Disclaimer: Spoilers - I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 20
Pansy watched Draco and Hermione from her seat next to Luna. She saw Draco turn and say something to Hermione that made her blush, and Pansy grinned widely.
"Well, would you look at that!" Ginny laughed. "After all this time, all it took was a muggle children's game to get them to spend time together."
Pansy laughed, "I can't wait to hear Hermione's reaction to this."
"She'll be inwardly crazed, but will try to appear as if she's not freaking out about it," Luna predicted. "We all saw her face in Charms. She's at a loss."
"I know," Ginny agreed. "It must be so weird for her."
"What do you mean?" Pansy asked as she reached for a piece of chicken.
Luna forked up some peas, "She's used to being in control and knowing everything. She's completely out of her element with men, though. Like being a nargle expert in a room full of wrackspurts, I expect."
"What's a nargle?" a young Slytherin girl asked from beside Ginny.
Ginny laughed, "Oh, uh, just a small creature, nothing to worry about. So, tell me about yourselves."
Each of the students at their table took turns introducing themselves, but Pansy tuned them out as she saw Ron's table. She looked at each of the people and saw a pretty blonde fourth year she recognized as a Ravenclaw quidditch player, a pair of dainty and dark-haired twins from Hufflepuff. Then, to her horror, Lavender Brown and Padma Patil. Realization brought on despair.
"They're all girls!"
"Who's all girls?" Ginny asked in confusion.
"His whole table!" Pansy answered indignantly.
Knowing Pansy's fixation on Ron, both Ginny and Luna looked around quickly trying to locate Ron's table.
"Ugh! Lavender?" Ginny exclaimed.
"The twins are very pretty," Luna added.
"Thank you, Luna. I hadn't noticed!" Pansy snapped.
Luna smiled benignly, "You're welcome."
Ginny rolled her eyes and stretched to look at the rest of the people at Ron's table. "Well, at least the rest are children."
Luna took up a bit of her potatoes before she added, "If it helps Cindy and Sandy are both gay and Ron really can't stand Marietta. She always scores on him and rubs it in. Not to mention she betrayed the DA back in fifth year."
Pansy turned to Luna with hope in her eyes, "And, the blonde?"
Luna shrugged, "No idea."
Ginny reached out and patted Pansy's hand, "She can't hold a candle to you, Pans."
"Thanks," Pansy mumbled, her eyes trained on Ron.
A third year Hufflepuff at their table interrupted to ask Ginny a question about gaining and losing house points and Luna had started to hum to herself. Pansy sighed and pushed her food around her plate dejectedly.
A few moments later Luna leaned over and said softly, "Actually, I don't think you have anything to worry about. He's too busy watching Draco and Hermione's every move to pay any attention to the pretty, little blonde."
Pansy turned to see that Luna was right and smiled when she noted the sheepish look on Hermione's face and the pleased look on Draco's. Then, as if attached by magnets, her eyes were pulled back to Ron and she sighed heavily.
xxxxxx
"So, when are you going to stop staring daggers at your last ex and focus on your first?" Lavender purred beside Ron.
He stopped himself from pushing her hand off his arm and glanced in her general direction, "I was listening to you."
"Well, what did I just say then?" she asked huffily.
"Um, something about class," he guessed.
Lavender rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "Which class?"
"Does it matter," Ron mumbled under his breath. Then he turned to fully face her, "Look Lav, I…"
She interrupted him with a smile and leaned closer, pushing her chest up with her arms to enhance her cleavage, "I know. You're not really over her. I knew the rumor that you broke up with her was a lie. Oh, my poor Ronnykins. I'm here for you."
"No, Lavender, it wasn't a rumor. I did break up with her," Ron assured her. "And, I thank you for wanting to, um, be there for me, but, I uh…"
"You're just not ready to date yet?" She sighed. Then she leaned closer and ran her hand down his arm to his hand, "That's okay, Won Won, I'll wait for you."
Ron tried not to look horrified as he sputtered, "Uh, Lavender, I…um…"
"Hi, Ron," a soft voice interrupted from behind. "I, uh…"
He turned to see a flushed face Pansy standing behind his chair, her eyes moving from his face to Lavender's hand on his. He was so happy that he didn't have to continue his conversation with Lavender that he turned and stood with wide smile.
"Hey Pansy, what can I do for you?"
He almost laughed when her eyes lifted to his and her blush deepened, but he kept his face as clear as possible. He knew she was interested in him. How could he not? She placed himself in his path as often as possible and seemed to be everywhere he was. He'd even seen her watching his quidditch practices from a window in the castle. She was pretty, smart, and seemed to be quite a good friend to Hermione and his sister. He hadn't paid any attention to her before this year, hadn't given her any thought at all until she'd tried to turn Harry in the previous year. Then he hadn't given her more thought than to hate her for what she'd done.
Over the summer months his anger had faded during his many talks with Harry and Hermione. He'd come back to school hoping to see changes, good changes. But, he'd never given any thought to making new friends or opening himself up to new experiences. He'd planned for things to just be better.
Getting to know Pansy and her gang of Slytherins hadn't been in his plans at all. But, as he'd admitted to Harry, he was glad he'd found out that both Greg and Theo weren't such bad blokes. He gave no thought whatsoever to Millicent, but had been surprised by the other two males of their group. Blaise, the only Slytherin he'd ever thought might not be evil, had become the world's largest ass and the "blonde ferret" had morphed into some sort of new thing. He wasn't the egocentric prat he had been in the past, and it was getting harder by the day to dislike him. The three things that kept Ron from actually befriending Draco were their shared history, Draco's interest in Hermione, and Harry's continued hatred and mistrust of him.
Pansy had been the biggest surprise. She made him feel things he'd hoped to feel with Hermione. When she turned those dark blue eyes on him he wanted to grant her every wish. And, when she blushed and stammered as she was doing now, he wanted to kiss her shaking lips.
"…so, I thought we could maybe start tonight. If you want, that is. If not, then…"
Ron realized he'd been paying no attention to what she was saying, but took a guess, "Pansy, that sounds great. We can start studying for Charms any time you're ready."
He blinked at the radiant smile on her face as she looked up at him adoringly. He didn't know what he'd done to warrant her interest, but he was glad for whatever it was. He'd let everyone think he was oblivious as he'd sorted through his thoughts on it. He'd also had to check with Hermione to see if she'd be upset with him if he started to date. Their conversation had been awkward as they'd both tried to get the other to admit to wanting to start seeing people first, but they'd done it. Now, he just needed to figure out his next moves.
"I can study anytime, Ro…Ron," she said softly, her eyes never leaving his, her cheeks aflame.
Lavender had finally had enough and put her hand on his arm. She'd already lost Ron to Hermione and she wasn't about to let some Slytherin slut get him. She stood and leaned into his side, "Well, Parkinson, he's eating right now, so you'll just have to wait!"
Pansy's eyes flashed as she turned to Lavender, "Why don't you let him speak for himself, Brown!"
Lavender stepped away from Ron and planted her fists on her narrow hips, "What's it to you, Parkinson?"
Ron saw Pansy pale, but then she lifted her chin to pin the slightly taller, but slimmer woman with her intense stare, "What's it to you, Brown?!"
Ron glanced around to see several students staring as the women's voices rose. He'd never had two women fight over him before and a part of him wanted to make sure everyone saw, but the other part was embarrassed at their display. The worst thing Hermione had done to him out of jealousy was send birds to swarm his head, but at least she hadn't done it in front of the whole school. "Uh, ladies…"
Both ignored him as they stepped closer to one another.
"Well, as his friend, a fellow Gryffindor, and someone who happens to know him intimately, I think I have a right to protect him from greedy, money-grubbing, Voldemort-loving bitches like you!"
"How dare you!" Pansy screeched.
"Oh, I dare, you late side-switching skank!" Lavender screamed back in her face. "Do you think everyone doesn't know what you're up to? Cozying up to Ginny and Hermione! Pretending to like Ron. We know it's all a setup. You and your pathetic, POOR Drakey Poo planning and scheming. Well, I will not let a former Death Eater and his Slytherin slut, get their claws into my…"
"SHUT. UP. You stupid bitch!" Pansy's voice rang out silencing the screaming woman. She slowly moved closer to Lavender and her voice dropped until it was just a hiss. "You will NOT sully my friendship with Ginny and Hermione by trying to spread your evil lies! They know me and like me, so screw you. And, leave Draco out of this. He hasn't got a damn thing to do with how I feel about Ron! All you want is your prize back! Now, that he's rich and famous and single again, you figure he's all yours again. Well, wrong, Brown! He doesn't belong to anyone! He can figure out who he wants to be with without your help. But, I can assure you he wouldn't go back to you if he was imperiussed! Who knows what diseases he might pick up!"
The sound of Lavender's slap rang across the now silent room. The sight of Pansy Parkinson being slapped by Lavender Brown, as Ron Weasley stood by looking lost as to what to do, would be gossip fodder for days.
The slap, the silence, the teachers coming to their feet, the growl from Lavender, Ron heard none of it. All he heard was the shocked gasp from Pansy as her head was forced to the side. After a month of wondering, Ron's decision was instantly made.
He stepped between the two and pushed Pansy behind him, "If you ever raise a hand to her again, you'll be sorry. Your jealousy, while ego-stroking to me when I was younger, is simply ugly now, Lavender. Leave Pansy alone and grow up."
He turned to Pansy and lifted a gentle hand to her face, "Are you okay?"
Her eyes swam with unshed tears as she nodded. But, before she could speak Lavender stepped forward.
"But, Ronnykins…"
Ron stepped away from her outstretched hand and moved closer to Pansy as he spat, "My name is Ronald. That nickname was silly back then, Lavender. It's just pathetic now."
He put his arm around Pansy's waist and turned to leave the table. Only then did he realize that most of their friends had come to stand near them. His eyes collided with Draco's and held. He felt Pansy stiffen next to him and ran his hand up and down her side a bit to reassure her.
"I think we'll grab something in the all-house common room tonight. Pansy and I need to study after we get her face healed," he said to the group, but his eyes never left Draco's.
Ron refused to look away from the blonde man he'd come to not hate completely. He didn't know what it was he saw in the other man's eyes, but he knew he needed to stand his ground.
Everyone else waited to see what the two former enemies would do. The low murmur of voices was heard all around them as people speculated on what Draco would do to Ron or vice versa.
Finally, Draco, his eyes still on Ron, said softly, "Pansy, do you want to go back to the Slytherin common room instead? We can take care of your face there."
Pansy shook her head and smiled softly at her former fiancée, "No, Draco. Thank you. I think I…Ron will…I'll be fine."
Ron finally broke eye contact to look down at the little witch at his side. When her eyes met his, he smiled softly. But, then he noted the handprint on her cheek and his smile fell as he reached up to slide his finger gently over her cheek, "I'll take care of her."
Without another glance at the stunned faces around him, he walked Pansy out of the doors of the Great Hall. Both maintained their silence as they walked out, unsure what to say, now that they'd practically declared themselves a couple in front of the whole school. It wasn't until they reached the doors of the all-house common room that Pansy finally breached the silence.
"Thank you for what you did back there."
Ron turned to look down into her eyes and his stomach clenched at the adoration he saw in her eyes.
"Don't thank me," he said softly. He took her hand in one of his and ran the other gently over the soft skin of her abused cheek, "If it wasn't for me, it wouldn't have happened."
She shook her head, "No, it…"
"It was my fault, Pansy," he said over her, "because I spent too much time thinking about you and me, but not doing anything." When she gasped, he smiled a little, "You thought I didn't notice? I did, Pansy. I noticed. I just wasn't sure what to do about it."
Pansy looked up at him when he didn't say anything else. He was looking at her as she'd hoped he would. "And, now?"
"And, now," he smiled, "I'm done thinking. I'm ready to see where this goes."
"Really?" she asked.
"Really. But, first, we need to heal that cheek," he answered.
"It's fine. It doesn't even hurt all that much."
Ron lifted a red brow to express his disbelief, but only said, "Well, I don't want her handprint messing up your pretty face any longer, so may I?"
Pansy blushed at the compliment and nodded.
When he'd performed the charms to heal both the swelling and the pain, he smiled down at her, "There. All better. Now there's nothing to distract from those beautiful eyes."
Her mouth dropped open in shock, but he could see the smile forming as he turned away.
"Come on. I missed most of dinner and I'm starving," he said as he took her hand and pushed the doors to the all-house common room open. He heard her happy laugh as he pulled her to the back to order some food from the elf behind the counter.
xxxxxx
Back in the Great Hall food was consumed, but no one really paid much attention to what they ate. The conversations all swirled around speculation on what had occurred in their midst. From her table in the front Parvati stirred her tea and watched Lavender sit dejectedly in her chair. She knew her friend was dying of humiliation from being so publicly rejected.
"I should go talk to her," she said to Theo.
He ran his thumb over the back of her hand, but didn't comment. When she turned to look at him he was frowning and shaking his head.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," he mumbled.
"Tell me," she insisted.
He looked at her for a moment and sighed, "It's just depressing. Pansy has done nothing to most of these people. Hell, she never did a thing to anyone until her mistake last year. Now, that's all people know of her. That's all they see and she suffers every day because of it. She's made amends, and she deserves to be happy. Why can't people just leave her alone?"
"Theo," Parvati began, "not everyone thinks like that. Most of us have gotten past it and begun to see who Pansy really is."
He shook his head, "But, most see her, and Draco, and the rest of us, too, I guess, like that. You heard her, 'a former Death Eater and his Slytherin slut'. That's how people see us. That's all they'll ever…"
"No, they, we, don't!" she talked over him. "Yes, Theo, I know there are people whose minds won't change, no matter what, but they don't matter! Can't you see that? The only ones who matter are the ones we love and who love us. There will always be purebloods who hate those with mixed heritage and muggleborns, and, of course, those of us who fought for them. And, there will always be those of us that fought who hate pureblooded bigotry and those that can't let go of it. But, we have to prove them wrong by showing them that blood means nothing. It's who we are and who we prove to be that matters."
He turned and looked into her eyes for a long while before he nodded. Then he grinned and joked, "Says the pureblood to her pureblood boyfriend."
She smiled softly, "Says the very proud blood traitor to her side-switching boyfriend."
He clasped her hand tighter, "Do you think these labels will ever go away, Vati? Will we ever be able to just be us?"
She tightened her grip on his hand as she shook her head, "You're smarter than that, Theo. As long as we have been on this planet people have found a way to make their differences an issue. When they didn't have any, they made them up. Those that want to stay angry and hurtful will never let it die. Those that want to move on will."
"Like Blaise," he said more to himself than her.
She nodded, but didn't answer. Blaise was a sore topic between them and as such, they normally didn't talk about him.
"Go on. Go talk to her," he urged finally. "I'm okay. Just thinking too much, I guess."
"Well, stop and eat your pudding," she smiled softly.
He nodded and she stood to go to her friend. Before she could leave he reached out and grabbed her hand again.
"I love you, Parvati Patil," he said clearly, his eyes searching hers, even as he blushed.
Parvati smiled as tears sprung to her eyes. They'd been together since school started, and it was assumed that they were in love, but neither had actually said it out loud. Without preamble she leaned down and kissed him softly on the lips. She ignored the giggles and catcalls from those around her as she straightened and looked him straight in the eye.
"Theodore Nott, I love you, too. Very much."
He grinned happily and gave her one more kiss before she turned, "I have to go talk to Lavender, but I will wait for you after dinner. Maybe we can go for a walk by the lake or something."
"I'll be waiting," he answered with a pleased smile.
As he watched her walk away, admiring the sway of her hips, he shook his head in awe. It amazed him that he had spent seven years at school with his other half and not known it. She, a Gryffindor through and through, a woman who had fought against his family for her beliefs and the lives of her friends, loved him. She was his anchor; his sanity in a sea of change. She'd not only given him a chance, she'd become his closest friend, his confidante, and she owned his heart.
xxxxxx
"No, no, no," Draco said as he readjusted Hermione's arm. Then he added with a teasing smile, "You have to wiggle your arm a bit more. You know. Like a WORM!"
Hermione she rolled her eyes at him and lowered her arm, "You've been just waiting to use that, haven't you, you prat?"
"For weeks," he laughed and nodded.
"Feel better now?" she asked around the smile she was trying to hold back.
"Not yet," he shook his head. "Maybe one or two…hundred more times and I will."
Hermione shook her head and let the smile come. Then she lifted her arm to continue practicing the charm movements they'd been working on for the better part of an hour. They'd met in the all-house common room a couple of hours after dinner to continue to work on their Charms project as they'd been doing for the past couple of weeks.
"I can't believe you held out that long," she commented after a minute. "I was sure you would find a way to tease me about it quite soon after Daddy said it."
Draco looked at her face as she concentrated on her movements and tilted his head thoughtfully, "Hermione?"
"Yeah?" she asked distractedly as she flicked her wrist just-so.
He blew his hair back off his face and asked, "You don't mind, do you? That I still tease you a bit sometimes?"
Her curls swung back and forth as she shook her head, "No, Draco. You don't do it the same way you used to. You're not…"
He watched as her arm stopped moving for a fraction of a second and she winced a little. Then she blew out a breath and went back to practicing as if nothing had happened.
When she didn't seem to want to finish the sentence he prompted her quietly, "What am I not?"
Hermione dropped her arm and turned her head to look at him seriously as she sighed, "I was going to say you're not mean any more."
"And? I thought that would be a good thing." He made it sound like a joke, but the look in his eyes, the tightness of his features and the tension in his body made his vulnerability clear to her.
"It is," she smiled a little at him. The she moved over to sit next to him on couch. They had taken over a quiet corner near the back and as it was so late, there were very few students in the large room with them.
"I just didn't want to bring all that back up again," she confessed, her hands clenched her lap. "I mean, things have…I mean we've been…"
He reached out and put his hand on her clenched ones and her eyes met his. This time though, when her eyes dilated, he wasn't worried that it was fear and smiled a little at her. "I was an ass, Hermione, and I know it. I also know everyone's waiting for me to go back to being that guy. But, I promise you, this is me now. I have no desire to hurt anyone anymore, especially not you."
"I know," she almost whispered. Then she cleared her throat and broke eye contact to glance around nervously, "But, you're…and I'm…Gods! This is ridiculous! Why do I get so stupid around you?!"
Draco was shocked when she surged to her feet, put her fists to her eyes in frustration and actually stamped her foot as she continued, "This is ridiculous! I am an intelligent woman, dammit! I know how to make full sentences and I even use the big words. I am the most accomplished witch in this school and I can't even do a simple spell around you without my hands shaking! I liked Ron for years and never had trouble with my school work!"
Then she whirled on him and her angry eyes met his confused ones, "Why does being alone with you do this to me, now? You never affected me before. Now, I sound like a twittering, giggly idiot! I can't complete a damn thought. You look at me with those eyes and I get lightheaded, for Merlin's sake. Everything I know just flies away and I'm tired of it! This has to stop. I'm acting like…like Lavender!"
Draco's laugh bubbled up as he realized she was honestly confused by her reaction to him. Self-preservation made him hold it back and keep a straight face as he slowly stood and moved in front of her.
"Okay, calm down," he said softly.
"I will not calm down, Draco Malfoy! You can't tell me what to do! I will be as upset as I…oomph."
He felt her body tense immediately and waited with his lips against hers, for her to push him away. Then she relaxed against him and in response he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. His brain was buzzing with so many thoughts he had trouble concentrating. However, there was one that rang the loudest; he was finally kissing her. Hermione Granger. He was kissing Hermione Granger! He was kissing someone who, less than a year ago, he had almost thrown to the Dark Lord. The one person who, now, he wanted to protect against everything he had been, everything he feared he might still be.
It was that thought that made him pull away quickly; so quickly she lost her balance and fell forward into him.
"I'm sorry," he rushed to say.
Hermione blinked up at him owlishly as she asked, "Why? That was fantastic!"
"Of course it was," he said without any trace of the pride the words suggested. "But, I'm sorry."
Hermione's eyes finally cleared as she focused on his anguished face.
"Draco, I'm confused," she said slowly. "I was the one having the freak out. What exactly are you sorry about?"
"I kissed you," he answered as if it were a crime.
"And," she prompted, completely confused.
"And, I," he began. Then he ran his hands through his hair as he stepped back from her, "I'm…and you're…I mean, things have…I mean we've been…"
Her giggle stopped him, "Now, you sound like I did a moment ago."
When he just stopped and stared at her, she stepped forward until her chest almost brushed his, "Do it again."
"Huh?"
"Kiss me again," she demanded.
"What? Why?" he asked, genuinely perplexed.
She took the final step that had her flush against him, even though her hands stayed at her sides. She opened and closed her mouth, then closed her eyes briefly before looking up at him.
Taking another breath she raised on hand to his face, "Because I need to know it was real, that you might feel, um, something other than friendship for me. I need to know this isn't just some…And, you need to know that is was okay; that you're okay. You aren't the same boy. I'm not the same girl. I want you to oomph."
She laughed a little at his abruptness, but then sobered as the same feelings she'd felt the first time coursed through her again. She knew in some part of her that she was being silly analyzing it as she was, but she couldn't stop. When she felt his hands slide up her hips to grip her waist and shuddered against him, she realized the stories were true. You could get goose bumps from one of his kisses. Then one of his hands slid higher and his thumb slid slowly back and forth on the underside of her breast and, she heard her own moan. Another truth, your heart could pound so hard in your own ears that it drowned out all other noise.
Then he pulled away slowly and stepped back and she knew one last truth. You could miss someone's touch.
"I won't hurt you," he said softly, his eyes searching hers. "I know you've heard…"
"Stop," she answered with a smile. "New beginnings for all of us. That past is just that, Draco."
He searched her face for a moment before he nodded and a small smirk formed.
"What?" she asked warily.
"I just kissed the VP, the Queen Know-It-All of Gryffindor," he said teasingly as he moved back close to her and his arms stole back around her. "Twice."
She smacked his chest lightly, even as she grinned, "And, I just kissed the 'Oh-so-great' Slytherin Prince."
"And?" he asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
"And, what?" she asked as she tried to look confused as she held back her smile.
"Don't tease me, witch," he laughed. Then he searched her eyes again and nervously asked, "Was it, I mean, did you like, um…"
Hermione's face went from teasing to shocked as she watched him stumble over his words and redden, "But, you're, you've, I mean everyone says you're… Wait, you haven't…"
He pulled back and looked away, "Well, my last couple of years have been a bit busy, now haven't they?"
Hermione closed her mouth with a snap as she thought about that. He had been a bit too busy trying not to kill or be killed to have had as many trysts as she'd heard. She also correctly assumed his pride would have been too great to divulge his apparent innocence to anyone. A slow smile formed when the reality hit her that Draco Malfoy had basically just confessed to being a virgin. To her.
"I stand by my first statement," she said as she reached out and took his hand.
His head snapped up and his eyes met hers in question and unease. She decided to give him a bit of his pride back.
"It was fantastic, Draco. And, I look forward to doing it again soon."
She saw him breathe a sigh of relief, even as he raised a cocky eyebrow at her and pulled her against his chest again, "Don't you want to know what I thought of you?"
"Not really," she laughed a little as she pulled back from him. "Come on. We still have studying to do."
Draco let her go, but watched her closely. When she'd sat back against the sofa and pulled the large spell book onto her lap, he sat down beside her and said her name softly. She didn't look up and only acknowledged that he'd spoken with a soft grunt.
"It was amazing," he confessed softly. When her eyes lifted to his, he nodded and scooted over closer to her. "Wanna try again?"
When she didn't answer immediately he moved closer to loom over her, but her hand on his chest stopped his movement.
"We need to study," she smiled up at him.
He eased back a bit and because she didn't seem upset he teased, "I thought you couldn't think clearly with me around."
She laughed, "Well, now that the sexual tension has dissipated, I can concentrate on work again."
"Only you would put it that way," he shook his head. She shrugged and looked back down at her book which made him gawk at her, "Wait! Are you serious?"
She looked over at him with a puzzled smile, "Yes, why?"
"Just like that?"
"Well, yeah," she nodded. "I mean, now that it's done and we both know what to expect, the wondering about when and if and how is behind us. Now, we can focus again."
He laughed and reached out to toy with a curl on her shoulder, "You have so much to learn."
"What do you mean?"
Draco moved slowly closer as he answered softly, "I mean, Ms. Granger, that despite my earlier, uh, confession, I do still have a lot to teach you."
Her voice shook a bit as she stared into his predatory gaze, "Abou…about what?"
He looked down at her lips as she spoke, "About what to expect, when, where and how. I assure you, we are nowhere near done."
"Draco, I…" she began.
"Shhh," he said. Then he leaned into her and whispered against her lips. "I need to show you something."
Before she could ask what, his lips were once again covering hers. This time she was prepared for the assault on her senses and relaxed back against the sofa arm. It wasn't like when Ron had kissed her, it was so much more all-consuming. Ron's lips had been fuller, but with a lot less pressure, and she'd always felt a sense of contentment. Draco's kiss was very different. It was like he was drinking from her lips; worshipping them. His tongue caressed hers. And, the low growl in his throat made her want to purr in response.
Then he slid his lips across her cheek to her ear and his hand moved up her body slowly. She started a little and grasped his shoulders tighter when he ran his tongue around the shell of her ear and laid his hand over her breast.
He felt her stiffen against him, but when she didn't pull away, or push him away, he whispered, "Relax."
Hermione shivered as his warm breath blew across her ear, and glanced around to make sure they were still alone. "Draco, maybe we should…"
In answer he trailed kisses down her neck and slid his fingers back and forth over her breast, feeling the nipple harden and grow beneath her shirt. When he heard her sharp intake of breath he smiled to himself and went back to her lips. As her tongue tentatively met his, he groaned and shifted to get closer, his hand now more firm against her.
"…said they would be studying together, so, oh! Oh my!" Pansy's voice cut through their fog.
Draco jumped back from Hermione and she bolted up straight, their dazed eyes meeting Pansy and Ron's shocked ones.
xxxxxx
Ron felt his jaw drop and was hard-pressed to close his mouth. Over the past couple of weeks he had mostly accepted Hermione and Draco's feelings for one another. He'd even swallowed his own disgust that Draco really seemed to have finally matured and wasn't going away any time soon. Last, he'd finally learned to block out Harry's tirades on the subject. But, seeing their interest in each other up close and in person put an entirely different spin on things. He wasn't quite sure what to say, but he realized with a lump in his throat, that a new chapter of their lives had truly begun.
Seeing Hermione with Draco, as Ron held Pansy's hand tightly in his, helped clarify for him that the past was indeed just that. They had moved on from one another. It wasn't a feeling of sadness, so much as a realization of closure. They would always be closer than family, but that part of their lives, their childhood, was done.
The silence that engulfed the four of them was heavy as they stared from one to the other. Ron felt Pansy's hand tighten on his and wondered fleetingly if she was upset to see Draco with another woman. A glance at her face assured him she wasn't when he noticed her holding back a small smile.
Ron puffed out a breath and drew Pansy a bit closer, "We, uh, came to see if you two were done with your Charms work."
He noticed Hermione's blush, lowered eyes, and the hands she clenched in her lap. She looked very much like a naughty child waiting for their punishment and it saddened him to see that she was so anxious over his reaction. In an effort to relay his feelings to her without having to embarrass any of them further, he strove for normalcy.
"But," he continued with a forced laugh, "I guess you, uh, got distracted."
If nothing else his comment made Hermione lift her head and look at him.
"Why?" Draco asked from his seat beside her.
Ron may have gotten over a lot of things, but talking normally to Draco wasn't one of them. So, he simply didn't answer.
He heard Pansy sigh softly beside him before she answered in his stead, "A bunch of us were thinking of going to The Hog's Head tonight and we thought you might want to join us."
Ron nodded, but only looked between Hermione and Pansy. Again trying to make it seem like an every day occurrence to have seen Hermione groping and being groped by Draco Malfoy, Ron forced another laugh. "Unless you'd rather stay here and continue, uh, studying."
Draco smirked at Ron's attempt at a joke and laughed a little. He mentally thanked the red-head for at least trying.
Hermione shook her head and stood up with her hands still clasped together, "No, we'll co…I mean I'll come. Draco?"
Draco made a non-committal grunt and folded his arms across his chest.
When Hermione looked back at him in askance Draco looked away and Ron could tell her nervousness was pissing off the man. Ron glanced over to see Draco staring at the floor and Hermione simply looking between Draco and himself.
He felt Pansy's hand squeeze his and glanced down at her. She smiled up at him and raised a brow as she said, "Why don't we meet you guys by the doors. I forgot something and Ron and I need to go get it."
He almost asked what she forgot, but the tightening of her grip made him understand he was to just nod and agree. "Yeah, we'll see you there in a few."
"Okay," Hermione answered.
When Ron and Pansy turned and walked away, Hermione sighed and sat back down. "Well, that was awkward," she muttered.
Draco stayed quiet and just stared at her until she looked up at him.
"What?"
"Are you going?" he asked evenly.
"Sure, I guess. I mean, we can't stay in here all night," she stood again and started to gather her books.
Draco turned his back to her and reached for his books, "Do you want to meet up again later in the weekend to finish this?"
"Sure," she answered. "What are you doing after quidditch practice tomorrow?"
"Nothing much," he answered as he lifted his bag onto his shoulder and stuck his hands in his pockets.
His monotone voice finally filtered through and Hermione realized he was no longer looking at her. "What's wrong?"
He glanced at her and then away as he mumbled, "Nothing."
She bit her lip for a second before asking, "Are you sure?"
"I'm fine, Granger. Just let me know when you're ready to finish this project."
Draco calling her by her last name was like a slap in the face. Her mouth fell open in shock as she stared at him, but before she could react further, he turned and started to walk away.
Grabbing her bag and robe she hurried after him. When she caught up to him she grabbed his sleeve and pulled him to a stop, "Hey! What happened? What's wrong?"
Draco pulled his arm from her hand sharply and sneered down at her as he indicated the others in the room, "Are you sure you want to be seen touching me in public?"
"What?" she asked in complete confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Forget it," he sighed heavily and turned away again.
Hermione stepped quickly around him and stopped him from walking away by putting her hands on his chest, "What did I miss? Why are you so angry with me all of a sudden?"
Draco closed his eyes for a moment and then stepped back from her, "I'm not angry with you. I just have to go."
"Go? Go, where? Aren't you coming into town with everyone?"
Draco blew out a breath and looked down into her face, "Look, I really like you. I think you know that. And, I thought you…never mind. Go have fun."
"Draco, what…you thought I what? What am I missing?"
The look of complete confusion on her face got to him and he shifted his bag higher on his shoulder as he blurted out, "I don't want to embarrass either one of us any more tonight, okay?"
"Huh?" she asked blankly. Then understanding dawned and her eyes opened wide as she half-shouted, "You think I was embarrassed to be seen kissing you!"
Draco grabbed her arm and steered her quickly out of the doors, "Damn, Hermione! I don't think the ghosts in the rafters heard you!"
Hermione laughed as they skidded to a halt outside of the room, "Sorry, I was shocked. But, was I right? Is that what you thought?"
"You were freaked when Pansy and Weasel came up to us," he accused, instead of admitting to anything.
"Ron. And, well, yeah," she nodded as she smiled up at him.
"There you go," he said as he tried to step around her.
"Draco, stop!" she demanded. When he turned to face her she stepped back up to him, "I was freaked, yes, but not because of you."
"Right," he said as he looked anywhere but at her.
Hermione shook her head and let out a small laugh. Then she moved to stand directly in front of him.
"Did it not occur to you that we were snogging in front of our very recent exes? Maybe I was worried about their reactions to it, Draco." She then lifted her hand and ran it slowly down his chest to rest on his waist as she spoke, "Maybe I didn't want Ron and Pansy to feel weird because of how they found us. I don't want to upset them if I can help it." Then she repeated the action with her other hand as she added, "Or, maybe I was just still a bit flustered by that kiss and a bit upset that it was interrupted." Last, she stepped closer and let her chest graze his as she looked up at him, "And, maybe, just maybe, it had absolutely nothing to do with being embarrassed at being caught kissing you?"
Draco's eyes darkened and his hands came up and wrapped around her waist. His tense shoulders relaxed as he smirked, "So, now that you know they weren't upset by it, if I was to grab you and kiss you in front of everyone tonight, you would…"
"…be very happy and thoroughly mussed, I suppose," she answered with a flirtatious grin.
"Will you go to the Halloween Ball with me?" he asked, surprising her completely.
Her smile was wide as she asked, "Where did that come from?"
He shrugged, but said, "Well?"
"Of course," she answered. "And, thank you fo…oomph."
Hermione had the fleeting thought that he was going to have to work on letting her finish sentences, before his kiss drove away her ability to think at all. She felt her back softly hit the wall behind her and his hands sliding up from her waist, but it wasn't in her to stop him yet; it simply felt too good. As her hands slid up his chest to tangle in his hair, she realized he felt too good, too. She was so lost in the kiss that she lost track of time and place. She had no idea how long they'd been there when her name being called slowly filtered through. Draco being jerked away from her brought her back to reality.
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