Disclaimer: 'cause there's not place that I could be without you.... It's
too dark to discard the life I once knew.... Honestly, a single wrong is
not enough, to cover up the pain in us... and Honestly... this fic is
mostly hers, Credit I do not deserve. It's JKR's freakin fault, that I'm
stuck in Potter's cult... Honestly. There's no place that I could be
without you.
Last time on LGG:
Draco and Hermione exited the hall and headed down the path to Hogsmeade.
"Are you cold?" Draco asked after about ten minutes and Hermione laughed.
"No," she said and sniffled. "But I think I might have one."
"Don't even have strong antibodies, do you Granger?"
"How dare you? My antibodies would whip your bony little pureblooded ass," she said, fishing a hanky from the same small backpack she'd taken on the train when they'd first met. Draco smiled down at her.
"You're messed in the head Mya."
Suddenly, Draco stopped walking. Hermione looked up at him with a curious smile.
"What?"
"When did you get so happy? What happened to the depressed little dark princess I met on the train?" Hermione smiled and looked down at the ground.
"I think she found that guillotine."
~*~*~*~
CHAPTER NINETEEN: Juice Box
"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked, not entirely sure he knew what she meant. He had a pretty good idea, but he still wanted to make sure before feeling too proud of himself.
"She's gone, Draco. Hopefully for good. Depression isn't as much fun as it looks," she said somewhat sadly and Draco smiled down at her.
"Then who are you?"
"I'm the girl who was lost for a while, but I'm home now. Changed from experience, but still home," she said and smiled up at him. "Now that I have a reason to come back. Bad change?"
"Hell no," Draco said, sliding his hand into hers. Hermione smiled and squeezed it, continuing her way to the station.
"I think this is going to be fun."
"Agreed."
~*~*~*~
"What the hell are you doing?" Hermione asked in quiet curiosity. She'd returned to their boxcar from the bathroom to find Draco lying spread eagle and shoeless on the floor, simply starting at the ceiling. He shook his head slowly.
"I have no idea. You know, I really hate this train. Everything about it is so... ugh. It makes me queasy just looking at it." Hermione shook her head, smiling. Without a word, she joined him on the floor, slipping off her shoes as well. Hermione lay beside him with her head on his shoulder and a leg bent over his. Draco smiled and wrapped an arm around her. "You okay?"
"Mm," she assured, closing her eyes and cuddling up to him. Draco smiled. As long as she was okay with it, he certainly wasn't one to disagree. He watched as she attempted to sleep, cuddled close and smiling. It really was a new installment. Yes, they'd slept in the same bed every night that week, but it'd always been a fall-in-bed-and-deplete-exhaustion thing... never a cuddle-me-close, kissy-kissy, hug-hug thing. This was a nice change.
"Hermione?" he asked, but the dark princess didn't move. "Hermione," he said a little louder and she generated a moan.
"What?" she asked in annoyed grogginess. Draco smiled, but didn't speak; he simply attached his lips to hers, waking Hermione fully in seconds. She made a startled moan, but it soon turned to one of pleasure as she fell into it. She felt Draco nervously attempt to roll over her, then pull back again, and again... she smiled. Hermione, going with tradition, pushed him flat on his back, rolling over him, still kissing deeply. Draco kept his hands rooted at her hips, determined to let her make all the first moves. He wouldn't do anything until she did. Simple as that.
Hermione ran her hands from his shoulders to his waist, un-tucking his shirt with a little help from Draco, who arched his back for her. She smiled and broke the kiss, moving her lips in a damp trail down his neck and around the collar of his shirt. Draco let his hands move up and over her back, closing his eyes as he felt her begin to unbutton his shirt, replacing each disk with another link in her wet chain of kisses.
Hermione kissed to the last button, then pulled the shirt open, running her hands over his bare skin. Draco smiled, pulling her closer, and Hermione relocked their lips. She continued to move her fingers over his skin, lightly caressing each patch. Draco moved his hands back to her hips, then up under her shirt, feeling the cool material of her bra run over his fingertips. Hermione smiled and pulled away, sitting straight. Draco opened his eyes, watching as she lifted the sweatshirt over her head, revealing herself in nothing but her black silk under wire. He nearly groaned. Hermione leaned down again.
"What?" she asked softly, beginning to kiss him lightly. Draco exhaled.
"You're gorgeous," he whispered, catching her by surprise, and she stopped, pulling back to look at him curiously. Draco made quick to shower her with the same tiny kisses she'd been giving him. When their lips touched again, Draco mustered his courage and gently rolled on top of Hermione, letting his shirt slid down his arms before kissing a line down the center of her chest, from the hollow of her throat, over the thin slip of fabric, and over her stomach to her bellybutton. She moaned slightly, burying her hands in his hair.
He kissed around the waistband of her jeans, just as he had her shorts with the feather, and she squirmed happily. Before continuing with her unclothing, Draco moved back up, following the trail to her lips. He moved his hand to gently grasp at her bosom, and Hermione continued her kiss, not showing any signs she'd realized, save a tiny breathy moan. Slowly, her hands moved to his belt buckle, fumbling as they hurriedly tried to unclasp it. He smiled. That was his cue. If she took of his pants, she meant business... all the more fun for him.
Draco did nothing... except kiss and grope her. He made no attempt to help with the exposing of himself. She needed to do that on her own for him to be sure she was for real. Hermione seemed pretty experienced. She needn't even look to unbuckle, unzip, and drop his pants to his knees, which rested on the floor. Now, he helped slightly, raising his knees enough for the fabric to pass below. Hermione brought her arms around his neck and pushed his jeans down his calves with her feet, caressing his leg in the process. Draco smiled. So she did want this... and by the look, she wanted this bad.
Now that he'd gotten the okay, Draco moved his hands to unbutton her jeans. Hermione reached down and pulled her wand from her pocket before allowing him to continue. She closed the window and conjured up a blanket; cursing the damn cold train. Was central heating THAT expensive for a locomotive?
"Hermione..." Draco whispered into her lips, and she realized he needed her help. Glad to give it, she lifted her hips, and he slid the jeans over her and down her legs, moving backward. Then he pushed them to the side and crawled back over her, bringing the blanket with him.
Not two minutes later, Hermione was working on pulling down his boxers; the same way she had his jeans; with her hands to his knees, and her feet to the floor. Draco seemed to put off the discarding of clothes for a moment, concentrating on kissing the rim around her bra.
"That's not fair," she said, shifting and tilting her head back. Draco stopped and moved his lips closer to hers, prolonging the contact they made with her skin.
"What's not?" he asked in whisper and Hermione turned her head, suckling a spot on his neck. She waited a moment, then pulled away.
"You're naked, and I'm not..." she complained, sticking her lip out playfully. Draco chuckled softly and kissed her fiercely.
"We'll just have to do something about that." He ran his hands over her hips, pausing to let his fingers slide below the band of her underwear, then slid the digits up and around her back. Hermione arched herself again, letting him unclasp and discard her brassiere with minimal effort. "Better?" he asked, moving his lips to suck gently at her newly exposed flesh. Hermione squirmed.
"A little," she said teasingly. Draco paused again, moving back to her face. "Do you want me?" she asked, arching her back so her newly exposed breasts pushed into his chest.
"God yes," he said, kissing her shoulder, just for the touch. Hermione smiled.
"Mmm... and you want to take me? Right here, on this train?"
"Yes, Hermione... yes," he hissed softly, hungrily working a hickey into her neck. She sighed contentedly.
"And what do I get out of this?" she asked with sudden bluntness and Draco smirked.
"You get me."
"That's it?" Hermione smirked widely. Draco paused a moment, then nodded.
"Yeah, that's about it." She stared blankly, then shrugged her shoulders.
"Okay."
~*~*~*~
"There's my mother," Draco said as they stepped off the train, pointing toward a blonde woman sitting on a bench chatting with a tall, burly man in a dark suit. Hermione bit her lip, incredibly nervous. She nodded slowly. Draco smiled and brought a hand to her chin, turning her face toward him. She smiled, seeing him do the same, and Draco kissed her, deep and passionately. Hermione laughed as he pulled away.
"Man, you just don't quit, do you?" she asked and he smirked, shrugging.
"Okay, here's the plan. You, sit on this trunk, and try and look lonely and depressed, okay? Act like yourself," Draco said and Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'll go talk to her."
"Okay," she said quietly. Draco turned to look at his mother again. Seeing that she still hadn't noticed him, he turned back and kissed Hermione gently.
"Calm down, will you?" Hermione laughed, slightly nervously, and sat down. Draco smiled and turned away, walking toward his mother. "Mum?"
"Draco!" the older woman called, stopping her conversation mid-sentence and jumping up, moving to envelope her son in a hug.
"Okay, okay... air now," he wheezed and she let go, laughing.
"Sorry, love. Are we ready to go? Jasper, load the car, please."
"Just a minute, Mum... I have a... favor to ask." Narcissa raised an eyebrow at her son.
"I don't think you're in the right position to be asking me for anything, Draco. Two weeks? You've never been suspended for THAT long! And in the first week of school? This is a new low for you, dear," she said, but didn't sound angry as much as simply displeased. Draco lowered his head.
"I know, Mother." Narcissa, seeing the look on her son's face, gave in with a sigh.
"Alright, what do you want?" Draco smiled, lifting his head. He turned to stand beside her so that they were both facing Hermione, who was doing as he asked, sitting on her trunk and looking sad, twisting a piece of hair in her fingers.
"You see that girl, there?" Narcissa nodded.
"Yes..." she said suspiciously.
"Well, I sort of... got her suspended too. And, the fact is, she doesn't have anywhere to go. I feel kind of bad for her, I mean... just look at her, Mum." Narcissa still looked suspicious.
"What do you mean she has nowhere to go?" she asked and Draco put on his best sympathetic face.
"Her parents are very neglectful, and are never home. She's looking at two weeks alone in her house... and she's a muggle-born, Mum. Bad stuff happens to muggle teens all the time. If something happened to her, I'd feel responsible," Draco said, and Narcissa thought a moment, then nodded.
"So would I, in your shoes. But what do you want me to do about it?" He smiled.
"I was thinking maybe you could spare your only son some guilt and his friend some potential pain, and let me ask her to come home with us," he suggested, and Narcissa took her eyes off Hermione, snapping them to her son.
"You're FRIENDS with a MUDBLOOD?" Draco's smile dropped.
"Please don't call her that, Mother." Narcissa's eyes filled with tears, and she threw her arms around her son, hugging him tight. "Mother?" he asked, alarmed as she cried and embraced him.
"Oh, Draco, I'm so proud of you! I was afraid you'd turn out just like your father!" she bellowed and Draco laughed, pulling away.
"Please, Mum, when was the last time I did something just because Dad said to? Honestly. So, thoughts on Hermione's coming home?" Narcissa dropped her arms and bit her lip. "Please?" She shook her head.
"I don't know, baby... what would Lucius say? And that seems like a little too much reward for being punished."
"But think of it from her point of view, Mother. She didn't do anything, and now she has to be all alone... at the mercy of all those hormone driven teens out there," Draco pointed out and Narcissa nodded, tiling her head.
"She IS very attractive..." You have no idea, Mother... no idea. "And I guess it's the least we could do... but I still worry about your father."
"Dad'll be fine as long as he keeps up on his meds... and we don't have to tell him she's muggle-born. Hermione's a much better witch than I am a wizard... he'll never guess it. She's pretty enough to be a pureblood." Draco said and turned to his mother. She seemed to be giving in slightly. "I really like her, Momma. I don't want her getting hurt," he said with such honesty that it made Narcissa tear up slightly.
"Okay, Draco. As reward for making friends with her, and because she has no where to go... she can come home with us." Draco smiled widely.
"Oh, thank you Mum, this is great," he said happily and kissed her cheek, then jogged off toward Hermione, who looked up. Narcissa watched as her son extended his hands out for the girl to take, and she stood, not letting go and listening as he told her the good news. A smile lit up her face and Narcissa duplicated it. "Get her things, Jasper."
"Do you think this is wise, Miss?"
"No, I don't... but I can't very well change my mind now, can I? And just look at them... they're so happy... my son has made friends with a muggle- born, Jasper. I've hoped for this for years. Please, get her things."
"Yes Miss."
~*~*~*~
She looked up as Draco approached.
"All set," he said, holding out his hands and Hermione smiled widely as she took them and stood.
"Really?" she asked excitedly and Draco nodded.
"I told you; I can easily manipulate people as flexible as my mother. In reality, the whole 'friends with a muggle-born' thing was what bought the deal. She's always wanted me to, you know... make some muggle friends... just to prove I'm not like Lucius. Her pride blinded her to the fact that I was ever even in trouble." Hermione laughed slightly.
"Glad I could help," she said and he smiled.
"So you get to come home with me, Granger. How's it feel?" he asked with a smirk and Hermione shrugged indifferently.
"I'm scared out of my mind." Draco laughed and leaned in to kiss her. "No, your mother is still watching me," she said, taking a step back and smoothly moving to get her trunk, as if that'd been what she were planning to do. Draco shook his head and took her hands again.
"Jasper's getting them, Mya."
"Oh. Who's Jasper?" Draco nodded toward the spot his mother had vacated.
"That big guy who's coming over here right now," he said and Hermione turned around, jumping slightly as she noticed the large man was now only a few feet away.
"Oh," was all she could say. Draco pulled her from her crouch.
"Come on, the car's outside," he said and Hermione turned away from Jasper, following her host. Draco smiled and slid an arm around her waist. Hermione stepped a little closer to him, but didn't do anything that could be mistaken as a lover's movement... like duplicating his arm placement or laying her head on his chest. To anyone around them, it just seemed like a courteous teenage boy escorting a girl from the train station. Very inconspicuous. She could be his sister.
It wasn't until Hermione saw the stretch limo in the parking lot that she thought his words odd.
"May I ask, without causing offence, why you have a car, Mr. Malfoy-the- muggle-hater?" Draco laughed.
"Horse-drawn carriages stand out a bit in London, there, girly," he said and Hermione laughed.
"I guess that makes sense." Draco smiled at her.
"But hey, it's not like it's my car..." She elbowed him inconspicuously in the ribs.
"Watch it, Drakey." Draco removed his hand from her back as they stepped up to the car and massaged his side.
"Yeah, I really should... those homicidal elbows... they're everywhere nowadays," he said and Hermione rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. Draco opened the door for her, and Hermione thanked him, slipping into the large car. Surprisingly, the inside was just as it looked from the outside... except maybe a little less compacted... but it still sat only four people in the back. She expected it to be grand and extravagant, the Malfoys being who they were.
Across the seat from where Hermione had sat and slid across, sat Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy, smiling genuinely and holding her hands clasped on her lap. Draco got in just after Hermione and closed the door behind him.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Malfoy. I can't thank you enough for this... I hope I'm not intruding," Hermione said, sounding amazingly genuine, although Draco knew it was just a brilliant act. He smirked and Narcissa smiled.
"Of course not, dear. I don't believe I've caught your name... Hermione, is it?" Hermione kept her fake, but convincing smile.
"Yes, ma'am. Hermione Granger."
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger. Please, tell me more about yourself?"
The entire ride to Malfoy Manor was spent in not-so-pleasant 'meet the parents' conversation. Had Draco a fraction less self-control, he would have burst out laughing at some of the crackpot answers Hermione cooked up. She was doing exceptionally well; not even hinting that there might be something more than friendship between herself and Narcissa's son. That is, she didn't even acknowledge when he slipped his hand over hers. She smiled a little more, but it was as if it'd never happened.
~*~*~*~
"Well, I think I'm ready for a nap. Hermione?" Draco announced as they entered the vast home. Hermione was looking around, smirking and nodding, obviously impressed. At Draco's question, she replaced her innocent smile and nodded, holding her hands in front of her, arms straightened toward the floor like a little child. "I'll show you to your room," he said and Narcissa placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Draco. Please... tell your father for me... I just don't think I can."
"Sure Mum, no problem."
"What room will the lady be staying in, Mr. Malfoy?" asked Jasper from behind as he held the trunks and bags in his hands as easily as he would giant marshmallows and Draco turned slightly.
"22D, Jasper, but you don't have to bring those up now. Take a break," he said and Jasper smiled.
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. That is much appreciated." Draco smiled and turned to Hermione.
"Ready?" She just kept her tight smile and gave a slight nod. Draco took her hand and started toward a big, brass plated door between the two staircases. "22D," he said and the door opened, revealing an elaborate bedroom. Draco stepped inside, pulling Hermione behind him. The brass door slid closed automatically. To Hermione's surprise, the other side looked nothing like brass, and there was a doorknob. Why would there be a doorknob on a sliding door? Curious, she turned it, only to be greeted with an empty hallway. "You were brilliant in the car, Mya... maybe YOU should look into soap operas." Hermione smiled and turned to face him
"Thanks, I tried. Hey, what was that?" she asked and Draco smiled, letting go and flopping back on the maroon and black bed.
"The MP3000. Very convenient." Hermione nodded.
"One more time, in laments terms, please?" Draco chuckled.
"The Mansion Portal 3000. Like a port key, but it only takes you to different rooms in our house... it's convenient because this place is...bluntly, fucking huge. We don't use half the space... it's ridiculous. We only have the portal because it's a faster way to get Dad from wherever he is to the padded room... if necessary. It's room number 16D; don't go there... the only way out is if someone lets you out... and just being in that room would make anyone go crazy," he said and Hermione nodded slowly as she climbed up on the bed next to him.
"What's with the letters?" Draco shrugged slightly, hands folded below his head. Hermione moved close and rested her head on his bent arm. Draco smiled. If Pansy ever did anything like that without an order, he'd have killed her... but Hermione... Hermione could get away with just about anything and he wouldn't say a word.
"It makes it easier... G is for ground level; the first floor, E is the second, because S would sound stupid, D is the third, for the same reason with T, and X is top floor. I don't know why. Z is the basement, but it's all drippy dungeons down there... and it's sealed off, anyway. Many bad memories of that there floor. Anyway, the only rooms you'll need to know is yours, of course, this one... which is 22D. My room is 13E," he said and Hermione frowned.
"You're not even on the same floor as me?" she asked disappointedly, pouting. Draco smiled and continued as if she'd never spoken.
"My room is 13E, the room I sleep in is 20D... my parents' room is 51E, but I don't recommend disturbing them..." Hermione looked confused.
"Wait; why do you sleep in a different room than the one dubbed your own?" she asked and Draco sighed.
"Because, my parents, especially my father, are very active people. They tend to have many social gatherings, in which the guests wake up half naked on the ballroom floor the next morning, dazed with hangovers. Lucky me, my bedroom is the first door at the top of the stairs... I've found a lot of naked couples in that bed... and I don't plan on waking up next to them." Hermione made a face.
"That's repulsive."
"Which is why I don't sleep there. My sleeping room is right next door to you, just like at school. That's one reason why I put you here." Hermione smiled and closed her eyes. "Other than that, most of the rooms are labeled self-explanatorily. The kitchen is kitchen, dining room is dining room, the entry room is actually called lobby, the bathrooms are bathrooms, but there's three on each floor, so you have to specify. Say bathroom D2, or whatever. I'll make you a list of other ones, just so you'll have something to look at. Oh, and the dark-arts library is room 14G, my mother's library, which is all those sex filled romance books and the occasional history, is room 10D, and my library, which is rather small and contains mostly just my textbooks, and a bunch of books I unintentionally or not stole from the school library, is 15E, next to my room."
"That's a pretty cool system," Hermione said somewhat sleepily and Draco nodded, looking at her. Her eyes were closed and she was close to drifting... her features were already gaining more innocence.
"It works out nicely, yes. Are you hungry?" Hermione shook her head, burying it into his shoulder slightly.
"No, just tired..." she said and Draco smirked.
"I wonder why," he said suggestively and Hermione yawned.
"Oh, shut up," she said, pressing close and letting out a deep and contented sigh. Draco shifted slightly, unbending the arm that no longer lay below her head, and bringing his finger to pull the hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear. He smiled down at her, stroking those luscious black locks and closing his eyes. He too was asleep in no time.
A/N: :oD Here we go...some nice act-she-own (action) here! Wowza! About the title, it's called juice box... I guess because there was a juicy scene in the boxcar? Lol. I don't know, it just fit. XoD
Yeah... it's late
Last time on LGG:
Draco and Hermione exited the hall and headed down the path to Hogsmeade.
"Are you cold?" Draco asked after about ten minutes and Hermione laughed.
"No," she said and sniffled. "But I think I might have one."
"Don't even have strong antibodies, do you Granger?"
"How dare you? My antibodies would whip your bony little pureblooded ass," she said, fishing a hanky from the same small backpack she'd taken on the train when they'd first met. Draco smiled down at her.
"You're messed in the head Mya."
Suddenly, Draco stopped walking. Hermione looked up at him with a curious smile.
"What?"
"When did you get so happy? What happened to the depressed little dark princess I met on the train?" Hermione smiled and looked down at the ground.
"I think she found that guillotine."
~*~*~*~
CHAPTER NINETEEN: Juice Box
"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked, not entirely sure he knew what she meant. He had a pretty good idea, but he still wanted to make sure before feeling too proud of himself.
"She's gone, Draco. Hopefully for good. Depression isn't as much fun as it looks," she said somewhat sadly and Draco smiled down at her.
"Then who are you?"
"I'm the girl who was lost for a while, but I'm home now. Changed from experience, but still home," she said and smiled up at him. "Now that I have a reason to come back. Bad change?"
"Hell no," Draco said, sliding his hand into hers. Hermione smiled and squeezed it, continuing her way to the station.
"I think this is going to be fun."
"Agreed."
~*~*~*~
"What the hell are you doing?" Hermione asked in quiet curiosity. She'd returned to their boxcar from the bathroom to find Draco lying spread eagle and shoeless on the floor, simply starting at the ceiling. He shook his head slowly.
"I have no idea. You know, I really hate this train. Everything about it is so... ugh. It makes me queasy just looking at it." Hermione shook her head, smiling. Without a word, she joined him on the floor, slipping off her shoes as well. Hermione lay beside him with her head on his shoulder and a leg bent over his. Draco smiled and wrapped an arm around her. "You okay?"
"Mm," she assured, closing her eyes and cuddling up to him. Draco smiled. As long as she was okay with it, he certainly wasn't one to disagree. He watched as she attempted to sleep, cuddled close and smiling. It really was a new installment. Yes, they'd slept in the same bed every night that week, but it'd always been a fall-in-bed-and-deplete-exhaustion thing... never a cuddle-me-close, kissy-kissy, hug-hug thing. This was a nice change.
"Hermione?" he asked, but the dark princess didn't move. "Hermione," he said a little louder and she generated a moan.
"What?" she asked in annoyed grogginess. Draco smiled, but didn't speak; he simply attached his lips to hers, waking Hermione fully in seconds. She made a startled moan, but it soon turned to one of pleasure as she fell into it. She felt Draco nervously attempt to roll over her, then pull back again, and again... she smiled. Hermione, going with tradition, pushed him flat on his back, rolling over him, still kissing deeply. Draco kept his hands rooted at her hips, determined to let her make all the first moves. He wouldn't do anything until she did. Simple as that.
Hermione ran her hands from his shoulders to his waist, un-tucking his shirt with a little help from Draco, who arched his back for her. She smiled and broke the kiss, moving her lips in a damp trail down his neck and around the collar of his shirt. Draco let his hands move up and over her back, closing his eyes as he felt her begin to unbutton his shirt, replacing each disk with another link in her wet chain of kisses.
Hermione kissed to the last button, then pulled the shirt open, running her hands over his bare skin. Draco smiled, pulling her closer, and Hermione relocked their lips. She continued to move her fingers over his skin, lightly caressing each patch. Draco moved his hands back to her hips, then up under her shirt, feeling the cool material of her bra run over his fingertips. Hermione smiled and pulled away, sitting straight. Draco opened his eyes, watching as she lifted the sweatshirt over her head, revealing herself in nothing but her black silk under wire. He nearly groaned. Hermione leaned down again.
"What?" she asked softly, beginning to kiss him lightly. Draco exhaled.
"You're gorgeous," he whispered, catching her by surprise, and she stopped, pulling back to look at him curiously. Draco made quick to shower her with the same tiny kisses she'd been giving him. When their lips touched again, Draco mustered his courage and gently rolled on top of Hermione, letting his shirt slid down his arms before kissing a line down the center of her chest, from the hollow of her throat, over the thin slip of fabric, and over her stomach to her bellybutton. She moaned slightly, burying her hands in his hair.
He kissed around the waistband of her jeans, just as he had her shorts with the feather, and she squirmed happily. Before continuing with her unclothing, Draco moved back up, following the trail to her lips. He moved his hand to gently grasp at her bosom, and Hermione continued her kiss, not showing any signs she'd realized, save a tiny breathy moan. Slowly, her hands moved to his belt buckle, fumbling as they hurriedly tried to unclasp it. He smiled. That was his cue. If she took of his pants, she meant business... all the more fun for him.
Draco did nothing... except kiss and grope her. He made no attempt to help with the exposing of himself. She needed to do that on her own for him to be sure she was for real. Hermione seemed pretty experienced. She needn't even look to unbuckle, unzip, and drop his pants to his knees, which rested on the floor. Now, he helped slightly, raising his knees enough for the fabric to pass below. Hermione brought her arms around his neck and pushed his jeans down his calves with her feet, caressing his leg in the process. Draco smiled. So she did want this... and by the look, she wanted this bad.
Now that he'd gotten the okay, Draco moved his hands to unbutton her jeans. Hermione reached down and pulled her wand from her pocket before allowing him to continue. She closed the window and conjured up a blanket; cursing the damn cold train. Was central heating THAT expensive for a locomotive?
"Hermione..." Draco whispered into her lips, and she realized he needed her help. Glad to give it, she lifted her hips, and he slid the jeans over her and down her legs, moving backward. Then he pushed them to the side and crawled back over her, bringing the blanket with him.
Not two minutes later, Hermione was working on pulling down his boxers; the same way she had his jeans; with her hands to his knees, and her feet to the floor. Draco seemed to put off the discarding of clothes for a moment, concentrating on kissing the rim around her bra.
"That's not fair," she said, shifting and tilting her head back. Draco stopped and moved his lips closer to hers, prolonging the contact they made with her skin.
"What's not?" he asked in whisper and Hermione turned her head, suckling a spot on his neck. She waited a moment, then pulled away.
"You're naked, and I'm not..." she complained, sticking her lip out playfully. Draco chuckled softly and kissed her fiercely.
"We'll just have to do something about that." He ran his hands over her hips, pausing to let his fingers slide below the band of her underwear, then slid the digits up and around her back. Hermione arched herself again, letting him unclasp and discard her brassiere with minimal effort. "Better?" he asked, moving his lips to suck gently at her newly exposed flesh. Hermione squirmed.
"A little," she said teasingly. Draco paused again, moving back to her face. "Do you want me?" she asked, arching her back so her newly exposed breasts pushed into his chest.
"God yes," he said, kissing her shoulder, just for the touch. Hermione smiled.
"Mmm... and you want to take me? Right here, on this train?"
"Yes, Hermione... yes," he hissed softly, hungrily working a hickey into her neck. She sighed contentedly.
"And what do I get out of this?" she asked with sudden bluntness and Draco smirked.
"You get me."
"That's it?" Hermione smirked widely. Draco paused a moment, then nodded.
"Yeah, that's about it." She stared blankly, then shrugged her shoulders.
"Okay."
~*~*~*~
"There's my mother," Draco said as they stepped off the train, pointing toward a blonde woman sitting on a bench chatting with a tall, burly man in a dark suit. Hermione bit her lip, incredibly nervous. She nodded slowly. Draco smiled and brought a hand to her chin, turning her face toward him. She smiled, seeing him do the same, and Draco kissed her, deep and passionately. Hermione laughed as he pulled away.
"Man, you just don't quit, do you?" she asked and he smirked, shrugging.
"Okay, here's the plan. You, sit on this trunk, and try and look lonely and depressed, okay? Act like yourself," Draco said and Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'll go talk to her."
"Okay," she said quietly. Draco turned to look at his mother again. Seeing that she still hadn't noticed him, he turned back and kissed Hermione gently.
"Calm down, will you?" Hermione laughed, slightly nervously, and sat down. Draco smiled and turned away, walking toward his mother. "Mum?"
"Draco!" the older woman called, stopping her conversation mid-sentence and jumping up, moving to envelope her son in a hug.
"Okay, okay... air now," he wheezed and she let go, laughing.
"Sorry, love. Are we ready to go? Jasper, load the car, please."
"Just a minute, Mum... I have a... favor to ask." Narcissa raised an eyebrow at her son.
"I don't think you're in the right position to be asking me for anything, Draco. Two weeks? You've never been suspended for THAT long! And in the first week of school? This is a new low for you, dear," she said, but didn't sound angry as much as simply displeased. Draco lowered his head.
"I know, Mother." Narcissa, seeing the look on her son's face, gave in with a sigh.
"Alright, what do you want?" Draco smiled, lifting his head. He turned to stand beside her so that they were both facing Hermione, who was doing as he asked, sitting on her trunk and looking sad, twisting a piece of hair in her fingers.
"You see that girl, there?" Narcissa nodded.
"Yes..." she said suspiciously.
"Well, I sort of... got her suspended too. And, the fact is, she doesn't have anywhere to go. I feel kind of bad for her, I mean... just look at her, Mum." Narcissa still looked suspicious.
"What do you mean she has nowhere to go?" she asked and Draco put on his best sympathetic face.
"Her parents are very neglectful, and are never home. She's looking at two weeks alone in her house... and she's a muggle-born, Mum. Bad stuff happens to muggle teens all the time. If something happened to her, I'd feel responsible," Draco said, and Narcissa thought a moment, then nodded.
"So would I, in your shoes. But what do you want me to do about it?" He smiled.
"I was thinking maybe you could spare your only son some guilt and his friend some potential pain, and let me ask her to come home with us," he suggested, and Narcissa took her eyes off Hermione, snapping them to her son.
"You're FRIENDS with a MUDBLOOD?" Draco's smile dropped.
"Please don't call her that, Mother." Narcissa's eyes filled with tears, and she threw her arms around her son, hugging him tight. "Mother?" he asked, alarmed as she cried and embraced him.
"Oh, Draco, I'm so proud of you! I was afraid you'd turn out just like your father!" she bellowed and Draco laughed, pulling away.
"Please, Mum, when was the last time I did something just because Dad said to? Honestly. So, thoughts on Hermione's coming home?" Narcissa dropped her arms and bit her lip. "Please?" She shook her head.
"I don't know, baby... what would Lucius say? And that seems like a little too much reward for being punished."
"But think of it from her point of view, Mother. She didn't do anything, and now she has to be all alone... at the mercy of all those hormone driven teens out there," Draco pointed out and Narcissa nodded, tiling her head.
"She IS very attractive..." You have no idea, Mother... no idea. "And I guess it's the least we could do... but I still worry about your father."
"Dad'll be fine as long as he keeps up on his meds... and we don't have to tell him she's muggle-born. Hermione's a much better witch than I am a wizard... he'll never guess it. She's pretty enough to be a pureblood." Draco said and turned to his mother. She seemed to be giving in slightly. "I really like her, Momma. I don't want her getting hurt," he said with such honesty that it made Narcissa tear up slightly.
"Okay, Draco. As reward for making friends with her, and because she has no where to go... she can come home with us." Draco smiled widely.
"Oh, thank you Mum, this is great," he said happily and kissed her cheek, then jogged off toward Hermione, who looked up. Narcissa watched as her son extended his hands out for the girl to take, and she stood, not letting go and listening as he told her the good news. A smile lit up her face and Narcissa duplicated it. "Get her things, Jasper."
"Do you think this is wise, Miss?"
"No, I don't... but I can't very well change my mind now, can I? And just look at them... they're so happy... my son has made friends with a muggle- born, Jasper. I've hoped for this for years. Please, get her things."
"Yes Miss."
~*~*~*~
She looked up as Draco approached.
"All set," he said, holding out his hands and Hermione smiled widely as she took them and stood.
"Really?" she asked excitedly and Draco nodded.
"I told you; I can easily manipulate people as flexible as my mother. In reality, the whole 'friends with a muggle-born' thing was what bought the deal. She's always wanted me to, you know... make some muggle friends... just to prove I'm not like Lucius. Her pride blinded her to the fact that I was ever even in trouble." Hermione laughed slightly.
"Glad I could help," she said and he smiled.
"So you get to come home with me, Granger. How's it feel?" he asked with a smirk and Hermione shrugged indifferently.
"I'm scared out of my mind." Draco laughed and leaned in to kiss her. "No, your mother is still watching me," she said, taking a step back and smoothly moving to get her trunk, as if that'd been what she were planning to do. Draco shook his head and took her hands again.
"Jasper's getting them, Mya."
"Oh. Who's Jasper?" Draco nodded toward the spot his mother had vacated.
"That big guy who's coming over here right now," he said and Hermione turned around, jumping slightly as she noticed the large man was now only a few feet away.
"Oh," was all she could say. Draco pulled her from her crouch.
"Come on, the car's outside," he said and Hermione turned away from Jasper, following her host. Draco smiled and slid an arm around her waist. Hermione stepped a little closer to him, but didn't do anything that could be mistaken as a lover's movement... like duplicating his arm placement or laying her head on his chest. To anyone around them, it just seemed like a courteous teenage boy escorting a girl from the train station. Very inconspicuous. She could be his sister.
It wasn't until Hermione saw the stretch limo in the parking lot that she thought his words odd.
"May I ask, without causing offence, why you have a car, Mr. Malfoy-the- muggle-hater?" Draco laughed.
"Horse-drawn carriages stand out a bit in London, there, girly," he said and Hermione laughed.
"I guess that makes sense." Draco smiled at her.
"But hey, it's not like it's my car..." She elbowed him inconspicuously in the ribs.
"Watch it, Drakey." Draco removed his hand from her back as they stepped up to the car and massaged his side.
"Yeah, I really should... those homicidal elbows... they're everywhere nowadays," he said and Hermione rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. Draco opened the door for her, and Hermione thanked him, slipping into the large car. Surprisingly, the inside was just as it looked from the outside... except maybe a little less compacted... but it still sat only four people in the back. She expected it to be grand and extravagant, the Malfoys being who they were.
Across the seat from where Hermione had sat and slid across, sat Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy, smiling genuinely and holding her hands clasped on her lap. Draco got in just after Hermione and closed the door behind him.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Malfoy. I can't thank you enough for this... I hope I'm not intruding," Hermione said, sounding amazingly genuine, although Draco knew it was just a brilliant act. He smirked and Narcissa smiled.
"Of course not, dear. I don't believe I've caught your name... Hermione, is it?" Hermione kept her fake, but convincing smile.
"Yes, ma'am. Hermione Granger."
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger. Please, tell me more about yourself?"
The entire ride to Malfoy Manor was spent in not-so-pleasant 'meet the parents' conversation. Had Draco a fraction less self-control, he would have burst out laughing at some of the crackpot answers Hermione cooked up. She was doing exceptionally well; not even hinting that there might be something more than friendship between herself and Narcissa's son. That is, she didn't even acknowledge when he slipped his hand over hers. She smiled a little more, but it was as if it'd never happened.
~*~*~*~
"Well, I think I'm ready for a nap. Hermione?" Draco announced as they entered the vast home. Hermione was looking around, smirking and nodding, obviously impressed. At Draco's question, she replaced her innocent smile and nodded, holding her hands in front of her, arms straightened toward the floor like a little child. "I'll show you to your room," he said and Narcissa placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Draco. Please... tell your father for me... I just don't think I can."
"Sure Mum, no problem."
"What room will the lady be staying in, Mr. Malfoy?" asked Jasper from behind as he held the trunks and bags in his hands as easily as he would giant marshmallows and Draco turned slightly.
"22D, Jasper, but you don't have to bring those up now. Take a break," he said and Jasper smiled.
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. That is much appreciated." Draco smiled and turned to Hermione.
"Ready?" She just kept her tight smile and gave a slight nod. Draco took her hand and started toward a big, brass plated door between the two staircases. "22D," he said and the door opened, revealing an elaborate bedroom. Draco stepped inside, pulling Hermione behind him. The brass door slid closed automatically. To Hermione's surprise, the other side looked nothing like brass, and there was a doorknob. Why would there be a doorknob on a sliding door? Curious, she turned it, only to be greeted with an empty hallway. "You were brilliant in the car, Mya... maybe YOU should look into soap operas." Hermione smiled and turned to face him
"Thanks, I tried. Hey, what was that?" she asked and Draco smiled, letting go and flopping back on the maroon and black bed.
"The MP3000. Very convenient." Hermione nodded.
"One more time, in laments terms, please?" Draco chuckled.
"The Mansion Portal 3000. Like a port key, but it only takes you to different rooms in our house... it's convenient because this place is...bluntly, fucking huge. We don't use half the space... it's ridiculous. We only have the portal because it's a faster way to get Dad from wherever he is to the padded room... if necessary. It's room number 16D; don't go there... the only way out is if someone lets you out... and just being in that room would make anyone go crazy," he said and Hermione nodded slowly as she climbed up on the bed next to him.
"What's with the letters?" Draco shrugged slightly, hands folded below his head. Hermione moved close and rested her head on his bent arm. Draco smiled. If Pansy ever did anything like that without an order, he'd have killed her... but Hermione... Hermione could get away with just about anything and he wouldn't say a word.
"It makes it easier... G is for ground level; the first floor, E is the second, because S would sound stupid, D is the third, for the same reason with T, and X is top floor. I don't know why. Z is the basement, but it's all drippy dungeons down there... and it's sealed off, anyway. Many bad memories of that there floor. Anyway, the only rooms you'll need to know is yours, of course, this one... which is 22D. My room is 13E," he said and Hermione frowned.
"You're not even on the same floor as me?" she asked disappointedly, pouting. Draco smiled and continued as if she'd never spoken.
"My room is 13E, the room I sleep in is 20D... my parents' room is 51E, but I don't recommend disturbing them..." Hermione looked confused.
"Wait; why do you sleep in a different room than the one dubbed your own?" she asked and Draco sighed.
"Because, my parents, especially my father, are very active people. They tend to have many social gatherings, in which the guests wake up half naked on the ballroom floor the next morning, dazed with hangovers. Lucky me, my bedroom is the first door at the top of the stairs... I've found a lot of naked couples in that bed... and I don't plan on waking up next to them." Hermione made a face.
"That's repulsive."
"Which is why I don't sleep there. My sleeping room is right next door to you, just like at school. That's one reason why I put you here." Hermione smiled and closed her eyes. "Other than that, most of the rooms are labeled self-explanatorily. The kitchen is kitchen, dining room is dining room, the entry room is actually called lobby, the bathrooms are bathrooms, but there's three on each floor, so you have to specify. Say bathroom D2, or whatever. I'll make you a list of other ones, just so you'll have something to look at. Oh, and the dark-arts library is room 14G, my mother's library, which is all those sex filled romance books and the occasional history, is room 10D, and my library, which is rather small and contains mostly just my textbooks, and a bunch of books I unintentionally or not stole from the school library, is 15E, next to my room."
"That's a pretty cool system," Hermione said somewhat sleepily and Draco nodded, looking at her. Her eyes were closed and she was close to drifting... her features were already gaining more innocence.
"It works out nicely, yes. Are you hungry?" Hermione shook her head, burying it into his shoulder slightly.
"No, just tired..." she said and Draco smirked.
"I wonder why," he said suggestively and Hermione yawned.
"Oh, shut up," she said, pressing close and letting out a deep and contented sigh. Draco shifted slightly, unbending the arm that no longer lay below her head, and bringing his finger to pull the hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear. He smiled down at her, stroking those luscious black locks and closing his eyes. He too was asleep in no time.
A/N: :oD Here we go...some nice act-she-own (action) here! Wowza! About the title, it's called juice box... I guess because there was a juicy scene in the boxcar? Lol. I don't know, it just fit. XoD
Yeah... it's late