CONTEST WINNERS THIS CHAPTER: We've got a few people whose song recommendations were used for this chapter! In order, they were... Well, honestly, I chose the "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" songs for the waltzing about, as well as "La Bomba" for the Salsa fun. User CareyLan recommended the song, "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" by Ricky Martin. User MissGumiho recommended the song, "Insatiable" by Darren Hayes (actually, she recommended it for Theodore-Daphne, but I felt it better suited Draco, as he's rather obsessed with Hermione). User El-El-El recommended the song, "May I?" by Trading Yesterday. And users Miss Louis Cordice Zabini & emilyneal & The Virgin Butterfly all recommended the song, "Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls. So, this chapter is dedicated to CareyLan, MissGumiho, El-El-El, Miss Louis Cordice Zabini, emilyneal, and The Virgin Butterfly - congratulations to all! Lyrics for these songs appear within the text of the story and at the bottom of this chapter. Hope you'll find these songs somehow and give them a listen.

Remember, I'll accept song suggestions for each couple, as well as digitally manipulated images of live people and your original hand-drawn or digitally drawn fanart for this story up until the end of this fic is published. SEND ME YOUR LISTS OR ARTWORK!

P.S. Unseenlibrarian – You are a paragon of beta wonderfulness. Without you, my life would be boring... and filled with typos. THANK YOU.

PLEASE REVIEW! What did you think of this chapter, folks?

CHAPTER SIX (#5): Draco & Hermione

The feel of her arse under his hand as he paddled her one good was not just immensely satisfying, but also incredibly arousing. Fuck, but he hoped he'd get the chance to spank her soundly tonight. Seeing her bum blush red for him, his handprint on the golden globes of flesh… and then he'd lick that quim of hers to get her off…

"Earth to Malfoy, come in," his partner waved her hand before his face.

He blinked, focusing on the here and now, looking forward to making his fantasy a reality at some point tonight. "Sorry, I was too busy dreaming about my card," he grinned naughtily at her and held it out for her to read.

DEED: Your partner must dance with you – however you want.

Hermione unconcernedly shrugged. "Sounds like fun," she smiled, naïvely unaware of just how far he intended on taking this seemingly innocuous card.

Draco stepped up into her, his body mere inches from her warmth. "Oh, it will be."

In a sly move, he captured her hand – the one holding her card – and brought it to his mouth for a kiss, flipping the card over for him to read at the same time.

DEED: Your partner has to wank you off with their hand.

He couldn't have planned this round better himself.

With a shark-like grin, he pulled her into his embrace, and with a thought, the room changed around them, colors swirling, patterns rearranging themselves appropriately to the vision in his head. Taking both of their cards in hand, he threw them over his left shoulder and gripped her about the waist, holding her hand in the proper dance position as the room settled and the music instantly began.

A short, very familiar waltz played all about them, and he led them with unerring confidence into the dance that he'd waited three years to have with his witch.

"I thought to never hear this song again," she admitted, beaming in amusement, keeping perfect pace with him. Clearly, she remembered the steps to this dance; McGonagall and Snape had forced it down their throats back in Fourth Year in preparation for the Yule Ball's opening number, after all.

"I wanted to dance like this with you then," he admitted unabashedly, whirling her about with effortless grace. "You were the jewel in the room. Every male wanted you."

Her cheeks bloomed with heat and she focused on his throat instead of his face, clearly shying from the praise. "You exaggerate. Beauxbatons' champion, Fleur, was the prize of the Ball."

Draco decisively shook his head and as he picked her up into the air in a well-choreographed spin, he leaned forward to press a kiss to her lips quickly. "I went to sleep dreaming of you that night, Granger," he confessed, putting her back on her toes.

Her blush became even more pronounced. Clearing her throat, she glanced around as if to distract her thoughts. "Um… where are we exactly?"

"A copy of my family's manor," he replied nonchalantly. "The White Ballroom."

She arched an eyebrow at him. "It's huge. But it doesn't look the right color to me to be named as such."

Tilting his chin quickly towards the smooth, white-painted ceiling, the length of which was disturbed only by two golden, Regency Era-styled chandeliers, he grinned at her as her expression changed and her mouth made a cutely rounded "o" in enlightened understanding.

"Right, the White Ballroom… for the ceiling. How obvious," she dryly commented. "Forget the fact the predominant colors in here are mauve and gold, with a touch of green and cream in the filigree. So silly of me."

He should have been offended, but for some reason, the way she snarked at his family's estate made him laugh out loud. Granger never failed to amuse him with the charm of her provincial upbringing. She had a way about her that cut to the heart of the bullshite, and he respected that about her more than any other thing, for it meant she was a woman who preferred honesty.

That wasn't to say she didn't engage in artifice on occasion. He'd watched her enough over the years to know that deep down inside, Hermione Granger had the potential to become very Slytherin, should she allow herself to meander down such a path. However, he also understood that she would only ever do so under the auspices of the most honorable of intentions.

"Do you like this room?" he asked, trying to slyly determine her thoughts on the matter for future reference. "Or is it too pretentious for your tastes?"

His witch glanced around as he continued to waltz her about, the song changing to a pretty orchestrated piece with a moving, softer melody – full, lush strings and gentle flutes were accompanied by harp and bell and light cymbal to create a mysterious, romantic theme that was decidedly less structured for dancing. Draco slowed them down dramatically, allowing the dance to take them as it may, unconcerned for proper steps now; Hermione hardly seemed to notice, letting him lead.

"It's rather beautiful, I will admit. I know places like this exist, but it feels like a location right out of Cinderella's night at the ball," she admitted.

He smiled, lifting her gently and twirling her around twice before putting her back on her feet and continuing with lively enjoyment. "Fitting for Gryffindor's Princess to grace, you're saying?" he teased. "Well, sorry, but glass slippers aren't on your Christmas list this year from me. I was thinking more along the lines of a new broom, since you seemed to have… misplaced… yours."

She stuck her tongue out at him and made a face, smacking him on the arm carelessly. "Har, har. Everyone knows I refuse to get on a broom ever again if I can help it."

"Is that so?" he asked with a wicked smirk curving his cheek. "Care to make a wager on that?"

Granger's head shook adamantly. "Absolutely not. No bet. No broom riding. Ever." Draco opened his mouth to make the chicken noise at her again, but her finger pointing him dead in the face stopped him flat. "And if you dare 'bok-bok-bok' me again, Malfoy, I'll hex your naughty bits."

Unable to stop the grin that stretched wide across his face, he laughed. "All right, you win. No broom talk… for now. But tell me something important: can you Salsa?"

Granger's eyes widened. "No. Can you?"

The music changed to the fast Caribbean-Latin beat of "La Bomba".

"Yes. Want to learn?"

She laughed and shrugged in capitulation. "Sure. What do I have to do?"

He looked down at where her feet had matched his unconsciously in pace as the music had quickened. "You're doing quite well already, but lean forward on your feet, keeping your back straight," he instructed. "Just mimic my feet." He showed her the basic 'quick, quick, slow' structure of the steps, and to his amazement, she adapted easily, learning it in only a few tries. Then again, this was Granger, and she tended to get everything perfect if she applied herself to the task, as she was just then. "Excellent. Try to relax a bit, though. Feel the beat in your hips and in your shoulders. This type of dancing was made to show off the sexiness of a woman's curves. You're too British stiff to pull it off right now. This is Latin heat, baby," he grinned, waggling his eyebrows to get her to loosen up.

Laughing at his ridiculousness with a roll of her eyes, she attempted to relax, and eventually fell into the beat with him, letting her inhibitions slide a bit – enough for her to laugh at herself, at any rate. "This is fun!" she admitted.

"Ready to try something really daring?" he asked in a challenging tone, knowing how she'd rise to it immediately. True to form, she nodded with an arrogant tilt of her chin.

"Bring it," she offered once more, and in his pants, Draco felt his dick harden.

Oh, he was so going to fuck her tonight…

He let his most lascivious smirk crawl up his cheek with serious heat. "Close your eyes for a minute," he bid. It was a test of her trust in him. He didn't actually think she'd do it, but to his amazement, she did as he asked, continuing to let him move her in time to the music. He held them in place as, with another thought, he changed the ballroom into a darkened, sultry dance floor where songs like the one playing routinely found their home. "Open your eyes now."

She did, and glanced around in surprise. "Much better ambiance for this sort of dancing," she praised, then gave him a heated look, those whiskey-colored eyes of hers threatening to drown him in her rising lust. "Now, what was this 'daring thing' you wanted me to try… Draco?"

Bloody, bloody hell, he wanted her right then and there! It took seriously concerted discipline to keep focused on the idea of winning her affection, not simply her sexual desire. He wanted something more permanent between them understood before the game ended, or he feared she'd chalk this one up to a good time had by all and move on. That meant he was going to have to make every round count towards the ultimate objective of winning her love.

It had always been his plan to move towards that goal a bit at a time during this game, igniting her need with very precisely rehearsed, cleverly-chosen actions and words until she couldn't deny that he was her perfect match in every way. So far, she'd been able to upset that plan terrifically; he'd practically confessed his feelings for her, and he'd let her see sides of him he hadn't planned in the interim (although he wasn't complaining all that much - especially about that little role-play thing they'd done a couple of rounds ago - as he'd learned things about her he'd never have guessed).

Of course, her card this round was going to send them dangerously into territory that just might tip the scales. He'd have to be firm about not taking his clothes off, too…

"You're going to learn how to do a turn," he informed her, focusing back on the safe topic. "You already know from the waltz how to do a spin. Do one for me now, but keep the rhythm going. Don't slow down," he led her on, and caught her on the return smoothly, resuming their 'quick, quick, slow' step pattern. "Excellent. Now, next time when you spin for me, step to my right, holding onto my hand and walk quickly along the back of me until you come around to my left, then turn and resume the starting position."

They tried it, and after three small mistakes, she caught on, and after two more tries, she had it down. "You're really very good at this," he admitted.

"I have a good teacher," she complimented.

He couldn't resist. "I can teach you so much more… Hermione." The innuendo was blatant and unashamed.

Her answer was enigmatically frustrating, however: she simply tweaked an eyebrow at him and smiled as if humoring him.

Thank Merlin he planned to combine their cards, for it gave them more time to continue their current pleasant entertainment. Specifically, it gave him more time to use the dancing as an excuse to seduce Granger's senses. Since he was already into about fifteen minutes of his own time, he was left with a good thirty-five minutes to make her eat that smile.

Which meant it was time to slow things down significantly.

As the last notes of the fun music faded, in its place was a new song from the same artist that he felt was a perfect mood setter. The first notes of the acoustic flamenco guitar met a slower, dusted drum and the tambourine, and Draco pulled her into his arms, the side of his cheek sliding against hers…

"Listen," he breathed hotly into her ear.

There you are in a darkened room,
And you're all alone,
Looking out the window…
Your heart is cold and lost the will to love,
Like a broken arrow.

Here I stand in the shadows…
Come to me, come to me.
Can't you see that…

Nobody wants to be lonely.
Nobody wants to cry.
My body's longing to hold you,
So bad it hurts inside!
Time is precious and it's slipping away,
And I've been waiting for you all of my life.
Nobody wants to be lonely, so why…?
Why don't you let me love you?

With slight pressure on the sway of her spine, he pulled her pelvis into his, their thighs cradling each other's as they swayed back and forth. He pulled their joined hands in, resting her right fingers over his heart so she could feel it beating, and pressed his nose into her hairline, inhaling deeply, exhaling with a sigh of pleasure at her rose-cinnamon-cardamom scent.

Can you hear my voice?
Do you hear my song?
It's a serenade so your heart can find me.
And suddenly you're flying down the stairs…
Into my arms, baby!
Before I start going crazy,
Run to me, run to me…
'Cause I'm dying.

"I love the way you smell," he whispered into her ear during the small lull between refrain and chorus.

She buried her nose into his collar. "You, too," she admitted, rubbing their cheeks together.

Nobody wants to be lonely.
Nobody wants to cry.
My body's longing to hold you,
So bad it hurts inside!
Time is precious and it's slipping away,
And I've been waiting for you all of my life.
Nobody wants to be lonely, so why…?
Why don't you let me love you?

"Do you like this? Dancing with me?" he asked.

Hermione nodded, her hand on his shoulder curving up and around his neck to find a home right at the back of his hairline, where he loved to be touched. "Very much so."

I want to feel you need me
Just like the air you're breathing.
I need you here in my life…
Don't walk away, don't walk away!
Don't walk away, don't walk away!
No, no, no, no!

Nobody wants to be lonely.
Nobody wants to cry.

He kissed her temple. "Good."

At least now he knew they would do this again after tonight... if he could convince her to date him.

Nobody wants to be lonely.
Nobody wants to cry.
My body's longing to hold you,
So bad it hurts inside!
Time is precious and it's slipping away,
And I've been waiting for you all of my life.
Nobody wants to be lonely, so why…?
Why don't you let me love you?

He changed the music over to another of his favorites in another smooth transitional thought. A trance-like, slow R&B beat harmonized with an acoustic flamenco guitar, and this time, he moved the way he wanted to make love to her, his hands pressed on her hips, grinding against her sultrily.

When moonlight crawls along the street,
Chasing away the summer heat,
Footsteps outside, somewhere below…
The world revolves...
I let it go.

He pressed soft kisses all along the shell of her right ear, flicking the small gold earring – a heart with a butterfly – in passing as his lips traveled lower.

We build our church above this street.
We practice love between these sheets.
The candy sweetness scent of you -
It bathes my skin.
I'm stained in you.

He ran his mouth over her pulse, letting his right hand skim around her back and up over her spine to tangle in her soft curls, pulling back gently to open her up for him…

And all I have to do is hold you...
There's a racing within my heart,
And I am barely touching you.

Suckling upon her throat, he wrapped her in his embrace, letting his other relearn the curvature of her hind. He let his fingers travel over the outline of her panties, and then through the center.

In his arms, Hermione shivered. The hand stationary over his heart moved then to join its twin at the back of his hair, and with a low, sexy moan, she pulled him closer.

Turn the lights down low.
Take it off,
Let me show
My love for you…
Insatiable.

He unbuttoned the collar of her dress, and pulled it around, following the path with roaming fingers over flesh that was burning up. With an insistent tug, he pulled it down, baring her breasts once more. The nipples were hard peaks against his chest, and Granger's shaking became more pronounced.

Turn me on,
Never stop.
Wanna taste every drop.
My love for you…
Insatiable.

Sliding his fingers around her waist, he unzipped her dress, and when he reached the end, he pushed the fabric off entirely, letting it fall with gravity to her feet, where it pooled in a colorful rainbow around her racy gold heels.

Lifting her up into his arms, he moved them with distinct purpose towards a padded leather chair he conjured with a simple thought.

The moonlight plays upon your skin.
A kiss that lingers takes me in.
I fall asleep inside of you.
There are no words,
There's only truth.

Carefully, he set her down on her feet, letting his mouth travel up over her jaw until their lips met. The kiss was ravenously hungry on both sides. Tongues clashed, twined, feasted with raw need.

Breathe in, Breathe out
There is no sound.
We move together up and down.
We levitate, our bodies soar…
Our feet don't even touch the floor.

As her nails grazed through his hair, his fingers roamed to the sides of her knickers. Slowly, he began pulling at the two ribbon ties that held the garment together – one at each hip - loosening them…

But nobody knows you like I do…
'Cause the world, they doesn't understand
That I grow stronger in your hands.

Draco pulled the knots away and the last barrier of clothing Hermione possessed fell to the ground, leaving her completely exposed to him finally.

She whimpered in partial fear as he smoothed his fingers over her naked waist and down the outside of her trembling thighs.

"Relax," he whispered as he pulled out of the kiss, trying to soothe her. "Don't be afraid of me. I won't hurt you."

Turn the lights down low.
Take it off,
Let me show
My love for you…
Insatiable.

Flowing down into the chair, he pulled her over him, giving her the dominant position, running his hands over her bare skin in soft, gentle caresses.

Turn me on,
Never stop.
Wanna taste every drop.
My love for you…
Insatiable.

"I'm not afraid of you," she admitted boldly, touching his lips with the barest brush of fingertips. "I'm afraid of how I'm… beginning to feel… for you."

Turn the lights down low.
Take it off,
Let me show
My love for you…
Insatiable.

His heart's pounding was powerful in his chest, threatening to tear through its protective covering. He swallowed twice before he found his voice again.

"Don't over-think this. Just go with it."

Turn me on,
Never stop.
Wanna taste every drop.
My love for you…
Insatiable.

With slow, deliberate movement, he trailed the hand on her face down her throat, over her shoulder, to cup her left breast. Rolling the beautiful mound of flesh in his palm, he found her nipple with his finger and thumb and rubbed, gently pinching it. Hermione squirmed in his lap, unconsciously thrusting her chest at him as her body reacted to the pleasure he was giving her.

We never sleep,
We're always holding hands,
Kissing for hours,
Talking, making plans.
I feel like a better man
Just being in the same room.

"Feel it, my beautiful witch," he coaxed in a sinfully low tone – one he reserved for moments like this alone. "Let me give you everything you'll ever need."

We never sleep,
There's just so much to do…
Too much to say.
Can't close my eyes when I'm with you.
Insatiable - the way I'm loving you.

Leaning forward, he took her nipple into his mouth, cherishing it with his lips and tongue. She still tasted lightly of honey dust - sweet mixed with salt. It was utterly intoxicating to his starved sex drive.

Turn the lights down low.
Take it off,
Let me show
My love for you…
Insatiable.

Hermione's hands gripped his shoulders for anchor. Her body still quaked uncontrollably, and the flesh prickled on her arms as his hand drifted towards the part of her he had yet to know and learn…

Turn me on,
Never stop.
Wanna taste every drop.
My love for you…
Insatiable.

As slowly as he had removed the ribbons, he made his way down her lower abdomen, keeping his eyes locked on hers as his fingertips caressed through her neatly-trimmed, crisp curls. Opening his legs wider had the dual effect of opening her up to him, and so it was his index finger that first encountered her clitoris as it slid through her soft, warm slit.

Hermione's grip on his upper arms tightened and her breath hitched at the same time as his did.

Turn the lights down low.
Take it off,
Let me show
My love for you…
Insatiable.

With infinite care, he parted her folds and glided very lightly over the sensitive skin, finding it already quite damp.

That musky aroma that accompanied most women's arousal was faint in the air between them; Hermione smelled clean, with a light, compelling fragrance that worked like a lust drug through his system. His cock tightened to bursting with need, stirred by the scent.

Turn me on,
Never stop.
Wanna taste every drop.
My love for you…
Insatiable, baby.

Flicking slowly up and down, Draco learned the feel of her, and then finally, he shifted his eyes away from hers, and got his first good look of her body au natural.

The hair on her pubis was as dark as that on her head, but there was only a very small amount; she kept it well-groomed. Her lower lips were full, the outer skin golden and the inner a dark rosy pink. Her clit was perfect – a small button of skin that was already awakened and begging for tantalizing stroking. Leaning back further in the chair and tilting her hips slightly, keeping hold of her waist for balance, he got his first glance at her opening – it was small, unsullied by frequent use, almost virginal… and glistening with her need.

When I look in your eyes…
Insatiable.
The way I'm loving you…

As they both watched, entranced, he gathered that fluid on the tips of two fingers and ran it up and down, coating her thoroughly to the chorus of Hermione's low moans and gasps. When he penetrated her opening with those same two fingers, entering that very tight passage gently, she actually mewled and dug her fingernails into his shoulders.

Oh, what can I do?
Insatiable…

Wrapping his tongue around her nipple again, drawing it into his mouth at the same time as slowly, rhythmically thrusting his hand into her lush, wet canal had his stomach clenching with desperate want. Sweat broke out above his lip line as the ache in his groin became a throbbing pulse.

Insatiable…

Gods, it was agony hearing her lusty cries and feeling her velvety inner muscles clench around his digits as he sunk them as deep as they could go.

All for you.

In and out, increasing with intensity and speed, very soon her hips began meeting his plunging attentions, swinging into him with mounting need. "That's it, beautiful," he coaxed as he blew cool air on her breast, and then sucked on it hard. "Don't be afraid. Let go."

Insatiable.

Swiping his thumb over her clit, he stimulated as many erogenous zones as he could reach, using his hands and mouth simultaneously. He gave his witch all of his skill, all of his patience, building her up and bringing her to the edge, then backing off, braving her disappointed whimpering, only to work her over again. His fingers were drenched as they lunged harder, faster on this last pass.

Pulling his mouth from its delicious interest, he reached up to capture her kiss again, and she gave it to him with an adorably feral growl, the sound of which caused fire to burn through his center. The hand he'd used to brace her moved up and around possessively into her hair and he pulled, baring her throat to him once more. "I'm going to fuck you so good when it's time, my princess," he promised, biting teasingly down on her pounding pulse. "I'm going to sink deep into you and never let go." He tugged a bit harder on her hair, even as his lips reverently lathed her hot skin. "Would you like that: me worshipping every inch of your body with every inch of mine, over and over again?"

Hermione's lips were pursed tightly together as she nodded vigorously. "I don't want to wait," she begged, her body straining, reaching. "Take me to bed now."

Shit, he'd wanted to hear those words forever, and in that tone of voice too – frustrated with need, a little higher-pitched in desperation…

His heart slamming under his ribs, he increased the pace of his hand's thrusts. "Not yet, love. There's still too much I want to do to you." He stroked her tiny pearl with insistence, determined to tumble her wildly into her rapture. Her whole body quivered on the edge, tightened around him, shaking as she soared towards the wild brink of insanity. "Come for me, beautiful. Come now."

"Oh God, oh God… oh… oh, DRACO!" she screamed as she flew into the clouds. Throwing her head back, her spine arched, and her face transformed into a mask of relieved pleasure as the first undulations of her release began. He stilled his fingers, feeling every ripple of her internal muscles, groaning at the pressure as she clamped down and at the feeling of the skin of his bared biceps being pierced by her sharp fingernails at the same time. Her shuddering went on and on, and she rocked on him back and forth, mewling again.

He'd known it would be like this with her. Hot, wild, mutually satisfying…

His insides felt a melting, critical pressure unlike any he'd ever felt before. Pressing his forehead to hers as she came down from her high, holding her still with a hand on the nape of her neck, he looked into those dark cinnamon eyes, smelled her spicy-rose skin and was finally able to admit the truth to himself: he was so in love with Hermione Granger that it physically hurt to be this close and unable to tell her.

Merlin knew, he wanted to, though. The words were right there on the tip of his tongue, aching for freedom, yet as he opened his mouth to speak them, his Slytherin reserve kicked in at the last second and held him back. If he admitted the truth aloud, there would be no taking it back, and at this critical juncture, it just might scare her away. But the worst of it was that it would make him vulnerable in a way he wouldn't be able to endure, because he knew she didn't yet love him back.

Withdrawing his hand from between her legs gradually, so as not to cause hurt, he trailed sticky, saturated fingers over her belly and up, until he captured her breast. Rubbing her fluids all over her skin, he leaned forward again and took that same nipple back into his mouth, tasting her, lapping at his own fingers to claim every ounce of her essence. It was a delicious sweet-salt that tantalized his taste buds.

In an unexpected move, her arms came around his neck and she pulled her face into his shoulder to hide it. Her embarrassment and anxiety rolled off of her in waves. Draco held on, wondering if he should say something, or if he should just let things stand as they had between them, and give her time to process it all in silence. Three years of intense observation gave him the insight he'd needed, and he opted for the latter course of action, knowing the way her mind worked. She'd want time to sort her thoughts. So, instead, he tried to calm and ease her in the only way he knew: he pressed leisurely kisses to her flesh everywhere he could reach, continuing to touch her with gentle affection, hugging her back, smoothing his hands over her cooling skin.

After long minutes, she stirred, taking a deep breath. "That was… wonderful," she shyly offered. "Thank you."

Well, that wasn't what he'd expected, but then, what could a person say given the circumstances? "My pleasure… truly," he tried for a teasing tone to lighten the mood, and it was then that he realized that the music had ended some time before, and he hadn't thought to replace it. He'd rectify that oversight in a moment. "You should know that I want to dance with you one more time before the chimes."

Granger made an inarticulate 'harrumph' over that and slumped heavily against him. "Forget it. No Salsa for me. I'm too tired and squishy for that," she grumped adorably.

Draco knew in an instant what she was about. "You're just a little mad because I wouldn't shag you," he bantered, tickling her ruthlessly at the same time. Despite her obvious fatigue (it had been a rather shattering orgasm - at least it looked so from the outside), she laughed and finally gave in to his demands with an indignant, "Fine, I'll dance with you!"

Wrapping his arms about her waist, he stood them up and held on as he moved them a few paces from the chair and began swaying back and forth slowly. The music began half a beat later with a guitar playing a repeating string of chords, trailed by a piano four beats later…

"Um… Malfoy?"

"Yes, my princess?"

"I'm still naked."

"That's absolutely not a problem as far as I'm concerned."

He pressed his lips to her ear and whispered along to the words to the song as they began, letting his hands smooth over the sexy sway of her back and her hind, letting his feelings for her find their freedom in the way he held her close to his heart.

There you stand - open heart, open doors.
Full of life with a world that's wanting more.
But I can see when the lights start to fade…
The day is gone and your smile has gone away.
Let me raise you up…
Let me be your love.

Hermione began trembling again, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, her face buried in his throat.

May I hold you
as you fall to sleep?
When the world is closing in,
and you can't breathe,
may I love you?
May I be your shield?
When no one can be found,
may I lay you down?

"I have a confession to make: I'm a little frightened of what's happening between us, Draco."

"Me, too. A little."

"You are? But I thought you set this whole thing up?"

"I did, but… no one can be ready for this."

All I want is to keep you safe from the cold…
To give you what your heart needs the most.
Let me raise you up…
Let me be your love.

He pressed a kiss to her jaw, nuzzling her.

She answered by melding herself into him fully.

They fit so perfectly together…

May I hold you
as you fall to sleep?
When the world is closing in,
and you can't breathe,
may I love you?
May I be your shield?
When no one can be found,
may I lay you down?

"Will you think about it, Granger?"

"About… us… you mean?"

He nodded. "I know our past was pretty bad, but I'm different now."

"You'll always be Slytherin at heart, though."

"And you'll always be Gryffindor. I want to try anyway."

"Are you asking for something… serious… after the game?"

He nodded. "Don't answer yet. Just think about it."

All that's made me is all worth trading,
just to have one moment with you.
So I will let go of all that I know,
knowing that you're here with me…
For your love is changing me.

"When would you like my answer?"

"When you're ready to give it. I'll wait. Snakes can be infinitely patient while on the hunt."

"So can lions."

He smiled into her neck. "See, not so different after all."

"No… I suppose not."

May I hold you
as you fall to sleep?
When the world is closing in,
and you can't breathe,
may I love you?
May I be your shield?
When no one can be found,
may I lay you down?

"Draco?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you for teaching me how to dance."

"You're welcome."

May I?
May I?
May I?

She leaned back and captured his lips in a sensual, very passionate kiss. As they pulled away, their eyes met, and in that moment, Draco knew she was it for him. He was going to win this witch's heart no matter what it took, and then he would make her his in every way conceivable - and the whole world could go fuck itself if it didn't like that plan.

The chimes rang out, and it was with great reluctance that they parted. He helped her redress, assuring the collar and zipper of her dress were redone properly, and then he smoothed the fabric down so it lay correctly. Her hair was easily tamed (thanks to whatever hair product she was using now), but there was nothing he could do to hide the fact that her lips were red and swollen from his kisses, nor could he cover up the side of her neck without his wand and a glamour charm. That was perfectly all right with him, though.

They walked out to the couches hand-in-hand, and before he released her, he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her with tender fervency, uncaring of the stares they were receiving from the others who were already out and waiting.

"I'm thinking about it," she whispered very soft and low as she pulled out of his hold. "I'm seriously thinking about it." She slipped away and into her seat quickly.

Inside his chest cavity, Draco's heart skipped about madly with joy.

TO BE CONTINUED…

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Order of songs that appeared in this chapter:

- "Potter Waltz" from the motion picture "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (orchestrated by Patrick Doyle; this was the song played where the Champions all opened the Ball with a dance with their partners)

- "Harry In Winter" from the motion picture "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (orchestrated by Patrick Doyle)

- "La Bomba" sung by Ricky Martin (not to be confused with "La Bamba" - a Mexican folk song best known for being sung by Ritchie Valens and Los Lobos... different song entirely)

- "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" sung by Ricky Martin

- "Insatiable" sung by Darren Hayes

- "May I?" by Trading Yesterday

Yes, I am well aware that the "Harry Potter" movie soundtrack wasn't released until 2005, but for obvious reasons, it works here. I am also aware that Ricky Martin's "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" didn't come out until 1999, and that Darrel Hayes' "Insatiable" didn't debut until 2002, and that Trading Yesterday's "May I?" didn't come out until 2004, but I liked these songs, and readers of this fic chose them, too, and so I am stretching it and saying that these songs were introduced into the wizarding world first before hitting the Muggle scene. I'm taking liberties with creative license, because (let's just be honest here) there weren't that many sexy, great songs in the 90's to work from in any genre. Just go with it, people, please.

Musical selection for this chapter: "Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls. Lyrics are as follows...

And I'd give up forever to touch you,
'cause I know that you feel me somehow.
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be,
and I don't want to go home right now.

And all I can taste is this moment...
And all I can breathe is your life...
But sooner or later it's over.
I just don't want to miss you tonight.

And I don't want the world to see me,
'cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming,
or the moment of truth in your lies.
When everything seems like the movies,
yeah, you bleed just to know your alive.

And I don't want the world to see me,
'cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.

And I don't want the world to see me,
'cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.

I just want you to know who I am...
I just want you to know who I am...
I just want you to know who I am...
I just want you to know who I am!