Addictions Are Hard to Get Over

She knew that there was no chance for a long-term relationship between herself and Draco; she could never show him the perfect adoration her art showed him. But they would always have this evening in the Library. It would be a faultless memory of their kiss, unmarred by fights and any real feelings of attachment or responsibility.

* * * * *

Hermione got back to her dorm and flopped onto her bed. What had just happened? Had it actually happened? Had she kissed Draco?

Hermione smiled.

Yes, she had, in fact, kissed Draco- no, Malfoy. She had kissed Malfoy. And he had kissed her back. Quite well, actually. Draco- ah! MALFOY! Malfoy was a good kisser.

Wait.

She had kissed MALFOY. What had she been thinking? She hated Malfoy. She hated everything about him, from his flawlessly slicked back hair, to his shining, silver eyes, to his perfectly pouty lips, to his... let's just stop there, shall we?

Hermione had left Dra- Malfoy to his own devices with the crowd in the Library. What was he doing?

God's teeth, she'd left her portfolio with him in the library! It was probably quite crushed at this point, as it had been splayed out on both their laps.

What would he have done with it? Would he have thrown it out? No, no, of course not. He would never have thrown out so much art portraying him. Would he have shown anyone? Surely not shown it to the crowd gathered around him!

...But really, where had he learnt to kiss like that? Honestly!

She had to get her portfolio back. She rolled off her bed and raced back to the Library. She was about to push back through the doors when someone pulled her behind some statue.

And it wasn't just anyone.

"Couldn't get enough of me, eh?"

"That's beside the point-"

"But you didn't deny it."

Hermione sighed. "Where's my portfolio, Malfoy?"

"Oooh, back to the good old last name basis, are we?"

"When were we on a first name basis?"

"I assumed it would have been automatic when I had my hand up your-"

"No need to be crude about things. Where's my portfolio, Draco?"

"Right here, Hermione." Draco reached into his bag, extracted the notebook, and waived it in her face.

She tried to grab it, but he pulled it out of her reach.

"May I have it?" Hermione asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes, you may. But it comes at a price. One kiss- one real kiss."

"Malfoy! Is it too much to ask for you to be decent?"

"Just think of it as... a business negotiation. I have something you want. You have something I want. So we trade. Don't make me up my price."

"It's my notebook."

"And it's in my possession. I've just upped my price to two kisses. And free license to run my hand through your hair ...fluffy as it is."

"You're an ass."

"No, I have an ass. And a rather nice one, at that. Don't get any ideas, now. However, out of the kindness of my heart, I'll grant you free and unlimited access to my man-boobs."

Hermione laughed out loud. "Man-boobs?"

Draco shrugged. "Too much time in Southern California over summer holidays. Bloody gay, lesbian, bisexual, and questioning punks, Goths, stoners, and random people and their breast tissue molestations on each other and me!"

"What?"

"Don't ask. Long story involving unwashed hair and exchange students."

"Oh."

"So. Two kisses, I get free license to your hair, you get full access to my man-boobs, and then your portfolio back. Deal?"

"No!"

Draco sighed. "Stop pretending you don't want me. I can see your eyes wandering to my lips every now and again. See? You're doing it now!"

"You're bloody delusional."

"Shut up and grab my man-boobs, because I'm kissing you now." And he did.

Hermione lost any desire she might have had to object immediately. He pressed her against the wall and ran his hands through her hair as she wrapped her arms around him.

Draco pulled back. "You're not using your privilege to my man-boobs," he complained.

"That's one kiss, Draco."

"You're right. I won't dally around with the second one."

This time, he went a bit more than slightly past what they had agreed on. They were quite distracted from everything around them. So distracted, in fact, that they didn't hear the footsteps.

"Well, I'm glad to see that the request for inter-house cooperation was heeded by some. Though you two may be taking it a touch overboard." Professor Dumbledore was standing a few feet away from them, with that same damn twinkle in his eyes.

Draco and Hermione pulled apart immediately, righting their askew hair, robes... shoes... Draco's bookbag.

"It is past the Year Six curfew. It would be best for you to return to your according dormitories."

Draco gathered his things and left, without any acknowledgements of any kind to either of the two people in his presence. Hermione was blushing furiously. What must Dumbledore think of her? There were few people she desired respect from as much as she did from him. He had caught her in a horribly compromising situation, and any hope she had of him having any respect for her had just gone out the window.

"Sir, I'm so sorry. This isn't-"

"It's alright, my dear Miss Granger. I know what havoc those teenage hormones can wreak." He leaned closer, the twinkling in his eyes increasing to an alarming extent. "Perhaps next time you two should take the time to find a safer, more private place," he whispered.

"There won't be a next time, Sir."

"Don't speak too quickly, Miss Granger. You never know. And you should never say never."

Hermione laughed and looked at the floor. "Oh, curses and damnation on that slimy git!"

"What's wrong?"

"He was supposed to give me my notebook back! The bloody sneak!"

"Well, my dear, he is a Slytherin."

* * * * *

It was breakfast the next morning, a Saturday.

"Malfoy! I want a word."

Draco grinned and left the Slytherin table. He followed Hermione out of the Great Hall. Almost everyone was watching them go. Rumours travelled fast at Hogwarts, and, needless to say, neither Ron nor Harry were speaking to her presently. Harry was extra hostile, and stabbing at his oatmeal with his spoon, and there seemed to be tearstains down Ron's cheeks, and his eyes were red and puffy.

"What is it?" he asked, feigning innocence the moment the doors shut behind them.

"You know what I want!" Hermione screeched.

"Sheesh. Once you get going, you just can't get enough of me, can you? Do you want to hide this time, or stay here?"

"What? What are you-? No! I want my bloody notebook back! We had a deal!"

"No, we never formally agreed on anything. We didn't shake hands, do a pinkie swear, blood oath, soul-binding contract, or anything."

"Oh, come on!"

"I'm a Slytherin. What do you expect?"

"You're upperclass as well! I expected you'd at least be a bit of a gentleman."

"Obviously you've never gotten to know any upperclassmen. Not so deep down, all the men are cads, cheating on their wives, who cheat on them with the other upperclassmen."

Hermione sighed. "Just give me my notebook back."

"Why do you want it so badly?"

"Because it's mine!"

"If you love it, let it go. If it comes back, it was truly yours all along. If it doesn't, I'm feeling greedy and undersexed."

"Obviously, you're always greedy. And your sex drive is appalling."

"I'm an adolescent male. What do you expect?"

"You're just full of 'what do you expect?' excuses, aren't you. Just be nice and I might reward you."

"You see, it's the whole 'might' thing. If you do what I say, and then I give you your notebook, I definitely get what I want."

"But last time I didn't get what I wanted."

"You can't tell me you didn't want to kiss me!"

"That's not what I-"

"Yes it is."

"Is not."

"Is."

"Not."

"Is."

"Not."

"Is."

"Not."

"Is."

"Not."

"Not."

"Is- oh, dammit! You're infuriating!"

"But that's what you love about me. I present a challenge. Can't imagine Potty or Weasley doing much for you."

"Shut up, man! They're still my friends!"

"They might say otherwise."

"Fine. Go get the notebook and we'll work something out."

Draco immediately ran to the Slytherin Dungeons, a big smirk on his face.

* * * * *

"Here it is. Now what, exactly-"

"Accio!"

"Hey!"

Hermione had been waiting for him, wand in hand, until he rounded the corner. She was now running up the marble staircase, laughing maniacally as she went, frightening the students she passed.

"Damn!" said Draco, watching her go. "Should have seen that one coming. Guess I wasn't thinking with my brain. I'm supposed to be the cunning one."