Tonight's The Night

PURSUED

Malfoy grinned at her.

"Married life. Me and Pansy."

"You and...I mean, I know you go around together but...well I didn't think it was that serious." She frowned at him. "You're really getting married?"

Malfoy scratched the side of his nose.

"Well, not exactly married - not yet, anyhow, but our fathers have had the prenuptial papers drawn up. That's why I'm here - going to see the lawyers tomorrow to sign my freedom away."

"You sound really ready for it," she scoffed.

"I don't have much choice in the matter. Our fathers have had an understanding since we were born..."

Hermione stared at him.

"An arranged marriage? Really? And you're OK about that?"

Malfoy shrugged.

"Pansy and I have always known about it - it's just something that has to happen if our two families are to remain pure-blood."

"But do you love her?"

Malfoy snorted with laughter.

"What's love got to do with it? Marriage is for breeding good stock. If you want love, you can always look outside." He looked at her and obviously saw her horrified expression. "It works both ways - Pansy'll be free to screw around, once we've had kids and the bloodline is ensured."

"But...that's a terrible way to live. What about the children..."

"Oh, they'll get used to it. I had to. In fact, where do you think my father is tonight? It's done me no harm..."

It was Hermione's turn to snort with laughter.

"Anyway," he continued, "Monogamy means I'm limited to pleasuring just one woman for the rest of my life. This way, I can spread the joy..."

"You really are full of yourself aren't you?"

"Haven't you read my reviews? I'm rather good, you know...especially with virgins..."

Hermione coloured.

"I don't think we should be having this conversation," she said, making to get up.

"Oh, now, what have I said?" He put on a camp voice. "You're not going to bed angry with me, are you? Neither of us will get a wink of sleep if you do."

"I just think," she said, getting to her feet "I'd rather be alone in my own room, sleepless, than down here with you..."

"Alone in your room, thinking about Potter - who you don't fancy - screwing Cho Chang instead of you. Why does Granger want to screw Potter when she doesn't fancy him?"

Hermione began walking out of the room.

"Unless...could it be that it's the one practical subject that remains elusive to our Miss Know-it-all and she's decided to do something about it..?"

Hermione's cheeks were burning as she headed for the stairs.

"Tell me," he said, following her. "Is screwing someone you don't actually fancy, just for the experience, any better than my marrying someone I don't love just to continue the bloodline? It's a means to an end, isn't it."

"I happen to like Harry."

"I happen to like Pansy; and if I end up falling in love with her, that's cool 'cause we'll be married. However...you fall in love with Potter and how would you feel next week when he's off with someone else..?"

Hermione stopped in her tracks. Her methodical brain told her that Malfoy had actually said something she hadn't considered.

"I won't fall in love with Harry."

"You can't be sure of that. Sex is more emotional for women than it is for us men - you must have read that; and it'll be your first time - that's even more dangerous."

"Then I shall just have to wait, won't I - for someone else to come along."

"I guess so; but I rather formed the impression this thing was on the agenda for tonight - what with all the Pheromones you'd tipped over yourself."

Hermione went red to the roots.

"How do you know..?"

"Sex is something I know a lot about. I've told you - I'm good at this. You'd be in expert hands..."

"I beg your pardon?" She couldn't believe her ears. Had he just suggested what she thought he'd suggested?

"Look, Granger, if you just want to have sex to find out what it's like - which is the signal I'm picking up here - then wouldn't it be safer to do it with someone you couldn't possibly fall in love with?"

He was staring at her in earnest. He was really serious. He really was suggesting she sleep with him. Her mouth tried to find the words, but all she could manage was,

"Well, thank you for the offer, but I was really looking for a pleasant experience rather than a wham-bam-thank-you-mam."

She began walking up the stairs.

"I don't 'wham-bam'...unless that's what's requested, of course."

He was following her up the stairs.

"I promise you'll get the full works - petting, smooching, cuddling, spooning - I'll stay all night..."

"Ooooo thanks ever so..."

"...and I'll stop if you say so - whenever you say so."

She continued up the stairs.

"It rather sounds, Mr. Malfoy, as though you are begging me to have sex with you, and I must say, I never thought I'd see the day."

"And I never thought I'd see the day when Hermione Granger walked up the stairs in front of me, knowing her fanny was just inches from my face but wiggling it anyway."

Hermione gave a horrified squeal, pulled her dress tight around her bottom and ran up the remaining stairs. She had just reached the door to her room when she realised Malfoy had followed her.

"Y...your room is the next level down..." She said, hearing her voice tremble.

"Oh, so it is. Sorry. Force of habit. You see, I always sleep in this room when I stay here." He walked slowly up the last step and joined her at her door.

"Please...leave me alone. Please go away." Her heart was hammering and she could feel the sweat building up under her arms. She was absolutely terrified because - she realised that in some obscure way, she was enjoying this; enjoying the attention; enjoying being pursued. All the sexual tension and frustration that had been building up inside her during the past few weeks - brought to its peak during the events of this evening - were being toyed with; and the feeling was, she had to admit - scintillating.

"I will leave you alone. I will go away; but first, as I can't believe there's anywhere to hide your wand in that little dress, take this..." He handed her his wand.

"Wh..what's this for?" She looked at the wand suspiciously as she took it.

"I am now unarmed," he said, holding out his jacket like a cape to show her the lining. "You have a weapon. You can summon help at any time, or even blast me with a spell."

"Why would I need to do that?" She asked, nervously.

"I'm just trying to convince you I'm not out to attack you or hurt you." He leaned back against the bannister rail. "The way I see our situation is this; you dislike me as much as I dislike you, we we both find ourselves alone and horny at the same time. If we have sex it'll mean nothing emotionally to either of us, but physically, it'll be fantastic - I promise.."

She spluttered in disbelief.

"You really are the most obnoxious, egotistical..."

"Let me kiss you."

"WHAT?!"

"Let me kiss you. If you don't like it, I promise I'll go away immediately and never bother you again."

"No!"

"Scared you might enjoy it?"

"...no..."

"I don't believe you." He took a step closer to her. She backed up against her door. "You've got the wand," he reminded her. "You can blast me any time..."

She stared at his face and grasped the wand tighter as he took another step towards her. He was going to do it, he was going to kiss her. She couldn't let this happen, she just couldn't.

Could she..?