Breakfast the next morning was interesting to say the least. All of the house tables were talking in excited, hushed whispers. Three of Gryffindor's girls and a Ravenclaw...sitting with the Slytherins! Parvati was still slightly annoyed with Blaise, but Hermione, Ginny, and Luna convinced her to sit with them and give him a chance. Ginny was in a heated debate with Draco and Theo on whether the Thimblerig Shuffle was a better offensive move than the Parkin Pincer.
Greg sat there smiling at his little firecracker. He kept replaying their first kiss in his mind. Ginny Weasley actually liked him; and more than a friend. His thoughts drifted to their upcoming date in Hogsmeade. He needed to think of something amazing to do with her. A trip to Zonko's or Honeydukes was out of the question. He would never step foot into Madame Puddifoots again. One time on a date with Millie in third year was one time too many. He'd talk to the guys and think of something.
Hermione sat next to Draco listening to him debate with her friend. She felt him inch his hand closer under the table to hold and smiled as their fingers interlocked. He absentmindedly stroked her hand with his thumb. The discussion was over so he turned towards Hermione and whispered, "Meet me during our free period. Behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy." She bit her lip then smiled at him, nodding. Draco had been desperate to have her alone again.
Luna stared at Theo. Her dream last night was very vivid and left her confused. In it, they were in the infirmary at school. Luna was in a cot sleeping soundly with Theo holding her hand. Madam Pomfrey was patting his shoulder in a motherly way as tears streamed down his face. He wasn't sad though. No. These were tears of happiness and the love radiating off of him was enveloping Luna. She woke with a feeling of euphoria. She'd known Theo had strong feelings for her and vice versa, but the dream showed her just how pure the love he felt was. Theo caught her eye and winked causing Luna to grin widely at him. He leaned over and kissed her and heard someone groan in annoyance.
Looking he saw a Gryffindor a few spots over, glaring at him. "Is there a problem?" He said as he caught the brunettes eye. Luna looked over to see who Theo was talking to. Seamus Finnegan was giving him the deadliest glare.
"Yeah, I gotta problem. You. Who the fuck gave you the right to sit here? Talk with our lasses?" Seamus got up and began walking closer to where Luna and Theo sat, chest puffed up. "You're way too good for him, Luna. He got you under a spell? Wouldn't put it past him. Son of Death Eater scum."
Luna felt Theo tense up and laid a hand on his chest, patting him gently. With a caress of his face, she instantly calmed him. "Seamus, we will leave if it makes you uncomfortable, but if you ever talk that way to my wizard again, I'll hex your balls off faster than you can say Durrigable Plum." With a smile as sweet as saccharine, she took Theo's hand in hers and left, leaving a dumbfounded Seamus Finnegan staring at them open mouthed.
When he heard Seamus mutter something about filthy Death Eaters, Greg got up in his face, "Watch your mouth Irishman. Unless you need me to permanently shut it for you." Seeing the tall Slytherin about to come to blows with her friend, Ginny took his hand and pulled him away.
"Greg, please. McGonnagal is watching. Let's go for a walk." He looked menacingly at the Gryffindor boy then into Ginny's pleading eyes and backed off. "Thank you." She smiled up at him and he tilted her chin up and kissed her soundly on the lips. Ginny felt a flutter in her stomach when he kissed her in front of everyone in The Great Hall. She didn't even realise she'd wrapped her hand around his green and silver tie.
Someone yelled, "Get a room!" And several people chuckled. They broke apart, smiling hard at one another. He couldn't even remember why he'd been worked up until he saw an angry Seamus Finnegan. Looking at him, he took Ginny's hand in his then led her away.
Draco and Hermione just watched everything from their spot at the table silently daring anyone to say something more. When most people started leaving the hall, she turned towards Draco. "That was intense. Just imagine if Harry and Ron were here. Would've been way worse with their short tempers." Draco shuddered. He knew first hand what happened when Harry Potter lost his cool and had the scars to prove it.
"I'll see you after Ancient Runes, yeah?" Draco intertwined their fingers and pulled her hand up to kiss it. Hermione could feel her heart racing. She felt her face heat up as she stared into his eyes. She could get lost in them for hours,
"Definitely. I'll be waiting for you." They stood up from the table and made their way out of the Hall. As they got to the top of the stairs, Draco stopped them. He looked around then pulled her towards a hidden alcove. "What are you.." he cut her off with his lips on hers, slowly kissing her. Hermione quietly moaned as his hands slid down her waist and down to her ass.
"Mmm, couldn't wait til free period to do this. I dreamt about you all night. It was the first time the war wasn't in there." He caressed her cheekbone with the tips of his fingers. "You're so beautiful." Hermione smiled at him then kissed him softly. Draco rested his forehead against Hermione's and sighed. "Granger, will you accompany me to dinner Friday night? I want to take you on a proper date. Maybe we can stay in Hogsmeade for the weekend? I could get special permission from the Head Mistress."
He knew he was already falling hard for her, he'd been falling for her for years. She saw him. Truly saw him and didn't run away. She'd been tortured and cursed by his own flesh and blood in his ancestral home and still, she did not run. His beautiful, brave lioness. His Hermione. He wanted this witch to know how much he could love her.
Hermione felt his love pouring from his soul and surrounding her. It was scary how she was feeling. Was it really just months ago that this boy, no, this man was one of the people she thought most loathed her. And now, to know he'd had deep feelings for her for years? She still didn't know how Harry and Ron would take this. But why should she care what they think? Because they were her best friends? I mean, could she even call them that anymore?
Hermione kissed him one more time before pulling back, "If we don't leave now, we'll be late to our classes." Draco made a sad face, going as far to pout his bottom lip.
"Fine, at least let me walk you part way." A hopeful look in his beautiful eyes. She nodded and he took her hand in his. He noticed her looking down at their joined hands and furrowed his brows, "Hey, listen, I'm not ashamed. I am not hiding us one bit." With that she gave him a bright smile, her eyes glistening. She felt as if she were floating on air as her boyfriend, her wizard, proudly showed the school that they were together.
Blaise sat down roughly causing Parvati to jump. "You arse! You startled me." Blaise chuckled then began setting out his parchment, quill and ink pot on the desk. She fought the smile that threatened to show. He was a beautiful man, that was for certain, and he seemed to actually want to sincerely spend time with her. He kept giving her subtle glances at breakfast and he held a civil conversation about their shared love of Divination.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to. Sitting down is not one of my most graceful abilities. This is okay, right? Sitting here?" Blaise didn't want to push things too far with the Head Girl by assuming that he could just hover around her personal space.
"Yes, of course. I, oh shoot!" Parvati looked through her bag again.
"What? Is something wrong?" Blaise asked as he watched her cover her face with her hands.
"I left my quill and ink pot in my room. You don't happen to have extra, do you?" She asked him with a sense of urgency.
"Yes, but what will you give me in return?" He leered at her, wagging his eyebrows. Parvati looked affronted and appalled. "Not like that, please don't think so low of me as to think I'd want a sexual favour. I just wanted to see your reaction." He said with humour in his voice. "A date. That's what I would like. Hogsmeade this weekend. Do we have an accord?"
Parvati sighed in relief. She heard so many rumours about the Italian stallion that was Blaise Zabini so it was only natural to think the worst. "Sure, why not." She said nonchalantly as she shrugged her shoulders. Blaise smiled, a genuine, bright, beautiful smile then handed her his extra quill and ink. Parvati turned then hid the smile that escaped.
Saturday morning came around and the Seventh and Eighth year students were excited to get a trip to Hogsmeade in. Ginny wasn't meeting Greg until lunch time for their date, so she used the morning to write home and to her brother George. She told them of getting ready for the first Quidditch match of the season, her classes, and then she dropped the biggest news of all; her new relationship with Greg Goyle. She knew it would be a shock to them all. Her breakup with Harry was still fresh, but she hoped that they would understand and respect her decision to get to know the Slytherin better.
Gregory Goyle was nothing like she would have expected. He seemed a bit shy, but at the same time exuded confidence Harry never showed. He had a great smile, a nice body, and a voice that made her stomach do somersaults. And the way he held her, touched her, kissed her...well let's just say she was falling fast. She was just leaving the Owlery when she bumped into someone.
"Ginny, hi." Great. Just what she needed.
"Oh, um, hey Dean. How're you?" Dean stuffed his hands in his pocket and looked at her with longing.
"I've missed you. I thought maybe since Harry and you broke things off, I'd get another chance to be honest, but looks like I was too slow? Goyle? Really Gin?" His eyes narrowed slightly and Ginny's hackles rose.
"Listen, you need to get this through your head, Dean. We dated two, three years ago?" He stared at her and furrowed his eyebrows. "We didn't fit, constantly argued and fought, plus you weren't assertive enough for me. Greg is more than his last name, and he is NOTHING like his father, so don't you dare try to convince me that my feelings for him are not genuine!" Dean looked even more annoyed at her.
"He's just a rebound since Harry broke things off and started seeing that Greengrass girl. And we only fought and argued because you were constantly talking about or watching Harry fucking Potter! You were obsessed with him while dating me! You knew how I felt about you, how I still feel about you." He leaned in and put his hands around her waist. Whispering in her ear, his lips lightly brushed them causing her to shiver. "Remember how I could make you feel, Ginny."
She pushed him away from her and looked aghast. "What the hell is wrong with you! You know I am with Gregory! If you ever come near me again, I'll hex you, do you understand me?" Dean nodded, having the decency to look sheepish. "I won't tell him about this because he would tear you limb from limb. And be sure to tell the Irish Car Bomb that is Seamus Finnegan to lay off Theo. Luna and him are in love and nothing is going to change that. They are soulmates, okay?" He nodded again then stepped aside so that he could pass her, then continued her path to meet Greg.
"Parvati! Wait up! I'll walk with you!" She stopped and waited for her sister to catch up to her. "Hey Pads! Oh, mummy and daddy sent me a letter this morning. Did you get one?" She watched as her twin smiled then nodded at her.
"Yes, yes, enough of that. What's this I hear of you accepting a date from that snake, Zabini? Are you daft? He's going to break your heart. Ask Chantilly Bartello in my house. She'll tell you how much of a scoundrel he is." Padma looked at her sister, sincerity in her eyes. "I don't want you to get hurt." After a few minutes of walking in silence, she spoke again.
"What's with all of the Gryffindor gals? It seems they are all becoming obsessed with Slytherin wizards. You, Ginny, Luna, and most surprising of all, Hermione Granger! With Draco Malfoy? That can't be true. Didn't him and his family torture her a few months ago?" Parvati looked at her in shock.
"Where the hell do you get your intel from, Pads? Malfoy never once touched Hermione in anger or violence! His deranged aunt did that all on her own. And Luna is not actually a Gryffindor, you know? She's Ravenclaw, like you, but your house never did appreciate her; treating her like a second class citizen when she is honestly the most intelligent one in your house as well as sweet and yeah, maybe a bit odd. She is a great friend to everyone of us, but you guys don't see her the way we do. And, yes, we are a bunch of snake lovers but guess what?" Padma looked into her sister's eyes waiting for her to continue, "We don't give two shits what anyone else thinks. I love you, Padma, but do not get in my way. Blaise truly likes me, and by Merlin, I really like him too." Padma smiled at her and gave her a side hug.
"Okay then. Good. I'm glad you're finally letting yourself be happy with someone." She smirked, "But if he hurts you, I'm going to kick his ass!" They laughed and continued their trek from the castle to the gates to Hogsmeade.
"Luna, baby, yes..." Theo watched as her head bobbed up and down as she went down on him in his abandoned dorm room. Greg and Blaise had left early that morning and Draco had taken Hermione out last night and was staying away from the castle until Sunday. Luna showed up for breakfast in the Great Hall and followed him to the Slytherin common room after. She came off with a pop then crawled her way back up his body.
Theo grabbed her around the waist and eased himself inside of her waiting cunt. They both moaned as he fully sheathed her. "Theo, I love you," Luna said as she rode him. He smiled up at her bouncing tits and swore he was the luckiest bastard on the planet in that moment.
"I love you." He simply said as he fought the urge to cum before she orgasmed. Moments later they lay in each other's arms in post-coital bliss. "Luna?" She rolled onto her stomach, smiled at him, and waited for him to continue. "I never thought I'd have this." He stroked her cheek, "This. This is everything I always dreamed of. Loving you is the best part of my life thus far."
"Me too, Theo. I want to stay in your arms for the rest of my life. There's no doubt in my mind that we're going to be together forever." Theo pulled her up to his mouth and kissed her soundly.
"So, why wait? Let's get married." Luna looked at him trying to figure out if he was joking or serious. "What? I'm serious. I love you. You love me. We're of age; you're seventeen, I'm eighteen. I'm in this for the long haul, baby doll!" Kissing her again, he wrapped his arms around her and rolled her onto her back.
Luna combed her fingers through his chestnut curls, resting her hand against his cheek, "Yes." The smile on his face made her melt. "After graduation? Or before?"
The morning sun streamed into the bedroom of the muggle hotel room Draco had brought Hermione to last night. Their first night together and it was perfect. He curled himself around her sleeping form and sighed. Breathing in her jasmine scented shampoo and smiled. He felt happy, which was strange for Draco Malfoy. He'd never had much to be happy about in his short eighteen years.
He'd surprised her by booking them a hotel in Muggle London where they had ordered room service and stayed in all night watching these things called films. They had a bit of snogging then fell asleep wrapped around each other.
Hermione turned around to face Draco. "Good morning." She said as she pulled him down to meet her lips. He kissed her slowly, nibbling her bottom lip. "You're such a good kisser. Mmmm." Draco chuckled then rolled her onto her back hovering over her.
"So are you." He simply said before kissing and nipping at her neck. Hermione could feel her body thrumming as he kissed lower, making it to her collarbone. She wrapped her legs around his waist. Draco looked up and saw her smirking at him. "Yeah?" Hermione nodded her head emphatically. "Fuck." He whispered as he moved to her breasts then traveled south more until he reached the top of her panties.
"Oh, Draco, please stop teasing me!" He looked up, meeting her eyes, then whispered an incantation divesting her and himself of their undergarments. "Oh, sweet Circe!" She said as he began to devour her. He was slowly bringing her to the edge then backing off, so she grabbed ahold of his hair and forced him back to the sensitive bundle of nerves causing him to chuckle. It did not take long after for her to start screaming in ecstasy.
He kissed her inner thigh then made his way back up settling between her legs. "Love hearing you screaming my name, love." He used the head of his penis to tease her folds before sheathing himself inside of her which made them both groan in pleasure. "So tight. I don't think I can last long." Draco said as he built a rhythm. Hermione was panting and a silent scream plagued her face as she climaxed a second time with Draco following shortly after.
"Oh shit, the contraceptive charm!" Draco screamed the afterthought.
"It's fine, I'm on the potion." She reassured him. Not that they wouldn't have a child at some point, but they wanted to be together for longer than a fortnight and hopefully married before then. They kissed again before getting up to shower and order breakfast to be delivered. They would head back into Hogsmeade today and meet their friends for lunch. It was funny how their friends were all dating.
Even Ron and Harry were dating Slytherins. Not that they knew about Hermione and Draco. She knew that wasn't the case because she hadn't received a much anticipated Howler from either of the boys.
Hermione watched Draco as he drizzled honey on his fruit and smiled. She already knew she loved him. It had never hit her this hard. Not with Victor, not with Ron. Somehow, she knew. From that first moment on the train, she knew she wanted him. He was such a prat when they were younger, too set on being like his father, but now? Now she knew she was seeing the real Draco Malfoy. He was free from his father's hold on him. He was his own person and Hermione Granger was going to show him all of the love he'd ever missed out on.
"You did not! And your mother didn't kill you?" Parvati had never laughed so much in her life. Now that Blaise wasn't trying so hard, he was opening up and showing his true self.
"Honestly, I was surprised that she didn't. After all, she really seemed to actually like that husband. But when I hexed him hairless, he said that was the final straw. Left that night and sent divorce papers a week later. She might have liked him, but he was a horrible man." Blaise chuckled and then saw how she was smiling at him.
"Merlin, you certainly are a sight to behold, Parvati. You're gorgeous, you know?" She blushed and looked at him under her long lashes.
"Thank you. You're not so bad yourself. And who would have guessed under all that snark laid a fun guy? I've honestly never had such a good time, Zabini, um, I mean, Blaise." He reached out across the table and took her hand, linking their fingers.
"It helps that I know I can be myself with you. You make it easy. I feel so much comfort in your presence. I, I really like you and hope that we can see more of each other." He looked at her, so much vulnerability in his stare. She could trust him. She felt safe with him. "Can I kiss you?" He asked her and instead of answering, she leaned forward. He met her halfway and gave her a sweet kiss on the mouth tasting the caramel of her latte on her lips.
Parvati felt her heart racing and wondered if his was too. "Blaise?" He looked up expectantly, "I really like you, too." And they smiled at each other like idiots as her sister spied on them from a table in the back. Padma smiled to herself. She'd be keeping a close eye on the Snake. He would have to earn her trust, but her sister looked happy...truly happy so he couldn't be as bad as she'd heard. With that, she snuck out without being seen.
"I've never been this way before." Greg had decided to take Ginny on a walk on the outskirts of Hogsmeade Village. He had found a special spot during what he called "The Year of Hell" while hiding from The Carrows. He smirked at Ginny and tugged her closer.
"It's just through these trees." Ginny's eyes widen at the sight before her; beautiful meadow filled with thousands of wildflowers and a babbling brook. "This is my spot. Whenever things get to be too much or I just need to relax and be alone, I come here. You're the only person I have ever shown this to, Ginny." He pulled her hand to his lips and brushed his lips across them. Ginny looked up into his eyes, his look of vulnerability making her heart melt.
"Greg, it's beautiful. Thank you for trusting me with this." She began, but he cradled her head in his large hands.
"I do. Trust you. And I am trusting you with my heart." He kissed her gently and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I won't hurt you, Greg. It's strange. For so long, I thought I wanted to be with Harry, but then he broke up with me and I wasn't even that upset. Yet, you come along and it is so different. When you aren't near me, I long for you to be with me." He couldn't believe his ears. She was wonderful. He wanted this woman. He loved her already. Gregory Goyle could see his future was no longer going to be one of loneliness and brooding around his family estate. NO! He would make something of himself with Ginny by his side. And if he was lucky enough to make her his wife someday, the Goyle name would become no more. He'd already decided to take his wife's name. The Goyle name was cursed, he was certain of it.
A/N: Well, it's been a hot minute since I put a chapter out. My apologies. We've been moving into our first home and that has taken up most of my time. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I am really winging it here. :)