"I do, actually. I just broke it down—"

"And is research also how you've prepared for the practical application of this deception, Granger?" His back to her. A jar slammed down onto a shelf.

Her mouth fell open, indignation burning in her gut.

"Are you suggesting that because I'm a virgin that I've never lusted after someone? That I wouldn't understand those urges?"

She lifted a brow and watched his fingers shake over the beakers on the shelf, glass clicking.

"I'm sure you have an idea of it, but you've seen the ingredients. This Potion is no joke, Granger."

He swallowed, turning back to the table and pressing his lips together as Hermione glared daggers at him.

She remembered the simpering smiles Cho would give Mulciber. The flirty laugh from Charlotte to Flint. And Narcissa's reminder about when to strike.

His hands reached for the empty cauldron to shelve it and she lurched forward, grabbing the collar of his shirt. His quick reflexes caught her, hands coming up to her elbows, head turning to her, and she caught sight of his shocked expression as they stumbled backwards to the shelves, her mouth landing on the corner of his.

Her chest fell against him as her lips slid from his mouth with their tumbling feet. He righted them, holding her arms up, but she focused on the feeling of connecting her skin to his. How dizzying it would be to not touch him. How right it was to kiss his jaw.

He grabbed her shoulders and shoved her back, her hips slamming into the table edge. His eyes were wide and hot, almost scared.

"What are you doing?"

She panted and let her eyes glaze over. "Draco, please."

His eyes widened, and she caught a glimpse of black pupils before he backed away. She stumbled forward, reaching up to pull his head down to her, but before she could connect their lips he pushed away again.

"Granger, stop—"

"I need you. Please, Draco." Her fingers wound into his hair, and she rose up on her toes again, aiming for his lips, and murmuring, "Touch me."

Quick as lightning, her hands were off of him and her body was pushed into the table. He was across the room in three strides.

"I told you I could do it," she panted, and he froze in the doorway.

His shoulder twitched, and then he was gone.

She tried to catch her breath, her skin humming and lips tingling from where she'd touched him.

~*~

Draco diligently ignored her for the next six days. The first few days, she told herself that it was a good thing, but by Wednesday night, she started to get nervous. She had to go back. Regardless of how they might feel about one another at the moment.

She finally sought him out on Friday morning, finding him in the kitchens taking an apple from the elves' basket.

She placed her hands on her hips and said, "I assume we'll be leaving at ten tonight?"