The Pub
It was a Friday night two weeks later, Draco and Hermione had just joined their friends at their favourite pub, found in a corner of Diagon Alley. They usually occupied the same big table on one side of the room whenever they met up, and usually went through quite a few bottles of Firewhisky and as much beer at least.
"There you are, Hermione!" Ginny pulled her friend to sit next to her. "I thought you wouldn't come tonight."
"And miss a good night out with you?" Hermione replied with a grin, looking forward to getting a drink down herself. As soon as she was seated next to Ginny, she saw Draco come in. They had arrived together outside the pub, and shared one last kiss before entering separately as a precaution to avoid further comments from the others about their seemingly unresolved tension.
Draco shot a quick glance at her before he was drawn to the other side of the table, where his old schoolmates, Zabini and Nott, were sitting, each a full shot of Firewhisky in front of them, and most probably not the first one either.
"Welcome to the party, mate," Zabini greeted him, and handed him a freshly filled shot glass.
The whole group included Ginny, who already seemed in a rather playful mood, with Harry on her other side, then the Weasley boys Ron and George entertaining Angelina and Luna with some old jokes, and further down were Zabini, Nott, and surprisingly the Greengrass sisters. "Welcome to the party, my ladies." Draco raised his glass, and emptied it in one go. This looked like it was going to be one of their more worthwhile evenings.
"So, we were just talking about playing a game tonight before you two came in," Zabini said, making sure that Draco's glass didn't stay empty. "Just a bit of fun, you know."
"Let me guess, some sort of truth or dare?" Yes, this evening was going to be really worthwhile if their friends wanted to play that game.
"What did you say, Zabini?" Hermione shouted from her end of the table, a grin on her face. "You want to play some game? Seriously?"
"I thought you Gryffindors were up to challenges," Zabini retorted, raising his glass.
"I'm certainly up to it, are you?" Hermione raised hers. "I remember that Slytherins preferred to sneak out of things like this. Didn't you chicken out the last time we played it and it was my turn to – what was it again? - suck your-"
"Okay, I'm defeated. You certainly are up to it."
Hermione chanced a glance to Draco, and could see that he tried not to laugh at the short banter. She raised the glass again with a short wink, this time meaning him.
"So, now that we're complete, why not finally start before the she-devil empties the bottle on her own?" Zabini then continued, completely oblivious to the short exchange of looks between the secret lovers.
"I thought we need an empty bottle," Ginny retorted, to the laughter of the rest of the group.
"Sally? Do you have an empty bottle we could use?" Hermione shouted to the bar. "I think Mr. Zabini wants his arse served again tonight." More laughter at the table, then Sally, who was used to their games by now, brought them the bottle so they could start.
Ginny grabbed the bottle, and placed it on the table. "Do we need rules?"
"Nothing too embarrassing," Zabini mentioned. "I don't want to know what the lioness has in mind for me tonight..."
"We can't be paired with same person twice in a row if it's our turn," Nott added. "Everyone should have a bit of fun."
"And nothing too revealing, we're in a public place after all," Draco added, a big grin on his face. He could totally see where that game was heading, and he didn't mind one piece of it. Apparently, Hermione didn't mind either; they will have plenty of opportunity to make up to each other later and tomorrow.
"It's not as if you would care," Hermione replied, not hiding the big grin on her own face.
"Ouch, that hurt, woman." Draco feigned to be hurt, though he knew exactly what she meant. Whenever they had been able to get away for a day or two from their friends without raising suspicion, they didn't actually mind that much showing how deep their affection and love for each other went, which at least once led to a small problem with a neighbour.
"I think we should add the rule that someone could take a shot of Firewhisky if they don't like the dare," Luna added. "We might be in a public place, but there are still a few things you might not be comfortable with doing..."
"Good idea." Everyone agreed.
"So, let's start." Ginny finally let the bottle spin. It landed on Nott. "Truth or Dare?"
Nott cleared his throat. "Truth." He immediately regretted his decision when he saw Ginny's face, with Zabini and Draco laughing at the expression.
"I think I'm going to start with a not so daring question. Who was your first kiss with and how was it?"
"I think she was called Helen, or Elena or something like that, a Slytherin at least. And at least a couple of years below us. And it was, well, weird. My tongue hurt for a couple of days because she liked to suck it."
"Ouch, and sorry, mate. At least you're allowed to spin the bottle now," Zabini commented.
Nott spun the bottle, and had it land on Angelina. "Truth or Dare?"
"Truth, as long as I'm still able to speak," Angelina replied, anxious to get the question over with.
Nott seemed to think for a moment, and then his face lit up. "What was the most extraordinary place you ever had sex?"
Surprisingly, it was George whose cheeks suddenly started to match his hair colour. He filled his shot glass with another round of Firewhisky, and gulped it down in one go.
"The Knight Bus," Angelina replied, rather matter-of-factly, beating several times on George's back who seemed to have swallowed the Firewhisky a bit too fast.
"She would be just as red as George if she wasn't dark-skinned," Ginny commented amused, but quietly into Hermione's ear.
Angelina finally spun the bottle again, only to have it land on Harry. "Truth or Dare?"
Everyone could see the glare Ginny threw him while he was considering the options. Either seemed rather bad somehow. "Dare."
"Finally someone! And it's even a bloody Gryffindor," Zabini commented amused, filling his own glass again, and making sure Draco's was filled as well.
"Okay, either you appease Ginny, as she is already killing you with her stare, and French kiss her, or take a shot of Firewhisky," Angelina demanded.
Harry now turned just as red as George before, basically matching Ginny's flaming red hair. And it was her who pulled him over for the kiss, accompanied by a lot of hooting and whistling from the others. As brash as Ginny could be, sharing a kiss like that wasn't completely her thing, so she broke the kiss off after a few moments.
"Harry, your turn to spin," George said, having found his voice again.
"Next time I might risk it and just take the shot," Harry commented, still blushing. He grabbed the bottle and spun it, letting it land on the older Greengrass sister, Daphne. "Truth or Dare?"
She cleared her throat, slightly uncomfortable, as she had just recently been introduced to the group, and hadn't taken part in one of their games before. "Truth."
"Since it's your first time on a game night with us, I'll be nice," Harry said.
"Don't go soft just because she isn't used to us, mate!"
"Zabini, you can ask her something else when it's your turn and the bottle points to her," Harry retorted, albeit amused at the interjection. He knew that Zabini always wanted the more juicy truths.
"So, who was your first kiss with and how was it?"
Hermione watched Daphne grow even a deeper red than Harry before, and with a glance to the side, saw that Draco was watching her as well, though with an amused expression on his face. They've been together long enough to know each other's history. Instead, she was interested in what Daphne would answer.
"Come on, Daphne, I know you liked it," Draco teased her, not meaning any harm.
"I-It was Draco," she finally admitted. "And yes, I liked it very much. Good technique and everything." She was grinning when she heard the others whistle and hoot. "A pity that we never really got any further..."
"Oooooh, now that's a woman after my heart..." Zabini put his arm around Daphne, he definitely liked her.
Draco and Hermione shared a short look and smile. Oh yes, he was so going to use his good technique later on her...
Daphne spun the bottle, letting it land on Luna. Now everyone was curious; Luna hadn't said much yet, though she seemingly enjoyed the evening nonetheless. "Truth or Dare?" Daphne asked.
"Truth," Luna replied in her usual serene voice.
"Have you ever kissed a girl, I mean French kissed?"
The whole group went rather silent, waiting for the answer.
"Yes," was Luna's simple answer. "I liked it, but I prefer boys."
"But how was it?" Ron asked, a curious look on his face, which earned him a kick to his shin from his sister.
"She had nice lips, and she was gentle."
"Your turn, Luna," Hermione said, pointing at the bottle.
Luna's turn landed on Zabini. "Truth or Dare?"
"Definitely dare. And I wouldn't mind the lioness taking part in it."
Hermione could see that Draco was trying to keep himself from kicking Zabini in the shins, which made her grin. He had learned to keep his possessiveness under control, but sometimes it still bubbled up to the surface for a few moments. "You better take the shot then because you would chicken out anyway," she then retorted to Zabini's comment, mainly to appease Draco.
"Well, I thought you should give Daphne a love bite," Luna finally said, followed by a lot of hooting, and a big grin on Zabini's face.
Daphne didn't seem to mind this dare at all, as she willingly turned her head to give Zabini better access to her neck. Under a lot of laughter, hooting and whistling from the others, Zabini tended to her neck, biting and sucking with great intensity, but also great care. Her repeated small moans were a sure sign that she was enjoying the attention. "Satisfied, my dear?" Zabini whispered when he was finished, rounding it off with a kiss on the cheek.
"I can see that happen again in the future, sweetheart," she replied, testing the delicate area softly with her fingers.
"Sweetheart is it now?" Nott commented.
"Oh, shut it, will you? Tend to your own girl..." Zabini gave Nott a knowing look while he grabbed the bottle, with Nott nodding once, and then spun the bottle; it landed on Hermione. "It's a pity I can't make you do a dare with me in this round, it wouldn't be fair..."
"You know I take the dare anyway."
"Oh, I know that perfectly well, and I have the perfect idea. Give my mate Draco here a good French kiss. I know he's been waiting bloody ages for it."
Hermione didn't even flinch, she had somewhat expected something like that, it didn't mean she couldn't enjoy it. "Oh, the little ferret has been waiting a long time for it?"
"You wouldn't know, princess..."
She walked around the table, trying not to grin too broadly because they actually used their pet names in front of everyone, though using them as if they were insults, and then she finally stood directly in front of him. "I will make sure you'll remember it..."
"Oh, I don't know about that..."
"Start already," Zabini interjected.
"Yes, start already," everyone else agreed loudly.
Draco came closer, pulled her face up a bit. "Let's give them a good show," he whispered.
"I see we're on the same page because I was planning to," she replied, smiling, before letting her fingers run through his hair to pull him down. It was an exhilarating feeling when his lips met hers in front of everyone. She felt his hands wander down on her waist, leaving a trail of circles behind, until they reached the top of her skirt, where he let them wander along the seams. As a response, she moaned slightly and deepened the kiss, growing hungry for more.
"Oh my God, Hermione!" Ginny finally managed to say, after watching her friend so intensely kiss Draco.
"I think, we have seen enough, mate. Otherwise I recommend you get a room," Zabini added, just as surprised at the intensity of their kissing. "Mate?"
"Hermione?"
With a sigh, Hermione finally broke the kiss off. "I don't want to stop," she whispered, still letting her hands wander through his hair.
"We can pick up where we left off when we get back home," he replied, slowly letting go of her. "It's your turn to spin the bottle. Make sure it hits Ron, I have idea for a dare." He whispered the rest into her ear, with her nodding eagerly.
With another sigh, she then took a step back, rearranged her clothes and hair, though she failed with the latter. However, the still rather stunned faces of her friends almost made up for the loss of contact; that was what she had intended. She returned to her previous spot next to Ginny, who still looked at her as if she had suddenly decided to grow horns or something like that.
"I thought you didn't like Malfoy that way."
"Well, turns out Daphne is right, he's a good kisser," Hermione answered, then grabbed the bottle.
"Mate, that was some display of your technique. I thought you didn't like the lioness?"
Draco tried to bring some order back into his hair, Hermione had ruffled it quite a bit. "I definitely like her kissing style now. Let's see where the bottle stops next," he changed the subject with pointing on the table, where Hermione was now letting the bottle spin. He could see that her lips were still red and slightly swollen from their kiss. Merlin, he would give quite a lot to just grab her and run back home and continue his attentions to her lips... The laughter from the others brought him back to the game; Hermione had indeed managed to let the bottle stop in front of Ron.
"Oh no! Not me!" Ron complained, his cheeks reaching a similar colour as his brother earlier.
"Truth or Dare?" Hermione asked, amused about his reaction.
"Dare. Truth would be stupid if you ask the questions, 'Mione." He immediately regretted his decision when he saw Hermione's face light up.
"Okay, you take a shot of Firewhisky-"
"Easy-"
"Let me finish, Ron. You take a shot of Firewhisky from either Luna, or-" She glanced at Draco who nodded. "-or me. You might use a glass, or have one of us take a sip, then kiss you."
"That was his idea, was it?" Ron protested. "He whispered something in your ear-"
"Weasley, you wanted the dare, take it," Draco cut him short. "We have no rules about not being allowed to give someone an idea, have we?"
"He's right, Ron," Ginny added.
Everyone else nodded, grinning and cheering at his discomfort.
"Okay, then. I'll do it with Luna. It would feel a bit weird with 'Mione after she just kissed the git over there."
Luna switched spots with George so that she was now next to Ron. "I'm a good kisser, you know," she said, filling a shot glass. "Want me to sip it?"
Ron only nodded, apparently feeling something between anger towards Draco and embarrassment of having to do his dare.
With a smile, Luna emptied about half of the shot into her mouth without swallowing it, and then pulled Ron towards her until he was really close. She placed a soft kiss on his lips, inviting him to open his own.
"Come on, Weasley, don't be such a prude. Even your sister dared to do more with Potter!" Draco had an immense pleasure in goading the redhead, and this was just his return for being called a git moments before. He knew that Ron wouldn't choose Hermione, not after he had kissed her. And he knew that Ron kind of liked Luna enough to do a bit of kissing. However, it seemed that Luna was speaking the truth, as it looked like she was indeed a good kisser, because as soon as Ron finally got over his embarrassment and opened his mouth, the kiss deepened. That little girl was definitely something unique. But nothing topped Hermione's sensual way of kissing, at least not for him; it still made his senses run wild after two years of being together. And she was now his, for the rest of their lives. He felt like the luckiest man whenever he remembered that bit.
"Seems like Luna likes you quite a bit. If I had known, brother, I would've switched spots earlier," George commented when the kiss was finally broken off.
"I just like kissing," Luna replied. "He's not bad, you know."
Hermione knew what Luna meant. Ron was indeed a rather decent kisser; he had always been gentle when they kissed during their short relationship after the war. But it was unfair to compare him to Draco, whose kisses still made her feel like she was floating, whose hunger and intensity matched her own. And it hadn't changed after two years of being together; it wouldn't ever, she was sure about that. Lost in her thoughts for a moment, Hermione missed that Ron had spun the bottle again in the meantime, with it stopping in front of Astoria, who hadn't yet said much because she was just as new to the group as her sister Daphne.
"Truth or Dare?"
Theo whispered something in her ear, and she relaxed again a bit.
"Dare."
"Courageous, sister."
"Well, you didn't mind Blaise's dare either."
"True."
"So, since it's apparent that Nott likes you very much, you have the choice of either letting him leave a trail of kisses from neck to as far down as your skirt starts, or you do that to him, from neck to the start of his trousers."
Astoria looked at Nott for a moment, and then started grinning. "With clothes on, or am I allowed to open the shirt?"
"I guess whatever he's comfortable with."
Nott was already unbuttoning his shirt, he was most definitely enjoying this dare.
Astoria took another shot of Firewhisky before she turned her attention to her eager neighbour, and with a lot of whistling and hooting, she placed kiss after kiss on Nott's chest and upper body, even teased his nipples a bit, making him gasp. It almost seemed like a promise as to what she would do with him later if he was up to it. When she finished her kisses, Nott looked like he was ready to jump her; he had a few problems with buttoning his shirt again, as his hands were trembling this much.
Meanwhile, licking her lips, Astoria let the bottle spin. So far, the bottle never stopped twice at the same person, which basically left only three people who still had to choose between truth or a dare, Draco, George and Ginny, who had started the game. However, this time, the bottle stopped at Draco.
Everyone at the table started to grin.
"Truth or Dare?"
Draco knew that he wouldn't be coupled with Hermione again for a dare, as per their previously defined rules. "Truth." They almost seemed disappointed, but he didn't want to risk the promise of a good night later by doing something stupid in a dare, not with her own streak of possessiveness. In a side glance, he could see Hermione relax a bit, but he could also see Zabini whispering something into Astoria's ear. Shit, whatever she was going to ask now, he would have to lie like hell to keep everything covered. He tried to motion to Hermione what Zabini was up to.
She nodded once.
"What was the best sex you ever had and with whom?"
The moment Astoria asked that question, Draco wanted nothing more than just hit Zabini really hard with whatever he could lay his hands on, hexing wouldn't be satisfying enough. He couldn't possibly tell the truth, that the best sex he ever had was with Hermione, almost every single time. Thankfully, he remembered that one trip he took to France on a case before he had started dating Hermione. "About three or four years back, I was in France on a case. My partner back then was a bit daft, so I had the evening to enjoy some company-"
"I'm not daft!" Harry protested.
"I didn't mean you, Potter. I'm not giving out names of case partners. Interrupt me again, and you won't ever know." From the movements he saw, almost everyone at the table tried to kick each other in the shins as warning to keep their mouths shut. He didn't dare glancing at Hermione, he just hoped that she knew what he was up to... "The French have some very interesting wizarding quarters, and I met her in a local, rather small wine bar. What can I say? She was intrigued by what she saw, and didn't actually need that much wine to be encouraged further. She had a mouth that could do things, you wouldn't believe me. Her name was Simone I think. A bit hard to remember after so many years..."
"What did she do with her mouth then?"
"What?" Draco asked when he realised that it had been Hermione asking. The question took him by surprise, but one glance at her and he knew that she was only teasing him. "Well, I would tell you in a more private situation what a tongue can be used for, but that's probably too much for your delicate ears. You're a great kisser, but you're still a bit stuck-up."
"Oh, as if I'm interested in some mediocre details, prat."
"And here I thought the kissing would help release some tension between the two of you," Zabini commented, sounding mockingly desperate.
"Shut it, Blaise." Draco grabbed the bottle to let it spin, hoping it would land on Ginny.
"Oh Merlin," Ginny complained when the bottle indeed stopped pointing at her.
"Truth or Dare?"
"I take the dare," she glared at Draco, seemingly hoping that it would have the same effect on him as it usually had on Potter.
But Draco lived with Hermione, and Zabini's nickname for her was surprisingly accurate; her glare was way more dangerous. And Hermione seemed to have an idea, just sat too far away to change a few words with him. But then he realised that she was trying to point at her belly and the Firewhisky as discreetly as possible, and he started to grin.
"Oh, I have good one. Involves a shot of Firewhisky-"
"Come on, Malfoy!"
"Hey, you didn't let your brother off a few rounds back. So, no sympathy from me... Anyway, I give you a choice. Either you let Potter lick some Firewhisky from your belly button, or he lets you. And I don't mind if you don't want to go for more than two licks..." Would it be fair to tell Ginny afterwards that it was actually Hermione's idea? Amused, he watched how Ginny discussed with Potter for a few seconds. It's not the first time they played that game together, and she still managed to be outraged at everything he would throw her. Though she gave back just as good.
"Okay, I do the licking," Ginny finally decided.
Draco didn't actually care that much about the action going on, but since Hermione was sitting next to Ginny, it gave him a good, and innocent reason to look at her for a moment. Her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, strands of her still unruly hair that he just loved to run his hands through had come out of the tail and now framed her face; and she kept licking those damn lips. She laughed, one of his favourite sounds, when Harry couldn't lie still anymore because he was ticklish in that place Ginny was supposed to lick some Firewhisky from.
This left George to choose either a truth or a dare, though Ginny insisted on formally spinning the bottle, which did indeed land on her brother.
"An easy one, sister, if you don't mind," George almost begged. He had his fair share of Firewhisky, but was not yet completely drunk. Knowing his sister, he knew that either choice could be bad. "Truth," he said, against all expectations.
"I'm halfway between wanting to know and not wanting to, but since you started dating our lovely Angelina, have you acted on a fantasy of either of you? And if so, which one?"
Angelina whispered something in George's ear, and he nodded. "We have. All I can say is that she looked bloody stunning in black leather."
The boys whistled. No one took George to be the leather-type, but no one had guessed that he would date Angelina either.
"There is actually one bottle spin left since my sister did it twice." George grabbed the bottle, throwing a look to Zabini and Nott before spinning it.
Draco just knew that the bottle would stop in front of him, having seen the short look between the boys. "What a surprise..."
"Truth or Dare?"
"I stick with the truth, but if you have something in mind I might try with Granger over there, I would reconsider a dare..."
"In that case, we'll stick with the truth part, because we might need to book you two a room if we dare you to do another kiss..."
George was not that far off from the truth, Draco didn't know if he would stop this time. "Shoot."
"This might be the Firewhisky asking, but have or did you ever have fantasies about our lovely Hermione? I'm pretty sure she has some about you, and not all involve torturing you for being a prat."
"That's all?" Draco grinned. "I have to admit that I had some back in Hogwarts, always wanted to know what she was hiding beneath all those layers, what she tasted like..." He didn't need to fantasize anymore now, as they were actually living the fantasy.
"And now?"
Draco shrugged. "After that kiss, I think I'm going to imagine what else she likes to suck..." He eyed Hermione who didn't even blush. Oh, they were so going to try a few things later, he almost couldn't wait anymore... "Okay, guys, ladies," he said apologetically, when he got up from the table, "I'm sorry, but my mother wants to see me tomorrow, and she prefers me in a still rather representable state."
"Who ever meets their mother on a Saturday? That day is for curing your hangover," Zabini replied, who was long since massaging Daphne's back.
"You know my mother. If she wants to see me, I better come."
"True enough."
"Okay, I see most of you on Sunday anyway. The rest, enjoy your hangover tomorrow..." With a last wave, he left the pub. A few metres from the building, he Disapparated to her flat. He made a point of not using the Floo because he didn't actually like the dust – except when he dusted it out of Hermione's hair – and because he would have to do a detour to his place so that the others wouldn't suspect anything.
Back home
Hermione arrived back earlier than he expected, Apparating as well. She sounded halfway between irritated and amused when he came back into the living room where she was, after having changed into something more comfy in the bedroom. "Merlin! One could think they had nothing else on their mind than the two of us finally shagging. I had to leave as well because they wouldn't stop bombarding me with questions and suggestions... And then I heard the words 'bet' and 'confessing their feelings' in a discussion between George and Zabini. George and Zabini of all people!"
"They are definitely up to something... Mind if I do something I wanted to do for the rest of the evening?" he replied, opening his arms.
"Not at all." She let him embrace her tightly, enjoying his touch for a long moment before looking up to meet him in a kiss. They picked up where they had left off in the pub, and Hermione began to pull his pyjama shirt up, almost desperate for some skin on skin contact, while he was already trying to figure out the zipper on her skirt. A few frustrating seconds later, he could finally open it.
"Wait," Hermione whispered, then wiggled herself out of the skirt, not caring where it landed tonight. Then she let him help her out of her top, taking care that it wouldn't get all wrangled in her hair. She purred when he started to run his fingers through her hair. "I never thought I would ever say that, but thanks for lying tonight, was some quick thinking."
"Could hardly tell them how great it is to make love to you... how much I love kissing all those small wrinkles, how much I love kissing that special spot on your neck that makes you go weak in your knees-"
"I love when you do that," she purred, her eyes half-closed, and enjoying his continuing strokes. "Would you mind tending to that spot? I need a reminder how weak I actually go in my knees."
"Not at all, princess." Wrapping one of his arms around her waist and pulling her up to his body, he started to kiss and suck that little spot where the shoulder joined her neck. And as expected, she let herself fall into his grip, moaning from the attention.
"Hmm... and I love your slight obsession with my hair because you constantly let your fingers run through it," she finally continued after a few seconds, purring lazily. "I never had so many head massages than since I started dating you. And I love how your kisses still make my skin tingle like the first time wherever you place them, my lips, my breasts, my thighs – especially my thighs... But you know what I still love best after those two years with you? How it feels when I have you inside me."
"What was it last time? 'Oh God, oh God, oh God, yes!' or something like that?"
"Well, since you were the cause of it... Care to find out what I will scream tonight?"
"Of course."