CHAPTER FOUR: THE KISS
Draco woke up on his stomach, a vision of fluffy brown hair drifting from his dreams to consciousness. Then he moved with a start – it was Saturday, and he'd have Hermione to himself for most of the day.
They hadn't scheduled a specific time to meet at, so Draco dressed, grabbed his things and made his way from the common room in the dungeons to the Great Hall.
Hermione saw Draco walk into the hall and sit at the end of the Slytherin table with a few other seventh years. He was wearing jeans and a light shirt, his sleeves rolled up again. He looked good, and Hermione turned pink before going back to The Daily Prophet she was reading. Realizing she wasn't actually doing much reading, Hermione kept looking up at Draco and before long caught his eye. He grinned and nodded his head at the doors, to which she nodded in return. As they both got up, she saw a look of approval from him directed towards her navy blue dress and black stockings.
They barely spoke after a polite "Good morning," and walked towards their same spot in the forest. Draco couldn't help himself and grinned at the way the bottom of Hermione's dress flounced up as she walked, the fabric stretching around her hips. Hermione seemed to quicken her step in the forest and Draco, grabbing her hand, pulled her towards him.
"Hey," he said softly. Hermione blushed and looked at him curiously, his nose very close to hers, his breath both hot and cool, smelling like coffee and peppermint. She hoped he could smell her perfume. Hermione closed her eyes. He was about to kiss her, his breath surrounding her, his hand still holding hers.
"I'm really glad to have you as a partner," Draco finished. Hermione opened her eyes and saw a deliberate grin slowly spreading on his handsome face. Then he let go of her hand, and walked around her, back to their picnic bench, one hand holding the strap of his bag, the other in his pocket.
Hermione stared, flustered, and then shifted her focus to Draco's behind, a calculating smile on her face. She started walking again, following him.
Draco raised his eyebrows when Hermione sat beside him, on the same side of the white bench. They had sat across from each other the day before. Draco had expected Hermione to flush; to giggle and excuse herself out of bashfulness, but she did none of these things. Instead the two of them sat and discussed the potion, legs intertwined, laughing every now and then.
Three hours had passed and Hermione said she was going to get dinner before heading to take a much needed bath when Draco said, "Oh right, I forgot us prefects have the same bathroo-" but he did not get to finish as Hermione had grabbed his behind just as he was getting up. His jaw dropped and then transformed into a wide grin as Hermione kept hold on his left buttock, secretly admiring it, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.
"Well, see you later," she said brightly, and giving his behind a little pat, began to walk through the trees. Draco hesitated for only a moment longer before heading towards Hermione. He grabbed her hand again, and this time lightly pushed her against the trunk of a large tree.
"Oh," Hermione said softly, as Draco dropped his bag. His warm breath hovered over her and with his left hand around around her hip, he placed his right around her neck and pulling her towards him, kissed her.
Neither stopped. Draco pulled at the strap of Hermione's bag lightly so that it fell to the ground as well. Her lips were very soft, and he smelled a gentle scent of sandalwood. Draco pulled on Hermione's lower lip with his lips before she pulled away from him. He moved his right hand from her neck to her cheek, and then to her hair, entangling his hand in it lightly. He could hear her heart racing. Hermione grinned and gave a little sigh, blushing to her roots, and Draco thought he never saw her look more beautiful.