♕ sixteen

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 Hermione had been anxious to see Draco again from the moment they had parted. She could think of nothing but his lips against hers, the feel of his hands around her waist... She was both excited and in love with the feeling he gave her, and was eager to experience it again. As soon as she entered the Great Hall, Hermione searched the room for Draco. 

She caught sight of him, entering the hall from the other side. His eyes immediately found her and his face broke into a wide smile. A warm feeling spread from her toes to the top of her head. She didn't even mind that she was blushing fiercely as she returned Draco's smile. But Hermione was soon ushered away by Ginny and Harry, who were eager to start eating. 

Whispers followed as she made her way down the Gryffindor table. Evidently, word of their rendevous on the staircase last night had spread. Hermione took a seat next to Ginny and across from Harry but was immediately bombarded with a swarm of Gryffindor girls, some whom she didn't even know.

"I can't believe Draco Malfoy, THE Draco Malfoy is your date to the dance!" Pavarti cried.

"Tell me your secret," Lavender hissed.

A Sixth Year girl broke through the crowd and pouted, twirling her hair. "He's so romantic, soo handsome..." 

She shot Hermione a judgemental look. "What'd you put in his pumpkin juice to make him like you so much?"

Hermione, instantly territorial, shot a glare at the girl. "If you're insinuating that I've spelled him, that's a pathetic assumption. Don't look too desperate."

The girl looked offended.

"Just because you're his new slut doesn't mean that you can push everyone else around," she spat. Hermione's jaw dropped, and so did the rest of the crowd's. To the girl's immense misfortune, Ginny had heard her comment. The now angered redhead stood abruptly, knocking over a stack of toast.

"What'd you say babe?" she asked, glaring daggers. The girl immediately paled.

"Nothing, I didn't mean that-"

Ginny slammed her hand down onto the table.

"I'm sure you think you're something special," she growled, "but don't flatter yourself. You look like something that crawled out of Neville's cauldron. And Neville at Potions." 

"That's true!" Neville piped up from a couple seats down. 

The Sixth Year scoffed. 

"Whatever." 

But she scampered away down to the farthest end of the table as the table erupted with laughter. 

"Thanks, Gin." Hermione said gratefully. 

Ginny nodded, mouth already full of eggs.

"No pwobwem."

Realizing how hungry she was, Hermione dug into her plate of sausage. But just as she began to spread a heavy amount of marmalade onto her toast, she caught Draco's eye. He gave her a wink before turning back to his breakfast. Hermione was instantly overcome with butterflies.

But she wouldn't be able to see him until lunch, which was when they had organized another Ron-be-Gone meeting. It was going to be hard to get through breakfast without him.

However, it proved even harder. She didn't even get to talk to Draco as she was pushed with the tide of students fighting to get to classes. And so Hermione sat, unfocused and bored out of her mind for the first time ever in a Transfiguration class.

"Miss Granger, are you feeling well?" Professor McGonagall asked worriedly. Hermione was snatched out of her daydream and turned, embarrassed, to face her teacher.

"Yes, I'm feeling fine, just a bit distracted," she said, hurriedly turning her attention to the salamander she was supposed to be turning into a pincushion. Professor McGonagall nodded.

"Well, if you need to go to the hospital wing please tell me so."

This only made her more bored. Just when she felt that she would need to excuse herself to go barge into Draco's class and steal him away, the door opened.

McGonagall looked up at who had entered.

"Yes, Mister Malfoy?" she asked curtly. Hermione froze in her seat, partially elated at even the presence of Draco and slightly panicked. Why was he here?

"I apologize, headmistress, but Professor Sinistra needs to see Granger, in her office."

McGonagall gave a sigh.

"I'm sorry, mister Malfoy but miss Granger is occupied with her transfiguration task-"

"No I'm not!" Hermione exclaimed quickly. She flicked her wand and the salamander on her desk turned into a emerald green pincushion with a small 'pop'. She looked expectantly up at Professor McGonagall, who was rather stunned at Hermione's ease with the spell; most kids were still prodding their lizards halfheartedly with their wands. But she reluctantly agreed.

"If you must."

Hermione could have leapt with anticipation but carefully put her things away in her bag and stood to thank Professor McGonagall. The second she turned around, her eyes met Draco's. A signature smirk graced his lips as he held the door open for Hermione. She wondered if he could feel her pulse racing.

As soon as the door to the classroom had clicked shut, she let her bag fall to the floor and ran into Draco's open arms. They shared a warm embrace, trying to make up for time they had spent without each other.

"Draco," she breathed, closing her eyes and wishing that this moment could last forever.

"How've you been, Hermione?" Draco asked softly.

"I've been terrible," she confessed. "All I can think about is..."

"Us?" Draco finished for her. Hermione nodded sheepishly.

"Don't be shy about it, it's all I've been able think of."

Hermione pulled away and looked up at Draco.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, remembering suddenly. "What does professor Sinistra want from us?"

Draco smiled shyly. "She didn't want anything... I think she's actually in the middle of a class." He glanced down at her lips. "I just really wanted to see you."

Hermione felt her heart melt as she crossed her arms teasingly.

"Well... I'm slightly angry that you took me out of a class, but... you can make it up to me."

Draco grinned dangerously. 

"How so?" 

He leaned toward her. Hermione felt her heart explode as their lips met once more. His hands slipped around her waist and hers around his neck. She felt the coolness of brick behind her as Draco pressed his body to hers. Hermione let her hands wander up to his hair and he moaned softly. She smiled against his lips and tugged on the roots of his hair. His grip around her waist tightened. 

When they finally pulled apart, every single molecule in Hermione's body wanted to keep going. But she knew Professor McGonagall would eventually come looking for her.

"See you soon," she whispered, as if it were goodbye. Hermione knew, even though they'd only be apart an hour longer, that she would miss him painfully. 

Perhaps that's why she completely forgot about her book bag as she entered the Transfiguration classroom. Professor Mcgonagall looked up at her with a critical eye. 

"Did Professor Sinistra need your bookbag, miss Granger?" she exclaimed. Hermione frowned. 

"Professor Sinistra? She didn't-" 

Suddenly remembering why she had gone out into the hall in the first place, Hermione corrected herself hurriedly. 

"She didn't have time to give me full instructions, yes, but ah... I accidentally left my bag at the top of the astronomy tower..."

"Mister Malfoy said that you had gone to the professor's office. As I recall, her office is on the fourth floor, unless the whole room and the contents of it have been magically transported overnight," McGonagall said coolly. Hermione could've kicked herself. 

"Oh, yes, I... got lost."

McGonagall obviously wasn't buying it. But she shrugged dismissively. 

"I'm sure that mister Malfoy... gave you the proper directions," she said curtly. Maybe Hermione imagined it, but there was a rare smile on the Professor's face. 

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