Chapter 17 Exploring Rosy Waters

With the passing of several weeks of the New Year, Hermione's days of constantly being chaperoned wore thin. Every time she tried to confront Draco about it, he kissed her passionately, making her forget why she was angry to begin with. Since the next challenge loomed near, Hermione decided against confronting him, especially when she found an invitation under her door with a key attached. "Dearest Hermione – I desperately need research help for the next challenge. Please meet me in my residence. Thanks. DM"

Though she knew of Draco's abode, she had never been in. Near the professors' accommodations, Hermione climbed the spiral staircase to a small semi-domed spire, Draco's residence, with Arnost politely behind. As she turned the key, she knocked. "Come in," Draco called. Nodding to her, Arnost descended the stairs. Once the door opened, Draco hugged her, lifting her off her feet and kissing her passionately. "I knew I could count on you for help."

"Anytime," she whispered as she rested her cheek against a solid chest beneath a dark green satin bathrobe. "How about a tour?"

"Of course," he replied, putting his arm around her shoulders. "First, this is my study." In this oversized third of the circular residence, books lined the wall while an extra-large desk sat in the middle with two lounge chairs in the corners and a micro kitchenette with a silver tea set. The scent of roses filled the air much stronger than in the rest of the castle. A circular foyer composed the center of the room where doors to the right and left opened to rectangular, elongated closets that divided the residence into roughly three parts.

Within the second third of the flat, his bedroom, a four poster canopy king bed with drapes sat within amongst cherry wood furnishings with a dragon themed décor in mostly silks and other rich fabrics of blacks and greens. "This is my lair of debauchery." When she glanced up, he grinned from ear to ear. On top of the bed, she saw a golden wrapped clothing box. "That is for you. Don't worry; this really is for research and I swear to be a gentleman. If you're not comfortable, you can leave and I promise not to be angry."

"Thanks," she replied as he stepped out and closed the door behind him. In the box, she found a peach bikini and robe to match: both designer and her exact size. Bianca picked these out, I bet. After she put them on, she laid on the bed, caressed the silk sheets and fantasized a moment before she hopped to her feet. "Draco, I'm dressed."

"I'm glad you trust me." When Draco came in, he took her to the bathroom of black and white marble, filled with candles. Heated radiated from the rose petal filled sauna bathtub. "Normally, I prefer a shower and no roses but I thought this would be a change of pace."

"I thought we were researching." Now he removed his robe to reveal a porcelain chiseled torso, much to Hermione's delight. Chastity is soooo difficult.

"Not all research revolves around books." Deftly, Draco removed her robe before he climbed in and offered his hand. After she sat next to him in the temperate bubbling water, he reached to the other side of the tub and grabbed a rolled up parchment. "This is the parchment that I found in the first part of the competition from magical papyrus." Once he opened it, she saw it was blank.

"Some form of liquid will reveal a clue because it has enchanted ink. Since Bulgaria grows roses, you deduced that the clue would be revealed with rose water."

"Exactly," he replied tossing the parchment into the water. While they waited, Hermione leaned against him, closed her eyes and relaxed. Later, they looked at it to see faint markings start to appear. "Well, I guess we need more research."

On his shoulder, Hermione saw a rather odd tattoo that reminded her of something she had only seen in books. "That's a unique tattoo. It looks like a pensieve."

"It is of sorts. This has been in the Malfoy family for generations. My father enchanted it so it releases one of my his memories to me every birthday or significant date, in order help me understand things as I grow up."

"What sort of memories, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Once I turn nineteen, I can restore Malfoy Manor to just like it was the day … I left." For a moment, desolation crossed Draco's face so she held his hand and leaned against him once more.

"That's powerful magic. I'm impressed." The bubbles made Hermione fell all tingly.

As Hermione looked at Draco, she found that when she smiled at him his mood lightened. On impulse, she kissed him. Hesitantly, her hand slid downwards letting her fingertips explore a defined bicep over to a lean muscular chest. Caught in the moment, she wrapped her arms around neck as they kissed, frequently letting her fingertips delight on warm flesh. As their kisses intensified, so did her discoveries of him, making her heart race and her entire body flush with heat. In a split second, her bikini top took flight so Draco could nibble and kiss. "Oh, Draco," she moaned before their lips met.

Pressing against him, she straddled him while their kisses became a feverish frenzy until they were nearly breathless. Beneath her, she felt him like she had never felt another wizard. Only thin cloth kept her innocence intact and undeniably let her know that he was up to the challenge of taking it. Though her body throbbed and screamed for more, her mind fought fiercely as she rested her chin against his shoulder. I'm not ready for this but I've teased him so much that I have to go all the way.

"Hermione," he whispered heatedly against her shoulder. "You're trembling." Not knowing what to do or say, Hermione couldn't move. "You're not ready to go all the way, are you?"

Feeling embarrassed, she shook her head. "No," she replied with a trembling voice.

"It's OK." To comfort her, he rubbed her back slightly. "I need you to get out of the tub. Go to my room and get dressed but button up all the way. I'll join you in a few minutes."

After she dried off, Hermione slunk towards his room. "Hermione," he called. "No sad faces, I just need to gather my senses."

In his room, Hermione dressed. He's a fantastic boyfriend. On impulse, she went to his closet to do exactly as he said.

A little while later, Draco came out of his room to join her in his study, holding the parchment. When he saw her wearing one of his shirts, completely buttoned, and one of his ties around her neck, he heartily laughed. "That's brilliant."

"Now that I'm covered from head to toe, let's have a look at that parchment." The parchment bore a small circle with a long winding line to an X. "Buried treasure, perhaps?"

"I'll find out during the next part of the contest."

Like a complete gentleman, Draco escorted Hermione back to her room with several lingering kisses on the way. "I'm surprised you're not angry with me."

"For you, I'll wait just as long as I'm still your first."

"What if you weren't?"

Both his eyebrows lifted before his face went completely stoic. "I'd kill the bastard."

For a moment, Hermione just stood there but then she realized it was just his sense of humor. "You almost had me with that one."

"Almost," he remarked before he gave her a quick kiss and left.

In their room, Ginny looked at Hermione's outfit and the smile on her face. "Draco makes you very happy, doesn't he?" Hermione nodded. "I'm glad. By the way, Ron is doing much better."

"I'm very glad he is. I never meant to hurt him. Friends again?"

Ginny nodded.

A/N – Thanks for everyone's support.

Now for everyone's opinion – "I'd kill the bastard." Do you think Draco was kidding or being serious?

Next up – The second challenge of the Triwizard Tournament.