Chapter 24:

"Why or why or why or why do I have to be such an idiot?" Hermione asked herself, in despair. 'What was I thinking when I allowed him to kiss me again? How could I have ever let his lips wander over my neck? And what would have happened if McGonagall's stride wouldn't have distracted us? How far would I have let it go? I must stop this absurd behavior immediately. After all I am Hermione Granger. Head Girl. I should not be snogging a slimy Death Eater in the school halls. Why is it that when he kisses me I lose all sense of self? Why is it that I can't restrain myself? Pushing him away should be a natural reaction, why instead of doing so, do I long for him?' Those questions in mind, Hermione cursed herself the entire way to her dormitory. Luckily Ginny was asleep so she wouldn't have to explain her flushed look tonight. Hermione wasn't sure she had enough energy to retell tonight's events. She snuggled in her blanket and fell asleep after a long recap of the forbidden kisses she shared with her enemy.

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'All right, new plan!' Draco thought enthusiastically. 'Since throwing her out of my mind after a mere kiss deemed useless, I need to take stronger action. After all I've never just kissed a girl; well... I did... back in third Year... But that doesn't really count. Anyway, knowing myself all too well... this obsession, for lack of a better word, will not stop until I shag her. Which is exactly what I intend to do. Shouldn't be too hard either. After the way she gave into my kisses, she'll be mine by nightshade tomorrow. The Mudblood wouldn't know what hit her, she'll probably think it a blessing,' he thought arrogantly. 'In many ways, the mere thought of shagging a Mudblood makes me sick, but I'd rather just shag her and get it over with as appose to this continuous obsession. Besides, nobody has to know; and if the Mudblood spills any of it, which she wouldn't, wouldn't want to ruin her perfect Head Girl reputation now would she? I'll do the natural thing, deny it!!! I know for a fact that people will believe my story much more than her far fetched one.'

"You seem to be in high spirits," remarked Blaise, glancing at Draco from his seat in the armchair.

"Why wouldn't I be in high spirits?"

"You were in a foul mood this morning," Blaise reminded him.

"We all have our moments," said Draco, defensively.

"I guess you're right," agreed Blaise. "So what's on your agenda now?" asked Blaise, trying to see if Draco would confess about his suspicions.

"Nothing much, really. I'm just preparing myself to serve the Dark Lord as soon as he summons me."

"Nothing else?" asked Blaise, skeptically.

"Nope, nothing else."

"No new girl on the horizon?" Blaise pushed further.

"After Pansy I need a break from girls," chuckled Draco. "What's going on with you and the Weasel?" Draco changed the subject.

"I'm trying to back off, it's not really happening. I'll pay her a visit tomorrow," smirked Blaise.

"Let me know how it goes," Draco returned his smirk with his own, and walked towards his dormitory.

"I sure will," said Blaise to Draco's retreating back.

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"Ginny am I a horrible person?" asked Hermione, after confiding to her friend every detail of the previous night.

"Don't be silly Hermione, you're not horrible."

"But the whole Ron past is still fresh, I still have feelings for him. Why is it so easy to lose my sense of self when he kisses me?" she whispered the last three words.

"You're just a human being who is experiencing human feelings. There's nothing to be ashamed of," comforted Ginny.

The girls were making their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

"But it's Malfoy we're talking about!" Hermione reminded her, needlessly.

"So?"

"What do you mean "so?", so everything! He is a Death Eater, he's done nothing but taunt and humiliate us Gryffindors since we first set foot in this castle and need I remind you that he calls me a Mudblood with every given chance?"

"But he is also the one who is making you feel the way you're feeling right now. If he wasn't as good as I could only guess him to be, he would have never left you doubting. I know you Hermione, you never act on impulse, you always think things through. Is the fact that he's changing that about you really so bad?"

"It could be... It should be."

"I don't know what to tell you Hermione. You're my best friend, I will not hesitate to hex the person who tries to hurt you to oblivion and you know that. I only want you to be happy. If the intimate moments you share together make you happy, don't you think you deserve at least that after everything you've been through?" asked Ginny.

"But he is Malfoy!!!" Hermione felt like shouting.

"Yes, and he obviously doesn't care that you are Granger," Ginny reminded her.

"You know what Gin? You might be right, but you should also listen to your own advice." Said Hermione, deep in thought. Deep down inside Ginny knew Hermione was right.

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"Ginny."

Ginny tried to look annoyed at the sound of his voice, but couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips. She hid it as best as she could and turned around to face him. "Yes Zabini?" she faked a bored voice.

"Do you have a minute?" he asked, being careful not to hit the wrong button and trigger her temper.

"Sure," she shrugged, she had a free period before Potions.

"Do you mind walking around the grounds with me?"

"Why?"

"There is an important matter I would like to discuss with you and I'd hate to be overheard." Seeing the skeptical look on her face he added "I swear it has nothing to do with "us"!"

"I guess I can do that," said Ginny, not trusting him completely.

The pair walked out of the Castle and towards the lake, a somewhat comfortable silence around them.

"What is it?" Ginny asked, looking into the black depths of the water.

"Draco has been acting a little weird lately," Zabini said bluntly.

"Malfoy?" asked Ginny, not really sure why Blaise approached her of all people.

"Yes, Draco Malfoy. Have you seen any changes in Granger?" he asked, looking at her with a curious expression on his face.

"You do know that Hermione is my best friend, right?" asked Ginny, shooting him a stern glare.

"And Draco is my best friend, what's your point?"

"My point is, that I will not be discussing her matters with you."

"So there is something going on?" Blaise asked, smirking.

"I never said that. I just said that I will not share my thoughts of her behavior with you. For all I know you're scheming something," she smirked back at him.

"You should trust me a little more than that," said Blaise, faking a hurt expression.

"Should I? Why?"

"Because after what we've been through, I assume I earned some trust," said Blaise, arrogantly.

"Don't assume Zabini, you'll just make an ass of you and me," Ginny smiled, mischievously.

"Ginny, believe me when I tell you that I will never confide my feelings of Draco's behavior with anyone. This isn't something he would want me to shout out loud. In fact he's been denying it from me as well. I came to you because I knew you are the closest person to Granger and I suspect that whatever his odd behavior might be it is triggered by her."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Ginny.

"Well, ever since the Hogsmeade trip," started Blaise.

"Yes, after I helped Hermione with her appearance a tad," smiled Ginny, remembering the events all too well.

"Well yes, after that night's detention Draco changed. He is a lot moodier, jumps at any body's throat for saying anything he doesn't feel like hearing. I even noticed him glaring at the Gryffindor table yesterday during Breakfast."

"Wow, Malfoy glaring at Gryffindors. I now understand why you're so concerned," said Ginny sarcastically.

Blaise shrugged her sarcastic comment off and continued. "He wasn't glaring like he normally does. It seemed like he was conflicted, as if he was feeling something he couldn't control."

Ginny kept quiet.

"Now don't get me wrong. Draco doesn't love the Mudb-"

"Watch it!" Ginny glared daggers in his direction.

"Sorry, I meant to say Granger. I doubt he even likes her. I think he could just be feeling a physical attraction to her."

"Might be," Ginny agreed.

"So have I told you enough to hear your side of the story?"

"Possibly," Ginny decided to tease Blaise for a little while.

"Is there anything I can do that will encourage you to talk?" he asked, coming closer to her.

"There might be."

"You don't need to ask me twice," smiled Blaise, placing his hands around Ginny's waist and pulling her closer. Eliminating all the spaces between them, he placed one hand on her back and the other on her neck; capturing her mouth in yet another breath taking kiss. He never thought he would miss the feel of her lips so much. Their warmth and softness brought back the memories of their first kiss and he decided that no matter how much the Weasel protested now, he wouldn't give up.

He kissed her deeper and harder, causing her to lose all trail of thought and concern. Ginny did not reject the kiss, instead she embraced it, placing her hands around his neck and pulling his head even closer then before. She felt like she was being swept away every time their lips met. She shared kisses with Harry in the past, that and more, but as much as she loved Harry the feelings that Zabini aroused within her were foreign. Blaise seemed to be in complete control of the situation, which did much to intrigue her. It was as if he was determined to have her, no matter how much she resisted. This only caused her to want him in return.

"You know I didn't ask you to kiss me, right?" asked Ginny, looking into his eyes. Their lips were parted and their foreheads were touching as they stood there in each other's embrace.

"I believe you did," contradicted Blaise.

"Nope, it didn't even cross my mind," smiled Ginny.

"Well, it sounded pretty suggestive to me," said Blaise and captured her lips before she even had the chance to reply.

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Hermione felt a hand wrap around her waist and pull her back into what seemed to be an old broom cupboard. She tried screaming, but the shriek was muffled by a strong hand on her lips.

"Do not make a sound," he whispered hoarsely, pinning the backside of her body to his.

"What do you want?" she managed to ask, when he lowered his hand from her lips and trailed it down to her waist; making it his business to stoke her body in the act. She could once again feel him grow hard against her body.

"I think the answer to that is quite obvious," he answered in a husky voice, smirking suggestively as he turned her around so that she could finally face her captivator.

In front of her, in its full arrogant glory was the face of none other than Draco Malfoy. Shocked by the sudden turn of events, Hermione felt speechless for the first time in her life. Just a moment ago, she was making her way to the library, which was where she usually spent her free period studying for the upcoming N.E.W.T's.

"Not a chance in hell!" said Hermione, backing up. Which she soon realized to be a mistake. She was now pinned between the locked door and Malfoy's demanding body. She tried to wriggle the door open but as she predicted, it was locked with a charm. Her wand was in the pocket of her robe and if she dared to reach for it, her hand would have to brush past Malfoy's manhood. That was one chance she was not willing to take.

'Great,' she thought bitterly when suddenly all thoughts escaped her mind. It happened again, his lips found hers and as if bewitched, her mind went blank. She was no longer Hermione, neither was he Malfoy. She was some stranger who craved nothing but his kisses. A traitor who trembled at his touch. A person who would have thrown all her morals out the window just so she could feel his body against hers. She didn't hesitate to return the kiss, in fact she deepened it by placing her hands in his strikingly soft hair and pulling him closer.

Draco groaned into the kiss, delighted by her response. He knew that very soon she would be his. All he had to do was continue swaying her the way he has done thus far. It shouldn't be too hard either, after all he had more than enough expertise in this field. He was kissing her harder with every passing minute, intensifying the unexplained passion they shared. His lips then slowly left her mouth and made their way down her jawline, planting soft kisses along the way. She moaned in response to the touch of his lips on her most sensitive spot, her neck. Throwing her head back in ecstasy Hermione knew that she wanted to let go of herself, if just for that one moment; Malfoy knew it too.

His hands made their way to her school robes, pulling them off of her body with more eagerness then he thought he possessed; only to be distracted by the bell. "Fuck!" Draco swore loudly. Hermione sprinted up, as if awakened from a dream. She loosened her grip on his hair and bent over to pick up her robe. Draco rubbed against her as she was bending over and asked in a most seductive whisper. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Didn't you hear the bell?" Hermione answered with a question. She could feel her cheeks burning scarlet. Now that she sprung back to reality, her moment of weakness embarrassed her.

"You do know you can skip a class?!" Draco stated more than asked, with a raised brow.

Hermione gave him a look that clearly said: "You do know who you're talking to right?!" and walked out of the cupboard, too ashamed in herself to look back.

author's note:

you see how quick this was? all thanks to Tara.. the amazing beta-reader!!! glomps Tartar

anyways.. please be kind enough to leave feedback.. i have chapter 25 and 26 written as well :)

bribes for reviews

heheheh thanks to all of you amazing people who are reading this!!!