The Great Hall has never looked better. Nope. Not even at the Yule Ball. Magical garlands fell from the enchanted ceiling and featured a display of red, green, blue and yellow. Showing unity in diversity. A symbol of the new era. The fallen dark forces. The victory of the boy-who-lived-so-many-times-to-even-count and the proof that, as cliché as it may sound, the quote "together we stand" certainly speaks for itself.
A zillion candles highlighted the faces of the many wizards and witches attending the 10-year anniversary from the Battle of Hogwarts.
And she has never looked better. Dressed in gold and silver. She was a shimmering mirage. Her soft curls gentle touching her collarbone and rounded shoulders, her silky dress wrapping her curves in a sexy yet fancy way. She smirked. She knew she looked stunning. But for what? Or for who? Deep down Hermione Granger knew it was odd in her to put so much effort in her appearance.
She has made a name of her own. Besides being the awarded Heroine of the Wizarding World, the most intelligent witch of her generation and the so fucking called Golden Girl, she had climbed the winding professional elevators of the Ministry of Magic by herself. No last names. No rubbing Harry Potter´s friendship on people´s faces. Just her. And lots of hard hard work.
Intelligent. Beautiful. Perfect. Happy?
What was missing? Was something even missing? Why did she feel like something didn´t click?
Hermione shook her head. This was no time for having one of her existentialist crisis.
She approached to one of the tables, grabbed a glass of champagne and took a look. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves. Harry and Ginny dancing on the dance floor. Well, Ginny was dancing and Harry was having some kind of spams. Ron and Lavender holding hands on a dark corner trying to rekindle ashes from younger and more naïve versions of themselves. Past selves without war scars. Without scars of any type.
Even the Slys were having fun. Pansy and Theodore were laughing at Blaise remarks of the party…
And that was the moment when she saw him. Among his old schoolmates. Black suit. Black tie. Black shirt. With that scornful smile of him. And that hint of silver in his eyes the second he laid his eyes on her.
Draco Malfoy stood still. And stared at her. There was something hypnotic in his eyes. In his body. In the way his index finger touched the glass of champagne and his ring made a tinkling sound each time he moved his hand to take a sip. In his broad shoulders, and the wrinkles caused in the fabric of his ridiculously expensive suit each time his muscles contracted.
Hermione forced herself to look away. What the hell was going on? She needed to go out. To breathe. To escape from the intoxicating sensation that had aroused from seeing him.
So, she rushed herself to one of the corridors and found herself out. She took a deep breath. The cold air filled her lungs.
-"There it is. Breathe. It´s just Malfoy."- she muttered. She has seen him plenty of times. At work, Malfoy always casually took the same elevator. She really hated the way he glared at her and remain in absolute silent. That bastard!
They had even met at Flourish and Botts. Malfoy was an avid reader, as Hermione had seen from the selection of books he had carried with him that day. And every other time she had encountered him there.
Now, that she was thinking about this, she could remember seeing him even at her favorite Café in Muggle London. So, if she had seen him in a plentiful of moments, what was different this time? She couldn´t pick this apart. But she knew the Great Hall has something to do with it. The second she saw him standing there…. beautiful, perfect, unattainable. A portrait of ethereal bliss. He looked as if he had been part of a dream. Or a memory.
-Fuck!- Hermione said aloud. She has had her fair share of overthinking.
-Guess your blood is not the only filthy thing you have Granger. -said a playful Draco Malfoy stepping in.
-Fuck off Malfoy. -she answered visibly angered. - Or I´ll make sure everybody knows your big change is just bullshit.
-Oh! Come on Granger! I was just messing around with you. – he took a step closer to her- you know first-handed that I don´t give a fuck about that shit, love.
-First of all, the "love" thing doesn´t work on me. Save that for the poor girls at the ministry who have a thing for the way you over- pronounce the vocals in that word. -she rolled her eyes- and second… first-handed? What do you mean? - she opened her eyes wide.
-Just….- he stumbled upon his own words.- Nevermind.- he forced a smile.- Why don´t you tell me what brought you here? Shouldn´t you be inside with Weasel and the boy-who-can-t-dance? – he pulled out a cigar case from one of his pockets and put one cigarette between his pink lips. – Want one? – he said extending the silver cigar case to her.
-I,,, don´t,,, smoke. -Hermione said doubtfully.
-You sure about that?
-I am, indeed. -she said firmly. - But… one wouldn´t hurt nobody. -and as if someone has taken over her body, Hermione grabbed one and lit it with her wand, shortly after releasing the smoke through her lips, in a somehow rehearsed move. – Taking up bad muggle habits?
-Oh, if you only knew how many more muggle things I have taken. – he said while getting two steps closer to her. -You´d be surprised.
His eyes sparkled. And roamed around her face to stop for a while in her lips. Draco lifted his arm in a soft movement. He twitched one of her curls between two of his fingers while the back of his hand brushed the bare skin of her shoulder.
Gosh. She was so soft. And warm. Exquisite.
Hermione sighed.
-W-hat…are…you…doing? – she babbled, shuddering underneath his soft touch.
-Don´t you like it, love? - Malfoy whispered. - Do you want me to stop? - he teased her and got even closer to Hermione. Now, she could feel the warmth of his body poisoning her senses. His signature scent of spearmint clouding her mind. And his touch…. for Merlin´s sake! His long fingers were a promise of lust and generated all sort of dangerous and all-consuming thoughts. – Tell me to stop. And I will little girl. – he said sliding his thumb along her collarbone, going all the way up to her neck. His silver ring caressed Hermione´s vape and made her trembled.
-"Malfoy…."-she said in a whisper. Her chest expanded rhythmically, synchronized with each of Draco´s movements. His fingertips triggered Hermione´s anxiety. Her ribcage got tied with heavy strings. She couldn´t breathe. She couldn´t think. She has become a living paradox. On one side, she was completely numb. But on the other side, all of her senses have been awakened.
-"How dare you?"-the question escaped Malfoy´s lips angrily.-"Wearing this …"- his eyes traced the golden dress.- "Making me wonder what´s underneath…"- he whispered in Hermione´s ear, shortly after his hand had begun to play with the rim of dress. – "Making it impossible to stay away from you…."- he twisted the golden fabric, hiking it up slowly, swiping his fingertips up Hermione´s thigh. – "I´d kill to rip this fucking dress off you, Hermione."
-"Mal..foy…"- she moaned quietly.
-"Tst,tst,tst"- he shook his head in disapproval.- "Say my name"- he ordered.- "Say it so I am aware of how aroused you are right now."- his breath mixing with Hermione´s.- "Say it so I know how wet you are…"- two of his fingers moved to her inner thigh leaving a burning trail behind.- or maybe I can see it for myself…
-"Dra…"- Hermione arched her back. She was overflowing with desire. She just needed more. A little bit more.
-"Draco?"
Hermione and Malfoy bounced back as if they´ve been repelled by an electric pulse.
Fuck.
Fuck.
FUCK.
Theodore Nott stared at both of them with a mixed of disbelief and contempt.
Malfoy turned to his side and faced Nott. He was clearly infuriated. His eyes had gotten dark. In an attempt of holding back his anger, his hands had been turned into fists, and his knuckles were getting white for the extreme pressure.
If looks could kill, Theodore Nott would be dead. So dead.
-"What are you up to mate?" -Theodore Nott asked faking a smile. Draco didn´t answer. – "Oh Granger! I haven´t seen you there girl! Having a pleasant evening?"
-Yes, Theodore. – Hermione answered in bewilderment.
-"You´d better do something about that dress of yours."
-"Excuse me.?"
-"Guess Madame Malkins had gotten a little bit weary"- he said pointing out the creases on her right side.- "Don´t you think?"
-"I….I´d better go inside."- she mumbled.-"Theodore"- he answered with a little nod.- "Malfoy".- she looked at him defiantly and pulled her dress down, unconsciously grazing the portion of skin that Malfoy has touched.
Hermione walked away with her head held high.
Shortly after, her heels were silenced by the sound of the wooden door closing behind her.
-"What the hell it´s going on Draco?" – Theo asked visibly angry.
-"Nothing." – Malfoy answered while lighting a smoke.
-"Though I would absolutely love to believe you and keep on drinking the horrendous and tacky firewhisky McGonagall selected for this reunion as nothing had happened..." -he stopped and drank the remaining liquid from his glass.- "I can´t unseen this".
Draco looked at him. His eyes shone.
-"It is not your goddamn business."
-"Leave her alone."
-"I did." -he said firmly. "I do." – he exhaled the smoke of his cigarette through his thin lips. – But I won´t anymore.
-"You promised…"
-"I FUCKING KNOW IT! – Draco shouted in a harrowing voice. –" I am tired…."- he said calmly.- I want this. She wants this…
-"Don´t flatter yourself." – Theo said harshly. – "Let´s go inside. Maybe we can get you back to your senses with a huge amount of that tacky firewhisky. What is it with Gryffindors and cheap booze? One might think they…"
Draco followed Nott. He shook his head and took a big breath before entering the Great Hall once again.
There was no amount of firewhisky. Friend. Person. Or creature. That could keep him away from her.
Draco Malfoy has made up his mind.
He was going to get what he wanted.
Her.
Hermione Granger.
Hi everyone!
This is my first fic in English. I admit it´s been quite challenging but exciting at the same time.
Can´t wait to do some more writing!
More is yet to come...
I´d love to read your comments on the first chapter. =)
All the best!
Anne Rose Malfoy