"Draco, I know that you are a lot of things, but I didn't think that you were someone who went back on their word. I thought that I could trust you with this. Please, don't prove me wrong," she pleaded.
He let out a long exhale before licking his lips.
"Fine. I won't say anything. I'll hold up my end of the deal if…"
"If what," she desperately asked.
He looked down at her, silver connecting with brown. Hermione blinked as he reached up to brush her curls behind her shoulder as he tilted his head to the side, eyes dancing with mischief.
"If you have sex with me again."
Hermione reared back, eyes widening as his words danced around inside her head. She opened her mouth to speak before almost immediately slamming it shut. She blinked and turned her head to look into the kitchen, frowning in disbelief. Did he just…? She swallowed as she forced her heart rate to decrease, flashes of that night coming to the forefront of her mind. She shook the erotic memories out of her head before turning to face him.
"What," she quietly asked.
His lips stretched into a slow smirk as he brought his thumb up to brush her bottom lip.
"You heard me," he murmured, eyes blazing from beneath his lashes.
Hermione was very tempted to bite that finger…hard.
"Why," she demanded.
He shrugged.
"Why not-"
"No, no, no! Do not give me that 'why not' rubbish…," she pushed past him "…I want a real answer and I want one now. Why?"
She spun around to face him, left hand braced onto the stair banister. Draco smiled, a dazzling sight.
"Because I think you'd enjoy it, is all."
Hermione let out a humorless chuckle.
"Let me see if I understand this. In order for you to keep up your end of our bargain, which you are supposed to do anyway, you want me to have sex with you again. To uphold the original deal, you're trying to strike a new one. Are you kidding me," she shrieked.
"I assure you, I'm very serious," he said.
"Absolutely not! Even if I did agree to this, who is to say that you won't coerce me into doing it again…and again…and again until you've had your nice little fill of Hermione Jean Granger?"
"I wouldn't do that," he scoffed, visibly offended.
"Wouldn't you? I mean, isn't that what you're doing right now? I'm not having sex with you, Draco," she snapped.
"You already did," he sang.
Hermione closed her eyes and exhaled, frustrated to no end.
"I'm not having sex with you again," she breathed as she opened her eyes.
He scowled, moping a bit.
"Why not?"
"Because this was a onetime thing. I can't even begin to understand how you're not getting that when I've stressed it enough. I didn't have sex with you because I wanted to know how great of a lay you were. Although, I must say that I was not disappointed…"
Draco smirked.
"The point is that I did it because it was my last desperate attempt at getting my friends back. Although, now I'm trying to understand how I even correlated the two in my head. The fact of the matter is, when I knocked on your door that night, I made it very clear what the terms were. You can't just go back on them!"
"So that's what this is about, the fact that this is supposed to just be a onetime thing? Who says that it has to be," he questioned.
"I do! We have a deal-"
"Why are you so focused on this deal?"
"B-because we…I…you are not doing this! You will not screw with my head, Malfoy-"
"Oo, I'm in trouble," he purred.
She pointed her finger at him.
"You will not blackmail me into having sex with you," she hissed.
He glanced at her finger before grabbing said hand and bringing said finger to his lips. Hermione watched, transfixed, as his tongue darted out to touch her finger. She felt her mouth involuntarily parting as he wrapped his lips around her finger, stepping closer to her before releasing it. He ran his tongue over his lips.
"I'd hardly call it blackmail when you're just as down for it as I am," he whispered.
Hermione blinked.
"W-what," she gasped out.
He raised an eyebrow at her, smirk back in place.
"What are you talking about," she breathed.
He leaned down, his lips a hairs width away from her own.
"When you were going on and on about why we shouldn't do this, not once did I hear the words 'because I don't want to' come out of those pretty little lips of yours," he murmured, tapping her lips with his index finger.
She clenched her jaw and glared at him because…he was right. Even as she thought it, she couldn't deny the fact that it was a pleasurable experience, one, she was reluctant to admit, that she wouldn't mind repeating, but she wouldn't.
"I don't want to," she said.
He chuckled.
"You're a really bad liar, did you know that," he questioned as he walked towards the kitchen.
"I mean it! I don't want to have sex with you," she said as she followed him.
"Alright."
"You don't believe me…"
"Of course not," he laughed as he turned around.
She shook her head.
"It doesn't matter. Whether or not I want to doesn't change the fact that I'm not going to," she said as she stared him down.
"Fine. I can't be held responsible for what I may or may not let slip then," he said, spreading his arms out.
Hermione pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, assessing him as he did her. She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Fine. Do it then," she finally said.
He too narrowed his eyes and tiled his head, taking a step towards her.
"Don't underestimate me, Hermione," he mockingly threatened.
"I'm not. In fact, I'm telling you to go…ahead…and do it," she challenged as she stepped towards him with each pause.
"You don't think I will," he whispered as he leaned down.
"No, I don't. I'm calling your bluff, Draco."
She put her hand on his chest.
"I'll do it, Hermione. I promise you I will and you'll never see it coming," he growled as he fisted his hand in her hair, tilting her head up.
"No, you won't. Why don't we discuss what this is really about," she suggested as she looked into his eyes.
He brushed his lips against hers, letting out a husky laugh.
"What the hell are you on about," he whispered through his teeth, a subtle warning behind his words.
"If you wanted to have sex with me again, all you had to do was say so. I mean, it's not going to happen, but there was no need to try and blackmail me into it," she said.
He suddenly let go of her, pushing her away.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he sneered.
"Really? My mistake then," she said as she turned around.
She walked up the stairs, headed to her room, when she suddenly stopped and turned to face him. She frowned in confusion as he stood down there glaring at her.
"You know, I haven't heard you entertaining any guests lately. Usually, I have to put a silencing charm around my room almost every other night, but lately…nothing," she said.
She looked at him in concern, taking satisfaction as he clenched his jaw.
"In fact, all nightly noise seems to have…disappeared after that night. Gee, I do hope that you're not letting any thoughts of me spoil all of your fun because I'm here to tell you…that it's not going to happen," she said before walking towards her room.
She didn't even hear him coming, not until his hand was already wrapped around her arm, pulling her back into his chest. She gasped as his lips brushed her ear. He laughed…
"Do you want to know a secret," he purred.
When she didn't say anything he continued.
"I'll have you in me bed again before the month is up."
She turned around and backed away from him when he let her go, her narrowed eyes fixed on his playful ones. He looked down at her with that innocent, boyish smile, hands folded behind his back.
"…and this time…you won't want to leave. Have a good night, Hermione," he sweetly said just before she slammed the door in his face.
"So, why did you want to walk me to my next class again," Hermione questioned.
She warily eyed him, trying to figure out why he had suddenly approached her after class ended while Ron had all but ran from the room. Harry let out a lengthy sigh before answering.
"I wanted to apologize…on behalf of Ron-"
"Well, I can't accept. Ron should be apologizing to me himself and he should do it because he realized he was wrong and because he wants to," Hermione interrupted.
Harry scratched the back of his head.
"Look, you have to understand. Ron was really upset. I mean, you told on him," Harry explained.
Hermione suddenly stopped walking and turned to face Harry, an unbelievable expression on her face.
"So you agree with him then, that I should have just lied to Lavender's face," Hermione demanded.
Harry rubbed his forehead.
"Yes and no. On one hand, he's supposed to be your friend, you know. You were supposed to have his back, but on the other hand I can see why you did it. If she was crying like a pathetic mess to me I'm not so sure I would have been able to lie either. However, this situation is just…odd because you and Lavender aren't even friends! Now, I understand that things happen and relationships change, but Ron can't. He just sees this as a way of you getting back at him. He can't process the idea of you doing this because you genuinely felt sorry for her," he elaborated.
Hermione pursed her lips and shifted her feet, understanding his explanation.
"Okay, I concede. Maybe I shouldn't have told Lavender the truth. It wasn't my place and I can admit that, but the fact of the matter is that I did. While I understand his anger I still can't understand the things he said. He said some…pretty awful things to me, uncalled for things," she replied.
Harry frowned as he too thought about what Ron had said to her.
"I know and I get that a lot of apologizing will have to make up for that, but you know that he was just speaking out of anger. Hell, it's not like he knows what really happened, no one does. He was just trying to hurt you anyway he could and he used a stupid rumor to do it," Harry said.
"…and what if it was true?"
Harry's eyes widened.
"Is it…?"
"Doesn't matter, but what if it was? What if I really am just another one of Blaise's victims? How do you think that would make me feel, to hear him say stuff like that?"
Harry sighed.
"I'd imagine that…that you'd probably never forgive him," Harry breathed, defeated.
Hermione nodded, glad that she got her point across.
"I can no longer just accept him mouthing off out of anger. He's not a child, Harry," Hermione said as she shook her head.
"I know, I know. Look, I wanted to apologize too…"
Hermione frowned.
"For what?"
"For how I acted before. Please, try to understand that we're not used to you acting like every other girl in this bloody school. It was a bit of a shock, to say the least…"
"But why? I mean, wouldn't you think it odd if by the time I was twenty I hadn't even gone on a single date?"
"We just aren't used to it is all… Hermione, I care about you, a lot. You're the closest thing that I've ever had to a sister and I was just really worried. The fact that it was Zabini of all people didn't make matters any better. What with his reputation and all-"
"Wait…you knew," she exclaimed.
Did everyone but her know?
"Well…yeah. You hear things," he shrugged.
"Why didn't you tell me," she questioned.
Harry let out a humorless laugh.
"Would you have believed me?"
Hermione's shoulders sagged in defeat as she realized that she wouldn't have believed him. She would have simply thought he was saying it to keep her from going.
"Yeah, that's kind of what I thought," Harry quietly said.
"Well, I forgive you, Harry. You were just worried and I can't fault you for that," she said as she pulled him into a hug.
"You look exhausted," Hermione commented as the blonde witch plopped down in front of her.
She watched as Lavender proceeded to scoop food into her plate. The other witch had bags under her eyes and her skin looked quite dull…and pale. Lavender shrugged.
"Late nights tend to do that," she responded.
Hermione's shoulders sagged with guilt.
"I-I'm really sorry, Lavender."
Lavender suddenly looked up with a small smile.
"Don't be. I told you, I understand," she said.
"It doesn't change the fact that you're the one taking the brunt of all of this because I'm a coward. I'm trying to pretend like this never happened and it is just so…un-Gryffindor like of me. I don't think anybody else would be as understanding. They would be demanding that I get him sent out of here," Hermione responded.
"Hermione, drop it. You don't want to tell and I get it. If you do ever decide to tell then you'll do it whenever you're ready."
Hermione sighed as she picked at her food.
"Yes, I suppose," she breathed.
She still thought that it was very cowardly of her. She'd never dealt with a situation like this though. Part of her suspected that she still needed time to fully process what had happened. She suddenly blinked and looked up as she dropped her fork. Harry had said that even he had heard of Blaise's reputation. Just how many girls had been in her situation? How many more would be because she decided to keep quiet?
"Hermione…," Lavender suddenly said.
Hermione looked up, Lavender's tone of voice worrying her. Her eyes met the other girl's narrowed ones, accusation and curiosity swimming in their depths, eyebrow raised, lips pulled into a small smirk.
"What," Hermione hesitantly asked.
"Is there something going on between you and your dorm mate?"
"Why…?"
"Because he's had his eyes on you since I got here," she said as she pointed behind the curly haired witch.
Hermione spun around, her glare clashing with his amused expression. His smirk grew and he lifted his hand before wiggling his fingers. She rolled her eyes with a scoff before turning back around.
"We had a bit of a spat-"
"What else is new," Lavender snorted.
"…and he's being a complete ass about it. He's just trying to get under my skin," Hermione said with a shrug.
When Lavender didn't respond Hermione looked up again only to find Lavender's eyes focused on something over her shoulder. Hermione turned around and blinked, mouth falling open as her eyes landed on Ginny. She hurriedly stood as the redhead took a step back, giving Hermione room.
"Hey," Hermione breathed, quite shocked that the other girl was here with her, let alone left her room.
"Hey," Ginny whispered.
She gave an awkward wave to Lavender.
"Wh- Is everything okay," Hermione asked, concerned.
Ginny didn't look too much better than the last time her and Hermione had spoken, which was about a week or so ago.
"Um…yeah. I just- can we talk?"
"Of course!"
Hermione turned around and signaled an apology to Lavender. The other girl simply waved her off with a small smile. Hermione followed Ginny out of the Great Hall. Ginny slowed before turning to face Hermione, eyes watery.
"How are you," Ginny shakily asked.
Hermione blinked before frowning in confusion.
"I may barely get out of my room, Hermione, but I still heard about you and…Blaise…and her."
Hermione nodded with a quiet 'oh', blinking in realization.
"I'm…okay," she finally said.
"Are you? People have been saying some…awful things, Hermione. You're still my friend, no matter how I may feel right now and I know that I have no reason nor right to pry, but I just want to make sure that you're okay," she said.
Hermione sighed.
"I've been better…but I'm getting better. Lavender has been a big help to me."
Ginny solemnly nodded with a tight smile.
"So, it's true. The two of you really have buried the hatchet. I get it…she was there for you when I couldn't be," Ginny said.
"When you didn't want to be," Hermione murmured.
There was an awkward pause, a tense silence before Hermione exhaled.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that-"
"It's okay. You were thinking it," Ginny grumbled.
Hermione sighed.
"Ginny…"
"No, I understand. She was there for you and I wasn't."
"Stop this, now."
"So, what is she now, your new best friend? I wasn't around, so you had to replace me-"
"You know what? You were right! You have no right to pry and act this way when you were the one who pushed me away," Hermione snapped.
"Because you betrayed my trust," Ginny hissed.
"I was trying to help! Merlin, why can't you see that? I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Gosh, Ginny you put me in a horrible position. I was so worried about you, I mean, there were times when I thought that-"
Hermione cut herself off and clenched her jaw.
"You thought that what," Ginny demanded.
Hermione huffed and put her hands on her hips before looking away. Ginny suddenly let out a humorless laugh, scoffing as she put two and two together.
"Please do not tell me that you thought I was actually going to off myself over some boy," Ginny sneered.
"You say it like it's a ludicrous notion. It's not just some boy, Ginny, it's 'Harry freaking Potter'! You've been in love with him for as long as I can remember and he had just broken your heart. You can't honestly blame me for thinking that."
Ginny shook her head.
"Whatever. Go back and enjoy your breakfast with your new best friend," Ginny whispered.
"Ginny," Hermione called after her, but the only response she got was the view of Ginny's back as she walked away.
Hermione blinked away the tears as she let out a shaky sigh, resting her arms on her head and looking up at the ceiling.
"That was heartbreaking."
She spun around with a glare to find him leaning against the closed doors of the hall. He looked as put together as always, not a hair out of place. Hermione dropped her arms with a shake of her head.
"What are you, spying on me now," she sneered.
He pushed away from the doors with a quiet chuckle. He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as he swaggered towards her, one hand shoved into his pocket.
"I saw the two of you leave. I figured that it wouldn't be pretty so I came to uh…check on you," he said.
Hermione laughed.
"Your concern is touching, really. Please," she scoffed.
She shook her head at him.
"You're not fooling anyone. I know exactly where your uh…," she glanced at his crotch "…concern is coming from."
He pressed his hand to his chest as he stepped towards her, mouthing twisting into an 'o' shape, eyes closed as if he were in pain.
"You wound me, Hermione. Is it so hard to believe that I am genuinely worried about your wellbeing," he asked.
"Yes, it is. You're a sleaze, Draco, no better than your house mate," she whispered.
Her eyes widened as he suddenly gripped her arm, pulling her against him. She swallowed as her heart sped up, her chest brushing his as he glared down at her.
"You can insult me however you like, but I am no rapist. I get what I want through pure talent. Do not compare me to that sick, wannabe carbon copy of me. Got it?"
Hermione could see that her slip of the tongue had rubbed him the wrong way. She nodded.
"Good," he whispered.
He didn't let her go though and Hermione realized that she wasn't exactly pushing him away either. Their breaths were synchronized as he reached up to brush a stray hair away from her face. His fingers lingered, running down her cheek.
"Would you believe me if I told you that you were the best I'd ever had," he murmured.
Hermione flushed as he backed her into the wall, the Great Hall doors right beside them.
"N-no. You'd say anything, do anything to get me to have sex with you again," she quietly responded.
"Maybe. Maybe not. It doesn't change the fact that it's true."
He reached behind her to trail his index finger up the curve of her spine, drawing a gasp from her and forcing her hips to lift away from the wall.
"I don't believe you," she forced out.
"Oh, I think you do," he purred with a slow nod.
She frantically glanced around.
"You need to stop. Somebody could walk by any moment," she said.
His grin was predatory.
"I know. Exciting, isn't it," he said, waggling his eyebrows.
"What do you want from me," she quietly asked as her eyes reconnected with his.
He pressed the palm of his hands beside her head, leaning in so that his lips were right in front of hers.
"You know what I want."
"Well, go find somebody else. There's no shortage of girls in this school who would be more than happy to bend over backwards for you…literally," she responded.
He let out a husky chuckle.
"I find them…disappointing. I want you," he said with conviction.
Hermione swallowed before shoving him away from her.
"Well, there's plenty more disappointment in store for you then," she said before opening the hall doors and walking inside.
Hermione was sitting in the common area, bent over her parchment and eyebrows furrowed, focused on her homework when there was a frantic pounding on the portrait. Hermione sat up with a fright. She frowned in confusion before hurriedly getting up and swinging the portrait open. Lavender stood before her, out of breath.
"What-"
"He's awake."
Hermione stood at the end of the bed, looking at his still form as he slept. There was only one other patient in the infirmary, their snores reaching her ears as they slept. It was quite late and she shouldn't have been there, but she didn't care. She straightened up as he stirred, her jaw clenching as he blinked a few times before his eyes finally remained open. She watched as he looked around before his eyes landed on her. Her temper flared as that nasty smirk graced his lips.
"Hermione…"
Hermione did not respond, simply stared at him before walking towards him.
"Do you remember? Do you remember what you tried to do to me," she quietly demanded.
He exhaled, feigning contemplation.
"You may have to jog my memory. There have been quite a few of you…"
Hermione clenched her fists, forcing herself to not sink them into his pretty face.
"I haven't told anyone."
He smiled.
"I noticed. Have you changed your mind? Finally going to spread your-"
Hermione cut him off as she slapped her hand against his chest and pressed down. Blaise coughed, the weariness of his body becoming obvious. Hermione stared into his eyes.
"Shut up. You will not speak until I'm done because right now I am going to do the talking. Understand?"
His eyes narrowed and his jaw was clenched, but he reluctantly nodded. Hermione smiled.
"Good. I haven't told anyone because I want to put this behind me. I don't want to be in the spotlight again, I don't want to see my name and face in the papers again. More importantly, I don't want this to reflect badly on Hogwarts because it is my home. I would like to pretend like this never happened, but I can't do that. You see, I feel that it is my duty to make sure some other poor girl doesn't fall to a similar fate. So, do not take my silence as you getting off the hook because you're not off the hook," she began.
She leaned in closer until their noses were practically touching.
"You disgust me. I would like nothing more than to see you locked up. Now, hear me and believe me when I say that I will be watching you. My eyes will follow you wherever you go and if I hear or see something that sounds suspicious… If I even think that you've gotten too frisky with another girl, your ass is mine. You will be out of here before you can even blink. Do we have an understanding, Blaise?"
She backed away and watched as he stared her down, face twisted into a sneer.
"Yeah, yeah I understand. Right now, you're in charge, but that won't last," he furiously whispered.
"What the hell are you on about?"
He reached out and pulled her closer, forcing a gasp out of her.
"It means that I'm onto you and your roommate."
He shoved her away, glaring at her as she backed away from him. She sent him one last glare before turning around and exiting the infirmary.
Wait for it, wait for it...