Hogwarts era, no Voldemort AU
Jealous, angry boi Draco corners Hermione in the library...
"What have we here?"
Hermione grit her teeth at the familiar drawl. "Not now, Malfoy."
As usual, she was dutifully ignored as the annoying blond swiped her book out of her hands. She snapped her gaze up to meet Draco Malfoy's smirking face as he dangled her book before her.
"Give that back!" Hermione demanded.
The infuriating prat laughed. "Sitting alone and reading about advanced alchemic theory on a weekend, Granger? How very sad. Not that I expected anything else from Hogwarts' number one swot."
"I happen to be studying for my potions NEWT, Malfoy! Now kindly give that back and bugger off!" Hermione growled, standing up to make a grab for the book.
Malfoy, being quite a bit taller than she, easily held it out of reach. "NEWTS are four months away, Granger. You should live a little," the Slytherin taunted. Hermione glared at him, persistently trying to steal her book back to no avail. Malfoy laughed heartily as he continued to yank it away from her.
"Ugh! Honestly Malfoy, are you a second year!? Give. It. Back!" Hermione punctuated each word with a tiny jump as she attempted to reach the book. Finally, her fingers latched onto the cover, and she quickly snatched it from his grip with a triumphant shout.
"You know, you could have just Accio'd it from me. Are you sure you're the Brightest Witch of our Age?" Malfoy mocked, staring down at her teasingly.
Hermione huffed. "As I've said, I don't know who gave me that stupid title. Besides, I managed to get it back without having to use magic, so really, that makes me better by default, don't you think?"
Malfoy whistled. "Brightest witch, indeed! And so humble, too!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I don't want to hear about being humble from you of all people, Malfoy. Now if you'll kindly leave me in peace, I have a bit more studying I have to squeeze in before breakfast."
But of course, Malfoy didn't leave. He quirked a challenging brow at her and said, "You really want to waste the day studying, Granger?" He tsked, taking a step closer. "Now why would you want to do that-"
Suddenly, Hermione was surrounded by the scent of spearmint and green apples as Draco caged her against the table with his arms.
"-when there are so many other things you could be enjoying?"
Hermione gasped as his tongue swiped her ear. "M-Malfoy-" she said breathily, relaxing into his hold. Draco kissed down her jaw, tongue darting out to taste her skin. He nuzzled against her neck and sucked at her pulse point, drawing a heavy sigh from the Gryffindor.
"Malfoy…not here…" Hermione moaned, half-heartedly attempting to push him away.
"Oh come on, Granger," Draco purred against her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "Don't tell me, in all the time you spend in this library, that you've never once thought about what it would be like-" he nibbled on her lobe, "-if someone were to lay you out on one of these tables-" he swept her hair over her shoulder, "-or shove you up against the shelves-" his lips brushed down her neck, "-and pound that pretty little cunt of yours until you forgot your own name?"
Hermione's knees went weak, and she subconsciously tilted her head to expose her neck better.
Draco chuckled. "Thought so," he whispered against her skin.
"B-But," Hermione was embarrassed at how raspy her voice had grown, "we're in public. Someone could see us."
Draco smiled as he kissed her neck. "Granger…it's seven thirty in the morning on a Sunday. I'd bet my entire inheritance that we are the only people in this library right now."
Hermione bit her lip, missing how his eyes darkened at the action. "Madame Pince is here...somewhere."
Draco sighed. "Ah yes, the ruthless old bag of a librarian, how could I forget? Very well then." He withdrew his wand and cast a Notice-Me-Not charm, followed by a Muffliato. "There now. Satisfied, Granger?"
Hermione looked down indecisively, undoubtedly tempted, but hesitant to vandalize the ancient library of Hogwarts. He'd never propositioned her in such a public setting before. They normally restricted their activities to the Head Student's common room. Once and while there might be an empty classroom or a broom closet during nightly rounds, or that one particularly memorable occasion where they utilized the Prefect's bath. This was completely new territory, and Hermione had no idea how to feel about it.
Suddenly, Draco's hand snaked beneath her skirt and started gently rubbing her clit through her knickers.
Hermione whimpered, nearly collapsing against the table.
"Come on, Granger…" he whispered against her ear, "…it's our last year. Let's have some fun before we graduate, yeah?"
The book slipped from her grip and clattered to the floor, forgotten. Draco grinned.
"Good girl," he growled before claiming her mouth. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, moaning as his tongue snaked past her lips.
Gods, why did he always taste so good?
Both their robes were pushed from their shoulders to join the book on the floor. Draco worked to free Hermione's shirt buttons while she slid her hands beneath his Slytherin jumper. He groaned as she raked her fingers across his abs, no doubt leaving scratch marks for him to admire later. He pulled her shirt open, revealing her lacy white bra. Wasting no time, he yanked one of the cups aside and leaned down to take the nipple in his mouth, suckling on the hardened peak until she writhed.
"Draco…" Hermione moaned, his first name slipping out before she could stop herself. He looked up at her and winked, his silver eyes almost tender as he gazed into her own.
Hermione looked away.
Such an expression meant nothing. This meant nothing. People had casual sex all the time. That's all this was. That's all it had ever been since it started last year, prompted by a storm of hormones and tension. This thing between them, whatever it was, didn't mean anything.
Draco pushed her down so she lay flat on the table, and Hermione automatically wrapped her legs around him. They snogged madly as he ground his erection against her aching cunt, making her moan into his mouth.
"Please," she gasped before she could stop herself.
Draco smirked as he slowly, deliberately, repeated the movement, reveling in the whimper she gave. "Please what, Granger?" the Slytherin whispered as he continued to dry hump her at an agonizing pace.
Hermione arched her back and stifled a cry of frustration. "Touch me, Malfoy! Please!"
Draco swiped his tongue across her lips. "Touch you where, Granger? You need to be more specific than that."
Hermione growled, grabbing his hand and pressing it right against her quim. "Here, Malfoy. Touch me right now, or I'll make you fucking regret it."
Draco shuddered above her. "Fuck…you're sexy when you make empty threats."
Hermione was about to show him just how 'empty' her threats were when his fingers slid inside her knickers to caress her throbbing clit.
"Yes," she gasped, tossing her head back. He rubbed her in quick, tight circles, barely giving her a moment to get used to his touch.
"So wet for me, Granger. I've hardly started touching you, and already, your sweet little cunt is practically dripping for me. What a good little muggleborn you are."
Hermione keened at his filthy praise, biting her fingers to stifle her moans.
"No no, Granger," Draco purred, pulling her hand away. He then slid a finger inside her, making her cry out. "I want to hear every single sound that comes out of that pretty mouth of yours." He added a second finger, pumping in and out of her wet heat with practiced ease.
Hermione sometimes hated that he knew her body so well; but what she hated even more was how she knew that her next partner, whoever and whenever that may be, would more than likely fall flat in comparison. She hated that anyone that came after, regardless of experience or feelings, would inevitably be compared to Draco sodding Malfoy.
Pompous, pretentious, haughty, handsome, brilliant, witty, infuriatingly wonderful Draco Malfoy.
Hermione choked when something cold and metallic brushed against her clit. Draco paused, then smirked as he pressed his signet ring firmer against her sensitive button. "Oh god!" she gasped, bucking her hips against his hand. It wasn't the first time Draco had used his ring on her like this, but she still couldn't believe how bloody good the thing felt on her clit.
"Harder, Malfoy…more!" Hermione demanded. Draco licked his lips as he obliged her, his breathing noticeably heavier. The Gryffindor's lustful cries engulfed them as the Malfoy signet ring, the precious piece worn by every head Malfoy for a millennia of pureblood generations, was used to make the Wizarding World's most famous muggleborn come.
"Malfoy!" Hermione moaned as her orgasm crashed over her, coming hard on Draco's fingers.
"Good girl, Granger," the Slytherin hummed with a self-satisfied grin. He then stuck his soaked fingers into his mouth to lick them clean, making Hermione blush. Draco leaned down to kiss her again, allowing her to taste herself on his tongue. She felt him slide her drenched knickers down her legs – cute striped things with lace and a bow – and he smirked against her lips as he not-so-subtly pocketed them.
In the past year, Hermione's collection of knickers had evolved from simple, single-shade cotton to colorful lace and silks. Not for him, of course. She was eighteen now, legally an adult, so it was only natural that she'd want to upgrade her wardrobe a little. Plus, she had to keep buying new pairs anyway, because he kept stealing them! The prat always waited to swipe them after he'd brought her to a mind-melting orgasm, because she was always too exhausted or distracted to reprimand him.
The familiar sound of a loosening belt drew Hermione from her thoughts, and she gave a shaky exhale upon feeling the head of his cock against her entrance. Draco pressed a hand to her abdomen and muttered a hasty contraceptive charm, then sunk into her with a pleased hiss.
"Fuck, Granger…do you feel what you do to me?"
Hermione moaned as he threw her legs over his shoulders, allowing him to thrust deeply inside her. She gripped the edge of the table with one hand and buried the other in his hair. Draco rocked his hips steadily, the slow pace letting her feel every inch of him as he slid inside her warm, wet cunt.
It was amazing. It was torture. Hermione craved and abhorred it.
Their gazes met unintentionally, his silver eyes wide and soft as he stared down at her, making her heart clench painfully.
Thinking quickly, she yanked him down and kissed him fiercely. "What's the – ah – matter, Malfoy? Too tired to – mm – fuck me properly?" she goaded against his lips.
She hated it when he started out gently. Hermione didn't want gentle. If he was gentle with her, it gave the illusion that he cared, and she knew that just couldn't be true.
She couldn't quite remember who had reached first when this whole affair began – but it didn't matter. He'd never once indicated that their arrangement went deeper than sex, and neither had she. Last year had been stressful for both of them; she with the exhausting rollercoaster that was her relationship with Ron and trying to constantly reassure poor Harry who was always stuck in the middle of their drama, and he with his own numerous shallow reconciliations and explosive fallouts with Pansy Parkinson as well as the mounting pressure of responsibility from his parents.
Their dalliance was primarily grounded in stress relief, along with possibly a bit of petty revenge and teenage rebellion on the side. He used her, she used him. That's all it was.
It didn't matter that she'd not had any sort of non-platonic interaction with anyone else since it began, or that her feelings for Ron had all but fizzled out in the past year.
It didn't matter that she'd also not seen Draco even speak to Pansy lately, when at one point he was impossible to find without the snobby tart hanging all over him.
It didn't matter that their rivalry had changed from venom and malicious arguments to quick, playful banter.
It didn't matter that after their regular after-hour fucks, they sometimes spent the rest of patrol talking easily about anything and everything as though they'd been friends for years.
It didn't matter that she occasionally found herself wishing he lay in bed with her at night, or that she could do something as simple as ask him to walk her to class or accompany her to Hogsmead, like all the other girls did with their boyfriends. Because Draco Malfoy was not her boyfriend, and this thing between them meant nothing.
…If she said it to herself enough…surely she'd eventually believe it.
Draco shuddered above her, brows furrowing until he looked almost pained.
Hermione was not dissuaded by his hesitance. "C'mon Malfoy," she panted, "don't hold back. Fuck me harder. Mm, I want you to pound my pussy with your – AH!" She was cut off when Draco slammed into her, rocking the table with his efforts. Hermione's eyes rolled back in her head, breathy whimpers of "yes, yes, oh Malfoy, gods yes," tearing from her throat as he plowed her mercilessly.
"You naughty girl, begging for my cock like that. Fuck, what would the rest of the school say if they knew swotty Head Girl Hermione Granger likes to have her tight little cunt pounded in the library? Filthy little slut you are, yeah?" Draco growled, gripping her hips with bruising force.
"Oh fuck, yes!" Hermione whined, loving the dirty talk that sailed so easily from his perfect lips.
He chuckled huskily. "That's what I thought. But tell me, Granger… is it only my cock that you're a slut for? Or are there others?"
A fissure of confusion stabbed through the arousal. Hermione blinked rapidly, meeting his crumpled expression. "W-Wha-" she stuttered, but was cut off with a hiss when he started rubbing her clit in torturous, slow circles, contrasting with his punishing thrusts.
"Well, Granger?" Draco panted. "Tell me! Are there other blokes you've been spreading these pretty legs for? Finnegan, for example?" he practically sneered the Irishman's name.
Hermione's mouth opened, stunned. It sounded like…he was calling her a cheap slag! And not in the way she enjoyed.
"What, I – Seamus isn't-" she stammered with utter bafflement, completely unsure where this had come from, or why he was singling out Seamus of all people.
Draco growled and rammed into her particularly hard, making Hermione nearly scream as she threw her head back against the blinding pleasure and hint of pain. "Don't you dare speak another man's name while I fuck you!" the Slytherin hissed.
"I-I don't – I can't-" Hermione's endorphin-addled brain struggled to comprehend the situation, and for a moment, the Gryffindor found she was almost afraid. He'd never done anything like this before.
Seeming to realize she couldn't answer him while having her brains fucked out, Draco slowed his pace, but the angry, desperate gleam in his eyes remained. "Tell me, Hermione! Tell me you didn't fuck that Irish git!"
Hermione's head whirled, both from the rare use of her first name and his wild assumption that she'd had sex with Seamus Finnegan. "I-I've never slept with Seamus! W-We're just – ungh – friends!"
Draco's brow relaxed minutely, but it seemed he still wasn't done.
"But have there been others? Hm? Have you been stringing me along all this time, having a great laugh at my expense?" he demanded through gritted teeth.
Hermione's eyes widened, the words like a bat to her head.
Stringing him along? What did he mean?
He was acting like she – like she'd betrayed him somehow! Or like…he was jealous.
The Gryffindor blinked rapidly at the ceiling, feeling as though she'd slipped into a bizarre dream. But the constant pulse of pleasure between her legs told her otherwise.
"I-I'm not-" Hermione choked, feeling her eyes sting from the emotional whirlwind. The tightening coil in her abdomen signaling an incoming orgasm stole her words, and her back arched as she hovered upon the edge –
"Don't!"
A sudden harsh smack to her arse made her yelp, stealing away her climax. "Don't you dare come yet!" Draco snarled, "Not until you answer me!"
Hermione whimpered with part arousal and part fear. Her lover's expression had twisted into an all-too familiar sneer that she hadn't seen since their fourth year.
"I haven't – with anyone else! Since last year it's – fuck! – it's only been you!" she sobbed out.
His pace faltered. She didn't notice Draco had been biting his lower lip hard enough to draw blood until he released it. "R-Really?" he breathed. Hermione's head spun as she observed the genuine relief in his gaze. He drew in a shaky breath and said, "t-then…it's only me that you want?"
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. Draco's expression fell at her hesitance, and Hermione was shaken by the vulnerability in his eyes.
However, it only took a moment for him to school his expression, and he suddenly started fucking her again with renewed fervor.
Hermione's brain felt like it was going to break. She didn't understand what was happening. Couldn't comprehend his words and actions. Didn't know what he bloody wanted from her. She could only clutch onto his clothes and cry out into the empty library as he fucked her within an inch of her life.
"Do you feel that, Granger?" Draco gasped. "Only I can fuck you like this. Only I know how to make you feel this good. It's me that knows you the best! Not Weasley, not Finnegan, not anybody but me! And you know it. You know it's true, Granger!"
His voice sounded far away to Hermione, her jumbled brain agreeing but failing to form a response.
"Say it's me that you want, Granger. Say you only want me!" Draco demanded, his voice thick with urgency and desperation.
"I-I-" she whimpered, eyes squeezed shut with anguish.
The truth was she did want him…but how could she tell him that? He couldn't possibly feel the same way.
So why was he asking so insistently? Was he doing it just to mess with her? She thought he'd changed from the snobby little bully he'd been as a child. Nothing added up…
Hermione sobbed as she felt her climax approaching again, the coil in her belly so tight it almost hurt. Draco felt it too. Just like he'd claimed, he knew her too well.
"Granger…" His broken voice caused her eyes to open against her will. Draco stared down at her intently, imploringly. "Tell me, Granger. Please."
Please…
The word rattled around in her skull as though he'd shouted it at her.
Draco Malfoy never said please.
Before she knew it, Hermione felt her mouth opening.
No, don't…
But her brain was no longer in control. Perhaps it never had been, not when it came to him.
"I want you, Draco! I only want you! I've wanted you for so long!" The confession came pouring from her lips, and Hermione was helpless to stop it.
Draco's entire body trembled.
With one last swipe to her oversensitive clit, Hermione screamed as the most intense orgasm of her life swept through her. Draco held her close as she shook, burying his face against her neck as he followed after her.
"Hermione!" he choked, shooting his seed deep inside her.
They lay completely motionless for several moments, panting heavily against the other.
Slowly, the pleasant fog cleared from her brain, and reality set in.
Hermione felt tears pouring from her eyes, the library's ceiling blurred above her.
What…what just happened? What had she done? What had she said?
A heavy, pleased sigh rumbled in her ear right before she felt a pair of lips on her jaw. "Mm…Hermione…"
She tensed so hard that it hurt, and shoved him off her without warning. Draco landed with a harsh, "Oomph!" as she pushed off the table and tried to escape. But her weakened legs protested, causing her to fall with even less grace in a crumpled heap on the floor.
"Granger! Hermione, what-" His hand grasped her arm, but she harshly flinched away.
"No!" Hermione sniffled, shoulders shaking with repressed sobs. "Don't – don't touch me."
"H-Hermione…" Draco whimpered, pained and confused.
She hurriedly buttoned her shirt and wrapped her robe tightly around her, not bothering to put it on properly.
She didn't know what to do. She was lost. She felt hurt and humiliated. How could he take advantage of her like that?
Hermione tried to summon her anger, tried to convince herself to turn around and scream at him until her throat burned…but the thought of facing him made her stomach twist.
"W-What is wrong with you? That was cruel…" she mumbled, curling in on herself.
"…Hermione," he rasped.
She flinched at his continued use of her name.
"Hermione…fuck, wait a minute, I-" She heard him rake his nails through his hair. "O-Okay, alright, I won't touch you, I swear. B-But at least look at me. Talk to me. Please, Hermione."
There was that word again.
Please.
Twice in one day.
Steeling herself, Hermione slowly made herself turn.
She was unprepared for the look of utter devastation on his face; as though he'd just fully realized what had occurred between them, and that he could very well lose her if he didn't do something. Draco's hands jerked in her direction, but he kept his word and didn't touch her. Instead, he dug his fingers into his legs to try and cease their shaking.
Hermione blinked dumbly. She'd never seen him like this.
"I'm sorry," Draco blurted, making her jaw drop. Draco Malfoy rarely said please…but he apologized even less.
She almost wanted to look out a window to check for flying pigs.
Draco stood up suddenly and began to pace, fingers pulling at his hair. "I didn't want – what I mean to say is – fuck, I never intended for it to go that far! I just – I saw you alone with Finnegan in an empty classroom yesterday, and I got so fucking angry. I wanted to – I had to know how you felt about me before I imploded because not being sure has been killing me!"
Hermione tilted her head, dazed. "M-Malfoy…what are you…why are you acting like this?"
Draco whirled around, sending her a puzzled glance. "Acting – acting like what, Granger?"
The Gryffindor gestured vaguely, as though the answer should be obvious. "Like you…care about me. Like you have – feelings for me."
Draco's expensive leather shoes gave a harsh squeak as his pacing ground to a halt. He studied her silently for several tense moments, mouth gaping like a fish's. Then, slowly, realization seemed to dawn as his expression grew horrified.
"W-Wait-" he choked, stumbling backwards. He grasped the table to steady himself, rubbing his face furiously. "Are you – are you fucking-"
Hermione jumped when he suddenly banged his head down on the table, giving a muffled, "Are you fucking kidding me!?"
Draco sprang back up like a puppet being pulled by its strings, fixing her with an incredulous glance. "You don't know!? You haven't figured it out!?"
Hermione bristled, sick and tired of his fluctuating attitude and mysteries. "Figured what out, Malfoy!? Why don't you just say it instead of giving all these vague hints and expecting me to understand!"
Draco gave a pained groaned, banging his head on the table once more. "Oh you – you – you stupid, barmy, completely daft-"
He collapsed to floor again, turning his hysterical gaze sharply upon her. "I'm fucking in love with you, you stupid bint!"
Hermione's mouth snapped closed with an audible clack.
"No you're not."
Draco's jaw unhinged at her blatant dismissal.
"You, you – you can't be," she stuttered, hands beginning to tremble anew.
The Slytherin barked a manic laugh. "Oh, I can't be, is it!? And what, pray tell, makes you so damn certain of that!?"
Hermione shook her head frantically. "B-Because you – because I – well, it's not like you've ever implied you wanted my company for anything other than sex!"
Draco gawked at her. "We talk all the time! We've even studied together! Without having sex!"
She pursed her lips, seeing his point. "Well yes, but…that doesn't mean you felt something for me! I mean, you've never said or done anything to imply-"
"I sent you bloody roses on your birthday!" Draco exclaimed, interrupting her.
Hermione snapped her gaze to his. "That was you!? I-I thought Ron had sent them as some attempt to – to make amends, or something!"
He reeled back, visibly offended. "You thought Weasley gave them to you!? Did you even confirm that with him!?"
Hermione blushed, averting her gaze. "N-No, I…suppose I just let myself assume." Draco glared at her, the look making her stiffen and reach for her defenses again. "B-But even so, you could have sent a card or something to make it clear!"
"I did," Draco retaliated through clenched teeth.
Hermione blinked, withering a bit more. "Oh, I – I must not have seen it before I threw…them…away…" she admitted, voice getting progressively smaller. She wrapped her arms around her legs, practically feeling Draco's glare on her.
"Alright," she sighed, "I admit, that was my fault. I'm sorry I assumed. But Draco… if you really did – do – feel that way about me, then…why have you never said anything? And why did you keep sleeping with me after that, since I never gave you an answer?"
Draco ran a hand down his face, releasing a weary sigh. "I thought you were undecided. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to push you at first. I…" He trailed off for a moment, biting his lip as he gathered his thoughts. "I thought that maybe you felt the same. I'd sometimes catch you looking at me in class, or think you sounded disappointed every time we had to part for the night after having our fun."
Hermione flushed. She'd never realized how well he was able to read her.
Draco leaned his head against the leg of the table. "I figured that you were conflicted. I know our past together is rather…complicated. And I know your friends don't think well of me, nor do I of them, for that matter."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Well, that's certainly a two-way street, isn't it? I mean, what would your friends think if you started dating a mudblood?"
Draco's eyes snapped up, appalled. "Don't call yourself that!"
Hermione shrugged. "I'm being realistic, Malfoy. You can't tell me you haven't been having similar thoughts. You've never once approached me in public, after all. Honestly, what was I supposed to think?"
His eyes narrowed. "I asked you to Hogsmead two weeks ago."
She blinked.
"You were…serious about that?"
Draco gave her a deadpan stare. "Yes, Granger."
Hermione shrunk. "I… I thought you were joking. Sorry."
The back of his head met the table leg with a thump. "Fuck. And all this time, I thought I was being obvious. Either I'm absolute shite at communicating, or I've gone and fallen for the densest witch in England."
A beat of silence passed between them. Hermione found herself looking back on many of their past interactions with new eyes, wondering just how much she'd missed.
Or…maybe how much she'd blatantly disregarded.
"Why were you so certain I couldn't have feelings for you?" Draco asked tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Her brows furrowed. "B-Because… you're Draco Malfoy. Heir of one of the oldest, most powerful pureblood families. And I'm Hermione Granger…Britain's most gossiped about muggleborn. Why would you ever have feelings for someone like me?"
Draco stared at her in horror. "Granger," he choked, "if I still cared about shite like that, I wouldn't have ever slept with you in the first place." He scraped a hand through his tousled white-blond hair. "You really – is that how you see me? You think that I – that I see you as-" A sort of pained whine tore from his throat, making Hermione's heart clench.
Abruptly, he shot to his feet. "I think…I've misread the situation. I won't…I'll not bother you again. Forgive me." He turned to go, but not before she caught the utter desolation in his eyes.
He was hurt. She had hurt him.
Panicking, Hermione stumbled to her feet and shouted, "I was scared!"
Draco stopped, but didn't turn.
Swallowing, she soldiered on, knowing that if she let him go, he'd walk out of her life for good. "I…I admit that I'm not good at reading…signals. Especially when it comes to f-flirting and things."
He snorted.
"But," she continued, taking a deep breath, "I wasn't…totally oblivious. I knew, in some instances, that something…there was something more." Hermione toed the floor nervously. "But I was afraid. When I first realized that I felt…things about you…I was so certain that I would get my heart broken. I didn't want to get my hopes up, so I…every time you did or said something that could have been interpreted as more, I denied it. I thought up any excuse I could to explain it as something else."
Her gaze dropped, lip trembling as she tried to force out the rest of what she wanted to say.
There were things she hadn't ever told anyone…secrets and insecurities she kept buried deep down less they break through and scratch at her conscious. But she didn't want to lose him.
"I-In case you haven't noticed, Malfoy…" Hermione tried to keep her voice steady, "…I don't have very much confidence in myself. Not academically o-or mentally speaking, but…on a personal level. I'm socially awkward, and have never made friends easily. I've never been all that pretty or fun to be around."
She laughed feebly. "I'm the mum of the group. The one that tells everyone else to do their homework, get up for class, and not talk with their mouths full. I always annoy everyone around me, whether I intend to or not." She sniffed, swiping a hand across her nose. "S-So when I said that I couldn't imagine you having feelings for someone like me, it had less to do with my views about you and more of my views about…me. And I'm sorry I implied otherwise."
Slowly, she dared to raise her head. Draco was eyeing at her softly, brows drawn with indignance. "For the record, Granger," he murmured, "I think your friends are daft for not appreciating you better. I think you're bloody gorgeous, and the way you passionately spout facts about virtually anything turns me on like you wouldn't believe." He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "But most of all…I think I'm a great prat, because I'm pretty sure that I'm responsible for planting a lot of those ridiculous ideas in your head."
Hermione swallowed, but couldn't deny it. The fact was, most of the insecurities she harbored formed in her first two years at Hogwarts, when he relentlessly bullied her and her friends.
"It's alright, Draco. I know you're not that little boy anymore." She gave him a crooked half-smile. "If I didn't, I never would have slept with you in the first place."
Draco tentatively returned her smile.
But the moment was stolen when Hermione glanced at the table they'd just made violent love on. "So then… when you said I was stringing you along…" she prompted in a small voice.
Draco clenched his jaw. "I-I'm sorry…I should never have accused you, I just – fuck." He started pacing again. "When I saw you alone with Finnegan yesterday, I saw red. Since I thought you were aware of my feelings, I wondered if…if maybe you'd been playing me this whole time. That you'd been sleeping with other people in the same way you've been sleeping with me, and you were just letting me hang onto false hope that we could be more."
Hermione shook her head. "Seamus wanted to talk to me in private because he wanted advice on how to woo Lavender Brown."
Draco blinked, squinting in confusion. "Brown?"
She nodded. "Yes. I was her roommate for six years, you know."
He crossed his arms. "Why didn't he ask that Patil girl? Those two are always attached at the hip."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Because he knew if he asked Parvati, the news that he fancies Lavender would be all over school by Monday morning."
"Ah…right," Draco acquiesced, looking sheepish.
The Gryffindor chewed her lip, rubbing her arm self-consciously. "So you thought that you'd…what, use sex to – to force it out of me?"
He flinched. "No! No, that's – that's not what I-"
Hermione shot him a dubious glance, and he stopped.
Eyes filling with shame, Draco slid down a nearby shelf and buried his face in his hands. "That wasn't my original intention, I swear. I was going to – well, I'd planned on fucking you, and then asking you afterward. I thought you'd be more…receptive to my questions after a few orgasms."
Hermione blinked, knowing she should be angry, but the tactic was so very Slytherin, and she couldn't even bring herself to be surprised. "So what…was that about, then?"
Draco winced, shaking his head. "I…when I started fucking you, all I could think about was how beautiful you were…but then, I wondered how many others had seen you that way, thought that about you. Then you begged me to fuck you harder, and I-I thought about whether you'd begged someone else the same way before. Suddenly, I was so bloody furious and jealous, and I…I couldn't stop myself."
Draco looked up at her, silver eyes glossy and wide. "I am so fucking sorry, Hermione. I should never have used you like that. Even – even if my stupid assumptions had been right, it was beyond wrong to treat you that way. I'm sorry."
Slowly, Hermione stepped towards the bookshelf, lowering herself to sit next to him. "From your perspective, I can't say I don't get why you did it. But…" She looked down, hugging her knees. "It hurt, Draco. I had no idea why you were saying those things or acting that way. I won't lie, it…it scared me a little."
Draco hung his head, mouth pursing in shame.
"But," she continued, "if we had just communicated a little better, it wouldn't have happened at all, so…we're both at fault here." She gently cupped his face, turning him to look at her. "I forgive you, Draco. Next time…let's talk to each other, instead of just making assumptions and waiting for the other person to make a move. Because-" Hermione licked her lips, giving a small smile. "Because I love you Draco, and I want to stop running and actually try to make this work between us."
Draco's eyes lit up with childlike glee. "Really?" he breathed.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, even though I know it will be difficult. I mean, there's our friends, and our reputations, and not to mention your parents-" she stared rambling with growing trepidation.
Draco calmed her with a confident smirk. "I'm nearly an adult, Granger. Then I'll be officially recognized as the head of the family. My parents don't have as much control over me as they like to think."
Hermione breathed out a laugh. "I don't think I'll ever understand pureblood culture."
He blinked at her words, as if remembering something. "Speaking of pureblood culture-" He reached for his school bag and dug around in it for a moment, producing a black jewelry case.
Hermione's mouth opened in trepidation, but whatever she was going to say died on a choke as he popped it open.
Inside lay a gorgeous silver necklace inlaid with sapphires – her birthstone. She didn't have to be a jeweler to tell they were genuine, nor that it probably cost more than a year's worth of her allowance.
"Draco," she breathed, "t-that's – it's beautiful, but it's too much, I couldn't possibly accept-"
"Granger," he interrupted with an amused smirk. "In pureblood society, jewelry is traditionally given as a courting gift."
Hermione blinked rapidly, mouth hanging open.
Draco's teasing expression fell, turning critical. "I want to prove that I'm serious about this, Granger. I'm not asking you to be my dirty little secret, or my shag on the side. I'm asking you to be my girlfriend. Malfoys always get the best of everything – and I couldn't imagine a more fitting woman to stand by me than you."
Hermione wasn't so certain she was still breathing.
Draco chuckled, having successfully shocked Hermione Granger speechless, a feat not achievable by many. "What do you say, Granger? Want to officially be mine?"
With a shaky exhalation, she nodded fiercely.
Smiling softly, Draco removed the necklace and extended towards her, then paused. "I-I know you told me not to touch you, but…"
Hermione blinked, having completely forgot she'd yelled that at him earlier. Moving her hair to the side, she gestured invitingly towards her neck. Grinning, Draco carefully fastened the necklace in place, where it sat beautifully on her collarbone. Rather than pull away, he trailed his fingers gently up her neck and cupped her cheek.
"Hermione," he breathed, leaning in, "can I-"
The words had barely left his mouth before she crashed her lips to his in a kiss more tender and fulfilling than any that preceded it. Draco moaned softly when she pushed her tongue in his mouth, and fisted her curls as he pulled her as close as possible.
When they parted for breath, he traced the necklace lovingly with one hand and cupped her neck with the other.
"Mine," Draco sighed softly. Hermione smiled, kissing him chastely.
"Mine," she murmured against his lips. He shuddered and pulled her into his chest.
In the silence of the library, the odd pair sat in contentment, having at last climbed the barriers that separated them.
"Breakfast will be starting soon. Should we get going?" Hermione mumbled after a while.
"Sod breakfast. I got up at the bloody crack of dawn to catch you in here. Let's stay…for a bit longer, at least," Draco replied, cheek pressed against the top of her head as he stroked her curls.
Hermione smiled, snuggling deeper into his chest. "Alright."
I know the whole angry/possessive/jealous sex trope is hot in fiction, but in reality, it's a pretty toxic and harmful situation. I wanted to write it, but I didn't want to portray it in a positive light, thus the ending. I may indeed be writing fiction, but I really don't like to paint such scenarios as okay regardless.