CHAPTER 29
Months later
-So how are we going to do this? –Lola asked.
-We're going to teach them in order to get paid.
-Thanks, Sherlock –she rolled her eyes-. I'm scared.
-Don't worry, I'll be the bad cop –he grinned-. And you can be the compassionate nun.
-I don't like you –she gave him the stink eye and he laughed.
-How's my hair?
-Horribly slicked back, as you wanted it.
-Good.
-Why did you insist in doing it like that?
-How do I look? –he straightened up and wiped any trace of emotion off his pale face.
Lola analyzed his face, his black clothes, and the general impression he gave. He looked like a very humpable Bela Lugosi.
-Frightening –she answered sincerely.
-Good –he gave her a satisfied smile.
-How is that good? –she laughed while putting all of her books in a backpack.
-Lola, please, are you for real?! –Draco moaned.
-What?
-You're going to walk into a classroom full of first graders with a backpack? They'll eat you alive.
-If your majesty doesn't like it, you can go get fucked.
-And stop giving me the stink eye.
As he held the office door for her, Lola grinned. She was going to give her first lesson. To eleven year-old kids. Scary. Mostly if your co-partner was Draco Malfoy. Once they got to the dungeons, Lola took a deep breath in.
-You go in first –he whispered.
She cursed softly and then walked in. Silence filled the room for a second, but after examining her all the kids began talking again. She cleared her throat.
-Hello… I'm Professor Laroche. I'm going to be… Uh… Teaching Potions this year…
As she heard the first chuckles she turned red as a tomato. That was the moment Draco chose to enter the classroom. It took them only a second to shut up. He advanced parsimoniously towards his desk, as if no one was there. All eyes were on him.
-Along with Professor Malfoy –Lola continued her sentence, somewhat animated by Draco's effect on the students.
A circular look at the class was enough to relax her: everyone's eyes were focused on Draco, his severe expression and the fearsome scar that ran down his face. He did not say a single word as she continued explaining what the subject was all about. Slowly, all eyes travelled from Draco to Lola, and the respectful expressions in them made her much more comfortable. As she cracked a little joke she had rehearsed in front of the mirror like three hundred times, some of the students smiled at her. Then she understood: the scarier Draco looked, the better students would trust her. Minutes went by and she began gaining more confidence. By the end of the class she had helped several students with their Potions and already knew some names. Draco spent the whole hour at the front of the class, simply observing everyone.
-Well, it's time to go, now. We'll see you tomorrow at twelve, okay? –Lola smiled.
-Hopefully you will perform something better then –Draco commented out loud, with a tone of voice that sounded very familiar to Lola.
The kids left in a hurry, everyone avoiding Professor Malfoy's stare, and they were soon left alone in the classroom.
-I could sue you for plagiarism –Lola grinned.
-I know, I know… -he gave her a cheeky smirk- I always wanted to try this.
-He would be proud of you –she chuckled.
Draco suddenly stopped arranging the materials on the desk and turned around to fix his silvery eyes on her hazel ones.
-Would he? –he asked, almost inaudibly.
-Definitely –her voice was not any louder than his.
The two following lessons were a little bit easier for them. Draco played the same phantasmagorical role in both of them, with exact results. His sole presence was enough to spread silence all over the class. Lola did not really mind his little act: it made her seem the better of two evils. At lunch time, Professor McGonagall asked them how it had gone:
-Pretty good, I'd say –Lola smiled proudly.
-Seriously? No incidents whatsoever? –the woman smiled back, teasingly.
-Not really –Draco shook his head as he munched on his vegetables.
-I did hear something around the hallway about a very scary Potions teacher…
-Well, you know Lola –he grinned-. Terrible ogre she is.
Lola gasped and glared at him, half-jokingly. She then proceeded to explain Draco's act to McGonagall until she actually looked amused.
-It's not a bad idea, I guess… Perpetuating the legend. In my opinion, though, Draco, your hair suits you much better gel-free.
-See? –Lola stuck her tongue out- The females have spoken.
Minerva sighed. Definitely, Hogwarts' image in front of the students was going to suffer a very harsh turn. Maybe it was not that bad. She was probably too old to change, but Hogwarts, after all, was as alive as its students.
-By the way, I got a letter from Ginny –Lola commented-. She sends her kindest regards to you, Minerva.
-That's nice of her. So, tell me, how is Ginevra?
-Happily engaged. The wedding should take place around December.
Draco snorted, distantly. The Headmistress took a sideways look at him and smirked:
-Isn't that wonderful news, Draco? –she taunted.
-The last thing this world needs is Potter's reproductions walking around.
-Think about all the fun you're going to have when you get to teach them Potions –Lola cracked up-. Making continuous remarks about how their father is a blatant idiot.
-I guess there is an upside to everything, huh? –he laughed.
-By the way, Draco, you're invited as well. Ginny said the formal invitations should arrive soon.
-Pfff… Like I'm going.
-Of course you are. You don't expect me to go by myself, do you?
Draco clenched his teeth as he tried to avoid looking at Lola. The puppy eyes she was performing were enough to break down any kind of barrier. He sighed.
-Fine! But I'm dressing muggle –since he had lost contact with his mother he hadn't worn wizard clothes again.
Minerva laughed softly thinking about what the previous Draco Malfoy would have said if he had seen himself in black jeans and a hoodie.
-Ginevra and Harry may be engaged, but you two sure act like a married couple.
Fortunately, dessert time was over and they could get up immediately after Minerva's comment, avoiding everyone's eyes.
They spent the afternoon in Professor Slughorn's office, taking notes and asking questions about several difficult Potions. The man answered each one of those with incredible candour and good humour. He was, indeed, glad to have such good assistants in his job. Once they left him, they headed towards their own rooms. It was nice to finally have individual rooms, after so much time sharing bedrooms with other students. Lola had spent a great deal of time decorating and furnishing her little 'apartment'. It was just a tiny office before a quite decent-sized bedroom. It had a small bathroom of its own, and she loved it. It had a lot of light, and the creamy tones she had chosen made the place seem vibrant and full of warmth. Draco had shaken his head at the sight. 'Too girly', he said.
-You never showed me your room, Professor Malfoy! –she said out of random.
-You never asked, Professor Laroche! –he mocked her.
-Come on, I want to laugh a little bit –she pushed him forward until he let her in.
Her jaw dropped. It was SO muggle. Posters of bands all over the place, a couple of quidditch items, a tolerable mess… 'Very boyish', Lola thought.
-What do you reckon?
-I never really imagined it to be like this –she grinned.
-I guess you were expecting velvet drapes and classical music, right?
-More or less –she sat on the bed. A Tattoo magazine rested on the bedside table.
-I was actually considering it… -he nodded towards the magazine she was observing.
-A tattoo?! –her eyes widened and he had to laugh at her expression.
-Yeeeees, a tattoo, dear Lola.
-Why would you… Oh… Right –her eyes focused on his left arm, which was fortunately covered.
-God, you're so naïve… -he whispered. It sounded like a sigh.
-No, I'm not.
-Yes, you are. Mostly, compared to me.
-A pit-bull would be naïf next to you, Draco.
-Oh, thanks a lot Mrs. Smarty Pants.
She groaned at him, hating the nickname. He always made her feel so childish and innocent, it wasn't even fun anymore. She wanted to be bad as well. She wanted to irradiate that magnetic and fatal attractiveness he spread everywhere he went. She wanted to seem dangerous too.
-I bet you haven't even done anything with a guy, yet.
She did not want to look at him, for she already knew the kind of expression that was forming on Draco's face. When she tried to avoid his eyes, she failed to do so. Precisely, an arrogant smirk was plastered on his features. She couldn't help blushing. He looked down at her before kneeling right in front of her.
-I have done stuff, okay? –she bit back, like a wounded dog.
-Like what?
-Like… Kissing… And stuff.
-Kissing? –he waited until she nodded to lean forward.
As he pressed his lips against hers, Lola's muscles tightened all over her body, while she was trying to decide whether she wanted it or not. A couple seconds later the decision was made. And she knew she had been unconsciously waiting for him to stop being polite since forever. It ended too soon for her taste.
-Kissing like this? –he asked her.
Trying to stabilize her breath, she nodded softly. He attacked her lips again, more aggressively this time. Draco took her face in his hands softly and her hands rested on his arms. She felt him nibble on her bottom lip and tried to kiss back adequately enough. Apparently, she did okay, because the next thing she knew was his tongue was caressing hers skilfully. She had to pull away because of the lack of oxygen.
-Kissing like this? –same question, different answer. She shook her head no- Are you scared?
-I'm not sure… -she mumbled.
-Don't be, Lo. I'll stop whenever you want me to.
-That's the problem. I don't want you to.
-Can I kiss you again?
-Yes… -but this time she did most of the kissing.
He started pushing her backwards until she was lying down on her back. The only thing she could hear was her own heartbeat in her head. She finally understood all those stories and giggling comments she had heard from Ginny and Hermione, and thought they knew more or less what they were talking about, but they sure as hell had not experienced something like Draco. She ran her hands through his smooth hair –he had already washed all the gel off- and heard him purr against her lips. That made her laugh.
-Sorry about that –she apologized.
-Don't worry. I like your laugh –he smiled, and rested his forehead against hers.
They stared into each other's eyes for seconds, maybe minutes, it could have been hours. She could smell his shower gel on him, and she liked it.
-Are you okay with this or you still just see me as a friend? –he asked.
-I think I stopped seeing you as a friend a very long time ago.
-Thank God, because now that I finally got you on my bed I'm not going to repent.
-You do realize everything is going to be new to me, right? –she bit her lip.
He 'Mh-hmh'ed as he buried his face against her neck. Her long black hair was scattered all over, in thick, luscious waves. He thought of all those times he had watched her from a distance, wondering how that wonderful hair would feel between his fingers. Her scent was more than enticing. One of his hands travelled down to her waist and slipped beneath her Vichy style blouse. She gasped at the contact, and he cursed his frozen hands mentally. She soon relaxed, though, and opposed no resistance to his advances. He smirked as she licked her way up his neck –she was learning fast enough.
With tentative fingers, he undid the first button. She smiled reassuringly and he had the rest undone in no time. He pulled the blouse apart to find a white lace bra beneath. She shifted uncomfortably under his weight, worried about his next reaction, only to realize she was not the only one 'shifting'. A poignant memory flashed in her mind and she fought to push Zabini and his erection out of her mind.
-I wanna touch you. Can I touch you?
Speechless, she had to nod, and soon found out that Draco was as gentle as confident. His hands roamed her body until she was almost begging for more. Before she knew it, her sandals were off and so were her jeans. She silently thanked God for having remembered to shave her legs that morning: his touch felt so good against her sensitive skin. She held her breath when he placed his hand on her warm centre. He was taking his time, trying to make it as easy as possible for her. Laying by her side, Draco rested one elbow on the mattress and his head on his hand while his other hand worked on her. He couldn't take his eyes off her: he needed to see every reaction, every spasm, every gasp. Few minutes later, he knew she was about to finish; her breath got faster. As his touch sent her over the edge, she pulled him by the collar and crashed her lips onto his, her moan dying in his mouth. Draco got the hardest he had ever been. He allowed her to ride out her orgasm wondering if it had been her first one ever.
-Is it… Is it always like this? –her eyes were open wide once she regained the capability to talk.
'I guess there's my answer', he thought; and he felt an extremely curious and fascinating sensation of pride and possession towards her. He smiled at her.
-I… Don't know… I guess.
-Woah.
Draco laughed and cuddled up to her, burying his face in her hair once again. She tugged at his hoodie. He moved away.
-What? –she frowned.
-I'm… Uh… Wearing short sleeves.
-So?
-I don't feel really comfortable with… You know…
-You just saw me in my underwear, come on –she begged.
Draco sighed and let her unzip his hoodie and pull it down his arms. He was actually bigger than he seemed –he had taken a liking at oversized jumpers. She observed the Dark Mark on his forearm. He clenched his teeth. She snapped her tongue in concern and slid her shirt off her own arms.
-Draw.
-What the hell? –he checked out the infinity of scars crossing her forearms.
-Do not lecture me. It happened, I do not plan on doing it again.
-Do you think I'm in the position to lecture anyone? –he raised an eyebrow.
-Not really.
-Uh huh. Just promise me you'll never…
-I won't.
-Good. Wow. I never really expected that from you.
-Sorry –she lowered her eyes, but he put one finger under her chin to make her look back up.
-Don't be; this is who you are.
-I'm not sure if I like myself very much.
-It's quite alright, Lo. I like you enough for the both of us.
What can you possibly answer when someone tells you that? Lola didn't know. So she didn't say anything; but emotion spread across her face as if she was transparent. Once she overcame the sensation, her hands slipped beneath his cotton shirt and travelled up his chest. His skin was smooth and warm under her fingers, and she liked the way his muscles tensed. Draco helped her take his shirt off and then a sudden realization hit her like a bolt.
She had.
Draco Malfoy.
Half-naked.
On a bed.
She couldn't help to laugh when she imagined the faces all those Draco admirers would make if they knew.
-My self-esteem is falling to pieces now… -he raised an eyebrow.
-I'm sorry, I was just thinking… You know, if all those fans of yours knew…
He groaned and attacked her bra clip. Surprisingly enough, he was not as skilled with that matter.
-Do you need help?
-I absolutely hate these bastards. Never in my life I've been able to do it in one go.
She brought one hand to her back and unclipped it with one single move. He gave her the stink eye, jokingly, and she grinned. Softly, he pulled the straps down her arms and made her lie back down. She turned red once again when he removed the bra from her chest and stopped to stare at her. Before she actually got the chance to become more embarrassed, Draco crawled over her and Lola noticed how broad his shoulders seemed now. While he kissed her, she couldn't help running her hands all over them, feeling the tight tendons shift as he kissed his way down her neck. She held her breath when his cold hands stopped on her breasts, her nipples hardening immediately. Draco's breath on them made her arch her back, impatiently, and he smirked before actually running his tongue over them. She hissed, and her nails involuntarily dug into his shoulders.
-I want you to tell me if you want me to stop, okay? –he said softly.
-Don't –the word sounded like a moan.
The next thing she knew was he kept going down her body until she got lost in a spiral of sensations, incoherent mumblings and confusion. God, he was good. When he was finished, he crawled over her once again, with a grin on his face that reminded Lola of the Cheshire Cat. It was not until she wrapped her legs around his waist that she realized his pants were still on, and, afraid how she was, she took the courage to roll on top of him and undo them. Draco's head lolled back when her hand slipped beneath the fabric. Involuntarily, his hips buckled up as he bit his lower lip. Lola did not know exactly what to do; everything was so weird for her. Draco kicked his legs until his pants slid down and fell on the floor. Soon, Lola was lying on her back once more, and this time she had the feeling it would be final. He struggled to position himself between her thighs and she tensed a little bit.
-Are you comfortable? –he asked her.
-Yeah…
-If you're not sure of this…
-I am. I want this –she nodded-. I want you.
She brushed a lock of hair off his eyes and let her fingers caress the side of his face as they travelled down. Draco closed his eyes and followed her hand, like a cat would. It had been so long since the last time he had actually felt wanted by anyone. Not even his parents had shown him any kind of affection during the past few years. In a matter of seconds, the last item of clothing on his body ended up on the floor, and he gave her one last questioning look. At the sight of her shy smile, Draco did what he had been wishing to do for a really long time.
It was dinner time already, and everyone had begun eating. Minerva wondered, amused, why both seats at her sides were empty. Professor Slughorn directed an ironically raised eyebrow at her and she shook her head, wearing her old, affectionate smile that she only allowed herself to display in very special occasions.
