Draco knew he was about to do something very, very wrong. Just being here broke all the rules. He was not a prefect, so he had no business in this bathroom. It was well past ten o'clock at night, so he had no business being outside the common room. All that was serious enough.

But he would break the most important rule when he opened that door. Never enter the bathroom if you find other students' clothes in the changing room. Only by this rule was it possible to use the prefect's bathroom communally.

Normally he would stick to this rule, after all, the Slytherin prefects had already broken one themselves by telling him the password. He would not repay them for that kindness by breaking the rules and getting caught peeping by others - at least in theory.

His first instinct when he had seen the small pile of clothes had accordingly been to turn back.

But then his gaze lingered on the towel with the letters HG embroidered on it.

Obviously, Granger used her status as a war hero to get the password for the bathroom without permission. After all, she was not a prefect that year. Like him, she was catching up on her seventh year and so was not eligible for that position or that of Head Girl.

Frozen in place, Draco stared at the frosted glass door that separated the locker room from the bathroom. It was dark on the other side - obviously Granger had only turned on the one small light directly above the basin. Everything in him screamed to turn around and steal away again on silent soles.

Deeply, Draco took a breath. Then, with newfound determination, he reached for the handle and moved it down as quietly as he could. Silently, the door opened a crack. Slowly, Draco let the breath he was holding escape.

Warm, humid air crept through the crack. He had to slip through quickly before Granger noticed from a cool breeze that the door opened. Just as quietly as before, Draco opened the glass door just enough to fit through, then closed it again behind him.

Hunched over, he leaned against the small wall that lay between the door and the large pool as an additional screen. It was only about a metre high, but that was enough to hide his presence.

The humid air was hot and heavy in the room. Only a very soft splashing sound indicated that someone was lying in the pool at all. Not even music filled the silence. Only the lapping of the gentle waves.

And a soft sigh.

Draco froze. He knew that sound. Immediately he shook his head. That was impossible. She had probably only sighed because she enjoyed the bath so much. He knew himself how soothing it was to take a real bath here in the large basin instead of a simple shower.

Another sigh sounded.

All at once Draco became aware of how hot it was here. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He only wanted to play a trick on Granger. Nothing more. Just wanted to scare her and confront her about what she was doing here. That was all he had in mind. He did not want to violate her privacy that much. He was not that depraved, even when it came to Granger.

Again, he heard a sigh, louder this time.

He should just leave again. He had no business here. He was shabby to even sit here and listen. Hard, he clenched his jaws. Everything about this situation was wrong.

Without thinking about what he was about to do, Draco leaned forward and peered towards the pool.

Only a few feet away from him, Hermione Granger lay in the shallow water, surrounded by thick foam, her head resting on the edge of the pool. Her eyes were closed and the beam from the small lamp was just bright enough for Draco to see that she was furrowing her eyebrows in exertion.

She moved slightly in the water, sending small ripples across the surface that were quickly swallowed up by the foam.

Cursing inwardly, Draco pulled his head back. Closing his eyes, he leaned against the wall. There was no mistaking what she was doing there. Heat rose up inside him. Another part of his body made itself known in an unwanted way.

A sigh, which was already more like a moan, sounded. The splashing grew louder, faster.

Suddenly Draco became aware that his breathing was going far too fast. Horrified at himself, he pressed both hands over his mouth to stifle any sound. And to stop his hands from moving to another part of his body that was screaming for his attention.

He really should leave. What he was doing here was wrong. He was violating Granger's privacy. If the situation were reversed, he would be beside himself with rage. But he could not move. He remained frozen in the same place.

Granger's sounds became higher, more desperate. Draco felt himself blush in shame. He loathed himself for sitting here in the dark, listening. In his mind, the image of Granger's face kept popping up, of her in the pool - but without the foam.

"Draco..."

It was almost a breath. A wave of heat raced through his body. Had he heard wrong? She could not have seen him. She could not have known he was here.

"Draco!"

Her soft cry, followed by a long, low moan, dealt him the final blow. He had to get out of here, now. It did not matter if she heard him now.

Panicked, he jumped up, opened the door and, summoning the last of his self-control, pulled it shut again. Then there was no stopping him.

As if the devil were after him, Draco sprinted out of the bathroom, through the dark corridors of the castle, down to the Slytherin common room.