DM'S POV
After a whole night of sweat, he slept until sun shone through the curtains. Granger was still asleep beside him, her body rose and fell along with her long slow breath. The fragrance of cape jasmine still lingered and it soothed his mind.
Her skin was smooth like velvet and her hair was sleek like otter's fur. He remembered how her hair used to be like, bushy like a broom, but it did not matter much.
Last night's memory still lingered in his mind, as if he was in a Pensieve. Her body curves were right in spot and her melodious voice echoed, her full lips were nimble to his and her waist wriggled as his lips glided to her collarbone. Her chest was soft and every time he stroked against her chest, she would moan, twisted and turned, softly giggling.
Still he felt his impulse being extremely barbaric, entirely ignoring her will.
But she enjoyed it, he thought. She enjoyed it, she wouldn't hate him, perhaps?
The weight shift in bed suggested that she finally woke up. He sat up and admire her body, then her face. Her eyelashes flickered and slowly her eyes opened, gazing at the windows, then to him.
"Good morning," mumbled Draco, still finding it awkward to properly greet her.
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Realizing herself not wearing any clothes, she hurriedly clutched the quilt and pulled up to her head, hiding her face under it. Then she growled,
"Can you stop staring?"
Her tone was filled with anger and annoyance, and her body started slightly shifting to the edge of the bed. Knowing that her temper might turned terrible in any second, he was careful with his choice of word, he said,
"I'm sorry."
After an awkward moment of silence, she said,
"Sorry for what?"
"For...not respecting you."
It was another uncomfortable quietude. Then she grumbled,
"What's the point of apologizing? Can you recompense for what we have done?"
Draco did not know how to answer. After searching for the appropriate words in his mind, he whispered,
"I just hope you won't...hate me."
"Hate you? Do you deserve my hated?"
This made him even speechless and unable to think of anything that could lighten the aloof and bitter atmosphere.
"You won't file a complaint against me at the Winzegamot, will you?"
Hermione finally showed her head, her face turned to him, and hissed,
"File what complaint? Ravishment?"
Draco licked his lips and scratched the back of his head, trying to sort out his thoughts.
"Do you filing a complaint of ravishment against Malfoy is feasible?" she snapped and she stood up, shrouded her body with the quilt. "It's just a blatant waste of time!'"
She stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door, leaving Malfoy naked on the large bed. He scratched his head again, wondering how to reconcile with her.
She enjoyed it! He thought. It was not really forced!
And now she hid herself in the bathroom, unwilling to come out and face him again.
Damn, need to use the other bathroom again, he thought.
"Accio!" he commanded as he got hold of his wand.
His underwear shot up to his face and he wore it, it did not feel comfortable, yet he made no complaint, so he came out of the room and he jumped as he looked down.
"What are you two doing here?" he roared.
Push and Pull gazed at him with admiration and pride, then they said,
"Master can give this to Madame!"
They offered a glass of warm milk to Draco. He got hold of the glass and stared at the creamy liquid, the smell was just like the scent of her body.
Looking at the elves' large popping eyes, he nodded and went inside the room, placing the glass on the table and cast a charm to keep it warm. Thinking that she might not drink it (which would upset every living in the household), he tore a bit or parchment and wrote,
Please forgive me.
"You look vexed," said Zabini, who came by Draco's office during lunch hours. "Granger got you tired last night?"
"If things go smooth like what you expect, I would not be here, looking like a stupid house elf trying to refrain itself from self-punishment," replied Draco as he finished his bite of sandwich.
Zabini sniggered and said,
"Wow, sounds like a long story."
"Consider yourself lucky," spat Draco. "I'm telling you, getting Greengrass laid is one of the world's easiest job."
"I won't deny that," said Zabini, grinning. "She's good."
Draco grunted and Zabini asked,
"Alright, so what happened?"
"I prepared a lavish banquet, trying to bury the hatchet," answered Draco. "Then she just went out and dated another man!"
"Well, according to law, she is not prohibited from doing that-"
"Just let me finish my tale!"
"Lips sealed."
Draco snorted and continued,
"And I drank too much, my head just got dizzy and somehow my consciousness was lost."
"You mean your conscience, right?" asked his old friend, chuckling.
"Consciousness," growled Draco.
"So what happened then?"
"She came back and I sort of lost control of myself, then we...ended up in bed."
"Not bad," commented Zabini.
"Well, that's where the bad thing began," said Draco. "Actually, I forced her into doing it in first place but she seemed to enjoy it after a while."
"I can't say if that's true, considering that I am not Granger," said Zabini, trying to understand his old friend's problem. "So what did she do this morning? Yelled at you and kicked you in the groin?"
"The opposite of that," replied Draco. "She just acted all calm and rushed into the bathroom."
"She didn't say anything?"
"She did, but I can conclude that it's all about her abhorrence towards me."
"Oh, sounds bad for playboy Malfoy."
"Shut up!" snapped Draco. "I am not that much of a slippery fellow."
"Whatever," said Zabini. "Come to think of it, I think she's just confused and unable to accept the truth."
"What truth?"
"Giving her first to you," replied Zabini. "Unless this is not her first."
"The problem is, that man she went to is a suspect, we all think he's guilty but she always denies this!"
"And who's that lucky man who captured the know-it-all's heart?"
"Phelps, Adrian Phelps."
"Oh he!" exclaimed Zabini. "Well you must admit, he's attractive, even though people always say I am the ultimate one."
"Shut up!" said Draco, annoyed.
"I'm just informing you of the truth!"
"Forget it."
"Anyway, I still think she's just too shocked by the fact that she got laid by you."
"Oh really?"
"Come on, she's not those girls who is always ready to make love with you, my friend."
"Now I really don't know what I am supposed to do."
Zabini looked outside, staring at Granger's seat.
"Let's hope you don't have to wait too long," he said, then glanced at the clock and went to the door.
"Alright, just go," said Draco.
"Floo me when you need my help, but my service is restricted for weekdays' daytime, understand?"
He winked and got out of the Office. Draco sat back, pondering over his old friend's words, was she merely too astonished and all she needed was time to swallow the fact that they finally consummated?
A knock rang at the door and it surprised him. But the person visiting surprised him further.
"Look, I have no other intention but to care for a friend," said the Weasley girl. "But I think we need a talk."
"And since when you become the spokesperson of the friend of yours?" asked Draco, trying to keep his attitude as nonchalant as possible.
"I don't expect to convert yourself and fit in the shoes of Hermione. But do you have any ideas on her feelings?"
"You've just said, I can't fit into her shoes."
"She's confused, Malfoy, confused."
"Never thought she'd have the state of confusion one day."
"Listen," snapped Ginny, getting annoyed by the fact that he did not seem to care. "Hermione just talked to me. She said you forced her, was I correct?"
"Well, she enjoyed it, her body was honest."
"I am not going argue on that. But she mentioned you tried to make peace, is that correct?"
"That's what she said and that's the truth."
"The truth is, she does not know what you are up to!"
"You don't say."
"So what are you up to?"
"Can't you stop beating about bushes? A man's time for meditation is important!"
"Alright, let me make it straight and clear," said Ginny, trying her best to make her explanation as simple as she could. "Hermione feels a bit guilty for going out and leaving you seriously drunk. Yet another part of her mind tells her you never actually want to reconcile, you get her laid simply because it was a need to soothe your body. You are not doing this because you love her."
"Definitely, her brain is not functioning properly," said Draco, curling his lips.
"Whether or not her brain is functioning properly is not your concern. The only thing that you should be thinking about is how to make up for your act."
"So what's your suggestion?"
"It's for me to know and you to find out."
She stood up and left. It made Draco even troubled. How would be expected to know the mind of his wife? He had never been a despised Muggle-born, and girls never refused his casual declaration of love despite of the fact that they were nothing but fake promises.
How he wished he did not get drunk last night, perhaps he could hold his temper and maintain consciousness, then things would not become so problematic. But the mistake was made, and he needed to solve it, now.
Granger was back in the office as lunch time was over, she looked as normal as before, as though nothing had happened. Her left hand flipped through the pages of different files and her right hand kept on scribbling across pieces of parchment. Should he ask her to come inside just to hear his explanation? She was no fool, a word inappropriately used and he could prepare himself a resting place at the manor's garden.
After the tormented psychological struggle, he went to open his door, and said,
"Gra-Hermione, come to my office five minutes later."
She definitely looked shocked, but he dared not stare at her for too long, for he knew what she was capable of.
He tried to prepare himself some sentences. He knew he had to ask for her forgiveness, but the word kept stuck in his throat like a lump.
Exactly five minutes later, she knocked at the door and came in.
"How shall I help you, Mr. Malfoy?"
Her tone was cold like stone, it was just what he had imagined, nonchalant, and almost apathetic. He flicked his wand and locked the door. Noticing that, her bleak voice rang,
"Is that all you've got? Locking people in office."
Draco stood up and walked towards her.
"Did you see my note?"
"And do I have to answer that?"
"Look! I don't mean to force you, I was drunk! I didn't know what I was really doing-"
"Yet you were sober, sober enough to only care about yourself."
Draco flushed as he recalled the memories, though it was not very vivid, he could remember her moans and how her body reacted.
"I don't just care about myself."
"And who is that lucky person that can drift within your harbour of concern?"
"Would you believe that this lucky person is you?"
She raised her brow, staring into his eyes. He tried to show his sincerity and passion, yet her indifference still stood strong.
"How odd," she said. "I am not convinced."
He walked nearer and nearer to her, and before she could take a few steps backward, he locked her in his arms and his head rested on her shoulder.
"Would you... forgive me, Hermione?" he whispered to her ears. "Please."
He finally could say it, it felt strange, the lump was gone yet his heart was heavier.
But she did not seem to be touched. She said,
"Forgive? It is certainly a miracle that Malfoy actually knows how to ask for forgiveness."
His embrace tightened, hoping that she would be understand.
"Please, Hermione, forgive me," he said. "I never mean to hurt you."
She said nothing, so he went on,
"I knew you don't like me, but I really want to put aside our past and move on."
She seemed to be in deep thoughts, and he backed a little, staring straight into her clear eyes.
"I just want you to be happy."
His head tilted and his lips pressed on hers, it was desperate yet tender. Slowly, she responded, and soon the kiss turned a thirst of each other. He gently lay his tongue in her mouth and the kiss went deeper. And before he could imagine, his weight made her fell on the couch. His palm supported her head and his arm had her waist wrapped. How much he wanted her, but upon remembering his words just now, he broke the kiss and asked,
"Will you forgive me?"
Hermione gave a swift peck on his lips.
"A chance ought to be given, as a reward for one's sincerity."
Draco could not believe she was smiling. Out of surprise and excitement, he quickly dived in for another kiss, this time it was passionate with care, and she gave an immediate respond.
A knock on the door broke their kiss and he instantly pulled her up, brushing her hair until it was tidy. Her face was hot and red.
"Come in," he announced.
Turner and Morgan came in with a heap of files in their arms.
"Here's a bunch more, Harry and Weasley got them from some wizard beings yesterday. Harry says some useful information may be hidden within the parchments."
Draco cast a glance at Hermione, then they sat down and began their investigation.
Do you think things will turn better or worse?
A small reminder is that this is a humour+romance story, darkness is limited and so certain plot development can be easily guessed.
Do you truly believe that I would make ravishment so easily forgiven?
And if you like such mushy scenes,
Too bad it is not going to happen until some time later.
When? That depends whether I want to include them in the next chapter.
Do you think I sound like those writers who love spoiling all the fun? (Yes, I do.)
PS. Tutoring children is always a hard but rewarding work. (This line serves no function at this point but to express my own feelings for these few weeks.)
