Tastes the Sweetest

Part Four

Trigger Warning: Erm...vampire behavior...?
ooo

Hermione landed on her hands and knees, pain reverberating up through her limbs and causing her to fully collapse.

Her chin and nose slammed into the stone, her teeth knocking together so hard that she almost passed out. Someone stepped on her back and then leapt away from her. The crowd parted, several students crying out her name.

Suddenly, she felt hands gripping either side of her waist, dragging her back up to her feet. She held her hand pressed to her nose. Blood leaked out through her fingers and dripped over her lips. The taste of copper filled her mouth.

Hermione's head lolled back against the rescuer's chest, to try and stem the blood flow. She blinked once, eyelids fluttering as she saw that a large section of the partygoers were now looking at her. They were speechless, mouths hanging open and eyes wide. Judging by their perturbed facial expressions, it was Malfoy that had picked her up.

The breakfast table was going to be a nightmare tomorrow.

"Infirmary. No—Infirmary!" Hermione said, voice sounding wet from the blood. She tried to pull herself out of his arms, but he wouldn't let her go. "Take me to the Infirmary, Malfoy!"

"Don't fucking yell at me," he hissed into her ear, turning and half-carrying her over to the door.

"You pushed me," she said, and then she groaned in pain, her feet feeling like they were moving through lead. "You have pushed me and grabbed me and hurt me all bloody day, and I've had it!"

The heat, noise, and red glow of the lights faded as they exited the room and emerged in the cool, airy corridor. It was lit by lanterns, half cast in black shadows. The quiet was oppressive in comparison to how loud it had been inside the room, even with the thunder crashing outside the castle at quite a high volume.

"Damn it, Malfoy! Let me—"

"Shut up," he snarled, spinning her around in his arms. He loomed over her, grabbing her under the jaw and jerking her head up. Her neck screamed in protest. It had already felt like it was going to bruise from how hard he'd yanked her skull back in Hogsmeade. "And keep your head back. Do you want blood all over that scrap of fabric you call a dress?"

She kept her head tilted back, watching as he pulled out his wand. He cast an episkey. She whimpered as her nose snapped back into place.

"Thanks," she muttered.

"Don't thank me."

"Fine. I won't. But you should apologize, Malfoy."

"For what?"

"You pushed me! I wouldn't have fallen if you hadn't."

"You infuriate me, witch."

"I'm aware. My entire existence has infuriated you since First Year. That's probably why you've been abusing me all day. Now, are you gonna vanish all this blood, or do I need to do it?"

He made no move.

How annoying. She could feel a droplet of blood trickling slowly down the center of her chest, like it was racing to get to the V of her neckline. With a frustrated sigh, she swept her braids over her back and pulled her wand out of her sleeve.

Smack!

Malfoy's hand wrapped around her wrist and squeezed. His gaze had become fixated upon her chest. He stood as rigid as stone, a strange look in his eyes. He wet his lips with his tongue.

Was he staring at her breasts? The neckline wasn't that low. Merlin's beard. Her breasts weren't even visible!

Who taught him how to flirt?! His grandmother?!