Castle Guard by greenflowerpot

Chapter 12

- NOT MY STORY!! ALL CREDITS TO @greenflowerpot ON A03!!
-

I love you, I love you—

Hermione's words echoed between them, outsized, but Malfoy just pulled her closer. He rested his forehead on hers, still breathing heavy, looking into her eyes.

"You don't have to say that until you're ready," he said. "I'll wait."

She was ready, but Hermione didn't mind waiting to tell him another time. She wanted him to really believe it, wanted him to know for certain she meant it when she said it again. And for now, these sweet cuddles and light touches had all of her attention.

She arched into his touch, settling more comfortably against him, feeling so grateful that her first time had been with him.

"Was it everything you fantasized of?" she teased.

He smiled, slow and sweet.

"Everything. More than everything."

She leaned against him.

"Will you stay here with me tonight?"

"Of course I will," he said. "I'll sneak out in the morning—I don't think your parents would be too thrilled to know I ran over to your bedroom before the official courtship even began. It's supposed to start in earnest tomorrow."

"Is there an agenda?"

"Yes. Your parents and I worked on one together."

"Oh! Tell me!"

"Breakfast tomorrow morning first—we're supposed to meet there, by the way, not show up disheveled together—and then a promenade around the lake. All chaperoned, of course. And in the evening I have a surprise."

Hermione smiled wider. A surprise.

"A chaperone—goodness. I suppose they know better than to leave us alone. You might steal my innocence."

"Don't joke about that," he said, but he was still smiling. He kissed her nose, the corner of her mouth, then her lips. "It meant a lot to me."

Her sweet, thoughtful man. She never wanted anyone else.

"Will you wake me before you sneak out?" she mumbled, feeling herself drift off.

"Anything you want."

His words were soft and promised everything.

── ✵ ──

Hermione had the vaguest recollection of Malfoy waking her up the next morning, but she was sleepy and comfortable and did not do much more than smile and tip her head back for a kiss, eyes still closed. He held her head with one hand, tracing the fingers of his other up along her thigh—and then the door opened and closed and he was gone.

When she finally woke up for real, it was to her lady's maid bustling in, smiling widely at the news that Hermione had found herself a suitor she liked.

"The king and queen asked me to tell you that breakfast will be held on the queen's veranda," she told Hermione. "Would you like to wear the blue gown? I think it sets off your eyes very nicely."

Hermione was surprised to feel nerves buzzing slightly in her stomach as she got dressed, perfumed and made up. The nerves turned into full-blown butterflies when she saw Malfoy already sitting on the veranda table, his soldier's uniform swapped out for formal robes. He stood instantly.

"Your highness," he said, smiling. "Good morning."

It felt like years since he'd addressed her like that.