Hermione Granger and The Secret Fire

Chapter 21-I keep on falling...in and out...of love with you

After a full day of classes and a rather awkward dinner where Hermione tried to only look at and talk to Misten or Ginny, she wandered out of the Great Hall and made her way through the castle back to her own territory.

"Is anyone in there?" Hermione asked the Mime Priestess before she walked into her common room. She didn't want to face Draco, afraid she could not stand another confrontation at worst or a scowl at best. It had been a long day mentally, and she just wanted to forget about all her problems.

"That horrid boy you let live here is not inside, if that is what you are asking. He is the foulest, most uncouth, disrespectful, angry, violent, unappreciative..."

Hermione only smiled at the portrait's impression of Draco as she walked into her dark common room, considering she agreed with it. She could still hear the Mime Priestess throwing off adjectives as she lit the fire and snuggled in on the couch.

Originally she had planned on taking a bath to relax, but the couch was much closer and required no work to get it ready. It had been a horrible day! She was more confused that ever. It seemed she had been arguing with every male friend that she had in her life. Men made no sense. They were stupid, egotistical and just plain mean!

Hermione had lain herself so flat on the couch, that anyone who entered the common room would not see her. It was there she fell asleep, listening to the crackle of the fire and wondering how her life could have gotten so screwed up.

"It's just up in my room, Blasé," Draco's voice droned into the room as he entered. "Wait here and I'll grab it for you to see."

Hermione heard their voices from her state of dreaming, but was not awake to fully process who was there. She also was not awake enough to realize she should make her presence known to the room's inhabitants.

"Wow, Draco, you're right," Blasé said, with obvious awe in his voice as his friend came back down the stairs, "This Flyer's Dream XL is awesome! I can't believe your father bought you a broom for your birthday!"

"I know. Not being on the Quidditch team this year nearly caused him to blow a gasket so I was very surprised when this showed up in my room," Draco answered.

"Why didn't he send it regular owl post? How did it get into your room?" Blasé asked.

"My father doesn't send things 'owl post'. It's too common for him. I figure he must have ordered one of the house elves to deliver it," Draco answered in a tone that showed he was unsure.

"But wouldn't the wards around the school have detected a house elf?" questioned Blasé.

Hermione, fully awake now, nodded her head. It was one of the basic principles in Hogwarts, A History. She did not sit up or make her presence known to the two men in the room, and figured it was a small miracle that Draco had not seen her coming down the stairs.

"I don't know. Maybe it doesn't alarm for small creatures. But anyway, I am excited to ride it," Draco answered.

"So what else are you going to get for your birthday? What's your secret girlfriend got planned?" Blasé said. Hermione could just imagine that he must be wagging his eyebrows.

"I no longer have a 'secret girlfriend'," Draco answered quickly. "How did you know about her anyway?"

"Well, Nott isn't exactly known for his clandestine abilities, especially when he can get something out of it. He told a bunch of us 7^th years that you had him help you get the music for the romantic dinner you planned. It made him quite popular among the guys to be included in your plan and even the girls wanted to talk to him, always ready to gossip," Blasé answered easily.

Hermione imagined that Draco was probably very nervous at this point, but his Malfoy mask would be firmly in place. When he answered, she noted the slight panic in his voice. She was quite certain that Blasé wouldn't hear it and she wondered when she had become so comfortable with Draco that she could read the tones in his voice. "Yeah, well, we see how well that turned out. Theo would be smart to keep my business quiet, unless he wants retribution for his crimes."

"Whatever, man. You know how Nott is. So no big plans for your birthday, huh? Do you want to play some chess or something," Blasé asked.

'It's Draco's birthday?' Hermione thought, the conversation finally catching up to her sleepy brain. 'Why didn't he say anything before now? Misten mentioned it was coming up, but I never asked her the date. I would have figured he'd be bragging to everyone about the day in order to get more gifts. I need to say something to him about it. Maybe I should just apologize and get it over with? It's no fun to have a fight on your birthday. I can't believe no one is doing anything special for him. Hopefully Blasé will leave and I can finally talk to him.'

"No, I am going to relax and start getting ready for the Potions exam on Friday. I'll see you tomorrow in Charms," he said, much to Hermione's pleasure.

As soon as Blasé walked out, Hermione sat up and looked at her suite mate. To his credit, Draco showed only the briefest moment of surprise at his hidden eavesdropper.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed and his famous scowl appeared on his face. He looked like he was about to leave when Hermione finally said, "Happy Birthday. I didn't know or I would have gotten you a gift."

A variety of emotions clouded his face and Hermione was reminded of the first time she woke in his bed. That day he had several emotions cross his face, but she was unable to read them. Now, after a few months together, she could read them as plain as day. Draco was feeling confused at her change of temperament, angry over everything that happened, hurt because she had said mean things to him and finally, pleasure that she was at last talking to him again.

"Granger," he drawled, finally securing the mask back into place, "how uncharacteristic for you to remain so quiet whilst hiding during my conversation. In fact I am surprised you didn't have any tidbits to add during the discussion."

Hermione stood up and walked over to where her ex-boyfriend was standing. She smiled as she took a hold of hand. Just as suddenly, he pulled it back and gave her a scornful look. Sighing and giving her best impression of Snape, Hermione grabbed his hand again. This time Draco simply looked at the two hands being held together.

"Draco, I am sorry for the things I said and the way I treated you. I know you don't have to, but I would like you to forgive me for the childish things I did and for not giving you the chance to respond to my accusations. I realize now that my emotions ruled my reactions and I didn't give logic a thought. That is very unlike me and I am sorry," Hermione said, hoping he believed her.

A cloud of emotion covered his face once again and Hermione could tell he was trying to remain angry while processing her words. Eventually he looked up into her eyes and responded, "I don't know what to say. I am not used to people apologizing to me."

Hermione smiled and said, "Well usually people say 'I forgive you' and maybe apologize, too,"

He looked at her incredulously, but she saw the beginning of a smile tickling his lips. "Well, that's not going to happen. But I am glad you have finally seen the error of your ways. Imagine: accusing a Malfoy of being prejudice and condescending!"

Hermione smiled once again and walked back to the couch, where Draco joined her. She was so excited that they were on speaking terms again that she sat quietly and just looked at him for a couple of minutes. It had been so long since she had really looked at him, that she found that the simplicity of looking at him was a great pleasure. All of her feelings of trust and want towards this man returned full force. It was almost if she had locked them away in a trunk and his smile had been the key to unleashing them.

Suddenly, Hermione felt very insecure. 'What if he doesn't really accept my apology? What if I waited too long?' Taking a deep breath, she asked, "So do you forgive me?"

Draco smiled and with a twinkle in his eye said, "I do. But I may have to punish you later."

Hermione leaned forward and kissed him in a sweet manner, just to let him know how happy she was at his forgiveness. She took a hold of his hands again and peppered kisses on his mouth, his nose, his eyes and his cheeks. She pulled back to gauge his reaction and finding it favorable, captured his mouth in a searing kiss. Hermione put her all into the kiss, willing him to understand how much she really cared about him and that she was very glad to be back in good graces with him.

As they broke apart, Draco whispered, "Hmmm that was nice."

"Draco, do you know why I was angry?" Hermione asked, leery to bring the subject up, but not willing to fall back into their relationship without clearing the matter up.

He looked uncomfortable at what she was saying, but answered, "Yes. I called you names."

"And blamed me for your father's appearance in Hogsmeade," Hermione added. "You hurt my feelings when you talked to me that way."

"I did not mean to hurt your feelings. I just wanted you to understand how much danger you were in by my father being there" Draco explained.

"I knew how much danger I was in! Why do you think I was so scared?" Hermione protested, her voice rising in anger.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and whispered, "I...I was scared, too."

His tone and facial expressions took all the wind out of Hermione's sails. Her voice lowered greatly as she said, "You were scared too? But it is your father! Surely you don't have to be afraid of him!"

The force in Draco's eyes opening and his pained expression told Hermione everything she needed to know. Draco was afraid of his father. He had forced him to take the Dark Mark, he had threatened him in front of the Headmaster and Professor Snape and that was just the things she knew! He probably had done countless other things when Draco was a child as well.

Hermione grabbed Draco and hugged him tightly. She almost missed him whisper, "I was scared for you, too."

"You were scared for me? You seemed so angry at me! You called me all those names and made it seem like it was my fault that I was cornered by him," she cried, realizing how wrong she had been to jump at conclusions about his feelings.

Draco pulled out of the hug and looked at Hermione before saying, "My father is a dangerous man. He really would have killed you given the chance and I couldn't have lived with that."

"You care about what happens to me?" Hermione asked, surprised at the knowledge of the fact. She was shocked! Not only was he admitting he was scared, but he was admitting that he cared for her, too!

"You really are a dolt, sometimes, Hermione," Draco said laughing. "I mean, seriously, there are times that you make Weasley look smart!"

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but the silliness of his words caused her to stop. She found herself giggling and then laughing harder with him.

As she settled down, Hermione smiled and felt as if her heart was going to burst with happiness. "So how come you are alone for your birthday?" Immediately she wished she could retract her words as a look of pain found its way onto Draco's face.

"Well, actually, my birthday is tomorrow. My father has a habit of giving me my present on the day before because my...mother...likes to...liked to let me celebrate the day however I chose to. Usually that was using my father's gift in some way."

Hermione felt the horror of her own words. 'I reminded him of his Mother not being here! Dumb, Hermione; real dumb.'

"I am sorry, Draco. I shouldn't have reminded you that your Mother wouldn't be here for your birthday. That was insensitive of me," Hermione said hoping to squash any feelings of malcontent.

Draco's brow scrunched as he said, "You didn't remind me! I haven't thought of much else all day." His eyes went out of focus as he turned to stare at the fire. As he talked a small smile graced his face and he continued, "She was always one to celebrate the day from the second I awoke until the second I fell asleep. She used to decorate my bedroom the night before my birthday as I slept. She did it, not the house elves. She'd hang balloons and streamers and have a huge sign wishing me a happy birthday. As a little kid, I tried to stay awake so I could catch her doing it, but she must have known when I fell asleep because she never entered the room if I was awake. When I got older, I couldn't wait to go to sleep just so I could wake up to the sight of my room decorated."

Hermione smiled at his memory. She knew she was seeing the real Draco Malfoy and wondered how she could be so lucky to catch this rare glimpse. She remained quiet, hoping he'd continue.

"Then I'd wake up in the morning and she'd be waiting at the breakfast table with whatever was my favorite breakfast at the time. I'd even get a small cake and all the house elves would gather to sing 'Happy Birthday' to me."

"Was your father there?" Hermione interrupted, thinking it was strange he'd get his cake and not mention his father.

"No. No. He was usually at the Ministry or something. It was just a tradition with my Mother," Draco responded, pausing to look at Hermione before his gaze went back to the fire. "We'd finish our cake and she would watch me fly for a couple of hours if it was warm enough or read with me in the sitting room or play a game with me in my suite. Lunch would come and I would once again get my favorite meal and then we'd board the carriages or floo over to the shopping district and she'd let me pick out anything and everything I would want for my birthday presents."

Hermione watched her boyfriend's face light up as he spoke of his mother. It was obvious that he had a special spot in his heart for her and Hermione felt sad that Draco would never again spend his birthday the same way again.

"What do you do on your birthday? Does your family have any traditions?" Draco asked seeming to awake from his memory, and obviously wanting to change the subject. He turned back towards Hermione and she felt like he was actually interested in what she had to say. For once it was not all about him.

Hermione giggled before answering, "None of my birthdays were like yours! My parents usually made a nice breakfast before going to work and then I had to sit in school all day. Your best friend was supposed to make a wreath of candy for you to wear all day so everyone would know it was your birthday. I only had that happen once, in my last year. Then I'd usually get one or two presents after dinner. My Mum usually picked up a cake at the store and then it was off to do revisions or get ready for the next day. Even when I came here, it wasn't a big deal. This was the first year anyone even remembered, and I think that was only because of Misten."

Draco looked horrified at the normalcy of Hermione's birthdays. If she hadn't been paying attention, she might have missed the pity that was in his eyes. "How...common!"

Hermione felt a flash of anger at his choice of words. How could he have forgotten that that was what their entire fight had been based around; the fact that she was common? But she noticed he immediately looked contrite and she felt her anger dissolve.

"I mean, that must have been awful for you," Draco recovered.

"Not really," Hermione explained, "it was what I was used to. It was what I expected."

"Well, next year, I promise to make your birthday very special! No more of this 'what I expected' when I am around," Draco said, smiling at her and pulling her in for a hug.

Hermione was lost in his words, though. 'Next year' was what he said. 'Next year' he said as if he planned on them being together at least that long. Before her head could complicate things like the fact that they'd be out of school and in the professional world and that their relationship would be more public, she returned her focus to the present.

Draco pulled back and gently rubbed her face with his hands. She felt herself automatically lean into the kind gesture and his lips were immediately on hers. It was almost as if the weeks apart had caused Hermione to forget and all the initial feelings of elation, nervousness and need as they came flowing back. Her stomach dropped and she felt a rush of energy pool at her groin as Draco hands slowly caressed her arms.

Before moving on to other parts of her body, they broke apart, seemingly as if to ask if the other was okay with the actions. Both smiled and delved back into their physical relationship. As Draco's hands brushed Hermione's breasts, she inhaled in want and reached to pull him down on top of her. Things were progressing quickly, and Hermione was struck by the fact that she was okay with it. She was glad the uncomfortableness of being in a new relationship was gone. As his hands continued their memorization of her body, she smiled at the fact that the weeks apart didn't seem to slow this part of their relationship down.

Hermione was excited in every sense of the word by his wet tongue sliding along the palate of her mouth, exploring and making her muscles explode with little earthquakes. Draco's tongue responded to her excitement, while his body shuddered with sensation. His hands were roaming over her entire body, shivers of anticipation answering his curious fingers. Draco tasted like heaven, he tasted like paradise, he tasted...like Draco.

"Hmmm, that feels so good," Hermione couldn't help but say as he cupped each breast.

Draco had successfully unbuttoned her shirt and was pushing it off her shoulders with one hand while flicking her nipples with the other.

"I am exacting my revenge for your misbehavior this month. You deserve to be punished...." His wet mouth trailed along her jaw line and dipped to the neck.

Hermione became quite involved herself as she tugged at the hem of Draco's t-shirt, pulling it up until he raised his arms and then it was off.

As their mouths met and tongues tangled, Hermione found that there was nothing better than the feel of soft skin over hard muscle underneath sensitive fingers. As he pulled her to her feet, intent on bringing her upstairs to his suite, she felt a wave of happiness sweep over her. She could barely feel her feet touch the ground just from Draco pinching her nipples and caressing her belly.

"Where are we going? I was having fun right here. Why do we have to move?" she whined as they reached his bed.

"Because you feel...you are ... oh!..absolutely gorgeous. Perhaps we should just stop talking altogether," Draco managed to squeak out as Hermione felt a sudden wave of pleasure washed over her once...twice as Draco's hands moved southward.

He seemed to realize what his words were doing to her, so he continued, "And you're... beautiful and wonderful and... Oh, fuck, I can't wait, Hermione..." Draco breathed in her ear even as he licked the earlobe. His sweet words and desperate cries of need made Hermione's knees weak. She was glad she was lying on his bed otherwise she would have fallen over.

But this wasn't enough, and Hermione soon understood what he had meant when he said he couldn't wait. She needed more. She had to touch every part of Draco's body that she could. As if reading her mind, he stopped, stood up and quickly pulled his trousers all the way down until they covered just his ankles and Hermione nearly growled as the familiar, yet newly discovered body, came into almost full view. With only his boxers on and as he kicked off his pants and laid next to her, she groaned at the sight of the hipbone and the elegantly curved muscle and skin, she was mesmerized by the lean thighs that were so strong and sculpted.

"Oh, I've definitely missed this," she panted as she dropped down to his knees. The look of shock on his face was precious. She had not planned on doing this, but the moment seemed right to put to use all the information she had been reading in books for years into play. She just hoped she did it right. It had been a long time coming and she had wondered before their row when would be the best time to spring her idea on him. Smiling at his look of astonishment she said, "Consider it an early birthday present."

Holding Draco's impatiently squirming hips with her hands, she caressed the indentation where leg met hip with her thumbs and then added her lips and tongue. The skin tasted salty, slightly musky but yet incredibly fresh. She wondered, briefly, if all men tasted like that.

She felt warm hands settled on her shoulders, massaging lightly. Draco lifted her head and his to say, "You don't have to, you know..."

Hermione felt a bit of uncertainty enter her mind, "Don't you want me to?"

Draco's face grinned like a Cheshire cat and he finished, "...but Gods I want you to!"

She smiled at his want and began to kiss her way around the area, intent on teasing him a bit for making her doubt herself. "Hermione... please...whatever you're going to do...just... do -" The broken sentence was cut-off by a gasp as she finally took the swelled cock into her mouth.

Oh Gods, the taste...the salty musk of Draco's cock, the smell at the base where the curls were damp with sweat and precum...it was driving her absolutely mad. Frantically, she sucked and did what one book said, moving her tongue to lick along the underside, while one hand caressed the fast-tightening balls. She had read to 'make love' to his cock as you gave him pleasure and not to ignore any part of the area. Listening to his moans of pleasure and feeling him buck underneath her made her think she was doing a pretty good job. As he tightened his grip on her head, pushing it farther down his shaft, she briefly wondered which one of them was going to come first.

Draco was panting and moaning, chanting something that Hermione couldn't quite make out. His voice, oh how she had missed it so! It had kept her on the very edge of the world as it had whispered shockingly arousing things in her ear the nights that they had spent entangled together before their separation. The voice; that now almost sent her over the edge as it screamed its owner's completion, Hermione's name on his flushed lips.

Hermione swallowed all that had entered her throat but felt unsated by the completion. She wanted more, so much more, this was simply not enough. She lay back on the bed, next to her still recovering partner and made a decision. She was going to lose her virginity to Draco on this night. Not quite sure what she was doing, she quickly fumbled with the fabric still surrounding her body and lifted one sculpted leg up to cover his body. She felt Draco's weight shift as her lover turned to face her.

"Mmmm, Hermione? What are you doing?" he said lazily as he looked at her.

'Is he really that clueless and selfish to not know I would like some completion, too?' she wondered as she stared at him.

"No," he said, reading her face, "I know what you are doing and I certainly know why, but are you really ready to take this to the next level?"

"Um, I think since I just did that," she said emphasizing with her hand in the region of her action, "that I am ready for just about anything."

Draco smiled at her and she was relieved as he pushed her onto her back and rolled on top of her. "I don't want you to do anything that you, that we, might regret tomorrow. There are other ways of making you 'happy' without intercourse. We just got back onto speaking terms and I don't want to pressure you into anything."

"You make it sound so technical," Hermione said, not liking where this was going.

"I bet if I did this," he said as his hand slowly stroked in between her legs, "that I could make you feel happy and still save something for later."

Hermione's head rolled back in satisfaction and soon Draco's words were lost in a sea of pleasure.

~*~

Lying together afterwards, Hermione couldn't help but smile and trace her fingers around Draco's head. She outlined his nose and his eyes and punctuated the outline of his lips with her own.

"Time for sleep, love," Draco whispered. "I am so tired."

Hermione's heart stopped and she choked on the words that tumbled out of her mouth, "Love? Did you just call me love?"

Draco smiled sleepily and looked straight into her eyes as they lay next to each other, as he responded, "I think I am in love, Hermione. My father warned me against it, my Mother rallied for it and I have to admit I am quite scared of it. But I love you, Hermione Granger."

Tears immediately sprung into her eyes and her mouth dropped into an "Oh" of surprise. Here it was, his birthday, and she was getting the present. "I love you too, Draco. How long have you known? I mean how long have you felt this way?"

"I've known since the day before Hogsmeade. I have to say our fight was proof my father had been right when he said that love only leads to pain, but the feelings never went away. They were so strong and that's why being apart was so agonizing for me. I know I was a jerk to you in Potions and...well, everywhere else, too. I couldn't believe I allowed myself to fall for another person and then get maltreated after it."

"I'm sorry, Draco. I didn't know! I wouldn't have reacted so badly if I had known you had real feelings for me. I am so sorry..." Hermione babbled.

Covering her mouth with his hand and smiling gently he said, "Hey, hey, what's behind us is behind us. Don't worry about not knowing how I was feeling. I promise to try to do a better job telling you about how I feel as we go on. Please, stay here with me tonight, let's go to sleep and we'll talk more in the morning."

Hermione smiled under his hand and he replaced it with a kiss. He closed his eyes and she counted the minutes until he was asleep. If he thought she could sleep after he professed his love to her, he had another thing coming. It took everything in her not to scream from the roof top in happiness! Because of his words her heart was pounding and she felt like she could save the world.

Besides, she wanted to put up some streamers and balloons in his room. His birthday was the next day, after all.