So, honest feedback, please because this is my FIRST fanfic and first creative writing in 10 years.
I'm also trying to decide if I want to make this a full story or just leave it as is. I have some ideas around NarsissaSnape combo and Dramione soul bond. but if I don't get any feedback I'll probably just leave it.
Thanks to my wonderful Alpha, Beta and best friend Lunarlyy. Only slightly hate you for getting me hooked on Dramione.
Grammerly was my word processor so hate it not me!
I own nothing related to Harry Potter.
"Ow! Son of a..." she yelped while pushing her finger in her mouth to cool the heat from the backfiring spell and to stop the blood flow.
It wasn't working, and she couldn't understand why. Hermione sighed in frustration, more with herself than anything else. Maybe she was saying the spell wrong? Her past two attempts had both ended in a burning and bloody finger. She supposed it was not typical for a young witch to cast an ancient ritual correctly on the first try. At least she hadn't killed herself yet.
She looked down at the book to her left, Vinculum Terrae, rereading the passage about the proper casting technique with little surprise. The book didn't offer much; just the symbol one should draw with a blood-soaked finger and the chant. She had memorized it a month ago when she found the book in the library. She had been researching in the restricted section on dark magic she may encounter in the coming months. After being hit with Dolohov's curse at the Department of Mysteries, she had refused to be unprepared again.
"Ok," she breathed. "Relax, Hermione. You can do this. You have to do this."
She rolled her shoulders, then craned her neck side to side to release some tension. She took three depth breaths, eyes closed, and centered herself. The key to a successful casting was a focused mind and body. She took a deep inhale, paused, and exhaled a bit more tension. A soft breeze blew through the clearing, the flames from the candles flickered, and she shivered. All the warming charms in the world couldn't stave off a night chill in the hills of Scotland.
Even though she had yet to make a proper casting, she could feel the earth's magic all around her. It was Samhain, and as luck would have it, also a clear night sky that held a full moon. The grounds seemed to almost glow in the moonlight. The light danced and glittered across the Black Lake, giving it an appearance of glass. It was quite ethereal tonight, even though it was the coldest night of the school year thus far. Even the Forbidden Forest seemed to be honoring their dead, a comforting stillness settling in as it's inhabitants took a night to pay their respects.
Of course, Hermione would be a lot warmer if she weren't nearly stark naked. But the book to her left had been quite clear: no clothes. She had done everything the book instructed, save for removing her knickers. But she was confident the Earth wouldn't mind her keeping a bit of modesty while binding herself to it.h
Hermione had been in this clearing for two hours, in which she had conjured candles and placed them thoughtfully around the area. The final six candles sat individually in each corner of the hexagram she had drawn on the ground in the middle of the clearing. It was a rather elaborate casting circle. Wide enough for four people to sit comfortably, the circle had intricate lines that connected each point of the hexagram. There was a large outer ring surrounded by small shapes indicating the waning and waxing of the moon.
The book had also instructed her to conjure flowers meant as a symbol of the blessings she wished to receive this year. It took her an hour to conjure enough flowers to cover the clearing from side to side, but the colors after left her mesmerized. She chose the iris for wisdom, asters for patience, white chrysanthemums for truth, and gladiolus for honor and strength. Strands of flower-laden vines hung from all of the trees around her. They looked like natural curtains shielding her from view to the outside world.
There was a small cascade of water from the Black Lake at her back, which fell into a shallow pool that flowed slowly further into the forest. In the quiet of the clearing, the stream added a relaxing background noise. The book indicated the most potent earth for the binding ritual runes, to be drawn all over her body, would come from water. When she had stumbled on this clearing last week while avoiding Ron and Lavender, she had known immediately it was the perfect area to cast. She had taken mud from the stream and covered herself in runes that matched each flower's meaning. Everything the book had required, she had done. It couldn't possibly be the earth wasn't rejecting her for a pair of knickers!
As Hermione sat peering around the clearing's flowered ground, she couldn't help but notice the mixture of candlelight and the moon's rays shining through the treetops gave the clearing an almost ethereal glow. It helped her calm down slightly more, rooting herself further into her concentration and centeredness. She stretched her arms above her head to release the last drop of tension she could feel in her shoulders. "Alright, Hermione. You can do this. For Harry."
She pointed her wand to her fingertip and reopened the small cut made previously. Blood began to pool on her finger tip. Blood that had been deemed dirty. Blood that had incited the war she was thrust into as a child.
"Alligatus ego anima mea usque ad terram. Alligatus ego ad te animam meam." She spoke confidently as she ran her bloody fingertip against the ground, again drawing an upside-down triangle with a line through it just under halfway up.
Again, a soft glow lit the clearing she was in, and the burning in her finger started.
"OH BLOODY HELL," she lamented as she yet again put her finger in her mouth to stop the heat and blood. A low chuckle from the trees startled her, and she stood abruptly, wand trained to where the noise had come.
"It's not going to work, Granger," a lazy drawl she knew all too well informed her as none other than Draco Malfoy stepped through the flowers into her clearing.
With her wand pointed, "What are you doing here, Malfoy? Stalking me again? Shouldn't you be at the dance or holed away somewhere?"
Malfoy barked a laugh, "don't flatter yourself. I saw the light from the astronomy tower. I had to come to check it out. I am a prefect, after all."
"HA, yeah, right. You haven't done your duties all year. Why are you here?" Hermione's voice rose with irritation. "Just leave me alone, go back to the celebrations."
Right now, the rest of the Hogwarts student body was in the Great Hall, enthralled by bats shrieking overhead and dazzled by carved pumpkins large enough to fit four first years inside. Dumbledore had undoubtedly outdone himself this year. Three weeks ago, he had announced a Halloween dance to happen after the annual feast, fit with costumes and all. So the students had dolled themselves up to try and find a bright spot in what was increasingly becoming a bitter world.
"No. Besides, you need me."
Taken aback by his abruptness, Hermione lowered her wand and raised an eyebrow to challenge him. It was only then that she noticed he wasn't staring at her face. Her whole body flushed from embarrassment, and with a swiftness she didn't know she possessed, she brought her hands up to shield her chest, "PIG! Get out of here, you git!"
Draco Malfoy. MALFOY. Was the first wizard to see her naked. Gods, if her first-year self could see her now. Dreamy Draco Malfoy, the bad boy, seeing her naked.
Plastering his signature smirk on his face, Draco drawled, "I'm not the one who is exposing herself for the entire grounds to see. Relax, not the first pair of tits I've seen." His smirk grew wider at that. "Though can't say I pegged you for a black knickers kind... BLOODY HELL GRANGER. I was joking!" She had taken his distracted state and fired a stinging hex at him.
"LEAVE MALFOY."
"NO. Granger, you need me."
"I could never need you, you git. Go away!"
Draco rolled his eyes and walked further into the clearing toward her. She took three steps back before nearly knocking over a candle behind her.
"You do need me, Granger. That ritual you're trying to do, blood magic might I add," he raised his eyes to hers as he began taking off his suit jacket and unbuttoning his shirt, "is a two-person rite." He hung both articles of clothing from an exposed tree branch and turned back to her, his left arm shielded against his side.
Hermione's mouth fell open slightly at the sight in front of her. Malfoy was undoubtedly no longer that pointed faced ferret he had been in their fourth year. He had grown into his features, his body had grown lean from quidditch, and she noticed his hair was shaggier than it had been recently. His pale skin shone in the well-lit clearing, making him look like he walked straight off of the etheric plane. She wasn't blind, she knew he was fit. She'd seen how other girls fawned over him, especially that pug-face Parkinson. Hermione had staunchly refused to see the appeal, but seeing him here, exposed, made her head dizzy.
He continued his trek toward her circle and began unbuttoning his pants. Her mind kicked into overdrive, and she yelped, throwing her hands out in front of herself as a signal to stop "NO!" His hand froze on his zipper as he stared at her. "There's nothing in my book about this being a group spell!"
"Ritual, Granger. This is a ritual, and it most certainly involves more than one person. My parents do this every year. Didn't you wonder about the wording? It doesn't sound like a simple spell for an individual, does it?"
Stunned, Hermione dropped her hands to her side. "Your parents do this spe... ritual? It's dark magic?!" Her voice grew as the implications of what she had been trying to do set in. Of course, it was dark magic! She had to use her BLOOD to make the ritual work. What had she been thinking just trusting a book that had launched itself at her? And it hadn't crossed her mind the words weren't for an individual caster. She had been blinded by what the ritual had to offer. She hadn't cared.
"Relax, Granger. It's a binding ritual, not murder. The Black family has performed this binding for many generations. It started centuries ago, long before they became blood prejudice arseholes and forgot tradition," he jeered. "Though, some members of the family still find it sacred. My mother, one, does this rite every year," he continued as he unzipped and removed his pants, sending them to hang with the remainder of his clothing. He had moved within an arm's reach of her. "The runes," he studied them for a moment, "mud from the stream?"
All Hermione could do was nod as he made his way to the stream to extract the same earth she had used and began writing runes on his body. She couldn't help but stare as he wrote runes for power, fidelity, strength of character, and intelligence all over his body. Very similar to the runes she had chosen for herself.
He walked back toward her, a bit of mud in his hand, staring at her chest. She felt heat rise across her body, and a familiar feeling settled in her lower gut. As he approached, she made a move to cover her chest, but he spoke, asking her not to. He studied the rune on her chest, then took a bit of mud and filled the same empty spot on his body with an identical rune: love.
Amazed by his actions, she hadn't heard him address her. "Earth to Granger," he said, waving his hand in front of her face. She flushed with embarrassment.
"Right well... any flowers you would like to add?" She gestured around the clearing, inviting him to conjure any flowers that he might be missing during the rite.
"You're letting me stay?" He breathed with what seemed like surprise and disbelief.
"I don't seem to have a choice," she said, looking up through her lashes at him. She knew better than to trust him. Harry had been concerned about his behavior all year. But what could she do? She had failed three times trying to do this ritual on her own, and she needed this power and wisdom to help Harry in the coming months. To be able to protect her parents if the dark targets them.
Draco smirked slightly down at her. "No, you don't. You need me." His voice was so low, and it made goosebumps prickle across her body. "We'll have to remove our underwear," he said as he turned his head away slightly. "Runes all over the body include there."
She could have sworn he blushed when he said it. A short giggle escaped her mouth at the idea of sex-God Draco Malfoy blushing about his manhood. Wait. Did she just giggle?! Draco Malfoy had turned her into a simpering bimbo while he was blushing in front of her. What was this world coming to?
"I'll hold the mud, you first." He extended his right hand out to her, keeping his head turned to the side, eyes forward to give her a bit of privacy.
"Why me first? We should just do it together." He choked, literally choked from her words.
"I, uh... I need a minute." His cheeks were starting to flush more.
"Well, we don't have all night, Malfoy. It's already after ten, and the dance will be over at midnight!"
"I NEED A MINUTE, DAMMIT." His voice was raised, and it cracked with sheepishness. "I'm not the one who was out here naked, stretching, and moaning while sucking her finger! I NEED A MINUTE."
His whole face was red, but Hermione couldn't help but smirk. He had been watching her, and she had turned him on without any effort. Not bad for a mudblood. Though, he hadn't called her that since their third year. Honestly, outside of hexing her teeth larger in their fourth year, he had left her mostly alone. And that hex hadn't even been meant for her. Maybe a broken nose was all he needed to see a bit of reason. Her smirk grew wider at the memory of punching him in the face.
She took her time removing her knickers and threw them away, into his line of sight. He snapped his eyes shut and swallowed thickly. Who said she couldn't have fun with this. She knew she should be extremely uncomfortable with the situation playing out in front of her, but she only felt exhilarated.
Relenting some, she took mud from his extended hand, took a step back, and turned her back to him. "Fine, turn around and face the other way to do yours." Draco followed his orders with no complaint, much to Hermione's surprise. "We can sit facing opposite each other during. As there isn't anything in the book about needing a partner, I doubt we need to face and hold hands." She heard him chuckle lightly then sit down.
She sat as he spoke, "Granger, you do know what happens after the ritual is complete, right?"
"The book mentions something about euphoria. I imagine it must be like producing a corporal Patronus for the first time."
"Not exactly. More like huffing pixie dust, but a bit mellower and certainly lasts longer."
"What?! It's being high?!" She whipped her head around to stare in shock at the back of his.
Looking over his shoulder, "Honestly, did you do any research before you attempted this?" He laughed at the look of embarrassment on her face. "It will be fine, Granger. This isn't doing actual drugs. It's… it's a spiritual thing. You're going to have some deep reflection over the next few hours. Figure out some things that will make you happy and some that will undoubtedly drive you mad. But don't worry...I'll be here. I told you, you need me. Now pass me the book, so I can learn the ritual."
She was a bit taken back by his words. Had he done this ritual before? No. He had just said he needed to learn the ritual. Earlier, he only mentioned his parents do this ritual every year. So how did he know so much? Did he talk to his parents about their experiences? Obliging him, she turned her head back around and passed the book over her shoulder. He read for what felt like hours. Hours that let the fear and dread cause her stomach to turn in knots. When he was done, he placed the book outside the circle and summoned his wand. "I'm ready when you are."
Pressing forward through her fear, she put her wand to her fingertip and muttered the incantation to open the same small cut for blood to pool. Malfoy did the same. "On three." She took a deep, calming breath. She was about to attempt an ancient ritual with someone she should consider the enemy. His parents fought for Voldemort in the first war, and Harry was convinced Draco himself was a Death Eater. Would allowing someone on the opposite side of the war to have this earthbound power be a good idea? If his parents did this rite every year, they already had it. Others on his side likely did, too. She had no choice but to try this now with him. She sighed, took another deep breath, and began to count. "One... two... three."
In unison, they began the chant.
"Alligatus ego anima mea usque ad terram. Alligatus ego ad te animam meam."
They both ran their bloody fingertips against the ground, drawing an upside-down triangle with a line through it just under halfway up.
This casting was different. One by one, the candles extinguished even though there was no wind at that moment. The circle beneath them glowed a soft green, and the runes on her body began to heat. It wasn't a searing pain; in fact, there was no pain at all. Her body simply felt warm. Something tingled across her skin and made her feel numb. As quickly as it all started, it was over. The circle dimmed, the candles relit, her body began to cool, and she regained feeling in her fingers and toes.
"Did... did it work?" She whispered as she felt Malfoy lean back slightly so that their backs were touching. He felt hot and cold. Hermione thought it may have been one of the strangest sensations she had ever felt.
"We'll know in about 5 minutes."
"How will I know?"
"Trust me. From how Mother explains it, we'll know."
Time dragged on for what seemed like hours, but she knew it had only been a few minutes. She clenched her eyes shut and ground her teeth. What was she supposed to feel? The circle had only shimmered a soft green. Surely it should have been brighter if the ritual had worked. The candles had gone out briefly, and that had to be a nasty sign. Nothing in the book said the candles would extinguish themselves.
She felt a dread rise in her stomach. She had just completed a ritual she had researched very little with a man who supposedly wanted her dead. What if she had just stunted her magic? She was still developing. How could she have done this?
Most importantly, had it worked? She didn't feel any difference. The only thing she could feel was the tingling on her skin and the sheer panic rising from deep inside her. What a bust. And to top all of it off, Malfoy had seen her practically naked.
"Granger, relax." She heard him mumble as he inched back, so their whole backs were now touching. "I can hear your mind going. I can feel how tense you are." He was speaking so softly, so calmly that she was sure this wasn't the Malfoy she knew. "Relax. Just breathe. I'm here." She felt the pressure of his head against hers as he lent it back. He repeated his soothing mantras until he felt the tension leave her body, little by little.
"Open your eyes. Tell me what you see." He whispered, and it sounded like it was in her head and all around her all at once.
She gasped slightly as she opened her eyes. Everything had a green and blue aura whirling around it. She could see lines of color, and they looked like they were dancing. She could hear the trees rustling around them as a cool breeze washed over the clearing. She could swear she could almost see it. She felt light. Lighter than she had ever felt before. Soft colors swirled around her as she lifted her hand to try and touch the trees, which seemed so far away yet so close.
"It worked," she heard, and this time it was whispered into her ear. Draco had turned around, slid forward, and wrapped his arms around her middle, pulling her close and holding her in place. His legs were like a cage around hers, but she felt so safe. Like he was protecting her with all he could. "I feel amazing. No wonder Mother does this every year."
"Mother... mother. Tell me about your mother." She almost sang, which at any other moment would have embarrassed her. But right now, singing felt as right as his arms around her. She ran her fingers down his right arm slowly and felt him sigh.
He laughed lightly into her neck "In a minute, Granger. Let the initial high pass." Initial high, she pondered to herself. So it wasn't going to be all colors and hearing wind all night? What had he said before the ritual? Self-reflection?
They sat quietly in the circle, his arms around her, her fingers running lightly up and down his right arm as time passed around them. She could feel Malfoy's breath on her neck. It felt warm and calming, yet somehow dangerous. Like it was giving her life but taking from her just as much. Eyes closed, she enjoyed the scenes that danced colorfully through her mind. She thought about her parents and her love for them; about how happy they had been when she came home this summer asking to take a holiday and travel together. She thought of Harry and how unyielding and persevering he had become. How strong he had been after Sirius had passed. The images seemed so real like they were memories she was reliving through someone else's eyes.
When she opened her eyes some while later, the colors were still there but only slightly dimmer. The light still seemed to move around her, but her head was a bit more clear. "Malfoy?" She whispered as her fingers slowed their movements.
"Would getting dressed make you feel more comfortable?" He whispered into her neck.
"I think so, yes."
He sighed and uncoiled himself from around her. "Okay." Standing, he pulled on his boxers and moved to gather her belongings. She sat, rooted to her spot, as he placed the clothing behind her. He turned toward his suit in the tree and grimaced, "I can't bring myself to put that suit back on."
Hermione, grabbing her clothes, chanced a glance at his back. He seemed to glow more than anything else around him. It was breathtaking. His broad shoulders seemed to tower over her, and she couldn't take her eyes away. "Then don't." The words she spoke didn't register as odd to hear; it was how she felt, she didn't want him to get dressed. She wanted to be able to stare at his body, to see the scars he had, to see what no one else saw. "No one else does see this, right?"
He turned his head over his shoulder. A bit confused, he answered, "No. No one sees me." His eyes looked sad. She stood, fully exposing all of herself to him. Picking up her knickers, she slowly slid them on, and he couldn't look away.
"There. Now we're even."
Turning his head away from her, he laughed darkly. "We're not even. We'll never be even. You're… you're so much better."
Hermione moved forward, which seemed so difficult right now. Her body felt light, but she had no control over it. But she had to get to him. She had to assure him she didn't think he was a monster, or that he was capable of all the evil people pushed at him. She had to convince him that she didn't agree with Harry that he was malevolent. Sliding her arms around his center, she laid her head on his back. "You're not a monster. You mean something."
They stood there for minutes without saying a word. Eventually, Draco broke their silence. "Mother is.. exponentially better than any other human on this planet. She's beautiful yet powerful. Smart, caring, funny. Very much like you."
Her body flushed in response, but she didn't care why. Everything felt so right at this moment. "I would like to meet her one day. Properly. After all of this."
"Okay, Granger, sure. Whatever you say." He turned in her arms so that they faced one another. He moved to cup her cheek, and for the first time all night, he had forgotten. In his lapse, he had exposed her directly to the evil that marred his skin. He stopped, arm extended, reaching for her face as her eyes locked to his left forearm.
"Harry was right," she breathed, unable to think of anything else to say, and he flinched. He tried to pull his arm away, but she was quicker. Stepping back away from him, she pulled his forearm closer to her face. "You're… you're a death eater." Their eyes met, and she could see the tears growing in the corner of his eyes.
"No… no, I'm not," he insisted, trying to hold back from crying. Her eyes weren't angry, and it made him feel worse.
"This," she said, holding his arm higher for reference, "means you're a Death Eater." Her voice was calmer than either of them had expected.
"I didn't want it." His voice was quiet, almost meek. "I didn't want it." He repeated.
"Then why do you have it?" She wasn't yelling. She wasn't dropping his arm and throwing a hex at him. She didn't feel anger. Why didn't she feel anger? He was a Death Eater. She should be marching him up to Dumbledore to be carted off to Azkaban. Everything he and his family had done warranted it. But she couldn't be mad. She couldn't feel the anger. The look on his face made her feel unsettled. Dropping his arm, she searched his face. "Tell me what happened."
At her words and the concerned look in her eyes, he broke down. Tears fell unwillingly from his eyes, and he sank to his knees in front of her. "He tortured her! He threatened to kill her!"
Was this jealousy? Who was he talking about, and why did it make Hermione's stomach flip? And why did it matter? "Who, Malfoy? Who did he torture?"
"Mother!" And Hermione felt stupid and angry at the same time. "He crucio'd her, made me watch while he did it. Made me watch while her SISTER did it." His voice cracked with either rage or tears, she couldn't decide. "Father failed, so someone had to be punished. He almost killed her!" Tears were flowing down his face, and Hermione could do nothing. "He said if I didn't take the mark or if I failed my mission, he'd kill her while he made me watch. And then kill me! I…" he hiccuped. "I had no choice, Granger. I didn't want this. I don't believe in this. I'm not a Death Eater!" He was nearly screaming by the time he was finished.
Her body moved without her consent. Or maybe she had willed it, it didn't matter. She reached out and pulled Draco in, his face to her middle, as he cried. He wrapped his arms around her midsection, pulling her impossibly closer. They felt connected. That best way she could describe it. "Shh," she echoed over and over while she began to stroke his hair. "Shh… you're safe here. With me."
He froze at that. Pulling back slightly, he stared up at the woman he clung to. She cupped his face, and it felt as sweet as when his mother had done when he was a child. She smiled down at him, and he almost felt the despair leave his body. Nothing had changed, but staring up at her in the moonlight, bathed in a soft glow that made her eyes look like honey and her hair like milk chocolate waves, everything just felt… fine. He leaned into her as she bent and kissed his forehead. "I won't let him hurt you," she whispered as she wiped a tear from his cheek. Who was this girl? How could she be so loving after all the awful things he and his family had done to her?
"How can you… how can you want to protect me? I've hurt you. Made you cry."
"You're just like me. A child in a war that should have never been fought. Fighting a war our parents and previous generations should have finished. You're just like me, Draco." His heartfelt like it was trying to escape his chest. She had called him Draco. Did she even realize? Based on her gaze, he assumed she did. Her eyes felt like they were burning a hole in his soul. They were so fierce yet so soft. She was mad for him, not at him.
"What is your mission?"
The question shook his soul. He couldn't tell her, a stark defender of the light, that he was supposed to murder her leader. To snuff out the Order before it truly had a chance. He shook his head, indicating he would not answer.
"How can I protect you if I don't know what will be fighting me?"
"I can't… I can't tell you," Draco's tears had slowed, but the dread was coming back.
"Draco, please. Let me help you."
He choked out a small sob and pressed himself back into her center. "He… he wants me to kill Dumbledore…" he whispered, hoping that only he could hear.
She was silent for a very long, drawn moment before he felt a tear on his face that wasn't his. He looked up, and her eyes were shut, but her face was red, stained with her single shed tear.
"Did you curse Katie" was all she said, eyes remained shut, hand motionless on his head.
He started crying again, hopelessness filling his heart and head. The colors swirling around him had turned a deep shade of red, and it was frightening. She was going to hate him, make him leave, and never speak to him again. If she didn't have him thrown in Azkaban. "It wasn't meant for her..." he sounded resigned, but he continued. "She wasn't supposed to touch it, just deliver it to him. I can't sleep thinking about her at Mungos. I'm so sorry."
"Don't apologize. This isn't your fault… well, it is but…" Hermione trailed off, hoping he would understand.
"I'm sorry…" was all he could muster.
She hadn't moved, hadn't pulled away, and Draco couldn't understand why. A long while later, she ran her hand through his hair, along his neck, and down to his chin. Lifting it so that their eyes met, she spoke with such conviction, it nearly scared him more. "We'll figure this out. But you can't hurt anyone else."
"He'll kill mother… I… I can't just stop."
"We'll figure it out. Promise me, you won't hurt anyone else." Her eyes had a determination to them that he had only seen her give Potter and Weasel. It was comforting and unsettling at the same time. Nodding meekly, he leaned his forehead against her middle.
"Well, I've certainly ruined the mood," he snorted out through tears, moving to look up at her with a sad smile.
"I doubt it. I can still see the glow to your skin and the lights of your eyes. I'm sure we're fine." She smiled down at him, and it was the sweetest thing he had ever seen. Hermione made to move away, but he held her in place.
"A minute more?" He questioned, and she moved back into him with a smile, running her fingers through his hair.
"It's softer than I'd imagined it."
"Think about my hair often, do you?"
"At least once a week," she said without missing a beat. She knew she was divulging secrets, but Draco had just shared a whirlwind of information with her. Most notably, she thought, was how he didn't agree with what Voldemort was doing. He didn't agree with the war. Although there was a part of her, that thought it could all be for show, more of her knew he wasn't lying. Her admission felt so pale in comparison.
Draco stood, running his hands up her sides as he made to his way up. He noticed the goosebumps that trailed their way up her flesh following the path of his fingertips. Her skin felt warm and cold at the same time. One of the most pleasurable feelings he had ever experienced. Pulling out his wand, he cast a silent Tempus charm, which noted the time was only 11:15 pm.
"It's only been 45 minutes?!" She exclaimed as she stepped back from his reach. Her nerves were on fire. He had to have known what he was doing to her. His fingers had felt like little moments of divinity that sent warmth directly to her gut. She needed a bit of distance, and this was the best time. "Gods, I feel like we've had years worth of conversation, and it's only been 45 minutes!"
He laughed at the bewildered look on her face. "Get used to it, Granger. It won't be the last time you're surprised by how much, or frankly, by how little time has passed tonight."
Sighing, she looked around the clearing. Everything was so beautiful, it almost took her breath away. "I imagine we shouldn't go in until after the dance and rounds are over. So that leaves us here for a few more hours." She glanced at him, stealing his signature smirk, "think you can manage that much time with me?"
Her smirking shot straight to his groin. Gods have mercy on him, she didn't know how sexy she was. "Not if you keep smirking like that," he muttered so only he could hear. Hermione walked back to the circle and began conjuring what looked like pillows and blankets. "What are you doing?"
"Obvious, I should think. I don't want to stand all night, and the ground is hard. So," she pointed her wand, and another mound of pillows appeared, "pillows." She fell graceless into the heap of pillows and stretched, burrowing herself down deeper into the comfort. Draco could do nothing but laugh.
"You're fun when you're high."
"I'm fun all the time, thank you very much!"
"Yeah, sure, Granger. I'm sure you're just a box of kittens when exams are near."
"Well…"
"Or if you've been stiffed by Uncle Sev for the top grade in potions."
"Hey!"
"Or" and a pillow hit his face.
"I get it! I'm no fun!" She cried as she covered her face with a pillow.
Laughing loudly, Darco approached the pillow mound and fell in. "Oh, no. Is the great Hermione Granger brooding? Whatever will I do?" He heard her muffled voice through the pillow but couldn't make out the words. "Oh, Granger, come on now. No need to be a drag." At this, Hermione rolled over so that her back was facing him. "Well, you asked for this then," and without giving her any time to react, Draco began to tickle her. She screamed and flailed, while laughter burst from her mouth. It took everything in his power to not watch as her magnificent tits bounced about as she moved.
"Stop! Stop! Truce!" She said through loud shrieks.
Relenting in his assault, Draco said through a small laugh, "remember this next time you try to sulk, love." Hermione froze and stared at him for a moment, eyes searching his face for what he didn't know. He thought she was going to say something, but her eyes moved to the sky before her mouth made any move.
"Tell me about your parents," he said while laying back next to her, joining her to look at the clear night sky.
"You want to hear about my parents? My muggle parents?"
"Yes, Granger. I asked, did I not?"
"Well… yes. Sorry." She cleared her throat. "My parents are wonderful. They were my first best friends before meeting Harry." She saw him flinch slightly out of the corner of her eye but ignored it. "I didn't make friends easily at primary school. Everyone made fun of me for being the weird girl who always had her nose in a book." She paused, and Draco could feel the words wash over him. Even before she had come to Hogwarts, she had been made fun of. And he hadn't made it any better once she had gotten here. Hermione resumed, "so they were my only friends. We did everything together. They were relieved when Professor McGonagall showed up and told us that I am a witch. They had been scared when I showed accidental magic, but they did the best they could. They were so happy to have an answer that they didn't care what that answer was. It's hard, being away from them, but I know they're proud of me."
"I did this for them, my parents. To be strong enough to protect them from anything that the Dark may try to do. And for Harry too."
"They sound great, Granger, truly. I wish I knew what that kind of love felt like."
"I'm sure your mother loves you just as much as mine does me."
"Sure… but Mother wasn't allowed to show affection in public. 'Malfoy men aren't raised that way' Father would always scold her. Just once, I would have loved to hug her or to hold my mother's hand while she shopped."
Hermione reached out, finding his arm. Running her hand down it, she clasped his and gave it hand a quick squeeze before letting go. She sat then, suddenly, and gazed forward at the shallow stream in front of her. She leaped to her feet and shakily made her way into the flowing water. A low moan escaped her mouth that seemed to pierce the silence around them. Darco had sat up as she slowly walked toward the water, eyes trained to her the entire way.
"Granger, what are you doing?
"I'm not sure. It was calling to me. It felt like I needed to be here. Right here." She kicked the water up with her foot to emphasize her point.
"Or maybe you're just high on earth magic. Come back here."
"No."
His body pulled him upright then and toward the stream. He wasn't sure if he was doing this or if the earth was pulling them together, but he didn't care. He entered the stream and playfully kicked up a bit of water at her. As the beads landed on her skin, she gasped and sighed, and it went straight to his groin. He felt like he was on fire, and the only way to put it out was to bury himself inside her.
He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was bathed in moonlight, the fractals he could see only served to further illuminate her beauty. Her smile seemed to be shining as she danced in the water, and he didn't want to look away. He had seen her grow into her womanhood throughout their fifth year and find confidence in herself that he hadn't known she possessed. Here she was: the girl he couldn't stand but didn't want to be without. Everything about her drove him crazy, and the more he watched her, the more he realized it wasn't hate he felt toward her. Draco wouldn't have previously admitted that to himself. Still, every fiber of his being was screaming to take her and make her his.
Hermione bent down and scooped a handful of water. Standing, she held the water to her neck, leaned her head back, and let it wash down her front. It felt fantastic. The water felt like it was washing away any worry and any problem she had. She moaned deeply as she scooped another cupped handful and let the water wash over her again.
She felt Draco's hands on her then, wet from the water, as she kept her head back and eyes closed. His hands felt like they were igniting a fire she never knew existed. Draco, for his part, couldn't help but want to feel what her skin felt like in his hands. He cupped her breast, and her mouth fell open with a quiet moan. Gods, what was he doing? He palmed her breast with care but felt a wildfire spark when he rolled her pebbled nipple in his fingers.
Pulling her head forward, she looked up into his eyes with heavy lids. The next moment his mouth was on hers for a crashing kiss that sent desire straight to her lower belly. She had never been kissed like this before. He was commanding. He knew exactly what he wanted, and he made sure to take every bit.
Draco wrapped one hand around her body, cupping her ass and pulling her closer while the other hand went into her hair. Hermione's hands slid slowly up his torso, memorizing every line. Her fingers stalled on his neck, and she ran feather-light touching across his collarbone. At his shudder, she moved her hands around his neck while he deepened the kiss. She could feel his arousal on her stomach, not for the first time tonight. Knowing that she could get this type of reaction from him only made the moment that much sweeter.
Draco's other hand slid slowly down her body to grip the other side of her ass as their tongues mingled. He lifted her effortlessly, and she wrapped her legs around him. The heat from her core near his cock made him harder with anticipation. Gods, this was the best moment of his life.
"Pillows," Hermione whispered through their kiss, and Draco eagerly obliged. Breaking the kiss, he placed her gently on her back and covered her body with his. She opened her legs to allow him access and pulled him closer into her sex. He placed his hand on either side of her and kissed her slowly and passionately.
"Draco," she breathed, and he ground himself into her as the sensation of hearing his name moaned from her lips flowed through him. "Draco," she moaned, "I…"
He pushed himself up to look down at her. "We can stop," he panted. He ran a hand over her cheek and cupped her face. Hermione leaned into his hand and closed her eyes.
She brought a hand up and placed it softly on his. "No. This… feels right," she whispered between them. "I just... I've never…"
"Me either," Draco admitted and kissed her softly. "Figure it out together?" He questioned against her lips, and she nodded, capturing his lips for a searing kiss. Leaning down on his forearm, he let a hand slide to her breast. Kissing her deeply, he massaged, making sure to pay special attention to her sensitive nipple. She broke the kiss with a moan, and he began to trail kisses down her neck, her collarbone, her chest until he found her other breast and covered it with his mouth. He rolled his tongue around her nipple, biting it softly. At her small cry, he did it again.
Her head fell back with a moan, and he could swear his cock was about to burst. She was so responsive to his touch. He continued to kiss down her body until he reached her hip. He bit lightly, and she rushed her hand through his hair with a tight pull. "Again," she breathed, and Darco served, biting her other hip. Hermione bucked slightly while letting out a low moan.
Running his tongue across the top of her knicker line, he asked, "may I take them off?"
She nodded, shyly, as he hooked his fingers in the band of her knickers and slid them down her legs. She tried to close her knees at his gaze, but he held them open. "Beautiful," he whispered as he kissed one inner knee and then the other. She relaxed her legs as he kissed down each until his mouth was almost on her sex. She could feel the heat of his breath, and it stimulated her.
He ran a slow finger up her folds, toys with her clit. "You're so wet for me, Granger," and then his mouth was on her. Hermione's hands found their way to his hair, pulling tightly as his tongue lapped at her feverishly. Her whole body was tingling. She had never felt so alive before. She had explored her own body, but he was nothing like having Draco's attention. Draco teased her clit purposefully, and he circled his fingers against her opening. He gently slid a finger inside of her, and Hermione's hips bucked as she let out a low moan.
"Oh, gods, Draco." She whimpered between her moans as he hooked his finger inside her. One of her hands was steadfast in his hair while the other drifted up her body to grasp her breast. He began to pump his finger in and out of her. "Yes," She sighed.
Draco took a moment to let her appreciate the feel of one finger before he gently slid a second inside her. She was so tight, he could feel her walls clenching as he pumped in and out. He opened his eyes and watched her as she started to come undone. Her body was shaking, her head was thrown back, and she was grasping one of her breasts while the other hand gripped his hair. He felt a surge of pride, watching Hermione Granger lose all her senses at his ministrations.
Hermione had never felt this amazing. She could feel the tension building in her body as her moans got louder. "Faster," she moaned, and he obliged. Her whole body convulsed as she came undone, the world around her seeming to shatter. "YES, Draco!" She felt her walls clench around his fingers as he fucked her through her orgasm. Explosions of fractals and colors streamed behind her closed eyes, her fingers tightened in his hair as her other hand clutched her breast while she rode out her waves of pleasure.
Slowing to a stop, Draco leaned back and licked his fingers clean of her. Her eyes were closed, a satisfied smile on her lips, and he felt his cock grow harder at how thoroughly he had been able to please her. He removed his boxers, moved up her body, and settled himself between her legs. His cock was pushed against her mound, and he rocked forward and back a bit, groaning in the back of his throat. "Are you sure?"
Hermione kissed him soundly then, tasting herself on his lips. "Please, Draco…" she begged, "I need you."
Taking his cock in his hand, he ran the tip through her folds, coating himself in her slickness. He lined himself up and slowly pushed the tip inside her. "Tell me if it hurts." He knew he was above average and didn't want their first times ruined because he had hurt her.
"It doesn't hurt." She breathed, opening her eyes to gaze into his. Hermione's hands ran up his body and clasped around the back of his neck. "You feel… indescribable."
Draco moved to sheath himself fully inside her, and Hermione gasped out a moan, grasping at the hair at the nape of his neck partly out of pain and slightly out of unfamiliarity. He groaned at the tightness, at her wetness, and let his eyes fall closed in concentration. He felt one of her hands cup his face, and he turned and kissed her palm.
Hermione had to take a moment to adjust to this new fullness. It truly was indescribable. It felt like he was meant to be here, that he fit just perfectly with her. Wrapping both hands back around his neck, she leaned up and kissed him sweetly. "I'm ready," she whispered, and it sounded like he whimpered in excitement. She laughed lightly and kissed him as he started to pull out and push hesitantly back inside her.
Her laughter died into a moan, and it sent tingles down his spine. Slowly increasing his speed, Draco couldn't focus. The warmth of her tight walls around his cock was the most incredible feeling. He continued to move, as her fingernails dug into his shoulders, his back, his hair. She was losing her composure underneath him, eyes closed and face furrowed in pleasure and concentration. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. He lifted her thighs to shift the angle and almost came undone himself. "Fuck… Gods, Hermione, you're perfect." He felt her tense, her fingers clutched at him as her nails dug deeper, and she moaned loudly as he picked up the pace.
Hermione's heart had stopped at the beautiful sound of her name on his lips. She had thought about that moment for so long but had never imagined it like this. Draco gripped her thigh as he began to pound into her. Hermione felt a familiar tension on her body as she grew closer to the edge. "Yes, Draco, gods, yes. More!" She cried, and he picked up the pace and slammed into her. Her toes pointed, her body shuddered, and she lost all control as her second orgasm hit her. Her mind was blank. All she could think about was the feel of his cock as it pushed inside her. The colors dancing around her were a frenzy, adding a sense of peace to the pleasure. Her arms outstretched as she grasps at the pillows around her as she came.
It took all of Draco's concentration not to spill himself in her when her walls had clamped down around him. He refused to be a man who only gave halfway. Watching her as she came down from her orgasm, he slowed his pace, lowering himself, so their chests touched. He kissed her softly, and she smiled against his lips. "You're wonderful, Draco," she murmured, and his cock twitched inside of her. No matter how many times she said his name, it sent tingles throughout his body to hear it.
She pushed at his chest, and he groaned at the lost touch. "Roll over," she instructed, and he grinned. Unsheathing himself, he laid next to her on his back. She shakily sat up and threw a leg across him as she moved to straddle him.
"I've… I've always wondered," Hermione whispered shyly, and Draco smiled lightly.
"Don't let me stop you."
She sank lower on him, her lips surrounding his still hard cock. She humped him, sliding her womanhood up and down his long organ and gasped as it put friction on her apex. Draco gripped her hips and stopped her, and her face fell into a frown.
"Granger, if you keep going, I'm going to cum on myself," he smirked, "and I'd rather come in you." He raised her then, slightly, taking his cock in his hand to line them up. He swiped the tip through her dampness and pulled her down onto his cock slowly.
Hermione sank further until he was fully sheathed within her natural indentation. This new angle was unlike any other. She felt impossibly full. He bucked his hips up into her, and she gasped out, her hands falling to his chest as a smile spread across her face. Hesitantly, she moved her hips back and forth. He moaned then, and it encouraged her to move faster. She straightened her spine, fingers lightly touching his chest as she circled her hips experimentally. His hands gripped her thighs, and his head fell back as she increased her pace.
"Fuck…" he moaned as she fucked herself on top of his cock. One of his hands moved to seize her hip as the other went to put pressure on her clit. Her head fell back as a moan escaped her, and Draco pushed a bit harder as he moved his fingers in a circle. He was so close, he could feel it. He was about to lose his restraint, but he wanted to bring her to her climax once more. She was frantically pushing her hips forward and backward as he picked up the pace circling her clit.
Her hands fell behind her and gripped his thighs. The angle surprised Hermione, and she moaned loudly. "Oh, gods… I'm…" and she cried out as her third orgasm hit her. Waves of pleasure coursed through her, and she heard Draco cry out her name as his cock pulsed inside her as he went over the edge with her. Her movements stilled, but he kept motion on her clit as she rode out the last waves of her pleasure. They both missed the soft red glow of the circle underneath the pillows as their pleasures combined into climax.
She collapsed onto his chest, her head on one of his shoulders. Hermione cuddled deeper into him as he wrapped his arms around her to pull her closer. Their hearts were hammering, breath heavy as he kissed her temple and laid his cheek onto hers. They laid there for a while, basking in a glow of earthbound magic and their lovemaking, trying to collect themselves.
She rolled off of him some while later, and he pulled her close into his side. Running her hand up his torso, she stopped at the rune for love he had drawn on his chest to echo hers. "Is your's warm?" He nodded, and she felt reassured. If both of their chests were warm, it must have just been the sex. Shaking off the thought, she watched the swarm of colors settle into a soft dance as her heart rate slowed.
They laid in their circle of pillows and blankets, at the center of the flower-covered clearing, for the last few hours leading up to 2 in the morning. They talked about Draco's mother more and how she had tried to shield him from the darkness in his home. He told Hermione of the horrors that had happened over summer hols and how he resented his father for everything that had happened. How he wished his father had never gone back to the Dark Lord upon his return.
They talked about Hermione's childhood with her parents. Her first bit of accidental magic of making her spaghetti float off her plate at the age of 2, much to her parent's surprise. Hermione told him about Dumbledore's Army and how they had studied spells under Harry to learn to defend themselves. She told him the truth about what happened to Umbridge to his howling laughter. He called her brilliant and said he wasn't surprised she could think so quickly on her feet.
She questioned why he hadn't joined the inquisitorial squad in their fifth year. Draco had been very serious in his answer of not agreeing with "that sociopathic pink toad" as much as he didn't agree with Voldemort. He told her his decision had caused a stir in Slytherin house and that it was the reason Crabbe and Goyle always flanked him; they were watching him and reporting back to their fathers. He explained that their, and Pansy's, clinginess had been why he refused to attend the ball tonight. They had a good laugh and spent a good while kissing each other after Hermione spat "Pug-Face Parkinson" through gritted teeth, and Draco called her on her jealousy.
When he saw the scar on her torso, Draco apologized for his father's idiocy that had caused it, kissing it with feather light attention that drove her mad. She assured him he need not apologize, that only his father held the blame. Hermione told him she wanted this power to not only help Harry and to protect her parents, but so that she could defend herself from something like Dolohov's curse in the future.
Hermione ran her hand slowly up Draco's torso to hold the side of his neck while she was cuddled to his side, his arm holding her firmly. "It's 2 a.m.," she murmured, sad that this moment had come to an end. She still felt light, and the colors were still visible, but over the past 4 hours, she had felt it as an immense power seemed to settle in her heart and on her magic. "We should head in."
Draco tilted her chin and their lips met in a sweet and meaningful kiss. "Thank you, Hermione. For letting me stay… for everything." And he kissed her again as her heart tried to jump from its cage.
They both stood and made to gather their things. Getting dressed, Hermione vanished the flowers and candles, stored Vinculum Terrae in her bag, and removed the casting circle from the ground. The clearing was utterly barren, and it made her heart hurt. She knew she couldn't leave everything for someone to find, but it felt like slowly erasing the memories she had made with Draco that night.
Seeing her sadness, Draco walked behind her and draped her cloak over her shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her middle and kissed her neck lightly. She leaned back into him, and they stood together in quiet as they both wondered what this night had meant for them. "We should go before someone sees us," he whispered into her ear.
"That reminds me." She shuffled from his grip and walked to a lone boulder next to the brook. "Harry's cloak," she explained as she picked up the shimmering fabric. Draco grimaced as he remembered the last time he had seen it.
"Come on," she held the clock up for him, "we can use it to walk the grounds." Draco slid in beside her, and they made their hike back to the castle entrance. Pausing in front of the stairs to the dungeons, they both felt sadness fall over them.
"I can walk you down," she whispered.
He turned to her then and wrapped his arms around her. "It's okay, I can go it alone from here." The meaning of his words was broad, and they settled over the two unlikely lovers.
Under the cloak, Draco held Hermione close. He didn't want to let her go. He knew as soon as he descended into the dungeons, this night would only be a memory. When they woke up, he would have to hate her again, and it made him sick. He wanted to be able to hold her hand while walking her to class, kiss her in the hallways, show her off how a proper lady should be. He hadn't hated this war or blood supremacy more than at this moment.
Hermione looked up into his eyes, seeing a sadness there that matched her own. She had a feeling he was thinking the same thing she was. That this would probably be the first and only time that the two of them would share. "I…," she hesitated. Pushing up onto her toes, she kissed him lightly, to which he responded by pushing a hand into her hair and kissing her soundly.
"I don't want this to be our only happy memory," he whispered as he put his forehead against hers, and she sighed deeply.
"I promise I'll help you. I won't let you do this alone," Hermione trailed off as he kissed her soundly again.
"Goodnight, beautiful." And with that, he swept out from underneath the cloak and descended to the dungeons.
"Goodnight, Draco," she whispered into the space he had just occupied. Looking at her now empty arms, she saw the dried mud runes were still visible. Deciding to head towards the prefect's bathroom, she ascended the stairs to wash the night away and hopefully not Draco with it.