Absence of Fear

Lyrics : Jewel Kilcher

Characters : JK Rowling

Disclaimer : Despite my request to Santa, they're still not mine. However, I admit that I'm parched…care to enjoy some lemonade with me?

There is this space

It twists and turns

It bleeds and aches

Inside my heart

There's an empty room

It's waiting for lightning

It's waiting for you

"What kind of plan can we possibly come up with, darling?" Draco nuzzled the side of Hermione's neck. "I thought I had a plan."

"That isn't a plan, you idiot." Hermione pushed Draco away from her. He stared at her, stunned. "That is a suicide mission. Voldemort…oh, don't flinch like that!...only wants you because you're a Malfoy. He wants to lay claim to a family."

"He's not asking for Crabbe or Goyle." Draco pointed out.

"Would you?" Hermione pointedly asked. "If you wanted to take over the wizarding world, would honestly want those two by your side in the hopes that you would actually succeed?"

Draco smirked.

"Draco, I'll be honest…you're good at magic and if I wanted to take over the world, I would want you by my side. But you're young…and Voldemort wants to mold you to the way he wants. He knows that you're eager to please."

"You make me sound like a puppy!" Draco protested. Hermione arched a dark eyebrow.

"You admitted that doing this will please your father."

Draco bit his lip.

"And that burns inside of me, Draco." Hermione's eyes welled up. "It kills me to know that you're doing this for him and for me…I want you to do what you want…what you feel is right."

"This feels right." Draco snaked his arms around Hermione and pulled her body against his. "I need you, Hermione. I need to know that you support me."

"Draco, I support what you wish to do, but not the means by which you wish to accomplish it."

"Talk later…I need to know that you're not deserting me."

"I'm not, Draco." Hermione whispered against his chest. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Good." He rumbled and tilted Hermione's face up to his. His teeth nibbled on her lower lip briefly, enough to cause Hermione to moan, before his lips caressed hers tenderly. The tenderness gave way to possessive abandon. His lips demanded a response and took what Hermione gave.

I am wanting and

I am needing you

To be here

Inside the absence

Of fear

((I can't let her know how scared I am.)) Draco mused. ((Yes…I, Draco Malfoy, am scared. Scared of what my future may hold, scared to become one of them and to do His bidding. It will please my father and hopefully protect Her, but does She realize this? Does She recognize this?))

Draco's arms tightened around Hermione and he growled softly against her mouth. He needed to forget. To forget about his father and the future. To forget about the plan…any plan…and what needed to be done.

Bringing a hand back, Draco slipped it between their two bodies and parted Hermione's robes. His hand slid gently down her clothed ribcage and Draco could feel her trembling beneath his touch. He recognized this quivering as her form of desire, as if she was fighting within herself. Draco knew, as his hand came to rest on her hip, that she would succumb to the feelings stirring within her. Oh, how he needed her to give in.

Draco heard a moan and was rather put out to realize that it emanated from his own throat. However, his sound appeared to spur Hermione on and as one arm snaked around his neck, the other hand stroked his chest through his robes. Draco shifted and allowed Hermione to part his own robes. Oh how he needed to feel her hand on him…directly on him…flesh on flesh. As nice as it was to feel her through the layer of his shirt, he needed more contact. He shifted his stance again, but Hermione didn't appear to understand his need. Draco briefly contemplated ripping his shirt open so that he could feel Hermione's hands on him, but lost all coherent thought when the Gryffindor Princess rubbed up against him, sliding her petite length along his lean frame.

Their robes fluttered in a gentle breeze around them, protecting them from the outside world. The rubbing and caressing between them was sheltered by the billowing black fabric of their robes so that the details of their actions was hidden and known only by them.

Draco's lips nibbled at the corners of Hermione's mouth, quickly followed by a flickering caress of his tongue. He felt Hermione's gasp of pleasure and stroked her side with the backs of his fingers in an effort to soothe her. Merlin, but he didn't think it was possible for Hermione to be any closer to him but she wriggled up against him, proving Draco wrong yet again. Even in physical matters, she was right. He growled softly as Hermione nipped his earlobe lightly.

((Does she even know what she's doing to me?)) Draco mused to himself and smirked as Hermione pressed her lower abdomen against him, increasing and decreasing the pressure, insinuating a dance that he knew well.

Moving his mouth back over Hermione's, Draco's hands captured her hips and forced them to still. Hermione whimpered at the silent command, but quickly moved on to a groan of pleasure as the pads of Draco's thumbs massaged her hips.

Draco allowed his control to be communicated through his grip on her and Hermione willingly allowed the blond Slytherin to dominate for the moment. Her tongue stroked his own, darting around it, soothing it. One hand rifled through his fine hair, holding his head in place while the other tightly grasped a shoulder encouraging him. Draco felt Hermione's fingernails gently raking over the back of his neck and immediately recalled how they felt on his back as he pushed into her. Merlin, but how he wanted to feel that again. Unfortunately, for him, he recognized that he needed to give Hermione time to accept and forgive him for his decision and to realize that she…

Muscle and sinew

Velvet and stone

This vessel is haunted

It creaks and moans

My bones call to you

In a separate skin

I'll make myself translucent

To let you in

"…want you." Hermione gasped against his mouth. "I want you, Draco."

Draco pulled his head back. He stared at Hermione through a fallen lock of blond hair.

((Okay…so maybe she doesn't need time.)) He grinned at Hermione who flushed at her boldness.

"Really?" He drawled out.

"Really." Hermione nodded.

"How?" He asked.

"How?" The Gryffindor repeated, furrowing her brows.

"Yes…how?" He breathed huskily into her ear.

"Now." Hermione sighed.

"That's a when…not a how." Draco pointed out and was rewarded with groan of frustration from Hermione.

"I want you…naked, beneath me, guiding me. I want your hands on me, showing me what you want, what you like. I want your mouth kissing me, licking me, tormenting me." Hermione watched as Draco's eyes fluttered shut at her slow, honey-laced words. "I want you in me, hard and deep, touching me…touching my very core. I want to feel you come in me, I want to hear you come…hear you say my name as you spill inside of me. I want you to feel that there is no other place you wish to be other than in me. I want you to lose control as I clench around you, pulling you in even deeper."

Draco nearly came right there at Hermione's words. Great Hippogriffs, but did she have no idea what she was doing to him?

"Is that all?" He gulped.

"No." Hermione admitted and nearly laughed at Draco's shocked expression. "But it'll do for starters."

Pale eyes blinked in disbelief. Hermione's small fingers quickly undid Draco's shirt and pushed the edges away, exposing his light skin. Hermione ran her hands over the toned skin and gently pinched a pale nipple with her fingernails. Draco took a quick inward breath and expelled it just as quickly when Hermione laved the offended tip with her tongue. Her hands ran down his sides, lightly tickling him. Draco squirmed but didn't stop Hermione. He stopped breathing when Hermione's hands came to rest on the top of his trousers and he could feel her fingertips stroking the leather of his belt.

((Who knew the Gryffindor Princess would have a leather fetish?)) His mind grinned at him. The grin was wiped from his mental face when her fingers began to undo his belt. ((Explore that fetish later…there are other things to focus on right now.))

I am wanting and

I am needing you

To be here

Inside the absence

Of fear

Draco noted the sound of leather sliding along leather and felt a slight loosening around his waist. Hermione had made quick work of his belt and that pleased him. He could feel her fumbling with the button and hooks that held his trousers up and was humbled by the care she took when lowering the zipper.

Hermione stood up on the tips of her toes to plant a light, passionate kiss on Draco's lips before slowly kissing her way down his chest, down his ribs, down his waist, down his hips, down his…oh, Merlin…down…

Draco felt Hermione calmly tug his trousers down. He frowned, wondering how she was able to reach the ground so easily. Opening his eyes, Draco glanced down and was stunned to see Hermione on her knees, looking up at him, a question apparent in her dark eyes.

The Slytherin hesitated. He had been unwilling to teach Hermione this sexual experience, wanting her to discover it on her own and now that she was about to he was unsure if…woah…apparently, the Gryffindor bookworm was too impatient to wait for his answer and was taking matters into her own hands…literally.

Pulling his erection out of his boxes, Hermione stared at it, fascinated with the shape and texture and…her tongue flicked out to taste the shiny liquid on the tip…taste. Draco's legs nearly gave out. Unsatisfied with such a mild reaction from her lover, Hermione reached out and clasped his girth to steady it as her mouth enclosed the tip. Her tongue slowly rolled over his length as her hand stroked the base.

Draco hissed, suddenly wishing he had something to hang onto for balance. His hands blindly reached out and came to rest on the top of Hermione's head. Taking this to mean a form of encouragement, Hermione's took Draco into her mouth with more fervor and began to stroke, suck and nibble her way to the base.

As she neared his tip again, Hermione glanced up and saw Draco's head hanging down, his eyes closed in bliss. Smiling that she was able to make him feel such apparent pleasure, her mouth slid down him again, only to journey back up to the tip. Hermione repeated her loving ministrations on Draco, until he framed the sides of her head.

"Stop." He whispered softly.

"Am I…"

"Doing everything right? Gods and goddess, woman, you're going to kill me if you keep that up." Hermione blushed at the sexual praise.

Draco kneeled down in front of Hermione.

"Time to finish that later, Princess." He murmured. "Right now, I want to feel you. I want to give you what you want."

There is the splendor of this

Secret inside of me

And it knows that you're no stranger

You're my gravity

My hands will adore you through all darkness

And they will lay you out in moonlight

And reinvent your name

Draco gently lowered Hermione down to the ground. He sat up and made quick work of his shoes and socks, and tugged his trousers off. The blond man leaned back down to the side of Hermione and covered her with his robes. As much as he wished to see her skin bathed in the moonlight's kisses, it still wasn't warm enough for that. For now, the heat generated by their bodies would remain within their robes, keeping them warm while they made love.

Hermione wiggled and lowered her skirt and knickers to her knees. Draco lent a hand for the rest of the way and was rewarded with a kiss from Hermione when he managed to remove them. His fingers lightly traveled up a soft thigh and came to rest on a patch of curls. Curls that his memory remembered to be dark chestnut in colour and soft and…

"Wet. You're already wet for me, Princess." He said softly, awed once more at how she was always ready for him. It was much appreciated flattery to his male ego, but it humbled him in a way she could never understand. To know that he had that effect on her, to know that she desired him as much as he craved her…it inspired him to always leave her sated.

Draco felt Hermione's legs open and he positioned himself between them.

"I thought I said I wanted you beneath me." Hermione protested gently.

"Easily arranged." Draco rolled them over. The two lovers tugged and flapped their tangled robes to free their limbs and ensure, once again, that they were protected from the cool night air. Draco's hands left Hermione hips and unbuttoned her blouse. He was rewarded with deep red lace facing him and, praise the Elements, a front clasp. Draco's long fingers quickly fumbled with the clasp and freed Hermione's breasts. Leaning up, he gently suckled her, feeling the Gryffindor Princess wriggle and squirm delightfully on top of him.

"Guide me." Hermione ordered softly. His hands re-clasped her hips and lifted her up off of his erection. Pulling her forward slightly, Draco lowered her part-way and nudged her backwards. Caught in a wet embrace of her folds, his member slid along her coming to rest at her entrance. Draco lowered Hermione on to him and they both hissed softly at the connection.

Slowly at first, using his hands as guidance, Hermione rocked along Draco. Instinct took over and she used her thigh muscles to raise herself up and lower herself back down on to him. Her reward was watching Draco's eyes partially close and roll back. Hermione braced her soft hands on his chest and arched her back, thrusting her chest out. Draco removed one hand from her hips and caressed a soft, fleshy mound, his thumb playing with a dusky nipple which proudly stood at attention.

Unsatisfied with the slow pace, Hermione began to quicken her ride. Her fingers curled and uncurled on Draco's chest, dragging her nails along the smooth flesh. Draco dropped his hand back down to her hip and with both hands began to help her set the pace. His fingers dug into Hermione's tender flesh as he arched upwards to meet every downward movement of hers. As Hermione leaned forward slightly, they felt their lower abdomens connecting. The sound of flesh meeting flesh, the sound of Draco parting into Hermione's wetness, overcame them and the pace increased to a near frenzied state. Her head flung back, Hermione rode Draco allowing the feeling of him touching her core with every thrust to bring her closer and closer to the edge.

Draco's pale eyes watched Hermione atop him and he was stunned by her moonlight beauty. He thrust harder, assuming control while beneath her. He was a runaway mount and Hermione could only brace herself for the ride, panting to keep up with him. He felt Hermione's walls tremor around his shaft and he knew she was close. Draco slid a hand down and gently ran his thumb between her folds.

The Gryffindor Princess cried out as waves of pleasure coursed through her and her inner muscles clamped down on Draco, pulling him in further. He couldn't pull out even if he wanted to. Hermione's whimpers of joy threw the Slytherin over the edge and, whispering her name, Draco joined Hermione on their journey through orgasmic heaven. He jerked a few more times into his lover, before slowly coming to rest. Hermione slid down on top of him and lay there, listening to Draco's racing heart and realized that her own was galloping at the same rate.

I am wanting and

I am needing you

To be here

I need you near

Inside the absence

Of fear

"We'll find a way to get what we both want." Hermione whispered against Draco's chest. "You…you don't want to really be a Death Eater, right?"

Silence greeted her question.

Stunned, Hermione looked up at Draco and saw him staring up into the stars.

"There's the constellation Draco." He pointed with his free arm. The other remained possessively around Hermione.

"I guess there isn't one for Hermione." The young woman sighed wistfully.

"We could make one." He suggested. "And no, I don't want to be one."

"That's nice." Hermione replied. Draco didn't know if her response was directed towards his offer of finding a group of stars to name after her or his desire to not join the followers of the Dark Lord. "To both."

Draco chuckled, the sounds vibrating through his chest.

"You are a mind reader, Miss Granger."

"No, just in sync with you."

"Oh yes…yes, you are." Draco leaned down and kissed the top of Hermione's head. "Just a few minutes ago you showed me how in sync you are with me."

Hermione giggled and playfully swatted at Draco's chest.

"But despite not wanting to become one, Hermione, I will if it becomes necessary. If we don't come up with some other way…" Draco's voice trailed off.

"I know." Hermione replied glumly. "But we will find a way…we must…I can't let you do that. Not for me. You mean a lot to me, Draco."

"I have that effect on women." Came Draco's smug response. He noticed Hermione's tightening grip on him and realized that he had said something wrong. Was it possible that she cared for him more than she let on…that they had more than just a 'friends with benefits' relationship? Only one way to find out he supposed…

"Come on, let's get out of here." He said softly, reflecting on his own cowardice to speak of deep feelings and emotions. Here he was, Draco Malfoy, willing to become a Death Eater to protect this woman but he couldn't even talk to her about how he felt. Yeah, some follower of the Dark Lord he would make. Helping Hermione up, they quickly located their clothing and sorted themselves out before returning to the castle.