Hi all! It's been ages since I've written something, this piece came out of me pretty quickly while I've been revising for exams. I quite like this one so please do let me know your thoughts or give me some feedback. Enjoy :)

Hide and seek

They were playing hide and seek. At Weasley gatherings, with so many children about, everyone was fair game. So they'd gotten roped into the activity, someone counting as they searched for a place to disappear, hearing an increasingly loud argument over Quidditch in the adjacent sitting room.

She rushed down the corridor, a sense of nonsensical urgency filling her even though she knew it was a kid's game. Turning into a walk-in cupboard she remembered from her early teens, she felt her way through the coats and shoes until she reached something warm and firm.

"What the fuck…?"

A soft chuckle.

"Language, Hermione."

"Jesus, you scared me," she whisper-shouted. "You're hiding too, are you?"

"Yes," Malfoy admitted. She could barely see him in the darkness of the cupboard. "Teddy blackmailed me by threatening to expose my poor diet and bedtime restrictions when babysitting him to Andromeda if I didn't play. Bastard." But the corner of his mouth turned up.

"Well, he's clearly learning from you. Move up!" The space was much smaller than she remembered.

"I can't move up, Granger, this place isn't built for two humans." Malfoy's tall frame barely fit into the height of the room. "Here - sit on this." He pushed himself against the wall so she could slip by him to a chest of drawers.

Hermione manoeuvred herself until her back was to the drawers, then rested her arms behind her to push herself up. They were in each other's space, the front of their bodies basically brushing against each other. It was intimate, and Hermione's thoughts wandered to her relationship with Malfoy.

Malfoy was an irregular yet constant presence in her life, interacting with him briefly for Ministry meetings or seeing him at gatherings, usually only when Teddy or Andromeda were around. He'd become more close with Harry and Ginny, given their frequent interactions at work and by association Hermione ended up seeing him a fair few times a year.

In the initial years of Malfoy's integration into her social circle, there had been some…flirting. They had both bumped into each other at the Leaky and shared a few drinks, sat close to each other and then he'd tried to kiss her. And Hermione was confused and unsure, and shrugged it off, and they'd finished their dinner and parted ways. Since then he'd not tried anything again and she hadn't had the guts to bring it up. They continued to be friends and sometimes, or did she imagine it, were there lingering hugs, long stares…?

"-Granger. Hermione? Are you having trouble?" She was shaken out of her thoughts by Malfoy's voice and realised she hadn't made a move to sit on the surface yet. Before she could say anything, Malfoy leaned in, grabbed her about the waist and signalled for her to push up, hoisting her the rest of the way.

Merlin. Surely he felt her heart racing. This brought her face much closer to his and she only had to look up slightly to be confronted with his chin. He released her and she felt the warm imprints of his hands stay in ghost form. He didn't move far though, and the two remained close to each other.

"Enjoying the view from up there?" Malfoy teased.

"I can't see anything anyway," she laughed. Hermione was lying. Perhaps she couldn't see much, but her eyes were level with Draco's neck and the sharp point of his Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke. She thought about what it would be like to suck on it.

"So, how's it going in the Law offices? You got a new role, right?" Hermione broke the quiet.

"Yes, not bad actually. I get more flexibility. Fewer visits to the Department of Magical Creatures, though," replied Draco. His teeth flashed into a quick grin.

Fewer visits to her department? Was he flirting? Hermione decided to investigate this time.

"Shame. I guess we'll have to meet in the canteen, then." Fuck, she was bad at this. She smiled and looked up, trying to catch his eyes instead. Much easier to do sincere than sexy, she thought. She shifted forward ever so slightly.

Draco noticed. He leaned in, too.

"Would you? Meet me in the canteen?" He said, stare fixing hers.

"Yes." Her pulse pounded.

"What about somewhere else. A museum?"

Hermione liked this game.

"Yes."

"A restaurant?" She could see the smile on his face now.

"Yes, there too." A grin had started to tug at the corners of her mouth as well. "Are you asking me out?"

"That depends," he mused. His smile dropped slightly, and he hesitated. "Hermione, about that time in the Leaky…"

She jumped in.

"I'm sorry about that. I was confused, and I didn't know you that well, and to be honest, I was chickening out," she trailed off, ducking her head and looking up at him.

Draco's face softened and he finally moved even closer, moving her legs and stepping in between them. His close contact projected the warmth of his body.

"I'm sorry, too. I jumped in and then never had the stomach to pursue it again." His eyes lit up again. He deliberately brought his hands up, one sitting on her waist and one hovering to cup her face. Hermione drew in an intake of breath. "How would you feel if I tried to kiss you now?" His eyes were bright with hope and a little bit of caution.

Hermione brought her palms to his chest and bared her neck upwards.

"I think I would like that," she whispered.

Her heart pounded as he pulled her flush and wound his spare hand into her hair. It was large and hot against her scalp. Draco tilted her face up towards him and lowered his own, and ever so gently pillowed his lips against hers. Once. Twice.

He was soft and gentle and her brain was fizzing all at the same time. Hermione scooted forward and he brought his mouth to hers again, firmly this time. His arms wound tight around her and she became cocooned into him. He pushed and pulled and it just felt right, the way he conveyed emotions through the connection of their kiss.

Then Hermione's hands tugged at his hair and Draco growled. That did something to her stomach. His mouth worked harder, hot against hers and he pressed her further into the drawers.

Draco slowed the kiss, sweetly kissing the corner of her lips and cheek before drawing back. He kept her in his arms and looked down at her.

"One step at a time, yeah?"

Her chest bloomed with warmth and she nodded, pent up with excitement but also understanding.

"Yes, that sounds good. Dinner tomorrow?" She queried.

"Dinner tomorrow. I'll pick you up at 8." Draco smiled again, and because he couldn't seem to help it, moved in to kiss her once more.

Hermione all too happily reciprocated, feeling his solid bulk through his shirt and gripping the fabric. She enjoyed his kiss before pulling away, resting her head on his collarbone and breathing harder than she was before. He chuckled and kissed her curls.

"We should get going," Hermione said ruefully. "To be honest, I'm surprised no one's walked in yet. Think they're bored?"

Draco's chuckle grew and she felt his chest shake. She leaned back to watch in surprise.

"What?"

"I'm sure they would have. But I put locking and silencing charms on the door ten minutes ago," Draco smirked.

"You devious man, how did I not notice," she swatted his chest.

"Hey, hey," he said playfully, grabbing her hand. "Probably because I had just put you on the bench, love. Don't think I didn't notice your eyes when I touched you."

A mini rush went through her at the casual endearment and she laughed too. He'd got her there.

"Alright, Romeo, you win. Help me down and let's go before someone breaks in to find us."

They both walked back into the party, each having found something indeed.

END

Hope you guys liked it! Wherever you are, virtual hugs and have a fantastic day.