One Fine Line

Disclaimer: I don\'t own any of it, please don\'t sue. I make no money from this

A/N: Thank you, Brf526 for pointing out that I had some errors. I appreciate the heads up:) I think I fixed most of them, I\'ve been battling with some formatting issues >.<

I like reviews! It helps me as a writer, so please review if you can, just remember to be constructive about it :)

Here\'s the next chapter. One advantage of being sick...lots of time to write :P

UPDATE /27
After xXDraco is 4 LOVERSXx review, I took the big, glaring plot hole into consideration, and decided to just erase Snape from the picture. I had an idea that came to replace what I was originally planning on writing, so hopefully that will fit better into the plot line (it will show up in the next chapter). Thanks for kicking my butt in gear, xXDraco is 4 LOVERSXx! ~_^

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Chapter 3

As the sun crept over the horizon, shooting crimson rays of light across the placid landscape, Hermione drooped in a stiff wooden chair next to her window. After she had returned from her night patrol, she had collapsed into bed and willed slumber to take her. Much to her chagrin, she had awoken a few ours later, gasping for breath as sweat trickled down her cheeks. She hadn’t trusted herself to sleep after that.

Every time she closed her eyes, she was haunted with flashes of what had awoken her.

..his creamy, flawless skin that was tautly stretched over lean muscles…his piercing grey eyes that smouldered with pure, unadulterated passion as he gazed at her hungrily…

Those lips…

Hermione’s skin still hummed with the memory of the warmth of his hands on her body. Her eyes drifted closed as she slipped into her dream once again.

She had stood in the middle of her room as she assessed her choice of a sleep shirt. Deciding that it would do, she moved to remove her pale pink bra but froze when she heard a resounding crash from her doorway.

She quivered as she remembered turning to see him burst through her door. He radiated with passion and need as he threw his cloak to the ground and advanced on her. A small yelp escaped her lips as she scrambled to cover her chest with her shirt. He snatched the bothersome garment from her hands and tossed it to the floor before he pulled her to him.

She couldn’t speak; she couldn’t mutter a single word. For once in her life, she was stunned into silence.

He smirked, “I always wondered what it would be like to see you speechless.”

Before she could reply, his had crushed his lips against hers in a bruising kiss. His fingers roughly seized her chestnut curls as he attempted to claim more of her mouth. He ran his tongue over her bottom lip as if asking for permission. Her mind reeled as her traitorous body came to life under his touch. Her lips parted for him and he wasted no time. He gripped her hair once more as he deepened their kiss, allowing his tongue to sweep teasingly over hers, as if alluding to something far more pleasurable. He smiled against her lips before pulling away, only to drop his head to her neck where he nipped at the tender skin below her ear.

An involuntary moan escaped her as she gripped his shoulders for balance. Craning her neck to allow him better access, she eased against him. Her mind had lost the battle of common sense and her body took over, relishing in intoxicating waves of desire as his hands glided over the smooth skin of her back.

Deft fingers released the hook of her bra. He growled as he stripped her of the lacy piece and cupped her breast in his hand. She gasped as his thumb brushed intimately against her nipple, coaxing it to pebble.

His lips met hers once again in a devastating kiss, but this time she returned with as much fervour as she received. Her hands snaked through his flaxen locks as she pressed her lips harder against his, willing him to take more of her.

“Bloody hell…” he gasped when her mouth broke from his. Her lips met his collarbone, where she nipped and laved his creamy skin to a blush.

Before she realized, her fingers were tugging at the hem of his jumper. He pushed her hand away and, with a grunt, he stripped himself of his jumper and shirt. Before his clothing hit the floor, she was upon him, running her slender fingers over his silky pale skin. She felt a new surge of desire as she let her fingers graze the lean muscles of his stomach and chest. She never realized how he exuded sensuality and power; it was utterly drugging.

She moved to feel more of him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her naked breasts against him, savouring the feel of his naked flesh on her own. She warmed with the urgent need that grew in her belly. Her heavy lidded gaze met his as she stretched, nipping at his lower lip with her teeth.

“I always knew you wanted me…,” his voice thick with desire as he nudged her towards her bed.

Hermione shook herself as she returned to reality. Pushing the remnants of her dream from her mind, she gazed again at the sunrise.

She never denied that Draco was a handsome man; she completely understood why most of the female student body shamelessly pursued him. However, unlike others, she refused to give into shallow aesthetic whims. He had a vile personality and preyed on those weaker than him. She found it disgusting.

It seemed her subconscious had other opinions.

She let out a frustrate sigh as she glanced at her clock. As it read, “Still a couple hours left of sleep,” she felt slightly relieved that she still had a little more time to rest. As she rose from her chair, she felt the heaviness of exhaustion pull at her limbs. She eyed her bed with apprehension.

“For Merlin’s sake girl, it was only a dream!”

She moaned to herself as she scrubbed her face with her hands. She had to get some sleep. She didn’t want to have to explain to Harry and Ron why she looked so tired at breakfast. If Harry or Ron every got wind of something like this, they would have her committed. If they asked, she would lie to them of course, but that didn’t mean that she wanted to. This was not a good way to start the new term.

Sighing in defeat, she nestled herself into the silk sheets and drifted off to sleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hermione managed to snag a few more hours of sleep before she begrudgingly dragged herself from her bed. As she finished her morning ritual, she glanced at her clock, which now read, “You’re going to miss breakfast!”

She returned to her mirror as she attempted to tame her hair. It had begun to fall more in curls instead of a giant bushy mess, but it was far from perfect. Tugging at one rather bothersome wisp, her reflection huffed.

“You’ll never tame it…just get used to it.”

Hermione’s eyes narrowed, “I don’t need any commentary from you, especially after the night I had.”

Her reflection rolled her eyes and with a shrug, walked off.

“Sometimes I hate magic…” she grumbled to herself as she grabbed her school bag and left for breakfast.

*~*~*~*~*

Breakfast was always her favourite meal of the day. She was usually one of the first students in the Great Hall in the morning, typically seated at her house table, reading the morning post as she nibbled at her breakfast. She never fully tucked in until Harry and Ron arrived.

This morning was different. She had rushed down the stairs, nearly tripping over the trick step, and skidded to a halt in front of the doors to the Great Hall. She quickly apologized to poor first year that she’d knocked down in her rush.

She ran her hands over her hair and clothes, righting herself, and entered. Harry and Ron already sat in their usual spots. It looked like Harry had already made her a plate of her favourite breakfast items: fresh eggs, yogurt and toast with peach jam. The glass of cold pumpkin juice was looking quite delicious, as the overexertion of the morning left her throat rather parched. She swiftly walked to her seat, nodding good morning to her friends as she settled in.

“You look tired, did you sleep all right?” Harry watched her with concern.

I should have figured he would notice…

“Just adjusting to the new schedule, is all. I have to stay up later for nightly rounds,” she replied nonchalantly as she dipped her knife into the jam pot.

“She was probably up late studying.” Ron cut in with a mouthful of eggs.

Hermione stopped mid-spread, “And what would be so wrong with that? At least I won’t have to worry about passing my NEWTs.”

Ron blushed as he shovelled more food into his mouth.

“Well, we know you can handle whatever is thrown at you.” Harry patted her gingerly on the shoulder, “Speaking of which, how was your first night with Malfoy?”

Hermione choked slightly on her pumpkin juice.

“That good, eh?” He grinned, clapping her on the back.

She flushed slightly, both from the lack of oxygen and from the thought of her dream.

“As well as can be expected, I suppose. He annoyed me; I slammed his fingers in potions textbook and went to bed.” She smirked slightly as she remembered Draco’s wounded expression.

“Nice to hear you got a shot in. Maybe he will think twice about annoying you.”

“I hope…”

Hermione turned back to her breakfast, though she was increasingly losing her appetite. As she poked at her eggs, she snuck a glance across the hall. Draco was currently chatting with his usual shadows, Crabbe and Goyle. He almost looked happy. Hermione couldn’t recall ever seeing him smile. Her gaze softened slightly.

He almost looks human

“Plotting something?” Harry whispered in her ear.

“Huh? What? Oh, no…I…uh…,” Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She hadn’t realized that she had been staring. She was glad Harry had snapped her back to reality before Draco caught her.

She quickly glanced back; just to make sure.

Did he just wink at me?!

Hermione paled. Turning to Harry, she attempted to change the subject.

“So, do we have any classes together?” she asked, trying to steady her voice.

She removed her schedule from her bag and handed it to Harry.

He adjusted his glasses and perused the paper. “It looks like we have Advanced Potions and Advanced Transfiguration together.”

“Oh! Speaking of Advanced Potions, class will start soon. We better go,” she plucked her schedule from Harry’s fingers and stuffed it in her bag. She was eager to get Draco out of sight, and hopefully out of mind.

“I don’t understand why they would schedule potions as the first class of the day,” Ron whined as he stuffed his last bit of toast into his mouth, “No one should have to put up with the lot of it this early in the morning.”

“How did you get into Advanced Potions?” Hermione looked baffled. Ron was definitely not known for is skill at potions.

“Luck, I suppose. Maybe because Snape finally revealed his true loyalties, we students no longer have to fork over our soul to take the class. But really, the only reason I’m taking it is because you’re in it.”

Hermione straightened her back, “What’s that supposed to mean?” Did Ron fancy her?

“Oh… uh, that came out wrong,” his ears tinged pink as he stuttered, “I figured if you were in the class, you could take pity on me and be my partner,” he watched her hopefully.

She eyed him warily. She had a feeling that if she agreed to this, she would end up with twice as much potions work.

“Maybe, but you have promise not to take advantage of my help. I have a lot more responsibility this term and I won’t have the time to bail you out every time you forget to do your homework.”

Ron’s face broke out in a grin, “I swear it. Thank you so much, ‘Mione. Here, lemme carry your books to class.” He eagerly scooped up her bag.

“Um…ok, thank you Ron.” She rose from her seat. “Coming, Harry?”

“Yeah,” he grumbled, sliding out of his seat, “I can’t believe that he beat me to the punch! I’ll never make it through this semester!” he whined playfully as he threw his arm over Hermione’s shoulders.

“Oh don’t you worry, Harry. I’m sure there will be someone that will be a proper partner,” she patted his back as they exited the Great Hall.