"Happy Birthday." A whispered voice came from an alcove in the hallway I was patrolling. I stopped and turned to the left, Granger stepped out of the shadows holding a cupcake with a lit candle in the middle.
"How did you know I would be here?" I asked.
"I have my ways." She said coyly. I stepped towards her and she held out the cupcake, a smile filling her face. "Make a wish" she said and I closed my eyes and blew out the candle.
"Thank you Granger." I took the cupcake and leaned in to kiss her cheek.
"Are you patrolling by yourself?" She asked, looking around.
"Blaise went to go down the east side corridors." I took a bite of the chocolate cupcake with the vanilla cream center. "So how have you been? It's been a few weeks Granger."
"Yes, well exams start in five days and there has been a lot going on with Har-" She stopped abruptly and shook her head, "a lot going on with others."
"And yet you remembered my birthday."
"Of course," she gleamed, "You only turn 16 once. Did your parents send anything?"
I finished the last of the cupcake and put my arm around her shoulders as we started to walk down the corridor, "Yes, a new broom. Let me take you out on it."
"What? Now? Malfoy we can't. I can't get caught being out of bed. It's already 8pm."
"But Granger, it's my birthday, and you said yourself I only get to be 16 once so please indulge me." I gave her a pleading smile. She closed her eyes and shook her head, contemplating at least five different scenarios in which this would go very wrong. I leaned in to kiss her, "Please." I whispered against her lips. I moved to kiss the spot on her neck that causes her to stop listening to the voice inside her head.
"Okay. But please know that I really hate flying." she gave in.
I grabbed her hand and we ran out to the quidditch shed.
xxx
"Okay, here just swing your leg over. You can go in front so I know you won't fall off." He held out his right hand as the left one gripped the broom handle.
"You've-you've flown with someone else on the broom before right?" I asked as I gingerly swung my leg over the handle and hovered over the broom.
"No." He said and kicked off, gripping me around the waist with one arm.
"Draco!" I shrieked as he flew us into the air. I latched on to the handle as tightly as I could. Draco pressed me into him and I closed my eyes tightly.
"Open your eyes Granger." He said in my ear. I shook my head no and heard him chuckle. I slowly opened one eye and then the other. I gasped. The lake was so beautiful with the moonlight shining across it.
He was flying very fast, or maybe I just thought it was fast. I started to relax and loosen my hold on the handle. It was quite exhilarating to see our world underneath, all peaceful and quiet. The lake gently rippled from the night breeze, the soft lights in some of the castle windows flickered. We toured the grounds, dipping lower over the Quidditch field and soaring higher over the forest. He made sure to not fly too close to the castle, lest someone be looking out the windows. Draco slowly started to steer us towards the quidditch shed. He came to a gentle landing and held my hand as I stepped off the broom.
He went to go put his broom back in the shed and when he came out he pressed me against the side of the shed. "Thank you Granger."
"Was it a good birthday?" I asked and kissed him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
"One of the best." He replied and returned the kiss, his hands found their way under my sweater, the night air nipped at my skin.
"We should head back." I stated softly, he pulled back and sighed.
"I know." He replied but didn't let go and leaned in to kiss me again.
Later we walked back to the castle. He walked me to the door of the Gryffindor Common Room. "Goodnight." I said and squeezed his hand.
He held tighter for a moment and looked into my eyes, "Thank you for my birthday present Hermione." He said.
I smiled, "Happy Birthday Draco." I leaned in to kiss his cheek and then turned to enter the common room.
xxx
"I knew I would find you in here." Draco said on the evening of June 10th. It was the first day of O.W.L.'s. I had finished Herbology at 10 a.m. and Defence Against the Dark Arts at 1 p.m. I was so relieved to have that one completed.
"I need to check something for Charms tomorrow." I responded, flustered as I searched the shelves for the book I needed.
"I think you need to take a break Granger. There is such a thing as over studying." He drawled as he leaned his right shoulder against the shelves and crossed his arms.
"Why does everybody say that to me?" I huffed and I finally saw the book. "There is no harm in double checking. I am certain that it will be a question on the exam and what if I didn't check and then I got it wrong. How would you feel then?" I was letting all of my frustration and anger out on him. Between Ron going on and on about Quidditch and how I study too much and Harry not practicing occlumency and having strange dreams about a room Merlin knows where, I felt as though my head was about to explode.
"Hey, hey, shhh." Malfoy stepped towards me and placed his hands on either side of my head, "Granger, I am legitimately afraid you will combust." He said softly smoothing my hair.
I breathed deeply, "I'm a bit overwhelmed." I admitted and let him pull me into his chest as he rubbed circles on my back.
"I can help you with Charms you know. I am tied with you in that class. Ask me anything." He kissed the top of my head and pulled back.
I thrusted the book at him, "Tell me what it says in chapter six about about the effectiveness of using a non-verbal repelling charm versus a wandless one." I began pacing.
"I already know that answer." he smirked at me, gloating for a bit, "And so do you."
"A wandless spell can be more powerful than one with a wand if you put enough emotion into the spell. However a non-verbal wandless spell can be the most powerful, if again, you have enough emotion when you are casting it." I repeated the text word for word.
"Feel better?" He asked as he closed the book and placed it back on the shelf.
"Yes," I sighed.
"Good, my turn for a study break." He pushed me against the window. I inhaled sharply as I felt the coolness of the pane through my clothes. He captured my mouth fervently as he pulled me towards him so my body was plastered against his.
His tongue lightly touched my lips and to my surprise I opened them wider. He slipped in and his hands tightened their grip on my waist. He let out a quiet, low moan. My hands were holding the back of his neck, and I felt my left hand slide up into his hair.
"Draco?" Zabini's voice came from behind Draco. My eyes shot open. Draco quickly put a hand over my mouth anticipating a shriek or a gasp.
"What is it Blaise?" He asked, his response dripping with annoyance. He didn't turn around, ensuring that I was completely blocked from the view of his friend.
"Need help finding that book?" Zabini asked with mock innocence.
Malfoy smirked at me, "Oh I think I've found exactly what I was looking for." I rolled my eyes at that line, making his rebellious smirk grow wider. He traced his thumb over my swollen lips.
"I'll meet you back in the common room then." Zabini replied. I waited until I could hear the sound of his footsteps trailing away.
I pushed Draco away from me, "We're going to get caught." I said a little too loudly.
"We are if you keep shouting." Malfoy hissed and grabbed my waist as I tried to get away.
"I mean it Draco. No more public areas."
"I'm not going back in a broom closet with you." He said sternly. I couldn't tell if he meant because I deserved better or because he was just as uncomfortable in there as I was.
"I have an idea." I took his hand and led him out of the aisle. I went to the table to gather my things and gestured for him to follow me. We went up to the seventh floor. I started pacing back and forth and a door appeared.
"Isn't this-?" Draco started to ask.
"Yes, but, just wait." I opened the door and we walked inside. I had asked the room to conjure a couch and some soft lighting. I didn't really think of what else we could have needed for snogging. "I suppose I could be more creative next time." I said as Draco looked around.
"So you pace in front while concentrating on what you want the room to do?"
"Essentially, yes. It helps if you think in more detail."
"Fascinating." He breathed and made his way over to the couch to examine it.
"I'm not sure if Umbridge has this area on high patrol nowadays-"
"No, she thinks that you won't try the same place again. She's not very clever." He replied and sat down on the couch in a casual manner.
"Anyway, we could use this room I guess. It is private." I sat down next to him.
He pulled me onto his lap, lifting my right thigh over him so that he was between me. "This is a very dangerous position for me, I want you to know, but just ignore it if you feel anything. We don't have to go that fast." he whispered against my ear and a shiver went down my spine. He set his hands on my hip bones and his mouth placed kisses up and down my neck.
I sighed and a soft moan came from my throat, "Draco." I breathed.
"Do you know how attractive it is when you say my name?" He murmured, his fingers loosening my tie and dropping it on the floor behind me. I loosened his tie and put it next to us. We were both slowly undoing the buttons on each other's shirt. I tilted my head to give him better access to my neck. He nipped it lightly right below my clavicle and I jumped a bit in his lap, causing him to hold me tightly and stop. He groaned loudly, "Please don't." He breathed, his voice hoarse, against my skin.
"Sorry." I murmured. Realizing what my jump did to his body. I could feel him against my inner thigh. I opened his shirt and bent down to kiss his neck. "We cannot leave any marks in places visible to the public eye."
He tilted his head back, giving me more access, his hands still tightly gripped my hips, keeping them in one place. "More rules." He grumbled.
I bit down gently under his clavicle and he inhaled sharply. He let me suck his skin and bite some more. Then he pulled my head up and kissed me hungrily, his tongue slipping in. His hands moved around until they were cupping my arse. I ran my fingers along his chest. His entire shirt was open, whereas mine just had the first four buttons undone, he could see the top of my bra. One of his hands trailed up, under my shirt and brushed along the clasp of my bra. He didn't undo it though. His hand moved around to the front and he ran his fingers over the outer layer. It was quite plain, nude with a little lace detail at the top. I made a mental note to buy other colours, or at least a black one. I moaned into his mouth and he returned it, pressing me closer to him and his hand gently tightened on my left breast.
He broke away from my mouth and placed several kisses along my jawline, making a trail down my neck, across my clavicle and further down my chest. He undid another button and started placing kisses along the tops of my breasts, inhaling heavily as he reached the area of my skin between them. I whimpered, Merlin, that felt so exhilarating. I could feel a heated sensation start to form under my knickers. "Draco." I cautioned, not wanting him to remove my bra yet.
"Don't worry." He murmured against my skin knowing my thoughts. His hand stayed on the outside of my skirt but he was rubbing his thumb over my arse and his other hand was rubbing over my breast. His thumb was rubbing over the area of my bra that my nipple sat under. The pressure felt so good. I was so thankful to be wearing tights. I could feel wetness start to pool onto my knickers. I hoped that there was enough fabric between us that I wouldn't leave a mark on his trousers.
He took a sharp intake of air and stopped kissing me. He pulled up and tipped his head back, his hands stilled. "Draco?" I asked worried that I did something to cause him pain. I shifted my body slightly forward which was apparently the wrong thing to do as he let out a low growl and put both hands on my hips to keep me in place.
"Don't move." He said through gritted teeth and breathed deeply. His hands pulled my hips up gently and I moved to sit beside him on the couch. He placed a pillow over his lap and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sorry," he said.
"It's okay."
"It's uh, getting harder to control myself. I just need to stop for a bit." He breathed shakily and laughed softly.
I buttoned up my shirt and picked up my tie from the ground. "We should stop anyway. It's getting late and we have a Charms exam tomorrow."
He grabbed my hand, "Hermione, I...I don't want to ever pressure you. I just need you to not be upset if I need to stop things."
"No, I am not upset. I understand. I promise. I felt a lot of things too. I still feel them." I sliced my eyes and breathed deeply, "I feel it coursing through me. But I realize that mine is easier to hide than yours, and not as painful."
He laughed and kissed the back of my hand. "Do you ever, finish yourself?"
"Finish myself?" I asked confused, "Oh, do I-no I don't, well I haven't ever tried. Do you?" I asked handing him his tie that I had been sitting on. My cheeks turned bright red. I had never had this discussion with anyone before.
"Yeah, after pretty much every snog session." He admitted not at all embarrassed and slipped his tie over his head.
"Really? Where?"
"In the showers." He said, casually buttoning up his shirt.
"Oh."
"It's easier to concentrate in there than in the dorm room."
"Right, yes of course."
He tightened his tie. "I will probably need a few more minutes here Granger."
I jumped up off the couch, "yes of course, I will see you tomorrow. At the exam." I added in a rush. He grabbed my hand as I flurried around looking for my bag.
"Hermione," He said with a serious tone in his voice, "Thank you for the study break."
"Yes, well thank you. It certainly helped ease my panicked thoughts." I smiled and leaned down to kiss his cheek before I left the room.
xxx
I wiped away the condensation on the mirror with my hand. I stood with a towel wrapped around my waist in front of the sink and reached for my toothbrush. I paused and leaned closer to the mirror. There, right on my clavicle was a decently sized red mark that could have only been made with teeth biting my skin and someone's mouth sucking ever so gently against it. I smirked devilishly and pulled away. I brushed my teeth thinking of all the ways that I was going to tease Granger about this from now until eternity.
I put his toothbrush away and slipped on my pyjama trousers before walking back into the bedroom, the love bite right out in the open for everyone to see.
Theo Nott was the one who noticed first, he did a double take before sitting back down on his bed "Shit Draco."
Blaise discarded his tie and looked over at me, "Well, looks like someone had some fun tonight." He said sitting down to take off his socks
"Who's the witch?" Nott asked.
"Someone I've been seeing." I replied, not planning on providing anymore detail. I folded back the covers on my bed and laid down, elbow behind my head propping it up on my pillow. I reached for my book on the shelf next to my bed.
"Same one as from the library?" Blaise asked. I turned and glared at him with a non verbal warning to shut-the-fuck-up. Blaise shrugged and pulled on his pyjama shirt.
"Library? What? Draco, have you been shagging someone in the library? I've got to go there more often." Nott said.
I scoffed at him, "Like you even know where it is Nott."
"Hey I resent that! I am fourth in potions!" Theo said indignantly.
"So you are withholding her identity for a reason then?" Blaise probed, settling down in his bed.
"Why do you lot need to know?" I countered.
"Well how else do we know not to try anything with her?" Theo asked.
"Trust me, you won't." I turned the page of my book, I should probably stop talking now.
"Alright mate, keep your secrets." Theo sighed and turned off the light in the dorm.
I could feel Blaise thinking and I knew I would need to be more careful if I wanted to keep Granger a secret. I fell back against my pillow and discarded my book. Which is what I want right? Yes of course, why would I want everyone to find out about her? Did I really want to be able to take her to Hogsmeade? Hold her hand in the hallway? Kiss her outside of class? Be mocked for dating a Muggle-born? Have the news get back to my parents and the entire Pureblood society? No. Definitely not.
I sighed and rolled on to my side to fall asleep. What the hell had I started.
xxx
Ah, okay so I think I will have one more chapter on their 5th year. It will be a big one. I am moving cities next Sunday, from Toronto to Vancouver so I might not be able to update for a couple weeks. Please let me know what you think of the story so far.