A month had passed, far too quickly. It seemed like it was just yesterday when she told me of this little idea. Maybe it wasn't the smartest, but it worked for us. I had done everything to swoon her. I just hoped it worked. What was she doing to me? How could I, Draco Malfoy, feel such need toward someone. I have never needed anyone in my life. Not my poor excuse of father, nor my mother. They didn't do anything for me. I only relied on myself, I was the only one I could trust. And then...she came along. She took my world and flipped it upside down. I honestly don't recall when exactly I started seeing her as more than a bushy haired know it all. I don't know when I started as seeing her as someone I could have a future with. Oh, the future...what does that hold for us?
Sitting in my office, sipping the coffee that I so desperately needed – for I hadn't been getting much sleep lately – I let the memories wash over me.
"Draco! Stop it!" Hermione giggled from under me on the couch. Apparently she was very ticklish and I had been using that against her. "Ahh, please!"
"Never!" I laughed back her, pinning her to the couch even further to prevent her from wiggling out of my grip like she had been trying to do. I tickled her sides, which seemed to be the most ticklish spots of her body.
Suddenly her face got serious and she pointed her chin, since I had her hands pinned above her head by one of mine, at something behind me. "What's that?" She asked pointedly.
I loosened my grip on her to turn and look. "Huh? What's what?" I had just gotten the question out when she managed to wiggle away and jumped away from me and ran into the kitchen. "Hey! You tricked me!" I laughed, she outsmarted me, again.
I heard her giggling and went to go find her. I did, she was on the other side of the room. I ran after her and she sprinted into the dinning room.
"Get back here! I'm going to tickle the hell out of you!" I called after her, chasing her around the table.
"You have to catch me first." She giggled back. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes were bright. I loved when she was playful like this, it was adorable. She brought out my playful side as well. I never had “played” before.
We circled the table for a little while until she ran back into the living room, where I caught her. I picked her up and put her over my shoulder, caveman style
"Ah! Put me down!" She yelled through her laughter.
"Nope, you asked for it." I said in a dark voice. I put her down back on the couch and resumed tickling her. She squealed and tried pushing me off. I leaned down and kissed her softly. I pulled her on top of me and we stayed there in each others arms until she fell asleep. I brought her back to my bed.
Hermione had stayed at my apartment many nights, almost as often as she stayed at hers. I had no idea what she had been telling Weasley but I didn't question it, I was just happy that she was there. I never thought I could share a bed with anyone. I was a bit of a bed hog, but she didn't seem to mind. She was more of a compact sleeper. She stayed to herself until I would pull her to me. And every time I did that she would smile at me, like she wasn't expecting me to do that. Sleeping with her always made me feel so much more rested in the morning. I was always grumpier when I had slept alone. I needed her. I hated to admit that, but it was the truth.
This month went by too quickly. I secretly wished I had said two or three months instead of one. But it did it's job. I knew who I should pick. I also knew who I was actually going to pick. They both made it incredibly difficult choice. This last month was horribly wonderful. It was so good, too good.
"Hermione!" Ron called in a happy voice as he walked in the door, late per usual. Though I couldn't even be mad at his lateness, he had flowers in his hand. Carnations, I hated carnations, but it was the thought that really counts I guess.
"Hi?" I asked, raising my eyebrow at his strange grin that took over his face and the flowers. What was he up to?
"These are for you, my dear.” He smiled at me again.
I gave him a genuine smile back, “Thank you. What are these for?”
“Just because...”He trailed off. “You're not doing anything tonight right?" He sat down on the couch and pulled me to him. "I know you've had to work late a lot.”
“Oh yeah, work has been hectic, sorry.” I murmured. I hated lying.
He shook his head from side to side. “They really do put too much pressure on you. Though it's only because everyone knows you're so good at your job." He was being too sweet, believing all the lies I kept telling him about where I had been. I had to keep making up excuses to keep him from knowing where I had really been, with Draco.
A twinge of guilt went down my spine. "No, I'm free tonight. " Draco and I had went out for a really nice lunch, he had other things to do tonight. Something with his mother. He was so aplogetic about not being able to see me tonight. It was cute. But him not being free every single night was probably for the best. How long would Ron believe me? A month hopefully? That's all I needed.
His grin grew wider. "Good! I'm taking you out to dinner tonight. Get ready, we'll leave in an hour." He kissed my cheek and then turned on the TV.
"Alright Ron. " I smiled at him and went to our room to get ready. He really could be such a good guy, when he wanted to be. I honestly had no idea what triggered his bad or good moods.
Ron? Or Draco? They made this so hard.
"Draco!" I called him back into his room, where I was contently lounging on his bed. I had been flipping through Wizard Weekly, a gossip magazine. Yeah, I know you wouldn't expect me to want to read those but I do have a valid reason. I fully believed that when dealing with important people, which is a common thing in my job, knowing all the stupid little things that they've done or what they like can get you far. I completely locked a deal with another business about house elf wellness campaigns simply because I knew the president of the company loved to golf and I invited him to golf for our meeting. Strategy is the key, with everything.
"What?" He called back, I heard his voice get louder as he came closer. He had been in the kitchen getting us something to drink. "Hermione, what?" He came in the door.
I held up the magazine by the corner of the current page I was on. "Looky here at what I found." I gave him a Malfoy worthy smile.
He threw me a questioning glance before coming over. "Oh, why are you reading that trash." He rolled his eyes at me. He handed me my drink.
"Information." I smiled at him. "Anyway! There's a story about you in here." I giggled in a sing song voice. It was amusing.
"Ugh, that happens quite often. The curse of the Malfoy name, and the fact that I'm the only good Malfoy around." He shrugged, it was obvious that he found being in a magazine normal. The bastard, I had never been in a magazine, until now.
"Actually it's about us." I shot at him.
“Oh?” He seemed worried, his skin between his eyebrows furrowing.
"Yes! It's just about how 'Mr. Malfoy brought a stunning, masked date to the benefit.' They're just wondering who it could have been. I don't know, should I be jealous of this masked stunner?" I laughed a little.
He smirked back but then turned serious again. "Yeah that figures...this article doesn't bother you, right?" He sat down on the bed next to where I was sprawled out.
I laughed at him again. "No. Apparently I'm 'stunning'."
He pulled me in for a hug, "You are."
This was our last night together before my decision. It was bittersweet. I was relieved that I wouldn't half to hid part of my life, either way I chose. Yet I was worried about which choice I would actually make. What if I chose the wrong person?
Though right now, my choice wasn't exactly what was on my mind as I watched Draco get undressed after work. I was openly gawking at his toned body. He looked up at me and noticed me staring, he didn't say anything, just winked and smirked. That smirk. My hormones were raging, I hadn't had sex since the night of Draco's benefit. Ron tried to, many times. I just never wanted to, I didn't find him attractive that way. Honestly I never had. We only ever even started to have sex because that was just what couples did.
And here Draco was, for the first time since that night, willing to have sex with me. He hold told me so when he first got here, saying that he had been thinking about it, me, all day long. I was thrilled, I couldn't wait to experience him again. One time during our month I attempted to intiate it,but much to my dismay, he refused.
"Draco, please?" I practically begged for him as I crawled on top of him in bed.
"No 'Mione, I'm not having sex with you." He said in a matter of fact voice.
"Please?" I pouted, giving him my "sad eyes" and my bottom lip out, biting that lip.
"You're cute, but that won't work." He chuckled at me.
Oh. I wasn't aiming for cute. I was trying to be sexy, not cute! I couldn't help but feeling a little hurt that he didn't want to. "Why? Don't you find me attractive enough? Don't you want me?" I said in a quiet voice.
He groaned. "Of course I do. " He said in a strained voice. "I just would feel like I'm putting you in a bad position. I want to wait until you say that you choose me, if you choose me." His voice dropping quieter at the end.
I wish I could have comforted him, but I just didn't know what to say. So I just curled up in his arms and we slept peacefully through the night.
Yet now he was with me, he wanted to. "I thought you wanted to wait?" I asked him as he removed what was left of my clothing.
He paused briefly before tossing the clothing on the floor. "I do, I did...I just want you more. As long as you want it too." His eyes flashed with his obvious need. He kissed down my neck, before whispering softly in my ear, "Do you want to?"
"Yes, please." I whimpered.
We didn’t just have sex, he made love to me. He was slow and gentle, even when I tried to make him go rougher, faster. I gave him a puzzled look.
"No 'Mione, I want to make this count. It could be our last time." He looked at me with sad eyes.
I gave him a weak smile. "Okay." I whispered, leaning up to kiss him. This could be the last time.
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