Chapter 21: Viktor
O-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Hermione where did you get off to this weekend?" Ginny asked as their plates filled with food Sunday evening.
"Oh, ah," she hadn't remembered to think of a good excuse for her absence since the trip had come about so last minute, "I went to visit a friend for the day on Saturday." She didn't feel too bad about the coverup as she knew in a week's time she'd have told them all about her relationship with Draco and once that was settled, she could tell Ginny all about their weekend in Paris when she was ready to girl talk. This was no big deal.
"Oh?" Ginny asked with interest, "Who?"
She could sense Draco on the other side of her listening closely but she couldn't think of anyone else in the moment that Ginny wouldn't follow up with, "Viktor."
"You went to see Viktor for the day on Valentine's Day?" Ginny asked with a grin on her face, "I thought maybe you'd just gone to see your parents or something, get away from Ron for Valentine's weekend."
That would have been a better excuse, Hermione thought, "Ah, we just didn't realize what weekend it was," she said as nonchalantly as she could. She could hear Draco cutting into his pork rather roughly now and realized she hadn't chosen the best words. On the contrary, she'd likely chosen the worst words. She cursed inwardly, she knew, herself, what her plan was, but she hadn't told Draco yet. He didn't know how close this all was to being over and how insignificant this little coverup was supposed to be. Any probably would have been if she'd just said her parents.
"Mmhmm," Ginny responded, "Just happened to fall on the holiday."
"It did, truly," Hermione tried to make it sound more legitimate as her mind reeled around her options, "He'd written months ago asking if there was a good weekend for me to visit and I just thought mid-February was good timing given the class and exam schedule after the holidays."
"Whatever you say," Ginny was still grinning.
"Malfoy, how was your weekend?" Harry cut in, trying to change the subject.
"Fine. Visited my mother at the Manor," he said curtly, "However I'm quite full, I'm going back to my room. See you all later."
Hermione turned her head towards him, trying to figure out what to say to get him to stay but the words didn't come quick enough and he'd already gotten up and left the table. She and Harry watched as he walked away as Ginny tilted her head at him.
"He's odd sometimes," she noted, "I know you two are friends with him, but that was an odd exit."
"He's probably just got something on his mind," Hermione shared a glance with Harry before she turned back to her plate of food, now deciding how best to rectify the situation she'd created.
"So is Viktor still with his girlfriend?" Ginny asked, her voice full of intrigue again.
"No, he's actually not," Hermione said halfheartedly. They had broken up a few months ago.
"Interesting," Ginny said as she popped a salt potato into her mouth.
"There's nothing going on between Viktor and I," she sighed, she hadn't meant for it to go this far and she certainly hadn't meant to offend Draco in the process. She was just supposed to come up with something little to cover her tracks and they were supposed to accept it until she was ready to give the full truth in just a few days time. But she'd elaborated too much and now it just felt like a real lie. A real, unnecessary, lie. "Look, Ginny," she lowered her voice as she leaned across Harry, pausing briefly to peer around Ginny, where Luna was sitting, but she was deep in conversation with Neville about their trip to Wales, "I wasn't with Viktor this weekend. I was with Malfoy."
Ginny froze mid-chew, her eyes widening before she shook her head and swallowed her potato. She set down her silverware and leaned her arms on the table to come in closer to Hermione as Harry sat back in his chair looking between the two, "In what way were you with Malfoy?"
"We were… away for Valentine's Day."
"Where?"
"In Paris."
"In what?!" The words came out in a hiss, though her tone registered more as shock than anger.
"Can we take this conversation elsewhere?" Hermione asked, realizing how odd it probably looked whispering to each other across Harry.
Ginny leaned back, still trying to process what was being said before she stood and Hermione and Harry followed her from the Great Hall.
Once they were alone in the nearest empty classroom, Hermione shut the door and turned to face Ginny, "I'm dating Malfoy," she said simply, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner and I'm sorry I lied when you asked where I was this weekend. I haven't wanted to tell anyone yet to put some space between Ron and I. And tonight when you asked where I'd been, it didn't feel like lying because I'd made the decision that I was going to tell you all next weekend, together. But I took it too far and I realized it was just that. I lied to you and I'm sorry."
Ginny looked flabbergasted, "Why doesn't Harry look surprised?!"
"Because I knew," Harry said looking a bit sheepish, knowing he'd get an earful for it, "I told her I'd keep it to myself til she was ready."
"How long have you been dating?"
"Since a week into the Christmas holiday."
"How did it happen so quickly?"
Hermione looked at Harry and then back at Ginny before she sat on one of the desks next to her and started to relay the details she'd given Harry. About their connection early on in the year and Malfoy admitting he had feelings for her and putting space between them for her to figure it all out. About her solid reasons for breaking things off with Ron and her eventual confrontation about her own feelings with Malfoy.
As she finished Ginny's mouth was hanging open.
"I know you haven't wanted to get involved with Ron and I's breakup," Hermione said, "And I was hoping to keep you clean of this information until I told Ron as well… I just still haven't been ready to tell him yet until recently, but of course I wanted to plan out the most logical way to do it to minimize reactions and I thought I'd come up with a good one and was trying not to divert from that plan until I realized it was too late at dinner tonight and it would be just plain silly to not just tell you now. Besides the fact that I just royally pissed off my boyfriend which made it all feel that much worse."
Silence hung in the air for a moment before Ginny finally found her words again, "You're dating Draco Malfoy."
"Yes."
"You are… dating… romantically… Draco Malfoy. Draco Malfoy is your boyfriend."
"Yes."
"Holy shit."
"I know," Hermione gave her a crooked smile, "Caught me off guard too."
"And he… treats you well?"
"More than," Hermione said, "He took me to Paris for Valentine's Day. Complete with a private tour of an art museum, a shabby used book store, cozy cafe and, ah, quaint hotel."
"And you have… a real connection with him. With Draco Malfoy."
"Yes. A very real one. I've never felt quite so comfortable just being with someone. Talking about life. Discussing books. Exploring new places and things."
Ginny looked over at Harry, "And what do you make of this?"
Harry shrugged, "They're both really happy, Gin. I like Malfoy. You know he's a friend of mine. I've talked to him about their relationship as well—"
"You what?!" Hermione cut in but he ignored her.
"He cares about her a lot. About the real stuff. I'm happy for them."
Ginny nodded, taking it all in, "I don't know him like you two do, obviously. It's hard to think of him as anything but a git like we always have. I try to be cordial now because Harry's friends with him, but I didn't think I'd ever have to be more than cordial so this is going to take time for me. I mean… his father was the reason I was possessed by Voldemort."
"Gin—" Harry started.
"I know it wasn't Draco," Ginny held a hand up at him, "I know that. But it was his father. There's still a connection there and it's difficult. He let Death Eaters into the school for Merlin's sake."
"He knows his father deserves to be in Azkaban," Hermione said uneasily, "And he accepts responsibility for everything he contributed to during the war and holds onto his regret heavily. We all know what side he was on then and what he was a part of. I just don't see that boy when I look at him anymore. As I told Ron once, you don't have to forgive Draco, or his family. You're allowed to be angry and you're allowed to not be friends with him. But Harry and I have let him move forward in our eyes. And the man I met when I let myself give him a chance was someone completely different. And endearing. And deserving. Him and I don't pretend the past didn't happen, we just try to talk through it; make sense of it, learn from it, grow from it, and look to the future."
"I need some time to let it settle," Ginny said again with a small reassuring smile to her friend, "I want to give him a chance, for you, because I want you to be happy, but I need to let everything you've just told me settle."
"I understand," Hermione said, feeling herself relax a little.
"Ron is going to freak," Ginny noted as the thought hit her like a train.
"I know," Hermione said quietly, "But I'm going to tell him. I want to be honest with him as well, and Draco and I want everything out in the open."
"I still can't believe you're dating Malfoy."
"I'm glad I finally told you," Hermione said, "I've been worried about the reactions, but I've been wanting to tell you ever since I told Harry."
Ginny nodded, looking like her brain was still processing, "I'm glad you did. And I'm glad you're happy, Hermione. I'll do my best to work through my personal feelings on him and try to let him have a new page in his book if I can."
Hermione stepped off the desk and over to Ginny, pulling her into a strong hug, "Thank you for trying, and for hearing me out."
"When are you going to tell Ron?"
"I was planning to do it next weekend. With all of us. You and Harry, and Draco. If you'll be there with me."
Ginny thought for a second before she nodded again, "Alright, that makes sense. I can do that."
"How about we head back to Gryffindor Tower so Hermione can go, er, straighten things out," Harry suggested.
"Yes I think that's a good idea, you're still in for it for keeping this from me," she said feistily, with what Hermione thought (and hoped, for Harry's sake) was a hint of jest.
They all left the classroom together and Hermione turned towards the stairs to the dungeons, mentally preparing for the next conversation she'd have to have.
As she arrived, she took a deep breath before knocking on Draco's door. He unlocked it from within but didn't come to open it, so she pushed it open herself. He was sitting on the couch with a glass of firewhiskey in his hand.
"Draco, I'm sorry," she said as she shut the door behind her, walking closer to him.
"It's fine. Your friend just thinks you're dating Viktor now, which must be better than her thinking you're dating me," he said shortly, placing his glass on the coffee table and standing to confront her, "Tell him hello for me the next time you go to visit."
"I didn't think it through. It was supposed to just be a little coverup. Someone she wouldn't follow up with. I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings."
"I'm sure you've noticed by now, but I'm very over this game of being your dirty little secret," his eyes burned into hers, "When you blatantly lie like that to cover up our relationship it makes me feel like this is nothing to you. That I'm just some rebound from Weasley. I don't want to keep hiding this. I'm sick of it. I love you."
The words came out with intensity and the air was heavy as they stared at each other. She'd come to tell him what happened after he left, but his statement had left a ringing silence in her head that seemed to stop time for a moment. And then she pounced on him without warning, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and crashing her lips onto his as he stumbled backwards, falling onto the couch. She landed in his lap, straddling him and smiling against his lips.
Draco tried to get out what he needed to say between her kisses, thinking she was just trying to put off the conversation, "You — Cannot — Just — Ignore — What — I have — To say."
She pulled back, her eyes shining at him before she planted another kiss on his lips and moved her hands down to unbutton his pants while he slipped her shirt over her head. They had more to talk about, but a decent portion of his brain was admittedly very aroused by her unexpected actions mixed with the passion he already felt from their heated words.
"Granger, I am not just some bloke for you to use to get over him," he hissed as he lifted his hips for her to push his pants down.
She laughed, kissing him again before she lifted his shirt off of him.
"GRANGER," he said louder, forcing her to finally pull back long enough for them to catch their breath. He couldn't let what his body wanted overpower the conversation yet. He wasn't going to be a background character in her life anymore; he wasn't going to be just her passionate rebound before she moved on with someone else. This deserved more than that, "This is serious to me."
"Draco, I love you," she could feel the tears welling in the corners of her eyes from excitement, "I already told Ginny tonight that we're dating and we can tell the whole world tomorrow. I love you too."
She watched as the look on his face changed from frustration to annoyance to realization, and then finally a broad grin broke across his face, "Of course you do," he pulled her face back to his and kissed her soundly as his hands roamed her body like he'd never touched her before.
She moaned softly against his lips and he gave a dark laugh from somewhere deep within, "Granger," he said, "I want all of you tonight."
"I'm already yours," she breathed, her lips locking with his again before moving to the side for him to stand up, kicking off his pants and holding his hand out for her to grab.
She unbuttoned her own pants and pushed them off as he led her to the bedroom, shutting the door behind them. He turned back to her, pushing her softly against the door and kissing her as he moved his hand down her neck and down her arm.
She moaned again, unable, or just uncaring, to keep her desire for what was to come a mystery. Draco lifted her up as she wrapped her legs around him and he kissed her fiercely, hands lost in her hair as she grasped onto his back. Her hand moved down, grazing over his boxers and he bit her bottom lip gently to keep from ripping the fabric off right there. He wrapped his arms around her and stepped back from the door, barely taking his lips from hers as he maneuvered them to the bed, dropping her on the edge. She looked at him with a needy look in her eyes that he knew all too well now, in the best way, as she crawled back on the bed and he followed her.
The rest of their clothes were discarded haphazardly and he had propped himself over her on his elbows, trying to soften his kisses the slightest bit for the moment while another part of him prominently reassured her that he wanted her now.
He trailed kisses to her chest as her skin heated up at the touch; Any hope of keeping quiet lost at this point. Thank the gods for the silencing charm he kept around the room. Her hands found their way back to his hair and the blush crept up her neck as she felt her breath sharpen and her back arch into him. His kisses moved to her neck, nipping and biting in a way that made her whole body tense before he returned to her own parted lips. He slipped his tongue into her mouth to meet hers and kissed her hungrily as she pushed her body up against him. More than ready. More ready than she'd ever been in her life.
He pulled back, they were both breathing heavily, and he grinned at her, his eyes burning through hers with passion as he brushed his thumb over her cheek.
"Tell me again," she whispered as she smiled up at him.
"I love you, Granger," he said in a low voice as she closed her eyes to savor the sound, "Now tell me what you want."
"I want all of you," she repeated his words, not worried about the blush that had already overtaken her features as he leaned back down to capture her lips. He hummed against them and she could feel the smirk; could hear it even somehow and it was almost shocking to her that she didn't mind one bit. His confidence made her want more. He'd told her, after all, that she'd never look back after this.
She felt him against her and opened her eyes to meet his. She nodded the slightest bit and he pushed his hips forward into her gently, going a little deeper each time he pulled back as she inhaled sharply. As he pushed forward once more, he felt the warmth encompass him and he buried his face in the crook of her neck as she exhaled with another soft moan before he moved inside her. She wanted to remember this feeling forever: his breath against her neck, his hand pulling lightly on her hair and him fully and unequivocally connected to her.
O-o-o-o-o-o-o
They lay in a peaceful quiet later that evening, arms and legs still haphazardly entangled, as their breaths deepened once more. Hermione had to admit that she couldn't remember that ever feeling as it did tonight. It was the first time it had ever felt truly right; both sensual and impassioned at the same time; both lustful and loving. She'd felt a connection unlike anything she could describe and it was something she'd be quite happy to feel forever. Her fingertips drew circles over his hand that was resting on her hip and she heard a hum on contentment beside her. She turned towards him, he was already watching her and his lips curled up into a smile.
"So was I right?" He asked.
They both knew what he was referring to and Hermione laughed, "I'm not giving you the satisfaction of a response."
"So yes, then," his smile broadened and he moved his lips closer to her ear, "Because honestly, Granger, that's how it felt for me. I don't think I'll ever look back."
Her eyes drifted closed, enjoying the sensation of his breath on her ear, as her heart fluttered, "I love you," she said quietly, shocked as to how easily the words could fall from her lips now that they'd been freed.
Draco captured her lips once more, but it was soft and lingering as she drew in a full breath through her nose before he pulled back and their eyes met again.
"So what did she say," Draco asked lazily, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear as he settled beside her again, "Ginny. About you dating me?"
"She was surprised," Hermione downplayed it, nuzzling into her pillow and not at all wanting to ruin the turn the evening had taken, "She said she needs some time for the conversation to settle, but she said she wants to want to give you another chance. It just might take a little time. But she seemed supportive in the end."
Draco nodded, his spirits too high to let it hit him too hard. He knew Potter would probably be the easiest of the bunch and the rest would be hit or miss until he had the chance to prove himself.
"And I gave her an overview of our wonderful weekend in Paris," Hermione said smiling up at him.
"I thought it was a lovely weekend, myself. Being able to hold your hand in public and share a new experience with you. Those are the kinds of things I want. I haven't been trying to make things difficult for you, I just want to experience the world together and we can't do that from behind my bedroom walls."
"I know," she said with a small laugh, "I'm sorry I've been so stubborn on the matter. I want those things as much as you do. For some reason the reaction from everyone has just been getting in my head. But I know now more than ever that it doesn't matter. I had wanted it to be a surprise, but I planned to tell everyone next weekend. I had this whole meticulous plan. But to hell with the plan. Let's do it tomorrow evening after the Head of House meeting. We'll get Ron together with Harry and Ginny to knock that barrier down and then Tuesday morning we can walk into the Great Hall together hand in hand. Whatever they all have to say, I don't care. I love you. I love what we have. Whatever's out there, we'll face it together."
"Yes," he said definitively, completely unable to stifle his own smile, "Whatever happens, I'll be by your side."
O-o-o-o-o-o-o
