Claiming Hermione

“Please…”

The word swam in the small space below Hermione’s ear. All her attention was drawn down and focused on that tiny spot where his ragged breath beat against her skin. Where “please” swirled, tangible and drowning in the damp, hot air at the base of her neck.

Under her fingers, the tension in Draco’s back released. He was coming down. His breaths became longer, deeper, and hit her hard. She could feel the sweat on her forehead cooling.

Please… It was like a word in another language and she tried to remember what it meant, but couldn’t get there.

Draco lifted his head and a pair of full, crystal grey eyes met hers. In that instant everything changed. The soft blur of exhausted satisfaction, of finally achieving a kind of wholeness, the relief of a mystery solved – was gone.

Hermione’s heart threw itself against her chest. This Draco – this Draco with these eyes – looking down at her from too close a distance, was setting off a hundred alarms in her head. Everything contained in that please was written in his grey eyes.

Please don’t regret this.
Please don’t hurt me.
Please forgive me.
Please love me.

She wanted to flee.

**************************************************

Draco saw the panic in her wide amber eyes and his heart sank. Every step forward he’d made was being erased as he watched the wall go up between them. He thought, for a brief second, that there was something he could say to stop it. But something was choking him. There was a constricting feeling around his throat and nothing would come out.

Right. Okay. This is the way it was. He loved her. He loved Hermione Granger. And she didn’t love him back. Right.

Draco rolled off of her and they both lay on their backs staring at the ceiling.

An awkward silence poured over them, filling up the small spaces between them on the bed. Between their touching arms, their sweaty shoulders, and between his naked thigh and her hers.

Draco wanted her to leave. Or he wanted to trap her underneath him and never let her leave.

**************************************************

“Do you regret it?”

“No.”

Another length of silence stretched out between them while she considered her answer. She didn’t regret it. It was the most incredible thing she’d ever experienced. She thought she could actually feel her magic coursing through her. But then….

“It was…” she tried to think of how to describe it, “it was unbelievable.” A completely inadequate word. “Thank you.” Even more inadequate.

Draco closed his eyes and breathed slowly. His chest hurt. Badly.

Hermione sat up and hung her legs over the edge of the bed. She felt strange. Her mind was shutting down. It was as though it had reached maximum saturation. She couldn’t take anything else in. She couldn’t accept what she had seen. She was already forgetting it. She needed to get out there.

Draco opened his eyes and looked at her bare back, half covered by the crazy curls he hated. She was going to walk out now. She was going to get dressed, and walk out, and that would be it. He clenched his teeth and watched.

Still with her back to him, she picked up her skirt and stepped into it. He watched the small points of her shoulder blades emerge as she hooked her bra, and then sink back. And then she was buttoning her shirt. He watched her scan the floor for her knickers and give up.

She sat on the bed again to pull on her socks. And then she just sat there looking at her hands in her lap. A hundred and eighty million things that he wanted to say to her scattered through his mind, and not one – not one. God. damned. one – came out. All he could do was lay there with his hands behind his head.

She turned her head a little. She was biting her lower lip.

“I should go,” she said over her shoulder.

And she went.

And Draco stayed. He lay in his bed, unmoving, staring up at the ceiling and trying to remember to breathe.

**************************************************

Hermione stood outside the closed portrait door. She looked at the man in the painting with her brows furrowed and her mouth open, like there was something she wanted to say. He looked back at her with his brows also scrunched, waiting. A loud buzz in her mind smothered the thoughts that were trying to appear. And when she no longer remembered that she wanted to think anything at all, she turned and made her way to her room.

The halls were deserted and the clip of her shoes on the stones echoes off the walls. The wrinkle in her forehead might have given her the appearance of being deep in thought, but there was nothing other than the buzzing. She barely registered the breeze under her skirt, cooling the wetness on the insides of her thighs. She gave the password to her quarters automatically and walked straight to her bed. The only thing she removed was her shoes. She pulled down the blankets and crawled into her bed. One thought, only one, made it past the buzz:

She had sex with Draco. She was no longer a virgin.

**************************************************

Many hours later, in the blue light of early morning, Draco made a decision.

She wasn’t his and she never had been. Even when he was taking the one thing she would give him, she didn’t belong to him.

He wasn’t going to do anything. And he wasn’t going avoid her. He would just carry on the same as he always did. And it was going to be hell. But it was his hell and he deserved it. He deserved it for allowing this to happen. Hadn’t he known all along how impossible it was?

She had never asked him to love her. She didn’t even want him to hold her hand. That was not part of the deal.

**************************************************

After loosing the fight against the bright winter light streaming through her window, Hermione finally surrendered and opened her eyes. Her limbs were heavy and stuck to the mattress, refusing to move for a long time so that all she could do was stare blankly out that window and remember.

She remembered the uncomfortable anticipation of watching her breasts being exposed for the first time to another person, button by button. The back of her skirt being lifted, the elastic of her knickers stretched around her thighs. The way her nipples felt, tight and thrust out into the cool air. Being bent over. Being spanked. Doing what he told her to. Everything he told her to. God! Had she really done that? Her cheeks flushed as she remembered things he had done that she had never even considered. And the things he said.

She could still hear his voice in her head, right by her ear, low and quiet, and just like it had that night after Halloween, and just like it did last night, it went right to her core. Her fingers went to her bare pussy, tentatively at first, exploring, feeling the soreness, the satisfying ache. She pressed her fingers onto the puffy lips of her sex.

He was in her head again, whispering in her ear.

‘I’m going to fuck your pussy with my mouth, Granger.’

‘Do you like having your pussy full of cock, Granger?’

‘Come for me, Granger!’

She liked the way he called her Granger. Her fingers rubbed hard circles on her still sore clit. The pain was delicious and in mere moments she was coming, knees open and hips undulating, panting heavily in the quiet of her room.

How was she ever going to face him again?

**************************************************

There was nothing for it. She had to go. She had showered and dressed, flew through two chapters of the novel she was reading, folded every pair of knickers in her drawer by hand, and braided and unbraided her hair three times. And she was starving. She could go to the kitchens, or call Dobby, but she was a Gryffindor, and that just wouldn’t do.

The House tables in Great Hall were empty and for a second she thought she had missed lunch. But then a noise drew her eyes up to the front of the hall. The professors and the handful of students that had stayed at Hogwarts sat around the head table. Draco had his back to her and didn’t turn when Professor McGonagall motioned to her.

She adopted the most unaffected attitude she could manage and felt like she was walking to the guillotine. A lump formed in her throat as she approached the table. There was only one seat open. Of course.

Hermione said hello as brightly as she could to the table and climbed onto the bench next to Draco.

“Hi,” she said quietly, keeping her eyes on her plate. She felt him turn, so she looked at him and he held her gaze briefly.

“Hi,” he nodded and then turned back to his plate.

The three inches between their thighs on the bench felt like it was crackling with energy. Hermione tried to ignore the heat rising on her neck and was grateful when Professor McGonagall asked her how her NEWTS preparation was going and what her parents planned to do without her for the holidays.

**************************************************

Dinner was, unfortunately, a repeat of lunch. They all sat at the head table, joined this time by Dumbledore. Draco groaned internally when Dumbledore directed a timid third year girl to sit next to him, leaving the last seat open next to Granger, again. Draco wondered if that was by design, or mere coincidence, and suspected the former.

The headmaster tried to keep everyone in good spirits and there was a good deal of discussion among the younger students about what they were hoping to get for Christmas. Draco left as soon as was reasonable, saying that he had some studying he wanted to do.

He waited in their common room. It felt different now. Altered, maybe in some chemical or electrical way. The magic felt different. Or maybe it was just him.

Draco knew she would come. And so he waited with a book open to a paragraph that would never sink in no matter how many times he read it.

When she walked into the common room a little while later, she went straight to the cubbies and pulled out the graduation folio and took it to her desk. Draco watched her out of the corner of his eye as she bustled busily around the room. She made herself a cup of tea, made some notes in the folio, pulled a book off the shelf and read a bit, made some more notes, made another cup of tea, read, made notes and ignored him completely.

“I think it would be good if we worked out the details for graduation as early as possible,” she said as if she was speaking to no one in particular. “With NEWTS coming up in a few months we’ll want to be as prepared as we can be.” She clearly wasn’t looking for a response, so he gave her none.

Her casual dismissal of him – of everything – was making his blood boil. His hands trembled as he gripped his book hard. The muscle in his jaw was working as he tried to keep his breathing calm.

Yes, this was punishment. To be like this. Pretending everything was okay. That nothing significant had happened. Pretending that her indifference didn’t cut into him. It made him want to shake her hard – or kiss her hard. As long as it was hard.

She shelved her book and put the folio back in its place before packing up her bag.

Draco glared at her as she headed for the door, his fingers white against the edges of the book. The blasé “goodnight” she tossed out as she left him – again – pushed him over the edge.

A half-second later, the book slammed against the mantle, sending the vase of jasmine crashing to the hearth, drowned out by the roar of anguish that ripped from Draco’s throat as he sent the crystal ink well on his desk flying at the door she had just walked out of.



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This is going to be a long one peeps cause I have so much to say to you all!

First, FUCK! Thank you so much for all the incredible reviews! That last chapter was had me biting my nails when I posted it! And you guys got all lovey and told me things that I could sell for money. Okay, jk about that last part.

Now, I know this is a bit sad. And breakfast in bed would have been lovely. But then, the story would be over and Draco has so much more to “show” her. So hang in there, he’ll get his feet under him soon and then look out!

This chapter took a little longer than usual as I had some story planning to take care of. I plan to be back on a weekly updating schedule from now on.

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I have so much exciting news:

Trailer - A very talented young lady by the name of breenieweenie (waves to breenie) has made a KICK ASS TRAILER for Claiming Hermione! How freaking awesome is that? Go check it out and be sure to leave her some love - she SO deserves it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEYu7N7Vrzs


The Quibbler Awards - Claiming Hermione has been nominated in The Quibbler Awards for Best Fanon and Best Chemistry! There are a ton of great stories nominated there and you all should definitely check them out. Voting is on August 26th. A big fat thank you to SoftObsidian74 for the nomination. If you aren't reading her "Bound By Duty" you should be.

The Quibbler Awards: http://quibbler.this-paradise.com/?page_id=15


Smutastic Awards! Check out this Live Journal community and soon you'll be able to nominate your favorite smutty stories, chapters and scenes and give those steamy minds the love they deserve!

http://community.livejournal.com/smutastic_award


The New Library's First Time Fest - Check out this Live Journal community where authors are getting their cherries popped as they take on assignments for things they've never tried before.

http://community.livejournal.com/tnl_first_time/


And last but not least, a title-inspired drabble challenge at the new dmhg challenge community. I'll keep you posted on as details get nailed down

http://community.livejournal.com/dmhg_challenge/

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And now my love for you…..

To: Beandip, Tam, leValkyrie, OliversBludger, Smurphy, Crescentmoon, Liz, LittleMissPrincess, staycie, angeles, K B Lynne, Anon, Mrs.Malfoy, OCHIT, Aisukurimu Keki, Julia, MidnighTemptation, Claire, Phoenix2000….

Liked it did ya? * amused Draco-esque smirk* Thank you all so much! I hope you liked this last chapter to (though not in the same way, obviously ☺ )


Laur
LOL @ rocked socks! Oh that made me laugh. Thanks!

J.Bell
Oh grammar, how I love thee… Actually, it’s atrocious. But I finally have a beta! Two, for that matter, so hopefully it gets better. Though, many things I do on purpose! * wink *

Glowing Ember
Had to jump the hubby, huh? (Me too!) Tell him I said, “You’re welcome.” Cupcakes can be mailed to me directly! LOL!

Snapes_Goddess
Your happiness TOTALLY matters! Hello! And I am VERY glad that you are happy! Thanks!

luv2cusmile
Awww, so sorry you got interrupted! What bad timing! Pretty sure I saw that you did get to eventually spend some * quality * time with it. Thanks for all the love! ☺

Dreamweaver
It is funny how we do that Draco. Like any 17 year would know shit like that! Ah, but it’s fiction, hurrah! I’m glad you liked his human side too. He knows what to do with his body (and with hers!) but he’s a little less sure of his heart. And now hers as well. * sigh * Thank you so much!

Ceri
“beautiful and intimate moment between the two characters that I feel as though I should look away from the images you depicted.” That was very touching and really beautifully said. Thank you! I hope you aren’t too disappointed that the afterglow wasn’t – well, wasn’t at all. They have a ways to go before they get there. But it will be a sexy, if maybe angsty ride. I’m so happy you chose to leave a review and I encourage you to do it more! Authors really need the encouragement. It can be very vulnerable to put all this stuff out there for everyone to read. Thank you!

ItalianBeauty
Well, I’m glad you didn’t get squicked too much and that you enjoyed it. Yes, you are lucky to not have had to wait for each chapter…but I’ve got you now, MUWAHAHAHA! ☺

kazfeist
I just can’t stop smiling! I was just telling my husband how you were the first person to ever contact me about the story! I’m so thrilled that you’re going to beta this!! Thank you a million times!

scarletwitchextreme
LOL @ the tension was enough to blow up a hippogriff. So you liked it then? :P

HarryGinny4eva
Sorry that the whole crossing fingers didn’t really work out. But I’ll make up for it! ☺

demonmiko
oooh sophisticated yet raw. I freakin love that! Thanks! CG is Coloured Grey: http://colouredgrey.contraveritas.com. It is a fanfiction archive. Very good! So is Granger Enchanted: http://www.grangerenchanted.com. Let me know which stories you end up reading and liking. I’m terribly curious! ☺

Starrynite45
Thanks darlin’! Dirty talking holds a special place in my heart. Glad you liked it too!

gabby1234
Hi gabby! Man, I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve “talked” to you guys – all the regular reviewers! I miss you! LOL! I’m glad you liked it. I love the mirror thing. He’s such a sadistic bastard! Yum! And I know it’s a bit sad now, but he’ll back and it will be good! Thanks for the kind words!

sugypunk
Property of Draco Malfoy. He wishes. It wasn’t really meant to be like joke – funny, but if it made you smile that’s good! ☺

Wildcatcdc
Squeee! The queen of sex liked it! Yeah, I love an out of control Draco too. It rocks when the very controlled person loses it. Thank you for the rockin’ review. I’m glad it didn’t disappoint!

DrpnBlood4U
I’m really glad that you liked it even if some of the kinks didn’t do it for you. I guess it’s a good thing we have warnings so we don’t wander into anything that would traumatize us! LOL! That happened to me once and I still shudder about it. Windows, huh? * smirk *

Breenieweenie
OMFG BACK! YOUR TRAILER ROCKS THE HOUSE! I’M GOING TO WRITE THIS IN ALL CAPS SO EVERYONE RUNS OVER AND CHECKS OUT YOUR AMAZING WORK! Really, I can’t thank you enough! Run, people, don’t walk, and see what this incredible woman did!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEYu7N7Vrzs

Pickles
We’ll get more steamy sex soon, I promise! LOL @ dark kinky sex fantasies. Am I so far gone that I don’t think of them as dark? * shakes head and sighs *

SoftObsidian74
Oh no you didn’t! LMAO! ((((hugs – after you wash your hands))))

Margot Le Faye
Oooh, I remember you! The shame about taking that down was that I lost all the reviews too. But you’re back! And the original is still up over at restrictedsection.org. Not sure if it has the aftermath in it, but the one-shot is there! There have been changes indeed, and if you do go read it, I’d love to hear what you think about that. It was an interesting experience going from a self-contained little story to a much larger story. So, yeah…
As for the ending, other than what you just read, it develops on its own from here and will come a resolution – an actual ending, if you will! Great to hear from you! Thank you!

Himitsu
“They’re both so wonderfully vulnerable that in between the carnal love making, they are downright sweet with each other” Aww, you’re right. I love the way you put that. And I love that you are loving this so much! Thanks!

smartgirl13w
“possible outcomes to soggy situations” That’s like a piece of poetry! “dulls the ache of suspense” really – do you write? That was beautiful! Thank you! * goes to check out your blog *

flidaisus
Ever since I read your review, I’ve been thinking about this. I’d love to tell you that I have a concrete answer. When I began this adventure, I thought it would be largely smut and so, bring on the ropes, but as I get more into it, it’s really become more about the relationship between the characters. I’m hesitant to remove any of the warnings since this isn’t entirely vanilla making love. I think what I can say safely is there will be light play throughout, and the concept of submission will be repeated. I also want to say that I am THRILLED that you would continue to read it even if it doesn’t go all the way there. Come find me on live journal or leave me a message here if there is a particular kink you are interested in. I’m not promising, and I don’t want to open the door for wish list from everyone (tangent – if you haven’t checked out Bound By Duty or Out of Control, and you want BDSM, go NOW!), but I am actually kinda curious here… * wink * Thank you so much for the thoughtful review and questions!

Pipa
Hi!

Ero Sennin
Loved the sparkly confetti – I think we need at the graduation, whaddya think? Thanks about the nomination! So does that mean you are going to vote on Tuesday? ;P
Where do you post? LOL! I have a hard time thinking of myself as intimidating. * you should hear how incredibly insecure I am – no, you shouldn’t. I don’t want to ruin the fantasy! You read Soft’s stories? You have excellent taste. I’d love to read some of your stuff. * goes off to find you and stalk you * ……. Oooh, very clever, your moniker makes you hard to track! Sneaky devil. Well, I would like to read your stuff, even if I have no clue about the characters. Point me? ☺


Thank you again to all of you! You SO make this worth all the hard work!
Love, ilke