The next second—without any conscious thought, Hermione's body moved countless times faster than her mind.
Overwhelmed by immense joy, she lunged at Draco.
She cupped Draco's face in her hands and planted a firm kiss on his profile, which always carried a hint of arrogance.
With a "pop" sound.
The moment the kiss ended, Hermione was struck dumb.
She remained frozen in the position of being nestled in his arms.
He was still holding the other person's face in his hands.
His lips were only millimeters away from Draco's skin.
After a three-second mental blank,
The warm touch sent a real response through her nerves, and she suddenly realized what she had just done.
Her cheeks exploded with a "boom," the heat spreading at an alarming rate, turning her face red from her forehead all the way to the base of her neck.
Even his earlobes were flushed.
She was so frightened, as if she'd been electrocuted, that she recoiled violently, waving her hands frantically and shouting incoherently:
"I... I didn't... I just... I'm sorry!!"
Her voice trembled, and her eyes darted around in a panic; she couldn't bring herself to look Draco in the eye.
She was so excited!
It was purely instinctive; I lunged at him and kissed him without even realizing how intimate or suggestive the gesture was.
It's practically like... a declaration of love!
Draco was also taken aback for a moment.
He touched the cheek where she had kissed him; the soft touch and warmth of her lips still seemed to linger there.
Immediately, an irrepressible smile spread from the corners of his mouth, quickly spreading across his entire face.
He looked at the frightened little rabbit in front of him and couldn't help but chuckle softly, his tone full of teasing and amusement. "I never expected Miss Granger to be so proactive."
Hermione wished she could disappear into the ground.
"I... I didn't..." she stammered, both ashamed and embarrassed, her voice barely audible, "I was just... so happy... the plan was so good..."
Before she could finish speaking, she lowered her head in shame, her cheeks burning as if they could fry an egg. Her mind was in turmoil, and only one thought was frantically flashing across her mind:
Oh no, oh no, oh no! I actually kissed him first...
They kissed face-to-face...
Draco watched as she almost buried her face in her chest, as if she wanted to curl up into a ball, and his heart was deeply touched.
He continued to laugh, but this time his laughter was much gentler, and he no longer teased her fragile nerves.
He reached out and ruffled her messy hair, saying softly, "It's okay. Anyway, I didn't say I didn't like it."
He was like a warm breeze.
The wind dispelled some of the panic in Hermione's heart.
"... You're so annoying!" Hermione glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed, though her gaze still held little power.
She was both embarrassed and angry, and whispered an order, "Don't laugh!"
"Okay, okay, I won't laugh anymore. I'll be serious."
Draco verbally agreed, but the smile in his eyes never disappeared.
On the contrary, her forced smile only made her appear brighter and more captivating; the upward curve of her lips was impossible to suppress.
Hermione's cheeks puffed up with anger, like an angry little hamster. She reached out and shoved his shoulder, trying to stop his silent mockery.
"You're still laughing! Draco Malfoy, you're doing this on purpose! You just want to see me make a fool of myself!"
She pushed with some force, and Draco Ben was knocked halfway down on the carpet by her sudden lunge...
Following her force, he deliberately leaned back and lay down on the soft plush carpet.
Just as Hermione reached out to shove him, Draco reacted quickly and grabbed her wrist.
Take advantage of the situation and turn the tables.
In the blink of an eye, the situation reversed instantly.
Hermione gasped, and before she could react, he pinned her down on the soft, plush carpet.
Draco leaned over her, his smiling eyes looking down at her with a predatory gaze.
"Now, do you still want to push me, Miss Granger?"
His warm breath sprayed all over her cheeks and neck, stirring up a subtle shiver.
Hermione felt as if her whole body was on fire.
She snapped back to reality, a wave of shame washing over her. She struggled violently, trying to regain control.
However, her wrists were gently pinned to the carpet above her head by his strong hand, and she couldn't break free at all.
Her eyes widened, her cheeks flushed red, and her tone was both urgent and annoyed, yet soft as if she were pleading:
" Draco Malfoy! You... you let me go!"
But Draco didn't let go; instead, he leaned down, bringing their noses almost touching.
Hermione could clearly see her own panicked reflection in his pupils, and her heart pounded wildly.
As Draco's face drew ever closer,
She froze on the carpet, forgetting even to breathe.
The next second, Draco gave her no chance to think or escape, and kissed her forcefully.
The kiss was not rough.
Yet it carries an undeniable forcefulness.
His lips were warm and soft, initially just gently caressing her, then deepening, his tongue prying open her teeth and plunging in, taking over all her breath.
Hermione's mental string snapped completely.
She had no strength left to resist.
She could only passively endure the suffocating kiss, her hands unconsciously gripping the fabric of his shirt behind her back.
She didn't know how much time had passed, until Hermione felt like she was about to suffocate, when Draco slowly released her.
He released his grip on her wrist, then reached out and gently pulled her into his arms.
He lay on his side on the carpet, using the crook of his arm to create a safe haven for her, steadily protecting her.
Hermione didn't resist anymore; her previous struggles had vanished. Her cheeks were burning hot, and she obediently followed his lead, burying herself in his warm embrace.
Her cheek pressed against his firm chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat—"thump, thump, thump."
The rhythm gradually synchronized with her heartbeat, and the embarrassment she had felt earlier slowly subsided in this tranquility.
After a moment of silence, Hermione remembered the important matter, and her muffled voice came from his arms:
"Then... what should we do with the funds?"
"Both publishing the newspaper and the pilot program require funding, and Professor McGonagall will likely find it difficult to approve this budget."
Laughing, Draco ran his fingers through the soft wisps of hair behind her ear, his tone languid yet unmistakably teasing. "If you make your husband comfortable, I'll take care of things for you."
Hermione's face turned even redder, but she did not back down.
She slowly released her grip on his sweater, her fingers sliding up his muscular waistline, feeling the texture of his muscles through his clothes, and finally gently pinching the edge of his vest.
"... Then let go of me first." Her eyes held an unprecedented boldness and challenge.