Lies, Buried and Bound - A Dramione Story

Part Twenty-Six

Draco tried to fight the sudden warmth that tingled upward in his body. "You want me to stay the night?"

"Well, I figure I'm going to move into the manor eventually. It's about time Charlotte grows accustomed to seeing her father first thing in the morning."

He raked a lazy hand across the back of his head, threading it through long strands of blonde hair. "Sure. Erm, is there a blanket you could spare? It's probably just as pompous to admit that I've never slept well on a couch - "

"Draco." Hearing his name stopped time, if for just a moment. "Will you sleep with me? Of course, not in that sense. But as painful as it is to confess, Charlotte was right about me and my sleeping habits. I don't sleep well these days. I haven't for years."

"You want to use me as a human teddy bear."

"Wait, no. Erm, I'll be your teddy bear."

A grin flashed across his face, and he took a step forward. But she retreated one step as well. "Draco, don't move too fast for me. Earlier today, we kissed... and it was very nice. You told me I needed to figure out what I wanted, and I know I want this. I promise you, I do. But my heart isn't ready to jump into what we once were."

"That's okay. Thank you for telling me."

She allowed him to close the distance between them this time, one agonising step at a time. He hovered over her and, in a husk voice she hadn't heard in years, asked her, "Is it all right if I hug you?"

She darted her eyes away for a moment, not daring to see him watch her melt into total vulnerability. "Yes, please."

The plea of her tone told him she was desperate for comfort, so he gathered her in his arms. As slow as molasses in the dead of winter, Hermione relaxed against his frame and allowed herself the pleasure of taking in his scent. Draco kissed her head, "Hermione, I will always be here for you. You just have to let me, okay?"

"I know. I've missed this." She pulled away and looked up at him. "I'm not going to give you up again. You're too important to me!"

"Hey, at least we can both agree on that." He pushed her hair aside and kissed her temple again. "Let me grab some clothes from the Manor. I'll be right back."

He turned around and snapped into the nothingness of the air around them.

Hermione blinked and found herself roaming the short hallway. She should definitely change into pyjamas while he was gone. But what if she wanted to show him? Hermione mentally kicked herself. Show him what? She should set up her bed! This is just like a sleepover with the girls at the Burrow. "Yeah, except the sleepover is with my baby's father, and I can't turn off the sexual tension," she grumbled aloud.

Making up her mind, Hermione dashed into her room and opened her wardrobe. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on which side of her brain she wanted to listen to, she didn't find any promiscuous pyjamas. What she did find, however, was a shiny satin camisole and cozy plaid trousers. She laughed to herself, "Half-and-half."

"What's half-and-half, love?"

It shocked her that he'd returned so soon. "Nothing, just... picking out pyjamas."

"Hermione Granger, are you trying to impress me?"

"No! No, I just... yes, well, maybe a little. But I swear it's nothing sexual."

"Darling, you could be dressed as Argus Filch, and I would still want to kiss you."

She smirked playfully, "Oh, how endearing."

"Normally, when I'm with a woman and we're sleeping, we're both naked, so I wasn't sure what to wear myself," he openly admitted. "I just brought a vest and some trousers which are really similar to yours."