I'm in a battle with my heartbeat
The more I struggle the more I get deep
I go full throttle down the dark streets
And there is trouble ahead I get weak

-Fast Car, Taio Cruz

A Rebel With A Tainted Heart: Chapter 9

After a tearful goodbye to her granny and parents, Hermione returned to the castle with Malfoy. She was really surprised at how well mannered he actually was, once he had been stripped of his hierarchical views. For once, Hermione felt accepted for who she really was and actually, was glad that if she had to marry anyone, that it was this new reformed Malfoy. After letting the two elder Professors know of their return, the pair walked side by side in silence back to the Common Room. Hermione quickly read the brief letters she received from Ronald and Harry.

Hermione;

I miss you here; the Burrow isn't quite the same without you, but Daphne's here! Ron's still being a bit of a prat and is walking around in a grump at the minute, especially after the telling off he received from Molly. She basically grounded him and is refusing to give him seconds or pudding at dinner. I'm sure he is most definitely regretting everything he said to and about you. I am sorry I didn't try to set him straight but you know what he's like, once he gets something in his head, he sticks with it. Molly and Arthur wish you (and even Malfoy!) the best, they hope you're both okay. Apparently the Malfoy's apologised to the Weasley's – wrote letters, visited them and even shook hands! Preposterous (I have you to thank for that word!) I know, but they're happy and they're glad you seem to be. Hope you're all okay, give my regards to Ginny and Blaise and try not to get into too much trouble without us – ha!

Much love,

Harry x

Hermione smiled as she read her best friend's letter and even let out a little giggle at his usage of what he considered 'big words'. Harry was the best friend anyone could ever ask for and Hermione was glad he hadn't reacted like Ron – she was really getting tired of his attitude. Sighing, she lifted his letter and began to read it.

Granger;

How could you. Malfoy. Why? It could have been me. You're a filthy little Mudblood slag, taking up with that prick so quickly. I hope you enjoy sharing his bed.

Your ex-best friend.

At one time, Hermione would have burst into tears at the first word on the parchment, but she was used to Ronald and his infamous tempers. Yet she had never seen him so angry before and somehow, she was angry – he had called her a Mudblood again. For what? Absolutely nothing and she really wished he would sort himself out. As if she didn't have enough stress already.

Throwing the letters down on the table, she went and timidly sat down beside Malfoy on the sofa. He smiled a little as she did so. Draco was amazed to see how much Hermione was waking up his protective instinct. He had reacted on impulse today. It was totally out of character for him when it came to his own safety. He was extremely well known to always be a step ahead of everyone else. It was precisely because he always thought about all the possibilities and all the options before doing anything. But today was one of the few times he put his own life in jeopardy to save someone else. Something he wouldn't have done three years ago, but now it was different. She made him feel different.

"You alright Granger?" He asked her softly.

"Yeah Malfoy, are you?" She smiled at him, eyes full of warmth.

He didn't respond, merely took her face in his hands and gently pressed his lips to hers. Her lips were soft and gentle against his. Although she was taken by surprise, she was enjoying the kiss, quickly wrapping her slender arms around his neck and he brought his around her tiny waist, pulling her closer to him. He deepened the kiss and eventually she was lying on top of him, wrapped closely together and gasping for breath as their foreheads rested against the others.

"Woah," She whispered, laughing lightly.

"Yeah," He agreed, lips quirking up at the corners before he captured her lips once more. She allowed him to, without protest or hesitation.

Hermione ran her hands underneath his polo shirt, fingertips lightly tracing the contours of his abs. Jesus, he was perfect. His soft hands ran slowly up her body, past her waist and under her jacket, pulling it off. He threw it over the other sofa, just as they both kicked off their shoes. She pulled off his polo just as he flipped them over, pinning her under him. Gods, she loved the feel of him pressed against her. And his body, Hermione could have happily died.

"Are you sure you want this Granger? Because if you say yes, there's no going back," He whispered against her skin, as he feathered kisses down her neck and across her collarbone. She traced her fingers up to his face, pulling him back up to her and looking in his gorgeous grey eyes.

"I want this Malfoy, and I'm not using you as a distraction. I want you," She whispered seductively and he grinned before kissing her again. Somehow, they made their way up the stairs and into his room, cornering each other to kiss. He pulled her black maxi dress off and kissed, licked and nibbled his way up her body.

"You're beautiful," He whispered, making her blush as he cast the contraceptive spell.

"And you're perfect," She replied, wrapping her long, thin legs around his waist.

They wasted no time and soon enough they were rolling around in his bed, sheets tangled around them. Apples and spearmint, that's what Draco Malfoy tasted like, and Hermione revelled in it. He definitely deserved his nickname of Slytherin Sex God. There was no doubt about it. He had stamina; they were at it for hours.

Afterwards, Hermione rested her head on his chest, her left arm carelessly strewn across his chest and he hugged her tightly to him.

"Yo, Granger? Draco?" A voice called out from down the stairs.

"Fuck Blaise," Draco hissed.

"Hermione? Malfoy?" Another voice called out.

"Jesus, the Weaslette's joined the goddamn party too," Malfoy muttered to himself, jumping out of his bed and pulling on his jeans and polo. Hermione giggled quietly at him, to which he waggled his eyebrows as she pulled on her underwear and dress. His eyes raked her body hungrily and she shot him a seductive glance over her shoulder.

"I'm going to need to take a cold shower," He muttered and Hermione smiled a little to herself. She loved teasing him, and by his facial expression, it was obviously working.

"Hermiiiiiione," Ginny sang up the stairs.

"What?" Hermione called back down, standing at the top of the stairs.

"Didn't you hear me call your name?" Ginny asked suspiciously.

"Um no, I was in the bathroom, trying to sort my hair," Hermione lied casually, trying to smooth down her hopefully-not-too-obvious sex hair.

"Hogging the bathroom and trying being the key word there!" Malfoy yelled from the bathroom, where he was also trying to sort his hair into its usual bed head style rather than rolling around the bed head style.

"Hey, I was not hogging it, shut up Malfoy!" Hermione yelled back.

"That wasn't what you were calling me twenty minutes ago," He replied slyly, luckily speaking quietly enough so that only she heard. Suppressing a smile and giggle, Hermione descended the stairs to where Ginny and Blaise were collapsed on the sofa.

"Are you two ever going to actually get along and stop arguing?" Blaise rolled his eyes.

-If only you knew!

"Maybe," Malfoy replied, coming down the stairs and aiming a sly wink in Hermione's direction. She smiled faintly and shook her head at him. Luckily Blaise and Ginny missed the exchange between their two best friends.

"Did you not hear me Draco?" Blaise asked, confused and slightly suspicious. Hermione held her breath as she waited for Draco's answer.

"I did but I simply chose to ignore you," He shrugged, flopping onto the spare sofa. Hermione jumped down beside him gingerly, trying not to sit too close to him, but it was difficult!

She didn't know what to think, her feelings for Draco Malfoy had suddenly surfaced. She, Hermione Granger Muggleborn Extraordinaire, had slept with Draco Malfoy, Pureblood Poster Child. Moreover, she had enjoyed it – immensely so! Okay, it was obvious she liked him; she wouldn't have slept with him if she didn't. And she certainly wasn't using him as a distraction, because she would jump into his bed again if he asked.

-God Hermione you sound like the sluts that were Malfoy's groupies!

"Hermione!" Ginny waved a hand in front of the brunette's face.

"Huh, what?" She blinked quickly, disoriented.

"I said we're going to dinner soon. What's wrong with you today?" Ginny asked, eyes narrowed. Malfoy bit his lip, holding in a laugh and running a hand casually through his hair beside her.

"Um, nothing Gin, nothing at all, just obviously with my granny and stuff, things are still sinking in but I'm glad she's okay, you know—" Hermione babbled and Ginny seemed satisfied. Malfoy started to smirk that infuriating – yet incredibly hot – smirk. Damn.

"You seem really jittery, and you're sitting kind of funny. Are you sure you're okay?" Blaise asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"Yeah yeah, I'm sure, let's go to dinner shall we?" Hermione said quickly jumping up to retrieve her shoes and jacket. Which she realised were splayed across the floor. Malfoy's smirk widened at her flustered demeanour.

"Shut up!" She hissed at him as they followed Ginny and Blaise out of the portrait door. Just to irritate her further, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, kissing her softly. Hermione felt herself get into the kiss and her resolve weaken. Then she remembered where she was and who was waiting for her. It wasn't that she wanted to keep her and Malfoy a secret, she just didn't want Ginny and Blaise finding out yet – it could still all go so horribly wrong. She wasn't a bad person for her reasoning, was she?

"You have got to stop doing that! You make my brain go fuzzy and then I become this crazy wreck!" Hermione scolded him as he stared into her chocolate coloured eyes.

"Relax Granger, you'll be much crazier later on when you can't walk," He winked, climbing out of the portrait door.

"Is that a promise?" She muttered to herself quietly. Sadly, he had heard though, judging from the sniggers coming from beyond the portrait hole.

~O-O~

The Great Hall had been completely emptied save for a medium sized table in the middle, surrounded by chairs. Great, Ginny thought, we'll have to sit with the teachers. Apparently Blaise was thinking the same thing because he shot her a dubious look to which she shrugged. Hermione and Malfoy were being weird, but she couldn't work out why. She figured if something was properly wrong that Hermione would tell her. She would, wouldn't she?

Sure she would. There was probably nothing remotely wrong, just them and their usual bickering constantly. It was times like that when Ginny was glad that the four of them didn't have to share a Common Room and Dormitories. Now that would be hell on earth. Apart from the whole possibility of seeing two hot guys shirtless. Well she had seen Blaise, but she wouldn't pass up on the opportunity to see Malfoy either – wait what?

- It's the hunger Ginny, just the hunger getting to you.

"Good evening, Mr Malfoy, Mr Zabini, Miss Granger, Miss Weasley. I trust the remainder of your day has been pleasant?" Professor Dumbledore smiled kindly at the four. Only he, Minerva, Professor Slughorn, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout were seated at the table. They watched in amusement as Draco Malfoy grinned and whispered something in Hermione's ear to make her blush and earn him a good dig in the ribs. All of the teachers looked curious to know what that little exchange was about. Of course, Ginny and Blaise were completely oblivious about it, both eyeing the food on the table happily.

"Yes it was good thank you Professor," Ginny smiled politely at him, snapping her eyes away from the food to reply. Malfoy sniggered at something and Hermione stomped on his foot, hard.

"Jesus, Granger that hurt!" He scowled, hopping on one foot whilst clutching the other.

"Oh wow, sorry I never meant to stand on your foot," She replied sarcastically and he shook his head at her, muttering darkly as they took their seats at the table. Hermione felt her leg brush awkwardly up against Draco's and she hoped he would ignore it. Unlucky for her.

"If you want me that badly, you'll have to wait til after dinner. I doubt these old coots would enjoy me slamming you against the table," He whispered huskily into her ear. Hermione choked and spluttered on her drink whilst the teachers, Ginny and Blaise merely raised their eyebrows.

"Drank it too quickly," Hermione offered and they look satisfied with her answer, although Professor Dumbledore had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. When did that man not though. Damn Draco Malfoy and his charm and good looks and amazing abilities in bed. He was driving her crazy and they'd only slept together once – she was losing her head!

Author's Note:- Hey guys, hope you like this, please let me know, sorry it's kind of short!x