They left the cottage and walked home down the moonlit lane. Draco took Hermione's hand and she stared at him.
"What are you doing?"
"They might still be watching, " Draco said, glancing backwards. "And this lane is a bit rough and you're drunk so you might fall over."
"I am not drunk!"
"You called yourself Hermione," Draco said and Hermione gasped in horror.
"What? Did I? Oh no!" Hermione sounded horrified. Draco burst out laughing and she realized he had been joking. She pushed him roughly. "That was cruel! I hate you!"
"No you don't," Draco said. It was quite dark but Hermione could see his eyes sparkling.
"No I don't," Hermione acknowledged, her voice a little husky because she was actually feeling a bit drunk. She didn't hate him, in fact she was really glad he was here with her. Draco had turned towards her and his eyes locked with hers. He reached out and took her other hand and she felt the tingles again. What was going on here? Why was she feeling like this whenever Draco got close to her. Why did his eyes make her senses dance? He was such a contradiction but she knew she was becoming increasingly attached to him. She felt something cold land on her head and then a large water droplet hit her hand and then another. She looked up into the sky and suddenly they were being hit by huge droplets as the heavens opened.
"Come on - run!" Draco shouted, pulling her along.
"I can't run in these shoes!"
He ignored her and practically dragged her along after him. It was in vain though because it was raining heavily now - a literal downpour- with the rain hitting the floor and bouncing back up again. Neither of them were wearing a coat and within seconds, Hermione could feel the water dripping down her back. She stumbled, her heels finding a dip in the road and she made a grab for Draco who put his hands under her arms to keep her upright. She felt a sharp pain in her ankle and bit her lip trying not to cry out. After making sure she was upright, Draco turned to run towards their little cottage again but Hermione took one step and crumpled again.
"You carry on - I can't run, my ankle really hurts," Hermione gasped, water streaming down her face and hair. Draco paused for a split second and then he suddenly bent forward and picked her up. She struggled for a moment, hating the indignity of it but as the rain lashed into her face again and the pain in her ankle increased she let him carry her the now, short distance to their house. Draco waved his wand to open the door and they almost fell into the hallway, Draco only just keeping his balance. He put her down and stared at her concerned.
"Are you okay?"
"It hurts a lot - I think you might have to try and fix it for me," Hermione tried to take a step, hanging onto the wall but it wouldn't hold her weight and she almost ended up on the floor until Draco grabbed her again.
"Wait there - hang onto the wall," he instructed. "I'm going to go and get a blanket." Hermione stared after him for a moment wondering what he was on about. He returned quickly holding a large throw that she recognized from her bed. He withdrew his wand and aimed it at her, making her flinch. "Stand still - I'm going to dry your clothes then you can wrap yourself in this and I can carry you to the sofa." He waved his wand over Hermione who was still clinging to the wall. She felt a blast of warm air which felt wonderful against her cold skin. Draco did this for several minutes but Hermione could tell that her clothes were still quite wet, especially her underwear because the hot air wasn't touching it. "That will have to do, I don't dare try this on your hair," Draco said. He went to pick her up but she pushed him away.
"I'm fine to wait a minute - you should dry yourself off," she said.
Draco did as she suggested, holding the wand over his own wet clothes. After a minute he stopped and threw his wand to one side. "Sod this - it's taking too long," he said and he reached down to pull his shirt over his head. Hermione could do nothing but stand and watch as he then removed his t-shirt. As he reached for his belt she shook her head.
"What are you doing?"
"It's okay - I'm perfectly decent," Draco said. "I can't keep these trousers on they are the wettest bit!"
Hermione didn't know where to put her eyes, partly from embarrassment and partly because she really didn't want to appear to be staring at the utterly gorgeous specimen of manhood now standing in his underwear before her. Draco glanced over at her and sighed. "For Merlin's sake! There's no need to have a meltdown; I'm just going to put you on the sofa and then I'll run upstairs and put some new clothes on."
"I'm not having a meltdown!"
"Your face is bright pink."
"My ankle is really hurting and I'm standing here clinging to the wall like an idiot!" Hermione snapped at him.
"I'm going as fast as I can - I couldn't put you on the sofa ringing wet!"
"Go and get dressed, I'm going to crawl to the sofa," Hermione said, starting to lower herself awkwardly to the floor.
"Of course you're not!" Draco grabbed her, using his superior height and strength to overcome her protestations and pick her up again. He carried her easily to the sofa in four long strides but it was the longest 20 seconds of Hermione's life as she found herself face to face with the bare skin of his chest. It was smooth, toned and a soft honey colour and she had to close her eyes so she didn't stare at it. He put her on the sofa and she groaned as her ankle throbbed. He bent over it and grimaced.
"I'll fix it now."
"No! Go and put some clothes on!" Hermione tried to keep her eyes averted from his naked flesh.
"I told you I'm respectable!" Draco said but she glared at him so he ran upstairs. After less than a minute he returned wearing some jog pants and a tight t-shirt. Having had a close up of what was beneath the tight clothing Hermione still felt like staring. He was so perfectly in proportion, his muscles defined and toned but not overly so and now his still damp hair was flopping into his eyes which were fixed on her swollen ankle.
"I'll take the swelling down first - then I should be able to fix it," he said, oblivious to her watching him. He waved his wand over her ankle and Hermione felt a strange tightening around it. It didn't hurt so she just bit her lip, wanting this to be over. Draco bent lower and gently touched her ankle. "Does that hurt?" he asked and she nodded. "Okay - here goes!" He waved his wand again and instantly Hermione felt the pain subside. She looked up to find those grey eyes on her. "Better?"
"Yes - thank you," she lowered her legs off the sofa and gingerly put her foot to the floor.
"Take it easy - I'm not a mediwizard," Draco cautioned her.
"I know - I'll just test it," Hermione agreed. She stood up and put half her weight on it. It felt a little tender but held her weight easily. She took a step and it still felt fine. She was about to smile at Draco when she decided to get her own back on him for when he'd told her she'd called herself Hermione. She moved her foot and made a pretence of bending over, crying out as if she was in terrible pain. Draco jumped forward, grabbing her arm to support her.
"It's not okay? I thought I'd fixed it - I'm so sorry," he said. Hermione stood up, shaking him off and did a little jog on the spot.
"You did fix it - thanks," she said, casually and she flashed him a smirk. He narrowed his eyes at her and licked his lips.
"Very clever, Granger."
"Payback, Malfoy."
"You won't win if we're playing payback - I am Draco Malfoy, remember?"
"We'll see," Hermione said. "I'm going to go and have a shower and get changed."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
When she got back downstairs Draco was in the kitchen making them a drink.
"How is your ankle now?" he asked. He turned to face her and she didn't miss his eyes doing a quick assessment of her appearance. She was, as he had said, perfectly respectable but she was showing a little more flesh than usual because her casual trousers didn't quite meet her vest top, exposing just a slither of her toned stomach. Her top had thin straps but didn't expose anything other than her shoulders. She had a large, fluffy cardigan in her hand, which she now wished she had put on but the shower had made her feel hot. Now Draco's gaze was making her feel hot!
"My ankles fine, thanks." She fiddled with her vest strap nervously and Draco's eyes followed her fingers, lingering on her neck. "Thanks for the drink." She made a sharp exit to the lounge and slipped her cardigan on, despite feeling so hot. She sat on the sofa and Draco joined her.
"What a night!" he commented. "They seem nice - very Muggle - but nice."
"Very Muggle?" Hermione shook her head. "Have you heard yourself?"
"Here we go again!" Draco said.
"But you're so condescending! I thought you'd grown out of all that."
"I have! Why are you so bloody touchy about everything I say?" Draco put his head back and sighed. "It's like waiting for Expulso to happen any moment. I say that I think it's a sunny day and boom! All because you think it's cloudy!"
Hermione studied him, his head leant on the back of the sofa, his legs stretched out in front of him and she knew he did have a point. She was jumpy around him and she did snap at him for the smallest things.
"I'll promise to be less snappy if you promise to be less critical of everyone and everything," she suggested.
"You should just be less snappy regardless. I can't help who I am," Draco said, in his usual unbending manner.
"Grrrrr!" Hermione growled at him, unable to keep her temper and she stood up abruptly to leave the room before she gave into the temptation to Avada Kedavra him. Draco was too quick though and he reached up, grabbing her with one hand by the floppy sleeve of her cardigan which was at least a size too big and around her waist with the other hand. His hand hit her the bare flesh of her stomach and Hermione felt her legs almost give way and this time it had nothing to do with her ankle. She froze, stock still, unable to move until Draco pulled her to sitting again. He didn't remove his hand from her waist and she didn't ask him to.
"I was joking," he said quietly. "I agree with your suggestion. You should snap less and I should try and be less demanding."
"Right. Good." Hermione wasn't able to say very much more because her mouth was so dry. Maybe she was a lot drunker than she thought because Draco's feather light touch was driving her crazy. Their embrace the other night came flooding back to her and she found her eyes moving to his lips and then the bare flesh above his t-shirt. When his spare hand gently touched the skin just below her neck, her eyes shot up to meet his again. He was staring at her intently and their gaze remained locked as Draco gently pushed her cardigan off, exposing her shoulder.
If you could see electricity, then Hermione was certain that they would be surrounded by it because no-one had ever touched her so little and yet made her feel so much. She was a tingling, jangling mess of feelings and she knew that one of them was something she never thought she'd ever feel for Draco Malfoy. And it had to stop! Right now!
She jumped up, pulling her cardigan back on and grabbing her drink.
"I should go to bed," she said, backing off towards the door. "Good night."
Okay, so it was corny and cliche having Draco strip off but I had to do it! Hope you liked it - let me know. x