AN: I'm not entirely convinced I like this chapter. But I had to bring the story to an end, and this has been on hiatus long enough.
Hermione stumbled out of the fireplace, coughing from the soot.
"What are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you too. Ever thought of getting that chimney swept?"
Draco Malfoy looked at her, blankly. He'd just left her house, and to have her show up here, so soon, complaining about his fireplace at that, was completely baffling. Well, in one way, he supposed, he should have expected it. He had, after all, kissed her.
"What do you want from me, Malfoy? We were just beginning to approach something resembling friendship, and now…"
"Stop overanalysing everything, Hermione." He brushed some soot from her hair. "If you're here to slap me because I kissed you, do us both a favour and get it over with."
"Why did you do it?"
"I… I don't know, to be perfectly honest. I wanted to?"
She moved closer, and Draco felt his heart pounding. "Draco?"
It was the first time she'd ever used his given name. "Yes, Hermione?"
"Kiss me."
It was whispered, but Draco heard as clearly as if she'd shouted it. Before she could change her mind, as he was so afraid she might, he brushed his lips softly against hers. He didn't expect the passion to flare between them as she responded to him, as the kiss deepened and her fingers tangled in his blond hair. Not that he was complaining. He'd never even dared to contemplate the possibility that he could fall in love with Hermione Granger, yet that was exactly what he was doing. She was completely intoxicating, he decided, as his hands moved from her waist to slide up her back and into her hair. No longer bushy, it fell in nearly tamed curls. Finally parting, they were both short of breath.
"How are we ever going to explain this to everyone?"
"Can we worry about that some other time?"
This time, when they kissed, there was no hesitancy. Draco's hands ran lightly over her body, and she gasped, breaking the kiss, when he brushed one hand up her thigh.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
It was obvious that Hermione hadn't experienced anything like this before – the Weasel hadn't had a clue how to please a woman. That was the very reason he and Hermione were on civil terms, after all. Draco smirked at the thought of it, and picked Hermione up, carrying her to his bedroom.
"I can walk, you know."
"I know you can. I'm being a gentleman at the moment."
She snorted. The very idea of Malfoy being a gentleman amused her. When he placed her carefully on the bed and looked at her, all thoughts of laughter left her completely. The look in his eyes was filled with lust, need and longing – it was the kind of look that she'd never imagined would be directed at her.
"Draco…"
"If you want me to stop, Hermione…"
"I don't."
"Thank Merlin for that."
…………………
When Malfoy was sent off on a mission, a few days after the Ministry Ball, I'd expected Hermione to be happy – they no longer had to work together every day. Instead, to everyone's surprise, she acted in completely the opposite way. Since he left, she hasn't been interested in anything. Well, he's due to return next week, I've heard. Hermione doesn't know, and I'm not planning on telling her. I want to see her reaction. If she goes back to normal, then she's been missing him a lot more than she'd be prepared to admit, I'll bet.
Hermione and Malfoy? Together? Well, if that's what makes her happy. He surely can't treat her any worse than my idiot of a brother did.