Author's Note: Sorry to keep you all hanging like that, but with midterms coming up school has been so hectic and I've barely had time for fanfic (and for this I must die—I know the drill). Thanks so much to all of you who have read and reviewed; to those who thought it was too fluffy, well, there is going to be a good amount of fluff going on here (although I'm trying to not let it overpower the story, fluff is good for the soul but eventually starts rotting the brain) so whatever, I'm just letting you know. As always, your encouraging words mean so much to me!! I love you all… xxx*Anya*xxx
Chapter Six
Draco and Hermione: The Early Years
A pleasant floral aroma filled her nostrils, arousing her sense of smell. Next, her hearing awoke to the sound of rushing water. Her closed eyes sensed a soft light just beyond her limited vision. Her mind never stopped working; she'd dreamt of him and now as the previous night's happenings came back to her, a slow, happy smile spread across her face that she couldn't seem to stop. She felt him next to her; he never actually touched her but she knew he was there, moving as soundlessly as he could.
"Draco?" Hermione mumbled incoherently, forcing one eye to crack open just a little bit. She could see his blurry figure approaching her and she felt his lips gently brush her forehead.
"Shhh," he cooed softly, stroking her hair, "Take some time to wake up properly before you 'Draco' me."
She inhaled deeply and stretched her arms over her head, letting her now half-opened eyes adjust to the light. She could see a newly drawn bath close by (That explains the rushing water, Hermione thought) and a tray of pastries, strawberries, and two glasses of juice to her right.
"I'm awake now," she called to him mellifluously. She couldn't help but grin as Draco smiled a crooked smile that made her want to eat him alive.
"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," he greeted her. When she only looked at him quizzically he added, "My mother always loved Muggle fairy tales, so I at least know of many of them."
"Where are we?" she asked, still rather disoriented and not quite fully awake.
"Prefects' bath," was the reply. "I thought a spa day would do you some good, and I doubt you'll find a better spa than this."
Hermione considered; he was right. For all that it was labeled as just a bathroom, it had several bathtubs of varying sizes, all with hundreds of jets spouting out different pleasurable solutions such as bubbles or colored water, a mud bath, and many other spa-like treatments available to the prefect in need of pampering.
"Wow," she said in awe, "I must say, I'm very impressed with you, Draco."
He smirked. "Of course you are; that's because I'm perfect."
"Has anyone ever told you that you are extremely arrogant and annoying?" she demanded playfully, finding the strength to sit up.
"Actually, no," Draco said lightheartedly and in mock sadness, "but I suppose that's because the thought of one as wonderful as myself being arrogant and annoying never even occurred to them."
Hermione frowned, ignoring his last comment, and asked, "Wait. How did I get here in the first place? Did I sleep in here? Did we—" Her eyes widened in alarm. "We didn't…well, do anything we shouldn't have, right?"
He smirked, deciding to have a moments' fun with this. "Well," he said slyly, "that all depends on one's definition of what we should and shouldn't have done."
She gripped his arm. "Draco, please. I don't remember what happened after…" She lowered her eyes. "After, um, I left the Ball."
He nodded slowly. So Hermione didn't remember anything, as it were! How could she not remember that heart-stopping, time-freezing, Malfoy-shaming kiss? He wondered to himself, and he asked her in dismay, "You don't remember anything?"
She looked up at him with eyes that definitely had a trace of fear in them. Understandable, Draco thought in deliberation, I'm sure mine look the same way.
"Of…of course I remember," she said, surprised. "I couldn't possibly forget. But, that still doesn't answer why I woke up in the Prefects' bath."
"True," he agreed. "Well, after you and I…um, after we went outside, you fell asleep in my arms, believe it or not, and I had no choice but to find someplace where we both could spend the night. Stop looking at me like that, Granger, you were out cold, there was no nasty to be done unless I wanted to take complete advantage of you, or if I liked it limp. Neither of which is the case. Now, see, here's the dilemma: I couldn't very well have brought you back to Gryffindor tower because A, I have no idea where it is and B, even if I did, I do not know the password. I couldn't bring you to the Slytherin dormitories either, because, well, that would be bad—you, as a Gryffindor, should not know where our ever so humble abode is…and Slytherins don't exactly have a reputation for being the most, er, tolerant group of kids in the world. In other words, people of your, er, background aren't exactly welcomed in the Slytherin way."
A smile escaped from Hermione's lips. How cute, she thought. He's babbling incessantly, I've never seen him ramble on like this before! "So what did you do, brave Malfoy?" she asked in mock suspense, humoring him.
He glared at her, although his summer-sky eyes were playful. "It's really not a laughing matter," he said all too seriously. "In the end, the only place I could think of that would make sense for both of us to be in, considering the fact that we are both Prefects, was the Prefects' bath. I conjured up some mattresses for us—you're lying on one right now, awfully comfy, isn't it?—and here we are now."
"How come no one's come in?" she wondered. "I mean, there are Prefects who use this bathroom on a regular basis."
He grinned. "I charmed the floor just outside so it looks like it's leaking and tacked up a sign on the door."
"But Filch--?"
"Already taken care of," Draco said proudly. "He came in earlier this morning and when he saw that there was no leak, he grumbled something about 'screwy magic' and left at once."
Hermione threw her arms around his neck, which took him completely by surprise. "I must say, Draco…I'm impressed. So now we have this room all to ourselves?" she whispered into his ear, sending shivers up his spine.
He backed away, knowing Hermione probably wouldn't like what he was thinking of right that instant. "Well, you do. I'll be going as soon as you say the word."
She took his hands and looked up at him, chocolate eyes large. "I want you to stay," she said hesitantly. "I was just going to take a bath…and my body will be entirely covered with bubbles, it'll be fine. I'd really like some company. Is that alright? Will you stay with me?"
How can I say no? Draco moaned silently. "As long as you're sure," he said.
"I am," she assured him. Pensively, she added, "Hey…Draco? Um, this is just out of curiosity, but, er, why are you being so nice?"
He laughed outright at this and pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. "You know, I don't know. I guess because you're so adorable right now. No, don't look at me that way, I'm not actually serious. Well, you are adorable, but…well, I have a lot of things to sort out in my head and why I'm being nice to a member of the bloody Golden Trio is far beyond my understanding. And yet, it is so. But," he added with that familiar malicious glint back in his eye, although they were still that kind, loving sky blue, "I can assure you, it won't last long."
"Good," Hermione said. "I kind of miss bickering with you, it's fun."
He laughed again and gently tweaked her nose. "Nice to know you feel that way, Granger."
She looked at him in contemplation. "You should laugh more," she said thoughtfully. "I like it when you laugh."
Draco's jaw clenched involuntarily. Stop thinking about shagging her, he reprimanded himself. God, why is she so beautiful; what is it about her that makes me want her so badly? Potter and Weasley are such idiots, not to have noticed this! Ugh, this is too much all at once.
"You should take that bath," he said awkwardly, standing up.
Hermione glanced up at him oddly. "Right, the bath," she said absently. She turned on a few of the taps, which let out pink water with a freesia-like aroma, incredibly thick white foam, and airy, pale yellow bubbles that smelled of honeysuckle.
"You might want to turn around, although…ornatus velamen prodeo."
A dressing screen appeared around her body so she was able to take off her clothes without Draco seeing. Grabbing one of the fluffy white towels from beside the bathtub, she wrapped it around her naked body.
"Ornatus velamen abeo," she said, and the dressing screen disappeared. She stepped into the bath, carefully sliding off the towel as she sunk in, and let herself relax. "It's okay, you can turn back around now," she called to Draco once she was sure only her head, neck, and shoulders were visible.
He sauntered over to her with a smirk; dirty, delicious visions popping into his head as he imagined what was under those thick bubbles. "So what's up with you, Granger," he said. "Why did you want me to stay?"
She closed her eyes. "I enjoy your company," she said, "as crazy as that sounds. I just wanted to talk."
"Alright," he said, his smirk turning into a true smile. "Let's talk."
*~*~*~*
Anyone who saw Draco or Hermione over the next few days would know that both of them had changed. Neither could be seen without a suspicious goofy smile, although Draco was better at hiding his, and there was something about the way they looked at each other that was different. They were very careful not to let anyone see them together; they didn't think people could handle the idea of a Slytherin and a Gryffindor being attracted to each other just yet.
Hermione and Draco were both very lucky in that during these first few days after the events of the Christmas Ball and the day after, none of their close friends were at school to see their immediate changes. However, they could never be too chary and made sure to appear to still be enemies to everyone else. Even so, they could usually both be found during the majority of the end of the holidays either in the Prefects' bath or in the library, at a very secluded table towards the back.
Every night, regardless of whether Draco was there, Hermione went to the library to work on her school assignments. Quiet as the Gryffindor Common room was with most people gone, she ended up needing a reference text and going to the library anyway, so it was easier to just go in the first place.
Two nights before the day term was to start again, Draco found her in the abandoned library, practically in tears, scribbling manically on a piece of parchment.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong?" he said as he approached her, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders and wiping a stray tear from her smooth cheek. "It's late, you should go back to your dormitory. You've been working all day."
"No, I can't stop now!" she protested, shrugging his arm away and continuing to scrawl frenziedly. "I have so much work to do…I'll never get it all done in time. And if I don't get it done in time, I'll fail. If I fail, then I can't be Head Girl. And if I can't be Head Girl, how will I ever get to be the first female Minister of Magic by the time I'm thirty-five?"
Draco raised a skeptical eyebrow and took a seat next to a sniveling Hermione. "So basically what you're trying to tell me is that your entire future lies in the hands of a Transfiguration essay due in two weeks?"
She shot him an icy glare. "Don't make fun," she scolded. "And this isn't the only thing I have to do. This is just the beginning. I thought I had most of my work done, but then I realized I have two papers due for Arithmancy, one for Muggle Studies, and about four hundred pages of reading to do for History of Magic!"
"And is any of this actually required?" he asked irreverently.
"Yes!" she shot back. "It's all required! And I'll never, ever finish in time. I need to stop sleeping, stop eating, and just work!"
"Hermione, this is crazy!" he cried, running a hand through his hair. "What happened to you that made you so uptight?"
She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "You really think I'm uptight?" she asked in a small voice. She'd always known she was opinionated and determined with a fabulous work ethic and a brain to match, but uptight? That was more or less telling her had a stick up her ass and she didn't even realize it (the worst kind of stick is an invisible stick), or like she was a boring person no one wanted anything to do with.
Draco let out a low breath and stroked her soft cheek. "No," he said, "I don't. And I'm sorry I even said anything, but seeing you this crazy worries me."
"So you do care about me," she said contentedly, smiling smugly.
Bright blue eyes met her own chocolate ones. "So it would seem," he said with a smirk. "But you, my dear, are not working any more as of right now."
"Oh?" she said. "And what are you going to do about it if I do?"
He grinned and placed playful lips on her neck, moving slowly up towards her jaw line, increasing the pressure when he heard Hermione gasp and softly moan.
"You like that?" he whispered right into her ear before gently kissing her earlobes, sending intense shivers up her spine.
"Not at all," she gasped in return, feeling him smile behind those magic lips. She laid a gentle finger on his chin, tilting his face to her lips, before pressing them on his warm, delicious mouth. His kiss was more passionate than it had been the other night; it was somehow possible that there was more fire ignited between them.
Slowly but surely, Draco stood up, taking Hermione with him, and began to gradually lower her onto the table in front of them. Hermione opened her lips a little wider for Draco's tongue to enter, exploring every hidden crevasse of her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his body down onto hers.
She couldn't think about a single thing. His lips danced around her encouraging face, leaving nothing but a trail of sweet, desirable wetness. Draco's touch erased all fears and thoughts she had…especially when he kisses my neck like that! She sighed, letting out another moan.
She let him continue to kiss her for awhile longer, unable to resist the pleasure she felt. There was so much heat rising in Hermione's body, she was almost positive that at any moment she would explode, or catch on fire, or…or…she lost her train of thought again as Draco placed quick, delicate kisses on her shoulders and collarbone, moving his mouth down towards her shirt collar.
Hermione bit her lip in anticipation as he began to slide his hands up her shirt and sending shivers wherever his fingers touched, not wanting him to stop but knowing that if he didn't, it would undoubtedly go too far. "Draco, please," she whispered. "Not tonight."
He raised his lips and looked at her with intense eyes, letting in a shuddered breath. "Aww, and we were just getting started," he said sardonically in a low voice. Despite his words, she could see in his eyes that he knew she was right. Carefully he stood up, lacing Hermione's fingers in his own as he tenderly pulled her up too.
"What time is it?" Hermione yawned, unexpectedly drowsy. She wrapped her arms around Draco's middle, leaning against his chest for the support she suddenly needed.
He put one hand around her back and checked his wristwatch on the other. "It is…almost one in the morning."
"No wonder I'm sleepy," she said with a smile. "Do you want to walk me back to my dormitory?"
He lightly kissed the top of her head, stroking her soft hair. "I'm a Slytherin, I'm not supposed to know where Gryffindor tower is."
"It's okay, Draco," she murmured, growing more and more tired by the second. "I trust you."
I trust you. Draco's eyes widened at the sound of those three simple words. I trust you. Did she, now? He wasn't used to being trusted—not by his so-called friends, not at home, not anywhere.
"Well…alright," he agreed after getting over the shock. "I think you'll need the support anyway, Miss I-Fall-Asleep-After-Every-Makeout-Session-With-Draco. Do I bore you that much?" he asked with a smile, looking down at the lovely young woman he held in his arms.
"No," she giggled. "And two isn't enough to declare it every, anyway."
"Oh yeah?" he said, abruptly picking her up off her feet and holding her as if she were a priceless treasure. "How about we try for one more, and then call it every?"
"No fair!" she exclaimed, wrapping long arms around his neck. "You only say that because I'm falling asleep as it is and you want something to hold against me."
"And why would I want that, dear Hermione?" Draco wondered with a smirk, making his way out of the library with a practically limp Hermione in his arms.
"So I'll always do as you please," she whispered, bringing her lips to his ear before giving him a hard, heart-wrenching kiss on the mouth. "There. That's all you're getting, and I mean it."
Draco's mouth opened in astonishment. He had never felt like this about anyone and it scared the shit out of him. But that, he kept telling himself, was half the fun.