Curse of a Kiss

Chapter 11

The Fifth Floor 

 

"Hermione! There you are!" Ron rushed down the hall and he grabbed her arms, shooting a glare at Draco. "You look alright, maybe I could help actually injure you." 

Hermione glanced over her shoulder and stared, brows furrowed at Draco, suggesting he leave. He sniffed in annoyance and walked up the stairs, leaving her and Ron to talk. Of course she was expecting him to eavesdrop but it was hard to order that he give them privacy when Ron was demanding her attention. 

"What's going on? And don't lie to me again." Ron tilted her chin up to look at him in the eye and she fumbled her words. 

"I- it's a- I've been." She steps back and takes a heavy breath. "Firstly, I am helping Malfoy. It's just" She flicked her gaze up to meet his eyes before looking away quickly. "Complicated. Secondly- I wanted to the other night but I-" She fiddled with her jumper. Draco's Jumper, she remembers. "I need some space, Ron, some time. I love you so much. Too much."

"Too much? You love me too-" He furrowed his eyebrows and looked confused and upset. "Space? Are you having me on?" He throws his arms out and drops them limp to his sides. "Hermione, we just did this because of exams! What are you even saying?" 

She chewed her lip and looked at him, tears in her eyes. "I don't know, Ron. There is so much coming and-" She swallows thickly and finally, the perfect lie comes to the forefront of her mind. "My mother. She's sick. She's really sick and I can barely even focus on my schoolwork anymore." She let the tears fall and Ron's anger dissolves before her eyes. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. 

"I'm sorry, 'Mione. Will she be okay? Can I help?" She took in a deep breath and let it out. She hated that she still felt comfortable in his arms. She hated that she had to lie so outright to him. He didn't deserve that and she thinks she doesn't deserve him. It's a stab to her heart to realize. 

"No. I can't even help. I need some time and I hope you know I love you but- I don't have the space in my brain to be with you right now." She burrowed her face into his neck and felt him kiss the top of her head. 

"It's okay. I'll always be here for you." He held her tight for a few heart beats more before he spoke again. "What is going on with Malfoy? I didn't much like him holding you like- well, like this." He shrugged and pulled back to look in her face, a deep red across his cheeks. She isn't sure if its embarrassment or annoyance thinking of Malfoy holding her. 

She chewed her lip and noticed him looking at it. His eyes seemed sluggish, lids heavy watching the action compared to Draco's sharpening gaze. It's a stark difference and she scolds herself for noticing it. "It's." She takes in a heaving breath and lets it out. "Merlin. It's complicated. I'm not allowed to share anything, on Snape and Dumbledore's orders but- You can tell Harry, too. I'm fine. I've got it all under control. I can handle myself when it comes to that prat." She flashed him a smile that felt hollow and he leaned in to kiss her cheek. 

"I know you can. Doesn't mean I don't want to smash him into pudding." 

 

Draco's nose twitched. 'Smash me into pudding? I'd like to see him try!' he scoffs, hanging about the balcony above them and listening in. He had to grip the railing to not storm back down there when the git embraced her. If he had kissed her just one more time, he would be pudding right now. And Granger laughed! He'd have to make her pay for that. In fact, the jealousy boiling in his blood right now was hot enough to clean meat from bones.

He crossed his arms, irritated, and scowled as they said farewells. She promises to see him in the morning at breakfast. "Definitely breakfast but- Maybe later tonight." And there is a pounding of anticipation. Is she staying the night then? Is she unsure if she wants to stay with him overnight in a room all to themselves? He would have to make sure she wouldn't want to leave. The two ways of convincing her to stay were a difficult dance either way. He isn't sure which he will have to use.

 

He sees her hair before the rest of her as she climbed the steps up, pausing when she sees him waiting. She cleared her throat. "It's not very polite to listen in on conversations that don't concern you." She sneered. Two more steps forward and he snatched her wrist as she tried to walk past him, jerking her backwards and into his chest. His hand wrapped around the small of her back and he gripped her shoulder, glaring. He would bet his eyes were burning with rage based on the panicked look on her face.

"It absolutely concerns me- you can handle me, can you? Got me all under control?" His hand slid up her shoulder until he gripped the back of her neck. She squirmed and tried to tug away from his grasp but he refused to budge, his fingers pressing tighter into her skin. "Because- how I see it- I'm barely holding control myself. I'm a breath away from burying my cock in you right here." He put his forehead against hers and sneered, his voice shaking as he tried with everything not to kiss her when she whimpered slightly. 

"And with you wrapping your arms around that bellend, holding him, smelling like him? It's driving me mad that I can't. Because I know the headmaster is three floors up waiting, and I don't think that old coot deserves to hear the sounds you make when I'm inside of you." She was panting against him, her eyes closed as she pressed her body tighter to him. A little knot of his brain, the intelligent part, tells him her reaction isn't normal. He is threatening her and he knows he is hurting her with how tightly he grabbed her hair and that real unaffected Granger would never melt at what he is saying. And it scares him. Not because of how badly he wants it but because he isn't sure how much longer he can control himself; especially if she's so pliant. 

He took a deep, aching breath and let go of her, averting his eyes from the lovely glaze in hers as she furrowed her brow. She was expecting to be ravished and if he was honest, he was one delicious moan away from following through his threat. He forced his legs to move up the stairs and prayed that Dumbledore had a replacement for the repellant potion. 

The quiet click of her heels behind him gave him something to focus on as they both climb the next few floors. The voice of a house elf yabbering on and Dumbledore's voice responding to it grated on his nerves in ways it never had before. It's at least a saving grace that his hard on had dropped back to something less noticeable. It was already a fresh hell being aroused in front of him and McGonagall earlier in his delirious state in the courtyard. 

 

He never wanted to feel that way again. It was like he had a gaping hole in his chest, a vital part of his soul removed from him and of course, that pain was only healed by Granger. If he hadn't had such a lovely morning lie in with her in his bedroom, he could be angry about it. Little vixen keeps surprising him day after day. He coughed loudly to announce his arrival when the headmaster came into sight. 

"I am a firm fan of the fizzing bubbles that come up your nose. Ah, Mister Malfoy and Miss Granger! How are the two of you? I'm pleased you're still in one piece." His tone sounds honest but Draco knows Dumbledore can feel his animosity. He is supposed to murder him this year, after all. Although, he's pretty sure Snape wouldn't have told him, the unbreakable vow wouldn't let him just spill all the secrets Draco held in his very soul. Secrets he is positive that Granger would cut him open from tit to taint if she knew.

"We are. Please, Headmaster, please tell me you have a potion for him." Granger stood a few meters away from him and he knows why. It's the same reason she is desperate that he has a potion to take. They can't keep pretending things are okay if he remains this raw. As much as he would love to take her on every surface, (hells, he would in the Great Hall at dinner,) he knows that they both would be in ruin from it. 

"I do indeed. For both of you." Dumbledore pulled a bottle from each robe pocket, both in a similar shade of red and he holds them out to each of them. The old coot hesitated and crossed his arms, switching which potion was held out for which student, a puzzled look crossing his face. "Are we sure it is just Mister Malfoy who is cursed?" He uncrossed his arms again and Draco scoffed and clenched his fists, scowling.

 

"Pretty positive with that. Mine is effecting her in ways she-" He glanced over at Granger, her cheeks are pink again. "Let's just say she hates it. What are these?"  

Dumbledore brought both bottles to his face and looked into them, swirling them around and humming. He tuts to himself and switched them in his hands once again. "This one is a negating potion. It works like thief's downfall, cancelling out any spells you may be under with the added benefit of dampening any long term curse effects since, as you know, a malfunctioning curse could persists through many attempts to remove it." He holds one out to Draco who hesitates but takes it from his hands. 

"This one will prevent any ill side effects from an outside source for you, Miss Granger." He stepped over to her and held it out for her to take. "If you wish to stay the night with our Mister Malfoy, it is a good thing to take. If not, you can save it for another time. I'm understanding that we will acquire more in the morning if you find it useful." He watched Granger's hands shake the potion bottle and look into it.

"Fascinating. Thank you so much Headmaster! I'm truly sorry I had not come to you sooner." She pocketed the potion and Draco scoffed, uncorking and drinking his down in one gulp. Anything to kill the overwhelming urge that is festering in him for a woman who will ruin his life. 

 

"We all know, it would only be a matter of time before you solved this, Miss Granger. But it seemed time was not a luxury we could afford. Now, Tilly here will be your house elf while you stay in these quarters, Mister Malfoy." He turned to motion the small elf with big glasses who squeaks with acknowledgement. "She will be leading you to the door but pay attention, it's quite a confusing path."

"Of course." Draco said, barely acknowledging Tilly.

"Thank you, headmaster." Granger all but bowed and Draco rolled his eyes. As Dumbledore goes down the steps, talking to himself, he noticed Granger weighing her options. "Malfoy-" She's no longer under his spell, he can tell by how she shuffled from one foot to the other. He realized he is one sentence away from sleeping alone tonight and he takes the long strides over and grabbed a fistful of her cloak sleeve.

"Come now, Granger. Let's see my new private room. Maybe we can have a civil dinner together." He let a sly smirk come across his lips and relished that she still blushed when he suddenly laced his fingers with hers to pull her focus back to himself. He watched her inner turmoil in her eyes as the house elf waited patiently. Draco turned to Tilly, "You'll be bringing me dinner, yes?" The slight thing stammered out a yes and he looked back to Granger. "There. So? Interested, little lioness?"

The nickname seemed to ruffle her feathers as she finally focused in on him, her eyes narrowing. He nearly faltered when she smirked, "Are you asking me on a date, Malfoy?" 

He blanched. "I- well. No, but-" Her smirk grew wider at him and she removed her fingers from his hand to follow Tilly. "I'm trying to be a ruddy gentleman after you helped me today."  

 

That infernal smirk danced when she quirked her eyebrow up and leaned back to him to whisper. "Would that be the courtyard cuddle help or the help relieving the tension? I think each requires a different type of thank you." He scoffed but felt a smile pull on his lips. Merlin, she was something else. Tilly stayed silent as they wandered deeper into the corridor of the fifth floor. They went left and right and right once more before reaching the end of a long corridor. They finally stopped at an empty portrait and Tilly impatiently tapped on it.

"Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy needs to be open the door!! Where are you hidden??" Her voice is so shrill it made him wince. Elizabeth Burke, the pureblood Headmistress of 1925 comes to the portrait. Hermione remembers this vile woman encouraging other purebloods to spit at her in the halls. 'Lovely,' She thinks, she's going to have to see this horrible woman in order to see Malfoy. It might not be a bad idea since it will be yet another annoyance to use an an excuse to avoid him.

"I hope you won't be staying long! I've much more glamorous places to be!" She snarked at the two of them, the door swinging open.

 "There is no password," Tilly says, wringing her hands, following them inside. "The headmistress will recognize you and let you in. But Mister Malfoy is not allowed to be leaving." 

"What?" They both said together, looking at one another. 

"You're not fucking serious, are you?" Draco advanced toward the elf who squeaked and hid behind Granger. 

 

"Malfoy," she scolded him and he rolled his eyes. "It isn't Tilly who made this decision. I'll speak to McGonagall, they can't lock you in here!" 

Draco sneered at Tilly who peered at him from between her legs. "Rights for house elves and Slytherin's alike, eh Granger?" She bristled and reached back to comfort the elf and it made him angry, her voice soft and sweet to something that wasn't him. Instead of snapping at her, he turned away to finally take in his surroundings - his new prison for who knows how long.

They look around the large space, it would do for the time being. It must have been changed from a Professors chambers after they emptied the fifth floor for whatever ominous reason the floor was completely empty. It had lovely high ceilings and a personal touch of wooden columns along the length of space, it separated the bedroom from the sitting room, fireplaces on each sides. Stone floors but tasteful wooden walls with basic furniture, a bed with thick drapes to help the draft, a single table and couch with a low bookshelf tucked behind it, something he knew Granger would be pleased about. 

Draco hummed, approving of the space for him and flicked his wand to light both fires before asking Tilly, "You can come in through the wards, correct?" The elf nodded excitedly, probably happy he wasn't angry with her anymore. "Excellent. Get me something from lunch, if you please." 

 

He dropped onto the couch, feeling the potion reviving who he was deep down. His sarcastic drawl being unearthed like a hibernating beast. He stretched his arms over his head to stretch before he cracked his knuckles. "Well, Granger. You should be scurrying off now. The sooner you beg that old hag, the sooner I can get out of here. Chop chop!" He smirked at her and she folder her arms across her chest, the trademark scowl she reserved for him returning. Something still stirred in his chest, a tiny squirm of discomfort at making her annoyed with him.

She exhaled a huff and glared at him, "I'll send you a message once I can talk to McGonagall." before turning to stalk away, he reached out but missed when he tried to grab her sleeve and pull her back. He cursed himself and scrambled over the arm of the chair. "Wait! Shite!" He hated that he tripped over his own feet in his haste to stop her storming off. 

His trip became a stumble and he fell into her back, making them both fell to the floor. Draco caught himself before he crushed her but a series of curses flew from her mouth and her fingertips as she twisted against him on the floor. Sparks were literally flying and he barely moved his head in time, the smell of burnt hair filling his nostrils.

"Fucking- stop! Merlin's soggy tits, you furball!" He sat up on his knees to straddle her and pinned her shoulders, her face pressing into the floor as she flailed against him.

"Furball!?!" How had he misstepped so badly, so quickly? Was he a different person without the curse ruling his every word?

 

"I didn't-" She was slapping against the floor, trying to wiggle away but he pinned her hard, all the authority burning through his throat as he said. "STOP." And she froze, eyes wide but cutting through him with fury over her shoulder. "Gods you're a nightmare," he snarked at her and she struggled to slip from his grip as he stood and she rolled over. She gave him a weary glance when he offered his hand to lift her. He's more than pleased he only feels a slightly warm human hand and not electricity and fiery desire when he touched her. His mind started to overprocess quickly, this potion was working; finally and fully, he was himself again. That didn't mean he was ready to spend the evening all alone. That agonizingly empty feeling still haunting the recesses of his mind. She tugged at his hold and he realized he was still clasping her hand, staring at it. 

"Enjoy your four days of solitude, Malfoy." Her voice clipped as she pulled her hand free. He didn't even notice when his hand slipped around her waist, the action so natural it made his throat tighten when he tried to speak. 

 

"Don't be like that. I would still like to have dinner." He risked a glance down at her lips and her tongue darted out to wet them. Shit. "Now that we are relatively normal, we could actually talk, discuss everything." He noticed her eyes processing his words and tentatively added. "And keep our hands to ourselves, for once." 

Draco was scheming, he had such a good idea he really struggled to keep his face straight. She looked at him through her annoyingly long eyelashes as she finally tipped to agree with him. Her belief that good was everyone's underlying motives would be the death of her. "Fine." She let the corner of her lip curve up a bit. "You do owe me." 

"Hmm, I suppose I do. I'll be here waiting," he fought the urge to touch his nose to her jaw, to breathe in her smell at the pulse point in her neck. He decided it was purely to fluster her when she stepped back and he let her slip through his fingers. He tracked her blush on her face as she pushed through the portrait, only glancing back once she was through the door and he let out a deep sigh. "Fucking hell." He swore to himself.

 

"Fucking Hell!" He shouted and knocked his head into a wood pillar when a ghostly head popped up through the floor to stare at him. 

"Quite an improper boy, aren't you?" The head spoke. A soft delicate face with short hair floated up and out of the ground and he could see them cross their arms. 

"Apologies, I'm rarely accosted from below my waist line." Draco glared. "Is this your space? If so I'm sorry-" 

"It was my space. When I was alive. Let me tell you, mate, being dead is dreadfully boring." 

"So I've been told." 

"You can't redecorate a thing unless the living help you. Beatrice Button- I prefer Bea." She held her hand out, floating into full view and Draco looked warily down before holding out his own to shake the air. She was dressed in men's clothing from an era long passed. It was peculiar. 

"Quite the name. Draco Malfoy." 

Bea snorted a laugh, "You've room to talk, Dra-co." She smiled and he scowled at her. 

"I'm afraid I'll be occupying your space for a few days. I don't want any kind of trouble, I've got enough as it is." Draco rounded and sat back on the couch, crossing his ankle over his knee. Bea hovered over the couch and put her back to the fire, giving Draco a strange few of flames through her body. 

"Girl trouble, it seems." Tilly popped into the room and placed a plate onto the table and he called a thank you over his shoulder, then turned to narrow his eyes at the ghost. "It's all over you face, mate."

Draco scoffed and looked away with a bitter taste in his mouth as he said, "I don't have a problem. I know exactly how to handle her." 

"Do you? Because you can't stop fidgeting and you've started to turn red." Draco snorted and crossed his arms. 

"What could you even do? It's not like you've any experience dealing with the swottiest girl in school." 

Bea flashed him a smile, one so wide it split her face apart with sheer joy. "You like the bookworms, do you?" Draco brushed invisible dirt from his trousers. "My girl was more interested in books than me when I met her too. Makes for a headache but I'll take intelligent arguments over vapid and self-centered any day." 

 

Within the hour, Draco had unloaded all of the complex, naughty, fiery and messy information about Granger and the complete terror she was in his heart, Bea smiling the entire time. When all questions were answered and details sorted, Bea put her legs up like she was reclining and her arms behind her head. 

"Sounds like she's your little firecracker. I can't wait to meet her." 

"I'd rather you didn't. Besides, she's only coming for dinner, if she even shows. I thought about locking her in here with me," Draco waved a spoon of potatoes around for emphasis, "But I'd rather keep my bullocks attached to me." 

"She's the feisty, know-it-all, yes?" Draco glared but nodded "She'll come for dinner - but what's your plan? This looks like a pretty drab venue."

"It's your chambers!" He smirked and covered his mouth to not completely laugh at Bea. Her face finally fell and she scowled at him, crossing her arms. 

"Can you get a message to her? Before she comes for dinner?" She looked at her pocket watch before huffing and tucking it back in her vest, mumbling. "Time doesn't work the same when you're dead."

"I suppose I could ask Tilly-"

"Excellent. Tell her to dress nicely. We got some work to do, Draco, babes!"