He stared at the dark ceiling and sighed softly. He had been in his bed for over an hour and just hadn't managed to fall asleep. Neither the soft moonlight, nor the steady sound of the waves wafting through the tilted window helped him to turn off his head. His thoughts swirled inexorably as he recapitulated the events of the past few hours.
Draco turned on his side in resignation.
When Granger had sealed the Vow and returned Draco's wand, the tension in the small room had gradually eased. Even Draco had been kind of relieved. It had cost him nothing to take the Vow. His decision had already been made and he really had no intention of betraying Potter and handing him over to Umbridge. Potter himself had also remained fair. And now that the Vow actually had a firm grip on them, it allowed them to interact in a very different way.
After that, they had eaten a meager meal that both Granger and Draco had gobbled as if they had been denied food for days. At one point Potter had shown them two rooms upstairs that they could use to rest, and since then Draco hadn't left his assigned room. He had only sneaked into the hallway once to take a quick shower. Afterwards he had felt a little better, albeit still exhausted.
He had hardly slept the previous night as well - at the boardinghouse when he had been forced to share a room with Blaise. That fact was now taking its toll and Draco cursed under his breath. He just wanted to sleep and forget what had happened, at least for a few hours. But it just didn't work no matter how hard he tried.
A soft noise made him tense and prick up his ears. Someone was turning the knob of the door that separated his room from the stairwell. When it was subsequently opened, a surge of warm air flowed into the room. Draco stayed stock still. If it was Potter trying to throw a curse at him from behind, then Draco was ready. His wand was right under his pillow.
Trust, but verify.
The door closed again. He heard the pitter-patter of bare feet on the old wooden floor and realized it wasn't Potter who had just snuck into his room. Draco's heart began to pound unnaturally hard. The mattress behind him dipped. He still laid with his back to his late-night visitor, but now his nerves were stretched to breaking point.
She moved cautiously, probably thinking he was asleep and obviously not wanting to wake him. A few seconds later he felt her hands on his back. Light as a feather, they ran down his shirt, which he had left on. He regretted that now.
Then he felt her entirely. She snuggled up to him gently, wrapping her arms around his torso and burying her face in the back of his neck. One of her curls tickled Draco's neck and he stifled a longing sigh.
Granger trembled slightly and Draco grabbed one of her hands that had found its way to his chest and caressed it affectionately. He slowly turned to face her without letting go of her, and when he finally looked at her, the tips of their noses were almost touching. Her eyes shimmered in the moonlight. He reached out and brushed away a single tear caught in her lashes.
There was silence for a few seconds.
"Can't sleep?" Draco whispered and Granger shook her head. "Neither do I," he murmured, and she took a deep breath.
Then he leaned in and kissed her.
It felt just as good as the kiss in that little alley he had pushed her in a few hours ago. Exactly the same feeling rose up in him again. The feeling that he had - gods - missed her?
Her hands slipped into his hair. She kissed him back shyly and snuggled up against him once more, one of her legs between his, an ice-cold foot brushing his calf. Draco shuddered. He begged for entrance with his tongue, which her lips granted him immediately, and a soft moan escaped her. Draco felt his need grow and he wouldn't be able to hold it back much longer. But since Granger made no move to pull away from him, he slowly rolled over her.
Her body arched to hold their touch while her hands found their way under his shirt. A few seconds later it was gone. Merlin, the way her fingers felt against his skin. He gasped her name and pulled away from her, only to breathlessly take her in for a moment. Her hazel eyes met his and she seemed to be feeling the exact same thing.
"Sleep with me," she pleaded softly, and Draco sucked in a sharp breath.
"Then make sure you aren't too loud this time, or Potter will be there in a moment, wand at the ready," he whispered teasingly after collecting himself.
A smile crept onto her lips thanks to his words. Draco swallowed hard. He loved that smile, fuck yes he did, and he felt like he'd say or do almost anything just to see it a little more often. His head was spinning.
"I promise," she answered just as quietly, then occupied his lips again.
This time it was a slow, passionate savoring. They clung to each other, stifling moans that were trying so hard to force a way out, and it seemed to Draco that a storm was raging inside him again. Except now it was a really good storm that erupted intensely.
It wasn't until Granger was shaking from her climax, her lips quivering and struggling not to make a sound, that Draco allowed himself to let go as well.
After that, they laid quietly next to each other for a while. Granger was huddled up against him, her head resting on his chest, which was still heaving violently, and traced small patterns on his skin that made him shiver over and over again. He ran his hands through her brown curls, weaved them around his fingers and finally closed his eyes. Under her gentle touch, it was only a few minutes before Draco fell into a deep sleep. Maybe her mere presence was the reason.
When Draco opened his eyes the next morning, rested and surprised that the morning sun was already shining through the fogged window, she was gone.
***
The birds chirped excitedly as Hermione sat down at the small table on the terrace. The morning sun warmed her face, even though the air was already bitter cold. It was early December and Hermione hadn't expected anything else - after all, they were close to Scotland. Snow would fall soon. She listened to the sound of the sea for a while, taking small sips of the hot black coffee Harry had handed her.
She still couldn't believe it. She had left the brothels of London's magical nightlife behind. She had her best friend back who was unharmed. Zabini and Malfoy had turned out to be the White Knights. But what was even more incredible, the blonde wizard she had shared the bed with last night seemed to have similar feelings as she had.
First, uncertainty had nagged at her as she had paced in front of the small room where Draco had already laid in his bed. She hadn't been sure how he would react to her invading his privacy like that. When she had finally done so, because the desire to be with him had been almost overwhelming, she had recognized that the same had been true for him.
His gazes and tender touches had sparked fireworks in her that she had only felt once in her life. With another wizard she really couldn't think of right now. If Ronald Weasley knew what she was doing here with Draco Malfoy of all people, he would be rolling in his grave, that was for sure. Hermione swallowed her macabre thoughts and resolutely pushed them away.
There was no point in worrying about it. Ron was dead. It had been over four years since he had died, but she had to live on. And unfortunately - she sighed deeply - there was only one person who gave her the support she needed to even try. For the first time in years. And that was, as she finally admitted to herself, said blonde ex-Slytherin. It had only been a few weeks since he had first faced her in the Baton Rouge, but he was already driving her insane. In a good way.
She didn't know how to deal with it yet. Right now, in this house, with Harry around, it seemed strange and selfish to allow any feelings for Malfoy. But didn't he deserve them? After all, for weeks he had done everything to make Hermione's life somehow more bearable. Wasn't he the reason why she had something to hold on to again?
A knock snapped her out of her thoughts and Hermione flinched.
It had come from the front door and she jumped up and rushed back into the living room. Harry was already on his way to the door.
"What are you doing?" she hissed in horror, clutching the mug she was still holding.
"Don't worry, Hermione, it's an announced visitor. You know the house is protected by Blaise. He's the Secret Keeper." Hermione remembered, but the fear that had overwhelmed her didn't let up. "Plus, it will answer some of your questions."
A grin crept onto Harry's face and he looked up the stairwell to where Malfoy had appeared. He had shaved and his hair was damp. Now he watchfully raised his wand.
Malfoy's eyes met hers and Hermione's cheeks flushed. She held his gaze and felt a wave of heat wash over her as she thought of last night. Their first time. The first time without a contract between them. This experience had also removed any doubt that the physical attraction she had already felt in Malfoy's apartment had anything to do with the Baton Rouge's spell.
She found it difficult to break the eye contact, and he seemed to have the same problem. But now Harry covered the last few meters and swung the door open, causing Hermione to raise her hand and put it in front of her face. The morning sun, still low in the sky, was blinding her and she couldn't immediately see who the visitor Harry had apparently been expecting was.
Malfoy's loud gasp told her that he certainly hadn't expected the person on the doorstep.
"Where is she?" an energetic voice demanded and Harry was pushed aside. Hermione's legs threatened to give way. She knew that voice.
And there she was. Flaming red hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, one hand on her slightly rounded stomach and a strained twinkle in her piercing eyes.
"Ginny."
It was no more than a whimper from Hermione's lips. She heard a low moan behind her.
Malfoy, who had meanwhile reached the bottom of the stairs, had also spotted what Hermione had noticed immediately. The small baby bump that graced Ginny's slender body hadn't gone unnoticed by him either.
"That just can't be true," she heard his horrified voice behind her.
Then everything went black.