Chapter Three: Who Resists Who?
Now that Hermione had had a good night's sleep, everything was clearer.
And whatever hold Draco had over her last night, was gone.
Now that her mind was clear, she felt dirty. He had kissed her, and she let him. Not only that, but she had returned it.
Hermione touched her lips. They were still burning from the night before.
She shook her head, slipping into Potions.
Unfortunately, the only open seat was next to Malfoy.
She sent him a dirty look, and sat down.
Draco smirked, and to prove his point from last night, he placed his hand on her bare thigh.
She silently cursed the skirt for riding up, and her robe for being unclasped.
Snape glared at Hermione when she yelped…Draco had been caressing her leg.
"Ten points for interrupting me, Granger," he announced, in a bored tone.
She flushed, before glaring at Malfoy again.
Harry turned around, mouthing, "Are you ok?"
Hermione smiled slightly, and nodded. "Thanks."
By the time class had ended, Gryffindor had ended up with 50 points deducted. Slytherin gained 20, despite Crabbe blowing up a potion.
He had actually earned 5 points for showing that class what not to do.
Hermione grumbled once she had exited, brushing past Harry and Ron. She didn't really feel like talking. She was more in the mood to go to her room and have a good sulk about last night.
Until she felt someone grasp her waist, that is.
The person whirled her around, pressing her to the wall.
"So, Granger. Have fun last night?" Draco said in a lazy drawl.
She shifted. "Did you?"
"Oh, tons. After all…I kissed you."
Hermione fought back the urge to slap the smug look off his face. A few lower classmen stared at them, whispering.
"Draco, if you're gonna do this, can we please do it somewhere more private, please?" she begged.
Draco sighed, and led her roughly to their dorms.
Once inside, he had her against the wall once more.
"Déjà vu, isn't it?" he grinned. "But then, I'd have to be kissing you, wouldn't I?" Draco asked in a low voice.
"What are you doing? Why me?" she asked, trying desperately to know why he was playing with her.
Draco stepped back, breaking the trance they were in. "To win this game, Hermione. It's simple, really. You can't resist me, and you know it."
"I can, too," Hermione protested.
He crossed his arms. "So do it."
Hermione opened her mouth, then snapped it back shut. Her mind told her to move…he was letting her go.
But instead, her legs were acting as if they were glued to the spot before him.
Draco laughed. "I told you."
Without another word, he stepped forward again, wrapping his arms around her waist. He bent his head down, and kissed her lightly, like he had done the night before in his room.
Hermione's mind was racing, pleading with her arms and legs to move, far away from this game of seduction Draco was playing.
Worse yet, it seemed like he was winning.
No, Hermione thought forcefully. There was no way she would let him do this to her. He was a Malfoy. A Slytherin! There were so many ways this was wrong…
But rather than struggling, she just gave in. Hermione figured that if she just gave in, he'd lose interest. He had, after all, said to her under that tree he was gonna do it to feel her restraint. It couldn't possibly be fun for him if she didn't fight.
So this time, to throw Draco, she initiated the deepening of the kiss. Hermione pushed her tongue through; almost feeling herself lost in it.
Each battled for dominance of the kiss, trying different methods to make the other squirm.
Just as the kiss had reached it's high point, Hermione pulled away.
Draco stared at her, his jaw dropped.
"I think it's you who can't resist me, Malfoy," Hermione said, smugly.
He growled, sending involuntary shivers down her spine. "Don't even try to be coy, Granger. You're severely mistaken if you think I'm falling for a lowly mudblood like yourself."
Hermione inhaled sharply. "Then why couldn't you get enough of me?" she asked, softly.
~*~
Draco stared at the look in Hermione's eyes.
Her normally bright, wide toffee eyes were filled with a mixture of confusion, fear, and…He peered closely. Lust.
He smirked. Putting back on the cold exterior, he replied lightly, as if he hadn't a care, "What kind of man wouldn't? What with a girl giving herself away fully…I wouldn't be a man if I didn't enjoy it."
Hermione's body shuddered. Tears filled her eyes, and she turned away. Before running off to leave, she said, "Whoever said you were a man?"
Draco glared, clenching his teeth tightly.
He followed her swiftly, as she ran into her room.
Just as the portrait was going to swing shut, he stuck out his foot, refusing to let it shut. He entered the room, glaring down at her.
Hermione shivered under his cold gaze. "Get out," she whispered.
Draco shook his head, smiling. "It's a familiar scene, now isn't it?"
She just stared at him, defiantly. She didn't say a word, she just stared at him, hate in her eyes.
"Now, to the matter at hand. You don't think I'm a man?"
She let out a breath, refusing to answer.
Draco smiled again. "There are a few ways to get you to change your mind, you know. All of which I think you'd enjoy a lot, despite this façade you put up."
"Don't you dare!" Hermione screamed.
He tilted his head, as if thinking. "What if I do?"
She didn't have a reply for him. "Just leave me alone, please!"
"Not too tough without Potter or Weasley, are you?"
Hermione just stared at him, fear written all over her features. Quietly, she stood, and fled out of her own room.
Let the games begin, Draco thought, grinning.
And so, the game of Cat and Mouse began.
~*~
Hermione ran, far away from her dorm, the place that contained Draco.
What was he playing at, trying to…insinuate how she felt about him? She knew best, because, after all, it was her.
Not watching where she was going, she felt her wrist bang into a doorknob.
Hermione yelped with pain, glancing at her wrist. Already, it had a pale pink blotch forming.
It pulsed with pain, as she fought back the tears threatening to topple over.
All of it, it was too much. Draco, school, her Head Girl position, the pain…How much could she take?
Hermione collapsed on the floor, shuddering. All she could do was pray that Draco left her alone, and just walked away.
But she could hear that wasn't the case, as she heard boots clicking on the floor, getting louder and louder.
"Granger?"
Defeated, she looked up, into Draco's silver eyes. His figure blurred, as the tears finally streamed down her face.
"Hey," he whispered, pulling her up. "Calm down."
"Just leave me alone," she cried, weakly.
But of course, Draco didn't. Instead, he pulled her closer to him, gripping her hips.
Hermione just rested her head on his hard chest, unable to reach his shoulders.
"Going soft on me, Granger?" he chuckled.
"You're definitely not, Malfoy," Hermione retorted, referring to his lower half.
"No, that I'm not."
"You're sick," she spat.
Draco didn't say anything, but just let her go, shoving her away.
Hermione stared up at him, confused. "Why are you like this?"
"Because I am," he replied, turning on his heel.
She leaned against the cold, slimy wall for support. She sank down, listening to his boots echo throughout the halls.
What exactly was he doing to her?
A few first years walked by, staring at her curiously.
So as not to look curious, she turned on her heel, much like Draco had moments ago, and walked briskly down the halls.
I haven't seen Ron or Harry recently, she thought to herself.
Within seconds, she was in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, struggling to remember the password.
"Oh, please just let me in," she pleaded.
"Rabid Monkey," hissed a voice, from behind her.
Hermione whirled around, ignoring the portrait swinging open. "Malfoy?"
But he wasn't there anymore. The only thing left was his robes flying behind his retreating figure.
"You may not know it, but those are the acts of a boy in love," the Fat Lady said in singsong.
"Not for this one," Hermione replied, striding into the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Harry?" she called. "Ron?"
In an instant, both boys flew down the steps at breakneck speed.
"Mione!" Ron cried, hugging her.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry grinned, joining in on the hug.
"I missed you guys," Hermione told them, tears stinging her eyelids.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, crinkling his eyes.
"Is it Malfoy? I swear, I'll kill him," Ron growled, rubbing his fists.
"No, no, it's not him," she lied. "I just…I missed you guys a lot. There's been so much going on…"
"Hey, it's ok, Mione," Harry soothed, rubbing her back.
She grinned at her two best friends.
Like Malfoy, both had grown height-wise, and muscle-wise. All three boys were now on their respective Quidditch House teams, two as seekers, and Ron as a beater. He was like his older twin brothers, with the humor, and pure strength.
Of course, Ron was a good head taller than Harry, which made him grumble. Ron was still the best in chess, and even more protective than before of Hermione. Harry's emerald eyes had become impossibly bright, always twinkling with mischief. His scar was now a normal sight, only attracting a few stares nowadays.
"Let's go to the kitchen and grab some food, eh?" Ron suggested, his light blue eyes shining.
"You and your food!" Hermione laughed.
~*~
Ron tickled the pear, stepping aside to let Hermione through.
She brushed past him, smiling.
He stared at her, not failing to notice how much she had grown up.
Hermione still hid behind her books, and her bookish personality. The baggy Hogwarts uniform hid her, too. She had matured greatly in the chest area, and had grown an inch or so since last year. Her skin was a bit tanner, and her hair had been tamed. Hermione's usual tangle of curly tresses were now only slightly waving, and shiny. The bush they teased her about was gone completely.
He blinked, shaking his head.
This was Hermione, his best friend. Ron had gotten over his little crush on her years ago!
But still, there was that tiny spark of want there.
~*~
Draco rolled his shoulders back, wondering when that stupid mudblood would get in.
Entering the common room, he saw she had slipped in, and was resting on a sofa, reading a book, as usual.
She was massaging her shoulders, trying to get out a kink.
Smirking, he approached her from behind, and placed his hands on her shoulders.
Hermione jumped, facing him. "What are you—"
But he cut her off. Draco started to massage her shoulders for her, causing her to relax.
Hermione's head fell back, her eyes closed.
Bending over, he hissed into her ear, "Feels good, doesn't it? Like a guilty pleasure."
Draco was almost sad to see her eyes flutter open. Hermione jerked forward, leaving his hands in the air, alone.
Just to bug her, he leaned forward, continuing on her shoulders. "Don't deny it."
As he had suspected, Hermione returned to her normal position, just letting him rub her shoulders.
Draco continued massaging her shoulders, grinning slyly. Ever so slowly, he moved his hands down the sides of her body.
Before she even knew it, the pleasure that was on her shoulders was now on her breasts.
"Oh Gods. Geroff! Malfoy, just get off!" she shrieked.
A/N: One more chappie, folks.
[Submitted April 2, 2003]