Love Is The Darkest Art

Part 34: Fighting The Secret

Scene 55:

Hermione Granger was right. Time was wasting away, and she thirsted for every moment. In terms of her education, her thirst for knowledge was near insatiable. With all the restrictions Umbridge was placing, it wouldnt be long until all the ancient and valuable tomes were removed from Hogwarts library. She had to soak up as much as she could before it all was gone. She pushed through the doors of the library, instantly thinking of the last time she were here, under attack of a death eater who warned her, and Draco, to end their relationship or face consequences. This remembrance caused her to be on high alert, and as she moved through the room, her eyes were vigilant for activity around her. She knew how vulnerable she was against the dark powers of the Death Eaters and that was just one more reason to increase her magical studies.

Moving among the aisles and working her way deeper into the library, she smiled about the altercation with Draco in the Great Hall. It felt good to spar with him like that, to meet him on his own turf and terms. She had enjoyed the insults just a little too much. Am I turning evil, she briefly wondered. Is cruelty this exciting or fulfilling? Is that how it has been for Malfoy all these years? Of course, it had been fun for her to put Draco down verbally, but she truly couldnt imagine treating others that way. So why was it easy to do that to Draco? Because despite everything, the warnings, the threats, the overall danger of being with him was exciting. They were commanded to be forbidden to each other, and instead of obeying she found herself wanting to drown in it. After all, no one loved her like Draco. No one touched her like he had. No kisses swallowed her whole like his. She felt the tingling rush shudder through her frame thinking of their time in the astronomy tower. She longed to return there and await him, but he hadn't given any indication of what he wanted since then. They had spoken of course, but they'd been careful not to arouse suspicion. Who knew what kind of spies lurked in Hogwarts halls?

As she found her way to the last aisle, she rounded the corner and looked up. She couldnt help but smile. There, right in the center of the aisle hanging from a height in line with the top of the bookshelves was the mistletoe she told Harry about. She'd known it was there as she had hung it herself. Of course, it was Draco's charm that made it invisible to anyone over the age of eighteen. Sometimes she wondered where he found these cool spells and charms. This was a good one and had turned the library into makeout central it seemed, as standing directly below it were a pair of Hufflepuff students caught up in a kissing embrace as the mistletoe tradition required.

"Oops, sorry," she exclaimed, turning a little red in the cheeks. The couple didn't even stop to look at her. They didn't care who saw them, it seemed. "Carry on," Hermione whispered, wishing she and Draco could be more like that. Having secrets was fun and exciting, but sometimes she wished they could kiss right in public. To see the look on everyone's faces. To know the thrill of being unafraid, safe in the arms of....

"Oh, hi Hermione."

Thoughts interrupted, she turned to the voice. The couple had quit kissing and were now looking at her. Hermione's jaw dropped in surprise. It was Ernie MacMillan and Susan Bones. She knew them well. Both were in DA with her. Dumbledore's Army. But she never thought in her wildest imaginings that they were a couple. Is that how other students would see she and Draco if they knew? With complete astonishment? Would their jaws drop the way hers was doing right now?

"Ernie. Susan," Hermione replied. "Um....what a surprise."

Susan blushed. Ernie looked up at the mistletoe over their heads. "Oh, well, you know."

Susan smiled, and Hermione thought this was more for her than just a holiday tradition. Like Hermione herself, she felt it was much more. "You should take the opportunity and bring Ron back here," Susan suggested.

It took a moment to register, but then...Ron??? Oh my God,  do they think I like Ronald Weasley? Does everyone think that? "No, no,no," Hermione stammered.  "He's just a friend."

"That's what we are," Ernie grinned, messing up Susan's blonde hair. The Hufflepuff girl squealed and returned the favor, taking both her hands and ruffling Ernie's perfectly styled locks. They were both giggling, and Hermione couldn't help but laugh along. Maybe it would help them forget the insane notion of getting....

"So," a voice said from behind her. She froze. "Hermione Granger wants to get Ron Weasley under the mistletoe. Oh my, the season does bring the surprises, doesn't it?"

"Draco Malfoy," she exhaled heavily. She turned to take in his malicious sneer. If she didn't know better he looked especially cruel in this moment.

He glared at her. "I guess the next you know, a double wedding will be planned." He turned his steely gaze on the Hufflepuff couple and began to sing in a kiddy voice, "Ernie and Susan, in the library, k-i-s-s-i-n-g." He chuckled and sang louder. "First comes love, then comes marriage, why look there's another Hufflepuff brat in a baby carriage..."

Ernie put Susan behind him, even though she was the one who came from a long line of powerful wizards. "Shut up, Malfoy," he said.

Susan looked at Draco warily. She knew his cruelty and wanted none of it here. "Let's go, Ernie."

MacMillan straightened his back, trying to appear taller than he was. "We can't leave Hermione."

"I'll be fine."

"Yeah, she'll be fine," Draco agreed. "Weasley is her king."

"Shut up about Ron already," she shouted, and slapped him across the face. His head reeled slightly. She'd hit him hard enough to leave a pink imprint of her palm. Oh crap, that was too hard, she thought.

Seeing the hard look in Draco's eyes, Ernie's courage broke. He grabbed Susan's hand and pulled her away. The angry sneer on Draco's face told Hermione told her the two had fled the library, leaving her to face Malfoy alone.

Draco put a hand to his reddened cheek. "That was a good one, Granger," he said in a low voice. "I'm beginning to think you are taking too much pleasure in keeping secrets."

"Draco, I'm...."

He grabbed her by her shoulders and pushed her back. She stumbled and nearly fell, but he tightened his grip and kept her upright. "I'm getting sick of secrets," he hissed. And kissed her.

His lips were desperate upon hers, and she surrendered to his rough touch, letting him pull her so close she could feel his chest nearly pounding against her own. One hand left her shoulder to cup her face in an open palm. Whereas she'd left a mark on his cheek, his left a maddening flush that made her want to touch him in places she probably shouldn't. Oh how she wanted Draco.

Suddenly he lifted her in his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist. They stumbled into the book shelf  and she threw her head back, allowing his delirious kisses to find her neck and throat. She opened her eyes. Through a dreamy haze she saw the mistletoe overhead. She smiled. He'd pushed her back to position her under the Christmas sprig. He wasn't near as angry at her as she thought. In fact, he wasn't mad at all. It was all part of the ruse to keep them safe. To hold their secret from those who would love nothing more than to destroy them. And while for days they had been doing well in throwing anyone off their suspicions, all their efforts collapsed with them against the book shelf.

Clutching his back tight in her hands, his own hands lovingly beneath her, supporting her on his hips, the kiss that had been held at bay for days overwhelmed her. Draco's tongue played across her lips and into her mouth. She felt like devouring him whole, sucking at his tongue and playing hers across his teeth. If she could have spoken, her voice would have moaned softly,  I love you Draco.