Hey Guys! Here is the next update! I hope you enjoy it!
As she slowly woke up on Tuesday morning, Hermione felt the gentle, rhythmic breeze of Draco's breath ghosting over her neck. He was nestled close behind her in his bed with his arm wrapped low, around her waist.
She kept her eyes closed but listened to the soft, soothing sounds of his steady breathing. When she felt his arm tighten around her waist the slightest bit, she smiled softly.
"I know you're awake." She heard him mutter quietly and felt him press a kiss to the back of her neck.
Her smile widened as she bit her bottom lip, and he moved his lips to kiss the side of her neck. She lifted her hand up, cupping the back of his head as she turned her head, capturing his lips with her own. As her fingers threaded through his blond hair, she kissed him slowly, moaning against his lips when he slid his hand up her stomach to cup her breast. He gently squeezed, causing her to moan into his mouth as he groaned, his cock hardening against her arse.
He scooted back a bit as she rolled over to fully face him. Draco moved his hand up to cup her jaw, deepening the passionate snog even more. She pulled his face impossibly closer, both of them moaning with need.
The wizard slid his hand down her body, gripping her arse and pulling her bare body completely against his. Hermione whimpered, feeling how hard his cock was as it pressed against her thigh. She rolled on top of him, and straddled his hips, needing more contact.
As she sat up and reached between them, about to guide him into her, they both heard a pecking sound on the window near the bed.
Draco sat up, covering Hermione's bare body with his torso, only to see an owl sitting on the outside windowsill, holding an envelope. Draco huffed, but wandlessly opened the window, allowing the bird to enter the room.
It flew over to Hermione's side of the bed, dropping the envelope on the mattress beside them. Hermione furrowed her brow but didn't pick up the envelope. She looked at Draco as he wandlessly shut the window behind the departing bird.
"Go ahead." He nodded, lying back down, knowing that it could be something important. He licked his bottom lip, watching her.
Hermione sighed, trying break through her lustful haze as she picked up the envelope, seeing her name written in Harry's handwriting. She furrowed her brow and broke the wax seal, opening the envelope.
Hermione,
Could you come over for dinner Friday night?
I thought that perhaps you could come over after practice ends that day and the two of us could just have dinner and chat.
Let me know when I see you at practice on Wednesday.
- Harry
Hermione leaned over, setting the letter on the bedside table before sitting back on his waist.
Draco's hands rested on her thighs, lightly rubbing them, "Is everything okay?" he asked, looking up at her with a hint of concern.
She nodded, "It's just from Harry." She said as she lightly slid her hand up his arms, over his chiseled chest, and down to his muscular abdomen. "He wants me to come over to his place on Friday evening, after practice, to eat dinner with him." She explained with a casual shrug before leaning down to kiss him again.
Draco nodded, clenching his jaw slightly.
Hermione furrowed her brow, pulling back, "What's wrong?" she asked, looking at him, concerned.
He exhaled, "It's nothing." He said, softly squeezing her thighs.
She shook her head, "Draco…" she said, knowing full-well that something was wrong.
He sighed, "I erm…I just…I think Potter fancies you." He said, meeting her eyes.
"What?!" She exclaimed, shocked before shaking her head. "Darling, no. He's practically my brother. What would possibly make you think such a thing?" She asked.
He licked his lips, gently squeezing her thighs with a quiet sigh. "You ought to speak with Ginny and see who it is that she wants to set you up with. I get the feeling that it's Potter…not Diggory."
Furrowing her brow, Hermione thought about it, "Surely not." She muttered.
His hands fell from her thighs, landing on the mattress, "You didn't see the way he looked at you yesterday, Hermione." He said in a tone that broke her heart.
She shook her head, quietly exhaling as she picked up his right hand. She pressed kisses to each of his fingertips before saying, "I love you, Draco. I…I cannot imagine it to be true but if Harry does fancy me…" She exhaled and shook her head, not really believing it to be possible. "you need to know that you have absolutely nothing to worry about." She said as she placed his hand over her heart. "Because I love you." She repeated in a whispered tone.
He sat up and wrapped his arms around her. "Merlin…" He muttered quietly.
She ran her fingers through his hair, and kissed his forehead, "What?" She asked just as quietly while tilting her head to meet his eyes.
"I just…I am beyond lucky to have you in my life. I love you so much, Hermione Granger." He breathed. "And I cannot wait to shout it out to the world after we tell our friends on Sunday."
She smiled, cupping his jaw as she pressed her forehead against his, "I hate keeping you a secret."
He nodded and kissed her lips softly. "Me too, Love."
She nudged his nose with her own before kissing him again with more intensity.
It was around 10 when the two of them made their way to Diagon Alley. Since they had some time before the interview, they went to check in with Hannah Abbott so they could see the progress on the jerseys.
"I've finished all of the jerseys for The Mighty Manticores." Hannah told them. "I was just about to begin on The Fearsome Firebirds' jerseys."
"May we see the ones you've completed?" Draco asked kindly.
"Of course." She said before leading them to the section of the shop she had designated to the Charity Match designs. "On your jersey and McLaggen's jersey, I'm putting a bright purple patch with a black 'C' in it for Captain. Also…" She said, grabbing a small box, "I had some time the other night and thought up an idea for the players. These are lime green armbands that they can all wear around their one bicep."
Hermione and Draco looked at one of the armbands and saw that it had words embroidered into it.
St. Mungo's Children's Ward of Orphaned Children
Charity Quidditch Match Player – June 10, 2007
"I figured since lime green is St. Mungo's color…" Hannah said with a shrug.
"Hannah, these are marvelous!" Draco said with a grin.
Hannah blushed, "Thank you."
Hermione nodded, beaming, "Hannah, truly, this is wonderful." She said sincerely before spotting Ginny and Blaise outside the window, walking along the cobblestone alleyway. "I'll be back in a moment."
Draco nodded and turned back to Hannah, having noticed the other couple as well. He knew she was going to speak with Ginny about Harry, so he didn't follow.
Hermione stepped outside, "Ginny!" She said, attempting to get the other witch's attention.
Ginny turned around, "Oh hey, Mione! What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Draco and I are about to get interviewed by Padma Patil about the Charity Match. We're checking in on the player's jerseys right now." She said before glancing at Blaise and looking back at Ginny, "Could I speak with you for a moment?" She asked.
Ginny nodded and glanced at her fiancé. He nodded and headed into Hannah's shop to see Draco, giving the women some privacy.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked, concerned.
The older witch sighed, "You had mentioned wanting to set me up with someone…"
Ginny grinned and nodded, excitedly, "Yeah! He really fancies you." She answered.
"Who is it?" She asked, anxiety filling her chest.
Ginny furrowed her brow, "I didn't tell you already?"
Shaking her head, Hermione said, "No…"
"But you two were chatting each other up yesterday…" the redhead said with a confused expression. "At practice…I saw you talking with him."
Hermione furrowed her brow, knowing that she spoke with both Cedirc and Harry during the previous practice. "Who?"
"Harry, of course." Ginny said as if it were obvious. "Now, I know that it may put a bit of a strain on the situation with Ron, but well…Ron's a plonker, Hermione." She finished with a shrug.
Hermione felt ill and needed to understand exactly what her friend was saying. "Ginny, are you telling me that Harry fancies me?"
"Of course." She said with a huff. "How did you not know about this?" The redhead asked, confused, "Bloody hell. He's fancied you for ages, Hermione."
Shaking her head, Hermione turned away from the other witch, beginning to feel extremely stressed and sick to her stomach.
"So, I take it that you don't care for Harry in that way…" Ginny sighed, feeling slightly confused.
With a tense sigh, Hermione replied, "No, I don't. I do love Harry, but only as someone that I've always seen as a brother figure. He wants to have dinner with me on Friday evening…" She sighed, "I was going to go, but now…" she shook her head.
"Hermione, he's still one of your best mates." The younger witch shrugged, "Just go and tell him the truth."
"Not the night before the Charity Match." The brunette said. "I'll have to tell him that I can't do it that night but possibly another night."
"Mione, Harry is a good bloke. If you tell him, he'll understand."
"I know he's a good bloke. He's one of the very best, but I can't do that to him the night before the Match, Ginny."
"Yeah." Ginny said thoughtfully, "I suppose it would throw his game off."
"Hello ladies." They heard Blaise grin as he and Draco came out of the shop and walked over to them.
"Granger, we've got to get to the interview in the next 30 minutes." Draco said before noticing how tense Hermione appeared.
Hermione swallowed and nodded, "I'll see you later Ginny."
Ginny sighed, reaching out for Hermione's hand, and quietly said, "Blaise already knows and I'm sure Malfoy probably does too, so listen…my suggestion…"
Hermione's heart sank, hating that moment, especially for Draco.
"Maybe you ought to give it a shot." She said with a shrug. "Sometimes people can surprise you. I personally think that you and Harry would make a lovely couple. And he and I dated for a couple months so I can say with certainty that if nothing else comes of it, at least you'll get a good shag out of the whole thing."
"Ginny!" Hermione hissed, wanting the ground to swallow her whole.
"What?" Ginny said, glancing at the two blokes, "Hermione, they don't care." She sighed, looking at the brunette earnestly, "You deserve happiness. After that plonker, that I sadly call my brother…after what he did to you, Hermione, you deserve to be loved properly. Harry could be the one to do that."
Blaise nodded, "She's right, you know. And Potter's not half bad, expect that he's been with my fiancée. He said with only a hint of bitterness before continuing. "And, speaking as a bloke, who's happily engaged, of course, you're lush, so Potter's got good taste. Why not at least get a good shag out of it. I'm sure that Weasley never did that good of a job."
Ginny rolled her eyes.
Hermione shook her head, "I'm not interested in Harry." She said, ignoring everything else Blaise had said. "He's like my brother!" She could practically feel Draco's urge to punch Blaise in the throat, despite Blaise being his best mate.
"Hermione, people can surprise you." Ginny said, "Maybe, if you at least kiss Harry, your feelings will change."
"I'm not going to kiss him." Hermione said sternly, "And I'm not going to be with him. Please don't continue to push this topic. Just drop it."
Blaise nudged Draco, "You ought to talk to her, mate."
Draco cleared his throat and looked at his wristwatch, "I figure Granger can make up her own mind on whomever she has in her bed, Blaise." He said in a tone that sounded as if he were bored, but Hermione could hear pain hidden within it's depths. He looked at Hermione, "We've really got to go, or we'll be late."
She nodded and looked at Ginny, about to bid her farewell.
"Look, I get that you want me to drop it, Hermione, but I think that you're in need of a bit of help. Ron fucked up and he knows it. He says that he loves Lavendar, but I know my brother well and he still talks about you all the bloody time. And speaking as one of your closet friends, I know you as well and you're likely to relapse and end up back in his bed if you don't find a good bloke and soon. It would be the worst mistake of your life to go back to Ron." Ginny said. "I really think that you ought to give Harry a chance."
Hermione shook her head, feeling rage building in her gut. "I have to go." She said. "I have an interview to do. I'll see you both at practice tomorrow." She finished before walking with Draco toward The Leaky Cauldron.
Neither spoke, both feeling rage of their own. They weren't upset with each other, but they were both upset.
Draco shook his head, exhaling as he opened the door to the pub, allowing her to enter first.
They spotted Padma at a table in the back section of the pub and made their way over to her. Hermione inhaled deeply, containing her anger before smiling at Padma.
"Hi Hermione, Hi Draco!" Padma said eagerly. "How are you two doing today?"
Draco cleared his throat, "I'm well, Padma, thank you." He said with a small smile.
"Me as well." Hermione said with her faux smile, "How are you?"
"I'm splendid!" Padma said, "Are you two okay if we just dive right in?"
They both nodded.
The interview went wonderfully, lasting about an hour. When they finished Padma told them to expect to see the article in The Daily Prophet the following day or the next.
Padma left and Draco stood up, "I'm going home." He said quietly, not meeting Hermione's eyes.
Hermione's heart shattered upon hearing his change of tone, knowing that he had put on an act for Padma was one thing but realizing that he must be mad at her was another.
She glanced around and nodded, "We need to work on sending out more tickets."
He nodded, clearing his throat, "I'll meet you there."
Draco floo'd to his place first and Hermione inhaled before following.
When she arrived, she was surprised to find him talking with Astoria and Daphne who were sitting on his sofa.
"…doing the interview. What's wrong with you two?" Draco said, looking at the sisters.
Astoria furrowed her brow, noticing the tension between Draco and Hermione. "You first."
Draco shook his head, "What do you mean?"
"She means that something is clearly wrong with the two of you." Daphne said, looking at Hermione who was obviously struggling with something.
Draco exhaled, "What do you need?" He asked, surprising them with his dismissal of the question and his evident anger.
Astoria shook her head, seeing that whatever was wrong was quite serious, "It's not important. We'll talk about it tomorrow. I'll see you at your practice." She said, standing up and nudging her sister to follow her lead. "Contact me if you need anything…either of you." She said, looking at Hermione who swallowed and nodded.
The sisters floo'd to Daphne's home, leaving the couple alone.
Hermione stepped closer to Draco, "Draco…" She said nervously as she set all of her anger aside, wanting to focus solely on the man she loved.
He exhaled and turned toward her, "Yeah?"
She shook her head, sniffing, "I'm so sorry for everything Ginny and Blaise said. I love you so much, Draco. Please…"
He stepped forward, pulling her int a hug, "I'm not mad at you, Hermione." He murmured, "I just…Ginny was right. You do deserve happiness…"
"Draco!" She said, pulling away to meet his eyes, "I am happier with you than I have ever been in my entire life." She said, cupping his jaw, "Please tell me that you know that. Please tell me that I've expressed it, because if I haven't, then I'm failing you."
He cupped her cheek, "You've expressed it. I just worry that…that well, Potter…he's your best mate. I haven't felt this insecure in a long time, but I worry that perhaps he could make you even happier than I."
"Impossible." She said, "Draco…" She inhaled deeply, "I'm in love with you. That's not going to change. You make me happy in every single way."
He nodded and leaned down pressing a kiss to her lips before whispered, "I'm in love with you too."
She smiled.
"And you don't want Weasley…"
"Merlin, no!" She exclaimed. "Draco, all I want is you…to be with you and only you. I can't even begin to express the happiness that you have made me feel the past few months. Please don't take that way…" She said. "I mean…are you happy as well?" she asked, suddenly feeling insecure.
"Happier than I've ever been." He said immediately.
She smiled, relieved, "They'll all understand on Sunday." She said.
He nodded, "Yeah." He said, "Yeah, they will."
They spent the rest of the day sending out tickets, chatting, and snogging.
The next day, when she woke up, Hermione lifted her head from the curve of Draco's shoulder and looked at his peaceful face. She smiled to herself and kissed his chest.
He hummed as he woke up, and slowly opened his eyes.
"Morning, Love." He whispered.
She smiled, "Good morning, Darling." She replied just as quietly.
"What time is it?" He asked, lifting his right hand from under the covers and cupping her cheek, lightly rubbing the pad of his thumb under her eye.
"I'm not sure." She said before there was a pecking sound on the same window as the previous day.
She looked over and her owl, Tara, with a copy of The Daily Prophet. Draco wandlessly opened the window, allowing her inside.
Hermione sat up and looked through the paper while Draco grabbed his wristwatch, seeing that it was only just after 6 in the morning.
"Is it in there?" he asked, lying back down as he looked up at her.
She shook her head, "No, but she did say that it may be tomorrow instead."
He nodded before pulling her down, closer to him, "You know…you are absolutely stunning." He muttered.
She smiled, leaned over, and cupping his jaw. She nudged his nose with hers, "I love you."
He nodded, "And I love you." He said as a thoughtful expression formed on his face.
"What is it?" She asked, looking into his slate grey eyes as she tilted her head in curiosity.
He licked his lips, and took her other hand in his, "Would you want to move in with me?" He asked nervously. "I know that I may be asking too soon, but I just love you so much and I want to spend every day waking up next to you and I…"
She cut him off with a deep kiss, causing him to hum and thread his fingers through her hair, pulling her close as he felt himself hardening.
As they slowly separated, Hermione nodded, "I would love to move in with you, Draco. And it's not too soon. It's perfect timing…perfect." She said, kissing him again while moving to straddle his hips.
Arriving at the stadium later that morning for practice, they found Luna there, holding her son, Flynn, who was almost 3 months old. Luna was talking with Theo her husband, and few of the players who had come over to fawn over their son.
Draco glanced at Hermione before he walked over to the large group so that he could see his godson.
Hermione looked over at Ginny, who was talking with her fiancé as well as Oliver, and Cedric.
Ginny spotted Hermione and walked over to the brunette.
"Hermione…" She said. "Could we talk?"
Hermione sighed and nodded, "Sure."
Ginny nodded toward the far side of the pitch where no one was. They walked in that direction and once they were a good distance from the others, Ginny looked at Hermione and asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Hermione said.
The redhaired witch shook her head, "Hermione, please, tell me what's going on."
Hermoine swallowed. "Ginny, I need you to stop trying to push Harry on me. I don't see him that way. He's my dear friend but that's all he'll ever be."
Nodding, Ginny said, "Okay. Normally, you would be okay with me setting you up with someone, so why exactly don't you want me to find a bloke for…" She paused before furrowing her brow, "Hermione, are you a lesbian? It's perfectly fine if you are! I just didn't know and…"
Hermione couldn't help but smile, "No." She said, shaking her head, "I'm not a lesbian."
The younger witch furrowed her brow, "Then what is it?" She asked. "What's going on? All I've been doing it trying to help you. I don't want Ron to be the only person that you love in your entire life. He's not worthy of that."
Hermione sighed, "Ginny, he won't be. I promise."
Ginny nodded before saying, "Oh shite…" she was looking past Hermione's right shoulder, "There's Malfoy's girlfriend."
Hermione turned and spotted Astoria hugging Draco before joining in on the fawning over Flynn.
Harry stepped onto the pitch and walked over to Luna, glancing over at Hermione and Ginny.
Ginny's eyes widened a bit as something occurred to her, "Wait! Are you shagging someone already?" She asked.
Hermione turned back to Ginny and sighed. "Ginny…"
"Merlin! I cannot believe that I didn't see it before! Who is it?" She asked.
"Ginny, please…" Hermione said.
"Hermione, who is it? Wait! I saw you and Cedirc chatting on Monday. Are you shagging Cedric Diggory?"
Hermione sighed, "No. I'm not. Ginny, would you please listen to me?"
Ginny huffed and nodded, "Yeah."
"I am seeing someone. I cannot tell you who it is…just yet. But soon…" She said.
"Is he in a relationship?" Ginny asked, "Are you…the other woman?"
"Merlin, no!" Hermione exclaimed, "I'm not some slag, Ginny!"
"I know, but you're keeping it a secret, so I wasn't sure." The other witch shrugged, "I just don't understand."
"Hey Hermione! Hey Ginny!" They heard and looked over as Harry made his way towards them.
"Hey Harry!" Ginny grinned before looking at Hermione, "Just tell him that you can't have dinner on Friday." She said. "He'll understand."
Hermione's heart hammered in her chest.
"Hey Mione." He said once he got closer, "Could I speak with you for a moment?"
Hermione nodded, inhaling silently but deeply. Ginny walked back to the crowded side of the pitch, leaving them alone.
"Is everything okay?" She asked him while keeping a safe distance between them.
He nodded with a kind smile, "Yeah. I was wondering if you received my letter?"
"I did, but I can't come over Friday night. Not with it being the night before the Match." She said
He nodded, "Oh okay…I understand."
She nodded before asking, "Are you erm…are you coming to the Nott Anniversary Bash on Sunday evening?" her voice was quiet. With him already knowing about her and Draco, she thought it would be easier, but it seemed more difficult because despite knowing, he appeared to still be trying to create a romantic relationship with her.
"I am." He replied before saying, "Look, how about tomorrow? Could you come over then?"
She shook her head, "I can't. Draco and I are having dinner with the Longbottoms tomorrow evening."
"Oh, I am as well." He said. "I'm supposed to bring Teddy. What I meant was that we could have a cuppa and chat at my house after dinner." He said before swallowing. "I just…I really…I really need to talk to you, and it'd be nice to have some time with you."
She swallowed, "Harry, I don't…"
"Please, Mione." He said with a slightly desperate tone that caused her heart to hurt.
Nodding, she inhaled and said, "Okay. Tomorrow then…after dinner, we'll have tea at your place."
He nodded, "Thank you."
Swallowing, she nodded as Gwenog Jones announced that practice was about to begin.
It was later on, during their lunch break that Draco caught Hermione's eye. He nodded for her to follow him as he left the private box.
She followed him until she suddenly lost sight of him. Unsure of where he had gone, she continued in the same direction down the corridor before suddenly being pulled into a smaller private box.
"Hey." He said quietly, "Are you okay?" He asked.
Hermione nodded, "I am."
"Hermione…please tell me what's wrong." He whispered, taking her hand.
She sighed, "I'm having tea with Harry tomorrow night after the Longbottom dinner. I told him I couldn't have dinner on Friday…" She went on to explain everything that happened.
Draco nodded, inhaling deeply. "I erm…" as he exhaled he shook his head, unsure of what to say. He glanced at his wristwatch, "I should get back."
"Draco, please don't." She begged, grabbing his forearm. "I'm sorry. You've got to know that nothing's going to happen. I'm going to explain to him that I love you. Because I do, Draco. I love you so much." She said in a desperate tone.
He nodded, "I love you too, Darling." He said, cupping her jaw. "And I trust you. I also know that Potter isn't bad bloke, but that doesn't mean that I'm happy about you going over there alone."
She nodded, "I understand. I'm not happy about it either, but I swear to you, I am not going to allow anything to happen. And you're right, Harry isn't a bad person. And he would never try to do anything…forceful."
He nodded, "Okay." He murmured before leaning down and kissing her, "I love you, Granger."
She rolled her eyes at him calling her by that name in private, "I love you too, Malfoy."