His lips were soft and rather enticing, she noted as she realized what was happening to her. She didn't struggle at first nor did she respond in any way, she merely allowed her brain to run a mile a minute, attempting to analyze what was happening, as he continued to coax her lips into responsiveness.
After a few brief seconds, though, she pushed him away with a sight.
"What was that?" she asked, though it did not come out sounding as outraged as she had initially intended. A wicked smile crossed his lips as he gazed at her. He had expected her to scream bloody murder, slap him and then dash towards the castle in a hump of outrage. She did none of the former, merely gazing at him curiously, awaiting his answer.
"I don't know, but it did get you to stop talking, did it not?" he replied, a devilish glint in his eyes.
"You know Malfoy, you shouldn't play with fire, I hear that it can have quite devastating effects," she replied mysteriously, gazing at the lake once more.
"What can I say; I rather like living on the wild side. Is that so wrong?" he replied, settling his gaze on the inky sky. "It certainly makes life more interesting."
"Hmm, I suppose," she replied airily, still not looking at him.
"I daresay that's exactly what you need, Granger. A good dose of excitement would surely cure you of this affliction of yours," he continued in the same nonchalant voice. He picked up a stone an expertly flicked it across the murky surface of the lake, disturbing its previous tranquility.
"I didn't realize you were also a healer now, my mistake," she sarcastically replied. "But pray tell, dear Malfoy, if we were to hypothetically go along with your suggestion, what type of excitement would be potent enough to cure me, because I highly doubt that your referring to riding a hippogriff type of excitement?" she questions, her amber eyes holding a challenge as they rested on his face.
Her question earned a light chuckle as he rested his eyes on her face, taking in every detail. "Well it would certainly involve some type of riding I daresay," he grinned, earning a dark scowl from her. "But for the sake of our little thought experiment, let me properly describe it to you."
"By excitement, I don't mean the excitement of, say, a new book. That's far too trivial and safe. It would wear off far too fast, and render you back into this depression of yours even deeper than before. The type of excitement I'm referring to, involves risk," he paused for effect.
"Go on, what type of risk are we speaking of here?" she questioned, half interested to hear what he had to say.
"Well that's up to you. It can involve any type of risk. For example, it could be confronting a deep dark fear of yours; Merlin knows we all have those."
"I would just like to interrupt you to point out that hell has surely frozen over. I daresay I hear Lucifer screaming in agony at the mere thought of a Malfoy admitting to have fears," she said with a smirk.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," he continued with a role of his eyes. "My little plan's already working. I already have you joking, and is that a smile I detect?"
"There's nothing wrong with joking, especially when it is at your expense. However, I don't see how it's in anyway relevant with taking risks?"
"Simple, my dear, to you, I'm a risk," he stated looking his eyes on her. She dramatically rolled her eyes in protest to his comment, "No I'm serious. Would you under any circumstances be sitting here having a civil conversation with me of all people?"
"So you're saying that you're the cure for this so called affliction because you can make me smile? That's not a very good argument, Malfoy. Your logic is rather off. You're causing me to think you just might be losing your touch."
"I assure you that I am not. I'm much better at this than you may think. The problem, however, is that you fail to admit it, thus I am forced to convince you through actions rather than words," he said standing up and extending a hand towards her. She considered his gesture for a few seconds before accepting his hand and standing.
He pulled her up swiftly, depicting greater strength than Hermione would have attributed him, before leading her out onto the field.
She noted that he had yet to let go of her hand.
"Are you planning on telling me where we're headed?" she asked, eyeing him with something similar to mistrust.
"Perhaps, though you'll find out soon enough. Think of what we're doing as another thought experiment."
"Oh another one meant to prove that you're the risk worth taking?" she challenged, an impish smile twisted on her lips.
"I'm not as conceited as you might think. I've decided it would be better to convince you gradually, taking each necessary step, so for now I simply wish to convince you that a risk, any risk, would certainly lighten your disposition," he replied, stopping in the middle of the field. She only then realized that he still held his broom, which was now in his extended hand.
"Surely you are not suggesting what I think you might be?" she asked, a look of utter horror marring her previously calm features.
"I told you it may involve riding," he replied with a wicked smile as he mounted the broom. "Now sit in front of me."
"Not bloody likely," she replied in a shrill voice as she slowly began to back away. "For all I know you might let me fall to my death."
"Oh come on Granger, I thought you were a Gryffindor not a Hufflepuff. Where's all of that famous courage of yours?" he asked, but received no answer. He sighed, before continuing, "How about if I tell you that you don't have anything to lose. One of two things can happen if you accept my offer. You will either fall to your death and receive your previous wish, in which case the universe has listened to you. Or you will come out alive, and convinced of my point."
She regarded him for a few seconds before sighing in defeat and mounting the broom.
"Good girl," he murmured into her ear, warm breath causing her hair to stand on end. He then kicked off the ground, soaring up into the sky at an alarmingly fast rate. She held onto the broom beneath her for dear life, instinctively clenching her eyes shut tight. She reasoned that if she didn't see it happening, she could convince herself that it wasn't.
"Open your eyes," he ordered, his hot breath on his neck. "There's no point in going through life with your eyes closed."
She considered his argument for a few seconds before mentally agreeing with him. She slowly opened her eyes, noting that they had stopped moving.
"Now look, and do try to relax. You're as stiff as a board," he murmured gently, his voice hypnotizing her into obedience. "I won't let you fall, nor do I bite, unless previously asked, of course"
She attempted to relax a bit, though she was terrified. She glanced around and realized that they were merely floating in thin air, right above the great lake. The rational side of her wanted to scream until she lost her voice. The other half, however, the irrational, passionate, erratic side was enthralled by the lovely view.
The silvery full moon bathed the surroundings in an ethereal pale light that seemed to almost sparckle with magic. The lake beneath them was inky black, and tranquil, almost enticing one into its mysterious depths. The waters were studded by millions of tiny bright lights, mirroring the star encrusted sky above.
It was also cold though.
She could see her breath come out in small puffs of condensation. She realized that her body was practically numb from the chill, her knuckles already having turned blue. At the moment though, the view was so enticing it caused her to not accord her condition another thought. She wished there was some way to bottle what she was feeling. It wasn't happiness, but a sense of contentment, of tranquility, of amazement.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Malfoy said behind her. She had forgotten he was even there, suddenly becoming aware of his hard chest pressed against her back.
"It is. I only wish there was another way of admiring such beauty," she said rather wistfully.
"There is," he replied, gently guiding the broom back towards the castle, though he did not veer downwards. They smoothly landed on top of the level surface of one of the towers. Hermione gladly stepped off the broom, taking in the delightful surroundings.
"This is spectacular! How did you find this place?" she asked, unspoken wonder filling her amber eyes.
"You may know Hogwarts: A History off by heart, but I know this entire castle off by heart," he replied, advancing towards her. "So, pray tell, is there any truth behind my theory?"
"I suppose there might be some," she replied, not meeting his eyes. She hated loosing an argument.
"The flush of your cheeks and smile on your face give you away, you know. You always turn red when you're happy," he said, looking down at her.
"And how would you know that, Malfoy? Stalking me are we?" she challenged with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't flatter yourself," he replied cockily advancing towards her until he was mere inches away. "I'm just more observant than you may think. You would be astounded by the things you learn just from watching those around you more closely."
She glanced up at him with questioning eyes of liquid gold, her lips slightly parted. He was right, she acknowledged grudgingly. She had enjoyed the broom right, however, standing up there with only him for company gave her more of a thrill. He was dangerous. The pale moonlight only added to his allure, making him look like the fallen Lucifer in all of his glory.
He bent towards her slightly and ever so slowly. Her heart began to flutter as she wondered whether he would kiss her again.
He did not.
"Remember what I said, Granger," he whispered to her, sensually licking his lips. "Take a risk once in a while. They make life so much more delicious. We both know you're not a saint so stop restraining yourself like one. Live a little. I'll be sure to teach you how it's done."
He winked at her before grabbing his broom and making his way down the spiralling stairs that led down into the castle.
She was left there in the November air, dazed and cold, wondering what had just transpired between her and none other than Draco Malfoy.
oOo
A wicked grin took shape on Draco Malfoy's lips as he walked towards the Slytherin dungeons mere minutes after departing the tower.
He certainly had not intended for things to go so seamlessly. This clearly added a whole new dimension to his plan, though it certainly made things much easier.
He had not realized the terrible mental state in which Hermione Granger, golden Gryffindor extraordinaire, was currently in.
Emotional girls were the easiest to manipulate, though he knew he had to take his time with her so as to not be found out. Nevertheless, if things continued to progress in the fashion in which they had this evening, he hardly thought force or even persuasion would be necessary to convince her.
He simply had to give her what she lacked, this of course being excitement, his personal specialty. He realized that she was in this state as an effect of realization. She had finally realized that her dear friends had used her for most of their years at Hogwarts, though not necessarily on purpose. But now, that they had no more real use for her, they grew cold and distant causing her to realize how alone she truly was in a world in which she was not meant to fit in.
A devastating thought.
He realized Potted probably did not intend to act this way, but these days he was too caught up in his little girlfriend to really pay any attention to his once best friend. As for Weasely, he was just a hormonal adolescent, and a pervert at that. If being friends with Hermione meant not getting into her virginal, little knickers, then this particular relationship held no further interest to him.
In came Draco Malfoy.
He would, of course, play the role of the knight in shining armour, though dark knight seemed more appropriate, and save her from her dismal life. He would create an illusion so vivid for her she would never realize his real intentions. She would undoubtedly give herself to him purposely after he was done with her, and from there on life would surely be bliss.
Until he tired of her of course.
He possessed no illusion of loving her or any such ridiculous notion. He knew that his obsession was slightly more carnal than that.
He wanted her.
He had wanted her for some time now. He wanted the pleasure of possessing her and having her for himself. He was slightly disappointed, however, to learn that she would give in much easier than he first anticipated. It was clear that she was lonely, and even depressed, thus he doubted that she would put up much of a fight.
Nevertheless, his conquest would be truly delicious.
As he walked towards the common room entrance, he made it his goal to have writhing underneath him by the end of the month.
oOo
There you have it, chapter 3. I hope you like it so far. I'm in the middle of exams so I have not been able to post earlier, however the worst of them is over. I certainly intend to get a few chapters done over the break. Hope you enjoy! Please leave a review telling me what you think, suggestions, criticisms, etc...