Born The Day You Kissed Me

The Restricted Section

Draco awoke to find a warm body clinging to his right side. When his eyes focused to the darkness around him, he realized that it was Granger. Backtracking, he vaguely recalled talking to her...she had sat down next to him, and that was really all he remembered. The potion he'd taken had made him so sleepy that he had no memory of even falling asleep on the couch.

When he shifted, she seemed to nestle even closer to him. Suddenly, he realized that his right arm was draped around her, and that his left hand was intertwined with her left hand, while her other lay on his chest. A small smile crept apon his face as he watched her sleep while he admitted to himself that it was nice to hold her like this.

He wondered what time it was, and turned around to glimpse out the window. It was still dark outside and he could tell it wasn't yet dawn. For a moment, he debated over waking her, or simply falling back asleep with her curled up beside him. The latter seemed appealing, but he gathered that the Head Girl would prefer a good nights rest in the comfort of her own bed.

"Granger," he whispered. When she didn't stir, he pulled his hand from hers to shake her awake.

"Wha?" she murmured, burying her head into his side. She suddenly froze, as she realized where she was and slowly lifted her head to look at him. "Oh my," she whispered pulling away from him. "I'm sorry−" she started.

"It's okay," he said, cutting her off. "Really, don't worry about it."

She nodded. "How are you feeling?" she asked, remembering that he'd been running a temperature. She placed the back of her hand on his head again. "Your temperature is definitely down."

"Yea, the potion helped. It knocked me out too; I don't even remember falling asleep here with you."

She blushed and smiled shyly, "Well, I'm going to get to bed."

"Yea, me too," he whispered.

Silence hung for a while when neither knew what to say next. Finally, Hermione leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Pulling back slightly, she whispered, "Feel better soon," then got up and made her way to her room.

* * *

Sunday passed by quickly for Draco. He had gone outside to look for her, but didn't find her or anyone else from her posse outside either. He assumed they were in Gryffindor tower because of the cold weather, and the first time he saw her was at dinner.

Draco sipped on his pumpkin juice as he tried not to stare, but found it hard not to watch the witch. She was sitting between Weasley and Potter, and had broken out into laughter at something the red head had done.

Draco was surprised at how jealous he felt when he saw Weasley touch her on the shoulder and let the hand slide down her back. He slammed his goblet down on the table and turned the heads of half the school as he got up and stormed out of the hall.

A few hours later, he crawled into bed, but he was unable to sleep at all. He couldn't get her out of his head. He kept replaying waking up next to her, and thought of how her warmth was irreplaceable.

He tossed and turned, trying to figure out what to do. It seemed as if he always wanted to be around her, and he found himself becoming increasingly jealous when she was so friendly with other boys, especially Weasley.

In Draco's opinion, there was nothing more embarrassing than being jealous of a Weasley.

After everything that had happened over the past few weeks, tension was high between the two. Draco was still unnerved about having his memory erased to find out that he'd been part of a plan to abduct her.

Draco shook his head, trying to rid thoughts of his father and the damned Death Eaters. He continued to toss and turn, and finally when his clock read 6 o'clock, gave up and went to take a shower.

Less than an hour later, Draco made his way to the great hall for breakfast. He was hardly ever up this early, but was startled to find the Great Hall already bustling with students.

He sat down at the end of the Slytherin table, and ate by himself. Soon, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle came to join him. He took no notice of their presence, and tried to ignore their annoying conversation.

He was so caught up in his own thoughts that he barely noticed that an owl had landed on the table right in front of him.

"Draco," Pansy said in annoyance when the bird flapped its wings in her face. When he still didn't respond, Pansy took the letter from the bird. "Oh look Draco, it's from your father," she said as she began to open the parchment.

When he heard the phrase 'your father,' he leapt to attention and swiftly snatched the letter from her grasp.

"What is your problem?" she asked indignantly. When he didn't reply, she huffed and began to yell at him. "Ever since the beginning of term you have been acting like a complete arse, and you don't even talk to me anymore! You blow me and Crabbe and Goyle off for your Head duties which, by the way, seem like way more work than you had last term. You need to start making time for your friends! You never even come to the Slytherin common room anymore, you always have an excuse−"

Draco slammed his hands down onto the table which halted her epilogue. "Not today, Pansy," he said slowly, afraid his temper would break any moment.

"Well why not today? It seems like you've been avoiding the lot of us, and we'd like an answer as to where you've been lately," she said irritability while Crabbe and Goyle nodded their heads beside her. When she saw him gather his book bag and make to stand up she scoffed loudly. "Right, here we go. What's your excuse this time?"

"Since when do I report to you about my every move? Stop ordering me about, you're not my fucking mother!" he yelled sternly. By now, the entire hall was looking at the fight unraveling among the Slytherins. He slung his bag over his shoulder and stormed out of the Great Hall.

Pansy watched him stalk away and quickly turned back to her breakfast. Then, she saw the letter from Draco's father. He must have forgotten about it after he slammed his hands down on the table. She glanced around and picked it up and stuck it hastily into her pocket. She smiled in satisfaction at the knowledge that she knew he didn't want her seeing the piece of parchment.

* * *

Later that afternoon, Draco dragged himself to the dungeons for potions. Having had hardly any sleep that night, his eyes were droopy and so far in all of his classes, his head kept nodding off so that he was startled awake by feeling off-balanced.

"Take your seats," Snape growled as he walked briskly into the classroom. Draco dropped into a seat beside Pansy and dropped his head to the table. "Mister Malfoy," Snape said, clearing his throat matter-of-factly.

Draco raised his head to look at his head of house, "Sir?"

"Please refrain from drooling on my desk," he said narrowly.

Draco nodded once and glanced towards the other side of the room where the Gryffindors sat. As always, Granger sat attentively at her desk with a quill at the ready.

Snape cleared his throat to gather his seventh year's attention. "Today, and for the rest of term, we will be working with love potions. Before anyone gets too excited, let me first assure you that we will not be testing them out on anyone, and if such a thing is done during your assignment you will be expelled," he said hitting Draco's desk with his palm as he saw the Slytherin's head wobble.

"I will be putting you all in pairs and you will both be required to do strict research from an outline that I will be providing you. This particular assignment is due in a month and a half's time," he said while sitting apon his desk. He looked about the classroom in thought.

Snape began to pair people off, hearing groans left and right. Anticipation was evident on every students face as they waited for their name to be called. "Potter and Longbottom, Mister Malfoy, you will partner with Weasley, and that leaves Granger and Miss Parkinson."

Hermione's mouth was gaping opened. Anyone but Parkinson would have been fine. She'd rather have been partnered with Crabbe and Goyle. It was a known fact that Pansy was not the brightest student, and that she made her grades by cheating from Malfoy. Hermione inwardly sighed when she realized that she would pretty much have to do the whole project be herself and give credit to her "partner."

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Ron said, holding his stomach with mock queasiness.

"Sorry guys," Harry said as he stood to go sit by Neville. Ron and Hermione made their way across the room to their partners. Pansy moved up a table and slumped down in a chair, frowning and crossing her arms like a child.

Hermione rolled her eyes as she sat down next to her. Ron sat down and crossed his arms as well, but Malfoy wasn't complaining considering he was half asleep anyway.

After a brief overview of what the project would require, Snape had them come and collect supplies and a list of ingredients and directions, and then dismissed them with their first assignment.

"Well, have fun with the research," Pansy said, flipping her stringy hair over her bony shoulder.

Hermione looked at her with her brow furrowed. Unbelievable! The girl was already laying the assignment on her back! And it was the first day of working with each other−nay, the first hour! Hermione could tell from reading the outline that this was going to be the hardest assignment she'd ever had in potions, hence why it was given at the end of their seventh year.

She shook her head in disbelief as the Slytherin strolled down the corridor, and wondered if she was going to get any help from her partner at all. "Obviously not," Hermione thought, as she was left carrying all of the ingredients, books, papers, and outlines for the assignment.

"This is a nightmare," Ron mumbled as he walked up from behind.

Hermione turned around to face him, but saw that his hands were empty. She was about to ask him where his books and supplies for the project were, but her question was answered as Malfoy walked past with ingredients, books, and papers in hand.

It struck Hermione that Ron was treating Malfoy exactly how Parkinson was treating her. Here it was, the first hour of research and Ron was already laying the assignment on Malfoy's shoulders.

"Harry's gone with Neville to the library," Ron said as he began to walk away. "Lets go to the common room," he said pulling her arm for her to follow him.

"No, I'm going to go to the library to start this project...that is why Snape let us out early you know," she said in a condescending tone.

"I am not working with Malfoy," Ron said sternly.

"So what, you're just going to make him do the whole thing alone?" she said in a shrilly voice.

"Yea, not like he'd listen to me anyways your partner? Don't see her around anywhere," Ron said crossing his arms.

Hermione stopped walking with him laughing a bit while shaking her head. "Don't you see? I am Malfoy. You are Parkinson. You are doing the same thing to Malfoy, as that pug faced witch is doing to me. And I know how Malfoy feels to have an entire project meant for two, dumped on his shoulders because guess what Ronald! The same thing just happened to me!" she hissed. At Ron's bewildered look, she sighed loudly and walked away, ignoring Ron's calls for her to stop.

She didn't realize how fast she was walking until she caught up with Malfoy as he was on his way to the library as well.

"Hi," she said quietly as she walked up beside him.

"Hey...I see you've been stranded by your partner as well," he joked.

"Yea," she said shortly and softly.

They walked in silence to the library, and they managed to open the door despite the piles of supplies they had in their arms. Out of habit, Hermione proceeded to her 'table.' As she turned and winded around book shelves, Draco finally spoke up.

"Where the bloody hell are we going?"

She laughed as she turned the last corner and set down her armful of supplies on a large vacant table. "No one ever comes here," she said, shrugging her shoulders as she removed her scarf and cloak. "That," she said while arranging her books, "and it is right next to the restricted section. There is an entry right over there that hardly anyone knows about."

He looked to where she was pointing, and wondered why he hadn't known about it. "I'm assuming that it is unheard of because you happen to be the only person who ventures this deep into the library," he said while throwing his stuff on the table. "Just out of curiosity, mind telling me why you have to sneak into the restricted section Granger? Looking at naughty literature, are we?"

Hermione turned crimson. "No," she said quickly. "Of course not, it's just that...there are fascinating books in there that really provide my essays with more profundity and significance than the rest of the books in the library," she said, trying to justify herself.

"No need to explain yourself, there's no problem with− where are you going?" he stopped midsentance as the girl disappeared behind a shelf. He began to follow her, intrigued by her for reasons unknown to him. "Granger," he said loudly. "Where did you−"

"Come on," she said, stepping out from behind a bookcase.

He followed her and came to a wide barred door. "Do you have to say a password or something?" he said sarcastically.

Hermione turned around and looked at him coyly. She then softly pushed against the door. Draco heard it creak as it slowly swung opened freely.

"I guess not," he said to himself as she had already walked through. "And what exactly are we looking for?"

"Books about love potions," she said simply as she picked up a book.

"Aaaand you can't find those in the unrestricted part of the library?"

She shut the book rather loudly and looked up at him while pushing it back into the shelf where she got it from. "No, I can. But those only contain elementary information about love potions. I want the information that not everybody knows, and can't get from the books in the regular library catalog. In that sense, I have the advantage since hardly anyone comes to this particular part of the library."

"I bet they would if they knew about this secret little door," he said coming to stand right beside her.

She smiled and nodded. "You're right...but unlike me, if they're caught, they'd be in trouble," she said.

"And why is that?" he asked, leaning against the shelf.

"Well because I have a pass," she said while picking up another book. "Most students are too lazy to go through the procedure to acquire one."

"I don't have one. Does that mean I'll be in trouble?" he whispered.

She slowly set her book down and looked up at him, "No," she whispered back.

"Why not?"

"Because...you're with me."

He stepped even closer to her now. He was suddenly hit with an overwhelming need to kiss her. "Well, that's good to know," he said rather huskily.

The intensity in his eyes combined with the tone of his voice seemed to send thrills throughout her entire body as she swallowed hard. She glanced away while biting her bottom lip, then glanced back into his swarming grey eyes. She smiled softly, then swiftly turned around and disappeared behind a shelf.

Malfoy followed her almost predatorily, and it seemed she knew exactly what he'd been thinking as she led them down an aisle that had a dead end. She turned around in time for him to grab her wrist and push her against the wall with his body.

He quickly grabbed her behind her head and slammed her lips to his. She groaned in pleasure at the taste of his lips and as he captured her hands and brought them over her head.

The kiss was animalistic as they were each trapping each others moans in their mouths. His tongue snaked out to trace her lips and he felt her knees buckle as her body pushed against him.

Hermione's heart was pounding so loudly that her chest was beginning to hurt. Not only was his kiss intoxicating her mind and body, but she found it incredibly erotic to be pinned by Malfoy against a wall in the restricted section of her beloved library. By holding onto her hands as he was, he was claiming dominance to their interlude. Hermione was completely content to be the submissive party, and was turned on by the feeling of being cornered and crushed against a wall by the tall Slytherin.

The kiss seemed to last forever, and Hermione felt her lips become swollen. She turned her head so that his lips now latched onto her neck. She exhaled loudly, attempting to catch her breath. His hands then crept along her arms down to her waist. He began to massage her, and her breathing sped up once more.

"Draco," she whispered. "No Draco, stop," she said as he began untucking her blouse. "Ohhh," she suddenly sighed as he took her earlobe into the hot recesses of his mouth. Her hands fell into his hair and she latched on for dear life. She had never felt anything like what Draco was doing to her, and she mewed as his lips continued their torture to her neck.

"Hermione," he breathed into her hair as his hands slid up her bare skin. He purposely scratched his fingernails lightly along her sides and reveled in her sighs of approval.

The sighs of approval soon transformed into loud laughter. "Stop!" she hissed while laughing. He was confused for a minute before he realized that she must be ticklish on her sides.

She pushed at his arms so that his hands halted their torture, and pulled away from while trying to contain her laughter. She tucked her shirt back in and leaned in for a kiss. "Don't ever tickle me again Draco Malfoy," she said in a mock serious voice.

Draco nodded while smiling. That wasn't exactly the response he'd been going for...but he knew that he'd had to halt the snog session soon or he wouldn't have been able to contain himself. Better to end on a happy note than an angry frustrated note.

Hermione licked her lips and laughed a bit, "I feel much better now," she said as she was suddenly in a wonderful mood.

Draco gave her one last kiss before taking her hand and leading her back down the aisle. "Right. Now, on to the history of Love Potions," he said as they rounded the aisle and began a stack of books to begin their research, while exchanging a light pleasant conversation.

With books in hand, they made their way back to the table. They plowed through every book while sharing interesting things they read, and practically finished all the research they needed for the first part of the assignment.

Hermione watched Draco from above her opened book and realized that this was the first afternoon that she hadn't retreated to her room and cried about her parents. The look in her eyes held sadness, gratefulness, and an overwhelming look of relief.

Relief that perhaps her life could move on if only for more afternoons just like this one....