More Than Meets the Eye

A/N: Well I know that it has been forever and a day since I have updated. Real life has been crazy, but I am now settled in beautiful Yorkshire so I should be getting the rest of this story out soon. Thanks to everyone for reading.

Chapter 17

Hermione barely contained her sigh as she looked across the room at Draco…again. Although she understood his need to think about what was discussed this afternoon, the silence was starting to drive her crazy. He hadn’t said more than two words since they had left Dumbledore’s office, and since he hadn’t turned the page in the past fifteen minutes, she knew he wasn’t reading the book he was staring at. She wished he would say something. She wanted to talk to him, no needed to talk. She had gotten used to using Harry and Ron as soundboards for the past six years and right now she felt like she was going to explode. Alright that is it! she thought to herself. He’s had three hours. It is time to talk! She walked over and plopped down on the couch next to him. “So what do you think?”

Draco slowly shut the book and turned to her. “Did you mean what you said?” he asked softly.

Hermione raised her eyebrows at him. “I said a lot today. What exactly do you want to know?”

“Do you love me?”

Hermione barely controlled her wince. Of course he would have picked up on the hidden meaning behind her explosion in Dumbledore’s office. Oh why couldn’t she have kept her mouth shut? She took another deep breath and answered truthfully. “Yes, I do.” She studied his face closely, praying that he might feel something similar in return.

Draco felt relief wash through him. “I am glad. I think I love you too.”

“You think you love me?”

“I don’t know how I feel. I never expected to have love in my marriage. No pure-blood does. I was raised believing that I would marry the perfect pure-blooded wife. Someone who would provide me with a pure heir, increase the Malfoy wealth, and be obedient. Instead I am married to a poor muggle-born witch who would hex me into the next century if I tried to order her to do something. And the thing is, is I don’t care. I should, but I don’t, and I don’t know why.”

“I don’t think that you love me. I know that you do. You have been far more patient and understanding with me than I have been with you.”

“Oh yes, our argument before Christmas shows how understanding I am,” he responded sarcastically. “Xerses, I can’t believe how much of a prat I was!” he continued while dragging a hand through his hair. “I was arrogant, rude, hurtful…”

Hermione interrupted his speech by gently laying her fingers across his lips. “You were upset and…. you were right.” She smiled at his look of disbelief. “Well, mostly anyway,” she amended. “It is difficult to explain what it is like coming into the magical world as a muggle-born. My first experience with a magical family was with the Weasleys. They were warm and kind, and fascinated with Muggles. I suppose with everything going on, I started thinking that all good witches and wizards thought and acted like the Weasleys, and that if they weren’t like them, then they were death-eaters, or at least, prejudice against muggle-borns. To my shame, I never stopped to think if there could be a middle ground.”

Draco pulled her close and leaned his forehead against hers. “It isn’t completely your fault. It is this bloody school’s fault. Hogwarts is so muggle loving that it does a disservice to the wizarding community here in Britain. Its not your fault that you don’t know what they don’t teach. Hermione, I know I said that I wished you were a pure-blood, but I want you to know something. Even though the differences in our backgrounds does make things difficult at times, I don’t regret losing our bet to Dumbledore, and as you know Slytherins hate losing.”

Hermione cupped his face with her hands and captured his lips in a long, sweet kiss. “And I don’t regret being tricked into accepting such a crazy bet by a certain Slytherin, and as you know Gryfindors hate manipulation of any kind,” she responded.

Draco smirked at her comment and pulled her onto his lap so that she straddled him. “I don’t know how you Gryfindors can claim such a dislike for manipulation when you make it so easy for us Slytherins. I think that your housemates must actually like being manipulated, they just don‘t want to own up to it. After all, you just admitted that you were glad that I tricked you.”

Hermione eyes danced with amusement. She loved her husband’s sense of humor. “Oh the workings of the Slytherin mind.” She leaned in and kissed him again, only this time it was passion filled. Although her body was urging her to let go and have him fast and hot, she held back. She had fucked him a couple of times before, and they had shagged more times than she could count, but tonight she wanted something else. He had made love to her on their wedding night. Now she wanted to make love to him. She moved her lips to nibble on his jaw and throat.

Draco tightened his embrace and stood. It took all of his will power not to succumb to her and simply sink to the floor. Finally making it to their room, he laid her down on the bed and stretched himself out next to her. He moved to be on top of her, only to be pushed back.

Hermione looked into his confused eyes. “I love you Draco. Let me show you how much.”

Looking into her deep brown eyes, he saw the truth there. Like any Gryfindor she didn’t hide her emotions, and the love that she felt for him was now shimmering in her eyes. Suddenly he felt something break inside of him. He knew that even for a pure-blood he had had a messed up childhood. He had spent enough time at his friends’ homes to know that not all pure-blood parents were emotional withdrawn from their children, but his were. He had been taught early on that any display of emotion was unacceptable, and so, for as long as he could remember, had worn a mask of indifference. Yet this woman, this amazing woman, accepted him for who he was. In spite of the horrible way that he had treated her, she accepted him and declared him good. Something that he wasn’t even sure of himself. For the first time in his life, he felt unworthy. Draco brushed a hand through her hair and vowed to himself that one day he would be worthy of her. That he would never let anyone hurt her. “I surrender to you Minx.”

Hermione watched as he struggled within himself. She knew he was feeling vulnerable. Suddenly the air swirled with magic and she knew that he had made a silent oath. With his words she pushed him fully onto his back. Slowly she covered his face with soft kisses. She unbuttoned his shirt, her mouth trailing just behind her hands. She opened the mental connection between them and poured out her feelings of love through it. Making him sit up a little she removed his shirt and moved to sit astride him. When he cupped the side of her face, she turned her head to kiss his fingers, palm, and the pulse point on his wrist. She pulled her jumper off, looked into his eyes and smiled lightly to herself. The liquid silver orbs were full of desire, and his lips were parted slightly. Her husband was defiantly a breast man. She leaned down to lick and nip at his lips.

“Oh Hermione,” he groaned when her satin and lace encased breasts brushed against him. He felt as if his entire being was going to explode. It was just too intense! Not because of the physical pleasure that she was providing, but the pure and unadulterated love that she was flooding his mind with. He unhooked her bra and quickly removed it. Pulling her close he moaned when her pebbled nipples came into contact with his. Sliding his hands down her back, he held onto her hips and thrust up.

Hermione detangled herself from him and moved to kneel between his legs. Locking her eyes with his she slowly undid his belt and lowered his zipper. Peppering his abdomen with light kisses, she freed him from the rest of his clothing. A whispered spell left her naked as well. Moving farther down his body she lightly bit the inside of both thighs, before nuzzling his jutting erection. Licking it from base to tip, she smiled at his mewling whimper. Pulling herself back up his body, she straddled him and took him in inch by inch. When he was completely buried in her, she knew he expected her to start to ride him. Instead she leaned forward and pressed her forehead against his. “You are wonderful, my beloved.”

At her words tears fell from his eyes for the first time in over a decade. She gently kissed them away as they slid down his face and began to slowly move. Even with the lazy rhythm that she had set, Draco knew that he wouldn’t last long. He carefully inserted his hand between their bodies and stroked her clit. He knew that he had surrendered to her, but there was no way that he was going to take his pleasure and leave her behind! “I love you, Minx,” he whispered before catching her lips with his.

Hermione half sobbed, half groaned as his declaration. Even though she knew that he loved her, actually hearing the words come from his mouth was glorious. A few strokes later and she shattered with a cry, her climax triggering his. Moments later, when she tried to roll off of him, his arms tightened. At his whispered plea to stay, she snuggled into his embrace.