Heart in Agony

Chapter 4

It was fast approaching Christmas and Hogwarts was in chaos. People were running everywhere, discussing things in hushed voices and giggling like lunatics! The castle itself was beautiful. There were decorations everywhere.

In the entrance hall for example stood the biggest tree any of them had ever seen. It was covered in tinsel and bobbles in all of the house colours. The hundreds of lights were enchanted to fill anyone who looked at them with Christmas spirit! Hermione thought this was very strange, whenever she looked at them she felt the need to hum Christmas songs! And then of course, there was the enchanted mistletoe. Hung on almost every doorway and corner, everybody was being extra careful so as not to get literally stuck under it!

Hermione had been busying herself with buying presents for everyone but as much as she tried she hadn't forgotten about Draco. He had been trying to talk to her for weeks and she knew it. Every time she saw him approaching with that determined look on his face she would have to try and find some way to avoid him. Either she would stop and talk to somebody, she knew he wanted to keep his little plan a secret, or she would simply try and hide.

She didn't want to be reminded that he wasn't attracted to her. And she knew that he would either be trying to persuade her to go along with his plan or he would actually try to seduce her. The worst of it was, she knew that she would probably let him take her, which is why she had to avoid him at all costs. She didn't want to give it up to somebody who would dispose of her once he had gotten what he wanted.

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Draco ha decided to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays. Hw knew his parents would prefer it if he didn't go home this year even if they hadn't said so. They had been under a lot of stress since the death eater allegations. So, there he was on Christmas Eve, sitting alone in his dorm room, trying to think of some way to occupy himself.

As far as he knew only eight other people from his year had stayed. Three from Ravenclaw, one from Hufflepuff, some Gryffindor boy with an Irish accent, and those great friends of his, Potter, Weasley and Granger.

Yes, he was the only Slytherin, well in 7^th year anyway and he was hardly going to associate with those younger than him. The same could not be said for Potter. Draco had seen him frolicking under the mistletoe many times with the Weasley girl. They kept making strange cooing sounds at each other in between kissing and Draco had almost thrown up. He couldn't understand how anyone could find that attractive.

That did, however, mean that Harry would be preoccupied and Hermione would be finding it harder to avoid him.

Draco had noticed Hermione's sudden conversations with random Gryffindor gossips whenever he was about to approach her. He knew she didn't want to have to talk to him alone and he couldn't understand why. He had initially assumed that he had offended her by his request, but if that was the case she would have probably just shouted at him some more, just like she had in the past.

"Girls!"

There was no doubt about it, she confused and intrigued him!

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It was only eight o'clock but already it was pitch black outside. Hermione had decided to go and gaze at the stars as she had suspected that Ron was trying to make a move on her. She hated it when he did this, especially as she felt partly to blame. She was probably sending out mixed signals or something because this happened a lot.

She hated the look on his face every time she left, but she just couldn't stay. The thought of them being together repulsed her. He was like a brother to her. An overprotective, stubborn, annoying brother.

So as a result she had gone up to the Astronomy tower and was just sitting, staring up at the sky.

"Granger! What a surprise! You up here reminiscing about our times together I'll bet!"

Sighing, she turned around, already knowing who she was about to see. He had found her.

"Yes Malfoy, that is just what I was doing."

"Really?"

"Let me think about that one...NO!"

"Well, what are you doing then?"

"Why do you want to know? No, wait, I don't care! I'm just looking at the stars, they're beautiful aren't they?"

She regretted saying it as soon as it left her mouth. Now she had started an actual conversation and she would have to endure those intoxicating eyes burning through her even longer.

"Yeah, but they always are. So, expecting someone then?"

"No, I actually came up here to get away from everyone."

"Then, what's with the negligee?

She was suddenly very aware that she was wearing a short skirt. It was one of those Santa dresses, she had put it on as a joke after Ginny made her buy it in Hogsmeade that morning. They had both thought it was hilarious, now she wasn't so sure!

"It is not a negligee! It is a dress!"

"Then why, might I ask, is it very similar to a negligee? Look, it's so short I can almost see your arse, the top is shaped like a bra, and the bottom part is made out of some floaty fabric commonly found on negligees!"

"Oh my God! Shut up! Maybe it is a negligee, but it was just a joke among friends, not to be taken seriously. I suppose you wouldn't understand."

"Jesus Christ, calm down! I have to talk to you. GRANGER! Fuck's sake, would you look at me!"

He reached out with one hand and turned her head back round to look at him. As soon as his hand touched Hermione's face she knew she had no hope. And when he looked into her eyes, she was speechless. You could drown in those eyes! She didn't know it then, but he was thinking the exact same thing about hers.

They didn't look into each other's eyes for long, they were soon locked up in a tight embrace, kissing each other, each of their hearts beating faster than ever before.

When they were together in this way everything just seemed right. As if this was the way it had always been meant to be. Hermione reached her hands inside Draco's robes so that she could feel his muscular body. When he felt her warm hands touch him he wanted her even more.

He picked her up and kneeling down placed her on the floor. He had never seen anyone so beautiful as she looked at that moment. Neither of them said anything, they just looked at each other, each with a fire in their eyes that had never been there before. Draco climbed on top of her and took off his robes, leaving him wearing only black boxers.

When Hermione realised what was about to happen, she pushed him off her and jumped up. Forcing herself not to look at his hurt face or to stare at his body, she muttered her apologies and started for the door. But Draco was too quick for her. He had managed to get in front of her. Grabbing her shoulders to force her to look into his eyes, he began questioning her.

"What are you doing? Are you just going to leave? What the fuck? Seriously. You want this just as much as I do, admit it."

"No. I mean...yes, I do. But it's not that simple. I do, but not here, not like this."

"What do you mean?"

"You were right before, when you said I would be your first, and I don't want to lose my virginity on the floor of some empty classroom with a boy who doesn't even love me. Can't you understand that?"

"But, I don't know how to love you!"

"You don't know how? It's not about knowing how. It's about needing me, needing me with every fibre of your being. Would you do all you could to protect me? Would you die to be with me?"

He didn't want to admit it to her but he probably would. Did that mean he loved her? Is that why he didn't ever want to be without her again? He loved a mudblood! He was so angry with himself for letting it happen, but he couldn't let her leave him. He had to have her!

"Well, then, I guess I love you!"

"You do?"

"It would appear so! But don't you go telling anyone! Malfoy's are not supposed to experience emotion of any kind!"

Hermione couldn't believe it. He loved her! She didn't have time to think about it though as she was soon being rushed out of the tower and down the stairs. Draco had taken her hand and she suddenly felt so safe. She was glad that nobody saw them. They must have looked very strange, two people who 'hated' each other hurrying down the corridor hand in hand, he only wearing boxers and she in a negligee!

Draco was slightly in front of Hermione and he was practically dragging her as she couldn't keep up with him and also had no idea where she was being taken!

It wasn't until they stopped beside a stone wall and Draco was muttering something which could only have been a password that she realised they were outside the Slytherin dungeon.

"Isn't this dangerous Draco?"

"Isn't what dangerous?"

"You know, taking a mudblood friend of Harry Potter into the Slytherin lair?"

"No you strange girl! I'm the only seventh year left and the only other people here are two first year lovebirds who will be somewhat busy!"

"First years? Isn't that kind of young to be doing things like that?"

"Yeah, I guess, but I'm not complaining, it gets them out of the way. Anyway, here we are, my bedroom! Oh, wait a minute."

Draco took out his wand and pointed it at the door. A spark came out of it but that was all that seemed to happen. But when Draco opened the door, Hermione was shocked. There must have been one hundred candles around the king sized bed which now stood against the furthest away wall. The bed itself was covered in rose petals . It was beautiful!

"Oh Draco, it's..."

"Shhh! Don't speak."

He started kissing her neck, closed the door, and led her over to the bed.

Hermione lay down and pulled Draco down on top of her. He carefully removed her negligee up over her head and for a while he just lay on top of her, while they kissed and caressed each other.

But, when he couldn't take it any more, Draco took their relationship to the next level. It was very slow and beautiful and Hermione held on to him tightly the whole time. Neither had ever felt anything like it. Draco had always thought of sex as just something to do, but this was different. This was amazing, he never wanted it to end.

But when it did, Hermione curled up in his arms and said,

"Well, that's a Christmas present I'll never forget!"

"Granger?"

"Yes Malfoy?"

"You are beautiful, you know that?"

Just as she smiled the clock in the room chimed midnight.

"Merry Christmas Hermione, I love you."

But she had fallen asleep and didn't hear him. Draco fell asleep soon after, and for the first time in a while, wasn't greeted by nightmares.