She closed the distance between them, kissed his lower lip softly. Fireworks exploded inside Draco, from his head to his toes and everywhere in between. He couldn't help it- his whole body sprang into action and he kissed her back, full on, with fervor and a passion unmatched by anything. Ever.
After quite a while, Granger started to pull away gently. She looked at him, eyes shining. "This is really sudden. I feel… a bit tarty. Could we… you know, talk for a while?" His inner scowl must have showed on his face because she amended. "A little while. And then we'll get back to snogging our brains out." He smiled. "It's just, I don't normally do this with people I don't know."
"Oh, believe me, you're missing out," he commented dryly. She looked put out. "Sorry, go on." He smirked, but there was a hint of a real smile in it.
"Right. So." She fidgeted. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what? I was just listening intently."
"Like, I don't know. Just stop!"
"Hey, Granger?" He could feel himself about to do something he knew he would regret sooner or later, and he felt almost positive he would regret it sooner rather than later.
"Yeah?"
"What I said earlier, it was all true." Waitwaitwait, his brain said. It was? "I've liked you since first year." I have? Yeah, I guess I have. Granger. Hmm. "It's just that I was raised to- you know-"
"Hate me, yeah."
He winced. "That's not exactly how I would have put it, but pretty much."
"That's sweet," she said. He laughed. She kissed him mid-chuckle. He pulled her closer, and she stayed there. Finally, she looked up at him. "Obviously, we need to keep this a secret. You do realize that, right?"
He nodded, the pictures momentarily forgotten. "But I think we could have a real, er, thing between us." She was cute when she blushed. "Do you?"
Did he think he could have a 'real thing' with Hermione Granger? Draco didn't know. There was the purely carnal aspect, that much was obvious. But a 'real thing' was more than that, or at least that's what he'd learned from his mother's Witches Weekly paperback romances. They were having a civil conversation, and a fairly enjoyable one. That had to count for something, right? He took a deep breath and said the words that could completely alter his life. "Yeah. Yeah, I do."
Speechless, Hermione smiled. Draco and Hermione. We'd look cute together, if we could be seen together. Hermione, focus!! This isn't real. And then a plan came to her. She could only hope she'd bamboozled him sufficiently.
"Right, so we're going to give this a try?"
"Sure, why not?" His languid manner couldn't completely hide his smile. Not a smirk, but an honest-to-Merlin smile.
"I know we can't make public appearances, but do you have any idea how good we'd look together?"
"I would have to say we would be fairly stunning."
"All me, of course."
"But of course," he said, matching her silly toff accent exactly. Then he snorted, unable to keep a straight face. "Please be serious. You know I'm prettier than you."
Hermione shook her head. "Unfortunately, since this is a secret illicit affair we're having, no one else can tell me how good you make me look in comparison. Here give me those pictures you took earlier and I'll show you."
She held her breath. Draco glanced down at where the pictures had been sitting miraculously still for the last half hour or so. He picked them up and slowly looked up at her. "Shit. I am sorry about that. Really, I am. But… I don't really have any need for these anymore. I think I got what I really wanted out of that exchange." He grinned. "So, if you don't have a problem with it, I think I'll burn these now."
Don't get too excited! "Are you sure? About all of this?" She had to struggle to keep her face looking concerned, and not grinning.
"Positive," he replied and turned away.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Malfoy, you darling fool! You're making this so much easier for me. "I absolutely love you!"
Malfoy turned back. "What?"
"Nothing, sorry. Sometimes I talk to myself."
He grinned. "You're insane." He muttered a spell, and the pile of papers blazed. Hermione held her breath until the pictures had burned to unsalvageable, indistinct ashes. Now to make an exit the Weird Sisters would be proud of.
"Draco, babe, look over there! What is that?!" He glanced to where she had pointed, off to the right.
"Granger, I don't see- did you call me Draco?" He looked back at her. She was gone. And where she had stood lay a piece of paper with writing- a note
Darling Draco, it read.
All a lie. Hope I haven't broken your heart too thoroughly or anything.
And if I have, oh well. I'm sure you deserve it for something. No hard
feelings? See you in Charms.
Granger
Fuck.
I'm baaack! I meant what I said and I said what I meant and an elephant's faithful one hundred percent. Or something. Today marks the debut of my first oneshot, also Dramione. Please go check it out. Or don't. Have a nice day.
