Adrian POV
As he stood in the empty classroom at the end of the Charms corridor and waited for her, he let himself release some of the tension he had been carrying. In a few minutes she would be here alone with him. They had met three times for longer than a few minutes and he had played those hours over and over again in his mind.
School kept both of them busy and she also had the formidable time drain of helping Potter get ready for the task. It was easier to accept that now, he could feel the worry and determination she felt in those hours. The amount of time she spent in the Great Hall with the wizard in the front of her mind. Usually at those moments he could feel her awareness was of him and her relaxation at their proximity. When he was feeling jealous or just wanted her to himself he tried to remind himself of the ways that she did acknowledge him.
He knew when she usually went to bed now, it was about eleven. If he was thinking of her then things would come through the bond much clearer. Their dormitories were as far as they could be from each other so the ease of exchanging things wasn't the same as when they were in the same room. It depended on her mood and how tired she was, what kind of evening it would be. Sometimes it was daydreams of them or just moments together. Things he thought she wanted to do with him, brew potions or go for walks. He had already known she liked to walk and think, be outside too. Other times it was more an exchange of thoughts or as if she was checking in with him, assessing his mood and how tired he was.
Three times though, the nights after they had been together like they would be tonight, it had been other things. Thoughts of them that were private and even viewed differently. Instead of a scene of them with feelings as narration it was more like just them in no specific place. Physical sensations as well as emotional ones. Those were precious, intimate was the only word he could think of. She liked his eyes, one of his favorites was a similar viewpoint as his previous favorite fantasy of her above him with her curls around them. Now he thought of her point of view too, the desire and fascination she felt as she looked down at him. He would have her in that clearing, just the thought of her open beneath him in a place that he knew she thought of as theirs was enough to keep his hand busy.
He had noticed that she thought of it often but when he had seen her thoughts of him taking off her shirt and laying her on that tree bench, it had changed. The feelings of security and anticipation instead of uncertainty, even more so the vulnerability he could feel. The way she thought about being vulnerable to him. He wasn't sure that Hermione thought of it that way, could see the way her wanting to be free with him, open and allow him to be in control was nearly overwhelming.
In other parts of her life she needed control, to understand. He had expected the same to be true of her relationship with him. The tenor was different and he couldn't always keep himself together when he felt her respond so eagerly to his suggestions. Her relaxation at his sure emotions or the blush that coloured her cheeks but didn't cause her to tense when he let her feel his admiration of whatever part of her body was fascinating him right then. It was as if she already had begun to take his lead in some things, wanted to be able to trust him to set the tone between them.
The bond pulsed as she came closer. Anticipation and excitement coloured with other things. He let himself revel in it with the bond partially closed and then calmed himself as he opened it more. The emotions just increased from her and he put his hands in his pockets as the door opened. She looked down at the piece of parchment she had assured him was an unbelievable map and then met his eyes.
The bond pulsed and then he was fumbling for his wand, putting wards up quickly and as quietly as he could. His father had gone through this with him, knowing that discretion and privacy were important to him. Their conversations hadn't been long but the questions his father had asked were pointed and Adrian tried to answer clearly. To explain what he could about the bond's preferences and his own. This set of wards and privacy charms were one of his father's gifts to them, one both appreciated. He could feel her calm increase as the magic went up and in response to his own relaxation at their being alone and as secure as he could make them.
"Adrian." The way she breathed his name was more than he could withstand, not touching her while being so close and feeling her own want to be closer to him. Often he couldn't give her what she wanted, more than what was able to be accomplished in public. Now though he could and as he reached for her, the relief and surge in her anticipation made him groan. She still was surprised by his want of her, not sure in her desirability and it was frustrating. It wasn't something he could truly dispel yet but in that moment he decided that he could make a start.
"You have time?" His voice was rough and she watched his face then nodded.
"At least an hour or so before everyone starts heading up." She wasn't paying attention to her words. All of her focus was on him. The bond was humming and he knew that it was okay with her, that she wanted something from him, not support or understanding but something of him.
"Is there anything you want to speak of that can not wait?" Her eyes widened and then she took a half step closer to him. No verbal answer came but her body and her feelings did. Damn it, she was so lovely. It was nearly impossible to understand how he could appreciate her untouched beauty, her innocence, and want her more because of it. He wanted to strip it away and replace it with certainty.
"Come here." He held his hands out and she walked into his embrace. Her arms were tight around his middle and she pressed herself firmly against his chest. He could feel her emotions fluctuate wildly and knew his were too. Could feel the tightness in the bond, both of them wanting more than this.
Holding her to him with one hand he lifted his wand and transfigured a table into and arm chair before pocketing his wand and lifting her. Her small hands curled around the back of his neck and she relaxed slightly, both physically and her tension on the bond. He reciprocated, feeling better now that she was in his arms and her own uncertainty had lessened, though it didn't disappear.
"You don't trust that I want you, aren't certain of your place in my life. Perhaps you understand intellectually Hermione but you don't believe. Let me show you." He could feel her embarrassment at his words and knew that more words would be needed. Something for her to listen to while he touched her, let the bond open and showed her. He spun her so her back was against his chest and her legs together bent at the knee across his.
"Close your eyes my witch. I want you to see, even if you can't know everything, it angers me that you don't trust this. It is a certainty and I won't have this continue." Oh yes, she liked it. Responded to his assertiveness and he tried not to let it roar down the bond. His triumph and how turned on her was at her willing compliance.
"Your body is beautiful, made for me. Each time I see you there is something more compelling that the last time. This morning it was your hands. Holding a book and absently running up a finger and down the page edge. You noticed something but I can't let the bond open like that in the Great Hall. That Hermione is mine alone. I will not let someone else see how you flush and bite your lip when you are aware of your body like that." As he spoke and let the want and possessiveness through the bond. He let her shift and feel his erection beneath her.
"Can I touch you?" Her voice was soft and he was surprised at the lack of change in her emotions when she asked. She stiffened at his negative response, not her own wants.
"When you are ready for me to touch you. I won't have less of you than you want of me." At that she moaned and spun to face him. Straddling his lap and staring at his lips with enough desire to be torture.
"I don't want it to be here." She admitted and he froze under her before trying to relax.
"Whatever you want. You know that." He choked out. Trying no to think about the fact that she did want him to touch her. That the reticence was something else, not him or them but something connected in her mind. He pressed her against his chest and let her bury her face in his shoulder. Knowing she would prefer to speak like this, if it was personal. Eye contact was distracting and she didn't like not being able to finish her thoughts.
"I don't want to be hiding, feeling like we are doing something wrong." Unable to help the rush of feelings in response to that he just squeezed her and let her accept how that felt to him.
"I understand." He did, the instinct to not degrade their relationship in any way was strong and prominent. Respect and sheltering her from regret were nearly constant considerations.
"So you think it's okay? To wait for being home or somewhere else." He could tell that she was uncertain and he wasn't sure what about so decided to address what he could think of.
"It will always be okay to wait. For you to want things to be right. We should always have that feeling of rightness. Open to each other when we take steps forward together. The bond is helpful that way, it wants trust and openness. So do I." His certainty and acceptance calmed her and she relaxed against his chest completely. His body responded as a usual to her trust and touch. What she was thinking changed and the mix of want and embarrassment made it clear that he would like whatever it was she said.
"Could we, in my dream or whatever, we had clothes on and everything. Would it work like that? For both of us." As her embarrassment climbed and she tensed again he opened the bond to what he was feeling and waited for her to understand. How much he wanted her, that. How much her asking meant and his lust.
"Yes. Oh yes Hermione. It would work like that." He knew she got the first image he tried to send. Her tiny whimper was the most erotic thing he had ever heard and then he got hers. The slight pull of his hands in her hair and he stilled. It was his automatic reaction to wanting to spread her before him and devour her.
"If you don't want to that is fine. I don't want anything that." Her words broke off as he lifted her chin and then kissed her, in a way he hadn't yet. Then his hands were on her hips and he rolled her against his cock. Unable to help but moan into the kiss at the shock of pleasure that he felt in their magics, the sharp one from her fantasy that night as well as his own.
"Please." Her low whimpered word was enough to break his reluctance. He felt only want from her, no fear or uncertainty. The guide lines of staying clothed and the open feeling between them were enough that inside those restrictions he felt able to act. It was more than enough.
Hermione's POV
"Mione." Harry's voice came from beside her in the quiet library corner they were in. The task was in two days and both of them were panicking, trying to keep calm enough to carry on. Hoping to find something. It didn't seem that this book with charms for magical creature care would yield anything they hadn't already found.
"Yes." Her answer was absent and she began stacking the books back up and thinking about where she could look for anything that might help. Libraries didn't piled searches for vague things like helpful spells so she had to go about it the longer way.
"It's been good for you." His tone was thoughtful and dragged her from the haze of worry her mind had been in. Her eyes snapped to the vibrant green ones looking at her. How long had he been watching her for?
"What do you mean?" She asked. Not sure what he had been thinking about while she was being disgusted by ways to clean manure and enclosures.
"Him. It's almost like you are totally different. Even things like you not touching your hair or tying it back so much. Smiling more and the stupid things people say don't seem to bother you. Malfoy was pissed when his taunts didn't rate a reaction at all yesterday." A grin came at the end and she laughed softly before looking around. It was almost closing time and no one was near them.
"It was a suggestion of his. Not giving Malfoy the attention. I always tell you to ignore him but it's hard to actually do." She admitted and wasn't surprised when he laughed quietly at her rueful admittance.
"This enough for today?" She asked him. It had been worth it, paying more attention to Harry and less to their lists of things to do. Endless research wasn't good for his piece of mind and he seemed to enjoy the silences and small conversations she had been making sure they had time for. Honestly, she had been too. Her class work was done and exams were coming up, this year there was no frantic preparation. She kept on track with her revision and homework but hadn't taken on more than that. Harry needed her and she couldn't be falling apart, that would effect Adrian. Who had told her outright that he wouldn't tolerate her running herself down like that. Explained how trying and draining it had been even before the bond was open. It would be worse now. She slept as best she could, he helped with falling asleep and made sure Harry was eating too.
They walked through the mostly deserted halls towed the common room and she enjoyed the moment. The year was als or over and she always missed both the school and even more her friend during the summer.
"Will you write me more this summer?" She asked and then waited for his shoulders to relax. He hadn't liked talking about after the task or the school year lately and she could guess why. This was important to her though.
"I want you to know that even if you don't get letters, I am sending them. Somehow I am trying to communicate with you. Please send letters if you don't receive them. Athena might help but I don't know." She let her seriousness and her uncertainty show through. So he would know that she meant it. A sideways glance. The same assessing one he gave her when she said things that seemed to mean more than the words themselves. Harry had been paying attention.
When she told him that she was going to meet him, that's how they referred to Adrian, he had given her a long look. Seeming to ask if she would be alright, not liking the mystery or her going to meet someone. Then he had hugged her and told her to wait. Handing her the marauders map he had blushed and told her that his first thought had been to look so she better take it. A perfect example of the great friend he was.
"I'll write you." It sounded a bit pained but she just smiled her acceptance and relief.
"Does he hate me? Him." She slowed for a moment and then shot her own sideways glance at her friend who was watching her, only looking ahead to make sure there wasn't a step or some other hazard.
"No. Doesn't like the situations though. Proximity to danger, he calls it." Letting him see her roll her eyes. Adrian's orders to be careful and a bit selfish with her safety were frequent. There was a mix of emotions that she thought meant the same as his words and were prevalent when he couldn't speak to her.
"That makes sense. I don't like it either." The worried tone was back in Harry's voice and she couldn't think of anything to say. He didn't like it when she fussed over him, unless he was very upset himself so she just reached for his hand.