TITLE: Experience

RATING: R

PAIRING: DM/HG, HP/HG

SUMMARY: Love triangle between Harry/Draco/ Hermione. Virginal Hermione decides to let Malfoy seduce her.

DISCLAIMER: Only the plot is mine. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Draco and the rest all belong to JKR. *sniffle*

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Hermione lugged her weighty book bag and a small tote down the aisle of the Hogwarts Express. The larger bag was bursting at the seams with an assortment of books she'd just purchased in Diagon Alley. She'd barely made it in time to board the train which had started to chug its way down the track. Hermione held onto to the wall for support until she reached her compartment. She pulled open the door and smiled at her friends who were already seated inside.

On Hermione's left sat Ron and his girlfriend, Parvati Patil. On the right side sat Harry and his girlfriend, Ginny Weasley. Being guys, her two best friends were sprawled on the seats closest to the windows and their girlfriends were squeezed in next to them. "Sorry, I'm late," she said sheepishly.

Harry and Ron merely shook their heads; they were used to her bookish ways and often teased her about it. She couldn't get over how handsome they'd both become. They were both over 6 feet by Hermione's best guess. Ron was now a Beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch team and his body had thickened with muscle from all of the hours at practice. Harry was still slim and slightly taller. He still had the same wild shock of black hair. His glasses were smaller and thinner, a more modern style. He was still the Gryffindor Seeker, probably the best they'd ever have. He was also the reigning House heartthrob.

"Nice of you to join us," Ron teased as he took the huge duffel bag and the small tote from her. Ron huffed and puffed as he put the black bag away. "Geez, Hermione, does Flourish and Blotts have any books left?"

"Yes, and they were all written by Gilderoy Lockhart," she replied and flashed them a smile. "I got carried away in the magical history section and forgot to meet you guys at the ice cream place. Forgive me?"

"Sure," Harry agreed affably. "But a small gift would go a long way to getting back in our good graces. Say, a couple of chocolate frogs?"

"And a bag of Fizzing Whizbees?" Ron added.

"Fine," Hermione rolled her eyes with feigned resignation. "Take advantage of the poor Muggle-born. When the trolley comes around I'll buy us all a snack." She glanced back and forth at the crowded benches. "Well, I guess I'll just squeeze in." She pushed herself into the tiny spot between Ginny and the end of the bench but was only able to get half of her backside in.

"Can you move down, Gin?" Harry asked.

Ginny forced herself not to make a face. She liked Hermione but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was *something* between Harry and his best friend. Her fears had been unfounded. . . so far. "Of course, Harry, but I'm not sure there's enough room." She gave up a millimeter of space. "Maybe Hermione could sit in another compartment?" She smiled at the brown haired girl to take the sting from her words.

"Yeah, with Malfoy!" Ron joked.

Hermione suppressed a shudder. "Ugh! I'd rather be lashed to the top of the train."

"Well, I guess you'll have to ride on my lap," Harry joked, patting his legs. "Come to Pappa!" He waggled his brows in a mock leer.

They often teased each other but they never took it seriously. Hermione flushed as red as one of her two House colors. "That ride with Malfoy is looking better all the time," she shot back.

Ginny scooted over, pressing against Harry's side. "There you go," she said glumly.

Hermione smothered a smile and sat down. She wondered if Harry had ever picked up on the other girl's jealousy. Hermione had no intention of pursuing Harry because she would never do anything to jeopardize her friendship with him. Ginny and Harry had been going out since the Easter holidays last year. Hermione was surprised how serious Harry seemed to be about Ginny. He'd dated a different girl every month most of their 5th and 6th years, only Ginny had lasted.

"How was your summer at camp, Parvati?" Hermione asked politely.

Ron and Parvati had spent the summer being counselors at Hogwarts Little Wizards and Witches Camp. They mentored the students who would grow up to be future wizards and witches. Parvati grasped Ron's hand. "You should have seen him! He was so cute!" "A kid or Ron?" she asked with a laugh.

"Both!"

Ron flushed. "And what about you, Hermione? How was school?"

"You know the drill. I spent the summer at Purple Peak Potions Parlor earning college credit." Hermione was trying to obtain the very difficult 'Potions Mistress' designation. She had to take several extra courses and complete four internships in order to be a potions mistress when she graduated college. Hermione intended to teach at Hogwarts eventually.

"Did you get to mix anything good?" Harry asked with interest.

"A couple of poisons." The group regarded her with wide eyes. "Purely for the sake of practice," she hastened to add. "They're very difficult and require a lot of skill and concentration. I also burnt off my eyebrows twice." She scowled. "Apparently Foxfire Force is a more difficult potion than I'd thought."

"You know, you might even impress Snape," Ron enthused.

"I doubt it," Hermione replied. "I'd have to feed the masses, institute world peace, and cure Muggle diseases. Singlehandedly."

They heard the unmistakable rumble of the trolley and Hermione purchased them all a snack. Hermione bit into her chocolate frog and grinned. She sometimes missed Wizard ways, including food, when she was in the Muggle world.

As usual, Ron was eating his chocolate frogs with gusto if not grace. He had a smear of chocolate on the right corner of his mouth.

"Let me get that for you," Parvati offered and she licked it off, only to seize his mouth in a kiss.

Ginny took a page from their book and kissed Harry too.

Hermione winced. It was times like these when she wished she had a boyfriend. . . or wished that Harry and Ron had sprung for a private room. She stood up and hastily grabbed her little bag. "I'll just go change while you guys are. . . uh, busy." She scrambled out of the room unnoticed.

*******

Hermione balanced herself against a wall as she waited to use the girl's bathroom compartment. There were already two students in the changing rooms. A movement caught her eyes and she looked over to see Draco Malfoy staring at her with a peculiar expression on his face. She almost did a double take. He'd eased up on the hair gel and his silvery blond hair was loose around his neck and shoulders . He'd grown it out too, it was nearly as long as his father's. As always, she was pulled in by his beauty. It was a pity that his inner attributes weren't as attractive.

"Granger." He nodded to her.

Wow. . .he was almost polite. "Malfoy." She narrowed her eyes, waiting for him to say something nasty. He always did.

A smile spread across Draco's cruelly handsome face. "No need to give me the disapproving look, Granger. I know you don't like me and, believe me, the feeling is mutual."

"Good." She purposefully turned away and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Oh, so you're ignoring me now? What's wrong? Afraid of me because you're little bodyguards aren't around?"

"They're not my bodyguards! You're lucky I don't have my wand with me," Hermione threatened.

Draco walked forward, invading her personal space and purposefully making her aware of his body. He placed a hand on either side of the wall behind her head, his body effectively pinning her in. "Afraid of me now?"

"Of course not!" she said a little too hastily to be menacing. "Keep your distance, Malfoy." She licked her lips, they'd suddenly gone dry.

Draco's eyes locked on her mouth. His gaze was heavy-lidded and indolent. "Or what?"

"I'll -"

"Scream?" He smirked. "Feel free. I love a good screamer."

"Get away from me." Hermione was starting to get nervous. He wouldn't actually try something in the middle of a crowded passenger train, would he? "Are you sure that's what you want me to do to you?"

She hesitated a split second but then recovered. "Yes! Take a hike," Hermione snapped.

"I knew you couldn't handle it." Draco gradually backed away from her, letting her know that his retreat was because he willed it. She hadn't made him back away.

"That's the point!" Hermione took in a shaky breath and tried to appear confident. "I have no desire to handle 'it'!"

This seemed to amuse Draco. He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Too bad. I was planning on being very nice to you, Granger."

"You're disgusting, Malfoy!" She was relieved to see the girl's dressing room door swing open. A young Hufflepuff exited with her Muggle clothes in her arms. She didn't meet their eyes as she walked out of sight. Hermione quickly grabbed up her bag and entered the room.

"Let me know if you need any help in there," Draco called from outside the door.

"Go to hell, Malfoy!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When Hermione emerged from the dressing room, Draco Malfoy was nowhere to be seen. She sighed, letting the tension leave her body. Why was he harassing her? Well, he always harassed her, just not sexually. This was a new twist in a not-so-old snake. Dimly, she recognized some sexual interest on her own part, although, she had no idea why. He was rude, conceited, and he called her filthy names. But he looked at her and he really saw her. She wasn't merely Hermione, his gal pal. Or Hermione, the book worm. And his body. . .

Hermione mentally shook herself. She was obviously feeling a little, er, deprived. Thinking of the encounter in logical terms, Hermione rationalized that she hadn't had a lot of experience with men and her body was just responding to his invitation. It was normal. Natural. Hormonal. She would have responded to anyone under similar circumstances. Even. . .even. . .Snape. . .or Dumbledore. Eww!

When Hermione reentered the compartment everyone was composed once more. She was grateful for that. No one wanted to be in the middle of a teenage hormone mine field. She sat down next to Ginny Weasley and tried to blend in.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked, watching her with a discerning gaze.

"Fine, why do you ask?" She tried to keep her voice even.

"I don't know. . .you're cheeks are red and you seem flustered."

"Oh. . .uh, I'm a bit warm." She looked to Ginny. "Are you warm?"

She cast a sly look at Harry. "Very."

Ron grinned at Parvati. "Me too."

Ewww. Hermione looked away as the couples resumed their amorous activities.

*******

Hermione had just finished organizing her books when she heard a knock on the door. "Who's there?"

"It's Harry," came the voice from the other side.

"Come in!"

Her friend appeared from behind the door. "Hey there."

"Hi. Did you settle in already?"

"Not really much to it, once I put my broom supplies away," Harry answered. "You didn't say much at the feast."

"I was thinking," She replied with a small smile.

"That's my Hermione," Harry said with false brightness. He shoved his hands in his pockets and inspected the carpet.

"Did you come over for a reason?" Hermione prompted.

"Hermione, are you *sure* you're okay?"

Hermione sighed as she settled down on her bed. "Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course." Harry settled down on the bed beside her, uncertainty in his eyes. "Today, on the train, I ran into Draco Malfoy and he. . .er, I-"

"Hermione, did he hurt you? Are you-"

"I'm fine, Harry." She bit her lower lip. "This is going to sound strange but. . .he kind of. . .sort of. . hit on me."

"He hit you?" Harry asked. Because what he thought she said hadn't made any sense.

"Hit on me. You know, like he was interested in-"

"I know what he was interested in doing to you." Harry stood up, his hands balling into fists. "I'll get him for this, Hermione. Don't worry."

"What part of secret keeping did you miss? I don't want you to talk to him about it!"

"Why not?! What if he decided to-"

"What if I wouldn't mind so much if he did?" Hermione asked in a small voice.

"Hang on. . .I'm sorry, what!?!"

She stood up and paced a bit while Harry looked at her as if she'd sprouted another head. "Harry, please hear me out. I've been thinking about this. Right now, my life is about school. I want to get into a good college, I want a good career. I don't have time for a relationship! I'm eighteen and I've never. . .you know."

"Huh? Oh. . .*you know*. . ." His face softened. "I know."

"Well? Don't you think it's about time I did?" She prompted.

"With *him*?!" She may as well have suggested a tryst with Hagrid.

"Well, why not? I know he can be awful sometimes but I've heard things about him," she said hesitantly.

"What kind of things?" Harry asked, confused.

She rolled her eyes. "Honestly! About his shoe size!" she said sarcastically. "He has a reputation, Harry. Experience."

"What about all the things he's said to you?"

"That's part of it! He's perfect for this!"

Harry just stared at her.

"Don't you get it? I *hate* Malfoy. He *hates* me. But I also find him physically appealing. He and I could . . .you know. And then I wouldn't care one whit about him when it was over." She paced then, a plan forming in her mind. "I don't want to get attached to anyone right now and I don't want to lead someone on and make them think that I want more than you kn-"

"Hermione, if you're old enough to have sex, you're old enough to say it," Harry interrupted.

"Right. Copulation. Sexual relations." She tossed her hair over her shoulder and loosened up a bit. "Sex. I'm going to have sex," She rolled the word around on her tongue and decided she liked it. Hermione was unloosing her inner bad girl for a bit. "With Malfoy. I'm going to . . .shag Malfoy." She couldn't help the laugh that escape her.

Harry's jaw about hit the floor. For some reason sitting here listening to her talk about seducing with Malfoy was playing havoc with his mind. . .and his body. She just looked so adorable standing there talking about sex. He'd never seen her this way before. . .she was sensual. . .attractive. "What's gotten into you?"

Hermione winked at him. "Nothing yet, Harry."