She was superior. A woman so significant others would stare with wide eyes and wonder how she maintained such a high level of certitude and modesty. He'd watch her move and know she was thinking five steps ahead to what she wanted to do next. She possessed a sense of verity that kept her grounded, that made her impossibly intelligent and put her above everyone else.
He was sure Hermione Granger was sometimes not a real person. Rather, she encompassed the qualities of every good thing in the word. The playfulness of a child that's lost on most during adulthood, the patience and compassion of a saint, the kindness of a mother, she possessed it all. Oftentimes, he thought her to be angelic.
A neurotic, fast talking, quick to irritate angel, but an angel nonetheless.
"Oh for the love of—Draco? You're not even listening to me are you?" She cut herself off, her voice annoyed as his vision readjusted to focus on her face.
"Hm? Yes I am." He smiled.
"What's the last thing I said?" She asked knowingly, her eyes holding him hostage until he spoke the truth. He rolled up to his side, leaning his head in his palm as she looked over her shoulder. Fighting off a smirk, Draco tried to remember the story they were now on.
"'All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses, and to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.'" Draco quoted, chuckling as she suddenly thwacked him with the book on his thigh and groaned.
Hermione scooted on the blanket, turning her back to him and crossing her legs to hold the book in her lap. She mumbled to herself and slouched into a position.
"Honestly, you ask me to read then don't even pay attention. What's the point when I could be reading in my head?" She shook her head and Draco fell on his back, tentatively reaching up and brushing his fingers against the exposed skin on her upper arm. He smiled faintly when he noticed the small patch of goosebumps spread.
"I like hearing your voice." He admitted quietly and saw her head shift towards him. Rising from his position, Draco moved to sit in her line, leaving his thigh that touched her own flat and bending his leg to rest his arm on it while the other leaned back to hold his weight.
She looked up through her lashes then quickly back down. Draco knew she was nervous, hell he was moments from shitting himself from nerves. But their first official date had been going so well—a portkey to Austria, a train ride tour, yes a muggle one, followed with a brisk walk up a few hills to settle for early dinner, a picnic with a view. Draco's heart was beating faster than the wings on a snitch, he was so sure he was going to mess it up and that the day would fail miserably. But the way her eyes lit up on their tour and the squeeze of her hand in his when he laid out their picnic told him he was doing all right.
"I got a bit distracted." He went on, nervously bringing the hand that he was resting against forward to her bent knees. The frill of the hem of her dress being played with. Both their timid eyes watched the movement of his fingertips. "I'd rather we play our game."
Draco looked up, eyes wide and hopeful as her dark brown eyes slowly lifted. She bit the tiniest part of the inside of her lip, sighing heavily then putting the book aside. Her hands folded in her lap after readjusting her cardigan, fingers stroking over each other as she nervously, but so bravely, spoke.
"What's the topic?" She asked, her words only a bit louder than the upcoming fall breeze.
Draco shrugged, wearing a half grin. Fingers traced circles over her kneecaps, the pads careful to not stray too far upwards.
"Seeing as it's our first date, I think romantic poems and passages would be fitting."
Hermione rolled her lips into her mouth, half her face quirking upwards. "You're so going to lose." She confidently told him and he squinted his eyes competitively.
"You said that when I chose famous French writers last week and remind me again who won?" He lightly squeezed the top of her knee, causing her to jerk ever so slightly in place. Hermione pursed her lips, still smirking.
"I don't think you've read more romance poems or stories than me, Malfoy." She stated confidently, courageously planting her hand inside the gap between his thighs. Her wrist brushed against the material of his trousers right above his knee on the leg that lay flat. She leaned into her hand on the ground, his leg now anchored between her thigh and arm.
Draco watched the movement like a fly to the light, curious of her but glowing with satisfaction. He hummed in thought.
"Only one way to find out." He said, his cheek dimpling. "Who shall start?'
"You, since you chose the topic." She told him, leaning her cheek on her shoulder.
"Alright." Draco sighed then furrowed his brow in mock thought, giving her a look when he decided on his first selection. "'I carry your heart with me—I carry it in my heart— I am never without it—anywhere I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing my darling.'"
Hermione watched his lips form over the words, his tongue roll forward at the annunciations. Entranced by each movement and word, her stomach gleefully twisted and turned, begging for him to continue. Draco scratched over her knee before massaging the area with his fingertips, moving on to the next part.
"'I fear no fate—for you are my fate, my sweet—I want no world—for beautiful you are my world, my true— and it's you are whatever a moan has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you.'"
Draco looked up, pausing his words as he hoped to catch a blush on her cheeks. Pride formed in his stomach when she lifted her stare to him and the flesh grew pink like blossoms in the field they were in. They smiled shyly at one other, a sharp breath pulled from Hermione's lips when Draco's full palm pushed up the hem of her dress, his hand resting just above her knee.
"'Here is the deepest secret nobody knows,'" The huskiness of his voice made her lips part in awe. "'Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide—and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart…I carry your heart—I carry it in my heart."
Hermione grinned, making a smacking noise with her lips.
"That was going to be mine." She told him.
"You told me to go first. Already running short of ideas?" Draco smiled when she laughed a bit. His fingertips squeezed her thigh and he was pleasantly surprised when she moved forward, causing his hand to push higher.
"Not even close. It's my turn now." Hermione cleared her throat, shaking her head to move the curls off her face. He refrained from pushing them back himself. She kept her eyes on the expansive field, her eyes shifting back and forth as if she were reading the words off the mountains.
"'Before you came, things were as they should be: the sky was the dead-end of sight, the road was just a road, wine merely wine. Now everything is like my heart, a color at the edge of blood: the grey of your absence, the color of poison, of thorns, the gold when we meet, the season ablaze, the yellow of autumn, the red of flowers, of flames, and the black when you cover the earth with the coal of dead fires.'"
She smiled faintly, leaning her head down to watch the tendons in his hand contract as he massaged the skin on her thigh.
"'And the sky, the road, the glass of wine? The sky is a shirt wet with tears, the road a vein about to break, and the glass of wine a mirror in which the sky, the road, the world keep changing. Don't leave now that you're here—Stay. So the world may become like itself again: so the sky may be the sky, the road a road, and the glass of wine not a mirror, just a glass of wine.'"
Draco loved the way her voice drifted into the air. So confident, never tripping over her words or misremembering. Her brain was amazing that way, and while he enjoyed playing at the same level when it came to their game, he didn't mind when she out showed him.
"I tried to remember that one and I couldn't. Only knew the first part." He said and she raised a brow.
"Well even one verse counts but I'm glad I got to show off a bit." She teased and Draco rolled his eyes. "You're up."
He began moving his fingertips up and down and slightly to the side, coming in closer to the center of her thigh. He licked his lips, sucking on the bottom lip before it released with a snap. She watched the movement, her eyes lingering for not longer than a half second but it grew his confidence.
"'I think I was searching for treasures or stones in the clearest of pools when your face…when your face, like the moon in a well where I might wish… might well wish for the iced fire of your kiss; only on water my lips, where your face… where your face was reflected, lovely, not really there when I turned to look behind at the emptying air…the emptying air.'" Draco recalled smoothly, one he mesmerized after his mistake in the hospital and after he broke things off with his ex. Randomly coming across it in a book, he marked it immediately, repeated it to himself at night as guilt ate him to sleep.
Hermione sadly smiled. "I like that one, but it has a sad ending."
"Longing doesn't have to be a sad emotion." He argued.
"I didn't take it as longing, I took it as sadness of missing someone. Like their lover is not with them, or maybe dead even." Hermione examined and Draco nodded.
"I meant it as missing one away, like away at work, or parted briefly, you know?" He asked.
"I know." She rose a brow, as if to question if he was alright. She understood his interpretation and what he meant. A moment of silence passed between them, both remembering the pain and ache that previously existed before they came back together. It went quickly as Hermione scooted forward some more and as a result, her dress hiking up higher on her thighs. Draco wetted his lips and prayed his hand didn't feel overly sweaty.
"I have a good one." She announced with a smug expression and a barely there smirk on her face.
"Okay." Draco dragged out the word, nervously waiting for her to speak as he felt her mood suddenly shift.
"At the touch of you," Her thumb shot upwards, causing Draco's thigh muscle to twitch as she began stroking his leg with the finger. She noticed, her smirk growing but her eyes still off far in thought. "'As if you were an archer with your swift hand at the bow, the arrows of delight shot through my body.'"
Draco's mouth parted, eyes widening a bit and a hot heat grew on his neck. Hermione planted her whole hand on his thigh now, matching his grasp on her leg. She turned back to look at him, throwing him a scarily flirty expression, as if she was enjoying him squirm.
"You were spring, and I the edge of a cliff, and a shining waterfall rushed over me."
At the word 'rushed' she clamped her hand down tighter. Draco was unable to conceal the shudder that ran through him at both her words and touch. His eyes lowered to the delicate flesh of her lips, he swallowed.
"I don't know that one." He admitted, seeing a wide smile break on her face.
"I didn't think you would. It's by Witter Bynner." She explained and he nodded, licking his lips before his eyes glanced back up at her amused face.
"My turn?" He asked, though he knew it was. She nodded, happy to get the reaction she craved from him. Clicking his tongue, Draco spoke lowly.
"'Coming together it is easier to work after our bodies meet paper and pen neither care nor profit whether we write or not but as your body moves under my hands—" Draco rambled but slowed his speech, moving his hand higher and breath shallowing when her felt her muscles quiver. "—charged and waiting, we cut the leash you create, me against your thighs hilly with images moving through our word countries my body writes into your flesh the poem you make of me.'"
Hermione let out a small gasp when his pointer slid down, inches from the crease of the inside of her thigh. Draco soaked up the noise, however faint, it rang through his mind like the loudest symphony.
"'Touching you I catch midnight as moon fires set in my throat. I love you flesh into blossom. I made you and take you made into me.'"
Hermione sucked in a breath through her teeth, her body leaning forward to his touch, to him.
"Interesting choice. I was unaware you knew of Audre Lorde. That's quite impressive." She said, voice noticeably lower and cheeks darker.
"That's not the only thing impressive about me, Granger." He mumbled, stare heavy on the glassiness of her eyes. She visibly swallowed, eyes glinting dark and seductive. A knowing grin spread over her features, Draco knew he was in trouble.
"'Desire to us was like a double death — swift dying —off our mingled breath, evaporation of an unknown strange perfume," She tightened her hand on his thigh, the other reaching for his hand on her, grasping his wrist and snaking upwards. Draco shivered, his eyes fluttering with the sound of her voice. "Between us quickly in a naked room.'"
"I like that one." He breathed out, Hermione breathed out a huff of a laugh.
"Me too."
Draco's fingers were shaking, his other hand slithered up the arm grasping onto his leg. He kept it on her shoulder, fingers tickling the skin at her neck and lightly pushing the material down of her cardigan to find more flesh. She leaned into the touch and pressed forward. Foreheads resting on one another, keeping each other up right, lips sharing breaths, commingling their scents.
"'My brain is wild, my breath comes quick,— The blood is listening in my frame, and thronging shadows, fast and thick.'"
Hermione made a small noise, close to a whimper and her clutch tightened. Her hand moved up as Draco's fingers traced just below her knicker line. Blood rushed south and he wanted so desperately for her hold to find his hardened length. He needed relief and she would be the only provider.
"'Fall on my overflowing eyes: My heart is quivering like a flame; as morning dew, that in the sunbeam dies, I am dissolved in these consuming ecstasies.'"
Draco's hand fisted into her hair and brought her lips against his, moving with slow passion and precise movements. Hermione instantly moaned, devouring his mouth and found his tongue.
Their first kiss.
Their first real, kiss.
It was hard to tell whom it felt better to. Hermione was lost in the quaking feeling of her stomach, his hands stroking softly up her thigh while the other held her head in place as he led their movements with heavy passion and shy licks.
Draco knew there would never be another like this, like her. The way she tasted and sounded while her tongue sought him out was enough to melt his bones. And when her hand cradled the side of his neck and jaw, holding him closer, he traded with her the smallest sigh.
This is what it should've been all along and what it will be from now on. Draco promised himself that. Hermione pulled away for a second, planting smaller kisses as she breathed into him.
"'Love is the beauty of the soul.'" She whispered, causing Draco to let out a small chuckle. Still playing their game, this moment was perfect. He eagerly kissed her back, not moving his lips and taking in the soft mold of her mouth.
"'Soul meets soul on lover's lips.'" He replied to her and she moaned, either at his words or when he bit her lip and ran his tongue over it, he wasn't sure. But he didn't care. Draco kissed over her chin, her cheeks and neck, peppering her with attention as her hand jumped to his other thigh, holding his hip.
"'We are asleep until we fall in love.'" She whispered into the air and Draco smiled into her neck, kissing the goosebumps until he found her lips again.
"'The madness of love the greatest of heaven's blessings.'" He mumbled into her, capturing her smile. Fingertips brushed over his stomach, the muscles clenching together as he sharply inhaled.
"'There is no remedy for love but to love more.'" She kissed him hard, tongue roaming in search of his. Draco's lungs were on fire with a blissful desire. He tugged her closer, groaning when her fingers snaked under his belt line.
"'Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.'"
Hermione moaned, caught between a heavenly oh, and a soothing yes. She crawled forward, staggering hands reaching at him, while his own hands steadied her hasty movements. His breath came in short spurts when her hands fingered the hair above his neck and she peered down at him with dark eyes engulfed with pleasure.
She smiled, lips wet and red from him. Draco's hands were glued to her hips, under her dress and pressed tightly to her warm flesh. Leaning down, she kissed him hungrily and Draco fell back. Their bodies were facing the decline on the hill, causing Hermione to be pushed upwards and directly onto his erection. He grunted, hands skimming over the small of her back before she took them in her own hands and helped him palm her arse.
"'Come slowly Eden,'" She panted, lips moving down his neck and over his throat. Draco's fingertips were marked into the curve of her bum. His eyes rolled into his head when she ground her warm center over him and sucked at the skin by his artery. "'Lips unused to thee —bashful sip thy jasmines —As the fainting bee.'"
"Oh, Hermione." He groaned, rutting her hips harder into his. She breathed heavily into his ear, a joyous sound ringing through his brain and vibrating down to the tip of his prick.
"'Teach me to sin—In love's forbidden ways,'" He panted when she bit his lobe. Draco squeezed his eyes shut then quickly rolled over her, forcing his body on top so he could be the one in control and please her. Brown eyes went round with excitement as she stared up at him, lips swollen and divine. Leaning down, he ran his nose against the curve of hers, mouth teasing. "'For you can make all passion pure; The magic lure of your sweet eyes each shape of sin makes virtue praise.'"
Hermione hooked a leg over his hip, foot winding to hold onto his thigh. She smirked when one of his hands skirted up her dress, running just below her breasts. Shivering at the sensation, Hermione arched up into the frightened and buzzing touch, making Draco relax a bit.
"'Teach me to sin—Enslave me to your wanton charms, crush me in your velvet arms and make me—'" Draco continued but she caught him off.
"'Make me love you.'" She leaned up to run her tongue over his lip and he greedily took it in his mouth, pulling away with a smacking noise to let her finish. "'Make me fire your blood with new desire—'"
"'And make me kiss you—lip and limb,'" He whispered softly. Pressing slowly and fiercely to her mouth, rolling his hips at a painstakingly pace. She cried out. "'Till sense reel and pulses swim. Aye! even if you hate me—'"
"'Teach me to sin.' Gods Draco, please. Do something. Please." She was on fire, her knickers drenched and body eager to be ravished.
He rolled his hips again, kissing her gently and regrettably pulled away, muttering into her ear.
"I'd prefer a bed. And I don't want you to think I'm pushing this along too quickly." He admitted and she groaned.
"Draco it's been," She shut her eyes when he nipped at her neck. Her hands scratched down his back. "Months, of teasing looks and touches. We've been patient with each other."
Merlin help him.
"I—" He laughed, shaking his head at himself. "I think I'm doing you a favor. I don't want you to wake up tomorrow and think we rushed it and regret it." He deserves a medal of honor. A full wood hanging in between his legs and the girl he's been pining after for years under him giving him the pouting fuck me eyes and he's refusing to go further. Order of Merlin, First Class should be on his desk come Monday morning.
Sighing annoyed, she rolled her head to the side and played with some of the loose curls. Her leg flopped down on the ground, letting Draco lift the pressure of her stomach.
"Suppose you're right." She mumbled. His eyes glinted at the redness on her neck and cheeks, proud of his work.
"I don't know if I actually am but we can find out tomorrow." He sat up on his knees, not bothering to hide his movement to tuck up his member. In fact, he was quite coy about it and held her eye contact while he did it, sending her a half smirk when her eyes fluttered.
"You're sure?" She asked, rising to her elbows, looking up under her lashes. He groaned and bent down to swiftly kiss her.
"No, not at all actually. But I hear it's not proper to try and bag your witch in a field on a first date."
He got to his feet, pulling her hands to help her also stand. Her dress fell downwards and she settled her cardigan. Draco began fixing some of her hair, tucking it behind her ears but the curls kept bouncing free. He smiled faintly until she slapped his hands away and settled for putting the now ruined hair into a bun.
Draco collected their items, their books, blanket, leftover food and plates flying back into the basket he brought and slamming shut once everything was in it. He extended his hand, Hermione smiled at the gesture and took it, thankful they were able to express physical actions now since they were alone.
"So let's hear your arguments for who won?" He said, and she laughed.
"I don't know if this will be an argument but I think we should consider it a tie." She replied.
"A tie? I'm pretty sure I got the last poem in." Draco responded.
"I'm calling it a tie because I jumped in and finished it with you."
"Then it's not a tie. It's you trying to overthrow me to widen your lead." He accused.
"Not even! I offered a tie because the last poem was read off by both of us and I thought it was a good way to conclude the game. Always a sore loser." She commented, her smile accompanying her rolling eyes.
"I'm not a sore loser, you are just a cheat. Making up new rules half the time just so I lose." Draco could make out the rutty old tire meters ahead. He slowed his pace noticeably, not wanting their perfect date to end.
"That was one time Malfoy! And it was totally necessary. You can't get the point if you stop mid sentence." She argued, recalling the night he tried to repeat a line from Dickinson and abruptly stopped and said it was her turn. She laughed wildly as he pouted trying to recall the next line and debate why it should count.
"Whatever. If you want a tie, then it shall be a tie. Even if you hijacked my turn." He stopped, turning to and realizing his nerves had completely disappeared after they kissed. He felt more confident with his movements and decided to wind his arm behind her and tug her into his chest. She allowed the action and placed both hands over his pectorals.
"I promise I won't do that next time. I just love that poem. It was an excellent choice for the moment." Her voice lowered as she rose onto her tip toes and pressed a lasting kiss on his mouth.
"Mm," He hummed. "Thank you. As far as first dates go, did you enjoy yourself?" He asked, setting down the basket so he could huddle her into both his arms. She nodded against his chest while he rested his chin on her head.
"It was…perfect." She said quietly, rubbing her face into his shirt, taking an inconspicuous whiff of his cologne. "Thank you for a lovely day. You really out showed me and all the dates I organize at my flat."
He chuckled then pressed a kiss to her head. Hermione pulled back and looked up at him with a shy smile.
"I love the dates at your flat. But I think I'll much prefer it when I can hold your hand in public."
A brief bit of sadness flashed over her face but it was quickly gone when he leaned down to kiss her. Slow and sweet, so in the days to come when she'd be at work or he'd be away on assignment, she could come back to the memory of this lasting kiss. Perfect.
A/N: I had wanted to write this scene before i even finished plotting the story, it's my favorite. One more chapter to go to tie it all up, i hope you like it so far! Thank you to everyone who comments and follows/likes the story. Hearing what you guys have to say and think about it is so fun to read.
With that being said, are there certain themes or tropes you all like? One shots, long fics, short fics, war, healers, coworkers, aurors, things like that? I'm always looking for new themes to write on i just never know if people would be interested. let me know, feel free to inbox me as well!