CHAPTER 7
The week had been one of the longest of Hermione's life. There was nothing particularly urgent that needed her undivided attention going on. Katie and Mr. Shemsu were still brewing the detection counter potion, and they were warned it could take up to a month before all ingredients were exposed. They did however, by Friday morning detect one ingredient; Acromantula venom. It was extremely costly and Harry had already sent out Aurors to interview shops that famously sell the venom, including known black markets. Hermione correctly assumed it would be used, and Katie had told her the potion was already turning a grotesquely green color. Besides that, nothing more had been revealed in the work, thus, the witch's quiet week.
Hermione hated that each afternoon when she came home, her body was tight with anxiety. She constantly looked towards her window, never leaving her living room for longer than a few minutes, always shuffling back in if she thought she heard a noise outside. But the days passed, and an owl never came. Each evening ended with her feeling more and more dejected. He said he'd owl her, did he mean the day of? Did he forget?
By Friday Hermione had felt so rejected she allowed herself to go on a lunch date with Wayne Hopkins. She still felt mildly guilty about blowing him off and also spiteful to the blonde wizard. Hopkins was exactly what she expected. They didn't have many similar interests and they both found themselves to misunderstand the importance of their own interests and hobbies. Hermione knew she wasn't putting in much effort to give poor Hopkins a chance, but to be fair, he seemed put off way before the bill arrived. This time, he made no suggestions to see each other again and offered her a "This was fun, glad we could reschedule. Enjoy your weekend." She didn't complain. Her lunch with the Hufflepuff did little to combat the heaviness she felt in her chest. If anything, it made it worse.
Once the final hours of work ceased, she allowed herself to be hopeful for the final time. She had once again found herself wrapped in a sheet on her couch, cursing herself for putting her hopes on the Slytherin. She coddled her own bitterness by throwing on a sappy dramatic romance movie on her telly. Hermione was midway through her film, her energy still antsy, when loud, rampant knocking flooded her silent space.
Hermione jumped off the couch and almost jogged to her door. Her heart beating widely in giddiness. She took a few steps back to view herself in the mirror. She adjusted her cream sweater, pulling it loosely off her shoulder exposing her clavicle. She frowned at herself and centered it again. There was no time to fix her bun of messy curls, she rolled her eyes and walked back to the door. Her hand rested on the knob for two seconds before pulling it open.
Her relief and excitement was harshly replaced with unfortunate disappointment.
"Jesus Hermione. It's only me, no need to get all happy." Reenie said sarcastically, sending her friend a confused and hurt expression.
Hermione hung her head back on her shoulders and squeezed her eyes shut. Idiot.
"I'm sorry Reenie. I—I was expecting my food to be delivered but I guess it's late. How are you?" She lied to her friend, giving her a quick hug before letting her into her house.
"Quite the look of disapproval for some food…" Her friend eyed her suspiciously. "But, I've come to bother you for the evening. Put on some business casual cute clothes. We're going to a special birthday party tonight." Reenie explained, heading straight to the young witch's bedroom.
Hermione followed her friend and took a seat on her bed, watching as she sorted through her closest looking for a suitable outfit.
"I'm not feeling very sociable tonight. Who's birthday is it anyways?" She asked, not remembering anyone of Reenie's friends who had a birthday approaching.
"It's not actually someone's…it's London's Woman's League two hundredth birthday. They're having a guest only party and it's the first year I've been extended an invitation. Honestly Hermione it's one of the main social events of the year for young professionals." Reenie pulled out a sheer, black long sleeve shirt, something she gifted Hermione for her birthday last year that still had the tags on. She pulled it out and threw it on the bed.
"Really? If you didn't like it, you could've told me." Reenie said while raising her eyebrows in a challenging way.
"It's not that I didn't like it, I just haven't been able to put it to use yet." Hermione said defensively before taking a long sigh. "Reenie I really don't think I'm up for it, I'm sorry."
"No no no. You always say this. I walked in on you watching some stupid love movie. Just indulge me a little, it's Friday night! And we are on the guest list for a very exclusive party. The up and coming who's who of London will be there."
Hermione glanced down at the sheer top, biting her lip in thought. Would that mean…? No. She shouldn't be so foolish to only hang out with her friend in hopes to see him. That would be selfish. Looking back to her, she knew it would be nice for an actual distraction rather than sit by her window for a letter.
"Alright fine. How much time do I have to get ready?" Hermione gave in, picking up the sheer top and standing next to Reenie to grab a pair of grey work pants.
The blonde smiled appreciatively and stepped to the side. "Can you be ready in forty five minutes?"
"Perfect." Hermione smiled, feeling immensely less apprehensive in the presence of Reenie.
The young women arrived together at a hotel Hermione had never heard of. They entered the lobby and were escorted by a worker into an event ballroom. There seemed to be a very good mix of old and young business professionals. She spotted some local politicians and familiar faces from the last gala she attended. She was surprised, this room was set up like a birthday party celebration. Hermione thought this may actually be fun.
"So, is there any agenda for the night?" Hermione asked as Reenie scanned the crowd.
"No, I think we missed opening welcomes. Now it's more of a social and networking event. The D.J. is even setting up." She gestured over to a table with lights and a man setting up a very intricate looking spin table.
Hermione allowed herself to take in the room. The lights were all almost completely out, people were flocking to the bar and the buffet set up. Reenie spotted some people from her work, and the couple crossed the room to greet them at the buffet.
"Oi Reenie! We were wondering when you'd show up?" A tall man joked, finishing a pastry off his plate.
"You know I only show up when the boring parts are over Greg. Oh have you met my friend Hermione Granger?" Reenie asked, quickly looking at Hermione who was silently standing off to their sides.
The gentleman smiled brightly at the beautiful young woman. He brushed the crumbs of his hand and extended it forward. "I don't believe so. Pleasure to meet you, I'm Gregory Wilson."
Hermione guessed the man was in his early thirties. His sandy brown hair was perfectly kept and his smile looked almost bright and childish. His jaw was sharp and he had a lovely pair of light brown eyes. He was quite handsome, she had to admit. She happily took his hand.
"Nice to meet you as well."
"I'm surprised we haven't met before, I think you're the friend Reenie usually talks up to me about." Greg said slyly, shooting Reenie a cheeky smirk. Hermione blushed and widened her eyes at her friend in an unbelievable way.
"Is that so?" She asked, wanting to hit her friend for always trying to play matchmaker. Her and Harry were too much for her at times.
Reenie only shrugged at Hermione as she piled on some food on her plate.
"Nothing to be embarrassed about. Reenie does that with almost everyone in the office. She should have her own matchmaking business with the way she goes at it." Greg made a brushing off motion in Reenie's direction which caused Hermione to give a light chuckle.
"Oh she's relentless sometimes I swear." Hermione dramatically rolled her eyes, enjoying the roast of her friend.
"Always in other's business, promising one of a kind dating opportunities." He added.
"Even if you have nothing in common with the prospects whatsoever." Hermione continued which caused Greg to laugh this time.
"I'm very familiar with bad pairings." He agreed.
"Bleeding Christ. Are you two done mocking me?" Reenie rolled her eyes, but not feeling any type of actual hurt.
"Only doing it because we love you but not your efforts at times." Hermione told her.
"Exactly, but who knows, maybe this one you actually got right." Greg cheekily said while winking at Reenie. Hermione felt herself stare at him in awe, his cocky sentence catching her off guard. Reenie just smiled at her friends, thinking maybe she did actually get it right with these two.
"Can I get you both sometime to drink?" He offered, and they both happily accepted. Hermione watched as he walked away, and stepped up to her friend to smack her in the stomach.
"You brought me here to set me up with Greg!" She exclaimed, but she was more so mad at herself for not seeing what Reenie was really up to. She only ever asks Hermione to attend local events when there's certain gentlemen she wants her to meet. What a conniving little minx.
"No! I brought you so you wouldn't waste your Friday night." Reenie defended but Hermione only gave her a doubtful expression. "Okay and I knew that Greg was coming and I thought you'd hit it off! And it seems like you already have."
Hermione shook her head. An odd wave of guilt passed through her. Sure she had lunch with Hopkins but that was nothing. She didn't want to lead on Greg, but she also knew she wasn't doing anything wrong by simply meeting a man. But the witch already had an attachment to the blonde wizard. She wouldn't allow herself to think about it, but it was there and he was consistently on the forefront of her mind. Hermione Granger had a big fat crush on Draco Malfoy. Merlin help the poor woman.
"I don't want to be set up." Hermione explained.
"I just wanted you to meet him. See what he's like, you know, keep your mind open." Reenie said but faded her sentence out as Greg came back with their drinks.
"Here you ladies are, I apologize for the wait." Greg handed Hermione her drink and remained impossibly close to her. She tried to take a very seldom half step away, not wanting to encourage his actions but also just wanting her own personal space.
Hermione thanked the man and the trio began to happily chat. Greg obviously focused his attention more on Hermione, asking her questions about work and her personal interests. She had tried to veer the conversation so Reenie could join in and it wasn't so painfully obvious a one sided conversation between her and Greg. But the gentleman found a way to continue to word it back to her, even trying to inconspicuously find out if she was seeing someone with carefully worded questions. He was incredibly sweet and charming but he didn't trip her trigger like someone else already had.
"Oh I think I see Melinda! Excuse me, I'm going to go say hi. I'll be right back." Reenie stated and gave Greg a knowing smirk and a quick clap on the back. Hermione cursed her friend in her head and gave Greg a tight lipped smile before finishing her wine. Subtle, she sarcastically thought.
"So Hermione," Greg began, "have you ever been to Belling's Steakhouse? It's one of the best steakhouses on the east side of London."
Hermione swallowed and lightly shook her head. Looking up at her forehead as if to seriously ponder his transitional question. "Um no. To be honest I've never even heard of the place." Her stomach felt uneasy and she was begging herself to not let her face give away her emotions.
"Well it's remarkable and if you're free tomorrow, I'd love to take you there for dinner." Greg said, flashing her a very hopeful and confident smile, one that would make any other woman in the room swoon but it did nothing to light the witch's blood on fire. She bit her lip and feigned a disjointed sight.
"I'm so sorry, I'm actually having dinner with a friend tomorrow evening. It's the first I'll be seeing her in almost a month." She lied, watching his face process the information and contemplating if he was being blown off or if the pretty brunette was being truthful.
"That sounds lovely. Are you available at all next week?" He persisted and Hermione's eyebrows involuntarily shot high on her forehead.
"Oh um. Well I'll certainly have to check but Wednesdays are my court dates so those are usually bad evenings for me. Uh, Mondays are typically pretty busy but I uh, could check my schedule and—"
"Ms. Granger."
A deep voice echoed beside her and she whipped her head to the side, instantly knowing who it belonged to. Her heart pounded a little faster and something tightened inside her. His penetrating gaze felt hypnotizing and she felt her mouth part ever so slightly.
"I was unaware you'd be present tonight, what an absolute treat this is." Draco said in a very chipper voice, his hands casually stuffed into his pockets of the black suit he wore. His face was unshaven and it looked like he hadn't slept in a day or two. He looked rugged and oddly unkempt compared to his usual appearance. Hermione still thought he looked insanely handsome and hated the way how happy she was to see him.
"Yes I was invited by my friend. It's nice to see you again Augustine." Hermione returned, the name feeling uncomfortable on her tongue but trying her best to make it sound genuine.
Draco's face held a confident smirk and his eyes rapidly flashed between Greg and Hermione before he spoke again. "I'm sorry to interrupt but I just wanted to thank you again for assisting Lewis with his research last week." He bowed his head at her, hoping she'd catch on to his little lie.
"Oh…right. Of—of course. I was happy to help and would be more than willing to assist again in the future." Hermione said with slight confusion in her voice but knew she said the right thing when Draco nodded with a fake smile.
"How kind. As an extremely small token of my appreciation, can I buy you a refill." Draco motioned to her empty glass and she looked down, then started shifting her gaze from him to Greg. The awkwardness was thick between them all.
"Um sure that's fine. I'll uh—I'll just be a moment then Greg, excuse me."
Greg sent Draco a forced grin, his mood shot in that moment but still told Hermione it wasn't a problem at all. She sent him an apologetic look as she took a step towards Draco. The two fell side to side with each other, but Draco didn't look at her once. His gaze was set straight on the bar. Hermione chewed on her lip and caster her gaze down, not wanting to meet random people's eyes.
Draco approached the bar first, only a few people remained there as a majority of the attendees were sitting at some tables or lightly dancing on the dance floor. He asked the barmaid for two whiskey sours and she grimaced, sitting at the only open chair while he stood to the left of her. He tipped the worker when she returned with their drinks and he placed her's directly in front of her, taking a sip of his own while still not meeting her stare.
Hermione thought he looked tense, almost annoyed. His jaw clenched after he swallowed and two of his knuckles on his right hand cracked when he flexed it. She watched as he took one more, abnormally long, sip of his drink before opening her mouth but he spoke first.
"How was your week Granger?" He said darkly, using his speared orange peel and cherry to stir his drink.
Hermione frowned and found herself entirely confused at his cold behavior, not knowing what could've caused this and not thinking it had anything to do with her.
"It was fine." She paused, giving him a questioning look and trying to get him to look at her. "How was yours?"
"Fine." He muttered before spinning around and leaning up against the bar top. Draco looked over the crowd and watched the now loose people mingle with one another, any array of bad muggle songs playing over the loudspeakers made most of the attendees flock to the dance floor. Most of them looked stupid in his opinion as they so called danced.
His eyes scanned the crowd once more and landed on the bloke who was chatting with Granger before he walked over. He inwardly smirked when the man stretched his neck in the direction of the bar, obviously looking for her. Draco grabbed his drink and took a small sip before setting it down.
"I'm sorry. Have I done something to offend you?" Hermione interjected his thoughts and Draco finally looked at her. His forehead creased and he slowly licked his top lip.
"No Granger, why do you ask?" Hermione thought he was over selling his own confusion and her defenses shot up.
"I get the sense you're unhappy about something." She stated, eyeing him carefully as he pondered her words. He sent her a sarcastic smile.
"Not at all." He said and topped off his drink, in one long final gulp.
Hermione wanted to push the issue, but she didn't feel like pestering him while he was in this mood. He was the one that spent the week ignoring her not the other way around. She turned her head forward and reached to grab her drink. Turning in her chair to face him completely, she looked up at his face and felt a weird touch of sadness hit her. This isn't how she imagined seeing him for the first time in almost a week. Especially since their last meeting, he seemed happy to spend time with her.
"Thank you for the drink. I'm going to go find—"
"How was your week?" He cut her off and turned his body, leaning his arm up against the bar and putting his other in his pocket. Hermione's breath hitched when her knees bumped into his thighs. The close position would have made her nervous, but confusion overpowered it.
"You already asked me that." Hermione responded, her eyebrows coming down on her forehead. Draco looked up to the ceiling and faked like he was considering her words.
"Oh that's right. I meant to ask how your lunch date went?" He said, his voice getting lower with each word. A sick smirk on his face but his eyes remained cold.
She wanted to laugh right in his pale, handsome face. He was mad at her for getting lunch with Hopkins? It was a meaningless afternoon to fill Hermione's former guilt, and something that reluctantly worked out in both her and Hopkin's favor. Her brain wanted to know how he even found out, but there was a small fire inside her begging to be released. He had no right to be so rude to her for something so little. The bloody fool couldn't even owl her.
"With Hopkins? It went fine, thank you for being so concerned." Hermione said sweetly, matching his fraudulent smile and even taking a sip of her drink while she placed her feet back on the ground, removing herself completely from the chair.
Draco stood to his full height and moved to effectively pin her in place. His wall of a body was the only thing she could view, and she was surprised Draco moved so close to her in a public place like this. Her eyes wandered over her shoulder to see if anyone was looking, but with the dim lights and more alcohol in everyone's systems, she was positive it looked like they were in an intimate moment.
A low snarl vibrated in Draco's chest as he looked down at the defiant little witch. "Had I known you'd be so open to seeing and flirting with other men—"
"Flirting?" She gasped at him but he kept going.
"I would have never made an effort." He finished, nostrils flaring. He caught a small waft of her sweet perfume, he wanted to lean in closer to smell it on her skin, but after hearing she had lunch with the Hufflepuff and walking into the hall, seeing her obviously flirting with that man, he was seeing red.
She gaped at him and let out a sarcastic laugh. "Effort? All this time you've been making an effort? Is that a bloody joke?"
"What else would you call this time I've spent—"
"Time spent doing what exactly? Malfoy all you've been doing is confusing me. You get so hot and cold with me it's ridiculous. We can have a really good time together one night, and then you disappear. And even after you explain yourself, I still don't hear from you. That's not effort."
Hermione had to lower her voice but even through her whispers she was firm and her anger was strongly received. Draco scowled at her, his cheeks warming from the alcohol and his own frustration.
"So you're the type to go out and entertain anyone?"
"Oh for fuck's sake. No!" Hermione cried, not believing the man could actually assume such a thing of her.
"Then why are you—"
"Malfoy!" She said a little too loudly and Draco immediately took her by the elbow and walked them over to a back wall. Her drink was forgotten and so was her worry that some peeping eyes, in particular a certain bubbly friend of hers, would notice them. Hermione wriggled her arm free once they approached a stop and Draco noticeably frowned at the gesture. The movement seemed a little too harsh for their conversation and something moved in his chest when he realized he was possibly hurting her.
"Listen," He started but again, he was cut off by the kinky haired Gryffindor. Her face shining in multiple colors as the fluorescent bulbs from the DJ stand flickered every second.
"No you listen!" She jabbed her finger into his chest and tilted her head back in order to keep his eye contact. In that moment she wished she would have put on heels earlier, the height difference making it harder to appear intimidating to him.
"I can understand how it looked with Hopkins but you of all people should know I did it as a courtesy after blowing him off. And may I add it went as poorly as you could expect and he will finally be leaving me alone for good! To add to that, I can even understand how it may have looked while you interrupted me and Greg, but I cannot control other's…interests in me."
Hermione's awkward word choice made Draco's eye twitch, but he remained silent as she ranted.
"What I cannot understand is why you think it's appropriate to behave this way towards me when I haven't done anything wrong. You on the other hand are actually at fault in all this...this…bizarre… whatever you want to call it! You—you have left me feeling humiliated at times and pathetically hopeful only to crush those feelings. You can reach out to me whenever you feel like it but never do. I don't even get a bloody house address to owl you or a mobile phone number of yours to make contact with you." Her breathing began to pick up with each sentence she spewed and she felt her insides quake from vulnerability. She couldn't stop speaking though, her emotions were bubbling and she wanted to tell the idiot off.
"All this to say that you don't have any right to be rude towards me. I am not encouraging or seeking other men. If you want to see me, if you want to spend time with me, you need only to communicate with me and offer those same privileges." She finished her speech and immediately strolled away, not wanting to hear any retaliation from the wizard and feeling tired from the night already. She did feel proud of herself for openly telling him off though, how dare he insinuate anything about her. She quickly found Reenie in a small group of girls and felt relieved Draco didn't follow her. She didn't want to hear his excuses anymore.
Draco watched Hermione cross the large room and eventually fade into the crowd. He was stunned by her bluntness. Sure his annoyance was still there and he wanted to bite her head off for raising her voice at him, but now he was being flooded with relief. Yes relief. The shift happened as soon as she mentioned her disinterest in pursuing other men.
He inhaled deeply and walked back to the bar. One of his colleagues took a seat beside him and offered a drink to which he declined. Draco instead asked for a pen and quickly scribbled on the napkin in front of him, folding the flimsy material and putting it in his pocket. His colleague attempted to sway him to come out to a pub, but he also declined. His attention was at the crowd, waiting to spot a powerful and petite woman.
Time had passed and Hermione had pleasantly been immersed in a hilarious gossip story told by one of Reenie's friends. The older woman speaking was red in the face from laughing and their little group were all giggling hysterically. The group had been so invested in their own little bubble that no one had noticed a new presence walking up directly behind Hermione. She herself didn't notice anything out of ordinary until she felt a warm hand on her back and a cool breath hitting a sensitive spot on her ear, causing her laughter to cease and a shiver spread through her body. Lips were barely touching her skin, but it made her want to turn into them almost on command. A large hand brought a piece of napkin into her line of sight, and she looked down as she took the paper from him.
"Call me when you get home. I don't care how late it is." Draco whispered while folding her fist shut with his own hand over the paper and he left without another word. His presence made her entire body flame and she turned her head to watch him exit the party. His expansive shoulders remained stiff as he passed people to the doors. He didn't look back, which she was thankful for so he wouldn't catch her gawking.
Hermione looked down and opened the napkin. There was in fact a telephone number but below it he wrote a single word; privileges. She grinned, her chest bubbling with excitement and folded the napkin back up and placed it in her purse. She looked up to see all the women smirking at her with their mouths wide open. Reenie's eyes were the largest and of course she spoke first.
"No fucking way! You know Augustine? And you got his number? How did you even meet him? Why haven't you told me about any of this?" She shrieked, assaulting Hermione's upper shoulder with her back hand. Hermione laughed and rubbed the spot.
"Ow. That hurt."
"Hermione!"
"Okay, okay." She laughed. "I'm sorry I didn't share earlier, but um, Augustine and I were former classmates. We attended the same school for a bit as children. I didn't realize it was him until you brought me to your fundraiser and there we just, I guess reconnected." She dimmed down the truth quite a bit but she didn't want to disclose an entire timeline of their recent involvement.
"So you've just conveniently forgotten to ring me and tell me all this?" Reenie mentioned and then her eyes got even rounder. "Oh my god. Is he the one you were waiting to see tonight!?"
Hermione blushed furiously and shifted her attention around the small group of interested women. She bit her lip and looked back to her friend's impatient face. "It's very new. I'm sorry Reenie I didn't tell you but I didn't think it would progress honestly."
Her friend gave her a very slow smile and quirked a brow at Hermione. "Ladies I think we need to raise a glass to my friend Hermione here as the only woman who has ever captured Augustine Wright's attention. Here, here!" She jousted and everyone clinked their glasses and took a sip of their drinks, making Hermione roll her eyes and blush even harder. The group of ladies were definitely tipsy, and watching Hermione squirm in embarrassment only added to their happy and teasing moods.
"Mm!" Reenie exclaimed while swallowing her drink. "What did he say to you when he was all hot against your ear?" She wiggled her eyebrows which got a rouse from the others.
"He asked me to call him once I got home." Hermione admitted and listened to the collective 'awes.'
"Well go on, then. Go home. We don't want your company when you could be boning that god like man."
"Reenie!" Hermione exclaimed and to which she only received laughs but everyone agreed.
"Get your cute little bum out of here. Enjoy your night, don't do anything I wouldn't do." Reenie gave her a hug and pretty much shoved her towards the doors.
The witch walked until there were no muggles in sight, then disapparated from the streets and into her home. She sat on her couch and kicked off her shoes. Tucking her feet under her, she pulled the napkin from her purse and stared at it for a few minutes, her stomach knotting with anxiety and also giddiness. She decided to wait some time before actually calling, not wanting to appear desperate seeing as they both left the party not even thirty minutes ago.
Hermione picked up the piece of paper and walked into her room to change into some night wear. She brushed her teeth, washed her face and sat long enough to tie her hair in a braid, taking the napkin with her and staring at the numbers until she basically memorized them. Really she was trying to find any task to distract the time passing but nothing was helping her poor nerves. Plopping down on her bed, she grabbed her landline and placed it in between her legs. She let minutes pass before she finally grabbed the phone and brought it up to her ear to hear the dial tone. But her fingers wouldn't allow her to move over the numbers and actually call him. Throwing the phone down, she inhaled deeply and shut her eyes, trying to give herself a pep talk. Hermione picked up the phone once more, and this time, made it through the first four numbers before slamming the phone down and huffing at herself.
She took one more breath and spoke to herself. "You're Hermione fucking Granger. Just call him already."
Her fingers successfully dialed the numbers and her heart felt like it was thumbing right out of her chest. She didn't plan out what she was going to say to him if he actually answered and the thought made her panic. Her body was struck with worry and she was about to end the call until she heard his deep voice on the other end.
"Home so soon Granger? I thought your friends would have kept you out a little longer." He amusedly said and all of Hermione's muscles relaxed. She smiled to herself and imagined he was doing the same.
"I was practically kicked out of the party after you came up to me." She responded, her stomach knotting as she heard him chuckle into the speaker. His breath came out scratchy.
"I didn't mean to be the reason your night ended so soon." He responded sincerely.
"You're not. I didn't want to go out to begin with."
"How did you want to spend your Friday night then?"
"Hm. Well I was pretty set on sulking while watching films since I couldn't get a guy to reach out to me. We're supposed to go on a date tomorrow and he has yet to contact me." She joked, sitting back into her pillows and her fingers toying with the strings of her cotton shorts.
"He sounds like a tosser." He joked back.
"He is."
"It seems you have a thing for tossers."
"I do not!"
"Or maybe they're just drawn to you." Draco said, a genuine smile on his face as he stared up at the ceiling in his bedroom. He placed one hand under his head and pillow, his body relaxing with every passing second from his exhausting week.
"That could be it. Any ideas on how I get it to stop?"
"I don't think so. You may have to continue to indulge this specific tosser for a bit longer."
Hermione let out a breath that sounded like a laugh but hearing Malfoy say that to her made her insides curl in a very pleasant way.
"I guess that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I may give him one more opportunity to prove himself. " She told him honestly and there was a pause on the other end. Draco tucked his bottom lip in between his teeth and sucked on it.
"You should. Especially if he is extremely handsome."
"Um, he's okay. Honestly he kind of has a...ferret face." She had to bite her lip to control her laugh.
"Is that so?" Draco squinted his eyes at her comment, his jaw tightening as he forced down a smile. "So he has no redeeming physical features? Or do you just fancy ferrets?"
Hermione snorted and she played with a curl that hung out of her updo. "Definitely don't have a fetish for ferrets. He does have days where he looks decent."
"Just decent?" Draco asked innocently, hoping to get her to admit something she physically likes about him.
"Just decent." She confirmed and they both smiled a small silence between them. Both remaining quiet, phone in hand and laying on their beds, it felt a little childish. Like they were in school talking to each other for the first time.
Draco suddenly cleared his throat.
"Granger for tomorrow...I'll pick you up at one." He told her, referencing their long awaited date.
"That's quite early. Are we not having dinner anymore?" She asked, finding the time change very strange.
"No we are, but we're traveling so I have to take into account the time difference. Also wear something warm."
"Do I get to know where we're going?" She asked.
"No. Not until we get there."
She had more questions regarding tomorrow but knew he wouldn't answer any of them if he was already being secretive. As much as she tried to tell herself otherwise, she was actually very excited for tomorrow. She spent the week waiting to hear from him, and since she told him off earlier, she hoped he understood the magnitude of her words. They could discuss it more tomorrow, though, if he wanted to bring it up.
"Okay, should I bring anything else with me?"
"No," Draco said and took a moment before saying his next words. "Just yourself. But I think it would be wise to wear something that's…easy to take off." His voice dropped in octaves and it sent a shiver to Hermione's center. His innuendo clear but after their last meeting, her body was craving to be touched, specifically by him. She decided to feign innocence and see if she could tease him.
"And, why do I need to do that?"
Her small yet brave whisper made Draco's lower region twitch and a devilish smirk spread across his lips. He removed his hand from underneath his pillow and dragged it down to his growing member, his hand gently tugging it over his briefs.
"Oh I think you know why Granger."
Hermione nibbled on her thumb and crossed her legs, squeezing hard to put some pressure on her center. "No I think you need to explain it to me."
She heard some shuffling on the other line and heard Draco inhale sharply, her muscles in her center tightened in anticipation. His low voice rang through her ears and her skin felt on fire.
"Because tomorrow, I'm going to lick every inch of your skin and touch you until you're screaming my name." Draco didn't ask, he told her. He promised.
Her thighs clenched down together a little harder and she let out a tiny gasp at his words, thankful he wasn't present to witness her flushed body. Her heart was racing and her middle begged her to actually touch herself. She needed some release, it wasn't a terrible idea to egg him on a little so he'd speak to her until she could get herself there. Maybe she would even find the courage to speak back to him, give him some release for once.
"Granger?" He questioned, her name coming out like a growl and she hummed in response. "Have you touched yourself since last week?"
"N-no." She stuttered, her hand moving to delicately rub her thigh.
"So my fingers are the last ones to make you come?" He asked in a curious tone.
"Yes."
Draco sucked in a breath and began to rub himself through his briefs. He imagined the witch spread out on her bed, curls splayed all over her pillow and her chest and cheeks a glowing red.
"As much as I love to hear that, I want you to touch yourself, but you must do exactly what I say, agreed?"
Hermione weighed her options but released a shaky breath to reply. "Okay."
"Good. Now be a good girl for me and spread your legs." She did as he commanded and could feel herself getting damper with each spoken word.
"I want you to take a finger and dip it into your center, do it slowly. Picture it were my hands, I know how much you love them. I always catch you staring." Hermione trailed her fingertips against her skin and imagined it were his, his stomach shaking as they passed over her mound. Taking one finger sliding it up her slit, it became soaked with her own juices, and a shudder ran through her.
"Are you wet thinking about my fingers?"
"Yes."
"Good. Bring that finger up to your mouth and suck on it." Hermione faltered the tiniest bit and Draco knew she would. "Do it Granger, I want to hear you suck on your finger. Lick it clean for me." He said more forcefully.
She never had…tasted herself before, but when Malfoy requested it, she wanted to comply. She wanted to hear his praises and know that she was also making him feel aroused. She tentatively brought her finger into her mouth and sucked it, little squeaking noises coming off her lips and she released her digit with a pop. Draco groaned in response to her noises.
"Fuuuck." His hand rubbed harder over his length, a small amount of pre cum seeping through the fabric and he knew he needed more. "Rub your clit for me, and do it fast. Every so often I want you to move your finger over your entrance so you can tell me how wet you're getting."
Hermione did exactly as he told her, small breathy moans came from her mouth and his finger ran tight circles on her clit in a hurried pace. She was worried she'd come too soon if she didn't slow down.
"M-malfoy. I need to sl—"
"Don't you dare." He growled, his own hand moving beneath the straining material. He gripped his cock in his fist and began pumping to her moans, having half a mind to apparate to her apartment and plowing her until she cried. But that had to wait, he had other plans for her.
"Keep your pace. Let me know when you're close." He muttered, increasing his speed on his own member.
Hermione slid her two of her fingers into his soaking center, and her mouth formed an 'o.' Her own wetness surprised and the sexual sounds and curses that easily flew from her lips usually would have caused her some concern, but hearing Draco egg her on to give him more gave her more confidence.
"Fuck keep going. You have me so fucking hard Granger. I can't wait to get my hands on you tomorrow."
"Fuck fuck. Malfoy I'm—I'm so close." She could feel the rising burn was about to overcome her whole body.
"Yeah? You're close?" Draco's own hand pumped fasted, he could feel himself get harder and knew his own release was coming quick.
"Yes, I'm right there." She whined, her own wetness covering her fingers, drops of her pooling down her thighs. Her legs tingled, and she felt the relief ready to sear through her body.
"Pull your fingers away. Stop touching yourself." He stated in a deadly tone and Hermione thought she misheard him.
"What?" Hermione felt delirious as she heard his command. Her fingers slowed and her body felt tight.
"Stop. Touching. Yourself." He spoke each word loud and clear and her body was so heavily electrified she was mere seconds from exploding. The throbbing in her clit begged for her attention, she bet if she rubbed her thighs together she could still get herself off.
"Listen to me very carefully Granger." Draco said, his voice hinted that he was enjoying his current torture over the poor witch. "You are not to touch yourself, period. You cannot do anything to get yourself off from now until I see you tomorrow. Do I make myself clear?"
"But, but why? I need to do some—"
"Do I make myself clear?" He interrupted her, his voice clearly annoyed when he had to repeat himself and Hermione frowned. She almost wanted to cry, her body was totally wound up. An irritated huff rang through Draco's ears and let out a low chuckle. "I take that as a yes."
"Doesn't matter what you want. I'm going to finish once we're off the phone." She said defiantly, her tone coming out almost as a snooty child's.
"If you do that your punishment will be way worse. So I'd advise against it." He warned, finding delight in her small act of disobedience. His hand was still stroking his hard length, knowing he was going to finish himself off to the thought of her touching herself. Just because he told her to stop didn't mean he had to as well.
"You won't be able to tell the difference if I have or haven't." Hermione retorted.
"Oh yes I will. But I'm not worried. I know you enjoy being a good girl for me. Now get some sleep or maybe have a cold shower before bed, yeah?" He cheekily replied.
"You're an arse." She breathed out while rubbing her hand over her face, not believing she was actually going to listen to the commands he gave her.
"I'm well aware. Sweet dreams Granger, I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
Draco spoke softly and the line clicked before Hermione could wish him some colorful words.
A/N: The next two chapters are my favorite, i cant wait for you all to read it. Hope you like this update, a friend of mine told me this was their favorite chapter but I just thought it was cute. Let me know!