A MATE FOR LIFE

Chapter Twenty-Three

Later that morning, Draco woke up to soft lips touching his. He reached out but felt nothing but air, so he opened his eyes to see Hermione standing there fully dressed in denims and an oversized sweatshirt, smiling down at him. “Get up sleepy head, mum and dad are waiting downstairs for us to have breakfast.”

He sat up, his bare feet touching the floor, wiping the sleep from his eyes. Hermione looked at him and felt a warmth spread through her body at the sight of the tousled hair and his bare chest. “I’ll meet you downstairs.” She said, her voice a bit huskier.

Draco looked up at her, noticing her looking at him and licking her lips. He felt himself harden at her heated gaze. “Why don’t you come here for a morning kiss before you go.” He said suggestively.

“That does sound tempting doesn’t it. But unwrapping that present....” She pointed to his boxers, “.....will have to wait.” She said smiling. “See you downstairs.” She reluctantly left him behind, while Draco smiled as he got dressed.

After a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausages and pancakes, they adjourned into the den to exchange gifts. Hermione donned a santa hat, at Draco’s amusement, and handed out some of the gifts. She handed one to Draco, who read the label and looked up at her parents. He opened it to reveal an old edition of ‘Potions in History’. He gingerly opened the book and flipped through the pages. “Thank you so much, I’ve been meaning to pick this book up, but never got around to it.”

“Hermione had told us in her letters a bit about you, and how you were going to go for your Masters in Potions. We thought it may come in useful.” Danielle said, pleased that he had liked it.

“Thank you again. This means a lot to me.” He said as he handed Hermione one of her gifts from him.

She opened the bigger gift and pulled out a deep burgundy sweater that buttoned down the front. “It’s beautiful, thank you Draco....I will wear it today.” She leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Your turn.” She handed a large wrapped gift.

He opened it to reveal something in leather. He pulled it out of the box and held it up, then tried it on. Hermione looked up at him wearing the black leather jacket that went to his hips. She thought it looked very sexy on him. “It looks like it fits alright. How does it feel?” Hermione asked.

He looked down at her, “It feels great. I’ve never owned a leather jacket before, it’s quite comfortable. Thank you Hermione.” He handed over the gifts from him to her parents.

While her parents were opening their gifts and Hermione was opening a few from other relatives, he got out his last gift to her from him, waiting to give it to her. When she was done, he handed out his gift at the same time she handed one to him. They smiled and passed it to each other. “You first.” Hermione said.

He opened it to see a gold chain nestled in burgundy velvet. “Do you like it?” She asked hopefully.

He undid the clasp and put it around his neck. “Yes. Yes I do, I love it. Thanks ‘Mione. Your turn.”

Hermione looked at the small box, and slowly opened it. Inside there was a braided gold chain with a heart pendant hanging from the center. Draco leaned over to show her the back of the pendant, where it said simply ‘Forever’.

“Thank you Draco, it’s lovely. Could you please help me put it on.” She said as she took it out of the bo hao hand it to him. He stood behind her as she held up her hair and connected the tiny clasp at the back. He kissed her cheek, much to the amusement of her parents and sat back down among the shredded paper.

Danielle got up to bring a present from another room. “This last gift is for you Hermione. We thought you might like it for next week at the Hogwarts New Years Ball.”

Hermione opened the box and carefully unfolded the tissue. She pulled out a black silk dress with rhinestone spaghetti straps. “I’m going to try it on, be right back.” As she rushed out smiling to herself.

When she walked out, Draco’s breath caught. The dress was sleeveless and dipped low in the back where there was two rows of rhinestones that cris-crossed across her back. The bodice clung to her curves, while the skirt hung down to just below her knees where there were two or three layers of chiffon that seemed to float around her. She twirled around, “What do you think?”

“You look beautiful honey. That is just how I pictured it on you. There are also matching shoes in the box to go with the dress.” Danielle said as she came up to hug Hermione.

Hermione looked to Draco who was gazing longingly at her. “Very beautiful. I’ll be the envy of all the other guys at school that night.” He said smiling, where she smiled back in pleasure at the compliment.


During the course of the week’s holidays, Draco had found that he had done a lot of fi in in his life. For example, it was his first muggle Christmas, his first hayride, his first home cooked turkey dinner, his first time on a snowmobile, and the first time he has told a girl that he loves her.

It was two days before New Years and Hermione and Draco were planning on heading back to Hogwarts that night.

Steven was lacing his boots up to go outside. “I’m going to go for a walk down the lane to pick up our mail. I’ll be right back.”

“Do you mind if I tag along for the walk?” Draco asked.

Steven nodded his head. “Sure, I’d like the company.” Draco kissed Hermione’s cheek and bundled up for the walk.

The started the walk in a companionable silence. “So, I gather you’ve gotten past the whole mudblood thing now, huh?” Steven asked bluntly.

Draco hesitated before replying. “I don’t know how much you know about my family and how I was raised, but it wasn’t a close knit family. My father used to go out of his way to torment me and my mother. I guess some of that rubbed off to me, and unfortunately, I took some of it out on Hermione over the years. My father is now in jail for the rest of his life, and I have found I am nothing like him. I can’t take back the things I’ve said or done to Hermione, but she says she’s forgiven me, and I am so grateful that she sees me as me.” Draco said astrudtrudged beside her father.

Steven stopped as the mailbox, opened it and took out the mail before answering Draco. “I do know some of the things you went through, and I would not wish that on anyone. I can see that Hermione cares very much for you and you her.”

“I do care for her, I wouive ive my life to save hers. That is part of the reason I wanted to walk with you.”

“Part of the reason, what’s the rest?” Steven said as he leaned against the fence.

“Well, I love Hermione very much and I know she loves me. And I am planning on asking her to marry me if she’ll take me.....” He held up his hand as her father raised his one brow. “I know we are only eighteen years old, and you think we may not know what we want at this age, but we have been through a lot in the wizarding world and I know I can make her happy. We’ve both talked about becoming professors and I’m not going to stand in her way, she’s one of the most intelligent witches that I know, and she’ll mak wit with or without me, I am hoping with me.” Draco stated as he leaned against the fence next to her father.

“Are you finished.” Steven asked trying to hide his smile.

“Yes. But I would like to say, I’m planning on asking her New Years, with or without your blessing.” He said defiantly.

“Is that right.” Steven said as he faced Draco. “Well, in that case I give my blessing. I can see she cares for you, and I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of her happiness.” He held out his hand for Draco to shake.

Draco grasped his hand and gave an answering smile. “Thank you, it means a lot to me for you to be okay with this.”

They started walking back. “Of course I’m okay with it. Did you realize I married Danielle when we were only nineteen years old, and now look at us. Couldn’t be happier. I love justjust as much, if not more than the first day I set eon hon her.”


Draco and Hermione said their goodbyes and thank you’s and apparated back to the Hogwarts gates. As they made their way to their dormitory, they encountered very few students and professors, as most of them were due back tomorrow to get ready for the ball. Including the Weasleys and H.
.

Hermione hung her dress up and put the rest of her things away, while Draco went down to the kitchens to get a bit of food, so they could eat their dinner in theioms.oms. She pulled out Draco’s last gift and slipped it on, smiling to herself. Over that she put one of Draco’s oversized dress shirts that hung down to mid-thigh.

When she came out of her room, she saw there was a small table set up with three covered plates and candles lit around the room giving a cia cinnamon scent. To the side of the table stood Draco holding a single red rose.

Draco stood there in his faded jeans and black t-shirt holding the rose. When she came out, his breath caught at how sexy she looked in one of his shirts. He was also curious why her legs were covered in white fishnet stockings.

She saw him glance to her legs and smiled secretly. He held out the chair for her to sit then kissed her softly at the side of her neck before he sat across from her. “So what’s the occasion?” She asked smiling as she uncovered her plate to see a delicious pasta dish. She lifted up the third dish to see fruit with side dishes of whipped cream and melted chocolate. She raised her brow in question.

“For later, after dinner.” He said mysteriously.

“So, did you have a good time at my parent’s house?” She said as she slowly savoured her meal.

“Yes, I did. I especially liked that night you snuck into my room.”

“That was nice, wasn’t it.” She agreed.

“ I liked also your parents Hermione. y wey were nice to me even with the history between us from the first couple of years.” He took a sip of his drink and smirked. “I especially liked kicking your butt in that muggle game Monopoly that night.”

She smiled, “My parents liked you too. As for Monopoly, we’ll have to have a rematch. I was just going easy on you.”

“Anytime Granger.”

After they ate their meal, she lifted the lid to the dessert. He stopped her hand as she went to pick up a strawberry. “I want you sitting on my lap as your feeding me dessert. But first, what’s with he stockings?” He asked.

She smiled and walked around to his side of the table, and leaned her hip back at the edge, her legs on either side of his knee. “Well, there is one more present for you that I couldn’t give you at my parents.” She took hind tnd to the top button of the shirt. “Start here to unwrap your present.” She said seductively.

She placed her hands at her sides, gripping the edge of the table as he slowly unbuttoned the shirt, neck to hem. His eyes deepening in colour as he went further down.

He saw the beginnings of while lace and her smooth skin, which his fingers grazed as he continued unwrapping his gift. Once he had all the buttons undone, he placed both hands at her hips inside of the shirt then slowly glided his hands up, spreading the front of the shirt as he continued up. His hands shook as he went higher and stopped when her breasts were revealed. What he drank in with his eyes was her wearing a white lace bra and panty set, and white fishnet stockings that stopped mid-thigh with lace trim and a white satin bow at the top. Her panties were high on her hip, and he could see her nest of dark curls at the juncture of her thighs. Her bra went below the swell of her breasts, cupping them high for him to see her bare peaked nipples. He licked his lips and grazed his fingers between her breasts then to skim along her flat stomach, where it twitched at his soft touch.

“I take, from your reaction, you like this particular gift?” As she pointed to the prominent bulge in his pants.

“Gods, yes. I like you in anything you wear, but this.....” he said as he leaned his head forward to kiss, then lick her stomach as he ran his hand up her thigh to skim her lace covered heat. He brought his hands around to her bottom to pull her to him as she sn hin his lap astride him. She arched her back as he left a wet trail of kisses up her mid-section to her exposed breasts where he flicked his tongue once over the hardened nipples then moved up to her neck. He slipped his hands along her collar bone to slide sideways, slipping the shirt down her arms. Then tangled his fingers in hair air to pull her down to kiss her hungrily. Then reluctantly pulled away.

“I believe we still have dessert.” He said hoarsely, trying to breath evenly again.

“Oh, yes. I believe you wanted me to feed you?” she asked suggestively.

At his nod, she leaned back to place the plate beside them, as he glided his hands along her thighs, feeling her shiver in response. She took a piece of strawberry, then brought it to his lips, where he took it into his mouth with her fingers to let his tongue swirl around them, as she let out a low moan and grinded her hips to his, wanting more.

“You can’t have strawberries without whipped cream or chocolate can you?” She smiled. “Which would you prefer?”

He looked into her heated eyes. “Whipped cream.”

She dipped her fingers into the whipped cream and brought it close to his mouth, then pulled them back as his tongue came out to flick the cream. She brought her fingers to her breasts, where shreadread the whipped cream on both her nipples.

She felt his erection twitch against her moist hat tat the sight of what she just did. He placed his hands at her back to pull her close as he wrapped his lips around the nipple sucking up the whipped cream, and running his tongue around the peak till he cleaned all the cream off. Hermione had brought her hands up to his head, as she tangled her fingers through his hair drawing him closer and grinding her hips against his. “Mrn.”rn.” She said as he pulled away.

She got up to lead him to the couch bringing the fruit with her. He put a raspberry in his mouth then brought his mouth down on hers where he swirled his tongue inside of hers as the raspberry slipped into her mouth. She pulled away licking her lips as she chewed the sweet berry.

“You have too many clothes on love.” She said as she ran her hands up under his shirt to help him pull it over his head. She leaned back as he undid his jeans then slipped them down his legs, then sat back down on the couch in his silk boxers, his arousal very evident.

She smiled as she dipped her fingers in the chocolate and smeared it onto his ringless nipple, taking her time as it hardened under her fingertips. She leaned down to swirl her tongue around the nipple then wrapped her lips around it, sucking it into her mouth.

His voice ragged with the unevenness of his breathing , “Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me Hermione?”

She smirked against his nipple before flicking it with her tongue. He groaned as he leaned his head back and raised his hips up to push into her breasts. He grabbed a handful of hair to keep her there as she licked all the chocolate off. He tugged lightly on her hair to pull her up to plunge his tongue into her hot mouth, tasting the melted chocolate on her lips.

“My turn.” He whispered as he traded places with her. sittsitting on the edge of the couch, with him between her legs. He leaned down to run his tongue along her stomach, slowly going downwards as his hands slipped into the sides of her panties to slowly draw them down her hips. She raised her hips as he pulled them down. He kissed and licked the edge of the nylons to slowly move upwards smelling her arousal. She moaned as she spread her legs farther for him.

He pulled back, then picked up a piece of strawberry where he took a small bite of it, letting the juices run down his fingers. Then he leaned down to her sex to rub the strawberry along her already wet folds and clit. Hermione looked down with glazed eyes as he rubbed it a bit harder along her clit. Then popped the strawberry into his mouth that had a taste of her still on it. He dipped his fingers into the whipped cream and followed the path of the strawberry.

“Please Draco.” She begged as she raised her hips tp him.

He brought his face down, smelling a mixture of strawberries, cream, and her, then touched the tip of his tongue along the length of her in long strokes. At her groans and the bucking of her hips, he wrapped his lips around her, and swirled his tongue along her inner lips, then up around her clit, not making direct contact with the swollen nub.

She grabbed fistfuls of his hair and pulled his mouth closer to her, where he obliged and wrapped his lips around her clit, sucking on it as his teeth grazed the edges of the sensitive flesh. He slid his hands he ihe insides of her thighs where he plunged two fingers into her repeatedly until he felt the muscles in her legs tense. He looked up to see her eyes closed and her head thrown back as shu shuddered in release, her inner walls contracting around his fingers and his tongue still touching her throbbing clit.

She pulled him up, where he layed on top of her and kissed him deeply. “No more fruit. I want you inside of me.” She begged, her voice hoarse from her moaning.

He slipped his boxers off and pulled her hips closer to the edge of the couch. He went on his knees and put the tip of his erection in her heat and slowly inched his way into her, watching as it went in deeper and deeper. He put his hands along her legs and glided up until he reached her hips to grasp them as his thrusts went hard and deep. He leaned down to take her nipple into his mouth and suckle on it as his thrusts started to quicken. He licked his way to her neck while her hands glided over his slick back.

Their moans and panting filled the room as they came closer and closer to release. He kissed her soft lips as his hand glided over her side and breasts. He left her lips to lick his way to her neck. He thrust hard and deep as he shuddered in release and cried out her name. At his release, his throbbing member inside of her, triggered her own climax as they both rode it through.

He looked up and brushed the damp tendrils of hair from the side of her face to look into her eyes. “I love you Hermione.” As he kissed her softly, breathlessly.

She pulled him close. “I love you too.” She whispered, her breathing ragged as she was coming down to earth again.