Forbidden Love

Forbidden Love

AN: Before I set out to write this, all those years ago,(yes, years!) I never imagined it would take this long to get it out and around. I had/have such high hopes for this particular story. While I am an avid lover of Harry/Draco fics, I switched it up a bit here and did a Hermione/Draco with established Harry/Ron couplings. (Confused? Go see Never Let Go, my other fic explaining the Ron/Harry couple) This is an alternate 7th year and some things from year 6 have been ignored for my own pleasure in doing so. I'm sure you can figure out what I changed from the cannon! ENJOY~~

Chapter One: Chance Encounters

Hermione walked slowly down the rain slicked avenue. Despite her arduous looking, she failed in finding a particular book that caught her eye over the summer. Downtrodden, she walked with her head bowed. She didn't bother to greet the passersbys with a pearly smile and a twinkle in her chocolate eyes.

Step after slow step brought her up short as booted feet barred her way. Glancing up, Hermione did a quick double take and gasped.

“Draco!”

The boy in question was wearing a light grey sweater to ward off the damp chill of the early morning. Paired with his impeccable taste in clothing were black cotton slacks and shiny dragon-hide boots. His ever scornful grey eyes held no trace of their owner's sneer as he took in Hermione's changed looks. Shocked brown eyes stared back at the white-blonde boy as he returned the stare wordlessly.

Hermione donned muggle clothing as she always had when venturing into London proper. The effect shook Draco to the core as he let his eyes roam slowly over her filled out feminine figure. She wore a light pink sweater that slung over one shoulder carelessly and it was significantly tight enough to give the staring boy subtle hints on the frame beneath.

Venturing lower with his gaze, Draco noticed how her low rise hiphuggers clung to her flared hips in a very provocative manner despite her intentions. As for her once bushy and untamed hair, it was a thing of the past. It shone in the early morning light in soft and silky waves. Needless to say, Draco's heart was beating against his breastbone mercilessly; his throat had suddenly gone dry.

“H-Hi...” He finally muttered.

Hermione blinked.

Draco was momentarily abashed by his sudden lack of suaveness when he heard Hermione gasp again.

“Where did you get that book!?” she asked incredulously, pointing at the small but thick book in Draco's hands.

“O-Oh...I ordered it. I just came to London to pick it up.” he answered, holding up Symbology, A Journey Into Advanced Runes by Tosca Delpheriam. Hermione shouldered her pack more firmly and muttered in a sullen tone.

“That's what I should have done...ordered it.” She moved to pass Draco but his hand on her elbow stopped her.

“What do you think...” Hermione's angry voice bit out but one look into his steely grey eyes stemmed further comment. Draco thrust the book into her arms, his eyes still locked on hers.

“What are you doing? This is yours!” she sputtered, surprised. She tried to push it back at him.

“Take it, Hermione!” he insisted softly. She reluctantly took the book then did a second double take.

“Wait...Hermione? Not 'Granger' or 'M-Mud...'” she tried to say but ended up blinking back tears of frustration from wonton cruelty of years gone by.

“Of course not, Hermione...” Draco responded quietly, smiling despite Hermione's tear filled eyes. They were both too involved in their own discussion to notice a very pretty, if haughty, woman come up behind Draco. Hermione saw him wince as the woman placed her hand on Draco's shoulder.

“Draco! Who is your pretty friend?” the woman asked. Hermione's eyes darted from Draco to his mother, noticing the blush that stained his normally marblesque cheeks as he kept his silver gilded eyes on Hermione.

“Mother, this is Hermione Granger, from school.” he answered with an awkward air.

“Oh, not a Slytherin?”

“No, a Gryffindor.”

“Well, time is making fools of us again, Draco dear. Why not invite your friend here back to the Manor and we can entertain her until dinner?” came the woman's voice again.

“Well, care to join us, Hermione?” Draco asked in a low tone.

“Uh...I'd...” stuttered the normally composed seventh year. Hermione's heart was fluttering like a trapped bird within her chest. She couldn't answer! Draco kept his eyes fixed on the young woman before him, suspended on her answer. Would she say yes?

Hermione's eyes once more traveled from Narcissa's to Draco's, noticing in her dazed confusion, that their eyes were startlingly alike despite the different color. Something else caught her attention in Draco's eyes. Was it just her or were his silver, shimmering orbs asking her to join them? Not just asking, pleading?

Hermione felt her cheeks warming then positively glowing. Her head bobbed once in reply even though a mind full of rational thought screamed 'NO!'.

Something about the way Draco was looking at her banished rational thought.

Draco smiled a genuine smile, apparently pleased with her answer. Hermione was taken aback from the sheer joy she saw in his display of emotion. Had the Ice Prince of Slytherin finally melted? Narcissa turned to lead the two young adults to her magically enhanced car parked further down the street.

“Draco, what about your father?” Hermione hissed in his ear. Draco suppressed a shudder of delight as her warm breath fanned across his ear.

“Don't worry, he's not at the Manor. And tonight, Mother is leaving to join him.” Draco whispered back, surreptitiously slipping his hand into her free one. Hermione quickly snatched her hand away as if burned.

“Don't!” she snapped waspishly, quiet enough so Narcissa wouldn't turn around to see what the disturbance was. Draco leaned in close and whispered into her ear in a low, throaty voice.

“Why not?”

Hermione turned to look at him incredulously.

“I'm a Mudblood, remember?” she answered, glaring defiantly up into the taller teen's face. He flinched noticeably when she said the dreaded 'M' word. A soft sigh escaped his mouth as he reached up to take Hermione's chin in his surprisingly warm fingers.

It was Hermione's turn to flinch.

“I don't hate you, Hermione!” Draco said softly, the sorrow of his past actions etched clearly on his finely chiseled face. Draco tilted her head up slowly as if he were admiring a piece of the greatest artwork, then brought his lips down on her's before she could protest.

Hermione was too shocked to do much about the Slytherin, whom at current was kissing her lips tenderly. Twenty seconds passed by and she became aware of his tongue gliding silkily over her lower lip. Hermione's brain took a leave of absence and her lips parted immediately, drawing in Draco's questing tongue with her own.

“Mmm...” Draco moaned quietly through the heated kiss.

Hermione pulled away, jolted to her senses by his vocalization.

“Damn!” Draco swore in awe. He knew he caught her by surprise but when she finally responded to him, she took his breath away.

When Draco pulled away from her face, Hermione could see bright pink patches suddenly bloom on his cheeks that matched the rosy hue of his slightly puffy lips. Moments lapsed with the two staring at each other in shock, one for the audacity of trying for a kiss and the other for that same kiss's effect.

“Draco, Hermione! Come on now, we really must be going!” came Narcissa's call from further down the road. She had stopped next to a handsome white and chrome muggle limousine. It was obvious that the vehicle was magical because when Draco opened the door for Hermione, she noticed it was as spacious as a three normal limousine cabs put together. As well as the over all bigness of the luxury car, it sported two sections within, one obviously for company and the other for private family discussions.

Draco took the back with Hermione and left his mother to sit in silence up in the forward 'cabin'. Out of all the lined seats in the limousine, Draco sat directly next to Hermione. She stole a glance over at him. He was so darned close! She shifted uncomfortably and stared at her clasped hands that were folded delicately in her lap. Hermione darted her eyes up once more and found silvery orbs staring back with brazen openness.

“What?” Hermione whispered, reluctant to disturb the hush within the moving vehicle.

Draco remained silent, smiling his content over to the brunette bombshell.

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It turned out that the ride back to Malfoy Manor was longer than anticipated. Hours longer. They bypassed lunch and was almost towards dinner time. Despite her earlier hesitation to disturb the air, Hermione found Draco drawing her into conversation and offers of refreshments from a bar she was sure wasn't there when they entered the limousine.

“What do you mean, you study all holiday long?” Draco asked, genuinely shocked that the Know-It-All of the school didn't even pause during breaks to have some free time. Brown hair shimmered from the filtered sunlight pouring through one of the many sunroofs as Hermione shook her head.

“No, I find it easier to just keep studying. That way, I don't get too relaxed and bogged down later for it.” she responded sagaciously. Draco just gaped at her.

“Draco, you can close your mouth.”

He chuckled softly to himself and blinked as he noticed a shift in speed.

“We must be nearly there. I feel the driver slowing down. That means only ten more minutes and you'll be at my front door!” Draco said, turning to face Hermione with something akin to glee in his reflective eyes.

“Ten...Ten minutes? It takes that long to get to your front door?” Hermione asked, shocked. Draco nodded and turned to look out the window. Hermione followed suit and before five minutes passed of nothing but trees and hedges to look at, she gasped. Malfoy Manor was so big it could rival Hogwarts!

Made of white marble interspersed with veins of pure silver, the huge dwelling sparkled and shone in the ebbing light of that day. Pillars supported the massive double cherry doors that were deeply inset from the entrance. Windows gleamed from the sides of the wings and fluted accents decorated the roof and gutter edges.

Long sloping lawns were dissected occasionally by hedgerows that were in artful patterns and sporadically placed fountains added a nice relaxing element. The lawns were a deep green that could have sent Harry's eyes running for their money. Bordering each hedgerow were clumps of white and pale yellow flowers that left off an enticing scent that wafted through the open limousine's windows.

Hermione had enough time to take a deep whiff of the aroma before she heard a chuckle from behind her. She turned to find Draco reaching over. Gently, he closed her still open mouth with one delicate finger.

“Hermione, you can close your mouth.” he said softly, echoing her earlier words.

“It's so big! You LIVE here?” Hermione asked in rhetorical awe. Had she looked back towards Draco she would have noticed a sullen look flit across his face.

“Yeah.”

The chauffeur stopped the limousine just outside the twin doors that led into the Manor proper. A graceful curved section of the drive turned in a roundabout that was filled by a magnificent fountain with the likeness of Lucius and Narcissa standing in a 'noble' pose. It was well known that once a new Malfoy took possession of the Manor, the statues would morph into the likeness of the new Master and Mistress of the ancestral family home.

Draco quickly scooted over to the door and opened it. He flicked his eyes up and watched his mother glide off towards the Manor. Hermione's face appeared in the open cab's doorway, peering owlishly around in the dimming late afternoon light. Draco held out his hand to her. Her blinking turned it's focus on him, perplexed.

“Ah, Hermione, take my hand!” Draco said, mirth and joy evident in his tone. She noticed his smile reached his eyes and made them glimmer with barely hidden glee. Smiling rather tentatively up at him, she slipped her hand into his larger, paler one.

With one smooth jerk, Draco lifted Hermione from the car and deposited her into his warm arms.

Hermione was at a loss for words. Draco had all but scooped her up and was currently holding her gently against him. Her mind mulled that over for a few seconds before she became aware of his soft nuzzling against her neck. Her mind snapped back into place and she remembered who she was with, where they were and how vulnerable she was.

“Draco...Stop!” Hermione said firmly, pulling away from him.

Draco gazed at her silently, the hidden depths of his mirroresque eyes cracking. Hermione frowned at what she saw in his flint flecked eyes. Hurt? She wasn't sure if he was even capable of feeling that emotion towards her but then she reflected on the chance encounter earlier that very same day. Draco had even smiled, laughed while in her company!

“That's right, you still hate me.” he muttered and turned away. Not four steps later Hermione cried out.

“Draco!” she called, reaching with an involuntary hand that refused to stay at her side. Draco stopped and slowly turned.

“Yes?”

“What is with you? Why are you acting like this? So...so...nice?” Hermione asked, a frown wrinkling her smooth, tanned forehead.

“Well, if you haven't unraveled that mystery yet, then I'm not going to tell you.” Draco replied with a familiar air of arrogance.

A sudden realization dawned on her.

“Is this some scheme to get me alone so you can hex me in revenge?” she whispered, her hand finally dropping to her side once more. She took a startled step backwards as he closed the gap between them within the space of a heart beat.

“I would never!” Draco swore fiercely.

“You have before! Unless you conveniently forgot the time you elongated my teeth!” spat Hermione viciously.

Draco winced.

He remembered that day in fifth year all too well. Trust Hermione to bring it up after two years! He stared down into her angry face.

“I was...naive in my younger days, Hermione. I've grown up.”

“Why didn't you object to me coming over?” Hermione asked, still wary and acutely aware of how close he was to her person again.

“I wanted you...” Draco began but unfortunately he picked a wrong time to pause for breath.

Hermione blinked.

“To come over! I wanted you to come over. Start a friendship...” Draco amended, trailing off as a thought flashed into his fertile brain. He was attracted to her, yes. But did he want her?

“Why though? To you, I'm slime, dirt even! I'm not worth your time to cultivate a friendship!” Hermione declared.

“No.” Draco drawled.

“You are worth my time. I've out grown my father's 'pure-blood' spout and I've shaken off the cloak he insisted on me wearing. I'm my own person now, and I choose whom I'd like to be friends with. You.” He added, reaching up to cup both her cheeks in his artist's hands.

“Whatever, Malfoy!” Hermione said, stepping out of his arm's reach.

It was Draco's turn to blink, then flinch as she used his surname with the same inflection she had for the past six years. With a huff he grabbed her hand and yanked her to the front door, her sputtering and tripping feet going unheeded. Once shaded in the door's shadow, he pulled her up close.

“Hermione...” He whispered, intent on explaining his growing attraction to her. That is, until the door opened to reveal Narcissa's form.

“Come now! No need to stand outside while dinner is ready to be served! Draco, where are your manners?” And with that, Narcissa swept away leaving Draco to guide Hermione inside.

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Dinner at the Malfoy's was a stately affair. Narcissa had changed into an elegant evening gown that Hermione suspected was to intimate her displeasure at Hermione's more casual wear. While Draco was spared her disapproving glance, Hermione flushed and felt out of place at the long table. Draco took a seat close to his mother but just adjacent to Hermione.

Course after course was served and Hermione intelligently ate sparingly to make room for each subsequent platter that appeared before her. Already feeling the smarting jab of being under dressed, she dared not insult the family by turning her nose up at the meal they asked her to join.

Periodically throughout the dinner, Draco would give Hermione an appraising look, tentative smile and once a cocky wink. Each was met with increasingly raised brows from the brunette.

When dessert was finally cleared away and the plates cleaned themselves, Draco stood and pulled Hermione along with him.

“Mum, I'm going to show Hermione the Manor.” Draco called without looking back.

“I'm leaving in a few minutes, Draco.” Narcissa replied to an empty room. The two young adults had vanished behind a door that lead to an ornate hall.

“Draco, when your mother leaves I have to as well. I can't apparate yet and there is no place close I can floo to.” Hermione said, tugging on their clasped hands to get the blonde's attention.

“We have an excessive amount of free rooms. Pick one and you can stay overnight. We can arrange your transport back to London tomorrow.” Draco said, his tone dripping with finality.

“I will NOT, Draco. I need to return tonight.” Hermione refuted. She was staring to panic slightly, worried that she would be stranded at Malfoy Manor and nobody would know she was there.

“Then contact your parents. They can come get you. I will personally reimburse them for their expenses. I'd rather you stay a little longer so we can work on...us. Our friendship.” Draco said in an offhand way.

“I can't...My parents...They aren't even in the country.” Hermione mumbled quietly.

“Then both of our parents won't be any wiser. Pick a room!” Draco said, resuming the earlier tugging. Hermione thought fast to find a suitable excuse as to why she couldn't stay. Narcissa's cool glance at her clothes was still sharp in her mind.

“But I have no clothes! What would I wear?” She asked, a desperate note forcing it's way into her voice. Draco stopped and turned to her in an instant. Hermione found herself pushed gently up against the wall, her wrists pinned to the side. Draco was crowding her personal space again and she gulped.

“There are some things that don't require clothing, Hermione.” Draco whispered into her ear. She couldn't repress a shudder at his meaning. Hermione's cheeks were glowing again when she realized she was feverishly thinking about her and Draco...activities that didn't require clothing...and invasion of personal space.

“How very boyish of you, Draco Malfoy!” Hermione replied after a moment she took to find her voice and regain her composure. However, her replied lacked the scathing point she meant to interject. Without missing a beat, Draco came back with another throaty reply.

“I'm no mere boy, dearest. I can prove that.”

An all too familiar fluttering in her stomach caused her to fidget and look away from the enticing blonde. Normally she would attribute the flipping feeling in her belly to nerves over tests and exams, not the thought of someone proving their manhood to her.

Needless to say, she was speechless.

Not that Draco had any intention of letting her speak.

His lips descended on her's once more but unlike before, Hermione responded immediately. Recently loosened arms lifted up to wrap around a pale neck while equally pale hands encircled her flared hips. Tongues sought and found each other then playfully battled over dominion of the kiss. Draco's hands tightened on Hermione's hips and pulled her flush against his body. He felt her gasp and the kiss broke.

“Draco...” She whispered softly, cheeks flaming bright pink. Her body trembled slightly in his hands and they immediately began to run the length of her torso as if to calm her.

It didn't work.

“Draco...” Hermione said again, her breath hitching ever so slightly.

“What's wrong, Hermione?” The boy in question asked.

“I...I can't do this...”

“I'm not going to force you to. Your first should be as perfect as possible.” Draco said, a slight smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. Hermione gaped at him. Was it that obvious that she was a virgin? Then another thought clicked into place.

“Is that why I'm here, Malfoy? For you to claim a Gryffindor virgin as another conquest?” Came the brunette's angry voice. She only grew angrier at the smirk that plastered itself across the proud Malfoy face.

“No...but you can think of it as a perk. Well, a second one anyways.” He responded with a slight downward glance. Merlin she was beautiful to behold when her ire was up! He wondered if she knew the aristocratic look she got when something pricked her fragile nerves. He decided it would be prudent not to mention it quite yet.

Hermione's eyes widened when she took in the change of Draco's pants. There was a definite bulge that she was sure wasn't there before. Just like in the limousine and the mysterious vanishing food and drinks bar.

“C-Can you...show me to a room...please?” She asked, too dazed by the complex hormones rushing through her system to put up much more of a fight about staying the night. She could always put wards up around her room.

“There is one next to mine you may use. The two rooms are connected by a shared bathroom if you'd fancy a shower or bath.” Draco said, slipping back into the perfect host attitude.

“I'd like that, a nice cold shower.” Hermione responded dully.

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AN: Okay, I've expanded and refined my original chapter and wouldn't you know it, it was able to be broken up into three separate chapters. This first one is just to give you a ~~~slight~~~ hint to Draco's intentions for Hermione and her reluctance to be drawn close to the blonde bombshell. This fic will be pretty long. I'm shooting for maybe 30+ chapters and that is a rough guess to what I can expand my existing chapters to. AND I'm not even half done with it. Now, if you like what you read, PLEASE REVIEW or no updates! :) Flames will be met with rabid psycho bunnies with evil intentions!