Draco leaned against the spot where the door would appear for them once summoned, his meticulously crafted mask of confidence proudly on display while he waited for her. A black sweater had been added to his "after school hours" uniform to combat the chill and his platinum blonde hair looked as if he had just spent the last hour running his hands through it. A few strands fell onto his forehead, giving him an unusually lax look.
She hesitated at the corner, watching him wait. Now that the opportunity to enact her plan of inept seduction had presented itself without interruption her nerves had kicked in. She had absolutely no clue how to proceed. It wasn't like she had ever snuck out to get hot and heavy before, much less with an experienced lover. Her ignorance would be painfully telling.
He wouldn't laugh at her would he? She knew the chances were slim but it was a real worry. He had lost his virginity to Parkinson. The girl who once resembled a pug had morphed into the type that could make a guy ejaculate just by licking her frickin' lips in their presence. There was no way she could measure up to that. She wasn't even in the same hemisphere!
At the same time she knew he had to be wanting something more as well. Not if he was bold enough to admit to imagining her lips doing something more worthwhile than cursing. That didn't exactly sound G rated…
She resorted to nibbling on the inside of her cheek instead of ruining all of Ginny's hard work on her lips. Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she worked up the bravery to step forward and meet what the night had in store for her. As much as she probably shouldn't, she trusted the boy who was standing there. Just when she shifted to take that first step he cleared his throat and spoke to the wall opposite of him. "You've been standing there for quite some time. Would you rather not enjoy my company tonight?"
"Oh! Ummm... Hi." She was surprised by the sudden acknowledgement. It was at that moment she had decided to use her precocious mind to the fullest of its abilities, apparently. A blush worked up into her cheeks as she stepped out from her horrid hiding spot.
"Hello... I am serious, you know. You can leave if you are second guessing... Me." His gray eyes searched her face as she approached.
"I know. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be." Hermione confirmed with a shrug of her shoulders.
Amused with her response a playful smirk crossed his lips. "Oh really? From where I am standing it looked like you were working yourself into a tizzy."
"It wasn't a tizzy. I... I'm just nervous." There really wasn't any use in trying to deny the obvious.
"Why?" Draco snapped. All traces of the humor on his face from a second before was gone. Wiped from his features based on assumptions of what the cause of her nervousness was.
"It's pretty chilly out here. Do you think we could move this somewhere warmer?" She decided not to answer. At least not out in the hallway. It was much better to get inside the sanctuary of the Room of Requirement, in whichever form, then get caught and be speaking about her inexperience... With him…
He huffed but stood up from the wall. His movements were quick and jerky with his annoyance as he called the door for his room into being. He opened it and gestured for her to enter.
She couldn't help the smirk of satisfaction at his impatience as she walked past him. As soon as the warmth from the room hit her the tension of her expectations softened and she sighed. Without looking back at him she walked over to the couch and slid her cloak from her shoulders. Taking great care to concentrate on each movement instead of the fact that he was somewhere behind her. When she was done she draped the bundle along the back of the couch and smoothed the wool down.
She felt when he stepped up behind her but it still left goosebumps along her skin when he leaned forward and whispered. "Why are you so nervous, Kitten?"
She turned around so they were facing each other with her eyes closed. She knew once she opened them his stare would be intense this close. All swirly and hypnotic... And she was not disappointed when she finally did. It was too bad the moment was ruined when she realized exactly what she was admitting to someone other than Ginny…
"Well... Ummm... Since your last note was a tad bit... Suggestive. I knew what we both had in mind with me coming here tonight. And... What we've done is the most I've... That is... I mean..." She struggled, unable to get the simple words out.
"Do you have any idea how absolutely brilliant you look when you are flustered?" He asked her as if he hadn't heard a single word she just stammered.
"What?! Draco, I am trying to tell you that I..."
"What Granger? That you are a virgin? I have already deduced that from your eloquent attempt to tell me as much. I am not stupid. I heard you and it doesn't matter, alright? If you ever feel uncomfortable you only have to say something. I am just glad you are not telling me to bugger off because of... Everything." He told her in a rush, looking down at the rug under their feet by the time he was finished.
She sighed in annoyance and her tone caused him to look back up. "I meant what I said. I wouldn't have come if I didn't want to be here with you. That doesn't mean I am not afraid of the unknown. Weren't you... Even the tiniest bit during your first time going any further than kissing?"
"Uhhh... No. I was sloshed out of my mind. Can barely remember it actually..." He stated matter-of-factly.
"That has to be disappointing. I mean... Maybe I am just being a tad bit of a romantic here, but that seems like something you'd want to remember."
Draco shrugged. "I can't take back a lot of mistakes from my past."
"True... But you can always change your future, right?" She asked, knowing it sounded cheesy and not really caring. It was the truth. He could change. He was changing…
"Right." His reply was simple as he stared down at the bare skin of her shoulder and neck, momentarily distracted.
Her heart picked up faster as she imagined his lips trailing the line his eyes made to meet hers again. Before she could stop herself she leaned in and pressed against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Hiding in the safety of his chest she whispered. "I know it's crazy but I have missed you..."
"I've missed you too, Kitten." He said as he embraced her. Pulling her even closer so he could bury his face into her curls with a soft almost inaudible groan.
She pressed her face against the scratchy wool of his sweater, enjoying the feeling of his strong arms around her. It was like coming home. All of the acceptance she had strived so hard for over the last six years was found in such a simple gesture. From one of the most non-simplistic men she could have found... Fate had a funny way of working out that way.
He gently pulled away and slipped his hand into hers, slowly coaxing her towards a door that she distinctly did not remember being there. "Come on. I want to do something before we go any further."
She followed him without complaint. Curious as to where he was now going to take her and what he planned once they were there…
When he opened the door there was a full four piece bath inside. The tub, shower, toilet and vanity all came in a black porcelain. Silver metal made the faucets shine as if brand new. The towels and washcloths were, of course, emerald green. Once again it was an exact replica of what she would picture if asked what she thought the Slytherin bathrooms looked like. Only on a much smaller scale.
Draco did not say anything as he stopped them both in front of the vanity, he reached over and turned the water on. Letting the pipes warm up before he grabbed one of the folded washcloths from next to the sink and placed it under the steady flow. He stared into her eyes as he let the stream flow over the fabric. Not breaking the look as he wrung the excess water from the dripping rag.
With a feather light touch he slid the unbelievably soft material along her bottom lip, wiping the gloss away. He kept eye contact with her as he worked all of Ginny's hard work from her skin. The only time he allowed her to look away was when she had to close her eyes because the mascara and eyeshadow necessitated it, which he left for last. A cold shiver crossed her skin to notify her of him reversing the charms that had been laboriously applied.
She kept her eyes closed, mulling over the reason why he hadn't just magicked away the makeup too. Not that she was opposed to the act, it was somehow an extremely intimate thing to let him do. Her stomach pinched at his rejection of her attempt to look better though. She had been hoping for a better reception…
Almost as if he could read where her thoughts were, he reached up and traced his thumb along her jaw bone to get her attention. When she finally obliged he gave her a soft smile. "There you are... I much prefer the real you, Granger. I like watching you blush. I like being able to see the freckles that dot your cheekbones. I like your crazy ass hair. You don't need to be fake with me..."
Hermione sighed at his words. If she didn't know any better she would say he was practicing Legilimency on her, but there were no tell-tale signs of any intrusion into her mind. A fact she was extremely grateful about but almost immediately guilty for feeling. Which was ridiculous... Who could really blame her checking and constantly testing that growing string of trust between the two of them? It wasn't just her that would end up being hurt if things turned sour.
"You believe me right?" He asked as he leaned down to be able to see her better through the mane of curls that had exploded across her forehead from the lack of any spell or product to tame them.
"I don't know." She answered honestly, choosing to expound on the pertinent issue that caused her unease. The complexities of their relationship and the effects on others hadn't been enough to keep her from showing up after all. "I... I don't compare to a girl like Pansy, Draco. Or any of the other girls you've probably had. I am the bumbling little Gryffindor bookworm, remember? I'm... I'm not like them."
"Good. If I wanted one of them I could have them but I don't. I want you." He reached up and ran his fingers through his hair. Right along the messy divots that he must have made before she had shown up. "I wish I could get you to see yourself the way everyone else does. I think you would be surprised by just how many of us poor souls are lusting after you..."
Another blush crept up and into her cheeks as she thought over what he said. A month ago she would have laughed in his face. But lately... Ron, Cormac, Blaise and Draco had all expressed an interest in their own ways... She had noticed a woman's figure starting to come in over the last couple of years but this summer it was as if a Fairy Godmother had waved her wand. Her hips had developed curves that there hadn't even been a hint of in spring. Her breasts now filled out her blouses enough that she was thinking of going up a size just to accommodate them. The child-like softness was quickly melting from her face leaving a woman she barely even recognized, like in the mirror with Ginny.
Maybe he was right and she didn't need as much help to be attractive as she thought…
"Perhaps one day I will be able to convince you." He muttered under his breath before taking her hand in his again, leading her from the bathroom and back into the bedroom. Once inside the open space he dropped her hand and went and sat down on the bed, allowing her the choice to approach when she was ready.
She stood there as he stared at her. Drinking in the outfit she had chosen. The color of the sweater had been for him. The rest of it made her feel empowered, gave her the confidence she needed to go through with whatever they were about to do. But the navy blue had been a nod to how he had said he liked the color on her, a small way to show that she listened to what he said. That his opinion mattered... Probably more than she should let it.
Draco's jaw clenched and unclenched as she watched him. Trying so hard to be patient for her, to continue to be courteous and caring... He reached up and ran his hand through his hair again before laying back and starting up at the ceiling. It took a moment but he asked. "Still nervous?"
She couldn't stop the snort at the question. It was quite absurd. Of course she was…
"How about we take it one step at a time. No commitments to anything? Just like any other night. Does that sound good?" He hedged still talking to the stone above him.
She knew he was giving her an out that she didn't really want. It still helped lift some of the pressure on her lungs, allowing her the first full breath since they had entered the loo. She nodded. "Okay..."
"You could come sit over here and we could talk..." He suggested.
Hermione chided herself for not doing it earlier and letting herself get caught up in her emotions. She walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. Her body was turned so he had a good look at her profile when she leaned back against the post behind her. She tucked one leg underneath her and let the other dangle off of the bed, her toes barely brushing the carpet. The bedding was even better than she had imagined. It felt like she was sitting on air.
Even with her stomach churning with anxiety it took everything she had not to climb on top of him and kiss him until her nerves melted away…
But he was right. Better to ease into it...
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Ack! Ok, I know I am horrible!
So what do you think? Is our girl gonna "do it"? Or will her emotions get the best of her?
As always…
Much love,
SlytherclawLuv