Hermione was running down the corridor, angry at herself for slacking off once in her life and not completing the assignment the week they received it. But she was busy with her experimental potion for her N.E.W.T.S. project and also the Advanced runes text she was translating that was truly fascinating ahead of her class, and you possibly cannot forget the extra hours she was taking in Transfiguration for bonus credits. And a few of the younger students were eager to join her study group (or more like, groups) and how would she ever throw away a chance to work with someone who, for a change, wanted to study the same topics as her, and were interested in their pursuit of academia and knowledge?
And she still needed to socialise with her friends, to sleep, to eat, sometimes to move her body, if just walking around the Black Lake, or to chat with house elves, and keep in touch with the outside world. And of course, again, you cannot forget she was indulging in a love(r's) affair, so he was naturally occupying a small amount of her time (not small at all). But let's not get side-tracked by this insignificant information.
Alas, she forgot about their homework for Arithmancy and now she needed to finish it in one night. But she was Hermione Granger and nothing would be able to stop her from getting the work done. She armoured herself with coffee, Pepper up potions, a tea blend which is supposed to enhance your focus and some light snacks for the night.
Hermione was already calculating how much time she would need to finish it properly to receive a usual O as her grade and was, once again, wondering why she ever did return the Time-turner. It would have come in handy last year, or right now, because she was starting to be really stressed about the possibility of not finishing it in time. But she would never admit out loud that she was comparing running away from the Death Eaters and not completing homework on time. War was over and she owned it to herself to focus on something as normal as school and wishful thinking about breaking the rules.
She rounded the corner of the hallway and nearly ran to the door of the library. She just needed one book, the one she thought she already bought two years ago, but actually didn't, or maybe she lost it during the Horcrux hunt (not that she would ever admit out loud that she lost a book) or maybe it was at the Burrow. But the atmosphere at the Burrow was currently not very welcoming to her person (yes, you guessed correctly - Ronald was sulking like a small boy and licking his wounds after she ended the thing between them), and the last thing she would do was to ask him for the bloody book. So her last chance was Hogwarts library and she prayed to Merlin it was available.
According to her information, all of her classmates were of a similar mindset to hers, and none of them would leave the homework until the last minute. Or - the horrible thought crossed her mind - she can just ask her lover if she can copy some parts of his. But what a blasphemy! Hermione would never do that. So alas, the time was precious and she was running out of it.
Her mind calculations were at the point of how she would write the wrap-up of the assignment when she saw a note on the library door.
“No no no no no no… please no…” she started whispering and came close enough to read the announcement.
Hogwarts Library is closed for the rest of the day due to the usage of dung bombs on its premises. All of the books with a return date due today are postponed for another day. No books can be borrowed until tomorrow.
“Noooooooo…” Hermione almost cried as she touched the note with one hand while using the other to try and open the door. It didn't budge. Still holding the door, she slid down to the floor and looked at it, tears dangerously close to spilling.
She looked around, asking herself if the smell of an unspecified number of dung bombs was worth it, and cast a quick Alohomora on the door. However, to her horror, they stayed firmly closed. What kind of spell did Madam Pince use on it? It was just a stupid prank with dung bombs!
Hermione was able to break into a Gringotts, so not a chance in the world that she wouldn't be able to break into the school library. She stood up and started to pace in front of the door, quickly running through a catalogue of unlocking charms in her mind. She cast diagnostic spells for wards, but of course, the castle was full of wards she did not even start to comprehend, so the diagnostic spell was for nothing, just stressing her out more about how much she still didn't know about magic. She started to chew on her thumbnail, one hand in her hair when she heard steps coming from the same way she came from.
Of course, bloody Draco Malfoy was about to visit the library at the same time as she was and catch her in this state. He was casually walking down the corridor, wearing a school uniform without a tie and a jumper thrown over one of his shoulders. The right sleeve of his button-down shirt was rolled up, and the left was down, as expected. He was eating an apple and looking through the windows which panelled the walls of the hallway.
She was starting to get into a frenzy, not having an option to get into the library and there was literally no copy of the book anywhere in the castle. As he was coming closer to her, staring blankly as if he didn't notice her at all, she saw the purple cover with a silver lining for text on the book cover he was holding. And as the molecules of distances slowly evaporated between them and he finally acknowledged her, she was absolutely certain. Malfoy had the exact book she needed right now.
Malfoy let his gaze sweep over her figure clad in school uniform with measured intent, not lingering anywhere except her left sleeve and hair, and then he looked into her eyes, finishing the apple to the core and vanishing it with a bit of wandless magic.
“My my Granger, why are you so riled up? Your lover is not giving you enough attention? You shall punish him, I believe he will enjoy it.”
“Firstly, why does it matter to you? Secondly, I am not riled up. And lastly - the library is closed,” she said, looking annoyed, waving her hand towards the locked door with a note from Madam Pince.
It's not like Malfoy was casually talking to her after they finally came back to finish their education, but he wasn't as bad as he had been before. He minded his business (eh, usually), paid attention in classes, did well in his assignments, and returned all the books he borrowed in the library before the deadline. So naturally, she could appreciate his approach to academia. But he was still a snarky bastard. Theo - yes, the not-so-secret lover from her inner monologue - spoke highly of him, but it could be an effect created by the friendship even longer as with Harry or Ron. Thanks Merlin they usually avoided any discussion about their friends, or lack of them, therefore.
Malfoy quickly read the note, chuckled to himself and then he looked back at her. “Shame,” he said, sounding just like his father. Goosebumps ran over her hands up to her shoulders.
“Which one of them?” Hermione said, trying to buy herself some time, to come up with an idea of how to ask Draco Malfoy for the book without asking him. She really started hating the whole debacle of “I will do it later”.
“Which one of them is what?”
“Which one of them is a shame, of course.”
“Why does it matter to you?” he parroted her response from moments ago, now certainly riling her up. She inhaled deeply, using an eye roll to avoid his gaze full of mischief, obviously making fun of her.
“Ugh, forget that I even asked,” she mumbled, looking down at the book in his hands. She started to play with the hem of her skirt absentmindedly, not having a fucking idea about how to trick him into borrowing the book. Or maybe, and just maybe, she could ask him like a normal person would?
“Eh... were you about to return that book?” She tried to sound not interested at all, but of course, he was a Slytherin and did not fall for her nonchalance.
“Truly, I was, but now I am not able to, so I'd better take it back with me to the Slytherin dungeons,” he said, crossing his hands on his chest, and hiding the book under one of them. She was still looking at it, trying to ignore his posture and then she looked into his eyes. For some reason, it was unearthly hard to look into them, and the intimacy from such a simple interaction between them was overwhelming, forcing her to avert her gaze instantly.
“Uhm, uhm,” she said noncommittally as if they were talking about the weather. “By any chance, would you mind borrowing it? I swear I will return it tomorrow. Immediately after class, I mean.”
Malfoy regarded her with a long, suspicious look. She quickly looked back at him and she saw as he poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue. Then she again found a better place to look at, like her simply manicured nails, without any nail polish. After the war, she found happiness in simple pleasures, so she grew out her nails and tried to keep them long. Taking care of them was a ritual she enjoyed.
“You haven’t done the assignment for tomorrow, have you?”
Hermione slightly jumped at the atrocious accusation. “Of course I have! I just wanted to… check it once again. If everything is up to my standards.”
“No, you don't have it at all. I knew it. Theo was talking about it and he could not believe for the life of him that you didn't have it when I mentioned the possibility,” he said, starting to sound like it was the best joke ever.
“It's none of your business what we talk about with Theo,” she said sourly, making a small point of giving Theo a hard time about rattling their conversation to Malfoy, of all people.
Don't get her wrong, she knew Theo and Malfoy were best buddies, but now she and Theo were lovers and there is some unspoken codex about it, right? Or did he talk to Malfoy about everything they did? The idea itself was so horrible it would bring her to an early grave, death by mortification.
Malfoy, as if he knew what she was thinking about, smirked at Hermione and looked down his nose at her. She felt how her face was slowly, but surely, turning Gryffindor red.
“You know what, I don't need the bloody book from you. Argh, I am so stupid that even the fucking thought crossed my mind about you being willing to lend it to a fellow student,” she said angrily, returning his sneer and to extra effect, held her head proudly and high as was possible for her small body. She didn't even reach his chin, but that was not the information history would ask about.
Malfoy exploded with laughter. He was honestly laughing at her. She never heard him laugh like that - not like the bullying little bastard he was, but as a young man, without a single care in the world. Somehow it clashed with her idea of him.
“Well, Granger, as luck would have it, I am in a generous mood, so I will let you borrow it.”
She returned to her natural posture with the speed of a Firebolt. “W-what?”
“You heard me. But, of course, it won't be for free.”
“It's a school library book, Malfoy. You cannot possibly want me to pay for it. What about some bloody decency in that body of yours? Nothing?” she said exasperatedly.
“You know the saying - no good deed goes unpunished.” He shrugged. “And I don't want money, Granger. You shall provide me with something else.”
For a change, she was the one who crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him suspiciously. “What is it that you would possibly want from me?”
Malfoy relaxed his posture, putting the book in the crook of an elbow, holding it between his slender fingers, and putting the other hand into the pocket of his slacks. He was quiet for a few moments, regarding her with a knowing look, calculating the price he was about to demand.
“To kiss me,” he simply said.
Hermione stared at him, her mouth agape as she struggled to regain her composure after the unexpected request. In an instant, a fit of hysterical laughter erupted from her lips, and she hastily covered her mouth with her palm to stifle the sound.
“Something funny, Granger?” Malfoy commented, not looking bothered by her reaction at all. He started to draw small circles on the body of the book with his thumb.
“You cannot be serious, Malfoy,” she said eventually, still fighting the urge to laugh again.
“No, my uncle was Sirius, if I recall correctly. But back to my request - will you oblige?”
“If I ever,” she said with emphasis on ever, “consider kissing you, Malfoy - which I will never do, mind you - I am seeing someone, you remember? Your best pal, as he claimed to be?”
Malfoy shrugged as if the idea of her being in some kind of relationship was not bothering him at all. “I know. But I also know that it was you who said that you want to take it casual. And you are not exclusive, so what is one kiss? Aren't you an independent young woman, to do with her body and mind whatever she prefers and wants?”
Hermione pursed her lips, taken aback by Malfoy's statement. Well, he was right, she is that kind of a woman, and she can do whatever she wants, thank you very much. But being her person also means that she doesn't have to take into consideration any male whim thrown her way.
“You are correct. But that does mean as well that I can just punch you in the face and be done with you,” she gritted through her clenched teeth. She was still holding her arms crossed over her chest, now pressing her knuckles painfully into her ribs, as if truly fighting the urge to punch him in his stupid, aristocratic face - again.
Malfoy smiled at her with a wide, gleeful grin. He leaned a little towards her, still looking down at her like from a position of power, and bit his lower lip.
“Whatever suits your fancy, Granger. I can take a small beating if it will make you feel more comfortable.”
“Don't tempt me, Malfoy.”
“You can call me Draco,” he whispered, jumping with his gaze between her eyes and lips. She took a few steps back, just for him to follow her until she was standing near the door to the library. He withdrew his hand from his pocket and leaned against the door, acting like no big deal was currently happening.
“So what is it, Granger? A silly little kiss, or the first bad grade and detention for forgetting to do your homework? I can imagine it will ruin your pristine academic profile.”
“I would rather attend another session with your aunt than kiss you,” Hermione spat at him, seeing red from anger. Gone was the unexpected urge to laugh at his not-so-joke proposal. She believed he was just joking, not, in fact, wanting to kiss her. What was wrong with him?
Malfoy scoffed, straightening his posture. “It's nice to know how highly you think of me as a kissing partner. Well, as we have this sorted, good luck with your assignment,” he said with little malice in his tone, cocked an eyebrow at her, looked for the last time at the note at the door, and then turned around to leave. He even started whistling a little.
Hermione ran her palms over her face, cursing herself once again. As Malfoy's figure was getting smaller and smaller before her eyes, disappearing behind the corner of the corridor, she made a whimpering sound and started running after him.
“Malfoy, wait!” she almost yelled, cutting the corner and stopping dead in her tracks. Malfoy was leaning against the wall just there, holding back laughter.
“Change of heart, Granger?” he asked, smiling like a kneazle with a bowl of cream before it.
Hermione looked down at her palms, then she noticed her left sleeve was stained from the coffee she had for breakfast. She was running around school with a dirty shirt all day and she didn't even notice. She clenched her hands into fists, scowled and looked back at him.
“Do you promise to give me the book after the kiss?”
“I swear it upon my name, Granger,” he said quietly.
She nodded and looked around the corridor. “Here?”
“Would you prefer to go to some cosy hidden alcove? I know one not so far from here,” Malfoy said, smirking a little. Now that he asked, she definitely didn't want to be with him in a hidden alcove. This was just a business proposal - he had something she wanted and she had something he wanted. They will exchange it and end of the story.
“You know what - never mind,” she mumbled. She made a step towards him.
Malfoy stopped leaning against the wall and widened his stance, making space for her between his legs. He was holding the book in his right hand and the left one - with the Dark mark - landed softly on her waist. Hermione felt her heart start to furiously beat, but she wasn't sure if it was from an oncoming panic attack, or because she was genuinely excited to kiss him.
They were looking at each other for a few moments, none of them wanting to be the initiator. He was the one asking for it, so he was supposed to kiss her. But she was supposed to give, so it was her role to play. He repeated the circular motion of his thumb, gently caressing her waist, making sure he touched her hip bone with the movement. As before, Hermione was scared by the intimacy to be found in the battle of their gazes, but this required her Gryffindor courage and she would not back down. The subtle heat from his mercurial eyes was seeping into Hermione's amber ones, bonding them over the oncoming connection in the scariest way possible.
Once you will stop thinking about Draco Malfoy as a bully and privileged brat, you will notice his beauty, softness and other qualities. They can be found in his platinum locks of hair, the gentle curve of his cupid bow, the creamy colour of his skin with a little hint of blush on his cheekbones, or maybe in his overall sleek figure, narrow hips, pianistic hands and fingers, the pink tip of his tongue sticking from between his lips when focusing on the task at hand.
But you cannot possibly forget the beauty of his mind, which is even more intriguing. The constant push-and-pull they played for the spot on top of the class kept her on her toes for years. It wasn't merely the sharpness of his intellect that fascinated her; it was the graceful precision with which he wielded it. His thoughts seemed to slither effortlessly between subjects, weaving logic with creativity in ways that were as surprising as they were profound. Every word was measured, every insight crafted with an elegance that made even the most complex ideas feel attainable. What truly captivated her was his ability to challenge without condescension, to engage in debate with wit so quick it felt like a privilege just to witness, let alone be part of.
One of Malfoy's hands snaked into her hair, pushing her even closer. Unsure of what to do with her hands, she grasped his elbow with one, the arm that was tangled in her hair, while the other rested on his chest, right above the steady thrum of his heartbeat. He used their entanglement to pull her nearer, erasing the space between their lips entirely.
If you think about the word “kiss”, it can have various outcomes - it can be a friendly peck on the cheek or an affection kiss on the lips like between parents and their child, or it could be disgusting as when somebody drunk is trying to kiss you and they don't have all their faculties collected, or it can be full of passion and longing as between the lovers.
How would one expect Draco Malfoy to kiss? Well, one would expect it would be a cold kiss, one with his demeanour, without any niceties and unanswered questions about the purpose. If one would even bother to ask about the purpose. That's what Hermione would expect. But it wasn't like that and it was not how Draco Malfoy kissed her at all.
It was very light and soft at first, as if not sure if the kiss was honest, or if it's just a trap before Hermione will undoubtedly punch him. But no fists were flying and no insulting words were thrown around, so the confidence leaked into his lips and hands. The cursed book landed on the floor with a soft thud and both of his hands grabbed her waist, securing her in the position on tips of his fingers.
Malfoy tasted like an apple, spearmint with a light hint of honey, probably from his evening tea. Not even this bizarre situation could stop her overthinking brain from circling back to the coffee she sipped before her arrival. She didn't mind the taste of coffee on Theo when they were fooling around, so it should be okay for her as well, right?
The warm and fuzzy feeling was spreading through her body. She wanted to continue, to tattoo more of his touch on her body, to permanently secure his taste on her tongue, to fill her lungs with his haste exhales, to catch his quiet humming in her vocal cords. But this was a business matter and she should not forget it.
Hermione almost jumped away from him, biting her lower lip, trying to ignore the hot feeling in them. “The book,” she said breathlessly.
Malfoy was staring at her with slight confusion and after a moment, he quickly blinked several times, looked down at the book on the floor and picked it up. He handed it to her without a single word and she quickly grabbed it, being careful not to touch his fingers.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, feeling her face getting all warm and red again. She pressed the book against her chest, looking at him, averting her gaze and then looked back again. “You better keep this between the two of us, Malfoy,” she added, trying to sound menacing, but it came out more like a plea from a child.
He regarded her with a small, sad smile hidden in the corner of his lips, plush from their shared moment. “Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged. Give me my sin again."
Hermione felt her heart make a little jump and got stuck in her throat. “You kiss by the book,” she whispered, observing the source of her current trouble.
“Then my heart shall lie buried with this secret, love,” he whispered back, putting his hands back into the pockets of his slacks. She suddenly felt the urge to run away, avoiding him at all cost, and as the past taught her well, she leaned into that instinct, turning on the spot and running away the way she came, to her very important assignment which cost her far too much now. She didn't dare to look back at him and his piercing silvery gaze.
And if any of you wondered, the prepared coffee was drunk and spilled, the Pepper up potions were consumed, the snacks were devoured, the tea blend prepared and went cold, and her homework was finished. She didn't get an ounce of sleep, but because she was absolutely focused on her assignment, and not because she was recalling the frivolous price she had to pay for something as stupid as a homework assignment. Not because of that.