Inkbound

Chapter 3

It's a bonding ritual, isn't it?'

Hermione was at Draco's greenhouse for the third day in a row.

Draco was lying back on the bed, an open book in his hands. He placed the book down and rolled onto his side to look at her. He saw no reason to lie.

'It is.'

'Why did you do it?' Her brown eyes were reproachful. 'You don't even like me. Why would you try and bond me to you?'

'Come here, Granger,' Draco said, waving her over to the bed.

Hermione walked over to him without hesitation, perching herself on the side of the mattress. Draco got to his knees and sat behind her, his legs either side of her. He brushed her hair aside and let his lips hover over her neck. She sighed and leaned back against him, trusting, her body resting against his. He rested his hands on her hips, gently caressing her.

'First of all, Granger, I have dreamed about having you in my bed since I saw you at the Yule Ball in fourth year.' He felt Hermione stiffen at his words but didn't let her interrupt him. 'Secondly, a bond like this isn't entirely non-consensual. It wouldn't have worked if you had no feelings for me at all. All it does it heighten whatever is already there, and seals that bond - if there is one - when the tattoo is finished.'

'I never wanted to cheat on Ron,' Hermione whispered as Draco dipped his head and kissed the side of her neck. Her skin smelled like jasmine, heady and sweet and intoxicating.

'Weasley never deserved you in the first place,' Draco murmured, kissing her neck higher up, just behind her ear. 'And it's up to you if you want me to carry on with the tattoo.'

She laughed, a small, sad sound. 'Can I even say no?' she asked bitterly.

Draco shrugged. 'You could try,' he said, but of course she didn't.

Instead she let him push her to her feet and lead her to the chaise, pulling her top off and lying her down on the ruined velvet, his wand raised to work on the next part of the tattoo and the charm.

She let him work in silence, and he didn't try and speak to her. He just focused on the magic flowing through him and his wand, marking Hermione's skin with the magical ink. When the middle section was complete, he pulled his wand away, feeling the familiar exhaustion settle over him like a shadow.

'That's enough for today, Granger,' he said, getting to his feet and reaching for the Firewhisky again, needing the burn in his throat to soothe his soul.

She sat up on the velvet, not bothering to look at the tattoo, and crossed her arms over her chest as she watched him. 'I don't have feelings for you,' she said, her words a rush in the silence between them.

Draco paused in the act of bringing the tumbler of Firewhisky to his mouth, raising one eyebrow in disbelief. She was clearly fooling neither of them, but whatever made her feel better about the whole situation.

'Sure you don't,' he said easily, but the next moment Hermione had risen from the chaise, crossed the short distance between them and hit his hand out of the way, the tumbler falling from his hand and smashing on the ground. He looked up at her in surprise and she scowled.

'I hate you, Malfoy,' she hissed, before grabbing hold of his shirt at his chest, pulling him close to her, and kissing him.

She was angry, he could feel it in the heat of her mouth, the crackling of her skin as it brushed his, the grip of her fingers as she pinched them into the soft flesh at his sides. He hissed slightly against her lips when she viciously scratched his skin with her nails, sure that she'd drawn blood, and bit down on her lower lip in retaliation. She winced and pulled away just enough so that their faces were still touching.