What Binds Us Chapter 8, a harry potter fanfic

Title: What Binds Us [Chapter 8/??]
Author: Rorania
Rating: R
Warnings: Language, sexual references
Word Count: 3,168
Summary: Starts after HBP. Draco's under protection of the Order, much to the Golden Trio's dismay.

Chapter　八

八はち八はち八はち八

ー

"How did you transfigure your wand like that?" Hermione asked, lifting his ringed hand.

Draco smirked at her. "Teaching Granger something, this is a first."

Hermione sniffed. "Don't be a sot. Tell me," she implored again.

Draco gave her another smug, though teasing grin, before turning to her.

"Alright, where's your wand?"

Hermione pulled it out.

"Now say Virga Orbis."

Hermione chanted the incantation. Her eyes widened as her wand transformed and wrapped around her middle finger. Holding it up for inspection, she glanced at Draco.

"And it's on the middle finger because it's the longest?"

Draco nodded. "Now to transfigure it back, Orbis Virga."

"Orbis Virga," Hermione chanted, while watching her hand. Suddenly, she was holding her wand once again.

She looked up in wonder at Draco, who grinned back.

They both looked up as Blaise came out of his room. Blaise in turn noticed them, and quirked a brow. Hermione sat cross-legged on the couch facing Draco, who had one leg bent in front of him, the other resting on the floor.

"Not interrupting anything, am I?" Blaise smirked.

Draco gave Blaise a haughty glare, while Hermione glanced at her watch, a nervous tick of hers.

"Oh, I have to go. I told Ginny I'd talk to her tonight." And she had to plan out the next excursion with the boys, but that would just make Draco upset if he knew. She stood, chanting virga orbis in her head, as she headed out the door.

"Great. You scared her," said Draco.

Blaise snorted as he plopped down in a chair. "I'm afraid I can't take all the credit."

"I don't scare her. I never have," protested Draco.

"Not before, sure. But now," Blaise wiggled his brows at Draco, "you make her feel all sorts of things Potter and Weasel-boy never came close to. You know Granger, there's a reason she has to know everything."

Draco shook his head, as if confused.

Blaise sighed. "She's afraid of the unknown. And you, she's definitely unsure of."

Draco looked down contemplating what Blaise said. The only time he saw her afraid of him, was when he threatened Harry fifth year as part of the Inquisitorial Squad, and that was only on behalf of Harry. That was when he hated her. Now that, dare he say, liked her, she was scared of him? It didn't make sense to him. He didn't want her afraid of him now.

Blaise could sense Draco's continued confusion and asked, "Look, aren't you a little unsure of Hermione yourself? I mean, you're afraid you'll say or do something to mess everything up which means no more late-night snogs and figuring out what's the deal between you two?"

Draco shrugged in response.

"Well, she's afraid if she lets you, you'll take advantage, or worse, make her fall for you, and then who knows what you'll do. You might go back to the Dark Lord and ask her to come too. I don't know. The main thing is you both are unsure of each other and not knowing and taking a leap anyway is frightening."

Draco's forehead was screwed up in consternation.

"So then what do I do?"

Blaise sighed.

"Make her trust you. Then don't do anything to break it."

：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：：

Knock knock.

Hermione opened the door to find Draco resting his forearm on the frame. She gave him a frown.

"What is it?"

Draco shrugged. "Just wanted to see if I could catch you naked."

Hermione hit him in the stomach. "What—hey," he grinned.

Draco made to block her attack while smirking.

"Like I'm going to open the door naked," Hermione huffed, rolling her eyes.

Draco raised his brows at her as in 'why not?'

Hermione gave him chesire grin. "What if you had been Blaise?"

The smile dropped from Draco's mouth. Hermione gave him a knowing grin.

"Look, I just wanted to see if you were ready for breakfast. I'll walk you down." Draco said straightening, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Hermione's eyebrows raised. Gestures like this from Draco were going to continue to surprise her, especially if he kept it up with his pain-in-the-ass routine.

She nodded, slowly. "Let me grab my bag." Once she did, she smiled at him as she went past him out the door. He noticed her struggling with the strap of her bag and grabbed it from her, slinging it over his shoulder, shocking her once again.

They entered the main staircases, busy this time of morning. As they manoeuveured around students, Draco kept a steadying hand near Hermione's waist, that did not go unnoticed by the girls they passed, and even some of the guys. Hermione had to stop short once, sending Draco's front clean against her back. His hand flattened across her stomach, steadying them both. Hermione looked back and forth before her, not wanting to move but knowing she should. As she tried to move forward and away, Draco's arm stayed her. She spun to face him instead.

Draco stared down at her upturned face. "Hermione." His hand lifted from her waist to brush her hair back. "You know, I'm really liking the idea of skivving classes this morning…" he murmured.

Hermione liked the idea, too. Until. . .

"Hermione."

Hermione turned to look. Draco just rolled his eyes, cursing under his breath. Reluctantly he turned to face Potter and his Weasel walking towards them.

"What's going on?" Harry said, suspiciously looking at Draco.

Hermione made to say something but Draco was quicker—and wittier.

"Social interaction, Potter. I'm surprised you haven't heard of it."

Harry merely narrowed his gaze further at Draco. Then he looked at Hermione.

"Are you coming to breakfast?"

Hermione again started to answer but, "Actually, yes. She's having it with me."

Harry, Ron & Hermione all looked at Draco in confusion.

"Excuse us," Draco said lightly, before whisking Hermione away, before anyone could object.

"What are you talking about? I'm not sitting at the Slytherin table," Hermione protested.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Well, even though I get a good portion of it to myself, with the exception of Blaise, the only Slytherin who will sit with me, we are not sitting at the Slytherin table."

"Then where?"

"I thought the courtyard would do."

Hermione frowned.

"Dobby is doing me a favour," he added.

"Harry, why are we doing this?" Ron asked, as his stomach grumbled loudly.

"Don't tell me you're comfortable with Hermione, your ex, and our best friend being alone with Malfoy," said Harry.

"Of course not, but--"

"Alright then." Harry cut off any further protests as he looked back out through the crack in the stone to where Hermione sat with Draco.

Harry watched as they sat on a stone bench, Draco straddling it to face Hermione, while a picnic basket appeared between them. He could see Hermione was impressed, and rolled his eyes. Malfoy was a con artist, why couldn't she see that?

"What are they doing?" Ron whispered.

"Nothing," Harry shook his head. "Yet."

Harry continued to watch as Hermione allowed Draco to feed her…strawberries? He felt as if were going to vomit. Then he saw Draco wipe juice from Hermione's chin and lean in…

"Harry?!"

He turned and leaned his head back towards to the voice, but bumped his head on the stone wall in the process. Rubbing his head, he saw Ginny look above him and back.

"You're spying on Hermione?!"

Ron stood and covered his sister's mouth. "Shh!"

The three looked over to see if they'd been spotted. They hadn't. Ginny's eyes crinkled in glee as Harry and Ron's faces contorted with disgust and anger, seeing their best friend lip-locked with Draco Malfoy, once again.

"Ugh!" Ron exclaimed, as Ginny shook off her brother's hands.

She grabbed them both by the ears, Harry's just in time as he was straightening to go after Draco, and pulled them away.

"Shame on you!" Ginny turned to them angrily, once around the corner. "Where was your concern when that McLaggen git was pawing at her?!"

"What?!" Ron exclaimed, angrily. He looked Ginny to Harry, who sighed, and back again. "McLaggen and Hermione?! Why wasn't I told of this?!"

Ginny sighed. "I don't know, Ron. You might've been able to see it for yourself if you hadn't been down Lavender's throat all year."

Ron's face reddened.

"The point is, Harry was right there while Hermione was trying to avoid him and didn't care one whit about it," Ginny said, crossing her arms.

Ron looked angrily at Harry. Harry looked back defensively.

"What! I've never pawed at her!" He looked back at Ginny. "It's Malfoy who's doing it right now, so I don't know why we're standing around here!"

Ginny just shook her head at him. "Well, maybe you should've, Harry. Maybe then, your behaviour would actually make sense right now." Sighing heavilly, Ginny spun and stalked away. "Leave Hermione alone. She's happy, for once."

Draco felt himself getting carried away. He slid a hand inside her robe as he deepened the kiss. He wasn't surprised when she pulled back. Disappointed, yes. He allowed her to end the kiss but didn't remove his hand. Hermione looked around self-consciously, as she pulled away completely.

"We, um, should get going or we'll miss our class."

When he just stared at her, she squirmed uncomfortably and started to rise. Draco's hand stayed her. She looked back at him in question.

"Can we meet tonight? Alone?" he asked.

Hermione was taken aback. "Like a date?"

Draco nodded. "I can get rid of Blaise."

Hermione gave him a strange look. "I don't think that'll be necessary."

"So, that's a yes?" Draco asked.

Hermione nodded slowly.

Draco gave her a slow grin and this time stood with her. She turned to look down as she grabbed her bag. When she looked back up, Draco's hand was there, on her cheek, surprising her with another kiss. Against her will, her eyelids fluttered closed. When he pulled away, she felt his hand cover hers over her bookbag strap and pull it from her shoulder and onto his.

"I got this." Draco winked at her, as he grabbed his stuff and waved a hand over their food, disappearing it.

Hermione blushed and looked away. Her stomach was burning and fluttering from his closeness and actions. She was simply not prepared for such behaviour from him.

Draco placed a hand low on her back.

"You alright?"

Hermione glanced shyly at him and nodded, moving forward. Draco smirked at her back, knowingly. Granger was definitely not immune to his natural charm and afraid of it.

They had D.A.D.A. and Potions with Ron and Harry that day. Much to the boys' consternation, Draco sat with Hermione in both classes.

Harry watched through slitted eyes as Draco's hands kept wandering towards Hermione's form. In D.A.D.A. Harry glared daggers at Draco's arm casually slung over the back of Hermione's chair, while in Advanced Potions, his ears almost started smoking as Draco stood directly behind and entirely too close to Hermione, while brewing their potion. Harry watched, anger rising, as Draco's hand slid down from Hermione's waist to her hip—

BAM!!!

Everybody looked, including Hermione and Draco, to see smoke billowing from Harry and Ron's cauldron. Ron had dropped to the floor on instinct and was not peeking up at Harry, who was coughing and waving the smoke out of his face. When it cleared a little, he continued his glaring at Draco, who gave him a smirking lift of his eyebrow. Hermione just looked stunned.

Professor Slughorn bustled over then. "Oh, Merlin, was anyone hurt?! I cannot handle anymore deaths, do you hear me?! Potter, you alright? Harry?"

Harry nodded slowly, his hard stare never leaving Draco. "Yeah. Peachy, Professor."

Draco returned Potter's cold glare with a challenging stare. He shifted closer to Hermione resting a hand lightly on her hip.

After class, Harry halted Draco outside the door, jerking on his arm.

Draco looked at him annoyed, as Hermione frowned. "Harry!"

"We need to talk." Harry said, keeping his gaze on Draco.

Draco lifted his brows.

"Harry, stop this." Hermione said again, standing between the two boys.

They ignored her, seeing as she was too short to obstruct their silent conversation. Hermione huffed. She placed a hand on Harry's chest, and then he looked down at her as if just realizing she was there.

"We need to get to class," she said.

Harry nodded. Hermione nodded back, before turning to push Draco back and pull him away from her angry friends. Draco and Harry held gazes, promising to finish things before the day's end.

Ron stepped up to Harry, glancing between him and Draco's retreating form down the hallway.

"What was that all about?"

Harry glanced at him. "Remember second year?"

Ron frowned. "Yeah."

"Snape won't be around to monitor this duel."

Hermione kept glancing at Draco during Arithmancy after that. When he'd catch her, he'd send her reassuring winks and smile. She didn't know what was going on between Harry and him, but she didn't have a good feeling about it. She was sure they weren't going to let bygones be bygones. Maybe she forced all this on Harry too fast. Even for her, it was going a bit fast. It scared her to death, the thought of trusting Draco completely. He made her so nervous. Except when they were kissing. And alone. Then it wasn't so bad. Hermione sighed inwardly. Great, she was letting her hormones control her. Maybe Harry was right, she was an idiot to get involved with Draco.

But why was it Harry who was so intent on her disassociation with Draco? Ron had always been the irrational hothead when it came to her and boys and even he was baffled by Harry's actions.

Was Draco right? Did Harry have some misguided crush on her? She'd thought Draco was simply trying to throw her off balance but Harry's behaviour was increasingly odd. Maybe she should have a talk with him tonight. Before her date with Draco. See what was really bothering him.

Happy with that thought, Hermione tried to turn her attention back to her notes.

At lunch, Draco walked her to their common room so she could change out her books for afternoon courses. He followed her to her room, dropping his robe across the back of the couch along his way, before resting his shoulder against her doorframe, in thought.

After collecting her books, she stepped back and looked over at him. She cocked her head to the side seeing him pensive. Draco noticed her lack of movement after a moment and met her confused gaze. She walked towards him. He watched her steadilly, his gaze scanning her form leisurely.

"What's wrong?"

Draco gave her a slow smirk. He shifted upright as she stopped in front of him. "Nothing, now." His hands slipped into her robe grabbing her waist. Pulling her close, his breath fanned her face as he stared down at her. The burning in the pit of her stomach returned, making her forget whatever she'd been worrying about before. Her breathe caught as his mouth barely brushed hers, teasing her. Reaching up, she gripped his shirtfront and pulled his mouth down to hers. Draco eagerly complied, angling his mouth across hers. He started walking her back, shoving her Hogwarts robe off her shoulders.

He caught her before she could trip over it as it hit the floor, lifting her up to wrap her legs around his waist.

It was odd, since Hermione realized it was wanton of her to do so, but it felt so good, she didn't really care at the moment. But being Hermione, that thought was quickly followed by 'why didn't she care?'

As they fell back onto her bed, their mouths separating, Hermione came to a stunning and slightly horrifying realization, while trying to take in much needed air. Was she falling in love with Draco? Draco took the opportunity to nip at her neck then, sucking and licking from the base to the sensitive spot beneath her ear, that she didn't contemplate the fact they'd only been friendly the past few days or so and she was entirely too young to fall in love, and with her enemy no less. All she knew then, was she felt extremely warm and tingly, receiving such attentions from someone she'd always had strong feelings for, in one way or another.

Draco was more than pleased feeling her fingers dig in his shoulders. He shifted onto one elbow and dragged his other hand down her side skimming the side of her breast, smoothing down her stomach to her hip, curving around her thigh, before starting back up. His hand smoothed over the top of her thigh, before settling on her waist, hesitating slightly, before curving around her bottom. When she didn't immediately push him away or protest, he squeezed gently, rewarded with a pelvic thrust and a very nice moan. He kissed her jaw lightly, watching her eyes flutter open. It was then, for Draco that he realized he had more than base feelings for her. No longer was she simply the object of his recent fantasies, she was somebody he cared about. Someone he could fall for. He couldn't do this.

Draco pushed off of her and stood. Hermione frowned and leaned up on her elbows to watch him run his fingers through his hair.

"Draco? What…" Hermione drifted off.

Draco glanced at her, his gaze unsure. Hermione started to feel self-conscious then and stood up, folding her arms across her chest.

Draco noticed this and stepped up to her, resting his hands on her forearms.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me. I'll probably feel better tonight," Draco apologized.

Hermione nodded, though she wasn't convinced.

"We better hurry before lunch is over," Hermione said, as she grabbed her bag. Draco grabbed it from her, almost absently, as she bent down to grab her robe.

The rest of the afternoon, Draco spent lost in his thoughts. He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't like it. What started as harmless fun borne from boredom, turned an irresistible magical attraction to evolving into something very frightening.

Was this what Hermione felt? This horrific feeling that you could become hopelessly attached to this person whom you've always hated and that could possibly rip your heart to pieces, and if said attachment happens, you will do everything in your power to rid anyone who tries to take them away? Meaning Potter.

Wouldn't it be the same for her? For him, he had no problem beating the crap out of Potter, except that she wouldn't like it and it would only cause him trouble. But with her…she's definitely too soft-hearted to choose him over Harry, and that's what it looks like it would come down to, in the end. At least, if he didn't do something to get Potter off his back. Tonight.