Would you do it for a kiss?
“I don’t understand why you like her so much mate. I mean, she literally hates you. Treated you like shite from what I’m hearing.” Blaise was trying to knock some sense into Draco. He always went on these rants.
She hates you, she won’t change, she would rather spit on you than do that, and that was a one time thing. He always tried to remind Draco of these things.
Told him it wasn’t safe, for either of them. He wasn’t into the pure blood shit, no. He was just very protective of his best mates.
“I think it’s rather hilarious. I mean look at the state of you!” Pansy chortled.
Draco was all mussed up. Disheveled hair, pink cheeks, and eyes glazed over. Theo called it the “Granger effect”.
Every encounter sent a spark of hope to his gut. One day she will accept him. She’s getting there. Just last year she would have used an unforgivable on him if he even dared to reach for her.
“I don’t really give a fuck. I have her. She’s mine. She’s so close to accepting my love. I know it. I saved her godsdammed life!” He shot back at the snakes who just rolled their eyes and sighed in unison.
“The slytherin prince kneeling before the golden girl, how romantic.” Theo said dramatically.
“I’m serious Drake. This could go really wrong. Plus, what if she’s just using you and she leaves you high and dry.” Blaise interjected.
“Oh, sod off.”
She could use him alright.
Draco didn’t want to hear anyone out. He would make sure everything goes accordingly. Her touch was heaven. He was put on this earth to please her. He just got her. Why would he give that up?
_________
Harry made it through his first task. There was a few things along the way. For starters Rita Skeeter was saying all kinds of bullshit on the Daily Prophet. Hermione was in a crisis. She had too many things going on. She was trying to help Harry survive this, Ron was being weird, Viktor Krum seemed to take a liking to her, and she was battling the weird feelings that surfaced for Malfoy in the past couple of months.
Malfoy was relentless. Every time she turned in class, he was always staring at her. She felt his gaze everywhere. That little creep.
At the same time, Malfoy was the only consistent person. Ron was being a total arse about Harry being a champion and Harry was focused on the games. Malfoy stayed Malfoy. He made pins that said “Potter Stinks” which really ticked her off. Harry was already having a hard time as it is.
Ever since Malfoy saved her life she softened up a bit. But only a bit. She hadn’t forgotten who he was. She wasn’t insane. It didn’t make up for all the bullying and hate. But it felt good to see her him like that. All weak and begging her for forgiveness.
She said she would make him stop. Be so mean he would leave. She was still dismissive and rude, snappy at times towards him. But he did not give up, always sending her a rose and sugar quills.
Sometimes it felt nice for someone to worship her. She could pretend it was someone else. Someone who wasn’t a right git to everyone.
When Ron finally came around she was still very cross with him. She was an afterthought. A last resort. It was really annoying.
Her meetings with Malfoy in the come and go room -as Dobby told her it was called- became more frequent.
Sometimes he would just sit and watch her read on whatever she was helping Harry with for the tournament. Other days when she was especially frustrated he let her let it out on him. She would call him names and he would just agree with her which infuriated her even more.
He was content on just being around. Sometimes he would beg for physical contact. She allowed him to run his fingers through her hair. Then when she became too self aware she would slap his hand away and tell him to stop. She didn’t want to get used to it -to him- no matter how good he tried to be.
The Yule Ball was coming up and Hermione felt like she had be struck. Ron insinuated no one would ask her out. Well fuck him! Plenty of men were in line. Finding a date was the least of her worries.
She was hiding from Malfoy at the Lake one day when she saw Krum there, again. He came up to her and she cast a notice me not around them so his fans or Rita couldn’t catch them. They spoke…sort of. He could barely speak English but he was rather charming. He asked about her friendship with Harry which was suspicious because of the tournament.
Then, Krum asked her to the Ball with the best English he could muster. Well isn’t that interesting? Ron would be pissed. So of course she said yes.
She really didn’t want gossip so she didn’t tell anyone.
_______
“The Yule Ball-“ Draco cleared his throat. “You’re going?”
Draco came into the come and go room with mission today. He wanted to make sure his girl had only the best for Yule Ball.
He also held on tight to a delusion she would pick him as her date. He’s been such a good boy after all. But he was getting ahead of himself.
“That’s none of your business.” She said dismissively.
“I- well I was wondering if you picked something to wear.” He played with his wand while Hermione kept her eyes steady on a herbology book.
“I did.” She responded quickly.
She had been busy with Potty’s next task. That wanker. Why doesn’t he research himself?
He reached into his pockets with a shaky hand and pulled out a jewelry box.
“From the vault. I wanted you to have it. I know you will look stunning in it, especially for the ball.”
The necklace was a gorgeous and dainty thing. A small diamond sat in between the silver chain. It was a blue-ish gray. Cool and sophisticated. It was a piece of him. Carefully selected.
He wanted to show he was serious about her. All the mean things were an act. He wasn’t going to leave no matter how hard she tried to push him away. She wasn’t his and he was hers.
She looked up at the necklace in his hand. Her eyes seemed to shine briefly before her expression dropped back to a glare.
Yes darling, you can have that and more.
“It is a gift. A girl like you deserves to be adorned with diamonds and more.”
“No thanks.”
What? What women wouldn’t like beautiful and expensive jewelry?! Granger of course. But then again, that’s why he loved her.
“Please. I won’t ask for anything else.” He would ask for more.
“I wouldn’t want to tarnish your family heirloom. Besides we are not a thing.”
“It is just a gift. It doesn’t have to mean anything! Please take it.” They weren’t together alright. But they will be. He’ll make sure of it.
He was already hard just imagining her walking around school in HIS jewelry.
“Please.” He whispered.
She sighed loudly. “Bring it here.” She stood up and moved her hair to the side so he could clasp it on.
With shaky hands he put it around her. He wanted her to look at it. Look at how perfect it fit on her. How perfect they fit together.
The room provided them a mirror.
“Look at you. Just perfect.” He stared into the reflection.
He dipped his head to smell her hair. Addicting, that’s the only way to describe it.
He placed a light kiss on her shoulder.
Hermione didn’t say anything as she took it in. She shrugged his hands off her shoulders and rolled them.
“S’pose it’s fine.” She finally added.
Score for Draco. She was trying to act dry but she obviously thought it was pretty or else she would’ve tried harder to say no right?
“I would give you all the diamonds in my vault. All of it and more. Anything.”
Hermione turned around suddenly.
“Anything?” She raised a calculating brow.
“Yes” he breathed out.
“I want you to sneak into Snape’s ingredient closet and get me gillyweed.” She said sternly.
“Gillyweed?” He swallowed. Fuck that would be hard. What does she need it for? He doesn’t want to deny her though. He wanted to be good. Maybe she’d go to the Ball with him if he did this for her? No, she wouldn’t. But it didn’t hurt to dream.
She sensed his unease and moved her hand up to his shoulders. She ran a hand through his hair and then rested it on the nape of his neck. She cocked her head to the side.
Draco shivered. Fuck, fuck, fuck. How can he say no to that? His chest was rising and falling quickly.
He did promise to give her anything. She did put on his necklace. He wanted to ask her for something in return. A trade of sorts.
“W- would I get anything in return? He said breathlessly. She was scratching the back of his head softly. The movement was so satisfying he could almost purr.
She cocked her head to the other side and smirked up at him.
He was so fucked. Even if she said no he’d still go along with it.
“A kiss on the lips, maybe.”
Draco swallowed hard. A kiss. A fucking kiss. All the blood rushed south. He would literally kill for kiss from her.
“Yes. Okay.” He said quickly.
“Bring it here. I won’t need it just yet.”
He nodded quickly.
The hand in his hair slightly tightened.
“Good boy.”
He was pathetic. All it took was the magic words to have him scrambling to find a way to get it. For the first time, she offered something. He’s been dreaming about this forever. He had stolen a few kisses yes, but this was different. He wasn’t begging for it.
He had almost forgotten about the Yule Ball. He sent her an owl with more jewelry and heels to pick for her dress. He wanted to see her wearing his things.
They were fighting less and she was giving him more permission to touch her. He was being good for her, even keeping his headbutts with Potter to a minimum. And now this!
It was all going according to plan.