Claiming Hermione

Hermione was holding her breath. Please kiss me. Kiss me now, quick, before it’s too late!

But it was already too late. The danger of thoughts like that was immediately obvious and had to be put to an end. Hermione would not allow herself to become one of the countless girls who swooned over Draco Malfoy. She didn’t respect those girls and she wouldn’t be able to respect herself if she behaved that way. She would not spend her time strategically planning her days to maximize the chance of running into him. She would not become someone who spent their time wishing, hoping, praying that the great blond prat would kiss her or even just smile at her.

Draco smiled.

Hermione’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, I’m sure this is very familiar to you. You’ve probably been in this position thousands of times,” she bit out cruelly.

As soon as she said it she regretted it. The bitterness in her voice surprised her and she wasn’t sure where it had come from. Above her, the small smile on Draco’s face was replaced with nothing. Blankness.

For a moment he just looked in her eyes, and then quickly popped up off of her to stand up. He pulled her up too, grabbed her grey cap and handed it her, and then turned his back on her. Hermione looked nervously at the back of his head as she brushed the snow off her cloak and replaced her hat.

“We should head back,” he said tonelessly without turning around.

“Alright,” Hermione replied softly, and they turned down the long road leading back to Hogsmeade.

The walk back was silent and tense. Hermione’s forehead creased as she tried to get an apology past the knot in her stomach, and then past the lump in her throat. It was very unlike her to be mean like that and the guilt was laying on her heavily.

Draco’s eyes were fixed on a snow-capped hill far in the distance, his mouth set in a tight line. Glancing cautiously at him, she watched a tiny muscle pulse at his jaw.

Ahead of them, she could see the low, broken-down fence they’d been following come to an end, and the first of the shops that marked their return to the high road. She was running out of time.

“Draco… I’m s – ”

“Six,” he said still looking off in the distance.

“What?” she asked a little startled.

“Besides you, I’ve slept with six other girls.”

Hermione’s mind spluttered and she walked with her mouth opening and closing dumbly. And then, to her continued shock, Draco lifted his hand and counted them off.

“Pansy, Kaitlin Trivita, Nadine Liska, Parvati Patil, Victoria Delamarre, and Daphne Greengrass.”

While she was trying to figure how she was supposed to feel about this information, the categorizing, analytical machine that was known as Hermione Granger’s mind jumped into action. Four seventh years, two sixth years. Two with dark hair, one blonde, and two brunettes, and one sort-of red head. All with straight hair, most were tall, Pansy was the shortest. Two Ravenclaws, two Slytherins, a Hufflepuff, and a….

Her head turned sharply to face him. “You…you’ve slept with a Gryffindor?”

The corner of Draco’s mouth twitched into a small smirk. “I’ve slept with two Gryffindors, Granger,” he said giving her a meaningful look.

Hermione dropped her eyes and blushed.

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

As the snow crunched under their feet, they were both quiet again and after a while, Hermione let her mind wander away from the fluttering in her stomach she felt whenever their arms brushed accidentally.

When they walked past Zonko’s again, Hermione wondered what Ron and Harry were doing right now. Probably hiding up in Ron’s room over a game of Wizard’s Chess while the rest of the house was a flurry of activity. Ginny would, of course, be helping her mother and wishing she were with Harry. The twins would be shooting each other covert glances, anticipating the revelation of their next clever prank. Knowing better than everyone else, Bill and Charlie would have found a way to make themselves scarce. Percy…who knows. And Arthur, poor Arthur, would be doing whatever his busy and frantic wife needed. You’d have to be blind not to see how much that man adored his wife.

Hermione shook her head. She loved the Weasleys. Sometimes she thought her feelings toward Ron might have been misplaced affection for his family. Whenever she sat down at their old wooden table – with the cacophony of voices, laughter, and shouts, and the sea of long reaching arms and freckled noses, and the warmth of the kitchen and scratchy sweaters – she felt full and content in a way she’d never felt anywhere else.

She looked over at Draco, lost in his thoughts just as she was lost in hers. She was like him. The only child in a small family. Her parents weren’t really a part of her life in the magical world, and his, well…his weren’t either.

“Draco,” she said as they neared the castle gate. “When you’re an Auror, what will you do with your family’s business?” Hermione turned her head to look at him.

“Who said I was going to be an Auror?” he replied in an uninterested tone.

“But, you said –”

He sighed. “Granger, are you really that naïve? Do you really think that the Ministry is going to let the son of a Death Eater be an Auror?”

Hermione’s frown matched Draco’s scowl.

“But, you’re talented and you’re clever and I know you’d be brilliant, and if you just told them that you – ”

“That I what? That I’m really a good guy? I’m a Malfoy, Granger! That’s all those Ministry pricks care about. They’d probably use my application to wipe their asses.”

“But, Dumbledore – ”

Draco stopped and turned sharply. “Drop it, Granger.”

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

Hermione couldn’t drop it.

All through the small, lavish Christmas feast she thought about it. And afterwards, alone in her room, it continued to unsettle her. If she was being naïve, so be it. If she was being idealistic, good. Someone had to be. What was life without ideals to strive towards?

Draco was incredibly smart, handled his wand beautifully, was quick and able-bodied, and her experience of him as Head Boy made it fairly obvious that he had excellent judgment, especially when it came to people. She could easily see him being a top Auror. It rankled her to think that he wouldn’t pursue it just because of what he thought others assumed about him. Yes, history and his name were against him. Yes, he would have to fight harder to gain people’s trust. But the alternative, a life of regret, of not reaching for your desires, was unthinkable.

She rubbed her finger over the small wrapped box in her pocket and quickened her pace down the dark, empty halls.

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

Draco sat in a large leather chair by the fire in his room, a book that he wasn’t reading lay open in his lap. Staring into the orange glowing flames, Draco thought about the day. About Christmas. A small pile of presents lay on the hearth. A small Muggle book of fables that he was pretty sure came from the Headmaster. A man’s onyx ring with an ornate “B” engraved on either side of the stone, and a short but kind letter from a grandmother he hadn’t seen since he was a small child. And a strange green scarf with a “D” knit into one end, sat once again in the unmarked box it had come in.

Draco hadn’t been home for the holidays in a number of years, but even so, Christmas without his mother was harder than he had expected. When he woke up that morning he had almost forgot that she was gone and looked for the large pile of gifts she always sent. But the three presents at the foot of his bed underscored reality in a way that was almost unbearable. Narcissa Malfoy always had overdone it with the gifts, and truth be known, it was the long letter he always got from her on Christmas that he really looked forward to. For some reason, her letters on this holiday were always a bit warmer, or maybe more free, than her other letters and he held them closest to his heart.

When Granger asked him to go to Hogsmeade and he agreed, it was as much for the distraction from his brooding thoughts, as it was because the warmth in her eyes reminded him of the warmth of his mother’s letters. And because he was glutton for punishment, and as much as he knew he should stay away from her, he just couldn’t. So, even as nothing more than…whatever they were, he went. And honestly, he had enjoyed himself, with the exception of wanting to absorb her into his very soul every fucking minute.

Draco’s eyes snapped to his door and the gentle rapping against it. In a smooth motion he stood, threw the book onto the vacated chair, and crossed the room to open the door.

His stomach twisted painfully at the sight of her standing in his doorway. Again. But after her biting words today in the snow, he wouldn’t delude himself with the hope that she was here for the reasons he wanted her to be. He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms protectively over his chest, tucking his hands under his arms.

She looked at her feet for a second and bit her pink lip, drawing Draco’s eyes to her mouth. He groaned silently and pushed down the tiny well of anger her felt towards her just for being here. For flaunting what he wanted and couldn’t have again. Suddenly she pulled something out of her pocket and thrust it towards him. Draco straightened and stared at the little box, his hand hesitantly coming out to accept the offering.

“Are you going to propose, Granger?” he said dryly. She smiled.

“Happy Christmas, Draco,” she said softly.

She was giving him a present.

Draco just stared at the box, his heart aching and confused. Did it hurt or was it wonderful?

“Aren’t you going to open it? Christmas will be over soon.”

Draco took a deep breath. No matter how he felt about the witch, it was nice to get a gift from a real person. He would just focus on that. He carefully unwrapped it and opened the silver box, pulling out a little velvet pouch. He tucked the paper and box into his trouser pocket and emptied the pouch into his palm.

A little silver ball on a chain. No. It was snitch. A tiny snitch. When he held the ball between his fingers miniscule translucent wings fluttered slowly, just like a real snitch. It was marvelous.

Draco smiled. But then he frowned. Her best friend always beat him in Quidditch. He looked up at her, the question plainly written on his face.

She seemed a little nervous, but lifted her chin. “You’re a seeker, Draco,” she said firmly and Draco continued to stare questioningly at her.

“You’re a great seeker. And seekers go after what they want and don’t let anything get in their way. It’s...it’s just because you shouldn’t let anything stop you from going after what you want.”

“And…,” she looked at the floor again, and then lifted her head, her cheeks tinged pink. “And, because I believe in you.”

Draco’s heart thumped. It did hurt. And it was wonderful.

He knew she was talking about the Aurorship. Her needling about it earlier had frustrated him. He didn’t think he could handle another disappointment in his life. But here she was, believing in him. A part of him wanted to hate her for it, to tell her that he didn’t need her to believe in him. But another part of him wanted to pull her to him and envelop her and make her always believe in him.

And he couldn’t do either.

But then another part of him spoke up. The part of him that was desperate for an ally, desperate to finally have someone on his side, cheering him on. And he was filled with gratitude.

Draco leaned over and kissed Hermione on the cheek, like he’d seen Potter do, like a friend would do, after receiving a thoughtful gift.

“Thank you,” he said softly in her ear. And he stayed there a moment, breathing in the scent of her, like a man who loved her would do.

A man who could do nothing else because she didn’t want him to.

He straightened to find her looking at her feet again and his brows came together in bewilderment as he watched a pink stain bloom on her neck and run up to her cheeks. She was breathing faster and then her head shot up and her eyes were wide and scared. Draco was caught off guard by the sudden change, by the signs he thought he recognized. And then she was mumbling “You’re welcome” and scurrying away, leaving Draco standing in his doorway with his heart thumping hopefully in his chest.

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

Hermione stabbed at a chunk of potato repeatedly and tried to control her breathing. Draco’s thigh was pressed up against hers as he reached for a roll. If she kept her eyes down, she hoped maybe no one would notice her problem. In any case she was about to burn a hole through her plate, and maybe the table, and maybe the floor too.

Hiding her reaction to Draco’s closeness was becoming difficult. Each time he brushed up against her, her body would tingle. Yesterday when he lay on top of her in the snow, she fought to keep her hips from rotating up to meet his. And last night, God, last night when she felt his warm lips on her face and then his soft breath on her neck, she thought she would burn up in a blazing inferno. And he had barely touched her.

But her body remembered. It remembered every moment of when he had touched every part of her. And it wanted to feel that way again. Desperately. Which she absolutely couldn’t allow. If Draco Malfoy knew that she ached for him to touch her again, he would have power over her. He would be able to crush her.

So she concentrated on breathing in and out, instead of how the bare skin of his forearm felt so silky, sliding across her wrist as he pulled his arm back from the center of the table.

In and out. In and out.

“Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy,” Hermione jumped a little at the intrusion of the Headmaster’s voice, “if you have time today, I was wondering if the both of you could meet me in my office after breakfast. I could use your assistance with a small matter.”

“Yes, Sir,” they both said at once and then looked at each other. Hermione immediately dropped her eyes back to her attempt at burning a hole through her plate.

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

Hermione’s mind and Hermione’s body were fighting an epic battle. As she and Draco made their way to the Headmaster’s office, she struggled with each step to neither run from him, nor throw herself against him.

Her steps felt uneven and difficult, and her ability to appear unaffected had abandoned her. She thought, if she could just stay a step in front of him, then he wouldn’t know and she would be safe.

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

Draco felt like an animal in a mating ritual. He would come close and the female would move away. But the female blushed, and beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, and her eyes glazed in an invitation. So, he would move in again, only to have her move away. It was making him crazy.

Draco lengthened his stride to keep up with her. She was walking fast. The hem at the back of her skirt flapping to the quick rhythm of her steps. The backs of her knees calling to him as they creased and unfolded. His fingers itched with the urge to grab her and end the relentless dance, but she stayed just out of reach.

When they arrived at the gargoyle that marked that entrance to the spiral staircase leading to Dumbledore’s office, Hermione rushed out the password and climbed two steps before he caught up. Draco stepped in behind her and the stones began their slow grinding twist upwards.

Enclosed in the narrow column of stone with her, time seemed to slow down, and their heavy breaths echoed off the walls. Draco stood inches behind her, the pink blotchy pattern on her neck clearly visible where her curls had been pulled back. The evidence of her desire – last night, at breakfast, here, now – destroyed the last of his control, and his heart beat wildly as his palm wrapped around her hip and then slid slowly to her belly.

He felt her breath hitch beneath his open palm and he pulled her back into him. Draco’s body soared as she let out a small whimpering sound and her back pressed into his chest. Yes. She did want him. Her head fell back on his shoulder, exposing her neck, and he lowered his mouth to her hot skin.

God.

Their destination, getting closer as the ground moved, was pushed to the back of Draco’s mind as his lips and tongue moved up, in slow, wet sucks, from the base of her neck to just below her ear. She moaned again and the sound went straight to his cock.

“Granger…” he growled in her ear and traced the shell with the tip of his tongue. He felt her melt into him and he pulled her tighter and ground his hardening cock against her ass.

“Granger,” he said again.

There was a small jolt as the stairs slid into place at the top of the column, and she pulled away from him quickly. Draco dropped his head and shut his eyes, defeated by time and circumstance. He took a couple deep breaths to steady him as the stone wall slid open and he watched Hermione rush through.

Damn it.





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* waves * Hello wonderful readers and reviewers! Thank you to everyone for making this such a joy to write. You keep me very motivated! I hope you liked this chapter. Another cliff hanger, I know. *hides* Hopefully, you won't be too mad, and I will make it up to you....

crissy
Isn’t the video fantastic! * happy sigh * Glad you liked it!

RussianRouletteKiss
* hands you a tall glass of cold water * ☺

DrpnBlood4U
Hey you. I’m not sure that they will get caught, but the danger of the possibility is intriguing for sure. Thanks for reviewing!!


Wildcatcdc
I know. Hermione is so…blind. No snow lovins, I’m afraid, but we might have something coming up that could be better, if not warmer. ☺

smurphy
… and then she had to go and ruin it all.

kittycat30
YAY for naughty romps in the snow! Too bad she fucked that one up. She doesn’t know what she is missing.

Breenieweenie
Awww, thanks luv! I’m a big fan of your too! Did you check out smutastic awards? It’s an awesome community. Nominations for hot hp smut is coming up soon, so start bookmarking your favorite hot fics! ☺

SoftObsidian74
I’m glad you were able to relate to Hermione a little more last chapter. I hope this chapter furthered that along in revealing some of her thinking. That’s her problem, isn’t it? Thinking. If she could get to the feelings and then find her courage…well, the story would be over. lol. Thank you again for your encouragement. I thought your comments on GE about Parvati was interesting and I may have to explore that a bit. I wonder if Hermione could have an ally there. Must be hard to not talk to anyone about it…. * thinking *

Dynonugget
* hands you a tissue to wipe up the drool* Thank you dyno – for everything! (((((( dyno )))))))

gabby1234
Yay to warm candy and falling in love. Thanks lady!

PotterEntourage
"STICK IT IN ALREADY!"
LMAO! Thanks luv!


LennaNightrunner
“post-sex awkwardness of doom to little signs of affection and sentimentality” What a lovely and funny way to put that! (((hugs))))

crescentmoon
Thanks cm! ☺

JKRsunkmyship
SQUEEE @ you checking obsessively! * wiggle wiggle happy wiggle * Thank you!

distinctlyME
Oh man! Just reading your description of your mushy mood is making me mushy too! I loves it! I loves it! I loves it!

Love is hard to explain isn’t it? I think maybe love as whole can’t really be described (at least I don’t think I could do it.) Where did I hear this? “There is not love. Only the evidence of love.” My husband is the sentimental sort who does strange little silly things to show love. He once picked up a decorator’s fabric swatch off the street and on the backing piece drew a picture of a fish dancing on stage with a star. The fabric opens like curtains to the scene. On the back it says something like, see the impossible is possible. I love you. * super swoon * I made no sense, but it was fantastic. He also taped a piece of paper to the top on my recipe box that says You Are My Favorite. LOL. See you have me being all mushy. * shakes it off * What was I saying? I’m glad you don’t see them giving in so easily. They won’t. But it’ll be a journey getting there. And I might just have to write a rainy scene for you. But it’s still winter, so it’ll be a few months. ☺

kinkyismyname
Thanks! I hope that was fast enough for you. ☺

Liz
Well, it wasn’t right after the snowball fight, but something is definitely developing…

Dreamweaver
Thank you Weasley Home School Legimency Lessons. Ha ha ha! You’re funny! What IS book two??? LMAO.

Rainaangel
* hides * sorry. But, but, but… I’m really glad you liked the last chapter! Hope this one was good for you too. Stay tuned… ☺ Thank you for reviewing!

bLondpierogi
Magic? Things would certainly be different. I wouldn’t go in for the robes though. I can’t imagine a Draco who’s body was hidden all the time. ☹ lol. Thank you!

jeevi
lol @ every half hour. That’s probably not going to happen. I’m not a magician. * snort * I’m thrilled you liked it so much. I update about once a week to two weeks. Thank you for reviewing. I hope you like the rest too! Let me know!

wishyouwere
yay! You’re hooked! Makes me happy! Thank you for letting me know you liked it.

tootsie
Thanks ticca! Glad you like where this is going. ☺

Ero Sennin
Never had a snowball fight? Get thee to a mountain woman! Love the idea of Draco as “smitten”. Yes, he is rather smitten, albeit frustrated as hell, isn’t he. I think Hermione’s courage is buried under Hogwarts A History.

Celeb guess: Johnny Depp?

scarletwitchextreme
lol @ smut lemon. That requires a graphic I think. * opens photoshop * Yes. Yes. Yes. Torture. Yum. You did see the BDSM warning right? Oh, you thought that was for the characters? * evil cackle *

kazfeist
(((((((((( you rock )))))))))

Mrs.Malfoy
Oh I dare! I dare! I’m an asshole like that. ☺ lol. Thank you!

ochit
* points to above statement * I am sorry though if I mislead you on the chapter length bit. The sex was rather long. Really long. But the rest typical for me. If I wrote them longer, it would be a lot longer between updates, and I wouldn’t have such delicious spots to leave you hanging in! ☺

Himitsu
Oooh gold star for you! * sticks it to your forehead * For Hermione she has made the transition to Draco, though as you said, she doesn’t seem to realize the signifigance of that. Draco only gets there when it’s heart talking and his head is out of the picture. Hopefully he will keep calling her Granger most of the time. She likes it. And so do I. * wink * I wonder what she will call him in front of her friends when they return…

Oooh you’re in socal. My old home. I heart socal.

Laur
Ha ha ha! Only 10? * grabs the paper cup and misses mouth completely * Thanks!

Phoenix2000
I hope this chapter helped uncover Hermione’s state of mind a bit. Shock in the beginning, yes, but now she is just… Hermione. Thank you so much for reviewing. Can’t wait to hear what you think of this one. ☺

yeniferr
* blinks * Well. So. Is this like a love/hate relationship? Lol.

13Secrets
Love the new name! What * are * the 13 secrets?
lol@ impatience? Itchiness? Harry is tough. Good luck with that. I really like SoftObsidian74’s (Bound By Duty) characterization of him.

kismet510
YAY! That’s awesome to hear! Incorporating the smut into this was a bit of a challenge, mostly because the “story” didn’t exist when I originally wrote it. But I’m glad you liked it so much! Woooo hooo! ☺

hopefaithlifelove
Thanks! Glad you are enjoying it!

ichi.ruki
ichiiiiiii! I love that you pick up on the funny. LOVE IT! lmao @ whorezilla! I need some ice cream now. With toppings.

Scary Bear Hair
What a great word “seared” is. I’m so happy you are reading this! * big grin * Thanks!


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Thank you again everyone! Let me know what, if, how you liked it! :)