Disclaimer time - ok . . .blah, blah no, I do not own Draco (much to my great dismay), Hermione or any other characters you may recognize, if I did the movies would get far more interesting, trust me. I need to say thanks to, Heather, my amazing beta reader, who brings a sense of order to my overly excessive use of adverbials, an almost obsessive impulse to insert commas and the ever-irresistible run-on sentences, I'm so fond of, and without whom this story wouldn't be nearly as readable ;) This chapter is a bit of a good news/bad news situation. This story was always intended to become NC17, but since instituted it's now infamous NC17 ban, I was forced to edit this chapter, but I still think it's pretty good & hopefully you'll agree. And of course, any typos & grammatical errors are, as usual, my fault . . . sorry. Anyway, let's skip anymore of the AN & get back into the story . . .

Chapter 30 - Consider Yourself Challenged

Sitting on Draco's bed, Hermione felt painfully awkward, wondering if it was too late to back out of this. She watched him snag a remote control next to him. Driving music began pouring through the speakers around them and pressing a few buttons, he lowered it to conversational level.

"What are we listening to?" She asked after a moment.

"It's a mix – at this moment? The Misfits, 'Die, Die, My Darling.' " Hermione's eyes widened at this bit of information. Draco only raised a challenging eyebrow.

"Ummm, it's kinda late and we do have that presentation tomorrow. I'm thinking maybe I should get back to my room and review our notes on it."

Draco shot her an impatient and exasperated look, before shrugging off his robe. Balling it up, he tossed it into a corner across the room. "Will you just chill out, for Merlin's sake? It's not like I'm planning to jump you," he lied through his teeth. "Or kill you, if that's what you're worried about, believe me, if I had just wanted that, hell, if I wanted either one, I would've done it a long time ago." He shook his head in an exaggerated sense of amazement, before he stripped off his shirt. "Bloody luck, not only is she a virgin, but a Gryffindor to boot . . . ," he grumbled under his breath.

Hermione was surprised first at his words, then at his actions, although she was relieved to see his pale skin free of the terrible bruising from the last time she had seen him. Blinking against the distracting sight in front of her, she decided to disregard his words for the moment and smiled despite herself. "You don't really expect to believe that, do you?"

Quickly pulling on an old Descendants t-shirt, his head popped though the neckline. Taking a moment to rake his hand through his tousled hair, he pushed it back and let it fall, framing his face. "Well, no, not really, but I was hoping it might." He shrugged ruefully, a playful smile playing across his face. Watching her lean back and relax was worth getting laughed at, because he knew that he definitely wasn't going to get anywhere with her if she was so obviously uncomfortable.

Pulling up a chair from the far wall, he settled across from her and sat down, his legs sprawled out in front of him. "See, I'm being very good." He raised his hands, palms up in placating gesture. Reaching off to his left, he grabbed his pack of cigarettes and lit one up. "Perfectly harmless, one might even say."

"Yeah, right. I don't think anyone would ever say that about you." She replied tauntingly, falling easily back into their usual pattern of teasing each other. There was a certain amount of pleasure in baiting him that she never got quite enough of. She slipped off her robe, and laid it down just short of the foot of the bed. The music changed to something more melodic that she recognized from the club, 'Pictures of You' by the Cure and she found her slowly nodding her head to the beat as she waited for his comeback.

"Oh, I'm really hurt by that, Hermione." He shook his head as if disappointed. "And here I was trying to be a gentleman."

"Ha. You wish, Malfoy."

Arching an eyebrow, he countered. "Are you impugning my honor?"

"And if I am?" Her smile turned smug.

Draco took a deep drag off his cigarette. "If you're trying to challenge me, my dear, feel free to, but remember that you will, of course, lose."

She gave him a long look, before daring him. "Well then, consider yourself challenged."

He smirked. Sometimes it was just too easy, even for him. Reaching over, he stubbed out the cigarette. Next to the ashtray was a slim vial that he snatched and quickly tossed back. "As the challenged, it is my privilege to chose not only the time and place, but also the particular terms of the challenge." Standing up, he rose smoothly, dropped the empty vial into a wastebasket and stalked towards her. Placing one knee on the bed just outside of her leg, he leaned into her body, forcing her to inch back. Inch by inch, he followed her until her back was against the wall and pillows. Straddling her body with his palms flat against the wall on either side of her head, he lightly rested himself on her upper thighs using just enough weight to hold her firmly in place. "Looks to me like you lost before you even began."

Staring up at him, Hermione mused, "How does that saying go?" A mischievous smile lit up her face as her hands rose up to trail along his chest. "Oh, yeah. I remember now – 'I haven't begun to fight'." Without warning, she suddenly pushed against him.

Draco smirked and letting her momentum carry him, he leaned back, pulling her with him, before rolling over and taking the dominant position again. Looking down at her squirming figure underneath him, he had to resist the impulse to gloat. "Now what was it you were saying," he casually asked, while he collected both her wrists in one hand and pinned them down to the bed above her head. Propping up on one elbow, he rested his chin on his splayed out fingers, his face mere inches away from hers.

She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to pull her hands free while attempting to buck him off of her at the same time. "You haven't won yet, you know." Her breath was heavy with her exertion.

Sliding one leg securely between hers, he adjusted his weight onto his other arm, forcing her imprisoned wrists even deeper into the bed, while his other hand trailed a path along her check and down her throat. "Hermione, I won this particular battle a long time ago and if you're honest, you'll admit it." Watching her, his mouth closed over hers to stop the stream of words about to tumble from her lips.

For a long moment, she struggled against him, caught up in heat of their argument, before giving into the unyielding pressure of his kiss. As much fun as it was to spar with Draco, she didn't really want to fight him and that kiss . . . she always wanted to melt into his kiss. Feeling her quick response, Draco's hand loosened around her wrists to twist into her hair, slanting her head slightly. Her hands slid up to his shoulders, pulling him closer instead of pushing him away and his mouth gentled upon hers. He parted her lips with his tongue and was exploring her mouth in a way that sent chills down her spine as she began to relax underneath him.

Against her back, she was just aware the coolness of the sheets, under her, in sharp contrast to warmth radiating off Draco. All the arguments, pro and cons about whether she was ready to take this step faded away and all she could concentrate on was the feel of him against her. His fingers seemed to burn her skin as they glided along the exposed sliver of her stomach just below the hemline of her shirt. Hermione broke the kiss abruptly, pushing him to the side. Looking down at him a wicked smile curved her lips, her arms crisscrossed in front of her as she pulled off her top and then slipped off her bra. Maybe she was just 'a virgin' but like any other subject that peaked her interest, she had done her research and was more than ready to put it to use.

Draco stretched out, half on his side, watching her, one arm tucked behind his head. He wasn't particularly adverse to her taking a more active role, or at least not in these early stages, anyway, and a slow knowing smile crossed his lips. So if she wanted to play, he was more than willing to follow her lead, up to a certain point, of course.

With one hand, she shoved him onto his back and then quickly straddled him. Sitting on his lower stomach, she rested her hands on his shoulders as she shimmied her way down lower, until she could feel him pressed up against her. Slowly, she initiated a rhythm, a gentle rolling of her hips above him, taking great pleasure in watching his expression change as he reacted to her movements. The molten silver glow of his eyes in the dim light of the room tempted her and she impatiently tugged off his t-shirt, wanting to even the playing field.

With a faint smile, he obliged her by pushed himself off the bed for a moment to make it easier for her, while snaking an arm around her back to keep her from slipping off his lap. "Like what you see?" His voice was low and she was surprised to realize that not only could she hear, but also feel the faint rumble of his words.

She took full advantage of her position to run her fingers softly over his stomach, lightly raking her nails along his skin and was rewarded when she felt the muscles tense and ripple beneath her touch, before responding. "Hmmmm, it's ok . . . I guess." Then leaning forward, she caught his lips, no teasing flicks of her tongue, just a demand that he willing responded to. His hand reached up to tangle in her hair as their tongues danced together, his other hand pressed in the small of her back urging her impossibly closer.

Draco's eyes were burning into hers and he suddenly shifted his hold on her. One arm sliding around her shoulders, the other hand firmly on her backside, and then with a quick, smooth surge he had lifted himself up and over until he was gazing down at her rather than up, their lips never having parted. She was still catching her breath at the strength required by that seemingly effortless movement, when his mouth broke away from hers. "Just ok?" He imperiously arched an eyebrow, waiting for her response, his face mere inches away from hers.

She never tired of just looking at him. In the semi-darkness, his icy silver eyes were staring into hers, his skin was like moonlight stretched over muscles and bones, and his paler than blonde hair hung free around his face. There was a certain quality of brokeness about him made him seem frighteningly beautiful. Hermione needed to touch him for a moment just to reassure herself that he was real. Her fingers trailed along his high cheekbone, before ghosting down the slightly damp skin of the back of his neck to rest on his shoulder, pulling him back down to her. And a smile curled his lips. A smile that could have been gentle but was not. Yet for all that, it was not cruel either.

"You still haven't answered my question yet, Hermione," he whispered lightly in her ear, his voice was husky and low. The silken strands of his hair brushed along the sensitized skin of her throat. "Perhaps more persuasion is needed . . . " His words drifted off as his lips wandered along the curve of her jaw line and down her neck, dropping light opened-mouth kisses.

One hand crept across along her side and began delicately tracing circles that grew ever tighter around the curve of her breast. His fingers just reached the edge of her aureole, when he flattened his hand and brushed his palm against her erect flesh. After a moment, his fingers curved and his nails dug deeply into the tender skin as he raked his nails upward, leaving faint red marks behind. Rough fingers teased her sensitive nipple, twisting cruelly and forcing a gasp from her parted lips. Draco dropped his head, taking her nipple into his mouth his tongue soothing it gently, while he began paying attention to her other and until now neglected breast.

Hermione made no protest as his free hand fumbling first with the button and then the zipper of her skirt. Instead, she bit her lower lip and lifted her body slightly, as he hurriedly yanked her skirt and panties down to her ankles, before she kicked them off. Her hand slipped into his hair, fist clenching tightly as she tugged, pulling his head up to hers. He paused for a moment, his mouth hovering over hers as he waited, in a second that seemed impossibly drawn out, his silver eyes searching hers, before he leaned in, taking total possession of her mouth.

Moving between her thighs, she could feel the shift of his muscles under his skin and she pulled him tightly towards her, her nails lightly raking along the smooth skin of his back. Slipping one hand between their bodies, his thumb began teasing her clit and she suddenly arched up against him in response. It was too intense for Hermione, breaking off from the kiss, her breath came in shallow gasps at his ear as her lips and tongue skimmed along its delicate point. His forehead fell to rest against her shoulder, thankful that he still was wearing his jeans.

Draco took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, but the feeling of her bare skin against his was almost enough to undo him. He'd been waiting for this moment for what seemed like forever and he refused to rush through it now that it was finally happening, but this was so much more difficult that he had ever expected. He closed his eyes, knowing that he wouldn't be able to take much more and he had to make sure that she would be ready for him. It was all he could do to restrain himself from ripping off his jeans and taking her right then, but at this point he didn't know how gentle he could be or how long he could last and so he forced himself to focus on her pleasure first. He refused to disappoint her – wanting to make this an experience that she would never forget.

Slipping one finger into her, he teased her, testing her readiness. She was getting close and he shivered and groaned, freezing against the sudden, almost instinctive urge to plunge into her and he almost lost control when she began to beg. Oh Merlin, but he wanted to hear her beg. . . and plead . . . and scream. He wanted to bury himself in her. . . Pulling away from her took every ounce of control he had left and when she whimpered in protest, he nearly bit his own lip bloody.

Sitting up, he quickly freed himself from his jeans. He took a moment to drink in her beauty, her pale skin gleaming slightly as she twisted on his bed, reaching out to him. Savoring every gasp and whimper she made, then she moaned his name – the only name, he decided, that she would ever say this way. Hermione began to tremble under that gaze, she felt almost like she was melting away. Her eyes involuntarily traveled down the length of his body in admiration, until she saw it for the first time

Cinnamon eyes opened wide in stunned amazement and she reached her hand out, as if to touch him there, before she thought better of it and snatched her hand back. Shaking her head, she scurried back on the bed until she hit the wall, giving her a few scant inches of space to think away from him. "Ummm, Draco?"

He dropped his gaze down his body, before looking back at her, all but trying to crawl up his wall and arched an eyebrow. "Hermione?"

"Ummmm, I'm not so sure this is going to . . . ummm, work."

"Oh, really? And praytell why?" If the situation hadn't been so bizarre, he would have dearly loved to pull up a chair and listen to the absurd argument he was sure that he was about to hear. He was caught between the impulse to say screw it and just continue or break out laughing.

"Well . . . ummm." She could feel the heat of her checks and knew that she was furiously blushing but she couldn't help herself. She couldn't believe that she was in this situation, couldn't imagine how she was supposed to explain this to him, looking at her with that near smirk on his face and most of all she couldn't believe that he was actually going to make her say it. Hermione wanted to just die of embarrassment.

"Hermione?"

She swallowed deeply. "Well . . . ummm, you're a bit . . . big, you know. An- and, I just don't think that you're really going to fit." Her words spilled out in a rush as she refused to meet his eyes, which was just as well, since they were amused, as he mentally slowed down her words in his head to understand them.

Forcing himself to look and sound serious, Draco stifled his laughter. "While I appreciate the compliment and the fact that you're . . . shall we say, impressed, I assure you, Hermione, I will most definitely fit."

"I wish I could be as confident as you were." She finally looked at him, her eyes deep pools of uncertainty, before dropping just as abruptly.

"Hermione," his hand reached out to cup her cheek, as he sat down on the bed next to her, but leaving some space so he wouldn't completely spook her. He sighed for a moment, his realization that she was serious about this, overcoming his initial moment of amusement and conceit. "Don't you trust me?" His thumb tilted her chin up a shade, "Come on, not even just a little bit here?"

Bracing himself on one arm, he leaned diagonally across her body as he moved himself more fully over her.

He reached down to grasp her bare thigh and brought it high up around his waist, firmly drawing her body flush up against his. His other hand wrapped itself into the silken thickness of her hair, winding it tightly around his fist. Using his grip in her hair, he tugged her head back, exposing the bare expanse of her throat to look down at her. Her eyes seemed to be pools of melted honey almost glowing in the dim light that flickered across her face. Hermione looked back up at him, her body on fire and she was begging for release. She could feel the heat of him pressing in on her and she knew that he was holding back until she was ready for him.

"I don't want to hurt you . . " Draco breathed, but Hermione shook her head at him, stretching her neck up to kiss him into silence. Her tongue dueled his with in a battle for domination just to see who was really in control of this situation. The tension she could feel in his muscular body, the faint trembling of his bicep mere inches away from his face, the shifting under her fingertips that rested on his back, excited her even further. Despite her natural caution and uncertainty about going ahead, there was this growing desire in her to see him lose control, to push him beyond his boundaries – she wanted him to act and she wanted it now.

"I trust you, Draco." She broke away from his mouth and whispered, reaching down to taste the flesh of his shoulder where it met up with his neck. Pushing herself closer up against him, her teeth sank deeply into his flesh. He reacted instantly and with a ferocity that she hadn't expected.

The flexing of his hand tangled deep within her hair was her only warning, before he sharply yanked her head back. Her mouth opened instinctively in a gasp of surprise and pain that was swallowed by his mouth fastening tightly to hers, his tongue sweeping inside possessively, staking his claim on her in a way that was absolutely unmistakable. He had waited too long and his need for her had become an almost physical pain.

He tried to control himself, reminding himself that she was a virgin, to force him to go slow, to be gentle, when all he could really think about was thrusting deep inside her. Then she had to go do something like that and shred what little of his control remained. He groaned into her mouth as he pressed himself against her hot, wet entrance and felt her tense beneath him, but he was almost beyond caring, beyond any further capacity for patience or generosity.

She wanted this, she really did. . . but when he lowered himself to her, his molten silver eyes gleaming in the light giving him a feral expression, she felt him throb against her and she couldn't suppress a sharp stab of fear. Everything so far had been wonderful, even more than she had ever imagined, but she knew that this was going to hurt. She had heard her roommates and friends talking about it, everyone knew it. There was going to be blood and pain and, despite all her intentions to be brave and ride it out, she froze, shivering, with a small whimper of fear that she couldn't quite hold back as he began to press into her. Every muscle in her body tensed as she squeezed her eyes shut, held her breath and waited for the pain.

Above her, Draco held himself still for an impossibly long moment, his teeth biting into his lip again. He desperately struggled to focus on that pain, but it had little effect. You fucking bastard, he mentally castigated himself. She isn't ready yet, damnit! Hell at this point you'd be lucky if you haven't scared the hell out of her, never mind actually getting any. He just didn't have the necessary control to ease her back into arousal and grinding his back teeth, he knew that if he had any hope of stopping this, he had to do it now or else. He rested his forehead against hers for a second, forcing the air in his lungs out in a harsh sigh, before his fingers slipped free of her hair and he began to push himself off of her and to the side.

Hermione's eyes flew open and she made a small noise of protest even as she pulled him back down to her. He left out a chocked laugh. "You're killing me here. I'm trying to do the right thing for once. It's ok, if you're not ready, but we've got to end this now, Hermione, because I'm not sure I'd be able to later on."

She smiled up at him, struck by a sudden sense of amused frustration. "Draco, you're an idiot, a sweet idiot, but an idiot nonetheless. I've never done this before, so yes, I'm nervous, but I know what I want and what I want is you. Now are you going to work with me here or argue with me, instead?"

His eyes narrowed for a moment as he stared at her, unable to believe what he had just heard or the fact that she had the audacity to actually be amused about this. Hmmm, so much for his misguided sense of nobility, he mused, oh, well, fuck it. Nobility was never his strongest suit, anyway. Capturing her lips in a deep and tender kiss, he slowly began to slide himself into her. He could feel her tension beneath him and wanted to reassure her, but it was taking every ounce of control he still possessed to take it slow for her, to not hurt her any more than he could possibly avoid.

Naughty bits section censored

to preserve FF's

delicate sensibilities.

If you wish to be corrupted,

please read the ending AN note

or just go straight to my user page.

Lying in his arms, her head resting over his heart, she sighed contently, as he carefully lift her body up for a moment before pulling the sheet over the two of them. Draco favored her with a smile, as he ran his fingers through her hair that rested across his chest, taking his time untangling her curls. Hermione rubbed her cheek against his smooth skin. Despite her best effort to stay awake, her eyelids began to grow heavier, his fingers were just too relaxing and too soothing for her to resist the lure of sleep any longer. When he heard her breathing begin to slow down and regulate, he brushed the sweep of her hair hiding her face from him and had to stop himself from laughing, afraid the vibrations would awake the sleeping girl in his arms. Instead he gently pulled her tighter, resting his chin on the top of her head.
Hermione felt an unusually strong sense of warmth and safety that seemed to wrap itself around her. Snuggling deeper into her pillow, she tried to wrap her arms around it and was puzzled by the fact that it was hot and hard to the touch. She opened an eye curiously and was startled to see skin, jerking her head up she realized that she must have fallen asleep on Draco. Quickly closing her eyes, she tried to find her way back into that state between sleep and true awareness. But as hard as she tried to fade back into oblivion, there was a nagging worry that continued to trouble and prod her into trying to remember . . . "Oh fuck!"

Opening his eyes, Draco blinked for a moment, the soft grey color almost crystallizing into iron as he read the panic in her face. He quickly shot up into a sitting position, poised for action as he carefully scanning the room for any visible threat and finding none. "What's wrong?"

She looked up at him in horror. "Draco . . . I'm not . . .I mean, we didn't -" Her voice broke as he impatiently waited for her to continue. Her eyes dropped to stare at the sheet, as she picked at it with her fingers, her voice very quiet. "We didn't use any protection."

"Oh . . . is that all you're worried about?" She looked up at him in shock and was more than a bit outraged to see him laughing slightly.

"What is wrong with you, Draco? This is serious. I . . . I could be pregnant."

"Shhhh," he reached out and pulled her into his arms. She squirmed for a moment, trying to break free and he just tightened his hold on her, dropping a light kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry so much, I'm not that careless, you know. Trust me, you're not pregnant. Remember that potion I took last night?" She pulled back enough for him to see her slightly frowning as she tried to think back. She had a vague recollection . . .

"You mean after your cigarette?"

"Yep. Well it's a Zwanger, I had it already prepared and it lasts for 48 hours, so you're definitely not pregnant."

Zwanger potion, Zwanger potion. Hermione wracked her brain, it wasn't a potion she was familiar with but, recognizing it as a Dutch word, she mentally translated it. "A pregnancy potion?" Her voice tinged on the absurd.

"Well, almost . . . it has the opposite effect, actually."

"Ahhh, I see. How very . . . forward minded of you, Draco."

He smirked. "Yeah, that's me, babe. Now that we've got that problem solved, we still have – " he reached past her to pull open a drawer in his nightstand and lifted an alarm clock. He glanced at it for a moment, before dropping it and slamming the drawer shut. "Anyway, as I was saying, we still have a few hours before class begins. I'm sure we can find some way to amuse ourselves, don't you think, hmmm?" He arched his eyebrow meaningfully at her, before he leaned over her in a deep kiss.

TBC

Ok . . . as usual, if you've left me your email, then I've added you to my mailing list for this story, so you get a happy little email each & every time I update, if you didn't get one, well obviously I don't have your email or I missed it somehow. If you review this chapter & leave your email in the review or I can get it off your profile, I will gladly add you. Don't forget reviews are like candy & I'm nothing if not a sugar addict. So please, read, enjoy & if you didn't hate this chapter then please review ;)

Apparently, many of you did not enjoy the flashback sequences in the last chapter (I only 11 reviews, felt so unloved . . .lol) um, but hopefully this chapter will be more to your satisfaction. Now as far as the lemony content, I debating long & hard over to what to do about it, because I don't want to shortchange you, nor do I want to get kicked off (if you're reading this & really have a major issue with what I have posted, do mea favor & email or review to that effect before narcing on me – I believe I kept it on the R side as opposed to NC17 & will re-edit of necessary, don't make me loose all my reviews & work, please?) For those who have waited for what seems like forever, never fear the 1500 (something) of naughty bits is available. I was going to post it on AFF, but they've down fairly frequently of late, so until I find a reliable site, the uncut lemon chapter is available only by wandering over to my user information and wandering over to LiveJournal. Hopefully this will satisfy everyone. Happy reading.