Chapter 6 - A New Couple at Hogwarts
Hermione tried to catch up to Harry, but he was too fast.
"Harry, Harry wait!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. Harry kept walking.
"Harry wait!" she screamed.
Harry heard the familiar voice and stopped. He turned with tears falling down his face. He saw Hermione running up to him. He couldn't believe it. Why is she running up to me? He asked himself. He quickly wiped off his tears as she approached.
"Harry we need to talk!" she said while trying to catch her breath.
"Why? What's left to say?" Harry said sarcastically.
"Everything," Hermione stated. He nodded and followed her.
She found an empty classroom and put a silencing and locking charm on the door. Hermione noticed Harry's eyes were puffy and his cheeks were wet.
"Harry, were you crying?" she asked with such gentleness that she surprised herself.
"No!" he said quickly
She raised an eyebrow and gave him the 'you're-not-fooling-me' look.
"Alright, I was. I was crying because you broke my heart this morning!" he exclaimed. She scoffed.
"I...me...Did you forget about the awful things you said to me?" she demanded. I broke his heart, please. Harry immediately regretted his words.
"I can't believe I said that to you Hermione. I don't know what came over me. Everyone kept telling me that you were bad news, but I never accepted it. Not consciously anyway. I always prided myself in seeing people for who they really are. I couldn't see you through all the rumors and stuff. I know what I said was wrong and inexcusable. I just hope that in time you can forgive me," he finished with a sigh. He poured out his soul to her. He just hoped that she forgave him.
Hermione had tears in her eyes but she let them fall as she pushed some of his hair away from his forehead. She leaned in and shyly pressed her lips against his. She was about to pull back when he pressed more urgently on her lips. Her arm snaked around his neck and back down to the front of his shirt, fisting handfuls of clothes. He fisted his hands in her hair and nudged her lips open. She immediately opened and his tongue plunged in. Hermione gave a little gasp when Harry touched her tongue with his. Their tongues dueled and danced until they pulled apart for much needed air. Harry leaned his forehead against hers, his breath coming in short pants.
"I have wanted to do that for the longest time," she said as he smiled.
"Likewise," Harry said as he placed his palm on her cheek. At first she leaned into the caress but she slipped away from him and walked towards the door.
"Hermione?"
"I'm sorry Harry."
"For what?"
"I get sensitive when people talk about Draco in front of me. He's always been there for me. I never should have called you an asshole. It was wrong on my part." Hermione turned away from him. Again he cursed himself. How could he ever believe those rumors were true? Hermione was sweet, passionate and obviously loved her family very much.
"If anybody should be sorry it should be me. I was a hypocrite. I thought I was different than all those other guys. I guess I'm not that different. I am an asshole." He shamefully hung his head. She sighed and walked over to him.
"Don't say that Harry. No other guy would have stood up to their best mate. The only other guy I know who's done that is Draco. And don't worry about him, if he gives you shit; I deal with him." He smiled and Hermione couldn't help but smile back.
"Hermione, do you still want to go to Hogsmeade with me?"
"What do you think?" she asked slyly. She leaned in and kissed him one more time.
"We better get to class," she said cheerfully. Harry groaned. His next class was with Snape.
"I guess we should," he suggested
"By the way, Hermione does this mean we are a couple now?" Harry asked in mock question.
"I guess we are Potter," Hermione said as she opened the door and adjusted her robes.
Harry grabbed her hand and entwined their fingers together.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco came into Snape's classroom and took his usual seat in the back with Blaise, Kristle, Jason, and Jacqui. He sat down and realized Hermione was not there.
"Where the hell is Hermione?" Draco proclaimed looking directly at Blaise. Hermione was usually the first one in the classroom.
"How the hell should I know?" she snapped at him. She was still angry at him for flirting with that bunch of Slytherin girls.
"Well you're her best friend," he said sweetly.
"Well just because I'm her best friend doesn't mean I have to know where she is every single minute of the day," she snapped back.
"Yes it does," he said with a smirk on his face.
"You're a real asshole you know that," she said with a smile.
"I know and you love me for it." He smiled. Blaise started blushing and tried to say something back but all that came out was, "Well…um…. um…"
Draco smiled at her and saw Ron coming.
"Hey Weasel! I heard that Potter kicked the crap out of you today," he said with a smirk on his face.
"Shut the fuck up Malfoy."
"You were lucky it was him who beat you up or you would have been in the infirmary. I may not like Potter, but I need to congratulate him. You had it coming, insulting my sister like that." He narrowed his eyes in anger.
"Here's your chance. He's holding hands with your sister," Ron said as his eyes narrowed at Harry.
"What?" Draco looked toward the front. He saw Hermione give Harry a peck on the lips and situated herself next to Draco. Harry went to sit at the "Gryffindor side".
"Hermione, can I speak with you for a moment?" Draco asked.
"Sure," she said happily, quite the opposite of herself that morning.
~*~*~*~*~
Draco took Hermione out of the classroom.
"Hermione what the hell is going on? Why are you and Potter holding hands?" he asked curiously.
"That's what couples do dumb ass," she said smirking.
"Since when have you and scar-" Before he could finish, Hermione gave him a look. "Sorry. Since when have you and Potter been a couple?"
"Since about fifteen minutes ago. We were snogging and-"
"Wait what, you were doing what to him?" He cut her off, outraged.
"Before I was rudely interrupted, we snogged and he asked me to be his girlfriend."
"So you two are a couple?" He asked absurdly.
"Yes, isn't it great?" She sighed happily.
"You guys are a couple. You and our arch enemy are a couple," he repeated, but with more disbelief.
"He was your enemy. But yes, we are a couple, which means we're going to hold hands and snog and do all of that couple stuff." Hermione saw her brother's lack of reaction and stopped rambling. She had never seen him like this. He never acted like this with all the guys she dated. He was all mean and protective. This time he was acting weird...
"Draco? Are you okay?" she asked concerned.
"Yeah I'm fine. Congratulations sis." He surprised himself with the sincerity of his words.
"Thanks Draco," she said and gave her brother a hug.
She went back inside but Draco still stood outside. "If he hurts her I swear to Merlin...maybe I should have a little chat with him," he said softly.
Harry only had three classes with Hermione, but he was still happy. Plus he had Professor Lupin for DADA. He was dating the most beautiful girl in the world. He was having the time of his life - if you don't count the fact that almost every Gryffindor had been giving him the cold shoulder. Despite that, he was having the time of his life.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
News of the "Potter-Malfoy Merger" spread like wildfire. Guys were warning Harry about Hermione. Surprisingly, nobody harassed Hermione. Maybe because she could make anybody's life a living hell if they ever bothered her, Harry thought wickedly. Nobody, except Hermione's closest friends, knew about the fight that Harry and Hermione had the morning they got together, not even Draco.
About two weeks later, Draco decided to have that little chat with Harry.
"Hey Potter," Draco shouted at Harry. He walked up to Harry and stepped in front of him.
"Potter, I am impressed."
"Thanks. Wait - impressed about what?" Harry asked confused.
"The way you treat her of course. You treat her like a lady," he told Harry, who was realizing that Draco was talking about Hermione.
"Oh, well I wouldn't treat her any other way," Harry said seriously.
"Well that's good to hear." Draco shoved Harry into a nearby wall and grabbed the front of his robes. To say Harry was confused is an understatement, but it soon diminished. He knew what this talk was about, and despite Hermione's warning and despite his own ego, Harry was frightened, not so much of Draco Malfoy the bully, but Draco Malfoy the brother.
"If you hurt her in any way, shape or form, I'll kill you. If you run, I will hunt you down. She is the most important person in my life. She is the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. We've been through hell and back Potter and if you do anything to weaken her spirit you will pay. She obviously likes you, so I trust you will not screw this up." Draco let him go and straightened out Harry's robes. Draco ran a hand through his hair and started to speak again.
"You are financially well-off, aren't you Potter?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, why?" Harry asked confused,
"I'm sure you've heard that Hermione has expensive taste. She has to have the best. She's never had less than the best, whether it be from a man or his money." Again, this perturbed Harry. What if he was poor…would Hermione still like him then?
"Anything she wants is hers," Harry said seriously.
"But don't, for a second, think that's all she is - a rich snob. Far from it. I want her to have the best. Can you give it to her?" he questioned. Harry looked him in the eye and was about to answer when he realized he was going to answer the wrong question.
"Yes, I can give it to her." Draco nodded and, for the first time since Harry had known him, smiled.
"You're a good man Potter. I'm glad my sister found you. Merlin knows she needs some happiness," Draco added with a somber tone. Harry knew he was talking about their father so he didn't press the subject.
"Thanks, you're not so bad yourself," Harry said jokingly.
"You don't have to tell me, I already know," Draco said sarcastically. He held out his hand and Harry gladly took.
"Hey Potter, can I ask you something?" Draco asked
"Yeah, shoot."
"Two weeks ago when you beat up the Weasel, what did you fight about?"
"Oh yeah - that. Well, I was going to catch Hermione before she went to the Great Hall. Ron told me that I was making the wrong choice about going out with Hermione. He told me you guys were dark wizards and you guys were going to convert me to the dark side. He called Hermione a slut." He avoided Draco's eyes. After all, he almost called Hermione one.
"He what?!" Draco said vehemently.
"Don't worry. He got what he deserved." Draco narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but quickly hid them when Harry looked up.
"If I was there, he would be in the hospital wing for months," Draco said while pounding his fists on his palms. He looked up at Harry. "Thanks for defending her Potter."
"I'll always protect Hermione," Harry said honestly.
"I know you will," Draco said.
As the two walked back to the castle, they talked and laughed about Draco's vacation in Cancun.
"Yeah, a huge wave washed over Hermione and Blaise and their bikini top came off. Good thing that we were in a private beach or else everybody would have seen them."
"Ha! I wish I could have been there. That would have been the highlight of my summer!" Harry said, grinning at the thought of Hermione in a bikini.
Draco raised his eyebrow and looked at Harry, who had a mischievous grin on his face.
"Now don't you get any ideas Potter," Draco said in mock anger.
"Oh don't worry I won't!" Harry still had a grin on his face.
They continued walking and saw Blaise and Hermione coming from the out of the Slytherin portrait hole. When Hermione saw Harry she ran up to him and gave him a huge and gave him a quick peck.
"Hello to you too," Harry said. He put his arm around Hermione's waist and she laid her head on his chest.
"Hi Draco," Blaise said.
"Hey beautiful. Blaise, I was wondering if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me next week," Draco asked.
"Really? Are you serious?" Blaise squeaked.
"You don't have to act so surprised," Draco said slightly offended.
"Sorry. Of course I will go with you!" Blaise said happily.
"See, I told you he would ask you out sooner or later," Hermione said as she lifted her head from Harry's chest.
"You told her," Draco said in a flabbergasted. "Do you have to tell everybody our secrets? What else did you tell her?"
"It's my job to tell everybody your secrets Draco dear." Hermione grinned evilly. "I also told her that you cried while watching the Fox and the Hound!"
"You did mate?" Harry asked. They all started laughing and Draco went red.
"So what? You would too if you saw it," Draco said trying to defend himself. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "Who else did you tell?" Hermione and Blaise looked at each other and collapsed into a fit of giggles.
Draco gave up his defense and joined in as well. As they walked down the corridor, they recalled some embarrassing moments. Harry had tugged on Hermione's robe. She turned around and he jerked his head. She got the hint and told her brother that they wanted some alone time. Draco looked at Harry with narrowed eyes.
Harry gave Draco a knowing look and let Hermione drag him to an empty classroom.
Draco gave them a soft smile and turned towards Blaise. Blaise jerked his thumb and Draco nodded.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As soon as Harry opened a door, Hermione threw him against the door and crushed her lips on his. Harry was taken by surprise at the urgency of Hermione's mouth. Her hands started to untie his robe with a drive that Harry wasn't sure he could match. She threw the robe to the floor and pulled his jumper out his trousers. She greedily ran her hands over his well-toned chest and stomach. Harry gasped as he felt Hermione run her nails across his stomach.
Some little part of his brain told him told him to stop, that they were taking things too fast, but it was pushed back when he felt Hermione lightly grind her hips into his pelvic area. He tore away from her mouth and let out a moan before he kissed her again. Hermione started to loosen his tie and ran her hands slowly down his frame. Her hands momentarily stopped and Harry was again plagued with the thought of things moving to fast. As soon and she touched him, he pulled out of her embrace.
"What wrong Harry? Don't you want me?" she asked as she rubbed up against him.
"Its just…we're… taking things a little too… fast." He managed to breathe out as he slid away from her. Hermione just stared at him and Harry could soon feel her gaze.
"Don't tell me you're a virgin?" she asked as though the thought was a joke. Harry
Potter's still a virgin? Didn't he and that Mudblood go out for like 2 years?
He hung his head and Hermione had her answer. Great Merlin…
"Oh…" Harry would rather face Voldemort ten times then see the look on Hermione's face right about now. His face was flushed in embarrassment. He used that Gryffindor courage and looked up. What he saw on his face confused him. It looked to him as if she was torn between laughing and comforting him.
"I'm sorry…" she suddenly erupted. His face flushed with anger.
"Look…its okay for someone to be…you know." Harry unlocked the door and stepped outside. Hermione shook her head and went to him.
"It's okay Harry. Really it is. We could wait. It's really no big deal," She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes and shrugged. "Besides, I wouldn't want your first time to be in an empty Transfiguration classroom." Hermione grabbed his hand and walked down the nearly empty corridor.
"You're right. Besides, someone would have to be really slutty to have sex in a classroom," he added dryly. She avoided his eyes. What would he say if he knew that I'd have sex in not one classroom but many? She looked at her nails and immediately perked up. I'm not ashamed. It was fun. No harm in having fun.
Harry noticed she wasn't laughing at his joke and looked down at her. Her head was held unusually high and he had the distinct feeling he had done something wrong.
"Hermione, is there…" he started but she interrupted rather rudely.
"There's nothing wrong in having sex in classroom, Potter. One is always available when you want to fool around or have a quickie." Harry wasn't sure what she said. Did she just say a "quickie?"
"Hermione have you…" Again Hermione interrupted him.
"Yes I have Potter and I have no shame. It was rather exciting." Harry looked at her with bewilderment. So the rumors were true, he thought as his eyes widened. All the things people said that she did with her boyfriends…the sexual escapades that they described…were true. Hermione looked at his face and knew what he was thinking.
"Most of those rumors were true, but honestly some of them were downright sick. Don't you think so?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Head Boy Room
Draco and Blaise hadn't gone that far either. Draco had decided to stop because they really weren't a couple just yet.
"Blaise would you consider going out with me?" he asked sweetly.
"I would love too Draco," she said as she hugged him.
They were about to kiss when Hermione came into the room. She stared at her brother and Blaise and gave them both a smirk.
"And what were you two doing tonight?" she asked innocently.
"None of you business," Draco snapped back. Draco looked at his watch and looked back at Hermione.
"How come you're so late?"
"Harry and I got carried away I guess," she said shrugging as she went into the Common Room. Draco followed her and sat down on the couch. He raised his eyebrow, and she rolled her eyes.
"Honestly Draco!"
"What did you two do?"
"That's the problem Draco, we didn't do anything." Blaise nodded, understanding. Draco got the message and groaned. Hermione winked at Blaise and faked a yawn.
"I'm going to bed. Don't do anything I wouldn't do," she said as got up.
"That is very unlikely since I don't how I'm going to get breakfast in the Head Boy room," Draco said with a mischievous look on his face as Hermione gave him death glare. He immediately stopped smiling.
"It happened once Draco. I don't know how you're going to handle that one Blaise," Hermione said ruffling Draco's hair.
"Oh don't worry, he won't misbehave with me. I'll make sure of that," Blaise said after laughing.