Author's Notes: Please read and review!

-Stephanie

Novermber 28, 2006

Moment of Weakness

The dazzling early morning sunshine gently prodded Hermione awake. She yawned and then felt a pressure on her back. She looked over to find a peacefully sleeping Draco Malfoy pressed up against her. His arms were not around her but there wasn't an inch between her back and his bare chest. Her heartbeat sped up as she realized this and felt his warm breath against her neck. She was staring admiring his defined face when he lazily opened his eyelids without warning before she could look away. "Were you watching me Granger?"

She blushed and said "No. I was just wondering why you're so pressed up against me. Your side of the bed is over there you know."

He looked down and saw how far he had crept over to her side of the bed during the night. "Sorry. I guess it just happened." For the second night in a row, he had slept soundly, free of his recurring nightmare about the dark lord. He didn't know if it was because of the diary, his new surroundings or Hermione's presence but whatever it was, he was immensely grateful. He crawled out of bed and stretched languidly in front of her before saying "I think I'll use your shower. I need to look my best if were going out today."

"Sure" She said as she pulled the covers back over herself. Hermione had forgotten about her deal to take him shopping and slightly regretted it, she didn't know what trouble he could cause when in close contract with countless muggles.

Draco stepped into the bathroom and stripped off his boxers before experimenting with the weird taps. His at home automatically adjusted to a perfect temperature of your liking but these apparently had to be done manually. How annoying. Draco found some towels in her cabinet and stepped into the hot shower. He sighed as the water steamed over him. A shower was always the perfect way to start a day in his opinion. He browsed over her selection and picked up one that looked interesting, opening the top to sniff it. It smelled fruity coconut scent so he decided to use it, lathering his hair and washing his body.

Draco stepped out of the shower and realized his clothes were not in there, so he would have to wrap a towel around himself instead. He smirked at the thought of Granger's face when he walked in nothing but a fluffy white towel around himself.

Opening the door, he found that she was still lying in bed but had grabbed a book from the bookshelf to peruse. She looked up and quickly averted her eyes and the sight of him in nothing but a towel. "Couldn't you have changed inside the bathroom?" She asked.

"But then I would have denied you the pleasure of seeing me in a towel." He said raising his blonde eyebrows at her.

"Oh stop being so insufferable" She said before snatching up some jeans and her new sweater to wear out that day. She opened up her drawer while he wasn't looking to grab her panties and bra. She didn't feel like being mocked. She made sure the bathroom door was firmly locked before undressing and showering.

She changed into her clothes, performed a drying charm on her hair and pulled it back into a simple pony tail.

Draco was changing into his suit when she walked out and was hopelessly trying to smooth out the wrinkles in it. She saw that his normally straight hair was curling into silvery blonde tendrils around his jawbone.

Draco looked up and ran his eyes over her, drinking in how her figure looked in the jeans and sweater. He longed to touch her at the moment. He wondered how her skin would feel under his fingers, how her hair would feel against his cheek…..Draco snapped out of this reverie when Hermione said "Are you ready to go? We can get breakfast while were out."

He nodded his head and followed her to the door before pausing "What about your parents?" He asked.

"They have to work today but they'll be home at five. We'll be back by then."

They took the bus to the shopping mall and stopped by a local coffee shop for breakfast. Hermione breathed in the scent of freshly brewed coffee as she entered the toasty building that was decorated merrily for Christmas. She ordered a Pumpkin Pie Latte and a chocolate cheesecake muffin while Draco ordered plain black coffee and blueberry bagel.

"How do you drink that horrid atrocity?" He said referring to her latter.

"What do you mean? It's good. How do you drink that bitter black mess?" Hermione said indignantly.

"This is good, plain coffee. You've ruined yours by adding sugar and pumpkin junk to it." Draco said as he took a bite of his blueberry muffin.

"Well I happen to enjoy my pumpkin junk." Hermione retorted.

"Whatever. Where are we going to buy my new clothes? I hope they have Gucci around here. Good thing my father gave me a credit card so I have muggle money. I knew it would come in handy some day."

Hermione sighed. "I doubt were going to find a store around here that sells Gucci and Armani or whatever else you like to buy. There is a Banana Republic, a J Crew and a Ralph Lauren. Those will be nice enough."

Draco snorted and said "I guess."

After finishing there breakfast they arrived that the first store with was Ralph Lauren. Draco found this store pleasing enough and purchased a two nice pairs of jeans and several button up shirts along with a black polo and a navy blue one. He had seemed interested in those for some odd reason. "Hmm I've never owned one of these polo things" he said eyeing himself in the mirror.

Hermione watched him as he paraded in front of her, trying out his new clothes and told him what she thought which wasn't always nice. "That pink shirt makes you look washed out and sickly. Take it off."

"Well thank you darling. Aren't you in a sweet mood today?" Draco said sarcastically.

Hermione had to admit that she was actually enjoying herself a bit. He may be annoying, mocking and sarcastic but he could be pleasant at times too. She found herself laughing along with him at some of the silly things he had tried on and forgot for a while that it was Draco Malfoy she was with.

They finished at Ralph Lauren and proceeded to Banana Republic. Hermione had always loved this store and enjoyed browsing it while Draco picked out things to try on. She heard an angry noise from the corner and turned to see Draco scowling at her "Well, aren't you going to see how my clothes look?"

Hermione groaned and walked over "You are so vain, you know."

He picked out a grey cashmere sweater and liked it so much he picked up a black one as well. He went looking for shoes and Hermione left him again to go browse the woman's section and saw the cutest dress. It was the color of crushed berries, short with a tight fit up top and taffeta at the bottom. She felt the fabric and imagined what it would be like to wear something like this when she felt the presence of someone behind her.

"Well, try it on." He said.

"What?" Hermione said, surprised by his sudden appearance.

"I said try it on considering you've been drooling over it for about ten minutes. I might even buy it for you but on one condition. I get to see what it looks like on you." Draco said, mischief sparking in his icy grey eyes.

Hermione considered saying no and walking away but she really wanted to try on the dress. "Alright fine, I'll try it on."

She picked out her size and went to the dressing room, leaving Draco outside leaning against a shelf and looking incredibly handsome and at ease.

She pulled it on and stepped out of the dressing room feeling very self conscious. The dress was adorable and fit her perfectly but it definitely showed off her figure.

Draco looked at her as she stepped out and immediately knew that he must buy this dress for her. She looked stunning and the dress complemented her every aspect in a very flattering way.

He didn't say anything about it though, but the way his eyes blazed with desire made her uncomfortable and want to cover herself up.

"I guess I'll have to buy that for you Granger." He said nonchalantly.

"I'm not letting you buy me something. I don't need it." She actually would love to have the dress but didn't want Draco to buy it for her. For some reason, in her mind this would somehow put her in his debt.

He would have none of it though. "It's not my money. It's my fathers that I will enjoy spending generously and besides I want to buy you that dress. If you don't want it then I'll keep it for myself. I personally think it would look much better on me."

Hermione had to laugh in spite of herself and Draco was pleased at the melody that escaped her playful mouth. Most girls' high pitched squeals of laughter made him cringe with annoyance but her laugh was different. It was a rich and vibrant sound that made him smile along with her.

She looked at him in surprise as a true smile lit his features. He really was quite charming when he smiled she thought to herself. He should smile more often, and then maybe he would be more tolerable.

Draco purchased his items and his stomach decided it was time for lunch. They got back on the bus and headed home, Draco heavily loaded down with his numerous purchases.

"Are you going to fix me some food?" Draco said once they had entered the house and he had unceremoniously dumped his packages off in her room and seated himself at the table.

Hermione gave him a "you're crazy" look and said "I'm not your house-elf. The bread is on the counter and the meat and cheese are in the refrigerator as well as the mustard and mayonnaise.

"I'm making my own food at someone else's house. This is outrageous." He mumbled but without much convictions. Draco fixed himself a turkey and cheese sandwich and then seated himself on the couch to watch TV.

Hermione immersed in a book and Draco decided to watch Judge Judy which he found extremely humorous. "I can't believe this is the junk they have on TV?"

"Yes" she said. "That's why I choose to read." Hermione plucked the remote control from the coffee table and turned the TV off.

There was indignant sputtering and mumble of angry words coming from Draco "What do you think you're doing Granger? I was watching that."

"I thought you said it was "junk"?" She said coolly, glad that the arguing couples and piercing voice of Judge Judy wasn't grating her nerves anymore.

"Well I was still watching it. There's nothing better to do since you refuse to entertain me." He then snatched the remote back and turned the TV right back on to Judge Judy.

Hermione scowled at him.

When her parents arrived home, Draco was once again forced upstairs and Hermione chose to eat dinner in her room.

She handed Draco his plate of chicken and mashed potatoes and he took a bite with a thoughtful expression "You're mother is a good cook, if I say so myself."

"Yeah she is" Hermione said, getting up and stretching a kink out of her back.

Draco watched her body as she did this, and once again felt the urge to touch her overwhelming him before he stamped it down. He was going to have to stop this, he didn't know where this odd attraction was coming from but he didn't like the feeling helpless to his physical urges. He would have to control himself.

Later on that night when it was time for bed Draco went into the bathroom once more to brush his teeth and wash his face. He opened the door to the bathroom and stepped out to see Hermione standing with her back to him and unhooking off her bra. She didn't see him or hear him until he took a step but then quickly yanked her pajama shirt on, her face blushing crimson.

Draco stepped over towards her, drawn in by her coffee brown orbs. He was standing within a foot of her and before he could stop himself he leaned down and kissed her. Softly at first but then his passion grew at the sweet taste of her mouth. Hermione had been so surprised at first that she froze but after a second she found herself growing aroused and her mouth responding against his. She gripped his back for support and he twisted his fingers through her hair. His body was burning for her as he slipped his tongue into her mouth and this action is what shocked her back to her senses. She pulled back quickly and looked at him in breathless shock, trying to ignore how good it felt to have his mouth pressed up against hers.

He said nothing because he had no ready made excuse. He didn't know what had made him kiss her like that. It had seemed beyond his control as he had leaned down towards her mouth. Once his lips had touched her red mouth he hadn't been able to stop himself. It had felt so right to be holding her. His mouth had felt like it belonged on hers and he wanted to kiss her again, to explore her mouth and taste her but he held himself back.

Without a word he turned off the light and crawled into bed, leaving her standing there silently. Hermione went to the bathroom to think. She sat on the cold floor and leaned against the wall, thinking about what had just occurred. Hermione had never had her body betray her like that. She had responded against her will to his touch and actually liked it. She couldn't believe she was letting him get to her, but she just couldn't stop her feelings for him. Jesus, I'm falling for Malfoy she thought.