A/N: Sorry it took so long guys. The reason for the delay is I was having issues with FanFiction saving my work. After a few false starts I finally got it wrote. Out of curiousity has anyone else had this problem? Anyways I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank so much for the few reviews I did get! Even the small ones let me know at least you guys are enjoying it and that I should continue. This story may earn its mature rating here soon so I'm giving you fair warning. But for the first time ever with my writing I'll let you guys vote on it. If you have read any of my other work you notice I do produce some lemony flavored fics but if you leave a review stating you'd rather keep the Lemon stuff out of it I will tally the votes off of the reviews. The most votes win. To lemon or not to lemon? The choice is yours!
Hermione woke up and slowly wiped the sleep from her eyes. Looking out the window she watched as the sun slowly started to rise over the black lake and realized that it was still relatively early. Not wanting to only go back to sleep for an hour she forced herself out of bed and began to search through her trunk for something to wear.
"Something green...something green..." She repeated to herself over and over as she dug deeper and deeper into the trunk unable to find anything that matched Draco's description of what she should wear. As she continued to dig deeper in the trunk she glanced at the things she'd pulled out so far and her eyes fell across the bag with her previous days purchases.
"Surely he doesn't mean..." Hermione trailed off as she looked at the bag wondering just what Draco had in mind. Feeling a shiver run down her spine she slowly pulled the knickers and brazier from the bag and held them in her hands eyeing them almost suspiciously. She quickly looked around the room to ensure that Pavarti and Lavender were still fast asleep in their beds before stripping and sliding the undergarments on and then her black jeans.
"Just because I'm wearing them doesn't mean anything." She smirked to herself thinking that it would serve Draco right her wearing them and him having no idea. She quickly looked through the rest of her trunk trying to find something green to wear know that she absolutely was not going to show the barkeep the green she was wearing underneath. A fruitless five minute dig later she was no closer to finding even a green scarf to wear. Sighing she looked around the room hopelessly before settling her gaze on Ginnys trunk. Ginny had plenty of clothes with an assortment of different colors she knew from watching Ginny throw them about the room and complaining about not having anything to wear. Hermione gazed at the trunk feeling the internal struggle growing steadily stronger inside her. It wouldn't really be stealing would it? She would just borrow a shirt and return it later that night with Ginny being none the wiser. Before she could think better of it she quickly tiptoed across the floor and bent over Ginny's waiting trunk. Opening it she was assaulted by shirts of every different possible color. She gently lifted clothes careful not to make it obvious she'd been looking and found a long sleeved green blouse with buttons down the front. Hermione eyed it uncomfortably knowing that the neckline was lower than anything she would have worn normally. Quietly closing the trunk Hermione walked over to the mirror and slipping it over her head watched as the blouse hugged her tightly showing off the curves of her hips and breasts with just a bit more cleavage than she was used to showing. Still it did look good on her and she knew Draco would be pleased. Grabbing a black jacket from her trunk she quickly ran a brush through her tangled hair and headed down to breakfast.
As she stepped into the Great Hall she looked around for Draco only to find him missing from the tables only to be disappointed when she realized he wasn't there. She sat down and after placing a small portion of food on her plate began to eat while reading the daily prophet that had been dropped on the table beside her shortly after she sat down but the morning owl. She quickly skimmed the front page only to fold it up in disgust from seeing Rita Skeeter's latest paparazzi stupidity. Once again the heartless witch had gotten it all wrong stating that she had traveled home to Bulgaria with Viktor Krum for the christmas holiday. Didn't the horrible woman have anything better to do then produce complete lies about a love triangle between her, Harry, and Viktor that didn't even exist? Thoroughly disgusted she pushed her plate away and stood up no longer in the mood to eat. Picking up the paper to burn later just out of spite she left the Great Hall and headed for the giant front doors of Hogwarts.
Stepping out onto the grounds she looked up to find the sky darkly overcast matching her mood almost perfectly. Try her best to push the thought of Rita Skeeter's horrible article from her mind she began walking down the path headed to Hogsmeade with more important things on her mind. Draco had said that he was intrigued to see where they were going. What exactly did that mean? She was intrigued as well but she wasn't sure just how far she wanted to take their relationship either. She couldn't deny the feelings stirring inside of her. The soft skin of his cheek against her lips was indescribable. Sneaking away with him was thrilling, filling the pit of her stomach with butterflies and she couldn't help but secretly crave the feel of his hand in hers when he would grab onto her, pulling to show her something. The part that left her nothing less than speechless was the way he smelled. Merlin, the way he smelled! If that smell could be bottled, it would have to include a warning label. Hermione shook her head trying to clear it as she continued out of the gates containing the school grounds and down the bath to Hogsmeade. How were they going to continue to see each other in secret though? Its not like they had a place to meet up at Hogwarts that there wasn't at least some chance someone would find them especially with everyone returning from the christmas holidays and not to mention the additional students from Beaubaxton and Durmstag. She began to run places through her mind one at a time and just as fast as she could think of them she could think of a dozen reasons they wouldn't work. Before she knew it she was walking through the streets of Hogsmeade and was fast approaching her destination of the Hogshead pub. When she finally reached the front door she eyed the building suspiciously almost as if she expected someone to come flying out of the front window at any moment. It was that kind of pub. She steeled herself and stepping forward pulled on the large brass handle and opened the door walking into the dark and gloomy looking establishment. Instantly she jumped aside with a shriek as a goat sped past her through the slowly closing door, the bell around its neck ringing and what she would have sworn was a, "Freedom, baaaaaaa!"
"Damn it! That goat is going to be the death of me. Every time it gets loose and I have to go chasing after it in this cold makes my bones ache. Whad'da ya want?"
Hermione turned around bewildered by the events of the past few moments to see an large portly man behind the bar and a goblin standing on a stool allowing him to just lean his arms across the bar to have a conversation with the dirty barkeep. She had obviously interrupted their conversation and began to stutter, "I...uh..I"m..."
"Finer pieces of meat walking around your pub nowadays aren't there? When did you move uptown old man?" The goblin asked eyeing Hermione up and down with a grin that would kill a cat. He had teeth that had been filed down to points and were yellowed with years of stain.
"Shut up Schpleen or I'll make you go get my goat. I suppose you're here to see the Malfoy boy? Up the stairs second door on your left." The barkeep said pointing across the room to a staircase on the far wall. Hermione watched as Schpleen's grin instantly dropped at the sound of Draco's family name and quickly turned back to the barkeep to continue their conversation. Did the Malfoy name really carry that much weight? That even a goblin as nasty, mean, and obviously dangerous as Schpleen would fear them? Hermione felt slightly unsettled as she walked across the room and began to climb the cramped staircase leading to the upper floor. As she approached the top of the steps she noticed that the upper floor seemed to be in much nicer condition that the old pub below but still in need of a good cleaning. She walked down the hall watching as the gas lanterns cast shadows on the pictures lining the hallways. Old photos of old witches and wizards from times long ago. None of them moved in their portraits which Hermione found to be unusual especially since they were so obviously witches and wizards. She approached the second door on the left and straightening her shoulders knocked softly.
Draco opened the door to find Hermione standing in the doorway with a smile on her face. "Good Morning Miss. H. I trust you didn't have any trouble finding the place?" Grinning he stepped back and with an open arm welcomed her into the room. Pleased with the look of utter astonishment on her face he silently shut the door and locked it before turning around to lean against it watching as Hermione studied the room in detail.
Hermione was amazed to see in how much better this room was in comparison to the rest of the pub. A roaring fireplace lined over half of the right wall with a giant bear rug on the floor in front of it and two plush chairs facing each other. There was a giant bay window with a showing an expansive view of overlooking Hogsmeade and a view of Hogwarts off in the distance. On the left wall a giant four poster bed with golden trim and black silk sheets was covered in animal furs for blankets. Furs that belong to animals that Hermione couldn't even begin to name even with her knowledge of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. An polished oak table sat in the middle of the room with a cribbage board laid out in the center of it. "What is this place?" Hermione asked instantly falling in love with the room.
"My father stays here when he comes to Hogsmeade on business. I simply told the barkeep that my father said I could use it whenever I felt the need to get away from Hogwarts." Draco said with a smile before pushing away from the door and walking over to her.
"And he bought it?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Of course. He knows his place and he knows he'd better keep his mouth shut if he wants my father to keep paying him every month to keep the room on hold for him." Draco replied stopping a foot away from her. "Do you like it?"
"I...I love it." Hermione answered breathlessly continuing to look around the room.
"Good. Because I thought perhaps we might use it again. I was thinking that this would be a considerably...less risky place to meet. It can be our secret hideaway." Draco nodded with a smile at her words.
"Won't your father find out?" Hermione asked nervously as she slipped out of her jacket the roaring fire helping to remove the chill from her walk down from the castle.
"Probably but he won't question it as long as he doesn't know I'm bringing anyone else with me." Draco said taking Hermione cloak and hanging it up on a set of hooks protruding from the wall. Turning he stepped up to Hermione leaving only a handful of inches between them.
"What...what are you doing?" Hermione asked nervously looking up into Draco's eyes.
"I don't know. Do you?" Draco asked looking down at her with a raised eyebrow.
"I...I..." Hermione stuttered trying to reply as she felt the butterflies begin to dance around the inside of her stomach like they were all doing the tango at once. She watched as Draco slowly raised his hand slid a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and sliding his hand down her neck causing her breath to catch in her throat and her heart to beat wildly.
"Don't miss this time Miss. H. I don't think I could handle it a second time." Draco said in a whisper as he cupped her cheek in his hand.
"I won't." Hermione said barely audible and she closed her eyes and leaned into Draco's waiting lips kissing him and feeling a spark that had been burning inside her turn into a roaring flame. She wrapped her arms around his neck and running her hand up and into his hair pulled him closer to deepen their kiss. She had kissed Viktor on the night of the Yule ball but it was nothing like this. This was a real kiss. Her first real kiss and it was better than anything she had ever dreamed. When they finally broke apart they were both breathing heavily. "That was...amazing."
"Yes it was and your aim has improved significantly." Draco agreed smiling down as Hermione smacked his shoulder playfully.
"I told you I wouldn't miss." Hermione replied stepping away from Draco to let her still rapidly beating heart slow down.
Draco pouted slightly as she moved away from him and moved over to one of the plush chairs in front of the fireplace. Sitting down he motioned for her to join him. He watched as she slowly almost hesitantly walked in front of him making her way to the other chair. Draco quickly caught her hand and instantly felt the tingle of power coursing through him. Looking up he saw Hermione staring at their joined hands and then up into his eyes. He pulled her toward him and sat her down in his lap. Still holding her hand he continued to feel the power rushing through them cascading over him like a waterfall. Pulling his hand away he felt the power ease but not completely dissipate with her still sitting on his lap.
Hermione felt the electricity between them begin to abate slightly as Draco removed his hand from hers and then looking up at her raised his hand in front of her eyes holding it up for her to see. Instantly know what he wanted she slowly raised her hand up and held it opposite of Draco's waiting palm.
"Slowly." Draco said watching as Hermione inched her hand closer to his, feeling the power increase in the air between their still untouching palms.
Hermione's widened the closer their palms came to touching feeling the power grow moment by moment, inch by slow agonizing inch to where her hand was almost vibrating. "What is this Draco?" she asked breathlessly as the hand came to only a hair's breadth apart.
"I don't know. But I want more." He replied before pushing his hand forward just that little bit so their palms were finally touching. In a moment the power was back and twice as strong almost as if it was a living thing that was caged but could taste freedom and the minute their hands met was released to run wild again.
"More." Hermione said feeling the power course through her. "Absolutely more."