The silence rang around them as they both stared down at her arm. Eventually she spoke, her voice hoarse with emotion.
'How ... how did you ... ' Hermione fought for breath. She couldn't believe her eyes. He had finally done it. He had found a way to reduce her scar, to make it less obvious. It finally looked healed. Just as he had promised.
'I h-had to escape the r-reunion for a b-bit,' he told her, his teeth chattering, eyes still fixed on her arm. He did nothing to stem his flow of tears. 'I w-w-went into the l-library, and picked up the f-first book on healing I c-could find and ... it was just ... th-there ...'
She looked down at her arm again, still somewhat disbelieving, then back to him, and noticed that he was still shaking.
'How did you get here, Draco?'
'Apparated to H-Hogsmeade,' he sniffed, finally tearing his gaze away to look at the rest of her, his eyes automatically scanning her body to ensure that she hadn't come to harm while she'd been out of his sight. 'Then I r-ran - '
'You ran?! Draco, you could have frozen, there's a bloody blizzard going on out there!'
'Is there?' he asked absently, his eyes on her face. She tried to read his expression, but only saw exhaustion. She wondered if he, too, had been struggling to sleep alone. 'W-well, it was w-worth it.' They both looked down at her left arm again, then suddenly she extended it and grasped his ice-cold hand, pulling him towards her bedroom.
'E-eager, are we?' he chuckled weakly as he followed her without a fight. 'It's only b-been 5 d-d-days, Granger. Are you already so d-desperate to shag me?'
'Don't be a prat,' she snorted, keeping her face turned away as she smiled, loving the instant return to normalcy that his effortless banter brought. 'You're probably near hypothermic, and the quickest way to regulate your temperature is through bodily contact. And here I thought I'd escaped these acts of bloody heroic idiocy when Harry Potter said he wasn't going to come back to Hogwarts this year.'
'Oh m-my, Miss Granger, you r-really do know how to t-talk to a boy.' The effect of his Malfoy swagger was somewhat dimmed as his teeth clacked together, and she hurried him into her room, ordering him to strip and get under the covers. He obeyed, winking at her as she rolled her eyes, and when he laid down she also removed her clothing and joined him, tucking herself up against him. She hissed when she felt just how cold his skin was, and pressed herself closer. He sighed, the witty remarks suddenly gone, and wound his arms around her, nuzzling his freezing nose into the crook of her neck as his shuddering lessened by the second. He began to stroke her back slowly.
'Gods, I've m-missed you,' he breathed, and she felt her heart stutter. She traced patterns across his shoulders, enjoying the feel of his warm breath against her skin, breathing in his familiar, comforting scent.
'Did you like your Christmas present?' she asked him quietly. He pulled back to look at her, a wide smile on his face.
'It's marvellous,' he enthused, grinning. He raised his hands and started to play with her hair, gently detangling the curls that she'd been neglecting since he left. 'Where on Earth did you find it?'
Her heart swelled to hear that he was so taken with it. She had spent some time putting it together, after he'd told her that he wanted to go to school for magical medicine after Hogwarts and learn to be a Healer. That weekend, she had found a collapsing bag after hours of searching Hogsmeade high and low for something suitable, finally stumbling out of a wizarding Antiques shop with her find clutched under her arm. Ginny had weadled at her all the way back to the castle to tell her what it was, but she couldn't without giving them away, so she'd told her it was part of a 'getting her life back on track' gift to herself after her break-up with Ron. Not entirely a lie, and it had seemed to suffice in satisfying the girl's curiosity as it had re-directed her to rant about her brother's cluelessness when it came to gift giving, and in turn her own partner's.
Over the next week, Hermione had snuck bits and pieces of herbs, flowers and potion ingredients, all of them known for their healing properties, from various gardens and supply cupboards around the castle. She had filled vials and bottles with the stores and carefully labelled each one. Finally, she had spelled the bag with her undetectable expanding charm, and thus had created a starter-kit that any aspiring Healer would have killed to get their hands on.
'Oh, you know,' she said nonchalantly, in answer to his question, enjoying the masterful tug and pull of his fingers. 'Here and there.'
'Well, it's absolutely brilliant. Hands down, the best thing I've received in years.' He frowned slightly, his hands continuing their task. 'But I've left it at the Mansion. And I may need to let things cool down for a couple of days before I can go back to get it. Mother almost hexed me when I told her I'd left you here on your own - '
'You told your mother about us?!'
His hands froze in her hair. She was staring at him, wide eyed. He swallowed. 'I had to.'
'You told your mother ... Did she remember who I am?' Draco flinched, and it was all the answer she needed. Panic gripped her throat at the knowledge that Narcissa Malfoy was now aware that her darling son was dating a Muggle Born witch, the same Muggle Born witch who had actively fought against her family in the war. When she didn't say anything, he continued.
'She tried to detain me, to stop me from leaving. She cast Immobulus charms and kept me in the library for an hour, questioning me over and over about what was so important that it couldn't possibly wait until I returned to school. She wouldn't accept it when I said I'd have to tell her later and it all just ... ' He waved his hands between them in his fight for words. 'Spilled out. But as I say, she immediately berated me for being stupid enough to leave you here on your own over the Christmas period, so I kind of took that as her ... blessing, I suppose?' He finally trailed off. She closed her eyes, trying to slow her breathing, taking in what he had said. After a while he quietly asked, 'Are you angry?'
'No.' She forced herself to breathe out slowly, and opened her eyes to find him watching her, brow furrowed with worry. 'I guess it is a good sign that she actually let you come back, and that she didn't send anyone or anything with you, to try and put me off being with you. But for Merlin's sake, Draco! I know we said that we would tell our nearest and dearest first, but I thought we'd at least talk things through before we told anyone!'
'I know, I know.' His fingers started moving through her curls again, a sheepish look on his face. 'I'm so sorry, Hermione. It was the only way, I needed to get back to you. I needed to know if the spell would work.' She considered him a moment longer, taking in his nervous expression, the gentle movements of his hands, and finally she sighed, all irritation gone.
'It's OK, it's done now.' She watched him for a while longer, still thinking, then said, 'You're going to have to tell me exactly what you told her though, so that I can tell my family the same thing.' He suddenly blanched. Hermione gripped his arm, alarmed at his rapid change in colour. 'Come on, it can't have been that bad?'
'Well, I'm, er ... I'm not sure if you would want to tell them exactly what I said.'
She looked at him, aghast. 'You didn't tell her about the sex, did you?'
At last he laughed, and she felt the tension ease slightly in the room. 'Gods forbid, no. She's been through enough, the poor woman, without hearing the particulars of just how her son likes to bend his secret girlfriend over their desk and - '
'Alright, alright,' she cut in, swatting at him, but there was a small smile on her lips now. 'So what did you say?'
'I ... well, I'm not sure you're going to like it ... ' He was struggling to look at her, and her fear of what he could have said to make him act this way caused her impatience to rise again.
'Draco, so help me, if you don't tell me then you leave me no choice but to remind you that Ginny taught me her Bat Bogey Hex two summers ago and I won't hesitate to -'
'OK, stand down.' He raised a hand in surrender, and she looked at him intently. He sighed, rolling onto his back to stare at the canopy above them, running his fingers through his own hair now, gripping it tight. He was silent for a while, then he turned back to her and grabbed her hand, looking her straight in the eyes. 'Well, I supposed this is as good a time as any ... After she caught me trying to sneak out and Immobolised me, she just kept asking what was so damned important that I would abandon her for her first Christmas without my father in over 20 years. And, after it became quite clear that I wouldn't get away without an explanation, I told her that I had to fulfil a promise I had made to the woman I love.'
Hermione's mouth fell open at his words. She was completely still, trying to process what he'd just said. He maintained eye contact, gripping her hand, waiting for her to say something.
'You ... you love me?' She felt the tears prickling her eyes again, and blinked rapidly to clear them so that she could keep looking at him. His gaze softened at her reaction.
'I do. I thought my Christmas present might have shown you that. But, Merlin help me, yes, I love you. I love your mind, how smart you are, how calm you are in a crisis, always thinking logically. I love how excited you get about the things you love and are passionate about. I love the way you say my name when we make love, and how perfectly our bodies fit together. I love how loyal you are, and your readiness to fight for your beliefs. And I love the way your eyes seem to change with each new emotion and the way your lips curve when you smile and Gods, please say something now Hermione, because I'm really starting to sound like a right creepy little fuc-'
She pressed her lips to his, silencing him effectively. She felt his body relax against her, sighing as he deepened the kiss. He rolled her onto her back under him, his tongue skimming over her lips, and she opened her mouth, her own tongue pushing and pulling with his. She was crying again, and he broke away from her lips to kiss her cheeks, kissing away the tears as they fell.
'I love you,' she breathed, and his eyes met hers momentarily. She saw relief and joy there, before he pressed himself to her again, his kisses long, languid, lingering. She felt her heart, battered and bruised from the emotional week, healing with each brush of his lips, becoming stronger as his hands skimmed up her sides. He moved to kneel between her thighs, and planted his left hand firmly by her head, holding himself up above her so that he could look down at her face.
'I want you,' he murmered, gaze flicking from her mouth to her eyes and back again.
'Then take me,' she returned. He groaned and leaned in to capture her lips again. His right hand travelled down her body, leaving a path of heat behind as it worked it's way down between her legs. He hissed slightly as his fingers met wetness, then groaned when he slid two fingers into her.
'Fuck, you feel even better than I remembered,' he murmered, and slowly pushed his fingers as deep as they could reach, before pulling them out and repeating the motion. Hermione squirmed under him, trying desperately to maintain eye contact as he played her body expertly.
She hadn't touched herself at all since he had left, and the build up of sexual energy had been knotted in her lower abdomen all week. As the knot slowly released, she found herself relaxing into his familiar touch, enjoying the way he knew just where to place his fingers to create sparks behind her eyelids. His fingers began to curl upwards, pressing against that spot inside her, and she realised her eyes had flickered shut. She opened them again to look up at him, and found him watching her raptly.
'Gods, you're beautiful,' he grunted. 'I love watching you come undone beneath me. My memory really didn't do it justice.'
She felt herself clench at the implication that he had been thinking about her while he was away, and she had just opened her mouth to respond when he pressed his thumb against her clit, causing her to gasp and lose her train of thought. He drew small, tight circles against her, all the while whispering praise and encouragement, and she clenched around him he said, 'Yes, Love, cum for me, my good girl.'
As she came down, he withdrew his hand and made to pull away, but she grasped the back of his neck and held him close. He raised an eyebrow in question.
'I need you,' she panted. 'Now.'
He simply nodded, and reached between them to position himself at her entrance, eyes never leaving hers. He pushed into her very slowly, and she caught her lower lip with her teeth at the feeling of him, hard and strong, stretching her again, filling her. Gods, she had missed this, missed him. His lips found hers, and he sucked her lower lips from between her teeth and into his own mouth, licking and nibbling at it. She rolled her hips, and he pulled away with a groan, his eyes rolling in his head as her action pushed him deeper into her.
Once he'd recovered, he set up a slow pace, making sure to fill her completely with each thrust. His eyes bored into hers, and his right hand found her left. He twined their fingers together and held tight, and Hermione felt the electricity of their connection jolt through her, increasing her need. She whimpered under him, and he increased his pace slightly. His eyes travelled to her left arm, and he swallowed as he once again took in the changed state of her scar.
'Draco,' she murmered, and his eyes snapped back to hers, a growl escaping him.
'Again.'
'Draco,' she breathed, her back arching as he shifted their angle slightly, increasing the friction between her thighs, carrying her closer to the edge. He dropped to his elbows, his hands winding under her, pulling her torso completely flush with his. Her hands wound into his hair as he placed hot, wet kisses along her collar bone.
'Once more for me, Princess. Please, once more as you cum for me.' His words gave her the final push, and she shattered around his cock, gasping his name. He grunted as she contracted around him, and he continued to thrust as he spilled into her, prolonging their pleasure for as long as he could.
Finally, when they were both shaking with sensitivity, he collapsed into her, his torso splayed against her stomach, his head on her chest, her legs wrapped around his waist. He held her tightly to him as he panted, regaining his breath, and she played with his hair, pressing kisses to the top of his head.
'I love you, Granger,' he murmered, his voice heavy with sleep. Hermione was struggling to keep her own eyes open, her body embracing the exhaustion that had built from days of sleeping badly. Now that he was back, his skin pressed against hers, it was hard to resist the pull of sound sleep.
'I love you,' she whispered, not knowing if he was still awake to hear her.
