Wicked Deception

Wicked Deception

Chapter Three

When Hermione arrived home after her visit with Ginny, her heart skipped a beat when she saw Draco's tailored robe hung on the coat rack. His immaculate leather boots sat next to Harry's old, scuffed-up boots and Hermione stopped to think at how they couldn't possibly keep Draco's feet warm in the snow outside. She shook her head at Draco's vanity then steeled herself to face him again and headed down the hall towards the den.

She popped her head in and saw a warm fire set in the fireplace but no one was in the room. She turned back down the hall and headed upstairs. Voices came from the kitchen and she made her way there to find an open bottle of wine and an empty glass sitting on the counter. Across the kitchen at the small breakfast nook, the table held a lavish cheese and cracker assortment and two glasses half-filled with red wine. Harry and Draco were seated across from each other as they discussed the intricacies of some Quidditch move and not noticed Hermione come in.

"Hello boys! What's the occasion?" She pointed to the wine and cheese and made a brave attempt at levity though she could feel butterflies in her stomach as she glanced at Draco. "Is this glass for me?"

As she picked up the empty glass Harry made his way towards her. Harry took the glass from her, set it down and wrapped her up in his arms. He gazed into her eyes, held her close, and planted a soft kiss on her nose and then on her lips.

"I think you've had a bit of wine already," Hermione noted to Harry softly. For the time being, all thoughts of Draco were gone from her mind. Harry's loving arms enveloped her and she felt safe and warm. He dipped his head again to kiss her and she parted her lips slightly to take in his warmth. Her eyes closed blissfully and she was disappointed when Harry gently pulled back from her.

"I've missed you all day! Did you have a good visit with Ginny? How's she doing? All Ron can tell me is that she spends all her time hanging out at the clubs. When will she settle down?" Hermione smiled tenderly at Harry's concern over Ginny's love life and squeezed him in a big hug.

As she looked over Harry's shoulder she saw Draco staring at them. It disturbed Hermione that she could not read his expression but she gave him a small smile and pulled away from Harry.

"Hello, Draco," she greeted him airily. Malfoy looked at her but didn't respond. His steady gaze was direct but not cold.

Harry handed Hermione her wine and motioned for her to sit where he had been at the table. "I'm going to wash up a bit. Help yourself to the cheese and crackers. Draco picked them up while we were out today." He grinned at them both and walked out. Hermione observed that Harry was unusually happy, almost giddy. She was glad to see this since he had been working long hours lately and this was the first time in weeks he was actually relaxing. Then she thought that it was peculiar the two had spent a Saturday together but concluded that it probably had to do with work. She lifted her eyes to Draco wondering what she should say.

Draco solved this by snidely saying, "What do you see in Potter?" His eyes flashed brilliant silver as he looked into her eyes. She tensed defensively but after several seconds his continued stare made her uncomfortable. He radiated a strong confidence which she recognized from the night before.

"How can you ask me that?" She stared back at him directly, not wanting him to feel like he had the upper hand. "You two are friends."

Her hands betrayed her show of confidence as she fiddled with the stem of her wine glass. She stopped herself, aware that she was fidgeting, and her hands came to rest on the table. She didn't know if her last comment related to his recent question or their recent encounter.

Draco reached out quickly and grabbed her left hand. "I read palms. Would you like me to read yours?" He turned her hand over and lightly brushed his fingertips against her palm. His feather touches automatically sent electric currents through her. It gave her goose pimples on the tops of her arms and the insides of her thighs. How he could get away with touching her like this again was beyond her. She made to take her hand away from his but he held her fast and wouldn't let go.

"Draco, please don't do this." Hermione was out of her mind not knowing what to do as Draco continued to caress her palm with his fingers. She wanted to move away from him but at the same time she could not resist his touch. Without his gloves she could see that he had well-manicured fingers and his hands were soft. She thought of Harry's hands, how rough they were and that he always chewed his nails down to the bit.

"Don't you want to know what I see?" Draco spoke softly across the table. The husky resonance of his voice sent shivers down her back. His stare bore into her and as she looked at him she started to lose herself in his steady gaze and clear, gray eyes. She couldn't move and she realized she was holding her breath in anticipation of his next move.

Malfoy dropped his eyes to her palm and sensually traced the lines on her hand. He moved her hand closer to his face, she thought to get a better look at the lines, but instead he bent his head and placed a slow, languorous kiss in the center of her palm. She melted in her chair and hoped that Draco did not notice the effect he was having on her. He then planted light, feather kisses on each of her fingertips. Hermione gasped inwardly as tiny tremors passed through her at every kiss. She stared at the top of his head as Draco kissed her hand.

He looked into her eyes again and whispered, "Do you want me to stop?"

"Draco, what are you doing?" Hermione found it difficult to get the words out.

He dropped her hand and picked up his wineglass as Harry stepped back into the kitchen.

***

Ron and Harry stood at the bar and watched Ginny and Hermione as they moved on the dance floor.

"Whose idea was it to invite that lousy git out with us anyway?" Ron accused Harry.

"It was my idea, Ron," Harry smiled warily at him. He decided not to get into an argument here because he knew he'd never get Ron to change his mind about Malfoy. Ron had never liked Draco Malfoy and having him hang around with them was a bitter pill for him to swallow. He made it clear to Harry that they may have to work together but he didn't want to have to spend his spare time with Malfoy as well. "He really helped me out today, you know."

"I know, I know... helped you pick out the damn near most expensive ring in London is what he did!" Ron exclaimed.

When Ron smiled as he said this Harry knew that for all his jibing he was extremely happy that Harry had decided to propose to Hermione. And any reservations Ron might have had for the timing of Harry's proposal he buried deep down. He quickly thought how pleased Ron's mother would be as she constantly remarked to both of them that it was time Harry made an honest woman of Hermione.

They both turned to lean on the bar as Ron asked, "When are you planning on popping the question?"

Harry held his butterbeer between his hands and looked down into it. "I want it to be special. Do you have any ideas?"

"Mate, you're talking to the wrong guy about this. Maybe you should ask your pal Malfoy for help on this one as well." Ron glanced down to the end of the bar at Draco's lone figure staring out across the dance floor.

Harry sighed. "I already did and he told me to propose while in the throes of passion."

"He's disgusting, you know that, mate?" Ron retorted as he took a sip of his butterbeer.

***

Hermione wasn't in much of a mood to dance but she couldn't tell Harry her reason for not wanting to go out tonight. Harry had looked forward to the outing all week. Ginny met up with them and she was a little shocked to see Draco had accompanied Harry and Hermione.

"Hey, Malfoy! Can you even dance in those fancy boots you've got on?" Ginny teased.

"Bugger off, Weasley," he snapped at her and walked away to the bar. Ginny made a face at him and pulled Hermione to the dance floor with her. Harry rolled his eyes skyward and then towed Ron to the bar to order some drinks.

Ginny leant in close to Hermione, "What is Malfoy doing here? He didn't come with you guys did he?"

"Harry invited him." She had to yell so Ginny could hear her.

"Did you say anything to Malfoy about last night?" Ginny asked Hermione, one eyebrow cocked higher than the other.

"No, not with Harry around," she lied. She didn't want Ginny to know that Draco had made another advance on her. Hermione thought she was liable to go over and deck Malfoy if she knew.

She glanced at the bar and saw Harry and Ron leaning towards each other deep in conversation. As she moved her eyes to the end of the bar she caught Draco staring directly at her. Quickly she looked to Ginny but sneaked a look back at Draco from the corner of her eye. He was no longer looking at her but talking closely with a beautiful blonde standing next to him. Hermione was slightly relieved that he had stopped looking at her. It was creepy but yet something in his look sent tingles down her spine. She loved Harry but she had to admit that Draco excited her. She was awash with guilt but her body trembled at the thought of Draco touching her again.

Feeling the beginnings of a headache come on she excused herself from Ginny and headed to see Harry and Ron. They had ordered her a drink but she excused herself again to go to the bathroom.

In the cool air and muted silence of the bathroom, Hermione bent her head down to her cool hands as she sat in the powder area. It was strangely empty, but it was still early, and perhaps no one had drunk enough yet to need the lavatory.

Her thoughts returned to Draco and how she was supposed to handle their brief encounters. That Harry was friends with Draco made it all the more difficult. She didn't know how this would affect Draco's and Harry's relationship or hers and Harry's relationship for that matter. Though she had not instigated either encounter with Draco she couldn't help but feel that she had done something terribly wrong.

She sat with her head in her hands for several minutes. Was he playing her as Ginny suggested? What did he want from her? Was he trying to ruin her relationship with Harry? Why was she thinking about his hands and his lips on her?

How could she heed Ginny's advice and stay away from Draco if Harry was asking him over all the time?

When Harry had come back to the kitchen earlier that night, Draco acted like nothing had happened again. Harry poured them more wine and settled in beside Hermione and continued their conversation about Quidditch. She said very little and not once did Draco look at her.

Harry then asked Malfoy to come with them to the club and she had nearly keeled over with surprise. How could she handle the whole night with him around?

Suddenly she felt the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Glancing up at the mirror in front of her she saw Draco standing behind her. Hermione got to her feet and turned quickly towards him.

"Malfoy, leave me alone!" she demanded. She watched his eyes rake over her.

"Granger, I find you incredibly sexy," he said, his voice barely masking a low growl. Hermione was surprised by his bluntness.

She wore a black skirt that rode modestly low on her hips and hung about midway down her thighs. Over top she had chosen a sparkly silver halter that was bare in back except for spaghetti ties knotted below her shoulder blades and around the back of her neck. Sandals that showed off her long legs were strapped to her feet. Her thick brown hair was charmed straight and hung loosely around her face and down her back. She wore little makeup but had applied a warm, pink gloss to her lips that shone in the bathroom lights.

She had dressed appropriately for the nightclub for Harry's benefit but she couldn't help but feel a tiny inkling of pleasure that Draco approved.

She stood frozen as she watched him move slowly towards her around the bench she had been sitting on. Her heart beat heavily in her chest until he stood before her and put his hands on her upper arms. She might have backed away from him had she not already had her back to the counter. His face was so close to hers that she could see his long eyelashes as he blinked down at her.

"Draco, I can't do this," she whispered to him. "I love Harry."

"Granger, I don't want your love. Potter can have it. But this..." and he set his hands on her hips. "This is what I want. And I want you to give it to me willingly."

"No," Hermione gasped, but she was torn between staying and fleeing from the room.

He leaned against her, put his mouth to her ear and whispered, "You will because you can't resist me."

***

"Where's Hermione? She left me all alone on the dance floor!" Ginny complained when she sidled up to Harry and Ron at the bar.

"Who are you kidding, Ginny?" Ron grimaced. "We saw you snogging that guy out there! Have you no shame?"

Harry grinned at the two of them and thought about their relationship as brother and sister. They were like family to him and were as close to a brother and sister Harry would ever have but he never felt the same comfortable rapport they shared with each other. Both he and Hermione were only children and didn't understand the nuances of banter and bickering between siblings.

"I think Hermione went to the 'loo," he answered Ginny. "Can you go see if she's ok? She's been gone a little while."

"Sure Harry, no problem. I have to touch up my lipstick anyway," she smirked and winked at Ron as she headed towards the nearest bathrooms.

Outside the bathrooms a "Closed for Cleaning" sign hovered in front of the ladies door.

"Oh, bollocks!" Ginny sighed. "The other bathrooms are on the other side of the club. That's probably what's taking Hermione so long. It's easy to get lost down there." She turned and headed towards the other bathrooms.

***

Hermione's knees melted again as she inhaled Draco's spice and cinnamon scent, his breath in her ear. What was wrong with her? Did she have absolutely no willpower?

Draco held her hips and pushed himself against her as he put his lips to her neck. His light, soft hair tickled her ear as he laid soft kisses along the underside of her jaw. She hesitated to touch him but as he moved to put more kisses on the other side of her neck she lightly set her hands on his back. He had the same build as Harry but held himself differently and so seemed more slender.

Her heart skipped a beat as he put his mouth on hers. When he kissed her the night before he had merely lined her teeth with his tongue but this time he wanted to delve deeper into her mouth. She parted her lips to let his tongue touch hers and her mind numbed as she tasted him for the first time. Tilting her head to allow him better access her breath caught in her throat as he slowly flicked his tongue against hers. Enraptured by the achingly slow exploration of his kiss she barely felt his hands move up her back and reach to untie the knot at the back of her shirt. Once the knot was loosened he reached for her neck to undo the knot there. Meanwhile he had moved his mouth to her ear and licked softly at the bottoms of the lobes and breathed softly and slowly into her ear.

Hermione couldn't think straight with Malfoy so adept at reaching each of her pleasure points in turn. His hands now fluttered down over her spine sending more tingles over her body and she arched her body against his. The only thing keeping her shirt on was Draco's body pressed against hers. Her mind suddenly shouted out to her, "Stop this!" but her body was inundated with Draco's touch and she couldn't help herself. She let Draco pull her shirt away to expose her upper body.

She watched as Malfoy moved his head back to look down at her. His hands traveled down to her breasts and he outlined their outer curve with his palms. He moved his hands to the underside of her breasts, cupped the weight of them and gently stroked the nipples with his thumbs. She moaned ever so softly as he did this and closed her eyes.

Suddenly, she pulled back surprised as Draco ran his tongue unhurriedly over her left nipple while his hand tugged gently at her right nipple. Her eyes flew open and she thought that if she didn't stop this now there was no going back.

"Draco, I can't do this!" she cried and she pushed him back from her. There was no visible reaction from him.

He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were burning and she had small red marks on her breasts where he had brushed his nails against her.

"We both want this," Draco told her reflection. He stepped back from her then disapparated with a soft pop.

Hermione picked her top off the floor and tied the ends around her neck. Just then a knock came at the door and a woman popped her head in. "Have they finished cleaning in here yet? I really have to go!" Hermione nodded and the girl raced to a stall. She thought briefly that Malfoy's habit of leaving her just before someone appeared was getting a tad bit annoying.

Then she looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes screamed at her reflection, what are you doing?

She dropped her head into her hands again while her heart beat rapidly in her chest.

***