He thought his cock would break off, but it felt so amazing he spilled himself inside her moaning her name over and over like a prayer before eventually halting inside her.

He finally collapsed to the side of her, pulling her into his chest. "Wow," Hermione said, her breath still coming out in pants.

"Worth every cent." Draco said.

Hermione punched him playfully on the arm, and he chuckled at her. "Draco," she said, looking up at him after she'd finally collected herself, "that was perfect. Thank you."

"I should be thanking you," Draco said. "I'm not letting you go, Granger," he said seriously.

"It's back to Granger?" Hermione asked.

"Like I said, you'll always be Granger to me." Hermione smiled and kissed him before snuggling in to him again.