Serpentine Romeo
By Black Rapture
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters, places, and objects belong to Warner Brothers and her majesty J.K. Rowling, Queen of All Literature. (King, of course, being J.R.R. Tolkien! Oh yeah, Legolas is a hottie!)
Chapter Eight - Redemption is a Race
And so it went. Day by day, week by week. Until one cold winter night, Draco bolted up in bed, making a strangled noise in the back of his throat.
"Draco?! What's wrong?" Hermione asked from the bed next to him.
"Voldemort." Draco hissed, quickly getting out of bed and getting dressed. Death Eater mask in hand, he kissed Hermione quickly and hurried out of the room.
As he approached the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Draco heard a twig snap and pivoted around sharply, wand at the ready.
"Watch where you point that thing." Severus snapped, "You could take someone's eye out." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Don't be such a drama queen."
"You'll pay for that one someday."
"Bring it on."
"Okay, enough. We have more important things to worry about." Severus said, removing small statue of a silver serpent from a pocket of his robes. Draco noticed it's eyes glittered, as two emeralds were encrusted there. He sighed.
"Severus, if you were any more loyal to your house, I swear to Merlin ..." Draco trailed off, shaking his head. Severus glared. Draco just smirked and touched his hand to it in time with his Head of House, feeling the familiar tug of a portkey at his navel.
[-]
Draco shook his head to clear it of the weird tingling sensation caused by his mode of transportation. When he looked up, Severus indicated to follow him, putting his mask on. Draco did the same, moving to stand beside him in the circle of cloaked figures. Voldemort beckoned several forth, including Severus and Lucius. He couldn't help but think how stupid this whole thing was. Dressing up like prats to go frolicking in the woods, torturing innocent people like that Klux Klu Klan or whatever the hell it was called he'd read about briefly in a book. I mean, did Voldemort even have a plan? Or did he just get off sitting up there at the front thinking he's the all-powerful bossman. Sodding nancy.
The meeting ended shortly after, for which Draco was thankful as he was about to fall asleep. When they were back on the Hogwarts grounds, Draco removed his robe, draping it over his arm, mask hidden inside.
"That was bloody pointless." Draco complained.
"You're pretty much right." Severus replied, "Same old speech he's been telling for ages - we are gathering power and will soon strike down Dumbledore, blah blah blah. The guy has serious issues."
"Never would've guessed." Draco said sarcastically.
"Now get back to your dorm, Mr. Malfoy." Severus commanded in his usual classroom demeanor. Draco glanced behind him and saw Filch and that mangy cat.
"Professor." Draco inclined his head, sticking his tongue out at him. Severus' lip twitched, but his face remained impassive as Draco headed back to his room. Hermione was waiting for him when he arrived.
"Darling, what happened? You weren't even gone for two hours!" Hermione babbled anxiously.
"Calm down, pet. Everything's fine. Nothing new though." Draco reassured her. She kissed him gently on the mouth before allowing his arms to encircle waist, pulling him to her. Hermione smiled contentedly and fell asleep.
[-]
The next morning, Hermione was walking around the lake with Ginny. Upon her news of finally having gone all the way with Draco, Ginny insisted on details and Hermione gave her as many as she could manage without permanently embarrassing herself.
"Wow." Ginny sighed, "I wonder who my first time'll be with."
"I don't want to preach - but it really is a big step. You shouldn't rush it until you feel like you're ready." Hermione said.
"Okay, mum." Ginny smirked. Hermione stuck out her tongue and playfully shoved her. Ginny laughed.
"That's the last time I try to give you good advice."
"Hermione, when are you going to tell them?" Ginny said suddenly. Hermione looked up.
"I know, I know." Hermione shrugged, "But they've hated Draco since the first day they met him - I wouldn't blame them if they never spoke to me again."
"The longer you put it off, the harder it's going to be."
"I know, Ginny! But I don't want to loose my best friends! But I don't want to loose Draco either." Hermione collapsed against a large tree along the bank.
"I didn't mean to push. I know you'll tell them when you're up to it."
"No, you're right. I've been putting it off. I've gotta tell them sometime." Hermione resolved, getting up again.
"They're out on the pitch." Ginny smiled. Hermione nodded and waved, heading the other way.
[-]
"What's up?" Harry asked as he and Ron landed next to Hermione.
"It's time for a talk." She said seriously. Harry raised an eyebrow and looked at Ron. He shrugged.
"What about?" Ron responded.
"How about we go have a sit in the stands." Hermione suggested, heading towards the stairs. Harry and Ron followed. She sat with them on either side of her.
"'Mione, you're starting to worry me." Harry admitted, "What's going on?"
"I have something to tell you." Hermione began, "For a few months now ...I've been seeing someone."
"That's great 'Mione! Anybody we know?" Harry smiled, but Ron looked highly suspicious.
"Why haven't you told us?" Ron's accusing tone sliced into her, "Who is it?"
"Ron, please don't hate me." Hermione choked, "I didn't plan it. It just happened."
"Hermione?" Harry whispered. "Is it a Slytherin?" She nodded as the tears started to form in her eyes.
"Honestly, Hermione. How could you? They all hate us!" Ron's voice was a mixture of jealousy, disappointment, and sadness.
"Ron, you've never even gotten to know any of them - not really." Hermione was beginning to get angry, "What happened to not judging books by the cover? You don't want people to label me as dirt just because my parents are muggles, but you condemn them just for being in a house that has a bad reputation."
"Hermione, they have a bad reputation for a reason." Harry pointed out.
"I know, but not all of them are devil's spawn like you assume." Hermione argued.
"Wait a second - who exactly are we talking about?" Ron urged, as though something had just dawned on him. Hermione just looked at him, a silent tear running down her face. Ron swallowed and buried his face in his hands, as though something had just been confirmed.
"You couldn't possibly - I mean, no way ..." Harry trailed off.
"Malfoy." Ron hissed. Hermione let out a single sob.
"God, don't hate me. Please don't hate me." Hermione begged.
"I couldn't hate you, Hermione. No matter how much I might want to right now." Ron said, his voice eerily calm. He just got up and started down the stairs. Hermione moved to follow him, but Harry stopped her.
"He just needs some time to process it." Harry gave her a reassuring smile.
"Tell me you're not disgusted with me." Hermione said, looking at him. Harry sighed.
"I understand." He answered eventually, "Not everyone is what they seem."
"Oh, god. I love you, Harry." Hermione sniffled, hugging him tightly. Harry laughed.
"Dumbledore told me he joined the Order." He admitted. She laughed.
"That would explain why you didn't try to kill me where I sit."
"I'm going to go see how Ron is." Harry kissed her forehead and headed back to the castle.
[-]
On her way back to her dormitory, Hermione was tugged behind a tapestry depicting Copernicus studying the night sky. She was about to scream until a pair of lips descended on hers, resulting in a bruising kiss. Hermione would recognize the feel of those lips anywhere. She responded immediately, unbuckling Draco's belt and pulling his shirt free. As she unbuttoned his shirt, Draco unzipped his pants and lifted Hermione's legs to his waist.
As he pumped into her, Hermione found a place in the wall where a brick was missing and grasped it as she met his thrusts. Draco licked and sucked her neck as Hermione neared her climax. As she came, Draco silenced her scream with his tongue, releasing moments later. Breathing heavily, Hermione opened her eyes and looked up at Draco. Lust-filled silver eyes gazed back at her.
"You weren't wearing knickers." Draco whispered. Hermione grinned.
"Seems pointless - you always end up ripping them off me anyway." She laughed.
"You are full of surprises, Miss Granger."
"As are you." Hermione responded, straightening her skirt and buckling Draco's belt again. As they slipped out from behind the fabric, there was a flash of light and the sound of running footsteps.
"I think we have a stalker." Draco joked, "I think it's that Creevey kid. Been seeing camera flashes all day."
"Come to think of it, me too." Hermione said, "Let's just hope there isn't a poster of us shagging like rabbits up in the Great Hall at breakfast."
"Why not? It would save us telling our friends."
"I told Ron and Harry today."
"And?"
"Harry's fine. Dumbledore told him you were working for the Order."
"What about Ron?"
"I think he just needs some time."
"Let's get back to the dorm."
"And do what?"
"Nothing you won't like." Draco responded, kissing her again and sliding a hand under her skirt. Hermione moaned, but jumped away when she heard footsteps.
"It could be a professor." Hermione said to his affronted look, "Let's continue this in private." She suggested, leading the way back to their room.