dragons_can_learn | Making contact

Draco stared at the fourth draft of his letter, the previous three having been incinerated (one by fiendfyre), and realised that although he wasn't happy with it it wasn't going to get better whatever he did so he might as well send it. The worst she'd do would be send a howler, or a more creative curse back.

Hermione,

I know I'm the last person you expect to hear from, but in my entire time in Hogwarts there is only one witch I consider my intellectual superior even if she did have the misfortune to choose friends she couldn't even bounce ideas off. In my attempts to reverse engineer various enchanted artifacts and create my own I'm afraid I have run into something I need a second opinion on, but that could lead to a wizarding version of the internet, and even potentially being able to connect the two via a heavily modified protean charm (a spell I am aware you've used).

If you are interested any owl you send will be welcome at Malfoy Manor and I will entirely understand if you want to meet in a neutral place or even on your own territory, and you are welcome to bring a bodyguard although I would request anyone except Ron or George Weasley.

Regards,

Draco Malfoy

It was now or never, so he rolled the note up, attached it to the leg of his owl, and sent it to find Hermione Granger wherever she was.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

dragons_can_learn

Draco smirked cockily as he pinched her nipples again. "Maybe you could." His tone turned wry. "It would at least be less politically sensitive than a Death Eater torturing one of the Golden Trio."

If they hadn't had that link those last words would have been perfectly pitched as just a joke - but from inside his mind she could see that for all he could tell how much he enjoyed what he was doing to her there was a sliver of guilt there even if his conscious mind knew it was ridiculous. Also she might see bits of forced self image in his mind that Malfoys didn't show weakness or lower themselves, which was part of what the polyjuice was about.

From:

mudblood_andproud

"All is fair is sexual curiosities, but I don't consider this torture. Not would ever desire a torture scenario that goes beyond my own safety net."

Hermione was panting slightly. Still keeping the conversation, even though she arched her body against at his pinching.

"And I don't consider myself weak by being submissive in the bedroom." She addressed his concerns. "It takes a lot of strength of character to let yourself go in that way."

From:

dragons_can_learn

Draco nodded and slid one hand up to her neck to squeeze gently, seeing if she'd enjoy him experimenting a little with breath play.

"Strength of character or being a pillow queen." His tone was amused and clearly not referring to her. And deflecting; his mind agreed everything she was saying was true, he knew at an intellectual level it was true and that he could recognise it applied to anyone except himself.

From:

mudblood_andproud

A flash of terror echoed in Hermione's mind. The memories of her torture under Bellatrix immediately came to her mind, when his hand squeezed at her neck. Hermione could only remember struggling for breath under Bellatrix's weight.

And she pushed his hand away. Moving off him at that same moment.

"Don't. I don't enjoy that."

From:

dragons_can_learn

Draco moved his hand back almost as if burned as soon as he felt her flash of terror. "I won't. And sorry." It would be unlikely he'd repeat that mistake, but he hadn't known it would be a mistake before he did it.

From:

mudblood_andproud

She kneels on the edge of the bed, to calm her mind. In the past, she would have reacted in anger. Put up her walls.

But with Draco, she maintains the mental link.

She can sense that he didn't know it would bother her.

"There are some things that only invoke that memory Draco. That I would never find pleasure from. Breath play. Blood play. Curse play."

"I should have mentioned that."

From:

dragons_can_learn

Draco nodded. "Bodily fluids are just messy. And certain spells have no place in sex or anywhere else." Which was his way of saying that she had no need to worry about the other two as he gently stroked her shoulder down to her fingertips. And from his reaction he was very unlikely to do it again.

And from inside his mind she could see that a part of him just wanted to hug her; he'd only felt a little of Bella's malevolent attention but knew how bad it could be. But he also could understand if she didn't want to touch or even didn't want to touch him.

From:

mudblood_andproud

Hermione moved to lean into him, to just let him comfort her in the moment.

Her memories revealed that during Bellatrix's torture, Hermione could see how upsetting it had been to Draco and his mother. How they had to disconnect from the moment so that they would not try to interfere, and get punished themselves.

She had called upon all her strength, not just for Harry and Ron, but also for Draco and his mother.

"Glad we got that covered."

From:

dragons_can_learn

He gently kissed her hair and held her. "And sorry we had to do it like that." His whole body was slightly tense as he wrapped round her, trying to suppress memories of his own.

From:

mudblood_andproud

She frowns, when she sensed the slight wall in the mental link. Draco trying to keep something from himself.

Hermione can't imagine what it is. So she just wraps herself around him.

"It might be best if we ask first, before trying something new next time. Just in case."

From:

dragons_can_learn

"That might be best. Or it might make things less spontaneous?" Draco frowned. "Are there many other things I need to worry about other than the ones you've mentioned? And I doubt you'll go near my triggers if you avoid blood and some of the nastier curses."

From:

mudblood_andproud

"I always want to be open and honest with you Draco. I do enjoy spontaneous moments. But I think we can also take a moment to reflect on something new, something that might be on the edge."

Hermione runs her hand up his body. "And those are the main ones."

From:

dragons_can_learn

"Anything we expect to be on the edge we should reflect on." Draco smiled and arched under her touch, still mostly dressed.

From:

mudblood_andproud

"I am glad that you took the time to understand and reflect, in this situation." Hermione finds the edge of his shirt, so she can run her fingers up his chest.

From:

dragons_can_learn

"I don't mean to let you get away." Draco smiled. "And that wasn't thinking. Just common sense."

From:

mudblood_andproud

"I'm still here." Hermione leans in to kiss him. She will be honest, "I did have a slight flight instinct, but I knew I could talk to you. That you would understand."

From:

dragons_can_learn

Draco didn't reply that part of him had wanted to apparate out of there when she'd backed off like that, but suspected she might read it through the link. "Just checking it's only breath play. Because you've a very cute neck, and sliding my hand from round your neck down your body to between your thighs is a very nice possessive gesture."

From:

mudblood_andproud

"My neck is actually a sensitive part of my body. And I do enjoy being kissed there. Or sucked. Or even a soft bite..." Hermione shivered slightly against him.

From:

dragons_can_learn

"Oh good" He of course took this as a suggestion for a gentle nip at her throat. "Other question. A gag? Especially a ball gag? You'd look deliciously sexy in one." And teasable of course.

From:

mudblood_andproud

She arches to the sensation of his mouth at her throat, and runs a hand through his hair. "No. Either one would be too close to that sensation of not being able to breathe."

From:

dragons_can_learn

"That's what I thought." Draco nodded, nipping again as he slid his hand between her legs. "And a ring gag, keeping your mouth wide open?"

From:

mudblood_andproud

"I am not sure. I never fantasied about using one." Hermione answers honestly. Her body arches to his touch. Her legs parted when his hand slid between them.

From:

dragons_can_learn

"They take away your power of speech while making it harder for you to muffle your moans. And leave you more open and vulnerable." Draco shrugged, teasing with his hand and nipping again. "But if they aren't on your fantasies we'll leave it. Besides. I'd much rather hear you beg."