Inevitable Lovers

Chapter 6:

Monday brought with it a spell of calm weather and weak sunshine. Hermione brought with her the same determined attitude from the previous day as she walked down to breakfast, today at her usual time. The Great Hall was crowded and full of the noise of early-morning chatter. Hermione caught Hagrid's eye at the staff table, and she gave a cheery wave before sitting down with Harry, Ginny, Ron and several other Gryffindors. Her eyes deliberately veered away from the Slytherin table.

'Morning,' she said in greeting.

'Hi,' said both Harry and Ron. Hermione noticed something rather glum in the air.

'What's wrong with you two?' she asked.

'Quidditch,' said Harry shortly, looking troubled. 'I can't find a new Beater for the team, and we won't be able to practice properly if we're one player down.'

'Yeah, even if our other players're brilliant we can't beat another team with only six,' Ron added.

Ginny, who always tended to look on the bright side, pointed out: 'Look boys, we'll hold some more try-outs this week, we've only just got back. And we have the best Seeker in the school, at least.' She smiled at Harry. Hermione watched this exchange, feeling slightly wistful. Why couldn't I be the one with a caring boyfriend? Oh, who needs him, anyway? I bet he just goes running back to Pansy Parkinson...why am I torturing myself?

The arrival of the morning post caused a loud rustling overhead, although nothing arrived for Hermione or the others. Voldemort's rise to power was no secret; Hermione didn't much see the point in taking out a Daily Prophet subscription, not when there were much more useful contacts such as Remus Lupin to write to. Soon after, the bell rang, signalling the start of lessons.

The first lesson of the week was Arithmancy, which Hermione was grateful for, especially as it could have been Potions. As the class settled down, Professor Vector informed the class that today they were going to learn how to solve some difficult Arithmancy equations. Hermione took out her quill with a flourish, relishing the idea of an uninterrupted hour of perfectly thorny Arithmancy problems.

***

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the castle, Draco Malfoy should have been attending his own first lesson, Transfiguration. It had been split that year so he was no longer in that lesson with Hermione, Harry or Ron. However, he had other plans. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle as everyone moved to their lessons, he had stealthily slipped away into an unlocked broom cupboard, the message he needed forming in his mind. He pulled an official-looking piece of charmed parchment out of his bag, and began to dictate to it, using only his wand. Although he was risking a reprimand for skiving lessons, he rather considered his task at hand more pressing. After all, if it hadn't been for him, a certain fiery-tempered Gryffindor wouldn't be currently cringing inwardly every time she laid eyes on him.

***

Ten minutes into Arithmancy, Hermione was concentrating hard on the equations on her parchment, deciding what to write next. Before she could, there was a loud knock on the heavy stone door; a second later, it swung open. Everyone looked up. Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway, holding a piece of rolled-up parchment.

'Professor Vector, I've been told to tell Hermione Granger that Professor McGonagall wants to see her,' he said, his voice betraying no emotion. His eyes grazed over Hermione, who was also staring at him. They did not linger there, however, mainly owing to the awkwardness of yesterday.

'Do you have a note?' asked Professor Vector, looking at him over the top of her round glasses.

'Certainly, professor,' said Draco promptly. Growing up with Lucius Malfoy for a father had definitely taught him how to speak in a refined, polite manner when he needed to. 'Would you like to see it?'

'Oh no, don't bother. I'm sure the Hogwarts Head Boy can be trusted,' she said. 'Off you go then, Miss Granger.'

Hermione stared at Draco, wondering what was going on. What would Professor McGonagall want to speak to her about during lessons?

Silently, she caught up her books, quill and ink, and followed Draco out of the room, shutting the door with a bang. As soon as they were in the empty corridor, Draco turned to her and deftly caught hold of her wrist.

'Wha-' squeaked Hermione, and before she could protest, he had pulled her into a dark niche that curled away from the deserted main passage opposite the classroom. It was so small there was barely two feet between them.

'Hermione,' Draco began, and paused for effect that he had said her first name for the first time, 'look, I'm sorry about yesterday. I really am. I just flipped, I didn't mean to say any of that.' His face was half-hidden in shadow, but his blue-grey eyes shone and he looked genuine. That was odd, very odd.

'Funny that,' she said coldly, leaning against the stone wall behind her with her hands behind her back, 'I don't see why you should care what a Mudblood thinks of you. I don't suppose McGonagall actually wanted to see me, by the way?'

'Well, no, actually, I forged the note by magic.' He couldn't suppress a grin at his own cunning. 'And I do care, Hermione...I was...scared of what would happen, I felt like you had power over me. I know it's stupid, but I've never really fallen for anyone before.'

'Fallen? What about Pansy Parkinson?' she queried sardonically, her voice low. She stared up at him, challenging him in the darkness, partly annoyed that she had been dragged out of class for this, but also wondering exactly what he was going to say next.

'Pansy?' Draco said contemptuously. 'As if she matters.'

'I heard you, you know. With her. On the first night back.' She left this statement hanging.

There was a pause.

'Oh, shit, you know, I'm really sorry.' He felt he owed it to her to apologise, especially as he no longer wanted Pansy the way she wanted him. He couldn't stand the way Hermione was looking at him, with something close to revulsion in her unblinking gaze. He remembered those same eyes looking at him in hope yesterday, and mentally kicked himself for about the tenth time.

'It doesn't matter now. The point is, have we resolved this?' Hermione said is a businesslike tone. You don't play the flirting game, she mentally reminded herself.

Draco's breathing had become heavier. 'I can't see a thing,' he muttered, pulling out his wand and waving it. An orange glow emanated from it, and the space became dimly lit. He could see her face now; her pupils were large due to the previous gloom and her eyes looked beautifully dark, such a contrast to his own. She was still waiting for an answer.

'Yes,' he said, his voice lowering, 'I think we have. Am I forgiven?'

'Well...I think I could forgive you, although you were so rude,' she said, her heart beating faster and faster by the second. She did not look disgusted now; her expression had changed to be one of longing.

He made an impatient noise. 'Don't push it, Granger.' Suddenly, in one sinuous movement, Draco bore down on her, his arms taut as his hands were above her head against the wall. 'You know I want you,' he hissed, looking down on her, invading her space, in an almost snake-like way. He wasn't used to resistance, girls usually surrendered to him after a look, and yet...this was so different. He had the feeling she was teasing him again, just a bit, to see if he was serious, and he didn't know how to react to that.

Hermione was quick. She spun out from underneath his arms and dodged. 'Come and get me then, if you want me,' she taunted softly, aware of the fact that she had extended this invitation once before, and been refused. She wondered if he would, or if he would push her away yet again. She didn't know, and didn't really care - he had already humiliated her in the worst way possible.

Instead, he captured her fully now, making Hermione suppress a gasp in surprise. 'Hermione, please,' he moaned, relishing the feeling of saying her name aloud once again. Hermione noticed this, and was pleased. Draco's hands dropped to her waist. He looked at her for her consent that what he was doing was allowed. She did not flinch, or give any indication that it wasn't.

Then, lowering his head, he descended his lips onto hers, for real this time, and both closed their eyes. Hermione couldn't quite believe this was happening, and was too shocked to respond at first. Draco held his mouth to hers for a few seconds, savouring the bliss of finally kissing Hermione Granger, after months of waiting. Lessons and teachers seemed miles away.

'Ohh...' she whimpered softly at last, against his luscious cerise lips. The kiss deepened, and Draco parted his mouth. It felt incredibly intimate. Their tongues danced together, although Hermione was tentative. This was her first kiss, her first real kiss, and it felt so good...

A few seconds later, they broke apart; and Hermione stared at Draco, observing the way his pupils had widened, the way he was breathing.

'Did you mean it, when you said you'd never fallen for anyone before?' she asked somewhat coyly, although she felt the blood rushing in her ears.

'Yeah, I haven't, not until now.' Their foreheads were touching, and Hermione reached up to tenderly touch Draco's face. He had rarely felt anything so delicate; girls usually just wanted to wrap their legs around him without preamble.

'I didn't want to...to get hurt, you know. I'm not a nice person, Hermione. I don't take risks for my feelings. And - this could be very dangerous...' he suggested, his eyes like blue fire boring into hers. Her presence coupled with the secrecy, the knowledge that this was forbidden to both of them caused sparks of fiery lust shoot down his body, ending mostly in his groin.

'Can I even trust you?' she mused quietly, half to herself. Internally, she wanted him, she desired him desperately, but she was also partly wondering whether she could trust him, and if she wanted to be second where she knew others had been...but mostly she just wanted this.

He made to say something more, but Hermione silenced him by placing a finger over his lips. She held him to her for a moment, and closed her eyes, pressing her face into his warm chest beneath his school shirt.

Draco lifted her chin again. They kissed softly. Hermione's head spun. She felt as if her world had been turned upside down. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore, but right now, all she cared about was this...Their bodies were pressed together, and Draco kissed her hungrily, having been denied the pleasure he had craved for so long. His almost forceful manner turned her on, albeit a little guiltily, and she knew he was excited; she could feel his erection up against her stomach. She blushed a little, but soon had hold of the back of his neck as their mouths parted again. Both made small moans into the kiss. Part of her was wondering whether, when the time inevitably came, she would be able to satisfy him - after all this was Draco Malfoy, who had more than a slight reputation as a sex-god. And it wasn't just Slytherins who thought it either, as Hermione distinctly recalled a saucy conversation between Lavender and Parvati that she had walked in on once, and his name had definitely been mentioned...

However, unknown to each of them, time was ticking rapidly, and suddenly, so that Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin, the bell rang loudly. They released each other at once, Draco adjusting his tie and Hermione smoothing her hair, her heart racing. What if someone sees us? The moment had passed, and the sensual atmosphere diminished.

'Oh, damn, I didn't realise,' Hermione panicked aloud. 'I've missed almost the whole lesson, I'll never catch up...'

'Hey, at least we'll be on time for Defence Against the Dark Arts,' said Draco easily, much less worried. He caught Hermione as she edged out of the niche, distinguishing the light he had conjured earlier.

'Wait...' he groaned. He planted another kiss on her lips, and she sighed but pushed him away.

'Draco, we've got to go! We'll talk about this later. Walk ten steps behind me!' she urged, hurrying along the corridor. Students were starting to pour out from classrooms on all sides; the corridors were becoming crowded and noisy once again. Hermione slowed her walk a little, trying to look nonchalant. She felt awfully transparent, even though the gang of giggling second-years now behind her couldn't possibly know what had happened. She resisted the temptation to turn around and see if Draco was behind.

Two floors above, Harry and Ron were already waiting outside Defence Against the Dark Arts, having come from separate lessons. Hermione caught up as they were filing in, and as they made for their seats near the back, she caught Draco's eye, and couldn't help exchanging a small, secret smile. A second later, they were separated by three desks across the room.

Defence Against the Dark Arts was no longer a mysterious or in Harry's case, frustrating experience for them. Their new professor, Professor Tuppy was quite a tall, spindly woman, with heavy, iron-grey hair; there was something vaguely familiar about her. She had a rather hard, commanding voice, but most of the class found her to be quite reasonable, although she kept them working hard. Hermione found she could put her hand up as often as she liked without ever being told she was a know-it-all, as in Potions, for example. This lesson, however, she kept her head down, and between writing, her mind ran over the events of half an hour ago repeatedly. She had to fight to keep from smiling, and she wondered if Draco was doing the same. She hoped so.

***

It was only much later that Hermione found herself alone with Draco. The day had been another long one, and her homework pile had only increased. On entering her own tower, though, all these worries evaporated. Draco Malfoy was standing in the pleasantly warm common room in front of the blazing fire. Hermione stared at him, from his graciously chiselled face, down his body, slim but comfortable beneath his school uniform.

'Draco,' was all she said.

He came over at once. This time it was Hermione who reached up, and without saying a word, kissed him delicately on the mouth. Draco kissed her back, not being able to get enough of this new pleasure. After a few moments, she broke away.

'Hermione.' He took her hands in his, and looked into her deep brown eyes, seeing himself reflected in each. She didn't speak, and then he noticed that her mouth had tightened at the edges. She looked as if she were about to cry. Silently, he led her to the larger of the armchairs, so they could both sit down.

'What's wrong?' This was most unlike the Malfoy Hermione usually spoke to.

'I...just...' these words came out faint as if she couldn't express what she wanted to say. Draco waited patiently. 'I...just can't believe this...I feel like I shouldn't be with you...but I want to be, so much.' A tear spilled down her cheek. Draco would usually have turned away, or left the room at this, but he didn't. Instead, he drew her into a sitting embrace. Strangely, he didn't feel as if he had to pretend with Hermione, not like with other girls.

'Listen to me, Hermione. I want to be with you, and you want to be with me. I know the rest of the school can't find out about this, but there's nothing we can do about it. I'm a Slytherin, you're a Gryffindor. That can't be changed.' He knew there were other difficulties too, that ran much deeper than school houses, but Hermione was here, and Lucius Malfoy was miles away, oblivious for the time being.

'Mmm,' she said, into his robes. She looked at bit happier as she pushed back from him a little. 'You're a really good kisser,' she said in a small voice, blushing. Draco grinned.

'I'm good at a lot of things,' he smirked. Simultaneously, they began snogging again, passionately and almost fiercely. Hermione's hands clutched Draco's hair, dangerously toying with its usual perfection, and he moaned in ecstasy. Draco felt he wanted to stop before things got too out of hand, he was getting aroused once again, especially when Hermione pulled him forward half on top of her. He began kissing her neck, hardly able to stop himself, and she tilted it back for easier access to the creamy flesh. Her breasts were pressed beneath him, making it feel even more sensual.

'We'd really - ' he said, pausing catching his breath, 'better go to dinner.'

'I'm not hungry,' she said.

'Sure about that?' he asked with a slight grin.

Hermione smiled through another kiss. 'Okay,' she said, stopping also. 'I wish I could stay with you all night, but there are things to do.' She sat up again now. 'I bet I look a sight,' she said, touching her hair, a rare habit for Hermione.

'You look lovely to me,' said Draco, meaning it.

'Why, thank you,' she replied. 'You look pretty sexy yourself, Malfoy.'

Standing up, she patted her hair and clasped her robes at the collar; one of her shirt buttons had been pulled off.

'See you later, then.' She smiled shyly and left without further ado.

Draco remained in the tower for a while, still feeling lustful. Before, he had admired her, but now he admired her and wanted her sexually. He looked forward to a long, hot shower that night, and left the tower also. In the Great Hall, he was greeted by the unwelcome sight of Pansy Parkinson simpering at him, but a shared, secretive glance with Hermione made it all worth the while.