The Adult World

Chapter 15: Caught


Not wanting to keep Professor McGonagall waiting, Hermione transfigured her dressing gown into a pair of jeans and a simple sweater. As she made her way to the stone gargoyle that would lead her to the office, she glanced at her reflection in a piece of armor. Sighing, she ran her hands through her hair, attempting to tame it before standing in front of the headmistress.

After a few minutes, she came to stand at the foot of the gargoyle, and murmured the password. The gargoyle stepped aside, and Hermione stepped onto the moving stairs. As she ascended, her stomach clenched in anticipation. She was expecting Professor McGonagall to want a full account of what had happened in her classroom the day Amanda lost her life. Hermione wasn’t sure that she wanted to live through the memory again.

Shaking off her trepidation, she stepped off the moving stairs, and raised her hand to knock on the large, wooden door.

“Come in.” Came a voice on the other side.

Hermione dropped her hand to her side, and pushed the heavy door open. Her eyes landed on Professor McGonagall, who was sitting back in a rather large chair, behind an equally large desk. The room looked almost the same as it had when Professor Dumbledore was the headmaster. The only thing missing were some trinkets and, of course, the beautiful phoenix that had once stood off to one side of the desk.

“Please have a seat Professor Granger.” Professor McGonagall said, gesturing toward a chair in front of the desk.

Hermione sat down, and gave Professor McGonagall a small smile. “Well, I guess I know why I’m here.”

Professor McGonagall sighed, “I have been wanting to speak with you for the past few days, however, I wanted you to have some time to grieve in your own way.”

Hermione nodded, but didn’t interrupt.

“Now, I know this is going to be hard for you, but I am going to have to know what happened that day. Amanda’s parents have questions that need to be answered.”

Blinking back the tears that formed in her eyes, Hermione nodded again, “I understand. I’ll answer any questions they have. I’ll also resign if that’s what they want.”

After a slight moment of silence, Professor McGonagall spoke again. “Is that what you want?”

Looking off to the side, Hermione stood, unable to sit still any longer. “No. I thought it was at first, but the more I think about it, the more I don’t want to leave. It… it was an accident,” she said, her voice cracking as she paced in front of the desk, “and I wish I could go back and fix it, but I can’t.”

McGonagall nodded. “Well, they are not asking for your resignation. From what Amanda’s parents tell me, she liked to experiment with various potions. They said that they were always worried that something like this would happened, but said that Amanda always assured them that she was careful.” Shaking her head, she reached into a drawer and pulled a large stone basin out, and placed it on the desk. “Instead of having you recount every detail to me, I was going to ask if you would be willing to place the memory in the pensive for me to review. This pensive contains the memories of many different professors that had unfortunate events happen to them. We collect the memories and keep them for other headmasters to review in the future, and to learn from previous mistakes. I hope you understand.”

Hermione approached the desk and glanced down into the swirling, blue mist. “Of course. Only…” she hesitated, then looked up at Professor McGonagall. “Amanda’s parents aren’t going to see this are they? My memory is very… graphic.” She said, swallowing hard.

“No, no. They will only get the details from me. Professor Malfoy has already placed his memory of the event into the pensive, and the only one missing now is yours.”

Startled, Hermione glanced down at the pensive again. She couldn’t believe that Malfoy hadn’t said anything to her about placing his memory into the pensive. Her eyes roved over the bits of memories that floated around in the silky mist. She wondered if she could catch a bit of Malfoy’s.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, “Whenever you’re ready Professor.”

“Oh, yes. Sorry.” She said, looking back at Professor McGonagall. Hermione smiled, catching the headmistress looking out the window behind her, trying to catch a glimpse of the Quidditch game that was in progress.

Hermione withdrew her wand, recalled the memory to the best of her ability, and gently drew it out of her temple. The memory stuck to her wand for a moment, before she placed it into the pensive to swirl with the others.

She almost immediately felt like a weight was lifted from her shoulders, and the pit in her stomach dissolved. The memory was still there, just not as strong and dominate as it was before. It was a nice feeling.

“Thank you.” Professor McGonagall said.

Hermione smiled, then turned to leave.

“One more thing.” The headmistress said behind her. “How are things going with Professor Malfoy?”

Hermione stopped, her eyes landing on a large oil painting of Professor Dumbledore. The painted Dumbledore winked at her and raised his eyebrows. Biting her lip, she turned back toward Professor McGonagall. “Well, about as well as can be expected.” She answered, taking a seat in front of the desk again. “But I had a question to ask… since I’ve, well, noticed a few things these last few months.”

The headmistress watched Hermione sit down, and taking one last furtive look out the back window, sat down in her chair, folding her hands in front of her. “What question would that be?”

“When I started, you mentioned that you placed me in a joined room with Malfoy because there weren’t any other decent options left. However, after doing a little… light research, I found that there were several other rooms available. Many of which would have been fine for me live in.” Standing again, she began to pace. “I think that you should know that I tried to uphold the values of this school, and not make any rash decisions, but I think I failed, and I think that putting Malfoy and I together was a mistake.” She said, finishing her rambling.

Professor McGonagall nodded, a small smile playing on her lips for a brief second. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my intentions a secret for much longer. You are a brilliant woman, and it’s hard to get anything past you. It’s one of the reasons why you are perfect for this job, and will make a wonderful headmistress yourself someday.”

Hermione blushed, “I just wish I could have lived up to your expectations. I think that you should know that Malfoy and I… wait, what intentions?” She said as she stopped pacing.

“Sit down please.” The headmistress said with a smile. “Now, I placed Professor Malfoy and yourself together for a reason. Whether you like it or not, you have a lot in common. Neither one of you socialize much outside of your previous circles, and I thought that placing you together would get you to realize how well you two could get along. I saw you one day leaving the Ministry, and you had the same impact on me that he did. Which is the main reason why I roomed you two together.”

“What impact?” Hermione asked, perching on the corner of the chair.

“Profound loneliness. It came off of the two of you in waves. These past few months, you’ve both changed. I can’t say that this thing going on between the two of you is going to be easy, but it could be wonderful. That is, if your both willing to compromise with each other, and not be too stubborn.”

Hermione sat, staring at Professor McGonagall while she spoke, attempting to process the things she was telling her. “So you put us together… because you thought we would make a smashing couple?” She asked, completely stunned.

“Something along those lines, yes. If not a couple, then possibly friends, or alliances. All of which would be good for the two of you to share.”

“So you don’t care if we have sex?” She blurted out, smacking her hand over her mouth as her face turned red.

Professor McGonagall chuckled, as did many of the headmasters in the paintings around the room. “As long as you don’t let it interfere with your lessons, I have no problem with it. Just be sure to keep your private activities… private. Understand?”

Hermione nodded, standing up again and headed to the door. “Thank you… uhm, was there anything else?” She asked turning back toward the professor.

“I think you should begin joining us in the Great Hall for meals again. It will help with the healing process.”

Hermione nodded and smiled, placing her hand on the door and pushing it open. “I’ll let you get to the Quidditch game now.” She called over her shoulder.

“Thank you.” She heard coming from the room behind her. “By the way, I like your house slippers.” She heard right as the door banged closed.

Gasping, Hermione looked down at the fuzzy pink slippers she had forgotten to transfigure earlier.

********

Draco slowly walked up the long, dark aisle between the bookshelves, trying to remember which section Madame Pince had suggested he look in for the information he was seeking. Stopping in the middle of the aisle, he ran his hand through his hair in frustration. He didn’t understand why the lighting was so dim in a library… even if it was the restricted section.

A small sound caught his attention, and he walked up the aisle, and peered between the shelves, expecting to catch a student out of bounds. His mood lightened considerably when he saw who was flipping through a large volume, oblivious to her surroundings. He took the opportunity to observe her for a moment as he walked silently up behind her. He noticed that she had decided to get out of her dressing gown, and was actually wearing a decent set of robes. Coming to a stop behind her, he also noticed that she must have showered recently, as her hair was still damp, and pulled into a messy bun on the top of her head.

Breathing in deeply, he caught the heady scent of her shampoo, which had been haunting him the past few nights. The pillows and sheets still smelled like her, which made sleeping very difficult for him. He was amazed at how closely he was standing behind her without being notice. Cocking his head to the side, his eyes traveled down the back of her neck, and came to rest on a silver chain that resting against her skin. Leaning forward slightly, he chanced a look down her shirt to see if he could tell what necklace she was wearing.

Feeling something warm on her neck, Hermione looked around and gasped loudly, dropping the book she was reading, and jumped back into the bookshelf. Placing a hand over her racing heart, Hermione glared at Draco. “You scared me to death! Sneaking up on people is not very nice.”

Draco smirked and crossed his arms, very amused with the situation. “Nice. Right. So I should be nice like you right?”

Huffing, Hermione attempted to shake off the jittery feeling she had in her stomach. “What are you talking about?” She said, becoming annoyed.

“I’ve just noticed something.” He said, reaching toward her. Hermione jumped back, hitting the shelf behind her harder. “Relax,” he said chuckling, “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Her breath caught and she bit her lip as his finger tips gently ran from her cheek, down the slope of her neck. “What… uh, what do you want?” She asked, her voice cracking slightly as she looked into his eyes.

His eyes darkened considerably, and the smirk fell from his lips. “I want this.” He said, looping his fingers around the silver chain, and pulling on it, freeing the pendant from under her robes. “I’ve been looking for this.” He said, running his thumb over the oval stone and watching the colors swirl together. “What I don’t understand, is why you’re wearing it?”

Hermione gasped, and looked down. She had forgotten about that. “I… I was going to give it back to you. The chain was broken, so I mended it, and put it on to make sure it was strong enough… and I guess I just forgot.” She said, her cheeks stained crimson. “It hasn’t done that since I picked it up.” She said, watching the colors swirl.

Draco nodded. “No, it wouldn’t. You made it for me, so it will only work for me.” He said, looking back up at her. “But you already knew that, and it‘s rare that you forget anything.” He said, looking pointedly at her.

“H-here.” She stuttered, reaching around to unclasp the chain. “It’s yours, I’ve been meaning to return it.” She said as her hands fumbled with the clasp.

“Let me help you.” He said quietly, “Turn around.”

Hermione complied, and turned her back toward him. The blood raced through her veins as his warm hands gently caressed the back of her neck as he worked the clasp.

“You know what I think?” He asked, leaning forward and whispering into her ear, letting his lips brush against her.

Hermione took a shuddering breath, and shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.

“I think,” He said, moving down her neck “that you wanted to wear it. That you wanted to feel something of mine close to your skin.” He whispered, each word getting softer and softer. “But if that’s what you wanted,” he said, bringing his body up behind hers, “all you had to do was ask.”

Hermione had closed her eyes while he spoke against the sensitive flesh of her neck, and whimpered slightly as he pressed his body against hers. The memories of the night they had together flooded her senses, and made her body tingle in all the right places. Her mind was muddled, but one thought brought her through the muck. “Wait.” She said, straightening, and leaning away from him.

Draco paused, but didn’t move, his hands still holding the ends of the necklace.

“I thought you said that I used you, and that was going to be the last time.” She said, not daring to look over her shoulder at him. Hermione could practically feel the smirk on his face.

“I remember.” He murmured. “What did you expect me to say? My pride was wounded when I found out that you only slept with me to forget what had happened that night.” He said as he brought the necklace above her head, and fastened it around his own neck.

“Is that what you think?” She asked, turning around to face him. “That I only slept with you because you were there?”

Hermione gasped when he looked away and wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Draco, I… I admit that part of the reason I slept with you was to get the thoughts of that night out of my head. But the other reason was because I wanted to… had been wanting to…” She said, the blush creeping back into her cheeks.

Draco looked back at her again. “You wanted me before that night?” He asked, searching her eyes.

It was Hermione’s turn to look away. “Yes.” She said, not able to look him in the face. “When I got out of the shower, I had all these thoughts of the things that Amanda was going to miss out on… and all the things that I’ve missed out on over the years. I guess I just… I don’t know. Did something I had been wanting to do for awhile.” She appeared to get stronger as she explained herself, and met his eyes. “I don’t regret doing it.”

Draco groaned, and pulled her into a searing kiss. Their bodies melded together, as he wound a hand into her hair, the other wrapping firmly around her waist. Hermione moaned slightly, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pressed her body into his harder.

Draco walked her back into the bookshelf, dropped his hands to her butt, and lifted her off her feet. Hermione took the hint and immediately wrapped her legs around his waist, causing them both to groan at the contact. Finding that she was in desperate need for air, Hermione tilted her head back onto a shelf and panted into the air. Draco took the opportunity to rain needy kisses down the side of her neck, stopping to suck and nip gently at her pulse point.

Gasping, she tightened her legs around his waist and ran her hands through his hair. He responded by gripping her hips tighter, and grounding his arousal into her heat. Draco claimed the heady moan that she let slip in a passionate kiss, letting his tongue make love to her mouth.

Clinging to him, she kissed him back with abandon. Her mind fogged over, her body feeling like all it’s nerve endings were exposed. His hands trailed a fiery path down her legs, and under the hem of her robes, which had bunched around them. She whimpered into his kiss as his hands ran up her thighs and around to the top of her underwear.

Draco broke the kiss momentarily to pull her robes from between them, and rip the panties from her body. Hermione ignored the slight sting from the elastic breaking, and unzipped his robes, pushing her hands in to fumble with his pants.

Tucking her panties into his pocket, Draco helped Hermione undo the top button of his pants and slide his zipper down.

“Wait!” She gasped, stopping his hands as they made a trek back up her exposed thighs.

Pulling back, he looked at her questioningly. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

“We can’t, we’re in the library!” She whispered loudly, still attempting to bat his hands away. “What if we get caught?”

Draco smiled devilishly. “We’re not going to get caught. We are in the restricted section, and besides, it’s Friday. The students hardly ever use the library on Fridays.”

He watched as she appeared to be thinking about what he had just said, and took the opportunity to slide his hand between them. “Just don’t make a lot of noise.” He whispered against her lips as he slid a finger into her dripping core.

Hermione gasped loudly and arched her back as she gripped his biceps tightly. Draco used his other hand to grip the back of her head, and tilted it to the side as he nuzzled her neck and licked the shell of her ear. “You’re going to have to do better then that.” He whispered, adding a second finger to his slow, deliberate probing.

Biting her lip, she whimpered, and tilted her head forward, resting her head on his shoulder. With a reserved groan, he pick up his speed, allowing his thumb to brush against her engorged clit. His other hand snaked up her robes and cupped her breast, pinching the nipple through the cotton of her bra.

Hermione panted and gasped, attempting to muffle the sounds she was making in his shoulder. “Dr… Draco.” She stuttered out as she tilted her head back. “Oh god… I need you now.” She whimpered closing her eyes, no longer caring that they were in the library.

Draco groaned, removing his hand from her core, and positioned himself at her entrance. Gripping the back of her head again, he smashed his lips down on hers as he surged into her wet heat. They moaned into each others mouths at the sensations that were running through their bodies.

Dropping his hands to her hips, he gripped her hard as he set a strong, fast rhythm that left them panting and shuddering against each other. Wrenching her mouth away from his, Hermione buried her head back into his shoulder as she felt her body grow hotter and tighter as her orgasm built up.

Feeling her legs beginning to shake around his waist, he snaked a hand around and held her head tightly against his shoulder. Hearing her muffled moans, he slammed into her harder, and bit down on the side of her neck.

Her hands clamped down hard on his arms, and her legs tensed, as she cried out her release into the fabric of his robes. Hermione felt his hands tense on her waist and on the back of her neck as his thrusts became harder and frenzied. Taking his lead, she pulled his head into her shoulder, and rained kisses on the side of his neck.

With a muffled groan, he came hard, his body shuddering as he rocked against her. They stood, panting into each other’s shoulders for a moment before he took a step back and allowed her to drop her numb legs. He smiled slightly as he helped her lean back on the bookshelf as she waited for the shaking in her legs to subside.

Pulling out his wand, Draco muttered a quick cleansing spell for them as they adjusted their rumpled clothes. Finally catching her breath, but still flushed, Hermione looked up at him. “That was…” She smiled and looked away without finishing her thought.

Grinning, he nodded. “Yes it was.” He studied her for a moment longer. “Will you go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow? I have something I want to discuss with you.” He said, his features becoming serious.

She watched him for a second, then became worried. “Sure… you can’t discuss it with me now?”

“I suppose I could, but I wanted to get a little more information first, and this also gives me an excuse to take you out on a proper date.”

Hermione laughed, and was about to respond when they heard someone clear their throat. Startled, they looked to the end of the aisle where the sound came from. Madame Pince was standing at the end of the bookshelf, watching them with a stern look.

“I thought I heard a ruckus… have either of you seen any students back here?” She asked, looking between the two of them.

Wide-eyed, Hermione turned to Draco who answered, “I shooed a young couple out of here a few aisles back. I don’t think they’ll come back.” He said, shooting Madame Pince a winning smile.

Nodding, she grimaced at them and lumbered away.

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A/N: Phew... that was hard to write! lol. Anyway, thank you all for the reviews! You guys help stir the plot bunnies! And I am sooo happy to be back again. I have had this chapter in my mind for days! I mean, come on, who doesn't like some good library sex? I know it's a little cliche, but it had to be done. ;-) Too bad I had to work, or it would have been out sooner. :-) Don't forget to let me know what you think! Thanks again!