PART NINE

When the Heart is Weak

Everything pretty much turned upside-down. Hermione would always have her mind occupied with thoughts of Malfoy, and Malfoy wouldn't care about anything else but to anticipate the next time he'd be able to touch her again. During History of Magic's morning sessions, they would study together seriously, once in a while sharing sweet nothings and touching each other. In the evenings, it would still be the same, but this time they would be more affectionate with each other and there would be less studying. They would always spend the night there and Hermione would tell her friends the next day that she had something to work on in the library, some important "Head Girl stuff". Luckily, Harry was nowadays too busy spending time with Cho to realize it was weird, and Ron was just too happy-go-lucky to care. They never did make love again, because Hermione didn't want to for some reason, and Malfoy respected that. But they would spend every night, cuddled in each other's arms, touching in all places and talking until the morning. Malfoy, though, never even thought twice about neglecting his studies despite all this, and to help him study, Hermione had found an effective way to "encourage" him.

"Okay," Hermione shifted in her seat across from him one night. "When did Granola the Great defeat the banshees in the civil war?"

Malfoy sighed. "How am I supposed to remember something that happened so long ago?"

"Oh, you don't know the answer? That's really too bad…" Hermione ran her hand slowly through her own belly and up the valley of her breasts, then started removing the buttons on her robes. "And I thought we could finish early tonight…"

Malfoy didn't say anything for a while, as he stared at the way Hermione slowly and so…seductively relieved herself of her robes.

"Whew," Hermione breathed, tossing her robes on the floor and slowly popping her buttons open. "It really is getting hot in here, don't you think?" She watched as a smile spread across Malfoy's lips. She could see the intentions in his eyes. She smiled to herself and removed her blouse as well. She closed her eyes and moaned as she ran her hands over her own body. "So…hot…"

Instantly, Malfoy pushed back his chair and made a move towards her, but she held up her hand to stop him. "Hang on," she grinned when he frowned. "If you really want this…" she stood up from her chair and laid herself down on the couch. "…tell me when Granola won the war."

He sighed again in frustration and threw his hands up in the air. "Okay! Okay!" He paused to think and there was silence for a while. "In…1562?"

Hermione smiled and tugged on her shorts, kicking it off her legs. "Now, what kind of army did Granola use back then…?"

"Aw, c'mon Hermione! That's not part of the deal!" Malfoy complained.

She shrugged. "Sorry; no answer, no skin." And she reached out to pick up her clothes on the floor.

"Wait, wait! I've got it," he clapped his hand to his forehead, and she grinned. Then he snapped his fingers. "Werewolves. Granola used werewolves."

"Uh-huh…and were the village people affected in any way at all…?" She lowered her eyelids flirtatiously and sucked on her finger. Then she slowly traced wet circles on the mound of her left breast.

Malfoy swallowed heavily and unknowingly licked his lips, his eyes glued to her finger. "Er…no…no, they weren't. A Memory Charm was cast on them after the war."

Hermione smiled mischievously. "Good," she batted her eyelashes, then rolled on her back. "Now…can you unclasp my bra for me…? I can't seem to reach it…"

Malfoy grinned, finally getting his reward. "As you wish."

They both never did show any deep affection for each other. They merely acted as friends who were infatuated, and who were driven by their raging hormones' appetite for flesh. At school during the day, though, they acted as though nothing happened between them. But this time, Malfoy never initiated any insults when it came to Hermione. Sure, he still wouldn't let Harry and Ron hear the end of it, but when it was Hermione he was faced with, he'd simply nod in agreement to the other Slytherins' insults, or just sneer or laugh with them. Hermione found this very amusing, and considered that perhaps, Malfoy truly did consider them as friends.

But it was Hermione who would soon realize that she wanted more than that.

"What are you doing?" Malfoy hissed at her, his eyes darting back and forth around him as the two of them quietly and quickly sped down the halls one evening after hours. They paused to catch their breath and to hide from a roaming Nearly Headless Nick around a deserted corner, and Hermione simply said, "Just trust me!" with a naughty gleam in her eyes.

Malfoy was just about to say something else when she grabbed his arm again and started pulling him along with her, as she continued to run towards who-knows-where. He shook his head in an amused way, realizing that this "Head Girl" was actually leading him somewhere, most probably out-of-bounds, at this prohibited hour of the night. He was finding it hard to run fast in his Quidditch robes, protection padding and all, but he finally gave up trying to struggle, and allowed himself to be dragged away.

Finally they reached a statue of Boris the Bewildered, and Malfoy realized that they were on the fifth floor. Hermione located the fourth door to the left of the statue, and he watched as she leaned close to the door and muttered, "Pine-fresh."

Hermione quickly pulled him inside and locked the door behind her. She grinned at him. "Welcome to the Prefects' bathroom."

"Ooookaaay…" Malfoy looked around, admiring the magnificence of it all. "Now I know why you prefects are all so filthy clean and neat all the time."

She laughed and shoved him lightly, then pulled him towards the center of the bathroom, near the edge of the pool-sized bath, which he could tell she'd prepared earlier that day. She paused and stood in front of him, his back to the water. "Are you wondering why we're here?" she whispered.

He scrunched up his face and pretended to rub his chin. "Hmmm…well, I was actually wondering what kind of dorky pajamas Potter wears, but now that you mentioned it, yes, I am wondering why we're here," he joked sarcastically.

She giggled and stepped closer to him, running her fingers on his cheek. "Ah, the famous Malfoy wit," she smiled. "We're here because…" She leaned in close to his ear, and whispered, "…you're going to take a bath."

Malfoy's eyes widened and he almost burst out laughing. He stepped back a little and gestured down at his Quidditch robes. "Okay, I know I'm not exactly the squeakiest, cleanest guy in the world, but you know that's not my fault. No one told you to drag me with you right after practice."

She grinned. "What can I say? I want you to bathe." She bit her lip. "With me."

He grinned as well and shook his head. He stepped towards her again and placed his hands on her waist. "You know Granger, sometimes you just have the wackiest ideas." He leaned in and kissed her. "Wacky…but definitely good."

"Mmm-hmmm," she approved as he kissed her again. "That's why you sleep with me in the first place," she whispered, and they started kissing more deeply, tasting each other's depths insatiably. She moaned into him, beginning to run out of breath, as he groped for the clasp of her robes. Her hand reached up to pull his head closer towards her, and they deepened the kiss even more despite the lack of air.

She groaned again as she felt him hastily pull off half of her robes, but a sudden 'splish' made her shriek and push him back forcefully. Too forcefully.

She gasped as Malfoy came splashing down into the water and almost jumped in with him, had not something translucent slid out of a tap and swept in front of her.

She cried out in shock again, but soon realized who it was.

"Myrtle! Wha-what are you…what are you doing here at this time of the night?" she stuttered, panting from the kiss.

Moaning Myrtle floated above her and then swept quickly across the room, stopping back in front of her. "I can come here anytime I want. You, on the other hand, aren't supposed to. You know, you're just like your friend Harry. Always sneaking out at places and times that he shouldn't be…"

Hermione gulped and desperately tried to straighten her disheveled robes before Myrtle got suspicious. "Well…I…I was too busy during the day to take a bath, so…now's the only free time I have."

"Hmph! Rubbish! What an excuse. I bet you're out here to figure out some clue again. That was exactly what Harry was doing that night I caught him here a few years back. And then…he never came to see me again…" Myrtle's frown slowly changed from irritation to self-pity. Hermione swallowed. She definitely sensed a major wailing coming.

"Er…listen, Myrtle; Harry's been really busy these past few years…what with You-Know-Who back in power…" she soothed, but these words didn't seem to affect Myrtle's growing tear-brimming. Hermione quickly racked her brain to prevent Myrtle from bursting into tears, which would definitely make Filch hear. Not to mention she had to get rid of her so she could spend time alone with Malfoy—who, by the way, was hiding underwater and was most probably already running out of breath. All of a sudden she had a brainstorm.

"C'mon, Myrtle; why don't you head down to the Quidditch shower rooms? Quidditch practice just ended, and maybe Harry's still in there," she lied.

Myrtle's face suddenly lit up. "You think so?"

"I'm positive. And while you're at it, give him a piece of your mind and show him what it's like to be forgotten," she went on. Oh Harry, I'm so sorry…

"Hmmm…maybe I will." And with that, Myrtle immediately sped back into the tap she came from.

Malfoy instantly emerged from underwater, panting, the moment Myrtle had gone. His face was all red from holding his breath. "Damn it! Why the hell can't that bloody ghost just stay put in her haunt?"

Hermione sighed and sat down on the edge of the bath near him, her feet dangling in the water. "I'm so sorry, Draco…Myrtle really is a pain."

He frowned. "Wonderful. Now how will we know when she'll come floating back in here?"

She smiled and took out her wand, waving around the taps and locking them closed. "I don't think she'll be disturbing us for a while. Besides, I've sent her on a mission she'll definitely not want to miss."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "I guess she fancies Saint Potter just like everyone else. What is it with that bloke?"

"Draco…maybe you should give him a chance…he's a really great guy when you get right down to it—"

"The only thing that's so great about him is that he's got an incredibly hot friend like you." He moved towards her and started stroking her submerged legs. "And the dork is too blind not to see that after all these years, you've been right beside him. That guy's nutters, I tell you. And he actually chose that ruddy Ravenclaw Seeker over you. Can anyone possibly get any denser?"

She giggled. "Aw, come off it." She kicked some water towards him.

He grinned. "Are you sure that ghoul isn't coming back?" He planted a kiss on her right knee. "'Coz I'd like to spend some 'quality' time with you, if you know what I mean."

"Oh, she's not coming back. She won't be able to pass through the taps anymore. Me and my brilliant enchantments," she pointed towards the locked taps and grinned.

"Okay then," Malfoy slowly slid his hands up her legs, caressing her inner thighs gingerly. Hermione found herself closing her eyes in anticipation. His hands finally slid under her clothes and traced the outline of her panties. Hermione, feeling more aroused than ever, bit her lip as he tugged at her underwear and removed them for her.

She swallowed heavily as she felt his hands moving dangerously higher…and she unknowingly spread her legs in eagerness—

--until he grinned and suddenly pulled her down the water with him.

She shrieked in surprise as she came splashing down, Malfoy laughing beside her. She started laughing as well, shoving him. "Are you crazy? You shouldn't have done that! Filch could have heard me screaming you know!"

Malfoy held up his hands, still chuckling. "Okay! Okay! I'm sorry. You just looked so…cute. That's all," he paused to eye her up and down, her wet hair all over her face and her drenched clothes sticking to her body, outlining every curve, especially her breasts beneath her bra. He swallowed, staring at her aroused nipples against her black Hogwarts robes. "And now that you're all wet…you look—even cuter," he continued, blushing.

Hermione blushed as well, realizing what he meant. "Er—"

Malfoy cut her off and pulled her to him, kissing her hungrily. His hands moved down her body and under her robes again, finally sliding his finger up into her and giving her what she wanted. She broke from the kiss and groaned aloud, leaning her head back in pleasure. Malfoy continued teasing her with his fingers for a while, finding her moans extremely…erotic. He then leaned close to her ear. "Not worried about Filch hearing you now, are you?" He taunted, finally withdrawing his finger. Hermione gave him a dazed smile.

"You know what…?" she whispered seductively, running her hands over his chest.

Malfoy grinned. "What?"

Hermione gave him a light peck on the lips, as she teasingly kissed her way to his ear. "You really need a bath."

They both laughed and broke free as Malfoy started removing his own clothes. "Fine, I will. Now pass me the soap, if that's what you want."

Hermione grinned, digging into her soaking robes for her wand. "Accio soap," she pointed to the shelves across the room, and two bars of soap came zooming into her open hands. She tossed one to Malfoy, who was now completely naked. She licked her lips temptingly and raised her eyebrows at him. "Nice…" she commented.

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Take your clothes off, will you?"

Hermione placed a finger on her lip, pretending to think. "Well…I think I'd rather have you take them off for me," she said with a playful wink.

"Fine with me," Malfoy said eagerly, kissing her again and ripping her clothes off in the process. They kissed until Hermione could feel her lips getting swollen from all the action, but still she didn't stop until she could feel her bare skin on his.

A few moments after they were both naked, they broke the kiss and he gazed lovingly at her face. "You know, I really like your hair better that way."

Hermione laughed and tugged at a few strands of her straight, wet hair sticking to her neck. "Sorry, but I don't really comb my hair much when it's already dry. That basically gives the bushy look."

He grinned. "You should try to keep brushing it down in strokes while it's still wet."

"Who are you, my hair stylist?" she grinned as well. "For your information, I'm not really a big fan of your slicked-back 'do, either."

"Can I help it if my parents hate it when my bangs are all over my forehead?" He ran his hand through his wet hair, pushing himself away from her. "They actually want me to get the military cut. Talk about major humiliation."

She cocked her eyebrow. "Why don't you give it a try, then?"

"What, and trade the long bangs I tried so hard to grow? Forget it!"

She giggled at that. "I can not believe that the Draco Malfoy actually fusses over his hairstyle just like a girl!"

Malfoy just shrugged and started scrubbing himself with the soap she'd handed him. Hermione watched him silently, not believing that she could be any happier with him right now. It just felt so…normal…so perfect to be with him. She felt like they'd been the best of friends for years. She'd never wanted anything else these past few days but to be with him…and just being with him made her feel like she was in heaven no matter how awful her day had been. They didn't need to be kissing or hugging or sharing sweet nothings…they didn't even need to be talking. Just his mere presence made her feel safe…contented…happy…at peace.

Her feelings were changing. And it was beginning to scare her.

He turned and saw her gazing at him, and he flashed a goofy grin, something that definitely looked way awkward and different from his usual smirks. She had to admit; it didn't suit him very much, but she liked it, anyway. Hermione chuckled at his silliness, shoving a handful of water at him. How she loved the way he smiled…the way he moved…the way he talked…the way his voice sounded whenever he whispered lovingly to her…how she loved everything about him…

How she loved…him…

Hermione felt like her heart was being squeezed all the way the moment the thought entered her mind, like there was something that she desperately needed to say and desperately needed to know, but couldn't. And once again, the feeling she'd felt when they'd first kissed came flooding back into her.

Love…Draco…?

All of a sudden she felt like there was something more to their kisses…that there was something more to what they were doing…something more to the blissful nights they always spent and the intimate moments they always shared…she felt like there was something more to her thing with Draco Malfoy all this time…

He wasn't just some fling or some pastime she enjoyed whenever she needed him.

He was starting to capture a big part of her life…

…and her heart.

Okay. First off, I'M SOOOO SORRRYYY!!!!!!!!! Sorry for taking ages to upload…school has been crazy lately even though it's only the start of the school year…not to mention my brother keeps hogging the computer to himself all the time (oh, the horror) so pleeeeease forgive me for being an intolerable slowpoke. I hope I didn't make you guys wait too long…but nevertheless, I'm really grateful that you guys stuck around and gave me all your comments:D I really appreciate it:D I've been getting a lot of reviews about the rated R thing…thank you so much for letting me know what you think. I kind of agree with those who said I was being a little bit too cautious, and that I should go see other fics that have R ratings too so that I can compare my work:D I'd love to do that, but like I said, I can't use the computer much nowadays, now's the only time I can, actually. So I probably won't be able to read much of other people's work, unfortunately L But I promise I will try to squeeze in and kick my brother off the computer chair if I have to just to be able to read more R rated fics:D I'll try to be a little bit more explicit next time, for all those who thought that the steamy scenes were kind of unsatisfactory hehehe!:D I'm really, really sorry guys! Thank you soooooooo very much for all the praises, they really do keep me going despite the heavy school load:D I'll do my best to live up to your expectations, okay?:D Thanks again and please keep R&R-ing!:D