“Ron you’re going to be fine,” Hermione cooed, massaging his shoulders gently. He and Harry had just come down to the common room in their Quidditch garb, ready to head out to the pitch to play the first game of the season. Ron however, had taken about two steps towards the portrait door when he’d collapsed into a chair and refused to move.

“I can’t. I’m sorry. You’ll just have to find someone else, ‘cause I’m not going,” Ron babbled, shaking his head stubbornly. His face was whiter than Nearly Headless Nick’s, which only caused the freckles that were strewn across his nose to stand out even more.

“Ron!” At first, Harry had been like Hermione; gently trying to coax Ron out of his chair. His patience had run out however, and he looked about ready to smack some sense into his best mate. “You’re a brilliant Keeper! You’ve been blocking every Quaffle sent at you during practices. Now, we’re going to be late if you don’t get up, so come - on!” he said as he grabbed Ron’s arm and gave it a hard tug.

Ron jolted forwards when Harry pulled him, but he dug his heels into the floor to prevent Harry from successfully pulling him to his feet. “Nope. Sorry, but I’m not going, and that’s final.”

Fred and George were stood just behind Harry’s shoulders, their expressions clearly showcasing their annoyance.

“Ronald bloody Weasley!” George barked. “Get your sorry arse up!”

“I said no!” Ron shouted, pressing his back further into the chair. “I won’t go!”

“Yes you will!”

“No I won’t!”

“Yes you will!”

Ron shrugged Hermione’s hands off and sat forwards in his seat, positively glaring at George. “A herd of wild horses could not drag me out to that pitch,” he said slowly through his teeth, being very careful to enunciate each word.

“We don’t need any horses. Harry - get his broom, George - hold this,” Fred said, passing his Beaters club to his twin.

“Fred …” Hermione warned, taking a small step back from Ron’s chair. When it came to one of the Weasley twins, you could never be too sure what to expect.

Fred didn’t seem to have heard Hermione, and as Harry wrestled Ron’s broom off of him, he stepped forwards and hauled Ron out of the chair easily, swinging him over his shoulder as if he were a potato sac.

“FRED! DON’T! DO - ON’T!” Ron hollered, kicking his legs furiously.

At that moment, George’s girlfriend, Katie Bell appeared at the portrait door, looking frantic. “Hurry up! The Slytherins are already on the pitch!”

“We’re coming, we’re coming,” Fred assured her, carrying Ron, (who now resembled a fish out of water) out of the common room.

With a laugh, George slinked an arm around Katie’s waist and led her back out.

Harry was chuckling quietly too, and he glanced over to Hermione. “Coming?” he asked, moving to follow Katie and George out.

She nodded and moved to walk after him. Her and Harry hadn’t been speaking as much as they usually did. She had bluntly refused to tell Ron about her and Draco, and had ended up walking away from Harry while he was still trying to convince her to do otherwise. For almost a week they had barely said a word to each other, and she had even feared he would tell Ron where she was actually going the next time she visited the ‘library’. Harry remained true to his word however, and had even covered for her while she was gone.

She had been meeting Draco at least three times a week now, and though she tried her best to keep focused on their studies, it was growing increasingly difficult not to kiss him again. Ever since they’d kissed earlier in the month, he hadn’t tried to make so much as one move. Her game of hard to get had obviously backfired … For now she wanted him more than ever.

The simplest movements he made sent shivers down her spine. From the way he bit down on the very tip of his tongue when he was concentrating, to the way he slid his hand through his hair when a few stray strands fell down over his eyes. He was truly intoxicating … Just thinking about meeting with him that night caused a wide grin to spread over her face. She’d been looking forward to seeing him all throughout dinner, and now all she had to do was wait for the Quidditch game to end before she got to meet with him once again. She could only hope that Harry didn’t take too long to catch that bloody Snitch.

She didn’t even realize how long they’d be walking in silence until Harry pushed open the front doors, and a rush of cold November air hit her. She gasped at the sudden change of temperature, wrapping her cloak further around herself. The bite of the air caused her cheeks to flush red, and she shivered as she rubbed her hands together. As they began making their way down the pitch, Hermione decided to try making conversation. Smiling, she looked over to Harry. “So … you must be excited.” Harry nodded. “Oh yeah I am, I missed Quidditch all summer.”

She nodded too, tilting her head up slightly to take a look at the pitch as it drew nearer. Flags rippled in the light wind, and the spectators had already begun to cheer and chant for their teams. The cold air was already thick with a nervous excitement; and although she wasn’t a big fan of the sport herself, Hermione couldn’t help but begin to grow eager herself.

“Well, here’s where I leave you,” Harry said with a smirk, pausing at the doors that would lead him to the Gryffindor changing rooms. “I have a Snitch to catch.”

With a single nod, Hermione began making her way up the stairs that would take her up to the Gryffindor stands. Looking back over her shoulder at him, she smiled. “Good luck, have fun, and be careful!”

With a wave, Harry was gone, and Hermione broke into a jog as she hurried up the rest of the stairs, hoping to grab an all right seat. As she neared the top, she saw that the stadium was packed. She should have left earlier … Now she was going to have to go sit at the ground-level seats, and wind up with a terrible neck kink. With a defeated sigh, she was just turning to head back down the stairs when someone called her name. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Ginny waving her over.

“I saved you a seat!” Ginny called over, patting the spot next to her.

Hermione sighed with relief, smiling as she made her way over. “Thank God, I thought I was going to have to go all the way back down those bloody stairs.” The last of her sentence was lost however as an enormous roar filled the stadium, and everyone leaped from their seats.

The Gryffindor team was making their way onto the pitch, Fred leading. Hooch had been waiting with the Slytherin team, and she instructed Fred and Flint to shake hands.

Harry moved his eyes to watch the handshake, cringing as he heard bones crunching. His pained expression quickly switched to an amused one however as he saw Fred’s lips curve up into a smirk.

Pulling his hand back quickly as soon as Fred released it, Marcus flexed his fingers, which just made Harry chuckle more.

He glanced over at Ron, (who was stood on his right) and smiled, clapping his friend on the back. “You’re going to be brilliant Ron; you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Yeah,” added in Alicia, who was on Ron’s other side. “We won’t even let them get their hands on the Quaffle.”

Ron smiled weakly at that, but it didn’t last. As Draco spoke up, his lips turned downwards into a deep frown, and his eyes narrowed to slits.

Leaning on his broom, Draco smirked arrogantly at Ron. “Aw, ickle Ronniekins had to be carried onto the pitch by his big brother.”

“Yeah you keep it up Malfoy and you’ll have to be carried off the pitch,” Fred cut in.

The Slytherin team had been chuckling cruelly, but they quieted down as Draco spoke again. His voice was calm, but cool, and he spoke slowly as his smirk broadened. “Doesn’t it bother you to know … That the only reason you even got on the team is because your brother’s the captain?” He paused a moment so that the Slytherin team could get a laugh in before he continued. “I wonder how much Mummy had to do with you becoming a Keeper … More than talent did, that I know for sure.” His eyes never left Ron the entire time he spoke, and he didn’t budge as Ron took a little step forwards.

“Doesn’t it bother you to know that the only reason you got on your team is because Daddy bought all of your pathetic little friends new brooms?” Fred said through his teeth, gripping his Beater’s club tighter in his fist. “Too bad Daddy can’t buy you any new insults, they’re getting old Malfoy.”

That had obviously hit a nerve, and Draco’s now narrowed eyes flickered over to Fred. “Well at least my Daddy can afford to buy me new things. Or do you just like using the school’s equipment?” He jerked his head towards Fred’s club. “I’m surprised you and your brother don’t have to share a broom.”

Harry put out an arm to hold back a very red-faced Ron, while George grabbed an equally angry Fred and pulled him back. “Fred - calm down. He isn’t worth it. He’s just desperate for attention; all we can do is feel sorry for the poor little git.”

“Oh he’ll get attention - From Pomfrey while she tries to fix his bloody face up!” Ron snarled, fighting to get past Harry’s arm.

“BOYS!” Hooch barked, making her way over to them with the Quidditch balls. “There will be no more of that. I want a nice, clean game.” She gave them all a warning look before she set the box down between the two teams, waiting for everyone to calm down.

The spectators weren’t stupid, and though they couldn’t hear it, they were well aware that there was a fight going on down on the ground. McGonagall even took over Lee Jordan’s intercom to tell them all to quiet down. They had been chanting ‘FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT’ and took nearly five whole minutes to settle down.

Moving her hawk-like eyes back to the teams, Hooch placed her hands on her hips. “Right. Now mount your brooms,” she instructed before reaching down to open the box that held the balls.

Ron was still fuming as he mounted his broom, and Harry reluctantly let him go before mounting his own broom. He watched with baited breath as Hooch released the Snitch. The little golden ball flew in a quick circle around Draco’s head, and then did the same to him before disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Ginny was bouncing up and down in her seat, staring down at the pitch below through her binoculars; (Which Hermione knew full well she brought along for the sole purpose of ‘Harry bum watching’)

Hermione had just been getting engrossed in the book she’d brought along when Ginny elbowed her with such force it was knocked from her hands. “Ginny!” she shouted, clearly annoyed. Sometimes she wondered if the girl knew her own strength. She had just been reaching down between the seats to retrieve it when Ginny elbowed her again, and this time she didn’t even have time to protest before Ginny cut in.

“They’re fighting! I can’t see the Slytherins, their backs are to me, but … but I can see the Gryffindors - and Ron and Fred both look ready to commit murder!” She informed Hermione with a laugh, leaning forwards in her seat to take a better look.

“What?” Hermione’s eyes widened. “Let me see!” She grabbed the binoculars from Ginny, who made a choking noise as she was hauled over; the string around them had been around her neck.

Hermione didn’t seem to notice as she stared down at the pitch. She had looked just in time to see Ron and Fred lunge at none other than … “Draco …” she muttered under her breath with a sigh. What had he said this time?

Complaining about rope-burn, Ginny took her binoculars back as she rubbed her neck gingerly.

“I wonder what all that was about …” said Hermione quietly, the question almost rhetorical.

Ginny just gave a shrug of one shoulder and moved her binoculars to watch Harry mount his broom. “Ah, probably just the same thing it always is. When have any of my brothers ever got along with Malfoy?” She shifted forwards in her seat again, peering down at the pitch. “All I know is you almost made me miss Harry mounting his broom.”

“Sorry …” Hermione said slowly, thinking about what Ginny had said. It did make sense … why would Draco change his attitude with other people simply because he’d changed his attitude with her? They had both agreed to keep their meetings a secret, and it would look very suspicious if he suddenly tried to get all chummy with Harry and Ron; and she wasn’t quite ready to stop their tutoring sessions just yet. So it was with a small smile that she sat back in her seat. She was ready to see some Quidditch.

Hooch’s whistle rang out over the pitch, and in split seconds, both teams were off; looking like nothing more than a bunch of red and green blurs.

“Aaand it’s Gryffindor in possession of the Quaffle - op - now it’s Slytherin - no - no - yes - no - Ah! It’s back to Gryffindor!!!” Lee Jordan stood to get a better look at the colorful blurs whipping past him, tossing a deep red ball back and forth between each other.

The spectators waving Slytherin flags booed and hissed when they felt it was necessary, and the Gryffindors did the same, though the noises they made were more along the lines of cheers and chants supporting their team.

“Back to Slytherin - Oooh that looked like it hurt; didn’t your Mother ever teach you not to hit girls Flint? HA! Bad idea to check a Beater’s bird; George Weasley smacks a Bludger at Slytherin captain Flint - at least I think it’s George … and Oooh, hits him right in the elbow - Take that you woman bashing - Sorry, sorry miss … ”

The stadium filled with laughs as McGonagall tried to wrestle the microphone off of Lee. He won the struggle however, and shifted further away from her.

“Aaand Slytherin’s back in possession of the Quaffle - heading straight for the Gryffindor goals - C’mon Ron!!!” He began jumping up and down as he commentated, his dreadlocks bouncing with him. “WOW! What a save! Let’s hear it for new Gryffindor Keeper RONALDDD WEASLEYYY!” Hollered Lee, causing the stadium to fill with such a cheer that the ‘boos and hisses coming from the Slytherin stands was completely drained out.

Ron was smiling so broadly Hermione could almost see the grin from her seat, and she ‘whooped’ and hollered as loud as she could. She could see Harry cupping his hands over his mouth and cheering from his spot above the rest of the players. He was hovering just above the action of the game, swinging his legs as he glanced around for the Snitch, and she wondered where Draco had gotten to. Biting her lip, she moved her eyes to the other side of the pitch, and sure enough, there he was. He resembled Harry, swinging his legs carelessly as his eyes scanned the pitch for any sign of the little golden ball. The only difference between the two boys was that Draco had his arms folded across his chest and was most certainly not cheering.

“GO RONNIEKINS, WHOO WHOO WHOO!” Ginny paused from her Harry-watching to pump her fist into the air before she placed her binoculars back over her eyes and turned to scrutinize him again. “Bloody hell! Turn around … Come on … Turn around …” she muttered under her breath, and Hermione had the odd feeling she was trying to send Harry telepathic ‘turn around’ vibes.

Laughing to herself, Hermione moved her eyes to watch the game again. Gryffindor had just received a goal, and she clapped along with the rest of the crowd. The red and green blurs that were the Chasers began to make her head spin and she turned to watch Draco again. “ … Hey Ginny … Can I borrow your binoculars for a second?”

Sighing, Ginny took them off and passed them over. “Yeah, it doesn’t look like he’ll be turning around anytime soon … I swear he does this on purpose …” she sighed again, then let out a yell as Ron blocked another Quaffle. “GO - GO GRYFFINDOR, GO - GO GRYFFINDOR!!!” She rose out of her seat with the rest of the Gryffindor stand. The cheers were so loud then that Ginny thought it might be fun to amuse herself with some cat-calls. “OW-OW, HARRY POTTERRR! HARRY, HARRY, HAR - REY, WHOO WHOO WHOO!” As he glanced in her direction, she quickly sat down and looked around nonchalantly.

Hermione laughed out loud, moving her eyes down to look at her. “Way to be inconspicuous.”

Ginny made a face at her. “He didn’t hear me … Did he …?”

Chuckling, Hermione shook her head no, moving the binoculars to look up at Draco. He looked splendid, his white blonde hair blowing in the cold wind; which had caused his pale cheeks to flush slightly red. Something seemed to catch his eye down near the bottom of the Slytherin goal posts, and he turned his broom slightly to the left.

Hermione simply couldn’t help herself. Biting the corner of her lip, she smirked as she tilted her head slightly to the side, checking out his fine little arse. Now she could honestly say she fully understood why Ginny brought along the binoculars to every match … She’d really have to get herself a pair.

She was just beginning to grow jealous of the broom when it was unexpectedly extracted from her view, and he was nowhere to be seen. For the briefest moment, she thought he had apparated; but her logical mind reminded her that he wouldn’t know how yet, and the enormous whoop that rose from the crowd was enough of a hint in its own as to where he had gone.

Lowering the binoculars, she was just in time to see Harry whip past the stands so quickly the Gryffindor flags people were holding nearly flew from their owner’s hands.

“GO HARRY! GET HIM, GET HIM HARRY! GET THAT BLOODY SNITCH!” Ginny was screaming at the very top of her lungs, springing to her feet once more.

Biting down on her lip, Hermione leaned over the side of the stands as well to get a better look at the Seekers. Draco had gotten a big head-start, but Harry was gaining on him quickly. All other movement had stopped, and all of the other players were watching their Seekers with rapt attention.

“AND SLYTHERIN SEEKER DRACO MALFOY WITH A GOOD HEADSTART, BUT OOH, HERE COMES POTTER, GAINING QUICKLY - GO GO GO!!!” Lee Jordan hollered into the microphone, leaning over the side of the stands like Hermione and Ginny (not to mention half of the stadium) were.

Draco didn’t need Lee’s commentary; he could hear Harry speeding up behind him. Narrowing his eyes in determination, he gripped his broom tighter and leaned so far forwards his chest nearly touched the broom. The Snitch was right in front of him now, and as he leaned forwards, his broom put on the extra burst of speed he needed. He was just reaching out … his fingertips brushing those little wings when …

THUD 

Harry slammed into his side, knocking him off course. He nearly ground his teeth as he wheeled his broom and raced after Harry. The Snitch decided to change it’s direction and in the blink of an eye, it suddenly flew upwards towards the Gryffindor goal posts.

“Oooh that looked like it hurt! Nice body-check Potter, but Malfoy’s not too far behind, and as the Snitch changes direction, Potter does too - Nice flying there! We can thank the Firebolt for that - but Malfoy’s right on his tail now - C’MON HARRY - Sorry Miss, sorry. Bias? What are you talking about? Me? Nah.”

At the news that Draco was gaining on him again, Harry veered slightly to the left in the hopes of cutting him off. The Snitch did a little spin just then and flew straight through the middle hoop. Ducking his head down, Harry followed, causing Ron to veer out of the way.

Ducking his head down as well, Draco followed Harry through the middle hoop, elbowing him in the side when he got close enough. Both boys continued to elbow and check eachother until it was certain they would each have their share of bruises the next day. They got so caught up in their little airborne wrestling match that neither saw the Snitch swerve off to the right.

At the realization that the Snitch was gone, Draco quickly turned his broom and dove towards the ground, hoping to distract Harry long enough to be able to relocate it himself. He heard Harry racing down after him, and he smirked to himself.

“Ooh that’s going to smart in the morning - and ow! That should leave a mark - Oooh what’s this? Malfoy dives down towards the ground and Potter follows, right on Malfoy’s tail! GO GO GO! Where’s that Snitch gotten to?” Lee leaned over the sides of the stands even more, trying to spot the little golden ball himself. Draco had only been about a foot from the ground when he quickly spun his broom around and went to fly off. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the little spin Harry was forced to do to avoid a head-on collision with the ground, and he was just turning back around to look for the Snitch again when something slammed into his side with such force he was knocked clear off his broom.

“Gryffindor Beater Fred - or maybe George Weasley sends a Bludger straight for Slytherin Seeker Draco Malfoy - and OH! That can’t be good … ” Lee didn’t even need his microphone to be heard. Nearly the entire stadium had fell silent as Draco toppled off of his broom.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. From the time both boys had dove towards the ground, to Fred slamming a Bludger in Draco’s direction. Hermione had heard Ginny gasp as the Bludger had come in contact with Draco’s side, but even she had sounded so far away. Everything seemed so far off. From Ginny, to everyone else talking around her. Lee Jordan’s voice didn’t register in her mind either. All she could hear was the sickening ‘thud’ as Draco hit the hard ground.

She gripped the sides of the stands so hard her knuckles turned whiter than the snow that had begun to slowly fall. Things were still going in slow motion … Harry jumped off of his broom and rushed over to Draco’s side, kneeling down beside him. Both teams landed, most looking in shock. Hooch was second to land, and she rushed over to Draco as well, moving Harry out of the way. They all looked blurry to her, as if she were in a dream. Some kind of terrible, horrific dream. A dream she was desperate to wake up from …

Hermione felt an awful lurch transpire in her stomach, a hard tug at her heartstrings as she came to the awful realization that he wasn’t moving …

Why wasn’t he moving … ?

eight

Time froze.

Everything stopped.

Hermione hadn’t dared to so much as breathe until she saw Draco move. He had landed flat on his back on the frigid, hard ground of the pitch; which had inevitably knocked the wind out of him. After what seemed to Hermione like an eternity of him not stirring, he finally propped himself up on his elbows, then sat on his own. Madam Pomfrey came out to the pitch to check on him; make sure nothing was broken, and that the Bludger hadn’t done any serious damage.

Hermione had watched through the binoculars as Pomfrey had placed one hand on his back, the other just below his chest before instructing him to take in and let out a few deep breaths for her. After checking to make sure he didn’t have cracked or broken ribs, she had performed a quick charm that would relieve his pain temporarily, and the game was allowed to proceed.

Not caring what any of her housemates thought, Hermione had cheered for Draco when he had re-mounted his broom. The rest of the game was just as exhilarating as the first half - Though no one was hit with a Bludger…Well, except for Flint, who had stupidly checked Katie again. George had looked about ready to use Flint’s head as a Bludger by that point, and Hooch had been forced to break it up. Slytherin received a penalty shot, which Ron blocked easily; Hermione made sure to cheer loud enough for him to hear.

The game came to an end when Harry caught the Snitch, just as the sun had begun to set, and much to Ginny’s delight, the catch had taken place just in front of the Gryffindor stands. She had cheered and hollered so loudly that Hermione had feared for her eardrums.

Ginny had turned nearly as red as her hair when Harry had reached over the stands to give her a high-five. Hermione noted that neither had let go of the other’s hand until Fred, and George had raced over and clapped Harry on the back with such enthusiasm he nearly somersaulted off his broom. The rest of the Gryffindor team had flown over to join in on the hug in seconds, and by that time, the stadium had filled with such an enormous roar that Hermione could barely hear herself think.

A celebration had started up in the common room, the second all of the Gryffindors had returned from the pitch. Fred and George had snuck down to the kitchens and had returned with their arms full of snacks and ice-cold bottles of butterbeer.

Hermione had never seen the common room so packed in all of her years at Hogwarts, and for that she was grateful. Sneaking out without being noticed was made much easier when nearly every Gryffindor there was, was crammed into the house’s common room. She had been forced to stifle a laugh as she’d passed by Ron, who was busy telling Dean and Seamus all about his first game as Keeper … Or at least he was trying to. He would begin his sentence, slur a few words, lose his train of thought, and ask them to repeat their question. Hermione thought that the bottle of butterbeer in his hand may have something to do with his sudden incoherence. She would bet that it wasn’t his first bottle either; It took quite a few butterbeers to get even a buzz, never mind actually drunk, which Ron so obviously was.

She was just making her way towards the portrait door when two figures looming in the shadows had caught her eye. Arching an eyebrow, she elbowed her way through the last of the crowd and began making her way slowly towards the door.

The figures became clearer as she neared, and she didn’t even make an attempt to hide the smirk that had formed across her lips as she paused by the door. Ginny had her back to her, but the flaming red hair was a dead giveaway as to whom Harry was speaking with.

When he saw her approaching, Harry looked up and smiled. “Hey ‘Mione.”

Ginny looked over her shoulder, and the grin she was already wearing broadened. “Hey Herm! Where are you off to?”

Hermione only smirked more, perking an eyebrow at Harry before she looked back to Ginny. “Where do you think?”

Ginny’s eyes widened, and she sighed in an exasperated kind of way, clapping a hand against her hip in disbelief. “The library? Again? Tonight? Hermione! You’ve been in that bloody library all month!”

Hermione just gave a shrug of her shoulders. “I have so much homework to do … and I can’t do it in here! Bloody hell, I can’t even do it in my room; the voices carry all the way up the stairs.”

Folding her arms across her chest, Ginny just arched an eyebrow.

“Ginny!” It was Hermione’s turn to sigh with exasperation. “I have to get it finished!”

“Hermione!” Ginny said in a way that made it obvious she was mocking Hermione’s voice.

Narrowing her eyes, Hermione shot Ginny a fake dirty look before she looked up at Harry. “Congratulations by the way.”

“Thank you.” Harry smiled, nodding once.

“Great catch …” Hermione said with a glint of mischief in her eye, smirking faintly as she glanced at Ginny. It took Harry a moment to catch on, but when he did his ears turned slightly red and he shifted to the other foot. “Thank you.” His voice had become significantly softer, and he crossed his arms slightly.

“Yeah it was,” Ginny agreed with a nod, smiling up at Harry.

“Oh I didn’t mean the Snitch …” Hermione said with a wicked smirk, laughing as Ginny wheeled around and smacked her arm.

Giving her a look that clearly said ‘shut up’ Ginny’s cheeks were slightly flushed as she turned back to Harry, plastering on another smile. “So anyway …”

“Buh-bye …” Hermione said with another laugh, slipping out of the common room.

Draco stared down at the lake from one of the windows in the Astronomy tower. It was a comely sight; the moonlight cascading softly off the gently rippling water. The stars were shining brightly, and he looked up just in time to see a shooting star whip across the sky. He wasn’t sure if he should make a wish, or not … He had never wished on stars before, dubbing it frivolous and immature … However, if he were planning on starting, he figured he’d better start soon, because he needed a wish granted tonight more than he ever had before…

Shutting his eyes lightly, he pressed his lips together before taking in a deep breath through his nose. “I want to win …” he muttered quietly under his breath. Marcus Flint’s voice rang clear as a bell in his mind as he slowly opened his eyes…

‘Time’s almost up Malfoy … You gonna win? … ’

‘November 30th Malfoy … You know what that means … ’

‘Only a few hours left mate, haven’t you gotten the Mudblood in the sack yet? … ’

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice the door being opened, and he must have jumped about a foot into the air when a hand was placed on his arm.

Hermione jumped when he did, her eyes widening in surprise as she took a step back. “Draco?” she asked with a frown; he had never been this jumpy before.

Letting out a deep sigh as he turned to face her, he smiled weakly. “Sorry … You just startled me.” Licking his lips slightly, he glanced down at the floor as he moved a hand to rub his shoulder gingerly.

She moved her eyes to watch his hand, and she frowned more, taking a little step towards him. “Are you all right …?”

His eyes flickered up to hers, and he nodded. “Yeah, yeah I’m fine.”

Shaking her head, she pursed her lips and moved her hand to take his wrist, gently moving his hand away from his shoulder. “No you’re not … ” Tilting her head to one side, she lifted her other hand and rested it on his shoulder. When he didn’t flinch, she gave it a little squeeze.

Taking in a sharp breath through his teeth, he tried to step out of her reach, but found a wall right behind himself. “What are you doing?” he snapped at her, though he hadn’t really intended to.

Surprisingly, his harsh tone didn’t shock or offend her, and she stepped towards him again. “You’re hurt …” she said in a soft voice, looking at his shoulder before she moved her eyes to look into his. “Why didn’t you tell Madame Pomfrey you’d injured your shoulder when she fixed your ribs …?”

Rolling his eyes slightly, he looked over her shoulder. The wall opposite to them suddenly became very interesting, and he avoided eye contact with her. “I wanted to continue with the game …” he muttered so quietly it was barely audible to him. He was surprised to hear her snort, and he frowned in annoyance as he turned his head to look back to her. “What’s so funny about that …?”

Holding up a hand, she smirked. “Nothing, it’s just so … typical.”

He frowned, looking offended. “What do you mean typical?”

She gave a slight roll of her eyes. “Just … men. They won’t admit when they’re hurt. They could sever a limb and still try to convince themselves it’s just a scratch. I don’t understand your sex at all.”

Though he was shaking his head he was smirking; and though he would never tell her, in a way … he could see her point. “Well, no limbs are severed … and besides, it doesn’t even hurt really …”

Arching an eyebrow slowly as he spoke, Hermione placed her hands on her hips. “So if I were to punch you in the shoulder … “She raised a hand, smirking faintly as he flinched. “Doesn’t even hurt, huh …?” she asked with a small laugh, dropping her hand back to her side.

Rolling his eyes, Draco turned his back to her. “Just leave it …” Though he kept his voice low, a hint of aggravation had become obvious in his tone and he frowned out the window. He hated being proven wrong, it made him feel … well, daft, and she had done just that, proved him wrong.

As he turned his back to her, her bossy side took over. “No, I won’t leave it, you’re hurt!” she said with a snort, sliding her arms around his waist. The mothering instincts she wasn’t even aware she possessed up until that point kicked in when she felt his body tense up, and she leaned in to speak softly into his ear. “Just relax … I’m not going to hurt you.” Biting the corner of her lip, she undid the first button of his shirt.

As her arms had brushed against his sides, his body had tensed up … but in an almost pleasant way. He couldn’t put the feeling into words, but as his muscles relaxed, a pleasant shiver ran down his spine, causing the tiny hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. As she whispered into his ear, he felt a jolt transpire in his stomach and he licked his lips slightly. He wasn’t sure if she had intended for her actions to provoke these kinds of feelings within him … but he figured she must have some idea what kind of an effect she was having on his body.

Though it wasn’t exactly necessary, Hermione took another little step towards him. Her breasts brushed against his back and her body began to quiver again … For whatever reason she didn’t exactly know. Perhaps it was in anticipation … She could no longer deny that she wanted to see his naked chest, and now that she could feel the smooth skin beneath her fingertips, she wanted it even more. Leaning in just slightly, she titled her head to the side and took in a deep breath, just breathing in his scent. To her he smelled like a combination of things. Some expensive cologne … Fresh air, and something else, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. It was almost a sweet smell, and for a reason even she could not explain; it made her smile. She fought down the sudden and unexplainable urge to kiss the side of his neck and forced herself to focus on the buttons of his shirt once more.

The cold November air blowing through the window softly, combined with her fingertips brushing against his chest caused goose bumps to rise over his skin, and he allowed his eyes to drift shut. With each button she undid, his heart skipped a beat, and he desperately tried to slow his breathing down. His chest had begun to rise and fall slightly heavier as her hands had descended down his chest and abdomen, and now that her fingers were dancing around his bellybutton, it took every ounce of his self-control to not turn around and pull her to him. To push her up against the wall and reverse the roles they had each taken on in the library at the beginning of the month.

Hermione purposely brushed her fingers along his lower abdomen; smiling impishly to herself as she felt the soft trail of hair leading down into his trousers brush against her fingertips. Undoing the last button, she stepped back and gently coaxed the shirt from his shoulders before pulling it down his arms, discarding the garment onto the floor. His back was well built, slim, but muscular … Smooth porcelain skin shone almost blue in the moonlight, and she nearly gasped. Regaining herself, she folded her arms across her chest. “All right,” she began, making sure her voice was steady before she continued, “turn around.”

He slowly opened his eyes before he turned to face her. On the outside he looked calm, composed, but inside his heart was pounding so rapidly against his ribcage he was surprised that she couldn’t hear it. The wind blew a few stray strands of blonde hair forwards, and he slid a hand through it to brush it all back. He had taken a shower after the Quidditch game, and hadn’t bothered to gel his hair afterwards. His white blonde stands fell without encumbrance, framing his face nicely.

To Hermione, he looked almost angelic; with the moonlight radiating off his creamy skin and that white hair that framed his face so delicately, giving him an almost blue luster. In that moment he had appeared so … pure, so innocent. She felt the unexplainable urge to reach out and touch him, make sure he was real. She hadn’t even realized that she had lifted a hand before his eyebrow arched, causing her to retract her hand quickly.

Her eyes drifted away from his aristocratic face to observe the rest of his body. He did have a slender build, but his muscle tone was … well, impeccable. Another gust of cold air blew through the window just then and hit his bare back, causing his body to tense in protest. His stomach muscles clenched and relaxed as he shivered, and though he wasn’t touching her, she felt that all too familiar ache return. That pleasant ache of wanting … Biting down on her lip, she moved her eyes back up to his. “You, erm … I …” she began awkwardly. Her mind had drawn a complete blank. She could barely remember why she had requested he remove the shirt in the first place, and she felt herself turning red.

The corners of his lips turned up into a small smirk, and he mimicked her as he bit down on his lip as well. She continued to stammer, and he perked an eyebrow at her as he folded his arms across his chest. “My shoulder …?” he reminded her with another smirk.

Hermione had held her hands up in front of her face, cupped together as though she wanted to offer him something, but couldn’t. Shutting her eyes briefly, she nodded once at his reminder, opening them again as she moved over to him. “Right … your shoulder.”

“Right, because I’m just an ignorant man that won’t admit when he’s injured …” Draco said with a grin, uncrossing his arms as she approached him.

Chuckling, Hermione nodded once. “That’s right.” Moving her eyes to his, she placed a hand daintily on his shoulder. “Good to know you listen.”

“Oh I always listen when you insult me.”

“Oh I’m sure you do … I mean, how else would you come up with those witty retorts of yours?” Hermione asked with a smirk, raising her eyebrows at him. Before he could retort with one of those witty remarks, he was famous for; she gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Does this hurt …?”

A sharp pain shot across his shoulder blade as she applied pressure. He cringed, but didn’t pull away from her. “Yes …” he said through his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut.

Hermione cringed when he did, releasing his shoulder almost immediately. “I’m sorry …” she said absently, her lips setting into a frown of concentration as she ran her fingertips across his shoulder. “How about this … Does this hurt?” she asked, her eyes flickering over to his face to watch his expression.

Opening his eyes, he turned his head to watch her fingertips. “No …” he whispered along with a small shake of his head. “No, that doesn’t hurt.” Nodding, she looked back to his shoulder. “I … I’m no medi-witch, but … I think you might have bruised something …” She bit the inside of her bottom lip, and then shrugged. “I can do a pain relieving charm for you … but that’s about it. You’ll have to go see Madame Pomfrey later.”

“All right,” Draco agreed, still watching her fingertips dance along his skin.

“All right, just give me a moment …” Trailing off, Hermione moved away from him to get her wand. Crouching down, she unzipped her bag and pulled it out. As she straightened back up, she smoothed her skirt and turned to face him once more. “Just stand still,” she instructed softly, placing the tip of her wand on his shoulder.

He took in a deep breath, standing perfectly still as she’d requested. He felt a warm feeling rush over his shoulder a few moments later, as though someone had poured warm water over the stiff area. A pleasant tingling sensation followed, and he shivered slightly, smirking faintly. “That tickles …” he murmured, almost to himself.

Smiling softly, Hermione moved her eyes to watch him. “It’s almost finished …” she informed him in a quiet voice, biting her lip as she looked back at her wand.

He nodded once, and sure enough, the tingling sensation ended seconds later. As she removed the tip of her wand from his shoulder, he felt an easiness there that certainly hadn’t been there before. His shoulder no longer ached, and he rolled it once just to double check. Sure enough, the movement caused him no pain; in fact, he felt quite the opposite; almost as though he’d just had a massage.

Hermione was shifting from one foot to the other, looking almost anxious. “Did it work … That was the first time I tried that specific charm …”

Her uneasiness struck him as somewhat sweet, and he smiled as he nodded. “It worked. Of course it worked.”

Letting out a relieved sigh, Hermione returned the smile. “Good.”

He nodded once. “Good.”

She laughed airily before she stepped closer to him, her movement almost hesitant. When he didn’t step back from her, she rested one of her hands on his chest and leaned in to place a soft kiss on his shoulder.

Her action had taken him by complete surprise; he hadn’t been expecting that at all. The gesture almost reminded him of something his Mother would do, and he felt his heart skip a beat. Butterflies began to flutter about his stomach as he watched her with fascination.

Her eyes had fallen shut on instinct as she’d leaned in to kiss him, and she didn’t pull back right away. Allowing her lips to linger on his shoulder for a moment, she smiled softly. “Better?” she murmured against his skin, perking an eyebrow.

He felt as though he had been enchanted, charmed, bewitched … His mind grew fuzzy as he watched her with rapture. She turned her head to look at him when he didn’t reply, and it was then that his body took control. Lifting a hand, he tilted her chin upwards before he leaned in to press his lips to hers, tilting his head to one side.

He had taken her off guard to say the very least, and so many thoughts had rushed into her mind at that moment, distracting her to the point that she wound up tilting her head to the wrong side, her nose bumping against his. She could feel herself flush red, and she opened her mouth to apologize but found herself silenced with another kiss.

She was wearing it. That raspberry gloss that he loved so much … It intoxicated him, causing him to grow light-headed. She tasted so sweet, and he just couldn’t get enough. Sliding his arms around her waist, he pulled her body close to his as he brushed his tongue across her lips.

Her mind was wheeling. She wasn’t in control, she really had no idea what she was doing, and that thought frightened her, terrified her even. She had never been in a situation quite like this, one where she had felt so … so vulnerable. As he pulled her body to his; however, her arms instinctively found their way around his neck … and as he brushed his tongue across her lips, they automatically parted. She felt herself relax in his arms as her natural instincts took over, and she wrapped her arms even further around his neck, pulling him closer to herself as he deepened the kiss.

Though his body protested, he kept the kiss slow and soft for the time being. He used his tongue to gently coax her mouth open, and when it did, quite readily, he slid his tongue inside. To his surprise, her tongue met his almost instantly, eagerly, and they swirled together in an erotic dance. He felt his pulse quicken, and he slid a hand up her spine, which caused her back to arch towards him. Her breasts pressed more firmly into his chest, and his tongue massaged her own with more heat.

The kiss was steadily growing more feverish, as was their embrace. As his hands began to roam freely over her back, she slid her own across his broad shoulders, pulling him closer to herself. His hard chest crushing her breasts made her head spin, and she moaned softly into their kiss. His hands made their way around her front, and she gasped as he began tugging her shirt out of the waistband of her skirt.

He was the first to break the kiss, but his lips were not unoccupied for long. Bending his head, he began to scatter fevered kisses down the side of her neck. Her skin was soft against his lips, and as his lips passed by her ear, he caught a trace of her scent again. It was fragrant, sweet; it reminded him of a combination of scents one might find in a kitchen. A touch of vanilla, and perhaps some cinnamon, but whatever it was, it drove him wild, and his kisses only grew more passionate. When he had finally got her shirt untucked, he slid his hands up over her bare stomach, running his fingertips around her bellybutton. He could feel her stomach shy away from his fingers, and his lips curved up into a smile against her neck. Another gasp had escaped her lips when she had felt his hands roaming over her bare abdomen. The feeling tickled and felt divine at the same time; she didn’t know whether to giggle or moan, so she settled for both, tilting her head back.

The skin she had exposed when she had tilted her head back was just too much to resist, and Draco moved his head to place a trail of feather-soft kisses down the newly exposed skin. When he reached her collarbone, he flickered his tongue against the hollow of her throat, smiling at the little moan that escaped her lips. He ran the palms of his hands up her sides, rubbing his thumbs over her ribcage. She arched her back slightly, and he took it as a sign that she wanted more. Lifting his head slightly, he took her earlobe between his lips and began to suck on it gently as he brought his hands up to cup her breasts.

She could barely recognize the noises she was making as her own. No one had ever had this kind of effect on her body before. The feelings he roused within her were a blissful torture, a miserable ecstasy, and her body ached pleasantly for more. As his hands found their way to her breasts, another gasp escaped her lips, and her back automatically arched towards him. The pulsing sensation of him suckling her earlobe made her nearly whimper in pleasure, and her eyes flickered back slightly into her head.

The noises she was emitting were driving him mad, in the best sense possible; of course. He nipped at her earlobe gently as he began to massage her breasts through the thin fabric of her bra. She pressed her hips to his, and he moaned into her ear, brushing his thumbs across the silky fabric.

“Dra-co …” Hermione gasped out softly between groans. She slid her hands down his muscular back, gripping his shoulder blades as best she could. As his thumbs brushed over her nipples, she shivered with delight and ran her fingernails lightly down his back. The action caused him to arch his back, press his chest to hers, which inevitably forced her breasts more into his hands. The feeling roused another moan out of her and she turned her head slightly to kiss whatever skin she could find.

As her lips found their way to his jawline, he tilted his head slightly to the side and removed his hands from her shirt. She had moaned at the loss of his touch, but his hands were not absent for long. As her lips continued their exploration of his well-defined jawline, he began to undo the buttons of her shirt. He started from the bottom, and when he had undone the first three buttons, he crouched down in front of her. Smiling to himself, he leaned in to place a soft kiss just above her bellybutton. Once again, her stomach shied away from his lips, causing him to chuckle. Reaching his hands up, he undid the next button, placing a kiss on the new skin exposed. He continued his pattern all the way up to her breasts. Placing one last kiss just below them, he straightened back up and hastily undid the remaining buttons before he slid her shirt off her shoulders, allowing it to drop to the floor behind her.

At the loss of her shirt, goose bumps began to rise over her skin and she shivered slightly, pressing her body up against his. His body was warm, and she smiled, running her hands down over his back. His skin was smooth, and she began to rub the small of his back in small circular motions with the very tips of her fingers.

His hips tilted forwards again, and he instinctively began to rub against her, only a few select layers of fabric remaining between them. The beatific friction was almost too much to bear, and he moaned at approximately the same time she did. The sounds mingled in the air, combining to create a harmonious sound of bliss. He bent his head forwards to kiss along the tops of her heaving breasts, and a few stray strands of hair fell forwards, brushing against her skin.

“Oh … God … ” Hermione breathed, squeezing her eyes shut as she tilted her head back again. His soft hair brushing over the swells of her breasts tickled, and she shivered again. A small smile graced her lips, and she ran her hands back up his back, all the way into his hair. She wound her fingers into it, giving it a gentle tug. His silver locks felt like silk in her hands, and she gripped it slightly tighter.

Placing his hands on her hips, Draco turned her around and pushed her back up against the wall. He heard her gasp as her bare back came in contact with the cold stone, but he didn’t worry, he would have her warmed up in no time. Sliding his hands up over her bare sides, he ran them around to her back, all the way up to the clasp of her bra. Gently, he fingered the clasp, almost as if he were requesting her permission before continuing. Hermione arched her back, and he took her nonverbal response as a yes to his nonverbal request. With a flick of his fingers, the bra came undone, and he moved his hands to slide the straps down over her shoulders. Lifting his head, he scattered kisses along her newly exposed shoulders, trailing his fingers down her upper arms as he began sliding her bra off.

It was necessary for her to let go of his hair in order to remove her bra, so she reluctantly let go of the silken locks. The cold air hit her chest as soon as the garment was removed, causing her to take in a sharp breath. The shock of the cold air did not affect her for very long; however, because before long, his lips had found their way to her breasts again.

Running the palms of his hands back up her sides, Draco cupped her breasts again. “Cold …?” he teased, tilting his head to the side as he flickered his tongue against one of her very erect nipples.

She had just been opening her mouth to retort when he had flickered his tongue, and she cut herself off with a guttural moan, her back arching off the wall behind herself.

The sounds of pleasure escaping her mouth just encouraged him, and he caught one of her nipples in his mouth, rubbing his thumb over the other so it didn’t feel neglected. As her chest began to rise and fall heavier, he increased the pressure with his hand and tongue. Stepping closer to her, he continued massaging her breast with his tongue until she was nearly squirming beneath him with pleasure. Smirking to himself, he lifted his head and blew softly over her breast, where his tongue had been just moments before. He heard her gasp, and he smiled, moving to shower her other breast with the same kind of attention.

Hermione tilted her head back against the wall, gripping his hair slightly tighter than she had intended to. She was thankful she had something to lean on, for her knees grew weaker with every flicker of his tongue. Her moans grew louder and more frequent as he increased the pressure, and the warmth of his mouth over her breast seemed to fill her entire body with a pleasant sort of tepidness.

Draco twirled his tongue around her nipple again before he straightened back up. She looked so beautiful in that moment … A few loose curls had fallen down to frame her face, and he lifted a hand to brush them back gently. Her eyes were lightly shut, and her lips were parted slightly, and at the realization that he had been the one to bring her to that state of bliss, he smiled, running his index finger over her slightly swollen bottom lip.

She felt as though she were on some kind of high, her body buzzed with pleasure; she could almost hear the hum. As she felt his finger brushing over her lip, she wove her hand back into his flaxen hair and guided him back to her lips.

His lips crushed against hers in a heated, passionate kiss. It was unlike the one they had shared earlier, for this kiss was frantic, wild, a kiss of longing, wanting - a kiss of needing. He used his own tongue to draw hers into his mouth, and when he had it where he wanted, he began to suck gently, sliding his hands up to knead her breasts again.

Hermione moaned loudly as he sucked on her tongue, and when he had released it, she ran it along his bottom lip before nibbling it gently. Sliding her hands down over his chest, she ran her thumbs around his nipples, smiling to herself as the soft groan he emitted met her ears. Her hands roamed over his bare chest before they descended towards his abdomen. Taut muscles flexed and relaxed beneath her hands, and the sensation made her own stomach tighten with fervor. Mimicking what he had done to her earlier, she trailed her fingertips around his bellybutton, and the feeling of his treasure trail brushing against her fingers made her moan with desire.

Draco moaned when she did, pulling back from their kiss to rub his nose against hers. He could feel her breath hot against his lips, and he tilted his head to just barely brush his lips over hers. As she leaned forwards to press her lips to his, he pulled back, and then leaned in slowly to brush his lips over hers again.

Smiling, she kissed the corner of his lips before bending her head to kiss his neck. He tilted his head to the side to allow her better access, and she began to trace little patterns along the side of his neck with the very tip of her tongue. She felt him shiver against her and she moved her hands to undo the button of his trousers. Another soft moan met her ears as she slowly undid the zipper, and she grinned to herself, sliding his trousers down over his narrow hips. He immediately pressed himself against her, but she tilted her hips back, away from him. A groan of what might have been yearning escaped his lips and she lightly ran her hand over the crotch of his boxers, causing his hips to buck towards her.

He tilted his hips towards her hand, bending his head to rest his forehead against her shoulder as he squeezed his eyes shut. Her now bare chest was pressed into his and he moaned at the sensation. She was so soft, so soft, and it made him want to love each and every inch of her body with his lips and tongue. Made him want to shower her with the attention she so rightly deserved. Turning her head, Hermione kissed the top of his earlobe as she slid her hand down to cup his crotch, giving it a gentle squeeze. His hips arching into her hand, along with the guttural moan he emitted were both taken as signs that he enjoyed what she was doing, so she continued. Gripping him gently through the thin fabric of his boxers, she began a slow rhythm with her hand, gradually increasing the pressure as his moans became more frequent. Biting down on her lip, she slowed down her rhythm before removing her hand completely. He moaned again, but this time in a way that suggested he was protesting something. Smiling to herself, she trailed her fingertips along the elastic waistband of his boxers before pushing them down over his hips as well. They joined his trousers in the pile of fabric around his ankles, and before so much as another moan of protest could leave his lips, she had resumed her hand activity, but this time minus the offending garment obstructing her way.

“Hermione …” he gasped, arching himself more into her hand. When his hips had titled towards her, she had increased her pressure, speeding up her rhythm slightly. When he had moaned her name; however; she had slowed down slightly, almost as though she were uncertain she was doing it correctly. Realizing this, Draco moved one of his hands to rest on the side of her neck, turning his head to kiss the other side. “Yes … yes …” he gasped against her skin, trying his best to assure her she was doing fine. In seconds, the pressure had increased, as had the rhythm and he allowed his head to fall back as he groaned.

Slowly, Hermione opened her eyes to watch him. He looked divine. With his blonde hair falling back as he tilted his head back. The moonlight was still showering him with a blue radiance, making him appear to be some kind of sinful angel. His lips were parted in a silent moan, and a grin slowly spread across her lips. A feeling of euphoria filled her at the sudden realization that she was the one giving him this kind of pleasure.

Draco was no virgin. No, he wasn’t a slut like some believed, he did have standards, but in a way, Hermione made him feel chaste again. Never before had he been so eager to return favors, but he was nearly quivering in anticipation as he waited for his turn. He longed to hear those little moans, and whimpers escaped her lips again. His appetite to hear those sounds again grew too febrile, and he moved a hand onto her hip.

Gradually, she slowed down her rhythm again as she felt his hand on her hip. His head was still tilted back slightly, and his exposed flesh was far too tempting. Leaning forwards, she scattered kisses along his throat, running her hand over his toned stomach again.

Expertly undoing the clasp at the side of her skirt, Draco slid his hand down her thigh as the forgotten apparel fell carelessly to the floor. Her hands found their way into his hair again as he began kissing his way along his collarbone. Running his hands down her thighs, he slid them back up and began to finger the side of her panties. He heard her whimper, and he smiled to himself, lazily trailing his tongue along her collarbone. Moving two fingers between her legs, he began to tease her through the thin fabric of her panties.

“Oh - Dra-co … ” Hermione managed to gasp out between heavy breaths. Her chest was heaving now, and she gave his hair a light tug, arching her hips towards his hand.

Tilting his head, he kissed his way back up the side of her neck to her ear as he moved one of his hands to push her knickers aside. As soon as no fabric remained between her and his fingers, her moans immediately grew louder and more urgent. Gently, he brushed the pad of his thumb over her sensitive nub; smiling to himself at the groan the simple movement roused from her. Licking his lips slightly, he nuzzled her earlobe. “Is this all right …?” he murmured into her ear. “Do you want me to stop …?”

Releasing his hair, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck. “Please - Don’t stop … Don’t stop … ” She managed to pant between heavy breaths.

Leaning in to nuzzle the side of her neck, Draco carefully slid a finger inside her, pausing as he gave her body a moment to adjust. He could tell already that she was a virgin, so he made a mental note to keep his movements soft … gentle. He heard her let out a deep sigh, and he began to kiss her neck absently, soothingly, as he slid his finger nearly all the way out, before sliding it back in. This time she moaned, her body automatically arching towards him. He repeated this movement a few times, until he was certain her body was ready. Giving the side of her neck a gentle nip, he painstakingly added another finger.

As he added the next finger, she experienced an almost unpleasant pressure, and she clung to him a bit more tightly. Letting out another shaky breath, she turned her head to rest her cheek against his, squeezing her eyes shut.

“So beautiful … so beautiful … ” he mumbled against her skin, gradually working up a slow, and very gentle rhythm with his fingers. She had been tense at first, he had felt it, but soon, she relaxed around him, and he increased his rhythm just slightly. His ears were soon blessed with the sounds of her blissful moans that gradually grew louder as he turned his hand to rub her spot again with his thumb.

For a reason she couldn’t explain, tears pricked into the corner of her eyes as he referred to her as beautiful. Never in her life had anyone called her that, and it made her heart swell with elation. She felt comfortable in his arms; because it was in his arms that she truly felt beautiful … He made her beautiful. She had heard his words with her ears, but her heart had really listened.

Gradually, he slowed his rhythm as he crouched down in front of her again. Running his tongue in a circle around her bellybutton, he removed his fingers from within her, but continued to tease her lightly with his fingertips. Nuzzling the spot right below her bellybutton with the end of his nose, he smiled to himself as he heard her giggle softly between moans. Never in his life had he found such delectation in giving another pleasure.

Hermione took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly; this didn’t help however, for her chest still heaved with each gasping breath she took in. Turning her head to the side, another small smile made its way to her lips, and she moved one hand to run her fingers through his hair. Lifting her arm above her head, she pressed the palm of her other hand into the wall behind herself, letting out what she hoped came across as a moan of encouragement as she arched her back slightly.

Draco ran his hands slowly back up her thighs as he began placing a trail of feathery soft kisses along the top of her panty line. The soft moans she emitted were encouraging, and he smiled to himself as he slowly began to inch her knickers down over her hips. He kept his movements agonizingly slow, his lips trailing tender kisses down her newly revealed hipbone. Her body arched towards him, and he felt her grip in his hair tighten slightly as he bent his head to scatter kisses along her thighs. The muscles in her legs tensed and relaxed beneath his lips, and he could almost feel her quivering in anticipation. Deciding that he wasn’t yet quite finished with his pleasant torture, he moved his hands to part her legs slightly as he leaned in to tease her with his tongue.

Only the thinnest layer of fabric remained between her body and his warm tongue, and the sensation was almost unbearable. The gentle probing felt like heaven, and like hell at the same time. She was prepared to beg for more, but when she opened her mouth to speak, all that was emitted was a moan. At the realization that her voice was momentarily lost, she gripped his hair tighter in her hand, giving it a gentle tug to let him know she thought he was being a tease.

As she pulled his hair, he smirked to himself and pulled back slightly, inching her panties the rest of the way down. In moments, her knickers were in a pile around her ankles, and he ran his hands back up her legs. Getting down on his knees in front of her, he put a hand on the back of her knee and guided one of her legs over his shoulder. Her body arched towards him once more and he rested his hands on her voluptuous hips, pulling her slightly closer to himself as he turned his head to place the softest of kisses along her inner thighs.

She felt her legs tense up again, and she groaned his name loudly, moving her hand to grip her own hair. The pleasure he was causing began to mount to an almost uncontrollable height and she gasped, her breasts heaving as she tried to catch her breath. He turned his head to begin kissing her other thigh, and she let out what sounded like almost a whimper, her body trembling with an uncontrollable desire. She knew he was purposely avoiding the one place she wanted - needed to feel him, and she bit down on her lip to hold back another groan.

Parting her legs even further, Draco leaned in to run the very tip of his tongue along the delicate skin that connected her leg to her groin. He heard her gasp, and before she had the chance to catch her breath, he turned his head, his tongue darting out to hit her most sensitive spot.

What felt like an electrical jolt hit her body as his tongue flickered against her for that brief moment, and she cried out as she arched her back off the wall, her head falling back.

Smiling to himself, he used the very tip of his tongue to gently tease her, moving his fingers to massage her again.

He was teasing her to the edge of ecstasy, and she felt her head begin to spin. Squeezing her eyes shut, she pressed her lips together. Moans still escaped however, and they only grew louder and more exhortative as he began to kiss her softly. Removing his hand from between her legs, he placed it back on her hip. She groaned at the loss of his touch, and he began to caress her hips with the tips of his fingers, leaning in again to replace his fingers with his tongue.

As he filled her once more, this time with his tongue, she began to breathe so erratically she was almost certain she was about to faint. The incredible friction his tongue was creating forced her pleasure to heighten to the point of no return, and he making love to her with his mouth was enough to push her over the edge. Never had she experienced such a blissful feeling before, and she climaxed with such intensity that he was trapped between her legs for a moment. She was engulfed with passion, and as her eyes finally fluttered open, she was forced to shut them right away. The room felt as if it was spinning, and her body felt as though it were made of rubber. It was completely beyond her how she had remained on her feet the entire time, and it was then she remembered he was still trapped beneath her leg. Biting her lip, she slowly removed her leg from his shoulder, collapsing back against the wall.

Her euphoria filled him with delight, and it was with a broad grin that he slowly began kissing his way back up her body. The moonlight was immersing her in its pale blue light, making each and every one of her luxurious curves visible to him. He took the time to place soft kisses over the two little freckles that resided just beneath her bellybutton before he continued on his way up. As he reached her breasts, his tongue swirled, his teeth nipped and his lips sucked gently. Inevitably she began moaning again, and he took her hands in his own, interlacing their fingers.

Hermione tried her best to tell him just how phenomenal he truly was, but all that came out were a few mumbles and another soft moan. She had never thought that she would give herself so willingly to someone, but then again, she had never thought a lot of things that had happened in the past month would. Finally, his lips found hers again, and she kissed him deeply, amorously.

Draco returned the passionate kiss until his jaw began to ache, and he pulled back slightly with a smile. Keeping his lips pressed lightly to hers, he lifted her arms up over her head, his fingers still interlaced with her own. Tilting his head forwards slightly, he rested his forehead lightly against hers, opening his eyes slowly. Her eyes fluttered open moments later, and he then realized why chocolate was dubbed an aphrodisiac. Slowly, her lips had curved up into a smile, which made him smile in return. His smile faltered; however, as she wrapped a leg around his, tilting her hips forwards. He had completely forgotten about the bet up until that point, and it brought him crashing back to reality. Gently, he placed a hand on her knee and pushed her leg back down.

His actions caused her lips to turn down into a frown of confusion. Didn’t he want her anymore…? Was there something wrong with her…? The blue-grey eyes that she had been so lost in just seconds before suddenly became almost painful to stare into, and she lowered her eyes to the ground, her stomach sinking.

Watching her reaction, Draco frowned deeply himself. “Hey …” he began softly, releasing one of her hands so that he could take her chin, tilting her head back up towards him. The second he was staring into those eyes again his face broke into a grin. “What’s the matter …?” Her chest was still rising and falling heavily against his, but now it was partly due to suppressed emotions. Using her free hand to brush her hair back, she stared up into his eyes. “I don’t know …” she replied just as softly. “You tell me.”

Raising an eyebrow, Draco moved his hand to cup the side of her face, his thumb gently brushing against her cheek. “What do you mean …?”

Hermione instinctively leaned towards his touch, giving a slight shrug of one shoulder. “I just … I thought that we were … I mean, I thought you wanted -”

Cutting her off, Draco gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Oh I do. Trust me, I do.” Seeing the quizzical expression on her face, he smiled softly. “Just … Just not tonight. Let’s wait a bit, yeah?”

His words made her smile so widely her cheeks hurt. Moving her hand, she placed it over his and nodded. “Yes, lets.”

Leaning in, Draco kissed her once more. The kiss was light, but passionate, and he released her other hand as well so that he could cup her face in his hands.

Hermione rested her hands on top of his, pressing her body closer to him. As her pulse had returned to its normal rate, the cold air was again apparent, and she shivered slightly against him.

When their kiss had ended, Draco moved to sit down with his back to the wall. Hermione sat down beside him, pausing only to pull his shirt on before she linked a leg over his, snuggling up to him. Her head found the spot between his neck and shoulder, and he slid an arm around her, shutting his eyes as he ingenuously enjoyed her presence.

Resting a hand on his chest, Hermione could feel his heart beating, and it almost took on the role of a lullaby. That, combined with the steady rise and fall of his chest was soon enough to lull her to sleep, and sound asleep she remained until she was gently shaken awake about an hour later.

Blinking a few times, she slowly sat up, smiling sleepily when she saw him. “Hey …” she murmured in a croaky voice, lifting a hand to rub her eyes.

“Hey,” he replied softly with a smile, leaning forwards to kiss her forehead. “We’ve been in here for hours … I don’t even know how long we’ve been asleep for,” Draco informed her, running his hand through his slightly tousled hair. “We should probably be getting back to our common rooms.”

Yawning, Hermione nodded her agreement. “I suppose you’re right …” With a heavy sigh, she turned to retrieve her knickers, tugging them back on when she found them. Figuring that he would need his shirt, she reluctantly pulled it off, tossing it over to him. Finding her bra, she put it on as quickly as possible, reaching behind herself to do up the clasp.

Watching her, Draco gently took her hands, and helped her with the clasp, kissing his way up between her shoulder blades before he stood up and offered her his hand. Hermione shivered when he kissed her bare back, smiling softly as she took his hand. “Thank you,” she said quietly, and both continued to dress in silence. When all of her buttons were done up, and she had fixed her hair as best she could, she turned back to him. “Well … Goodnight.”

Smiling, he looked up at her through a sheet of his flaxen hair, still doing up the buttons on his shirt. “Goodnight.”

With a soft laugh, Hermione moved to help him with his buttons. When his shirt was done up again, she ran a hand down his chest, leaning in to kiss him softly. Allowing her lips to linger against his for a moment longer, she pulled back and rubbed noses with him. “Do you know what this is called …?”

Opening his eyes slowly, Draco shook his head no as he rubbed his nose against hers.

“An Eskimo kiss,” she said with a grin before she took a step back, bending to retrieve her bag. “Maybe next time I see you … I’ll show you what a butterfly kiss is.” With that, she turned and headed to the door, blowing him a final kiss before exiting the tower.

The corners of his lips turned up into a half smile and he caught the kiss. Even as he heard her footsteps descending down the stairs, he didn’t move. In fact, it was nearly five minutes later that he finally did, and even then it was only to turn his head to look out the window. His strategy to get her in bed had both won … and failed. Won in the sense that yes, he had earned her trust … but failed in the sense that it was for that very reason he could not bring himself to use her. Deciding that he couldn’t face the inevitable forever, Draco slid a hand through his hair again before heading out.

“You said he wouldn’t win!” Snapped Blaise Zabini, who was also up for Quidditch captain the next year. “I earned my position as Keeper; he bought his way on the year before me! How is this fair? I deserve that position and you know it. I can’t believe you -”

“I’m sorry!” hollered Marcus Flint for what felt like the millionth time. Blaise had been on his case since Draco had left the common room earlier that night. “I thought it would be funny to watch him try to get some Mudblood priss into bed. I mean, I picked out the person I thought was least likely to fuck him.” Leaning forwards in his seat, he began checking off the different reasons on his fingers. “Mudblood, friends with Potter and Weasley, Gryffindor, Prefect -”

Blaise just waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah well, you did a damn good job of that Flint. Way to fucking go.”

Marcus had just opened his mouth to reply when Draco walked into the common room. Smirking, his eyes flickered over to the door. “So Malfoy …” he began, all the Quidditch team turning in their seats to look at him. “Where have you been …?”

Ignoring him, Draco headed up the stairs.

Raising an eyebrow, Marcus exchanged puzzled glances with Blaise before he got to his feet. “Malfoy …” he began, making his way to the bottom of the staircase. When Draco continued to ignore him, he folded his arms across his chest. “Oy! Malfoy!”

Pausing by his door, Draco looked back over his shoulder at him with a raised eyebrow.

Marcus raised both of his eyebrows at Draco, shrugging as if asking ‘Well …?’ When he still got no response from him, he sighed with exasperation. “Well?”

“Well?” Draco repeated.

“Did you do it? Did you fuck her?” Grinning wickedly, Marcus showcased all of his grotesque teeth, waggling his eyebrows lewdly at Draco.

“No,” Draco replied simply, heading into his dorm. He shut the door behind himself, and left the entire Quidditch team sat in a stunned silence in the middle of the common room.