Terrifié

Chapter Twenty-One Don't Say 'Bed'

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Draco grabbed her mittened hand, the sled, and pulled her outside into the crisp evening air.

TBC

Half an hour later, they were sitting in the sled, at the top of a big hill somewhere on the Malfoy estate. The stars were bright and beautiful and they could see a small lake, it's waters magically unfrozen, glistening in the moonlight. The air was crisp and not too cold. They were both gazing out at the beautiful scenery, and the majestic Malfoy Manor, chimneys smoking and lights ablaze. They had finally resolved their fight over who got to sit in front by deciding to take turns… and Draco (by default of getting in the sled faster than Hermione could) was first. Draco maintained that he thought she'd be safer behind anyway.

"Ready?" He whispered, loving the magical silence of the winter night.

"Yes." Hermione replied, as he locked his elbows around her knees. With a yell he kicked off and then quickly drew his feet back inside the sled, as they picked up speed and zoomed down the hill, laughing. The sled slowly stopped and they sat for a moment, still laughing, before Draco attempted to get up, toppling Hermione out of the sled.

"Hey!" She cried as he looked down at her, sprawled out on the snow. She reached a hand out expectantly, and he played an old trick, pulling her halfway up before he let her drop back into the snow. "Jerk." She muttered, shaking her head to get the snow out of her hair, before using his pant leg to pull herself up. "You can pull the sled up the hill" She said, running lightly halfway up the hill before she stopped and suddenly sat down again. Draco, behind her with the sled, stopped and stared at her.

"What are you doing?" Hermione looked over her shoulder and winked at him.

"You'll see." She said conspiratorially, turning back to her mischief. Draco continued to the top of the hill and watched her finish piling the snow up, and then start towards him.

"A speed bump? Are you crazy? Do you know how fast we were just going? And it's not even! It's a shabby speed bump." She reached him as he finished his rant and he looked down at her, the top of her head below his chin on the slight incline.

"Are you frightened, Drakey? You can watch me go alone if you want. When we go inside I'll make you some hot choccy-wokky and put you straight to bed…" Hermione taunted, her bottom lip sticking out in a mocking pout. Draco's eyes narrowed as he suddenly grabbed her wrist and dragged her over to the sled.

"Get in," He demanded, and Hermione acquiesced, smiling.

"I'm in front this time Malfoy." Hermione grinned cheekily and Draco grumbled but climbed in. He couldn't really grumble over the fact that Hermione was basically sitting in his lap.

"Let's both kick off this time. I want to go really far." Hermione said, glancing around at the beautiful grounds. Draco nodded slightly and they both put their feet on the snow.

"Ready? On three. One… two… THREE!" They both pushed and withdrew their feet into the sleigh. They were quickly gaining momentum toward the ramp and Draco heard Hermione yell over the wind,

"Don't let go of me!" He tightened his grip on her waist. Their hearts were racing and their faces stung from the bitter wind racing past as the sleigh hit the ramp and then they were flying… it was incredible.

They were suspended in air for a moment in time, grasping each other, so far away from the earth, and everything. Alone with the stars and the cold air. It was at that precise moment that they bothrealized that they needed to be together, like this, for always. When time restarted and the sled hit the snow with a huge bump they were changed people. And when the sled bounced and turned them both on their faces in the snow, they were changed people in changed positions…

"Oooowwwww." Draco groaned, his eyes closed as he grimaced.

"You're… crushing… me" Came Hermione's muffled voice. Draco opened his eyes, and shifted his weight onto his elbows. Hermione lifted her face out of the snow and turned over, her face covered in the cold white fluff.

"How can you say OWW when you landed on ME? I'm the one who went straight into the cold hard ground with you on top and I'm in a considerable amount of pain here…" Draco silenced her rant with a mitt on her mouth. He wiped the snow from her face and grinned down at her.

"I told you it would be safer if I went in front, but you wouldn't listen to me. I didn't let go of you either. Although I have to say, things turned out quite well for me. I got a relatively soft landing and now I'm on top of you…" His eyes darkened and Hermione's smile faded as she gazed at him. His mitt moved under her head, supporting it as he leaned in for a kiss.

Their lips met with a burst of icy energy and once again Draco was reeling, falling throughthe endless tunnel of emotions that Hermione evoked in him. Hermione broke off the kiss abruptly and Draco pulled back, looking at her with disappointment that made her laugh softly.

"There are a few things we need to resolve. Number one, you're still crushing me. In addition, I'm freezing, soaking as all this snow beneath us has melted, and I'm also really low on sugar. If you'll remember what I said earlier, I think that maybe hot chocolate and bed would be a good idea." Draco rolled off of her and groaned.

"Hermione, don't say the word 'bed' around me. Ever." Hermione helped him to his feet and they went towards the manor, dragging the sleigh with them.

Inside they took off their outside things and immediately went towards the roaring fireplace. The house elves brought a silver tray of hot chocolate and placed it on a small table between two big, comfy chairs, which were moved up close to the fire. Draco caught Hermione's eyes and smiled.

"Choccy-wokky?" He offered wryly, gesturing to the tray. Hermione looked away, hoping her blush was disguised by the glow of the fire.

"There's still a problem we haven't solved." She said with an air of feigned humour. "I'm very wet. I was wondering… you don't mind if I peel off a few layers do you? I don't want to tramp all the way up to my freezing room before the elves get that fire going, but I don't want to get sick either. You should probably do the same." She looked nervously back at Draco. His mouth was slightly ajar. "Draco?" She prompted, and he shook his head slightly and swallowed, clearing his head. He managed to squeak out a feeble,

"Go ahead." Before he turned his back, granting her privacy as he followed her advice, peeling off his soaking pants, socks and sweater, and then standing in his boxers in front of the fire, using every ounce of his will power to not glance over his shoulder. He could hear the sounds of wet clothing hitting the floor not covered by the rug… Hermione's clothing was far away. Not on her body. Deep breaths Draco, deep breaths.

"Are you okay?" Hermione's voice was startlingly close.

"Hmm?" Draco yelped in surprise.

"You're breathing really heavily. You're not going to get pneumonia are you?"

"Mm-mm... Nope." There was a long pause, and Draco could hear Hermione rubbing her hands together. He coughed. "Err, this is nice, good idea. My body's really hot. I mean… not like, as in, HOT. I mean, I'm not wet, and being next to the fire, the fire giving off warmth so I'm warm, and yeah not like… because I'm warm. High temperature." He finished lamely. When Hermione spoke again he could hear the smile in her voice.

"Draco, I'm wearing a camisole and underwear. It's not THAT big of a deal. You can turn around if you want." Draco spun at her words. She was wearing a pale pink lacy camisole and panties. He looked her up and down breathlessly before he spun back in the other direction. "I think I'll just… stay this way." Hermione laughed.

"Do you think my scars are scary?"

"What scars? … I didn't even notice any scars..." He glanced over his shoulder and picked out some faint marks on her skin. Her smooth, pale skin… Draco abruptly sat down in the chair. "What is this, the night of torture?" He quietly wailed. "Your scars aren't scary." He added as an afterthought. There was another long silence. "Could you pass me my hot chocolate?" He asked, reaching an arm behind him awkwardly. He heard her pick up the hot chocolate and waited expectantly. He jumped slightly when her fingertips landed on his wrist, and slowly trailed up his arm. He was practically quaking with nerves and the restraint. Normally he was never like this around girls! What was wrong with him? Of course, he normally didn't need to restrain himself around girls. And Hermione wasn't just any girl. The girl he loved.

She appeared in front of him, smiling and holding the hot chocolate again her stomach. He tentatively reached out and took it, retreating back into his chair and taking a shaky sip. "Aren't you going to have some?" He said, hoping to get her away from him. There was only so much he could handle.

Instead of getting her own cup, she leaned over him and took a sip from the other side of his mug, then licked her lips. Draco's eyes widened to the sizes of saucers as she said softly, "thanks." He gulped.

"Hermione… are you… trying… to seduce me?" He choked out. Hermione smiled.

"Took you long enough to catch on." She said sliding into his lap. Her bare skin on his was too much for him to handle. "Ooh, what's this? Obviously one part of you did catch on…" She smiled. Draco was beginning to think he had asthma because he COULD NOT BREATHE.

"Ehm… Hermione. Maybe you should just… get up for a second. Ehm, I don't think that you… realize what you are doing… and if you are… then I don't know if you're ready for this… so soon after… everything." Every word pained him. Why was he doing this to himself? WHY? Cried the little, self-centred Draco inside him. But he knew he had to deal with this delicately, because he wasn't that Draco anymore. He had more people than himself to care for, and the one he felt most commitedly responsible for was Hermione. Who was at the moment very close to his face.

"Draco. I'm not a rash person. I know that the way things were with Don is completely different from the way things are with you. And for some reason, when you contradict everything I've been told for years, when you tell me that I'm good, and beautiful, I believe you. We are so completely different from Don and I, that I don't even associate what we're doing with him, and what he did, in any way. You make me feel so safe and happy. And I think… I'm starting to fall in love with you." Hermione's voice quavered and she looked at him with her large dark eyes.

"That's good. Because I think I'm already in love with you." They locked eyes for a minute before their lips met in a desperate, aching way. They became so close they were melting into each other. Hermione was sliding her hand slowly towards hisboxers when there was a sudden crash. Draco had dropped his mug of hot chocolate on the floor, causing it to shatter.

"The house elves will get it!" Hermione said frantically, something Draco had never thought he would hear from her. Before she could take him over again he spoke.

"I think we should take this upstairs…" Draco said, and Hermione nodded. He stood, shifting her into his arms. She let out a surprised laugh as he practically ran up the stairs, carrying her. "My room or yours?" He asked breathlessly at the top.

"Yours." She said, faintly remembering the black satin sheets with a smile. Draco fumbled the door open with a few angry curses and then kicked it closed behind him. The fire in his room was built up, thanks to the house elves. He gently laid Hermione on his bed.

"Hermione. There are a few things we need to discuss."

"Not now!" She said, reaching for him. He smiled at the role reversal.

"Don't worry, I'll make it short. First, this is going to be completely different from what you've experienced before. It may actually ruin you for all other men. I certainly hope it does anyway." He smiled cockily and she rolled her eyes, quelling her anticipation. "Second, this means a commitment. I want to be with you, but not in the same way I've been with other girls. I want to enjoy the benefits of a fully exclusive relationship with you. Because I'd go insane if another man even looked at you." He was pacing back and forth. This obviously meant a lot to him. And Hermione had expected and wanted this anyway. Still, she was flattered at his concern, and his protectiveness.

"Yes darling. Now get in the bed." She demanded.

"What did I tell you about saying bed around me?" He said, smiling at her.

"I'm not joking. Now." She said. Honestly, her nerves were getting quite frayed. Draco's smile widened as he climbed back onto the bed and looked down at her.

"Can't resist me can you?" He smirked. She pulled him down and kissed him eagerly as an answer. He pulled away once again, tantalizingly. "One last thing Granger." His face became completely serious as he traced her jaw. "I want you completely naked." And with that he ripped off the golden chain around her neck, flinging it into a corner of the room. She was no longer his possession- at least in that way. Hermione laughed delightedly and with renewed passion flung him over onto his back; leaning down to kiss him so hard he wouldn't interrupt her again for a long time- for the whole night…

TBC