Chapter Twenty-Six

"You actually expect me to get on that thing?"

Draco took her hand and kissed it. "Yes I do. I don't understand why this is such a problem for you."

"You don't have to understand. Just respect my decision and leave it alone. I am not getting on that thing now or ever."

He had taken her to the newly constructed quidditch pitch available to the public of all magic persons that he paid to have built a few months ago. Wizards and witches from all over could come here and play quidditch unprofessionally. There was also an area specifically designed just for flying around with your broom and nothing else. It even had a kid's area and toy brooms for rent. It reminded Hermione of an ice rink except the activities were in the air. Now he expected her to get on a broom and ride it. He could have asked her for anything else in the world and she would be game but not for this, never for this.

"You're out of your mind. I hate flying. It always frightens me within inches of my life. I'd much rather get in an airplane where there's an inside to get into. Seeing the entire world around me as I flash through the air, constantly reminding me that I could fall and die at any moment is not my idea of a good time. It's not happening."

Draco was astounded. It was unbelievable that this girl was afraid of anything. To find out that she hated something as simple and as wonderful as getting on a broomstick and flying just set him back a little bit. "You don't like flying? Are you joking?"

"I could ask you the same question. But no, I never joke about this. Can you please, please pick something else for us to do? It is my birthday after all." She really didn't want to do this. There was a special place in her heart where she reserved her fear and hatred of leaving the ground on a stick and some straw. It was just so atypical: she was a witch so she had to fly on a broom? No way, not in this lifetime.

He tried to pull her a little closer to the broom that was only a few feet in front of her but with no such luck. She would not budge forward. "We don't have to go very high from the ground. How about you get on the same broom as I do and then you can just hang onto me. I'm not going to let you fall."

"That may be true but that doesn't mean you won't fall on your own. And if I'm hanging on with you then I'll fall as a result. It's too dangerous." There was nothing he could say to convince her to get on that broom. "I'd rather not die on my birthday, thank you very much."

Draco laughed at her poor attempt to brush this off. He wasn't going to give up on her about this. Flying was one of the best things about being magic in the first place. Why she wouldn't want to take advantage of that was beyond him. "Okay, you're being a little ridiculous. What's the underlying issue here?"

"There is no underlying issue. Don't belittle me with your psychobabble. I have simply never been a fan of flying. Why should I start now?"

"Because it is your nineteenth birthday and you can count the number of times you've been on a broomstick. Don't you want to see what it's like?" Her logic was so completely flawed. And then it hit him: what if it was because of Potter? "Oh, I know what your problem is."

"Please, do share your findings," she spat out rolling her eyes.

"It's because every time your little boyfriend gets on a broom to play quidditch he falls off. Granger, don't base your flying experience on Potter's inability to stay in the air. The rest of us are very fair flyers."

The ridiculousness of his words made her jaw drop. Was he being serious? "Don't be absurd! Harry is an excellent flyer, he just has terrible luck."

"Terrible luck, eh? Is that why the first game of every year he falls off his broom and ends up in the hospital wing whining to Madame Pomfrey that his leg is broken or that he's missing a few bones? Come on, Hermione. Do this for me."

Is he actually begging? He was. His request came out in the form of an order but he really wanted her to do this with him. He showed her a different side of him each time they went out. It was refreshing and his want for her to enjoy something with him was endearing, but that didn't change the fact that she was afraid. "This isn't going to go away, is it?"

He shook his head. "I'm going to bug you about this forever until you just let it happen."

She let her crossed arms fall to her side and exhaled roughly. "I suppose I might as well try it then."

Draco grinned and mounted the broom. It was an easygoing model: the Cleansweep Seven. Old compared to what was available in the market now, but for a first timer it would be perfect. He waved her over and watched patiently as she staggered her way closer to him.

She was nearly there when she had a sudden change of heart. "I change my mind! I can't do this. There was a boy today under my care and he was seriously hurt from falling off of his broom and he didn't even fall from that high! That's not a risk I'm willing to take." This was all too much pressure. Why did he want her to board the bloody thing anyway? She'd gone years without getting on a broom and she was adamant about keeping it that way. The last time she flew she was on a dragon and before that it was a thestral, which she couldn't even see. Animals were a bit safer because she had a lot more to hang on to. But a broom was precisely that: just a stick! If she lost her concentration while riding an animal she would not fall to her death because the animal gains an extent of control. If she lost control of the broom then she was done for. Why couldn't he understand that?

Draco heaved a sigh and dropped the broom. "Is it really that scary for you?"

"Yes it just happens to be that scary for me. I'd appreciate it if you didn't mock me for it either." Hermione crossed her arms again and huffed.

"This is important to me, Hermione. There's something that I want you to see and it would be loads more fun to see it from the sky than on the ground." He sounded disappointed, sad almost.

It was completely unfair of him to make her the bad guy. "Are they… fireworks? I'm totally content with viewing fireworks from the ground."

"No, it's not a fireworks display. It's just– you know what? Forget it. We can see it from the ground. Come with me." He took her by the hand and walked with a quickened pace to the middle of the very large arena. There was a soft blue blanket laid out on the grass. Draco hurried her over to it and sat down next to her. He laid his back down and looked at her when she didn't do the same. "Well?"

This was turning out to be a very bossy birthday indeed. "Well, what?"

Draco scoffed. Wasn't it obvious what he wanted her to do? She was smart, attractive and witty but so incredibly difficult. "Lie down with me."

She arched her brow and tried her hide her blush but followed his command nonetheless. The evening sky looked beautiful as the stars were overcoming the sunset. A few flyers were still circling the pit and Hermione couldn't help but take notice of them. Each person was flying on the same type and color broom and the straw tails were all glowing several different colors. After a while the flyers began flying in a pattern, swirling and swooping throughout the air and Hermione took notice that the colors that illuminated their tails were leaving tracks. The tracks soon turned into letters and the letters turned to words. Before long a multicolored message lit up the sky and the words took Hermione completely by surprise. They were addressed to her. "I L-O-V-E Y-O-U."

The flyers descended and Hermione was caught in a trance, hoping the men simply meant to do "happy birthday" instead of what it said now. When Draco didn't complain a mistake had been made she could feel her heart sink into her gut. She turned her head and found he was staring directly into her eyes. "Do… do you really mean that?"

"Yeah, I really do mean it." Draco scooted closer to her until his lips found hers. They were still lying down but now they were alone. The arena was closed but since he practically owned it, it didn't matter if he was still there. He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her even closer and kept his gaze locked with hers.

"Draco, I… I just…" Could she really say it back? Did she have the right to? To this day, Hermione had only ever said those words to her parents and her friends but only in a strictly platonic matter. How was she supposed to convey exactly how she felt about this person in just a few simple words? He had gone all out just to tell her how he felt and she didn't think it came cheap the way he did it. It wasn't that she didn't feel the same; she just wasn't prepared to say it. She thought about it all the time these days but the coward in her was preventing her from doing anything about it. The Gryffindor in her frowned at her ability to be so intimidated. They're just a few words! I'm sure he's never told anyone he's loved them either but he found a way to say it to me. The least I could do is thank him. But I don't want to just thank him; I want to say it back. Why can't I say it back? Say it back Granger!Come on you can do this. You've done harder things than this, right?

"Hermione?" he called her name after seeing how lost in her own world she was. Her distraction was evident in her eyes. "Did you hear me?" he asked as he was getting on his feet.

"Huh? What?" How embarrassing. He was just talking to me.

"I said do you want to go home now? It's getting dark and I still have the rest of your gift to give to you."

She shot up and looked at him unbelievingly. "There's more?!" He's acting like I didn't just unintentionally ignore his "I love you." Shouldn't this be a big deal?

He helped her up and chuckled. "You don't have to act so surprised. Why wouldn't there be more?"

"Well that is, I mean I didn't take you as the type of person who took birthdays so seriously." Their hands were entwined still but she didn't mind. It was nice holding hands with him.

"I don't take birthdays so seriously. Just yours, love."

There he said it again! Has he lost his mind?

Her eyes were closed tight and her eyes were placed over them. He'd made her promise that she wouldn't peak until he said it was okay no matter what. Why he had to be so mysterious all the time she was sure she'd never know. Now she was waiting for him to get something together while she stood in the middle of the bedroom for her "big surprise."

Each second she had to wait was a second she thought this was a bad idea. He was being secretive again, and that made her nervous to no ends. She had no idea how cautious she should act now because his plans were yet to be revealed. For all she knew he could be planning to kill her right now. It sounded ridiculous even in her head but it was a possibility however small.

Hermione was beginning to grow anxious.What is taking him so long? "What are you doing, Draco?"

"One second more," he called from the living room. "You can be patient."

"Me being patient flew out the window five minutes ago. I'm going to open my eyes!"

"Oh, stop being such a child." Draco returned to the room and closed the door before walking up to Hermione and uncovering her hands from her eyes. "Keep them closed; I just want your hands out of the way."

His index finger traced the base of her neck and she felt something slip down around her collar bone and hang at her bosom. It was a necklace, she knew that much now for sure. It felt cold on her body but she didn't mind. The boy had gone and gotten her jewelry as her present. This is too much. Why on earth is he being so nice?

Draco put his arms under her breasts and hugged her from behind. "You can open them now, Granger." His cool words tingled in her ear and she shivered involuntarily.

She popped her eyes open and looked down. There was a skeleton key made from what looked like diamonds hanging from a silver chain. The key stopped at the tip of her cleavage and two small sapphire gems sparkled brightly at the base and another two on the rungs of it. It was gorgeous and mesmerizing.

Hermione turned around in his arms and searched his eyes for answers. "What's this, they key to your heart?"

Draco shrugged nonchalantly. "It is if you want it to be. I saw it and I thought of you. I figured you might like it. Happy birthday, Granger," he kissed her nose and smirked shyly. "The chain's a little thin but it's real silver. It's also charmed to never break or lose its original shine. Do you like it?"

Hermione couldn't find the words to thank him. She nodded as a tear began to form in her eye. She hadn't even known she was a fan of jewelry until she saw how lovely it looked around her neck, how lovely it felt to be in his arms. She had never felt this way about anyone before and she couldn't bear to hold it in for much longer. He was so thoughtful and charming, and it was then that she knew she couldn't afford to not say those words to him. "I love you too, Draco."

He pulled her into a greedy kiss and she let his hands roam desperately all over her body. In that moment she wanted him just as much as he wanted her, and she couldn't deny it any longer. The heart in her chest was beating so quickly that she failed to notice they were already lying on the bed on their sides, still wrapped in each other's arms and snogging like there'd be no tomorrow. It felt simply magical the way his tongue collided with hers and tastefully licked her lips. He bit them lightly until they were plump and pink before voyaging back into her mouth.

His hand was settled as the base of her bottom and every other instant he would squeeze, which made Hermione wish he would do more with his fingers than tease her arse. And as if he read her mind he was pulling on the upper edge of her sleeveless, strapless top. Within a flash it was around the base of her tummy and he was working on the button and zipper of her jeans all while still fondling her mouth with his tongue.

Hermione's soft moans were driving him over the edge, but he couldn't get her pants off any faster. She was pushing her shirt further down her legs and kicked it and her pants down off her ankles. He pulled away from her mouth to truly admire how wonderful she was half-naked. Seeing her clad in a white bra and tight panties made him want to plow into her right then and there. But he had to wait no matter how delicious she looked. It was still her first time and he wanted to do it the right way so she'd never forget it. Her hands were gripping the sheets beside her and her breathing was heavy from the intensity of which they were just kissing. This girl would be the death of him and before he died he was going to make her feel incredible.

He took a finger and slid her knickers down her legs very slowly. Draco put his face up to her crotch, smelled her arousal and cursed himself for not being kinder to her in their childhood. If he had been then they would have fallen in love much sooner and that was all the sooner that he could have had her. It was so sweet and tangy that he could hardly keep his control. He climbed on top of her and swiftly unhooked her bra then snatched it away and let it fall to the floor, revealing her full perky breasts and her small pink nipples. They were so fucking perfect. He wasted no time taking his tongue and running it around her areola in a spiral until her left nipple was in his mouth. He suckled it gently at first while rubbing her other back and forth in between his thumb and forefinger. Occasionally he would take her whole breast in his hand and caress it adoringly, groaning deeply and with such glee as he sucked on her other breast.

Hermione tried her hardest not to be too vocal and bit her lip so roughly that it was turning as red as rouge. Everything he did to her felt so bloody good and she could hardly wait any longer for what was in store. Each moan she let out was more passionate than the last. Her hands travelled from the sheets to the hair on his head and she aggressively pulled at it, communicating to him how afflicted he was making her feel.

Draco didn't mind her taking out her pleasure on his hair because he knew he was doing such a damn good job. He wanted to make this girl scream but she was still holding back. I'll just have to fix that now, won't I?

His head went down in between her legs and moaned playfully into her clit. He was going to make her let go if it was the last thing he did.

She wasn't sure how much longer she was going to last but she knew she was done for when he started licking the outer walls of her center. She gasped in delight before putting a hand over her mouth and moaning into it fiercely. It was tortuous and so pleasant all at the same time. His tongue was slipping in and out of her core and as it wiggled around inside of her she began to write on the bed wildly. Why had she deprived herself of this for so long when it felt so marvelous? She felt like her whole body was on fire and the drips of sweat on her forehead only proved as much. It only got better when his finger ventured deep inside of her folds and she sighed out his name repeatedly.

Draco put another finger in for good measure, enjoying the sticky juices that were endlessly flowing out of her. He had been unaware that a girl could be this wet and still so perfectly tight. Her reactions were desirous to the point where it made him want to try even more to please her. But he still couldn't help the sarcastic comment hanging on the tip of his tongue. "Having fun, Granger?" he knew she was but he just had to ask.

"Shut it, Malfoy," she said between gasps. Nothing was going to spoil this for her, not even his deep throated chuckle at her response.

He licked her clit up and down while still plunging his two fingers inside of her. Draco felt as if he could do no wrong by the way her sweet voice echoed throughout the room. He wondered if they had gotten along from the start, would they have been doing this all along instead of bickering. Maybe not all along but perhaps in their fifth or sixth year; it was a silly thought but he couldn't help but ponder on it.

"Draco, please." Hermione couldn't do this anymore. She knew these things were supposed to go slow on your first time but he had been playing around down there for ten minutes and she was soiling the sheets. It was arousing and embarrassing at the same time.

"Is that an order, Granger?" He might have been pressing his luck with all his playful banter but he wouldn't be Draco Malfoy if he didn't tease her a little.

"Yes! Yes, Draco it's an order! Please just take me now," she whined out.

The feel of her sweat drenched skin told him just how ready she was to receive him. He climbed back on top of her after taking off his trousers and his shirt, revealing his abs and toned muscles to her at last. He was every woman's dream with how good he looked naked. Of course the only people that knew this were her and Ella, and Hermione would be damned if that woman ever got the chance to see it again. Draco was all hers now.

"Are you still sure about this? You only get one chance to decide now. I don't want to be the man who ruined your first time, Granger."

"The only way you could ruin it now is if you stop." She sounded so confident and so certain. There was no way that this was a mistake. "I love you, Draco."

His stormy blue-grey eyes met her brown ones and he placed several more kisses on her lips and cheeks before he lowered his body onto hers.

Each kiss was so warm and enthusiastic. The reality of the situation his Hermione hard and she realized that she was more than just in love with this man. She wanted him to be hers and only hers.

He was using his arms to stay lifted on both sides of her and he told her to hold on to them and squeeze very firmly. "This is going to hurt but I'll be as careful as I can, all right?"

She nodded quickly and closed her eyes. Her hands took hold of his arms and she gripped them tight. He kissed her lips one more time before taking his rock hard member and thrusting it absolutely into her tight, wet pussy. Draco stopped there and let her feel all of him. Her single cry pierced his ears but it wasn't enough to make him want to pull out. Then he saw the tears flowing down the sides of her face.

"Do you want me to stop?" he said in a panic. She was actually crying from the pain he'd caused her.

"No, no don't. It's… okay. I'm going to be okay."

She didn't sound sad but he was still doubtful that he should proceed. "Do you want me to continue?"

"Please, Draco… don't stop," she was practically pleading him to go on and he kissed her more and more to make up for what he thought was too much for her.

He took his length out to some extent until he could feel that just his tip was inside of her and slowly lunged back inside gradually. Her tears stopped flowing and she was moaning in ecstasy again, so he saw fit to drive it even further and a little harder.

She'd never felt anything so sensational before. Her mouth opened fully and she happily let out all her gleeful bellows. The momentum of his cock pulling in and out of her was nothing less than extraordinary. Every inch of his member was inside of her; it was magnificent and breathtaking. Her breath hiked spontaneously and she let go of the tight feeling in her stomach while naturally contracting her muscles and she met his thrusts in unison. Her back was arched up at each plunge and finally, explicitly, and undoubtedly she felt her whole body thrive all at once as she submitted to her orgasm.

Hermione's hands went to scrape gratefully at Draco's back. She held on almost urgently to his backside as he poured his thick elixir inside of her and fought for her breath when he let himself fall on top of her, placing his head into the nook of her neck.

This was what heaven was like. They were both unmistakably certain of this.