Draco Get's His

Chapter 9

Hermione was bent over her parchment, scribbling away for an Ancient Runes project, “Mind if I sit here?”

She paused, glancing up to see Draco Malfoy, once again, only this time with a leery yet hopeful expression. Three days ago, in front of the entire Great Hall he’d gotten down on bended knee and spent a good twenty minutes beseeching her forgiveness as he retracted every insult ever hurled on her person from him. Then the showering of expensive chocolates and flowers by the hundreds had commenced for two days until she at last granted him her forgiveness. She had noticed Snape sending her evil eyes but she’d ignored him.

She swept a gaze over the library. It was practically empty so there were obviously other tables available. Interesting. She pursed her lips before nodding, “If you like. Just don’t interrupt me like Ron and Harry do.”

He slipped into the seat and pulled out his potions book. Severus had ranted at him for hours over what a fool he was making both of himself and of Slytherin. He’d quietly accepted the rebukes until Severus had slipped with a mudblood comment. He’d lost control of his temper after that, telling his Godfather to go fuck himself. They still weren’t on speaking terms, “Quiet as a mouse.” Draco frowned just a bit at that thought. Mice weren’t exactly quiet...where had that expression come from? He shook his head to focus and cracked open the book.

Thirty minutes of companionable silence and Hermione groaned, rubbing her neck and stretching. Draco bit the inside of his cheek hard. He was not going to look or interrupt, just as she requested, even though he was dying to get to know her. Not to mention that robes or not he could clearly see the outline of her breasts pressing against her shirt when she stretched and it was driving him crazy. Hermione glanced over her paper, nearly complete, and frowned as she glanced at the book in front of Draco, “Where did you get that?”

He glanced up at her, “Professor Snape.”

Shaking her head a little, “This isn’t seventh year potions.”

He grinned a bit, “No, I’m apprenticing next year so I’m researching for him.”

Luckily his godfather was unbiased when it came to his internship. Blinking owlishly, “You’re to be the new Potions Master?”

Frowning and feeling defensive, “I excel in potions, and no Snape doesn’t pad my potions grade because I’m a Slytherin.”

Holding up a hand, “I wasn’t going to say that-“

”Then what were you going to say?”

Sighing, not wanting to start a fight with him, “Congratulations.”

“OH.” Closing his eyes and flushing red,”...oh...” Again she felt a small smile tug at her lips. He really was quite cute when he was flustered. Draco felt humiliation wash over his frame. He just couldn’t believe how easily she turned him into such a git. This whole conversation was a disaster and it was time to beat a hasty retreat. Scrambling for his book and parchment, “...sorry.”

Holding out a hand, resting it lightly on his arm and watching him freeze, eyes wide as he looked questioningly at her, “It’s alright. Don’t leave.”

Swallowing heavily, “I just seem to put my foot in my mouth around you. I’m usually much more eloquent.”

Smirking, “Ron and Harry are my best friends, I haven’t had eloquent in my life in years.” Draco looked away, chuckling softly, “Stay.” He nodded slightly and sat back down. Quirking an eyebrow, “I get the feeling you didn’t track me down just to study across from me.”

“I-...” He cleared his throat of the slight squeak and tried again. He’d never been this big of a bumbling fool in front of a girl and he just couldn’t understand it. But he knew the answer deep inside. It hadn’t mattered to him if the others liked him. Not that there had been many but still. That wasn’t the point. She mattered, “I wanted to get to know you.”

“Why? Why now, M-Draco? For six years you badgered me about my blood...” Holding up a hand when his face contorted with anxiety, “Which you are forgiven for. I would never retract that. But why are you suddenly interested in who I am instead of what I am?”

Swallowing heavily, but prepared to tell her part of his secret. He’d know from the beginning she was too clever to not see a lie. The truth was the only way, “A few things have been explained to me that I agree with. And my father passed...so I can choose my friends now.”

Her eyes widened at that, “You could have-“

Shaking his head, “Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, bloody hell, half of Slytherin were told
by their parents to watch me. I had no choice in anything.”

Narrowing her eyes, “Then what the hell was that little stunt in the hallways?”

Running a hand through his hair, “You’ve been ignoring me all school year. I...I was trying to get your attention and I got Potter’s instead.”

Raising an eyebrow, “Calling me a mudblood in front of your House is getting my attention?” Her tone clearly said ‘idiot’. He groaned and silently thumped his head on the desk.

She raised the other eyebrow and he didn’t look up, his voice muffled, “I didn’t know how else to approach you.” Groaning, “Why couldn’t it have been you instead of him?” He had a reputation, there was no denying that. But she was beginning to wonder how much of it was untrue. One by one she connected the dots until she was left with a pretty clear picture.

She stood up slowly, calmly, and walked around the table. He looked up when she moved, freezing as her hips swayed lightly. There was a fire in her eyes that he just couldn’t place but it was making him just a little nervous. She smirked at him, his smirk in fact, and leaned a hip against the table with her arms crossed. All she needed was stiletto heels and a riding crop and he’d happily drop to his knees with a ‘yes mistress’.

He felt his eyes widen. Where the hell had that malfunction come from? She pursed her lips before silently nodding to herself. He swallowed as she sat down next to him, chin resting in her hand as she studied him. He fidgeted just a little, unnerved by her silent assessment. Blushing and purring, “So you wanted me to punish you...is that right, Draco?” He swallowed, hard, and glanced around the library. He hadn’t said that, right? And thankfully they were all alone or he’d have fled in mortification. Because truthfully he wasn’t sure, especially if it was anything how Potter punished, but his other head seemed intrigued. And the way she said his name was setting his mind on fire. She tapped him under the chin, catching his eyes, “Answer my question, please.”

Shivering just a little and swallowing hard, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lip to let her know he wasn’t exactly telling the truth, “I don’t know what I want...”

Her own smirk grew as the blush faded, “I very much doubt that.” He averted his gaze for just an instant, unnerved both by her nearness and the inner strength that she’d always held. His outward confidence was a farce just as her outer shyness was. Over the years he’d quietly watched her confidence soar and it only helped to hopelessly attract him. She sat back a little, contemplating how a Slytherin would plot as he met her gaze once more, “Let’s see if I can piece this together...your father forbid you to have muggleborn friends...I also gather muggleborn relations or am I reading too much into this?” His head shook no once, “So, now that you’re free to have friends of your choosing you’ve sought me out...hmm, except I don’t think friendship is your goal, is it?” The barest of a shake this time,”...you’re not interested in a one time fling to get it out of your system either or you wouldn’t be this shy. So, you’re interested in more and you’re panicked so you have a deadline or else you’d be taking this much more leisurely. Lucius was a Death eater and the Ministry-“ She snapped her fingers and he jumped, “You have to marry a muggleborn witch by graduation or the Ministry will pick a bride for you.”

The newspapers had been all aflutter for weeks, trying to guess which families were going to be bound together with this new edict. The Malfoys had been on top of the list. No wonder he was panicked. But it also filled her with a happy glow. He wanted her over all the others.

He slouched in defeat. He knew she’d figure it out but he had been hoping she’d at least take a bit longer to see through him. Maybe get to know him as someone other than a Slytherin git. Was he that transparent, or was she just that clever? Probably both, “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.” He froze when she grabbed his wrists, firmly but not harshly. She used her body to push him back to the wall and he winced slightly in pain when he made contact. Three days and he still had some splotchy bruising. Her hand ghosted across his temple, “Sorry...didn’t know it was still tender.”

Hissing softly, not in anger but in barely contained arousal, “Please get off me or kiss me.”

Smirking, liking the sound of that, “I think I can handle that.” Cupping his face, she leaned in and brushed her lips softly over his own. He groaned softly, arms wrapping around her frame as he pulled her closer, hand tangling in her hair. She smiled a bit, feeling exhilarated all of a sudden and deepened the kiss, her tongue pressing against his mouth until he opened it willingly. She flicked across his teeth, exploring his mouth and dancing with his own tongue, their twin moans drifting through the room.

A book slamming down jerked both of them out of their revere, turning to see Madam Pince glaring over her glasses at them, “This is a library. Kindly take your hormones somewhere more appropriate.” The librarian stormed off in a huff and the pair broke up into nervous giggles.

Hermione collected her books and fussed with her hair, “I can’t believe I did that.” Draco sighed sadly. It had been an impulse. It probably meant little to her but that one shared moment had been the first bit of sunlight in his cold existence in years. Oblivious to his thoughts, “I mean, I usually am just a bit more discreet. Honestly.”

Draco gathered his things to his chest, turning to make as dignified an exit as possible. She glanced up with a small smile, frowning to see Draco leaving with a definite dejected carriage in his gait. Hurrying up to his side so that she was walking next to him, “You’ll just have to make it up to me at Hogsmeade.”

Draco jerked to a stop, staring at her, “What?”

Giving him a coy look, “Isn’t that what boys do? Ask a girl they’re interested in to Hogsmeade?”

Jaw slowly dropping, “I...you...are...r-really??”

Shrugging, “Really what? You haven’t asked me anything.”

She grinned a little and he turned in front of her, not even noticing that a pack of Gryffindors had stopped near them. Ginny tilted her head and she winked at the redhead, focusing on Draco as he gathered his nerve. She’d pretty much assured him it was a done deal, he was just nervous she was about to slam him with rejection as badly as he’d done to her in the past, “Hermione...would you go with me to Hogsmeade this weekend?”

Straightening his tie for him and smiling, “Yes. I would love to, Draco.” A thud caught their attention and they both looked to see Ron flat on his back, passed out. Draco caught sight of the audience and groaned while Hermione just rolled her eyes, “Honestly.”