A/N: a peak into Draco's head folks..

Sorry it took a while to update. I re-wrote it like five times before I was finally satisfied. (its the perfectionist in me) My only hope is.. it was worth the wait!

Thanks for all those who reviewed, followed and faved!

Chapter 18

The water cascaded down his face and body as he stood under the shower head, his fingers combing through his hair as he rinsed it of all shampoo. No matter how many times he did this, he just couldn't get the visual of Hermione being on top of him out of his mind. She had felt amazing just as much as her fingers gliding across his chest had been, like her kisses had been. He felt his skin burn of the memory, which was rather frustrating, given that the water of the shower was cold.

Yet something else was juggling away in his mind. Her eyes. There had been something different about them when she stared at him. She did not stare at him with hate, or disgust, in fact, he rationalized that she looked comfortable and so inviting, he had to touch her. A touch that she had welcomed and not fought off... until he opened his mouth.

He shook his head of any further possibilities of what could have happened if he hadn't brought up Weaslette, and just did what he wanted and kissed her. She wouldn't have used Legilimency on him, that was a given. A spell he was genuinely surprised she knew how to do.

He felt his chest tightened of the idea of her stripping him because she wanted to, and not to humiliate him. But he had to stop his mind there, as his skin was starting to prune from the water.

He reached over and shut off the shower and grabbed one of the white fluffy towels resting on the rack and dried himself off.

He slipped on a fresh pair of slacks and dress shirt. He had debated on changing into regular clothes as it was the weekend and uniforms weren't required, but where was the fun in that? He went to toss his uniform into the laundry basket, when his eyes caught something blue and lacy hidden underneath the robes with the Gryffindor emblem. Curious, he pulled out the fabric, and instantly drew in a breath once realizing it was a bra. A rather sexy one too.

His nose caught the faint pleasant melon scent emitting off it; her scent... her bra. This bra with lightly padded aqua seamed cups with a royal blue lace overlay... and lacy detail along the straps and centre was the bookworm's everyday intimate wear? Never mind the colour, the style was a great surprise, and with delightful visual of her wearing it, he was half tempted to step back into the shower - clothes on too.

He shook his head and laughed; he had just found the perfect way to get back at her for what she did, and heck, he could not stop grinning.

Outside, on the Hogwarts Grounds

"Hermione? Are you even listening to me?" whined Ginny as she scowled at her house-mate.

Hermione gave a small sigh before she flipped another page in her book. This wasn't going to work for her. She couldn't concentrate properly for her Arithmancy test if Ginny kept on interrupting her.

"Yes Ginny I heard you. I-"

"No you didn't, don't lie to me! Because I just told you, Malfoy got let off for using an Unforgiveable Curse, AGAIN! And you had no reaction!"

Hermione snapped her head around so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash.

"What did you say?!" She said, her voice having gone a few octaves higher than usual. How was it possible? She even gave McGonagall the memory, as her proof!

"I know, it's disgusting! Completely and utterly horrible! That boy can literally do no wrong! Or whatever he does he only gets a detention!"

Hermione slammed her book shut. 'We'll see about that!' She was about to leave when Ginny took a hold of her arm to stop her.

"Hold on, where do you think you're going?" Ginny eyed her friend up and down.

"To speak to McGonagall of course!" Hermione said pulling her arm free. She went to get up again, but Ginny just held her back.

"And do what? Yell at her? The damage is done, Hermione, there is nothing we can do about it! Malfoy is not going to be expelled"

'You wouldn't be saying that if you knew you were the one who got Imperiused!' Hermione thought angrily. But she and McGonagall both swore, from knowing Ginny's history with being controlled by Tom Riddle's Diary, some things were better left unsaid.

Hermione shook her head. Her plans of getting the upper hand had completely backfired! "So unfair,"

Ginny motioned back to the bench, where Hermione looked at it with a bored expression before she sat herself back down.

"Yes I know. But the real question is... how did you get the memory from Malfoy?" Ginny tapped a finger to her chin.

"Isn't he an experienced Occlumens?! Hmm, you'd probably have to get him distracted. Ha, can't imagine that would've been easy!"

Hermione shifted on the bench. Her mind flashed briefly to straddling a certain Slytherin. Touching him and kissing him. She quickly dismissed the image and faced Ginny.

Ginny studied Hermione for a moment. She saw the blush spread high on her cheeks, "Hold on, are you blushing?!"

Ginny put a hand to her mouth and giggled, "Oh gosh, Hermione you didn't!"

Hermione glared at her bench companion, "Not in the context you're thinking of, that's for certain! But yes, I... gave him a taste of his own medicine!"

The corners of her mouth twitched, as she reached over to grab her book. She opened it on the page where she left off to resume her reading.

"And?" Ginny urged.

When Hermione said nothing, Ginny quickly became annoyed. She reached over and snatched her book out from her grasp.

"Hey!" Hermione protested.

Ginny rolled her eyes, "You can't just say, that and skip out on the details! Especially since you were mad at him and you called off the arrangement! Tell me what you did to him!"

Hermione sighed, she glanced all around the field to be sure no one was eavesdropping.

"Alright fine, you win."

Draco sauntered out of the dungeons, whistling to himself before his eyes caught sight of Hermione. She was out in the open sitting on a bench, yelling at Weaslette. Obviously Red just informed her he not being expelled from the school.

"What's gotten you looking like you've just won a vat of Galleons?" Teased Theo as he plopped himself against a nearby column just opposite of Draco was standing. He was grinning so wide, that it hurt Theo's face just to look at him.

If possible, Draco's grin went even wider, "Take a look for yourself," He reached into his pocket and withdrew the blue lacy piece of lingerie. His ice-grey eyes turned to Theo, waiting to gauge his reaction.

"Things with Granger, have definitely progressed into my favour..." Draco whispered before he placed it back into his pocket. His eyes shifted back to where Hermione was.

Theo's eyes shot as saucers, "Wait, that belongs to Granger?" He said incredulously. "Well hell, that certainly explains why you didn't return from patrols last night... and you smell like flowers." He let out a low whistle. "Does Blaise know?"

Draco furrowed his brows and stared at Theo, "I don't smell like flowers"

"Well we're nowhere near a garden so it has to be you, mate. I was going to ask how, but I suppose the answer is obvious" Theo dropped his gaze down to the blue strap dangling out of Draco's pant pocket.

Draco let out a frustrated groan. 'Great' "No, it's not cause of her. I just spent the last hour in Slughorn's office pleading my case, and he had one of those smoking sticks that crazy-coot Trelawney has in her class. Apparently the essence of incense is quite useful for Glamour Potions..."

"Pleading your case? Wait, so this means you didn't shag Granger? Someone caught you in the act?"

Draco shook his head, "No"

"Then what the heck do you mean by that? Why were you in Slughorn's office? If not for making the goody-goody all hot and bothered?" Theo added with a wag of his eyebrows.

'Theo and his bloody questions!'

"Imperiusing Weaslette" Draco said with a shrug. "Granger used Legilimency, and apparently she was able to use the memory to try to get me into trouble"

"Try? So... what, you're not in trouble?"

Draco flashed his house-mate another wicked grin. "Are you joking? That old bat is just as bad as that Muggle Lover Dumbledore! Where no one can do no wrong. Not that I really did anything bad, as I saw to it that Weaslette made it to her dormitory all safe and sound. She still frowned upon the use of the spell."

Draco rolled his eyes, "And then you take into account that she saw a side of Granger I am certain she could live without. Probably added ten more years to her already wrinkled face! Anyway, she confiscated my wand, and shackled my wrist with this stupid Anti-Magic Device then I was let go."

He lifted his left hand to reveal the see-through pipe-like bracelet with multi-coloured beams of light swimming around.

Theo shoved his hands in his pockets, "Huh I'm sure Daphne can crack that, her family's known for dealing with that kind of stuff. Anyway back to this Granger business. What happened with you two? How did you get her bra?"

Draco's eyes twinkled. "The Prefect's Bathroom." He purposefully left the part of it being in the laundry basket out.

"Oh the Prefect's Bathroom huh?" Theo folded his arms and beamed. "That's where this whole thing happened?"

"No, that was in the Astronomy Tower" Draco said brushing his fingers along his lips. He could still feel her searing kisses on his lips. "She stripped me down, while she was on top of me. Even left a mark,"

Theo's lips twitched to a grin as his eyes caught sight of the tiny purple mark just under Draco's jaw. "And you didn't shag her?" He didn't care if he was repeating himself, he just couldn't wrap his mind of the fact of how close his house-mate came to bedding the swot and nothing happened!

"You're losing your touch mate," Theo sighed, running his knuckles against his chest. 'If any luck, I'll have a chance,'

Draco rolled his eyes, and ignored Theo's remark. "The minx used Legilimens then. I tell you, that was certainly not the spell I had hoped she was going to use at that moment..."

Theo laughed, "Oh so you got all hot and bothered...heh, well that's unfortunate for you mate..." To say he was jealous as hell, would be an understatement. Theo quickly shook his head of the thought. "Man, who knew Granger could use such a dark spell? And in that kind of situation! Damn, definitely under-estimated her capabilities..."

"Oh it's not over, Theo. Far from it actually. Which reminds me," Draco said as he began to unbotton his shirt. "It's show time!"

Theo's face fell, "Whoa mate, I don't want-"

"Shut it," Draco hissed as he motioned to the field. Theo trailed his gaze over to see that Granger was now by herself. She was hunched over reading a book.

"Mate, you're not serious are you? Right out in the open? Just after dealing with McGonagall?"

Draco tsk'd, "Don't be stupid." He may be many things, but an exhibitionist isn't one of them - not that he was planning for things to go that far! Not yet, anyway. "Just going to teach that little minx a lesson. I need you to set up the Protective Enchantment Ward for me."

Draco walked over at patted Theo on his shoulder, "Oh and enjoy the show," and he skipped off toward the open field.

Theo laughed to himself. He knew what Draco meant - only the Caster can see through the Protective Enchantment Wards.

With his head held high and shoulders straight, Draco strolled right up to Hermione. She was hunched over, reading a textbook and clearly unaware of his presence.

"Good afternoon, kitten" Draco said with his hands in his pockets, waiting for her to face him. His heart pounding with anticipation.

Hermione felt a shiver rush down her spine at the softness of his voice.

'Just ignore him...'

Her eyes darted around the field, seeing all the students walking about, minding their own business. She sniffed with disdain and then went back to her book.

'Just relax. Breathe slowly. In and out. And carry on.'

Draco glanced over his shoulder and saw Theo give him the 'thumbs up' - signalling that the wards were now up and he was free to do what he wanted.

"I've got something of yours...something important"

Again, Hermione just ignored him. The only thing important would be her wand and that was safely tucked in her jean pocket. 'Whatever, Draco! You're just out of joint from this morning!' She flipped another page and went on reading.

He felt the tug on the corner of his lips as he withdrew his hand from his pocket. He shook his head to get the hair out of his eyes, and positioned his hand right above her head. Releasing his grip by a mere fraction, where the bra slinked down right before her eyes.

Out of the top of her eyes, Hermione caught something blue and lacy, but ignored it. Then she did a double-take, and jumped in her seat once realizing what it was. 'How the...?'

"Want to know where I stumbled across this... delightfully scandalous item?"

The shivers progressed to her neck and down her neck. She knew where he did. The laundry basket in the Prefects Bathroom. Which would mean he must have used the place just shortly after her, or so she hoped. A whole new wave of nerves ran through her system at the thought of him watching her in the shower.

"And no, I didn't follow you, now matter how tempting you made it seem, with all that cute dancing you were doing earlier," He said with a hint of a snicker. "I was a good boy, I waited until you were done."

He removed the bra from her vision and grinned. 'Let's see what she makes of that!'

'Cute dancing? Waiting?' She thought with a gasp. 'So HE WAS watching me!'

**Flashback**

Earlier that morning, after leaving the Gryffindor Common Room

After giving Crookshanks a final kiss, Hermione made her way to the Prefect's Bathroom for a well-deserved shower. Or rather danced and sang her way, a random Muggle song her mother used to listen to - 'Heaven is a place on Earth'. She felt amazing. So proud and happy to be able to have done what she did. Legilimency was a very powerful spell, and sure it only lasted a mere ten seconds she found what she needed right away!

She heard the stories from Harry when he seeped into Snape's mind, how it was all these weird images, not really sure of what he was looking for. But with her cool use of intellect, she had found the memory quickly! And then went off to hand the memory to McGonagall! She twirled around and giggled - she was actually doing a victory dance.

"So long Draco, it's been swell!" she said happily.

Of course she couldn't really think about how she went to obtain the memory as the nerves in her body would make her skin itch. She actually kissed him, repeatedly and strongly! It wasn't until now, did she dare to admit but he was a pretty good kisser.

"No, don't think about that" she said aloud, before she heard a hushed whisper.

"Who's there?!"

Cautiously looking around for the source of the noise with her wand at the ready. Her eyes darted around. After searching for a good amount of time, Hermione turned back to the Prefect's Bathroom, spoke the password and slipped inside before she locked and warded the door - just to be on the safe side.

**end**

His voice shook Hermione from her thoughts.

"Believe me, if I have to regain your trust, that wouldn't really be a smart way to go about it."

"You never had my trust" Hermione snarled before turning in her seat to finally face him for the first time since he waltzed over to her. Her eyebrows went straight up and her mouth dropped open with a small gasp.

Draco looked exactly the way she had left him that morning. No robe or tie and an unbuttoned dress shirt revealing his chest. She felt her throat dry up as she remembered briefly running her hands along those muscles, feeling how smooth the skin had been, how warm it had been. Hermione swallowed the lump in the throat as she tried to keep her emotions completely stone, yet she knew just from the warmth on her neck and face, and the look on his face, she failed.

"Like what you see do you?" He said with a brow raised, "I must agree..." he gave her a slow once over. She looked tempting even now with her pushed to the side and the light pink, long-sleeved fitted shirt and jeans she chose to wear for the day.

He flashed a smirk once catching the nervous look in her eyes. 'Beautiful...' he began to play with the bra in his grasp.

Hermione licked her lips. It made her body twitch to see how his fingers moved along her bra. She knew how great it was to have them on her skin. The slight grip he put on her waist as he held her steady when she was straddling him. The lazy brush of his fingers against her scalp as he held her head when she was kissing him.

Her eyes were immediately drawn to his lips, the smirk he was giving her made her knees shake making her very grateful to already being seated.

'Pull yourself together, Granger!' She told herself as she moved her eyes to his hands once again. 'You are supposed to be angry at this man! He dodged out of expulsion AGAIN!'

"Give that back" she hissed, feeling completely violated. She loved that bra! It felt amazing against her skin and made her feel sexy; clearly the best birthday gift she ever gave herself! And now watching him fondle it made her feel... awkward. She couldn't wear it now! Not without associating his fingers with it!

She felt the blush rising up to her cheeks once again, her chest became tense of the idea. She went to reach for it, but Draco just blocked her attack by taking a hold of her wrist.

"Such rude manners. Surely your parents taught you better than to just demand things?"

"That's rich coming from a spoiled brat," she snarled as she placed her other hand on his forearm to aid in removing herself from his grasp. Even through his shirt, she could feel the heat of his skin. The heat which made her heart beat faster.

When the sleeve of his shirt was lifted up, her eyes caught sight of something colourful flashing on his wrist.

"What's that?!" she said before she could help herself.

Draco followed her gaze and sighed. "Anti-Magic Device. Seems the Professors have lost their trust in me," he said as though it was nothing.

"Poor baby." She sneered with mock pity as she pulled her arm away from his grasp and then turned to pick up her book. "You should've been thrown out!"

She went to leave, but Draco grabbed a hold of her wrist once again.

"Well you're not all that innocent either, kitten"

"Unhand me at once!" She shrieked as she braced a hand on his chest to keep him at bay as she yanked her arm free.

She instantly looked around to see if anyone would help her in this situation. 'Why isn't anyone doing anything?!'

Draco smirked as he stared down at her splayed hand just above his heart.

"HEY! Don't just stand there, go get a Professor at once!" Barked Hermione as she tried to gain the attention of any nearby students.

She turned to look back at Draco and then noticed where her hand was resting. Immediately she pulled it away as if she were burned.

"AHH!" She whimpered.

Draco rolled his eyes, at her behaviour. "Please, you've done a lot more than that just this morning. No need to be all shy, now"

Hermione let out an uneven breath as her mind became plagued with the visuals to go along with his statement. She quickly shook her head and she stepped backward from him.

"I'm warning you," she began, trying to keep her voice calm. She pointed her finger at his face, "Another word and I-"

"Oh enough with the over-dramatics, please. I was merely speaking the truth." Draco grinned. "And you know what else is true?"

'Don't listen to him! Whatever it is don't-' but all thoughts were left unfinished as she felt his hand at her ribs. She let out a high-pitched squeal.

'Oh no, no, no, no, no, NO! How does he know I'm ticklish there?!'

Hermione contorted her body as she tried to escape his fingers, where she would have succeeded if it weren't for the fact that Draco had added his other hand into the mix. Tickling the other side of her ribs.

"AH!" She screamed before her legs gave out and she collapsed. She threw out her hands to attack his arms and hands from touching her.

He broke out a wicked grin as he followed her to the ground, positioning his legs at either side of her hips so he could hover above her and continue his tickling. He maneuvered around her hands and continued to attack her sides. The more she squirmed, the higher her shirt went. His eyes caught sight of her stomach; she wasn't necessarily fit, but it was flat. He felt his pulse jump as she arched her back and tossed her head to the side, while she squealed her protest again, followed by his name. His body quivered as he never had heard a more delightful sound. 'Beautiful...'

She still tried to fight him off, but the intense feeling from the tickles made her arms and legs jelly.

"No more please," she grunted in between giggles, her chest becoming heavier with each breath. "Stop before I pass out!"

Then suddenly he stopped and moved his hands to position them just beside her head. He gazed down at her extremely flushed face.

"And where is the fun in that?" was all he said as he used one of his hands to brush away the hair that fell across her face.

Hermione shook her head to escape his touch, and immediately became angered. "GET OFF ME!"

He wanted to roll his eyes at the complete 180 she did, but instead just sighed.

"And here I thought you were actually enjoying yourself," he said before he tickled the side of her ribs again. Hermione jolted and squealed once again.

"MISTER MALFOY!"

Draco craned his neck with wide eyes. McGonagall was scowling as she held Theo by the back of his shirt. Theo had an apologetic look on his face as he met Draco's gaze.

"I would say to explain yourselves, but I see no point," She glowered at Theo.

"Honestly Professor, I wasn't-"

"Silence Nott"

She returned to look at Draco and Hermione. McGonagall's eyes flashed as she scowled at the Head Girl. Hermione shook her head, immediately going on the defensive.

"No please Professor it's not-" she broke off as she shoved Draco off her body, "Get off,"

NOW everyone in the field was looking in their direction. Hermione felt like hiding away in a hole for all eternity in shame. And the pleased-as-punch look on Draco's face was really not helping matters.

"Not another word Miss Granger...and Mister Malfoy..." her voice was growing hoarse. "You really are trying my patience! I thought with your wand confiscated and detentions until the New Year would stop this nonsense! Fifty points from both Gryffindor and Slytherin for wasting my time with your overbearing sexual tension antics!"

She turned to Theo, "As for you Mister Nott... you will serve detention with me tonight. Eight o'clock sharp."

E/N: the song Hermione mentioned is by Belinda Carlisle. Also the tickle-torture just hit me for some reason... it might be cheesy, but that's just me :) also the image for Hermione's bra...

Google search : Elle Macpherson Artistry Contour Bra. Given that it was seen through Draco's eyes, he obviously wouldn't know the make. ;)

There is little progress. See?