August, 1991

Hermione wandered through the tall shelves in the store. For the first time since Hermione had been told she was a witch by the imposing Scottish woman, and informed that she was going to a special school for people like her, she felt at home. Surrounded by books. Hermione had always felt more at home with books. While her parents were focused on trying to find her textbooks for the year with help from her future professor, Hermione wanted nothing more than to sit and read all the books in the store. As she wandered through, she noticed a boy around her age standing flipping through a hefty tome.

"What are you reading?" Hermione asked the pale blonde boy.

He looked up in surprise, clearly not expecting anyone to be back in that part of the store. "Umm, it's a book about the discussions surrounding the passing of the Statute of Secrecy."

Hermione nodded, making a mental note to ask Professor McGonagall what that was when she joined her family again. "It sounds interesting."

The boy gave her an odd look. "You're joking right?"

Hermione shook her head earnestly, and made her way over to the boy. "I'm not. I think that sounds really cool."

He looked her up and down, taking her in and sizing her up. "I'm Draco," he said after a long minute, shutting the book and sticking his hand out for her to shake. "Draco Malfoy."

Hermione took his hand. "I'm Hermione Granger."

"That's an odd name." Draco commented, putting the book back on a shelf.

Hermione shrugged. "So is Draco."

Draco gave her a haughty look. "I was named for the stars."

"And I was named for a prolific character by Shakespeare," Hermione retorted, putting her hands on her hips.

Draco smiled at that. "Shakespeare? Why not Juliet?"

Hermione scrunched her nose in distaste. "Juliet is a stupid character. She throws her life away for a boy she just met. And no boy is worth throwing away your life for."

Draco laughed. "I like your laugh," Hermione complimented.

Draco quirked an eyebrow. "My laugh?"

"Yeah," Hermione said, nodding her head. "It's nice. You sound warm, like sunshine."

Draco shook his head. "Are you a first year?" He asked, changing the subject.

Hermione nodded her head eagerly. "Yeah, I'm so excited. Are you?"

"I am. Do you have an idea of what house you want to be in?" He asked.

Hermione thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. I don't like the sound of Hufflepuff. It sounds like a place where just anyone can go. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw sound interesting, but for very different reasons. But I definitely don't want to be in Slytherin, although I don't suppose I have much choice."

"Why not Slytherin?" Draco asked, folding his arms, and leaning against one of the bookshelves.

Hermione tilted head to one side. "I just don't think I'd fit. It sounds so imposing, and the history of it is a bit much for me."

Draco shook his head. "You should try for Slytherin. That's where I'm going to end up."

Hermione chuckled. "And how do you know that?"

"Everyone in my family has been a Slytherin," Draco said proudly. "And I think you'd be fine."

Hermione gave him a look. "You don't even know me. What makes you think that?"

Draco shrugged. "You just seem like you would. Trust me."

Hermione shook her head, and started running her fingers along the spines of the books, walking down the row slowly. "Are you nervous about going to school in the fall?"

Draco followed behind her. "Not really. Are you?"

Hermione nodded her head. "It's all just so much, and I feel so unprepared. I'm worried that I won't fit in, and I won't make friends."

Draco snorted. "Don't worry. I'll be your friend, and you can hang out with me and all my friends."

Hermione turned around and smiled at him. "Really?"

Draco nodded, and was about to say something, when a disembodied voice called out, "Hermione? We're ready to check out!"

"Coming mummy!" Hermione called out. "I'd better go," She said to Draco, putting her hands in her pockets, looking slightly sad to go.

Draco looked at the shelves, and pulled a thick, blue leather book down. "You should read this before you start. It's everything you could want to know about Hogwarts."

Hermione took it. "Hogwarts: a History?"

Draco nodded. "I have a copy at home, and it made me feel better knowing what I was going into."

"Thanks." Hermione smiled. She suddenly hugged him quickly and then took off down the row of books. "See you on the train!"

December 1994

Draco was wandering the halls, desperate for an escape from Pansy, who had been driving him insane all night. He was somewhere on the fifth floor when he heard sniffles coming from behind one of the suits of armor. He carefully peered around it, and was surprised to see Granger, sitting on the floor, knees pulled up to her chest, head buried in her arms.

"Why aren't you twirling away with Krum?" Draco asked in a snide tone.

Hermione lifted her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Go away Malfoy."

Draco took in the scene, and instead of leaving, sat down across from her, stretching his long legs out. "Why are you crying?"

Hermione wiped her cheeks furiously, glaring at him. "None of your business. Now go away. I don't need you making tonight any worse."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Was it Weasley?"

Hermione eyed him suspiciously. "What makes you say that?"

Draco shrugged. "He was staring daggers at Krum all night, plus its obvious to anyone with two brain cells that Weasley's got the hots for you."

Hermione shook her head violently. "Ron and I are just friends."

"Doesn't mean that he can't be in love with you."

Hermione looked taken aback. "But he's never said anything."

Draco rolled his eyes again. "Because he's an idiot, and a coward who will never say anything to you."

Hermione gave Draco a look. "Ron is not a coward."

Draco laughed. "But you're not denying he's an idiot."

Hermione blushed, but didn't say anything. Draco sighed. "So what did Weasley do?"

Hermione sighed, and rested her chin on her knees. "He said I was 'fraternizing with the enemy' by going to the ball with Viktor. He said that I clearly wasn't supporting Harry if I was willing to go to the ball with Viktor."

Draco scoffed. "Wasn't he completely against Potter being in the tournament in the beginning?"

"Exactly!" Hermione said in exasperation. "He was jealous that Harry somehow ended up in the tournament, and he wasn't. But this whole thing is a giant death trap, and Harry didn't even want to be in the bloody thing."

Hermione gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "I shouldn't have said that," she said slowly.

Draco shook his head. "I don't know why anyone would want to do this. It's fucking stupid."

Hermione lowered her hand. "Then why are you against Harry being in it?"

"Because he always gets all the glory, and he's not even that impressive."

Hermione stretched her legs out, her leg touching Draco's. "He doesn't want all the attention you know. He actually hates it, unless it's for quidditch."

Draco gave her a disbelieving look. "Right."

"I'm telling the truth!" Hermione insisted.

Draco shook his head, a small smirk on his face from getting her riled up. "So why were you crying? Weasley says stupid things all the time, and you don't cry."

Hermione looked down. "You'll just make fun of me."

"No I won't."

She glanced back up at him, eyeing him for a moment. "Promise?"

Draco nodded. "Promise."

Hermione sighed, and leaned her head back against the wall. "I just had this idea of how the night was going to go. I had the perfect dress that my mum had helped me find, I spent forever on my hair, and I was going with someone who actually likes me for me. I thought that he would kiss me at the end of the night, and I'd finally get my first kiss," she finished softly.

"Really Granger?" Draco asked. "You just wanted a kiss?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I shouldn't have told you that. It's stupid I know," and she started to get up.

Draco reached forward and grabbed her wrist to pull her back down, but accidentally pulled her directly on his lap, putting her face to face with him. Hermione gasped. Draco could suddenly feel his heart beating a thousand miles a minute, and wondered if she could hear it. He moved his hand up to her hair, and felt around, finally finding the pin that was holding her bun in place, and gently pulling it out, letting her hair fall down, dropping the pin somewhere on the ground. She looked at him strangely. "You don't look like yourself." He explained lamely.

"Why are you being nice to me?" Hermione asked quietly.

Draco swallowed. "I don't know. But it's Christmas. Maybe we don't question it," he said.

Hermione glanced down at her wrist, his hand still curled around it. "Do you want me to let go?" He asked.

Hermione looked back up and shook her head, biting her lower lip.

Draco nodded. With his free hand, he reached up and cupped her cheek, pulling her lip out with his thumb. "Don't punch me for this later." He muttered, then leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against hers, her eyes wide open in shock.

Neither one made a move for a moment, and just as Draco was about to pull away, Hermione pushed forward, and started moving her lips against his, her eyes fluttering shut. She finally pulled away a moment later, her eyes opening. "That was nice."

Draco nodded, not trusting himself to speak. She leaned forward again, and Draco met her willingly. After a moment, Draco tested his luck by opening his mouth slightly, and pushing his tongue against her closed mouth. To Draco's shock, she opened her mouth willingly, and Draco pushed forward, heightening their kiss. Hermione moaned, and pulled away when she felt like she might pass out. She took a breath, and then flung her free arm around Draco's neck and dove back in.

Draco released his grip on her wrist, and placed his hand on her hip, moving the hand that had been cupping her face slowly down her side, stopping at her other hip, and without breaking their kiss, lifted her easily. She pulled away with a squeak, and Draco set her back down on top of him, straddling him, her knees by his hips, her periwinkle dress flowing out around her. He moved one hand up her back, and pulled her back in. She groaned at the feel of him beneath her, and moved her free hand up his chest slowly, until she gripped his shoulder, her fingers digging into him.

Draco moaned, and without thinking rotated his hips upward at the sensation, and wrapped the hand that had been holding her hip around her waist, and pulled her flush against him. He disconnected their kiss, and immediately started kissing his way down her neck, and she moaned, and pushed herself closer to him. He kissed a certain spot, and Hermione gasped, and all the blood from Draco's head rushed south. He started suckling the spot, and Hermione panted, and began to roll her hips against Draco, feeling him harden beneath her, head tilted back to give Draco better access.

Draco moved the hand that had been resting on her back down, stopping at her knee. He pulled away, and looked at her, silently asking permission. Hermione was struggling to catch her breath, but her eyes met his, their normal honey brown, a dark molten chocolate. She nodded furiously, and lunged forward to kiss him again. He met her eagerly, and he slid his hand under her dress. He let his hand slide up her thigh, marveling at the smoothness of the skin, until his hand found her center, covered by her knickers. He ran his finger along the seam, and Hermione moaned in his mouth, her body reacting to his, and Draco slipped a finger underneath the material, and was met with a wet heat. He slid a finger up and down her lower lips, and she pulled away, panting.

Draco moved another finger under the material, and she closed her eyes. He moved the two fingers along that same path for a few minutes, and then slowly stuck a finger inside her. Hermione's eyes flew open, and she gasped, her eyes focusing on Draco. He stilled. "If you want to continue Granger, you're going to have to stay very quiet. Can you do that?"

Hermione shut her mouth quickly, and nodded, eyes wide, and slightly glazed. "Good girl," he muttered, and started moving again. He kept moving the one finger slowly, and after a few minutes, put his second finger in her. Hermione leaned her head forward, resting on the opposite shoulder of where her hand was gripping, and moaned softly into him. Draco kept moving the two finger, and eventually slid his thumb under her knickers, and found the small bundle of nerves, and started rubbing in circles all while his fingers kept going in and out.

Hermione started to shake. "I don't think-" She breathed out, lifting her head, and Draco moved his other hand from her lower back to the back of her head, and pushed her mouth into his own, speeding up his thumb and fingers.

After another minute, she screamed into Draco's mouth, shuddering against him her fingers breaking the skin underneath his shirt, as she came. Draco slowed down his fingers, as she came down from her high, pulling back, and letting her rest her forehead on his. She panted, trying to catch her breath and as her breathing began to even, Draco extracted his hand from underneath her dress, and wiped them on this inside of his dress robes.

The pair stayed like that for a few moments longer, neither one wanting to break the bubble that had seemingly surrounded them. Eventually Hermione pulled back, and sighed. "I should go back up to Gryffindor tower," she said in a soft voice.

Draco nodded, and helped her stand up. "Do you need me to walk you back?" He asked, towering over her.

She shook her head slowly. "I don't think it's a good idea."

He nodded.

"Thank you, Draco." She said quietly. "Thank you for making tonight special."

Draco nodded again, and she made her way from behind the statue. After double checking that the hallway was empty, she started to exit. "Happy Christmas Hermione." Draco said, looking directly at her, causing her to turn around.

Hermione rushed at him, and flung herself against him once again, kissing him passionately. After a minute, she pulled away. "Happy Christmas Draco," she said, and then finally left the hiding spot.

Draco listened for her footsteps to fade, then slid down the wall. "Fuck." He muttered.

Present Day

Hermione stood completely still, eyes open as Draco pressed his lips against hers, her mind going completely blank. She thought back to that Christmas in fourth year, and unconsciously, her eyes fluttered shut, and stepped in, allowing the kiss to happen. Draco let one hand release the book, and wrapped his hand in the hair on the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

She pulled away when she felt like she was going to pass out from lack of oxygen, and looked at Draco with wide eyes. His normally silver eyes had gone molten, almost black, and then suddenly, he pushed forward into her, dropping the book completely, and moving them so that her back was shoved up against a bookshelf. With his free hand, he slid his hand to her bottom, and picked her up easily, so her legs wrapped around his hips, and he pushed his pelvis into her center.

She groaned into the kiss and tangled her hands in his hair, pulling hard on the soft blonde locks.

He pulled away with groan, and started peppering kisses along her neck. He pulled the hand that had been in her hair out, and grabbed the bookshelf behind her, gripping it tightly to help keep himself upright.

"Dr- Dra- Draco!" She groaned. She shut her eyes tightly and moved her hands down from his hair, to grasp his shoulders. "We have to stop," she panted out.

Draco stilled against her neck. "I don't want to." He mumbled into her neck.

Hermione took a shallow breath, and detangled her legs from around his waist, and he helped her go to the ground gently. He looked at her face, and saw that she was struggling.

"I'm sorry," he said stepping back, noticing her hair was mussed in the back.

Hermione shook her head. "No you're not."

He sighed. "No, I'm not. But it seemed like that was what you wanted to hear."

Hermione looked down. "What are we doing?"

Draco took a tiny step closer, and reached for her hand. When she didn't stop him, he took it in his, and rubbed his thumb on the back of it. "Well, I think it's safe to say that we still have sparks between us."

Hermione sighed, and looked back up at him. "I don't think sparks were ever a problem."

Draco chuckled. "But this has to be a good thing right? I mean, most people who end up in these contracts end up stuck with someone where there's nothing between them."

"And what is there between us?" Hermione asked, interrupting him. "A bunch of schoolyard hate, and a heated make out session between inexperienced teenagers?"

Draco gave her a look. "I don't think I'd classify what we did in fourth year as a make out session, and I definitely wasn't inexperienced."

Hermione glared at him. "That doesn't answer my question."

Draco stepped further in, until there was only an inch of space between them. "There is something here Hermione," he said in a low voice. "I know that because I had to learn occlumency because of you. I couldn't get the image of you coming undone because of my fingers out of my head, and wondering what would have happened if we hadn't stopped that night out of my imagination, so I decided to just hide it away from anyone who would hurt you."

Hermione's breathing quickened. "I know that I couldn't find it in myself to go after you after that night unless you were with Potter and Weasley. And that night you were with McClaggen? I almost killed him after I saw him trying to paw you. And I know that I haven't stopped thinking about what it would have been like if we'd been in the same house since I met you here the first time."

Hermione thought she might stop breathing. She inhaled sharply. "You were awful to me."

"Because it was expected." Draco drawled.

Hermione looked down between them. "I didn't want this."

Draco stopped rubbing his thumb on the back of her hand, but didn't let go. "I know you didn't." He sighed. "But like it or not, it's happening. Not today, and not tomorrow, but it is going to happen. And shouldn't we be grateful that there is at least something here?"

Hermione looked back up at him, and put her free hand on his chest and pushed him back very gently, but not pulling their hands apart. "I want to get to know you. Outside of this fucking contract." Draco nodded and moved to step back in, but she kept her arm stiff holding him back. "And I want to take this slow."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "How slow?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "No physical stuff."

"Absolutely not." He shook his head.

Hermione stood firm. "Clearly, there is a physical attraction." Draco opened his mouth to speak, but she kept going. "But that isn't enough to build a foundation or a future on. I want to be in a marriage that is based on mutual respect. And where we like each other at least."

Draco relaxed. "But we will get physical eventually?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, I assume there is a section regarding kids in the bloody contract."

Draco grimaced. "Theo mentioned that?"

Hermione shook her head. "Cleverest witch of her age, remember?"

Draco sighed. "Yes, there is. But we did manage to remove the timeframe part of it."

Hermione's jaw dropped. "There was a timeline for kids?" She shouted?

Draco looked around and shushed her, reminding her that even though they were alone in their section, the store was not empty. "Yes, there was a lot in there that wasn't fair to you, but Theo and I took most of it out."

Hermione dropped his hand and crossed her arms over her chest, and scowled up at him. "Do I have a dowry too?"

Draco closed his eyes, and rubbed his forehead with his hand. "Yes."

"You have got to be kidding me. What kind of antiquated bullshit-"

"I told Theo I didn't want it."

Hermione stopped. "What? Why?"

Draco opened his eye, and put the hand that he'd been rubbing his forehead with on a shelf above Hermione's head. "I have enough money. More than enough. I don't even think I could put a dent in it if I tried. But I knew that you would hate it, so I turned it down. But the contract required something be in that section, so I told Theo to just make a new account, and put the money in there solely for you to do with what you will."

Hermione was floored. "You didn't have to do that for me."

Draco put his free hand on her waist. "I know, but I wanted you to gain something out of this."

Hermione swallowed, and nodded her head. "We'll go on dates," she said resolutely.

Draco nodded. "Okay. I want one condition though."

Hermione narrowed her eyes again. "What?"

"I want to be able to hold your hand."

Hermione nodded. "Alright."

Draco let out a sigh of relief, then glanced at his watch. "We should get back to the school." He said.

Hermione grabbed his wrist, and gasped. "It's almost curfew!"

He chuckled. "You've got that cloak remember?"

She gave him a withering glance, "You don't."

He rolled his eyes. "Do you trust me?"

"No."

He gave a low chuckle. "Oh well."

He released the shelf, and wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her into him, with a shallow gasp from her. With a crack he disapparated them out of the bookshop, and when they reappeared, they were standing in a dark space. Hermione pushed him back from her.

"What the fuck Malfoy?" she asked looking around. "Wait, are we back in the tunnel? You can't apparate-"

"On school grounds." Draco finished for her, lighting his wand silently, and turning her around in the right direction. "I felt the wards shift as we left the grounds about halfway through, so I realized that we could make it all the way to the tunnel and not have to worry about any apparition alarms if we tried to go back into the shop."

Hermione was stunned. "Very smart Malfoy." She complimented quietly.

"Draco." He said, with a small laugh. "You said we had to call each other by our names yesterday, Hermione," he corrected, although when he said her name, her stomach flipped, and she shoved that sensation down deep.

They walked back up to the castle in silence, and when they reached the steps, started ascending. When they reached the top, they paused. "You should go first." Hermione said, looking down at her watch. "I don't know how long it will take you to get back to the Slytherin common room from here."

Draco shook his head. "Just put that cloak and we'll leave at the same time."

Hermione shook her head. "I forgot I had the cloak!" She reached in her bag and pulled it out. She made to open the witch's hump, but Draco stopped her.

"Can I ask you one favor?"

Hermione looked up at him. "What?"

Draco sighed, and ran his hand through his hair nervously. "What happened fourth year. Can you not mention that to Theo?"

Hermione looked at him confused. "I hadn't planned on saying anything to Theo, but why do you not want me to say anything to him?"

Draco grimaced. "Your brother was hopelessly missorted. 99% of the time, I'll say he should have been a Ravenclaw. The only time that he ever fits in our house is when he is protecting those he cares about. And you're one of them. I've already had him threaten to crucio me when we hadn't even figured out who you were."

Hermione gasped. "He did what?"

Draco shook his head. "I don't think he'd actually do it, but what I'm getting at is you're his sister. He's going to protective of you, and if he knew what I'd done to you in fourth year, he might actually hurt me."

Hermione shook her head. "How many times do I have to tell idiot boys that I don't need protecting?" she muttered.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "He's happy you're alive. Let him think that he's protecting you."

Hermione shook her head. "Trust me, if you ever did anything of real harm to me, Theo would be the least of your worries."

Draco gulped. "Potter and Weasley?"

Hermione smiled angelically. "Please," she shook her head. "Your biggest concern would be me."

Draco eyed her hands.

"I wouldn't punch you again." She said sweetly. "Remember when Marietta Edgecomb got stuck with snitch on her face? That was me."

She laughed at the horrified look on his face, and pushed the hump open. "Good night Draco," she said, swinging the cloak over her, taking her from his view, leaving him in absolute fear and awe.