Chapter 8: Punish Me
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine, never shall be. But, I used to 'own' the namesake…he did my bidding…what a good little monkey! (Don't ask, you don't wanna know…)
Hermione wriggled underneath him, only slightly pleased at how much he wanted to know of her sexual activity.
"You never will that way," she hissed.
"Oh, won't I?" he asked, nibbling on her ear. "I have ways to make it work," he whispered, pressing his hip against hers.
Hermione fought back a moan, and the pure need that began to course through her body with a few simple touches from the man.
"I was with him, now get off!" she seethed.
There was no way she was going to let Malfoy do this to her, no way she'd let him seduce her. There was far too much at stake…her reputation, her concentration, focus, feelings, emotions…her heart. No, it was far too dangerous to fall in love with a guy like Draco. Someone who only wanted to use her, then lose her. He'd never love her; closest he'd get is being her lover.
Draco seemed pleased by the effect he had on her body, so he simply pressed closer to her. "I don't think so, not yet. So…Thompson beat me to you? Or was there someone else?"
"His name is Kyle, not Thompson," she said, stiffly.
"Same thing," he replied, with a wave of his hand.
"No, it's not."
"Fine, Kyle, then!" Draco forced out.
"Yes, it was him first. Now leave me alone."
"So, a Slytherin ravished you? Never thought I'd see the day…unless it was me," he added, slyly.
"Ugh. Why the sudden interest in my sex life? Jealous?" Hermione taunted.
Draco stiffened, glaring. "Jealous? What do you take me for, Granger?"
She inhaled abruptly. "A pompous idiot."
He practically stared daggers at her. "Shut your trap, Granger."
"But, what if I said I thought you were sexy?" Hermione asked, innocently.
Draco paused in thought. "Then, talk all you want," he whispered, throatily.
She laughed. Draco was so insufferably full of himself! Deciding to tease him, like he did her…
Hermione leaned in closely, as if prepared to talk to him. Pressing her palms flat against his hard, taut chest, she made slow circles around his nipples, and licked her lips. Finally opening her moist lips, she sloped forward even further.
She surpressed a laugh at his ragged breathing. "Well, then…I guess I won't be talking up a storm anytime soon then, huh?"
Draco glared at her, sending a shiver down her spine. Shoving himself off her, he started off for his room, forgetting completely the invisible rope.
~*~
That damn mudblood bitch! Thought she was so great…if it weren't for the damn rope…
Each of these thoughts ran through his mind rapidly.
But there she was, standing smugly, a broad grin across her goddamn face…her gorgeous face.
"Yes, we simply must thank Dumbledore for this lovely treat," Hermione taunted, stepping closer to him. "After all, it evened up the score some, didn't it?"
Opening his thin lips, Draco said, "Hardly, mudblood. I've gotten to you a lot of times, this was your first."
"Aw, not so fun when someone beats you at your own game, huh?" she teased, still smiling.
Draco shoved her gently, and growled, "No, not really. Get out of my face."
"But you were having so much fun when I licked my lips, like this…" Hermione paused, to do just that. She ran her tongue slowly over her bottom lip, working excruciatingly slow up to the top. "And when I did this…" she trailed off again, stepping closer to Draco, to repeat the movements around his nipples, enticingly.
Draco sucked in a breath, slightly amused at the mudblood's hidden talents. "It looks like you are too," he whispered gruffly.
As he predicted, Hermione immediately stopped, stiffening.
"Come on, Granger. Where's your sense of adventure?" he jeered.
Her big brown eyes narrowed, and she scowled. "It's right here…I just need the right guy to unlock it with."
"Like Kyle," Draco spat, not letting it curl into a question.
"Exactly."
Draco shook his head slightly, letting his blonde hair frame the sides of her face. Deciding they got annoying, he ran a hand through them, letting a few more fall back.
Hermione swallowed at the simple movement. "So, where are we gonna sleep?" she asked softly, staring at the floor.
"In my bed."
"What's wrong with mine?" she demanded.
"What makes you think I'd sleep in Gryffindor colors?"
"What makes you think I'd sleep in Slytherin colors?" Hermione shot back, her eyes flashing.
"The fact that you must've to sleep with Kyle!"
"Well, maybe he slept with me!"
"Yeah, that's manly. I guess we both know who wore the pants in that relationship," Draco scoffed.
"Just because you're jealous of K—"
"No, I'm not," he said forcefully. "Never would I be jealous of an idiot like Thompson!"
Hermione stared at him, her eyes seething with hate for him. Good.
~*~
"Why do you have to be such an ass?"
"Why do you have to be such a goody-goody?"
"Better than being a death-eater-in-training, with low-life scum for a dad, and a crazy mother!" Hermione shrieked.
Instantly, her mouth snapped shut, wishing she could take the words back. Her hand clamped firmly over her mouth. "I'm sorry," she whispered softly, muffled by her palm.
Draco's pale face was tinged with a light red, as he stared with something malicious in his eyes. She shivered, and couldn't help but think that it was stronger than actual hate.
His face twitched with rage, and he stated flatly, "No, you're not. You don't know anything about my mother. Hell, you don't know the first thing about me. It's perfectly clear that we hate each other. So for the rest of this week, we'll play nice, do our detention, and then, we can get back to trying to ignore each other."
Hermione breathed raggedly, her vision blurring. Something in her wished it were an anger that would go away. For some reason, the thought of ignoring him for the rest of her life seemed unbearable.
"No, Draco," she pleaded. "It just slipped! Please…"
"I'd think you'd be happy," Draco snapped, his silver eyes flaming dangerously. It was a sign that the conversation was over.
~*~
Draco tried to roll over in his silk sheets, feeling something tug his arm. "What the hell…?" he asked softly.
Then he remembered the damn punishment.
It was going to be even worse now. Sighing, Draco turned towards Hermione, studying her peaceful features.
Her arm on top of her chest rose and fell with each breath. Her hair fluttered softly away from her mouth as she inhaled and exhaled.
Damn her. For making him feel like this, for getting him angry. Most of all, for looking so goddamn beautiful as she slept.
It was all he could do to stop himself from kissing her full lips right then. His fists clenched.
There were so many things in life Draco was never permitted to have. Like a mother during some of the hardest times in his life. Or even Hermione. Both things were forbidden to him.
Hermione suddenly rolled a little toward him, her thin arm falling on top of him.
He inhaled sharply, squeezing his eyes shut. He was twitching because of the tingle the contact sent down his body.
Draco noticed the blanket had fallen down her body, and he pulled it back over her slowly, repaying the favor.
Gently, he picked up her arm, and set it on the space of bed between them.
So he just lay there, watching her sleep peacefully. Draco hoped that it would cause him to fall asleep too, watching her even, mellowed breathing.
Without warning, Hermione's toffee eyes flickered open, falling onto his gaze, perceptively.
"Were you watching me sleep, Malfoy?" she asked groggily, taking a deep breath.
"Of course not," he snapped.
A small smile spread across her face. "Are you still mad at me?" she asked in a tiny, quivering voice.
"Y—no," Draco sighed, giving into her puppy dog look. "Don't count on getting away with insulting my mother ever again," he threatened.
Smiling coyly, Hermione whispered very quietly, "I don't plan on it. You should punish me."
He shivered, at the idea. But, Draco knew better. She was half-asleep, and would be completely horrified to know what she was saying. "I will."
Pausing to think, he asked, "Hermione?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you like me?"
Hermione yawned before answering. Painstakingly slowly, she said, "I dunno…"
To his disgust, his heart fell a little. "Oh."
Swiftly, and out of nowhere, Hermione scooted closer, and kissed him on the cheek. "Maybe I lied."
At this, Draco buried his face into his silky pillow, smirking into the folds and creases of it.
~*~
Hermione took in a forkful of waffles, looking over at Draco.
Since neither could compromise where to eat, they decided on the common room, and conjured the never-ending food with a simple spell.
He smirked his telltale smirk, as if he knew something she didn't.
"What's so amusing?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Nothing," Draco replied, innocently.
Suddenly, she felt out in the open, and like she was on parade, naked. Did something happen last night she wasn't aware of?
She sucked in a breath, when the thought that Draco had sex with her while she was asleep. But no…she wasn't even sure if it was possible to do that without her waking up. Shrugging off that idea, she suddenly remembered something Lavender Brown told her during her first year.
She talked in her sleep. Except, didn't she say Hermione was in reality half-asleep?
"What did I say?" Hermione asked, blanching.
Draco shrugged. Biting off some bacon he replied nonchalantly, "I have no idea what you're talking about, Granger."
In the back of her mind, there was a smaller version of Hermione sitting on a chair, with tears streaming down her face. The tiny imaginary replica looked upset, and guilty. She started kicking and screaming in frustration.
Hermione only wished she could see Draco's face if she were to behave like this. It would have been priceless.
"Draco, please," she begged, tossing down a cinnamon bun. "This isn't funny! Just tell me!"
He shook his head stubbornly. "No way, Granger. This is my blackmail."
Hermione shrieked in frustration, then remembered her wand. Underneath the table she picked it up gently, watching Draco eat more. Whispering a spell, she felt pulled forward.
It was only a small, practically invisible pulling, that she wouldn't have noticed if it weren't for her incredible senses.
Hermione half-expected a swirling, colorful vortex to fly into as she slowly reached the depths of Draco's complex mind.
"Granger would have a fit if she knew what she did last night."
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, feeling helpless. What in the Gods' name did she do? But she needn't wait long…
"She probably still thinks I'm mad at her, too. Really, I am. But to watch someone that peaceful slightly wake up, and say and do the things the mudblood did… I still love the fact that Hermione would hyperventilate if she knew…knew that she kissed me. Knew that when I warned her not to talk about my mother like that ever again, she said, 'Punish me'…"
Hermione felt herself being pushed back, before she heard the rest of those disgusting acts…
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Draco demanded, his eyes flashing.
~*~
If that stupid mudblood actually thought that he didn't notice his mind being invaded, or her muttering the spell; she was stupider than he thought.
He let her hear exactly what she needed. Draco didn't let her know about his question, or the fact he was watching her.
Her usually tanned skin was pale, almost like Draco's delicate complexion. She reminded him of a porcelain doll.
"You're lying," she whispered.
He simply shook his head, grinning. "Why would I do that?"
"Just shut up," Hermione moaned, burying her face in her arms. "It can't be true…I'd never do that—say that—to you!"
"But you did, Hermione. That can't be changed. So, punish you, huh? I love how kinky you are at night," he ridiculed her, still grinning.
"I think I'm going to go now," she mumbled nervously, jumping up.
"So soon?" Draco asked, innocently.
Hermione glared at him, looking positively sick at the same time, so it wasn't all too effective.
She walked briskly out the dorms, leaving her robes in the common room, lying on the sofa.
Draco guessed it was because he was sitting on the sofa, and assumed she'd be going to her sanctuary—the library.
He simply shrugged, and continued to take some more breakfast.
So Hermione was being touchy. What else was new?
~*~
Hermione sat cross-legged on the smooth, green grass. She stared out at the lake, watching the small waves. The sun's reflection was distorted, shining across the entire lake.
She shivered from the brisk air, what with it being nearly October.
"October!" Hermione gasped. The Halloween Ball!
She and Draco had completely forgotten to start to work on it, and it was mere weeks away.
But still, she couldn't bring herself to leave the serenity of the water to leave for the library to plan—without Draco.
Hermione felt herself being sucked into its beauty and grace. She picked a weed from the grass. The one where you blew away the seeds and made a wish. Which was probably why they stayed there…they involved superstition, like magic.
Patting down on the grass, she felt her small hand run over a soft piece of flesh, and she gasped. It was a hand.
When did someone sit next to her?
Turning slowly, praying in her head it wasn't Draco, she saw who it was, and felt relieved.
It was only Harry.
"Hey, Harry," she greeted softly, grasping his hand.
Harry smiled, squeezing hers back. "Hey, yourself. What are you doing out so early?"
"Harry Potter, it's eight! That is nowhere near early!" Hermione laughed.
He chuckled, his emerald eyes dancing.
That was one thing Draco Malfoy could never accomplish, no matter how hard he tried. He would never be able to make his eyes dance in the innocent, boyish way Harry could. Draco could never make her feel as safe as she felt this very instant.
Hermione leaned back against Harry's chest, staring at the water again.
Draco could make her heart race, and say an inappropriate thing or two, but he could never get her to feel love for him. Even if he tried until his dying days. Which proved Malfoys didn't always get what they wanted.
Are you trying to say Draco wants you? You to fall in love with him? Her mind asked harshly.
"You ok, 'Mione?" Harry asked, concerned.
It was as if he had dumped ice cold water over her head. "Yeah," she smiled, shaking her head slightly. "Just thinking."
"About what?" he asked, gently.
Hermione sighed, listening to Harry's heartbeat for a moment. "Just stuff. Mostly how I forgot to work on the Halloween Ball," she lied.
How would Harry feel or react if he knew what had been going on between the two sworn enemies? That Draco was occupying her mind.
"Oh my God," she murmured, rubbing her wrist.
Harry was bewildered. "What?"
"The bond. Why isn't it there anymore?"
He shrugged. "I dunno. Ask Dumbledore."
"Ok," Hermione murmured, closing her eyes. "Right after this, though. I'm so comfortable.
"I know," he whispered, stroking her hair. "So am I."
~*~
Draco snarled.
How touching. There was Granger and Potter, lying in each other's arms, like long-lost lovers.
He felt a slight pulling inside his chest, but fought it back. There was no way in Hell that he had feelings for the impure muggle born.
Almost as if a fire fueled her, Hermione jumped up, disturbing Harry.
She rushed toward the entrance, where Draco was, and he hid behind a curtain, to obscure him from her view.
Curiously, he followed her.
Granger had been going to Dumbledore. She murmured the password, and stepped onto the stairs.
Draco cursed, and whipped out the invisibility cloak he carried in his robes. Placing it over his body, he stepped onto the winding steps a few below her.
"Professor!" she cried, relieved.
"Why, good evening, Hermione. How are the plans for the ball coming along?" Dumbledore asked, pushing down his glasses.
"Fine," Hermione lied, looking about the office.
"Excellent!" the headmaster smiled, clapping briefly. "Now, what is it that concerns you?"
"Well, sir, I was curious as to why the bonds that tied Malfoy and I together are gone."
Draco glanced down, startled. He hadn't even noticed it!
"Well, Miss Granger, the answer is simple. That is a spell for people who hate each other."
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked, bewildered. "But we still hate each other!"
He shook his head, letting his great white beard sway. "Apparently, you don't, Hermione."
"But…how? It was there whenever we tried to pull away," she protested.
"But, Miss Granger, that was when the both of you were upset at one another. Did you ever try when both of you were perfectly calm, and weren't mad?"
"Er, yes."
"Did you really?" he asked, incredulously.
Yes, Draco thought. At night, in my bed.
"I—I think so…"
"Well, Hermione, there's your answer," Professor Dumbledore replied simply.
"But…this morning, I was upset at him!"
"Why?"
"Because…" Hermione trailed off, fumbling for words. "He irritated me."
"How so?" Dumbledore asked, leaning forward.
"Draco said things…horrible things…"
"Like…" the headmaster prodded.
"Inappropriate things. I'd rather not say, if you don't mind, sir," she said gently.
"I see. But, Hermione…were you really mad at Mister Malfoy for saying that? Or were you upset because it was the truth?"
Dumbledore had left her completely flabbergasted. Which was something Draco enjoyed thoroughly.
A/N: Short punishment, I know. But the bugger little chains were getting in my way! At least now they're available to…do things if they wish…
Well, did you like it? I hope you did. Um, 'cute' scenes to come…
Finally, I'll be submitting just one chapter next time, because I'm almost done with 10 (Gah, they're catching up to me!), and I really wanna submit some Wednesday, April 16, 2003 in honor of the story's namesake's birthday. So when it rolls around, let's wish him a virtual happy birthday, eh? He's quite special to me (moved, the stupid git did…can't even hug him on his own birthday…grrr…)! No, we didn't go out, but he was a very close friend of mine…GET YOUR MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTER IF THEY'RE THERE! Hehe.
[Submitted: April 10, 2003]