A/N: Hello, everyone. I am SOOOO sorry for how long it has taken me to update this story. I have a whole list of excuses but I am back now. I am hoping to resume updating every two weeks. I do have another story I am working on, so if you are interested go and check it out. I am also looking for a beta (so if anyone is interested please message me) but until then I am sure I have some spelling and grammatical errors. I try though!
Also, I really would like to thank MalfoyDiamond who PM'd me about when I was going to update this story. It really brought the story back into focus for me. So thanks again for giving me the kick in the butt I needed!
Chapter Six
Hermione could feel his eyes on her back as she trudged back to the Potter household. Harry's arm wrapped around her shoulder as he excitedly talked about plays made during the game with Ron. She wasn't paying attention to Harry, she had never understood a man's need to reiterate events that literally just happened moments ago, but Ron was talking animatedly with him, so she didn't really need to say anything in response. Ron was flinging his hands around him wildly as he rehashed the events leading up to their victory. His cheeks were flushed with excitement and Hermione watched him out of the corner of her eye.
Had it really only been a couple of days ago that she was told she could no longer be with Ron? It felt like it had been years ago and yet, looking at him now a wave of heavy pain hit her. He was such a passionate guy, she had loved that about him once. She had loved the way that Ron was so gentle with her, so caring. He used to be so nervous just holding her hand. His palms would slowly grab for hers and he would gently entwine their fingers, sometimes he would bring their clasped hands to his lips and kiss them. He used to give her the sweetest smiles and write her the most thoughtful notes. All of the memories assaulted her and a fresh wave of pain constricted her heart. Even with all these memories clouding her mind, she didn't feel her palms itch to grab his hand. She didn't wish that it was his arm around her instead of Harry's, all she could feel was Draco's eyes on her. Had their relationship always been like this? She thought back, examining the memories that she had shared with Ron. She replayed every moment and kiss that they had shared and realized with defeat that it was. They had always cared for each other, but everything was gentle, everything was sweet, and everything was just…comfortable and expected!
She had started to like Ron third year, he was funny and sweet, and the closest guy that she was around besides Harry, who she thought of like a brother. Looking back it really didn't surprise her that she had developed a crush on him, he was literally the only guy that had paid attention to her. Once Viktor Krum had liked Hermione, it had seemed that Ron had finally noticed that she was actually a girl. He had started paying her more attention and eventually started to like her too. Of course, Ron had had his little stint with Lavender Brown, but Hermione hadn't worried about it. The war had distracted them both and afterwards it seemed like the most natural thing in the world for them to finally have a chance. They were sweet together and it was comfortable, but she had never felt his eyes on her. She had never been so aware of him like she was with Draco. Their kisses never left her lips tingling, he never left her speechless, or her mind so clouded that she couldn't think.
She dared to glance back at Draco and his eyes bore into hers. She quickly turned away from him. Her heart beating faster and her breath quickening. She was glad that they were going to be at Pansy's and Ron's tonight because she wasn't sure how she was going to be able to pretend like he didn't affect her after that kiss.
~0~
"You get used to it, ya know."
Draco started, interrupted from his thoughts, and looked at the redhead next to him. She just nodded her head towards Harry and Hermione, his arm draped casually over her shoulder, like it belonged there. The jealously that raged in his chest was irrational. He frowned. This connection was really getting out of control, he didn't know what to do about it. He had never felt this way towards anyone, but what did he even feel towards Hermione? Protectiveness? She was his, he hadn't been lying when he told her that she was his responsibility now. He relaxed slightly realizing that this was his training. His feelings were foreign but not unexpected. He had been trained since birth to respect and protect his wife. He was the provider and just because Hermione is not who he thought his wife would be, didn't change the fact that she was his wife and he had his duties to her. His feelings had automatically shifted to one of protectiveness towards her. He felt better knowing that his feelings were normal and easily explained.
He could still feel the witch next to him, so he glanced at her and shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh don't be ridiculous, Malfoy," Ginny said to him, "I see the way you look at her, your eyes always follow her…"
He just continued to shrug at her and she sighed in annoyance.
"Bloody hell why do you have to make everything so difficult, they are just friends, best friends even. They are so in sync it's scary at times," Ginny admitted to him quietly, "For the longest time I was so jealous of Hermione with him, even though I knew that they wouldn't do anything like that to me, but it didn't stop the jealously. Then one night after the war, they had stayed with us in the Burrow. Ron and Harry shared a room and Hermione and I had. She woke up screaming, and Harry rushed in and just held her. Ron and I just looked on helplessly, we were never able to calm her down, only Harry had ever been able too. He stayed with her the whole night, just holding her and comforting her. It should have made me more jealous, but it didn't. In that moment I understood, they thought of each other like siblings, like family. I don't know if it has to do with the time that they were alone hunting for Horcruxes or if their bond has always been this deep, but I do know that he will always be a part of her life and you need to come to terms with their relationship or you will never be able to have one with her." She was studying him waiting for his reaction. He continued to stare at her passively, so she took a deep breath and continued, "I know that Hermione is the last person you had hoped to be with and I know that you are the last man she would have picked to have a future with, but she is my best friend and she deserves to be happy. She has given up too much for his war to not be happy with the rest of her life. If I hear that you are giving her a hard time, or are being mean to her, I will hex you to the moon and back. Mark my words, Draco, you had better do everything in your power to make that witch over there happy."
He quirked his eyebrows at her, this witch had the gull to threaten him, he smirked. "What about my happiness?"
"I don't give a bloody damn about your happiness," Ginny snarled at him, "I care about her, she is one of the strongest people I know, and now her future is being taken away. She only has us and you, now, and excuse me if I don't feel reassured by that thought."
"What do you mean that we are all she has?" Draco asked, confused.
"That is something that you are going to have to talk to her about," Ginny murmured. She sped up as she tried to get away from him, having said what she needed to, but Draco caught her arm.
"The same goes for you with Blaise, you know," Draco said to her, pulling on her arm so she had to face him, "Don't pine over Harry too much and miss all the effort that he is putting forward to try and make you happy. His attention on you will only last so long while you give him none." His eyes searched hers before he turned to leave.
"It's just hard." Ginny whispered quietly to herself. Draco chose to ignore her and continue to walk back to the house, leaving her to sort out her thoughts.
Once safely back in the comfort of the Potter household, it was decided that they would break before the party and each go to their separate homes to spend their mandated time together and eat dinner. They would then meet at Pansy's house and stay the night.
Everyone was still talking excitedly in the living room when Draco turned to face Hermione, she was actively avoiding him and turned her face away from his, trying to immerse herself in the chatter with her friends. He made his way towards her and stopped directly behind her, she stiffened her back, but still did not acknowledge him. He sighed to himself, 'why was this women so difficult?' He took a step closer so her back pressed against his chest and lowered his mouth to her ear.
"Are you ready to go, little lioness?" He purred in her ear.
He could feel her body shudder involuntarily and he smirked. She turned her head towards him, her eyes narrowed in anger and he had to hold back a laugh. She looked as fierce as a kitten when she scrunched her face like that.
"No," she responded tersely, but even as she responded most of her friends started to make their way towards their partners so they could leave.
He quirked his eyebrow up at her and saw her shoulders slump in defeat.
"Ugh Fine! Let's go Malfoy," She scowled at him.
He grabbed her hand and led her towards the fireplace, casually nodding his goodbyes at the few people left in the living room while Hermione waved at them. He grabbed a handful of floo powder and threw it in the fire while yelling, "Malfoy Estate!" in a calm, clear voice.
He watched the green flames flicker to life and grow in size before dragging Hermione into the fire with him and stepping out of the flames into their own sitting room. He dragged Hermione to the center of the room before whirling on her, his calm mood gone and replaced with anger.
"What. Were. You. Thinking?" his voice was dangerously low as he rounded on her.
"What?" Hermione squeaked, as confusion darted across her face.
"How could you do something so stupid? You put yourself in a compromising position because of your bloody pride. If you can't ride a broom then you do not get on one with the intent to play Quidditch whether you are with friends or not! I offered to sit out with you, why would you have gotten on the broom!?" His loud voice echoed across the room.
Her face reddened before she responded, "I know how to ride a broom."
He laughed at her, "Not bloody well, you may have passed your flying skills, but just barely. You are lacking a basic understanding of the fundamentals, my dear. We are going to start flying lessons straight away. I will not allow a repeat of that situation if I can prevent it."
"What?" she raged at him, "It's your fault that I even got on the broom, you goaded me into doing it?!"
"No," he replied sternly, "you got on the broom because you are too bloody stubborn. You had already made up your mind to play when the Weaselette volunteered to sit out with you, I just helped you actually get on the broom and either way you could have ignored my goading," he said with a sneer, "but you couldn't stand the thought of actually being bad at anything. Is it tiring always being so perfect?"
"I am far from perfect, but I am most certainly closer than you!"
Draco threw his head back and laughed cruelly at her, "Perhaps you are better than me in some ways, dear wife, but riding a broom is not one of them. The lessons stand. "
"No!" she wailed at him.
Draco drew dangerously closer to her. He towered over her forcing her to have to look up at him. His eyes glinted with danger, but his face was calm and emotionless.
"That was not a request," he said to her harshly.
Her eyebrows flew up, "You can't force me!"
He grabbed her arms roughly, trying to showcase how much stronger and bigger he was than her. "Would you wager on that, my dear?" he mocked. He waited a moment hoping she would get the hint about how serious he was before adding, "I will not have something like that happen again, next time I might not be there to save you."
"Save me!?" Hermione asked incredulously, "You kissed me!"
"Aye, I did," he said, his lips dangerously close to hers, "and in doing so, I saved you. Were you not safely deposited onto my broom? Did I not safely deposit you on the ground? Believe me, the kiss was a last resort. Did you think that I kissed you for the fun of it?" His lips turned into a sneer, he leaned in closer, his lips whispering across hers as he added, "Not yet, anyway."
He drew back his head slowly and smirked when he took in her quickened breathing. He slowly rubbed his hands down the side of her arms, before returning them to his sides. He took a step back and straightened his posture before slowly turning and sauntering out of the room.
'What was this bloody women doing to him?' he asked himself. He had barely been able to control his urge to kiss her when he felt her breath dance across his lips. It must be their bond, he didn't even like the girl but their kiss danced with electricity and sparks. Draco couldn't blame himself if the old magic was at fault, he may be a powerful wizard but even he was no match for old magic. He would just have to keep himself more under control.
He made his way to the kitchen to see when dinner would be ready, so he could gauge how much time he would have to collect himself. Bimble immediately showed up at his side and bowed to him before Draco had even set foot in the kitchen. He was quickly informed that he had an hour before dinner. Draco looked around unsure what to do now. He did not want to go back the way he came and face Hermione again. He had escaped just in time to avoid being hexed, but when her anger caught up with her disbelief, he was in trouble. Avoiding her would be the best option.
He almost snorted at his ridiculousness. He was trying to hide from his wife, his bushy-haired, know-it-all, goody-two-shoes wife. He, the great Draco Malfoy, heir of the Malfoy fortune, former death eater, was running from his wife. To be fair, his wife was not an ordinary witch, she had faced down the death eaters. She had met Voldermort head on and had been the brains behind the golden trio. Draco knew without a doubt that if Hermione had not been the brains behind the entire operation that Voldemort would be in power right now. He may be a powerful wizard, but his wife was a force to be reckoned with.
He made his way towards the library hoping that she would be too angry to even think about reading.
~0~
Hermione stood in the center of the room shaking in rage. How did he always do this to her. Hermione liked to think she normally had a level head but one word from him and she flew to one extreme or the other. He had another thing coming if he thought she was going to be taking flying lessons from him. Maybe, if he insisted she could ask Harry to try and hone in on her skills more.
She breathed in deeply and counted to ten before walking out of the room. She didn't know where she should go. She assumed Draco would be in his potions room but she couldn't sense him at the top of the stairs. This man was causing her to go crazy. She was all riled up and needed to calm down.
As she made her way to the library she started to sense that Draco was there. It was a weird sensation, a strange pull, almost like a magnet, directing her to his location. She didn't know if it was mental, emotional, or a physical connection they shared. Maybe one day she would get the courage to study their connection and learn more about it, but not today.
She really didn't want to see him again but she didn't want to be considered a coward, for if she could sense him, he most certainly could sense her outside the library doors. She paused only a few seconds before she gathered enough courage to push open the carved, wooden door.
He sat in one of the chairs, the fire casting shadows along his face, making him look dark and dangerous. His chin rested in his palm and he was staring intently at a book that was splayed across his lap. He was still wearing his Quidditch gear and the practice shirt hugged his biceps and chest tightly. His leg was crossed and propped on top of the other leg and even in this relaxed position he looked formal and stiff.
Hermione swallowed before making her way further into the room. She stopped right in front of his chair and waited for him to look at her. He was trying to ignore her and barely twitched at her approach. This man had amazing self-control and it really was starting to irritate her. She leaned forward and put her hand on his knee trying to get his attention. She shook it and his head instantly snapped up to glare at her. She swallowed.
"Draco," she said in a mockingly sweet tone, "listen to me, and listen to me well, you don't just get to boss me around! I am a perfectly capable witch, in case you hadn't noticed," her voice was slowly rising with each word, "as you have pointed out many times, I am the reason Harry and Ron did not die, I am part of the reason Voldemort is not in power, and I will not be bossed around by some arrogant, git, who thinks he knows what is best for me! You don't scare me, Draco Malfoy!" She tilted her chin up defiantly as she looked down her nose at him. This isn't what she had intended to do when she walked in here, but seeing him sitting like he was a king had sent fire down her veins. She was not some subject that he could boss around, she was not a timid girl who would just do whatever her husband told her to do. She needed to make that very clear to him.
His eyes flicked over her and narrowed as he took in the sight of her balled fists at her sides. He slowly unfolded himself and rose from the chair. He glared down at her for a few moments and then took a deep breathe visibly trying to calm himself down before he chose to speak.
"Hermione, there are some things that I will not budge on and the flying lessons are one of them. You will be taking them"
Her eyes bulged and her pulse quickened with anger as she took in his words. She had just told him that he didn't get to boss her around and the next words out of his mouth were another order. She couldn't believe his arrogance.
"I don't think you understand what I just told you. You DO NOT get to tell me what to do. You DO NOT get to decide what I want to do and you most certainly DO NOT get to tell me what I need to do," she shot back at him sharply. Her eyes narrowing and her cheeks blossoming to a deep red in anger.
"And I do not think that you are understanding what I am saying, Hermione. You are taking flying lessons. Don't think of it as a demand," he shrugged, "think of it as…..as…..as a way to overall improve your perfect image. A witch that can't fly, honestly, what a silly notion," he finished with a small chuckle.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Hermione shrieked at him, "Are you honestly now insinuating that I am less of a witch because I do not like flying?! You are unbelievable! First, you try to intimidate me and demand I take those bloody lessons from you and now you are insulting me! Is that how you got all of your little cronies in Slytherin to follow orders? You demanded them and intimidated them until they agreed to do whatever you wanted!"
He sneered at her, "They weren't all Slytherins. I got my 'cronies,' as you like to call them to do what I want because of who I am and what power I hold. I don't think of it as intimidation. I think of it as using your resources," he replied sharply.
"You can't just bully me around, Draco, that isn't how marriage works!"
"Oh right," he replied coolly, "I forgot that most people get paired up with someone they hate and then forced to marry them. Please excuse my lack of knowledge on the subject, not everyone can be so well-informed like you."
"I don't hate you," Hermione stammered.
"What?" Draco responded incredulously, his anger immediately fading, "how could you not?"
"I just don't," she responded, "I have never blamed you for your circumstances, you just have always blamed me for mine. I am not going to pretend that I agree with your choices, because you chose to be a Death eater, you chose the wrong side, but I don't hate you, but I most certainly don't like you."
He was speechless as he looked at her. His mouth gaping like a fish before he finally was able to form words. "I never hated you either but being a Death eater was never a choice for me."
She blanched momentarily before sitting herself down in the chair opposite him. "Well great, it's settled then, we don't hate each other," she stated ignoring his last comment.
He startled her by laughing out loud. "Wonderful, what a perfectly great start to a marriage, we don't hate each other."
They both sat in silence staring at the fire, the wood crackling the only sound filling the room. The weight of their admissions hanging heavily on their minds. Their thoughts broken by the library door groaning open and Bimble peaking his head around the door, his long ears straightening at the sight of them. "Dinner iz served, mizzez and miztah Malfoy."
Dinner was awkward to say the least. Both uncomfortable with the sudden truce that they had found in the library. Draco was cordial and polite to her, but there was a coldness that underlined everything he said to her. It unnerved her and she knew he was doing it on purpose. In turn, Hermione decided to acknowledge him as little as possible. They would have to eventually figure out how to talk to each other, the constant fighting was already getting exhausting, but she wasn't going to bring it up tonight. Had they even had a normal conversation that didn't end in a heated exchange? The thought seemed to cast a shadow on the night and Hermione did not think that this party would go well.
After dinner was finished they quickly made their way to Pansy's and Ron's, not wanting to spend an extra minute alone with each other.
Hermione stepped out of the fireplace and was amazed at the sight. The house was bright and vibrant. Small knick-knacks lined the shelves and the noise of people and music filled the air. It gave her the same feeling The Burrow did, homely and comforting. She never imagined that someone like Pansy would be comfortable in house like this. It did not seem to match her high-end tastes. She continued to gawk and take in the sights around her before Draco ushered her further into the room. His hand on the small of her back directing her to the group of people in the corner surrounding a muggle stereo.
"Draco!" Pansy cried as she leapt into his arms. "Draco is FINALLY here everyone, we can play that song now!"
She gave Draco a smirk before turning to Harry and demanding that he play the song again. Harry obliged and Hermione could hear the beginning of "We are the Champions," and she groaned inwardly. Of course Harry would have introduced her to this song.
Pansy, grabbed an open bottle of fire whiskey and pretended it was a microphone before belting out the lyrics to Draco.
"We are the champions, my friends, and we'll keep on fighting….til the end! We are the champions, we are the champions! No time for LOSERS!" She pointed at Draco and he went to grab her but she swung out of his reach and jumped on the couch, spilling fire whiskey everywhere. Towering over him, she continued to sing and gloat to him before the song ended and she bounced down to sit on the coach giggling, clearly already tipsy.
"That was quite a performance Pansy, how many times did you rehearse that before we got here?" He asked, fighting a smile.
Pansy just stuck her tongue out at him, "well you were LATE! Honestly, Draco that is the epitome of rudeness!"
"And dancing around gloating about being the champion is not?" He asked quirking an eyebrow.
"Oh don't be ridiculous Draco, it was all in good fun!" She said as she patted his back and made her way towards Hermione. She gave her a brief hug and then went back to Ron's side asking everyone what they would like to drink for tonight.
Everyone had a fire whiskey in hand, and still laughing at Pansy's theatrics, before it was quickly decided that they would play never have I ever. Another suggestion from Harry, he really needed to stop making suggestions Hermione thought.
They all gathered in a circle on the floor by the fireplace before Blaise took a bottle out of his robes and added two drops to his fire whiskey. Hermione's eyes widened as she saw the bottle clearly. Veritaserum. She looked around the circle until she spotted Draco, he gently nodded his head at her, like he knew what she was going to ask.
~0~
Draco saw her widened eyes and panicked expression before he slowly made his way over to her. He stopped next to her and whispered in her ear, "You don't have to take it."
She turned her head to whisper back at him quietly, "That's illegal!"
"Yes, it is, hasn't stopped us before," Draco answered with a shrug.
"You've done this before?" Hermione questioned.
"Yes, it was fairly common at the Slytherin parties."
"Where did he get it from? It's highly regulated and so expensive!"
Draco gave her a pointed look before saying, "Money is not an issue, but he probably brewed it."
"Brewed it!? And you want me to have some?! That is such a complex and complicated potion, even the smallest miniscule amount could have detrimental side effects if brewed wrong." She looked bewildered as the vial was passed around and everyone added some to their drinks. This could turn out to be very bad.
"I have every bit of faith in Zabini," Draco responded, before reaching for the vial that was handed to him. "Blaise and I were the ones who usually brewed it for the parties." He slowly added some drops to his drink before holding out the vial to Hermione. "You don't have to."
Her eyes kept darting back and forth between him and the vial before she straightened her shoulders and took it from him. She gave Blaise a quick glance before adding the mixture to her drink and passing it along. She stared at him before she angled her bottle to him in a salute and took a deep sip.
Draco felt pride as he watched her throat swallowing down the drink. He was definitely a bad influence on her but he found himself amazed that she had trusted him enough to take it. He was proud of the little bookworm stepping outside of her comfort zone. She started coughing as she lowered the bottle from her lips and he smirked. He mimicked her action and raised his bottle to her before raising his bottle to his mouth and downing the whole thing in one go. He lowered his bottle and met her eyes in a sardonic expression. She rolled her eyes and turned away from him. He thought she heard her mutter something under her breath, but it only made him grin more.
After everyone had some Veritaserum and drinks were restocked the game started. Pansy went first, naturally, because she was "the champion." Draco had rolled his eyes at the ridiculousness and was about to point out that she hadn't done anything and that half of the people in the room, the ones that had been on her team, were also "champions," but he decided to keep his mouth shut. He enjoyed it too much when she was lording her win over Blaise, or anyone else besides him really.
"Never have I ever had a threesome!" Pansy shouted.
"Way to go straight for it, Pansy." Blaise said sardonically as he lifted his drink to his lips.
Draco, Blaise and Nott, were the only ones that drank during that round.
"Did you all have a threesome together?!" Luna asked Nott in a too loud whisper, "Or with one of them?!"
"No dear, I will not speak for the other two, but only two women for me. Never with another man, I would never consider it, at least not with those boys," he answered playfully, smirking at Draco for the jab.
Draco just shook his head in the negative before taking another sip of his drink. This was going to be a long and interesting night. He was going to find out some things that he knew he didn't want to know about. Thank Salazar for booze.
Blaise just shrugged, not denying his interest in men and pointed to Ron. "Your turn"
Ron turned a pale pink color as his eyes darted around the room, while he tried to think of something.
"Never have I ever gotten a blowie from another bloke." Blaise was the only person to drink at that one.
Everyone looked at Neville, "Never….have…have...I…have…I," he stuttered.
"It's okay dear, go on and say it." Tracy soothed.
"Never have I ever had sex." Neville exclaimed his ears turning a bright red.
Everyone drank to that one, while eyeing other people in the circle whom they had sexual experiences with.
"Never have I ever loved a significant other." Tracy said. All of the Slytherins drank.
"What?" exclaimed Luna, "You haven't loved any of your significant others, what, how?!"
"We always knew we were going to have an arranged marriage, boyfriends were just a distraction, never permanent. It would have been silly for us to have fallen in love," Daphne scoffed like it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"That's horrible," Luna said in response. She shook her head in disbelief before saying, "Never have I ever had sex in a bed."
Blaise sputtered and coughed on his drink, "You lucky bastard, Theo." Ginny elbowed him in the stomach.
Theo turned to him and smirked, "Never have I ever kissed a member of the same sex."
Hermione looked down at her drink, she didn't want to drink but she could feel the truth serum raising her hand with the glass to her lips.
"Granger, aren't so innocent after all. Who was it?" Draco asked earnestly.
Hermione bit her lip to keep from answering. "It was me," Ginny shouted and clasped a hand over her mouth her eyes wide with horror. "I'm sorry 'mione, I couldn't stop it."
Everyone was looking at them in interest and Blaise and Draco just high-fived.
Harry spoke for them, "It was a party, spin the bottle, don't be a prat."
The game went on for a little longer, each person listing a more and more explicit sexual experience before the game got too awkward. The tension was thick as people eyed over ex-lovers and spouses started getting jealous, pulling their partners closer as if to say 'mine.'
"Maybe we should chose a different game?" Neville suggested, likely the only person still sober at the party.
"Great idea Neville dear," Tracy cooed. "What about just truth and dare?"
Everyone nodded their agreement, they decided to play a truth and dare mash-up. You spun the bottle and the person that the bottle landed on was the person you asked. They reasoned it was fairer that way.
Tracy spun the bottle first. The glass pointed directly at Harry. "Harry, truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"What is the most rule-breaking thing you did in school?"
Hermione huffed at the question.' What rule didn't they break at Hogwarts' she thought to herself 'it was amazing that they weren't expelled.'
"Probably drink Polyjuice potion and pretend to be Crabbe and Goyle in second year."
"You brewed Polyjuice potion?" Blaise asked with interest.
"No, Hermione did. It was brilliant."
"Wait, why did you want to be Crabbe and Goyle?"
"Oh..." Harry said sheepishly, "We wanted to know if Draco was the Heir of Slytherin… so ya…" He trailed off awkwardly.
"My, my," Draco said in Hermione's ear, "that is interesting. I am learning so much about you tonight, Granger."
Hermione just glared at him and watched as the bottle landed on Ron. He chose truth as well.
"Were you in love with Hermione Granger?" Daphne asked interestingly.
"No," Ron answered easily, he looked at Hermione sheepishly, "I loved Hermione but I was never IN love with her.
Hermione could feel her whole face catch on fire. She bit her lip as images of their relationship flashed in her mind. He wasn't ever in love with her? She thought on her relationship for the second time that day and realized that she had felt the same way. She had known, but again Ron was safe and after the war she had wanted to feel safe and they did love each other, it just wasn't an all-consuming type of love. Hermione felt Draco begin to rub her back soothingly. She just nodded at Ron who was looking at her with concern.
"Way to go in for the kill, Daphne." Draco said.
She just shrugged in response, "I was curious."
A few more rounds went by, everyone asking basic questions to avoid hurting anymore feelings.
"Truth or Dare," Blaise asked Draco.
"Dare," he said. This was the first dare of the night.
"I dare you to undress and stay naked for the rest of the game."
Draco shrugged as he undressed. Pulling off his shirt to reveal his flat stomach and he slowly unbuttoned his trousers.
Hermione's eyes were large as she tried to stare straight ahead and not at the man beside her, who was undressing in front of everyone. "Seriously, you all are okay with this?"
"We have seen it enough in the Slytherin common room, doesn't faze us anymore," replied Tracy, "actually, we have seen all of them naked too many times to count."
"To be fair, it wasn't just us getting naked," Blaise added with a wink at Tracy.
Draco threw his trousers and his black boxers at Hermione, "Hold those for me, love, will you?"
He sat down close to Hermione, who sat as still as a statue. She could feel the heat from his body radiate off of him. She tried to shift further away from him, but he noticed and put his arm around her, pulling her back to him, the side of his body flush with hers. She sat wide-eyed and stiff, trying to avoid Draco from pulling her even closer.
Ginny spun and dared Blaise to also get naked. This party was taking a turn for the worse. Hermione thought about how she should probably call it a night, but she could feel Draco next to her, his arrogance coming off of him in waves and she knew she couldn't leave without him teasing her for it mercilessly. 'What Granger can't handle a little nudity, the sight of my body so glorious that you can't even stay in the same room as me without wanting to jump my bones?' She could imagine him taunting her.
The bottle landed on her.
"Truth."
"Hermione," said Pansy with a devilish grin, "How do you feel about Draco? Do you like what you see?"
Hermione's eyes went wider. She instinctively turned her head and regretted it instantly. He was completely naked and had his legs drawn out in front of him. He clearly had no qualms about being naked 'and he shouldn't' thought Hermione. He was gorgeous. His legs and arms toned. He was sporting abs and he had a little treasure trail that led down to his lengthy male organ that was displayed for everyone to see. Hermione gasped and instantly closed her eyes. Her face was molten lava but her lips moved on their own accord, the truth serum still coursing within her veins.
"Yes, I find him very handsome and masculine. Looking at him right now makes me want to give him a proper snogging. He looks like a Greek god, I honestly don't know how someone can look so perfect." She kept her head down and tried to avoid everyone's gaze while Daphne burst out laughing.
"You owe me one, Draco."
Draco nudged her and pointed at the bottle, she gave it a halfhearted spin before reverting her eyes to her lap again. She quickly glanced at the bottle while it slowed down and almost fainted when she saw who it landed on. Fate was not on her side tonight. She huffed before asking, "Truth or dare, Malfoy?"
"Oh so we are back to Malfoy after that lovely revelation? I'll go with truth, Little Lion."
"Tell me a secret that people would be surprised to find out about you?"
He thought for a moment before answering, "I am a Legilimens."
"Really?" Hermione asked amazed. She turned her heads toward him in interest before remembering that he was naked and quickly turning away again in embarrassment. Her face was going to be permanently red by the end of this night.
He didn't answer and instead spun the bottle. The game continued until most of the players except for Hermione, Neville, and Luna were naked. Hermione kept her eyes trained on the ceiling above everyone's heads on looking down for her turn. When it was her turn to spin again it landed on Ginny. Ginny chose truth.
"How do you feel about the pull from the binding?"
Ginny scrunched up her face in confusion, "What?"
"Ya know, that pull compass like feeling, knowing where they are, how the other person is feeling, that thing?"
"I don't know what you are talking about, 'Mione, I don't feel any of that."
Hermione looked around and saw confusion scrunched on most of the faces in the circle.
"I know what you are talking about, Hermione." Luna piped up. "I can feel Theo's emotions but only if they are very strong though. You said you can feel where he is, like a compass? That is fascinating."
Hermione looked at Draco who had his mask of indifference on, but everyone else was eying them wearily. She had thought that they were all the same, that the old magic was causing them to have that magnetism, but apparently she was wrong. It was just her and Draco that felt it and Luna and Theo, but that didn't really reassure her.
That game died down a little at that admission. They all kind of stared into silence, not really knowing what to say and warily eyeing where Draco and Hermione sat, his hand rubbing small circles on her back reassuringly.
Ron broke the silence by drunkenly shouting that he was really curious to see what Luna looked like naked.
Theo immediately came to Luna's rescue and shouted that Ron would never see Luna naked. This caused Pansy to jump up and immediately defend Ron. Luna jumped up trying to pull Theo away.
"I don't mind it," said Luna, "it's flattering really, you don't have to defend me."
"It is not okay," Theo shouted back at her, "He wants to see you naked, you're my girl, and no one gets to see you naked but me!"
That caused Luna to start shouting back at him about how ridiculous he was being, everyone was seeing him naked right now and being naked wasn't a crime, being naked was natural. Meanwhile, Pansy pounced on Ron about how he had wanted to see Luna naked. "What, you don't like what you see? I'm not good enough for you? Figures." This caused Tracy and Daphne to jump to their friend's defense. Ron, in his drunken state, was trying to backpedal his words, which caused Harry to jump to his defense. Everyone seemed to be shouting and tempers were rising, the yelling growing louder and more heated.
Draco quickly pulled Hermione up from her seated position and pulled her towards the stairs. She had tried to protest but he had been insistent about leaving the room. He pulled her into the first bedroom he could find and quickly eyed her up and down and ran his hands along her sides.
"Are you okay?" He asked quietly.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, "Everyone was just yelling, of course I am fine, don't be ridiculous."
She put her hands against his chest to push him away from her. Her hands felt the hard planes of his chest beneath her touch. Her eyes were drawn to where her hands rested on his chest, her sun-kissed skin against his much paler pallor was a sexy site. She had to bite her lip from moaning. He really was a beautiful specimen. He pulled her closer and angled his face downwards, before Hermione broke out of her trance and pulled away from him.
"Are you going to put your clothes back on?"
"No, they are downstairs."
"And you can't go get them…. Because….?"
"Because everyone is fighting and I am not going to leave you here alone."
"Fine," Hermione huffed, "Although you are being ridiculous, it isn't a real fight, just shouting."
She pulled a blanket off of the guest bed before holding it out for him. He didn't take it, he just shook his head back and forth in denial.
"Ugh, you are like a child!" She groaned out in frusturation before stepping closer and wrapping the blanket around his body. Her hands on either side of him while she tied the end into a knot around his hips. Her hands burned with awareness of him, burned with want to trail them lower. She thought she heard him groan before the sound of someone stomping up the stairs, caused her to turn away from him. With her back to him she took in the room. The bed was smaller than the one that they shared but there was a small love seat in the corner and she smiled in triumph.
"Well since you have ended tonight's activities early, then I suggest we go to bed. You can take the loveseat." She pointed to the corner.
He slinked up next to her, "Who said tonight's activities have to end?" He bent down to whisper across her neck. "The way I see it, the fun is just getting started."
Hermione gulped and stepped further away from him towards one side of the bed. "I don't think so, Malfoy, nice try." She started to untuck the covers and pull them to the side.
"Well nice try to you too, little lioness, the rules are we share a bed." He went to the other side of the bed and started turning down the covers.
"You are such a prat." She crawled into bed fully clothed and laid flat on her back. He crawled in next to her their sides touching as they laid stiffly in bed. They could still hear the shouts from downstairs dying down. Some couples trudging up to bed heavily, still bickering outside of their doors, before the house fell silence. All she could hear was the sound of her and Draco breathing in unison.
Hermione did what she always did when she was uncomfortable, she talked. "Are you really a Legilimens?"
"Yes." He responded curtly.
"Can you tech me?" She asked earnestly.
"Ahh so now you want my tutelage? I will make a deal with you Hermione," He said as he turned onto his side to look at her face. "I will train you, but only if you also allow me to train you on riding a broom, as well. It is all or nothing."
Hermione was silent as she thought about it. Where else was she going to be able learn legilimency? Hermione's biggest weakness was her thirst for knowledge. It often caused her to do all sorts of dangerous and silly things to quench her thirst for it. She could sense the foreboding feeling in the pit of her stomach when she met his gaze. "Deal, Malfoy."