Disclaimer: Still don't own.
29. You Didn't Know I Was Dangerous
Drifting out of sleep, eyes closed, Hermione lifted her arms above her head and stretched the kinks out of her body. The sound leaving her lips was something between a groan, and a moan. Barely remembering that it was Saturday, she curled onto her side, and hugged the pillow closer to her head.
As she tried to go back to sleep, she became aware of the pitter patter sound of water. Thinking of it as rain, she happily snuggled deeper into the covers. There was nothing better than sleeping through rain, and curling up to a good book as the sound of rain hit the window pane.
She smiled, planning a wonderful day for herself.
Regardless, there was a gnawing in her brain that would not ease up. Something was off, and her brain screamed at her to figure it out. Willing it away, she sighed and attempted to sleep again. She would have done it too, had it not been for the screeching metal, and the sudden stop of the rain.
Bolting upright, she found herself in a room unfamiliar to her. Dark furniture, a small table, dresser and nightstand. A large bed, silken sheets, and three doors. By the decoration alone, she could tell that it was the room of a bachelor. Her clothes on the floor proved it. Just then the scent that was so familiar to her as Draco filled her nostrils, along with the remnants of her stale perfume.
Hermione blanched, what had she done?
Nearly tripping, and falling on her face as she stumbled out of bed, she became very aware of her naked state. Putting on her undergarments, she grabbed her purse from the floor. Pulling out a hair tie, she tied her wild mane into a bun. Grabbing her dress, she made to pull it on, and jumped a foot in the air at the sudden chipper whistling from what she assumed was the bathroom.
If she could only escape before he made it out!
Finishing off the zipper, she looked around the room. Hermione swore that she would pass out from her panicked erratic breathing if she didn't find her shoes soon. Crouching down on the floor, she looked under the bed just as she heard the bathroom door open.
Barely containing a squeal of terror, she wondered if she could hide here and successfully go unnoticed. It was a short lived dream.
"What are you doing?" she heard Draco drawl.
Inwardly cursing, she lifted her head above the bed. The sight that met her was enough to make her want to blush, and hide once more.
Before her was a very wet, and naked Draco Malfoy.
Hair wet and slicked back, his shoulders damp with a few lingering water droplets, and a loosely hanging towel at his hips. The memories of their affair last night came flooding to her like a seismic wave, and suddenly she had a whole new reason to blush.
Hermione willed herself to stay nonchalant, and in control. Playing it cool, she rested an arm on the bed in what she thought was a casual position, "I'm looking for my shoes." she said, trying to focus on his face.
Draco stared at her and blinked, "Why?"
Hermione could see his lips move, but had gotten side tracked by a bead of water that had made itself down his chest to his toned abdomen, and was making a beeline for the towel.
She swallowed, "Huh?" she asked abruptly, realizing he was waiting for answer. She met his eyes.
"A gown, and heels for breakfast. Don't you think that's a little much?"
Hermione heard him, and watched his lips move. Something about those string of words made it hard for her brain to register. "Huh?" she repeated.
His eyes turned cold and stony, "It's Saturday morning, what could you possibly have to do that you need to rush off for?"
Hermione's instinct was to say that she needed to go feed her cat, the phrase having helped her get out of situations many times before. Be it as it may, she didn't think it would go over very well in this case. She desperately wanted to seek solace under the covers of her bed, with a giant tub of ice cream to think about what she had done. The last thing she wanted to do was get into a tussle with a half naked Malfoy... or did she?
Her brain worked through a list of excuses like lightning, finally she replied. "You have that Quidditch thing with the kids. I know you must be very busy. I'll be out of your way as soon as I find my shoes." she said with a smile that she could not contain, she was incredibly grateful that she was so damn clever. She retreated back into the dark recess of the space between the bed and the floor.
"That was canceled today." was his reply.
Hermione froze, so much for that idea. "Oh." she replied meekly.
His footsteps as he walked toward her side of the room, seemed incredibly loud. Still searching under the bed for the shoes that were clearly not there, his hand blocked her line of vision as he gave her his hand.
Inwardly cursing, she took his hand and let him help her up.
Draco held onto her hand, "Why don't you go take a shower, and I'll get you some clothes to wear." he suggested.
"Oh, really Draco, that isn't necessary." Hermione protested as he put a hand around her waist, and led her to the bathroom.
Draco was having none of it. "Of course it is, you must be very tired. Nothing a hot shower, and some food can't fix."
She wanted to say no, she really did, but something about his tone left no room for argument. She felt it was an offer that she could not refuse.
He led her to bathroom. The marble floors felt incredibly cold against her bare fee. Stopping, he turned and stared at her with such a pure look in his eyes that it caught her breath. Cupping the back of her head, he leaned down to give her a soft tender kiss. The other hand expertly undoing the zipper of her dress. She was beginning to think it was his specialty.
As the dress dropped to the floor, she managed a half shiver before his hands were on her again to remove her lingerie. She covered her chest with her hands as best she could, watching as he walked away to turn on the shower, and motioned for her to get in.
The bathroom was much larger than she thought it would be. Besides the marble floor and walls, there were different kinds of tubs, sinks, and faucets. She tried, in her best dignified way, to run past Draco, and into the shower where the glass was already fogging up.
The water against her skin felt heavenly, and helped ease the sore muscles she hadn't realized she had. Turning to grab the soap, she caught sight of the blonde still behind her, leaning against the door frame watching her.
"Can a girl get some privacy?" she chastised. Sure he had already seen everything, but did he really need to leer?
Draco grinned devilishly, "Absolutely not." and with that he stripped himself of his towel and entered the space with her.
He chuckled at her surprised wide eyes, and small gasp. "I don't know why you're so shocked, nothing you haven't seen before." he said, pressing his wet body into her, and backing her into the wall. The smoldering look in his eyes stirred a longing in her that she didn't even know she had.
He placed both his hands against the wall on either side of her head, and kissed her once more with mind numbing passion. He lowered one hand to her waist, trailing down her body before cupping her arse, and lifting her closer to him. She drew a sharp breath, and the sound drove him wild. The other hand teasing her folds the way he had learned she loved, before slipping himself in.
As he mercilessly drove them to climax, she wondered one of three things briefly. For starters, she wondered why she had never had shower sex before, and secondly if it was a Draco specialty to make sex anywhere incredibly hot and delicious? Lastly, why had she been trying to run away again? This was so much better than laying in bed eating ice cream.
Finishing just after her, Draco leaned his forehead against hers. His heavy panting ghosting over her face.
"I thought we were just showering." she teased, and earned a low chuckle from him before he kissed her once more.
"If you insist." he grinned and helped her bathe, which took much longer than necessary.
Finally cleaned, and wrapped in a towel she stood in his walk in closet. She watched as he went through the racks, pulling things for her to wear. The thought had crossed his mind that surely his mother had some clothes left in the Manor, but this was so much better.
Pulling an old black t-shirt that he used to wear back in Hogwarts, and his smallest pair of boxers, he watched her dress before throwing on black silk pajama pants, and a tee. He did not want to make Hermione feel uncomfortable by over dressing. This was probably the first time, ever, that he had shown up to breakfast dressed so casually.
"So you do own a t-shirt." she teased as they sat down in the dining room.
"It's only for special occasions." he joked.
That was how breakfast went for the most part. It was spent pleasantly, despite Hermione's worry that things would be awkward.
"How is everything?" Draco asked once she had served herself, and had begun to eat.
"Everything is really good." she smiled.
"Is there anything you need? Anything I can get for you?"
She hook her head, "I'm fine."
"Alright but if you need anything-"
She laughed, "I'm fine, you don't need to dote on me."
"Nonsense." he winked.
As Draco continued to make sure her need was nothing, she found herself not regretting last night, or this morning, at all. It seemed like the most perfectly natural thing, and perhaps overdue.
However, that feeling would not last long.
"Draco!" she heard a distant male voice yell.
Immediately she could feel Draco's mood souring. The thought of being seen by anyone right now set butterflies in her stomach, and not the good kind.
He finished the bite he had taken, sipped his drink, and was about to wipe his mouth and stand, when Blaise Zabini turned the corner.
"Sorry I'm early mate, the rest of my day is pretty full-" he trailed off, noticing that there was another guest in the room. He caught sight of Hermione, he looked surprised. Then, his eyes tightened to glare. He cleared his throat catching himself, pretending as if nothing had happened. He nodded to her and greeted, "Granger."
"Zabini." she returned. Suddenly feeling very self conscious, like she was being watched under a microscope.
He turned to Draco, mouth twisting in distaste. He stepped to Draco's ear and spoke quietly. "Really, Draco?" Blaise laughed shrewdly. "That's who you decided to be?"
Draco was not phased. His voice was firm, and clear when he replied. "Is there something you would like to discuss with me?"
"Yes there is something I would bloody like to discuss with you." Blaise snarled.
Grimly, Draco lifted himself from the table. "Excuse us, Hermione." she nodded warily, not knowing what else to say or do. Draco stood up, his cold eyes never leaving Blaise's as they headed out of the room.
So this is what it would be like? Hermione thought to herself. To her, not knowing any better, it was quite obvious that Zabini had some pureblood prejudice he had yet to take care of. Naturally, she wondered if this was the reaction they would get from people if they were to become official.
Draco had shown her nothing but kindness, and had been by her side when she needed it the most. It bothered her to leave him to deal with Zabini's wrath on his own, as she was perfectly capable of putting that dimwit in his place.
As she stood, she winced as she looked down at herself. A t-shirt and boxers that clearly screamed ''I spent the night here doing naughty things!'', was not a very good reckoning outfit. With her wand still upstairs, she pulled the boxers a little lower on her hips. This was the best she could do.
Walking into the hall she tried to listen for their voices, and made her way just outside closed mahogany double doors. She was about to press one open, when she heard Zabini speak.
"I told you to stay away from her. Do you really think people won't notice a change?"
Inside the room, Draco glared at Blaise, "I assure you, dear friend," he added with venom, "I haven't any idea what you speak of."
"You complete arse, how dare you do that to her!" Blaise yelled, "You have no business."
"I didn't do anything! You're so easy to accuse me of bullshit. I did not mess her up, she is just the same as she has always been." he defended.
"Oh yeah? Remind me again, how many years have you spent chasing after her? All those late nights, your favorite, right? To you, nothing was wrong with that. So then nothing is wrong with this right? You are so deluded." Blaise seethed.
"She needed a favor, so I helped her. We're friends now," Draco vowed, "We talk, we get along. We've got something special here, what do you want me to say?" he shrugged.
"Oh yes, special." Blaise scorned, "I'm sure she's going to find it very special how you obliviate the fuck out of her like the change in weather."
Behind the door all color drained from Hermione's face, and goosebumps erupted on her flesh. If any part of what Zabini was saying was true, then she didn't know Draco as well as she thought she did. She had made a terrible mistake.
"So pray tell Draco," Blaise continued, "What did you use if you didn't obliviate her? Love potion? Amortentia perhaps, seeing as she's clad in your clothes?"
"How dare you, I would never do that!" Draco fumed.
Blaise scoffed, "Oh what, you found some morals now?"
"I already told you that I don't do that anymore! I'm not a creep, I tried a new approach. You know I would tell you had I done anything, so fuck off your high horse. You think you're so high and mighty."
"Oh I do? Look in the mirror Draco. Do you think she's going to want you after she finds out what you've done? You think she's going to find your crazed infatuation endearing?" Blaise laughed humorlessly, "She will run for the hills, tell her over protective friends. Want to you know where you'll be? Do you?"
There was silence.
"Have fun in Azkaban." with that she heard the floo.
Hermione ran back to the dinning room. Her heart was racing, and her hands were trembling terribly due to what she had overheard. She couldn't let him know! Not now. No. Everything had to seem normal, and she had no idea how to do that.
Hermione could hear Draco's long strides as he made his way back. The agitation showed on his face.
"Everything okay with you two?" Hermione asked when he came in, trying her best to meet the devil's eyes.
"Yes. Blaise was just being a drama queen." he kissed the top of her head, and she suppressed a shiver.
He sat down to continue eating, but his heart was not in it. He moved the food on his plate around, a frown on his face as he was lost in his thoughts.
Hermione set her fork down dramatically, "Urgh, I'm so full. I can't take another bite even if I tried. That was delicious, thank you." she stood up, "I'm going to go get my clothes." she thought about her next words, and decided it was safe to give them a go. "I should go feed my cat, he's probably rather cross at me." she laughed, nervously more than anything.
She turned to leave, but he reached out and held her wrist.
Staring down at his hand, a sudden realization came to her. The realization so strong her legs buckled, wanting to give out.
His fingers on her arm. It was a perfect match for that suspicious bruise from all those months ago. Suddenly, everything made sense. It was true what Blaise said. She knew it then.
She was suffocating. So, so, so close to a panic attack. She wanted to collapse, shake, scream, cry, run, shield herself, protect herself, and cower away all at once.
Gulping, she took small tiny breaths as he stood. Lucky for her, he had other things in mind and wasn't giving her his full attention. "Did I tell you," he whispered huskily in her ear, "That you look incredibly sexy with my clothes on." Hermione blushed, and was disgusted at herself for it. He ran a hand down her arms, and she shivered freely. "Are you sure you can't say, just... a little while longer?" he asked, making his intentions very clear.
Swallowing the string of curses she wanted to send in his direction, she looked away and down at his hand. A fire brewed within her, and she tried to suppress it for the time being.
"I'm so tired. I'll take a rain check." she tried to smile at him.
His eyes sharpened and focused on her, immediately noticing something was off. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Bloody no.
"I'm fine." she shrugged.
Draco did not buy it. "Are you... are you having second thoughts?" he asked apprehensively.
Oh bloody hell. If you want to leave without being obliviated, act your arse off.
"What? No, Draco, no!" her arms found their way around his neck, and she shrugged again to hide her shudder. "It's just different, but not a bad different." she insisted. "It just takes a little getting used to is all."
"Only if you're sure." he said, peppering kisses on the corners of her lips. He went to kiss her, and groaned as she pulled away.
"I'm sure." she said, letting go of him and taking a step back.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, "You sure I can't make you stay?"
Hermione tried her best to laugh and seem at ease, "A little while longer isn't going to kill you."
"It just might." he said, reaching out to hold her hands. "When can I see you again? We'll go out. Five star restauraunt, six course, the works, anything you want."
She smiled, "I'll check my schedule, and let you know. We'll work it out." Hermione persuaded.
"Anything, anything at all, anytime you want. Even if I'm busy, even if The International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy is in jeopardy. The world can wait." Draco grinned.
Hermione shook her head, "Don't be so dramatic." she said, moving away from the hold of his hands. "Sit and finish your breakfast, you need your energy." she encouraged, hoping that he would not follow her.
He groaned in protest, "Go on, eat. I'll be right back." Hermione said, refusing to hear otherwise.
Brushing off his mutters of dissent, she watched as he sat back down in his seat before bolting up to his room. Tripping several times over carpets. She closed the door, and leaned her head against it as her lungs begged for air.
But it was no good, this room was no good.
The sheets were dangling off the bed, their clothes in every corner of the room. The room was a vivid reminder.
Throwing off the rubbish he had lent her on the bed with a fireceness, she quickly put on her own clothes as ridiculous as it was to walk around in a ball gown. She longed for a lengthy proper shower, that would help wash away how violated she felt.
Grabbing for her purse, the contents spilled all over the floor.
"Oh fuck!" she growled, she could never make a quick get away. She was about to throw the contents back in, when she realized that she had a few items she had meant to return earlier. She threw the book she had borrowed from him on his nightstand, and lastly the ring that he had loaned her.
She had loved the ring so much, that she would throw it on every once and awhile just because it lifted her spirits, and made her smile. But not anymore. It made her scowl, and made vile want to rise up her throat. She threw it down as well.
She still could not find her shoes, and at this point she did not care. The longer she stayed in this room, in this house, near him, made her more and more asphyxiated. Barefoot, she ran back downstairs to where she heard Blaise leave earlier.
"Draco, I'm going. I'll owl you!" she called out from the living room, hand full of floo powder in her hand for her quick getaway. She knew he would come for her, to get one last demanding kiss, to hold her one more time in his clutch. But she could not bear it.
She had just called out her address when she saw him appear through the doors.
Draco sighed, missing her by a few seconds.
He turned to the open window to stare out at the gardens, letting the cool breeze ruffle his hair. The way the morning light caught the rolling green hills was breathtaking, and he wished Hermione would have stayed to share this moment.
Was it him, or was the sun shinning just a little bit brighter today?
In the distance, he made out the figure of an owl flying toward him. He hoped it was Hermione keeping her promise, even though she had just left. The owl flew through the open window, and dropped the next best thing. The Daily Prophet.
And there it was.
Them.
Front page, giant picture of them last night entering the ball. They looked like a dream come true, and it was. His eyes scanned the article briefly, making a mental note to make the writers life a living hell if they mentioned anything outlandish. Besides the shocked tone, there was nothing too scathing in the article.
He laid down on the sofa, a big grin on his face as he stared at the picture. Everything was falling into place, and he could not be happier. Yes, he was very happy indeed. He had his witch, and the whole world knew. Nothing could tamper his mood. Not even stupid Blaise.
