The pale light of the moon across the corridor casted shadows on the stone walls. There was something solemn in the silence of the night, a veil of darkness that kept those who wandered it safe.
-"Are we sleeping at the Requirement Room?"- Hermione inquired, the clicking sound of her heels a few steps behind Malfoy.
-"Eager to go back there, Granger?"- Draco asked turning his head back with a cheeky smile curving his lips. The Gryffindor girl blushed to what he was implying.-"I´ve told you."- Draco said as he crossed a corridor in a few strides.-"You are not ready for that place."- he stopped in front of a door.-"Not yet."- Draco muttered staring at her, before stopping in front of a portrait. -"Derglave"- Malfoy said. The figure in the painting moved to allow them to come in.-"Shall we?"- he asked extending her hand to her. Hermione took his hand, feeling how her fingers tingled as they encountered the warmth of his skin.
She followed his lead and found herself in the strangest of rooms.
-"Is this the Gryffindor common room? But it´s not in this area of the Castle…"- she frowned confused.
-"Guess your dear headmistress wanted to make you feel at home"- Draco huffed.-" I hope Salazar show some mercy and my room isn´t drenched in these colors…"- his nose wrinkled.-" and what is it with you Gryffindors and light? So many bloody windows…"- he cursed and drew all the curtains.
-"You´ve got plenty of windows down there…"- Hermione resorted.
-"Yep, but with the dark waters of the lake covering them"- he added removing his coat.
-"Well, guess this is my way…"- he raised a finger to point a hall.-"and that is yours."- he did the same but on the opposite direction.
-"How do you know where girls sleep at the Gryffindor tower?"- Hermione asked raising a brow.
-"Well…"- Draco said putting his hands in his pockets.-"There was this little lioness that really enjoyed playing around…"- he continued as he walked towards her.-"And I just found impossible to deny myself from such pleasurable experience…"- he added sliding his index across her face.-"breaking the rules…."- his finger traced a path to her lips.-"and into her. How could I say no?"
-"You are…" –Hermione started but the words didn´t seem to appear.
-"It is late"- he hushed her pressing her lips with his fingers.-"You should rest."- Draco said as his hand fell to her shoulder.-"Sleep tight, Granger."- he said and his figure disappeared behind the door to his room.
Hermione sighed, staring at the place where Draco had been a moment ago. This place was too much. He was too much. She went straight to other room, aiming to get some rest, a couple of hours without Malfoy in her mind.
She transfigured her dress for a long, loose t-shirt and got into bed. The fresh and downy texture of the sheets wrapped her, as the tension of her neck disappeared the second it hit the pillow.
But sleeping has become a treacherous mission. She rolled a few times, sticking a leg out, turning down on her stomach, moving to the left, to the right. She even counted sheep for Merlin´s sake! But nothing seemed to aid her.
Bloody hell, she cursed before grabbing something from her purse and leaving the room.
"Why I am doing this? Am I crazy? Hell yeah I am! Why I am going to his room? He did not want to go to the requirement… Wait! Did I want to go? Nevermind, that´s not the thing. The thing is he sent me to sleep… to fucking sleep! Without a goodnight kiss or… Did I want him to kiss me? Or to f…? Oh please! What is wrong with me? And why didn´t I transfigure my dress into something nicer? This old loose thing? Brightest witch my bloody ass! Why if he is already sleeping? Or if he is busy? He might be reading or…"
-"Come in"- Draco Malfoy´s voice said loud and clear.- "Enough with the overthinking".- he said without leaving his bed.-"And no, I am not reading your mind. I can see your shadow moving underneath the door."
-"I just…"- Hermione began opening the door. Draco´s room was straight up from the Slytherin dungeons. She stumbled as she looked around. There was certain familiarity in this place.-"I thought you may crave one of these…."- she said raising a bag of jelly slugs.
-"Jelly slugs?"- Draco asked removing the green blanket. He was wearing just a black shirt and a pair of dark green boxer briefs. Hermione swallowed hard.-"But, Honeydukes was closed by the time we left The Three Broomsticks…"- Draco raised a brow suspiciously.-"Sweet Merlin. You stole them?-he asked in a smirk while shoving three from the bag in his mouth.-"I could eat a thousand of these, I swear."
-"I believe you."- Hermione said sitting on his bed.- "I didn´t actually steal them…"- the Gryffindor paused taking one candy from the bag.-"I just disappeared a bag before they closed…"
-"That is stealing!" – Draco accused sitting next to her. He put his hand inside of the bag on her lap to take out a few more jelly slugs, pressing it down on her.
-"It is not!"- the Gryffindor exclaimed flustered.-"I put some money in the cash register."
-"Of course you did."- Draco whispered smiling at her.-"Always a good girl, Granger."- he said falling in her brown eyes.-"Though I must admit that I am impressed..." - Draco complimented as his hand caressed her face tenderly.
-"Thank you…"- Hermione said feeling her cheeks burn beneath his fingertips. Draco´s thumb fell to the bag in a soft movement.
-"What is it that you are wearing?"- Malfoy asked looking down at her old t-shirt.
-"A bad decision."- Hermione answered grabbing another sweet.- "I knew I should have transfigured it into…"- she huffed clearly annoyed.
-"I like it."- Draco said pulling one of the sleeves, rolling it down her shoulder. –"But you look so much better in my clothes."- he added taking off his black t-shirt. The greenish light of the room embraced his defined abs, creating all kinds of inviting shadows. - "Don´t you think?"- he whispered.
Hermione tried to reach his eyes, but got stuck half-way in his thin lips. They were parted and his tongue had flicked across them in a diabolic way. She took a big breath, trying to stop the room from spinning. Oh dear lord! What was she thinking? His perfume only made everything turned faster.
Was it possible to be drunk?
Of the sight of a sinful body? Of the scent of a man?
Bloody hell it was.
That was why she did not hesitate when his hands grazed the hem of the t-shirt and pulled it all the way up to her head so she could get in his black cotton tee. Her skin relished in the texture of the new fabric, enjoying the softness of it and the way his scent was now on her too.
-"Look at you"- Draco said as a hint of silver appeared in his eyes.-"So much better."- he added adjusting the collar of the t-shirt, before he grabbed the forgotten jelly slugs bag.-"So, now that you are wearing the right attire to sleep, tell me. Why are you here?"
-"I´ve told you…."- Hermione started.
-"No"- he shook his head.-"The Jelly Slugs are an excuse."- Draco pointed out.-"A great and delightful excuse."- the Sly put another one between his teeth.-"Tell me the real reason. What´s troubling you, love?"
-"Why did you left me?- Hermione asked sharply. Yep, she was drunk. Draco froze to her question. -"I mean…"- she choked with her words.-"The memory I got at The Three Broomsticks. We were at the Great Hall. I was so angry at you…"- the girl reminisced the feeling as she dug into the images she´d seen.-"I was in pain…"- Draco shuddered.-"Why did you do it? I don´t get it…"
-"Granger…"- he caressed her cheek with his thumb.-"I don´t…"
-"Please."- she begged as her hand covered his.-"Why did you do it? I don´t understand…"
-"I…"- Draco refused to tell her the truth, to open scarred wounds. But Hermione was like nature: unstoppable. Her questions would not remain unanswered. So he surrendered, begging for her mercy.-"Bellatrix had started her training…"- he muttered under his breath.-"and he has moved to Malfoy Manor."- Hermione held his hand.-"I did not want them to see you…it was for the best… I just tried…"- he muttered incoherently.-"I was trying to fucking protect you. All right?"- Draco snapped cupping her face.-"But you fucking ruined everything. I hated you so so much…"-he said pressing her forehead against hers.-"You should have left me alone…"
-"No one nor nothing will stand between us."- she whispered on his lips.-"not even you."
-"Not even you…"- Draco repeated, his warm breath caressing her face.- "Granger…"
-"No"- Hermione interrupted.-"Keep playing it cool. I don´t want to address it right now."- she said, sliding her fingers across his nape.- "I need to get some sleep."- she leant back, without looking at him. –"I am going to bed…"- her legs moved to the door, forcing her body to follow. –"Good night Draco."- she whispered before leaving the room.
Draco spread out on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He whispered a nox under his breath, wishing the darkness of the room filled his eyes and brought him to sleep.
He craved some rest. Some peace.
A big breath emerged from his lungs, leaving a sugary taste in his mouth. His lips curved up in a pearly smile. She had remembered. More than she was willing to accept.
And the stolen jelly slugs… oh man…
Suddenly, the sound of muffled steps joined the melody of nocturnal tunes the Castle played at night.
It was her.
He remained quiet, with his eyes closed, feeling the smell of his fruity perfume getting closer and closer as her barefoot feet made the wood cracked. Draco felt her body pressing down the mattress, sliding the sheets softly. He held his breath, focusing on the warmth her skin was spreading.
He remained there.
Frozen.
Until her head hit the pillow and her lips released the sweetest of sighs. That sound gave him the courage he needed to turn to his side. He didn´t even open his eyes, afraid that this was just an illusion, a mirage. His arm stretched all the way across her chest until his hand found a grip in her right hip.
He held her tightly.
Closely.
Feeling her velvet skin against his. Feeling her heartbeats filling the room. Feeling something that resembled peace. And home. And… Draco inhaled her, being unable to contain his relish. And there, with Hermione Granger between his arms, he fell asleep.
-"You are leaving me?"- Hermione asked getting up from bed.- "After we´ve fucked?"- her hair was messy and a sexual blush colored her cheeks in a lovely shade of pink.-"No, you are not doing this Draco. I won´t allow It!"- she said putting on a shirt.-" You are not gonna ruin the only good thing…"
-"The only?"- Draco asked sliding into his clothes slowly.-"Always thinking so high of yourself…"- his words came from his lips in the shape of daggers.-" We are done here."
-"Done?"- she repeated opening her eyes wide.-"You can´t call it quits after all we´ve been through. After all I´ve done…"
-"Nobody asked you for anything."-Draco interrupted walking a few strides towards the door.-" You are making a scene."- he pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes.-"and it´s pathetic."
Hermione shivered. Tears piled up in the corner of her eyes, giving them a glossy look. She swallowed hard, feeling the salty and excruciating sensation of being about to cry.
-"What is going on?"- she asked. Something was going on. Something HAS to be going on. Anything that would explain his flee and the pain it was causing her.-" Tell me. Please, Draco…"- she begged stretching his hand to him.
-"Nothing it´s going on, Granger."- the blonde took a step back, repulsed.- "Guess I am finally over my fucking a mudblood phase."- he said in a smirk.-"Won´t do it again, of that I am sure. Look at you, all clingy and…"- but she could not finish the phrase as a loud slap crossed his face.
-"Stop it."- she cried out.- "What is it? Did something happen?"- her curls bounced as she shook her head. He could not possibly be leaving her. Could he?
-"I told ya."- Draco muttered, his jaw clenching.- "Got tired of your mudblood pussy."
-"Shut the fuck up."- Hermione hissed glaring at him.- "This is not you…."- she whispered.
-"This IS me, Granger."- Malfoy responded.
-"No"- she said beneath her breath.-"I know you. Something happened…"- she started.
-"Keep lying to yourself Granger…"
-"Lies you say?"- Hermione asked, throwing a book to him. The loud noise produced by the object hitting the door made the Sly turned.- "Lies? Tell me this doesn´t mean anything."- she continued throwing a frame to him. Hermione could swear that a little muscle in his face twitched the second his eyes encountered the photograph. - "Tell me everything we´ve done here wasn´t special."- her hands were shaking, his chest going up and down heavily.- "Tell me I am not special."
-"Special?"- he inquired raising a brow.- "There is nothing special about you. You are just another ordinary girl I fucked."- Draco said before turning her back on her and left.
It is said that time heals all wounds. That made everything fades away. The good and the bad. The most torrid feeling of happiness and the most harrowful sadness. All fades away. All perish under its ravages.
But Hermione did not agree.
Firstly, time has proven itself useless when it came to healing. She was still bleeding. She was still hurt. She was still in fucking pain.
Secondly, her emotions had not been diminished. They were still swirling in her stomach, overlaying one over the others, causing her mood to swing regarding which one was in charge.
And finally, nothing has perished. Nothing. She still fucking missed him.
-"Mione are you going to eat that?"- a mouthful tone emerged in her thoughts.
-"What?"- Hermione asked. She hasn´t listened. She hasn´t listened to anybody lately.
-"If you are going to eat that"- Ron repeated pointing a pumpkin pie.
-"No. You can have it."- the Gryffindor answered pushing the small pie to him.
-"Did Lavender drag you to one of her diets? She should really stop reading Witch Weekly…"- Ron muttered shaking his head and shoving a spoon of pumpkin pie inside his mouth.
-"Hermione doesn´t do diets, Ron."- Harry exclaimed flicking the pages of the daily prophet. –"neither she reads Witch Weekly nor she talks with Lavender."- the green-eyed continued staring at her. Harry frowned evidently concerned. - "Are you okay Herms? You have barely eaten in the last weeks…"
-"I am fine Harry…"- the brunette lied while forcing a coy smile.-" I am just…."- but before she could make up an excuse, an school owl left a letter on her lap. The envelope had not a seal, though it wasn´t necessary. She knew exactly who had sent it by the texture of the paper between her hands.
Fucking asshole.
She opened it right away, tearing the envelope.
"We deserve a farewell.
You and I.
Meet you there at midnight."
Bloody… Nah, there weren´t enough swears in the English language to properly curse him. The nerve… Asking for a farewell? What was she supposed to do? Overlook all the nasty things he said? Fuck the hell out of him and say goodbye to everything they were, everything they had done and shared and…?
Bloody… she mentally stopped the waterfall of bad words, crumpling the piece of paper. She looked directly to the Slytherin table, knowing that he would be there, waiting half-way with waves of silver in his eyes and a smile on his face.
And of course, he was there. Staring. Measuring her reactions. Waiting for her response.
Hermione curved her lips up unevenly, trying to remain calm, to exude confidence what all she wanted to do was scream at the top of her lungs. And without even blinking she set the piece of paper on fire.
Draco´s smile fell from his face as his eyes pierced her.
-"Don´t ask."- Hermione warned Ron and Harry, who were looking at her in horror.
-"Trust me."- Ron said softly, watching the flames consuming the letter.-"We weren´t going to."
I hope you had enjoyed the fluff my dears,
´cause things are about to get darker.
(yeah, I know
but I am just a sucker for Draco and Hermione at Hogwarts
sorry not sorry! :P)