Chapter 6 – In the Kitchens

I changed this chapter around a bit, hope it reads better now.

Draco and Hermione stood hand in hand in dimly lit corridor right outside a large portrait of a bowl of fruit some floors down from where they had hid from Filch. Hermione reached out and tickled a large green pear which giggled and with a slight squeak, turned into a doorknob. Hermione pushed open the door and stepped up into the concealed room. She had not been in the kitchens since her fourth year when she had been campaigning for house-elf rights. It was then when she, Harry and Ron had first visited the kitchens. It all seems so long ago, she mused to herself. As she stepped up into the familiar and very large, long room Hermione noted that the ceiling was quite low, nothing at all like the extraordinary height of the Great Hall above them. Hung along the stone walls were paintings of lavish feasts and assorted landscape scenes. At once, a couple of house-elves all wearing crisp tea towels appeared before the two of them. They immediately began bowing and curtsying, apparently very pleased about being visited by the two students.

'Sir and Miss, how may we help you?' A bright-eyed female house-elf asked in a squeaky voice.

'We were wondering if it would be possible to get some food since we both missed dinner, if it wouldn't be too much trouble.' Hermione said very politely.

'Oh no Miss! We would be honored, we would!' The elf cried enthusiastically.

At once, what looked like a large picnic basket zoomed towards Draco and Hermione carried by two house-elves. Hermione took the basket from the elves and thanked them. The house-elves beamed up at the pair of students and told them to come back anytime.

Hermione and Draco left the kitchens with the large picnic basket and quickly made it back up to the Room of Requirement, thankfully meeting no-one along the way. Hermione pulled the door open and stepped in, Draco following her. She pointed her wand at the hearth and a warm fire illuminated the room. She then set the basket down on the bed and quickly opened it, curious to see what the elves had packed them. There were two bottles of butterbeer, a crispy baguette, a plate full of cheese and tomato sandwiches, a pastry box containing a dozen or so chocolate croissants and a large chunk of cheddar cheese. The house-elves had also packed utensils, plates and napkins. Hermione removed her shoes and sat cross-legged with her back to the wall on one side of the basket and Draco on the other. Draco reached over and took one of the bottles, tapped it with his wand which popped the cap off and handed it to Hermione.

'Smooth move.' She commented.

He grinned and did the same with the other bottle, then said at her,

'What should we toast to?'

Hermione gave him a coy smile and leaned over the basket to give him a slow kiss on the lips as a response to his question. Before the kiss could turn into anything, she pulled away, blushing at her forwardness. She noticed Draco's steel grey eyes were mixed with a powerful emotion but he just said,

'That works for me,' and smiled at her.

They clinked their bottles together and each took a sip of butterbeer. Hermione reached in the basket and took one of the chocolate croissants, which still was slightly warm. The room was silent except for the rustling of cloth and faint sound of the wind on the window. They ate for a while in silence, and Hermione tried to think of something to say. Draco had torn off the end of the baguette and with a knife started to spread butter on it. As he worked, Hermione noticed a slight crease start to form between his eyebrows. He seemed to have his mind elsewhere as he spread more butter onto his already heavily buttered baguette. After a couple of moments, Draco broke the silence by saying abruptly,

'Hermione… look, I've treated you horribly in the past, I've said inexcusable things and done things which make me hate myself— still make me hate myself, in fact. I just wanted to say that I am truly sorry. I never thought that this- he gestured at himself and to her- could ever happen, because of the house prejudices and our histories among other things… I just wanted to say sorry, if that even covers anything.'

Draco was looking at her with a sincere intensity that confirmed what she had been feeling lately, that Draco Malfoy had matured and changed. Hermione set down her bottle and reached out to grasp his hand, then looked up into his eyes when she found her voice.

'Draco, I believe you. You've changed, we all do. While I don't think I could ever forget about our past history, there is simply too much there, - she paused- I do think I can move on and forgive.'

Draco wrapped his fingers around hers and squeezed them. 'I do not deserve your forgiveness, but I thank you nonetheless.'

Hermione felt as if she was locked in Draco's intense gaze. He was close enough now that she could see small flecks of the lightest blue in his cool grey eyes. Hermione felt like she was staring at a glittering sea, and somehow being pulled in to its depths like an inescapable riptide. She felt her breath leave her as his eyes continued to penetrate her warm brown ones. They both were lost for a moment but then Draco was kissing her with a passion that Hermione returned, her heart now thudding as though it wished to break free of the confines of her chest. In one movement, Draco put the basket on the floor and backed Hermione down onto the daybed so that he could kiss the soft skin of her neck. She seemed to have regained her breath now for she was gasping for air as Draco continued his ministrations.

Hermione was now moaning slightly as he worked his way down her collarbone, taking his time, kissing every inch. Draco began to undo her blouse, button by button, slowly kissing the revealed skin. When he was done, Hermione tugged him back up to her so that she could kiss him full on the mouth. Hermione had never kissed anyone like this before; nobody before had awoken this passion which now rioted through her bloodstream. Hermione felt Draco lift her slightly off the bed to finally tug off her shirt. All thoughts suddenly left her as she lay on the bed with Draco above her, his hands at her sides, looking at her with a blazing intensity that lit a fire in the lower regions of her stomach. Draco bent his head and whispered shakily in her ear,

'It's always been you, Hermione… always, know that.'

Hermione's heart soared at those words and began fiercely kissing him again. Draco's hands ran along her waist and back, gripping her tightly.

He smoothly rolled over so that Hermione was now on top of him. Hermione copied his earlier actions and began to quickly undo the buttons on his now crumpled shirt, revealing a wonderfully toned but not overly muscular, pale torso. She threw away his shirt which joined hers on the floor. A shiver went up Hermione's spine when she felt Draco's hardness pressing against her thigh. Draco stated back at her now with an unmistakable lust in his eyes. Draco reached up and unclasped her bra releasing her breasts. They were slightly tanned, like the rest of her skin and quite perky. Draco pulled her on top of him once more and Hermione reveled in the sensation of skin against skin. She lost track of time as she and Draco kissed. He had one hand clasped in her hair, the other on her waist. Their hot, languid kisses seemed to promise things which had never been articulated. Hermione sighed and inhaled his scent, so wonderfully male and uniquely Draco.

Draco then began to kiss his way down her chest. Hermione let her head fall back and felt her breath come in shorter gasps. She slowly started to rotate her hips against his hardness which felt so right as they kissed. Draco bit his lip and his face lit up with a need that mirrored her own. Hermione reached down and quickly took off her skirt as Draco mirrored her and hastily took off his trousers. Hermione met Draco's kisses with her own need, her hands wound in his hair. She opened her mouth and felt his tongue caress her own and sighed at the feeling. As they kissed, Hermione rubbed her body along his covered cock. Soon it became too much and moved her hand across his covered length. Draco inhaled sharply and rolled his hips up into her hands. Hermione moved her hands to the waistband and whispered to Draco to take them off.

Hermione had never seen a man completely naked before, though she knew what to expect. She reached out hesitantly to touch him, wondering what it would feel like. She tentatively moved her fingers around him, feeling him warm in her hands. Draco sighed in pleasure and wrapped one of his own hands around Hermione's hand to guide her. He slowly moved her hand from the base to the end and back again. He then let go of her hand and she continued to move her hands, varying the speed and pressure. Draco's expression became continually more uninhibited as she worked him. A slight pink flush spread across his face and chest and his breath came in erratic gasps. Then, as Hermione brushed the tip of his cock with her thumb, she felt Draco twitch in her hand and release his sticky substance. Draco pulled Hermione down onto him and kissed her heavily. Hermione could feel Draco's release on her as they kissed but she didn't care. All she needed was Draco in that moment. Draco broke the kiss and Hermione, gasping for air fell back onto the bed.

Hermione opened her eyes and saw that there was a faint blush on his face. Draco looked quite undone; his hair was ruffled and he was still breathing quite shakily. He began kissing her neck again as his fingers started to massage her thighs. Hermione was overcome with need that she practically whimpered.

She felt his hands move down her body, then slowly press into her sex. Hermione moaned, breaking the kiss to gasp his name. Spurred on, Draco slid her underwear down and pressed another finger into her, stimulating her further. His ministration made Hermione whimper in pleasure, but she soon was crying out as he began working her most sensitive spot. As Draco fingered her, Hermione instinctively began thrusting her hips to meet his fingers. She felt as though something hot and wet was building inside her, wanting to be released. Suddenly, her back arched off the bed and her heart began to throb in her throat. It was absolute bliss; the sensation of utter release sent her over the edge. She felt her insides constrict as her orgasm rippled through her. Draco pulled her body into his arms so that she lay across his chest.

They lay like that for a while not moving, her tanned skin draped over his pale one. Hermione thought that they fit perfectly together; it felt so indisputably right. After some time, Draco looked down at her and murmured 'sleep now' into her hair. Hermione turned her face to look up at Draco. She propped herself up on her elbows and kissed gave him one last brief kiss before drifting off. Hermione settled herself back down, resting her head against Draco's chest feeling quite tired all of a sudden. She grabbed the duvet and threw it over both of them. The pair of them then fell into a relaxed sleep.