Care to Play?

Christmas approached and found Hermione in a very good mood indeed. She finished wrapping the present she bought for Draco and secured it in her robes.



They had been meeting about once a week, but Draco hadn’t made his next move. She had asked him about it several times, but he simply told her to be patient and he would let her know.



They were sitting on a couch in front of the fire, naked and wrapped in a blanket. They had been loving and slow with each other tonight, taking time to couch and feel, and explore.



Draco was sitting against the arm, with Hermione in his lap. He was kissing along her neck and up to her ear. “Happy Christmas.” He said. Hermione looked up to smile and saw Draco lowered something in front of her.



“Oh Draco, it’s beautiful.” She held still as he fastened the necklace around her neck. She took the pendant in her hands and saw that it was smaller then the nail of her index finger, but she could still make out the details. It was a silver snake, with a green orb in its mouth.



“It’s charmed.” He told her as she looked at it. “Roll your finger over the ball in his mouth.” She did as he said and when she complied a cooling feeling calmed her whole body. “The charm is supposed to relieve stress and tension. Sometimes I see you get a little wound up when the work load gets high or when your own standards get to be too much. This will help calm you anytime you need it.”



“Ahhh, Draco thank you.” She turned her head and kissed him. “I doesn’t really equal what I got you though.” She felt a little guilty.



“Did you put thought into it?” He asked. She nodded. “Then it will be equal because I put thought into this.” He told her tapping the pendant.



She leaned down to the floor and pulled a package out of her robes. Draco opened it and discarded the paper. “Sense and Sensibility?” He asked looking at her. “A muggle book?”



“I know you like to read as much as I do, and considering what you said a while ago, I thought you might enjoy it.” She explained.



“Alright. What’s it about?” He asked smiling at her.



“Sisters who fall on hard times and without their fortune found they are less wanted.” She said.



“Interesting.” He said. “I’ll read it.”



She flicked her wand over the cover and it changed to a mystery by a wizarding author. “So nobody will see you reading muggle books.”



“Brilliant.”



Hermione delighted in seeing Draco reading the book at various mealtimes and how pensive his face became at certain parts. By the time they met the next week, he had finished it.



“What did you think?” She asked as she straddled his lap naked, cradling his face to her breasts.



“I think they are very lovely.” He said, giving her breasts a squeeze.



“I meant the book.” She said giggling.



“I know,” he said looking up at her, “I enjoyed it. Fanny was a bitch of Umbridge caliber.” He said.



“I agree.” She said, running her fingers through his hair.



“Although Brandon, now he’s a man to look up to. Him and Edward. Top men if you ask me.” He kissed between her breasts.



“Yes, they are. I thought you might enjoy it. Seeing people fall in love for something other then status and money is always a good story.”



“Fall in love?” He said, looking up at her. She saw the look in his eyes and immediately grew afraid.



“I didn’t…. I mean I wasn’t trying….. Draco…..” She fumbled with her words.



“It’s alright, don’t worry about it.” He told her gently, and pulled her closer. He rested his face on her chest again and let his fingertips run up her back. He caressed her curves with a tenderness that Hermione felt right to her heart.



He was an amazing lover, both gentle and rough when he chose to be. Her mind drifted to what he had said. She didn’t think she was sub-consciously saying anything. Granted she did feel a closeness to him, but lust and love were different. She knew she lusted after him, but did she feel more. She wasn’t ready to answer that yet.







They snuck into the room on New Years, and Hermione was surprised by what she found. She entered and saw a small table for two set up. Dinner was served and waiting, and Draco was dressed in black trousers and a dress shirt. He was standing by the table smiling at her.



“I feel a little underdressed.” She said gesturing to her denim skirt and jumper. Her ankle length boots were a bit on the dressier side but still not on the level Draco was in tonight.



“You look beautiful, don’t worry about clothes. Come here.” He said holding out a hand. They sat and had dinner together while the room of requirement provided a view of the outside of the castle. They were able to see the sky from the astronomy tower.



Throughout the castle couples had made plans to spend time together, and in light of the holiday the curfew was relaxed for fifth years and above. Hermione and Draco wouldn’t be missed. It would be assumed in their houses that they were off with dates.



“This was just wonderful, Draco thank you so much.” She said leaning in her chair and sipping her wine.



“Your welcome, I’m glad you liked it.” He leaned on his elbows and smiled.



“You know Draco,” she leaned on the table and mirrored his arms, “this consisted of the makings of a date. Was this our first?” She asked.



“Maybe it was,” he said, “and speaking of such, I have something else planned, and pulled out his pocket watch, it’s almost time.”



“Time for what?” She asked, looking at her watch. “Midnight is ten minutes away.”



He took her hand and flicked his wand. Music filled the room as Draco held out a hand. “A little midnight dancing.” He said.



She gave him a welcoming smile and took his hand. Draco was a strong lead and he waltzed her around the room in perfect sync, their eyes locked together.



Draco closed the distance, pulling her body up against his and pulling their hands to his chest. Hermione slid her hand up into his hair and they swayed gently. She would be perfectly happy to stay where she was and Hermione knew that she was starting to feel something and she didn’t know what that meant for either of them. It would be more of an issue for Draco then her, but there was no way she was going to bring up the topic unless he did. He was the one with more at stake then her, so he should be the one to discuss it, and she wold wait until he was ready.



They heard the bells sounding at midnight and watched out the window as fireworks went off. The room showed them what Dumbledore was doing on the grounds and they enjoyed the display that lit up the window. “That’s beautiful.” She said, as they walked up to the window.



“Almost.” She turned at Draco’s word. “It’s almost beautiful.” He said watching her. Reaching up he cupped her jaw. “Happy new year.”



“Happy new year.” She said as he leaned in and kissed her. It was gentle and tender and Hermione felt romanced In a way she’d never felt before. Viktor tried to impress her and while he had impeccable manners, this whole dating technique had been to put her in a good mood so she would give him sex.



She didn’t feel that with Draco at the moment. She only felt his desire to be in her company. He just wanted to spend time with her and have a romantic evening. Hermione relaxed in his embrace in the window. It was a false image but she didn’t care, Draco had his arms around her and laced his fingers with hers, under her breasts. They didn’t have sex that night, but the night was perfect without being physical.







It had been about two months since New Years and their tender evening. Since then they had several more ‘dates’ in the room of requirement and Hermione had brought up his move a few times. He had always told her to just be patient, but the other night he gave her a grin while he said it. That meant it was on it’s way and she had no idea what to expect.



Over the past months they had grown closer and closer, and she now knew he was capable of anything. She could expect anything since they weren’t going to meet in the room for another four days.



Hermione arrived for breakfast in the great hall and was walking to her table when she heard a cry behind her. “Granger!” She turned and looked to see Draco walking toward her. She stayed where she was, aware of the eyes of the hall on her. The rivalry between the two had been evident for years and now the hall was waiting for war to start.



Draco walked right up to her and took her arms, pulling her into a crushing kiss. She heard through the daze of her senses the mixtures of gasps, whistles, catcalls, vomit sounds and cheers. Draco eventually let her go and looked at her. “Check mate.” He said lifting an eyebrow and leaving her standing where she was as he joined his table.



She looked at the faces that surrounded her and as she finally made her way to her table she was cornered by Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Neville wanting to know the gossip. They were angry just shocked and anxious for details.



Check mate, he had said. He was right, how the fuck could she counter this?





A/N: DracoLover69, there ya go, I hadn’t planned a public kiss but the idea was a good one, and it was a great way to end this chapter.