Author's Notes: I thank all the reviewers who gave their kindest words that
inspire me to continue this story of mine. I'm sorry I couldn't mention all
of you right now but I promise to mention you on my next chapter. I hope
you understand the delay of the succeeding chapters because as most of you
may realize, this is finals week and I'm really buried with final reports
and projects. FYI, people, as I write this, I still have two exams tomorrow
and one last crucial exam the day after but still I'm here to show my
undying gratitude to your kind words and I promise to try my very best not
to disappoint all of you. Thanks a bunch and hope you'll continue to R&R!
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Let the rain fall down and wake my dreams
Let it wash away my sanity
Cause I wanna feel the thunder, I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down I'm coming clean
The next morning at breakfast, Hermione was seated with Ginny, Lavender and Parvati, who were talking animatedly among themselves.
"Like, I can't describe what I feel when I'm with him, you know? He's just so addictive, I just can't seem to get enough of him!" Lavender swooned and Hermione tried not to make a face, knowing perfectly well whom her friend was referring to
"Lavender, please, we know he's good looking and all that but still he's a Slytherin!" Parvati scrunched up her nose as if the mere sound of the word stunk royally.
Hermione tried to ignore the constriction of her throat as she sipped her pumpkin juice and took a huge bite out of her blueberry muffin.
"It doesn't matter, Parvati! And besides, if you'll be going around telling people off about dating Slytherins, talk to Hermione! She looked like she had a grand time with Malfoy last night!" Lavender snapped, obviously still a bit pissed off about having been caught with Blaise last night.
The large piece of muffin that Hermione was on the verge of swallowing somehow got caught in her throat as she gulped the remaining of her juice and tried to catch her breath.
Parvati and Ginny turned to Hermione, their jaws hanging and their eyes wide,
"Hermione?" Parvati squeaked and Hermione's face heated up.
"Is it true? Are you really going out with Malfoy?" Ginny asked
"Well, the thing is. . ." Hermione began. Damn! Why can't she think up of a quick lie when she needs it most?
"Oh my God, Hermione! It's true then?" Parvati pressed and Hermione sighed,
"No it's not what you think. We were just on patrol, that's all," she explained lamely and Lavender pouted,
"Well, you sure looked like you had loads of fun patrolling,"
"You can't blame us, Lavender. Who wouldn't laugh when they find two naked bodies entwined on the floor, struggling and trying unsuccessfully to stand up?" Hermione smiled, remembering Blaise and Lavender's crimson and not to mention guilty faces,
Parvati and Ginny laughed and Lavender turned beet red,
"Well, you should've slapped that obnoxious smirk from Malfoy's face last night on my behalf,"
"Sorry, Lav, I was a bit preoccupied with both of you," Hermione laughed and finally, Lavender joined in,
"I just want to thank you for not telling on us, Hermione, because if my mom finds out, I'll be so dead!" Lavender said when the laughter died down and Hermione was glad that the conversation got diverted from her and Malfoy right away
"No problem, Lavender. I'm just grateful for that entertainment," Hermione smiled broadly, feeling good to be able to smile and laugh again with her friends.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Harry walked to the dungeons for double Potions as Ron went on with his usual pre-double potions rant.
". . . I bet Snape will be giving us a hard time today again! Always finding reasons to strip off house points from us of worse get us in detention. And being with the Slytherins doesn't help make things lighter. Not one bit!"
Harry exhaled, shaking his head. He was about to inform Ron that he'd heard it all before when Ron nudged him.
Harry looked up and saw Hermione walking towards them. As she neared, Harry half-expected her to walk past them but she didn't. Instead, she stopped in front of them and looked at them uncertainly.
"Um, hey, Hermione," Ron said awkwardly and Hermione smiled at him before turning to Harry, half-smiling nervously,
"Hey," she said cautiously and Ron cleared his throat
"Um, I'll go ahead inside and save you a seat," he said and Hermione shot him a grateful smile,
"Hi Hermione," Harry replied, "How's it going?"
"Fine,"
There was a brief silence before Hermione continued,
"I just want to apologize for being such a child," she said and Harry smiled,
"It's okay, Hermione, it's partly my fault too," Harry admitted and Hermione shook her head,
"No. It's my fault. I shouldn't have been so selfish. I should've thought of you and Ginny. . . I know you two broke up because of me and I feel really awful,"
Harry reached out and pulled her into a hug, "It's okay, Hermione. We're fine. I'm just glad that we're friends again. I missed you, you know,"
Hermione inhaled his sweet, familiar scent, "I missed you too, Harry,"
Gladness filled Hermione as she pulled away from her best friend. Gone was the feeling of loneliness and pain. Gone were the feelings of the previous betrayal and heartbreak. She was just glad to have her friend back.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
"It's so great to hang out with you guys again!" Ron exclaimed as they walked to lunch. Hermione could've sworn that the broad smile on her face would become permanent. She was more than glad to be hanging out together with Harry and Ron again, she was ecstatic!
"I know, it seemed like forever since we last talked! We so need to catch up on things," Hermione said and Harry nodded,
"You got that right. How about this weekend at Hogsmeade? We could try that new restaurant. My treat!"
"Alright!" Ron cheered and Hermione laughed,
"I'm so there!" she said as they happily proceeded to their seats.
"While we're there, let's go visit Fred and George's joke shop! They said they've got some new stuff to show us!"
"Uh oh," Harry mumbled jokingly and Hermione laughed,
"'Uh oh' is right! Fred and George always find ways to make us their lab rats for their new inventions,"
"Right. Who could forget the time when we were covered in scales when they gave us free samples of their 'lizard lollipops'? Ugh!" Ron winced and the three of them laughed just like old times. It was as if everything was perfectly back to normal.
"Hey guys! May we join you?" Ginny's voice called out and as Hermione turned to her friend, she caught sight of Draco Malfoy as his penetrating blue-gray eyes bored into her.
Well, at least almost everything was back to normal.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Blaise lounged lazily on the black leather sofa in the Slytherin common room that night after dinner. Since Draco had been transferred to the Head Students' dormitories, Blaise had taken his position and acted as the leader in the Slytherin House. . . only when Draco is not around.
"So, how's our little mudblood doing?" Blaise asked and Draco scowled,
"You don't expect her to change overnight, do you?" he snapped as he crossed the room and poured himself some of the firewhisky they've smuggled during their last Hogsmeade weekend.
He tried not to think about what he saw earlier at the great hall. Potter is finally back in the picture! Just when things couldn't get more annoying!
"Right!" Blaise drawled from behind him and Draco could almost picture Blaise's annoying smirk.
Draco cursed under his breath at the memory of last night flashed in his mind. Why had he stopped himself? And why the hell did he stop her? It was his biggest chance to show Blaise that he was able to do the almost impossible just after the first date and he blew it. Big time!
What was he thinking that night? It was all he could do to slap himself silly!
"So, are you still up for it or are you ready to give up already?"
Draco drew a ragged breath, "Give up? Fat chance! I'll get her," he said confidently, downing the rest of his drink and stormed out of the common room.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Hermione hummed to herself as she tightened her peignoir over her baby tee and gray jogging pants and picked up her thick novel and her mug of hot cocoa before she good-naturedly glided down the stairs to the common room where she had set up the fireplace and even prepared her favorite thick quilt just in case it got too cold.
She smiled to herself as she studied the coziness of the room. She sat on the sofa, curling up her legs under her and took a sip of her cocoa.
"Mmm..." she closed her eyes and smiled as she allowed the warmth of her drink to slide down her throat.
This is absolutely the most perfect day of my life. She thought dreamily, as she opened her book and began to be engrossed in it, but she found that her mind kept wandering.
It wandered over to Harry's smile, Ron's jokes, her laughter. . . and their upcoming Hogsmeade lunch!
It also wandered over to Draco's eyes, his kisses and his elusive smile, and suddenly, Hermione's smile began to waver as she absentmindedly touched her lips.
As much as she hated to admit it, Draco kissed marvelously. It wasn't the ruthless kiss that Lavender and Parvati and probably the rest of the female population had been raving about. His kiss was nothing Hermione had ever imagined. It was soft but demanding at the same time that she could easily get lost in it.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Draco crept quietly in the Head Students' common room when he saw Hermione's dark, gold curls. Her back to him and curled up on the overstuffed sofa, she reminded him of an innocent angel. So innocent yet highly capable of awakening different burning desires deep inside of him that even he wasn't aware he had.
He just stared at the back of her head and closed his eyes, remembering the way she smelled like peaches. That's what she smelled like. Not too sweet, not too strong, but just right.
Draco silently cursed himself for thinking about her that way. Again. What's with this girl that got him acting like this? Perhaps it's her large, expressive hazel eyes, or maybe her stubborn nose or maybe her sensual lips that could drive any man out of his mind.
This was getting crazy. He had to take her to bed and prove that she's no different than the other girls he had slept with and maybe finally he'll get over his weird obsession over his worst enemy for seven years.
He stepped forward until he was less than a foot away from the back of the couch.
"Care to share your thoughts?" he spoke, breaking the silence of the common room and Hermione jerked from her reverie and turned to him sharply, her beautiful eyes wide in surprise. Her mouth was slightly opened that Draco was momentarily hypnotized.
"I'm sorry for scaring you. May I join you?" he asked and all Hermione could do was nod.
Draco slid on the place beside her and studied her, taking in her beautiful features.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice low and uncomfortable
"I wanted to explain for last night," he said and Hermione bit her lip as if the memory of last night hit a nerve,
"Last night was a mistake. I didn't know what came over me and. . ." she exhaled sharply, "Maybe it's best for both of us to just forget about last night and treat it as a bad dream,"
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Hermione. It was much too real to be treated as a mere dream. I think you and I both realize that,"
Hermione finally looked at him, "What do you really want from me, Draco?"
Draco suppressed his smile at the thought of her using his first name.
"I just want you, Hermione," he said simply and saw a blush creep up her cheeks before she looked away,
"Just stop it, will you? I don't like playing mind games with you. You are so unpredictable it's infuriating! If you really want me like you claim, then why did you. . ."
"Stop us from making love last night?" he supplied and Hermione turned even redder, but she nodded, obviously trying to appear nonchalant, "Because I knew that after we've done it, you'll regret what you've done and end up hating yourself. . . or me," he explained, marveling at how quickly he had thought up of his reason when in fact he was busting his brains out looking for the reason why he had stopped their foreplay that night.
Hermione looked at him disbelievingly, "Why do you care about how I'll feel anyway? I thought you only cared about getting laid!"
"I just thought we were going too fast!" he insisted, positive that that's what Hermione wanted to hear. After all, she was the model virgin.
"Going too fast? I didn't know you understood that line when it comes to having sex!"
Draco clenched his jaw, "So is that it, Hermione? You're mad at me for not sleeping with you?" he burst out and Hermione's eyes grew wide,
"No it's not, Draco! I wouldn't sleep with you if my life depended on it!"
"Then what the hell's the problem?"
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Hermione wanted to explain it to him but she decided that he probably wouldn't care, and maybe he would even laugh at her.
"What?" he asked again, his voice lower and softer this time and for a moment, Hermione believed that maybe Draco truly cared.
"Just forget it," she sighed wearily. She didn't know what to think anymore. Her mind was a jumble and for once, she couldn't think straight.
Draco moved in closer and held her hand, wrapping it with his,
"Tell me," he urged and Hermione finally gave in,
"You just don't understand how rejected I felt that night," she said, feeling tears form in her eyes but she controlled them. She didn't want to cry in front of him, "First Harry, then you. . ."
"Don't compare me to Potter. We're nothing alike," he said icily and Hermione looked at him but she couldn't find words to say to him,
Draco's eyes bored into her as he leaned closer, "I'm different," he said in a hoarse whisper as Hermione felt him inching towards her until his soft, warm lips found hers. She felt chills run up her spine as Draco slid his hands beneath her mass of curls, cupping her nape pulling her closer as his kiss grew more demanding.
She let out a moan and Draco took it as a signal to deepen the kiss even more. Hermione's arms encircled his neck as his other hand went down to the small of her back, pulling her body closer until there was no more space between them.
Her mind whirled around, visions of Harry, Ron, Ginny, Draco, Lavender, Blaise. . . they all swirled around in her mind and finally, Hermione let herself go and allowed herself to get completely lost in the kiss.
It took a while for her to realize that she was already lying on her back and Draco was already on top of her.
"Draco. . ." she said against his lips but he continued to kiss her hungrily, as if he hadn't heard her,
"Draco. . ." she said again, louder this time and finally, he pulled away, breathing raggedly,
"What?" he asked,
"You're right, this is going too fast," she said and Draco narrowed his eyes but he nodded, sat up and pulled her with him until they were sitting beside each other on the couch.
Draco was quietly staring at the fire as if in deep thought and Hermione took the chance to study his features.
His usually slick blonde hair was now disheveled and she thought he looked much more attractive that way and his lips were red and he to Hermione, he looked pretty much the same Draco that he had known but somehow, he seemed different. She smiled to herself. Never had she imagined that she'd be in this situation right now.
"Um. . . so what now?" she asked him and his eyes never left the fire as he answered,
"I don't know,"
"Well, what do you think?"
"What do YOU think?" he countered and Hermione let out a nervous laugh,
"I think this is a very complicated situation," she admitted and Draco nodded,
"I think so too,"
Hermione tried to imagine what life would be when she'd be with Draco. Naturally, Harry and Ron would get mad at her. So would Ginny, Lavender, Parvati and probably all of the Gryffindors would hate her.
She shuddered at the thought. But it wasn't like that yet. They weren't even clear what their relationship was. And besides, they've only kissed. Okay, twice, but that doesn't mean that they're already having a relationship, does it? Technically, yes, but this is Draco Malfoy we're talking about and one thing about him is that he never EVER have relationships other than one night stands and the occasional bedroom flings. But still. . .
She touched her lips thoughtfully,
"Care to let me in your thoughts?" he broke her train of thoughts and Hermione shook her head,
"I'm just trying to figure out what's really going on. . . you know, where we stand?"
"Well, where does two people who have kissed twice already exactly stand?" he smirked, looking at her from the corner of his eye and Hermione felt her cheeks heat up,
"Technically, they'd be going steady," she said and Draco let out a short laugh,
"Okay," he nodded and she just knitted her eyebrows and looked at him,
"But. . ." she began,
"But what?"
"So we're. . .?"
"So we're what?" he asked innocently,
"Are you saying that we, you and I, we're. . ."
"Together? Why? Do you have a problem with that?" he raised an eyebrow,
"No! I mean, yes! I mean what I'm saying is. . ."
"Your friends Potter and Weasley," he put in and Hermione nodded timidly,
"Then you won't tell them," he said simply and Hermione bit her lip. This wasn't the type of secret that can be kept from your friends. . . even more your best friends.
"I don't know. . ."
"Listen, let's just make this experimental. I don't know much about you and you don't know much about me, yet we feel some sort of. . . attraction towards each other, am I right?"
Hermione nodded. He couldn't be more right!
"So, let's just try and let the attraction flow freely between us and see what happens. If it doesn't work out, we'll break up, simple as that,"
Hermione didn't see where it's simple but she just nodded.
"B-but, what if. . .?" she began but she cut herself off. Was she really considering what if she fell in love with him? It was as if she was considering purposefully failing an exam!
"What if what?" he asked and she just shook her head,
"Forget it,"
"Okay," Draco shrugged and looked at her, his eyes darkening, "I think we should seal this agreement with a kiss, don't you?"
Before Hermione could even answer, she was already lost in his drugging kiss.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Author's Notes: I'm sorry for the delay and I'm sorry if this chapter's short and not to mention 'off beat' because I've just finished the finals and my mind's still on RESISTORS, POLYMERS, SHEARING STRESSES and stuff! Gomen na sai! I promise to make it up on the following chapters. Anyway, I still hope you'll continue to R&R because you don't know how much I depend on your reviews to keep going and maybe get some new ideas! SAYONARA for now!!
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Let the rain fall down and wake my dreams
Let it wash away my sanity
Cause I wanna feel the thunder, I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down I'm coming clean
The next morning at breakfast, Hermione was seated with Ginny, Lavender and Parvati, who were talking animatedly among themselves.
"Like, I can't describe what I feel when I'm with him, you know? He's just so addictive, I just can't seem to get enough of him!" Lavender swooned and Hermione tried not to make a face, knowing perfectly well whom her friend was referring to
"Lavender, please, we know he's good looking and all that but still he's a Slytherin!" Parvati scrunched up her nose as if the mere sound of the word stunk royally.
Hermione tried to ignore the constriction of her throat as she sipped her pumpkin juice and took a huge bite out of her blueberry muffin.
"It doesn't matter, Parvati! And besides, if you'll be going around telling people off about dating Slytherins, talk to Hermione! She looked like she had a grand time with Malfoy last night!" Lavender snapped, obviously still a bit pissed off about having been caught with Blaise last night.
The large piece of muffin that Hermione was on the verge of swallowing somehow got caught in her throat as she gulped the remaining of her juice and tried to catch her breath.
Parvati and Ginny turned to Hermione, their jaws hanging and their eyes wide,
"Hermione?" Parvati squeaked and Hermione's face heated up.
"Is it true? Are you really going out with Malfoy?" Ginny asked
"Well, the thing is. . ." Hermione began. Damn! Why can't she think up of a quick lie when she needs it most?
"Oh my God, Hermione! It's true then?" Parvati pressed and Hermione sighed,
"No it's not what you think. We were just on patrol, that's all," she explained lamely and Lavender pouted,
"Well, you sure looked like you had loads of fun patrolling,"
"You can't blame us, Lavender. Who wouldn't laugh when they find two naked bodies entwined on the floor, struggling and trying unsuccessfully to stand up?" Hermione smiled, remembering Blaise and Lavender's crimson and not to mention guilty faces,
Parvati and Ginny laughed and Lavender turned beet red,
"Well, you should've slapped that obnoxious smirk from Malfoy's face last night on my behalf,"
"Sorry, Lav, I was a bit preoccupied with both of you," Hermione laughed and finally, Lavender joined in,
"I just want to thank you for not telling on us, Hermione, because if my mom finds out, I'll be so dead!" Lavender said when the laughter died down and Hermione was glad that the conversation got diverted from her and Malfoy right away
"No problem, Lavender. I'm just grateful for that entertainment," Hermione smiled broadly, feeling good to be able to smile and laugh again with her friends.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Harry walked to the dungeons for double Potions as Ron went on with his usual pre-double potions rant.
". . . I bet Snape will be giving us a hard time today again! Always finding reasons to strip off house points from us of worse get us in detention. And being with the Slytherins doesn't help make things lighter. Not one bit!"
Harry exhaled, shaking his head. He was about to inform Ron that he'd heard it all before when Ron nudged him.
Harry looked up and saw Hermione walking towards them. As she neared, Harry half-expected her to walk past them but she didn't. Instead, she stopped in front of them and looked at them uncertainly.
"Um, hey, Hermione," Ron said awkwardly and Hermione smiled at him before turning to Harry, half-smiling nervously,
"Hey," she said cautiously and Ron cleared his throat
"Um, I'll go ahead inside and save you a seat," he said and Hermione shot him a grateful smile,
"Hi Hermione," Harry replied, "How's it going?"
"Fine,"
There was a brief silence before Hermione continued,
"I just want to apologize for being such a child," she said and Harry smiled,
"It's okay, Hermione, it's partly my fault too," Harry admitted and Hermione shook her head,
"No. It's my fault. I shouldn't have been so selfish. I should've thought of you and Ginny. . . I know you two broke up because of me and I feel really awful,"
Harry reached out and pulled her into a hug, "It's okay, Hermione. We're fine. I'm just glad that we're friends again. I missed you, you know,"
Hermione inhaled his sweet, familiar scent, "I missed you too, Harry,"
Gladness filled Hermione as she pulled away from her best friend. Gone was the feeling of loneliness and pain. Gone were the feelings of the previous betrayal and heartbreak. She was just glad to have her friend back.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
"It's so great to hang out with you guys again!" Ron exclaimed as they walked to lunch. Hermione could've sworn that the broad smile on her face would become permanent. She was more than glad to be hanging out together with Harry and Ron again, she was ecstatic!
"I know, it seemed like forever since we last talked! We so need to catch up on things," Hermione said and Harry nodded,
"You got that right. How about this weekend at Hogsmeade? We could try that new restaurant. My treat!"
"Alright!" Ron cheered and Hermione laughed,
"I'm so there!" she said as they happily proceeded to their seats.
"While we're there, let's go visit Fred and George's joke shop! They said they've got some new stuff to show us!"
"Uh oh," Harry mumbled jokingly and Hermione laughed,
"'Uh oh' is right! Fred and George always find ways to make us their lab rats for their new inventions,"
"Right. Who could forget the time when we were covered in scales when they gave us free samples of their 'lizard lollipops'? Ugh!" Ron winced and the three of them laughed just like old times. It was as if everything was perfectly back to normal.
"Hey guys! May we join you?" Ginny's voice called out and as Hermione turned to her friend, she caught sight of Draco Malfoy as his penetrating blue-gray eyes bored into her.
Well, at least almost everything was back to normal.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Blaise lounged lazily on the black leather sofa in the Slytherin common room that night after dinner. Since Draco had been transferred to the Head Students' dormitories, Blaise had taken his position and acted as the leader in the Slytherin House. . . only when Draco is not around.
"So, how's our little mudblood doing?" Blaise asked and Draco scowled,
"You don't expect her to change overnight, do you?" he snapped as he crossed the room and poured himself some of the firewhisky they've smuggled during their last Hogsmeade weekend.
He tried not to think about what he saw earlier at the great hall. Potter is finally back in the picture! Just when things couldn't get more annoying!
"Right!" Blaise drawled from behind him and Draco could almost picture Blaise's annoying smirk.
Draco cursed under his breath at the memory of last night flashed in his mind. Why had he stopped himself? And why the hell did he stop her? It was his biggest chance to show Blaise that he was able to do the almost impossible just after the first date and he blew it. Big time!
What was he thinking that night? It was all he could do to slap himself silly!
"So, are you still up for it or are you ready to give up already?"
Draco drew a ragged breath, "Give up? Fat chance! I'll get her," he said confidently, downing the rest of his drink and stormed out of the common room.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Hermione hummed to herself as she tightened her peignoir over her baby tee and gray jogging pants and picked up her thick novel and her mug of hot cocoa before she good-naturedly glided down the stairs to the common room where she had set up the fireplace and even prepared her favorite thick quilt just in case it got too cold.
She smiled to herself as she studied the coziness of the room. She sat on the sofa, curling up her legs under her and took a sip of her cocoa.
"Mmm..." she closed her eyes and smiled as she allowed the warmth of her drink to slide down her throat.
This is absolutely the most perfect day of my life. She thought dreamily, as she opened her book and began to be engrossed in it, but she found that her mind kept wandering.
It wandered over to Harry's smile, Ron's jokes, her laughter. . . and their upcoming Hogsmeade lunch!
It also wandered over to Draco's eyes, his kisses and his elusive smile, and suddenly, Hermione's smile began to waver as she absentmindedly touched her lips.
As much as she hated to admit it, Draco kissed marvelously. It wasn't the ruthless kiss that Lavender and Parvati and probably the rest of the female population had been raving about. His kiss was nothing Hermione had ever imagined. It was soft but demanding at the same time that she could easily get lost in it.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Draco crept quietly in the Head Students' common room when he saw Hermione's dark, gold curls. Her back to him and curled up on the overstuffed sofa, she reminded him of an innocent angel. So innocent yet highly capable of awakening different burning desires deep inside of him that even he wasn't aware he had.
He just stared at the back of her head and closed his eyes, remembering the way she smelled like peaches. That's what she smelled like. Not too sweet, not too strong, but just right.
Draco silently cursed himself for thinking about her that way. Again. What's with this girl that got him acting like this? Perhaps it's her large, expressive hazel eyes, or maybe her stubborn nose or maybe her sensual lips that could drive any man out of his mind.
This was getting crazy. He had to take her to bed and prove that she's no different than the other girls he had slept with and maybe finally he'll get over his weird obsession over his worst enemy for seven years.
He stepped forward until he was less than a foot away from the back of the couch.
"Care to share your thoughts?" he spoke, breaking the silence of the common room and Hermione jerked from her reverie and turned to him sharply, her beautiful eyes wide in surprise. Her mouth was slightly opened that Draco was momentarily hypnotized.
"I'm sorry for scaring you. May I join you?" he asked and all Hermione could do was nod.
Draco slid on the place beside her and studied her, taking in her beautiful features.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice low and uncomfortable
"I wanted to explain for last night," he said and Hermione bit her lip as if the memory of last night hit a nerve,
"Last night was a mistake. I didn't know what came over me and. . ." she exhaled sharply, "Maybe it's best for both of us to just forget about last night and treat it as a bad dream,"
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Hermione. It was much too real to be treated as a mere dream. I think you and I both realize that,"
Hermione finally looked at him, "What do you really want from me, Draco?"
Draco suppressed his smile at the thought of her using his first name.
"I just want you, Hermione," he said simply and saw a blush creep up her cheeks before she looked away,
"Just stop it, will you? I don't like playing mind games with you. You are so unpredictable it's infuriating! If you really want me like you claim, then why did you. . ."
"Stop us from making love last night?" he supplied and Hermione turned even redder, but she nodded, obviously trying to appear nonchalant, "Because I knew that after we've done it, you'll regret what you've done and end up hating yourself. . . or me," he explained, marveling at how quickly he had thought up of his reason when in fact he was busting his brains out looking for the reason why he had stopped their foreplay that night.
Hermione looked at him disbelievingly, "Why do you care about how I'll feel anyway? I thought you only cared about getting laid!"
"I just thought we were going too fast!" he insisted, positive that that's what Hermione wanted to hear. After all, she was the model virgin.
"Going too fast? I didn't know you understood that line when it comes to having sex!"
Draco clenched his jaw, "So is that it, Hermione? You're mad at me for not sleeping with you?" he burst out and Hermione's eyes grew wide,
"No it's not, Draco! I wouldn't sleep with you if my life depended on it!"
"Then what the hell's the problem?"
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Hermione wanted to explain it to him but she decided that he probably wouldn't care, and maybe he would even laugh at her.
"What?" he asked again, his voice lower and softer this time and for a moment, Hermione believed that maybe Draco truly cared.
"Just forget it," she sighed wearily. She didn't know what to think anymore. Her mind was a jumble and for once, she couldn't think straight.
Draco moved in closer and held her hand, wrapping it with his,
"Tell me," he urged and Hermione finally gave in,
"You just don't understand how rejected I felt that night," she said, feeling tears form in her eyes but she controlled them. She didn't want to cry in front of him, "First Harry, then you. . ."
"Don't compare me to Potter. We're nothing alike," he said icily and Hermione looked at him but she couldn't find words to say to him,
Draco's eyes bored into her as he leaned closer, "I'm different," he said in a hoarse whisper as Hermione felt him inching towards her until his soft, warm lips found hers. She felt chills run up her spine as Draco slid his hands beneath her mass of curls, cupping her nape pulling her closer as his kiss grew more demanding.
She let out a moan and Draco took it as a signal to deepen the kiss even more. Hermione's arms encircled his neck as his other hand went down to the small of her back, pulling her body closer until there was no more space between them.
Her mind whirled around, visions of Harry, Ron, Ginny, Draco, Lavender, Blaise. . . they all swirled around in her mind and finally, Hermione let herself go and allowed herself to get completely lost in the kiss.
It took a while for her to realize that she was already lying on her back and Draco was already on top of her.
"Draco. . ." she said against his lips but he continued to kiss her hungrily, as if he hadn't heard her,
"Draco. . ." she said again, louder this time and finally, he pulled away, breathing raggedly,
"What?" he asked,
"You're right, this is going too fast," she said and Draco narrowed his eyes but he nodded, sat up and pulled her with him until they were sitting beside each other on the couch.
Draco was quietly staring at the fire as if in deep thought and Hermione took the chance to study his features.
His usually slick blonde hair was now disheveled and she thought he looked much more attractive that way and his lips were red and he to Hermione, he looked pretty much the same Draco that he had known but somehow, he seemed different. She smiled to herself. Never had she imagined that she'd be in this situation right now.
"Um. . . so what now?" she asked him and his eyes never left the fire as he answered,
"I don't know,"
"Well, what do you think?"
"What do YOU think?" he countered and Hermione let out a nervous laugh,
"I think this is a very complicated situation," she admitted and Draco nodded,
"I think so too,"
Hermione tried to imagine what life would be when she'd be with Draco. Naturally, Harry and Ron would get mad at her. So would Ginny, Lavender, Parvati and probably all of the Gryffindors would hate her.
She shuddered at the thought. But it wasn't like that yet. They weren't even clear what their relationship was. And besides, they've only kissed. Okay, twice, but that doesn't mean that they're already having a relationship, does it? Technically, yes, but this is Draco Malfoy we're talking about and one thing about him is that he never EVER have relationships other than one night stands and the occasional bedroom flings. But still. . .
She touched her lips thoughtfully,
"Care to let me in your thoughts?" he broke her train of thoughts and Hermione shook her head,
"I'm just trying to figure out what's really going on. . . you know, where we stand?"
"Well, where does two people who have kissed twice already exactly stand?" he smirked, looking at her from the corner of his eye and Hermione felt her cheeks heat up,
"Technically, they'd be going steady," she said and Draco let out a short laugh,
"Okay," he nodded and she just knitted her eyebrows and looked at him,
"But. . ." she began,
"But what?"
"So we're. . .?"
"So we're what?" he asked innocently,
"Are you saying that we, you and I, we're. . ."
"Together? Why? Do you have a problem with that?" he raised an eyebrow,
"No! I mean, yes! I mean what I'm saying is. . ."
"Your friends Potter and Weasley," he put in and Hermione nodded timidly,
"Then you won't tell them," he said simply and Hermione bit her lip. This wasn't the type of secret that can be kept from your friends. . . even more your best friends.
"I don't know. . ."
"Listen, let's just make this experimental. I don't know much about you and you don't know much about me, yet we feel some sort of. . . attraction towards each other, am I right?"
Hermione nodded. He couldn't be more right!
"So, let's just try and let the attraction flow freely between us and see what happens. If it doesn't work out, we'll break up, simple as that,"
Hermione didn't see where it's simple but she just nodded.
"B-but, what if. . .?" she began but she cut herself off. Was she really considering what if she fell in love with him? It was as if she was considering purposefully failing an exam!
"What if what?" he asked and she just shook her head,
"Forget it,"
"Okay," Draco shrugged and looked at her, his eyes darkening, "I think we should seal this agreement with a kiss, don't you?"
Before Hermione could even answer, she was already lost in his drugging kiss.
c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)
Author's Notes: I'm sorry for the delay and I'm sorry if this chapter's short and not to mention 'off beat' because I've just finished the finals and my mind's still on RESISTORS, POLYMERS, SHEARING STRESSES and stuff! Gomen na sai! I promise to make it up on the following chapters. Anyway, I still hope you'll continue to R&R because you don't know how much I depend on your reviews to keep going and maybe get some new ideas! SAYONARA for now!!
