It was another day of helping out around Hogwart's but neither seemed to mind. Yesterday had been a breeze compared to today. Hermione and Draco made their way out to Hagrid's hut. Fang came out to welcome them, licking Hermione on the hand. He stopped a few feet in front of Draco and curled up his lip. "It's ok, Fang, he's coming to help too," Hermione vouched for Draco. Fang instantly became as lovable as a teddy bear and went to welcome Draco, too.
"Well, 'ello there Hermione. And Draco. How do you do today?" bubbled the every cheery Hagrid. "I want you to know, it weren't my idear for you to come de-gnome the garden with me. Dumbledore, you know, he kinda volunteered your services."
"No problem, Hagrid, glad to help," Draco said. And for once it was the truth. The weather was lovely, warm with a light breeze blowing in from the north. And Hermione looked wonderful. Her dark brown curls were tied up in a pony tale; she wore white shorts and a pink t-shirt. She never wore any make-up and she never needed any, she just looked fresh and pure.
"Well, let's get started."
Gnomes were flying everywhere from morning till lunch. Everyone knows, the only way to de-gnome a garden was to grab the gnome by the ankles, swing, and throw HARD! The threesome took a break at lunch and snacked on sandwiches and pumpkin juice and then back to work. That afternoon, the nursed some ailing flobberworms back to health with a special potion created by Madame Pomfrey.
When Draco and Hermione set off to the dormitory, Hagrid thanked them for all their hard work with a bag of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, on the walk back they chewed a large mouthful, leaving a trail of blue bubbles.
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When they reached the common room, Hermione and Draco were not only tired and sweaty, but filthy too. When they entered the common room, they found another pleasant surprise; a picnic supper was laid out on the floor. The ceiling was bewitched to look like the evening sky, and a cool breeze blew through the room. Though they were dirty and tired, they were more hungry. They pounced on the dinner and begin to relax. The fed on chicken and rolls, potato salad, and cool tea. Hermione told Draco all about how this was a typical American muggle meal. In the past, Draco would have wanted to shut her up because she was a know-it-all. But now, he still wanted to silence her, but he wanted to silence her with a kiss.
She tilted her head up and took a long drink from her tea, the beaded sweat still ran down her neck, into her tight shirt. The pink fabric hugged her firm breasts and it was all Draco could do to keep his hands to himself. She set the glass done and caught him eyeing her. She felt a little pang of guilt because she had been looking at him all day. Out in the sun, the white t-shirt he wore became soaked with sweat and clung to his body. A body that she remembered so well from the day before in the bathroom.
Draco couldn't stand it any more, hell. He reached up and caught Hermione's cheek in his hand before she had a chance to look away. His lips brushed hers ever so cautiously. He moved back, fully expecting to be caught by a sharp left hook, but it never came. This made him bold, and he move in for another kiss. This time, it was not so brief. He pressed his mouth to hers and slowly prodded until her mouth was open and he could slip in his tongue.
Hermione sat there in shock as Draco kissed her again. What was she doing, sitting on the floor kissing the Sex God of Slytherin? But his kiss was soft, and it was like a magnet was deep inside her pulling her closer to him. She slowly returned his kiss and it grew more passionate. His tongue explored her mouth, his tongue caressed her lips, and he nipped gently at her bottom lip. Before she could realize, his hands were in her hair and her hand was trailing down his firm chest.
"What was that for?" Hermione asked when she broke the kiss, gasping for air.
"Because you were sitting there looking so damned beautiful. And for the way that you have been to me since we've been here. I know if I was half the prat that I have been to you, I would have never given me a chance. Wow, that sounded really dumb didn't it?"
"No, not at all."
"It's just that so much has changed around me. I had to change too. And to listen to Dumbledore tell it, it is like the whole world is riding on our shoulders."
"Something like that," Hermione agreed, and with that, she pulled Draco back into a hungry kiss.
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Every time Hermione closed her eyes she pictured Draco sitting on the blanket with her in a passionate kiss. Every time the covers brushed her sensitive skin, she could imagine that it was his touch. Yet, she couldn't believe that only hours before, he had been sitting on the common room floor in the arms of Draco Malfoy. What has come over me, she thought, and how are Harry and Ron going to respond? It was long after midnight when the hooting of the owls finally lulled Hermione to sleep.
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