A/N: Posting this chapter a whole week early, yay! I know y'all are ready for Hermione to get over her reluctance and go all in with Draco. Have a little more patience with her in this chapter as she figures herself out. Chapter 9 will be a pivotal point for her, in a good way. Immense thanks, as always, to my alphabet canttouchthis and Astrangefan. Smooches!
Also, I'm posting a fun and fluffy Dramione one-shot in the next few days based off the Christmas song Baby It's Cold Outside. I'm super excited about it: they're Aurors, and they find themselves in an *interesting* situation on Christmas Eve; there's lots of fun and snarky banter between them. Follow my author page if you want a notification when it's posted!
Hermione's ears hurt, the early morning air more chilly than she'd expected. She was halfway through her run through Richmond Park, short breaths coming out in misty puffs in the cold moist air. She wordlessly cast a warming charm on her ears, and held in a cry of pain as the warmth hit the ache that had lodged in her skull.
She passed other joggers, a few dog-walkers, and some parents with strollers keeping their early-rising babies occupied at 7 am. The morning mist had mostly burned away by now, but still lingered in some hollows in the park. Steam curled into the air from the small ponds she passed, weak sunlight breaking through the clouds.
The park was one of her favorite places; its natural setting filled her soul. She could never think too much when she ran; her body worked so hard to keep her moving, she had no energy for thoughts. It was her favorite thing about running, to simply be present in the moment in this beautiful space, her overactive mind shut off for a little while.
A jogger approached from the other direction, and she realized it was Draco at the same time he recognized her. He broke out in a wide grin, and she felt even shorter of breath at the unexpected encounter. She took in his black running hat, black joggers, and close-fitting rose colored hoodie; Draco Malfoy in a Muggle hoodie was such an improbable sight, she fought back a giggle. He slowed as he got closer, his broad smile never leaving his face, and her heart fluttered.
He came to a stop and chatted for a few moments before he asked, "Can I turn around and join you for the rest of your run? How much farther are you going?"
She'd been looking forward to a meditative solo run, in part to get away from her continually circling thoughts about the man now standing before her. Go with the flow, Hermione. It's only another 15 minutes back home. "Sure. I have maybe a mile and a half left."
His eager expression reminded her a bit of a puppy, which made her stifle another giggle as she imagined his response if he knew what she was thinking. God, something about him made her so silly; it was a nice change from her usual deliberate approach to life.
She hesitated, though, as she noticed she was breathing heavily while he stood there acting like he'd been sauntering down the street and not in a full-on run. "I'm not a fast runner; I don't know if you want to slow down your pace."
"Whatever your speed is, I'm sure it'll be fine." He turned around and started jogging back the way he came.
She fell in place by his side, and he glanced at her as they continued up the path. "I'd planned to stop by your house this morning anyway. We had an… informative... conversation with Harry last night at dinner, and I wanted to talk to you about it, get your thoughts. Would you be interested in coming over tonight? If you don't have plans?"
"I think so… For dinner? Or after?"
"I was thinking we could walk up to George Street, get some takeout, and bring it back - so we don't have to talk about something so serious in the middle of a restaurant."
Hermione's breath came in short huffs while they made their way up a small rise. "Katie was trying to wheedle me (huff) into dinner tonight, since I didn't go out with her last weekend. (Huff) I haven't committed though. (Huff) I'm more interested in hearing what's happening at the Ministry. (Huff) Sorry Draco, I'm not as fit as you. I'm not great at conversation (huff) while running!"
He laughed. "No worries. Do you want to check with Katie and get back to me?"
She nodded, red-faced as she worked to keep up with him. Despite him slowing down, they were still running faster than normal for her. "That sounds good."
"How's your arm been doing lately?" he asked.
She shrugged as they topped the hill and began a shallow descent, allowing her a full sentence at a time before she had to suck in another breath. "Meh. It's been functional; I haven't had another episode. It never feels great, but it's tolerable." She flexed her left fingers, feeling the tingling that was ever-present these days. "And you? Has your neuropathy acted up lately?"
He shook his head. "Not really, a little bit of the nerve tingling here and there, but I can't complain. No achy episodes or trouble walking lately. So, pretty good."
They covered the rest of their run through the park mostly in comfortable silence, him chatting here and there and her nodding in response, her lungs burning. As they exited the park gate onto Cambrian Road, the echoes of their feet on the pavement slowed, for which she was grateful, as a cramp was starting to form under her ribs.
Hermione's breathing had returned to normal by the time they approached their houses. "Thanks for the company," Draco said.
"I hope I didn't slow you down too much!"
"No, it was great, I enjoyed it. I'd…" he trailed off and shook his head with a wry smile. "Never mind."
"What?"
He fidgeted his hands a bit as they covered the last few steps to her gate. "I was going to say I'd love to run together again sometime. But I know you don't want pressure, and I want to respect that."
She felt awkward but thanked him for the consideration, not quite meeting his eyes. Take each day as it comes, Hermione. Be in the now, don't think about next week or next month. She took a breath and met his gaze, smiling at him shyly.
"I'd like to run together again, that sounds nice."
His eyes crinkled at the corners as his face lit up in delight, and her heart rose to her throat when she saw how happy he felt over something so simple. He stepped toward her but she warded him off, hands in front of her. "Draco, I'm covered in sweat, despite the chilly weather."
"I am too. I don't care." He batted her hands away and stepped into her personal space, leaning down to kiss her. She relented, kissing him back, and decided at that moment that she'd rather spend the evening at home with him than go to a loud restaurant with Katie and be interrogated about the progress of her "relationship" with Malfoy.
She pulled back from their kiss and he captured her in a hug, wrapping his arms around her tightly. It felt nice to be securely held, and she melted into him. They both drew comfort from each other through their embrace, and when they pulled apart, Hermione promised to confirm their plans for tonight after checking in with Katie.
-o~0~o-
Hermione entered her kitchen and gulped down a glass of water, then stuck her head in the floo to call Katie about dinner. Her persistent friend insisted they have brunch together if dinner wouldn't work, and two hours later Hermione found herself sitting across from Katie over a plate of crumpets and smoked salmon with wilted arugula.
Hermione had filled Katie in on what little she knew about the Pure-blood agenda at the Ministry, and Katie was now grilling her about Draco. So much for avoiding an interrogation from Katie today...
"So… have you two spent the night together yet?"
"No." Hermione fidgeted with her napkin. "He's asked me a couple of times to stay, but I've said no. I'm not ready. Or, I haven't been ready yet… But, we ran into each other running this morning " - Katie laughed at the unintentional word play - "and I've been trying to decide whether I want to stay the night tonight, or not."
"What's holding you back?"
Hermione sighed. "I guess I feel like, if I stay the night he's going to expect a commitment, that it'll mean we're in an actual relationship. As much as I like him, I'm not ready for a new relationship. I want some time to myself." She took a small bite of her breakfast. "I wish we'd run into each other 6 or 12 months from now," she said wistfully.
"How come?"
"It would give me time to be independent for awhile, not beholden to anyone, before going back into a partnership and having to consider someone else's needs."
"Meaning, if you reconnected with Malfoy in a year, you could see yourself in a committed relationship with him?"
Hermione nodded immediately, her face paling at the significance of her admission.
Katie's brows rose, surprised and a bit shocked, but she recovered quickly. "So I take it he's looking for something more serious, since you think spending the night with him is going to raise his expectations?"
Hermione nodded again.
Katie fell quiet, thoughtful, and the hubbub of the bustling brunch crowd grew louder in the women's silence. "Has he dated much since Astoria died?"
"I don't think so. I get the feeling he's been mostly on his own since Astoria, and I know for sure he hasn't dated anyone seriously. He told me one time when we were snuggling on the sofa that he hadn't been with another woman like that - just sitting around cosily together at home - since Astoria died."
Katie's face fell in sympathy at Malfoy's unfortunate circumstances.
Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "He'd like to spend more time together, but he's holding back to keep from pressuring me. He actually said that out loud this morning. Katie, you should have seen the smile on his face after he admitted that and then I agreed to go on another run with him sometime."
She let out a heavy breath. "I keep thinking, over and over, I wish I could ask him to wait on me… give me six months to catch up."
Katie tapped her nails on the table. "Do you think he would wait on you to catch up with him?" Hermione started to shake her head, but Katie kept going. "If he really likes you, and he hasn't been dating much - and you're clearly keeping each other occupied physically," she raised her eyebrows, "he doesn't really have a reason not to wait on you."
The pitch of Hermione's voice rose an octave. "I can't ask him to do that! That would be like asking him to put his life on hold!" She lowered her voice. "Plus, it feels awful to be the person who always wants more in a relationship. I'm not doing that to him."
Katie set her fork down and leaned forward. "Do you think maybe he deserves a say in that?"
Hermione shook her head and waved her off, stuffing a bite of buttered crumpet in her mouth.
Katie refrained from tutting at her, and tried a new tack instead. "So what would happen if you decided 'Screw it, I'm gonna try this whole "relationship" thing out with Malfoy'? What would you be worried about?"
Hermione was silent for a while, slowly finishing her crumpet and sipping down the rich black coffee in her mug. "The crux of it is, I don't think I can give a partner - any partner, let alone a man still grieving his wife - the amount of emotional support and attention they deserve right now. I'm just… emotionally tired. I don't have the energy to put someone else's needs ahead of my own yet - besides the kids, of course."
Katie nodded. "That makes sense." Then she looked at Hermione with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know, the first year of dating someone is the infatuation phase. All you want to do is shag each other silly and have fun together. It's not like being married. You're not living together; you're not parenting together… it's all new and exciting!"
Hermione bit out a sharp laugh. "I don't think the first year with Draco would be all butterflies and rainbows, Katie. I'm still dealing with my divorce, and his wife died. Our kids go to school together. We've known each other for 30 years. We have a complicated history. He already apologized to me once, and I wigged out on him!"
Katie's eyebrows rose, but she refrained from asking about it.
Hermione continued, "For instance, the thought of talking to him tonight about Astoria, if he were to bring her up? It just sounds… exhausting. Like, I literally want to go home and burrow under the covers just thinking about it."
Katie reached over and grabbed Hermione's hand. "I can't tell you what to do, but it sounds like you really like him, and from what you've told me, it sounds like he really likes you, too. I think you owe it to yourself to see where things go and not shut this down just because you're tired."
Hermione frowned at her and took a bite of her greens. "I'll think about it. Well, really, that's all I've done lately is think about it. Anyway, thank you for listening. So… enough about me and my issues. What's been going on with you lately?"
"Well…" Katie smirked, "all the young witches in my department have been chattering non-stop about the gorgeous new hunk leading security detail for the Minister. Imagine my surprise to find out that their dreamboat was none other than baby Teddy Lupin!" Hermione burst into laughter, and they finished brunch talking about gossip in Katie's department at the Ministry.
"So how was your birthday floo call with Rose after the book signing?" Draco's fingers intertwined with Hermione's as they walked back to his house with tapas and paella for takeout.
"Short," Hermione laughed. "While she's gotten past the stage where everything I say is stupid, she still prefers her friends to me and Ron."
"As it should be." Draco smiled.
"She spent most of the call telling me about their game strategy for beating Slytherin next weekend."
"Oh really? And what strategy is that?"
Hermione shook her head, feigning exasperation with him. "As if I would tell the enemy! You'll just have to wait and see, like your son, at the game." She turned to him. "Are you planning to go?"
"I wouldn't miss it, Granger. I've been to every one of Scorpius's games. Are you going?"
"Yes, Ron and I will both be there. And we need to sit together, pretending we're still one big happy family…" she trailed off with a frown. "Hugo thankfully hasn't reached the age where he refuses to be seen with us, so he'll be with us for at least part of the game. I suppose you'll be in the Slytherin seats?"
"Yes, I will. It may also be an opportunity to find out more about this group at Goyle's restaurant." Hermione glanced at him, questioning. "I'll explain when we get home; I'd like your opinion on how you think it would be best to get into his meetings."
When they had settled at his dining table, dinner laid out in front of them, Draco recounted last night's discussion at Andromeda's house. He talked through everything Harry had discovered and their decision to approach Gareth Greengrass about infiltrating Goyle's group.
"Mother contacted my father-in-law today and arranged a meeting with Potter for next week." Draco looked at Hermione with haunted eyes. "I hadn't thought about it 'til you mentioned it a few days ago, but now I keep wondering if I should volunteer to go instead. I don't want Gareth in danger. Helena already lost Astoria; she doesn't need to worry about her husband, too."
Hermione's face softened in sympathy. "You said Flint has already approached Mr. Greengrass, asking him to support his legislation, right?"
Draco nodded.
"I don't think it makes sense for you to volunteer, now that I know more. Flint has already contacted your father-in-law, so they obviously think he might support their anti-Muggle efforts. And, as you said, it's well-known that you work with Muggles.
"Plus…" she hesitated. "I think you'd stand out in that group more than Mr. Greengrass." She looked at him in apology. "Your family has always stood out; people either admire or dislike the Malfoys. You can't blend into the background the way your father-in-law probably can."
Draco considered her words. "You're right. I just hate for him to be in such a dangerous position. If some of them are former Death Eaters… they're a brutal group." He closed his eyes, pushing away memories of the terror from his youth.
"I understand. Harry will make it as safe as he can. But it's not without risk."
He gazed at her, resigned. "I also want your thoughts on PotionLab's vaccine work, and back-up plans if these anti-Muggle efforts affect my business." He motioned to their empty plates. "Can you stay after dinner is cleaned up, and have a drink with me to talk through it?"
Hermione smiled at him across the table. "Absolutely, I'd love to."
They sent the plates into the kitchen, and Mickey cleared the leftovers, storing them away for a later meal. Draco poured a couple of glasses of wine and pulled her in for a long and toe-curling kiss by the wet bar. She stepped away, pulse racing from the touch of his lips, and took her wine glass from him. They settled together on the sofa, Hermione sitting sideways, her back flush against its leather arm and her legs settled over Draco's lap. His hands trailed a soothing path over the smooth fabric of her red trousers as he spoke.
Draco began to explain PotionLab's efforts toward producing a better version of the CoVID vaccine. "So, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has been mutating, meaning Muggles vaccinated against the original version are susceptible to the mutated versions. We want to couple the Muggle research on human genetics with PotionLab's research on the coronavirus genome to create a vaccine that will work against any version of the coronavirus, no matter how it mutates.
"We're also trying to create a vaccine delivery method that doesn't need refrigeration, and will be effective with only a single dose rather than multiple doses over a period of weeks. We also want it to have lifelong effectiveness rather than needing to be readministered every 6 to 12 months."
Hermione's eyes sparkled with wonder. "That's amazing Draco! It would make a huge difference in parts of the world that are hard to reach and don't have refrigeration available."
A smile played at the corners of his lips as he thought of the good this type of vaccine could do. Then he explained the dilemma facing PotionLab's vaccine efforts. "The problem is, it sounds like Flint and Bulstrode plan to introduce their anti-Muggle legislation early this summer. If it succeeds, I'm concerned the Ministry may pass business regulations that will make it impossible for PotionLab to continue operating as a mixed magical Muggle business."
Hermione asked, "I take it that if PotionLab can't employ Muggle staff, it would slow down the vaccine development?"
"It would," Draco nodded. "At least, for a while. It would take some time to reorganize the business to accommodate segregated operations." He tapped a finger on his wine glass. "If this is a serious possibility, I'd want to bring more wizards into the day-to-day vaccine development efforts so they can absorb the Muggle technical knowledge and continue working on the vaccine without Muggle help."
"How close are you to pulling it all together and releasing a new vaccine?"
"We originally thought we'd have the prototype finished by June, but that's less than two weeks away, and it's not possible." He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "I'm optimistic we could start trials in July though, and be ready for approval and mass distribution in September. Provided we can continue working the way we have been.
"This is why we need to get invited to these monthly meetings at Goyle's restaurant!" His jaw tightened, determined. "We have to understand what they're planning, and who at the Ministry supports them. I don't want to reorganize my business, and potentially delay the vaccine development if I don't need to; but I don't want to be caught blind either, because that would cause an even worse delay."
His hands continued their gentle trail across Hermione's legs. "If we can get this more effective vaccine developed quickly and in the hands of Muggle governments around the world, the Death Eaters wouldn't have a leg to stand on anymore, regarding their claims that 'diseased' Muggles are a threat to wizards."
Hermione sat in silent thought, fingering her grandmother's diamond pendant against her chest, then asked, "Do you think that, with this Pure-blood power movement, they would just find another cause to support their claims if your vaccine becomes widely available? Take advantage of the fact that they've rallied Pure-bloods and find other ways to assert their power and privilege instead?"
Draco frowned. "Perhaps. But the Death Eaters were defeated 20 years ago. Wizarding society has been peaceful, and our government has been effective ever since. The Sacred 28 families are a small percentage of our society at this point and, other than the Wizengamot, they're not overly represented at the Ministry. It's completely to their advantage to capitalize on the fears of Pure-bloods and use Covid as an excuse to segregate Muggles."
"Well, I'd like to help you strategize, but it sounds like you really can't come up with an alternate approach until you find out what the Death Eater group is planning."
Draco's shoulders slumped ever so slightly as he acknowledged the truth of her statement.
She asked, "When are you and Harry planning to meet with your father-in-law? And how quickly do you think he could get into Goyle's meetings? They only meet once a month, right?"
Draco nodded. "We're meeting with him Tuesday. Hopefully Goyle's next meeting is in the coming week or two so we don't have to wait another month to learn more." He growled in frustration. "I feel uninformed and helpless right now." His eyes hardened as he stared at the fireplace. "I'm not accustomed to feeling that way. From a moral standpoint, I'm glad I'm not part of this, but from a practical standpoint, I wish I still had these connections so I knew what was going on."
Hermione tutted at him in sympathy and pulled her legs out of his lap to scoot closer to him. She took his hands, rubbing her thumbs over his skin. "I know it's hard to wait when you need to make decisions but don't have the information you need to make them." He let out a deep breath as she continued speaking. "It sounds like you, Harry, and your mother are doing everything you can, as quickly as you can, to get the information you need."
She looked in his eyes, reassuring him. "You'll figure this out, you and Harry and all the others, and we'll stop this. I mean, we defeated Voldemort 20 years ago. Surely we can defeat a nascent pseudo-Death Eater plot that hasn't even gotten off the ground yet!"
Draco sighed, the tightness around his eyes easing somewhat at her words. "You're right. You're right. I know you're right." He slumped back into the couch, working the tension out of his body. "Even if we can't decide how to move forward right now, thanks for listening and talking through it with me."
She smiled gently at him. "You're welcome." If this were a conversation with Ron several years ago, it would have ended with 'I love you' - both a sentimental truth and an affirmation that everything would be okay because they were tackling things together. Now, her 'you're welcome' seemed to linger in the air, an incomplete statement. The ensuing silence was heavy with unspoken thoughts and words, longings for both the past and the future that neither of them was able to voice.
They sat quietly, each caught in their own thoughts while uncomfortably aware of each other's silent contemplations. After several minutes, Draco heaved out a deep breath, as if purging their worrisome conversation from his system, and turned to her with a soft smile. "I know it's late, and I know you don't like flying, but would you be willing to fly with me on my broom out on the Quidditch pitch? I could use the stress relief."
When Hermione didn't immediately answer, he asked, "Please? I promise it'll be fun. I won't fly too fast or too high; it'll be completely safe." He looked at her with puppy dog eyes, and she couldn't say no.
"Fine, fine," she laughed. He broke into a wide smile and pulled her up and back to his shed.
-o~0~o-
Hermione focused on not screaming as she sat behind Draco, her arms around his waist holding on for dear life. He'd started out slow, getting her comfortable with flying around in the dark under an enchanted starlit sky. But now they were speeding 60 feet above the ground, which she really couldn't see under the night stars.
She'd done this before, flying in the dark - in their fifth year when they flew to the Department of Mysteries to save Sirius, and before their sixth year, disguised as one of the seven Harrys, bringing him to the safe house at Andromeda's. And seventh year, escaping on the dragon from Gringotts.
But all of those had been necessary; lives had been on the line. Flying around in the dark for the hell of it, as some kind of romantic stress relief? She fought back a wave of nausea as he turned sharply at the end of the pitch.
It could have been quite enchanting - if they were on the ground, and she didn't have her cheek pressed into his back while she fought against her nerves. Had she been able to focus on him, she'd have noticed that he smelled of woods and citrus, and that his broad back felt delightfully strong as she clung to him. But all she could think about was not having a panic attack.
"How are you doing back there?" he asked, their speed whipping his voice past her.
"I'm okay," she said, trying to sound cheerful. "How's the stress relief coming along? Is this doing the trick?" She hoped he'd say yes and land, so she could get off this blasted broom.
"Yes! But you sound less than ecstatic. Are you really okay?"
"Yes!" she squeaked out as he flew higher. Dear god, please let him land soon.
"You're not enjoying this, are you? I'm sorry, we'll land."
"No, no," she protested feebly; she knew this was doing him good. Her words to Katie from this morning came back to her. Perhaps she had more emotional capacity available than she thought she did, or maybe she cared about Draco more than she realized. Either way, she felt it was worth the discomfort to see him so happy.
He squeezed her hand and immediately circled them lower, landing them near the door. She hopped off the broom and felt a little woozy as she tried to get her land legs back.
Draco shouldered his broom and pulled her to him, squeezing her tightly. "Thank you!" he said into her hair. "I'll go on my own next time; I feel great now, but you look traumatized."
"Traumatized is maybe too strong a word," she mumbled into his chest. He had needed this, and she wanted to go along as best she could, but she agreed it would probably be best if he went alone next time. He released her, and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, and they made their way back to the house.
-o~0~o-
After pouring them both some water, he caged her between his arms against his kitchen island. She immediately flashed back to their first night together - the start of this romance - and she stifled a moan at the thought of what else they could do tonight.
He nipped at her lips, then moved down to her jawline and across her neck, pushing her hair gently behind her shoulder. She tilted her head to give him better access and ran her hands across his broad chest, feeling each firm plane of muscle under the fabric of his shirt.
His hands crept under the hem of her blouse, fingers brushing gently along the skin of her waist, and she sucked in a breath at his touch. His lips kissed a path back to her mouth, and his fingers moved higher, palming her breasts under her shirt.
Hermione wanted more, and she moved her hand to the thick denim of his jeans, rubbing him through the fabric. He pressed forward into her hand and increased his pressure against her breasts, fishing for purchase against her skin rather than through the fabric of her bra.
Her nerve endings lit up, firing overtime at his response, and the sound of his zipper echoed as her fingers nimbly opened his trousers. He pulled away, eyes glazed with desire. "Can we take this upstairs?"
She nodded and followed him up. He ran his hands across her chest again, over her shirt, when they reached his room.
"Hermione, I want to see you."
Before she could respond, their clothes vanished into a messy pile on the floor. He looked her over, his face raw with passion, and she shivered under his gaze and the sudden shock of cool air hitting her exposed body. He pulled her onto the bed with him, kissing every part of her neck and chest he could reach.
She ran her hands through his hair, the fine strands like silk against her fingers, and he scooted down under her body, his supple hands a perfect fit for her breasts. Her nipples hardened under the onslaught of his tongue, and swelled into throbbing peaks as his teeth brought her to the line between pain and pleasure. She writhed above him, desperately needing friction down below, and pressed her core against him. "Draco…" she moaned.
His breath hitched. "What would you like, love? Tell me…"
"Anything, everything… touch me…" He flipped her over onto her back, and trailed his lips and tongue down her body, leaving fire in their wake. She convulsed as he drew down over her stomach, both ticklish and high on desire.
When he reached her hips, he shifted to the side, leaving her suddenly bereft of his wet lips on her skin. His fingers grasped her legs, bending them gently at the knees, and she felt the pressure of his touch on her inner thighs as he spread her legs wide and placed her feet near her bum, so she was open and exposed for him.
He focused his attention between her legs, and dipped two fingers inside her, crooking them against her G spot. The electricity she'd been seeking wrought a loud moan from her throat. He drew her wetness out and pressed it against her clit, creating a delicious slick friction that had her keening. He continually repeated his movements, eyes focused on his ministrations.
When he started using his other hand, one inside her and one on her clit, increasing his pressure and speed, the sensations became nearly overwhelming. She pumped her hips into his hands, chasing the high, until she finally tipped over the edge with a low scream.
She rode his fingers while he watched her, entranced. As soon as she came down from her peak, he urged her to turn over. He pulled her hips off the bed so she was on her knees with her arse in the air, and he pressed into her from behind.
"Hermione," he bit out, "seeing you come around my fingers, I could come right now. I'll do my best to hold off if you want another…"
"Come inside me, Draco. Whenever you want." She bucked back against him with each of his harsh forward thrusts, her hands scrabbling for stability against his satin-like sheets. It felt delicious. She wanted to hurt tomorrow, to feel that he'd been in her. "You feel so good inside me… like it'll never be enough."
"Never be enough?" he growled. "What do you like, Hermione? Deep and slow? Rough play?"
"I don't know," she moaned. "Just you, I want you, I want to feel all day tomorrow that you've been inside me."
He slammed into her hard, pushing her up the bed, and his hand snuck around to rub her again. "Oh god!" she cried when she felt his fingers slick over her clit. "Right there, just like that! Oh god!"
A few more passes of his fingers and she was done for. She moaned incoherently as her orgasm rocked through her, and before it had completely finished, he turned them again so she was on her back.
He gripped the backs of her thighs and pushed her knees toward her shoulders, her feet in the air above her chest, her curls splayed around her head. His hands pressed behind her knees, preventing her from moving, and her hips almost ached from being folded in half. He rose up, hands still holding her legs in place, and he vigorously rubbed the tip of his cock in and out of her entrance.
"You want to feel me tomorrow?" he asked gruffly.
"Yes," she gulped.
He sped up his pace, rubbing just his head roughly in and out while he kept her legs splayed and her entrance stretched tight. The friction of his harsh movements began to hurt, in a sublime way, as his cock rubbed and stretched her over and over.
Just when she thought she couldn't take any more, he plunged fully into her, and with several more thrusts, he came. She gazed at him in awe as he towered over her, his eyes closed and his face screwed up in pleasure that looked like pain as he emptied himself inside her.
Once his movements stilled, he pulled them onto their sides, facing each other, while he was still sheathed inside her. They lay there for several minutes, breaths ragged, before he cast a Scourgify and a quick contraceptive spell.
Hermione felt like jelly; she thought she might sink into the bed and never move again. Her fingers traced lightly over his chest while he lay there, spent.
He pressed kisses to her fingers. They gazed at each other, chocolate and silver eyes inches apart. "Will you stay the night?" he asked, feigning confidence, but she could see the apprehension in his eyes.
"Yes," she whispered, and she leaned forward and captured his lips. Elation coursed through him and he tugged her close, pressing together every possible inch of bare skin between them.
As their heart rates settled, they scooted under the covers, the weight of his duvet settling around them like a warm cocoon. After a few more lazy kisses, they fell asleep with Hermione spooned against him, her back against his front and his arm wrapped protectively around her.
-o~0~o-
Hermione stirred in the middle of the night, disoriented for a moment as she tried to figure out where she was. She felt the gentle rise and fall of Draco's chest against her back as he slept, and realized she was in his bed. She smiled and snuggled more closely into him, twining her fingers through his, where they rested against her waist, and fell back to sleep.