CHAPTER 4~ When Enemies Can Become Lovers
Classes started the next morning right after breakfast. Hermione purposely avoided Harry and Ron. She could not believe that with everything that had happened the previous year that both of them would turn their backs on everything and turn to the Dark Lord.
The first class of the day was Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherin followed by double Charms with Ravenclaw then advanced double Potions, which only consisted of the few people in each House that actually did well enough on their O.W.L.s, and last was History of Magic with Hufflepuff.
Hermione waited for Draco outside of the Great Hall so they could walk to Care of Magical Creatures together.
Hagrid was awaiting their arrival by the hut. He looked much better than he had the previous year. Hermione guessed that it was because his little brother, Grawp, had finally cooled down a bit. She saw Hagrid throw her a wary glance, but pretended not to notice as the rest of the class settled down to hear what Hagrid had to say.
"All righ', today we will be learnin' abou' dragons." Many "oohs" and "ahhs" were heard, but many of the students backed away looking frightened.
Hermione looked up at Draco, who had opened his mouth to say some snide remark, but she quickly jabbed her elbow into his ribs. "Ow! What'd you do that for?" he hissed at her grabbing his side.
"Don't you dare say anything mean or degrading this year. I mean it, Malfoy."
"Oh, so back to Malfoy now are we Granger?"
She rolled her eyes as Hagrid continued. "O' course we ain't gunna have the chance t' work with real dragons, but I thought tha' learnin' a little summat about 'em could be interesin'. Now I want ye all t' split up in ter groups o' two or three n I want ye all t' try n label as many parts as ye can by the nex' lesson."
Hermione worked with Draco. They both knew a little about dragons, so by combining their information they were able to get pretty far on their charts before the bell rang signaling the end of class.
"Oh yeah," Hagrid called as an after thought. "I also want an essay along with the charts." Everybody groaned. "It don't hafta be too long," he added quickly. "I jus' really want the basics."
The class walked away scowling. He watched them go with a disappointed look on his face. He thought they'd be excited about getting to work with dragons, but it seemed as if most of them were nowhere near remotely happy.
Hermione, however, was very keen on writing her essay. Dragons had always been her favorite creatures. She knew a lot about them due to extensive research over the years. Even before she started at Hogwarts she loved to hear tales of dragons.
"Can you believe this?" Draco said incredulously. "That great oaf hasn't given us a day of homework since he started teaching here! And now, all of a sudden, we've got to complete an anatomy chart and an essay all due by our next class! This is fucking ridiculous!"
She glared at him. "You had better watch your mouth, Malfoy. Hagrid is a great man. Anyway, with a name like Draco how could you possibly be complaining about an assignment focused around dragons?"
"For your information, I am not complaining about the contents of the assignment, Granger," he replied matter-of-factly. "I know plenty about dragons. I am simply stating that I dislike having to do an assignment for a class as pointless as this one."
"You are very stubborn, you know that?"
He smirked a little. "Of course I do."
They finally reached the staircase where they would be departing. Hermione would go to Charms while Draco went to Transfigurations. They kissed quickly then headed in separate directions.
Hermione didn't mind the occasional pointless arguments with Draco, even though she would never admit that to him. What would a relationship be if the two people involved agreed on everything anyway? She thought it would be one of the most boring things in the world.
She took a seat in the back of the Charms classroom and watched as the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors filed in chatting happily.
"Have a good time with your boyfriend?" asked a cold voice from behind her.
She turned her head the slightest bit to stare at her ex-boyfriend and her ex-best friend. A sarcastic smile made its way to her thin lips as she said, "Why yes actually. Thanks for asking. You know before this summer I never realized how incredibly sweet he really is. I am so glad I got to spend the summer at his place instead of with the two of you. Just thinking about him brings a smile to my face. I could never say the same when I was with you, of course."
They sat on either side of her as they used to. Only this time it wasn't because they were friends, it was because they wanted her to get mad and lose her temper. And perhaps get information for Voldemort in the process.
"So Granger and Malfoy it is now?" Harry said with a look of feigned surprise. "What is the world coming to when enemies can become lovers?"
"Well, I think it would be a great world if that happened. If it were only true for Draco and I. You see, we're not lovers yet. Truthfully, we haven't done anything like that, and I don't even know if I'm in love with him. Do I love him? The answer is simple, yes. But to be in love with someone is so much more, and our relationship is nowhere near that level yet. So to say we're lovers would be incorrect."
She smiled sweetly at them as tiny Professor Flitwick took his place on the large stack of books in front of the class.
The two boys glared at her. Leave it to Hermione Granger to make someone speechless. She always knew the right thing to say.
On the right side of her, Harry was staring longingly out the window. To the left, Ron was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment. Hermione, however was paying close attention to Flitwick and was copying notes on the new charm they would be learning.
Ron's hand moved swiftly across the desktop and he dropped a sheet of parchment on her notebook.
~Tell me, Granger, what does Malfoy have that I don't? What is it exactly that makes him so special?~
Hermione dipped her quill and wrote back:
~He is perfect. He's sweet, he cares about me, he makes me feel safe, he's willing to protect me and defy his father for me. He's also got the nicest eyes and hottest body I have ever seen. What doesn't he have? The Dark Mark. By the way, you, like me, are a prefect, so you shouldn't be passing notes in class.~
She slid the parchment back to Ron and went back to taking notes on the origin of the charm. Although she was desperately trying to pay attention, her mind was elsewhere- mainly Draco and why Ron was so interested with her relationship with him.
Ron passed the piece of parchment back to her. She rolled her eyes and read:
~What if I were to tell you that I was in love with you and the whole Pansy thing was just a fling to please My Lord?~
Hermione re-read the parchment a few times before answering.
~Fuck off, Weasley! I hate you! I love Draco! I will never feel anything for you but total hatred. I don't give a damn who the hell you're trying to impress! The fact is I would've broken up with you even if you hadn't been cheating on me. Anything I felt for you was already dwindling. We wouldn't have lasted much longer.~
She passed the note furiously across the desk to Ron then pulled from her robes one of the pills perfected by the Weasley twins. She swallowed the pill and immediately felt very sick. She raised her hand.
"Yes, Ms Granger?" Professor Flitwick squeaked.
"Professor, I'm not feeling too well. Can I visit Madame Pomfrey?"
"Yes, of course. I'll write you a pass."
He handed her a piece of paper then sent her off. Once she was in the hallway, she took the antidote from her robes and swallowed it then looked at the pass in her hand. And idea suddenly popped into her mind. She pulled out her wand and tapped the sheet of paper in her hand, muttering a useful incantation under her breath. The piece of parchment soon read:
~Please excuse Draco Malfoy from class. Professor Flitwick would like a word with him.~
She smirked at her handiwork and headed toward Professor McGonagall's classroom, where Draco was in Transfigurations. She knocked on the door softly. When McGonagall opened the door, Hermione handed her the note.
"Do you know what this is about?" McGonagall asked in her stern voice.
"No. Professor Flitwick just sent me down here and told me to deliver this to you," Hermione lied convincingly.
"All right then." She walked over to Draco's desk and told him to go with Hermione to Flitwick's classroom. He quickly gathered his things and headed out into the corridor.
"So what does Flitwick want with me?" he asked as he slipped his arm around Hermione's waist.
"Nothing. That was my note to visit Madame Pomfrey. I just did some rearranging, and I came up with an excuse to get you out of class so I could have some company."
Draco looked at her worriedly. "Why did you have a note to go to Pomfrey?"
Hermione giggled. She explained about what happened between her and Ron and how she used one of Fred and George's fever pills and that she took the antidote once she was outside of the class.
"Oh. So where are we going then, if not to class?" he asked as the descended a flight of stairs.
"I was thinking that maybe we could just sit out in the Quidditch pitch for a while so we don't have to be around anyone else. That is, if you want to."
He smiled. "Sure. I was looking for an excuse to get out of class to be with you anyway. McGonagall was boring me to death. Or maybe that was Pansy. You know for that matter it could've been Crabbe and Goyle. Whatever, you get the point."
She laughed a little. "Want some of those pills? They work wonders."
"Are you sure they're safe. I mean they were created by Weasleys." He looked at her questioningly.
"I saw Fred and George testing them with my own eyes, and I saw them paying first years to test them. I trust them, so yes, they are safe."
They made their way out of the castle and across the grounds to the Quidditch field. The sun was shining brightly. Fluffy white clouds drifted across the bright blue sky above them.
"Yes, Hermione, you may trust them, but I don't. How do I know they didn't poison them to kill any Slytherin that eats them?"
"If they did, I'll just have to kill them. They really are a good excuse to get out of classes though. Last year I scolded them for making these things, but I'm just about ready to praise the ground they walk on."
Draco was hesitant. "Well if you say they're all right, then I guess I'll give them a try."
Hermione smiled and handed him a few of the pills. "Remember not to take the antidote until after you get out of the room and don't use them everyday. The teachers will get suspicious."
"You know, Hermione, I could've figured that out myself. I'm not as dumb as you look."
"That's right, you're-HEY! I resent that!"
"A little slow on the uptake there, Granger?" He smirked as she punched his arm jokingly.
"I'll get you back for that one, Malfoy."
"Oh yeah. How?"
"I don't know, but why don't we do something productive while I think?" She moved closer to him and pulled him in for a deep kiss. For most of the remainder of the day, they made out of the grass under the warm sun.
~
The first few weeks of school went by fairly quickly. On the third Saturday of the month, the nineteenth, it was Hermione's birthday. Draco said that he thought of something special for her and he wanted her to meet her in the Astronomy Tower at eight o'clock that night. She naturally agreed and said that she couldn't wait to be there.
She spent most of the day waiting in anticipation for that night. Her mind was running in circles. She needed someone to talk to, but she felt that the only person she had was Draco. Instead of trying to find someone to talk to, she stayed secluded in her dorm until 7:30. It didn't take her long to reach the Astronomy Tower. Her feet moved quickly because of all her built up energy and excitement.
When she arrived, Draco was already there. He had totally transformed the tower. There were balloons, red and gold, adorning the candlelit room. There was a blanket in the middle of the floor that was surrounded by pillows, and a basket and a small wrapped package in the corner.
As she was examining the room, Draco snuck up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist. "Happy birthday," he whispered as he began kissing her neck.
"You did this all for me?" she breathed, her voice barely audible.
"No, the tooth fairy did," he replied sarcastically.
She laughed a little. "It's quite beautiful." She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Not nearly as beautiful as you." She blushed a little as he brushed his lips against hers. She pressed her lips to his more forcefully, but he pulled away.
"Not yet. You have to open your presents first."
"You shouldn't have gotten me anything, Draco. I really don't need anything but you."
He just smiled as he handed her the small box. "Just open it."
Hermione delicately tore the paper. Inside was a small black box. She looked at him quizzically as she lifted the lid to find a silver necklace. The pendant on it was a dagger with a snake wrapped around it. The snake's eyes were made of fade, as well as the jewels on the handle. Hermione's eyes lit up as she examined the delicate necklace. It was beautiful.
"I thought you'd like it," Draco said with a smile playing on his lips.
"It's absolutely splendid. It must have cost you a fortune." She lifted her eyes to meet his. He just shrugged as it to say it was nothing.
Draco took the necklace out of the box and clasped it around Hermione's neck. It really did look good on her. It suited her look very nicely. After kissing her briefly, he retrieved the basket from the corner and handed it to her.
She tentatively lifted the lid to reveal a small black cat with red eyes. It was curled in a ball and appeared to be sleeping. Her hand trembled as she stroked its soft fur.
"Draco, you didn't-"
"I wanted to. His name's Merlin. That's what the lady at the shop called him anyway. He likes attention and being played with. I thought he'd be perfect for you."
Hermione gently lifted the tiny animal from its basket and cradled it in her arms as she sat amongst the pillows. Her hand was still stroking its back delicately as not to wake it. "He's so adorable. When did you find time to go out and buy him?"
Draco put his arm around her and whispered, "Potthead's not the only person in the school with an invisibility cloak, you know. I also have some secrets. I just know how to keep them better."
She laughed a little. "Draco, I want to thank you for doing this for me. It's the first time in years that anyone has remembered my birthday. This is all so wonderful. It means so much to me."
"We are hardly close to being finished," he said with a sly grin.
"Is that so? What else does the almighty Draco Malfoy have in store for me?"
Draco lifted the tiny kitten into his arms and carefully placed it back in the basket. He then crawled in front of her and kissed her while pushing her back onto the pillows. Her hands went instinctively around his neck and wound their way into his soft hair. His hands found their way under her shirt and over the smooth skin of her stomach until they reached her breasts. He massaged them through the thin material of her bra earning moans of pleasure.
He lifted her shirt over her head. Hermione used it as her opportunity to pull off Draco's shirt as well since their lips were already parted. Draco crushed his lips against hers once his shirt was off.
His hands went behind her back to unclasp her bra. He could feel the scars on her back, but instead of pulling away, he kissed her harder.
They kicked off their shoes. Hermione pushed Draco's pants down his strong legs along with his boxers as he worked on unbuttoning her pants. They slid easily off her legs, so the only thing left separating them was her panties. She moaned as he slid them down slightly. He knew how badly she wanted him. Her hands covered his and helped him push them down her legs.
He positioned himself over her and looked down into her cinnamon eyes. They were so big, so beautiful. He could get lost in them forever.
She tilted her head up a little to once again capture his lips in hers. He eased into her slowly. She writhed beneath him trying to adjust to his size.
When she wrapped her legs around him, he figured she was ready. He pulled out of her and thrust back in. Over and over he repeated the motion, getting gradually faster. Her hips moved in rhythm with his. Their bodies became one.
Hermione's breathing was shallow and uneven. Her lips were parted slightly. She moaned in pleasure. "Oh Draco!" she screamed out.
Draco loved hearing his name roll off her tongue, especially when she was in pure bliss. "Hermione, I'm coming," he groaned.
"Don't stop," she breathed out. "Please don't stop."
With a few final thrusts, he released himself into her. Hermione gasped at this new feeling. It was like nothing she had ever felt before.
Draco collapsed onto her chest. She ran her hands over his sweaty back. They were both trying to catch their breath. He held her close to him. He wanted the night to last forever. Both felt that if the world were to end at that moment they would die the happiest people in the world.
For hours, they stayed in each other's arms, feeling all the protection they needed.
At about midnight they decided to dress and head back down to their common rooms. With a simple "finite incantatum!" Draco cleared away all the pillows, blankets, and balloons.
Classes started the next morning right after breakfast. Hermione purposely avoided Harry and Ron. She could not believe that with everything that had happened the previous year that both of them would turn their backs on everything and turn to the Dark Lord.
The first class of the day was Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherin followed by double Charms with Ravenclaw then advanced double Potions, which only consisted of the few people in each House that actually did well enough on their O.W.L.s, and last was History of Magic with Hufflepuff.
Hermione waited for Draco outside of the Great Hall so they could walk to Care of Magical Creatures together.
Hagrid was awaiting their arrival by the hut. He looked much better than he had the previous year. Hermione guessed that it was because his little brother, Grawp, had finally cooled down a bit. She saw Hagrid throw her a wary glance, but pretended not to notice as the rest of the class settled down to hear what Hagrid had to say.
"All righ', today we will be learnin' abou' dragons." Many "oohs" and "ahhs" were heard, but many of the students backed away looking frightened.
Hermione looked up at Draco, who had opened his mouth to say some snide remark, but she quickly jabbed her elbow into his ribs. "Ow! What'd you do that for?" he hissed at her grabbing his side.
"Don't you dare say anything mean or degrading this year. I mean it, Malfoy."
"Oh, so back to Malfoy now are we Granger?"
She rolled her eyes as Hagrid continued. "O' course we ain't gunna have the chance t' work with real dragons, but I thought tha' learnin' a little summat about 'em could be interesin'. Now I want ye all t' split up in ter groups o' two or three n I want ye all t' try n label as many parts as ye can by the nex' lesson."
Hermione worked with Draco. They both knew a little about dragons, so by combining their information they were able to get pretty far on their charts before the bell rang signaling the end of class.
"Oh yeah," Hagrid called as an after thought. "I also want an essay along with the charts." Everybody groaned. "It don't hafta be too long," he added quickly. "I jus' really want the basics."
The class walked away scowling. He watched them go with a disappointed look on his face. He thought they'd be excited about getting to work with dragons, but it seemed as if most of them were nowhere near remotely happy.
Hermione, however, was very keen on writing her essay. Dragons had always been her favorite creatures. She knew a lot about them due to extensive research over the years. Even before she started at Hogwarts she loved to hear tales of dragons.
"Can you believe this?" Draco said incredulously. "That great oaf hasn't given us a day of homework since he started teaching here! And now, all of a sudden, we've got to complete an anatomy chart and an essay all due by our next class! This is fucking ridiculous!"
She glared at him. "You had better watch your mouth, Malfoy. Hagrid is a great man. Anyway, with a name like Draco how could you possibly be complaining about an assignment focused around dragons?"
"For your information, I am not complaining about the contents of the assignment, Granger," he replied matter-of-factly. "I know plenty about dragons. I am simply stating that I dislike having to do an assignment for a class as pointless as this one."
"You are very stubborn, you know that?"
He smirked a little. "Of course I do."
They finally reached the staircase where they would be departing. Hermione would go to Charms while Draco went to Transfigurations. They kissed quickly then headed in separate directions.
Hermione didn't mind the occasional pointless arguments with Draco, even though she would never admit that to him. What would a relationship be if the two people involved agreed on everything anyway? She thought it would be one of the most boring things in the world.
She took a seat in the back of the Charms classroom and watched as the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors filed in chatting happily.
"Have a good time with your boyfriend?" asked a cold voice from behind her.
She turned her head the slightest bit to stare at her ex-boyfriend and her ex-best friend. A sarcastic smile made its way to her thin lips as she said, "Why yes actually. Thanks for asking. You know before this summer I never realized how incredibly sweet he really is. I am so glad I got to spend the summer at his place instead of with the two of you. Just thinking about him brings a smile to my face. I could never say the same when I was with you, of course."
They sat on either side of her as they used to. Only this time it wasn't because they were friends, it was because they wanted her to get mad and lose her temper. And perhaps get information for Voldemort in the process.
"So Granger and Malfoy it is now?" Harry said with a look of feigned surprise. "What is the world coming to when enemies can become lovers?"
"Well, I think it would be a great world if that happened. If it were only true for Draco and I. You see, we're not lovers yet. Truthfully, we haven't done anything like that, and I don't even know if I'm in love with him. Do I love him? The answer is simple, yes. But to be in love with someone is so much more, and our relationship is nowhere near that level yet. So to say we're lovers would be incorrect."
She smiled sweetly at them as tiny Professor Flitwick took his place on the large stack of books in front of the class.
The two boys glared at her. Leave it to Hermione Granger to make someone speechless. She always knew the right thing to say.
On the right side of her, Harry was staring longingly out the window. To the left, Ron was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment. Hermione, however was paying close attention to Flitwick and was copying notes on the new charm they would be learning.
Ron's hand moved swiftly across the desktop and he dropped a sheet of parchment on her notebook.
~Tell me, Granger, what does Malfoy have that I don't? What is it exactly that makes him so special?~
Hermione dipped her quill and wrote back:
~He is perfect. He's sweet, he cares about me, he makes me feel safe, he's willing to protect me and defy his father for me. He's also got the nicest eyes and hottest body I have ever seen. What doesn't he have? The Dark Mark. By the way, you, like me, are a prefect, so you shouldn't be passing notes in class.~
She slid the parchment back to Ron and went back to taking notes on the origin of the charm. Although she was desperately trying to pay attention, her mind was elsewhere- mainly Draco and why Ron was so interested with her relationship with him.
Ron passed the piece of parchment back to her. She rolled her eyes and read:
~What if I were to tell you that I was in love with you and the whole Pansy thing was just a fling to please My Lord?~
Hermione re-read the parchment a few times before answering.
~Fuck off, Weasley! I hate you! I love Draco! I will never feel anything for you but total hatred. I don't give a damn who the hell you're trying to impress! The fact is I would've broken up with you even if you hadn't been cheating on me. Anything I felt for you was already dwindling. We wouldn't have lasted much longer.~
She passed the note furiously across the desk to Ron then pulled from her robes one of the pills perfected by the Weasley twins. She swallowed the pill and immediately felt very sick. She raised her hand.
"Yes, Ms Granger?" Professor Flitwick squeaked.
"Professor, I'm not feeling too well. Can I visit Madame Pomfrey?"
"Yes, of course. I'll write you a pass."
He handed her a piece of paper then sent her off. Once she was in the hallway, she took the antidote from her robes and swallowed it then looked at the pass in her hand. And idea suddenly popped into her mind. She pulled out her wand and tapped the sheet of paper in her hand, muttering a useful incantation under her breath. The piece of parchment soon read:
~Please excuse Draco Malfoy from class. Professor Flitwick would like a word with him.~
She smirked at her handiwork and headed toward Professor McGonagall's classroom, where Draco was in Transfigurations. She knocked on the door softly. When McGonagall opened the door, Hermione handed her the note.
"Do you know what this is about?" McGonagall asked in her stern voice.
"No. Professor Flitwick just sent me down here and told me to deliver this to you," Hermione lied convincingly.
"All right then." She walked over to Draco's desk and told him to go with Hermione to Flitwick's classroom. He quickly gathered his things and headed out into the corridor.
"So what does Flitwick want with me?" he asked as he slipped his arm around Hermione's waist.
"Nothing. That was my note to visit Madame Pomfrey. I just did some rearranging, and I came up with an excuse to get you out of class so I could have some company."
Draco looked at her worriedly. "Why did you have a note to go to Pomfrey?"
Hermione giggled. She explained about what happened between her and Ron and how she used one of Fred and George's fever pills and that she took the antidote once she was outside of the class.
"Oh. So where are we going then, if not to class?" he asked as the descended a flight of stairs.
"I was thinking that maybe we could just sit out in the Quidditch pitch for a while so we don't have to be around anyone else. That is, if you want to."
He smiled. "Sure. I was looking for an excuse to get out of class to be with you anyway. McGonagall was boring me to death. Or maybe that was Pansy. You know for that matter it could've been Crabbe and Goyle. Whatever, you get the point."
She laughed a little. "Want some of those pills? They work wonders."
"Are you sure they're safe. I mean they were created by Weasleys." He looked at her questioningly.
"I saw Fred and George testing them with my own eyes, and I saw them paying first years to test them. I trust them, so yes, they are safe."
They made their way out of the castle and across the grounds to the Quidditch field. The sun was shining brightly. Fluffy white clouds drifted across the bright blue sky above them.
"Yes, Hermione, you may trust them, but I don't. How do I know they didn't poison them to kill any Slytherin that eats them?"
"If they did, I'll just have to kill them. They really are a good excuse to get out of classes though. Last year I scolded them for making these things, but I'm just about ready to praise the ground they walk on."
Draco was hesitant. "Well if you say they're all right, then I guess I'll give them a try."
Hermione smiled and handed him a few of the pills. "Remember not to take the antidote until after you get out of the room and don't use them everyday. The teachers will get suspicious."
"You know, Hermione, I could've figured that out myself. I'm not as dumb as you look."
"That's right, you're-HEY! I resent that!"
"A little slow on the uptake there, Granger?" He smirked as she punched his arm jokingly.
"I'll get you back for that one, Malfoy."
"Oh yeah. How?"
"I don't know, but why don't we do something productive while I think?" She moved closer to him and pulled him in for a deep kiss. For most of the remainder of the day, they made out of the grass under the warm sun.
~
The first few weeks of school went by fairly quickly. On the third Saturday of the month, the nineteenth, it was Hermione's birthday. Draco said that he thought of something special for her and he wanted her to meet her in the Astronomy Tower at eight o'clock that night. She naturally agreed and said that she couldn't wait to be there.
She spent most of the day waiting in anticipation for that night. Her mind was running in circles. She needed someone to talk to, but she felt that the only person she had was Draco. Instead of trying to find someone to talk to, she stayed secluded in her dorm until 7:30. It didn't take her long to reach the Astronomy Tower. Her feet moved quickly because of all her built up energy and excitement.
When she arrived, Draco was already there. He had totally transformed the tower. There were balloons, red and gold, adorning the candlelit room. There was a blanket in the middle of the floor that was surrounded by pillows, and a basket and a small wrapped package in the corner.
As she was examining the room, Draco snuck up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist. "Happy birthday," he whispered as he began kissing her neck.
"You did this all for me?" she breathed, her voice barely audible.
"No, the tooth fairy did," he replied sarcastically.
She laughed a little. "It's quite beautiful." She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Not nearly as beautiful as you." She blushed a little as he brushed his lips against hers. She pressed her lips to his more forcefully, but he pulled away.
"Not yet. You have to open your presents first."
"You shouldn't have gotten me anything, Draco. I really don't need anything but you."
He just smiled as he handed her the small box. "Just open it."
Hermione delicately tore the paper. Inside was a small black box. She looked at him quizzically as she lifted the lid to find a silver necklace. The pendant on it was a dagger with a snake wrapped around it. The snake's eyes were made of fade, as well as the jewels on the handle. Hermione's eyes lit up as she examined the delicate necklace. It was beautiful.
"I thought you'd like it," Draco said with a smile playing on his lips.
"It's absolutely splendid. It must have cost you a fortune." She lifted her eyes to meet his. He just shrugged as it to say it was nothing.
Draco took the necklace out of the box and clasped it around Hermione's neck. It really did look good on her. It suited her look very nicely. After kissing her briefly, he retrieved the basket from the corner and handed it to her.
She tentatively lifted the lid to reveal a small black cat with red eyes. It was curled in a ball and appeared to be sleeping. Her hand trembled as she stroked its soft fur.
"Draco, you didn't-"
"I wanted to. His name's Merlin. That's what the lady at the shop called him anyway. He likes attention and being played with. I thought he'd be perfect for you."
Hermione gently lifted the tiny animal from its basket and cradled it in her arms as she sat amongst the pillows. Her hand was still stroking its back delicately as not to wake it. "He's so adorable. When did you find time to go out and buy him?"
Draco put his arm around her and whispered, "Potthead's not the only person in the school with an invisibility cloak, you know. I also have some secrets. I just know how to keep them better."
She laughed a little. "Draco, I want to thank you for doing this for me. It's the first time in years that anyone has remembered my birthday. This is all so wonderful. It means so much to me."
"We are hardly close to being finished," he said with a sly grin.
"Is that so? What else does the almighty Draco Malfoy have in store for me?"
Draco lifted the tiny kitten into his arms and carefully placed it back in the basket. He then crawled in front of her and kissed her while pushing her back onto the pillows. Her hands went instinctively around his neck and wound their way into his soft hair. His hands found their way under her shirt and over the smooth skin of her stomach until they reached her breasts. He massaged them through the thin material of her bra earning moans of pleasure.
He lifted her shirt over her head. Hermione used it as her opportunity to pull off Draco's shirt as well since their lips were already parted. Draco crushed his lips against hers once his shirt was off.
His hands went behind her back to unclasp her bra. He could feel the scars on her back, but instead of pulling away, he kissed her harder.
They kicked off their shoes. Hermione pushed Draco's pants down his strong legs along with his boxers as he worked on unbuttoning her pants. They slid easily off her legs, so the only thing left separating them was her panties. She moaned as he slid them down slightly. He knew how badly she wanted him. Her hands covered his and helped him push them down her legs.
He positioned himself over her and looked down into her cinnamon eyes. They were so big, so beautiful. He could get lost in them forever.
She tilted her head up a little to once again capture his lips in hers. He eased into her slowly. She writhed beneath him trying to adjust to his size.
When she wrapped her legs around him, he figured she was ready. He pulled out of her and thrust back in. Over and over he repeated the motion, getting gradually faster. Her hips moved in rhythm with his. Their bodies became one.
Hermione's breathing was shallow and uneven. Her lips were parted slightly. She moaned in pleasure. "Oh Draco!" she screamed out.
Draco loved hearing his name roll off her tongue, especially when she was in pure bliss. "Hermione, I'm coming," he groaned.
"Don't stop," she breathed out. "Please don't stop."
With a few final thrusts, he released himself into her. Hermione gasped at this new feeling. It was like nothing she had ever felt before.
Draco collapsed onto her chest. She ran her hands over his sweaty back. They were both trying to catch their breath. He held her close to him. He wanted the night to last forever. Both felt that if the world were to end at that moment they would die the happiest people in the world.
For hours, they stayed in each other's arms, feeling all the protection they needed.
At about midnight they decided to dress and head back down to their common rooms. With a simple "finite incantatum!" Draco cleared away all the pillows, blankets, and balloons.