(A/N): Muchas gracias, everyone, for the reviews! Lovely, lovely people all of you. The last chapter was my favorite so far… but now things are going to get really interesting… so check the warning below.
Jaejae: NEVER! No, of course this isn't the end. You'll know when it is the end because I will write a nice little Author's Note that will say it is the end. Thanks for the review!
morning-flower: For my story, I made that the curse on Hermione came from Antonin Dolohov in the Ministry of Magic at the end of Order of the Phoenix. If you remember, I think Dolohov was silenced so he wasn't able to speak the spell but it hit Hermione anyway. I just made up what the effects of that spell were. Anyways, as for your suggestions: just wait and see! There's a lot of stuff coming up! Thanks for the review!
FallenMadness88: Hmmm…naughty or break up? Let's just say that my comment last chapter was intended for events after this chapter. What are those events? You'll just have to see… Thanks for the review!
the singer: Wow, wow, wow! What a compliment! I sort of agree that the horcrux thing, though clever, seemed like a deux ex machina for being introduced so late. Maybe it will seem like a better idea when the seventh book comes out. Thanks bunches for the review!
princessgrl: I don't think it is weird that you almost cried, in fact—if this isn't too weird—that makes me happy! I once told someone in a review that being able to make someone feel something through their writing (her story was sad, I cried!) was the mark of a great writer. Haha. I can only hope that is the case here! Anyways, thank you so much!
(A/N): Thank you to these reviewers too: AnaDry, Sarah Burla, supafly09, marie, omg,instantstargrl, MIDNIGHT-PIXIE, SexyDraco04, TaurusGirl, the-lunacy-fringe, -mz chinagurl-, Lauressa, and flip chick. And I can't not thank my new beta Lyndsie Fenele who's been a huge help so far. Any mistakes you may see are a result of my own fiddling after she sent the chapter back. Thanks for the great review as well, Lyndsie!
Warning: For sexual content. Even though it isn't that graphic, I am going to raise the rating just in case. Just letting you know!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters, settings, and terminology belong the wonderful goddess, J.K. Rowling. The song is 'I Could Fall in Love' by Selena, may she rest in peace.
The Storm Subsides:
It felt like hours before Hermione's wailings of happiness had stopped. Snape had left to tend to his abandoned classes and Madam Pomfrey had said that Hermione was allowed to leave. Hermione noticed none of this. Wiping the last of the tears from her face, Draco kissed her on the lips and hugged her tight.
"I'm a mess," she said, her voice hitching and a watery smile coming to her lips.
"No, of course not," Draco said. He kissed her again until she was breathless and told her that as soon as she got dressed, they could leave. Five minutes later, they were chasing each other around the lake in their extreme happiness that the curse was lifted.
And her emotion was absolutely genuine.
At one point, Hermione had very nearly jumped into the lake, but Draco had stopped her before she could finish taking off her shoes. They walked hand in hand all over the castle as she talked about anything and everything, her smile too infectious to keep off of both of their faces—and her mouth never once stopping. But it was fine with Draco to just listen to her voice and to hear about her life. In that hour that they walked nowhere, he learned more about Hermione than he had ever known before.
They ended up on the seventh floor at the portrait that hid the Gryffindor common room.
"Password?" the portly woman in the portrait asked and Hermione gave it. As the entrance to the common room was revealed, Draco pulled on the Head Girl's arm to keep her from going inside.
"What?" she asked in confusion.
"Do you think it's a good idea for me to go in there, or were you planning on leaving me here?" he replied. His voice held no malice or anger even though his words said otherwise.
Hermione smiled at him as if he was being silly. "Don't be ridiculous. You're practically a Gryffindor yourself now!" Then she bounded through the portrait hole, leaving Draco to glare at the Fat Lady in resentment.
"I'm not a bloody Gryffindor!" he grumbled to himself.
"Well, are you going in?" the portrait asked, looking at him suspiciously, knowing he wasn't a Gryffindor and that he wasn't technically allowed past. Grumbling still, he entered to find Hermione waiting for him, that smile on her face that could melt anyone's stern resolve. His mood immediately lifted and he felt warm all over from seeing her.
Ridiculous… he thought. Like a love-sick school boy!
'But you are a love-sick school boy,' his father's voice echoed through his mind. 'Disgusting, isn't it?'
Draco wanted desperately for the voice to stop. He knew it was his subconscious, or his conscience, more like, really voicing everything negative about himself or about what he was doing. The voices only made him feel guilty; like he was cheating himself from being happy or cheating Hermione from seeing him happy. The day Lucius's voice left his head, he thought, would be the day he married Hermione, but as it was right now he couldn't see that happening.
"Hello?"
Draco blinked. Hermione was waving a hand in front of his face and smiling at him in concern.
"You were miles away," she said.
"I'm right here," he replied, sliding his hand into hers. "And this is where I'll stay." He made sure his voice was quiet enough that no one else would hear him around the common room. He realized that this was his first time seeing another common room besides the Slytherin one. Looking around at all the reds and browns, the homey feel of the place, the warmth and the feeling of companionship he got, he preferred the dank and cold of the dungeons. Maybe it was just his prejudice against the Gryffindors, but he really didn't want to be there.
"Come on," he heard Hermione say as she pulled him through the room. People were staring at them and whispering. A few people came up to Hermione and said something that he couldn't hear, though he noticed that her face was getting sourer by the person.
Finally, one girl Draco supposed was in sixth year came up to the couple and said, "Hey, I know you from Ginny Weasley. We all heard about what happened in your Potions class today." Draco's eyes widened in surprise. Who did this girl think she was? Whispering now, she continued, "I'm really sorry about…your condition."
Uh, oh…
Draco was so sure that Hermione was going to snap. She had the last time he had phrased her reactions in that way. But instead—miraculously, might it be added—her face cleared and she smiled.
Putting her hands on the girl's shoulders, she said, "Thank you so much for your concern. It means a lot to me." Hermione's eyes sparkled and her smile widened. After pulling the alarmed girl into her arms for a hug, Hermione literally skipped to a door near a spiral staircase and pushed it open. Everyone just stared at her as she disappeared behind the door and then the only thing they had to stare at was Draco. Running to catch up to Hermione before the door shut and he was stuck in the lions' den, he pushed himself through and found himself in… Hermione's room.
"How…" he gasped, looking around at the familiar surroundings. He had only been in the room nearly two months ago and it hadn't changed at all.
"Oh, right…" Hermione said, looking a bit sheepish. "About that… There's something I never got around to telling you." Crossing his arms, Draco sat down on the edge of her bed.
"Out with it." His voice was more resigned than angry.
"Well, you remember that letter that was sitting on the side table that first night back from holiday?" At his nod, she continued. "It sort of explained how the doors work. Like the doors connected to our rooms can only be opened by the respectful resident—which it looks like you figured out, eh heh—and when the shower is run in the bathroom, both bathroom doors lock automatically so no one can enter. There was also a thing about if you knock on the front door to your room three times then open it, it will lead you to your House common room. Heh heh," she smiled an exaggerated smile to placate him but his eyes were stormy. "Awww...Come on, Draco! Don't be like this! You've just gotten a lot more exercise than me when you've gone down to the Slytherin common room! Look on the bright side!"
"There is no bright side," he grumbled but he accepted her when she pushed herself into his arms and onto his lap.
Now, Hermione lay on her bed staring at the scarlet satin canopy. She was exhausted of happiness and so tired. She felt like sleeping but when she closed her eyes, the only thing she saw was Draco's pale ones. Oh, how she would love to go to sleep and just dream of those eyes all night! But her mind wouldn't let her rest. Whenever her brain was too full of thoughts she usually had a nice hot cup of cocoa and she fell right asleep. At least, when she was at home and could make the drink herself.
She remembered a time that summer right after fifth year when she was worried that Harry would do something irrational and stupid after being attacked by dementors at his Muggle family's home. Wandering around in the kitchen, she had dropped a pot to boil water, making a loud racket that sounded like a gunshot in the still quietness. Both of her parents came running down the stairs to find Hermione standing in the middle of the kitchen, frozen in place and pale, bending over to pick up the offending pot. Before she could explain herself or say a word, her dad went to the cupboard for the instant hot cocoa while her mum fetched the marshmallows. They listened to Hermione talk about her worries as they waited for the water to boil.
These memories made tears come to Hermione's eyes. It was at times like these, when she was so happy and couldn't share her excitement with her parents, that she missed them the most.
Oh, god! I haven't even written them with the news yet!
Jumping off the bed, she ran to her trunk to grab some extra parchment and a quill. While digging through her belongings, she found the color changing ink she had bought at Fixation that summer. The ink well brought back the memory of her cowardice and the shame she had felt for the pointless emotion at the time. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she thought, I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I am going to be happy in it.
I can choose which it shall be.
Yes, she had that power now. The curse was gone. The diary was buried deep within her trunk out of sight, never to be used again.
Totally free…
Closing her trunk, she smiled and took up her parchment, her quill, and the ink she had not yet used, taking it downstairs to sit in front of the fire. Half an hour later, the letter was done but since it was nearly midnight, and way past curfew, she could not send it yet. But what to do about her insomnia? Draco was currently out patrolling, doing his rounds as Head Boy to make sure no one was out past curfew. Maybe if she was careful, she wouldn't get caught… even with Mrs. Norris, Filch, and Snape out and about also.
It was decided then. Putting her finished letter and writing materials on the side table, she rushed upstairs to don her school robes over her pajamas and her shoes. Sneaking out the portrait hole, she silenced her feet from making noise.
Finally, she made it to the portrait of a bowl of fruit without being detected by anyone. She tickled the pear and waited for it to turn into a door handle before entering. The Hogwarts kitchen was as silent as the grave. As soon as Hermione stepped inside torches hanging on the walls blared to life, sending shadows darting between the tables and stools. She half expected a drooling house elf to jump on her as soon as she entered, begging to wait on her hand and foot. To her ironic disappointment, there was no one there. She supposed she could make the hot chocolate by herself but she had no idea where anything was. Pots and pans hung from racks on the ceiling—How did the house elves reach them?—but there didn't seem to be any food in sight. A shuffling sound startled her from her silent reverie as she twirled on the spot and found one small, familiar creature bowing before her.
"Can I's be helping Miss?" the dark shape asked.
"Oh! Thank you, Dobby. I just wanted some hot chocolate." She had barely finished her sentence before Dobby was darting around the kitchen, supposedly making Hermione's drink. A few moments later, he was handing a scalding hot drink into her hands. Gasping and nearly dropping the mug, she quickly did a cooling charm and sat herself down at one of the house tables in the room. Dobby stood at her feet, staring up at her with his wide, tennis ball eyes, rubbing his hands in nervousness.
"Have a seat," Hermione offered but the house elf immediately burst into tears. Startled Hermione tried to speak but the smaller creature's wails drowned her out.
"Miss is being so kind! She is treating me like an equal!"
It took several minutes for Hermione to calm him back down enough to actually sit down with her and then he refused any of her hot chocolate; and she had to admit, the stuff was good. Chocolaty, rich, and hot enough to kill her taste buds; definitely way better than the instant cocoa she used to make at home.
"Is Miss wanting Dobby to leave?" the house elf asked from beside her. Hermione's thoughts were so focused on how amazing her drink was that she hadn't spoken a word.
Looking surprised from over her mug as she took another sip, she replied, "Of course not, Dobby! You can stay. I was just thinking, is all. You're not bothering me, if that's what you think." Dobby didn't reply. Instead, he twiddled his thumbs and twisted his fingers in such a way that Hermione was afraid that he would snap them off his hand. "Is there something troubling you?" she asked, in concern for the house elf.
"Dobby is hearing things from the castle and he is wanting to know if theys is true, Miss," he said, still as nervous as ever, his body shaking all over.
Hermione put her mug of cocoa down and placed a hand on his pale grey shoulder. "What is it? You can ask me." It seemed like her kindness was too much again because Dobby broke out into sobs that echoed off of the kitchen walls and the pots hanging on the racks above them. The Head Girl tried to calm the elf down but could only wait until his wailing ceased. The very last thing she needed was for someone—most likely Snape or Filch—to hear the racket coming from inside the kitchen and find the Head Girl out of bed at nearly midnight.
"Please, Dobby! Be quiet! You're going to get me into trouble!" she cried with poorly hidden desperation, as she tried to grab the elf and quiet him down. Finally, Dobby wiped his tearless eyes nervously and blinked up at her from the bench beside her. "Just ask me what you wanted to ask me. Please," Hermione said with relief and exhaustion.
"Dobby is hearing that Miss is spending lots of time with my old young master. Dobby is wondering if this is true! Is Miss spending time with Master Malfoy?" If the little creature had been standing on the floor, he would have been rocking backwards and forwards with nerves, but as it was, he merely trembled, afraid that Hermione might hit him or some other gesture.
Staring and smiling at her mug, she replied, "Yes, it's true." Dobby looked at her with wet wide eyes but refrained from saying anything unpleasant about his old family. Seeing the look of apprehension on his face, Hermione spoke.
"He's changed, Dobby. Maybe not for a lot of people, but he's changed for me. Maybe you know how we used to hate each other, but that is the very last thing we have now. Really, he's kind and he's gentle and he cares for me. And I care for him. Okay?" The small wrinkly elf nodded emphatically and spoke not another word. Taking a last sip from her hot chocolate, Hermione rose from her seat and placed her mug on the table.
"That was delicious. Thank you for making it for me." Reaching into her robe pockets, she found a spare Knut and handed it to the elf.
Bouncing out of his seat and hopping on the floor, Dobby held the coin in both hands and said excitedly, "Oh, thank you, Miss! Dobby is most grateful! Thank you!"
Patting the creature on the head, she left through the portrait hole and made her way back to the Head common room. Draco should be finishing his rounds about now. Maybe she could meet him at the door. At this prospect, she smiled and quickened her pace, carelessly humming now that she had forgotten that she could still get caught.
On the Grand Staircase, when she was close to the fourth floor, she heard footsteps in the dark below her.
There was someone coming up the stairs, too.
Oh, no. A teacher!
She stopped her humming immediately and made a mad dash up the stairs to get to the fourth floor corridor. Upon hearing her running, the person behind her began to run after her. While she ran, the person following never shouted at her or called out. She figured it was Filch. Many students had been caught by the caretaker over his years of service at Hogwarts, but what he hadn't known was the number of students he hadn't been able to catch. The number was quite vast. Students knew that they could at least outrun Filch if they heard him coming. He usually advertised his whereabouts with shouting, lanterns, or unnecessary clunking about; but when Mrs. Norris, his cat, led him to wherever misbehaving students were, they were mincemeat. Filch had finally figured this out some time ago and had opted to keep silent when sneaking up on students. Unfortunately for him, his efforts were wasted, because his boots were still big clunkers and he couldn't do any magic to silence them.
On the other hand, Snape was as silent as darkness and always surprised students when he patrolled the halls. This made Hermione certain that her pursuer was Filch instead.
She felt much freer once her feet had touched the stones of the fourth floor and she allowed herself to slow down again. This time she made sure that her steps were silent. Her silence charm had worn off and she hadn't thought to reapply it before. Rounding the corner of the hall her portrait hole was on, she leaned against the wall to catch her breath, trying to still her body and keep from making too much noise. Her heart was pounding in her chest, feeling much too big for her ribcage. After a time the muscle began to settle and return to its normal beating. She was just about to make her way to Elizabeth's portrait before someone jumped around the corner and grabbed her upper arms.
"Hey!" she screamed in alarm, her heart jumping into her throat. Struggling for a few seconds, she didn't think to look at her attacker's face. But when she finally looked up, the moon's light through the window was at his back and left his face in shadow.
"Hermione?"
She stopped struggling.
"Draco?"
Grabbing his upper arms, Hermione turned him sideways and a bit to the left so that the light from the window could catch his face. There before her stood her platinum-haired, silver-eyed boyfriend.
"What are you doing up?" he asked her as she let go of Draco's arms.
"I couldn't sleep," she replied.
"So you decided to wander the castle past curfew?"
Hermione smiled. "When I'm at home I usually have hot chocolate when I have trouble sleeping."
"Doesn't that have caffeine in it?"
She thought about it a moment and rubbed her chin. "Hmmm. Maybe so. I guess caffeine just doesn't affect me as it should." She shrugged but Draco was still holding her arms tight. "I know you love me but could you let go now. You have a strong grip."
Draco's face blanched but he let go. She knew he loved her? How could she possibly know? How did she find out?
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked him, rubbing his cheek gently with her cold fingers. While their common room was basked in a glow of warmth from the hearth fire, the corridors of the castle were not. The Head Girl could feel the goose bumps forming on his skin where she touched him, but his eyes never wavered from hers. She leaned up to kiss the cheek she had just caressed and she could hear the delicate sigh the action released from his lips. "Your face went funny," she said.
Draco realized that she didn't know that he loved her, that she was just being the silly girl that she was, just like that day in Potions class when they had been passing notes to each other.
"My face did not go funny," he said, affronted when she giggled.
"Of course not. Your face is very handsome." She patted his cheek again.
"Thank you," he said, very much pleased with himself and showing it on his face.
"Arrogant git!" she muttered playfully.
Draco was prevented from replying when she opened her mouth wide enough to drive a car in and yawned.
"I think it's time for bed," he said. Hermione sleepily nodded in agreement. He wrapped his arm around her waist as they finished the walk to the portrait hole.
"Iunctum Inimicus."
"It's about time," Elizabeth yawned. "Do you know what time it is?" Her words were met with silence as the Head Boy and Girl entered their common room, suddenly too exhausted to even speak.
Draco was about to let Hermione go at the foot of her staircase when she suddenly whispered shyly, "Can I sleep with you tonight?"
He blinked twice, wondering if he had heard right. God, he would let her into his bed whenever she wanted, she didn't even have to ask. She was looking up at him through her eyelashes, her eyelids drooping heavily and she was already leaning on him, her head on his shoulder.
"Tonight. Any night. Every night. It doesn't matter and you don't have to ask," he finally replied. She smiled and blushed, looking away from his honest, beautiful eyes. His words left her feeling warm and wanted and slightly nervous.
He led her up her stairs and across the balcony over the private library to his door. With one push, they were in. Hermione stood by the door, uncertain of what would be appropriate for her to do now. Of course, sleeping in another boy's bed wasn't really appropriate in a boarding school, but the thought never fazed her.
"You can climb in if you want," Draco said. She nodded and slipped her shoes from her feet. Then with a pink blush coloring her cheeks, she pulled her robes up over her head. Folding the black material neatly, she gently placed it on a chair and pulled the silver curtains back from the bed. She was not aware of Draco's eyes on her back as she pulled the green duvet back and carefully got in. He noticed that she was trying not to disrupt anything too much within his personal space and felt an upwelling of love for her thoughtful gesture.
'Sickening.' But this time, he was able to ignore the voice in his head. He did love Hermione. Once upon a time, he had thought that that made him weak, but he knew better now. His love for Hermione and her support for him could only make him stronger. Gods knew it definitely made him feel wanted and needed. And loved. His mother had given him love, but what he and Hermione had was so different that nothing could compare with it.
Pulling his robes over his own head, Draco stood in nothing but his black boxers. His back was to the bed but he knew (and was pleased with the prospect) that Hermione was watching him. He couldn't help but feel embarrassed with his half-nakedness even though she had seen him undressed the same way twice before.
It's one thing to already be undressed when she sees you and quite another to get undressed in front of her, he thought. He knew he wasn't the most pleasant sight to behold naked. His skin was too pale and even paler where his clothes blocked his skin from the sun's harsh rays. His body was thin and he wasn't miraculously defined in a muscular way because of his lack of physical activities (besides Quidditch, and how much muscle did that take?) all of his life. But Hermione seemed to find something attractive about him. Otherwise she wouldn't have even wanted a truce with him, would she? He still had no idea why she started that pact with him. Where was her brain that day? He wouldn't have started a truce with himself if he was her. Now he realized that it was her Gryffindor faith in him that had led her to start that truce. She had trusted him to honor it and he had. Without that as a beginning, they would have never become as close as they were.
Finally turning around, his face held a smirk full with confidence. His body was posed to receive all of Hermione's attention, and his arms were held loosely at his sides. But she wasn't even looking in his direction. Her head was turned towards the window, staring into the dark that could be seen through the bed curtains, and Draco felt like a totally vain idiot.
No wonder he wasn't that popular with anyone outside of Slytherin, personality-wise at least.
Trying to act as casual as possible—as if Hermione spent the night by his side every night—he climbed into the bed and lay down. Hermione turned on her side to see him better, but when he reached his arm out to her she snuggled closer, resting her head on his chest. The beating of his heart was the only sound she could hear and the heat from his body was the only thing she could feel. Everything else was numb and out of focus. Nothing else mattered.
The rise and fall of his chest was calming and soothing. Her hands drew small circles around his belly button and stomach, his breathing stalling every few seconds. She was half asleep before either of them realized that she was humming.
"What's that?" he asked, his voice hoarse with sleep as well.
"Hmm?"
"You're humming. What is it?"
Hermione lifted her head and rested her chin on the top of her hand, which was flat on his chest. Her eyes searched his for a reaction or an answer to a question she hadn't even asked yet.
"May I sing it for you?" she asked.
He blinked in surprise once again. In all the time he had really gotten to know her this year, this girl—no, this woman—had never ceased to surprise and amaze him. He didn't think that she would ever sing for him again.
Trying to sound casual once again, he replied with a simple, "Sure."
Her voice was shaky with exhaustion and nerves in the beginning, but she kept eye contact with him. Her goal of revealing the mysteries of Draco's eyes, she hoped, would be achieved if she sang the song just right—if she said the right thing—if she did what she had to do.
"I could lose my heart tonight
If you don't turn and walk away.
'Cause the way I feel I might
Lose control and let you stay.
'Cause I could take you in my arms
And never let you go!"
Hermione's face was flushed in embarrassment and nervousness. Would he understand the true meaning of the song? Did he realize that the only times she had ever sung for him, her words had expressed exactly how she felt? His eyes still told her nothing. His face was still as blank as a painter's canvas.
"I could fall in love with you.
I could fall in love with you.
I could only wonder how
Touching you would make me feel."
His silver irises flickered at that and he finally blinked. Her eyes never wavered in fear that she would lose her courage or that he would look away. It was vitally important to her that they kept their eye contact. Her heart beat faster at the words that would come next, afraid that he would reject her.
"But if I take that chance right now,
Tomorrow would you want me still?
So I should keep this to myself
And never let you know!"
Oh, God. She wanted so much to tell him that even though it was unthinkable, inconceivable, unbelievable, she loved him to no end. It made absolutely no sense. They'd been dating for two weeks and yet, she felt like she had loved him all her life. This song was the only way she could tell him these feelings without actually telling him, and the words fit perfectly with how she felt.
"I could fall in love with you.
I could fall in love with you.
And I know it's not right,
But I guess I should try
To do what I should do.
But I could fall in love,
Fall in love with you!"
Draco stopped her there, pulling the rest of her body on top of him and her head towards his mouth. Their kiss was uncontrollable, full of unadulterated lust, and it told Hermione exactly what Draco thought of the song. His lips were caressing hers and she sighed, feeling like she had just come home again. Splayed out on top of him, Hermione felt a rock hard…thing…pushing into the juncture between her legs. She gasped when she realized what it was, lifting her head and breaking the kiss. A great shudder wracked her body and she felt a tingle start in her toes and jump to her abdomen. Her body was heating very quickly and her eyes were wide in surprise.
In that surprise, she rolled off of Draco and lay on her back.
"I'm sorry," Draco said, pulling the duvet close to his waist and turning onto his side to face Hermione. "I'm sorry…" He couldn't find the words to say I didn't mean to push you like that or I wasn't going to ask you to sleep with me, but he knew he wouldn't be able to lie even if he did have the words to speak. The embarrassment of his body's reaction to the closeness of hers brought color to his face and he refused to meet her eyes.
He was aware of her breath close to his face and when he looked up, she was leaning in closer to him.
"Don't be sorry," she said breathlessly. Her eyes were wide and such a deep colored brown that he couldn't look away. He was barely conscious of her hand reaching for the hand that held the comforter to his body and pulling both away. She reached out, about to touch him through his boxers but when he sucked in a breath, she changed course and placed her palm flat on his abdomen instead.
"Kiss me, Draco," she commanded. Who was he to ignore such an order? Once their mouths were united again, her body shifted closer to his until they were flush against each other. His hardness pressed into her abdomen but when Draco tried to pull away, she wrapped one leg around one of his, trapping him in place.
"Hermione…" he warned in a gruff voice. She shifted against him again and he groaned. "You have no idea what you do to me," he said, his eyes fluttering closed.
"I have an idea," she replied with a small smile on her face even as she blushed at her boldness to move against him in such a way. Her hands explored his chest, tracing intricate designs on his pale skin. Trails of fire left his body shivering from his bellybutton all the way to his neck but his eyes remained closed tight. Her breath was warm against his cheek as one of her arms wrapped around his neck. She felt like she couldn't get close enough to his body.
"Hermione…" he groaned again, his hand rubbing her back underneath her pajama top. He could feel the smoothness and the bareness of that expanse of skin and it was not helping his reaction to her at all.
She shivered under his touch and before he knew it, she had pulled her tank top over her head. Lying side by side, they stared into each other's eyes, both terribly embarrassed and afraid to look anywhere else. Draco's hands lingered on her shoulders and one ran down the one arm she wasn't lying on. He was hesitant to touch the now exposed skin. Hermione grabbed the hand and placed it at her waist, running it slowly up her side. Draco's eyes fluttered closed as his hand made contact with her breast and Hermione's breathing hitched. Just the feeling of his warm hand touching her was something she had never felt before. Of course, she scrubbed her body down when she showered and she touched her own skin when she dressed every morning, but she never knew that if someone else…
The thought wracked her body with tingles and heat. Closing the space between their bodies, she kissed him, crushing her chest to his. He moaned deep in his throat and she was barely aware of sounds she was making herself. His erection was still digging into her stomach almost painfully for them both. Both teenagers were very acutely aware of it and its implications.
"Hermione," Draco said for the third time as he pulled away from her lips. Her eyes focused on him immediately, giving him her full attention. "We don't have to—"
She touched his face gently, placing a finger on his lips. "I know. If I didn't want to, I would have stopped this a long time ago." His hand lingered on the waistband of her flannel pants; a finger was dipped inside rubbing circles on her hip.
"Are you sure?" he asked and he knew that his voice was shaking; he knew that every principal he had lived by two months ago had been thrown out the window. His love for Hermione had changed him and yet, it hadn't. How he was now, he thought, was how he might have been had he been raised in a proper family with better values. It didn't make any sense—he'd thought that a million times for two weeks—but he loved her more than anything. The last thing he'd want to do was hurt her.
Her eyes shone with a brilliant light and his heart jumped in his rib cage.
"I'm sure. So sure that whatever we do tonight, I won't regret it in the morning. I'm positive."
He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.
"I love you, Draco."
At first he wasn't sure that he had heard her. Her voice had been so soft, so smooth that it could have easily been a figment of his non-existent imagination. When he opened his eyes again, she was looking at him with embarrassment and worry. He realized that she was afraid of what he would say and he knew that he had heard correctly.
"I don't know how, Hermione, but I love you too," he said in the same tone of voice. "So much, I'm afraid." Her eyes widened but she did nothing else. They waited for something to happen, though they didn't know what.
His lips turned and lifted into the smirk that fit naturally on his face. Hermione smiled as she kissed his lips lightly and said, "There's the Draco I know and love." The confidence he exuded was contagious and Hermione was feeling bold once again. Reaching for his boxers, her hand also fiddled with his waistband, two fingers dipping inside at his hip.
"I love you, too," he said once again, as if to make sure that she had heard him or to reassure himself that he had said it. And as they did away with the rest of their clothing, they set about proving exactly how much the love foreach other resided within them each.
(A/N): I'm so sorry for the long wait but this chapter was horrendous. I had to force it out of my head and I was so unhappy with it. Very close to finishing it, I had thought about scrapping it all and starting this chapter over. Thank goodness I didn't because I feel much better about it now. Again, quick updates are not guaranteed but I will try my hardest. I have a feeling everything is going to be smooth rolling from here. I'm so excited about this half of the story! I think there are about three or four chapters left so the story is almost over! So, see you all in Chapter 27!