The Bracelet, Chapter 82
Title: The Bracelet
Author: AkashaTheKitty
Characters: Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy, Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Pansy Parkinson, Ron Weasley, Theodore Nott (whew)
Genres: Drama, Friendship, Hogwarts Years, Humor, Romance
Warnings: HBP Spoilers, although slightly incompatible.
Overall Rating: R
Summary: When Hermione Granger loses a bet she was sure she'd win to Draco Malfoy, it's the beginning of her own personal hell. And his.
Go here if you didn't read previous chapters.
Draco shifted lightly in his chair. Being alone with Hermione in the dark, talking about contraceptives, knowing that if he reached for her and she by some miracle didn't object, they could do whatever they liked without risking getting caught, was... arousing seemed too mild a word.
Taking Hermione in the Restricted Section seemed strangely appropriate. He doubted she’d allow it, though. It was a pity. It would have been good. It would have been better than good.
Even if he had just gotten an ugly reminder of her time with Theo. He felt a little silly for asking if she'd slept with Theo, considering that Theo had already said they hadn't, but you just never knew with someone as fond of mind-fucking as Theo.
He was amazed that she hadn't called him on his jealousy. But then again, she sometimes seemed to think that if she could only ignore his feelings, then they weren't real. In some backwards way, this was a good thing. As long as she didn’t think he was in love with her, she didn’t panic and withdraw. Never had a blank face come in this handy.
She didn't seem to mind terribly that he'd sought her out, though. He wanted to kiss her just for that. He couldn't stay away for too long at a time-he was a glutton for punishment like that-and it really was appreciated that she didn't just tell him to sod off. Yet.
In return, he wouldn't reach for her, no matter how much he wanted to. He didn't want her to feel harassed in these moments of almost-truce. Maybe if she could begin to trust him, she could also begin to like him. If she could like him… anything would be possible.
“So, you need a clear contraceptive potion. Which kind exactly?” he asked, studying his own sleeve, because looking at her right now was a bit too much. Apparently, his hands weren’t quite aware that reaching for her wasn’t an option.
Hermione made an annoyed sound. “I don't know! All I know is that it was clear and thick and sticky and tasted really yucky, and I wish I'd known I didn't have to swallow it.”
He smiled to himself. Apart from the obvious innuendo she had just innocently delivered, the knowledge alone that she'd suffered one of those potions to have sex with him made his whole damn week. No, make that his month! “It sounds like the generic kind. Cheap, foul, does its job. You can get that in Hogsmeade, no problem.”
“Yeah, where?” She seemed eager, almost excited to know.
Well, it was an interesting shop.
“You take a turn down by the Hog's Head and then you really can't miss it.”
“What's it called?”
He told her. And then he watched as her face screwed up.
“Is that a reference to--?”
“Yeah.”
“Classy.” She made another grimace.
“Look, they sell sexual aids to use with a partner or on your own. I don't think you can expect a whole lot from the name. Or the clientele. But the potions are fine.”
Hermione still looked displeased. “I was expecting something a bit more like a pharmacy.”
“Well, that's not what you'll get in a place like Hogsmeade. Maybe in London you can, if you feel up to asking the shop assistant to get it from the back for you while the little old witches stare at you.”
Her nose wrinkled in disgust again. “Shouldn't safe sex be encouraged more than this?”
He didn’t quite understand her surprise. Sex wasn’t usually that heavily discussed anywhere unless you were talking about heirs or Blaise. Hell, even talking to Blaise, he usually refused to go into any greater detail. “It's not a big deal. I think everyone I know has been to a shop like that at least once.”
Hermione made another face. She was so cute when she was being childish. “I get it,” she said. “No way around the shady sex shop. I just don't know how I'll do it without my friends finding out.”
Draco shrugged. “I'll do it.”
Her eyes widened and she looked almost grateful. “You will?”
He grinned wolfishly. “For a kiss, I will.”
He watched her struggle with that, while wondering what had happened to his resolve not to harass her.
Well, this wasn't harassing exactly. He would do her one favor if she would give him one kiss. It seemed a perfectly fair trade to him. She could just say no and go to the shop herself, couldn’t she? He was just supplying options.
Besides, how was he supposed to resist her when she was cute and making very sexy innuendo without even realizing it?
“One kiss?” she asked, looking suspicious.
He nodded. “That's what I said.”
“What kind?”
He groaned and rested his head on his forearms. “Three weeks ago we slept together and now I want to do you a turn for one single kiss and you want to know what kind?” He slowly lifted his head to give her a mournful look. “You're killing me.”
She had the decency to blush again. “I'm sorry,” she muttered. “It's just... No, you know what? I'm not sorry. You're always trying to trick me.”
“No trick,” he softly promised.
“Right. I'll take your word for that.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
He put his hands up, affecting innocence with the open motion. “How would I be able to trick you with this?”
“I don't know.” She folded her arms, pointedly closing off. “Why would you even want a kiss if you aren't up to any tricks?”
Wasn’t that obvious? “So maybe I'm still hoping we can have sex again... that's not a trick and it's only an admission of lust.”
“It can't happen again,” she quietly said.
“I know.” He even knew that given how he felt, having sex with her again was nothing but a nail for his own coffin. It didn’t stop him from wanting it, though.
“So why even bother?”
“Why not? Who's getting hurt from it? I'm not forcing you; I'm only proposing a trade here.”
She still looked wary. He took that as a good sign. It meant that she was afraid of what might happen. She wouldn't be afraid if she were in perfect control of her reactions, right?
Personally, he wouldn't mind having sex with her right now on this table, but he doubted she'd let it come to that.
More was the pity.
“All right,” she finally said. “One simple kiss and then you make the detour to get the contraceptive potions I described when we’re in Hogsmeade.”
“See, was that so hard?” he asked, barely suppressing a grin as she shot him an annoyed look.
“How much are the potions?” she asked.
“How much?” He was momentarily confused.
“Yeah, you seem to know so much, so what do they cost?”
“Oh.” Draco shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never known anyone that would use that cheap crap.”
“Charming.” Hermione frowned. “I guess I can reimburse you after.”
“There’ll hardly be a need.”
“Trust me. There will be a need.”
The look in Hermione’s eyes clearly told Draco she wasn’t about to owe him anything. Normally that would have been a smart move but he wasn’t keeping score anymore. She wanted those foul potions, so he would get them for her. That was really all there was to it.
“We’ll talk about it later,” he said, hoping to pacify her for now.
“You’ll buy them and remember the prices,” she coolly instructed. “Of two regular potions. Not pink or blue or green-”
“How did you know about the green one?”
She ignored him. “-But just two clear standard ones. If it’s too much to ask that you remember, then get a receipt. Ok?”
“When exactly did you use the other one?” he asked, not promising anything. It would probably be a galleon or less. Why would she never accept anything from him? He bitterly recalled the box in his room containing one particular bracelet and one particular ring that he had given to her before Christmas. She hadn’t even wanted to keep those.
But she’d taken a necklace from Theo.
True, she’d ultimately slept with Draco, but Draco just couldn’t help but hate the fact that she liked Theo better. Not to mention the fact that Theo could have been the one to sleep with her if he hadn’t turned her down out of jealousy.
“None of your business, Malfoy,” Hermione was saying.
It figured. Why tell him when she could drive him mad with jealousy and not knowing?
He got up and circled the table to her. She jumped to her feet, not giving him the pleasure of dragging her from her chair. He would have loved to drag her up, to roughly pull her to him and to kiss her until she forgot that she didn’t like him and kissed him back like she had done three weeks ago.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then stood completely still, slowly opening her eyes again. He stopped up, a bit puzzled, some of his heat evaporating, as he considered the possibility that she might be fortifying herself because she really couldn't stand his touch.
No, that was ridiculous. Exactly twenty days ago-not that he was counting-she had come to him. You didn't just go from having amazing, mind-blowing sex to cringing at someone's touch. Sure, the whole love-thing had put her off, but he'd taken that back. It shouldn’t influence how she felt about him.
She couldn't be disgusted with him.
She just couldn't.
Hermione took a deep calming breath to soothe her frazzled nerves. It was just a kiss. She could kiss him. She'd done it before! She waited for him to close the distance, but when he didn't, she snapped, “What are you waiting for?”
Draco blinked but obligingly moved towards her. “Is it really that bad?” he softly asked. “Doesn't it make you feel at least a little good to be wanted?”
Yes, it was that bad. Yes, it felt good. It felt too good. Sometimes she felt like she could almost forget....
“Could you just please do it?” she asked.
He nodded, but didn't seem as enthusiastic as before. What did he expect? That she pretend she wanted this? She didn't. She wanted him to leave her alone and stop muddling up her head with his half-hearted advances.
He stopped in front of her. “Close your eyes, then,” he brusquely said.
She did as she was told and braced herself for the onslaught.
There was the soft pressure of his lips against hers. She waited for the pressure to increase, but it didn't. After a couple of seconds, she jerked back in confusion and opened her eyes.
“Stand still,” he hoarsely commanded, following her. “I wasn't done.”
Still feeling confused, she did as he asked and he kissed her again, just as softly. What was this? His lips brushed over hers in a way that made her want to run away again, but now he'd placed a hand on her lower back and, besides, she didn't want to seem like a coward.
Oh, she knew she'd been right to ask him what kind of kiss he wanted. This may not have been the trickery she had been wary of, but it was bad enough.
Hermione's back was rigid and Draco could feel the discomfort and tension in her. She didn't like doing it this way, he knew, but what did it matter when she wasn't really going to like anything he did? He just wanted to try what it would feel like to kiss her like it mattered. So he tried to imagine how a kiss that told her how he felt about her would take place.
It was all right, but he imagined it would be better if she'd loosen up a bit. That way he might not feel so raw and exposed. Or pathetic.
He lifted his head. “Would you mind at least pretending that you don't hate it?” he asked, figuring he might as well be blunt with her.
“You got your kiss,” she pointed out, avoiding his eyes. “So I don't think it really matters.”
“No, I didn't,” he muttered, lowering his head to breathe in her ear. He could feel her discomfort again when he did that, but he felt like punishing her a bit. Plus he could enjoy her warmth and scent this way. “You didn't kiss me,” he elaborated. “You just stood there, barely reacting. Was I supposed to enjoy that?”
“Fine,” she replied, also keeping her voice low, but squirming a little away from him. “I see your point about the kiss, but for the record, I don't recall 'enjoyment' being part of the deal.”
He shook his head, deciding it was futile to use earth logic on her, and kissed her again. This time her lips softened under his and she leaned into him, albeit a bit hesitantly.
It said something about him that this was enough to have his need for her skyrocket.
He fought to keep the kiss sweet and gentle, because it was what he wanted, damn it, but she must have sensed the change in him. She grabbed hold of his neck, pressed up against him and opened her mouth, inviting him in. Seemed she'd rather risk being overtaken by hormones than let him continue kissing her softly.
How was he supposed to resist? Without even realizing what he was doing, he had deepened the kiss and lifted her onto the table, settling between her legs. Oh, he knew she would stop him, but the key was when she would stop him and he was taking what he could get.
Right now, he seemed to be able to get quite a bit.
She let him take that step in between her legs and let him lean over her without making the least fuss. She even wrapped her legs around him. She also allowed his hand to go from her thigh up to her breast without pushing him away or in any way rejecting him. Merlin, her softness felt good. She pushed her body against his, running her hands down his back, and he couldn’t quite stifle a moan. Three weeks of fantasizing about their night together and now he was putty in her hands.
She decided to end it by pushing lightly at him, when he was kissing his way down her neck to her collarbone. “That's enough, Draco,” she said with a slightly shaky voice. “You got your kiss.”
Mm, but what a kiss! He was beyond ready to beg for more, but managed to control his urges. Instead he forced himself to ignore his body and smile at her. It was a shaky smile, but a smile nonetheless. “Sure you don't want me to get a pink potion for you while I'm there?”
He supposed the look she shot him meant that he wasn’t allowed to get the pink potion. Too bad. But then again, she really didn’t seem to need it. He still affected her. He smirked, loving that knowledge.
Author: AkashaTheKitty
Characters: Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy, Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Pansy Parkinson, Ron Weasley, Theodore Nott (whew)
Genres: Drama, Friendship, Hogwarts Years, Humor, Romance
Warnings: HBP Spoilers, although slightly incompatible.
Overall Rating: R
Summary: When Hermione Granger loses a bet she was sure she'd win to Draco Malfoy, it's the beginning of her own personal hell. And his.
Go here if you didn't read previous chapters.
Draco shifted lightly in his chair. Being alone with Hermione in the dark, talking about contraceptives, knowing that if he reached for her and she by some miracle didn't object, they could do whatever they liked without risking getting caught, was... arousing seemed too mild a word.
Taking Hermione in the Restricted Section seemed strangely appropriate. He doubted she’d allow it, though. It was a pity. It would have been good. It would have been better than good.
Even if he had just gotten an ugly reminder of her time with Theo. He felt a little silly for asking if she'd slept with Theo, considering that Theo had already said they hadn't, but you just never knew with someone as fond of mind-fucking as Theo.
He was amazed that she hadn't called him on his jealousy. But then again, she sometimes seemed to think that if she could only ignore his feelings, then they weren't real. In some backwards way, this was a good thing. As long as she didn’t think he was in love with her, she didn’t panic and withdraw. Never had a blank face come in this handy.
She didn't seem to mind terribly that he'd sought her out, though. He wanted to kiss her just for that. He couldn't stay away for too long at a time-he was a glutton for punishment like that-and it really was appreciated that she didn't just tell him to sod off. Yet.
In return, he wouldn't reach for her, no matter how much he wanted to. He didn't want her to feel harassed in these moments of almost-truce. Maybe if she could begin to trust him, she could also begin to like him. If she could like him… anything would be possible.
“So, you need a clear contraceptive potion. Which kind exactly?” he asked, studying his own sleeve, because looking at her right now was a bit too much. Apparently, his hands weren’t quite aware that reaching for her wasn’t an option.
Hermione made an annoyed sound. “I don't know! All I know is that it was clear and thick and sticky and tasted really yucky, and I wish I'd known I didn't have to swallow it.”
He smiled to himself. Apart from the obvious innuendo she had just innocently delivered, the knowledge alone that she'd suffered one of those potions to have sex with him made his whole damn week. No, make that his month! “It sounds like the generic kind. Cheap, foul, does its job. You can get that in Hogsmeade, no problem.”
“Yeah, where?” She seemed eager, almost excited to know.
Well, it was an interesting shop.
“You take a turn down by the Hog's Head and then you really can't miss it.”
“What's it called?”
He told her. And then he watched as her face screwed up.
“Is that a reference to--?”
“Yeah.”
“Classy.” She made another grimace.
“Look, they sell sexual aids to use with a partner or on your own. I don't think you can expect a whole lot from the name. Or the clientele. But the potions are fine.”
Hermione still looked displeased. “I was expecting something a bit more like a pharmacy.”
“Well, that's not what you'll get in a place like Hogsmeade. Maybe in London you can, if you feel up to asking the shop assistant to get it from the back for you while the little old witches stare at you.”
Her nose wrinkled in disgust again. “Shouldn't safe sex be encouraged more than this?”
He didn’t quite understand her surprise. Sex wasn’t usually that heavily discussed anywhere unless you were talking about heirs or Blaise. Hell, even talking to Blaise, he usually refused to go into any greater detail. “It's not a big deal. I think everyone I know has been to a shop like that at least once.”
Hermione made another face. She was so cute when she was being childish. “I get it,” she said. “No way around the shady sex shop. I just don't know how I'll do it without my friends finding out.”
Draco shrugged. “I'll do it.”
Her eyes widened and she looked almost grateful. “You will?”
He grinned wolfishly. “For a kiss, I will.”
He watched her struggle with that, while wondering what had happened to his resolve not to harass her.
Well, this wasn't harassing exactly. He would do her one favor if she would give him one kiss. It seemed a perfectly fair trade to him. She could just say no and go to the shop herself, couldn’t she? He was just supplying options.
Besides, how was he supposed to resist her when she was cute and making very sexy innuendo without even realizing it?
“One kiss?” she asked, looking suspicious.
He nodded. “That's what I said.”
“What kind?”
He groaned and rested his head on his forearms. “Three weeks ago we slept together and now I want to do you a turn for one single kiss and you want to know what kind?” He slowly lifted his head to give her a mournful look. “You're killing me.”
She had the decency to blush again. “I'm sorry,” she muttered. “It's just... No, you know what? I'm not sorry. You're always trying to trick me.”
“No trick,” he softly promised.
“Right. I'll take your word for that.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
He put his hands up, affecting innocence with the open motion. “How would I be able to trick you with this?”
“I don't know.” She folded her arms, pointedly closing off. “Why would you even want a kiss if you aren't up to any tricks?”
Wasn’t that obvious? “So maybe I'm still hoping we can have sex again... that's not a trick and it's only an admission of lust.”
“It can't happen again,” she quietly said.
“I know.” He even knew that given how he felt, having sex with her again was nothing but a nail for his own coffin. It didn’t stop him from wanting it, though.
“So why even bother?”
“Why not? Who's getting hurt from it? I'm not forcing you; I'm only proposing a trade here.”
She still looked wary. He took that as a good sign. It meant that she was afraid of what might happen. She wouldn't be afraid if she were in perfect control of her reactions, right?
Personally, he wouldn't mind having sex with her right now on this table, but he doubted she'd let it come to that.
More was the pity.
“All right,” she finally said. “One simple kiss and then you make the detour to get the contraceptive potions I described when we’re in Hogsmeade.”
“See, was that so hard?” he asked, barely suppressing a grin as she shot him an annoyed look.
“How much are the potions?” she asked.
“How much?” He was momentarily confused.
“Yeah, you seem to know so much, so what do they cost?”
“Oh.” Draco shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never known anyone that would use that cheap crap.”
“Charming.” Hermione frowned. “I guess I can reimburse you after.”
“There’ll hardly be a need.”
“Trust me. There will be a need.”
The look in Hermione’s eyes clearly told Draco she wasn’t about to owe him anything. Normally that would have been a smart move but he wasn’t keeping score anymore. She wanted those foul potions, so he would get them for her. That was really all there was to it.
“We’ll talk about it later,” he said, hoping to pacify her for now.
“You’ll buy them and remember the prices,” she coolly instructed. “Of two regular potions. Not pink or blue or green-”
“How did you know about the green one?”
She ignored him. “-But just two clear standard ones. If it’s too much to ask that you remember, then get a receipt. Ok?”
“When exactly did you use the other one?” he asked, not promising anything. It would probably be a galleon or less. Why would she never accept anything from him? He bitterly recalled the box in his room containing one particular bracelet and one particular ring that he had given to her before Christmas. She hadn’t even wanted to keep those.
But she’d taken a necklace from Theo.
True, she’d ultimately slept with Draco, but Draco just couldn’t help but hate the fact that she liked Theo better. Not to mention the fact that Theo could have been the one to sleep with her if he hadn’t turned her down out of jealousy.
“None of your business, Malfoy,” Hermione was saying.
It figured. Why tell him when she could drive him mad with jealousy and not knowing?
He got up and circled the table to her. She jumped to her feet, not giving him the pleasure of dragging her from her chair. He would have loved to drag her up, to roughly pull her to him and to kiss her until she forgot that she didn’t like him and kissed him back like she had done three weeks ago.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then stood completely still, slowly opening her eyes again. He stopped up, a bit puzzled, some of his heat evaporating, as he considered the possibility that she might be fortifying herself because she really couldn't stand his touch.
No, that was ridiculous. Exactly twenty days ago-not that he was counting-she had come to him. You didn't just go from having amazing, mind-blowing sex to cringing at someone's touch. Sure, the whole love-thing had put her off, but he'd taken that back. It shouldn’t influence how she felt about him.
She couldn't be disgusted with him.
She just couldn't.
Hermione took a deep calming breath to soothe her frazzled nerves. It was just a kiss. She could kiss him. She'd done it before! She waited for him to close the distance, but when he didn't, she snapped, “What are you waiting for?”
Draco blinked but obligingly moved towards her. “Is it really that bad?” he softly asked. “Doesn't it make you feel at least a little good to be wanted?”
Yes, it was that bad. Yes, it felt good. It felt too good. Sometimes she felt like she could almost forget....
“Could you just please do it?” she asked.
He nodded, but didn't seem as enthusiastic as before. What did he expect? That she pretend she wanted this? She didn't. She wanted him to leave her alone and stop muddling up her head with his half-hearted advances.
He stopped in front of her. “Close your eyes, then,” he brusquely said.
She did as she was told and braced herself for the onslaught.
There was the soft pressure of his lips against hers. She waited for the pressure to increase, but it didn't. After a couple of seconds, she jerked back in confusion and opened her eyes.
“Stand still,” he hoarsely commanded, following her. “I wasn't done.”
Still feeling confused, she did as he asked and he kissed her again, just as softly. What was this? His lips brushed over hers in a way that made her want to run away again, but now he'd placed a hand on her lower back and, besides, she didn't want to seem like a coward.
Oh, she knew she'd been right to ask him what kind of kiss he wanted. This may not have been the trickery she had been wary of, but it was bad enough.
Hermione's back was rigid and Draco could feel the discomfort and tension in her. She didn't like doing it this way, he knew, but what did it matter when she wasn't really going to like anything he did? He just wanted to try what it would feel like to kiss her like it mattered. So he tried to imagine how a kiss that told her how he felt about her would take place.
It was all right, but he imagined it would be better if she'd loosen up a bit. That way he might not feel so raw and exposed. Or pathetic.
He lifted his head. “Would you mind at least pretending that you don't hate it?” he asked, figuring he might as well be blunt with her.
“You got your kiss,” she pointed out, avoiding his eyes. “So I don't think it really matters.”
“No, I didn't,” he muttered, lowering his head to breathe in her ear. He could feel her discomfort again when he did that, but he felt like punishing her a bit. Plus he could enjoy her warmth and scent this way. “You didn't kiss me,” he elaborated. “You just stood there, barely reacting. Was I supposed to enjoy that?”
“Fine,” she replied, also keeping her voice low, but squirming a little away from him. “I see your point about the kiss, but for the record, I don't recall 'enjoyment' being part of the deal.”
He shook his head, deciding it was futile to use earth logic on her, and kissed her again. This time her lips softened under his and she leaned into him, albeit a bit hesitantly.
It said something about him that this was enough to have his need for her skyrocket.
He fought to keep the kiss sweet and gentle, because it was what he wanted, damn it, but she must have sensed the change in him. She grabbed hold of his neck, pressed up against him and opened her mouth, inviting him in. Seemed she'd rather risk being overtaken by hormones than let him continue kissing her softly.
How was he supposed to resist? Without even realizing what he was doing, he had deepened the kiss and lifted her onto the table, settling between her legs. Oh, he knew she would stop him, but the key was when she would stop him and he was taking what he could get.
Right now, he seemed to be able to get quite a bit.
She let him take that step in between her legs and let him lean over her without making the least fuss. She even wrapped her legs around him. She also allowed his hand to go from her thigh up to her breast without pushing him away or in any way rejecting him. Merlin, her softness felt good. She pushed her body against his, running her hands down his back, and he couldn’t quite stifle a moan. Three weeks of fantasizing about their night together and now he was putty in her hands.
She decided to end it by pushing lightly at him, when he was kissing his way down her neck to her collarbone. “That's enough, Draco,” she said with a slightly shaky voice. “You got your kiss.”
Mm, but what a kiss! He was beyond ready to beg for more, but managed to control his urges. Instead he forced himself to ignore his body and smile at her. It was a shaky smile, but a smile nonetheless. “Sure you don't want me to get a pink potion for you while I'm there?”
He supposed the look she shot him meant that he wasn’t allowed to get the pink potion. Too bad. But then again, she really didn’t seem to need it. He still affected her. He smirked, loving that knowledge.