Chapter Soundtrack - War of Hearts (Acoustic Version) by Ruelle
/
It turns out the first day Hermione spent as Draco's public girlfriend was rather anticlimactic.
She did something that morning which she never usually did, which was sleep in.
She had slept so deeply after her call with Draco the previous night that she hadn't heard any of the other girls waking to leave for breakfast. By the time Hermione roused, she barely had enough time to throw on her uniform and dash out to Herbology.
Another thing she hadn't quite counted on was the bombardment of correspondence that she received throughout the day.
Love potions were, of course, strictly banned. Given it was Valentine's, even more notices had been tacked to the boards during the night, reminding students of immediate expulsion even with simple possession.
In absence of that, the new craze was sending paper aeroplanes that carried love letters. Hermione recalled a similar messenger system being used in the Ministry of magic to send memos.
These love letters seemed to be rather more aggressive in their purpose, however.
Throughout the day, planes zoomed in and out of classes, knocking into students' heads and getting caught in their robes.
The teachers for the most part seemed to accept this. Some, like Flitwick, thought it was sweet. Others gave the planes an irritated glare each time one swooped in, interrupting class and landing on a desk.
Hermione had received no less than twelve planes by lunchtime.
The spell seemed to be able to track the recipient- no matter where she rushed off to, they followed her, dive bombing into her bushy hair.
She'd assumed her popularity had died down ever since she'd started befriending ex-Voldemort-supporting Slytherins, but clearly she still had a healthy following of admirers.
She had no desire to open any of them.
She left piles of aeroplanes on her desk and chair as she went from class to class but still more came.
She asked her usual questions to Professor Vector after class, but it took twice as long since she kept being interrupted by letters. This made her miss most of lunch and she barely had time to gobble down a sandwich before Transfiguration.
She finally managed to nip a few pasties from the Great Hall and join Draco for Theo's last evening in the Hospital Wing.
"Bring me anything? Pomphrey is a bit stingy on the pudding. Salazar I can't wait to be free of this place, none of my letters from my myriad of admirers seem to be able to find me here. Share some of yours?" Theo asked wryly as three more aeroplanes whizzed through the door and started rapping Hermione impatiently on the shoulder.
"Ugh, here," Hermione shoved a pasty and a fresh pile of class notes she'd taken into Theo's lap and began shooing the planes away with her heavy Arithmancy book.
Draco scowled.
"Must you keep them all here?"
"Don't look at me like that! I've tried Vanishing, Incendio, Leviosa and Diffindo but they just keep dodging everything!"
Theo placed a hand over his heart.
"Is that how you treat your admirers? You'll be breaking some hearts, especially-"
He snatched the nearest plane and unfolded it-
"Poor Gunther…"
"I haven't a clue who that is! Besides, I'm happily taken and it's about time everyone knew it!"
She saw Draco's lip quirk from behind his book on carnivorous plants.
Hermione spent the evening reviewing her Arithmancy homework while ignoring the occasional plane that flitted around their heads. To her annoyance, Theo seemed to take deep pleasure in opening her letters and reading his favourites.
"Ooh look it, this bloke sounds really serious. He pledges his life to you and offers to take you to his family's Niffler farm in Surrey."
Draco snorted.
"You shouldn't be laughing. Nifflings are downright adorable. You've got stiff competition."
That wiped the derision from Draco's face.
"Ahh this one fancies himself a poet! Hem hem.
'Dearest Hermione darling,
Your eyes are positively startling.
Your large nest of hair,
Your freckles fair,
Have driven me completely barmy.'"
Theo almost choked out a lung from laughing so hard.
"Positively charming."
"Who sent that one?" Draco asked in a bored voice.
"Some twit named Ivan. You can add him to your list of people to murder."
Hermione was a little disconcerted to see Draco nod and look entirely serious about it.
"You've got an awful lot of anonymous admirers too. Cowards the lot of 'em! If I seduce a woman I'll for damn sure make certain she knows it's me, or she'll start imagining me as some beefed-out Gilderoy Lockheart look alike."
"Perhaps they're just shy."
"Shy? Some are downright cryptic. This one didn't even bother writing about himself, only left a dramatic quote about heaven and hell."
Hermione's head jerked up. Why did that sound terribly familiar?
"Give me that!" Hermione snapped and yanked the letter from Theo's grasp.
A chill ran down her spine as she read the words on the parchment.
I'll follow thee and make a heaven of hell.
To die upon the hand I love so well.
"What's wrong?"
Draco's voice was urgent but seemed far away in her mind. She was trying to put things together.
The writing looked awfully familiar to her.
Trembling, she pulled out her beaded bag from her pocket and summoned a piece of paper from inside.
"You wouldn't know Shakespeare, Theo. He was a Muggle poet. Only one book has a Shakespeare quote in the Hogwarts library that I know of.
She compared the duplicate of the library card from the book Love Potions and Their Many Uses that she'd conjured ages ago.
The name 'Draco Malfoy' was etched on the card in an aggressive and recognizable script. It was the same writing as the anonymous love letter.
"It's from them. The love poisoner," Draco said monotonously.
Hermione nodded slowly.
"They took the quote directly from Love Potions and Their Many Uses. I remember reading it in the foreword."
Theo scrunched his nose.
"Wait, the Love poisoner? The one who got Cho at Halloween? Why're they after you?"
"They're clearly some unhinged fanatic," Draco growled. His knuckles were white from clenching his fists.
"This…this is a message of some kind," Hermione said slowly, thinking out loud, "they must've seen my name in the book, so they knew I'd checked it out. They know I'm onto them. They might suspect you're in on it too, since they wrote your name on the library card instead of theirs."
"Can someone please tell me what in the Blibbering Humdinger is going on? Got that one from Luna," Theo added.
Hermione and Draco shared a look. Theo knew practically everything anyway, and so they told him the whole story (though Hermione left out the copious amounts of Room sex she and Draco had partook in.)
"Salazar's left tit, this certainly explains a lot. I'd wondered how you two had come about. Potions partnering seemed far too easy. That also explains why Astoria stopped trailing after you. Daphne is going to raise hell if she finds out her sister embarrassed herself so thoroughly,"
"Daphne doesn't have to know, nor Blaise," Draco answered curtly.
Theo nodded grimly.
"So, some nutter is out to get Hermione and has been making love potions to do it. Why not just go to McGonagall about it all?"
"We did at first. But Draco's name is written in the book and Madam Pince keeps records of those cards, so even if we destroyed it, it would be of no use. Draco can't be implicated in this or he could be expelled."
"I hardly give a fuck about that when some sick bastard is trying to harm you."
Hermione shrunk back a bit in her chair. Draco was looking murderous. He wasn't even Occluding and that, more than anything, is what set off alarm bells in her head. If Draco was mad enough that he'd forgotten to put his shields up, she was worried what else he would do.
"We have no proof. We still only know that they took out a book, we have nothing else!"
"Then I'll Veritaserum every last sorry student in this damn school! You're mine, Hermione, I'm not letting anyone else get their hands on you!"
She couldn't help but quiver at his emphasis on 'mine'.
"Hermione's right, ol' chap. No teachers and no causing a ruckus. A lot of good you'll do if you get chucked out. We'll have to catch the bloody fiend ourselves, but we'll have to be smart about it, won't we?"
"And how exactly do you propose we do that?" Hermione asked, already feeling like she knew the answer.
"We set a trap and bait it."
"I suppose I'd be the bait?"
"No!"
Draco stood up, his face paler than usual.
"You're out of your mind if you think I'm going to let her-"
"Calm down mate, we'll both be there. We could probably even wrangle Luna and Tracey as backup. I'm one of the best duellists in this school and you're by far the best. Hermione will be fine."
Hermione's eyes widened as she studied Draco clenching and unclenching his jaw.
"Since when are you a top tier duellist?"
Theo smirked.
"Draco's never been one to downplay his strengths, though clearly he's learned a thing or two in humility. He could out-duel me with his eyes closed, if he wanted to. I suppose regular lessons with the most notorious Death Eaters does wonders."
Hermione remembered how Theo had ducked and dodged curses like it was second nature. Apparently Draco was leagues ahead of that, yet she had only ever seen him cast a few Protegos and a Stupefy. Perhaps duelling brought back a lot of bad memories for him.
"So what exactly is your plan, Theo?" Hermione asked, ignoring Draco's sound of discontentment.
"I assume you know how the paper aeroplanes work?"
"They're charmed to find the recipient, but can also be answered."
"Exactly. You jot down a meeting place and a time and send that little plane on its way. We provide backup and ambush the poisoner once they show their face."
"And why not just write down a random answer, mark the plane and follow it back to its owner instead of putting Hermione in danger?" Draco questioned, his arms crossed.
"You can't write anything on the outside. The paper's charmed for confidentiality. Plus have you seen the number of planes flying about? Good luck trying to keep your eye on that one. Seeker or no, you'd need superhuman eyesight to keep up, at the speed they're whizzing about. The spells also fizzle out at midnight, when Valentine's is officially over, or the teachers would go barmy."
"So that means we have about five hours to write a reply, or the trail's gone cold," Hermione muttered, "furthermore, we would need to be sure it's really them, the poisoner. I'd need to get some sort of confession out of them first, before any ambushing gets done."
"We could shove Veritaserum down their throat-"
"No Draco! Would you stop it with the Veritaserum? If they turn out to be innocent you will definitely be expelled for assaulting and forcing a Ministry-restricted potion down someone's throat! Especially after McGonagall put up all those notices on poisoning people! No, we'll have to get a confession the diplomatic way."
"How do we know they'll even show up? If they think we're on their trail, wouldn't they want to stay hidden?" Draco asked a little too hopefully.
"You're forgetting an important detail; they're a complete nutter," Nott countered sagely, "would they pass on a chance to meet Hermione one-on-one? Perhaps. But if they do show up- which I'm willing to bet they would- you could put an end to all of this once and for all."
Hermione set her mouth in a determined line.
"I'm in."
"Why must you always insist on running towards trouble?" Draco rounded on her angrily.
"Because if not me, then who! This could be our only chance to catch this person!"
"A golden opportunity, served on a platter," Theo agreed, reclining on his pillows.
"Would you stop encouraging her? I know you're bored and looking to shake things up, but must you goad Hermione into jumping face first into reckless nonsense?"
Hermione took Draco's hand.
"This evil person is out there taunting me, Draco. I don't want to be passive. I don't want to always be looking over my shoulder nor watching my cup for signs of tampering. And I don't want anyone else hurt, especially if I'm the one they're after. I want to be proactive. We need to go on the offensive for once."
"Though if we're going to pull this off, it might be wise to lay low for a bit," Theo added thoughtfully, "the poisoner might suspect an ambush, so best you don't look too chummy with anyone, including Draco and I. This love criminal needs to think he - or she, I suppose - has a chance with you, even if it's slim. You hanging around other blokes might turn him - or her - off."
"But…We were supposed to start being public…"
Hermione squeezed Draco's hand, trying not to feel too disappointed. Draco squeezed back.
Theo did a double take.
"You're kidding! You…er…think that's wise? I don't know if you're fully prepared for the backlash."
"Well, I figured you would both teach me how to duel."
Both Theo and Draco looked perplexed.
"You want us to teach you how to duel?" Draco repeated.
"It would be best, yes. I'll be better off knowing how to properly defend myself plus it'll help with my Defence training. You know, in my O.W.L.s, Defence Against the Dark Arts was the only class I couldn't manage an Outstanding. I really want all my N.E.W.T.s so I think if I can train my reflexes, it'll help."
"Figured you'd have some swotty reason above all else to want to learn how to keep yourself safe," Draco rolled his eyes but a small smile crept across his lips.
Theo cleared his throat.
"That's all well and good that you want to alert the press, but there's a good chance the poisoner won't bother meeting you if you're coupled off, Hermione. They're going to want to see you on the delusion that you might have feelings for them, and that delusion breaks if you're declaring romance with another chap."
Draco barked a harsh laugh.
"So basically, if no one knows about us, some lunatic will keep causing Hermione problems- and if everyone knows about us, then everyone except that lunatic will cause her problems."
Hermione nodded sadly.
"We can't seem to catch a break, can we?" She said softly.
He ran a thumb over her hand but didn't answer. His brow was creased in thought.
"This might be our only chance," Hermione insisted, "we can't mess it up. If we do, the poisoner will know for certain that we're after them and we'll lose them forever. We'll have to keep 'us' a secret until we set the trap."
Hermione slumped down in her chair. She had been so close. So close to finally being free of this lie. Yet, the Amor Videri culprit always seemed to find a way to upset everything.
She pursed her lips, resolute. They would catch this maniac, force a confession out of them and take them straight to McGonagall. Her peace of mind at this school depended on it.
"If we're going to do this, we need a full-proof plan. If this person gets within five feet of you, I want them knocked out," Draco said calmly, though his expression burned with anger.
They spent the next two hours forming their strategy.
Hermione tried her best to keep her hand from shaking as she dipped her quill in ink.
Everyone seemed to hold their breath as she jotted down a time and place set for the upcoming Saturday.
The ink gleamed as it dried.
"Here goes nothing," she murmured, folding up the plane along the same lines and shooting it off into the air.
The plane dipped once over their heads and careened out the door, joining a flock that was passing by overhead.
"It might come to nothing. They might not even show up," Hermione said, patting Draco's arm reassuringly.
"If they have any wish to keep all their limbs attached, they'd better not," Draco said darkly.
/
When they left that evening, the air felt sombre around them.
"Is it terrible that, despite everything that's happened, this has been one of the best Valentine's I've ever had?" Hermione said after taking care to wait until they were out of anyone's earshot.
Draco smiled slightly and she noticed his hand twitched towards hers.
She badly wanted to take it, but even walking alone with him was a risky idea, at this point.
She tried to keep a respectable distance from him, one of a cordial acquaintance, but inside she was yearning to just wrap her arms around his waist.
"I'm glad. I plan on spending many more with you," Draco answered smoothly.
Hermione schooled her smile into a neutral line as more students passed by them.
Were any of them the poisoner? Had their enemy received her letter?
She couldn't shake the thought that everyone they encountered was looking at her. Because she was Hermione Granger? Because she was walking with Draco Malfoy? Or because they wanted to poison her?
Or all of the above?
"Hey," Draco murmured, cutting through her spiralling paranoia, "I won't let anything happen to you. We have a few days to get your duelling skills warmed up and, like we planned, you know I won't be far if you need me. As soon as you say the word, I'll come running."
Hermione couldn't help a small smile.
"I know. I just want it all to be over. If we can get rid of this prat once and for all, I can focus on my studies and time with you and our friends. Maybe I can even start reconciling with Ginny…"
"What ever happened to Weaslette anyway? Not that I mind her absence. You just used to talk about her more."
Hermione froze.
She realised she'd never told Draco about her falling out with Ginny, nor why it came about.
"Erm…"
Draco's expression fell blank.
"Hermione…What aren't you telling me?"
Blast him and his mind-reading powers. She bit her lip.
"You can't be mad at me."
Draco scowled.
"What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything! I- well…"
"Great, bleeding Merlin, you told her, didn't you? How much?"
"I didn't tell her anything! Well- I mean I sort of did-"
"How much?"
"She knows we're dating," Hermione squeaked.
Draco was stone-faced, though a muscle twitched on his forehead.
He inhaled.
"And why exactly did you feel the need to share this with She-Weasel after she tried to Bat Bogey my brains out?"
"I didn't tell her!"
"Then how did she find out?"
"I…er…can't tell you."
"Hermione Jean Granger, you will drive me absolutely up the wall one of these days. What do you mean you can't tell me?"
Something about him saying her full name in such an authoritative manner made her tremble a little.
"It's not my secret to tell!"
"I think I have every right-"
"Shhhh! Keep your voice down would you? We're supposed to be polite acquaintances!"
Draco sneered but clamped his mouth shut.
"I'm sorry, all right?" Hermione hissed, nodding to Draco to follow her at a casual walk, "Ginny just…knows how to find things out is all. We'll have to leave it at that, because I won't divulge anything more!"
"How many more people have you told without asking me? Word must've gotten around to her somehow."
"I haven't told anyone else and word didn't get around! Maybe she just followed us, have you ever thought of that?"
Draco laughed drily.
"I doubt it."
"Why?"
"Because I can tell you're lying. I always check if we're being followed, too."
"You do?"
"Hermione, you've decided to spend time with the most hated person at this school and some lunatic is after you. Of course I check!"
"I never noticed! You never told me!"
"Well, it's not rocket science. I keep my eyes and ears open and cast a couple of non-verbal Revelios and such when you're daydreaming in that big, beautiful brain of yours."
"You do this systematically?"
"Certainly. For instance, there's a broody blonde fellow with some girl with a mop for a head walking about fifteen paces behind us, out of earshot. Beyond that was Sprout in discussion with a gaggle of Herbology swots. In front, three first years turned the corner about a minute ago. We'll probably see them right about…now."
They turned the corner and, indeed, there were the backs of three first years skipping along ahead.
Hermione glanced behind her and confirmed that the girl did, indeed, have quite a mop of hair.
"That's…really impressive, Draco!"
Draco shrugged.
"I just keep an eye out,"
He puffed his chest a little as he said it, ruining any effect of humility. He was proud as a peacock.
Hermione smiled to herself, making a note that if she ever needed to diffuse Draco from being cross with her, she would just find a way to flatter him.
"Would you like to go to the Room tonight? It's still Valentine's after all and I…may have something special in mind."
"Oh?"
She'd definitely piqued his interest. Hermione could feel that familiar bubbling in her stomach when she was beginning to feel turned on. He was looking at her with open curiosity but something lay under the surface. A dark longing. She could lose herself in it.
"Let's go," she breathed.
They took separate routes to the Room, though Hermione hurried at a quick pace, wanting to get there before Draco.
As soon as she saw him appear at the end of the hallway, she paced back and forth until a familiar door that felt almost like home materialised.
They'd been coming to this "home" for so long now that Hermione had to actively remind herself at times that it was a figment of their imagination and not their actual flat.
When she opened the door, the room seemed to glow.
Magical candles that gave off a tad more light than regular ones were flickering on the tea table and dresser. Rose petals were strewn about the floor and on the bed. A cliché, perhaps, but one Hermione had always dreamed about experiencing.
Draco closed the door behind them and wordlessly looked around.
"Do you like it?" She asked shyly.
"I love it."
He made to take her in his arms, but she took a step back.
"Wait. Stay there. I want to show you something."
She shed her robe and unfastened her tie, tossing it somewhere behind her.
She began to slowly undo her blouse, carefully easing out each button from its buttonhole, prolonging the suspense.
When her shirt finally hung open, she slid it off her shoulders, revealing a red lace, push-up bra. She saw Draco visibly swallow.
She turned around so that her back was to him and unclasped her skirt, slowly pushing it off her hips. A matching, cheeky pair of red lace underwear was revealed. She made sure to bend over when she dropped her skirt, giving Draco an eyeful.
When she turned to face him, she almost moaned at the look on his face.
He looked like he wanted to devour her.
She walked towards him, slightly accentuating the sway of her hips and praying it didn't look silly. Draco seemed far from laughing.
Her hands moved up his chest and then down, unbuttoning his shirt.
He moved to help but she tutted.
"Let me."
His chest rose and fell as he took deep, steadying breaths. She leaned in and kissed him on the centre of his collar bone, making sure to add plenty of tongue. His groan was exquisite.
"I want to touch you."
"Patience," she schooled, smiling wickedly.
She kissed him down his chest, unbuttoning the last of his buttons as she did. She dragged her tongue along his abdomen until her chin nudged the erection that strained at his trousers.
She unbuckled his belt and let out a soft sigh as she fished his cock out of his boxers.
She admired the veins, the gleaming tip, the way it arched upwards. She swirled her tongue around the head and was rewarded with a heavy gasp.
"Mmmm, go sit on the bed, please."
He did as she asked, though his eyes never left her. He drank her in.
She straddled him, slowly gyrating so that the lace rubbed against his shaft.
He took her hips and she let him press her down on his lap. They both moaned.
She kissed him, pulling her panties aside so that he was now poking between her labia. She ground down, coating his length with her juices.
Their kissing heated up. Tongues danced sloppily as she rocked back and forth. Their moans were noisier. His hands slid under her panties and were now cupping her bare ass. She whimpered as he squeezed.
She angled her hips so that the tip of his cock pushed in her entrance. She sank down.
"Fuuuckk…" Draco rasped, his head lolling back. His neck now prostrated in front of her, she took the liberty of sucking on it. Hard. She felt the vibrations in his throat as he groaned.
She didn't ride him. She pushed him in deep and kept him there, using her kegels to torment him.
His hips gently bucked upwards.
She gasped as he bobbed against her cervix.
She wanted to fuck him so bad. So, so bad. But she wanted something else even more.
With all the willpower she could muster, she lifted her hips and Draco's member slid out with a wet pop.
He looked up at her with an adorable amount of betrayal.
"Please," he begged and Hermione almost slammed him back inside her.
"I was hoping that perhaps you could…could take me from behind," she whispered hotly against his mouth.
He smiled and leaned in, tugging on her lower lip with his teeth.
"I do find you utterly irresistible on all fours," he crooned.
"I m-meant…erm…"
She could feel the warmth of her blush on her cheeks. She'd practised asking him this in her head a million times- why did words have to fail her now?
"I didn't mean…I thought perhaps we c-could try it…er…in the other- other place…"
She ducked her head with embarrassment.
"Other place…?"
Draco's voice trailed off, then she heard a sharp intake of breath as he caught her meaning.
"Ah."
'We don't have to- maybe I shouldn't've- it's all right if you don't-"
"I absolutely do," he said forcefully, cutting off her babble.
She finally had the courage to look at him and what she saw almost made her come then and there.
He was looking up at her with an intensity that thrilled her. His pupils were dilated practically up to the irises. It felt- feral. The tension was electric. His hands were still on her ass, but his fingers now dug possessively into her skin.
"Oh," was all she could muster.
Their mouths smashed together. Their kiss was messy, heated, with tongues diving in and out, lips being sucked on, breaths ragged and noisy.
Nothing was gentle. Romance was gone. There was only pure want.
She rubbed her pussy down and across his length while he half unclasped, half ripped her bra off.
His hands kneaded her breasts and pinched her nipples not in a sweet, seductive way, but in a way that made her sore and throbbing and begging for more.
One of his hands moved up her throat, his thumb trailing her jawline and then her lower lip.
She took it in her mouth, sucking, running her tongue along the underside.
He let her have her fun and then slid that hand under her panties. His thumb, now wet with her spit, began to tease and massage her back entrance.
Her eyes rolled.
"You want me to fuck you here?" he whispered softly.
"Yes, yes, oh god!" Hermione whined, rocking her pussy in his lap.
He slowly, carefully eased his thumb in. She moaned hard.
She was growing delirious with desire.
Suddenly nothing mattered more than chasing her release.
She angled her hips and tried to fill her cunt with his cock.
They both made sounds of ecstasy as she sat down flush in his lap.
Slowly, he made circles with his thumb along her walls, stretching her, relaxing her as he delved further inside her behind.
His other arm wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly against his chest. She could feel her eyes well with tears from wanting to come so bad.
She began to rock back and forth in his lap, her clit dragging against him. Jolts of pleasure shot up from her groin. His thumb and cock were now both fully inside her.
She cried out wantonly, desperately chasing her orgasm. She loved having both her holes filled with him. She bucked and bounced in his lap, her spine arched and bent like a branch in the wind. She threw her head back as finally, finally her body released her.
Draco's teeth sunk into her shoulder and she cried out and came as he sucked on her.
She was panting hard. She collapsed against his chest, her head lolling over his shoulder. He was still hard inside her. She could feel him twitch. Feel him still testing her walls with his thumb.
"Fuck me…I want…Fuck me in my ass…please…"
She felt his cock twitch harder as he groaned.
"But please go slow…I've never…had it there before. I want you to be the first…"
His hand wound in her hair, pulling her face up from his shoulder. She had a brief moment where he locked eyes with her, and then his mouth was on her, kissing her ravenously.
He lifted her, placing her on her back. He shed the rest of his clothes and she shimmied out of her panties.
She took a moment to admire his naked form as he stalked towards her. His cock looked almost painfully engorged. She swallowed hard.
She turned on her stomach and got on all fours.
"Are you ready?" He practically purred. He was holding his wand.
"Y-yes…" she whispered.
"Are you nervous?"
She thought about lying. But he would know if she did.
"Yes…"
"I'll go slow. Tell me to stop at any time and I will. I love you. You're so incredibly sexy."
She arched appreciatively, swaying her hips so that he knew she was ready.
She cried out as something wet and cold trickled down her back.
She turned to see Draco casting Aguamenti from his wand. The water poured down her spine and between her bum cheeks. Slowly, the water thickened as he transfigured it into a lube.
With a flick, he set his wand to vibrate.
"Touch this to your clit. It'll help you relax into it," he advised, handing it to her.
She did as he bade and immediately felt her senses heat up as the vibrations shook her privates.
She moaned as both his hands started to massage the lube into her ass cheeks and around her back entrance.
She heard more slick sounds. She turned to see the glorious sight of Draco stroking lube onto his hard cock. It gleamed tantalisingly and Hermione licked her lips without thinking.
"You're sexy," she gasped without thinking and he grinned.
She watched him rub his cock between her cheeks. It was so slick. The wet sounds were deafening. Her ass and back shimmered from the smears of lube. Draco seemed enraptured by it all. His lips were slightly parted as he admired her.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes," she hissed. She was so ready. She wanted him in there, in a place no one else had been but him.
His gland nudged against her opening. Draco had been more than generous with the lube, so much so that she felt his tip sink into her hole with a fair amount of ease.
She sucked in her breath.
"How is it?"
"I'm…I'm fine. It doesn't hurt. It just feels…strange. Keep going, please. I need all of you,"
"Fuck. Do you have any idea how hot that sounds?"
She couldn't answer. She was too busy gritting her teeth, anticipating pain and adjusting to the feeling of being filled in such a new area.
He had her tightly by the hips. He eased in further, at a snail's pace.
After a few moments, she started to feel herself stretch in a way that caused discomfort. She let out a small whimper.
"Do you want me to pull out?" Draco asked, not missing a beat.
"N-no I…maybe just stay like that a bit…I just need to adjust…"
It hurt but it was also starting to feel….good.
The stimuli on her clit kept her fear at bay and her arousal at hand.
This wasn't too bad. Sure it had stung but she could already feel the pain ebb away, making more room for her libido.
She glanced back and what she saw was too much for her.
Draco, looking naked and handsome as ever, with his cock halfway in her gleaming asshole. His hair was tousled from their earlier kissing and he had a look of deep focus.
Something snapped inside her. She moaned low and hard. Her core pulsed. She needed, needed, needed him!
She backed up and he hissed, tilting his head back in surprise.
Pain seared up her backside. Too soon, too much. She halted, gasping. She wanted him all the way in so badly. The intense desire to come was starting to pound her senses.
"Hermione!" Draco admonished through gritted teeth, "Don't do that! I don't want to hurt you and you- you doing that makes it difficult not to…ughn…"
He grunted, unable to finish as she squeezed a little around him.
It finally dawned on her how much of an effort it was taking Draco to go in slow. At this point, he was used to slamming into her pussy and pounding her. Now, he had to take his time. It must be taking quite a bit of self-restraint on his part if he wanted her anywhere near as much as she wanted him right now.
"Please, Draco, please, I need you to fuck me!"
"We need to go slow or you'll be walking bow-legged to class tomorrow. I won't hurt you," he said the last in almost a whisper. It only made her want him more.
She made sounds of frustration as he eased in at his previous measured pace.
She knew he was right. Of course she knew it would hurt if they took it too fast. But her primal instinct to be entirely his was overpowering any sense of logic. She whined, pleaded, moaned and goaded him.
Despite her efforts, Draco continued to carefully penetrate her.
His cock had never felt so big to her. She kept thinking he was in, yet more and more of his length filled her as the minutes trickled by.
Finally, after what felt like ages, she felt his fingers on her pussy lips.
"Ahhnn! Oh god, Draco are you- are you-"
"Yes," he hissed and she cried out.
"Merlin, Hermione- you're so tight…"
"Is it good?"
"It's…I can't even describe how good."
"Fuck me!"
He chuckled though it sounded strained.
"So bossy. Let me test the waters a bit first. How's this?"
A finger eased between her folds and into her pussy. She gasped and cried out, her hands grappling to hold onto the covers.
"So good, so good, so good!" She chanted and began to rock her hips up and down. She heard Draco grunt. She wriggled back and felt his hips flush against her ass.
He started to bob against her, small thrusts at first. Stretching her more, making sure she was ready. He took her by the waist, giving a bit more strength.
"Yes, yesss, harder, please! Oh god, yes just like that!"
Finally, finally.
He fucked her harder, slapping into her bum. She could feel his heavy balls swing against her pussy.
Hermione had never felt anything like this.
It felt dirty, taboo, new, surreal.
She didn't expect it to feel as amazing as it did.
Her clit was on fire. Her blood boiled. Everything seemed numb and hypersensitive at the same time.
She came almost violently. Her ass squeezed Draco in a vice grip. Her vision went white and her arms trembled, fighting to hold herself up.
Draco slammed into her one more time, gasping.
"Fucking hell, I'm coming, I'm-"
"Yes, yes, yes, yes!"
The feeling of his cock pulsing in her ass was pure ecstasy. She felt triumphant. They'd done it. He'd taken her the way she'd wanted and it had been glorious. She felt delirious from happiness and exhaustion.
Hermione collapsed on her stomach, Draco falling down with her.
She could feel his hips thrust against her a few more times as he emptied himself in her.
He finally slowed to a languid pace, and then rested on top of her, gathering her in his arms.
"I love you…More than anything. I love you," he gasped, catching his breath.
"Mmn, I love you, too. Thank you for taking such good care of me," Hermione murmured through a haze of exhaustion.
"I'll always take care of you," he murmured back.
Hermione shivered.
That was very close to a forever promise.
Would she and Draco be together for the rest of their lives?
Of course, no one could predict such a thing.
But in that moment, Hermione decided it brought her great comfort to choose to believe that they would.
/
They took a bath together and talked until they were wrinkly from being too long under water.
Hermione was aghast at all the nail scratches and love bites she'd left on Draco's back and arms. Draco didn't seem to mind. In fact, he seemed rather pleased.
Her backside was starting to feel a bit sore, but she was still in good enough shape to let him take her again in her pussy.
She slept like a log.
She didn't think it was possible to love Draco more than she already did, but this new sexual adventure seemed to shift her feelings.
They'd shared something new and intimate and extremely vulnerable for her and it had been wonderful.
He knew her in ways no one else did.
It thrilled her. She truly felt like she was his and he was hers.
The only drawback was that Hermione woke up definitely feeling sore the next morning.
Despite all Draco's efforts, Hermione still had a bit of a hobble to her walk, though it was nothing a dab of Murtlap Essence couldn't fix. Draco eyed her guiltily as they dressed and she had to assure him more than several times that she was fine and it had been more than worth it.
In fact, she'd had such a good Valentine's that it made avoiding Draco all the more bitter.
True to their plan, Hermione spent the entire day going to class alone. She avoided speaking to anyone, reviewed her notes, answered more questions than usual in class to stay occupied.
It increased her anxiety tenfold.
She knew the love poisoner was watching her.
Saturday was right around the corner and she had to make a show of being lonely and single if she wanted to increase her chances of meeting them.
And so, she ate alone in the Great Hall, trying not to shoot Draco or Theo any pitiful looks.
She allowed herself one indulgence and that was their evening study group.
When she arrived, as per usual she was greeted by Luna, Tracey, Blaise, Daphne, Theo and - her heart skipped with longing at finally being able to see him - Draco.
As she sat between Draco and Luna, yet another person walked up to join them.
"Neville?"
"Hullo. I have a lot of work to do for Transfiguration and Charms. Mind if I join?"
They scooted around so that Neville could squeeze in next to Luna.
Everyone around the table seemed to eye him with varying degrees of curiosity and suspicion.
"Good to see you back, Nott,"
Theo raised an eyebrow, looking both amused and calculating.
"Nothing keeps me down for long, Longbottom," he answered cheerily enough.
"It's getting awfully crowded here," Daphne sniffed, turning a page of her book with her perfectly manicured pinky in the air.
"The more the merrier, I say. Besides, it's a funny thing seeing a Gryffindor up close. Like walking up to a rhinoceros at the Magizoo."
Neville looked scandalised until Luna placed a reassuring hand on his arm.
"He's only joking, you know. He likes to joke a lot, Theo does."
Theo grinned and Neville relaxed a little.
"So how was your last evening in the infirmary? Did they manage to fix the screws loose in your head as well?" Blaise asked nonchalantly.
"Ha. Ha. It was quite pleasant actually. Padma stopped by to make sure Hooper didn't come to finish the job. I also had a strange dream where Binns came to visit me and started doing a jig on my knees. Otherwise, it was fairly boring and I'm pleased to be rid of the place."
The study session went surprisingly well.
Hermione brought up the subject of wards at one point and Blaise, Theo and Neville all had interesting things to add. According to Hermione's research, she'd found a few books with suggestions that might shield people on both sides of the barrier, to prevent another mishap like Will Hooper's.
Blaise suggested Hermione discuss things with Padma, who incidentally was the expert and Hermione agreed that she would.
Daphne asked Luna for a spare quill when hers snapped and Luna happily obliged.
Everyone was getting on better than could be expected.
Hermione felt very smug about it all.
See? It's possible to mend things after all. People only need to try!
The evening seemed to pass awfully fast and soon enough, everyone gave each other cordial goodbyes and headed to their respective common rooms. Hermione caught Draco giving her a long, lingering look, before trailing after the Slytherins.
Hermione and Neville turned to make their way back to Gryffindor.
"I'm really glad you stopped by, Neville," Hermione stated.
"Me too. It was actually really nice. I wasn't expecting it to be so…"
"Normal?"
Neville chuckled.
"I suppose so, yes. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?"
"What does?"
"That if we'd taken the time to get to know one another earlier- that if we hadn't been divided up into quarters- perhaps all of this could have been avoided. The war, the prejudices, everything."
"It isn't too late and every little bit helps. Something as simple as borrowing a quill from someone you once hated can be the foundation of bigger things. I think we're on our way to healing."
"Yeah…I think you're right."
"Hannah didn't want to join?"
Neville's face crisped up and Hermione instantly regretted asking the question.
"No…Hannah and I…well, she broke up with me yesterday."
"Oh no! Neville, I'm so sorry!"
"Thanks, Hermione. It'll be okay. She…er…didn't like that I was coming here today, if I'm being quite honest. I think it was… too much for her…"
"So she just broke up with you?"
"It caught me off guard to be honest. I didn't realise it mattered this much to her. I told her if it bothered her so much, then I wouldn't go but she'd made up her mind. Said she couldn't be with someone who would even consider hanging around people who used to support You-Know-Who. I know she had a rough time during the war. A couple of her uncles died fighting Death Eaters. But I didn't think…"
He covered his eyes with his hand.
"Oh, Neville…It sounds like she's got quite a bit on her plate. You did nothing wrong."
Neville took a steadying breath.
"I think…Well, it just seemed so out of character for her. She's been off for awhile now but this has been our only big issue. I've tried to get her to open up more about it, but she insists this is the main issue. So, there it is. Done, just like that."
They walked in silence for awhile, Hermione trying to find the right thing to say, but coming up empty.
"You know you're always welcome to come study with us. We eat lunch in a classroom off to the left of the Great Hall as well. Any time you want to talk or take your mind off things, I'm here."
"Thanks, Hermione. I think I'll take you up on that offer. 'Fig Newton'."
At the password, the Fat Lady swung open and Hermione trudged up to her dorm.
She spent the night trying not to think about Saturday and failing miserably.
/