June 27th, 2003
The late afternoon sun flooded the living room, warming every inch of her skin as her ankles rested on the armrest of the sofa and her eyes drifted closed.
The quiet was lovely, casting a peaceful spell over the house.
She suspected this was short lived; as soon her house would be full of self-important, self-righteous, cocky wizards. All of which she just happened to care about deeply.
An hour passed, maybe two, as Hermione dozed. The sun had dropped low, along with the temperature, when she finally pulled herself from her reclined position.
She stretched the sleep from her limbs and walked lazily across the room, drinking in the landscape under the setting sun. Beyond the porch, just near the cliff, was her small, unruly little garden. It'd been neglected in the frenzy of the last few days and she winced as she took in the wilting goosegrass and overgrown weeds.
Tomorrow, she reasoned. After all, tomorrow, there would be three cranky wizards roaming her house and maybe some time with the earth would be what she would need.
The creaking of the upstairs floorboards and the running of water in the bathroom drew her attention back into the house. Her heart fluttered and her lips folded in suppression of a smile as her thoughts drifted back to her night with Malfoy; what they'd shared before...
He'd promised to return. And he'd kept his word.
The reminiscing flutter turned heated desire. She turned from the window, determination in her steps towards the stairs. She set her jaw and squared her shoulders with every step, an attempt to banish any lingering insecurity from her system.
Once outside the bathroom door, though, her heart stuttered to a sudden stop before resuming with renewed fervor. Truly, it felt like the organ was trying desperately to burst from its confines with the way it thrashed around her chest.
With a sobering, steadying breath, she eased the door open, steam billowing out into the hall.
Through the frosted shower door she could see Malfoy running his hands through his hair under the warm water before turning his face to the jets and craning his neck from side to side. A curtain of steam and spray wrapped around him, and she all at once felt far too hot.
Without another thought, she lifted her worn t-shirt from her body, her curls fanning around her shoulders. The socks were discarded next, followed by her denims. She gave a final, disparaging look down at herself, but she banished any thoughts of self-loathing before they could take root.
Draco wanted her: that much was evident, and for every moment she wasted doubting it, she wasted it outside his touch.
With that final motivation, she peeled the simple undergarments from her thin frame and grabbed the threadbare towel hanging on the back of the door, wrapping it around herself. Just in case...
With her pointer finger, she tapped the glass a few times, reveling in the small yelp it elicited from Draco. He pulled the glass back and Hermione's gaze found a single drop of water as it flowed from a chunk of hair on his forehead, tracing down his cheek... then his neck, and further south.
"Granger?" he asked, breaking her reverie. His eyes fixated on the fraying towel wrapped around her and he swallowed thickly.
Her hands trembled, but her voice was clear: "Is there room for me?"
Draco's gaze darkened and she watched as his Adam's apple bobbed slowly in his throat. "Always."
Tilting her chin one more time, she lifted her hand away from the closure of the towel and took a deep breath.
She was now standing naked in front of Draco Malfoy, and it wasn't a nightmare from her childhood. No, she'd somehow willingly walked into the situation.
Draco's lips pulled up slightly and his tongue wet his lips as his eyes roamed her bare frame. He leaned down, hovering his mouth over hers for a moment before closing the gap and pressing his lips to hers. His tongue wasted no time in darting out to trace the curve of her lower lip and when she gasped, he chased her tongue.
His arm wrapped around her waist and led her under the warm cascade of the shower and Hermione, in every way, melted.
With a deft little spin she found quite clever given their slippery location, Draco pressed her gently against the hideous mint tile and Hermione shivered at the coolness of it. Her back arched involuntarily, pressing her breasts into him; her lips curling in a smile as she felt his erection growing and straining against her belly.
His hands cradled her face for a tender moment before his long fingers descended and wrapped around the base of her neck, turning her so their kiss could deepen.
Water pelted them as they kissed and kissed, her curls beginning to stick to the sides of her face all the while… Until his touch drifted to her hairline and gently pushed them away.
Feeling a rush of courage, Hermione dropped a hand, taking him in her palm. He released a strangled little noise and his hands flew to either side of her head, resting on the tile and caging her in his embrace as she gave a tentative pump.
"Fuck, Granger," he mumbled, dropping his forehead onto hers and thrusting into her hand.
Her eyes opened, wide and curious, and she studied the serious lines of his face as she slid down the thick ridge of his member. She was an inquisitive person by nature, and each time she stroked him, she added something new. She twisted her wrist on the way up, rotating her wrist on the way down. Her thumb slid over the red slit at the tip and he gasped in a way that made her beam.
But what was most satisfying was when she slid her hand all the way to the base and a few of her fingers cupped his testicles and he groaned, and pumping himself into her hand once more.
Hermione would have been happy to continue her observations but Draco swatted her hand away and pressed himself into her fully for a moment before sliding his hands over her soaked curves, tracing the swell of her breast and the dimples on her hips. His fingers dug into the flesh of her arse and pulled her mound against him. There was another clever little maneuvering with his hips, and then he was there between her folds. Not inside her, but skimming her entrance, rocking and teasing her throbbing clit.
Desire coiled deep in her belly, burning in a way she hadn't known possible. Every molecule in her body seemed on the verge of explosion and she couldn't talk, couldn't think. She just needed him… needed more.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she yanked him closer, crushing her mouth against hers, biting the fullness of his lower lip before plunging her tongue into his mouth. He responded quickly, answering her fevered kiss with one of his own, before hitching her knee up and poising himself carefully against her centre, just barely entering her as he drew back and stared down at her.
Her hands rested on his shoulders as she tried in vain to drive down into him, careful not to lose her footing as she did so. Draco's jaw fell slightly open and a tightness spread over his features as he sheathed himself quickly inside her.
Hermione permitted a pleasured cry as her nails cut into his skin and she tried to bring him impossibly closer. There was a slight ache deep in the walls of her sex but he stayed there a moment, not moving and she felt the pressure ease; it was nothing like the first time.
At an almost torturous pace, he slid from her sex and pressed slowly into her again, prolonging the pleasure with each movement.
After a few more languid probes, Hermione found herself getting frustrated; she nearly growled.
Draco smirked while watching her and dropped his lips to her ear, the new angle rebounding water up into her face, deepening her annoyance. "Something wrong, Granger?" he purred into her ear.
"Yes," she clipped, her hands drifting from his shoulders and down the exquisite lines of his torso where they landed firmly on the cuts at his hips. "I need more of this," she said, trying to move him faster against her.
She felt his chest rumble with a quiet laugh. "I will happily oblige, love. Just wanted to make sure you're comfortable—"
Hermione rolled her eyes as she bucked into him. "Yes, yes. I'm quite comf—"
The words died on her tongue as Draco dropped her leg and turned her in one fluid movement. Hermione's brows pulled together as he rearranged them; pulling her hips back into him so she was slightly bent at the waist and her hands were resting on the tile where her shoulders had just been.
"Dra—unghhh." Her scold morphed into a moan as he drove into her, his hands gripping the junction of her hip firmly as he set a punishing pace.
Yes, the first night had been quite pleasant… but this? Merlin… But this…. This was everything.
The walls of her sex tightened around him and she felt an uncomfortable pressure building between her legs. The water continued to rain over them relentlessly and with each smack of her arse against his hips, she let out a pleasured moan.
His hand slid from her hip to her breast, rolling a slippery nipple between his fingers and groping her breast for good measure before sliding down her torso and finding that little screaming nub between her legs. He continued thrusting into her as the pad of his finger rubbed again and again over her; within moments she felt a furious intensity spread up her spine before shooting through the rest of her limbs and her jaw fell open with a silent wail.
Her body relaxed and his hand fell away from the apex of her thighs. She straightened slightly and peeked over her shoulder, curious as to the happenings behind her. A renewed heat spread over her as she watched Draco staring at the spot where he drove into her, his teeth cutting into his lip as he focused.
She let out a small gasp at the sight and his eyes found hers. "Fuck, Granger," he moaned, and the hand that had been paying dutiful attention to her slid up her back and tangled in her curls as he grunted his release into her.
The moment quieted and he withdrew, spinning her once again so her back was against the tile and he peppered kisses anywhere he could reach: across her cheeks and down her neck, then a hundred more on her bee-stung lips.
"That was a wonderful surprise." Draco grinned, bumping his nose into hers.
A pregnant moment settled over the pair and she let out a broken little breath as she pushed the wet fringe from his forehead. "Did I mention that I'm very happy you're okay?"
A wry smirk screwed up his handsome features and he placed a quick kiss on her lips. "I'm a tough fucker to kill, love. Don't you worry about that."
They quickly cleaned and stepped from the shower. Hermione wrapped the same towel from before around herself and Draco planted kisses along her freckled shoulders yet again.
She giggled and squirmed, throwing an elbow behind her as she snuck from the bathroom. Draco responded with a groan as he wrapped a towel around himself and collected his clothes from the wet floor.
With a hurried jog to her bedroom, she discarded her towel and threw on a little yellow sundress she'd always loved and tied her dripping hair up in a knot at the top of her head, foregoing drying the mess until later. After a quick appraisal in the mirror that was happily free of self-scrutiny, Hermione padded quickly down the stairs, eager to appease the rumble of her stomach.
As she descended, she froze mid-step. Draco's bottom half was sticking out from the fridge, still precariously dressed in only a towel that hung loosely from his lips. He popped up and studied her as he took his time unscrewing the top of the orange juice before tipping it directly into his mouth; his eyes unwavering and unblinking all the while.
With a small pop her jaw fell open; not only at his barbaric, and frankly hedonistic behaviour, but also as her eyes betrayed her and gaped at the long, lean muscles that disappeared into his towel. She blinked a few times at the trail of curly platinum hair that sprouted just under his belly button before coming to her senses. "You are disgusting. Did you know that? That is communal orange juice."
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and returned the jug, smiling wickedly at her.
"Granger…" he purred, taking a predatory step towards her. "I like the dress."
"Draco," Hermione warned in a low voice, taking a cautious step back and her eyes darted the room for her escape route. She decided to make a run for the backdoor, but his reflexes were quick. Too quick.
He caught her around the waist and wrapped her in a playful embrace as he nestled his face into her neck and rubbed the scruff of his jaw over her sensitive skin. Her head tilted back in laughter as he turned her and lifted her effortlessly, depositing her rear end on the counter, settling between her thighs.
"Stop that!" She pushed his shoulder playfully, attempting to wedge him out, but that was a lost cause as her body automatically reacted as his hands traced up her thighs and his lips found her collarbone.
"Sure you want me to stop?" he murmured, voice low. The towel dropped, and was now a forgotten puddle at his feet as he slid her bottom closer to the edge of the counter.
Her hands wound around his neck even as something niggled at the back of her mind… She swore there was something she had been meant to tell him when he woke from his nap... And she from hers for that matter. But it was still a fuzzy, forgotten mystery as his fingers now toyed with the edge of her knickers...
"Fucking seriously?" A disgusted outcry shattered the moment, starting a chain reaction of yanking, tugging, swearing, and twisting as both Hermione and Draco righted themselves before facing the back door to find Harry and Ron standing there.
A shameful flush flooded Hermione's face and her eyes fluttered closed in sheer mortification. "Fucking hell. Is this really happening?"
When she dared to open her eyes again, he'd slipped behind that Malfoy mask of smug arrogance, child held high. But he remained close enough still to catch the faintest dusting of pink staining his cheeks, and she almost chuckled. Almost.
"Hello, boys. I— I wasn't expecting you so soon..." Her voice raised several, uncomfortable, octaves and her lips pulled back in a grimace as she focused on door frame over Ron and Harry's heads to avoid eye contact at all costs.
"Right. Shower run long then?" Harry asked with obvious faux interest.
Her still wet hair and Draco's towel had betrayed them and she flushed scarlet as she made the connection.
Draco snorted, Harry groaned, while Ron growled, and Hermione attempted a withering glare across the kitchen to salvage some measure of dignity. "I suppose it did," she managed. "Anyways, I'm sorry for that. I was just about to make something for dinner if everyone is feeling hungry..." She let the invitation hang in the air while her eyes finally sought Ron's blue gaze...
Ron's face morphed into a queasy sneer as his eyes darted across the kitchen. "Hope you'll wipe down the counters first," he quipped darkly.
Hermione forced all thoughts of a retort to wither and die on her tongue. She refused to rise to the occasion. She absolutely refused to cause a bigger rift between Ron and herself— his feelings were valid and she needed to respect them. "Lucky for me, a quick Scourgify is always at my fingertips." She smiled tightly, hoping to dispel some of the awkward. "Is there anything particular anyone wants? I can make a quick run to town for some groceries."
"For once in my life, I've lost my appetite." Ron declared in a bored drawl, leaning on a crutch and wincing as he continued: "Are the sheets in the downstairs bedroom clean?"?"
"I— er, I haven't gotten to that yet. I'm sorry… I'll do that now..." A deep blush spreading from her face and down her neck. "Won't take but a minute; the linen closet is just at the top of the stairs."
"You haven't had a patient in weeks, Mione." Harry's query was innocent enough, in spite of their previous conversation, but she froze all the same, her brain struggling to come up with something...
It didn't matter. Ron beat her to it.
"Oh. Sorry, Harry. I should have been more clear." His voice was cold and sharp, knifing into her back as she moved to the stairs "I walked in on Malfoy fucking Hermione in the downstairs bedroom the other night, so I'd like fresh sheets." He paused and Hermione felt his pain deep in her heart. "That is, if no one minds..."
Hermione's throat tightened, but she didn't turn, didn't acknowledge the shame she felt coursing through her. Instead, she continued her trajected path up the stairs to the linen closet, hearing Draco mutter something about 'pure class' before bounding up the stairs behind her.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yes, yes of course." She managed a nod. "I just need to change the sheets and head up to the store. The boys are staying here until the final battle... whenever that is." And just like that, the peaceful bubble burst into a thousand heavy fractals.. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I was going to but you were resting, I dozed, and then—" She shook her head and Draco wrapped her in a quick but reassuring hug.
"I kept you occupied," he teased. "Let me get dressed and I'll go with you to the store."
Hermione wiped traitorous tears from her cheeks and nodded.
Grabbing her wand, Hermione brought the linens downstairs, casting the proper charms to change the sheets and freshen the room up for Ron.
"Okay. It's ready," she mumbled, shuffling her feet.
"Brilliant." Ron smiled falsely at her, trying his best to storm past her angrily, but his injuries kept him from moving other than a clumsy little step.
A quiet chuckle slipped out of Hermione as she watched her friend try to stomp out of the room and she made her way into the potion cabinet and retrieved a pain potion and dreamless sleep. With a heavy step, she made her way into the downstairs bedroom and found Ron sitting uncomfortably on the edge of the bed.
"I'll leave some food for you on the nightstand if you get hungry later, but you should rest now if you can."
Ron shifted, trying to swing his legs up on the bed, wincing as he did so.
"Here let me." Hermione hurried to assist him and his palms shot up in defense.
"If it's all the same to you— I'd rather you not," Ron managed through a tight jaw.
Hermione's anger flared. She was all for being amenable and sensitive to his hurt feelings, but this was ridiculous. "It's not all the same to me, Ronald. You're here because I'm meant to help you, I'm still your best friend, you know."
Ron's clear blue eyes finally met hers. They were impossibly full of hurt as he shook his head. "I don't know who you are anymore."
His bitter words sliced through her heart, not because they were meant to be nasty, which they certainly were... But mainly because they were true.
It was the reason why she couldn't be the Hermione he fell in love with. It was why she seemed hellbent on breaking his heart, even if it's the last thing she ever wanted to do. She wasn't that person anymore, for as much as she'd tried. How could she expect Ron to know who this new Hermione was when she'd tried to be the old her for so long.
She swallowed the knot of emotions tangling in her throat and blinked away the threatening tears. "I know you don't. But I hope someday you will and that you'll care for that person as much as you did the girl I was before this blasted war. I'm still me, still in here… I'm just different."
Ron's gaze fell to the floor and she watched as a single tear slipped past his fiery lashes. "I'll have Harry help me to bed."
Hermione's fingers trembled as she reached for his shoulder, but when she saw the way he stiffened at her impending touch, she dropped them back to her side. "I'm so sorry, Ron. For...everything. I didn't set out to hurt you… You know that, right?"
He didn't answer… Didn't look up at her again.
Instead, he reached for the Dreamless Sleep and uncorked it with his teeth, swallowing it in a single gulp while ignoring the Pain Potion.
With a tired sigh, she exited the room, finding Harry sitting on the couch, leaning his elbows on his knees. "This is going to suck, isn't it?" He squinted at her from behind his glasses.
"Undoubtedly," she agreed, massaging her temples in hopes of warding off a potential headache. "Ron needs you."
Harry stood, clapping his palm on her shoulder as he passed, and she turned to watch him disappear into the room she was no longer welcomed or wanted in.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this little update! MCal saved it and made it all so much better and I'm forever grateful, my dear! She was my alpha/beta hybrid for this chapter and I could cover her in virtual (or real) kisses.
If you wanna chat on Tumblr under the same penname and I love to share moodboards and other pretty things for my fics and the HP universe!
Until next time!
-LK