Chapter 18
"Granger."
She spun around, doe eyes wide. Draco felt his pulse quicken, pushing his blood into the tips of his fingers. And other places. He wanted to reach out and grab her, have her in his hands again. But no… he took a deep breath, counted to three, and took control of himself. This was going to be worth the wait. Merlin knows she had been.
"It's after hours," he chided, taking a long stride towards her and drank down the sight of her. "What are you doing out of bed?"
She was waging a war with the smile on her face. Her cinnamon eyes burned with anticipation. "I was just… working late in the Library and lost track of time."
That's it, play along, Granger.
Draco smirked nastily at her. "You know I'll have to report you for this." He was closing the distance between them and she backed up into the door that led to the Room of Requirement. He was rather pleased with the set up he had made in there tonight and having her so close to it made his heart beat a little faster.
Her chest was rising and falling quickly as short breaths passed through her pink lips. God, her energy was intoxicating; the fearful excitement coming off of her in the sweet scent of vanilla and cinnamon. Draco inhaled deeply.
"You… you don't have to do that," she whispered. "You could just let me go."
"Go?" Draco questioned. "Now why would I ever let you go?" His muscles twitched as he realized how true those words felt.
"I…" she faltered. So sweet, so innocent. She'd probably never had to talk her way out of anything before. Such a good girl. "You…"
"No, I should report you," he nodded sagely. "It's the right thing to do after all," Draco said in a deep voice. He slammed his hands against the door on either side of her head making her jump. "And I'd love to see you scrubbing floors on your hands and knees, Granger." He towered over her and her dark eyes enlarged. "Because that's where you belong."
He was so close but not touching her yet. And he wouldn't. This was his game and she was playing it.
Granger gulped. She was trembling to the point of making a few small curls shake around her face. So beautiful with those big eyes staring up at him and her soft lips parted, open, wanting.
"Please," she whined. "Please don't."
He was so hard he was almost surprised he hadn't ripped his trousers with it yet. "And why shouldn't I?"
She was nervous. She'd never done anything like this before. She might need some guidance. Some training. Draco smirked.
"You've broken the rules. You deserve to be punished."
Say it. Just fucking say it, Granger. Beg me.
"I…" she gasped and he saw her mind working behind those big brown eyes. Then they sparked. Oh fuck. "There must be something I can do," she breathed out. "To convince you not to tell on me."
Every muscle in his body contracted. He had fucked his hand so many times, imagining her saying those words and now she was. This was happening. This was real. And so was the burning in his chest she was igniting.
Stop. Don't fucking ruin this. He growled at himself. Just fuck the girl.
"Hmm," he licked his lips. "Like what?" He was enjoying this more than he should, but he just couldn't help himself. Granger was delectable.
She grabbed the doorknob behind her and turned it. "I'll do anything." Her voice was so soft. Just like her cunt. "Anything, Malfoy. Please."
He pushed his hands into the door, opening it and Granger stepped back into the room. Draco followed her step for step, staying close but not touching. He closed the door behind him.
He could hear his pulse in his head, pumping quickly, raging that he wasn't already buried inside her. Not just yet, make this count.
"Anything?" he asked smugly. She wanted to play, so play he would.
In the room Granger seemed a little bolder. She bit her lip and blinked her big eyes. "Oh yes, Malfoy, I don't want to get in trouble. I didn't mean to be bad. Please let me… convince you."
His cock ached for her. He needed her. Now.
"How?"
She knelt down. Fuck fuck fuck.
"I'm a good girl," she said sweetly, clasping her hands together. "I don't want to get in trouble."
He was about to lose his goddamn mind if she didn't touch him soon. "There might be one thing," he said, letting his arrogance sound out.
"Oh yes!" She jumped forward a little, her face inches from his straining cock, but she kept her big chocolate eyes on his. "Yes, tell me Draco, I'll do anything for you."
Okay, playtime was over. He pulled his belt and trousers open, shoving them down to let his cock spring free. Her eyes went impossibly large, burning, making the cinnamon color of them bright.
"Convince me," he growled. "And you better do a good job of it or I'll punish you myself."
Her breath caressed his skin a second before her mouth landing on it. Warm and wet, Draco groaned deeply as she started to work herself on him. Granger moved slowly over him, taking her time as she pulled her lips back and forth alternating with her flicking tongue.
He. Loved. This.
"Oh, Granger," He groaned and her mouth curved in a smile. "You're enjoying this, aren't you, you little slut?" He looked down at her through hooded eyes and Granger nodded, keeping his dick in her mouth. "Is this what you were hoping would happen? That I'd find you and you could finally suck my cock like you've always wanted to?"
Granger slid him to the back of her throat and moaned in response. She was speeding up, getting into it, running her hands up his thighs and pulling his trousers down farther, burying her face in the blond hair on his groin as she took all of him into her mouth. It was too much, too good, finally having her like he always wanted, always imagined. Too good to last. "Oh fuck!" Draco shouted hoarsely and came in her mouth. "Shit!"
Granger gasped in surprise as she pulled back from him. He'd always given her a warning, but this one had snuck up on him. Just like she had. He'd never expected that the Mudblood girl in the blue dress would slowly take over his fantasies year after year. He never expected that he'd run into her that night in the Restricted Section when he was researching poisons. He never expected her to be this good.
And now that he knew? Now that he had her? He was never going to let her go.
Fuck. This was going to be a problem.
Granger's tongue darted out and caught the last drop that had beaded on the end of his cock. Merlin, was this really happening?
She smiled up at him, eyes dark like melted chocolate. Damn. He hadn't even been able to use the room he had set up. Although, the night was still young and so was he. He'd be able to go again in a little while and she could provide entertainment for him until he was ready.
"You made me come," Draco said as Granger got back to her feet.
"Wasn't that the point?" She asked.
He smirked. "Oh no. That's not the point of tonight at all."
She bit her lip, but her excited smile still shone through. Salazar fucking Slytherin he wanted her to look at him like that for the rest of his life.
Fuckkk. A big problem.
"Then what is?" She asked, looking oh so innocent.
Draco turned her around so she could see the room, resting his chin on her shoulder. Her vanilla cinnamon swam in his head.
"Oh…"
There was a large chaise lounge, covered in thick velvet. A fur blanket was draped over the side with a matching pillow sitting at the head of it.
"I've always wanted to fuck on that," he whispered darkly into her ear.
Granger was strangely quiet which was most unlike her because normally he couldn't get her to shut the fuck up. He wrapped his arms around her lower stomach, pulling her back into his chest and relishing the feeling of his girl in his arms.
"Draco, that's…" She blinked those big eyes a few times, lashes brushing the tops of her cheeks. "What do you think this is?" She asked sharply.
He withdrew his arms. Granger turned around looking a little bewildered.
"What do you mean?"
"Is this…" she shifted on her feet a little. "Is this a… date?"
Draco would have been less surprised if she told him she was half goblin. "What?" He felt his face shift, unable to keep the shock from it. Then he considered it. He had planned it out, invited her here, got here early to set up… Draco frowned. He didn't like this. And worst of all, he didn't hate the idea…
"Did… did you want it to be?" He asked hesitantly.
"No."
"Okay, good."
"Good."
The air hung heavily between them for much too long.
"Because it's not." He stated.
"I know."
Shit. This was awkward. How did they get from Granger moaning as she sucked him off to this?
"Should we sit down?" Her voice was a little higher than normal and she picked at her fingers.
Draco motioned to the chaise and Granger stiffly walked towards it.
They sat, side by side, in silence. Draco took a deep breath and leaned back, stretching his legs out. Granger continued to pick at her fingers and bit her lip, glancing over at him and throwing him a halfhearted smile.
"So," she cleared her throat. "How've you been?"
He watched her visibly cringe at herself and couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Is that really what you want to ask me?" He said, raising his brows a little. "All the questions you could ask, that's what you go for? How've you been?"
Granger sat up a little straighter and lifted her chin. There she is. Draco gave her a crooked smile. My girl.
"Okay," Her chest expanded as she took a deep breath. "What other fantasies do you have? You told me about the Library and I did that. And… the Prefect thing," she blushed and looked down at her hands again.
"My my, Granger, right when I think I've got you figured out," he reached his arm around the back of the chaise.
She shrugged. "Between us, I'm the cleverer of the two."
Now his brows rose the rest of the way up his forehead. This little bitch…
"Are you now?" He shifted, turning towards her. Granger gave him a smug smile and nodded. "Well," He leaned closer to her. "I do like smart girls."
"You like every girl."
Oh kitten…
"No. I don't." He knew he shouldn't be saying this. He hadn't even been drinking, but still, the words were coming out and he couldn't stop them. He didn't want to. "I like you."
Fuck fuck fuck. His heart was going a mile a minute, pounding in his chest. Fuck, he had actually said it. Sweet Salazar she was going to laugh at him. She was going to get up and leave.
Her big doe eyes widened.
"I like you too, Draco."
Holy fucking Hell.
His hands were shaking. Since when did a girl make his hands shake? He felt like he had just caught the Snitch and won the House Cup. He was soaring up up up through the clouds and into the sun itself.
"Lay back."
This wasn't what he had in mind. He had planned on bending her over the chaise and turning her ass raw before fucking her hard and fast. He planned on having her scream out his name as she came, clenching hard around his cock.
But this was better.
Granger leaned back against the scrolled side of the chaise and Draco shifted so she could bring her legs up. When he was kneeling in between her knees and her caramel curls were spread around her head he swallowed hard. He was going to do this. This. What he wanted so much.
"Take your clothes off. I want you bare."
Granger obeyed. Fuck… Granger obeyed.
She unbuttoned her shirt, arching her back as she unclasped her bra and let them both fall to the floor. So. Fucking. Slow. This was torture. And he was loving every minute of it. Then her hands slid over her stomach, pushing her tits together and down to her skirt, undoing it and pushing it down.
His hard on was back and raging again, desperate to get at the girl below him. His girl. His fucking girl. Draco couldn't wait anymore. He grabbed her legs, pushing them up and pulling the skirt off of them. Granger's legs fell back down on either side of him as she gasped with his rough movement of her.
He ripped her knickers and tossed them to the side, diving down and kissing between her thighs, tasting the sweetness he had discovered there.
"Oh!" She was trembling. Fuck-ing Hell, she was soaked. Draco lapped at her, causing more little sounds to come forth. God she looked amazing like this- flesh bared, legs spread, and all his. Only his.
No one else had touched her.
And no one else would.
Not until you murder her Headmaster and she runs off with someone like Weasley. Draco clenched his jaw. Shut the fuck up and fuck her while you can.
He sat up and pulled his belt open. The metal clanged loudly and Granger was taking large breaths, watching him with dark eyes. Before he slid his trousers off he slipped his hand in the pocket and palmed the little rough stone he kept tucked in there. Just in case. And this most certainly was a case.
He started on his shirt, top button first. Granger's eyes sparked and a bright smile lit up her face. God, he loved that. He flashed her that crooked smile again as he started down, opening up the shirt to expose his white chest underneath.
She lifted herself up, reaching for it. As much as he wanted her to touch him, he'd have that soon enough. He'd have all of her.
Draco swatted her hand away. "Stay down," He growled. "Spread your fucking legs wider. I want to see it."
Disappointment flickered over her for a second, but she did as ordered and laid back on the thick velvet and opened her hips for his viewing pleasure. Glistening with arousal, her pussy spread apart a little and his fingers twitched on the last button, wanting to touch it. But he controlled himself, pulling his shirt down to his elbows before smirking at her, drinking his last fill of the sight of her and crushed the stone in his hand.
The effect was instantaneous. Thick, humming blackness surrounded them like a shroud.
Granger screamed. Draco dove down, crashing his lips onto hers, moaning into her open mouth as he shoved his tongue inside her. He pulled the shirt down off of his arms and crushed her under him. Pressing his chest into hers. Hard. He felt the breath leave her and he ground himself against her.
He had to give it to those Weasley twins, they made a quality product. After all, their blood was still Pure, even if they had betrayed it.
She felt phenomenal underneath him. Her flesh was warm and soft. Her tits… fuck her tits were right against his chest. He could feel her hard nipples on his skin as he moved himself around on her, his hands grabbing at her waist, her hips, her hair, her face…
Draco pulled back, breathing heavily in the suffocating darkness.
Granger was gasping, her chest rising with each breath and brushing against his.
"Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder…" she said between breaths.
Draco nodded then remembered she couldn't see him.
"Clever girl," he cooed.
"W-why?"
He was glad she couldn't his face fall at her question. Seriously, Granger? Why do you even care? We can finally touch!
"It's hot, isn't it? Not being about to see. Not knowing where I'll touch you… next." He lowered his hand and it was on her throat. He squeezed with a controlled grip, with only enough pressure to make her feel it. Granger gasped again. He expected her to pull at his hand but instead she slid her arms down his sides.
He dropped his head, arching his body and felt his hair brush against her chest. Fuck that felt good. Her hands, on him. Warm palms, light fingers, and oh God, the nails… Granger drug them back up his back, sliding her hands around to his chest, letting them rest right over his beating heart.
"I've never met a girl like you," he said quietly. Her hands stopped moving and he wondered if she could feel how hard his heart was beating. "You make me... '' Energy moved in the darkness between them. "You're the best I've ever had."
"I haven't had anyone but you," she whispered back in the darkness and he felt her breath against his lips. The burning in his chest heated up. "You're the only one I've ever... wanted... like this."
If she kept talking like that he was going to come again without getting to fuck her.
"That's right, Pet. You're all mine." She shifted below him and his cock grazed her inner thigh. So close. She pushed her hips up into him. "And you fucking love that, don't you slut? Love that I took you. Me." He lined himself up with her entrance.
"Yes," she breathed out, the want clear in her voice.
"Say my fucking name."
"Draco."
He slid himself inside her, closing his eyes at the feeling of her warmth enveloping him. Granger gave a gasping moan and grabbed onto his shoulders.
"Who fucks you?"
"Draco," she moaned.
"Who makes you come?"
"Draco…" She tightened as he pushed more of himself in.
"Who… fuck… who do you belong to?" He slid himself almost all the way out, only leaving them tip in to keep her open.
Granger was panting. "You! You, Draco, you!"
He slammed himself back in and she cried out. He leaned his arms on either side of her head and let his hips buck into her. Her slender body was pressed against his as he bore down on her. She dug her nails into his skin, harder with each thrust. "That's fucking right!" He growled.
She felt like warm silk. He angled himself so that more of his skin could touch hers. He tits moved with each thrust, her body taking him in, holding him, just like her arms. They wrapped under his, pressing into his sides as she clawed at his back and shoulders, spreading her fingers to touch more of him. If she wanted more then he'd fucking give it to her.
"I love your pussy," he grunted, setting a hard pace. "Fucking wet and tight and so-god-damn-good!" He thrust harder into her with each word.
Granger screamed out viscerally. She wouldn't be able to stop it even if she had wanted to. He had her now. He controlled her now. She was his.
Her walls closed in on him so tight Draco had to add more force to push himself back in. She was mewling, whimpering, and whining, completely giving herself to the pleasure and to him. Draco buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent and losing himself in it.
"You're my fucking whore, you know that? You do whatever I tell you. Whenever I tell you. And you love it."
She made a weak noise of pleasure and he felt her head nod against him.
"Now come for me."
Her body tensed, legs stiffening, arms grasping, and pussy fucking quivering as her orgasm took her over.
"Oh Godric," She threw her head back.
"Only me," He growled in her ear and she screamed out again.
"Draco! Fuck me!"
He roared and relentlessly slammed his hips against hers, not stopping, not slowing. Not doing anything than what she begged for.
He fucked her.
And he didn't stop.
Granger was crying. Actually crying. Her body was shaking, still quaking with the after effects as Draco groaned, biting her earlobe and squeezing her tit tightly as he indulged himself in her. He finally had her body bare against his and he wasn't going to let this end soon.
Her head fell to the side and Draco drug his teeth over the sensitive skin of her neck, making another shiver run through her.
"Oh, Draco, please," she moaned.
He answered with his own and latched his lips onto her neck, sucking and nipping while he pounded into her.
She was here, begging him, with his cock buried in her pussy… He could make her do anything. She loved this. She loved…
He grabbed the side of her neck, resting his thumb on her throat and stroking it a little.
"My little whore," He said in a low voice. "My perfect little whore."
She tightened around him again. Good girl.
"Just yours," she gasped, sliding her hands down his back. "All yours."
Sweet Salazar, did she want to make him come in her? Saying dirty shit like that… The darkness had made her bolder.
Draco groaned deeply, unable to catch his breath. His body couldn't take much more. There was a growing pressure at the base of his spine and he knew he wasn't going to be able to hold on much longer.
"Squeeze my cock. Fuck you're so good… Squeeze it with your pussy and make me come."
Her body responded to that and he felt her push up against him and her moans rose an octave or two. She was going to come again. With him.
Oh Hell yes.
She was starting to shake violently. Her second orgasm was coming on faster than the first and her silky walls closed in around him. Draco closed his eyes tightly, trying to hold on just long enough to milk hers done then he could…
"Oh Draco, you're… you're making me- Oh!" Granger cried out. Her nails cut into him, her legs pressed against him, and her body surrendered to him. His. His. His. "Draco…" she cried weakly as the final remnant of pleasure unfolded.
He buried himself to the hilt in her and rocked his hips back and forth, getting himself as close as he could before he pulled back, sliding out of her, pressed the tip of his cock against her stomach and released himself onto her.
He wished it could see it, but being able to touch her fully was worth missing out.
Draco collapsed on top of her, not caring about the mess, before sliding a little to the side to rest most of his weight on the chaise. Granger was gasping and he wrapped an arm and a leg around her, pulling her against him, not ready to lose the feeling of her skin against his.
They stayed there for a moment, catching their breath and coming down from the high of their shared euphoria.
He was spent. He stretched one arm under her head, letting it rest on his bicep and wrapped the other around her chest, right under her tits. He pulled her close, tucking her small frame into his chest and threw his leg over hers. Owning her. Possessing her. Entirely.
His head fell onto the pillow behind him and Draco sunk into its softness. Granger trailed her fingers over his arm. Instinct told him to pull back, but the darkness kept him safe. She couldn't see it. And he was so tired. Sleepless nights working on the Cabinet and a loss of appetite were catching up to him. He missed the feeling that the whisky gave him, but it was worth it if it meant that Granger wasn't running away from him anymore.
God, that had been amazing. Draco sighed deeply in contentment. He hadn't fucked like that in… well it had never quite been like that because it had never been with her.
"Draco?" She called him softly.
He couldn't even lift his head up yet. "Hmm?"
"It's a little chilly."
Really? He felt warm next to her, but… maybe that was why she was cold. He always had run cool.
He lifted his heavy arm and grabbed the fur blanket from the back of the chaise and draped it over them.
"Oh…" She sounded a little surprised. "Well, just for a little while," she said and relaxed next to him.
Draco held her a little tighter and nodded. "Mmm-hmm." Yeah, just for a little bit until he got his strength back. He just needed to rest for a minute more.
"That was amazing," she whispered. He felt her shift a little and then her lips brushed against his cheek in a soft kiss.
"You're 'mazing," he mumbled. Or did he? He was so tired he wasn't sure if he had actually spoken the words or not. Probably not. Hopefully not.
Granger shifted a little, getting comfortable and sighed happily next to him.
Hermione slowly felt herself being pulled from the depths of sleep. Her brain started to churn and she felt something heavy, a weight she wasn't used, draped across her. She was lying on something soft. Softer than her bed. Where... Hermione forced her heavy lids open.
Draco.
Draco was on top of her.
Well sort of. She sucked in a breath and blinked a few times, clearing the sleep from her vision. Draco was halfway over her, his arm weighing heavily across her chest and his leg hooked over her hips. The fur blanket had slipped down a little exposing the porcelain skin of his shoulders and back.
He was a vision.
She had always thought of him as a marble statue brought to life, but seeing more of him than she ever had before it was undeniable that he was a work of art. The muscles lay dormant under his white skin, loose and soft. Relaxed. Her fingers moved over the back of his arm, white hairs tickling the tips as she slid them up to his bicep and back down again.
She lifted her head a little and saw his face.
Good Godric, his face…
Cool, calm, and serene, Hermione had never seen Malfoy like this before. Normally he had an air of arrogance hanging on him and his features were always carefully controlled, but right now, sunken in sleep, Draco looked… she wasn't even sure there was a word for it. Smooth maybe, but that didn't cover it. Not the soft sockets where his closed eyes lay, not the strong jawline that was just a little extended to part his lips letting slow, deep breath pass into him.
Her heart gave an extra hard thump as an unfamiliar but not entirely unwelcome emotion bloomed in her chest. Wow, that was new. Her feelings for him had grown over the past few weeks, but this… this was different.
His pale blond hair was tousled and messy on top of his head. His head that was tucked down, close to hers. So close that she could lean forward, just a little, and… Her lips brushed against his. His breathing changed, a sharp intake and she pulled back, not wanting to disturb him from his gentle slumber.
Malfoy's eyes shot open, wide and grey like a storm tossed sky.
As quick as a snake's strike, he pulled his head back, hitting it against the back of the chaise, staring at her like he'd never seen her before. His entire body tensed and the smooth muscles were now carving deeply into his skin, creating creases and crevices. The arm and leg around her tightened dramatically and the muscle that she had been resting her head on turned to stone.
"The fuck…" He murmured, but with no softness in his voice. Hermione's heart contracted and the bloom was gone. "What the fuck?!"
Draco pulled himself back from her, scrambling to untangle himself ungracefully as he hauled himself up, tripping in his hurry to get away from her.
"What the FUCK?!" He shouted, twisting his body on the floor, pulling his arm against his chest to cover himself and sticking the other out to grab his discarded clothes.
Hermione's chest and face were heated with embarrassment while the rest of her turned cold and numb. She pulled the fur blanket up to her chin trying to cover her own body as much as she could since he was obviously disgusted by what they had done.
She didn't understand. Last night had been another amazing experience and yes, they had fallen asleep together, but… was that so bad? Draco apparently thought so. No, not Draco. Malfoy.
By the time she sat up, pulling her legs up to her chest under the blanket, he already had his shirt thrown on and was slipping back into his black boxer briefs.
She knew she was staring but couldn't help herself. She was shocked at his reaction to this. There were no windows so she couldn't tell what time it was, but they couldn't have slept too long. Her internal clock was wound tightly and always woke her up by 6.30.
Malfoy glared at her, grey eyes like granite, hard and sharp. "That didn't happen."
Her skin prickled uncomfortably and she wrapped the blanket around herself tightly before reaching down to collect her own clothes. The last thing she wanted right now was to be naked in front of Draco Malfoy while he yelled at her.
And they had been getting along so well… Things had been changing between them. Things she liked.
"I like you."
"Fuck," he swore, almost falling over as he stuck a long leg into his trousers. "Do you understand me?" His voice was clipped and commanding. "This didn't fucking happen."
"O-okay," she mumbled, doing her best to fasten her bra back while keeping the blanket from slipping off her shoulders.
"You distracted me," He rounded on her, belt hanging open. "I should have been working last night! And you…" He shook his head, lip curling up. "You wanted this to happen, didn't you?"
"What?"
"You fucking seduced me! Wanting to play games, fantasies… You were trying to get me to-"
"What was I trying to get you to do?" Hermione asked angrily, standing up to grab her skirt off the floor and pulled it around her quickly. Her knickers lay ripped and ruined at her feet.
"I DON'T KNOW!" He shouted back at her. He was wild, irrational. She had never seen him like this before.
Her pride was hurt and the wounded animal in her chest lashed out. "What could I possibly want from you?!" Malfoy looked stunned for a moment before his face twisted in an old familiar expression. "You're the one who started all of this in the first place!" she snarled, letting it roar.
"Oh like you didn't want me," he scoffed, arrogance back and firmly in place. "You used to fucking stare at me, batting your fuck-me eyes and biting your goddamn lip all the time!"
Indignation scorched inside her. How dare he?! "Only because you used to stare at me! Every time I looked at you, you were already looking at me!" She knew she sounded childish right now, but she was mad and upset and hurt and if she wanted to yell like a child then that's what she would do!
Malfoy looked like he was about to say something then just shook his head in disgust and turned away from her, running his hand through his hair.
Hermione's courage fired up. She wasn't going to take this and especially not from him. "I was perfectly fine before you came in and fucked my life up!"
Malfoy sharply turned, brows shooting up. "Fucked your life up? Granger, you're a bloody curse! I can't get you out of my head, can't think, can't fucking breathe!" He clawed at his chest. "You're burning a hole in me!"
What? What?! One more mood swing and she was going to be flung off the planet. How… how could she have ever possibly thought this was a good idea? But did he really feel that way? It was eerily similar to how she felt. He had slowly but surely been coiling around her, constricting until he had taken over every thought in her head and inch of her body.
"That's it, Malfoy," she shook her head, tangled curls shaking around her. "If you hate me so much then why do you keep having sex with me?! Some Pureblood, you are," she sneered, advancing on him. "Well don't worry, I'll stay out of your way and you better stay out of mine!"
Malfoy blinked his storm grey eyes and his mouth dropped open. His features contorted so much she almost thought it impossible that was the same face that had looked so calm in sleep. Dark thoughts swirled in his storming eyes and for a second she worried about the fact that were alone, in this room, and no one knew where she was. Her hand moved towards her pocket and her wand.
"You think you can just say it's over?" His voice was soft, but cold, so cold. "Oh no, Sweetheart. You're not going anywhere until I say so."
He grabbed her arms and she felt the strength in those muscles she had admired only moments ago. Draco pulled her close to him and slammed his lips onto hers. Hermione groaned and tried to pull away, but he bore down more, biting her lips when she wouldn't open them.
"Stop!" She shouted, struggling against him.
Draco glared down at her. "No."
Oh Godric it was wrong, so wrong, but his hands were holding her and his body against hers… his eyes burned like ash covered coals and… yes…
Hermione kissed him back. It was raw, feral, and desperate. Hate filled passion fueled their kiss and Malfoy's hands moved down to grab at her body while Hermione lifted her arms, wrapping them around his neck and pulling his head down to hers.
Draco grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her head back. "I told you last night," he breathed out, "you're mine."
"Get off me, Malfoy." She pushed on his shoulders, but he had her tight.
"I meant what I said," he growled.
"That you liked me?" She snapped back at him.
Draco's smoke grey eyes looked alarmed then he seemed to relax. "And you like me. You like this." He pulled her hair a little harder.
Hermione pinched her lips together. "So what does that mean?" The anger and tension between them was changing, shifting.
Draco seemed to think it over before answering. "What do you want it to mean?"
Hermione's mouth opened into a small o. What did she want it to mean? She cared about him, felt for him. But this was much more complicated than she ever thought it would be. They could never be together and is that even what she wanted? She didn't know anymore.
"Because what I want?" Draco went on in her silence. "Is to keep fucking you in all the dirty ways I've dreamt of."
Hermione felt heat rise up in her cheeks.
"And I want," He went on with a small smirk. "You. All to myself."
He'd said all this before. Why was he saying it again?
"You have that."
"Do I?" He cocked a brow up.
Oh… he wanted her to say it. She had told him before, but that was when he was inside her. This was in the light of day. "You do. You have… me. And I want that too. I want you. Only you." She acquiesced, then added, "Last night didn't change anything. We fell asleep, that was all."
Malfoy seemed to mull this over and gradually loosened his hold on her, freeing her head and body to where she could move easily again. "You look good like this," He twirled a curl around his finger. "I bet I could make these even messier though."
"I'm sure you could," she breathed out, feeling a thrum run through her.
"You'd let me do anything to you, wouldn't you Sweetheart?" His voice was low and raspy.
Hermione started to feel the warm heat between her legs again. The wrongness of it made it all the more enticing and her heart beat a little faster as she said, "Almost."
Draco's grey eyes lit up and sucked in a quick breath. "I want to lay you bare and tie you up. I want to have every inch of you at my mercy."
How could he make something so bad sound so good? He really did have her. Anyone else and she would have been running for the hills. Hermione knew she couldn't trust him, but could she trust herself?
"What do I get then? If I let you?"
Draco smirked at her, smoky eyes dark. "Me."
The warm spring air was moving into summer heat as it sped past him and Draco's long legs carried him forward at an astonishing pace. His breath was coming in short puffs. He resented himself for not working out since his dismissal from the Quidditch team. He was paying for it now though.
He could hear Theo's feet hitting the ground next to him, hovering mere inches behind. Time was, he could outstrip Theo easily, but weeks of being locked up working on the Cabinet had stolen a bit of his endurance from him. Lately the only exercise he got was working out on Granger.
Yesterday morning had been a shit show. He couldn't believe his own stupidity, falling asleep next to her. And without a shirt! It was a miracle that she hadn't seen the mark on the arm he had been holding her with. He had been holding her. He was letting himself get carried away and needed to reclaim control over himself. Granger had her lion's claws in him, but that didn't mean he couldn't sink his fangs in too.
His muscles burned with effort as he pushed himself on. Theo was gaining on him and Draco felt himself starting to give out. The sun was beating down on him, strong rays streaming down to the training grounds where he, Theo, and Blaise had spent the better part of the day exercising.
Draco huffed, his lungs screaming in his chest as he rounded the corner and the end came in sight. Theo was right on him. Draco's long legs were pumping under him, carrying him forward with a speed that made his hair blow back off his forehead. Theo was neck and neck with him and the ending line sped towards them. He was so close, so close.
"Shit!" Draco swore loudly as Theo surged past him at the last second and crossed before he did. Gradually he came to a stop, his thighs twitching as he leaned down on them, sucking in deep heavy breaths. He'd lost.
Theo was beaming. Draco glared at the stupid look on his face as he and Blaise high fived. Theo had never beat him before. Never. He wiped the perspiration off his forehead and stood up straight. He hated this feeling. So close and he had let the win slip through his fingers. If he would have pushed himself just a little harder, would he have won? Or was Theo finally better than him?
"Hey, that was a good one," Theo smiled widely at him, but his eyes had a hungry gleam in them.
"Yeah." Draco looked out over the grounds, which were turning a verdant shade of green. He wasn't about to congratulate the bastard for besting him.
"Losing your edge?" Blaise smirked at him. He always had to break his balls.
Draco glared back. "You didn't fucking win."
Blaise scowled and Theo laughed. Draco spit on the ground. "Let's go back in."
"What? You don't want a rematch?" Theo taunted him.
"Maybe next time. I've got work to do." He had to make some progress on the Cabinet and soon. Granger had distracted him the other night and he was running out of time. He needed to focus. He knew what would happen if he didn't complete his task before the end of the year. Draco tried to clear his mind as they walked back into the castle, but Granger's face kept popping up around every wall he tried to erect.
"I like you too, Draco."
"I want you. Only you."
But would she still want him if she knew what was branded on his skin? Of course not. She'd hate him for it. And not the kind of hate that he could turn into one of the most amazing kisses he'd ever had either. Fuck… what was she doing to him? She was a curse. An awful, horrible scorch that he couldn't seem to turn himself away from. Even if she was a Mudblood.
But she wasn't like other Mudbloods. His father always said they were uncultured swine, barely better than Muggles, but Granger…. Granger was bright and quick. She bested him in classes and was actually enjoyable to talk to. Sometimes. When she wasn't asking stupid fucking questions that was.
She liked him too. Maybe… maybe she wouldn't hate him if she knew? No. That was fucking stupid. She was Potter's best friend and Dumbledore's little go to girl. She had fought against his father and his aunt at the Ministry for Salazar's sake!
Draco stopped walking and Blaise jumped not to run into him. "Watch it!"
Draco ignored him, consumed by the thought of his aunt turning her wand on his girl. Even with all of Granger's skills, Bellatrix would have torn her to pieces and left nothing but a bloody mark behind. His heart beat faster. She was a Mudblood. His Mudblood. And when the Dark Lord unleashed his final plan, Granger would be in deadly danger.
He'd have to do something about that too. His brows fell heavily over his silver eyes as the three Slytherins descended back down into the dungeons. First the Cabinet. Then the murder. Then, he would find a way to keep Granger with him. Draco chewed on the inside of his lip. After all, she did say she wanted that too.
Hermione spent the next few days trying to avoid Malfoy. She knew that eventually he would pop up, lurking in an abandoned corridor and talking in that low, commanding voice she just loved. Then she'd follow him to some dark corner and let him quiet all the cluttered thoughts in her head.
It was inevitable.
But for right now, she had to study. Sneaking around with Draco had cut into her revision and homework schedule and she should have already been done with her Charms work a day ago and she wasn't even halfway through it. She had never cut it this close before and so Hermione set herself up at a table in the back of the Library where she was least likely to be disturbed.
The candle on the desk was burning low so she knew it must have been hours since she set herself to work. Her eyes were getting tired, but she just needed to write a few more paragraphs on extension charms and she could call it a night. She had delved deep into her research, knowing she'd need to learn every detail of this for future use.
If the war started and they had to run… She sat her quill down and rubbed her dry eyes.
The chair next to her scraped across the floor. No… She didn't want to have a conversation with Draco right now! She was exhausted and her brain felt like it might run out of her ears if she tried to squeeze anything else from it. Hermione turned to tell him that now wasn't a good time, but stopped when she met sky blue eyes instead of dark stormy ones.
"Hey," Ron said with a small smile. "Can we talk?"
Oh God, she would have preferred Draco right now to Ron. What could he possibly want to talk about this late at night?
She was surprised to see him here. He normally only came to the Library when Hermione dragged him and Harry here for research.
"Uhm, sure."
Ron rubbed his hand through his hair. "We're good, right?"
He let out a long breath. How many times was he going to ask her this? But this time seemed different. Ron was tense, the muscles in his shoulders tight. Anxiety spread through her and Hermione nodded. "Yes, we're fine."
"So you would tell me if something was going on? Something… I mean, you wouldn't…"
Oh dear. "What is this about, Ronald?" Hermione closed her book and turned towards him. She didn't have it in her to try and figure out what he was getting at.
"Lavender said you weren't in your bed the other night."
Freezing panic shot through her quickly followed by searing adrenaline. She could feel her eyes opening wider and the blood rushing into her face.
"I asked Cormac," Ron went on, blue eyes locking onto hers. "He was terrified to even talk about you. Said he had nothing to do with you anymore. So I know it's not him."
Dear Godric. Hermione felt nauseous. "What's not him?" She heard herself ask.
"Don't try and deny it, Hermione. I know you… I know there's someone." His voice held a bitter note in it. "You've changed. You go missing sometimes. No one knows where you are, Ginny, Harry, Neville… You disappear."
"I'm here a lot," Hermione tried.
"All night?" Ron's voice was harsh.
"That's really none of your business."
"Yes it is," he said firmly. "You're…" Ron pressed his lips together. "You're my friend, Hermione. And I care about you."
He was right. They were friends. And she wasn't really acting like one right now. But she couldn't tell him! Best friend or not, Ron hated Draco and he'd hate her too for what she'd done with him.
"I know you were hurt by what happened between us."
Hermione blinked. Did he think everything was about him? It started off that way, maybe, but now Ron's relationship status had nothing to do with her own. Not that she even really knew what it was. All she knew was she was… with Draco. In some fashion.
"You're not like other girls." He placed his hand over hers. Hermione looked down at it, pale and freckled, a hand she knew so well. She pulled her hands into her lap and picked at her nails a little.
Ron sighed. "There are guys out there who will take advantage of you."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you think I can't take care of myself? That I'm dumb enough not to know when a guy just wants-" she stopped short as Draco's face swan to the forefront of her mind. She knew what he wanted, didn't she?
"I don't think you're dumb!" Ron quickly corrected. "Not at all. Hermione, you're the brightest person I know." She was tempted to smile. "But you're…"
"What? I'm what, Ron?"
"Sweet." Ron closed his eyes.
Oh… oh God no.
He opened them again and there it was, clear as a blue sky. Draco had been right, in his own way; Ron did have feelings for her.
"There is someone." For some inexplicable reason, she felt the need to defend the shaky arrangement she had with Draco. It really didn't make any sense, but then again, none of this ever had.
The blood drained from Ron's face, making his freckles stand out. She used to want to reach out and touch them, dragging her fingers from dot to dot, but now she wanted nothing more than to not have to look him in the face.
"Oh."
He tried to pull himself back together. This admission obviously shook him and Hermione tried not to cringe too badly. He was still with Lavender for goodness sake, even if it was slowly ending. And her feelings for Draco were growing, growing to a point where she knew they were becoming dangerous, but… she liked it.
Ron cleared his throat. "And you… you like him?"
She bit her lip and nodded, looking back down at the closed book in front of her.
"You were with him. That night." The words sounded hollow, as if he almost didn't believe them.
Hermione turned back towards him, a couple curls fell around her face. "It's none of your business where I was or whom I was with."
"Okay." Ron sat back.
"I mean it." She wanted to drive the point home. Ron was stubborn enough to ambush her with this again if she didn't.
"I know." His face turned sour.
Who was he to be upset with her over this? She hadn't thrown it in his face like he had with Lavender. He didn't have to watch her walk around hand in hand or make out with someone else. Although the thought of having Draco's hand wrapped around hers as they walked down the corridor together was one she entertained a second too long before she realized it.
She pulled herself back from her thoughts. Malfoy didn't do girlfriends. And even if he did, she'd never make the cut.
"I've never met a girl like you… You're the best I've ever had."
Ron was watching her expectantly. Normally she would try and compensate by over explaining herself to him, but not this time. And especially not about this.
"How's Lavender?" Hermione asked, twisting the knife.
"Fine," he grumbled.
"Getting along?" She gave him a wry smile.
Ron glared back at her. "Better than with some people."
"Glad to hear it." She opened her book back up, letting him know she was done discussing this.
"Are you?" His question caught her off guard and Hermione's mouth fell open a little.
She closed it back. "I'm your friend. Why wouldn't I be happy for you?"
Ron tilted his head a little and his copper hair reflected the low light from the candle. "And this guy… he's your friend too?"
"We're… It's not like that," she explained and Ron looked at her, confused. "It's not serious."
Ron's clear blue eyes moved over her. "Not serious. Okay," he said and seemed to brighten up a little. Hermione felt a tingle of nerves in her stomach. "Look, Lavender isn't taking the Apparition test on Friday, she doesn't turn 17 until the end of May. Maybe we can walk down to Hogsmeade together?"
"Uhm, sure." Hermione felt strangely obligated to say yes to avoid another fight with him. He had turned his attitude around quickly. Maybe she was just used to Malfoy's moods, but that seemed… odd. Like she had missed something.
"Cool." He grinned at her and stood up. "I'll see you back in the common room."
"Yeah," she smiled a little, brows tightening wondering what all had really just happened as Ron walked down the aisle and away from the back table she was at.
"Be still my bleeding heart," Malfoy drawled and Hermione spun around so fast she was almost dizzy as her curls fanned out around her and then fell over her shoulders. Had he been there the whole time?
"It's 'beating' not 'bleeding'," she corrected him.
"It's a Muggle phrase." Draco shrugged.
"So why are you using it?" she asked as Draco eyed the chair next to her like there was something nasty on it and then swapped it with another before sitting down.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
Draco checked her over, inspecting her as if he expected to find something foul on her. "I've been asking myself the same thing."
She glared at him. What was this? Get on Hermione's last nerve night? Between the two of them, her face was liable to get permanently stuck this way.
"So… I'm someone?" Draco smirked at her, clearly enjoying himself. Hermione was hating every second.
"Were you spying on me?"
"I'm always spying on you, Granger. Don't you remember the baths? Because I do." He gave her a wolfish grin.
"Eavesdropping is very rude," she sneered. One good thing about Malfoy was she didn't have to try and avoid fighting with him like she did Ron. It was inevitable.
"You'd know all about that, wouldn't you?" His grey eyes burned like smoke.
"What are you talking about?"
Draco gave her a knowing smile. "Professor Babbling was quite chuffed when she gave me back my latest translations. Said I'm back in top form."
Hermione blushed and glanced up at him from beneath long lashes. He was grinning at her, eyes shining like silver.
"What are you working on?" He leaned over, bringing his body close to hers and Hermione's breath caught in her throat.
"Charms," she mumbled.
"Hmm…" His eyes scanned over the page. "You forgot the bit about the caster being the only one who can detect the extension charm. If it's done correctly."
"I'm not finished yet!" she snapped then looked over her essay and saw that she hadn't added that bit in yet.
"Neither am I," he breathed out, the mint of his breath sweet and crisp. Hermione felt her heart flutter in her chest. He pushed her hair back over her shoulder and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "He thinks you're sweet. If only he knew all the dirty things you let me do to you…"
Hermione swallowed. There was an uncomfortable pulsing in between her legs and Draco's fingers were tracing the skin at the collar of her shirt.
"My filthy little slut." His other hand slid up her skirt and she gasped as he ran his fingers up her thighs. "You want to get fingered in the Library? Hmm?"
He drummed his fingers against her knickers and pulled her earlobe with his teeth. Hermione pressed her lips together and nodded. God, did she ever…
Draco chuckled and slid his hand inside her knickers, quickly finding his way into her. She let out a small whimper as he moved them in and out.
"I'm someone?" he whispered darkly.
She nodded. His thumb circled over her clit a few times and her legs started to go stiff.
"Just someone?" His voice was low and deep in her ear. He dragged the tip of his tongue along the shell of it.
"Who am I, kitten?" She was close. How he could affect her so quickly she didn't know, but her body was tuned into him and responded to every thrust, every touch.
"Who am I?" He whispered darkly.
"Draco…" She said in a gasping moan as the pleasure started to rise up. Oh God, she was going to come. Here. In the Library. With his hand in between her legs.
Then it was gone.
Hermione gave a small cry as the feeling in her lower stomach withered up.
Draco was chucking, grey eyes gleaming as he leaned back.
"What? Why?" She asked weakly.
"What?" He mocked her. "Maybe Weasley can finish you off while you walk to Hogsmeade together," he sneered nastily at her.
Frustration roared inside her at her ruined pleasure and at Draco's audacity to throw that in her face.
"Are you kidding me?" She stared agape at him. "He's my friend. Just a friend!"
"And you're mine," he growled, pulling her face close to his. "And now, you won't forget it."
He shoved her back and stood up, sneering at her again before stalking off.
Hermione sat there for a moment, muscles still wound tight and aching to be released. She stared down at her open book and unfinished essay, heart pounding and hands shaking, but not at all in the way she wanted.
"Excuse me, Professor Babbling, but I need to see Mr. Malfoy. Immediately." Snape's toneless voice interrupted the Ancient Runes lecture and the class all turned in their seats to look at Draco who was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed.
Draco glared at his Godfather and Head of House. He used to quite admire Snape, but now could barely stand the sight of that glory hound. He shoved himself up from his desk but couldn't help but cast a glance over at Granger who was staring up at him with wide brown eyes.
They hadn't talked about what happened last weekend and as far as he was concerned they didn't need to. He said everything he needed to say to her. Spending the night? Didn't happen. And the little lesson in the Library, well, that was just to show her who was in control. Especially now that he was having to spend his evenings locked up in the Room of Hidden Things.
He had needed to work on the Vanishing Cabinet and had actually made some progress over the last few nights, much to Crabbe and Goyle chagrin. He had to admit, since Granger had asked him to stop drinking, he had been able to focus more on it and in a strange way he had her to thank for the progress he was making. Progress that was taking him away from her in more ways than one. A sick, two sided sword.
Snape held out his arm and Draco threw him a nasty look as he moved into the hall.
He led Draco down into the dungeons to his office. If Snape thought he could intimidate him by pulling him out of class for a talking to and finally get him to break when he was so close to doing it all on his own the old man had another thing coming.
Snape opened his office door and Draco stopped short.
His mother was here.
"Draco," She let out a sigh of relief and rushed to him, about to hug him when she stopped and pulled her arms back, glancing at Snape and clearing her throat. "Please, come and sit."
Draco took a seat next to his mother and across from Snape. He looked quickly between them, hoping one of them would give something away so he wouldn't feel so lost.
His mother slid the gloves he had gotten her for Christmas off and neatly folded them in her lap. "Draco, you're so pale," she sounded concerned. He rolled his eyes. "You… you don't look well, darling." She turned sharply to Snape. "You were supposed to be looking out for him," she snapped, all the softness in her voice gone.
Snape was unflustered. "I have offered my assistance to Draco numerous times, Narcissa. And unless you would like me to force fed the boy-"
"I'm not a boy!" Draco snarled. "I'm more of a man than you'll ever be," he sneered at Snape.
Snape's dark eyes glittered. "Be that as it may," he said slowly, turning back to Narcissa. "I allowed this visit because you said you had important information for him?"
"Yes," she took a deep breath and then whispered "from… from the Dark Lord."
Draco's blood ran cold.
His mother reached out and placed her hand on his knee. "Draco, he wants it done." He looked down and saw her nails were chipped. He had never seen her nails chipped before. "He said if it's not done soon then…" she trailed off.
"I'm almost there," he tried to sound reassuring. "I just need a little more time."
"If it is a matter of such great import and the Dark Lord commands it, then I offer my services again-"
"No!" Draco growled. He wasn't about to let Snape slide in at the last minute and take credit for all the work he'd done.
"Draco, listen to him!" His mother pleaded.
"No!" He stood up. "I'm going to do this. Me! No one else!" He turned towards Snape, sitting still with his greasy hair framing his face. "I don't want your help. I don't need your help."
"Draco, please!" Narcissa pulled on his robes. "Your father-" Draco turned sharply. "He… He's dying."
Dying. Dying. Dying.
A chill passed through him which had nothing to do with the dank dungeon they were in. He had been wasting time with Granger. He knew it and still he hadn't stopped. He knew the feelings he had for her were growing dangerous and making him sloppy. Falling asleep next to her? She could have seen the mark! Then he'd be dead. And his father would die. And his mother wouldn't last long on her own…
"I'm almost done. I just need a little more time." He repeated, sounding more like a plea than he intended.
His mother nodded. "If you won't take Severus' help, Bella has offered hers."
"What?" Draco pulled back from her and she stood up. The top of her head only came to his chin now.
"Bellatrix's help? Does the Dark Lord want the school burned down now?" Snape's sarcasm was not masked.
"She said if you can find a way to get her in, she will duel him, weaken him, and then you can finish the job."
They were discussing murder like it was afternoon tea. Draco felt sick. Death and dying… he was full of it. He felt a tightness in his chest and wanted nothing more than to be out of this room and away from all of them right now. The mark on his arm burned uncomfortably.
"I don't need anyone's help!" he snarled. "He gave me this task. Me alone! So the next person who offers to help will have to answer to him!"
Narcissa took a step back. Snape stood up. Draco glared at both of them then turned on his heel, and stormed out of the office.
Ron was taking the long way through the castle as they patrolled. So much had happened over the last two days- she had passed her apparition test, Ron had just failed, Harry got the memory from Slughorn had another lesson with Dumbledore, and Lavender finally had broken up with Ron.
She had seen the two of them coming out of the boys dorm when Harry was under the invisibility cloak and it had been the twig that broke the hippogriff's back because she started shouting, crying, and firing all sorts of accusations at Ron about how he never really loved her and there had always been something else going on. Eventually she had worn herself out and told him it was over.
Hermione couldn't help but feel a little pleased that their relationship was over seeing as it had been a roadblock in her and Ron's friendship and anyways Ron seemed much happier now that it was over. There of course had been a lot of late night crying and Hermione did feel for Lavender since she obviously cared about Ron, but she reminded herself that their relationship had not been the healthiest for either of them and in the long run, better ended than in the strange middle ground they had been occupying the last month or so.
Ron chatted happily, talking about retaking the test with Harry in July and how it didn't really matter if he could apparate just yet because he still had his broom and Harry couldn't either so it wasn't so bad after all. Cheerful Ron was her favorite Ron and Hermione found herself smiling and enjoying his company more than she had in weeks.
Their conversation in the Library still hung between them, but Hermione was glad that he hadn't brought it up before the test on Friday as it would have surely distracted her and she had enough thoughts bouncing around up there. She did notice Ron keeping an eye on every guy that congratulated her when she passed and he made sure to give her an extra long hug, holding her tightly until she gently pushed him away.
"Hermione," Ron said as they breached the top of their last staircase.
"Yes?" She stopped and looked at him.
"How's your… thing going?" He looked uncomfortable, but was that a hopeful twinkle in his eye?
Hermione took a deep breath. She knew his silence was too good to last. "I meant it when I said it wasn't your business, Ron."
"I know, I know," he smiled a little at her, "but I want it to be."
Hermione's heart jumped a little. Months ago she would have been thrilled to have Ron say something like that, but now… Things were weird with Malfoy, but they were there, rooted in. The more she had thought about it, the more she had to say that they had something real between them. She had asked him not to drink and he had stopped, she had asked him not to call her Mudblood and he had stopped, she had asked him not to see other girls and he had stopped. And she had done everything he had asked too.
Hermione blushed. They had something. It was crazy and wild and unexpected, but it was theirs. What was Draco to her? She couldn't keep calling him someone. Not a boyfriend, not even a friend really. Lover was too endearing of a term and partner seemed… formal in a way they weren't. He was her… Other. Draco was her Other.
"I don't want to lose you again." Ron's soft voice stirred her from her thoughts. He was staring down at her, crystal blue eyes clear and open. Nothing like Malfoy's hidden hazy greys she had stared into so often hoping to catch a glimpse of what was pouring out of Ron's right now.
"Ron…" Hermione started softly. She didn't want to lose him either, but she didn't want to make him think she still felt like she had in the past. He was right, she had changed.
"Yeah?" His voice was low and husky. He was closer to her now, past the distance they normally kept as friends and in the vicinity that Draco normally occupied.
Hermione gave him a weak sympathetic smile. "I… I can't."
"Why not?" His blue eyes twinkled and his lips pulled in a little smile. "You're not serious with whoever it is and… I am. I'm serious."
Oh good Godric. Hermione was twisting tightly, anxiety building up in her. Ron was nice and a good guy, despite how he sometimes acted, he never really intended to hurt anyone. And Draco did. Draco had hurt Cormac on purpose. Draco had-
"Let me show you."
Ron leaned down to her. She could see his lips parting, opening his mouth. Warm breath spread across her face-
Hermione pulled back, taking a step back from him and letting the night air fill the distance she hadn't noticed he had closed.
She touched her lips where Ron's had almost just been. It felt wrong. Like she had crossed some invisible line. Ron looked confused then a dark troubling expression sank over his freckled face.
"Oh."
"I-I'm sorry," Hermione said weakly. "I-"
A door shut loudly behind them and Hermione looked over her shoulder.
Oh no…
Oh Godric, please no.
Malfoy was glowering at the pair of them. They had taken the long way through the castle, walking up flights of stairs to the seventh floor landing. She had lost track, she hadn't even stopped to think he might be up here.
His grey eyes were as hard as iron and his face pale with rage. His wand was in his hand and the dark wood looked every inch like the weapon she knew he could wield it as.
"Dra- Malfoy." Hermione's voice was shaking.
"What are you doing up here?" Ron said nastily. "You're not a Prefect anymore."
Oh God, Ron, stop talking!
"You don't know what I am," Malfoy growled and lifted his brows up from his cold eyes. "But you're about to find out."
Hermione's hands were trembling at her side. Malfoy could curse him or beat him like he did Cormac. Goodness, he looked furious! He looked… he looked like he could be what Harry had been claiming for months.
Malfoy was taking long strides towards them.
"Having fun, Granger?" His deadly stare was now focused on her. He must have seen her pull away, right? She knew how possessive he was, but he had to know that she wouldn't have kissed Ron. He knew how she felt, right?
"What's he taste like, huh?" His voice was cold and cruel, cutting into her. "Let me guess… Lavender."
"Fuck off, Malfoy or I'll report you to for being up here. You belong in the dungeons." Ron said harshly.
Hermione was frozen under Malfoy's icy eyes. Oh God, he thought Ron had kissed her! He glared at her a moment longer then turned them to Ron.
"Go ahead. Run and tell. I'd rather be expelled than to watch the two of you swap spit a second longer."
"What are you even doing up here?" Ron snarled.
The Room of Requirement; she knew it well now. Draco was doing something in it when he wasn't with her, that much was clear. Ron was sure to tell Harry and would probably join him on his crusade to prove Malfoy was a Death Eater and-
"You know I think Blood Traitors might be even worse than the Mudbloods," Draco commented casually, his ire hidden just under the surface. Ron's ears flushed bright red. "She can't help what she is," he threw Hermione a nasty look, "but you, you chose this."
Ron lifted his wand.
"Ron, don't!" Hermione cried out and pulled on his arm. "You can't!"
"You heard him!"
"You're a Prefect!" She pleaded, "You can't throw curses in a corridor!"
Ron was struggling with himself for a moment while Malfoy sneered nastily at him, wand still in hand, but at his side.
"You're right, Hermione." She felt Draco tense at the sound of Ron saying her name. "I don't need to do this. McGonagall can deal with him. Let's go."
Hermione was rooted to the spot. She didn't want Draco to get in trouble and McGonagall was strict about students being out of bed after hours, especially with the new security measures in place, but at the same time she couldn't imagine a better outcome when Ron and Draco were this close to one another.
"Ron, you go." Hermione said firmly. "I'll finish the patrol alone."
"What? I'm not leaving you up here with him."
"I'm not staying." Hermione spun back around as Draco spoke. "I'm done here." He glared at her and something inside her wilted.
"Hermione," Ron insisted.
"Just… go. Go!" She said a little louder. "One of us has to finish the patrol and the other has to go to McGonagall. Go!"
Ron gave Malfoy one last look and then headed back down the stairs. Once his footsteps drifted away Hermione turned, stomach in knots back to Malfoy.
"Draco-"
"You fucking liar."
"Please-"
"Don't fucking touch me!" He shouted as Hermione reached for him. The coldness was emanating off of him, filling the air with a sickening freeze. "Get the fuck in there." He pointed a shaking finger at the door he had just come through.
Hermione did as she was told, moving forward on stiff legs. The Room of Requirement looked different than she had ever seen it before. Large stacks of countless objects soared into a high ceiling. Small winding paths were cut through them leading in a myriad of different directions. What was this place?
The door closed behind her and she turned around to see Malfoy standing there, glowering at her with a cold fury on his face.
"We can talk about this but you have to calm down," she started.
"Calm down?!" He shouted. "Calm down?!"
"I didn't kiss him," Hermione tried to explain.
"No you just let him kiss you," He snarled then scoffed. "You don't get it-"
From his perspective she could see how that's what he thought he saw. But she had stopped him! He should be happy about that, why was he upset with her?!
"No, I don't!" She argued back. It wasn't fair for him to get mad at her without hearing her out. Her Gryffindor pride was firing up and boiling her resentment at him. He was jumping to conclusions and not listening to her. Did he really think she'd do something like that? He hadn't even bothered to look at her the last two days and now he was mad because someone else had when she clearly didn't even want it?
Draco glared down at her. "I'd bite that lip for talking back to me like that if it didn't have Weasley all over it."
He was wrong. So wrong! And he wasn't letting her prove herself right.
"You had no problem kissing me after Cormac!"
Draco's grey eyes stormed and Hermione felt a sudden nervous jolt run through her. Oh no…
"The fuck did you just say?" His voice was soft and cold. She would have preferred he yelled to this icy anger.
Hermione balked. No good could come of this. She had let her temper get the better of her; damn Gryffindor pride wouldn't let her take this lying down. Not that she should, but maybe she shouldn't have thrown Cormac in Draco's face. Especially when she just realized that he hadn't known about their little make out session under the mistletoe.
"When was this?" The ice from Draco's tone seeped into her bloodstream, turning her cold.
"Before."
"Before what, Granger?" He growled. "Before me?"
"Yes. Well, no. Not exactly." She wasn't explaining this very well, but that was partly due to the fact that she didn't want to explain this at all. It hadn't meant anything and honestly, she hadn't thought about it in months and it had never crossed her mind to mention it to him.
"Tell me the fucking truth right now or I swear on Salazar's watery grave, I'll break into your mind and take it."
His wand was in his hand. She had to remember his wand was already in his hand and if she even tried to go for hers he could curse her before she got it out. He might not be a Death Eater, but that didn't stop him from being dangerous. And if he was serious and dove into her mind, he'd find all her thoughts about him and her and all the deep feelings she never wanted him to find out.
"Slughorn's party," She breathed out, voice shaking. "He kissed me at Slughorn's party."
Draco's eyes burned like ash-covered coals. His grey tinged skin paled with rage and he seemed to be having a difficult time breathing. She was scared. For the first time, she was really scared of him. He loomed over her, bearing down and not letting his shining silver eyes leave hers. Hermione was trapped in his gaze, hypnotized by the smoking grey there.
"I fucking broke that bastard's hand for touching you. If I would have known he kissed you… And you!" He looked at her with contempt. Like he used to. When she was just a Mudblood to him.
She couldn't take this. She didn't like the way he was looking at her and she didn't like the way she felt right now. Guilty. Hermione felt guilty. It hadn't meant anything to her, but she should have considered that it might have meant something to Draco.
She didn't know how to get out of this. He didn't want to listen to her right now, he was too upset and it seemed like he was barely keeping himself under control from his shaking hands and heavy breaths. If she hadn't brought up Cormac she might have been able to talk to him about Ron, but no longer. It felt like the earth was shattering underneath her. He was so angry. At her. And it was her fault.
She didn't want to lose him over this, not at all. It was a fact. And Hermione had always been good with facts, memorizing them, tucking them away in her head, ready to pull out at a moment's notice and this fact was no different. Hermione cared for Draco. Maybe more than she had ever realized before.
"Draco, stop," Hermione whined. "You… you just need to calm down and we can talk about this. You don't want to say anything you don't mean."
"Oh I mean it." He took a heavy step towards her, bringing his body as close to hers as he could without touching her. "I mean every goddamn word when I say I'm fucking done with you."
Her heart stopped beating. Her arms went numb. The blood rushed from her head and she had no idea how she was still standing upright right now. He turned and pulled the door open, nearly yanking it from its hinges before slamming it so hard that it bounced back open again.
But it was too late. Draco was gone.
A/N: I am COMPLETELY blown away by the reception from the last chapter. Honestly, dear readers, I screamed at some of your reviews. It seriously means the absolute world to me that you all are so invested in this fic. I never thought it would be like this.
Archie09, I think you're the sweetest person I've ever had the pleasure to write for. And to answer your questions, I am sticking with canon as much as I can up until the end of their sixth year. Then all bets are off (sequel in the works?)
Snickerdoodle-sensei, I am so touched by your review. The character development is so slow going, but I am glad that you're okay with this fic being a longer one since the plot seems to call for it.
Shamelessly Reckless, Divine Sphinx, LionessG201, and mimisemily you are all so wonderful for writing such amazing reviews for me. I read them over and over. It makes me want to write more and more! (Honestly, can't stop now even if I wanted to.)
And everyone who said they like my writing style that's like, one of the best compliments I've ever received. I'm humbled. Thank you.
Keep the reviews coming and I'll keep the chapters coming too. ;)
