Count Your Blessings

A/N: This is a chapter I really like. I’m really going to try and keep posting chapters but next week will be really busy for me. I have two graduate school interviews, two midterms, and a slew of reading to do. It’s a sad time indeed, especially since I have outlined all the chapters and written the ending. Yup. The ending to this story is complete =)

As such, this story will be about 25 chapters long and will, hopefully, build up to an explosive ending. Quite literally!

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Harry and Ron hadn’t taken the idea that Hermione was staying behind for Christmas holiday lightly. Ron even went so far as to pretend not to talk to her. It only lasted a few hours as he soon realized that he needed help on his Transfiguration essay. Harry gave up after a few moments and an explanation from Hermione. They had a feeling that she would stay behind because of the effects of the potion, and not to mention the Weasley brothers had no sense of boundaries with it came to their favorite bushy haired prefect. It wasn’t that they were trying to be sly; they just felt she was one of the family and teased her accordingly.

Eventually they gave up trying to convince her and made promises to write and send chocolates. Hermione groaned at the thought of more chocolates all considering but she accepted their offer. It was the best they could do, especially considering the time they were at. Ron ended up changing the subject to Quidditch, which Hermione tuned out effectively. After a few hours, she bid the boys good night and climbed the stairs to her dormitory where Crooks sat mewing in the center of her bed. His bright green eyes shown in the dark as he moved around in a circle and plopped. He had been waiting for her apparently. Such a cute cat.

She climbed into bed after closing the window, which Lavender has opened to let her brown ruffled owl in and out. She rarely ever closed the window when she was done with it and while it irked Hermione, she was nearly always too exhausted to complain. She tip toed against the stone floor and jumped into bed, snuggling under the layers upon layers of blankets. Crookshanks moved to the crook of her neck and rolled himself into a little ball before falling asleep.

Hermione remained awake, however, and thought about the recent events. Harry had received an owl informing him of an unusual gathering of Death Eaters just outside of Muggle London. The Ministry still hadn’t sent any Aurors out to investigate and she had a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach that Voldemort had weaseled his way into there somehow. She had to look on the bright side and so did the rest of the Order. Thanks to Hagrid and Madam Maxine, they had gained the trust of several giants, the mermen and maids of the Black Lake told Dumbledore that no ship would cross the lake without their knowledge, and even the centaurs agreed to keep an eye on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest.

It was strange how the magical community seemed to rally together toward the common good. Of course, that didn’t mean some giants and trolls hadn’t been persuaded by the Dark Lord but one could hope their side wouldn’t prevail. She let out a breathy sigh, watching her breath rise into the air around her. She was warm under her blankets but the room was unnaturally cold. It would, of course, magically heat up once she had fallen asleep. It always did. Rolling over onto her side, Hermione listened to the quiet purr of Crooks and felt her eyes grow heavy. She let out a small yawn, which was reciprocated by her familiar, before falling into a deep sleep.

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The Great Hall was rather empty, considering many students wanted to spend time at home. At the height of the war, families tended to stick together when they had the chance. Hermione was blessed, or cursed depending on who looked at it, with the fact that her family didn’t remember her. They were adventurers in New Zealand and had no inkling that they were connected to a world that was written in fantasy novels. Hermione did feel sad on days where Lavender or even Ginny would receive letters from their respected parents. Harry was the only one to understand the pain of losing family, but even he didn’t understand all of it. He was raised without unconditional love but having him there was better than nothing.

Two students sat at the end of one large table with a chess set between them. Hermione was resting her chin on her hand while Draco sat across from her. He glared daggers into the chess board, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Finding herself admiring the determination on his face, Hermione couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He wasn’t what she expected at all. Charming, intelligent and attractive. Draco Malfoy was no longer the spoiled, self-absorbed git she knew him as. Heck, she even saw him bend down to pick up some first year Hufflepuff’s heavy trunk and haul it to Filch when no one was around. It caused her to smirk at the thought.

His eyes, shining beautifully under the warm light, lifted from the chess board and stared straight into hers. Hermione looked away and straightened herself up, but she swore she saw him smirk. He leaned back with both hands folded onto the table.

“Rook to E4,” he said lightly, grinning at Hermione.

She watched in horror as his Rook slid across the board and went to town of her Queen. It morphed into something that reminded her of a golem and proceeded to bash the face of her Queen in. Grabbing the Queen by the scruff of her neck, it tossed her to the side into a pile of pieces at the edge of the board. Hermione groaned.

“This is so barbaric,” she muttered, watching the Rook wander back into its spot and transform back to the little castle.

“No.” Draco said with an amused tone, “This is wizarding chess.”

“It’s still barbaric.”

He leaned closer, that big perfect Malfoy grin on his face, “You’re just upset that I’m winning. Face it Granger, I’m a better strategist than you are.”

She snorted and folded her arms onto the table, leaning in as well. “You haven’t seen anything yet, Malfoy.”

Her eyes scanned the board and she grinned, “Knight to C5.”

The knight galloped toward Draco’s own Queen and pulled his sword out. He then rammed it into the side of the Queen before literally hurling her bits to the side. Hermione looked up at Draco with a smug look while he glared at the board with his mouth open.

“Check,” Hermione called lightly, trying to hide a grin. “I’ve watched Harry and Ron play chess for ages. I’ve picked up a few things.”

Draco’s eyes darted around the board while his brow lowered. He brought a hand to his chin and began to stroke it dramatically. Looking up at her, Draco grinned.

“It’s not over yet, love.” He wriggled his eyebrows, “Bishop to A1.”

The Bishop slid across the board, straight past Hermione’s remaining pieces and pounced onto her King. They wrestled on the board, the rest of the pieces turned to watch. Draco’s pieces shouted and cheered while Hermione’s groaned in defeat. The Bishop flung the King over onto the pile and dusted his hands off. Hermione looked down and frowned, trying to play everything over in her mind.

“How is that possible!” She exclaimed a little louder than usual.

Draco sighed triumphantly, “Face it, I’m better than you at this game. The sooner you admit it, the better you’ll feel.”

“Right because I want to have to listen to you tell me how much better at wizarding chess you are than me. Best six out of seven.” Hermione already began gathering her pieces but yelped when her pieces jumped from her hands.

They reformed and shook their heads. The Queen shouted at Hermione that she was not going to be part of a massacre. Hermione stared blankly at the pieces as they crossed the board onto Draco’s side and crossed whatever arms they had. Draco laughed, his chest vibrating quickly.

“Looks like you’re up a creek without a paddle, Granger.” He teased, resting his hand on her own.

He pried the pawn she was still holding out of her hand and set it onto the board. Hermione sighed and looked at him, feeling his fingers run up and down her forearm. They stared at one another for a while when…Draco blinked. Her eyes had gone hazy and she looked flushed.

“Granger?” He asked, looking around the empty Great Hall, “Oi. Are you alright? Granger? Hermione?”

She just smiled at him and giggled. Draco’s eyes widened as he quickly rose and grabbed onto her hand.

“Shit. Shit. Shit.”

Draco pulled her with him across the tables and hurried her along. They ran straight into Professor Flitwick, who tumbled backward in a summersault and looked around in a daze. Hermione tried to keep up but she found herself feeling very odd indeed. Her thighs quivered with each step and she couldn’t help but stare at the back of Draco’s head as they rounded the corner. He stopped and looked around, grabbing Hermione’s free hand when she ran it up and down his chest.

“Here.” Draco breathed, opening the door to the broom closet and shoving Hermione promptly inside.

As soon as the door closed, Hermione pounced. Her lips found his and her hands became tangled in his blond locks. He groaned against her and pushed her back against the wall, knocking several brooms onto the floor. A few remaining students passed the closet and stopped but shrugged, thinking it was Peeves causing some ruckus. Something hard and pulsating was pushing against her stomach, causing butterflies to form inside. She took another much needed breath as the lips traveled up her neck and to her chin, jaw and then lips. Having to tilt her head back, Hermione reached to meet the heavy kiss. Their lips slightly wet and tingling.

She felt his hand move from her waist and travel up her side to the back of her head. Resting at the nape of her neck, she felt him deepen the kiss by pulling her closer to him. His tongue traced her bottom lip, waiting for permission, which he got when she parted her lips ever so slightly. She could feel his warm tongue dip into her mouth, playfully touching hers, and she could only let out tiny moans.

His hands traveled down to her skirt and hiked it up, allowing it to pool around her waist. He lifted her up and brought a hand to her thigh, wrapping her leg around his waist. Hermione moaned when she felt his hardened bulge rub against the thin fabric of her knickers. She brought her hand between them, hastily pulling at the emerald serpent belt buckle of his.

Draco pulled his lips away from hers for a brief moment as he heard his fly unzip. They stared into one another’s eyes before Hermione leaned forward and captured his mouth with her own. Running a hand up the wall, he managed to pull away, starting to breathe harder. Hermione’s hand traced over his length, slowly stroking it with both hands. Draco let out a low groan and looked down between them, his lips parted as he let out breaths.

Hermione ran her fingers along his entire hardened manhood, tracing the precum that pooled at the tip around the shaft. Draco’s breath hitched as she began pumping him. His hips slowly bucked forward while his hand on the wall grasped at it. Looking up at her, Hermione stared with her own lips parted. He brought a hand between her thighs, rubbing against the fabric. Her eyes lit up when she felt his thumb graze her clit; causing her to lean back and let out a moan.

Draco pulled her hand from him and pushed her knickers to the side, feeling how sopping wet she was for him. He brought his lips to hers as he positioned himself at her center and pushed in. Hermione moaned into his kiss, her eyes fluttering closed. Draco began to thrust slowly into her, with short motions. Her body jerked happily against the wall as her inner thighs quivered. They let out unison groans of pleasure when Draco started a quick but short rhythm with their movements.

Her hips rolled against his in time and she felt her walls contract around him. He pulled from the kiss and began caressing her neck with his lips and tongue. Hermione let out a much needed breath, mixed with a loud cry. Their movements grew heavier, quicker, and harder. Draco pumped into her with intoxicating passion, his hips slamming against her. Bringing his hands to her thighs, he held himself against her.

“Draco,” she purred into his ear, feeling him shiver against her and his thrusts to grow harder.

Draco and Hermione’s breath grew more ragged as they felt their climax beginning to arrive. Her hand gripped onto his back as he pressed himself against her. She let out a loud cry as her walls squeezed his length tightly, milking him of his warm seed. Draco grunted into her neck and gave two more hard thrusts before he felt spent.

She ran her hand absentmindedly through his hair, both breathing heavily. Their brows were covered with sweat. His hair felt damp from the perspiration but she liked it. Draco pulled away from her and lowered her to the ground, flipping his shaggy hair over his head. His bangs fell in front of his face, framing it perfectly. Hermione leaned up against the wall and tried to fan her warm skin.

“I need to stop flustering you with my good looks, or else we’re going to be living in this broom closet,” he grinned at her, resting his forehead on hers.

Hermione blushed, “Please, it’s your oh so charming personality that attracts me to you.”

Draco quirked an eyebrow, “Is it, now? And here I thought you wanted me perfectly sculpted body.”

She snorted and laughed, Draco’s own deep rumbles of laughter followed. They helped one another dress and fix their hair. Draco pried the door open with one hand, the other secured around Hermione’s waist. They crossed the threshold and ran smack dab into someone. Draco stumbled back, slamming the door behind him with wide eyes. Hermione looked equally as shocked and turned crimson red.
Headmaster Dumbledore stood in front of them, holding a box of what looked like lemon drops. He was currently holding one to his lips and looked down at the pair. His eyes darted from Draco to Hermione then to the broom closet and began to twinkle.

“H-Headmaster,” Hermione managed to croak out, stepping away from Malfoy.

Their arms got tangled with on another that it took a bit of awkward time to part. Hermione glanced to Draco and realized that she had buttoned his shirt up incorrectly and he seemed to have noticed as well as all the color had drained from his face.

“Oh. Good afternoon Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy.” He nodded to Draco, who looked as if he were about to pass out.

Dumbledore looked back to the closet and smiled. He actually smiled. Holding out a box, “Lemon drop?”

“N-No thank you,” Hermione said quietly, glancing to Draco who merely shook his head.

“I guess you have to have an acquired taste for them. I find, in my old age, that these really hit the spot for some extra energy.” His eyes twinkled at the pair, “But you two don’t really need any extra energy, do you?”

Hermione and Draco shook their head in unison and Dumbledore smiled. He popped the lemon drop into his mouth and turned to go into the Great Hall. Taking two steps, he stopped and looked at them.

“The broom closet on the other end of the hall is quite a quiet place. Filch hardly travels there.”

“W-What?” Draco’s voice had finally managed to return but sounded out of place and high pitched.

Dumbledore shrugged, “Just thought you two ought to know. Good day.”

He turned and entered the hall, greeting Professor McGonagall and asking if she wanted a lemon drop. Draco and Hermione looked at each other as their color began to return to normal. Draco was the first to grin and Hermione the first to laugh.

“I think we should be more careful,” she whispered quietly as Draco and her began walking down the corridor.

“I think you need to stop trying to shag me silly,” he laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. His laugh died down when he turned to Hermione, “What’s a lemon drop?”