"How soon any other wishes introduced themselves I can hardly tell"
Hermione started her week determined to make the most of the opportunity for uninterrupted work and some time spent with Pen and Percy, whom she felt she had been neglecting. She cooked for the family on Monday and attended Artie's under-10s Quidditch game on Tuesday. She also made a good bit of progress on her project documentation, which she had given short shrift of late. And she spent long hours with the herd. Not only working, but just enjoying their presence.
But she couldn't deny that her mind was frequently otherwise occupied. Just at odd little times of the day, she'd find herself staring off into space and smiling. Or she'd chuckle over something when she was completely alone. Very alarming behavior, really. She scolded herself for being such a twit. They'd slept together once. Well, a good deal more than once… but one episode. It was a good thing she was not living with Ginny right now—she'd never hear the end of it.
Speaking of Ginny, Hermione realised she was avoiding corresponding with her best friend, who had sent her two owls in a row and was probably about to break in on her floo unannounced if Hermione didn't respond soon. But she knew that Ginny would suss out what had happened the moment she saw her face and Hermione found she wasn't really ready for the interrogation that would follow. She wanted to keep this just for herself a little longer.
Pen seemed to know something of what was going on, though. Being very unlike her sister-in-law, she didn't say anything directly, but Hermione caught her giving her little looks. Then she would find ways to work Draco's name into the conversation—something she'd seen in the Prophet or something Lucretia had said. And Hermione wouldn't realise she'd jumped on the chance to talk about him until she was two minutes into a rambling comment and Pen was giving her an indulgent smile.
It was somewhat disconcerting.
But it was also nice to be able to speak about him without getting the third degree.
And although she didn't hear from Draco himself, she wasn't surprised. International owl post had long lag times and she didn't think she was quite ready to see his head popping up in her fireplace. But then on Wednesday morning she opened her door to find a crate of the wine they'd drunk over the weekend sitting on her steps. No note, but she somehow doubted Theo had sent it. She stooped down to drag it inside and couldn't prevent a smile from spreading across her face. So he was thinking about her too.
Her thoughts also turned to his family, and she wondered if she should invite herself over for a visit with Astoria. Inviting herself to visit Lucretia seemed… not quite on. Draco's aunt had been kind to her, but she was still a bit formidable. And Hermione remained unclear on how Lucretia viewed her—whatever-this-was—with Draco.
So it was with some pleasure that she beheld Mignon the house elf standing at her cottage door on Wednesday evening with a letter in hand. The envelope contained an elegant note requesting Hermione's company at an intimate family dinner with Lucretia, Astoria and Alain the following night. No mention of Draco, hmm. Hermione figured Lucretia didn't expect him until Friday. Interesting, she stared into space, the hand holding the note dropping to her side.
Deep in thought, she almost missed a second square of paper which fluttered to the ground with her movement. It was hot pink and covered in black block printing. Hermione smiled as she picked it up and unfolded it. The note asked if she would like Astoria's company on her visit to the herd tomorrow and promised a trip to a secret swimming place as an inducement. Hermione quickly dispatched Mignon with two affirmative replies, looking forward to her day with Astoria and evening with the family.
~oOo~
The next morning Hermione walked up the path to the herd's meadow, swimsuit and towel in her rucksack along with her usual supplies. Coming around a bend she saw a petite form perched on a boulder next to the trail. She waved a friendly hello and Astoria bolted up, then ran over to and threw her arms around Hermione's waist.
"Good morning! I'm so glad you let me come today!" she said in a rush, her smile blinding. Hermione wondered, not for the first time, how she and the cool, reserved Daphne could come from the same stock.
"Let you? Of course! I'm glad you're here!" Hermione stepped back from the hug and held Astoria by the shoulders with an affectionate smile. "Louise will be well-pleased too. She's been asking me when you'd visit." She had told the proud herd matriarch about her acquaintance with Astoria and was certain it had unbent the centaur a touch.
Astoria tilted her head, "ohh, sweet Lulu."
Hermione raised her eyebrows at the nickname and the characterization of the stern creature as 'sweet'. Astoria really did seem to have a way…
Her speculation was immediately proved by the manner in which the herd received Astoria. Cantering around her in a circle, their excited whinnies and calls rang out through the morning air. Astoria greeted each one with a personal comment or question, and was allowed to touch even the most recalcitrant herd members. Hermione noticed many of the centaurs stroking her in a soothing way and speaking soft words to her. Louise touched her forehead briefly to the girl's brow and whispered something that had Astoria nodding and swiping quickly at her eyes. Hermione wondered, but stood back and just watched, sensing that she shouldn't interrupt.
Eventually the greeting circle broke and Hermione transitioned them gently to work. The day flew with two of them and she'd never found the centaurs easier to communicate with. I should have invited her sooner and more often, she thought, smiling at Astoria, who was studiously taking notes. Toward late afternoon the heat had become rather oppressive and Louise announced that the herd would be leaving for cooler elevations, so Hermione and Astoria packed up and headed toward the swimming place.
"You are going to love it," Astoria said, eyes bright. "The water is the most amazing color and there are rocks you can jump from."
"Lead the way!" Hermione called, desperate for the feel of the cool water on her sweaty, dusty person.
As they walked in a companionable silence, Hermione took in the lovely scenery, thinking she was going to miss the wildness of this country—the craggy outcroppings and scrubby trees. The faintly herbal scent in the warm air.
Just then they came around a wide bend in the trail and Astoria clapped her hands, "here we are!"
Hermione gasped. They were overlooking a beautiful scene; the dammed up section of a meandering river, which had created a deep, clear aquamarine pool. Surrounded on three sides by mellow gold cliffs and with a good sized beach covered in smooth stones, it was totally deserted.
Hermione looked Astoria with wide eyes. "This is amazing!"
"Race you!" Astoria cried, running the rest of the way down the track to the beach.
"I don't even have my suit on!" called Hermione, jogging behind her.
"You can change behind those boulders over there!" Astoria was pulling off her t-shirt and kicking down her shorts. Hermione ducked behind the suggested rocks, then heard a splash and a whoop. Quickly donning her black two piece, she ran down to the cool water and waded in.
Swimming and floating in the pristine pool for over an hour, Hermione soaked until she was completely wrinkled, then finally got out and lay down on a large, flat rock, letting the sun warm and dry her. Astoria came up to lay next to her, letting out a soft, contented sigh.
Hermione propped herself up on an elbow. "Are you excited for your new school?" she asked, fond memories of the joy she used to feel over a new year at Hogwarts washing over her.
"I am," Astoria said, but without her usual bubbliness. "I'm also a bit nervous, to be honest."
"Of course," said Hermione. "That's completely normal." She paused. "And may I ask," she said softly, "why you decided to switch schools? Is it about getting a more well-rounded education?" Pansy Parkinson's comments on the subject floated through her mind.
Astoria shifted. "No, I wasn't… happy… at Hogwarts anymore. I had a… troubling experience." She looked away and seemed to turn in on herself. Hermione was instantly reminded of the way the centaurs had greeted her earlier and reached out to rub Astoria's arm, wondering what could have happened, but not daring to pry.
"I'm so sorry."
Astoria's eyes flitted back to hers. "Thank you." She took a deep breath and smiled. "But it's behind me now. I am ready to start a new chapter. I'm just a little nervous because I won't know many people at Beauxbatons."
"Somehow I don't think that will be a problem for long," smiled Hermione, her curiosity over what had happened tempered by Astoria's obvious desire to change the subject.
Astoria rested her head briefly on Hermione's shoulder and then straightened up and squinted at the cloudless sky. "I hate to say it, but I think we should probably go soon if we want to be back in time for Auntie's dinner."
"You're right." Hermione moaned with regret as she picked herself up off the warm stone. "But let's come back here before you go."
"Absolutely." Astoria grinned as she stood and began gathering her things.
Finding her cutoff jean shorts behind the changing boulders, Hermione slipped them over her suit bottoms and pulled on her old white t-shirt. The sun-warmed cotton felt delicious, but she definitely needed to change before she presented herself to Lucretia. She finger combed her hair, loosening the tight curls formed by the water, and went to join Astoria on the beach.
"Can we apparate from here?" she called. "I'm not sure I have time to hike all the way back."
Astoria slung her towel over her shoulder. "No, but there's an actual point up the trail a bit."
"Oh good." Hermione started on the small hill to the path.
They walked down the trail into a section that was wooded and shady. "It's just up ahead," Astoria said over her shoulder before she disappeared around a sharp bend.
Suddenly her distinctive shriek rang out and Hermione hurried to see what was going on. She came around the bend to see Astoria laughing and launching herself at an amused Draco.
"Hello, my Astor," he chuckled, catching her then kissing her cheek soundly.
He pulled back and his eyes met Hermione's. She suddenly felt a good bit warmer.
"Hello," he called more softly, a smile tugging at his lips.
"What are you doing here? You're early!" Astoria's vibrant tones cut in as Hermione gave Draco a little wave, unable to keep an answering smile from spreading across her face.
He looked back at his ward. "I was able to move some meetings around, so here I am." His eyes again slid to Hermione on the last bit of the sentence. Astoria seemed to notice because she abruptly stepped out from between them.
"How did you know we were here?" asked Hermione, tilting her head.
"Mignon. She told me about your plans with the herd, and the swimming." He glanced back at Astoria. "How was it?"
"Brilliant!" she said. "It was so good to see them."
"And the swimming was gorgeous," Hermione added.
His eyes flicked briefly down her body and she felt a bit self-conscious. She'd really gone full-on sloppy muggle today.
Astoria eyes darted from Draco to Hermione. "Well! Auntie must not even know you're here! I should, uh, go tell her so she knows you'll be here for dinner. Wouldn't want to surprise her and throw off the numbers! You know how she hates that." She shot a glance at Draco that was all huge, round eyes as she rushed to what must be the apparition spot. "See you in a bit!" she called over her shoulder before disappearing.
"But I already…told…Mignon…" He shook his head and shrugged at Hermione.
"She's not what I'd call subtle," she said, moving toward him.
He chuckled. "And yet I find I appreciate the gesture. Come here." He reached out to pull her the rest of the distance, then captured her lips. She molded to his lean body, pressing against him as she ran her hands up to the soft skin of his nape.
He felt just as good as she remembered.
His hands wandered down her back and under her frayed t-shirt, sweeping up under the tie of her bathing suit. "Today, you taste like sunshine... and heat," he murmured when he came up for air.
"And look like a vagrant," she laughed, pulling back and gesturing to herself.
"Mmm, nooo," he said. "I quite like this. What are these? Jeans that you made into shorts?" She nodded. "They're very short. Muggle fashion can really be quite lovely in the way it accentuates the body." His eyes twinkled as his hands traveled down over her arse and ran under the frayed hems. "I do enjoy it when you make your already abbreviated garments even smaller," he murmured, his lips moving lightly down her neck. "It reminds me of our day in the park."
Hermione was finding it difficult to form a coherent answer, so she settled for a soft sigh.
"I wish I'd seen your swim costume, though" he continued, kissing back up to her mouth. "Seems there's very little to it." His fingers tugged at the string holding her bikini top on.
"Heyyy!" she said against his lips.
He shot her a wicked smile. "I suppose we do have to get back for dinner. Six o'clock sharp, correct?"
"Yes." Hermione glanced at her watch. "Which gives me just under thirty minutes, so I'm going to have to go if I want a shower." She pulled back and gathered her rucksack, which had dropped to the dusty ground.
"A shower?" His eyes lit on hers, all warm, melting silver. "I could help you with that, you know. I'm very helpful" His fingers flitted underneath her hems again.
"I'm sure you could, but then I'd definitely be late."
"You can't look at me like that unless you want me to kiss you," he said, narrowing his eyes and stepping toward her again. Hermione could sympathize. She was finding it extremely difficult not to throw him against a tree and have her way with him. But she gathered herself. Lucretia had asked her to dinner and she had accepted. This distracting wizard would just have to wait.
Which is what she told him.
"Fine, fine. But I'll see you very soon." Draco grabbed her hand and led her to the apparition spot—where she blew him one last kiss before she swirled away.
~oOo~
"Your progress with the herd has been admirable, Hermione," said Lucretia as she took a small sip of wine. "They can be quite difficult in my experience."
"Yes, I was expecting more resistance, but they have been reasonable, even helpful." Hermione spooned a bite of basil-lime sorbet into her mouth and looked to her left at Astoria. "But today was something else entirely. Astoria's rapport with the herd is extraordinary."
The young witch coloured. "Oh no. I've just known them for a long time."
"It's more than that," smiled Hermione. "You know intrinsically how to act with them." She looked around the table, "I should have had her with me every day. My job would have gone much faster." Everyone murmured their praise and agreement. "Although, I wouldn't have wanted to shorten my time here." Hermione couldn't help her eyes darting toward Draco as she said this. He was looking down, but his lips lifted slightly.
Lucretia cleared her throat. "And when will you be going, my dear? I'm devastated at the idea of losing Astoria, yourself, and presumably Draco, from the neighborhood at the same time. I shall have to plan a trip." Her eyebrow went up in an amused curve when she mentioned her nephew. He looked up and met her gaze with a slight smile.
Hermione ignored the little interaction and did a swift calculation in her head. "Astoria, you leave two weeks from Tuesday?" she asked. Astoria nodded. "Hmm, I think if you help me for a few more days, I'll only need about a week after that. So less than a month total."
Lucretia sighed and Hermione tilted her head in agreement. The end of summer always brought some wistfulness—and this had been such a good one.
"Well," said Lucretia, making a little motion to Mignon to clear the table. "I believe I have something that will cheer at least you, my dear. Astoria reminded me of it the other day. I had totally forgotten… When one gets to my age." She shook her head with impatience. "Anyway, there is a collection on centaurs in the library here that you should look at and catalogue. Many rare and old volumes."
"Oh?" said Hermione, straightening in her seat, her brows flying up. A private collection? There might be works she'd never seen before... She heard an amused exhale from Draco's end of the table.
"Yes." Lucretia waved her hand. "There are books of course, but the real gems are diaries kept by my great aunt and her mother before her. They were both fascinated by the herd and became very close to them, with daily contact and observation." Hermione could feel her eyes widening with every word. "They recorded books and books over the span of their two lifetimes. About the beasts' culture, habits, shifting patterns over time. In French of course, but I presume you read it?"
"Yes," said Hermione. "And that sounds absolutely brilliant. Those kinds of texts about centaurs just don't exist. I've read most—well, likely all—of the literature—" She definitely heard a snort from Draco's direction at this. "AND," —she shot a quick glare down table— "I've never seen anything like what you describe. They're such private and wary creatures. Most who have studied them were only given limited access for a discrete amount of time, like me."
"I believe my aunts were a special case. Growing up with the creatures and gaining their trust—the type of trust that can only be accomplished over a lifetime… or two. A bit like Astoria now, really."
Lucretia rested affectionate eyes on the young girl, who smiled as Hermione's pulse sped, her mind racing in about ten different directions. She was far away as the group rose from the table and moved toward one of the parlors for an after-dinner drink, until Lucretia fell into step with her. "You shall have the journals tonight," she said. "I'm only sorry that I didn't recall them sooner."
Hermione dismissed her apology, thanking her effusively as Lucretia smiled fluttered down onto a low velvet sofa, her eyes flicking to Draco, who was helping to pour and distribute drinks. "Darling, would you please show Hermione the collection? It's in the rare works and family texts area, which," she glanced at Hermione, "is heavily warded. You'll need a member of the Black family as an escort." Hermione could have sworn a hint of a mischievous smile danced over her lips as she commented.
Draco inclined his head in his aunt's direction. "Of course." He turned to Hermione, his face carefully neutral, but his eyes warm. "Would you like to go now?"
"Oh yes, go now. It's getting late and I fear we may have lost Hermione's attention for good anyway." Lucretia waved them away.
Hermione started. She had indeed been staring off into space and imagining the contents of the notebooks and what it might mean to her project, not to mention the general world store of knowledge about centaurs. "I'm so sorry." She shook her head and refocused on her hostess.
"Never apologize for your passions, my dear," said Lucretia, leveling a long look at her.
Hermione smiled at her for a beat before she acquiesced and said her good-nights, then turned to let Draco show her out of the room.
~oOo~
Draco led the way silently through yet another wing of the chateau. Hermione was still deep in thought and barely registering their route. She glanced up at him and he smiled down at her, then lightly touched the tips of her fingers to guide her down a series of turns and corridors to a high-ceilinged room, the chateau's library, which was somehow ornate and airy at the same time. Hermione was reminded of the Ravenclaw common room at Hogwarts.
Draco took her hand more firmly as they walked through the main atrium. "The section we want is at the back."
They moved through a series of similar chambers to a small apartment that was dark and cozy in comparison to the rest, its walls comprised of wooden bookshelves crammed with every size and shape of text. Draco muttered a low incantation as they walked through the doorway and Hermione felt the magic warding the door expand and contract to admit them.
"I believe the section is just… here," he said softly, perusing the stacks then pointing to two shelves of slim volumes.
Hermione smiled at him, then released his fingers to select the first book on the upper shelf. She opened it carefully. The cover page contained a beautifully detailed sketch of the herd gathered in the greeting meadow she was so familiar with. It was dated 1690. She inhaled sharply and traced the paper with a reverent finger, sinking down onto a convenient bench to become completely absorbed in it.
She was vaguely aware of Draco moving off through the stacks for a bit and eventually coming back to settle in a nearby armchair. The only noise in the room was the turning of their pages and Hermione's occasional exhale of delight as she came across a revelatory observation or another charming sketch. The elder Black aunt had possessed a keen eye and a sharp wit.
Making a relatively brief study of the first set of journals and dipping into the second, Hermione was aware that a much more thorough review of the collection would be needed—as well as translation and transcription of the sketches. She'd need to call on Rolf Scamander and have him look at them first—a find of this magnitude needed his assessment. And there were several others in her department who would need to be alerted. She was going over the order of precedence in her mind when a crack sounded and Mimi the house elf suddenly appeared outside the door to the chamber, startling Hermione out of her thoughts.
"Hullo, Mimi" drawled Draco, looking up from his book. Hermione noted that it was what looked very much like a first edition of Potions Most Potente, which would put it at roughly 600 years old. Her mouth watered.
"Hello Mister Draco, Miss Hermione." The elf bobbed a curtsey. "Mimi has brought you some refreshments and come to tell you that madame, monsieur and mademoiselle have gone to bed. Madame said to tell you…" The elf looked skyward and took a deep breath, obviously reciting something she had been told not to forget. "That you and Miss Hermione must take all the time you require. Madame has sent a special box to transport the journals to Miss Hermione's house and trusts that Mister Draco will ensure that she and the books go home safely—no matter how late—or how early!" Hermione snorted and Draco's amused glance flew to hers as the elf finished with a smile and a nod, then brandished a tray of what looked like whisky and shortbread.
"Thank you very much, Mimi," said Draco smoothly, stepping out to take the tray from the elf. "Now you must go to bed yourself. It's late."
"Oh no Mister Draco! We is waiting up until you have retired as well. In case you need anything!" The elf's eyes were huge.
"Ahh, but Ms. Granger and I may be… quite late. There are many books to go through, you see." He gestured to the stack Hermione had accumulated next to her on the bench. The elf still looked hesitant, so he shot an apologetic look at Hermione then said, "Mimi, I command you and all of the other elves to go to bed. If you were to stay up it would go against my express wishes."
Did Hermione imagine the very quick look of relief that passed over the elf's face? She couldn't be sure.
"As you wish, Mister Draco." Mimi bowed deeply to both of them, then disappeared.
Draco placed the tray on a small table next to his seat and poured out a measure of whisky for each of them. Hermione stretched and rolled her neck before she took her glass and a buttery biscuit.
"Anything good?" he asked, gesturing to the journals.
"Oh Draco…" Hermione sighed. "They're simply amazing. They're going to change everything we know about centaurs. This is an extremely significant find." She stood up from her bench and moved toward his deep club chair. He had dropped back down in it and was turning his glass to watch the mellow light of the library candles filter through the golden liquid. He looked up at her and she was struck, for maybe the four-hundredth time in the last few months, by how beautiful he was. His white blonde hair gleamed in the candle light, which highlighted the arresting planes of his face. His eyes were warm and darkly fringed—and right now alight with approbation and affection. And of course he'd discarded his jacket and rolled his linen sleeves since they'd arrived in the book room.
Hermione had unconsciously moved until she was right in front of him, standing over him as he sat, legs elegantly crossed.
"Thank you for letting me get lost," she murmured, reaching out to brush his bare forearm with her fingertips.
His mouth turned up. "I know better than to get between you and your books."
She gave a soft laugh and leaned down to kiss him, putting her whisky down and bracing herself on the arms of the chair. His hand slid behind her head and she climbed into his lap, settling down and twining her arms around his neck. His fingers splayed across her lower back, pulling her to him before he skimmed one hand down over her hip and back up her thigh under her dress.
Their kiss deepened until it was a heated thing of twining tongues and soft, gasping breaths. She broke it and pulled back, tracing the pad of her thumb over his eyebrow and down his cheek.
"I meant what I said. Thank you for not demanding anything of me just now. I can be," she looked down, "single-minded at times, when it comes to research."
His brows lifted. "Never… You?"
She chuckled and stuck out her tongue, but then sobered. "I don't apologize for it. But really, not everyone … understands that. Has understood it." She looked away, inward. "It's caused problems in the past."
"Well," he pulled her to him and placed a series of kisses along her jawline. "It's a good thing I'm the confident, well-read sort. In fact, I find it bloody sexy to watch you get caught up." He brought his lips back up and captured her mouth, his hand pushing at the hem of her dress again. She shuddered and groaned softly then adjusted herself to straddle him on her knees. Her fingers went to the buttons of his shirt and she quickly undid the top few, wanting to see and touch his beautiful skin.
He reached around to pull down the zip along the back of her dress, his fingers trailing down her spine then going back up to the clasp of her bra.
"Wait," she gasped, holding his arms and touching her forehead to his with a wicked smile. He looked at her with dark eyes, his chest visibly rising and falling, as she climbed up off his lap. His look turned quizzical as she walked slowly backward toward the wall of books in front of them.
She leaned against it and smirked at him. "I'd like to reward such exemplary behaviour."
His eyebrows crept up as she pulled out her wand and waved it over herself, then muttered a few soft spells. With a soft shimmer, the tasteful white shirt dress she'd selected for dinner with Lucretia transfigured into something else altogether.
"Fucking hell," he breathed when she was done. She smoothed the short, pleated skirt of her Hogwarts uniform and tugged at her over-the-knee tights. He was utterly still and staring at her, his eyes dark slate.
"You did say, you wanted to…" She looked up from under lowered lids and licked her lips, gesturing to the books behind her.
"Yes, I fucking did." He surged up in a quick movement and started toward her.
~oOo~
It was like a school fantasy, one of his hottest, come to life.
She leaned against the bookshelf and toyed with her red and gold tie, undoing it and sliding it off her neck to drop in front of him. He swallowed and she kept her eyes on his as she slowly undid the buttons of her white blouse.
He actually chuckled when she revealed the black lace push-up bra underneath. That was a little touch just for him; he knew there was no way she had worn anything like that at school.
Her answering smile confirmed his suspicion and he moved closer, his eyes on the creamy expanse of flesh above the edge of the lace.
Eyes glittering, she put her index finger to her mouth and looked up at him. "I wonder if someone could help me get a book down from the top shelf." Her voice was low and husky in the quiet space and his cock actually pulsed at the sound of it. He looked at her for a beat, wantonly spread against the shelves—curls mussed, skirt a bit too short and blouse undone over her tarty bra, then desire overtook him and he stepped roughly against her, pushing one leg between her knees and slamming his palms against the shelf above her head.
The motion pressed their bodies together and their faces were almost touching. He angled his head to match his mouth to hers, although he didn't kiss her. He was enjoying the feel of her ragged breath against his lips and the little hitches he could hear in her throat. He dipped his lips as if to capture hers and her mouth reached up hungrily—but at the last second he pulled back and moved his hands from the shelves to her shoulders, spinning her around so she was facing the stacks.
Her hands flattened against the shelves and she gasped. He pressed his whole length against her again, wrapping his arm around her waist to pull her tightly against him, brushing his mouth to her shoulder, pushing down her blouse and bra and kissing her soft skin with furious desire. She moaned low in her throat and he reached up to lift her hair off her neck then work the silky skin at her nape. Her moan turned into a sharper sound and she arched her back, pushing her arse against his groin with a delicious pressure.
"Fuck," he muttered against her neck and his hand tightened on her hair, fisting into it as he nuzzled into her skin, whispering against her. "You've got me so hard. I'm going to reach under your skirt, tear off whatever pretty little knickers you have on and fuck you against this wall until you scream."
"I'm not wearing any knickers."
She was now obviously circling her pert arse against his cock. He groaned and slid his hand up under her skirt, around to her silky cunt, which was so wet that he groaned again, sliding his fingers against her swollen clit. His other hand reached up to flick open her bra and his fingers closed over her peaked nipple.
"Draco, please," her voice came out in a kind of sob. He increased his pace against her clit and bit her neck again, rolling her tightly budded nipple between his fingers. "Oh god, oh god, oh godohgodohgodOH! GOD!" she was thrusting against his hand and arching back to rest the back of her head on his shoulder, gasping for breath. She started to come and he pulled his hand from her breast and reached down to slide his fingers into her passage. Her muscles clamped and she screamed his name. He remembered with a quick flash that he hadn't cast a silencing charm and crashed his mouth around to hers to muffle the sound. Her cry turned into a sort of groan and she subsided under his lips, her breath coming fast and ragged. After a few beats, she sagged against him and he held her up as her breathing slowed.
His breaths were still fast and rough and his cock was harder than he could ever remember it being. He couldn't help rubbing it slowly against her arse as she floated back to herself, his nose and mouth buried in her soft hair and his hands again on her gorgeous tits.
Suddenly she straightened and slid around to face him, her mouth reaching up to his. He kissed her hungrily, a bit desperately—he wanted so badly to be inside of her. She teased him with her tongue, twining and parrying.
"Why, Malfoy," she whispered with a smile in her voice. "Was that really an appropriate activity for prefect rounds?"
He breathed a soft laugh, so intent on the kiss and her words that he hardly realised she was turning them around until his back hit the bookcase. Her mouth left his to trail down his jaw to his neck, where she nipped and licked him until he groaned.
His hands reached down and skimmed under her skirt again, cupping her bare arse. But to his disappointment, she reached around and pulled his palms away from her, looking up into his puzzled face with wicked promise. He lunged forward to capture her lips again and she gave him a quick kiss before disengaging.
Then she dropped to her knees.
Oh Gods. He let his head fall back against the stacks. Now this was the stuff of his schoolboy fantasies.
Her deft little fingers went right to his flies and he heard the clink of metal as she quickly undid his belt.
"Shall I show you what I really wanted to do that night I saw you in the corridor with Pansy?"
He sucked his breath in—a long low hiss as he felt her palm against the length of his cock.
And then her mouth. Oh God and Merlin and Salazar and Morgana and Jesus Christ and whoever people prayed to, her mouth. She wasn't just licking and sucking, but taking him deep into her throat with relentless strokes.
He could do absolutely nothing but stand there and feel. And try to stay upright.
His eyes rolled back and his fingers gripped blindly against the shelves until he felt his release nearing, then, after a few more deep pulls from her satiny lips, beginning to rip through him with wild force. His instinct was to thrust, although he tried to pull away—but she held him against her firmly as he came with a ragged shout, looking down at the last second to watch as she took his cock and every last bit of his seed into her perfect mouth.
Then it was his turn to sag against the shelves.
She stood back up and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his chest. His arms went around her and he stroked her lithe back.
After a few moments he pushed up and led them back to the chair, dropping into it and pulling her down on him. She put her head on his shoulder and he closed his eyes for a bit. They rested there until she sighed—a bit mournfully.
He found his voice with some difficulty, "what?"
"It's just…"
He pulled back to look at her with a raised brow.
Her eyes twinkled as she attempted a pout. "Well, it's just that you said you were gong to fuck me against the shelves until I screamed."
He looked at her.
"Of course, I understand if you're too tired." She started to get up, very obviously flashing him from under her short skirt. His eyes went unfocused and then he started.
"Too tired…?" He grabbed her and pulled her back down, back to front, and began kissing her neck and shoulder again. Before long he had reached around and had his hand under her skirt, teasing against her. His cock was hardening and she had begun to breathe heavily. Gods but she was responsive.
His lips wandered to her ear. "Now, where was that book you needed help with?"