AN: I know. It's been a minute since my last update. I am sorry about that. Still working on some re-writes and editing for the next few chapters, but this one is finally ready to go out into the world.
All my love to my readers. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me.
{ 40 }
{ Hermione POV }
I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as I apparated to the hidden rooms on the fourth floor. Spending the day with so many people, even if they are friends, took every bit of energy I have.
The two hours I spent with Pansy reviewing my process whilst avoiding her probing questions about my relationship with Draco was beyond exhausting.
"Are you really making Draco wait for marriage? How delightfully cruel of you."
Right now, all I want to do is sit in the dark in front of the fire. I don't want to talk. I don't want to think. I just want to be. Just for a few minutes.
I collapsed into the armchair and closed my eyes. I listened to the crackling of the fire and tried to relax.
"You have to know that half of the men in this school want to have their way with you. Draco is no different."
After several long minutes, I gave up. There is no relaxing tonight. My anxiety has been high all afternoon and all evening. I don't need to relax. I need to expend energy. A lot of energy.
I need to get her out of my fucking head.
Draco flies when he gets like this. Not an option for me. I might be more comfortable flying now than I was before, but that would still only serve to increase my anxiety.
What I really need to do is punch something. Or someone. Repeatedly.
I stood and paced around the room. There is one wall that is empty. It is the wall that held the door we came through when we first found these rooms. Once we were inside, that door had vanished.
According to the letter Ravenclaw had left us, that entire entryway was sealed at both ends, never to open again.
I never gave it a second thought until this very second. Because the third time I paced past the empty wall, a door appeared.
Just like the room of requirement.
I hesitated a moment. Draco isn't here yet. He is still in the Slytherin dungeon.
I stepped forward and opened it. On the other side I found a training room. One side of the room had a thick padded floor and mirrors on the wall. On the other side of the room there was a kicking bag, a treadmill and a rack of free weights.
My lips tilted up in a smirk. It is a room of requirement. Ravenclaw really did think of everything, didn't she?
I changed my clothes quickly and started running through drills. I cleared my mind and focused on each movement. Each step, punch, block or kick has to be executed to perfection. I let everything else fall away. I cranked up my eighties rock playlist, and I ran through every kata I know. Then I moved on to the kicking bag. Instead of clearing my head, I let the thoughts run rampant as I punched and kicked the bag with all of my might.
At some point during my set I recognized that what I thought was anxiety is actually anger.
I am angry with Pansy. With her judgements. With her snide comments. With her implications.
I'm not just angry. I am fucking furious.
How dare she judge me? She doesn't know a damn thing about me. Or Draco. Or how far each of us has come.
I pictured her smug face in front of me and kept punching. I didn't stop until my muscles burned and I could feel sweat running down my back.
I stopped to catch my breath. After a moment or two, I caught sight of movement behind me through the mirror. I focused on the motion and realized Draco was standing there. He has his arms folded across his chest and his shoulder leaning against the open doorway.
My eyes caught his in the mirror. There is an undeniable heat in his gaze. My pulse picked up a notch.
"How long have you been standing there?" I turned to face him.
He has already taken a shower. His hair is damp and he is wearing green plaid pajamas.
"Not long." He is lying. His damp hair is nearly dry. "I seem to remember the foyer being here?"
"Yes, well." I rolled my eyes and huffed a short laugh. "One more hidden gem that Ravenclaw left for us."
His eyes scanned over me from head to toe. All that I am wearing are leggings in a dark blue color, and a sports bra in the same dark blue with light blue panels on the sides. My hair is pulled back in a messy, sweaty bun at the nape of my neck.
He visibly swallowed.
My lip pulled up in a smirk on one side. Maybe it's wrong, but I love the physical reaction I have when he looks at me like that. My pulse quickens. Warmth flows from my heart, throughout my bloodstream to every inch of my body. He makes me feel like I am beautiful. Like I am desired. Like I am loved.
In his mind, I may just be all of those things.
"I should go take a shower. I'm a mess " I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled it out of the bun it was in.
"I never figured you for a tease. I'm actually impressed." Pansy's voice ran through my mind once again.
I am somewhat impressed, myself. I have never seen myself as sexy or beautiful. But he does.
"You looked like you had someone in mind." His lip tilted up in a smirk. "Should I be worried?"
"Well, it wasn't you." I took a deep breath and released it slowly. I am still angry.
Despite that anger, I feel like I need to clarify something with him.
"Do you remember that day?" I asked quietly. I remember it clearly. It was the day that changed my life. Well, one of them, anyway "You defended me against McGonagall, remember? And she was going to expel me and you talked me into staying. And then we went to the third floor."
It took him a long moment of silence before he finally said softly, "I remember." His eyes were crinkled in confusion.
"I told you then that I wasn't ready. That I may never be." I finally turned to face him. My eyes locked on his. Those gray depths revealed his confusion and maybe some concern.
"You did." He cleared his throat.
He is uncomfortable with this conversation because he doesn't know where I am going with this. Hell, I don't know where I am going with it.
I do know one thing. Pansy can talk all she wants, but she doesn't know me. And she doesn't know Draco. Not like she thinks she does.
"Is this about this morning?" His brow still crinkled in confusion.
"What?" I asked dumbly. What would this morning have to do with…Oh! This morning. When we were both practically naked on the bed. As close to having sex as we have ever come.
Damn it.
"No." I released a nervous laugh. "No, of course not. This morning was amazing."
"Then what is going on?" He ran his hand through his hair and released a shaking breath.
I cleared my throat.
"It's just, I have been as up front and honest with you as I possibly can be from the very beginning, right?" I started pacing back and forth. I ran my hands through my hair and tugged on the ends. "I haven't led you on or tried to tempt you with something you can't have, right?"
He stepped up behind me. His eyes met mine in the mirror before his hands settled on my waist and pulled me back against his chest.
"I quite like it when you tempt me, you know?" He placed a kiss right behind my ear.
I wanted to laugh because that was the cheesiest line ever. And I would have. Except, I don't think it's a line. He is serious.
"Do you have any idea how tempted I am right now?" He whispered in my ear.
Yes, I think I do. I just don't know if that is a good thing or not.
A fresh wave of hot anger surged through me. Not at Pansy, though. At myself. Suddenly his arms around my waist felt confining. I stepped away quickly.
"I'm sorry, Draco." My voice sounded small, weak. My eyes blinked quickly. I feel like I'm going to start crying any minute now. "I'm still not ready."
I want to be. The Gods know I do. I just…I can't. Not yet.
I glanced up at him just long enough to see the stunned look on his face.
Anxiety stabbed through my heart.
I need to get out of here. Run away. Hide.
I moved towards the door quickly. He came out of his stupor as I moved past him. His arm snaked around my waist and he pulled me back.
He knows I can get away if I want to. I don't resist him, though. Instead, I turned and pressed my face against his chest. My fingers gripped his shirt. I honestly don't know whether I want to scream or cry right now.
He released a deep sigh and wrapped his arms around me.
"It's alright, Hermione." His hands rubbed across my back in a soothing motion. "We are good where we are, right?"
Damn.
"Just breathe." He held me a little tighter.
I followed his advice and took a deep breath. Then another.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" I muttered it under my breath.
"Not a damn thing."
He wasn't even supposed to hear me.
Gods, I love this man.
"There are a million things wrong with me." My lip tilted up in a small smirk, because I think we have had this conversation before.
We stayed like that for a long time. Finally, I sighed and took a step back.
"Good?" He asked carefully.
"Honestly, I don't know." I ran my hands through my hair. "I'm going to go take a shower."
I left him standing there and locked myself in the bathroom. I pressed my back against the heavy wood and slid to the floor.
What in the fuck just happened?
You just freaked the fuck out.
Oh, Gods, I am pathetic.
My hands are shaking. Hell, my whole body is shaking.
I don't know how long I sat on the floor before I pulled myself up and started the shower.
I stood under the hot spray much longer than was necessary. I stepped out of the shower and dried off with a thick blue towel. Then I realized that I don't have my bag, my clothes or my wand with me. They are all in the bedroom.
Of fucking course.
I wrapped a towel around my body and stood staring at the door. I wonder where Draco is now. Is he in the sitting room, waiting for me to emerge? Or in the bedroom, asleep in bed already? Perhaps he gave up altogether and went back to the Slytherin common room?
I swallowed hard around the sudden lump in my throat.
Would he have left? Gods, what must he be thinking?
I had to force myself to step forward and open the door, not at all sure what I would find on the other side.
The sitting room is empty. The door to the training room is gone. The wall is empty once again.
I kept the towel wrapped around my chest as I entered the bedroom.
Draco is there, sitting in the armchair, reading a book. He looked up when I walked in. His eyes widened and the book slipped from his fingers to land on the floor.
I stood frozen for a moment, acutely aware that I am completely naked under this towel.
"If you are trying not to tempt me, you are doing an awful job of it." His eyes locked on mine and stayed there.
"I forgot my bag." Probably the dumbest thing I could have said in that moment. It took effort to pull my gaze away and focus on selecting clothes to sleep in.
It might have taken just as much effort for him to stay sitting in the chair as I slipped a gray t-shirt over my head and black shorts up my legs before letting the towel drop to the floor.
He watched me as I combed my hair and twisted it up on top of my head.
"I thought you might be asleep by now." I pulled the covers down and sat on the edge of the bed. An awkward type of silence hung in the air between us.
"I wasn't sure if you would want me to stay in here tonight."
My eyes snapped to his.
Fuck.
"Where else would I want you to sleep?" My mouth is suddenly dry. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest.
"I will not pretend to know what goes through that brain of yours." He stayed in the chair for another moment or two. Then he stood slowly and made his way to the bed.
"I'm sorry." I waited until he was on the opposite side of the bed and my back was turned towards him. "I freaked out a bit. It wasn't anything you did."
Several seconds passed before I felt the bed dip down on the other side.
"What was it, then?" His voice is quiet. He must think I'm crazy. Hell, maybe he is right.
I picked at my fingernails.
"Pansy…she told me that I'm being cruel, teasing you with something you can't have." I wiped my palms against the sheets beside my legs.
"Pansy needs to mind her own fucking business." He grumbled to himself, barely loud enough for me to hear.
"Maybe she isn't wrong." I held my breath. I didn't mean to say that out loud.
"Of course she is wrong." He sounds so certain. I can actually hear him rolling his eyes.
He laid down and rolled towards me. Then his arm wrapped around my waist. I let out a small squeal as he pulled me backwards.
When I stopped moving, I was lying beside him. I propped myself up on my elbow, facing him, with my other hand on his chest.
"First, you tempt me without even trying." His hand settled on my hip. His fingertips brushed across my bare leg. "And second, I'm not worried about it. We'll get there when we get there. Hell, we could agree to wait until we are married for all I care."
My heart stopped in my chest. Did he just say…married?
My eyes searched his. He seemed to realize what he had said a few seconds after I did. His eyes widened and he held his breath, waiting for me to react.
After a few seconds, my lips tilted up in a smile. I bit into my bottom lip to curb the smile that broke loose.
"Was that a proposal?" I tried not to laugh, in case it truly was.
"Of course not." He rolled his eyes and smiled. "Do you see a ring and me down on one knee?"
I laughed then and wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug.
As I lay there with my head on his chest, I thought about what he had said. Waiting for marriage. There isn't much point. That ship sailed already. It isn't like I can save my virtue for my future husband.
If we agreed, though, the pressure would be off.
"I like that plan." I cleared my throat. I do like that plan. "Waiting until we are married."
He took a deep breath. I swear he relaxed as he blew it out.
"Then that's what we will do." He wrapped his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. "In the meantime, feel free to tease me, tempt me, and snog me anytime you want."
I searched his eyes for a long moment. I know he is serious. And I know how crazy I seem right now. I want to snog him senseless again.
But I'm scared.
It's too real.
This morning, we were close. So fucking close. He came with my hand wrapped around his cock, for Merlin's Sake!
I released a small sigh.
"Good night, Draco." I kissed him quickly, then lay my head on his chest again before the kiss could get heated at all.
His chest rose and fell slowly as he released a long sigh. His arm tightened around my waist for a moment.
"Good night, Hermione." He whispered into the dark room.
I don't know how long I lay there, staring into the darkness, before my eyes drifted shut and I slipped into fitful dreams.
[ - - - ]
{ Draco POV }
Sleep eluded me. Hermione tossed and turned most of the night. Occasionally she would sit upright, jolted from her nightmares that still plague her.
As the sun rose, I rolled out of bed and dragged my arse to the shower. The hot water helped relax my tense muscles. It couldn't help the sense of melancholy that had settled over me, though.
I dressed in my uniform. I flattened out every wrinkle. Tied my tie perfectly. Combed my hair to perfection. All from muscle memory. My body went through the motions whilst my mind replayed the encounter with Hermione the night before.
The look on her face haunted me. It had been there all night. Every time I closed my eyes.
Fear.
She blamed it on Pansy. On whatever the dark haired witch had said to her. But I can see it for what it was.
Even if she can't.
Or won't.
We pushed too far.
I pushed too far.
Too fast.
I released a deep sigh and left the bathroom. In the bedroom, Hermione is asleep. Finally.
I watched her for several moments. Her face is relaxed. Her arm is curled up against her chest. Her leg is sprawled across the bed on top of the blanket.
She released a deep sigh and rolled towards me. She did not wake, though, and I did not move to wake her. She needs to sleep.
I pulled the bedroom door shut behind me as I walked away. An instant later, I stood on the third floor balcony. From there, I made my way into the lecture hall, and downstairs to the Great Hall for breakfast.
Blaise gave me a strange look when I walked in alone and sat at our table rather than Gryffindor.
"Rough night?" He asked with a bit of humor in his voice.
"Something like that." I can't disagree with him.
I picked at my food and ignored the conversations that were happening around me. A black cloud settled over top of me and pressed down.
How could I have been so stupid? So selfish?
When Theo stood to leave, I followed him upstairs to the Arithmancy classroom. We were the first ones there, as usual.
"Are you going to tell me what the Hell is going on, or are you going to make me guess?" He asked as soon as the door closed behind me.
"Nothing." I rolled my eyes, shouldered past him and sat in my chair.
"Right." He huffed and sat beside me. "You look like there is nothing wrong."
My knee started bouncing up and down in agitation.
"Did you and Granger have a fight?" He spoke quietly, even though we are the only ones in the room. "You didn't break it off did you?"
"Of course not." I rolled my eyes and dropped my head into my hands. "We almost had sex."
I cringed to myself immediately. What in Salazar's name was I thinking when I said that? I have no idea. It had to be the lack of sleep.
"And that's a bad thing?" He asked slowly, like it should be the most obvious thing in the world that having sex with your girlfriend is a good thing.
"Yes, Theo. It's a bad thing." I rubbed my hand across my chest. "And you had to go and tell Pansy that we are waiting."
I stared at the door, watching for any indication that it is about to open. Any minute now the rest of the class will start filing in.
"Well, you are." Theo crinkled his brow in confusion. "Aren't you?"
Fuck.
"That is not the point." I ground out between my teeth. "It's none of your damn business! You don't know what the fuck you are talking about. You need to just stay the fuck out of it. You and Pansy both."
I can see the questions forming in his eyes. I said too much.
Damn it.
"What am I missing?" He wants answers. Answers that I am not willing to give.
I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. I should have stayed with Hermione.
Is she awake yet? Will she be angry that I left without saying goodbye?
Vector isn't in the classroom yet. Today we will be revising for the exam next week. I don't actually need to be here.
Except, I cannot ditch classes. I can't afford to risk it and be sent to Azkaban. Not this close to Christmas.
"It doesn't matter." I released a deep sigh as the door finally opened and the rest of our classmates walked in. "Just drop it."
He is not going to drop it. I know it. He knows it.
Class seemed to drag on forever. I can honestly say that I did not comprehend a single word that was said.
[ - - - ]
When class was finally over, I made my way down to the third floor slowly. I don't know if Hermione will be there or not, but it has become a habit to apparate to our rooms from there.
I stepped through the archway and was surprised to find a blonde witch in the room rather than Hermione.
"Lovegood? What are you doing here?" That came out harsher than I intended. I cringed to myself.
She merely turned towards me and smiled.
"Oh. Hello Draco." She blinked once or twice and turned back towards the map that was hanging on the wall. "I reviewed the data that Hermione gave us last night. I thought I saw a pattern but it seemed rather complex. I am hoping to simplify it a bit. I find that a picture tells a thousand words."
She raised her wand and started muttering incantations.
The map shows an aerial view of the grounds that encompasses the boundary of the wards. Hermione enlarged it so it covered the wall in a ten meter square.
I was just about to ask her what she was doing when I noticed markings around the edge of the map begin to glow.
Each marking was like a little flag that showed a measurement. She used different colors to show the strength of each energy flare, ranging from green to blue to yellow to red.
I watched for several long moments as she continued to charm the measurements on the map. She moved methodically, clockwise around the perimeter, until all of the markings glowed in their respective colors.
Then she took a step back. With a wave of her wand, all of the markings went dark. And one by one, in a seemingly random pattern, they lit once again.
She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side. There was a small smile on her face as she watched.
I stood beside her and watched as well. Once all of the markings were lit, the map went dark again and started over. It was on its third time through when I realized it was a sequence.
The measurements were lighting up in the sequence they were taken.
I stared at the map for several long minutes, watching with a growing sense of understanding.
Fucking Hell.
"Luna?" I asked anxiously. "This is brilliant. Are you seeing the same pattern I am?"
"I think so." She lifted her wand once again. This time, a streak of light was emitted from the end. She used it to trace the pattern that she saw.
Not one bad spot in the wards. Five of them. All equidistant from each other. When she connected the five points, it created a star. The pinnacle rested over the gates of Hogwarts, and the epicenter was directly over the castle.
If I am not mistaken, it is directly over the suite on the fourth floor.
I need to show this to Hermione. I can't just apparate up to the floors above with Lovegood standing here, though. I would have to wait until she left.
"There are wrackspurts surrounding you. Did you know?" She asked suddenly.
I might have jumped at the sound of her voice in the otherwise silent room.
"I have no idea what that means." I looked at the odd witch and waited for her to explain. What the hell is a wrackspurt?
"It generally means something is bothering you." She tilted her head to the side and observed me for a moment. "Wrackspurts are drawn to inner turmoil. They have cleared away from you recently, but today they are back again."
I blinked a couple of times. She is serious. How very strange.
"There is a lot going on right now." I cleared my throat and averted my eyes. "That's all."
That was true enough. I feel as though everything is coming together and falling apart at the same time.
[ - - - ]
I waited for Luna to leave. Then I stood and watched the sequence play out one more time from beginning to end before I turned on the spot and apparated to our sitting room.
The bedroom door is open, but the bathroom door is closed. I can hear water running on the other side.
I raised my hand and knocked on the door twice. Then I lifted the handle and pushed the door open. Just a little bit. Just enough.
"Hermione?" I called into the steam filled room.
The water stopped.
"Draco?" I heard the glass door on the shower slide open. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I didn't mean to scare her. "I just need to show you something."
There was a long pause before she answered with, "Alright. Give me a few minutes."
"Just come to the third floor when you are ready." I waited just a moment and closed the door.
I didn't leave right away, though. I stared at the door for a long moment.
It had been unlocked. Not warded at all.
I never shower without locking and warding the door.
Never.
Not even here.
She must have expected to be finished before you got back.
I swallowed hard around the lump in my throat. That had to be it.
Suddenly the door opened in front of me and a flustered, damp and nearly naked witch crashed into my chest before I realized what was happening.
Instinctively, my hands settled on her towel covered waist as she started to fall backwards from the impact.
"Oh fuck!" She gasped. One hand covered her heart while the other grasped at my arm. "What the hell, Draco? I thought you went downstairs!"
"Sorry. I was going…" I released her and stepped backward.
Salazar knows I don't want to back away. And that is exactly why I need to.
She did not release my arm. She held tight.
"Good Godric." Her mouth lifted on the ends and she huffed a short laugh. "You scared me. Why were you just standing there like that?"
That is an excellent question. Why was I just standing there like that? Staring at the door.
"The door was unlocked." I'm still trying to make sense of it.
Her eyes darted back to the door quickly then returned to me. She raised her brow and waited a moment.
I don't know what else she wants me to say.
"It's alright that you opened the door to talk to me." She stepped closer, filling in the small amount of distance I had created. "I'm not upset."
"Do you always leave the door unlocked when you shower?" My brow crinkled as I tried to understand.
She tilted her head to the side.
"No. Usually I lock it." Her hand slid up my arm and around my neck to settle against the back of my head. Gently, she pressed forward, tilting my head down so I would be looking into her eyes rather than at the door. "Really, though, what's the point? The only person that could possibly walk in on me here is you."
I know she is right. I inhaled deeply and blew it out slowly. I need to remind myself that we are safe here.
She is safe here.
I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead against hers. After a moment, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
The strawberry scent in her still damp hair surrounded me, comforted me.
She tilted her chin up and brushed her lips against mine.
It took half a heartbeat before I captured her lips in a heated kiss.
She responded immediately. Her lips moved against mine. She moaned into my mouth and slid her other arm around my neck.
Merlin and Salazar.
Every bit of tension that had been building up inside of me relaxed as she invaded my senses.
Smell. Strawberries.
Taste. Chocolate mocha.
Sound. Soft moans and heavy breathing.
Touch. Her fingernails scraped against my scalp.
I lifted her up and pressed her against the wall.
So much for slowing things down.
Right. Slow. I forgot.
Hermione's hands tangled in my hair and she pulled me closer as her tongue slid between my lips.
She forgot, too.
I indulged her for several more moments. I don't want to stop kissing her. My hand slid against the skin of her thigh, under the damp towel.
She gasped into my mouth.
Too much. Too fast.
I moved my hand back down her leg towards her knee and broke the kiss.
"Fucking hell, Hermione." I rested my head against her bare shoulder and tried to catch my breath.
"Gods, Draco." She dropped her head back to rest against the wall.
Her legs are wrapped around my waist. My hands are covering her arse. Holding her in place. Right where I want her to be.
My hips rocked forward.
She gasped.
"I told myself after last night that we need to slow the fuck down." I spoke quietly.
She huffed a short laugh and kissed my temple.
"Then I should get dressed."
I released a deep sigh and stepped back, setting her down on her own two feet in the process.
Her hands drifted down my arms as I took another step back, putting much needed distance between us. She leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms over her chest. Her face tinged pink and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.
Without conscious thought, my eyes drifted down across her bare shoulders. Across the blue towel that was wrapped around her body. Across her leg that was propped against the wall. The towel fell to either side of her leg, revealing bare skin all the way up her thigh.
It took physical effort to turn away. I ran my hand through my hair and crossed the room.
"Get dressed." My voice is rough, thick with desire. "I'll wait here for you."
It took a moment until I heard the bedroom door close.
"Bloody fucking hell." I muttered to myself.
Ten minutes later the bedroom door opened and Hermione, now fully dressed, emerged.
She is wearing a black and red plaid skirt, that I swear is shorter than regulation. A white blouse under a white v-neck sweater that hugs all of her curves. The top three buttons of the blouse are unbuttoned. She isn't wearing a tie at all. Her calves are covered with thick black socks and she is wearing her favorite black combat boots.
Her hair is pulled back loosely on the sides, revealing the dark cherry red strands. Her eyes are smokey. Her lips are red.
I swallowed hard around the sudden lump in my throat.
She is trying to kill me. That's the only explanation.
Her steps faltered.
"What?" She looked down quickly. "I couldn't find my black sweater. Does it look that terrible?"
She fidgeted with the hem and rubbed her hand over her stomach.
"Terrible?" I huffed a short laugh and rubbed my hand over my face. She is going to be the death of me yet. "Not even close."
She lifted her brow and her lip tilted up on one side.
"Are you alright?" She asked with a hint of humor in her voice.
"You are making it extremely difficult to leave without snogging you senseless." I let my eyes drift down to her feet and back up again slowly.
"By wearing my uniform?" She smirked at me as she took a slow step closer.
"That is not a regulation uniform." I can see the top of the valley between her breasts. And her skirt barely covers her arse.
She lifted one eye and glanced down at herself again.
"All I am missing is the tie." She laughed. "Hold on."
She summoned a red tie from the bedroom and slid it through the collar of her shirt. She tied it loosely and tucked the ends under her sweater.
It only served to draw my attention to her breasts once again.
"Is that better?" She asked.
"Not particularly." I scrubbed my hand over my face. What the hell is wrong with me?
Pull it together, Malfoy!
"Draco?" Her hand settled on my chest. She cleared her throat. "Should I change?"
Fuck it.
"No." I released a deep breath. "No. You look fantastic. I told you last night, you tempt me without even trying."
"You also told me to feel free to tempt you any time." She wrapped her arms around my neck. "And that you like it when I tempt you."
I did tell her that.
I huffed a short laugh and leaned my forehead against hers.
"You are evil, Witch. Pure evil."
She leaned forward and pressed her lips against my cheek.
"I'm sorry about last night." She whispered against my ear.
I wrapped my arms around her and held her close to my chest.
"Don't be." I inhaled deeply.
We stayed like that for several long minutes. Just holding each other.
Eventually she took a breath and stepped back.
"Did you say you had something to show me?"
I rolled my eyes at myself. I completely forgot why I had come here to get her in the first place.
"I did." My lip tilted up on one side. "Before you distracted me."
She blinked and looked up at me through her lashes.
"Right." She raised her brow and huffed a short laugh. "I distracted you. By getting dressed. In my uniform."
I could argue with her. Except, she isn't wrong.
"Exactly." I reached out and took her hand in my own. I wrapped my other hand around my pendant and apparated us both to the sitting room on the third floor.
AN: Hermione and Draco are dealing with their growing intimacy. Or trying to, anyway. I would love to hear your thoughts. And how about Luna figuring out the pattern for the bad spots in the wards. Sometimes it takes a Ravenclaw. : )
Also, I have an exciting announcement. A few weeks ago, someone contacted me and asked if they could read my fic "The Journal" on her podcast. I squealed a little. And did a happy dance. Then I agreed to let her go for it. It's nearly all posted now. I haven't listened to it yet. I'm scared. LOL Actually I am waiting for her to post the last few chapters before I start listening.
If any of you are interested, you can find it on Spotify under SEP FanFic Readings. If you listen to it, I would love to know your thoughts.
As always, thank you to all of my readers and I look forward to your reviews.
Until next time.
-mezy