Tease

Preparations

Hermione was too busy directing people to think about Draco. At least, that's what she kept telling herself. There were only five days left until the ball, the biggest event that every 7th year was looking forward to. She had already wasted numerous hours yesterday with Draco. Not that she really minded...

Focus!

The large walls were being draped with shimmering fabrics representing each house. Blocks of wood were firmly fixed to one another, creating a stage for the band.

Being focused was a little hard to do, considering that Malfoy was strutting about the hall with his robes off. Hermione grumbled at the sight of his crisp white shirt hinting at the long torso. Is having that many buttons off allowed?

He just happened to turn toward her then and smirked at the prominent blush creeping down her face. The heat grew even more unbearable and she wished she could walk around as nonchalantly in her clothes. But he already seemed to be mentally stripping her. Without her robe, she shuddered as to how much of the act would remain in his brain.

Fortunately, a sufficient distraction presented itself. She spotted a box of green liquid sloshing about and turned around in disgust. Large containers of food and drink were floating towards storage.

"What is this?"

"Read the label"

Hermione whirled around to see Draco standing right behind her. She automatically clasped her chest in surprise. Where did he come from?

He moved to the side and inspected the writing. "It's punch"

"Punch?"

It looked like it belonged in a potion, not a drink. She tentatively lifted the lid and wrinkled her nose at it. When she looked to Draco for mutual horror, he was looking amusedly at her.

"It's magical punch. Muggles don't quite have the taste for it," he said haughtily.

Hermione glared. His implication did not escape her and she'd be damned if she didn't pour the whole box down her throat.

Turning her nose up, she conjured a glass and dipped into the mixture. Draco's lips curled up slightly. The herb used in the drink was one that took getting used to. Since it wasn't found in the muggle world, she had undoubtedly never consumed it. But if she was so determined to drink it, who was he to stop her?

If Hermione hadn't been so concerned about pride, she would have wisely held her nose or sipped it slowly. But she practically chugged it and choked. Tears were brimming her eyes and she coughed uncontrollably. Malfoy was valiantly covering a laugh beside her.

"How was it?"

"Fine," she gritted her teeth. He grinned.

"We have two more drink selections if you want to test those as well," he gestured toward to more boxes. She eyed him suspiciously but felt better when she saw a pink liquid instead of green or blue.

"Maybe I will"

In the store, she remembered, she had selected this one. "Do you want to try it as well? I liked the sample a lot"

But he had already smelt the apple pie and edged toward it. She rolled her eyes and dipped into the fizzy drink. The sweet flavor cooled over her tongue and something else-

"What the hell? It has firewhiskey!"

She spat it back into the cup. Draco looked up suddenly.

"Really? Let me try"

"No!" She held the cup away. "Firewhiskey is not allowed in student quarters. I don't know how it got in here," she frowned.

"That doesn't matter," he dismissed, stepping toward the carton. But she slammed the lid shut.

He scowled down at her, then broke into a smile. Hermione nervously watched his grey eyes twinkle. Following his line of sight, she could see her skirt hanging low on her hip. The same hip was prodding against him whilst she held him away from the firewhiskey.

His hand lifted to stroke her skin and she closed her eyes against the images rushing past her. She felt his breath more insistent against her and knew he was leaning in. Breathless, she tilted her head up.

"Eh-hem," a loud cough sounded in the hall. "Everything going well?"

They sprung apart to see Dumbledore standing in front of them.

"Yes, Professor," Hermione nodded affably.

"Perfect," Draco said with a blatantly annoyed look.

"Here is the inventory of all the food and drinks we have received," Hermione rushed to grab a pile of papers. She led Dumbledore to the storage area.

"One of the drinks - there has been a mistake," her voice trailed off when she walked farther away.

Draco's lips twitched at her honesty, but stopped short when she briefly looked back. She paused then blew him a perfectly coy kiss.

Bookworm my ass


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Hermione stepped through the portrait door, she immediately burst out laughing. Draco was in front of the mirror--twirling.
He dropped the smoky robes he was holding and glared at her. Hermione pressed a hand onto her stomach, clutching the pain that was building.

"W-what were you doing?"

"Getting ready for the ball," he muttered. She dissolved into another round of laughter.

"Are you going to get your hair done too?"

He gathered the pool of grey and black and did his best to stare down her down. Turning back to the mirror, he did not look the least bit feminine. Hermione reluctantly admitted it and enjoyed the way his muscles moved and rippled.

"Which color suits me best?"

Ok - if he didn't look the way he did, she would seriously reconsider his sexuality.

"Didn't you already buy your robes?"

"I couldn't decide between these, so I bought them both"

Her mouth wordlessly opened. Those robes had cost more than a house. Her house, to be specific. And her parents were dentists.

"Maybe I should have bought the green one," he considered.

Hermione stared. The invitations to the ball were lying unfinished (actually not even started) on the table and he was worried about his clothes?

"You're so frustrating," she rolled her eyes.

Draco looked at her in the reflection, bemusedly.

She glanced up after a second, in time to see him scoop her up to a stand. Startled by his sneaky move, a small squeal sounded in her throat. He cradled her against him, taking a slow sweep of her ear's shell with his tongue. "I can help with that"

Totally unfocused, she had no idea what he was saying. But it sounded good.

So good

Her hands desperately held onto his shoulders as he kissed her, forcing her to dig her heels into the ground.

It felt so light. She was so light.

And burning up so rapidly that she would fall

Right deep down

Into him.