A/N: Continued warning about the rating…
Draco put it off going to his rooms for as long as he could. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy his nightly ritual of holding Hermione; it was just that he couldn't seem to control himself when he was around her. His whole body ached with the need to have her and all that squirming she did was about to drive him crazy. Those delightful moans, the ones she made when she was aroused: they haunted his dreams. He fell asleep aching and woke up hours later, still hard and sweating.
His temper was shot to hell, his entire body seemed to ache, and he felt like he was going nutters half the time. Two more days! He reminded himself. The blasted bet is over in two more days! He had some grand dreams of what he wanted to do as soon as his limitations were finished. He could only hope that her current eagerness will continue through to those plans.
Finally he decided to go on to his rooms. It's getting late.
He slipped into the rooms quietly, as it was much later than his usual return time, and should she by some chance be asleep, he didn't want to awaken her.
She wasn't asleep.
Apparently she'd been waiting on him. Draco offered her a tense smile and headed for the couch, stripping his robes off as he went. She immediately sat on his lap and snuggled close. "You look like you're in a bad mood." Her voice was teasing but he couldn't bring himself to respond. Her next look was filled with concern. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Nothing if you don't count the fact that what I want is right here, literally in my lap, and I can't take it!
"How was patrol?"
They continued their nightly routine of discussing their day with each other when Hermione leaned in and kissed him. It wasn't unexpected. They ended every night like this. In fact, Draco enjoyed it. She was a great kisser, and he loved how she didn't hold anything back.
Both their hands started wandering, and as was the usual occurrence, his shirt (and hers) slowly came unbuttoned.
Then she went and did something he wasn't expecting. Never, not in a million years, would Draco have expected prim Hermione Granger to pull back and start kissing her way down his stomach. Her mouth stopped just inches above the waistband of his pants. While trying to unbutton his pants, her fingers brushed ever so carefully against him.
A startled groan escaped him, and he moved against her before he could stop himself. Holy shit!
For one delicious minute, Draco's world swirled, and he found himself incapable of seeing anything more than the sight of her gorgeous face, poised over his lap. It took a royal battle within himself to start the painful, but necessary, separation from this wonderful torment.
Once he was able to force his body to obey his mind, Draco caught her hands in his own. "Hermione…baby… you have to stop."
"Why?" Her hand moved again and her fingers started tracing the buttons on his pants.
Oh, shit! Please tell me this isn't happening now!
Using every ounce of willpower he possessed, Draco pulled away from her and stood up. "We have to stop."
"No, Draco, wait!" Hermione reached for him as he headed for the door. "Please don't leave. I didn't mean to do anything wrong."
No matter how badly he wanted to get away from her, Draco couldn't bring himself to leave with her thinking she'd done something wrong. "You didn't do anything wrong." He assured her in a husky voice. "I liked it. A lot."
"Then why would you pull away?" She sounded genuinely confused. "I enjoy what we do together, and I want…I want more. I thought maybe you did too." By now she was almost whispering.
"I do." His voice wasn't much more than a low groan. "Trust me, I do. But I can't. Not right now." The sight of her sitting there, tears running down her face was beckoning him back. But he couldn't go back. Not right now. "I have to leave for awhile." He said hoarsely. "I'll be back soon. Go on to bed, and I'll see you in the morning, okay?"
Without waiting for an answer, he bolted for the door and took off down the hall. He had to get the hell out of there!
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Hermione stared at the closed door blankly. Her mind was in an agony of confusion. That certainly didn't go well!
Her first instinct was to cry. Her second was to seek out Ginny. Maybe she can tell me what went wrong!
Slowly her logic kicked in, and Hermione began to realize just how late it was. She knew that Ginny was more than likely sound asleep right now, and if she was smart, Hermione would follow her friend's example. Sleep would be wonderful right about now. Deep, dreamless, no thought required sleep.
With a soft sob, she laid down on the couch. No matter how much she longed for the respite that sleep would give her, she knew that however hard the truth was to face right now, it would only be that much more so in the morning.
Allowing tears to stream down her cheeks, Hermione reminded herself of her earlier resolve. By God when he gets back here he willbe explaining his actions. And he'd better had a darn good reason! If not, well, he'll be lucky if I don't hex him so hard that he'll never be capable with a woman again!
The anger felt better than despair, so Hermione clung to it. Slowly feeding the fires of her temper, she settled down to wait for his return. If he thinks he'll be escaping me that easily, then he has another thing coming!
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Draco ran desperately down the hallways. It took awhile but his body did cool down. He barely resisted the urge to plant his fist in the nearby wall. Where the bloody hell did that come from?
"What on earth are you doing her this time of night, Mr. Malfoy?"
The sound of his godfather's voice nearly had him jumping out of his skin. Snape wasn't done grouching. "You'd better have a good excuse. Certainly you can think of a better one than Mr. Zabini here."
It was then that Draco saw Blaise standing close to Snape's side. His eyes widened in surprise. "Blaise! What are you doing out of bed at this hour?"
"I could ask you the same thing!" Blaise shot back. "Even being Head Boy doesn't excuse you wandering around at all hours for no reason!"
"That's enough!" Snape cut in. "You two in my office, now."
The two were extremely subdued as they followed their Head of House towards his office. Both were thinking the same thing. This is not going to be a pleasant visit.
Snape settled into his chair and faced them silently. When no words came forth his impatient nature was quick to assert itself. "Well? I'm waiting."
Since he was looking at Draco, the only logical assumption was for him to go first. "I'm sorry, sir. I had…well, you see, when I went to my rooms Hermione…er, that is…oh, blast it all!" He ended in a growl. "It's personal, okay!"
Snape leaned forward. "What's going on, Draco?" It concerned him slightly that the boy was hesitant to talk. They'd always been able to tell each other anything.
Blaise also leaned over. "Does it have to do with Hermione?" he asked. "Did you two fight?"
"No, not exactly, we just had a…difference of opinion, that's all."
It took several minutes, but they were finally able to pry the gist of the evening's events from the embarrassed teenager. Snape was incredulous. Blaise was just amused.
"Let me get this straight, "Blaise said. "One of the most beautiful, most desirable girls of our class tried to seduce you, and you left?" His tone left no doubt that he found that to be extremely funny. "Are you nutters? Or just plain gay and always neglected to inform me?"
Snape frowned at Blaise for that one but had no time to offer a reprimand before Draco exploded.
"Why do you think I left, you arrogant git?" Draco seethed. He didn't give his friend a chance to answer. "Because of that cursed bet I made with you, that's why!"
Snape sat back abruptly. They'd all forgotten about the bet. He could see just how close Draco was to losing control of his temper, so he was cautious in the phrasing of his words. "I take it from this, uh, recent event that Miss Granger is still…unaware of the events that started this whole ordeal?"
"That would be correct." Draco muttered. Blaise opened his mouth to shout, but Snape held up a silencing hand. He wanted Draco to come to the obvious conclusion on his own.
It didn't take long.
"Oh, shit!" Draco muttered. "I screwed up, didn't I? I never told her why I kept things on the down low, I just did it. Then tonight when she…I responded by…oh damn!"
He jumped to his feet. "I've got to tell her don't I?"
Both of them nodded, and Blaise couldn't resist a sharp, "You think?"
"Fine." Draco sighed. "Professor Snape, not to be disrespectful, sir, but are we finished? I need to get back to Hermione and try and smooth this over."
"Certainly." Snape allowed himself a small smile. "I will even be so gracious as to allow you a simple warning this time instead of consequences." He tried, but found himself unable to resist. "I dare say that Miss Granger has punished you enough."
"Thanks ever so much." Draco's voice was dripping with sarcasm and he headed out the door. I hate it when he's amused at my expense!
Blaise jumped up and made to follow him, but the sound of their teacher's voice brought him back.
"Not so fast, Mr. Zabini. I'm not through with you."
Blaise groaned but went back as ordered. The door closed loudly behind him and Draco headed back towards his room, unease filling him. What would he find when he returned?
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Sometimes being Head Girl wasn't a good thing. Especially when you weren't in the mood to deal with other people's problems. Hermione definitely wasn't in the mood. She wasn't in the right frame of mind to be sympathetic; she especially wasn't ready to deal with a nearly hysterical second year, not even one whose familiar had died.
Professor Sprout had asked Hermione to sit with her young charge while she took care of the animal's dead body. Unable to refuse, Hermione struggled to put her personal feelings aside and focus on offering comfort. She wrapped her arms around the youngster and murmured soft words of nonsense, trying her best to ignore the combination of tears and snot soaking her night top.
It wasn't long before Professor Sprout returned, a bottle of calming potion in her hands. Heading back towards her rooms, Hermione was once again waylaid, only this time by a friend. Blaise had escaped his meeting with Professor Snape, and ignoring the fact that he was already in trouble, he decided he might as well go and check on his friends.
When he spotted Hermione walking down the hall, he hurried to catch up with her. "'Oi, Hermione, wait up!"
"Blaise! What in heaven's name are you doing out here at this time of night?"
He grinned. "Just got out of a meeting with Professor Snape. He caught me up by the owlery and gave me a week's worth of detention."
He offered her a strange look, then said cautiously, "Snape also caught Draco. To tell the truth, Draco seemed pretty upset, so that's where I was headed now. You know, to check on him."
"We had a disagreement." Hermione explained.
"I heard." Blaise chuckled, and she realized that Draco must have told him what happened. She flushed bright red and turned away.
"Excuse me."
"Now hold on a minute." Blaise grabbed her arm. "Has Draco talked with you yet?"
"No. Not yet. Why?"
Blaise shrugged. "Maybe I should then. After all, this whole thing started because of me." She looked hesitant. "Come on, " he coaxed. "Just hear me out before you decide. That's all I ask."
She hesitated briefly, but finally nodded in consent.
Blaise followed her to her rooms. He expected Draco to be there, but the other boy was no where in sight. Well, might make it easier if he's not here. Sitting on the couch he quickly started to explain.
…"So let me get this straight, "Hermione said a few minutes later. "You mean to tell me that Draco has liked me for a long time. Even before we started to become friends?"
"Yep." Blaise leaned back and smiled. "Once we all started drinking and making bets, well, I don't know, the opportunity just sort of presented itself and I couldn't help but take advantage."
Hermione shook her head in disbelief. "I'm still in awe that he agreed to that kind of bet anyway."
"Well," Blaise shrugged. "I'm pretty sure that he was thinking there was no way I would win, and maybe the thought of our situations being reversed appealed to him too much to let the opportunity go. Either way, I knew his pride wouldn't let him refuse."
"So why, if he knew he couldn't do anything with me, did he choose that time to start being friendly with me?"
Blaise grin was full of self satisfaction. "That was my fault, too. You see, I started being real friendly with you, and while I knew (and you knew) that we were only friends, Draco didn't. Haven't you ever noticed what a jealous and possessive person he is?"
She laughed. "You're quite the little matchmaker, aren't you?"
"What can I say: it's a gift!"
"And so modest, too."
Blaise laughed, then quieted down once more. "I know that he hurt your feelings tonight, and I'm not sure where he is, because when he left the dungeons he was supposedly heading your way to try and explain everything, but I just couldn't bear the thought of you being hurt because of something I started. So, I thought maybe I'd better come up here and make sure you understood the truth."
"Why didn't he just tell me?" Hermione asked. "It would have been easy enough for him to do."
"I'm not sure. A lot of it was probably pride. That would not be an easy thing to admit to a girl you wanted to impress. Plus, he might not know all the details himself. After all, I don't think he ever learned about me stealing Potter's cloak , so he has no idea how I found out his little secret."
"Well," Hermione sighed. "I guess I can understand why he behaved that way now. I still don't understand why he didn't tell me himself, but that's something that only he can explain." She leaned over and hugged him tight. "Thanks for telling me everything, Blaise. You're a great friend."
He nodded before standing to take his leave. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Sure, just one last question, though."
He turned back. "Yeah?"
"When is this bet over?"
He checked his watch. "You have less than 48 hours now."
"Okay." She offered him a big smile. "See you tomorrow!"
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If she hadn't been so tired, it would have been funny. The way the door slowly opened, and Draco's head peeked around it, eyes searching everywhere, as though he expected a hex to come flying at him.
When he spotted Hermione on the couch, rubbing her eyes tiredly from where he'd awakened her, he stepped in. "Where were you?" he demanded.
She rolled her eyes at the stupid question. "I was here, waiting for you and fell asleep on the couch. Where were you?"
"Looking for you." He explained. "I came back earlier to talk with you but you weren't here. I've been searching the whole blasted school for you!"
"Sorry. A second year Hufflepuff's familiar died and I went to help Professor Sprout comfort the poor girl."
"Oh, okay." He walked closer.
"Look, Hermione, we need to talk..." Draco sat beside her and reached for her hand, but she pulled away.
"Oh, now you want to talk. Before, when I was sitting her crying, begging you to talk with me you-"
"-I'm sorry." Draco cut in. I know that I'll have to apologize eventually, so I might as well get it over with. "I'm deeply sorry. It wasn't until I calmed down that I began to realize how this must all seem to you."
She nodded. "I didn't understand. I was so mad at you that I never planned on speaking to you again."
He heard the way she spoke in past tense. " So, you're not mad at me anymore?"
"No." She smiled. "Blaise came by and explained most of it to me." She looked at him. "The only thing I don't understand now is why you didn't tell me yourself?"
"I don't know." Draco could feel his face flush. He hated feeling so vulnerable. "I guess I was embarrassed. Plus, I didn't want you to think that I would be pressuring you into anything more. I wanted this to be your decision."
She grinned. "Well I made my decision. I think I just made it a little too early."
With a sound that was half laugh, half groan, Draco pulled her into his arms. "Damn, I wish this was over already!" She'd forgiven him! He felt practically giddy with relief.
"Not too much longer." She whispered in his ear. " Blaise told me that we're down to less than 48 hours."
Slipping her hand into his shirt, she stroked the hard muscles of his chest. "Just think. Two more days. That's all. Two more days."
Kissing her fiercely he growled in her ear. "I hope you don't have any plans for that evening because we have a date!"
With a low laugh, she playfully moved her hand a little lower. "Fine with me. I heard about some new suggestions that I'm dying to try."
"You little minx!" He said huskily. "You think you're so smart. Better enjoy this while it lasts, because you won't be safe from me forever."
Winding her arms around his neck she pulled him close once again. Placing her mouth on his she whispered softly. "I know. I can hardly wait!"
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A/N: Okay, this chapter has been really hard for me. Writing detailed love scenes is clearly not a forte of mine…will have to work on that. Well, hope you enjoyed despite that.
