Chapter Two: First Kiss
Hermione glanced around the surroundings, impressed by the glory of it all.
Draco's room was decorated with green and silver, as suspected. On the ceiling, there was a serpent, altered magically, so it slithered about the ceiling, staring down with its cold, beady eyes.
It unnerved her, and she was amazed that he could live in an atmosphere like this, feeling watched by the damn serpent.
There were a few sofas, despite the common room they shared. Next to the sofas were little tables.
Hermione tilted her head, glancing at one picture that was set onto a table.
It was a tiny Draco, on the shoulders of a beautiful, timeless woman. Her hair was a little more blonde than his, and it flowed, like water over rocks, over her shoulders. She was simply smiling at Draco, giving him the occasional hug.
He was grinning widely, waving at Hermione, as if they were never enemies.
She felt a smile cross her face, because Draco seemed so innocent, so happy. A boy with no cares, with nothing but his mother.
She was so engulfed in the picture, she never heard him enter the room.
"What the hell are you doing in my fucking room, Granger?" he spat, crossing the room rapidly.
Hermione looked up in surprise at Draco, as he slammed down the picture.
"I—I…" she stuttered.
"Get out."
His features differed so greatly from that of the innocent young boy in the picture. His steely eyes were hard as ice, compared to the warmth shining in them years ago. Not to mention, he was no longer a little boy. Quidditch had given him muscles; there was no denying that. Even through his cloak, she could see them. The only thing that Hermione thought captured his past innocence, was his platinum hair, that fell into his eyes. Back in fifth year, he stopped gelling it.
Draco's pale lips curled into a small, triumphant smile. "It's starting, isn't it, Granger?"
"What?"
"You're starting to like me. I can see it." He laughed at her, cruelly.
"I am not!" she protested, forcing her gaze to focus on his cold eyes.
Draco walked forward, causing her to step back.
"You do."
Deciding to play his game, she replied, "So what if I do?"
His eyes widened, for he definitely hadn't expected her to admit it.
Immediately covering it up, he replied smoothly, "Then you proved me right."
Hermione crossed her arms stubbornly. "Perhaps."
He lifted an eyebrow, taking a step forward again.
But she stood her ground, refusing to let him get to her. "What's the matter? Haven't anything to say?" she taunted.
Draco smirked. "I have nothing to say, no…but I have everything to do," he replied, taking another step.
Hermione blinked, only half understanding. "Get away from me."
"Get out of my room," he shot back.
Stumbling, she scrambled out of his room, past the common room, and into her room.
~*~
Draco laughed.
That damn mudblood was too much sometimes. First, she snooped in his room. Then, she tried to be coy; as if attempting to participate in the little game he initiated. Finally, she scrambled out of his room, like her legs couldn't carry her fast enough.
He sighed, trying to push all the thoughts out of his head. Draco really needed his sleep tonight, after Pansy kept him up the night before.
He closed his eyes, drifting off into sleep.
~*~
Draco stood in the halls, staring after that damn Granger.
She'd gone too far in Potions. Hermione had both insulted him, and humiliated him, all in one.
He was caught having a bad day. So he had yelled at her, said foul things, and even hit her. He never meant to hit her, but she made him furious!
That afternoon, they were sent to detention—washing the dishes, like a common house elf.
Draco followed her into the kitchen, sending a glare at any elf that dared to look at him.
"Out," he commanded, refusing to let them see him be degraded.
Every one of the elves stumbled out the door; much like Hermione had in his room last night.
Draco had long since calmed down, but he wasn't about to let house elves see him work.
There were two sinks, filled with water and dishes, already. They each went to one, wordlessly.
Draco was seething when he realized Dumbledore had clogged the sinks, so that they had to bail the water when they were done.
The Headmaster had already explained to the pair that the dishes were magically altered so that using magic to clean them was impossible. Which meant the same went for the clogged sinks.
He sighed loudly, staring at the larger sink between them, meant for dumping the water.
Hermione had already stuck her hands into the water, letting out a shocked gasp.
He dipped a finger in, noticing that it was freezing.
Being a Malfoy, he could handle it. But Hermione was shivering, because this water was the type that never warmed up, no matter how long you kept your hands in there.
Under his breath, he mumbled, "Tepidus Aqua." (A/N: According to an online dictionary, 'Tepidus' means warm, and 'Aqua' means water {duh})
She snapped up her head, staring at Draco in surprise. "Did you just…?"
"Don't get used to it," he spat, turning back to his dishes.
She made a little sound, to get his attention.
Draco clenched his jaw, looking over at her.
Hermione was smirking, twirling the string of her apron. "So you do care."
"What in the hell are you talking about, you stupid wench?"
"I never would have dreamed in a million years that I would see the day where Draco Malfoy showed emotion, or that he cared. But this? This is completely unbelievable. You—Draco Malfoy—just helped me, a lowly mudblood," Hermione stated slowly, letting the meaning of each word sink in.
"I said don't get used to it. Besides, last thing I need is for you to freeze, sticking me with all the damn dishes," Draco informed her.
"Uh-huh…" she replied, still not believing him.
"Fine. Believe what you want. Just don't read too much into it, because it means nothing. Nothing changes."
But Granger had already begun ignoring him, turning back to her dishes.
He clenched his fists, before doing the same.
~*~
Hermione sat down, staring up at the ceiling. She was unable to get Draco out of her head.
He was so different. Nothing like what she had imagined for the past six years.
True, he was heartless when he wanted to be. But, that picture…that showed love, strong love for his mother.
She suddenly felt bad for him, as she remembered that someone told her his mother was in St. Mungo's. It must've hurt.
Then the whole incident in the kitchen…that wasn't just to keep him from doing all the dishes. Draco knew very well there was no way she could freeze to death from that. No, there was something else there.
Hermione just wished she knew what.
Against Hermione's better judgement, she walked into the common room, where Draco was sprawled on a couch, reading by candlelight.
Hermione couldn't help but think how angelic he looked, with the candles shining dimly on his pale blonde hair, illuminating his face. Moving closer, she saw his usually cold gray eyes much warmer, as they ran across the letter his mother had undoubtedly wrote him one day.
She surprised herself even further, by allowing these thoughts to continue, without so much as an effort to squelch them.
"Draco?" she whispered quietly.
He jumped a little, turning toward the sound of her voice. Immediately, his eyes hardened, putting up that familiar shield. Even she could see the surprise in them.
"You called me Draco. Why?"
Hermione shrugged. "It just slipped."
He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry about this afternoon, in Potions. You caught me on a bad day, I never meant to hit you."
She just nodded. "Forget it. Oh, and thanks for warming the water for me. That was…nice."
Draco simply nodded, turning back to his letter.
After a few minutes he turned back to her, giving her a look. "Why are you still here?"
Hermione looked down at her shoes, pulling her cloak tighter. "I don't know," she replied, honestly.
Whatever Draco she had been speaking to just a mere moment ago, was replaced by the one that greeted her everyday.
"Could you perhaps…want something?" he asked, getting up.
"No. I just…"
"You've been acting pretty suspiciously lately, my dear mudblood. Could I have been right? Ever so slowly…you're falling for me."
"Oh, get off it, you stupid git! I'm not falling!"
Hermione refused to let him know that he had been plaguing her thoughts as of late.
She tried to brush past him, but tripped over his extended foot.
"I think you just did," Draco laughed.
"Go to hell!" she spat.
Draco growled. "You don't really want that," he said, tauntingly, advancing forward.
Hermione fell for his trick again, and took steps backward equal to the ones he took forward.
Eventually, he had her pinned between his body and the wall.
"Get off me," she shrieked, squirming.
"Relax, Granger. I'm not going to rape you."
Hermione pounded her fists against his toned chest. "I said get off!"
To her surprise, his hand shot up, grasping her wrist tightly. Then he used his other to catch her left hand.
"I'll do what I want," he said, bending down his head, forcing her to stare into his eyes.
"Please, Draco, get off," Hermione pleaded.
Instead, he silenced her with his lips.
She wriggled against him, trying to escape. Finally giving in to him, she sank into the kiss.
It surprised Hermione, that it was possible to love and loathe something at the same time.
She loathed the kiss, for being forcefully initiated. But still, she found the feel of his lips against hers heavenly. Despite what she thought, Draco was gentle.
Giving in fully, Hermione wrapped her arms atop his shoulders.
Draco had forced his tongue in, but he pulled back when she did that.
Grinning, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I told you, Granger. I told you you'd do this."
Hermione's mouth dropped open, her eyes opening fully. "Draco—"
He just laughed, picking up the letter, and walking into his room.
"Bastard."
~*~
Draco leaned back into his bed, smiling.
Hermione struggled for all of about two seconds, before giving herself to him.
"But where's the fun in that?" he whispered to himself.
He had really expected her to be harder to crack. That's why she was a challenge.
But the little bookworm had turned into a girl who would give in without a second thought.
Draco had a feeling that if he had tried to, she would have had sex with him.
He heard the portrait creak open, and looked over at the visitor.
"What, didn't get enough before?" he taunted.
Hermione flushed. "No." Then she realized she had answered the wrong way. "I mean, that's not it," she stuttered.
Draco stared, amused. "Well?" he asked, folding his arms behind his head smugly.
She toyed with her bathrobe, before looking up at him. "Please, Draco. Don't…don't do that again," she said softly.
He sat up. "What didn't you understand earlier, when I said that I would what I wished. And if I wanted to throw down on my bed and take you right now, there would be nothing stopping me."
Hermione quivered, staring wide-eyed. "But you're not…?"
He shrugged. "Not yet. After all…where would the fun be in that, if you didn't try to resist me?"
Draco stood, crossing over to her. He lightly kissed her lips, feeling her give in again.
Finally, he said, "Now Granger. I can't honestly believe you would enter my room if you didn't want something more from me than a promise to leave you alone."
She stared at him, before turning to the door to exit.
I hope you liked the second Chappie… Well, please read & review, it'll be greatly appreciated![Submitted March 31, 2003]