When Hermione woke up the next morning she lay for a moment and thought about the strange dreams she had.
Once again those eyes came to mind, and She knew exactly who they belonged to. She groaned loudly and buried her face in her pillow.
Hermione opened the curtain of her bed, stretching and blinking as the sun shone through the tall windows. .
"Morning Padma" she was already dressed and was putting her shoes on.
"Oh morning Hermione. I hope you slept well. I'm sorry to run but I promised I would meet someone for a walk around the black lake before breakfast."
"It's only 6am. We still have an hour and a half until breakfast" Hermione said, checking her clock, surprised by Padma's early morning escapades.
"I know." she smiled coyly and ran out the door.
Hermione smirked at the door and stretched again. She got out of bed and changed quietly, not wanting to wake the beast that was Pansy Parkinson. She didn't have the energy to face her again quite yet.
Hermione got dressed and tamed her hair. It wasn't so hard these days, it seemed the older she got the more the frizz that used to make her look like she'd been electrocuted had dissipated.
She picked up her shoes and made her way down the grand staircase. The manor was quiet. It would be at least another 30 minutes before people really started to get up.
When Hermione got to the bottom of the stairs she decided to go into the room on her right. She hadn't had the chance to explore there last night. She walked in to find 6 round tables with 6 chairs around each. There were low hanging glass pendant lights over each table making sure they were well lit and towards the back of the room there was a small but lovely kitchen area. She found the cupboards were filled with cups and glasses . Another had coffee, another had different Teas and another had pumpkin juice. There were also some cupboards filled with snacks of various kinds. Hermione was amazed at how well thought out this had been. This has to be the best study area in all of Hogwarts.
Hermione decided to make herself a coffee and took it to the common room. She put my cup down and headed to the library to retrieve a book. She wasn't fussy, she took the closest book in arms reach when she opened the door and returned to sit down and read in front of the roaring fire. This was perfect. So peaceful. She sipped her coffee and flipped the book open.
Hermione had been flipping through the pages of a not very interesting book of Common Garden Plants And Their Uses, and hadn't noticed anyone else in the room.
Draco hadn't slept well at all, though of course, that wasn't a surprise. The same nightmares had him tossing and turning through the night until the final image was of that bloody skirt. He had woken with a very confusing erection.
There was no way he could go back to sleep with that ginger git snoring like a Skroot across the room. The smell coming from too many sleeping bodies disgusted him. He had always hated sharing a dorm for exactly that reason. At least Blaze plastered himself in enough cologne it hid any body odor he might have. And drown out anyone else's.
Draco checked the clock, it was only 5am but there was no way he was staying in that room any longer. He pulled the curtains back before collecting his toiletries and heading to the bathroom.
After a thorough scrubbing with water hot enough to burn away any unwanted thoughts or memories, Draco threw on his uniform and crept out of his room. He made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen, desperate for caffeine. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes while waiting for the kettle to boil on the stove. The clock on the wall read 6:00 as the kettle began to scream at him. He quickly dragged it from the heat hoping that no one had been woken by the shrill noise.
He took his coffee to the common room and settled himself into a large plush armchair in the darkest corner of the room. He cracked the spine of the book he bought that day in Diagon Alley. The Boy The Darkness Chose, Draco couldn't help but chuckle darkly at the title.
A soft padding of feet coming down the stairs drew his attention and he raised his book higher in an attempt to hide himself from whoever was mad enough to be up at this hour. He peaked over his pages and saw a swirl of brown curls head toward the kitchen. He shrunk in his seat, he knew those curls all too well. Only last night he had been trying his hardest to keep his hand in his pocket and not tame them while he told the owner of them to stay away. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to leave his shadows hiding place. He watched as Hermione placed her coffee cup on the table in front of the fire, the flames making her eyes glow furiously golden. He watched her hips swing as she made her way to the library, noticing that her school skirt was remarkably shorter than he remembers it ever being before.
With Hermione in the Library, this was his chance to escape, she would be ages choosing a book. But before he could stand she was back and settling down to read. The shadows the fire created on her face emphasised her long lashes, small straight nose and plump lips. Focusing on those pouting lips made him involuntarily lick his own. His tongue poking out just enough sweep over his bottom lip. He couldn't help but stare, he had always noticed her beauty but she just seemed to be getting better with age.
He took in a deep breath.
"Are you not going to say good morning?" Hermione jumped and looked over her shoulder. Draco leant forward in his armchair, shadows darkening his angular features as he watched her. She couldn't read his expression, but the intensity of it made her shirt and her skin prickle.
Hermione stood and turned toward him, trying to disguise her obvious shock.
"Sorry Malfoy, but when you are creeping about in the shadows like some kind of murd… pervert, how am I supposed to know you want my attention? You could at least cough or something instead of trying to scare me".
"Oh Granger I do love that smart mouth of yours." He smirked, cocking an eyebrow back at her, trying to ignore her change of words.
"Excuse me?!" Hermione squeaked, before shaking her head and regaining her cool, replacing her shocked face with a smirk again to rival his own.
She swallowed her nerves and walked closer to him, keeping a safe distance with a coffee table between them
"You know nothing about my smart mouth" she growled her hand gripping her jutted out hip.
Draco stepped around the table, removing Hermione's only shield. He barely disguised the way he was admiring the shape of her hips which she had just drawn his attention to. He stepped so close their chests were nearly touching and Hermione could do nothing but crane her neck to look up into his eyes in surprise, suppressing the urge to step back. The smirk had been wiped off her face, but she refused to back down. It was Malfoy's turn to harbour a crooked smile, she couldn't ignore the glint playing in eyes.
"Maybe that will change Granger." He continued, glaring down at her. As his breath washed over Hermione's face she felt she had been hypnotized, lips parted and holding her breath. Her heart was thundering in her chest.
"Draco?!" They both took a large step back just as Pansy stormed into the common room. Draco cursed himself for not hearing her coming down the stairs over the pounding of his heart in his ears.
Pansy stopped dead when she saw them. "Draco! I called you, why didn't you come?"
Draco rolled his eyes and Hermione could see every muscle in his slim body tense. But he didn't respond to Pansy. He continued to watch Hermione with a hooded gaze she couldn't read.
"Why are you talking to the Mudblood anyway?" Pansy sneered, sauntering over and wrapped herself around Draco like a possessive python. Hermione noticed him visibly shudder and squirm away from her clinging leach like arms.
"I was just talking to Granger about our patrol tonight." He looked Hermione dead in the eye, his usual cold stare returning. "I'll meet you at the bottom of the stairs at 11pm. Don't be late." not waiting for a response he marched away leaving Hermione confused and Pansy pouting.
"Good morning boys! How did you sleep?"
Hermione greeted Ron and Harry as they came down the stairs to meet her.
"I slept great. I love the new beds!" Harry said chirpily and grinned as he walked past her toward the door. The Trio started their March up the hill to the castle eager for breakfast.
"I couldn't bloody sleep could I? That sodding Malfoy was tossing and turning all night whimpering like a little girl." Ron snorted a laugh at his own statement.
Hermione, against her better judgment, wandered what Draco may have been dreaming about. She knew full well he had enough torment in his past to keep him tossing and turning. But she couldn't imagine him letting anything bother him enough to affect his sleep.
"If he's gonna be like that every night I might have to smother him with a pillow." Ron added with an evil glint in his eye.
"You mean you didn't think about it before he kept you awake?" Harry laughed.
Hermione slapped both their arms. "Don't be so insensitive… Malfoy has been through enough without you two holding a grudge. Besides, he seems to be trying to be a better person this year. Maybe this year you could do the same!"
"Are you kidding?!" Ron scoffed "The shit he's done Mione, he's lucky I haven't smothered him already!"
They were just reaching The Hall when Hermione stepped in front of Ron placing her hand on his chest and forcing him to stop. She mustered up her best pleading expression.
"Please Ron. Just let him move on. We all need to move on." She flicked her eyes between the two boys with a pointed look.
Ron raised an amused eyebrow at Harry before turning it on Hermione. He laughed, throwing his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to his side and leading her to the Gryffindor table.
"Careful Mione, if anyone hears you talking like that they might think you fancy him!"
Hermione turned scarlet at Ron's comment and turned her face down forcing her hair to fall over her face and hide her rosy cheeks. As they walked past the Slytherin table, Ron's grip tightened and his thumb traced the line of her shoulder. Hermione didn't mean to look at the Slytherin table but she couldn't help noticing Draco's dark glare and the sneer on his face as he watched them pass.
He really does hate me.
Ron led her to sit down with Harry and Ginny who were too busy trying to find each other's tonsils to notice them arrive. Hermione was trying very hard not to look at them while patiently waiting to get their attention when Ron threw a piece of toast at their faces.
"There's enough food on the table if you're hungry" he told them through gritted teeth. "You don't need to eat each other."
Hermione couldn't help but laugh at Ron's very good point when Ginny picked the toast up and threw it back at him.
"Jealous much?" Ginny glared at Ron while Harry couldn't help but laugh at the brother and sister. Nothing had changed since leaving the Burrow. Ron shoved the toast in his mouth and chewed with obvious disgust.
"Hey Mione! I missed you in the Dorm last night!" Ginny complained. "I have gotten far too used to sharing a room with you! I really don't know why they had to take you all away from me."
"Oh Ginny I missed you too" Hermione sympathised.
"So did I." Harry whispered not too quietly into her ear causing Ginny giggle outrageously before pushing him away.
"Tell me all about the new digs, I didn't get to see the bedrooms, are they nice?". Ginny asked excitedly.
"I'd rather show you myself." Harry drawled pulling Ginny laughed then smacked him playfully on the chest. All this flirting was really starting to put Hermione off her Breakfast, and by the way Ron was dangling a piece of toast from his half open mouth she could tell he felt the same.
"Maybe later but for now, tell me who you are sharing with." Ron groaned while Harry started talking excitedly to Ginny about the room's decor and his roommates who he seemed quite happy with. Ron complained again about sharing with Malfoy and his desire to smother him.
"You know that Zabini's not bad bloke…" Hermione heard Harry say but she barely listened as she played with the food on her plate. She hadn't noticed the touch of pink that came to Ginny cheeks. Her eyes roamed the hall watching everyone preparing for their first day when her eyes locked with His. he quickly turned away, his features scrunching.
His eyes. I can't get over those mesmerising diamond blue eyes.
If anyone ever noticed the way I stare at him I would lose everyone I hold dear. Not to mention, the man I cannot tear my eyes away from loathes my very existence. If he knew my feelings towards him. He would tear my heart out and make me watch as it took its last beat.
His head jerked up and his eyes collided with Hermione's briefly before she quickly looked away, feeling the heat rise up her neck.
Hermione thought back to all the times they had caught each other's eye across The Great Hall, or in class, or the courtyard. The way his lips would turn up on one side. The way his eyes twinkled as he looked for a reaction to whatever comment he was spitting at her or her friends. The times she had caught him staring at her with confusion floating behind his gaze. Hermione shook her head, clearing her thoughts before looking down at her plate, all appetite lost, she moved the food around with her fork. She daren't look up again, she couldn't risk him, or anyone else, knowing what was going on in her head.
She glared down at the grape that refused the crush under her fork, but continued to roll around her plate pathetically, away from her torture. A hand on her shoulder tore her away from her assault and brooding thoughts.
Ginny looked at her with a motherly concern she had unfortunately adopted over the summer. Hermione blinked around the Gryffindor table to see concern and pitying looks from what remained of her classmates.
"Are you okay Hermione?" Ginny asked, her eyes searching Hermione's. Hermione dragged her gaze away for Ginny's scrutinizing search, biting the inside of her cheek as she forced a smile onto her face "I'm fine." Hermione raised her head and gave her friends a tight Smile.
Harry and Ron exchanged a look as if they doubted she was telling the truth. She hated that look. It seemed to have become more and more regular since the War had ended.
Hermione straightened her spine and squared her shoulders, plastering a grin on her face. "I'm fine!" she chimed in a forced jovial tone. Ginny gave her one last searching look before turning back to her conversation with Parvati.
Movement by the doors caught Hermione's eye as white blond hair dashed from the hall. A black bob swishing behind it. Hermione's eyes drifted over the Slytherin table expecting to see an empty space, she was greeted with the dark assessing stare of Blaze Zabini.
Hermione couldn't take the scrutinisation of Blaze or the mundane conversation around her any longer. She stood from the table abruptly making her friends jump.
"I'm going to pop to the library, can I meet you guys in class?" She asked as she stuffed her things into her bag.
"You haven't eaten much Mione, do you really need to go now?" Ginny asked, her infuriating motherly concern returning.
"I'm just not hungry, first day jitters" Hermione lied.
"She's fine Gin, I'll go with her." Ron stood, shoving another piece of toast in his mouth. "I can't watch you two any longer anyway, it almost put me off my breakfast."
"No! It's fine. I'm fine. Thank you Ron… I just need to pick up a book. I won't be long. Meet you at Potions" and before he could follow, Hermione ran from the hall.
Hermione slowed down once She had rounded the corner and started her slow meander towards the Dungeons.
She didn't like to lie, and It's not that she didn't want to be with her friends but sometimes She just got tired of their concern for her and their juvenile humour. All she really wanted was to take the time to be with her own thoughts.
Besides, she needed to try and work out what was going on with her stupid head. Since that day in Diagon Alley she couldn't seem to get Malfoy off her mind. She was even questioning whether she had imagined all of their encounters that day and since.
After Draco left her that morning it didn't matter how much she focused on the Herbology book she had taken from the library, She just couldn't stop thinking about how close he had been or the feel of his breath on her face, or the smell of his toothpaste.
Hermione was remembering the feel of his arm around her waist that day on the train. Glaring at the floor as she walked, trying to remember if it had actually been him. She recognised his cologne now. Like it was imprinted on her memory. Something very Sandlewoody and hypnotic.
Draco had headed down to potions early. Seeing her with that great ginger oaf had really pissed him off. He knew he had no right to be pissed off, they weren't even friends, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen something he hadn't expected flicker behind her eyes that morning. He had definitely heard how hard her heart was beating in her chest and the heat radiating off of her when he pushed her boundaries. The idea that he had any kind of effect on her was exhilarating.
The memory of her scent filled his senses again. Rose and Raspberry, sickening sweet and fresh at once. He had to suppress the groan that threatened in his throat.
"Are you really going to completely ignore me this whole year?!" Pansy had been twittering shrilly from the moment he had left the hall. He hadn't expected her to follow but then he hadn't paid attention to anything she had said over breakfast so how would he know if he had accidentally agreed to it. He had been too busy focusing on the golden girl to pay attention to anything else. From the moment he noticed her eyes on him it's like the rest of the room had fallen away. She was all he could see or hear. Until he had noticed the way Weasel kept leaning in close when he spoke to her and touching her like it was his right to do so. But then, Maybe it was.
"Pansy would you please shut up! Can you not tell have not listened to anything you have said and your shrill voice is really starting to piss me off!" Draco barked as he spun on his heel toward the shocked Pansy Parkinson.
Pansy took a step back, tears instantly springing to her eyes. She quickly blinked them away and pulled herself up tall and proud, scowling at the cruel idiot before her.
"Well if you had been listening, Draco… you would have heard me saying that I agreed with you. It is time for me to move on… and you just proved that even further. I had been hoping we would be friends but it seems that isn't an option for you either." Pansy quickly started to March away.
"Pans, wait, I'm-." Pansy lifted her middle finger over her shoulder as she continued to flounce down the hall.
Draco rubbed his hands against his face and leant against the cold granite wall scorning himself for being such an asshole. He really didn't mean to be. Not any more.
He needed to do something to get Hermione Granger out of his head before he really messed up somewhere.
As if on cue Hermione made her way down the dungeon steps.
Why has she come so early? Is she following me again? And WHY is it I recognise the sound of her steps?
Thinking fast he stepped into a cupboard next to him and waited.
As Hermione approached, Draco coiled like a snake ready to strike. He didn't give himself time to think his actions through before he stepped out just behind her and closed his hand over Hermione's mouth and was pulling her into the darkness of the cupboard.
It wasn't until the door closed that he let go of her mouth. She turned around, fist clenched and ready to scream at him. Her hand was already pulling back ready to throw a first into his face when Draco grabbed it mid air.
"You've already punched me once Granger, I won't let you do it again" Draco stated dryly, squeezing her fist in his own.
Hermione gasped and let her arm go limp, expecting it to drop but Draco kept hold of her hand, letting it fall between them.
"What are you doing Malfoy? Do you make it a habit to attack girls and pull them into dark spaces?" Hermione demanded.
"As a matter of fact it is something I used to do fairly regularly." Draco retorted. He needed to think fast, why had he dragged her in here.
Not that he was able to think clearly now that he was trapped in the tight space close enough to distinguish that the raspberry he could smell on her was from her shampoo. And the rose was her perfume. And there was something else he couldn't quite make out. He noticed how her brows were creased together and her bottom lip for clenched between her teeth and he realised she had looked like that before he grabbed her.
He cleared his head and thought on his feet.
"You looked so concerned. Angry almost." As if on instinct he reached up with his other hand and stroked his thumb up between her eyebrows and over her forehead, smoothing out the creases. The action shocked them both, but Draco didn't retract his hand.
"You always frown when you are thinking too hard" he almost whispered. His minty breath tickles her nose.
Hermione's breath caught in her throat. She was speechless. Nervous.
"I have to g-"
"Are you and Weasley still a couple?" Draco asked, shocking them both further.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Just interested" he stated
"If you must know, no, we aren't. It ended months ago" she explained, her brow creasing again.
"Is that what you are thinking about? Are you sad?"
For a moment she thought he might be mocking her but upon reading his face and there being no sign of that stupid smirk she decided he wasn't.
"No, it wasn't- i'm not sad."
"do you want him back?"
"No!"
"He wants you back."
"No he doesn-"
"it sure looked like it this morning." There was an edge to his voice. Hermione couldn't help but look up to his eyes now. She hadn't realised she had been avoiding it.
"Why do you care, Malfoy?"
Draco looked deep into Hermione's eyes as if probing her mind and she became very aware that her fist was still enclosed in his hand and her chest was almost brushing his when they breathed. Draco had moved so close his breath tickled her lips which parted in response, Hermione's heart beat loud enough she was sure they could both hear it.
Draco's was hammering just as hard. Hermione could feel his pulse racing through his fingers. Tension seemed to vibrate through them. He gulped.
"I don't." Draco dropped her hand and walked out of the cupboard, leaving Hermione in there alone, panting and blinking in the dark.
Hermione remained in that cupboard trying to figure out what had just happened for longer than she would like to admit. She regained her composure and poked her head out of the cupboard, looking both ways to ensure no one was there to find her before she walked out.
Hermione fixed her shirt and walked the rest of the way to potions, her head low and my brow furrowed.
Hermione hadn't realised how long she'd waited in the darkness until she ended up arriving unusually late to Potions class. Every head in the class turned when she entered in utter shock that Hermione Granger could possibly be late.. Everyone except Draco that is, who seemed to have that infuriating smirk back on his face. She should have punched him square in the face when she had the chance.
"Ahh Miss Granger! I was beginning to worry."
"I'm so sorry Professor Slighorn. I got help up in the library." Hermione lied and saw Draco's smirk stretch into a grin.
"Never mind, never mind. We have assigned seats this year Miss Granger. Please may you take your seat next to Mr Malfoy?" Hermione huffed in anger and scowled toward the ridiculous chuckling pain in the arse at the back of the room.
"Is everything okay Miss Granger?" Slugging asked.
Hermione felt a burning blush make its way to her cheeks. "Fine!"
Hermione quickly made her way to her seat and sat down facing forward. She glanced sideways out of the corner of her eye to catch him sniggering beside her.
Slughorn was talking about their upcoming N.E. and how the assigned partners would be theirs for the rest of the year. Hermione thought her year couldn't get any worse. A whole year sitting next to the twat was going to drive her mad. Especially if she couldn't control the nervous fluttering in her stomach that started when she was near him.
Hermione was leaning forward, elbows on the desk, her chin in her hands, She was trying very hard to concentrate which was increasingly difficult when she could feel Draco's knee leaning against her thigh and his eyes burning into the back of her head.
"...and that's why we will be starting this year by making an Antidote for uncommon poisons. To help against any effects of the position we will be making this year."
Draco couldn't ignore the scorching heat traveling up his leg from where is connected with Hermione's bare thigh any longer. He started stroking his knee up and down the smooth expanse of skin. Any reaction he could get from her would be tremendously satisfying, thats why he was so glad he didn't miss the shiver that ran down her spine as his knee traveled past the line of her skirt.
Hermione swatted his knee, a warning slap really. How the hell was she supposed to concentrate when the contact made her entire body tingle shamefully.
"You may collect your ingredients." Slughorn announced and Hermione jumped straight up before he had finished speaking. "Eager as ever Miss Granger. Very good" Slighorn beamed at her and clapped his hands together once with the joy of an excited student.
Draco couldn't help but laugh at Hermione's supposed excitement to get started as he knew far better than Slughorn the cause of her exuberance.
Her face snapped toward Draco as the sound of his laughter hoping he would cower from her anger. Of course, this only caused him to laugh harder. Toying with her. God how she could hate him.
Ron, Ginny and Harry rushed to the back of the room to meet her at the supply table.
"Shit Mione. You pulled the short straw" Ron laughed, nudging her in the ribs. Something else she was becoming increasingly annoyed with. Ron's easy way of touching her whenever he felt like it. She took a subtle step away from him and started looking over the selection of ingredients.
Ginny hit his arm. "For goodness sake Ronald that's the last thing she needs to hear! Besides, It could be worse, she could be stuck with your dumb, grade dragging arse"
Hermione looked over her shoulder to see Draco leaning back in his chair looking completely bored. He was so laid back in fact the chair had started to fall, he was quick to catch himself just in time and looked around the room hoping no one had seen. Draco didn't want to risk ruining his 'cool image'. Hermione laughed tightly and turned back to her friends.
Twit
"It could be much worse," Hermione said, shrugging her shoulders. "I could have got stuck with Goyle." She pointed behind them to look at Goyle who had begun to pick up random ingredients, sniff them curiously before giving them a little lick. Once tasting them he'd shudder and regret his curiosity. One thing he licked made him gag so hard Hermione was sure she would see his breakfast follow.
The gang burst out laughing causing Goyle to jump a seed like substance flying from his hand and scattering over every surface. He scowled at them with a furious red face, mortified that he had been caught.
Hermione put everything down on the desk in front of Draco. And put her hands on her hips looking down at him expectantly.
"There you go!" She beamed as he looked from the ingredients to her then back again.
"What do you want me to do with that?" He asked with a scoff.
"I expect you to prepare the potion." Hermione stated as she lent over the desk, hands pressing into the wood in front of him. Draco gulped as her eyes squared on him "We are partners after all and you can't expect me to do all the work."
Draco forced himself to ignore Hermione's cocky expression but this caused his eyes to wander down her body to the swell of her hips visible past her shoulders. The puff of her breath against his face brought him back to the present.
He huffed causing her fly away hairs to sway. "Fine, but don't expect me to get it right"
Hermione grinned with triumph and came round the desk to join him as he started dragging fire seeds toward himself. Hermione smiled softly at her triumph and stood beside him taking the billy wig stings and counting them.
Standing right next to Draco, Hermione started to notice just how much taller Draco was compared to her. She always knew he was tall but not that he stood at least a foot taller than her. It was quite intimidating and made it quite difficult to be inconspicuous when she was trying to look at him out the corner of her eye.
Not that she was trying to look at him...
Draco was too busy concentrating on trying and failing to cut the Fire Seeds with a knife, and swearing when they kept pinging off the table, to notice how Hermione's eyes kept lingering on him.
When Draco concentrates his eyebrows come together and he narrows his eyes making them look dark, and stormy. He clenches his jaw and pouts his lips and his tongue peaks out ever so slightly from the corner of his mouth. Hermione was finding it harder and harder to ignore how attractive he is.
"What are you staring at Granger?" He says only load enough for her to hear.
Hermione instantly blushed and looked away. At that moment Draco tried to cut another seed and they watched as it pinged off the table and watched as it flew across the room and hit Blaise Zabini square on the cheek .
"OW! Malfoy, what the bloody hell was that for!" Blaise shouted, turning to confront to duo as he cupped and rubbed his cheek.
"Shit! Sorry mate it was an accident!"
Hermione couldn't control it, the bubbling that came from her chest and burst from her mouth and she started to laugh uncontrollably. As did Ginny when she realised what had happened to her partner. The sock on Blaise's face only grew at the girls outburst.
Draco stared down at the shaking girl beside him completely bemused. The sight of her head thrown back and holding her belly as she howled. The sight of her joy was breathtaking and infectious. That was it, his head dropped back just as a loud belly laugh erupted from him.
The sight, the sound, the feel of Draco laughing caused Hermione's stomach to flip and a warm feeling spreading to her fingers and toes.
Blaise's eyes narrowed. "Accident my arse." he muttered, turning back to his work. He nudge Ginny hard in the ribs. "And you can stop laughing as well!"
"Sorry Zabini. It was your face! I've never seen anyone look so offended by a seed!" Ginny doubled over and started laughing all over again.
"It's burning! It's fucking Burning!" Blaise yelled.
"Mr Zabini if you do not keep the noise down i will have to give you detention. Please focus!" Slughorn yelled over the noise.
"But-."
"Enough!"
Hermione turned to Draco, the laughter finally started to leave her and wiped a tear from her eye. Draco's shoulders were shaking with the remnants of the laughter he was trying to subdue. "I've not laughed like that in ages." she told him.
"Well then I'm glad I could entertain you." He couldn't help but smile down at her. A true and genuine smile that he couldn't suppress and his heart swelled when she smiled back at him.
"Here, let me show you a way to make it easier." Hermione took the knife from Draco and scraped a few seeds toward herself. She remembered going through having the same issue a few years again and Harry had shown her this tick.
Draco watched her intently as she used the side of the blade to crush the seeds before chopping them finely. As she focused on her task her eyes cast down and her lashes fluttered close to her cheek. Dracos throat dried when a strand of hair fell in front of her face and he had an overpowering urge to push it back into place.
"I see" Draco croaked. He didn't know what was possessing him as he stepped around Hermione and stopped right behind her. He took in her bouncing curls and the smell of her Raspberry shampoo wafted back into his nostrils. He lost all rational thought as he lightly slid his fingers over hers and copied the motion she had just shown him, tightening her grip on the knife.
Hermione jumped and her heart instantly started trying to break free of her rib cage. She squeezed the handle tighter while her other hand steadied her against the desk. It felt like her skin was vibrating from the warmth of his against hers and the proximity was overwhelming.
"Like this?" He asked in a strained voice so close to her ear and proceeded to crush more seeds then chop them, his palm pressing on her knuckles.
Hermione gulped in a breath and looked around the class hoping that nobody had noticed their interaction.
"Exactly like that." She croaked.
Hermione's reaction sparked something in him and he stepped closer so his chest pressed against her back just slightly. As Hermione's breath caught in her through Draco let out the one he had been holding. He clenched his fist at his side, finger twitching to touch her. He wanted to see how far he could push. See how long it would take her to pull away. To panic. Merlin knows he was, but the panic just pushed him further, testing the boundaries.
He let his fingers loosen their grip on hers and Hermione almost dropped the knife at the lack of pressure. Hermione watched as his fingers drifted over her hand and toyed with her knuckles. Her fingers flexed in response.
His fingers drifted slowly up arm until they slopped on her shoulder. Draco felt her tense under his fingers and when his thumb drifted over her shoulder and barely brushed her neck when he heard the smallest of sounds escape her throat, the noise shot straight through him and settled in his groin.
When was she going to stop him?
What is happening? Should I stop him? No I shouldn't, that would draw attention. Just stay still Hermione, he'll stop soon. But i don't want him to stop… god why does this feel so good?!
Draco let out a small chuckle at her reaction and his breath fanned her neck making her shiver deliciously. He skimmed his hand down to her side and stopped on her waist where he squeezed.
Hermione stood as still as she possibly could, confused but enraptured by Draco's actions and hoping for it to never end. Then all too quickly Draco moved away his hand stroking across her back as he did. They both cleared our throats and refocused on their work. Like nothing had happened at all.
"5 minutes to finish. Ensure all of your ingredients are in your cauldrons. They will be left here to brew until our next class where we'll test them." Slughorn announced.
"Shit" Hermione whispered, quite to Draco's surprise and he couldn't help but chuckle at.
Hermione started chucking the ingredients into the cauldron haphazardly, hoping She hadn't messed it up from rushing. Draco watched in amusement as a flustered Hermione potentially messed up the first potion of the year.
Hermione couldn't help but watch in disgust as Ron kept reaching over her to grab as much food as he could possibly fit on his plate. She found herself asking her memories for what on earth attracted her to him, he had always been more driven by his stomach than anything else. And the sight of Harry politely offering Ginny what was near him then smiling sweetly when she thanked him was doing nothing to help her mood. Not that she wanted Harry to look at her the way he did Ginny but it would be nice if someone did. She found herself thinking of her interaction with Draco and wondering if he would look at her with that same devoted gaze.
But of course he wouldn't. What had happened earlier had been part of a game he was making for himself. A game where she was the pawn and the only outcome would be for her to get hurt. And she couldn't let him win that kind of game.
Hermione sighed and turned her attention to her dinner. The thought of eating made her stomach roll. She had settled to moving it about her plate and mashing up, making it look eaten when she heard "Malfoy's" name.
"Malfoy definitely did it on purpose, but the look on Zabini's face was so worth it!" Ginny was giggling. "Wasn't it Mione?"
Hermione nodded her head and forced a smile.
"You know, the rest of the class he kept complaining that his face was on fire. I had to explain 'you only felt the burn if the shell's been broken'. He wouldn't believe me so I did just that. I broke one and rubbed it on his hand. Really it's my own fault that he wouldn't stop his complaining but I couldn't help myself." The Gryffindor table were laughing uncontrollably and the sound was enough to make Hermione crack a smile.
Peace. Pure bliss. Hermione sat alone on a plush blue couch in front of a roaring fire 200 pages deep in her new book and thinking that life couldn't be better than it was at that moment. But nothing good lasts forever...
"GET OFF OF ME PANSY! When will you get the message that I am NOT interested in you?!" Draco's bellowing voice carried through the Manor and bounced off every wall.
Hermione sank into her seat trying to hide behind her book and scorned herself for not going with the others. Maybe she had time to sneak away...
"Don't be like that Drakiiiiie. I didn't mean what I said earlier! I still want you back!"
"Yeah? Well I don't want you! Pans I said I was sorry for pushing you away. I was a knob but that doesn't mean I want to date you!" Pansy continued to grope at Malfoy trying to kiss him. It was pitiful but it still didn't stop Hermione feeling a pang of jealousy that Pansy could get away with touching Draco, even if it wasn't necessarily wanted.
Hermione watched as Draco reached for his wand. As much as she would love to see Pansy get hexed there was no way she could allow it to happen. With no plan she jumped from her seat.
"Malfoy?!"
Both Slytherins turned in surprise at Hermione's sudden appearance.
"I-I was just wondering... if… if…" she stuttered
"If, what Granger?! Spit it out!" Pansy snapped
"if I could speak with you, Malfoy, about potions class?" Hermione was ringing her finger together then realised she may need to clarify exactly what about potions class she would want to discuss. "About the assignment!"
"Bog off Mudblood this is more important than your stupid grade." Pansy spat, reaching for Draco again, but he had already taken the opportunity to escape her clutches. Striding over to Hermione with determination.
"Like I said, I'm sorry Pans. no hard feelings." Pansy looked between the two of them completely puzzled. Or maybe it was disgust, they couldn't really tell. She let out a scream of frustration before storming out of the room.
Hermione saw every muscle in Draco's body relax in relief.
"Thank you."
"No problem." She said as she curled her legs back underneath her on the couch, picking up her book.
"She doesn't seem to get it! I truly wish she would back off!" He rubbed his hand down his face as he slumped into the couch beside Hermione, taking her by surprise.
"Oh Malfoy, I could never understand why?" Hermione cooed sarcastically.
Draco let out a chuckle and stretched his body, his shirt stretching over his torso, highlighting his clean lines. Hermione blinked and turned to hide her blush. Her lip clamped between her teeth.
"Hey Ganger" he spoke softly watching the flames. "I'm sorry for what Pansy called you"
"Huh?" Hermione looked at him confused.
"I'm sorry she keeps calling you a Mudblood." He explained, closing his eyes in anger at having to use the word. "I'm sorry that she hasn't learnt how disgusting it is yet. I know it sounds ironic coming from me but it's true." Draco scowled at himself. An overwhelming urge to touch Hermione was building and he felt his finger twitching to reach out to her. He rubbed his palms on his trousers trying to stop the need to grab her refused to look at her while he said what he needed to say.
Hermione couldn't tear her eyes away from him. She could barely believe the boy sat in front of her was the same Draco Malfoy she had known for all those years. She gripped her book tightly, restraining the need to touch him, to make him look at her.
"I'm sorry for everything I have done to you over the years. I'm sorry for everything you have been through and believe me, if I could take it all away so that nothing had ever happened I would. But," He turned his face to see her out of the corner of his eye. "I can't. I understand if you hate me Granger but please know. I don't hate you…" he looked at Hermione for the longest time searching her eyes, willing her to say something. Anything. He reached across and took the book from her hands and wrapped them in his own. He was certain he was her breath hitch in her chest at his touch.
"Malfoy, I…"
"You gotta keep your public displays to a minimum Harry! I know I said you could date my sister but you seem to forget that I still don't want to see it!" Ron bellowed as he headed to the common room.
The look of panic on Draco's face was evident when he dropped her hands. Before Hermione could blink he was up out of his seat and leaving the room.
"And you think I liked it when you were all over Herm-." Harry was asking when he was cut off by Draco pushing past them. He turned in time to see Draco do a second glance toward him and Harry was sure he was a pained expression on his face.
Harry and Ron walked into the common room to find Hermione sitting alone, looking at her hands as if something precious had just been stolen from them.
"What was that about?" Ron asked looking over his shoulder where Malfoy had just left.
Hermione shrugged. "Just asking me about patrol tonight." She lied. She didn't like how easy it had become for her to lie. But until she understood what Draco's motives were she didn't feel she could discuss him with anyone. Least of all the two people that loathed him more than anyone else in the world.
"Oh about that" Harry started. "If you want I'll come with you. Make sure Malfoy does try to hex you or anything" he laughed but Hermione knew he was serious.
"I'll be fine Harry. I'm sure if I can take on multiple Deatheaters I can handle myself against Malfoy." She tried her best to sound nonchalant but even she heard the edge in her voice.
"Are you forgetting Malfoy IS a Deatheater Hermione?" Ron asked with a scowl.
"WAS a Deatheater, people change. The war changed everyone!" she spat back at him.
"And don't I know it…" Ron moaned to himself, turning his eyes from hers.
"Excuse me?!"
"whatever you say, Hermione, just make sure you take your wand" Harry cut in.
Hermione grimaced a smile at them before heading to her dorm to get read for the night patrol. One she was increasingly nervous about.
At 10:55pm Hermione left her dorm and headed to the Entrance hall. Malfoy was standing beneath the Brilliant Sparkling Chandelier, the light dancing over his skin like it was the perfect canvas. Hermione stopped at the top of the stairs and watched him, taking in his tall slender frame. He still needed to put weight on. But she was hardly one to talk. When her eyes finally reached his angular face she noticed a small smile playing on his pouty lips.
Draco heard her shoes on the oak staircase and his heart started throbbing with excitement. His smile lingered for a moment longer as he watched her walk toward him. She was in her casual clothes now. The jeans accentuated the shape of her legs. The gentle curve of her thigh created fantasies of slipping his hands over her supple skin to reach for the seam of her underwear. He wondered whether they would be soft and white like he had always imagined.
"Are you ready? He asked as he moved toward the door.
"As I'll ever be." Hermione risked smiling at him as she headed through the door which he held open for her. She was sure she heard him sigh as she passed him.
They roamed the corridors, peeking into classrooms, dark corners, cupboards.
As Hermione passed the cupboard Draco had dragged her into earlier, her skin started to buzz in a pleasant way and a fluttering started low in her belly. Images of how close he had been that day sent a flush to her cheeks.
Draco stopped when he didn't hear Hermione's footfall beside him anymore. He turned to find her standing outside of what is now his favorite cupboard; the blush on her cheeks was evident and he craved to know what she could be thinking. He knew it had been an odd experience for her. He really shouldn't have dragged her in there. But then again, he should have never done anything he had done that day. He cleared his mind and pushed against the walls of hers. Nothing could prepare him for the images flashing through her mind.
His lips tracing along the slender column of her neck, across her jaw until they found her lips. The breathy moan that escaped her as he delved his tongue in to dance with hers.
Draco blinked rapidly trying to understand what he just witnessed.
"What?!" Hermione practically shrieked when she noticed the way Draco was staring at her.
Have I said something out loud?
"Oh n-nothing." he stuttered. "You were just so deep in thought it's a wonder you haven't tripped over something." Draco laughed nervously.
"I'll have you know, I have mastered the skill of walking and thinking thank you very much. I am a very good multitasker!"
"What were you thinking about..?" He drooled out. Excitement of whether she would be honest had him restraining himself from moving closer.
"Nothing that concerns you Malfoy"
"Tell me Granger, I need some excitement in my life." He did move closer this time, close enough he could feel the heat of her embarrassment radiating from her.
Hermione pondered for a moment.
No don't be stupid Hermione… dont play into his game.
Hermione shook her head and marched away from Draco as fast as her little feet would carry her. She needed to make distance if she was going to stay strong. There was no way she could give any hint that his actions were affecting her.
Draco hesitated before following. He didn't mean to piss her off but he couldn't admit that he knew exactly what she was thinking just how much he wanted to do exactly what she imagined.
Hermione stomped her way toward the stairs of the astronomy tower and the distraction of her hips swaying in those ridiculous jeans was almost enough to distract Draco from where they were heading. Almost.
He hadn't been up those stairs since the day Dumbledore had been murdered by his hero. The day still haunted him, the way the twinkle left Dumbledor's eyes as he slipped back from the ledge was often the last thing he saw before he woke up. He had done everything he could to avoid returning to the scene.
As his foot met the first step he felt a wave of panic wash over him and he could not drag himself up those steps even if he wanted to.
Hermione noticed Draco's presence had vanished from her periferal. She was about to snap at him to keep up when she turned and instantly felt a knot in her chest. The look of fear on his face. She understood, all too well.
She approached him slowly one step at a time until she was just a step away. When she stopped in front of him, Draco slowly lifted his face, his eyes large and shimmering with worry.
When Hermione rested her hand on his shoulder he screwed his eyes closed and dropped his face again. "You can stay here if you like, I won't be long. Or. You can face your fear and I'll stay by your side the whole time." she gave him a reassuring smile.
He took a deep breath before he opened his eyes to find kind chocolate orbs watching him intently. He hadn't noticed the gold flecks in her iris's before. So beautiful… Draco nodded and took the first step.
It had been so long since either of them had needed to climb all those steps and they were both fighting for breath when they reached the top.
Hermione stepped into the large room and headed over to the window to rest on the sill. She was watching Draco carefully expecting him to start freaking out. He moved into the room tentatively as though testing his limits. When he seemed to relax and move closer Hermione turned to watch the view. The moon was reflecting off of the Black lake making it shimmer like millions of diamonds.
"Wow." She breathed. "I forgot how beautiful it is from up here."
Draco admired how the moon reflected hues of amber, hazel and gold through Hermione hair. The moon light shone through the strands, surrounding her in a breath taking halo. Without hesitation he pushed the curls back from her shoulder. And noticed the breath catch in her throat.
"So beautiful." he whispered.
Hermione gasped and her eyes shot up to see he was watching her with a soft expression. A tingle raced through her body and a blush came to her cheeks. She quickly looked down making her hair fall back around her face.
Draco's hand came up and gently stroked her hair back over her shoulder and behind her ear. He traced his finger across my jaw bone until it was under her chin, lifting her face to look at him.
He took in every detail of Hermione's delicately pink face. Her sparkling eyes. Her high cheekbones. Her soft jaw. Her pixie nose. Her perfect skin. The light smattering of freckles and eventually her soft pillowy lips that he craved to taste.
Draco's lips parted as he took in a sharp breath of astonishment at her elegant beauty. His eyes found Hermione's and they both felt the pull between them..
Hermione felt a pleasurable clenching in her gut and she took in the silver of the moon that had been absorbed by his eyes, sparkling almost as much as the lake that created their scene.
A sharp wind blew through the tower, causing them both to shiver at the new sensitivity that was creeping over them.
"You are so beautiful Hermione Granger." Draco whispered, his breath brushing over her face.
Like a magnet the pull between the two grew stronger the closer they grew together. Draco bent slowly and brushed his lips against Hermione's so gently, at first, she wasn't even sure he had done it.
He looked into her eyes again trying to gage her reaction. Whether she would allow him to do it again. He lent in again and this time Hermione came up to meet him in a wave of passion. Their lips melted together in rushed, feverish kisses as his hand moved to the nape of her neck holding her and the other snaked around her waist pulling her flush.
Hermione's hands found their way to Draco's chest and lay above his heart. She could feel it hammering against his chest like a bird trying to break free and she pressed harder as though trying to keep it in.
He ran the tip of his tongue across her lower lip, and she instantly parted them allowing him entry. Their kiss intensified as Draco skilfully slipped his tongue to brush against hers, inviting it to dance.
Draco ran his hand down Hermione's to eggs yqspine enjoying how it made her shiver. His hand rested on her lower back pulling her right against him as Hermione's hands moved up his body, over his shoulders and neck, her fingers slipping into his hair. She pulled gently causing a moan to climb for deep in Draco's throat. She sound caused a clenching deep in Hermione's flower.
Footsteps tapped against the stairs on their ascent to the tower, raising in volume as they approached. It was a wonder either of them heard them over the drumming of their hearts and ragged breathing.
Realisation dawned that whoever was making their way to their discovery would find them in a tangled mess of limbs. They jumped apart and instantly started straightening their clothing, forcing their breathing to calm.
The hunger in draco's eyes never left and Hermione felt it burning into her. She shook her head trying to clear her mind and ready herself for whoever was coming ever closer..
Two students appeared and stopped abruptly at the top of the stairs. Shocked to have been caught so far past curfew. Hermione recognised the students at 7th years. A Slytherin boy and Hufflepuff girl.
"Malfoy." The boy nodded at Draco.
"I'm afraid it is way past curfew for you guys. You are going to have to go back to your dorms immediately." Hermione looked at them apologetically.
The girl blushed and stepped back to hide behind the boy. "Sorry Hermione!" She squeaked. "We'll go now." She started tugging on the Slytherins sleeve. They both turned and ran down the stairs, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared. Hermione glanced at Draco but he was already passing her to follow them.
They followed the students, making sure they had really gone back to their dorms. Hermione couldn't help the smile playing on her lips.
McGonnagal did say she wanted house unity.
Malfoy let out a small laugh "McGonnagal did say she wanted house unity, right?" He stated and laughed aloud.
"I was thinking the same thing!" They laughed and headed back to the manor. Resolved to not discuss what had happened between them.
