Official Information

Title: The Extreme

Author: Enchanted Ink

Disclaimer: Harry Potter indica is the property of J. K. Rowling and the Warner Bros. Association; NOT ME.

Summary: H. A. Granger is in love- with the youngest male Weasley. There is one problem. Ron is no longer an innocent, awkward boy, and she has come to the conclusion that he is after another girl... Her enemy is a master in the art of relationships, and she will do anything for his council.

Rating: PG-13 for possible:
-Language
-Sexual Content
-Violence
-Drugs &/or Alcohol

Extra Info.: Words in italic indicate thought or emphasis on the given term.

A/N: This chapter has a little bit of sexual content.

Thanks you to all of the people who have reviewed for this chapter, especially after so long!

-quiet-one145

-Lover del Dragon

-foxer

-keddababy

-HPROXMYSOX

-Lara Potter

I had hoped to get this chapter up immediately, but is giving me a very hard time logging in. My chapters get longer with each post, and this one is about 2000 words without all of the official jabbering. R/R, and thank you!

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7

Hermione Granger felt her jaw drop dramatically. In an instant, she felt interest as she noticed how strong and sleek his body was. In the next instant, however, she felt fear guzzle into her gut. Vivid, various injuries were scattered on his stomach and his shoulders, the only areas she could see from her spot in the clearing. "OH. MY. GOD," she gasped.

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Draco Malfoy was so shocked it took him two seconds, two seconds too long to discover her gasps had been over the somewhat gory glimpse she had gotten of his body. If he had felt ugly before, that hadn't held a candle to how hideous he felt now. He remembered to return into the water so she would stop her staring, even if it was unintentional.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Granger?" It took him a few seconds to realize he was the one who had spoken.

He shivered. He hadn't meant to spit out her name so spitefully, or to use forceful language that would frighten her. She didn't seem to notice, however, due to the apologetic glances she shot in his direction as she tried to express how sorry she was without looking at him.

"I- I'm sor... I'm sorry. I didn't know- I hadn't realized- I'm intruding." She turned on her heel to return to the grounds, but he stopped her before he could shut himself up.

"Wait!"

She spun around. "What?" He didn't know what to say, so he held his hand up in a gesture that clearly meant 'turn around for a minute.' He grabbed the fuzzy, forest green towel he had laid out for himself and went to wrap it around his body before he realized it wasn't long enough. Instead he tucked it under his chin so that it was horizontal and his frame was completely covered. He cleared his throat.

She decided to speak first. "Um... How?" There was no need to pretend he didn't know what she was talking about. He realized he had better answer her quickly, so she wouldn't think they were self-inflicted or something of that nature.

"I have a sadistic father. I don't really talk about it." Those two sentences clung to the air like a thick blanket, smothering him, making his breathing more labored as his body stiffened, waiting to gauge her reaction. He received a wince. After that, there was nothing but awkward silence. Draco turned to the only other topic that he could think of for an option...

The weather.

"So, this is exceptionally warm weather for a swim. The water never feels like this in September."

"I'll bet it doesn't." Draco realized how much of a kink was developing in his neck muscles and he made an easy transition to use his hands to hold up the towel. Hermione looked around, and as she spotted a stump she lowered herself on it and sighed.

He sat on big, bright boulder that was shaped like a seat.

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly.

"It's all right, this place isn't really mine, so I can't be mad abou-"

"No! That's not what I mean. I'm talking about Lucious. I don't know how you feel, but I know you must hurt... Both physically and mentally." He held his hands up in a detailed shrug, not knowing what else to say, and accidentally let the towel travel to the ground. She was transfixed, her eyes trained on the evidence of torture on his chest. She reached out a finger and he watched as it got close in proximity to his side, then letting it drop as if it had been burned.

He felt as if he had been burned. So he was repulsive to her... She couldn't even touch him, for that was what she was obviously about to do. Without a second thought, without any thoughts, just instinct, he grabbed her warm hand with his cold ones and brushed her fingers gently across his heart. He could feel it himself now, beating fiercely within his chest. Her palm rested for one of the longest seconds of his life across a scar that told a story.

"See? I'm still human." He thrust her arm away from his body and stood, grabbing his robes, hearing those four fatal words echo in his head, almost hauntingly. His voice had been predatory, almost. They were said with more venom than he had meant. He couldn't even look into her eyes.

If he would've... If he would've looked up, just once... He would have seen one crystal-like tear trailing down her cheek- for him.

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Hermione had only run a half of a mile before retiring to the castle. Her head was too clouded it was even hard to think. Changing into more comfortable clothes that had absolutely nothing to do with exercising, she was just about ready to go to dinner when she realized she had a lesson to attend. Looking down at her dull attire, she felt a strong desire to go change but thought the better of it- she didn't want to be late.

Reaching the entrance, she saw that he wasn't there.

She could only hope that he would come.

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I am so humiliated. The words rang in his head. Should he go? Or should he not? He remembered the searing fire his skin felt as her fingers made contact with his flesh and he shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of the memory.

Any friendship I thought I had gained is now lost.

With a sigh, Draco stood and went to his closet, knowing that there was no way to escape confrontation. He didn't want her to think he was some sort of coward. Grabbing a green, heavy knit sweater and a pair of khakis, he threw them on and ran his fingers through his hair, grabbing a basket of food he had gotten from the a house elf. He was late.

Hurriedly, he ran up the stairs and swore as one began to move. He would have to change his route. Then a thought suddenly occured to him.

Granger might not go to the lesson.

It was mind-boggling enough to make him stop and slow his steps. In fact, now that he thought about it, he was pretty sure she wouldn't show after all. Maybe she was so disgusted she doesn't want to continue lessons anymore... He climbed the rounding steps that led to the main platform of the tower. Maybe she's at dinner right now... He climbed the rope latter. Maybe she thinks I'm like Lucious... He stood and brushed off his clothes. Maybe-

She was standing right next to him. Oh. "Hello," she blurted out. He nodded and dropped the basket. Silence. He decided to pretend nothing had ever happened.

"At our last, first lesson we covered two aspects of relationships, which are being verbal and physical. Then we discussed hobbies- this would be Quidditch, which is verbal. Then we practiced dancing, which is obviously physical." He watched as she lowered her head, crimson creeping onto her cheeks. He forced himself not to grin and felt a familiar smirk on his mouth.

"We have a lot of ground to cover. I thought it would be wise to work on dining skills." He motioned to the basket he had brought with him, spelled to keep the dishes their appropriate temperatures. He took out his wand and with a swish and flick he transfigured a rough, wooden, lesson table into an elaborate silver one, complete with a jeweled center piece and fragrant lavender candles. He heard a tiny gasp and grinned with satisfaction as matching chairs popped into place.

Opening the basket, he unveiled several aspects of the meal he had brought.

"Now, if he's a gentleman, hopefully he'll pull your chair out for you before you sit down. You have to make even the slightest movement as graceful as possible. Try it now." He moved closer to her, pulling out a chair for her. As she made her attempt, he almost flinched. She noticed. "Place your fingers lightly on the back of the chair. Then move your hips in a circular motion to lower yourself on the chair. Do all of this while maintaining eye contact. Now try."

Once he saw that Hermione had improved he took his own seat.

"Now, if conversation doesn't immediately ensue, you're going to want to move on to physical contact. Do you know what this would be if you were dining?"

She shook her head in a 'no' gesture. Now he was the one who felt a blush coming on. He didn't know how to describe the technique he was about to explain, all he knew was that it worked. "Well... See... You'd be wearing heals on an event like this, and you'd be sitting across from your date. You'd lift your leg and tickle his leg." As his eyes met her face, she started to laugh.

"You. Can't. Be. Serious!" she managed between gasps. He felt an odd giggle rip itself from his throat, and he began to laugh too, in spite of himself. As they settled back into the quiet, she felt herself begin to relax, and she noticed his shoulders soften.

The ice was finally broken, and they were suspended in the second.

Draco felt a light, ticklish movement on his leg, just underneath his knee cap, that made his breath catch. He jumped. It was the last thing he expected.

"Like this?"

"What?" He was too flustered to catch her meaning.

"Like this. I'm I doing it right? This is what you meant by tickling, isn't it?" Draco's mind raced.

What the hell? Is she... Smirking? I have to get a grip. He raised his eyebrows.

"Or like this?" She brought her foot higher, so it was on the outside of his thigh. He forced himself to sit completely still. He cleared his throat. So we're challenging each other now?

"It doesn't matter. Either one will have the same effect." Now he was positive that the smirk he had seen was no illusion.

Who does she think she is? Two can play this game.

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Hermione Granger was not flirtatious. She was not coy. She was not giddy. When it came to vocabulary terms such as seduce or sexual, anything of that category, you could bet her name would not be in the same sentence. But now... Now she was testing her boundaries...

And she that.

A good portion of her life had been spent on the recieving end of Draco Malfoy's many smirks, but now the roles were reversed...

And she liked that, too.

Apparently, Draco didn't.

He stood, speaking in a softer drawl. He offered his hand. Being confused, she had no choice but to accept it. "Since you seem so keen on learning the physical things first, we shall resume with being verbal... Later." Trying not to let him see her swallow by letting stray strands of hair cover her neck, she walked over to a small couch for two in the corner, another transfigured piece of furniture he had spelled into shape.

"You want to come off as teasing, but not as a tease. That means there is one rule you can not give in to- no kissing on the first date." He gave a wolfish grin. "No kissing on the mouth, anyway." Her eyes widened. She couldn't help it. He lifted a finger and let it trace as lightly as a butterfly across her neck, his nail sending shivers through her spine. "Now, before I continue, how much experience have you had before?"

She narrowed her eyes. Oh, that was low. Although it was unofficial, he held a challenge. Who was she to back down? She brought her head closer to his, letting him think he was about to kiss him. Instead of allowing his eyes to shut as probably any other boy would've done, they stayed perfectly open, unwavering, undaunted. He showed no outward signs of... Anything. But as she heard the hint of a ragged breath, she knew she was doing her job.

I am not experienced. I've kissed a few times, no big deal. That would be pathetic to him. What am I thinking. He doesn't even have to know. I can't believe I'm about to do this... I can't... But I'm going to.

When she was not even a whole inch away, she let her head veer off around towards his ear. "I don't kiss and tell," she murmured, "But I don't see the harm in any extra practice." She brushed her lips lightly, just below his ear, and then let her nails trace his skin. Just as she began to wonder if she should try nibbling as she had seen in muggle movies, an unexpected noise set her system on alert.

Someone was coming.

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