Interruptions

"So everyone's happy now?" Ginny asked.

"Not even close. Harry still thinks Draco is stringing me along…" Hermione replied.

"And I hold to that," Harry said.

"Harry!"

"Hermione, you've got to understand that this is a bit much for me to swallow."

"I know—but could you just go with me on this one?"

Harry looked her squarely in the eye. "I guess I've got no other choice, do I? But I'll be watching him…" he said as he turned back to his dinner.

"He'll come around," Ginny said. "Won't you Harry?"

He grumbled but didn't look up. Ginny, who sat at the left of Hermione, watched Harry for any sign that he'd heard her. And Ron, on the left of Harry, suddenly looked up as if sensing the disturbance in the air. He too turned in their direction and waited for what was going to happen.

"Oh, fine." Harry rolled his eyes and gave Hermione a one-armed hug. "Here," he said, picking up a plate and placing it in front of her, "try this pie. It's good."

"Thanks Harry."

Ginny grinned. "Well, it's very pleasant that you're making up," she whispered to Hermione, "but you wouldn't want Draco to get the wrong impression."

Hermione looked up to see Draco giving Harry a very dirty look. Harry returned the favor, then resumed eating. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Well, anyway, I should be going," she said. "Lots of work to do…"

Harry handed her the stack of books at her side. "Thanks Harry," she said, smiling at him. "Now if only these books weren't so heavy…" she muttered as she slowly walked out of the Great Hall.

"I'm really not going to get all of this done," she said to herself as she walked down the corridor.

"Hermione! Wait up." Draco came hurrying from behind her. "Here, let me take those," he said, taking the entire stack of books from her.

"Uh, thanks." She refrained from mentioning that it was unnecessary.

"I see you made up with Potter," Draco said as they reached the statue of armor.

Hermione laughed. "Well, that's what friends do."

"Hmmm." Draco looked as if he were considering the idea. "From another point of view it might seem Potter is so angry because I've moved in on his territory."

"So that's what you consider me—territory?" Hermione grabbed the books from him and entered the door he held open. "Well that's nice." She began walking off to her staircase.

"You know I was just kidding," Draco said, pouting. Hermione was still climbing the stairs. "Where are you going?"

"Well…" she came back down to the landing "I've got so many assignments that if I don't start now, I'll never finish in time." Draco frowned. "Oh, don't look so sad. I promise I'll come over in two hours or so for a break." She gave him a quick peck on the lips. "You'd better start working too," Hermione said as she walked up her staircase.

Hermione was extremely angered by the fact that Professor Snape had given her not one, but two assignments that day. She knew that they were for extra credit, but she also had the feeling that he'd take off points if she didn't do them. Sighing, she began to do work on the first essay. She resisted the urge to throw the book out of the window when she finished and started her next assignment.

A glance at the clock told her that there were only ten minutes until her break with Draco. Figuring that it wouldn't make a difference if she quit early, she threw her papers down and practically ran over to his side of the dorm. After all, even study bugs such as herself enjoyed a little down time.

"I'm ready for my break now!" she yelled through the portrait.

"Hmmm, that's funny. I think you still have eight minutes left," Draco's voice called to her.

"Draco, I'm dying out here!" she began banging on the door.

"Would you mind opening the door?" the man in the portrait yelled.

Draco opened the door. "Ok…I guess I can let you have your break early," he said with a grin on his face.

"I'm so tired," she said, collapsing on his chest. "I hate writing."

"How much do you still have left?" Draco asked as he picked her up. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and let him carry her to the bed and lay her down.

"Thankfully, only two more. How 'bout you?" she asked as she sat up.

"Oh…I'm done."

"You're done! Ugh, I don't even want to know how you did that." She eyed him suspiciously. "Don't we have the same amount of work?"

"Maybe, but I write faster." He grinned.

"Sure. I think I'm going to sleep now," Hermione said and lay back on his sheets.

"Now that's no fun."

"I just need to relax."

"Ok…why don't I give you a massage?"

"A massage?" Hermione opened her eyes. "Ok! Are you good?"

"Exceptionally."

Hermione grinned. "I've never had a real massage before," she said as she rolled onto her stomach.

"Really?"

"Well, the only ones I've gotten were from friends, and they weren't exactly professionals."

"What kind of friends were those?"

"Female. And completely straight, so I'm sorry."

"I can dream…" Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ok, let's get started," he said. "Take off your shirt."

"My shirt!"

"Calm down Hermione. I've seen you naked before."

"I know, it's just that—well, I'm a little fat, you know."

"Fat? Who told you that?"

"No one had to. It speaks for itself."

Draco let out an exasperated breath. He wasn't used to complimenting females on their appearance. Usually the girl would just assume she was attractive because he was showing interest in her. Hermione, he supposed, was different. How to go about this one, then?

"Where are you fat?" he asked. "Show me."

She rolled over and looked at him. "Everywhere."

"Oh really? Like here?" His hands passed over her breasts, and Hermione giggled.

"You've got a response for everything."

"Yes, I do. So just take off your shirt. You look wonderful."

"Oh fine." Hermione rolled herself over and sat up. She stood and unbuttoned her shirt, then tossed it on the floor. Draco stared as she took off her bra and threw that too on the floor next to her shirt.

"Ah, wonderful. Lie down."

"Bossy aren't we?" Hermione said, but laid herself on the bed nonetheless.

Draco sat down on the bed and stared at her unclothed back. Hmmm…He leaned over her and began to massage her shoulders.

"How does that feel?" he asked after a while.

"Very good…"

"Good."

"Draco?"

"Yes?"

"How does oil feel?"

"Oil?"

"Yeah."

Draco conjured a bottle of oil. "I personally believe the oil is more for the masseur than for the client," he said as he poured it into his hand.

"Me too…" she agreed. Draco began massaging the oil onto her back. "Although, it does feel good…"

"Doesn't it?"

There was silence for a minute.

"Lower…" Hermione mumbled.

"Ok." Draco moved lower.

"Lower," she repeated after a minute. Draco again slid his hands lower down her back. "Lower…"

"As you wish." His hands moved down again.

"Keep going…"

"Hermione, that's as low as I can go."

"What? Oh," she said, disappointed. "I guess you're done then…" Hermione opened her eyes.

"Well, I could go a bit lower…yeah…I could give you another kind of massage somewhere else."

"Really? Where?"

"Right…there." Draco slipped his hand underneath the towel and poked between her legs.

"There?" She looked only vaguely surprised. "With your hands?"

"Uh…not with my hands."

"Then how is it a massage?"

"Well, ok, so it isn't exactly." Hermione was still skeptical, and her expression reflected it. "Come on, I'll show you."

"Uh…ok."

"Good." Draco turned her over. "Hmmm," he said, gazing at her, "maybe I should give you a chest massage next."

"You're disgusting," she giggled.

"Aren't I?" he said as he placed her feet on the bed. He was just about to lean over when a knock sounded at the door.

"I'm tempted to ignore that…"

"Don't," Hermione said as she sat up. "I can't believe this is happening again…good thing I locked the door this time."

Draco waited until she was fully clothed before he went to the door. "Yes?"

"It's Ginny. Is Hermione in there?"

Draco groaned. "Your posse has come to claim you," he said to Hermione, then opened the door. Ginny walked past him into the bedroom, where Hermione was still sitting on the bed.

"Hey, Hermione, could I maybe talk to you for a bit?"

"Well, I was kind of busy…but I guess my life can always be put on hold for everyone else."

"Sorry…" Ginny said.

"Don't worry, I'll come," Hermione said and stood. "Draco, I guess we'll just have to finish our conversation later." He grinned at her obvious lie. "See you later…" she said as she left the room.