Chapter Five

Chapter 5 - Two if by Moonlight

Hermione sat in her private room, letting herself go over all the potions one by one. She had taken a shower when she first arrived in her rooms and then just pulled on her overly large terrycloth robe. She cared little about what she was wearing. She was more concerned with finding an antidote for this potion.

There had to be a quick fix. If there wasn't, come Monday, she would be unable to act as substitute to Potions class. In fact, she would also be unable to attend any other class because she would be forced to take up permanent residence locked inside her room. She wouldn't even be able to venture into the Head students shared Common Room for the simple fact that Draco, as Head Boy also had access to it.

Blowing a stray curl out of her face, she flipped to the next page just as a timid knock sounded at her door. Stilling, she stared at the door with mixed emotions. If it were Draco, could he remain calm if she opened the door?

Her question was answered as the tapping became somewhat more insistent. "Hermione," he whispered, "I'm sorry for the way I acted in the library. I just... I can't seem to stay away from you. The more distance I put between us, just seems to cause that much more pain. I won't hurt you. I promise." He sighed, and she heard him thumping his head against the door. "I won't even ask you to open the door. Just let me stay here in the doorway so I can smell your scent. That seems to help."

For a moment, she debated not answering him, so he would be left to wonder if she was even there. But then her worry for him grew when he remained quiet. Getting up, she clasped the book to her chest and moved closer to the door. "Malfoy, I'm researching possible potions that you may have been subjected to. I'll find an answer. I promise."

She heard him chuckle through the door and when he spoke, his voice was gentle. "Of course you will! You're the brightest witch of the age! You know, they're right about that, but they need to add in a few other things." he sighed contentedly.

"Things like, you're eyes are the color of caramel that's freshly melted. And did you know that when you smile, there isn't a single bloke out there that doesn't lose his train of thought?" He sighed dreamily, and she would almost have sworn she heard him snuggle closer to the door contentedly. "Or that you smell like warm cinnamon? I love cinnamon."

Staring at the door in shock, she couldn't contain the confused smile that graced her lips. "Uhm... I.. Uh... I need to know if you know when you were hit with the potion. If you could tell me, whether you think you drank it, or if you ate something..."

Draco moaned. "Oh, Hermione, did you ever once consider that all those times I was cruel to you it was because I was so beguiled by you I didn't know what else to do? Add that to the fact that my father hates Muggles and tell me, what else could I have done? I mean, it wouldn't have served to let everyone know I was crazy about you, now would it?"

She could hear him sliding a finger slowly over the door. "Malfoy!" She tried to sound somewhat sterner. Perhaps that would make him answer her question. "You have to tell me! Do you know how you were infected?"

He tapped his finger against the door, answering. "I think it was the morning post: an envelope bearing only my name. Something made me sneeze."

A light went off in her head. "You breathed it in! That's wonderful, Draco! Thank you!" She absently said his name as she moved back to the desk to flip back to the potions that were powders. These were simpler than others and usually had easy fixes.

Draco came to attention on the other side of the door. "You said my name! You rarely give a gift so sweet. Oh, Hermione, say it again!"

As she read through the possible remedies, she paused at his words. "What?"

Draco whined. "Please? Say my name again. I love how it sounds on your lips. Those perfect, rounded, gentle lips. I bet they're soft, aren't they? If I kissed you, would you taste like cinnamon?"

His words made her feel warm inside. With a smile, she answered. "Draco, you really should hear yourself." She shook her head. "I almost believe you mean that."

"But I do!" he answered. "Hermione, I have never felt this way for anyone. Never in my life! And I felt this way before the Lust potion came into play! I swear it to you. All that the potion seems to do is ..." He paused. "It seems to help me have the nerve to tell you the way I feel. I'm still in control of myself. Well, except for the way I can't get control of my wanker. But other than that, I am in control of my faculties. I know now that I'd never allow myself to hurt you." He chuckled somewhat mirthlessly. "I just won't be able to keep myself from acting like a lovesick, lusty arse around you is all."

Hermione took all he was saying into account as she searched for the potion. Stopping at one in particular, she read through it. It was an easy potion and had one simple remedy. But it wasn't a nice potion, because, save for that one remedy, there was no other cure. If someone was under this potion and not given the remedy, in some cases, it could cause impotence. In other cases, it could drive the recipient insane. Even if it didn't and he was able to move on with his life, he'd still never be able to forget these feelings he had for her and be happy in another relationship.

Hermione listened to Draco singing off-key to her through the door as she considered her only option. It was an old Muggle tune. One of her father's favorites about 'Feelings'. Shutting the book with a shake of her head, she stood and moved once again to stand before the door that stood between them. Softly, she said, "I found the cure."

Draco stopped singing. "You did? That's grand! I just hope you don't decide to tease me about my behavior when this is all over."

She drew a tremulous breath before answering, "Well, one could say that goes both ways."

Draco grew silent at her words. After a moment, he asked in a somber voice, "What's the cure?"

Reaching out, Hermione unlocked the door and dropped the wards. As she opened the door to reveal Draco sitting on the floor looking up at her, she whispered, "I am."

Draco was filled with many conflicting emotions. Lust made his cock swell, fear made him want to run, and the desire to hold her made him feel like a fool. His own emotions, however, were not important all of the sudden. Moving to stand, he gazed down on her. "What do you mean?"

She smiled. "I mean that the cure for someone who has ingested this potion is for the recipient of their affections to allow them to... ah... consummate their desires."

As her meaning came to him, he shook his head. "You mean that... that you... that we... Is there no other way?" His eyes searched hers, and he fought to keep himself for reaching for her. He wanted to touch her so badly, but he had promised himself he wouldn't do so. Not without her consent.

Clenching his fists, he held them in front of his obvious erection to shield her from seeing the evidence of his desire.

Too late, he realized that doing such didn't hide anything, but actually made it stand out more. Hermione's eyes looked from the proof of his torment to his face, and she smiled slowly. Holding out her hand to him, she clasped his tightly knotted fist and pulled him gently into her room.

Draco's eyes widened. "Hermione, you don't have to do this!"

She tried to hide the shaking of her hands as she nodded. "Yes I do. It is the only cure." She shook her head. "There is no other. And this," she gestured between them, "will only get worse. Maybe even drive you insane."

He understood what she meant, and he gave in to his desire to touch her at that point. Relaxing his fist, he clasped the hand that held his and slowly brought it to his lips. Gently, he placed a kiss in her palm before nuzzling it with his cheek. When he opened his eyes, he saw her biting her bottom lip and her eyes becoming darker in confused desire.

Forcing the hesitancy out of his voice, he asked, "Have you ever been with anyone?" Then, before he could stop, "Weasel?" His voice broke harshly at the question.

Unable to stop the nervous laugh that broke free from her lips, she shook her head. "No. I've never been with anyone."

Embarrassed, she looked down. "I always wanted to wait, until..." Tears gathered in her eyes at the thought of what she was about to do.

Closing the distance between them, Draco brought his lips to hers, gently pulling her into his arms and letting her feel the heat he felt for her firsthand. She gasped at the feel of his rigid length pressed against her belly. He used the moment to deepen the kiss and touch her cheek before breaking away.

Shaking his head, he whispered, "I have nothing I can offer to help reduce the pain you will feel from this. It will hurt. For that, I am sorry."

Hermione nodded and moved again into his arms. "I have heard among the girls that you are an experienced lover." At his slight nod, she whispered, "I ask only that you make the pleasure that follows the pain memorable." Her lips brushed his as she said the last and it was his undoing.

Lifting her into his arms, he carried her to the bed and lowered her gently down upon it. Forcing himself not to rush, he loosened the sash to her robe, sliding it away from her to reveal her nakedness beneath it.

Hermione lay there, waiting for his reaction as he stared unabashedly at her nudity. After the first few moments, she began to feel exposed and reached to shield herself from his gaze, only to have him stop her. "No, don't." His voice was a whisper. "Heavens, you are so beautiful!" He reached out to trace the shape of her breast before leaning down to suckle the tightened nipple gently.

She moaned at the feel of his mouth pressed to her. It was like nothing she had ever felt, and she found she wanted more. Arching toward his caress, she was rewarded by his free hand coming up and teasing the other breast as he sucked at the other.

Reaching for him, she cradled his head in her arms and whimpered slightly as he moved to lie beside her in the bed. Reaching out, she began to pull at his clothes. With a smile, he pulled away and grasped his wand. Pointing it at his clothing, he whispered, "Divesto!"

Immediately, his clothes fell away and left him as naked as she was. Moving back to lie beside her, he ran a hand over her body gently. Using his thumbs, he stroked each nipple gently, before allowing his hand to travel lower and touch her nether lips.

Opening her mouth, Hermione reflexively reached out to stop him. His hand stopped moving, but did not leave as he whispered. "I can make this less painful if you let me prepare you." He kissed her lips gently. "Let me help this to not hurt so bad, my love."

Forcing herself to relax at his words, she let her legs fall slightly open, giving his hand easier access to the part of her she had never allowed another to see. She was familiar to the art of masturbation, but she had never thought of another touching her there. Even knowing what she was about to do with Malfoy hadn't prepared her for that.

Slowly, he stroked her hidden button until she began lifting her hips in response to his touch. Then, he moved his thumb to take over, as he let first one, then a second finger enter her moist core. As she cried out in response, he closed his eyes, resting his forehead against hers. "Hermione, I want to bury myself within you. I want you so badly I think I may burst."

Her response was to urge him over her. As their eyes met, she nodded, and opened her legs wider as he moved his hips between her thighs. His erection grazed her hips as he did so, and she shuddered in response.

Misunderstanding her response for revulsion, Draco looked down on her. He could feel her fear and it tore at him. He hated himself for this. He hated Snape worse. "I promise you," he said softly. "That Black Bat will regret the day he did this to us!" He wanted her. Had always wanted her. But not like this. Not where she was given little or no choice. Whispering a contraceptive charm, he prepared himself to cause her pain, although it was the last thing he wanted to do.

Knowing that the quickest way to get her past the pain she must feel was to simply take her virginity fast, he thrust himself deeply within her, eliciting her cry as he did so. Once buried to the hilt, he stilled again and waited for her to adjust to his size. When she relaxed a little, he moved slowly within her, easing back, almost enough to exit her tight channel before surging slowly forward again.

Her moans and whimpers of discomfort soon became deep gasps and cries, and as soon she was arching beneath him to meet his thrusts, and crying out his name. "Draco! Oh please! I can't... I feel... what?"

Tightening his hold on her, he answered, "Come for me, Hermione. Come for me! Let me feel your tightness squeeze all around me! Let me feel you!"

His words pushed her over the edge, and she climaxed so violently, her cavern tightening until it urged his own orgasm, making him nearly blind in completion. When he finally collapsed onto her, he held her tightly to him, in no hurry to leave her.

When he eased off of her and onto his side, she looked at him with wide, surprised eyes. Reaching out to stroke her cheek, he whispered the question. "May I stay?"

For a moment she considered, then nodded. "Yes, please," she answered. "I really don't want you to go right now."

Joyful to be accepted, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his side, where they both fell into a deep slumber where each dreamt of the other.

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Standing in the forgotten, open doorway, looking down on the two lovers, Snape felt a sense of loneliness and foreboding. Pomfrey had given him the antidote to his malady, and he had been so relieved that he had decided to bring the remedy for the potion he had sent Draco in order to give them both some peace.

Finding this, he suddenly knew that Granger had found and considered the sister potion to the one he had brewed to be the one Draco suffered from. They were somewhat identical with only one exception: where the sister potion only had the one cure of bedding the object of the person's affections, the other had the antidote that was held in Snape's hands. But it had to be administered before the consummation of the attraction to both parties. Otherwise, the joining of their bodies resulted in the joining of their souls.

Cursing under his breath, Snape crushed the now useless potion in his fist. There was no going back now. No undoing this, he thought miserably. For all eternity, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy would love only each other, crave only each other, and could be with no other, else the other partner would die from a broken heart.

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A/N: Once again, I apologize for not updating sooner. I have three more chapters for this story, then it will be complete. Please be patient as I finish edits....