CHAPTER 33

October 14th 2001

Draco Malfoy rested his chin upon the head of the witch crying in his arms. Her curly hair tickled the nap of his neck, but he didn't mind. It felt oddly nice holding her like this, even if she was heartbroken over another man.

By the time Granger's hiccuped cries calmed down, Draco had assumed she had fallen asleep by how still she lay in his arms. He was proven wrong when she lifted her head out from under him and looked up at him with those puffy chocolate eyes that reminded him of his favorite truffles. Even in the darkly lit bedroom, they were so rich in colour he wanted to dive in and never resurface.

He could feel her cool peppermint breath blow into his own. An appetizer for a meal that was not so out of reach.

Draco felt his heart jolt as her fingers curled around his chin, thumb tracing the outline of the bottom of his mouth. He found himself inching his face closer to hers on the pillow, until their noses brushed against one another.

Losing focus on her falsely innocent eyes, he submitted to the urge to gaze upon her pink velvet lips. A nervous lick of her tongue presenting him with an invitation he could not resist.

In a moment of pure selfishness, Draco kissed her.

Granger did not pull back like he had expected her to, but instead, pressed into him as if he was air and she was struggling to breathe. She kissed him like she wanted to be kissed, like she had been waiting a lifetime for him to touch her.

Draco felt the heat of a fiendfyre explosion, as if all the colours in the universe were colliding to create a picture he had envisioned everyday for the past three years.

He reached out to the small of the witch's back and pulled her into his body. A moan escaped both their mouths, as their hips met and legs intertwined under the sheets.

But just as Granger snaked her arm around to press a palm against his spine, Draco reflexed with a snap, shooting himself away from her embrace.

It was in the reflection of the moonlight dancing across her apologetic face that he saw what they were doing. Her tear swollen eyes and matching lips screamed at him for creating a divide between her and Weasley. For yet again, being the source of destruction in Granger's life.

Draco sat up with hands sprawled across his face in shame. "Fuck." He muttered out, ripping the bedsheets off his legs and practically leaping off the bed.

There was a cold chill in the cottage as his feet led him down the hall and into the kitchen. He felt bad for leaving her stranded behind in the mess of their emotions, but Draco was afraid of facing the consequences of his actions.

He leant down onto his hands pressed on the sink, and hung his head low. The tingle of her deliciously sweet lips still lingered on his own. A tempting peek into what the rest of her would taste like.

Draco pinched the bridge of his nose, and clenched down on his back teeth. He felt like a toxic spell that obliterated everything within its touch.

Not five minutes ago, Granger was crying in his arms over how much she wished her fiance would love her back, and the only solution he gave her was to destroy the trust in that relationship. No wonder his father wanted him dead. If he wasn't such a coward he would probably put an end to his own life as well.

"Malfoy…" A soft voice from behind broke him from his wollow.

The blond kept his eyes on the window ahead, refusing to look back at the woman.

"Look at me...Please."

Draco inhaled before slowly turning around to face the witch.

Her hair was as curly as ever, showering over the shoulders that held up her silk nightgown. She must have walked here by herself, seeing as her legs were shaking ever so slightly as her chest rose up and down.

"I am sorry." She apologised. "I should not have kissed you like that. I know you are with Astoria and that you still sort of repulse muggle-borns, but-"

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Granger." He sighed exasperatedly, pissed off that she was blaming herself for his actions. "I have been wanting to do that for a very long time, and knew you were engaged-"

"What?" The more they interrupted each other, the louder their voices got.

Draco realised what he had revealed out of panic, and sucked in a breath that expanded his bare chest. He truly did know how to fuck up an already fucked up situation, didn't he?

The wizard and witch stared at each other from across the room. The stars in the sky acting as their only source of light. Temptation seducing them both as the veil was lifted on their feelings for one another.

A magnetic pull to the woman drew Draco to risk it all. He hastily strode over to Granger, and picked her up by the back of her thighs and dropped her onto his hips. Her silky legs wrapped around his lower back as her hands met his jaw bone.

"Tell me not to kiss you." She whispered, meeting her forehead against his once more. Like two puzzle pieces that connected as one.

Draco used one arm to keep her upright, and the other to tuck loose curls behind her ear. "Don't kiss me." He begged on both of their behalf.

Whether he gave her the answer she was looking for or not, Granger seemed to ignore him anyway, and for the second time that night Draco's prayers had been answered.

Her mouth met him with such force, his heart ached like it was being cut out from his chest. Granger's nails dug into his scalp as her hands pulled his face closer. A pain he was willing to induce for them to be this close.

Electricity ran through the Slytherin's veins that worked to keep her attached to his body. While their tongues passionately found each other, Draco thought about the time he flew a broom with no hands. It was an experience he thought was close to euphoria, but being in this moment right now, catching the golden snitch was nothing compared to the taste of Hermione Granger.

He lowered the hand that was caught in her hair and slithered it under the silky dress that had rolled along her thighs. Granger's breath hitched in his mouth, but the feel of her nipples pressing against his neck was all the permission he needed to keep going.

Draco's fingers dove under the thin elastic band of her underwear, as he pulled away from her mouth and sucked on the skin above her collar bone. She gasped in a way that he would memorise for the rest of his lonely life.

Feet blindly led them to the kitchen bench, where Draco lifted her off his hips and onto the counter. Granger untwisted her legs from his behind and spread them so he could fit in between her thighs. Chests heaving as the blond trailed his kisses down to where the thin strap of her nightgown had fallen off her shoulder. Delicate hands led his head to the top of her breasts.

Draco found himself harder than he had ever been before while his second hand mirrored his first under the elastic of her knickers. He kept his focus on the workings of his tongue on her olive skin to restrain the need to ruin it all tonight.

Low hums rumbled in his throat while Granger laced her nails through his hair, clawing harder when he hit the sensitive part between her two breasts, above the lace material guarding the remainder of her decency.

Letting go of her chest, Draco lifted his head back to meet hers. She brought her mouth to his so fast he almost bypassed the taste of blood that was on her lips from biting down so hard.

It made him feel better for being so prematurely ready to cum right now.

He took a hand from under her dress and removed it from the elastic with a quick snap. His fingers had a mind of their own as they curled around the base of her underwear, leaving his thumb to find her clit over the wet material. Granger rolled her head back and groaned while he began rubbing in circular motions.

Her hands fell from his hair and slapped the kitchen counter to lean back. Draco used his other arm to grip her chin and pull it back down so he could lock her eyes to his. The look of pleasure splattered across her face caused him to press down harder. He was rewarded with a moan so loud, it would echo in his mind for days.

Drawing her face to his once more, he kissed her so hard he couldn't tell whose tongue was whose anymore. As his pace fastened over her underwear, Granger was forced to break away from his lips and groan.

"Malfoy…" She hissed with clenched eyes at the ceiling.

It was the release of his family name from her mouth that resulted in his thumb slowing down to a full stop. As much as Draco wanted to keep going until her legs quivered around him, he knew that Granger was going to regret it if he did.

He was still Malfoy in her eyes. The boy who teased her about buck teeth and watched her suffer on his drawing room floor.

Not Draco. The born again fool who was irretrievably and unconditionally in love with her.

He could still feel the pulse of her heartbeat on his finger as it hovered over her knickers, while his eyes flicked between hers, searching for an answer he knew he wouldn't find. Granger's cheeks flushed with confusion as he slowly removed his hand from within the nightgown.

"You're going to marry him, aren't you?"

Hermione Granger's entire body was flushed with heat as she stared into the saddened silver eyes across from her. Malfoy's hand was steady under her nightgown, remaining hidden as her hardened chest heaved, cut too short from the building high.

He had asked her a question. Her brain was still buzzing and he had asked her a question.

Withdrawing his fingers from the silk material she wore, he took several steps away from her seated position on the counter. Without speaking, she had accidentally given him an answer.

Hermione lifted the fallen strap from her shoulder, already missing the way his lips felt against her freckled skin. It had been like he was itching a scratch she had been cursed with for years.

"I can't do this anymore." She spoke across the darkened room.

Malfoy kept his gaze onto the floor with his arms crossed, but Hermione knew he heard her.

"Malfoy?" She called out to him in hopes he felt the same way.

"I heard you." He croaked with a hint of impatience, still looking at the floor.

As Hermione went to drop herself off the counter, Malfoy spun on his heel and headed back down the hallway. It was in that reaction that she remembered it wasn't just her relationship that was at stake right now.

Now guilt washed over her faster than a garden gnome.

After a few minutes of self loathing, Hermione jumped off the kitchen bench with an unsteady landing. As she walked down the hallway to the bedrooms, she was unsure if her legs were quivering from the injury or from how well Malfoy had touched her.

When she reached her bedroom, Hermione was saddened by no sight of her usual company waiting for her, and turned to see Malfoy hunched over his own mattress, head in hands.

Not entirely sure why she did it, Hermione hobbled over the creaky wooden floorboards to kneel in front of the silver haired wizard. Shaky hands covering his knees.

"I'm sorry." She whispered to a closed off face. "I should not have let my broken relationship bleed onto yours."

Malfoy dragged his hands away from his face and looked down at her with an angry brow. "I kissed you." He reminded her.

"I wanted you to."

Hermione reached out and brushed his fallen fringe away from his eyes. It wasn't blinding him, but she just liked how it felt. Malfoy grabbed her wrist and held it tightly to stop her from going any further.

"I thought you said you couldn't do this anymore?" He growled at her.

"I did." She breathed. "I cannot keep pretending that I don't have feelings for you anymore."

Malfoy lowered her hand from his face. "Weasley?"

"I don't know." Hermione answered truthfully. "Astoria?" She mirrored his question, hands still in clutch.

He softened his angry brow and held her gaze for what felt like a lifetime. "No." He finally replied. "It's always been you."

Hermione sucked in a quick breath through her nose out of shock. It was the answer she had been hoping for, but never thought he'd actually say it.

"But I'm a mu-"

"I don't care." He squeezed her wrist. "I stopped caring from your first day working at the ministry."

Her blood started to light on fire, "Why didn't you say anything?" She heard the desperation leave her tongue.

"How could I?" Malfoy urged. "I would've lost you before I even had you."

"Maybe you could have had me altogether."

"You are just saying this because we've been locked in this fucking cottage for too long."

"Is that how you feel?" She asked impatiently, "That we would not have kissed if we had not been here."

Afraid of his answer, Hermione tried to stand from her kneeling position, but her legs were not as strong as she had assumed. Malfoy caught her just in time before she would've fallen to the floor, scooping her up into a cradle position. Her arms naturally wrapped themselves around his neck.

"I was selfish when I kissed you." He enunciated the end of his statement. "But knowing me, I would've done it no matter the circumstances."

Hermione sighed, relieved that she wasn't alone in this emotional affair but exhausted from facing her reality. "Take me to bed… please."

Without questioning her intentions, Malfoy carried her from his bedroom back to her own, carefully placing her down on the mattress so her head hit the pillow. He tried to leave her alone, but Hermione grabbed him by the hand.

"Stay." She insisted.

Malfoy locked back down at her with those silver eyes she couldn't turn from. "Okay."

Shuffling over to his dedicated side of her bed, the wizard lifted the sheets and slipped back to lay with her once more. Only this time, neither hesitated to embrace each other.

With her head resting against Malfoy's chest, Hermione closed her eyes to listen to the sound of his heart beating in rhythm to her own.

"I am going to take care of this, Hermione." Malfoy whispered into her hair. "I promise."

"I know you will…" She mumbled back, not completely sure what she was certain on.

And as the night overtook her, Hermione fell asleep in the arms of the wizard she was falling for. Dreaming of a life where their night wouldn't have been cut short for the sake of Ron Weasley.

October 15th 2001

In the morning, Hermione woke to the sound of parchment crumbling against her cheek as she rolled over. Opening one eye at a time, she noticed how cold the bed felt beside her. Tearing the paper off her face, the witch groaned as she read the note left for her.

Gone to town,

Will be back later.

- Malfoy

With the memories of last night still fresh in her mind, Hermione felt lonely waking up by herself, although she understood why Malfoy would need time by himself.

Lifting herself from the bed, she decided to take the risk of having a shower without any aid. It went relatively smoothly despite not having someone hold her hand while she climbed in and out of the tub. Hermione felt positive that this was a sign she was nearly completely healed and ready to find Lucius.

Only craving her morning tea, she successfully dressed herself in a pair of jeans with a white sweater and headed to the kitchen. Hermione stirred the sugar into the boiling water and stared out into the field behind the cottage. She began to think of how this house was once cherished with memories of her childhood, but now it was cursed with the evidence of her inevitable self destruction.

Deep down Hermione knew she was never going to be able to fight her overwhelming feelings for Malfoy. It didn't take a near orgasm to realise that, but it most certainly helped.

She started to think of what she would say when he would come home. Would she kiss him again? Tell him she was going to call off her wedding? Confess that she had probably been in love with him ever since he first brought her tea?

A creek from the front door snapped her dazed attention away from the overgrown grass, and forced her to make a decision. She left her mug on the sink and hobbled over to the hallway with intention to lay it all on the line. However, when Malfoy's tall figure entered the dimly lit passage, he was not alone.

Behind him stood two boys she was all too familiar with.

"Hi." Harry lifted his hand to give a small wave behind the blond, offering a smile pressed into a straight line.

Hermione felt her heart drop to her stomach as her eyes connected with Ron's. Both just as terrified to see one another.

Malfoy took slow strides to stand a few feet away from her, shame spread across his face as he cautiously approached.

"What did you do?" She hissed at him through clenched teeth. "I told you I did not want their help."

"They are not helping you." He spoke with a soft snarl. "They are helping me."

The two Gryffindors walked further into the cottage to meet them in the living room. Her fiance, with a head hung low and hands stuffed into his pockets.

Harry reached his arm out to place his palm on her shoulder. "Malfoy told us what happened. Why didn't you say anything? We could have protected you at St Mungos."

"I don't need your help all the time!" Hermione snapped at her friend. "I wanted to do this myself for once, without you two."

"Why?" Ron spoke for the first time. He had spoken so quietly, she almost misheard him.

"I-" She struggled to look him in the eye, "I just wanted to do this on my own."

Harry turned to face Malfoy, who gave him the tiniest nod, as if to give him permission for something. Hermione scowled at all three of the men facing her.

"I think it's best if you stay here with Ron while Malfoy and I go find Lucius. You need to recover, and things are getting out of hand while we wait."

"That is ridiculous, I will be walking normally within a few days. Right, Malfoy?" Desperation and disbelief was scraping against the witch's voice. This moment was going the complete opposite of what she was hoping for.

Malfoy tightened his jaw as he walked backwards into the hallway once more. Hermione tried to follow him but stumbled against her own feet and fell into Ron's arms.

"Where are you going?" She yelled at the wizard headed toward the front door. "Malfoy?! Where are you going?"

Panic started to rise within her body. Ron's arms held her against his chest as she tried to wrangle herself free from the grip, but he was too strong.

"I'm sorry, Hermione." Harry apologised as he followed Malfoy down the hall. "This will be over soon, I promise."

Fighting hard against the crasp of her fiance, she watched the two begin to leave without her. She started to pinch herself, afraid this was a nightmare she could not wake from.

Just as Malfoy stepped through the front door and onto the gravel driveway, Hermione heard herself scream his name. "Draco!"

The Slytherine came to a halt on his exit, but did not turn to face her.

She had never addressed him by his first name in person before. But last night, Hermione realised that he was no longer the boy who used to tease her for buck teeth or who watched her suffer on his family drawing floor.

He was the man that she was irretrievably and unconditionally in love with.

Tears had begun running down her cheeks and dripping down her lips. The lips that he had so passionately kissed last night. And now he was leaving her alone in this cursed cottage with a man she no longer loved.

And as if it were in slow motion, Hermione watched as Draco gripped Harry by the wrist and apparated them away with a snap. Leaving nothing but the cries of a broken witch behind.