Happy leap day everyone! What better way to celebrate than with a chapter fresh off the press? Also, friendly reminder that this is rated Mature to all you younglings out there. I mean libraries are for more than reading right? *wiggles eyebrows dramatically*

The Jersey

Dipping her quill into ink, Hermione could not help the upward tilt of her lips as she jotted a note across a thin sheet of scrap parchment.

'A bit of light reading'

Opening the comically large tome to the section on healing old wounds and scars, she slipped the parchment in so that it would still be visible when closed and shut the book with a satisfying thud.

Smirking to herself, she walked over to the aisle with the stained-glass window that Malfoy had frequently taken residence by and placed the book on the empty space against the window on the lower most shelf.

This had been going on for weeks. Following the notable interaction in the locker room, she had fallen headfirst into her research but refused to take it on alone. As she discovered books and reviewed them, she would leave them in the adjacent spot to Malfoy's spot in the library always paired with a note.

The first was a simple inquiry of 'Thoughts?' and they had evolved from there. Within a day or two she would find a corresponding note cross her path.

Once an animated bird shaped piece of parchment fluttered into the open crease of her arithmancy text during class. Another time she found a piece of carefully folded parchment attached to the inside of her cloak with a sticking charm. Another notable instance involved a sad little soaked piece of parchment at the bottom of her teacup.

His notes were always entertaining in their contrast. They were perfectly written in immaculate proper handwriting but always riddled with lighthearted teasing, profanity, and slang. One of the first was in response to a passage in a book talking about the benefits of adding belladonna leaves for healing. His prompt response simply said, 'That's one way to get rid of aches and pain, fucking death. Nice try witch.'

She would never admit it out loud, but she found herself eagerly awaiting his notes. They always brought a smile to her face and sparked further inquiry into solving the riddle of the experimental potion. Plus, she could always envision his snarky tone and face as she read each message.

Tucking a wild curl behind her ear as she read, she had an idea. She quickly flipped her comically large current potions book to the section outlining the ever complicated wolfsbane potion. Theoretically, it addressed extreme strain on the body so perhaps elements could be adapted for their pain potion.

Excited about her newest discovery, Hermione hurriedly packed her inkwell, quill and parchment and quickly walked toward the back section of the library that Draco tended to haunt. She began to think of clever one liner notes she could use to accompany her discovery.

Sure enough, he was casually leaning against the window while sitting on the ground. With one leg propped up and one long leg extended, he was reading the most recent text Hermione had left him whilst leaning it against his knee. His eyebrow was furrowed in thought while he distractedly ate an apple.

"You really should not eat while in the library." She sniffed expecting to startle him.

"Good morning to you too Granger." He stated without lifting his eyes from the page.

She crossed her arms, holding the large potions book tighter waiting for further acknowledgement. As about a minute passed and her irritation grew, she huffed and stomped up to him.

Standing directly in front of him, she was torn as to what to do. Her temper wanted to close the book or dramatically drop the large book she was holding into his lap for effect but the risks to the books were too great.

With an irritated noise she simply sat down next to him and leaned toward him to see what part of the book had him so enraptured. Right as she was reading the first line of text the book snapped shut suddenly causing Hermione to squeak and jolt simultaneously.

With a chortle and turning his face toward the ever increasingly annoyed brunette, Draco smirked.

"So did you miss me so terribly that you had to find me before breakfast or were you wanting to show me that you have finally found out what the largest book you can physically carry is?" he said with humor as he nodded at the large potions book that covered her entire lower half.

Rolling her eyes, she opened the text to the section of interest. While eagerly pointing out quotes scattered across the pages and energetically explaining the idea, Malfoy's face turned from teasing to intrigued and began chipping in with his own ideas. As they both debated, expanding and constructed these ideas Hermione frantically scribbled notes in a journal splayed across her lap propped up on one corner of the book. Both leaning closer and closer to the text and her notes, Draco sucked in breath as he had an idea.

"What if we temper the potion to be chilled rather than heated like the traditional potion? The original is administered warm to that the effects are immediate, very strong and last a short amount of time. What if we adjust some of the ingredients and then find a way to drop the temperature so that it can act in a preventive way for long periods like a supplement?"

Hermione's eyes widened and a smile burst forward. "You're brilliant! That would help with potential mass production and shelf life also!"

As she excitedly looked up, she realized that in the heated discussion their faces were a mere few inches apart. His hair fell into his face and she could see the variety of greys flecked within his startled eyes. He apparently also did not realize how close they were but rather than pull away he steadily held her gaze.

Without thinking, Hermione reached up and brushed a pale lock of hair away from his eyes. Malfoy closed his eyes in contentment at the touch. While his eyes were still closed, Hermione summoned every scrap of Gryffindor courage she had and leaned forward gently brushing her lips to his. Who would have ever thought the prince of Slytherin would be someone she would share such a sweet and gentle kiss with?

After a moment he reached up lacing his fingers in her curls and deepened the kiss. A small moan of pleasure escaped Hermione's lips and she could not even be bothered by any embarrassment at that moment. Kissing Draco was like heaven and felt perfect. She had kissed boys before, some more skilled than others but it had never been like this. Feeling bold, she gently ran her tongue over the crease of his lips and he immediately deepened the kiss further at her exploration.

Turning further towards one another, the books and notes fell from their laps with a clatter and were then shoved away further as the Gryffindor and Slytherin continued to passionately kiss without a care to their surroundings.

Trying to get even closer to the handsome blonde, Hermione brazenly adjusted herself so that she was now straddling Draco as he leaned against the large window. He growled approvingly and gently ran his hands down her legs as she ran her hands across his chest whilst kissing him with all that she had.

As she leaned back slightly, she felt how much he approved of their new position from her position on his lap and froze. Pulling away from his deliciously apple flavored lips and breathing heavily Hermione tried to think clearly. This was increasingly difficult as Draco had immediately began peppering her jaw and neck with kisses and gentle bites.

"Draco, we have to stop." Hermione said while gently pushing his shoulders back.

"Hmmmm? Why?" Draco said huskily while still trying to kiss his way across her neck.

Scrambling to get some distance, Hermione ungracefully scurried off his lap and began collecting the books and notes to resemble some semblance of order.

"Someone could have seen us!" she angrily whispered while continuing to organize her belongings.

"So?"

Hermione looked up to see Draco with a guarded expression. Putting her hands on her hips while still kneeling she leveled him with a disbelieving look.

"Like you would want to be seen getting hot and heavy in the library with me? Ha." She said with an eyeroll.

His eyes flashed with anger and lust and he responded with a low voice, "Give me a bit more time and I can show you hot and heavy."

Hermione froze not knowing what to do. Could he be serious? She had been plagued by being self-conscious just a few moments ago but now she was just confused.

"Wait. You wouldn't be upset to be seen with me?" she asked with a small voice not able to make eye contact with the painfully attractive blonde.

"For an intelligent witch you can be terribly dense at times." He responded with a chuckle as she tentatively raised her eyes to meet his.

"I have had more than a passing interest in you for quite a while. So, if you were so inclined, I would happily throw you across your favorite study table and make you break Madam Pince's rule about being quiet in the library in a heartbeat."

Hermione's jaw dropped open and her eyes were blinking rapidly in disbelief. Shaking her head making her curls dance wildly, she organized her jumbled thoughts.

Her brain was screaming at her all the ways that Draco Malfoy himself was bad news and trouble. Her heart and body were both eager and intrigued by his admission. She might be considered in terms of her brains but maybe it was time for her brain to take a backseat just this once.

After a moment, she met Draco's gaze from only a few feet away.

"Well… I don't want to get caught."

Draco's eyes widened in surprise at her response and then quickly were filled by a feral passion and an accompanying wolfish smile.

Moving faster than she could even track he rushed and scooped her up in his arms while standing up. Hermione quickly laced her legs and arms about the determined blonde wondering if she had made the right choice.

Soon after he had picked her up, he quickly sat her on the top of the study table in the aisle. Quickly muttering a notice-me-not charm and a silencing charm, they had privacy within the confines of their section of the library.

Leaning over her, Draco's hair fell into his face while he pressed her down across the table. He looked down in her in wonder for a split second before he hungerly attacked her lips.

For as sweet and gentle as their first kiss had been, this kiss was all unbridled passion. Hands wandered, moans slipped from both sets of lips, and both witch and wizard were completely immersed in the other.

Hermione's mind no longer was plagued with concern or fear of making the wrong decision. Not only did everything feel so right in the moment but her mind was a filled with a warm fuzziness and she would not have it any other way.

Emblazoned in the moment, she quickly loosened Draco's tie and began to unbutton his shirt. Once she succeeded, her hands began to wander the tight planes of his chest. A masculine rumble fell from Malfoy's lips at her exploration.

Malfoy began to kiss along her jaw and move further down her body. As he trailed gently kisses and nips across her, he slowly unbuttoned her top with deft fingers. Hermione's body felt as if she was engulfed in fiendfyre at his attentions and could not help but lean her head back with closed eyes in delight.

As his soft lips lightly caressed her lower stomach Hermione could not help the whimper that slipped from her lips.

Groaning at the noise and looking up into Hermione's whiskey eyes, Draco rose and laced both hands into her wild curls and kissed her like she had never been kissed before.

With his body pressed against every inch of her own, Hermione felt the distinct press of his apparently very firm and sizable manhood. Insatiable curiosity, lust of the moment and a hefty dash of Gryffindor bravery had her hands drifting down his body to caress him through the stretched fabric.

Air hissed through his teeth at his sharp inhale at the contact. He leaned his forehead against hers and unabashedly stared into her eyes while she continued to stroke him. While keeping eye contact, his own hands slowly untangled from her curls and drifted down her petite form to grasp the soft curve of her thighs. Running his hands upward, he slipped beneath her uniform skirt and began to ghost his fingers across the front of her underwear. Releasing a shaky breath at the contact she stared into his stormy gaze.

"You alright Granger? Just say the word and I will stop." Draco said seriously while pausing his touch. Hermione narrowed her eyes on the handsome blonde.

"If you stop I will Avada you right here." She growled.

A pleased chuckle fell from his mouth while his eyes danced with mirth at her feistiness. As quickly as his joking tone had appeared it had disappeared being replaced by intensity.

He leaned forward to meet Hermione's mouth at the exact time his fingers slipped beneath her underwear. He swallowed her surprised gasp of pleasure and unbuttoned the front of his pants allowing her full access.

Her hands quickly followed his and were met with his silken length. She gasped as his ministrations increased at her contact and she began to match his pace. Her brain was becoming increasingly static and the warmth in her began to bloom more and more with every stroke.

She leaned her head to rest in the crook of his neck drinking in the smell of apples and the masculine spiciness that is inherently Draco Malfoy. Draco nuzzled into her curls in a similar way.

Pleasured shameless sounds bounced off the impossibly tall shelves of books surrounding the Slytherin and Gryffindor. Soon with a shared sound of surprise and pleasure they both were shaking with their mutual climax.

Breathing heavily, Draco leaned back from her neck and gently cupped her cheek and ghosting a kiss across her lips. Hermione blushed at the realization of what had just transpired but hesitated to pull away from his warm embrace.

Hermione overcome by a sudden shyness quietly mumbled, "Well that was unexpected."

"What was? That you could find pleasure outside of books within your beloved library or that you would do so with me?" Draco smirked at her rapidly reddening face.

"Both definitely both." She chuckled while glancing down. Malfoy gently lifted her face to gaze into her eyes with a flash of concern crossing his handsome features.

"Are you okay Granger?" He asked in a quiet tone while grey eyes scanned her face.

At his question the clock began to chime signaling only a few minutes before the first classes of the day began.

"Shit!" Hermione immediately jumped up frantically redressing and gathering her things in a whirlwind.

She yelled over her shoulder at the frozen blonde while rushing to leave, "This will be our little secret Malfoy!"

As Hermione rushed to the large doors to exit the library, she missed the hurt look that crossed the usually composed aristocratic face of one Draco Malfoy.