Anima

Sorry, I mistook one story for the other when I edited. All fixed now. Don't worry, I'm not done by a long shot. :)

Chapter 9

Draco was lounging in a chair with loose-limbed grace, sipping tea and silently watching the two ladies converse about this and that. He was actually more than a little bored by the conversation but after a ten minute ‘discussion’ with Hermione about his manners he was more than a little hesitant to say anything. Especially after her promise that he would be punished in private later, both for his earlier rudeness as well as any additional problems he caused. Hermione took the dirty dishes to the sink while Ginny gave him the once over,” So, I hear you’ll be attending Hogwarts in the autumn with my loser ex.”

Raising a single eyebrow slightly,” That’s currently the rumor.”

Tilting her head a little,” So then you’re not?”

Draco started to lead her on a merry chase of subtle insult while confirming nothing but only until Hermione turned and slowly shook her head at him. Swallowing ever so slightly and putting forward his best manners since even he wasn’t that stupid,” I am. Hermione has convinced the Headmistress to allowing me to complete my schooling.”

Ginny caught the slightly frightened look in Draco’s eyes but didn’t comment on it. Her respect for her best friend did go up several notches though,” With the Slytherins then?”

Shaking his head slightly and smirking,” I’ve been granted my own room.”

Ginny raised an eyebrow, Hermione’s voice drifting in from the kitchen,” Across from Gryffindor.”

The redhead jerked around to stare at Hermione before whipping back around to catch a wicked smirk on Draco’s face. Groaning and slumping into her chair,” I’m going to be dodging Bat Bogey Hexes all year, aren’t I?”

The blond looked insulted,” Have I ever used that hex?”

Giggling,” No, but I did use it on you.”

Draco looked horrified and covered his nose. Sounding slightly nasal,” I remember that!”

Grinning,” You deserved it you snoop. Making trouble for us-“

”Ginny.”

The redhead crossed her arms with a pout as her best friend came in with sandwiches and tea, setting them up on the coffee table. Draco immediately dived for the tea,” Well he did. He was a terror all through school, Hermione, and nothing he or you say is going to change that. Plus after the whole Death eaters in the school-“

Not even Hermione’s fast move to slap a hand over Ginny’s mouth could prevent Draco from understanding what she meant. Draco’s face immediately fell. And he suddenly had a vision of exactly what his last year of Hogwarts was going to be like. Only most of the other students wouldn’t be nearly as nice about it. He hadn’t been looking forward to the rivalry before but now he was positively dreading it. Putting down his cup quietly,” Excuse me.”

Hermione closed her eyes, pained as she watched Draco slip into the library with what could only be described as a depressed gate. Whirling on her,” Ginerva Weasley you promised!”

Ginny slowly put a hand over her eyes before growling and dropping them in her lap,” This is stupid!” Hermione frowned, jumping back when the redhead sprung to her feet and stomped after the blond. Brow furrowed, she followed protectively and caught the conversation just as Ginny spun Draco around to face her, fiery blue eyes meeting startled grey,” Look, I’m a Weasley and you’re a Malfoy and our two families have never gotten along. Not since the whole Black family incident and I don’t even give a shit about it. You’re Hermione’s now so I can say with absolute certainty that you’re starting a fresh page with me. You were a real nasty piece of work in school. You were vulgar and mean and self centered and you treated everyone like a second class citizen. It happened. Get over it. I did. We’re both in seventh year, our last year, and I don’t intend to walk on egg shells around you or anyone else. I don’t blame you. You don’t remember and frankly, the war is over and I really could give a rat’s ass.”

Shaking his head and looking away,” So now I just have the rest of the student body to avoid.”

Crossing her arms confidently,” Don’t be so sure of that. The Slytherins still respect you. The Hufflepuffs fear you. I’ll control the Gryffindors and anyone else who tries to mess with you and between the two of us we can handle the Ravenclaws.” Grinning, “Together we’ll kick their asses.”

Looking her over warily,” Why? We’ve never liked one another...why would you help me?”

Smiling easily, looking over her shoulder at Hermione,” Because for the first time in more than a year my best friend is smiling and you’re the one that put it there. Anyone who can do that has to be alright.” Draco tilted his head just a little, absorbing this new bit of information. Potter didn’t seem so different, so why had the girls changed so much?

“ You’re different. So is Hermione but you’ve truly changed.”

Ginny looked down for a moment, nodding to herself before meeting his gaze easily,” My brother died in a war that didn’t have to happen if we all had just taken the time to understand each other. This whole thing was based on a concept that muggles and muggleborn wizards and witches are inferior.” Smiling just a little,” And I think you’ve already figured out for yourself that whoever believed that was wrong.” His eyes flicked to Hermione before looking down shyly. Yes, she was smarter than he was and more powerful in some ways. His father had been very wrong about her and he was starting to figure out he was probably wrong about the others as well,” Besides, I’m sure you can imagine the look on every pureblood’s face when they found out Voldemort was a half-blood.” Draco made a choking sound, eyes wide,” Yeah, it was pretty much that look. I laughed my ass off.”

***

Draco gulped with trepidation as soon as Ginny let the door close behind her. He’d stalled her departure as long as possible, realizing she was the buffer between him and a punishment and he really did enjoy her company. She was spunky and intelligent and had left him enough ammunition to keep Potter in his place for months. But dusk had set three hours ago and she’d apologetically had to leave, giving Hermione a wicked look before Apparating away.

That nervous tingle of fluttering butterflies filled his stomach and he nearly yelped when a firm hand grasped his elbow. She didn’t say a word, silently steering him and she didn’t have to. He knew this would not be the kind of punishment that didn’t hurt. But he didn’t resist. Didn’t even try to fight it. There was only one way to do this and he wasn’t stupid enough to earn an even harsher punishment...and there was that small part of him that was ecstatic he was being put in his place.

Heat flushed his face as soon as they entered the bedroom, both paddles laying out innocently on the bed. She leaned against his arm, breathing softly into his ear,” You get to choose which one. Whichever one you want me to use to warm your bottom, leave it on the bed. Then you will strip and bend over the bed. Do you understand?”

A million thoughts raced through his frantic mind, from denial to fear to lust to pleasure. But he kept it all buried inside,” Yes. I understand.”

Stroking his chin softly,” I thought you would.” She turned on her heels and walked to the bathroom, the door closing softly behind her. Draco ran both hands through his hair and made a defeated whimpering sound before dropping his head and approaching the bed. There was no way out of this, so it was best to pick the lessor two evils. Except he wasn’t so sure this wasn’t a trick.

The two paddles were half the size of one another. Out of curiosity he picked up each one and winced at the weight of them. They were both solid. Even if she didn’t put a lot of strength into this they would hurt and his buttocks clenched in dread. Frowning to himself, he turned his waist and compared sizes, realizing the smaller paddle would cover about one cheek while the bigger one would wallop his whole butt. So, if she used the same counts for both then the smaller paddle would do less damage. On the other hand if she halved up the counts depending on the size nothing would save his ass but it might be better to get it all over with at once. Oh, the dilemma.

He chewed on his bottom lip and carefully took off his clothes while he mulled over his limited choices. Carefully, each item was folded and neatly put in a small pile on top of the dresser. Closing his eyes, he gingerly put the smaller one on the dresser as well and bent over the bed, resting his forehead on his forearm and dreading the opening of that door.

For the thousandth time he damned his rebellious need to stir up trouble. He could have avoided this entire thing just by being nice to the Weaslette from the beginning but noo...he jumped out of his thoughts and back to the present as the door opened and Hermione came silently out. He swallowed, hands clenching nervously as she ran a careful finger up his spine,” I see you chose the large one. That was actually a good choice. Since discipline is always given equally I would have to give you more with the small paddle.” Draco felt himself relax just the smallest fraction from her reassurance though he tensed when the paddle left the safety of the bed and pressed lightly against his vulnerable backside.

Trembling just the smallest bit,” How many?”

She made a tutting sound,” That is for me to worry about. Your only job is to accept it.”

He pulled in a breath, the air suddenly rushing out of his lungs when the paddle collided with his rump. A resounding smack exclaimed into the air, eyes wide as tingling fire raced up his impacted skin and the need to rub that burn away became almost irresistible,”...oh Merlin!”

Another painful swat and he gritted his teeth with a grimace, eyes squeezing shut as one after the other fell. Soon his hands tangled in the sheets, taking in gulps of air that escaped in gasps and squeaks from each firm smack. Time had ceased to have any meaning and all too soon his ability to contain his reactions crumbled as he yelped and bucked forward instinctively to avoid the painful blows, dancing on his feet slightly and legs trembling from the stress of his position.

He panted as she finally moved, her fingers grazing just above the swell of his burning ass,” Do you have something to say to me?”

Mentally scrambling to hold his emotions together,” I’m sorry, Hermione. I’m so sorry. I was rude and I’ll do better.”

He heard a soft thud a few feet away before he was enfolded in a protective embrace,” I know you will.” She kissed his temple and ran a gentle hand through his hair,” You’re a good boy and I know you’ll do better.” That broke him where the pain and punishment couldn’t. He curled up in her arms, burying his face in her neck as tears leaked from him eyes, accompanied by soft sobs. Hermione just rocked him slightly, understanding his reaction far more than even he did. He needed to be corrected for his mischief and mistakes. But he also needed the comfort and security of forgiveness. For his entire life he’d received the former without the latter and that’s what had truly broken him,” It’s alright now, baby. It’s all over now, and you’re forgiven. Such a good boy...you took it so well...”

At this very moment if he could purr he would. Her hand gently running through his slightly sweaty scalp and behind his ear was almost divine. He was in the perfect position to pull in her scent and drown himself in nothing but Hermione. Except for his throbbing rear end he was in paradise.