AN: Hey, again! I forgot to tell ya'll that: if ya want to see Mione's costume, go to arcanelore.com and look for the Elizabethan gowns, then look up The Carla. Aighto, to the story you go! I only had one time change in this chappie and I couldn't fit all of my lovely reviewers on it, so please don't feel offended or such.
Chapter Fourteen: Games for Two
Hermione stepped into the dark room quietly. The fireplace provided the only flickering light in the room.
The ball had ended at midnight, but Hermione had been visiting in Gryffindor tower. She had hid in the sixth year girls' room with Ginny.
When she had returned to the Great Hall, she was flagged down immediately by an extremely red faced Ron. Hermione had hesitated before joining, unable to tell whether it was laughter or his extreme temper causing the ghastly shade of red. Going closer, she had seen the happily streaming eyes of both of the boys.
Ron tried futilely to tell her what was so funny. Most of the time, all he could manage was indistinguishable rambling between body quaking fits of laughter. Finally, Harry was able to break in and tell her about Crabbe and Goyle's episode with Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. He pulled a wizard picture from his shirt pocket and showed it to her with shaky hands.
Apparently, the two greedy lugs had managed to eat more of the sweets after their first pieces and hadn't stopped. An obviously seething Potions Master was dragging the two mutated boys out of the Great Hall doors. Crabbe had flaming green hair and was spitting pretty-pink bubbles, and Goyle had an extremely large purple tongue and was bald. But somehow, both had eaten more. It was quite amazing that the twins were able to come up with enough mutations as not to have anyone with the same problems.
All she had managed was a meek smile. Then, Harry had started in on her again with his-at the time annoying-worried expression. That was when Ginny had come to her rescue.
She abandoned her thoughts as she hung up her heavy gown. She had had to change in Ginny's dorm because she had needed assistance out. Hermione wore her pajamas through the empty dark halls.
Being too wired to sleep, Hermione snatched up her book and started down the stairs in bare feet.
Hermione was heading to the loveseat. The couch would be too lonely without Draco's usual presence. She gasped in surprise, finding it occupied.
There on the loveseat lay the boy that had kissed her. He was stretched out on his back, fast asleep. His feet hung off the end.
Her mind buzzed in confusion, but it stopped short when she recognized the silvery blond hair that fell across his face. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to think, but a queer smile spread slowly across her lips.
'What's going on?' her brain whined in disbelief and utter confusion.
With a small sigh, she decided it was best not to wake him. Hermione looked at him with some concern, thinking of him sleeping on the couch. The castle was getting chillier in the late autumn months.
Careful not to startle him, she pulled her Hogwarts fuzzy throw off the back of the seat. She gently tucked it around him, but its small size wouldn't cove him completely. 'His socked feet will just have to freeze,' she thought with slight satisfaction. Payback's a charm.
Draco had woken up as soon as he felt someone near him. He had always been a light sleeper, but the recent years of Lucius's malcontent with him and the months of Hermione's nightmares had set him on edge. He hadn't moved because he didn't yet know the identity or purpose or the intruder.
As Draco heard the person start to turn away, a hand shot out and caught a surprisingly thin wrist. He let go quickly, when his actions were awarded with a less than dignified feminine yelp.
"Stay," he commanded through a feline stretch that took hold of his slight frame. When he opened his eyes, he was met with the clearly displeased, amber eyes of Hermione Granger.
"Were you up the entire time?" she demanded impatiently tapping a bare foot on cold stone.
"Well," he said with a serious face, "That depends on what you define as 'entire time'."
"Don't you get smart with me, Draco," she said coldly.
"Well, it is a logical…" he began, but was quickly interrupted, "Oh, hush up and answer the question."
He gave her his trademark smirk and a calculating look before drawling out, "Hmm…I suppose I was, since a person with little patience won't give me a definite time period."
Draco was rewarded with a potent glare.
"Alright, alright…I was up as soon as you were close, but I was really up as soon as those gentle, little hands of yours were on my body."
A deep blush warmed Hermione's creamy cheeks. She wasn't expecting him to put it that way.
"I was afraid you'd get cold," she said. Suddenly her toes were the most interesting things in the room.
Draco looked her over unnoticed. She was wearing dark green, silk pajama pants with a black, fitted shirt. 'Potter and Weasley definitely don't know what she sleeps in,' he thought with some contentment.
Hermione, over her embarrassment, nudged him over and lay down beside him, facing him.
"I didn't see you at the ball," she lied lamely. He caught the fleeting glance she cast at his clothing.
'Damn it! Why didn't I change?' he thought angrily as the unwanted realization dawned on him. She was just too observant.
"You're lying," he acknowledged with a raise of an eyebrow. 'Just keep it cool…'
Hermione's eyes caught a wicked gleam. "Technically, I didn't 'see' you at the 'ball'."
A small smirk curved his mouth, thought he wasn't exactly fond of the new topic. He was caught.
"Why did you do it?" she asked softly, mischievous glint gone.
"I felt like I was supposed to," he answered truthfully.
The look on her face told that she wasn't satisfied. Truthfully, neither was he.
Minutes ticked by in uncomfortable silence. Finally, Draco intervened.
"Listen, Mione. I'm sorry for leaving you confused, okay? I should have never left you confused." He blatantly didn't apologize for the kiss.
She just stared at him with simple understanding. She had filtered the apology with an amazing acceptance. That's when he realized that she felt the same way. Both felt the odd connection forming.
"What's odd is, I dreamt about it," Hermione said quietly.
"Really?" he asked in surprise. Draco left the uneasy dread that was forming in the pit of his stomach for later observation. Could all of her dreams come true?
"Yes. Remember that night we slept in the Hospital Wing?" at his nod she continued, "The funny thing is, I never remembered it today."
"Well, there's nothing to worry about, right?" he asked trying to give her false comfort.
"Right," she agreed a little bit less down cast. A peaceful silence filled the room as the two Heads had their own private thoughts. A long yawn form Hermione broke the spell.
"I think its time for bed," Draco announced with a glance at his watch, which read 2:27.
A nod was the only response he got from the lolling Hermione.
With a smile, Draco scooped her up into his arms. She snuggled into his neck with a sigh.
Nearly up the stairs, Draco let out a soft groan. Obviously, Hermione didn't wear something to bed. It was obvious through her tight shirt as she started reacting to his body heat. Her warm breath tickled his neck as she squirmed closer in his arms.
She was going to pay for his discomfort, which originated mainly from his groin.
"Got you all hot and bothered in your nightwear, didn't I, Mione?" he drawled smoothly.
Suddenly, a sharp pain came from where his neck joined his shoulder. She had bit him!
He looked down and was met with the evil grin Hermione was sporting when she was supposed to be asleep. It wasn't fair! He thought she had been.
"Shit, Mione! That hurt!" Draco complained as he tossed her with indignity onto her bed. She'd left a 'nice' little mark.
"You forget that two can play at your games," she said with a prize-winning smile.
All he could do was shake his head and smile.
"G'night, Draco," she sighed, as she wriggled under her covers.
"Good night, Hermione," Draco returned before he shut the door.