Changes: Chapter 10: Florida heat
Pairing: Hermione/Draco
Main Characters: Draco, Hermione, Blaise, Pansy, Ron, Harry, Lavender, Ginny
Warnings: Probably somewhat OOC.
Disclaimer: Not mine, never where and never will be, but I do own the plot.
AU: This is a story I have been wanting to write for a while, and finally have made a go at. Hope it's successful. Please review and tell me what you think. Thanks to Margarita for betaing, this really wouldn't be the same without her! Earlier chapter can be found through the 'Changes' tag.
Summary: Hermione makes a discovery that changes her vacation plans between sixth an seventh year. She is suddenly travelling to the states with three Slytherins she has befriended and the trip changes her perception on things.
They had been in Florida for a week when they decided to go out dancing one evening.
There was a Muggle night club near their hotel. After having their usual late dinner, they took a taxi to the club.
The last week had gone by in a flash, and all four were starting to tan nicely. Even Draco's pale skin had taken to the sun with a little help of Hermione's home made suntan-lotion. She had made it the year before in the potions lab. She hated when her pale skin’s freckles became more prominent. Wanting a bit of colour for her efforts, she finally created her own blend that worked quite well with her skin tone. They all had eyed Blaise enviously. Of course, his beautiful brown skin tone seemed to suck the colour in. It had taken on a deep, rich chocolate hue, and with his dreads, he looked handsome, exotic and sexy. Pansy could barely keep her hands off of him.
Arriving at their destination, they cast a charm on their identifications to show they were of age and strolled into the crowded club. Looking around, they made their way to the bar but decided against anything alcoholic that evening. The bar was ten feet deep with writhing bodies and none of them wanted to make the attempt to catch the bartender’s attention.
The music was loud and pounding rhythmically as both couples pushed their way to the dance floor. The song being played was unrecognisable but had good rhythm. Hermione felt as if she was in her element. She had attended many a Muggle dance parties in summer’s pasts with her friends at either at someone's house, or out on the town. She closed her eyes and allowed her body to feel the rhythm of the music.
Surprising her friends and boyfriend, she suddenly started shaking and twisting her body, throwing her hands up and giving herself over to the music. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and realised Draco was staring at her, his jaw nearly on the floor.
Smiling seductively, she grabbed him by the waist and pushed her body into his, writhing and moving to the beat vibrating around them.
?*?*?*?*?
Draco was stunned. Where in Merlin’s name was his shy, sweet, quiet Hermione?
He had no idea he had a girlfriend who could dance like that. He cocked his head as he watched her bottom shake, wiggle and bump to the throbbing song. A glance towards Pansy and Blaise, mouths agape in shock, told him that they hadn’t a clue either about the sexy little Gryffindor’s obvious talent.
He focused on Hermione again, and was seduced by her movements. She was shaking her body in ways he had no idea were even possible. And her hands, travelling over her own body, pulled the short skirt she wore up with them. She suddenly noticed him staring and gave him a sultry smile before dragging him onto the dance floor.
Feeling her soft body press against his as they moved together, he couldn't help but groan.
?*?*?*?
Hermione felt like she had been dancing for hours when a slow song came on. Without warning, she found herself in Draco's arms.
He was holding her firmly around her waist, making her arms twist around his neck. As they started to move slowly to the music and caught their breaths, she felt this urge to confess her feelings. She had tried all week, but just couldn't find the right moment.
But now, the time was here.
“Draco?”
“Mhm?” He tried moving his head to look at her, but she held him close.
“I love you.” The words were out before she could think, and then he stopped dancing. She tried to breathe and not panic before she spoke again.
“I just wanted you to know. You don't need to say anything back.”
Moments passed, Hermione didn’t know how long, before he pulled her closer, hugging her tightly. She could feel him trembling, and stroked his back. Pansy sent her a concerned look, but Hermione smiled and shook her head.
?*?*?*?*?
‘I love you.’
It amazed him how much of an impact those three simple words could make, how much they could mean.
And she had said it, just like that.
And then she admitted she just wanted him to know, and he didn't need to say anything back.
Draco’s could feel his heart thumping wildly in his chest. She didn’t understand. He wanted too say it back. So badly. But it was difficult for him to utter those words to someone. Draco wasn’t good with words and expressing feelings. In all honestly, he had only said . . . that, to two other people in his life. EVER! His mother and his father. No one else. And they were the only two individuals that had said shared those sentiments with him.
But now she had said it. She was number three.
Draco knew his friends loved him. He loved them as well, but they were Slytherins and sharing feelings wasn’t something they did often and not unless they were dating.
He was at a loss. He could honestly, on Malfoy honour, say that he loved her, because he knew he did. He had realised this not two days before. But he had no idea what to do, how to tell her.
Instead, he held and hugged her. Hard. And he could feel himself starting to tremble, but he didn't care. The ones that knew him wouldn't care.
Merlin, he wanted her to know how much he loved her. An idea came to him. He knew exactly how he was going to tell her.
Reluctantly, he released her to gaze into her deep, chocolate eyes. “Do you trust me?”
She answered without hesitation. “With my life.”
Taking a deep breath, he looked her in the eyes and entered her mind. He could feel her confusion, but he kept himself away from prying into any of her thoughts. He maintained the connection they now had, looked her deep in the eyes and thought what he so desperately wanted to say.
‘I love you, too.’
?*?*?*?*?
When he entered her mind, she had been a bit confused, and even more so when she realised he didn't plan on examining at any of her thoughts. Silver orbs melted into pools of coffee, and suddenly she could feel his thoughts in her head.
‘I love you, too.’
She nearly swooned.
As he extracted himself from her mind, he never left her gaze and rested his forehead against hers as they continued dancing. Neither could remember who initiated the kiss, but it was the most tender kiss they had shared.
An hour later, the girls went to the loo to freshen up. Finally alone, Pansy asked Hermione about what has transpired on the dance floor.
Hermione smiled a little, and knew Pansy probably figure it out. “I told him I love him.”
The mirth and playfulness evaporated from Pansy's face, and when Hermione met her serious eyes, Pansy smiled. “That's good.”
Biting her lower lip, Hermione thought about how she needed a little 'help' from Pansy with a decision she had been mulling over for nearly an hour.
“Pansy, how would you like to sleep in the guy's room tonight?”
Pansy looked at her in confusion. “Sorry?”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “I mean, how would you like to sleep with Blaise? Tonight?”
The smile that grew on Pansy's face almost made Hermione laugh. “Are you sure?” Hermione nodded.
“Of course, I would love that! I'm horny as hell. We’ve been having quckies all week.”
Hermione laughed at her friend’s enthusiasm, trying to hide her own nervousness.
A few hours later, they had closed down the club and made their way back to the hotel. As they waited for at Taxi, Pansy leaned over to whisper something in Blaise's ear that made his eyes widen and look at Hermione with a coy look and sly smile. Instead of blushing, she merely smiled back and winked. Blaise grinned widely and gave her a ‘thumbs up’.
Draco noticed all this, but had no idea what it meant. He became somewhat curious at Pansy and Blaise’s desperate to rush to get back to the hotel. Shrugging, he put it out of his mind, assuming they probably wanted a quickie. He laughed as they made a mad dash out of the taxi to run up to the room. He and Hermione strolled leisurely behind them.
When Hermione and Draco finally reached the suite, both bedroom doors were shut. Hermione walked towards the girls' room, dragging a very perplexed Draco behind her as she opened the door and guided him inside. When Draco saw the room was empty, he groaned and closed his eyes, covered his face with his hands.
“Oh, bloody hell! Are they having sex on my bed?” When no reply came, he removed his hand and opened his eyes, looking into a pair of serious brown eyes. He grew concerned at once. “What's wrong?”
Hermione slowly shook her head. “Nothing.”
He was about to say something when she laid a finger on his lips, silencing him. “Draco, make love to me?”