AN: Much love to everyone who has read/favorited/followed! Thanks again to KaneWolfe for reviewing :D
This chapter is a little shorter than the previous two, but hopefully the content makes up for it ;) Enjoy!
Changing Scenery
Chapter 7: Seduction
Hermione stared down at Malfoy, shocked. He winked at her. The nerve! She jerked her hand down when she realized she still had it pressed to her lip. She turned her attention away from the window to talk to one of her friends, only to realize that they were still pressed against the glass, exclaiming over Malfoy.
"Do you think he's single?" Parvati asked breathlessly.
"I heard he's dating Daphne Greengrass," Katie said.
"I heard he was dating you, Astoria," Padma said, looking at the shy little blonde.
"I thought he was with Pansy Parkinson?" Astoria replied, blushing.
"Why does it matter?" Hermione muttered angrily.
Ginny, the person standing nearest to her, looked at Hermione in surprise. "Have you looked at him? He's bloody gorgeous. If I weren't dating someone equally handsome I'd snatch him up in an instant."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's Malfoy." Although, he is pretty bloody gorgeous. Her gaze was drawn back to the window, where she could see Malfoy still standing there. He was talking to someone beside him. She hadn't noticed him with anyone before, but her attention had been otherwise occupied. She nearly touched her lip again. It was a figment of your imagination. Nothing more. Absolutely nothing.
As if sensing her gaze, Malfoy looked up. He raised an eyebrow and smirked at her before turning his attention back to his companion.
Hermione huffed out a breath before purposely turning away from the window again.
"Yeah, but it's Malfoy," Ginny said, apparently unwilling to let it drop.
"So?" Hermione went and sat down on the nearest couch. Ginny followed her and sat beside her.
"Well he was a right git in school, it's true. Now?" Ginny licked her lips lasciviously. "He's one of wizarding Britain's most eligible bachelors."
"It's true!" Parvati put in. "He was on the cover of Witch Weekly a couple of months ago."
Ginny leaned over to whisper in Hermione's ear. "If you're not interested in Harry, you should go for Malfoy."
When Hermione stared at her incredulously, Ginny grinned.
"That's ridiculous."
Ginny just kept grinning.
"What's ridiculous?" Katie asked, coming to join their conversation.
"Nothing," Hermione said firmly, glaring at Ginny.
"I was just saying how Hermione and Malfoy would make a great couple," Ginny said, unaffected.
Parvati clapped her hands. "You're right!"
"What?" Hermione exclaimed. "That's ridiculous," she repeated.
"He's handsome, clever, rich, and wicked smart," Angelina said, settling on the opposite couch with Katie and Cho.
"He's quite nice now, too," Astoria added, sitting on the other side of Ginny.
"You would actually make a good match," Katie put in.
Hermione threw her hands up. "What is this? A conspiracy?" I am so not interested in Malfoy. Not even a little bit.
Ginny laughed. "Not hardly," she said, patting Hermione's knee.
"Their threads are intertwined," Luna said, still standing.
"See!" Ginny said triumphantly, pointing at Luna.
Hermione rolled her eyes again. "That's nonsense." Didn't she say that about Harry and Malfoy too?
"No wait! What do you mean, Luna?" Parvati demanded.
"The time isn't yet," Luna said, staring off toward the door.
Parvati gasped. "That means the time is coming!"
"It doesn't mean anything," Hermione stated, crossing her arms.
A knock on the door interrupted whatever retort Parvati was about to make.
Luna went and opened the door, revealing Harry, Neville, Seamus, Dean, George, and Ron and Lavender.
"Boys!" Ginny cried as Luna opened the door wide, letting them all into the room.
Angelina transformed two of the chairs into couches. They all settled again, Harry perched on the arm of the couch Hermione was sitting on and Neville perched on the arm of the other. Seamus ordered several bottles of Firewhisky and greetings were exchanged while everyone waited for them to be delivered. When they arrived Dean poured everyone drinks.
"To old friends!" Dean said, raising his glass.
"To new friends," Cho said, saluting Astoria.
"Cheers!" everyone said, clinking glasses.
After several more shots, the volume had grown louder and everyone had grown rowdier. George was having a loud argument with Dean and Seamus about Irish import laws, Angelina, Katie, and Ginny were having an enthusiastic debate about Quidditch, Cho and Astoria were discussing fundraising for the orphans' home with Neville, Padma, Parvati, and Luna were discussing the various uses of herbs in divination, and Ron and Lavender were snogging in a corner. Hermione turned away from the latter sight, grimacing.
"Bit revolting," Harry commented from his spot beside her.
"They're very…enthusiastic," Hermione replied.
"Dodged a bullet there," Harry said under his breath to her.
Hermione laughed. "You're right about that."
"No regrets, then?"
Hermione shook her head, still smiling. "Not even close."
Harry glanced over at them. "I hear Lavender is pregnant again."
"Oh?" Hermione glanced over at them again. "Doesn't surprise me, I suppose." She hadn't heard, but she avoided hearing gossip about her former boyfriend.
"Their third," Harry said, shaking his head.
"They seem happy," Hermione said, somewhat wistfully. Maybe I should think about dating again. Ginny would be pleased.
Harry looked at her in concern. "You okay?"
Hermione sighed, her lips quirking. "Yeah."
"When was the last time you had a date?" Harry asked.
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "You sound like Ginny."
Harry ran a hand through his hair. "Well, you know, we did date for four years. Something was bound to rub off. But she has a point; it has been a while since you've dated anyone."
"Since when is everyone so interested in my dating life?" Hermione demanded, only half joking.
"Hey! Just a question. Besides, I want you to be happy." Harry smiled earnestly at her.
"I can be happy without dating someone," Hermione said grumpily.
"I know that. But you don't seem happy."
"You've mentioned that." Hermione took a large drink of Firewhisky, grimacing at the burn.
Harry's eyebrows flew up, his eyes flicking between her and the glass. "And my opinion hasn't changed. You deserve to be happy."
He really is sweet. He'd make a good boyfriend. For someone. Not me. Definitely not me. Hermione laughed uncomfortably. "Well I'm not looking to date right now."
"Why not?"
"Uh…" Hermione scrabbled for a reason.
Harry grinned, leaning closer. Hermione couldn't help but notice how green his eyes were. How attractive he'd become. How kissable his lips looked. Fuck.
"I'm seeing someone," Hermione finally spit out.
"You're a terrible liar," Harry said, still grinning.
"I'm too busy?"
"Try again."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine. There's just no one I'm interested in."
Harry cocked his head. "You're still a terrible liar."
Hermione blushed and took another drink of Firewhisky, avoiding responding.
"Who is it?"
You. Malfoy. No! Hermione coughed. "Nobody. I told you, I'm not looking to date right now."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "You would make a terrible criminal."
Hermione huffed out a breath. "Forget it, Harry."
Harry leaned back. "Maybe I'll just sic Ginny on you."
Hermione glared at him. "You wouldn't."
Harry looked at her, the picture of innocence. "I would."
"You are evil, Harry Potter."
There was another knock on the door, the sound almost lost underneath the noise. Apparently Ginny had been expecting it, because she rushed to open the door.
"Blaise! You're here!" Ginny threw her arms around one of the people standing in the doorway, who Hermione could now see was Blaise, though she barely recognized him from school. The other person with him was still in shadow, but Hermione knew it was Malfoy. She wasn't sure how, but she absolutely knew it was him. When they both stepped into the room, she could see she'd been right.
Bloody hell! Why is he here?
Ginny stepped back, but Blaise left an arm around her shoulders as they walked into the room.
"Everyone, this is my boyfriend, Blaise," Ginny announced proudly, everyone's attention turning towards them.
Hermione blinked in surprise. That wasn't who Hermione had been expecting when Ginny had told her she was seeing someone, but Ginny looked very happy and pleased. Parvati and Lavender cheered while everyone else offered congratulations of varying degrees of inebriation.
As people settled back into their conversations, Hermione was uncomfortably aware that Malfoy was staring. He was subtle about it and she never actually saw him staring. Every time she glanced over, he was deep in conversation with Blaise and Neville. Still, she could feel his eyes on her.
"If you keep looking over your shoulder at Malfoy, you're going to get a crick in your neck," Harry told her, clearly amused.
"He's staring at me," she said defensively, crossing her legs.
His eyes darted down to her legs, which were mostly bared by the short dress. "If you say so," Harry said, his lips quirking.
"I do," Hermione retorted, feeling oddly pleased. Why am I pleased about Harry ogling my legs?
"Well if you want to get out of his sight, do you want to go dance?" Harry said, rubbing one hand through his hair and holding the other out to her.
Hermione stared at it and all she could think of were Ginny's words about liking him. Sure he's attractive, but I just think of him like a brother. He's offering to dance with me like a brother. That's all.
She took his hand. "Sure, that sounds nice."
He grinned. "Great.
He stood and then helped her up. She felt two pairs of eyes on her as she smoothed her dress down.
Luna spotted them as they were walking to the door. "Going to dance?"
"Er, yes," Harry said, looking mildly embarrassed.
But Luna only said, "Have fun," before drifting off to join Cho and Katie's conversation.
Harry shrugged at her, smiling slightly, before leading her out the door and downstairs.
Hermione let Harry lead her onto the dance floor. She'd danced with Harry before, of course – at Bill and Fleur's wedding, in the tent that time while on the run, at various Ministry functions since the war ended – but never like this.
It was after eleven and the dance floor was crowded. They wormed their way into the center. The darkness interrupted by colored lights, the deep throb of the bass, the witch lights that flashed into existence and then out again just as quickly, and the fog that seemed to twist around their feet with a life of its own made it seem as though they'd entered a different world. A world where maybe it was okay to be attracted to her best friend.
Harry pulled her in close, his hands on her waist. Without thinking she slid her arms onto his shoulders and then around his neck. Although she'd never thought him clumsy, it quickly became clear that he was a very good dancer. He moved his hips against her, encouraging her to loosen up. She let her tension drift away and quickly forgot that they were surrounded people. He stared into her eyes and she found she couldn't look away. He ground his hips into her and she was less surprised than she expected when she realized that he was hard against her.
Her fingers tangled in his hair and he pulled her even closer, his hands slipping down to her hips. She was mesmerized by the way the lights illuminated his eyes, the play of color on his face, and the way his skin glowed with a light sheen of sweat. It was hot, surrounded by the press of bodies, but Hermione was fairly certain that that wasn't the reason her skin was flushed. She bit her lip and decided not to question it too much.
She wasn't sure how long they'd been dancing or how many songs had played. They all seemed to blend into each other, Harry's hands the only constant.
She jerked when she felt another pair of hands slide onto her waist. Lips brushed her ear.
"Mind if I join?" the voice whispered.
Malfoy? Hermione stared up at Harry, but he was looking behind her with an eyebrow raised.
She tried to turn her head but those lips brushed against her ear again.
"Just enjoy the music, Granger," he said. She wasn't sure how he made her last name sound so intimate.
She shivered, which only served to cause Malfoy to move closer to her. Harry finally looked down at her and then gave a small shrug and smiled at her. He's okay with sharing me…with Malfoy? I'm okay being shared? Why does this feel so good? She pushed the confusing questions out of her mind.
They found a rhythm and Hermione quickly lost her bearings again. The fog and the lights and the feel of two bodies pressed against her was intoxicating in a way that had nothing to do with alcohol. Her head fell back against Malfoy's – Draco's – shoulder. If he's grinding against me, I might as well think of him by his first name. He took the opportunity to nip at her collarbone, causing her to gasp. One of his hands left her waist and then suddenly Harry and Draco were pressed against her as close as they could get.
Hermione opened her eyes and looked at Harry. He was staring at her with what could only be lust filling his eyes.
"He wants you," Draco said in that maddeningly soft voice that was like a caress against her skin. He must know what it does to people. To me.
Hermione shook her head as much as she could considering his temple was resting against hers.
"No, he doesn't," she whispered back.
"If you're so sure, ask him," Draco taunted.
That seemed like a bad idea, but her head was fuzzy and it seemed like the night to consider impossible things, so she leaned forward, pressing her chest to Harry's.
"Do you…want me?" she asked, voice trembling.
When he didn't immediately respond, she flushed bright red. Of course he doesn't. Draco's just getting in your head. And why do I want him to want me? He's like a brother! A really, really attractive brother. To whom I'm not related. A really good friend! Who's…no!
She tried to pull away, but Draco held her there, pressed between them.
"You want her, don't you, Potter?" Draco said in that silky voice, just loud enough for all three of them to hear.
After another moment of hesitation, Harry let out a shaky breath. "Yes," he said, squeezing Hermione's hip.
"Then you should have her," Draco said in a voice like Firewhisky. "She wants you, too."
Harry stared hard at her. "Do you, Hermione?" And his voice wasn't shaky anymore.
"I…I…" She couldn't seem to string together a coherent thought. I do. Merlin, I want you. Both of you.
"Maybe she needs some convincing, Potter," Draco said lowly, grinding his hips against her, causing her to grind into Harry.
Harry grinned at her in a way that wasn't entirely reassuring before his lips descended on hers. If her thoughts were scattered before, now they were blown away by the heat of Harry's mouth and the surge of lust that rose up, almost choking in its intensity. Her eyes closed, unable to stay open with the onslaught of feeling.
Her fingers tightened on his hair and he groaned. His tongue started tracing her lower lip and she parted her lips, letting it slip inside. Even as their tongues tangled and she pressed herself up against his chest, standing on tiptoe, she was aware of the heat of Draco against her back. Both his hands were back on her waist and he was gripping tightly. She whimpered into the kiss when she realized that Draco was also hard against her.
Harry tilted his head and deepened the kiss. Hermione gave in and let Harry have control since he seemed to be doing a fantastic job so far. She vaguely wondered how he'd become so bloody brilliant at snogging but the thought drifted away as soon as it materialized. She moaned when one of hands slid into her hair and tightened, angling her head.
After what could have been an eternity or thirty seconds, Harry drew back slowly, leaving her lips tingling. She was breathless and Harry didn't seem to be much better. A drop of sweat had gathered at his temple, his cheeks were flushed, and his eyes glittered.
"I've wanted to do that for ages," he murmured after a moment, voice low and husky.
"Have you?" Hermione asked unsteadily. She wasn't sure any part of her was steady right now.
"Merlin, Hermione, you have no idea."
He leaned in and kissed her again, harder, hotter. She was pressed back into Draco, whose hands were still tight on her waist. Her head fit underneath his chin and he didn't seem at all bothered that she and Harry were snogging against him.
When Harry drew away this time, he was breathing harshly and his fingers were flexing sporadically on her hips. They'd almost completely given up on dancing except for the grinding of their hips. It was Draco who urged them back into movement, using his grip on Hermione to have her sliding her hips against both of them.
She felt Draco's breath against her temple again.
"Do you believe me now?" he drawled.
Hermione couldn't quite get her breath to respond.
"I bet he wants to take you to bed right now. Probably would if we weren't in public. Maybe he wants it so much he'll pull you into a dark corner and take you against one of these walls with only a privacy charm. Do you want that Potter? To have her here, against a wall?" He hadn't raised his voice at all to address Harry and Hermione realized that Harry had heard everything Draco had said.
Hermione flushed dark red, although she wasn't sure why she was blushing now. Still, the reminder that they were in public, and that Ginny had probably been watching everything from above effectively shook her out of the daze she'd been in since they'd stepped onto the dance floor. What on earth am I doing?
She jerked out of their hold. Harry released her in surprise, but she had the feeling that Draco had let her go.
She stared at both of them for a moment, breathing heavily, before turning and pushing her way out of the crowd. She walked quickly down the hall past the line of people waiting to get inside, and then nearly tumbled outside. She took a deep breath of the cold air and then Apparated away.
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