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It was
toward the end of the spring term at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. The staff and students had just returned from Easter holiday and it was a very dreary Monday… Headmistress Minerva Mcgonagall hated Mondays… she had just received a very mysterious and anonymous howler. Although the voice Minerva thought was very distinct, prim and proper, but something slightly off; she just couldn’t quite put her finger on it. The howler arrived mid-day instead of with the morning owls in the the great hall. Come to think of it, Minerva didn’t notice any owl or person delivering the loud letter. It simply rose up from her desk and started yelling.

Headmistress McGonagall

Tell Hermione Granger to stay away from Draco Malfoy.

I know where she lives and have been observing.

This is no joke. Please take this seriously and this will all be over soon.

After the howler immediately tore itself into tiny pieces, Mcgonagall rushed down the hallway to the potions classroom.
“Mr. Malfoy,” she said sternly, stepping into the classroom. “A word.” She motioned with her head to the hallway. They walked in silence back up to the main floor to the small rooms that were now used by Hermione Granger, the newest of the new teachers to Hogwarts.
*knock knock*
“Come in,” Hermione called, thinking it must be one of her students needing extra notes to catch up with the last lecture. Hermione often spoke fast and found her students don’t always catch every word so she allowed them to come for copies of her own notes on her lectures. “Ahem, excuse me, Miss Granger,” McGonagall states, stepping in to Hermione’s small office space at the front of her rooms, “but there’s an urgent word I must have with you. Do you mind if we step out down the hall a bit to discuss it?”
Hermione got up from her desk almost knocking her jar of ink over in the process and followed the headmistress out. Once in the hall Hermione noticed the bright blonde head that stood out almost a foot above her. She mostly managed to avoid him as their rooms were on different floors of the castle, but they both sat at the staff table during meals. Luckily Neville and Lavender sat in-between them so she didn’t actually have to speak to him. That’s not to say she hadn’t noticed how tall and broad he was now, how large and delicious - dexterous , she admonishes herself-
his hands were, the right one always adorned with his family signet ring. He cut a steely glare at her. “Granger” he drawled. “Malfoy” she huffed.

“Professors, I didn’t call you out here for nothing, if you please.” McGonagall looked at them like they were the children she used to put in detention for being up after dark. “As I was trying to explain, I received a rather nasty howler just now.”

“No, who would do that, I can’t believe for one moment someone would,”

“Miss Granger, someone did. I assure you!” McGonagall continued, cutting Hermione off mid sentence. Malfoy just stood there smirking, arms crossed over his mighty chest, ever the git he always was.

“I’m sorry headmistress, please continue.” Hermione apologized.

“Right, well it seems this person-” but she was cut off again, this time by Malfoy.

“Ever so sorry headmistress”, he sang in his posh voice, “but are you saying you don’t know who sent the howler? Peculiar.” He brought his thumb and pointer finger to his chin as he finished.
“If you’re both quite done interrupting me…” McGonagall waited for their reply but they both looked on sheepishly. “Thank you. Now as I was saying,” McGonagall said, looking at them both reproachfully urging them to stay quiet, “I was sent an anonymous howler just now that states they wish for you, Miss Granger to stay away from Mister Malfoy and that they know where you live and have been watching you.” The headmistress said the last part almost all run together as she could see the urge on both their faces to speak. “I don’t, we aren’t, there’s no way,” they were both saying at the same time gesturing back and forth between each other, looks of pure disdain on both their faces. “I’m a married woman.” Hermione almost spat.

“Honestly you two”, McGonagall scowled bemusedly at the pair of professors standing before her in the corridor, “I don’t care what you do on you own time, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, so long as it doesn’t disrupt my day or that of the students”, she turned on her heels, her emerald tartan robes swishing around as she makes the trek back to the headmasters rooms.
Draco could feel Hermione’s glare at his side. Tapping her shoe, she waited for him to speak; when he didn’t after what she thought was an amountable enough time to insinuate that he was guilty in some way, she finally barked out “Well Malfoy… what do you have to say for yourself? Is this some kind of twisted joke? Let’s pick on Granger like the old days?”

Turning towards her, his classic sneer plastered on his face, he drawled “You would think that, wouldn’t you Granger.” He scoffed. “If you’ll excuse me I have a class to teach.” He stomped off down to the potions classroom in the dungeons leaving her no further explanation.
As Hermione stood there alone in the empty corridor tears almost welling in her eyes, she let out a sigh, the breath blowing the curls on her forehead and started walking back to her office. She had a free hour before her next class started. She usually used it to plan ahead for her next week's lessons but after what just happened with the Headmistress and Malfoy of all people she decided to take a walk on the grounds. She brushed her fingers along the stones and thought back to before the war and how lucky she felt to be a part of this world and be attending Hogwarts. She had read all about it in Hogwarts: A History after she received her letter and now she has even helped write the new additions that include all the incredible adventures she and her friends had been on.

She noted to herself that the stones looked the same, but she could feel the difference in the magic. Some of her classmates had helped rebuild the castle after the war and she recognized the signatures of their individual Magic’s in the stone. Neville she thought as she passed her fingers along a particularly large and slightly misshapen stone and felt the hum of magic.

Neville was the whole reason she was even here. Her life had become out of control after the war. She and Ron jumped into marriage right after the war ended. They went from having their first kiss after 7 years of knowing each other, to surviving a war, going all the way with each other for the first time, to getting married all within a few months. And subsequently being the talk of the wizarding world what with being two thirds of the golden trio. They were wined and dined by wizarding dignitaries, partying with wizarding celebs and socialites, and featured on every gossip rag including very heavily in articles by Rita Skeeter for the Daily Prophet. Unfortunately these articles liked to highlight Ron’s obsessive drinking and flirting with other witches. And constantly questioned why Hermione hadn’t taken Ron’s last name. As if it’s anyones business that I want to keep my muggle last name Hermione had always said disparagingly, which of course was also one of the many things she and Ron constantly argued about. It felt like Rita must have bugs planted everywhere Hermione and Ron went, and Hermione had a sinking suspicion; they were actual bugs. There wasn’t anything they did that Rita hadn’t published. Hermione felt like she couldn’t leave the house anymore and this made Ron miserable. The last argument they had was about the fact that Ron did not enjoy missing out on all the fun they should be having due to their ‘golden’ status, and he didn’t understand why Hermione wanted to be holed up in their library reading and rewriting Hogwarts: A History for what he said “was the nine hundredth and ninety nine thousandth time.” Hermione had snapped at him then, asking if he could even count to nine hundred and ninety nine thousand. Ron had turned bright red and stormed out, slamming the door to their small Godric's Hollow cottage clearly for effect, as he apparated to the nearest pub as soon as the door shut.

A week later, with Ron still avoiding her by staying at the Burrow, Hermione had received an unexpected floo call from her old friend Neville Longbottom. Neville detailed to Hermione the going’s on at the newly rebuilt Hogwarts and how all the teachers that were still living had decided to take very long vacations in warmer climates or finally retire. Even Professor Binns who was already dead had finally moved on to “greener pastures” as Neville had put it. “Neville” Hermione interrupted softly, he was starting to ramble a little, “that was a very muggle saying you just used”.
“Oh” Neville scrunched his eyebrows, losing his train of thought, “Oh yeah, well you see, my girlfriend Lana is muggle”. Hermione was surprised by his statement and Neville took that moment to start talking again. “Sorry Hermione, I was just saying, yes um Professor Binns is gone and since you know, well it’s just, Mcgonagall and I thought maybe since you’re the one who rewrote the latest version of Hogwarts: A History, the golden era, that you might be interested in the job.” Neville was almost visibly sweating as he finished his sentence.

Hermione hadn’t really thought about teaching, she always planned on getting a job at the Ministry to make a change. She had been waiting for the hype of the so-called golden trio to die down before she approached the ministry but she found herself answering Neville with a resounding “Yes,” before her mind could catch up to her lips. She did however have the fleeting thought that staying in and reading her favorite book for whatever the thousandth time had paid off RONALD .

Later when the formal agreement arrived via a small tawny owl, she learned that Neville had taken over for Pomona Sprout in Herbology, and Lavender Brown was now the Divinations teacher in place of Sybill Trelawney. That will be awkward Hermione briefly thought.

Lavender was Ron’s first girlfriend and had then lost his virginity to her before calling out Hermione’s name while laying in the hospital ward at Hogwarts in 6th year, which had ended that relationship rather quickly. Padma Patil was now the school's healer and to Hermione’s pleasant surprise Fillius Flitwick was still the Charms teacher. Of course Hagrid was still grounds keeper, but Minerva - or rather Headmistress McGonagall - had omitted the name of the potions professor and Hermione had assumed at the time the position just hadn’t been filled. She even tried to convince Harry to leave his dangerous Auror job and take up the position. Though that was a rather futile conversation that they ended up having at one of their usual lunches when Harry had floo’d over to check up on her. By this point Ron had been at the Burrow for two weeks and she hadn’t even had a chance to tell him about the job yet.
“Harry you did so well in potions, Slughorn loved you, you’d be perfect for the position.” Hermione implored, “Doesn’t Theo hate you being out on those dangerous missions all the time, and” she hurriedly supplied before Harry could cut in, “isn’t it about time you stopped fighting dark wizards and had a rest?”

She went to open her mouth again but Harry beat her to it this time.

“Actually Theo finds it very sexy that I’m so impervious to danger, plus Hermione, if I don’t do the fighting who will… I won’t stop til we’re all safe. So no I will not be taking the position but thanks for thinking of me.”

There was a small silence where Hermione wasn’t sure how to proceed, never one to give up easily. Harry however had an idea and piped up “Maybe I can ask Theo if he’s interested, I mean he doesn’t really need the money but as I recall he was also pretty good at potions and then maybe I won’t worry so much that he and Pansy are off causing trouble if he had a real job.” Hermione grinned broadly at this knowing exactly what type of mischief Theo and Pansy got up too, mischief that included Harry and Ginny and almost Hermione once had it not been for Ron’s groveling after she found him at a club tucking a blond piece of hair behind the ear of a fawning fan, looking awfully close to kissing. But Hermione could never cheat on Ron, would never.

After Harry had gone home from Hermione’s a few hours later he found Theo lounging on a dark green chaise Harry had never seen before. “Spending all your money trying to turn my home into a Slytherin den, are you?” Harry laughed while planting a soft kiss to Theo’s forehead.

“As if!” Theo said airily while brushing his hands up Harry’s arms and to his jaw bring him down to his mouth for a real kiss. Theo was very touchy feely and couldn’t keep his hands to himself on the best of days. The kiss lengthened and Harry found himself moaning into Theo’s mouth as Theo deftly slipped his hand into Harry’s trousers and stroked his quickly hardening shaft.

“Mmm Theo,” he started to admonish but by that time, Theo was kissing down his neck and starting to unbutton his pants.

“How was your lunch with our little minx?” Theo interjected all while rubbing Harry harder and faster with his left hand and now unzipping him with his right while peppering kisses down his collar. “Finally convince her to join us for a night of fun?”

Harry finally looked down at Theo just as he pulled his thick and very hard cock fully out. Theo’s eyes twinkled in expectation of both what he hoped would be Harry’s answering yes regarding Hermione joining them for a night of pleasure and for Harry’s awaiting length to enter his mouth.

Harry waited for Theo’s mouth to be full to speak. This didn’t take long, Theo wasn’t patient in most things least of all his sexual proclivities. Theo licked the bead of precum at the top of Harry’s erect penis and then took him all in at once, gagging as Harry’s cock hit the back of his throat, Harry moaned in pure bliss.

Then Harry spoke “No, you know she’ll never cheat on Ron no matter how awful he is to her. Besides, he is still my friend so it might be a little weird if I fucked his wife,” Theo looked up in disgust. Harry moaned again. “You know I don’t like the way he treats her either but Ron and I have been through a lot together and we work together at the DMLE, he’s my friend what can I saaay… aaah Theo, no biting!”

“Ok I’ll behave” Theo gargled around the long throbbing appendage in his mouth. Harry winked at him and grabbed the back of his hair, pulling himself deeper into Theo’s mouth and started fucking it a little harder.

“She did however,” Harry continued, “try to convince me to quit my job as an Auror and take up as potions master at Hogwarts.” Each word punctuated with a thrust into Theo who was now moaning himself. “I told her no of course,” Harry’s thrusts started to quicken “but thought it might be interesting for you.” Harry sped up even more until he’d finally reached his peak and came down Theo’s throat. Theo swallowed and slowly withdrew his mouth from Harry’s softening rod. He looked up at him quizzically and said “why… Malfoy accepted that position right after his trial ended.”

“Well I guess Hermione will find out soon enough then, but she’s a big girl, she’ll be fine.” He said, tucking himself away and leaning down again to give Theo another kiss, tasting himself on Theo’s tongue, before pulling him up and leading him to the bedroom.

Hermione did, in fact, find out on the first day of term when she and Malfoy nearly bumped into each other in the entrance to the great hall. She had been racing down the stairs from her floor and even though Malfoy had been causally strolling, hands in his pockets, coming up from the dungeons, they both managed to turn the corner at the same time, stopping just short of one another. Malfoy just glared down at her, hands still in his pockets, “Granger.” He sneered. Hermione to her credit managed to narrow her eyes through her shock at seeing him and stomped her foot. “Malfoy,” she gestured with her arm for him to go ahead of her. She had tried to avoid him as best as she could following that.

After another week had passed without seeing or hearing from Ron, Hermione penned him a short but sweet note and had Pigwidgen, Ron’s owl from school who to be honest was getting quite old and senile a little like Errol had been, take it to the Burrow and deliver it to Ron.

Dear Ronald,

I have news, please come back for a chat.

Yours,

HJG

Ron arrived rather quickly by floo stating that his mother, Molly, was going to be so happy and hugging her with the biggest floppy smile on his face. Hermione almost felt bad that her news clearly wouldn’t be what he and most likely the entire Weasley clan had expected. Save for Ginny, who was still overseas for the last game of the quidditch season and wouldn’t be back for a few more weeks.

“Ron… Ron please listen to me. RONALD. I’m, that is I’m not pregnant, I’m sorry if I gave that impression. I’ve actually accepted a job.” At this Ron finally let her go and took a step back. “Oh well that’s nice I guess, what department did you end up getting in at the ministry?” He asked a little crest fallen. Even though she could tell he was disappointed Hermione couldn’t help herself she was actually excited about her new adventure, “It’s actually not at the ministry” she bemused, “I’ve accepted the position as the new History of Magics teacher at Hogwarts.” Ron looked at her almost relieved “will you be moving into the school?” He asked a little too happily. “Yes, um at least for a little while, Min-er- Headmistress McGonagall asked if I could for at least the first semester.” She spoke hurriedly hoping this wouldn’t upset him. “But I’ll be able to floo home anytime and we’ll have the holidays of course and we can meet up in Hogsmede on weekends.” She quickly added. “That’s great Mione, I’m really happy for you.” Ron had said with almost no feeling at all.
They made up that night but unsurprising to Hermione it wasn’t as good as she had hoped. Ron fumbled around, jumped on her, entering her before she was barely even wet, came quickly, rolled over, cast a contraceptive charm and fell asleep. Hermione quietly got herself off, lying beside him, with her hand. She really didn’t think she could get off any other way anymore. The times she had climaxed with Ron were few and far between and usually involved her using her own fingers expertly circling her nub. Ron had been her first and subsequently her only lover and while at the beginning he put a little more effort into her pleasure she soon found him to be a rather lazy lover.

She knew however that this is not how sex was for everyone. Harry and Theodore Nott had a vivacious sex life which often included Ginerva Weasley and Pansy Olivia Weasley née Parkinson both of their ex’s respectively. Even though Pansy was married to Percy Weasley. It was a marriage of circumstance. The Parkinson’s had fallen low after the war, not low enough to be held on any charges but low enough to be cast out of their pureblood society. Before Pansy father perished and none too soon at that, he convinced Pansy to seduce Percy Weasley, as a pureblood that held a steady ministry job as undersecretary to the Minister for Magic and who would not care what her social standings were, into marrying her. Unfortunately for them both her seduction worked like magic. Percy who’s second thought after noticing the how beautiful the witch coming on to him, was that adding a wife to his arm would bring him into the fold with the other members of the Minister’s staff and the Wizengamot who were all married and most with kids about to start at Hogwarts if not already attending.

They married quickly and quietly shortly after Ron and Hermione. But not long after a few group dates with Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermione, it became quite clear to Hermione and everyone else who were not Ron and Percy that the two witches were enthralled with each other. Thus Harry and Ginny broke up but not before a very spicy night in the hot tub at the Hollyhead Harpies training facility between Ginny, Pansy, and Harry. After one of the most explosive orgasms of Pansy’s life, Hermione knew this because all three involved had told her in detail how Harry fucked the tiny hole between her cheeks while Ginny fingered her sex and sucked on her clit, on separate occasions, Pansy vowed to find someone Harry could express himself sexually with. That someone was Theo and they’d been together ever since Theo showed up at Grimmauld Place and blew Harry right at the door.

For the first few months after starting her new teaching job, Hermione flooed home to the cottage she still owned with Ron in Godric’s Hollow every Saturday for date night and was of course home on the holidays. Ron to his own good naturedness even met her twice in Hogsmede during one of the school outing. The first time at Honeydukes where he bought her sugar quills and chocolate frogs for himself. The second time however he insisted on meeting at the Hogshead, where he got absolutely pissed and was then thrown out on his face in front of most of her students. After that the Saturday dates went to every other weekend until one weekend she showed up and he never did. She hadn’t been back to the cottage since, including for Easter holiday. Instead she had booked herself into a hotel.

And that’s how she found herself here. Touching walls and day dreaming about her disastrous marriage before realizing she’d need to run back to her classroom, which was now already full of rambunctious 2nd years. She had barely even given the howler a second thought.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Malfoy had not stopped thinking about the letter since he turned away from Hermione and walked back to his potions classroom. Luckily his sixth years knew not to get out of order in his absence and everyone was silently working on brewing draught of living death. Still feeling like his brain was in a fog because of the information the Headmistress had told him and Granger, “why’d it have to be Granger of all people” he thought scratching his head and pushing back pieces of the bright blond hair he’d let grow a little longer since his youth. He decided a pop quiz would help clear his mind, and spoke out in his deep tenor “Can anyone tell me the best way to add the Sopophorous beans to the draught?”

A swotty Gryffindor girl immediately raised her hand, with a slight roll of his eyes and a point of his finger towards the girl, Malfoy called on her “Yes, Ophelia.”

“Well, the book says to cut them, but crushing them with the side of the blade is best, Sir!” She exclaimed, smiling to herself.

Almost astonished that she didn’t stick to the book answer, Professor Malfoy said “That’s correct, thank you” and slightly under his breath added “10 points to Gryffindor”.

The rest of his day pretty much continued in this vein, his students quietly worked, him throwing out random questions here or there. Whenever he let his mind wander, however, it went right back to the mysterious howler. Why was it sent to the Headmistress and not to Hermione, as it clearly was directed at her? Was someone trying to get them fired? How did the mysterious sender know where she lived, how were they watching her, and most importantly, why? How could anyone seriously think anything was going on between them. Hermione, the goody two shoes, was married to that buffoon Ron Weasley and barely looked in Draco’s direction.

Meanwhile, back in the Headmistress’ office, Minerva was pacing, while the faces of the previous headmasters on portraits covering the walls followed her back and forth. FInally Phineas Nigellus piped up, “McGonagall you’re making us all dizzy and solving nothing, sit down my good woman.” Minerva waved him off but knew he was right. She sat down with a sigh and decided to floo one of her former students.

“Hello Miner- er Headmistress”, came the scruffy morning voice of Auror Harry Potter, “to what do I owe the pleasure,” he finally finished after taking a sip of his tea.

“Mr. Potter, I assume you are well, and guessing by the state of you, just waking up”, she tsk’d.

“Uh, yes, mhm” Harry cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter at her admonishment.

“Have you heard from Miss Granger yet?”

Confused Harry’s eyebrows scrunched together. “No ma'am, I haven’t, should I have?”

“No matter, would it be possible for yourself or perhaps Auror Weasley to come to the castle to talk with me?”

Harry sat up straighter still at this, so Minerva explained the incident that had happened with the howler earlier in the morning. She may have admired Dumbledore, but McGonagall was not the type of witch to sit and let events play out like a game of wizard’s chess. No, she would take action before things got out of hand.

A few hours later Auror Ron Wesley came through the floo to take her statement and collect the few tiny pieces of paper that remained of the howler for evidence. Having wrapped that up fairly quickly he decided to walk to the divinations classroom to see Lavender Brown.

As soon as Ron entered the hatch door in the floor he was hit with the sickly sweet perfume he still remembers from his school days.

“Eeeeeeeeeee, oh my Gods, Won Won!” Lavender screeched and ran over to him, pulling him the rest of the way into the room and locking the door.

She immediately started to pepper his face with kisses, as excited and sloppy as ever.

“Lavender, doll, someone could come in, don’t you have a class soon,” he tried to speak, but each word was punctuated with kisses and she was moving her hand down to rub over the top of his pants. “Eehmm Gods” he groans out.

“Sssshhhhhh Won Won, let me take care of you now.” She says bopping him on the nose. “My last class just ended silly, it’s about to be lunch, then I have a free period. Don’t worry”

Lavender took a step back, threw off the woven shawl draped over her and slid the poofy sleeves of her dress down her arms, causing the whole dress to fall off her body and pool at her feet. Ron dumbfounded just stood there staring at her very large and very pert breasts, completely bare in front of him.

“Don’t you want to touch them Won Won?” she whined out petulantly. At this Ron stepped forward grabbing both breasts in his hands, groping her clumsily. In one fluid motion, Lavender unzipped Ron’s pants, and pushed him down into one of the chairs sitting around the small tables set with crystal balls, before pulling her lacy underwear to the side and impaling herself on him.

Upon returning to the castle from her walk, Hermione realized she was starving and decided to get lunch.
Looking up from her feet to turn the corridor towards one of the many moving staircases in the castle, she noticed her husband coming down the stairs from the divinations classroom. Very confused, as she hadn’t seen him since the beginning of the year.

“Ronald!” She exclaimed loudly, “Wha-what are you doing here? Why were you in the divinations classroom?” She huffed out, stomping her foot.

Ron almost looked ashamed at first, tucking his shirt back in and wiping his mouth with his thumb, but the memories of their last encounter and how she’d left him laid out in the January snow brought anger to his face, turning it beet red.

“Oh like you even care Hermione”

“What is that supposed to mean?
Of course I care, Ron, I’m your wife after all, or have you forgotten?”

“Believe, me Mione, I remember… but I’d like to forget”

He said the last bit so quietly Hermione wasn’t sure she heard him right.

“What did you just say? I think that is the most hurt-“ but she didn’t get to finish.

“You know what’s hurtful Hermione? Being left in the snow.”

“You were drunk,” She tried to interrupt, folding her arms across her chest, “and I had to,”
but he kept going, talking over her.

“I

needed

you, but you just ushered the students away like you were ashamed of me. Well, you knOW WHO’S NOT ASHAMED OF ME?” His voice rose until he was shouting at her, a finger pointed at her face.

“Let me guess”

“Lavender” “LAVENDER”

They both said at the same time but Ron was so loud it didn’t even matter that Hermione spoke at all..

“She picked me up, Hermione, literally picked me up out of the snow and dusted me off like a good woman should, like a wife should’ve. She took me to Madam Puddifoot’s and got us tea. We had a lovely time and I just thought since I was here already - thanks to you and this stupid howler, that is obviously nothing and a complete waste of my time, by the way, that I would thank Lavender. That’s all.”

But the ashamed look was starting to creep its way back to his features.

Hermione, in tears at this point, shakily asked him even though she didn’t really want a response, “Thank her how, Ronald, with your dick?”

Ron’s hand came to the back of his neck, rubbing as if it were a nervous tick, and just shrugged. “Well, yeah actually… I mean, she just sort of came on to me and I didn’t really have a choice, and honestly you and I hadn’t seen each other in a while, I didn’t think you would mind.”

Now it was Hermione’s turn to shout. “WOULDN’T MIND, RONALD? I AM YOUR WIFE, I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU BECAUSE YOU GOT BLACK OUT DRUNK AT OUR LAST VISIT, HIT ON THE BARTENDER’S DAUGHTER AND WERE THROWN OUT!
THEN YOU DIDN’T SHOW UP TO OUR DATE NIGHT AT THE COTTAGE WE SHARE TOGETHER!”

“Mione, I… I think we just need some time apart.”

“What, so you can keep sleeping with Lavender, while I sulk around? No thank you.”

“Well, what do you suggest then, Hermione?”

“This isn’t going to work for me Ron, I think I,”
now completely sobbing, Hermione finally choked out, “ I want a divorce.”

Face beet red again and fists at his side, Ron barked the word at her “Fine.”

“Fine.” Hermione agreed, and before either of them could say another word, she took off around him.

Not paying attention to where she was going or how long she’d been walking, too busy replaying that disastrous conversation with Ron. The castle is fairly vast and the stairs move at random, after all. She walked right into the back of a very tall, very strong, and very blonde wizard, knocking her right on her arse.

“Ow.” She breathed out slowly, still crying from her earlier altercation with Ron.

“Oh come off it Granger, that fall couldn’t have hurt so badly it’s put you to tears.” Draco said, almost laughing but holding his hand out to help her up nonetheless.

Hermione took the proffered hand slightly hesitantly.

“I won’t bite, Granger” all but laughing as he pulled her up toward him, “unless you want me to.” He winked.

Hermione was slightly affronted, although what was the other sensation she was feeling… lust… no it couldn’t be… pulling her hand away quickly, she flattened the back of her skirt down a little. Malfoy stiffened, noticing her response.

“Only joking, Granger, no need to be in such a tizzy.”

“I'm not in a tizzy.” Hermione huffed, clearly in a tizzy. Looking down at her shoes she started to tell Malfoy exactly what happened. “I’m just, well, ugh I can’t believe I’m even telling you this, but I’ve just had an argument with my husband, or should I say soon to be ex-husband, as it turns out. I’ve just seen him tuck himself back in his pants after a thank you shag with that cow of a divination teacher, Lavender”. Hermione immediately clamped both hands over her mouth, having said far more than she meant to. As she looked back up at him, she almost jumped back in surprise at the utter vitriol she could see in Malfoy’s gray eyes.

“Where is he?” Malfoy growls.

“Why? You shagging Lavender, too?” Hermione asked, thinking that’s the only possible way to explain his rage.

Malfoy scoffed and some of the fire drained from his face. “Absolutely not, I thought you had more brains than that Granger, but clearly I was mistaken.”

He paused, searching her face for some sign that maybe it would dawn on her that he’s upset on her behalf, but he doesn’t see it and just shakes his head.

“I’m sorry to spill all this on you Malfoy, I won’t bother you any further about it.” Completely embarrassed by the whole afternoon she took off out of the castle to find Neville. She could really use a friend and a snack, seeing as the whole ordeal with Ron made her miss lunch.

Neville was perched on the edge of one of the work benches fiddling with something in his hands as Hermione stepped through the door of the greenhouse.

“What’s that you’ve got Neville?”

“Oh, Hermione!” Neville jumped down off the bench and headed toward her.

Hermione hadn’t even noticed before, but as Neville came to stand beside her in his tight forest green tank, arms covered in magical flora tattoos, and his brown khaki pants, sweaty from working with the Mandrakes and Devil’s Snare he was replanting, just how buff and attractive he’d become.

“It’s a cellphone, I’d thought you’d surely know what they are, they’re muggle after all.”

“Yes, I recognize it, but I thought muggle technology wouldn’t work at the school?”

“Ah, yes well normally it wouldn’t, but actually Malfoy helped me with some wards around the phone that keep it going.”
Neville smiled, looking down at the device and resumed texting.

Malfoy?

She thought to herself, but dropped it and complemented Neville instead. “Wow, you’ve really got the hang of that thing haven’t you.”

Neville laughed. “I think I mentioned before, my girlfriend Lana, she’s muggle. This is really the only sensible way we can talk during the week.”

“I’ll let you get back to it then Neville, sorry to interrupt.” Hermione looked away slightly disheartened.

“No no that’s ok, Hermione.” He protested, but he was still looking at his phone and typing.

After several moments, he finally looked up and slipped his phone back into his pocket. “Sorry, some of her friends are coming over for wine night tomorrow, they do it about twice a month. Apparently a few of them are going on about Theo, and how bloody good looking he is.” He rolled his eyes. “ One of them, Lyrics her name, called him a god or something…and another Morgan, I think she said it was, went on about him being our ‘lord and savior’”.

“Excuse me Neville, but do you mean Theo Nott, as in Harry’s Theo?”

“The one and only.” Neville shrugged.

“How do they all know Theo?”

“Oh they don’t. Lana and I went on sort of a double date with Harry and Theo, in muggle London a few weekends back, and well, Lana had her phone out and Theo was intrigued, he accidentally took several photos of himself and Lana showed them to her friends.” He finished bashfully.

Hermione giggled, “That does sound like Theo!” Sighing she added “and wine night sounds delightful.”

“You’d love Lana, she’s smart and beautiful and she loves to read just like you! And she’s a music journalist, it’s really cool actually. Sorry, I could talk forever about her.” He blushed. “We should do a double, with you and Ron, I don’t know why we haven’t before.”

“Well that would be difficult, as we’re getting a divorce.” She sniffed.

At her announcement, Neville engulfed her in a bear hug. He quickly let go, holding his arms out to his sides, exclaiming “Sorry, I’m covered in dirt and sweat, that’s just rotten, Hermione, but maybe it’s for the best?.”

“I know, I know it is. We rushed things and it’s been falling apart ever since.” She continued to sniff. “You don’t have any chocolate do you?” She asked almost through a sob.

Chuckling, Neville hugged her again and pulled out half a, at this point not surprising, muggle Cadbury bar. She wiped her eyes, took the chocolate and thanked him. They just sat there in a comfortable silence until the sounds of first years giggling and running could be heard. Hermione got to her feet and headed back to her office. Monday’s were her light days, to her relief. She decided to use this time to start getting her affairs in order, now that she was to be a single woman again, but before she could even get ink on her quill the green flames of her office floo came to life.

“Hermione, Hermione, are you there?” The voice of her dear friend Harry Potter called out. “Hermione, whether you’re there or not I’m coming through.”

“I’m here Harry, come on.” Hermione said but Harry, true to his word, was already stepping through before she’d answered.

“Oh Mione,” he rushed over to where she was sitting at her desk and grabbed both her hands, kissing the top of her head at the same time.

“I just heard from Ron about what happened. Mione, he feels absolutely awful, and he doesn’t want to lose you, but listen, and don’t tell him I said this but you’re better off without him. I should’ve said something earlier. Honestly Theo is right mad at me about it all. Said, and I quote, ‘this is all your fault chosen one.’ He thinks if I would’ve gotten you to leave Ron sooner… well anyways I’m just so sorry. I love Ron, he's my best mate but this is just bloody awful.” Harry was almost out of breath by the time he finished.

“Harry Potter!” She said, swatting his arm.

He flinched, “I deserved that.”

“No you didn’t,” but she swatted him again. “I am a grown woman, and Ron and I’s marriage, faulted as it may be, is ours and the results of its downfall are no one else’s fault but ours. Do you understand me?” She swatted him one last time for good measure.

“You’re right Hermione, of course you’re right, but I still feel like a shite friend.”

“Well you shouldn’t, you and Theo have been nothing but the best! Give him my love and tell him I said to take it easy on our chosen one.” She stood up and hugged him, pushing him back towards the floo.

“Now if you’ll please go, finish saving the wizarding world, I have a lot of things I need to sort out.”

“Ok, you’re ok? Really?”

“No Harry, but I will be.”

He hugged her one last time, then threw some powder he kept in his pocket into the floo.

“Bye.” He waved, then said clearly “DMLE London”.

Hermione turned and went back to sitting at her desk, thinking she better write to her solicitor. She spent the rest of the afternoon writing letters, making a pros & cons list about her divorce, creating a packing list, and just writing her thoughts out so they weren’t crowding her mind.

Her stomach started growling. She’d already missed lunch, only having the chocolate from Neville, she could not miss dinner. She tidied up her desk and set off for the Great Hall.

As she entered the room lined with four long house tables and headed for the staff table at the back she noticed Malfoy staring at her. “What is he doing?” She huffed under her breath. She decided to just ignore him for now and stared straight ahead. He was still watching her as she took the small steps up to the table. She squeezed behind him, past Hagrid, and Professor Flitwick and took her seat beside Neville.

“Hey Hermione, I have some good news! I was texting Lana and I asked if she’d mind if you came to wine night, she said that’d be wonderful!

“Oh Neville, that was awfully sweet, but I don’t know. I haven’t even met your girlfriend. I don’t want to feel like I’m intruding.”

“You won’t, I promise. Lana would love to meet you and most of her friends are really sweet,” Hermione started to raise one eyebrow, “I mean it, they’re all really sweet honest but they can get a bit chaotic… especially her friend Stephanie, she’s a bit of trouble but it’s all in good fun! Say you’ll go.”

“Neville, I don’t even have a way to get there really. I can’t apparate, I’ve never been there, and I’m assuming she’s not hooked up to the floo network? Plus you know I’m absolutely rubbish on a broom.”

At that Hagrid leaned forward, almost scooting the whole table with him. Flitwick and Malfoy both “hmphed” at the same time.

“Sorry to interrupt, I am Hermione, but I couldn’t help but overhear, I could take yer down on me motorbike and pick yer back up no problem at all.”

“So it’s settled, then’” Neville said before she could respond, pulling the phone from his robe pocket. “I’ll text Lana and let her know you’re coming,” looking up over Hermione towards Hagrid, “at 7, alright?”

Hagrid nodded, shaking the whole table with the motion.

Whispering, Malfoy leaned in towards Hagrid “ aye, giant, what’s that with Granger? Where are you taking her?”

Looking straight down at Malfoy, Hagrid said in a much louder tone “None of your business” then quickly added “Professor.” And looked away.

Malfoy growled in annoyance and pushed his chair back with a screech and stalked out of the dinning hall.

As Hermione was finishing up her food and readying herself to leave to head to her rooms for the night, McGonagall stopped by her chair, placed a hand and her shoulder and said “I hope you didn’t mind me asking for Ron to come take a look at the howler business.”

Choking on the sip of water she had just taken, Hermione reassured Minerva that it was just fine, when of course she felt the exact opposite.

Now with both a stomachache and headache due to the howler and Ron, Hermione went to bed, and fell into a fitful sleep.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Tuesday went by with much less fanfare than Monday had, to Hermione’s delight. She had barely any sleep the night before and was actually really looking forward to a nice night with a large glass of wine. She looked forward to the fact that no one actually knew who she was or to whom she was married to. She guessed and hoped that no one there tonight would’ve read any Daily Prophet articles detailing the dalliances of her husband or her now ruined marriage.

Hermione actually spent most of her day smiling, thinking about having girl time for the first time in quite a while. Thinking on it, reminded her that she hadn’t even seen Pansy or Ginny since Christmas.

She decided to write them both a quick note, letting them know how much she missed them and then almost as an afterthought added the news regarding her and Ron.

She supposed neither knew since it had just happened yesterday and the fact that neither were standing in front of her, trying to get her drunk or naked or both… those two were wild.

At around 6pm Hermione strolled down to Hagrid’s cabin. She started to get the feeling someone was following her. She turned and looked all around but didn’t see anyone. She chalked it up to nerves and kept walking. The feeling however intensified, so once she got to the cabin she decided to walk around the side, stop and wait to see if anyone came around.

“Ha! I knew someone was following me!” Hermione shouted.

“Yea yea brightest witch of our age” Malfoy said in annoyance at being caught. “What are you doing? Where is Hagrid taking you?”

“Jeez Malfoy I cried in front of you once and now you’re what, playing my protector? Please, as if I need protection.”

“Why do I seem to be the only one out of the two of us worried about this howler? They said they’re watching you and they know where you live…”

“Malfoy I live here at Hogwarts, which is once again the safest place to be, and honestly I thought it was just you being a jerk.”

“You know what? Nevermind, Granger, suit yourself, I’m going to dinner.”

He turned and left just as Hagrid was letting Fang out.

“Is that you Hermione, you ready?” Hagrid called out as she came into view from around the corner.

Hagrid handed Hermione a helmet, strapped her into the sidecar of his motorbike, and then they headed off toward the muggle part of Wiltshire, to Lana’s.

According to Hagrid, Neville and Lana had met when Lana accidentally stumbled onto a Weird Sisters show. She had been out one night in search of a new band to write about, disappointed by what she had heard playing in multiple bars that night. She was heading home when the sounds hit her, per Neville, Lana explained she felt like she was in a trance, she rounded a wonky corner trying to find where the sound was coming from, stepped off the curb and Neville caught her just before she fell. Hagrid had also been there and regaled Hermione of the whole night on their way. “It had been love at first sight” Hagrid had told her, “I may not have the gift, like Professor Trewlaney, mind you, but I know love when I sees it, I do. And that there between Neville and Miss Lana was love. Still is, I reckon, Professor Longbottom never puts that mobile communication thingy down, now does he!”

“That he does not, Hagrid, that he does not!” Hermione replied as they came down for their landing in a beautiful pasture full of Shire horses.

Hermione bid Hagrid goodnight, letting him know kindly that she’d apparate to Hogsmeade and make her way back to the castle, no need for him to come get her.

Knocking, Hermione tried to squash the butterflies in her stomach. Lana opened the door and noise flooded Hermione. “You must be Hermione, come in love! Sorry, it’s usually a bit quieter on wine night but everyone was dying to meet you, well everyone except my ex friend Stephanie,” Lana huffed, blowing her bangs out of her eyes, “I think she’s a little too keen on my beau Nevs so I un-invited her.” Crowing as she ushered Hermione the rest of the way in. “Let me introduce you to everyone!”

Everyone, which Hermione thought must really be EVERYONE, was Lyric & Morgan, the two who Neville had mentioned were the ones into Theo, then there was Kara, Arina, Gemmy, Simone, Kelly, Lane, Erin, and Kyra.

“Hi,” Hermione waved sheepishly.

“Hermione!” They all shouted at once, making Hermione feel like she was Norm from Cheers. The thought that these girls might actually know what that was since it was a muggle tv show, made Hermione settle a little and smile.

“Be nice to her, girls; no mayhem Morgan she’s new.” Lana gave the girls a look then turned back to Hermione, “What kind of wine would you like Hermione?”

“I’m not sure, what do you have?”

“We’ve got a little of everything, follow me.” Lana gestured to the little island at the side of the kitchen.

Hermione took a minute to peruse the selection then chose a sparkling Moscato D’ Asti, that she’d had before at a friend’s from home birthday dinner.

After pouring a small glass, knowing it wouldn’t be smart to apparate drunk all the way back to the castle from Wiltshire, she took a sip. It was just as she remembered, light, refreshing, and a strong honey flavor. It was delicious.

Before she knew it Hermione was squashed between Lyric and Morgan talking all things Theo,

they really do worship him,

she thought to herself.
She decided to get another small glass of the delicious wine and then went to stand by Lana.

“Thanks so much for extending an invite to me. Neville talks so much about you and I’m glad we could finally meet, especially after the week I’ve had so far.”

“Of course, Neville mentioned you’d been threatened by some weird yelling letter,” she said the last part in a whisper so the other girls wouldn’t hear.

“Oh yeah that, I actually meant finding my husband post coital with his old girlfriend and my current coworker, but yeah the howler was strange too.”

Lana’s mouth hung open at Hermione's confession. Quickly closing it she hugged Hermione. Luckily Hermione didn’t mind hugs, because she was getting a lot of them lately.

“Men can be such pigs, I had just gotten out of a long relationship when I moved out this way, I swore off men, and then what do you know, I literally fell into Neville’s arms. Life is just crazy like that sometimes, Hermione. Hey, actually, do you have a cell? I’ll give you my number.”

“I do, but I hardly use it these days. It was mostly to keep in touch with my family, before… well just before, but yeah I still have it, hold on.” Hermione dug through her beaded bag, the one with the undetectable extension charm that she took everywhere, finally pulling out the old flip phone.

“I know it’s not a smart phone, but I can text on it and make calls.” Hermione said, slightly embarrassed by the outdated electronic.

After getting Lana’s number and promising to text when she was safely home, she said goodbye to all the girls. Lana showed her a spot where Neville often disapparated from and she was off with a soft crack.

Once in Hogsmeade, Hermione decided to head to the Three Broomsticks for another drink, though only a half pint of Butterbeer. While she sipped on her drink at the bar Hermione felt uneasy, almost like someone was watching her again. She did a quick look around for Malfoy, but didn’t spot him.

Silliness

she thought to herself,

you’re just letting that stupid prank of a howler get to you

. She tried to shake the feeling but quickly finished her drink and flooed back to her rooms in the castle.

Back in Godric’s Hollow, Ron had just returned home to the cottage he still shared with Hermione after a long day doing paperwork at the DMLE. Unfortunately that’s all Ron ever did these days as an Auror. Too many articles had been written about his drinking problem, which Ron thought was complete rubbish. So what if he liked to have a good time, he was a war hero after all, he spent his childhood defeating dark wizards. Well mainly one dark wizard but still, he’d earned the right to enjoy things, whether in excess or not. As soon as Ron stepped through the door, a bright red envelope zoomed at him and yelled:

Dear Ronald Weasley,

You have been watched: Failure to comply and you shall suffer: no one can help: no one can protect you: Obey: Obey!

Then it tore itself to shreds. Ron tried to catch a piece before it was completely gone, but of course he had stopped at a pub on the way home and had a couple glasses of firewhisky, causing his motor skills to be a little on the slow side. After the howler McGonagall had received this did make Ron feel a little more on edge, which made him feel like getting another drink. He poured himself some cheap whiskey from the cupboard, sat in his favorite recliner, unzipped his pants and started touching himself at the thought of Lavender’s plump breasts, so much meatier and more to grab and suck than Hermione’s. His thoughts continued to make him harder. His mind played back the images of his tryst from yesterday with Lavender as he made himself come and then passed out right in the chair.

…

By the time May arrived, several more witches and wizards received anonymous howlers, detailing personal information and accusations. The DMLE was stumped, they had no leads, and apart from people feeling slightly harassed no real crimes seemed to have been committed.

Hogwarts still felt safe to Hermione. Unlike Draco, who had taken to appointing himself as her personal bodyguard. Everywhere she turned he was there, even if she hadn’t personally received any more howlers.

“Don’t you have a class to teach, Malfoy?” She lashed out at him.

“That’s Professor Malfoy to you, Granger.” He sneered but the words didn’t quite have the bite she was used to from him, behind them. In fact, It sounded more like he wanted to play. Almost as if she were in a game of cat and mouse, and she was the mouse. A shiver ran down her spine.

Two can play this game

, she thought

“Ok, don’t you have a class to teach, Professor Malfoy?” She purred, wrapping her fingers around his tie, tugging it quickly and then sauntering off. She knew he was watching her ass as she walked away, mouth agape but she did not look back to verify. She was unsure when their exchanges became so coy. Shockingly, Hermione welcomed the change.

They continued their little game, always with witty banter. Sly shots back and forth. Arguing over details big and small, but it never went further than that. They were colleagues, and barely friends at that. Hermione knew if it weren’t for the fact that they’d been pushed together by the howler, they’d still be trying to ignore the other’s existence. The fact that technically Hermione and Ron were still married, hung over her like a wrought Iron chandelier.

Magical marriages were a lot harder to get out of. The magic that bound them wasn’t easy to break. While Hermione and Ron hadn’t committed to a soul bonding ritual, thank Godric or even Theo Nott, Hermione thought. Still the magic of their marriage bond meant that some part of them would be intertwined forever. This made Hermione feel slightly guilty about the multiple times she’d gone back to her rooms after a frustrating encounter with Malfoy, imagining his pale, lithe fingers instead of hers.

Things for Draco weren’t much different, he would lay in bed at night after a heated tête-à-tête with Hermione during the day. He would stroke himself while envisioning being deep inside her, the same ire from their spats on her face.

Draco knew, unfortunately nothing would come of it, she was still married and he doubted that she would be interested in the depraved propensities he was.

There were certain things to know about Draco, if one was interested. He was disciplined, and controlled, precise. He was possessive. He liked debasement, and he liked choking.

“Ugh, Granger would be disgusted.” He lamented, rubbing his hand down his face.

Yes, he had been following her because she seemed to not be taking the psychopath who was sending the howlers seriously, but they had a rapport now. She was no longer avoiding him and there was something that was drawing him to her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Hermione had just started a rather lengthy presentation on what she conceived to be a rather exciting topic.

“Giants!” She exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

“Have played a rather tremendous part in the history of our magical community. Today we will discuss two of them and their contributions.” She continued.

“The first Giant we will be discussing is Cormoran. Say it with me class Kowr-Mor-An, he is a Cornish Giant who built the island of St. Michael’s Mount. Let’s not forget the help he had from his wife, Cormelian.”

Pausing her monologue, she added, “I, for one love Cornwall, I used to go there on Holiday with my parents, more specifically to the bay at Mousehole.” This made her emotional, it had been years since she was able to go on a trip with her parents, and due to the irreversible obliviation she had cast on them the summer before her 7th year, it was likely she would never go on another vacation with them again. She turned away from the class and wiped her eyes before turning back and continuing.

The second Giant is Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the Irish Giant, who built the causeway between Ireland and Scotland. It is said that his parentage must’ve included a witch or wizard due to his ‘supernatural’ abilities.”

“Any questions before we get started?” She asked, turning to the board behind her and lifting her wand to magically write the names of the two Giants on it.

As she finished, Hagrid rushed in screeching if that’s even possible in his bellowing voice. “Herm- Professor Granger, come quick, we’ve got pixiess loose in the dungeons.”

“Hagrid, surely you can handle the magical creatures. I'm in the middle of a lecture. Actually, can you come back when it’s all taken care of, we’re discussing Giants, one of which had magic! I think you’d be gre-“

“Hermione, please, they bite.” He interrupted.

“Fine.” She huffed, “honestly what was Professor Malfoy thinking bringing live pixiess into a potions class, doesn’t he remember when Professor Lockhart did the same in our 2nd year? It was a disaster.”

Heading out the door with Hagrid she turned and in her most studious voice said. “I want six inches of scrolls on what you already know about these Giants, turn to page 493, and read after that.”

Draco entered his dungeon class room with a flare of his robes, quite in the style of their late Professor Snape.

“Today we will begin working on designing our own potions, we will start with the base of an already existing potion and build upon it, improve it. Let’s divide into groups of two. You will then discuss with your partner what potion you want to work on. We will get our bases brewed and then add our improvements throughout the week.”

He walked down the isles pairing students together. Once everyone was paired off, he sat down at his desk, and then abruptly stood back up.

“Certain potions are off limits of course: Amortentia, Veritaserum, and Avada essence.” He said, eyeing them all and returning to his seated position.

Regrettably, Ophelia had been partnered with Bowen Domnhall, a red headed git that only Helga knows how wasn’t related to the Weasley’s.

She quickly jotted down a list of ingredients for Bowen to retrieve, including Ashwinder eggs, Peppermint, Powdered Moonstone, and Rose Petals, assuring him that they could do a mix between a beautification and luck potion. Bowen being the dimwit that he was, didn’t mind being the errand boy if that meant Ophelia did the difficult work.

With Bowen in the supply closet, and the other students focused on their own tasks, Ophelia whispered “finite,” at the half dozen immobilized Cornish pixiess in her robe pocket.

By the time Bowen was back at their work station, the electric blue mini devils were wreaking havoc on the classroom, students, and Professor Malfoy.

Ophelia used the distraction to add two secret ingredients to their potion, Pearl Dust, and Rose thorns, she would improve Amortentia and create real everlasting love.

“Someone go get that giant groundskeeper!” Draco yelled while trying to swot away the pesky pixiess from poking him in the eyes.

Hagrid arrived in no time with a pesticide in hand to repel the pixiess but it only made them mad, and now they were biting his sausage fingers.

“Hold on, Professor, I’ll be right back, don’t you worry your blonde little head.” He rebuked as he ran for the door, to go get Hermione.

When Hagrid returned with Hermione, the room was in complete chaos. Students were huddled under the tables, while Draco stood on his desk, hair and robes askew, firing jinxes wildly at his tiny targets. The pixiess were throwing ingredients and trying to knock over the cauldrons already bubbling over with the unattended potions.

Ophelia’s potion however was set under a stasis charm and seemed to have reached its mother of Pearl sheen.

“Immobulus!” Hermione shouted, waving her wand.

The pixiess immediately froze.

“Honestly, Professor!” She said, glaring at Malfoy.

“Ah Professor Granger, how gracious of you to come to our rescue.” Malfoy sneered.

Together Draco and Hermione gathered the floating pixiess, and helped Hagrid take them back outside.

Hurriedly Ophelia filled a vial with her Amortentia mixture, capped it, stuck it in her pocket and tipped the cauldron over hoping no one would notice with ensuing mishap.

Woefully when the Professors returned, Hermione slipped in the almost translucent spill, splashing it in her nose and mouth as her hands went down to brace her fall. Malfoy, ever the gentleman, offered her his hand. She placed her spry fingers in his large nimble hand, and looked up, dazed, almost breathless with the beauty she saw. He pulled her up swiftly, and she placed a soft chaste kiss to his lips.

Stepping back from him, she apologized, “Godric, Malfoy I’m so sorry, I think”- cutting herself off she sniffed the air. “Do you smell freshly mowed grass, new parchment, and, and, green apples?” Looking back up at him bewildered, she continued her original statement, “I think, it’s Amortentia.”

Malfoy, quick-witted as he was, ran to the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a small case that when tapped with his wand revealed itself to be a vast trunk filled to the brim with vials. He pulled out a small bottle with a clear liquid inside and rushed back to Hermione, who to his slight dismay and slight pleasure was staring at him doe eyed.

“Here, drink this.” He said, softly folding the container into her hands.

She did as he directed and took a sip, instantly her mind cleared.

“Thanks,” she said, smiling weakly at him. “And this had better have been the fault of the pixiess, lest the guilty party be expelled.” She reprimanded the class.

In the days following she could not stop thinking about the kiss. How soft his lips felt against hers. How even though it was quick he hadn’t been the one to pulled away first.

Hermione continued to attend wine night at Lana’s and eventually in late May, close to the end of the semester at Hogwarts, she met Lana’s friend Stephanie. Apparently they had made up. Stephanie had explained as she sat on the comfy settee in Lana’s living room, sipping a Petit Shiraz, that she wasn’t actually that keen on Neville. Not in that way anyways., “I mean he’s an alright bloke, but I prefer a man who likes to inflict a little pain in the bedroom if you catch my drift, and I just don’t think Lana’s Nev has got it in him.”

Blushing fiercely at this, Hermione squeaked, “I do actually, I mean I’ve never been with a man like that, but I think I would enjoy something along those lines too.” She almost choked at the admission. “And yes you’re right, I don’t think Neville has got that in him.” She added with a laugh.

Hermione returned to Hogwarts that night a little tipsier than she had planned, and found herself stumbling up the front steps to the entrance of the castle, after deciding it better to walk from Hogsmeade, instead of taking the floo to get some fresh air.

“Where have you been?” Draco spoke in a harsh whisper, stepping right in front of her as she entered through the great doors.

“Excuse me, how is that any of your business!” She hiccuped. Draco’s eyebrows nearly shot up into his very not receding hairline she thought, mindlessly reaching up to touch a piece of the bright blond locks that had fallen onto his face. Draco instantly smacked her hand away.

“Ow, what was that for, you big meany?” She said pouting.

“Are you drunk, Hermione?”

She liked the sound of her given name coming from his lips. She wasn’t drunk, no, but she was buzzed. The feeling only intensified at the thought of challenging him. While it usually amounted to nothing but quick quips and one of them watching while the other pranced away, she was tired of going to her rooms alone. Tired of pretending it was his fingers and eager to know if he somehow felt the same.

“Oh, would you like that?” She spoke softly looking up at him with what he could only think of as sex kitten eyes.

Shaking his head and wearily stepping back,

what was she doing

?

“No, Granger, I much prefer my women to be cognizant and able to consent.”

“Afraid then, Malfoy?” She mused.

“Look, Granger, I don’t know what you’re on about,” he was stepping closer, “but I doubt,” he had backed her up against the now closed doors, “you’d be able to,” both his palms resting on the wall, one on each side of her head, “keep up with me.” His face was so close now, she could feel his breath ghost across her lips as he spoke. She was breathing so hard, her chest rising and falling against his.

Surely he isn’t going to kiss me, is he?

Her heart raced.

“Plus” he added, “I don’t think the other professors would appreciate being woken in the middle of the night by your screams.” He pushed off the wall and turned, strolling back towards the dungeons. Calling out as he went but not looking back at her, “goodnight Granger, try not to stay out so late again, it’s bad form with a mad man on the loose.”

Hermione clutched her heart and ran to her rooms. However, she was not to know that she wasn’t the only one to satisfy themselves while thinking of the other that night.

He had almost lost control and kissed her right there in the entrance. He hadn’t stopped thinking of the way her lips had felt a few days before, when she had fallen in the arrant potion, and succumbed to its powers, kissing him. He wanted to feel her lips on his again, feel them travel down his body and he grabbed her by the hair and used her mouth to get himself off.

He needed to punish himself for it

, he thought to himself. He would keep himself on edge, not give himself the satisfaction of release. He should resist but he could still feel the heat from her body so close to his. He ran himself a cold shower but that did not stop him from grabbing his already throbbing cock. Stroking, the thought of her mouth forming an O as he described the sort of things he actually wanted to do to her. How he wanted to spank her, and tie her up and use her body for his pleasure, had him coming in minutes.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Hermione awoke early the next morning with a pounding headache and unfortunately a rather large red letter right over her head. “Oh for Godric’s sake,” she sighed as the howler erupted:

Lady:

This is your last chance to report him: I know you are a pig and will prove it and shame you out of Hogwarts: A pig sneaks around and meets other women’s betrothed behind their backs, causes families and homes and marriages to suffer:

Naturally the howler tore itself into the tiniest of pieces,
that there was barely ash for Hermione to dust off the plush velvety maroon covers of her bed.

Hermione was at a loss. Who did she need to report? The last howler had implied some sordid affair with Malfoy but at that point they had barely spoken, is that whom this letter was referring to? Was he betrothed? This was news to her!

Luckily for Hermione, the castle was nearly empty. Most of the end of school tests had finished. Some children had left early and the rest would be taking the train back to King’s Cross Station on Friday.

She left her room in one of the silk shorts and cami pajama sets she liked to wear during the summer, throwing her robes on over top in case anyone else happened to be up this early and notice her storming down to the dungeons.

She knew Malfoy was an early riser like herself and was most likely already getting his classroom packed as she had planned to do the same that day. She threw the door to his classroom open and marched straight up to his desk where he was gathering books and potion ingredient ledgers in neat stacks to be levitated into his trunks.

“Are you betrothed, Malfoy?” She blurted out.

“Well hello Hermione, nice to see…” he looked her up and down, “so very much of you this morning.”

She grabbed her robes a little tighter as he came around his desk to collect a couple of vials on a shelf, his back now turned towards her.

“Aswer the question, Malfoy!”

“No, Granger, I’m not betrothed. Whatever gave you that absurd idea?” He continued to pack his things, walking back and forth and reaching around her. His constant movement distracted her so much that she let her robes slip from her grip and fall open again.

“I-I-I.” Her stuttering caused him to ultimately look at her again.

“I like that dark green on you, Hermione.” He winked, hoping to rile her up again.

“I received another howler,” she got out all in one breath.

“Wait what?” They both said.

Hermione forgot she was wearing the forest green silk and did not realize that her robes were open again until she looked down. She didn’t have time to pull her robes closed as Malfoy grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her down in the black wingback chair behind his desk.

“Hermione, what happened? Why are you here and what does me being betrothed have anything to do with it?” He said, clearly confused.

Hermione took several deep breaths and Malfoy couldn’t help but notice the peak of her nipples rubbing against the soft fabric of her very thin top.

“When I woke up, there was another anonymous howler,” she started.

“What did it say?”

“That I was a pig and that I should report you. Or rather

him

I guess, it didn’t actually say it was you, and that I was ruining a family and a marriage. You’re not married though, right?”

“No, I’m not, but you are.”

Hermione sat forward a little and waved his response off, causing her robes and the tiny straps of her top to slide down one shoulder. Malfoy guessed from where he was now perched on the corner edge of his desk that if he were to stand back up he’d be able to see straight down Hermione’s shirt to the top of her very supple breasts.

“I’d hardly call it a marriage, he’s sleeping with Lavender and Godric knows how many other women, and I’ve already started proceedings to have our bond broken.” She continued, not realizing where Malfoy’s thoughts had drifted.

Malfoy, deciding the best course of action was to busy himself with packing again, got up, and swore he tried not to look, but sure enough he could see the tops of her breasts and her pert nipples. Feeling his erection growing, he frowned and turned quickly, knocking over some of the dried potions ingredients lining his desk.

“Oh let me help you,” Hermione offered, getting to her feet as Malfoy bent down in front of her to pick up the herbs.

He couldn’t help himself, she smelled of Lilac and tea. Desperately, he wanted to touch her, and see if she was as soft as you looked. He slid his hand up her inner thigh, stopping at the very short hem of her shorts.

“M-Malfoy” her voice, he knew

was

shaking this time because of him.

Still unable to quell his appetite, he began leaving chaste kisses up the path his hand had traveled.

“M-Malfoy,” she started again, “wha-at are–”

But the words escaped her as he stood, bringing his hand up under her shorts and sliding it against her already wet folds.

She moaned her approval
and grabbed both his biceps, which she noticed through the black sleeves of his button up were very sculpted.

“Hermione,” he uttered. Lifting her chin with his other hand and bringing his face to hers. “Do you want me to make you forget all about that Howler for now?”

“Mmhmm,” she mumbled, closing her eyes as he continued to stroke through her slit.

“Look at me, Hermione,” his other hand still held her chin in place.

She opened her eyes to see the molten silver of his boring into her as he inserted two fingers into her passage. She gripped his arms tighter for balance but didn’t look away from him.

“I'm going to make you come, love, and I want you to scream my name when you do.” He breathed while twisting his finger in and out of her.

“I want you to remember what a dirty little slut you are for me, Hermione, remember that your drunk of a husband is probably passed out at home, and you’re in the middle of my classroom, getting fucked by my fingers.” His voice husky with desire. He increased the pace, all the while still staring at the depths of her amber eyes barely an inch from her face.

“And then Hermione, darling, I’m going to bend you over my desk, and fuck you until I can’t stand to look at you anymore.”

“That’s what you want isn’t it, for me to use you, for me to make you feel like a whore.” He was curling his fingers against the front of her walls.

“No,” she moaned and tried to shake her head but he was still holding it in place.

“Then why are you so close to coming on my hand, Hermione?” He added a third finger, his pace almost relentless, her body sagging against his.

“Come for me, Hermione, come for me my dirty little whore.” He finally closed the last inch between their faces and kissed her, biting at her bottom lip, her gasps giving his tongue entrance as he fought for control with hers. He broke the kiss apart right as she started to climax and she screamed his name just as he’d told her to.

“Draco! Draco, oh Draco!” He continued to move his fingers in and out until her orgasm subsided.

He was just getting ready to bend her over and have his fill of her when a knock came at the door and it began to open slowly.

Hermione, slightly dazed but still with her wits about her, let go of Malfoy and wrapped her robes as tightly around her as she could. Which honestly didn’t look suspicious at all.

“Ah, Ophelia, what can I do for you? Shouldn’t you be packing to head home soon, you finished your last test yesterday.”

“Sorry Professor Malfoy, I didn’t realize you’d have company. I was just coming to see if there was anything I could help with, cataloging ingredients for you to pack or even cleaning.” She said enthusiastically.

“Ophelia, term is pretty much over, I don’t think there are any extra grades or points to be earned, but I do appreciate the sentiment and I look forward to teaching you again for your N.E.W.T classes next fall.”

“Oh alright, Professor,” she said crestfallen.

“Actually,” Hermione spoke up, “I’ve had a late start today and could use the help, if you don’t mind, Ophelia, could you meet me in my classroom in half an hour?”

“Yes of course Professor Granger,” she said studiously.

As Ophelia turned around to leave, Malfoy whispered, “that’s hardly enough time for me to grow sick of” but he was cut off by Hermione’s sharp elbow as the door shut.

“She likes you.”

“She’s a swot and a child”

“She has a crush,” Hermione sighed.

“I think I should go, I need to get dressed and start packing” she added as she hurried to the door.

“Hermione!” Malfoy called out, almost reaching for her, but it was too late.

Hermione returned to her rooms, properly dressed, then headed to the History of Magic classroom, where Ophelia was already waiting.

After an hour or so of quiet packing and cleaning, Hermione awarded Ophelia 20 points for Gryffindor. Since the house cup wouldn’t be announced til tomorrow night at the last dinner, she figured a few extra points wouldn’t hurt.

That afternoon at the DMLE, Ron received another howler. Luckily, he was able to pull it with him to a conference room and put up a silencing charm before it went off.

You should catch them together and kill them both

Once again it tore itself into nothingness after it finished.

Stunned, he asked for the rest of the day off and went to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink. He didn’t know what the howler was talking about. Sure, he and Hermione’s marriage was on the rocks, and sure he was currently having lots of sex with Lavender Brown, and maybe he had also had sex with a few other witches, but they would work it out. They were 2/3rds of the Golden Trio, they could never not be together. He was positive she wouldn’t leave him, he thought, just as an owl dropped off a letter, stating that Hermione’s wand had been purged of any and all marriage related bonding magics and that he should stop by the curse breaker’s department at his earliest convenience to have the same done to his wand.

Furious, he flooed directly to Hermione’s rooms at Hogwarts and waited for her.

When Hermione did finally return to her rooms after lunch she was astonished to find Ron sitting at the edge of her still unmade bed from her early departure that morning.

“Ronald, what are you doing here?”

“How could you Mione, how could you start the bonding removal process like that?” He cried out. “You didn’t even talk to me.”

“I thought it was pretty clear Ron, when you fucked Lavender right in this castle with me just down the hall, that there would be no more talking.”

“You never cared before that I slept with other witches.”

Taken aback, Hermione was at a loss for words.

“What’s different this time, Mione, are you sleeping with someone else?”

Furiously she shouted at him, “I DIDN'T KNOW YOU SLEPT WITH OTHER WITCHES, RONALD! AND NOT THAT IT IS ANY OF YOUR CONCERN NOW, BUT NO! I AM NOT SLEEPING WITH ANYONE. THIS MARRIAGE IS CLEARLY OVER AND I NEED YOU TO LEAVE.”

“BLIMEY, YOU’RE A BRATTY LITTLE KNOW IT ALL, THINK YOU’RE SO SMART, YOU’RE NOTHING WITHOUT ME MIONE. GOOD LUCK FINDING SOMEWHERE TO LIVE, THE COTTAGE IS IN MY NAME!”

Just then a loud knock came at the door,

“Granger, everything all right in there? We can hear shouting from the hall.”

“Everything’s fine Professor Malfoy, you can go.”

“Professor… since when do you call me… I’m coming in.”

“OH FUCK OFF YOU FERRET, SHE SAID SHE’S FINE!” Ron continued to shout.

“Oh it’s only you, Weasel, I thought Hermione was being attacked by a bewitched teaspoon.”

“Please, both of you stop.” Hermione put her hands out, like that would stop either of them from advancing on each other.“I’m fine, and I’d like to be left alone,” she said but she was looking straight at Ron, imploring him to leave.

“Fine, I’m gone. Have fun with her, Malfoy, she's lousy in bed anyways.” And with that Ron was up and out the floo, straight to the DMLE’s Curse Breaker department. He had the bonding magic removed and celebrated by taking a random witch with curly brown hair home and fucking her hard than he’d ever fucked a witch before.

Malfoy rushed to Hermione’s side as she slowly set herself on the edge of the bed in the spot Ron had just occupied and put her face in her hands.

“Are you ok, Hermione? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” He was flexing his fist by his sides.

“Physically, no, but” she sobbed, “how did I ever love him.” it was more a statement than a question.

She stood abruptly, pacing and rattling off all the things she needed to do to herself as if Malfoy wasn’t still standing there. “I need to floo Harry, see if I can stay with him and Theo during the summer, and oh there’s so much I have to pack back at the cottage, and I’ll need to contact my solicitor again.”

“Granger, earth to Granger.”

“Oh! Sorry.” She said as she stopped pacing and stood in front of him.

He wrapped her in a hug and kissed the top of her hair. “Your hair really is a menace Granger, I think it’s trying to smother me as we stand here.”

She made a sort of half sob, half snort at his comment.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Malfoy.”

“Look,” he said, bringing his hands up in a placating gesture, “I’m a deft hand at packing spells, and I don’t mind levitating heavy things here and there. Let me come with you this weekend to help, so you don’t have to be there alone.”

“If Ron is there, he’ll lose it, plus I’m sure Theo and Harry will help.”

“I think they’re out of town this weekend for their anniversary, I remember Theo mentioning something about Harry taking him to Romania to stay in Charlie Weasley’s cabin. If I’m not mistaken.”

“Maybe I’ll ask Neville.” She said defiantly, not ready to relent to his offer.

“His girlfriend is coming up to help him write some articles on his plants for a flora and fauna journal he’s starting. Face it Granger, I’m all you’ve got.” He said, smirking.

“Fine,” she huffed. “Be here Saturday afternoon. Ron usually works Saturdays and goes out drinking after, we should be able to get it all done before he stumbles back home.” She finished, practically pushing him out the door.

She flooed Harry, asking if it’d be alright to stay with them for the summer and relayed the terrible visit she’d just had with Ron. She also verified he would definitely be out of town that weekend, just in case.

She still wasn’t sure how to process what had happened earlier that morning with Malfoy, she’d just stood there trembling while he touched her, and merely hummed her consent. But the way he’d spoken to her, the names he’d called her and how he said he was going to use her, it still made her shiver. She was going to let him bend her over his desk and have his way with her, had it not been for the precocious 6th year that had walked in on them. She was getting wet now just thinking about how his gray eyes darkened as he watched her while she came.

Shaking the not altogether unwanted thoughts from her head, she set out to make a list for the things she’d need to do in the following days to prepare for her move.

Saturday afternoon rolled around quicker than Hermione had truly wanted. While she was ready for things to be over with Ron, she couldn’t quell the anxiousness of the day.

Malfoy was late, though she suspected that the sound she’d heard five minutes prior to him bursting in was his footsteps pacing in front of her door.

“You ready, Granger? Time’s a wastin’,” he snapped his fingers airily.

Rolling her eyes, she grabbed his hand and headed towards her floo. “The cottage,” she stated clearly as she pulled Malfoy through with her.

They stepped out of the fireplace in the living room of her and Ron’s Godric’s Hollow cottage, and dusted off their clothes. Hermione had worn an off white summer dress with a floral pattern and a square neckline. It was modest but also light and airy. Perfect to keep her cool while packing, her hair was messily pulled up on top of her head. Malfoy however, donned black trousers and a black lightweight v-neck sweater with dragonhide boots.

“Cooling charms.” He’d smirked, knowing what Hermione was thinking as she appraised him up and down while lifting one eyebrow.

“Stay here while I check that Ron isn’t home.”

“Yes, sir!” Malfoy mocked, playfully.

When Hermione returned, she beckoned him to follow her back and to the right. They stepped through an archway made with thick dark wooden beams and into an exceptionally cozy library.

“Of course we’re starting in your library.” Malfoy piqued curtly to himself.

“Hmm?” Hermione hummed, as she started waving her wand and pointing at individual books. She brought her wand across each self and down to the floor. The majority of the books on the shelf pulled straight out at the same time and neatly stacked themselves into piles at Hermione’s feet. She then pointed her vine wand at the books again and said softly “Reducio” as she made a sideways V shape.

“The books all along that wall are mine, Malfoy. You can start there.”

He turned and followed suit, gathering the books into piles and reducing their size, until the whole wall on the far side of the room was emptied of books.

Draco turned towards Hermione looking for his next instructions and noticed that she had her back leaning up against the shelves, reading what looked to be a very used copy of

Hogwarts: A History.

She looked up, noticing Malfoy stalking towards her.

Closing the book, she held it up by the spine and waved it at him. “My first copy, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read it. It’s almost completely fallen apart.”

Malfoy took his thumb and wiped a stray tear from Hermione's cheek, then kissed the spot it had just been.

“It’s ok, love.”

She wanted to turn away, but he was holding her head in place as he brought his lips to hers.

She put her hand on his chest. In her mind this was to push him away but instead she found herself twisting her hand into the fabric of his shirt and pulling his body flush against hers as she deepened their kiss. She could feel his hard member right at her core and she moaned into his mouth.

Malfoy ran his right hand down across her neck and into the top of her dress. The cold silver of his signet ring gave her a chill as it passed over her skin. Pulling down the thin fabric, he revealed one of her bare firm breasts. He massaged it roughly, his nimble fingers pinching her stiff peaks, as they continued kissing. His left hand rose up to tangle in her messy hair, allowing him to pull her head back furthermore dominating her body, and his control of it. He pinned her there, and moved his knee between her legs, spreading them slightly as she began to lift the hem of her dress.

Unbeknownst to them, Ron had left work early and decided to come home for a shower. As he walked through the fireplace and into his living room, he heard a moan. At first he just shook it off but as he made his way down the hall towards the shower he heard it again. He peaked around the corner, and that’s when he saw it. Hermione was pushed up against the bookshelves, by what was clearly a ferret. Ron couldn’t help but watch as Malfoy pulled her breast out and Hermione arched into him. He was getting ready to stomp into the room and pull him off of her, but as she writhed beneath him, moaning and spreading her legs, Ron felt nothing but disgust and self pity.

How could she want that filthy death eater?

He fumed as he disapparated out of the cottage and straight to Diagon Alley.

“What was that?” Malfoy questioned, pulling away from her slowly.

“I don’t know, it might've been my cat Crookshanks. I’ll need to grab him too, we should really get back to packing, I’d like to get to Harry and Theo’s soon. Pansy and Ginny said they’d stop by. She pulled the top back up and looked back to the pile of books beside her.

Frustratedly, Draco agreed and they finished in a couple of hours, shoving her shrunken items and her cat through the floo to number 12 Grimmauld Place. Hermione went through after Draco had disapparated, and was greeted, to Hermione’s joy, by Ginny’s outstretched arms.

Pansy however barked at her immediately to “remove that hideous dress and come give her a proper kiss.”

Hermione noted that Ginny and Pansy were both in some state of undress or another and quite disheveled.

“But I thought it was quite an adorable ensemble, and it’s the perfect material to keep cool in,” she said factually. “Plus Malfoy didn’t seem to mind,” she added cheekily.

“Excuse me, what?” Both witches gawked at her, opened mouth.

“I want every detail right now Hermione Jean Granger!” Ginny demanded.

“Yes dear, do tell.” Agreed Pansy.

The witches had a light supper with what little they could find in the kitchens of Grimmauld place, not bothering to call on Kreacher, and gossiped about Draco. Hermione told them all about what had been happening between her and Ron. Ginny was furious with her brother and vowed to give him a bat bogey hex or three after her summer training was done.

“Speaking of training,” Ginny said, pushing herself up from the table, “I've got an early start tomorrow and I’m supposed to be in Ireland already. I better head out.” She kissed Hermione on the cheeks then gave Pansy a sultry look and slid her mouth over the others.

It was incredibly sexy,

Hermione thought.

After Ginny disapparated out, Pansy came over to Hermione, gave her a hug, then clasped both hands on her shoulders. “Be careful with Draco, love.” She winked. “Well I’m off to slay the beast, and by that I mean, I’m going to go home and shag Percy until he passes out so I don’t have to hear him drone on about ministry policies for cauldron thickness, ta-ta.” She gave a little wave as she sauntered toward the fireplace.

By then Hermione was bone tired, she scooped up Crookshanks off the green chaise and headed towards one of the guest rooms. Hopefully not the one that Ginny and Pansy had obviously been fooling around in.

Meanwhile back in Diagon, Ron had decided to head to a pub in Knockturn Alley. Diony’s was a small but discreet pub, no one was going to run off to Skeeter and let her know one of the Golden Trio was there, no one was going to tap him on the shoulder and ask for an autograph. Usually Ron didn’t mind the fanfare, he enjoyed it even, but tonight he just wanted to drink until he forgot his sorrows.

He was ordering his fourth glass of whisky, the bartender handing over the rest of the almost empty bottle, not even bothering to pour it in his glass, when Ron noticed the pretty blond witch eyeing him from the booth in the corner. He picked up his bottle and headed over to her. She scooted over allowing him room to sit at the edge, her skirt wedging up her leg a little higher as she did. Ron, already pretty drunk and not having a refined bone in his body, slapped his hand down on her bare leg and began rubbing it.

“Hey don’t I know you?” He slurred.

“I don’t think so,” said the pretty blonde witch, trying not to sneer in disgust.

“Yeah I do, yeah I do, you used to trail after-“. She kissed him to shut him up, “but you’re blonde, I like blondes.” He continued to slur and rub his hand up under her skirt.

She snarled at his audacity, but then checked herself.

This is part of the plan, play it cool.

Ron was completely oblivious and utterly uncouth as he tried to finger her through her lace panties.

“Would you like to go somewhere,” the mysterious witch sked, nibbling at his neck and trying not to squeeze her legs closed at his incessant prodding.

“Yeah, though my bloody soon to be ex and her ferret boyfriend are at mine, so it’ll have to be you, at yous, at yours.” He hiccuped.

“I thought maybe we could go for a walk, it’s a full moon and there’s a lovely little park just down Memorial Alley.” She clenched out through gritted teeth.

“Kinky.” Ron hiccuped again, and she tried not to roll her eyes.

“After you.” She gestured for him to exit the booth.

“Alright, are you sure, because I can keep going right here.” He said sliding under the lace.

“Yes,” she exclaimed as another uncontrollable growl rippled through her, “I know the perfect place to continue this.” She tried to add a bit more sweetly, taking one of her manicured hands and rubbing his cock over his pants.

“Ok let’s go, sweety.”

They exited the back of the pub, coming out in an even smaller alley way and winding between some of the shops on Diagon, before making their way to Memorial Alley. They walked all the way down til they got to the small circle park containing the monument with names of the fallen witches and wizards from the war.

The stunning blonde pushed Ron up against the monument.

She’s surprisingly strong

, he thought, but it wasn’t a turn off. He brought his hands up to grope her breast at the same time she brought her wand to his throat.

Just when Ron thought he couldn’t be anymore shocked by the turn of events, his mystery date yelped out in pain as her body began to change.

“Heeey,” whined Ron, still slurring his words, “Werewolves can’t have wands.”

Realizing what he’d just said, Ron jumped to the side and scrambled around the monument, trying to aim his wand steadily enough to shoot off an Avada at the now fully transformed sorceress. Unfortunately for him, she came up behind him, pitifully causing him to trip, shooting the spell up into the sky and knocking his head straight into the stone memorial. Blood was trickling out of his ears. The Werewolf sniffed at him but the overwhelming stench of alcohol permeating his blood had her reeling backwards and running off.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The news of Ron’s death spread like fiendfyre.The headline in the Daily prophet read Tragic Accident or Ominous Murder?
The DMLE had ruled it as an accident. “He had copious amounts of alcohol and potions in his system,” reported Rita Skeeter. “Unable to deal with the aftermath of the loss of his friends in any other way than drowning his sorrows with liquor, he fell unsteadily to his knees and hit his head on the memorial for our lost. What’s curious to me,” the article went on, “is that the DMLE hasn’t released that there was one spell fired the night of Ron Weasley’s death. Care to take a guess what that spell was, my dear readers? It was an Avada!”

Hermione thought she might be sick at the news, but she kept reading, her eyes bristling with tears.
“My guess as to why Ron was so drunk? He clearly found proof that his wife was cheating on him with a former Death Eater. Just like she cheated on Harry Potter while at Hogwarts, once a cheater always a cheater,” remarked Rita. “Was it Miss Granger’s Death Eater beau that our cherished Mr. Weasley was trying to cast that last spell at? Of course this is all speculation.”

Hermione balled the filthy gossip rag up and tossed it into the fireplace, in front of the green chaise, in Harry and Theo’s living room. The fire immediately illuminated with bright green flames.
As if the Prophet could grow legs, a figure stepped out from the fire.
“I hoped, I’d find you here, though the image of you lounged on a chaise that came straight from my ancestral home, is doing more for me than I care to admit.”
“Shove off, Draco. Now is not the time.” But she wriggled in anticipation at the thought of him being aroused by her, and stretched out infinitesimally, so he wouldn’t notice the movement but would surely be able to appreciate her figure a bit more.
“So I take it you’ve seen the Prophet?” He asked, coming to sit beside her on the chaise, and rubbing his hand along the side of her stomach, up to her ribs, but not quite to her breasts.

“Yes and I, we, I -”

“Let’s get out of here!”

“And go where? Rita practically blamed us for Ron’s death, if we go out in public the wizarding community will surely condemn us whether the Ministry does or not.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of a private vineyard in Italy.”
Shocked, Hermione sat there speechless.
“I didn’t know you had property in Italy. Will your parents mind my being there?” She asked nervously.
“Granger, I can assure you my mother would be most pleased to have me associated with someone other than the band of merry Slytherins that I used to keep up with, and as for Lucius,” He snarled the name out as an insult, not unlike the ones he used to direct at her, “He doesn’t have much say in what I do from his cell in Azkaban. But no, actually the vineyard belongs to Blaise Zabini, who is currently in the Maldives with Luna; I doubt he’d mind us dropping by for a short stay.”

Draco leaned down and kissed her softly. She returned the kiss with fervor. They were just deepening the kiss when they heard the green flames come to life again.

“And here I thought we’d finally get to play with you ourselves, Hermione.” Theo intoned. “But it seems the Prophet was correct, and you’ve gone and shacked up with Drakey here.” Wiggling his eyebrows as he strolled from the fire. Harry was close on his heels, followed in short by Charlie Weasley.

Draco got up from the sofa and backed away slowly.

“It’s not exactly like that.”

“Sure sure.” Harry mockingly agreed.

Charlie, on the other hand, was not amused.

“Hermione, I think you should come with Harry and me to the Burrow. Mum and Dad will need us to help with the funeral.”

“Charlie,” she stood, wrapping herself as best as she could around his large frame.
“I’m so sorry.” She was definitely upset, but she couldn’t quite cry.
“I don’t think it’d be the best idea for me to join you.”
“Nonsense, you are his wife.”
She took a step back. “Actually,” she was about to launch into the story of him cheating and the subsequent unbinding, but three more people rushed out of the flu. Two of them engulfed her in a hug and placed kisses to the top of her head.

“Hermione, darling, awful news, just dreadful, how are you holding up?” Pansy spoke in her aristocratic lilt.
“I’m, it’s, I’m not sure.” She responded.
“What is Draco Malfoy doing here?” Percy, who was standing furthest away from everyone, asked to his chagrin. “Are the rumors true then?” He continued before anyone else had the chance to speak. “You’ve been cheating on Ron with this Death Eater scum?”
Five out of the eight people there responded with an indignant “HEY!”
“How dare you Percy, you know he’s my oldest friend!” Barked Pansy at the same time that Theo and Harry stated, “That was uncalled for mate.”
Ginny kicked him in the shins and shook her head, while Hermione added softly, “He was just a child then, that’s not fair of you, he’s changed.”
Draco had kept quiet, used to the rhetoric and still ashamed of his past, but a slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth with Hermione’s words.
Charlie just stood there, arms crossed, next to Percy.

The volatile tension in the room was becoming suffocating.
“The rumors are not true, well that is to say, they are not entirely correct. I did not cheat on Ronald. He incidentally would not be able to say the same.” Hermione spoke up. “I caught him with Lavender, though I suspect she wasn’t the first.” At this Harry shook his head in an answering no, she was not.
“I told him I wanted a divorce before there was anything between Draco and myself.”

“You don’t have to defend me, Hermione.”
“I’m not.” She held up a hand to stop him from speaking further and before anyone could form a retort she added, “And as of Friday evening our bond has been dissolved. I will however help in any way I can with the funeral, just maybe not from the Burrow.”
“Mione,” Charlie was about to apologize but Percy simply looked at his nails in indifference, a trait most likely learned from Pansy.
Ginny, who was still hugging Hermione, spoke instead. “It will be fine, you’re still family no matter what that bugger of a brother, Ron did. May he rest in peace. Mum will want you there, I want you there! Please come, we desperately need your organizational skills, Mione.”
Defeated, Hermione agreed. She air kissed Pansy and Theo’s cheeks while saying whispered thanks and goodbyes. Then she went to find Draco who had wandered off to the kitchen.

“There you are.” She said to his back. He had been staring at a photo of her, Harry, Ron, and the late Sirius Black. He didn’t speak.
“Draco,” she started nervously, reaching out to him.

He turned but remained slightly and his eyes vacant like stones.

“Are you alright? I’m sorry about Percy and Charlie.”
“Don’t, Granger.” He said flatly.
“Draco, I don’t understand.”
“They were right, I'm a Death Eater, I’m scum.”
“Stop that. Don’t say that. They’re just upset about their brother. Not that it’s an excuse.”
“Granger, you should go with them.”
“Yes, I know. I mean I am going to, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go to Italy with you.”
“We can discuss it later.”
“Can I owl you, after the funeral?”
He didn’t respond, he just drew her closer. Hand on her hips, she tilted her head to look up at him, desperately wanting to kiss him. His eyes softened slightly, giving her enough resolve to reach up on tipped toes and kiss his jaw lightly. He kissed her temple in return.

“Does your hair try to suffocate everyone, or just me?” Draco said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Just you.” She answered smiling.
“For Slytherin’s sake, you’re going to be the death of me.” And he kissed her, sliding his hand into her hair.

“Hey Mione, we’re all heading out now, oh sorry…” Harry coughed out, while backing away from the kitchen door. They heard him shout from the next room, “she’ll follow us over in a minute guys, let’s go.”
Thinking the coast was clear after she said her final goodbye to Draco, she headed to the living room floo. Except Theo and Pansy were waiting for her.
“I want all the details, love, don’t leave a thing out!” Exclaimed Pansy.
“How big is he? And do you think he’d be up for a third, or fourth, or hell, how many of us are there that want a piece of you?” Theo chortled while trying to count people to add to their orgy on his fingers.
“Pansy, you have all the details, nothing else has happened, and Theo, as tempting as the offer is, I’m a one at a time kind of gal. Sorry.” Hermione tried putting them both down as softly as she could.
As Hermione stepped into the floo to meet the others at the Burrow, she caught a glimpse of Theo wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
“Guess it’s just you and me tonight, doll.” Theo said, squeezing her tightly.
Hermione arrived at the Weasley’s a few moments later. Most would have thought a chaotic tornado had blown through the house, but she knew this was just how things were at the Burrow.
Hermione assessed the scene to see where she was most needed. George and Angelina were sitting with Arthur, each of his hands in one of theirs. Harry patted Molly on the back while she cried in Ginny’s arms. Percy and Charlie were going through a stack of documents that were likely Ron’s will, financials, and other legal documents. Lastly Bill was standing in the corner swaying with baby Victoire in his arms, while Fleur walked around sobbing. Hermione knew she’d be better suited to help with the paperwork, but after the iciness from Percy she decided to help Bill and Fleur instead.
“Hi Bill,” Hermione said, placing a gentle hand to the side on his arm, “Why don’t you let me take her so you can console Fleur.”

“Thanks Mione, you don’t mind?” He asked, but he was already depositing the baby to her open arms.
“Shhh, go I’ve got her.” She whispered, not wanting to muss the baby further.

She continued the sway Bill had been doing til she made her way to the old rocker Molly had used with all her children. She sat and rocked with Victoire snuggled in the crook of her arm and there she finally let a tear fall down her cheek.

The funeral was planned to perfection. It was going to be even more magnificent than their wedding had been. The small affair had been beautiful, there’s no saying it wasn’t. Hermione had worn a beautiful ivory chiffon dress adorned with tulle roses. Her bouquet was made of white Lilies to honor Harry’s mother. Even the backyard of the Burrow was enchanted with floating gold stars and puffs of mesmerizing clouds. All that considered Ron’s wake was that much grander. Triple the decor, triple the attendance, and triple the emotions. Especially for Hermione, who didn’t quite know what to feel yet.

After dinner that night, Pansy had arrived offering to do the floral arrangements. Nothing Pansy did was anything less than extravagant. To Pansy’s delight, Molly suggested that she sleep in Ginny’s old room with her. What with the added company of Harry and Hermione, as well as George and Angelina sharing the twins' old room, and Bill and Fleur in Ron’s. This left Charlie to share with Percy, and Molly did not think it appropriate for Pansy to be in a room with two other men. Hermione being the bright witch that she was, knew there were more logical sleeping arrangements, but kept her mouth shut. Her friends, knowing her well, turned and mouthed a silent “thank you” to her.

Later in the evening, once everyone had retreated to their assigned rooms, Theo flooed in and joined Harry on the much too small and worn down couch. Hermione to her dismay had to cast a Muffliato on them from where she lay in the muggle recliner she had gifted Arthur a couple Christmas’ ago, so that she could get some sleep.

It felt like the whole of wizarding London was in attendance at the funeral. Neville even brought his muggle girlfriend, Lana. Ron was given a true Hero’s goodbye. Kingsley even presented Ron’s parents with a plaque honoring him for his service in the war and as an Auror. Harry gave a heartfelt speech, detailing their friendship. Starting with the first day they met on the train and ending with them becoming Aurors together, he left out the drinking, and philandering that followed.

Molly held the reception out back at the Burrow and served all of Ron’s favorites: bacon, ham sandwiches, fried chicken, and of course chocolate frogs.
As the repast finally wound down, a much tighter group of friends, composed of Harry, Theo, Ginny, Luna, Blaise, Pansy, Neville, Lana, and Hermione, settled in for some heavier drinking. Hermione couldn’t help thinking that she wished Draco was there as well.

The friends talked for hours, almost until dawn. Reminiscing on their school days. Blaise jokingly sang ‘Weasley Is Our King’, and Theo, Harry, and Luna might have joined in for a verse or two. Blaise quickly apologized but the lot of them broke into tears of laughter. Neville brought up the time when they broke into the Department of Mysteries and Ron got attacked by the brains, Lana stared at him perplexed.

“I’ll explain later.” He whispered to her.
Luna and Harry chatted animatedly about practicing with Ron in the DA, Blaise and Pansy just snorted.
Blaise and Luna were the first to leave.
“Alright mates we’ve got a portkey to catch, back to the Maldives! Catch up soon though!” Said Blaise, one hand interwoven with Luna’s, the other giving a peace sign.

“I’ve said this to Harry before, but I think it means more now. The things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end. Good night everyone, be sure to look out for Nargles, they’re most sneaky at this hour.” Luna chimed and then they were off.

“We’ve got to be off too, Lana’s interviewing some kids that play… what did you call it?” He asked, looking at Lana.
“Oh, I’d say it’s baroque pop.” She clarified.

“Yeah whatever that is, but it’s out in Sheffield, and unfortunately, we’ll have to take muggle transport there.” He said lowly, holding one hand up between him and Lana to hide the fact that he was pointing at her with the other.

Pansy was still staying over, so she and Ginny headed for the house arm in arm. Leaving Theo, Harry, and Hermione to clean up the bottles and blankets they had taken around to the side of the yard.

“Go on, Mione, we’ve got this.” Harry said, placing a short and sweet kiss to her temple.
“I don’t mind, Harry.” She said with a yawn.
“Go!” Theo ordered, turning her towards to door and giving her a swift pat on her backside.

She gave no further argument, and headed inside.

Once in, she saw a cup of still steaming tea and a note from Ginny.

Get some sleep love, this is camomile!

~Gin
Hermione also noticed two other things on the table.
The first was Ron’s last will and testament. Hermione scanned the first few pages, noting that he had left the cottage to her, and deciding to fully examine its contents in the morning. The second was a wide awake Pigwidgeon, wide eyed and turning its head every which way, studying her. She scratched his head and grabbed some treats from the little canister on the counter. In her inebriated state, she had an idea.

Quickly she wrote out a note to Draco.

Let’s go to Italy!

HJG

She attached the small script to Pigwidgeon, gave him a soft pat and headed to the recliner to sleep.

She woke a short time later to scratching at the window. To Hermione’s Surprise it was not Pigwidgeon but an enormous Eagle Owl.

Are you trying to kill this tiny bird? It keeled over as soon as it came in through the window. I have sent Judas in his place, while he recovers.

Let’s talk about Italy once you’ve had time to grieve.

DM

Suddenly Hermione felt wide awake. With vigor and butterflies in her stomach she responded.
He has seen better days, though he’s always been small. How can I ever repay your kindness to him?
As for my grief, I will deal with that on my own time!But does this mean you no longer wish to take me to Italy?

HJG

Hermione made sure to give Judas a few extra treats and scratched behind his ears before tying the note to him.

She could not go back to sleep, so she simply waited to see if she would receive a reply. Seemingly out of nowhere, she heard a faint buzzing noise. she rose from the chair, searching for the sound. She stopped by the coat rack waiting to hear it again. After a moment the buzz happened once more and Hermione also noticed a light coming from her beaded bag. She stuck her hand in as far as it could go, rummaged around for a moment and pulled out her cellphone. Flipping it open she saw a text from an unknown number.
Didn’t want you to wear out my bird either. You’re a bloody menace, must be the unreleased magic pulsing through that bushy hair!
Yes, by the way, I will still take you to Italy. When do you want to go?

-DM
Since when do you use muggle technology?

Since Neville bloody Longbottom showed me how useful these things can be!

-DM
Take me now!
Get some sleep, Granger.

-DM

Hermione closed her phone, and fell asleep with a smile.

Across town in the muggle part of Wiltshire, Neville arrived at Lana’s with a crack.
“Oh my Theo! You scared me Nev.”
“Not you too, Lana, it’s bad enough that the other girls refer to Theodore as their ‘lord and savior’.”
“Sorry, it’s kind of catchy.” Lana said. She placed both hands on his chest and gave him a placating kiss on the cheek. “You ready? The car’s just out front, and I don’t want to be late.”
The drive from Whiltshire to Sheffield was long but Neville enjoyed watching Lana sing along to the muggle music playing from the radio while she drove.
Once they reached the coffee shop they were meeting the young up and coming group, Neville made sure to open Lana’s car door and pull open the brolly as she stepped out into the rain. Neville also fetched everyone’s tea order. He loved to watch Lana in her element. She was radiant as she asked the members what their greatest strengths as a band were and inquired about their inspirations. After the last couple of questions where the band listed some festivals they wanted to play and finally what to expect from their first album, they said they’re goodbyes and headed back to Lana’s car.

“Good group of boys, I think, but what a silly name… Cold Marsupials or whatever.” Neville said, shaking his head and rubbing his hand through his hair. Lana just laughed.

She opened the back door to put her laptop bag in and the recorder. Bent over to set the items in the seat, she felt Neville press up behind her.

“Is that the brolly or are you just happy to see me?” She said coyly.
“You know I’m crazy about you, right?” He responded, bringing his hands to her hips and grinding further into her. She pushed back meeting him with a small whimper.

“Get in the back, love, unless you want me to shag you right here in the car park.”

She did as he said and he followed right behind her.
Neville made himself comfortable and placed Lana over his lap to straddle him. He pushed her skirt up and ran his thumbs along the insides of her thighs, just brushing along the edges of her red lace thong. With his second pass he swiped his thick fingers over her entrance through her underwear. Counting to stroke her with one hand he used the other to circle her delicate bud.
“Oh Nev, don’t stop, please. Please!”
“I love it when you beg.” He responded before kissing along her neck and continuing his heavy petting.
“More, please, I need more.”
Moving the thin strip of lace to the side, Neville entered her with one of his solid digits.
Lana gave into a resounding moan.

“You’re so wet for me baby.” He growled, pulling his finger out and then replacing it with two. He continued pumping his fingers in and out of her, her moans getting louder the whole while, until her orgasm broke free.
“I love the feel of you clenching around me, Lana.”

She moved her mouth to his, kissing him as her painted black fingernails tapped against his belt buckle. Her nimble fingers made quick work of releasing his sizable cock. Lifting slightly, she positioned herself over him and slid down his massive member.
“You’re stretching me so good Nev.”
“Fuck.”

They were both panting, Neville slipping his hands under her intentionally distressed Salem Sisters T-shirt he’d bought her on the first night they met to tweak her nipples. Lana had both hands wrapped behind his neck pulling at the tuft of hair there, her head thrown back.
She rode him until they were both sweating and screaming each other's name in ecstasy.

“Come for me love, I need to feel you come on my cock.” He growled in her ear and then bit down lightly on her lobe.

“Mmmm Neville, yess.” She purred as the waves of climax took her under. Neville followed right behind her, grabbing her ass and slamming her down onto him as he released deep inside her.

After they both caught their breath, Neville waved his hand over her stomach with a silent contraceptive charm.

“Oi, I love it when you do that.” She said, kissing him again before pulling herself off of him. She straightened her clothes out while he tucked himself back in his pants, then they got into the front seats to head back to her flat.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Draco stood at the fireplace in the piddling apartment he kept, to store his things and occasionally stay the night when he couldn’t be at Hogwarts or elsewhere. He hated the Manor, it was too tainted, and no matter how many renovations his mother commissioned, he could still smell the stench of death and dark magic. And moreover, no matter how much his mother tried to make the manor more homely for them, Narcissa rarely stayed there herself, opting to stay in their French chateau.He stood there clutching the mantle, debating on whether to send Hermione an owl, text her, or just go through the floo to Potter’s and see her in person.“She might not even be at Potter’s you dolt!” He chastised himself, slamming his palms down on the mantle and bowing his head in disdain.“Get a grip on yourself, Drake.” Draco heard from the figure that appeared in the mirror as he lifted his head again.“Theodore.” Draco greeted, pushing himself away from the fireplace and turning towards his visitor.“She’s in a state just the same mate. Pacing around every room, having that bloody tiny thing she calls an owl go to send you a note just to grab it away from him at the last minute and toss it in the rubbish. She’s picked up that mobile talking thing about a hundred times, but she just stares at it then puts it down and storms away from it. She’s gone mental. Harry finally took her out for some ice cream in Diagon.”“She just lost her husband, she’s not gone mental.”“Yeah the husband that cheated on her and she’d all but finalized the divorce from. It’s not him that’s got her all worked up.”“What’s that supposed to mean?”“Drake, my man, my main man.” Theo teased, while walking towards him to pat his shoulder playfully. Draco rolled his eyes. “She’s been waiting to hear from you about Italy. If I had to guess, she's already packed.”Raking his hands through his hair, he collapsed in the chair beside him, head hanging off one arm rest while his legs dangled almost touching the ground, over the other.“I know, I know. It’s just, I know I’m going to screw this up.” His hands now completely covering his face.“Whew, You’ve got it bad.”“She just deserves better, I haven’t even apologized to her yet, but I can’t stop myself when I’m around her, I lose it and wind up touching and kissing her.” He said pulling at his hair.“She’s driving you mad, making you crazy.” Theo hummed to himself. Slightly altering the lyrics of one of Harry and his favorite songs, remembering the time they’d found the stash of Harry’s dad's muggle albums. They were stowed in a box under the bed in one of the spare rooms. They chose an album with a Pegasus on the cover to listen to first while rifling through the rest of the items in the box.“Is this your dad and Sirius in the photo?” Theo had asked, holding the small framed picture towards Harry. “He’s hot!” He added with a cheeky grin.“Yeah and that’s Professor Lupin, on his other side.”“You look just like him, you know?”“Yeah I know.”“You’re hot too!”“Wow, what a way you have with words, Nott.” Harry stated sarcastically but his eyes said he was very receptive to the compliment.“Kiss me.” Theo commanded.“Fuck me.” Harry retorted.
“Theodore, earth to Nott, what the fuck are you doing?”Draco questioned, eyebrow raised while Theo tied a piece of parchment to Draco’s owl, Judas.Shaking off the memory of Harry and himself, he answered Draco with nonchalance, “oh just sending a little directive, nothing to bother that big brain of yours with. I’ll see you later, I’ve suddenly remembered I left the stove running…” he left with a cool wave of his hand and a soft crack.
Harry was juggling two triple cones of Fortescue’s ice cream to the lone table outside. One with a scoop each of chocolate, cherry, and wild berry lavender for Hermione, and one with a scoop each of pistachio, honey, and vanilla for Harry.“Oooh what is this purple flavor on top?! I can taste floral notes but also something tart, it’s delicious!” Hermione said, slightly moaning as she took another bite.Blushing slightly, he didn’t want to upset Hermione by bringing up the witch Ron had cheated on her with, Harry responded offhandedly, “oh berries and flowers, or something.” He only lied a little.“Thanks for getting me out of the house Harry, I really appreciate it. Between the Howlers, the divorce, Ron’s death, and whatever is happening between Malfoy and I, I don’t know how to process all these emotions.”Even though she was glad to be out with Harry having a treat on a beautiful summer day, with the rays of sunlight making the whole of Diagon Alley glow, she couldn’t escape the feeling of being watched. Probably just that awful Rita Skeeter, I’m sure she’ll print that I’m back in the arms of my former lover now that my estranged husband has passed, or some other complete nonsense, she thought to herself.“It’s alright Hermione, it’s what I’m here for. Plus if I let you walk around the house in those silky pjs much longer, I think Theo might try to jump your bones.”“What makes you think he hasn’t tried already?” She said with a smirk.“Because I know Theo likes to share and you are definitely something he’d share with me.”“Between you two and Pansy, you’re all incorrigible.”As they were finishing their last bites of ice cream, Hermione noticed a large owl that she recognized belonged to Draco.He dropped the letter in front of Hermione on the table, then landed on her shoulder and began to nuzzle in her hair.“Is that owl trying to make a nest from your hair?” Harry asked with a wide grin.“Ha ha!” She replied, stroking the bird’s feathers and letting him nip a couple pieces of her waffle cone.Judas flew off as Hermione reached to open the letter, obviously not expecting to wait around for a response.Meet me by floo at the address below with your suitcase ready for Italy as soon as possible.Yours,DMOr feel free to come home and join Harry and me for our nightly romp *wink wink*Theo1812 N Nautilus RdWizarding London
Hermione had no doubt that Theo had written the full note. Lord and savior to muggle girls everywhere and wizarding matchmaker, she thought, shaking her head. A small smile curling each side of her lips.“I have to go, Harry, do you mind?” She asked, reaching for his arm, to sidelong apparate.They apparated straight to the living room in Grimmauld Place, where Theo lay on his green chaise suspiciously asleep. Hermione swears she saw him wink at her as she ran up the stairs to the room she was currently staying in.Grabbing the trunk she’d packed already, she shrunk it down and added it to her beaded bag, then headed back downstairs to use the floo. Gripping the strap of her bag that lay across her body with white knuckles on one hand, she threw some powder in the fireplace and repeated the address from the note she received.
As she stepped through to Malfoy’s flat, she was greeted by the broody wizard. His hands were roughly pushing his hair back off his forehead.“I wasn’t sure if you would come?” He said on the exhale of a sigh.“Did you actually write the note? I had just assumed it was Theo.” She said shyly, wringing her hands together.“Oh it was Theo, but I had an inkling of what he was doing.” He said with a smirk. He was walking towards her now, almost stalking in manner.Placing his arms around her he said, “I’ve been a wreck, I- I don’t know where we stand Hermione, and after what happened with Weasley, I didn’t know how to approach things.”Hermione tilted her head and kissed along his jaw. “I want this Malfoy, I want you.” She continued kissing him in between each statement. “Let’s go away together, please.”“Are you begging, Hermione?” He asked, bringing his index finger under her chin. He bent to brush his lips against hers. “I have a portkey that can take us whenever you’re ready.” Moving his lips to her ear, he asked, “Or do you need to loosen up first?” Gently he bit down on her earlobe, at the end of his sentence, before laving his tongue over it and continuing down her neck. He bit and licked at the pulse point there, and then again at the junction where her neck met her shoulder. Pushing the collar of her white, short sleeve, button up aside, he moved down over the top of her breast and bit down one more time before Hermione took him by the hair on the back of his head and moved him up to kiss her. Once again she was pushed up against something with Malfoy pressed to her front. His knee between her muggle jean- clad thighs.“I want to get you off just like this Hermione.” He said, pressing his thigh up, pushing the inseams of her pants hard into her little bud. “You, riding my thigh.” He panted out. Bringing his thigh back and then moving it into her again, he kept whispering in her ear. “I want to see the heat bloom from your chest up your neck as the orgasm builds inside you.” His teeth barely scraping against her cheek as he moved to kiss her again before more whispers. “Hermione,” he growled, “I want to feel you holding your breath in anticipation of what I’m going to do next, feel you releasing it as I fill you with pleasure and add touches of pain.”Hermione's breathing was ragged, arms against the flagstones of Malfoy’s fireplace.“More, please.” She whined out between unsteady breaths.Malfoy chuckled and moved his hand to unbutton her shirt. He pulled the cups of her cotton bra down and popped his mouth over one of her soft and lissom breasts, sucking til her nipple pebbled on his tongue. Pressing his thigh up again, building the pressure against her clit, he bit down on her nipple and twisted the other between his thumb and forefinger.Hermione brought her hands to Draco’s chest, scrambled them down to pull his shirt out from his pants and tuck her hands under it, finding purchase against the scarred skin of his abdomen as her climax struck her.“Say my name, love” Draco softly requested. “Please.” He added, laying his forehead against hers.“Draco.” She whispered out on a silent scream. She brought her molten golden eyes to his steamed grays as he crashed his mouth back to hers, a wordless thank you.Draco showed her down the hall to the guest bath to let her freshen up, and poured them both a finger of Fire Whisky.When Hermione returned, Draco was sat in a caramel colored mid-century modern leather armchair, two glasses of amber libations sitting on the distressed wood table in front of him. An ostentatious marbled fountain pen lay between the two glasses. Hermione took the seat opposite Draco and nodded toward the pen.“That the portkey?” She asked“Yes.” He answered, stippling his fingers together, keeping both index fingers up and tapping them against his lips.“I want to make something very clear, Hermione.” He said leaning forward. “If we go, together, I can’t promise that I will keep my hands to myself. So if that’s something you don’t want-“She cut him off with a huff, “Draco, I already told you I want this.”“I know but I’m giving you your out, love, if this goes further, if we-“ he paused, racking his hands through his hair. “I just don’t want you to regret anything.”Hermione just nodded, reached across the table for his hand and then picked up the portkey.
Back in Godric’s Hollow, a young witch steps lightly through the overgrown brambles of what was left of the Potter's cottage. It still stood, now covered in Ivy, as it was the night Voldemort killed Harry’s parents, as a reminder to the wizarding world. She climbed delicately over the crumbling bricks into what used to be the kitchen. Smashed decorative plates depicting flowers and the names of each month scrolled across them still hung above the door. She made her way to the other side of the cottage and called up the stairs.“Cousin? Cousin? Are you here? I have the thing you asked for!” Getting no response, she left the pouch on a small circular table beside the foot of the stairs and crept back out the way she’d come in. Not wishing to be near the ramshackled cottage a moment longer than she had to be, she ran past the hedge and down the lane to apparate home, just missing the Aurors on patrol in the area.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Italy was ravishing; they arrived just in time to have a light super on the patio at sunset. The primo was Pappardelle topped with porcini mushrooms, artichoke, and oven cured tomatoes paired with the Zambini Chianti Classico.

Hermione was just about to compliment the meal when a pristinely dressed elf popped to existence next to her.

“Is Miss enjoying the meal?” The small creature asked.

“Um yes, actually it was the best meal I’ve had in a while, thank you.” Hermione responded, lifting her brow and angling her head toward Draco.

“Thanks, Clio,” Draco said politely, “that’ll be all.”

“But Clio has not asked Miss yet what she would like for dessert.”

“I’m sure whatever you bring will be delightful.” Responded Draco. Hermione was actually surprised at how civil Draco was being with the elf.

“I did not ask Mister Malfoy, Clio is asking the Miss!” She said haughtily, with a stomp of her little foot.

Hermione sat there dumbstruck staring at the elf, who was dressed in what very much looked to be a cashmere sweater worn as a dress and was openly back talking Draco Malfoy. She was quite literally astonished.

“Well Miss?” The elf, Clio, tapped her foot, hands on her hips, impatiently waiting for Hermione to give her dessert order.

“Oh, sorry, anything with Italian chocolate sounds divine. Thank you Clio.”

And with a pop the elf was gone and back again in a second carrying a platter with two slices of olive oil cake with chocolate figs on the side, as well as a bottle of the Zabini Moscato D’ Asti. Clio left again in a flash.

“This is my favorite wine.” Hermione beamed. She swirled it around and took an exploratory sip. “Mmm, orange blossom, honey, and notes of sage.” She described then took another sip.

Draco took a sip, smirking at the swotty witch beside him.

They finished their dessert and the bottle of wine. Hermione succumbing to fits of giggles as they made their way back into the villa. Draco walked Hermione up the stairs and to her room as she continued to snort and giggle. When they reached the door to her room, Hermione turned towards him, hand grappling his tie and wrapping it around her wrist.

“We’re not sharing a room?” She said with mock innocence.

“Hermione…” Draco groaned, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” He said to her gently, unwrapping her hand from his tie and opening the door behind her. Walking her into the room he showed her the shower and how it all worked as well as the other amenities in the room. Kissing her on the forehead, he walked toward the door. Turning he said “I’m just across the hall, and you can call for Clio if you need anything but she does like to be in bed by 9:30.”

Feeling only remotely slighted, the wine still having its giddying effect on her, she readied herself to take a shower.

Undressed and under the spray of the lavish ceiling mounted shower head, Hermione let her eyes close and her hand drift down her stomach.

“You’re going to be the death of me, Granger.” Came the deep sultry voice, from behind her. He had tried to stay away, tried to find a book to read in his room, but when he heard the water of the shower come on, he found himself stepping into the bathroom without remembering the walk over.

Hermione immediately removed her hand from where it was nestled between her thighs.

“Don’t you dare stop.” Draco groaned out.

“Why don’t you give me a hand then, Draco?” Hermione purred, pulling him into the shower, clothes and all.

His now wet black T-shirt and bottoms clung to him as he pushed Hermione up against the cold tiles. He turned her away from him and snakes his arm around her, and slid his hand down to her swollen apex. Hermione bent forward slightly and opened her legs a little wider to allow him better access.

“Good girl.” He whispered, nuzzling into her hair.

Feeling a bravado she hadn’t felt in quite some time, Hermione responded, “I think I like it better when you tell me how bad I’ve been.”

Draco grabbed her by the chin and turned her head into a crashing kiss as he entered her with two fingers.

“Is that what you like, love?” He asked as he broke their kiss, setting his fingers to a punishing pace.

“You like being bad? You want me to treat you like a whore? Like I own you, like I can use you and have you when and however I want?” He never let up with his ministrations and Hermione was keening by the time his inquisition stopped.

“Yes, Draco, yes!” She choked out as her orgasm washed over her along with the last of the hot water.

Draco removed his fingers from her soaked lips, turned the water off and stepped back to rest against the shower wall. “Is that why you want me, Hermione, because you have some fantasy of being with a Death Eater?” He asked with his head down.

“N-no.” She stuttered, feeling awfully vulnerable in her state of undress and Draco’s change in mood.

Stepping closer and grabbing onto his sodden shirt, she lifted his chin. Looking him directly in his eyes she spoke softly. “I want you because you’re intelligent and kind, and witty, and I can be myself with you. And as strange as this all is after our past and all, I- well I feel safe with you, safe enough to explore sexual desires I’ve never expressed to anyone else, safe enough to put my body and mind in your hands and allow you to enjoy it anyway you please.” She pressed herself into him, lifting herself on the tip of her toes and kissing him just as softly as she had spoken but it was enough to show the sincerity of her words. Draco opened his mouth to her, allowing her tongue to dip in and slide along his. Quickly Draco divested himself of his wet clothes, only stopping their kiss to lift the shirt over his head. They’re kissing became frantic, both fighting for control, finally Hermione broke away and gracefully knelt to her knees before him.

“Fuck” was all that came from Draco’s graveled tone, as Hermione skimmed her tongue up his hard shaft.

“You don’t have to do this, Granger.” But her lips were already around him and his fingers were weaving in her mass of wet curls, pulling her head closer. Her moan was all it took for the thin band of restraint Draco had left to snap; he began to fuck her mouth.

Hermione moaned every time he hit the back of her throat, the vibration of her pleasure urging him on.

Looking down at her face, her eyes watering as he grabbed her hair, was pushing him to his precipice.

“You beautiful fucking witch,” he said hoarsely, “I’m going to cum right down your throat.”

She stared up at him, as he made his release, swallowing every last drop.

He lifted her up and nipped kisses on her neck and jaw and then when he reached her lips, he pulled her bottom lip between his teeth until it released with a pop, “let me take you to bed.”

Stepping over the soaking wet pile of clothing on the floor they made their way back into the lush guest room.

The oversized bed was dressed in soft neutral velvets and sat against a light blue wall textured with gold foliage. The natural stoned floors were all but covered in plush rugs.

Draco guided Hermione past the wall of ornate Venetian style windows over to the bed and turned towards her to speak. Before he could get a word in she pushed at both of his shoulders, catching him off guard and causing him to fall back onto the bed. Not to be out done, he grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her on top of him and flipping them over in one swift motion.

“If I’m going to have my way with you, Granger, it surely will be on my terms.”

Squealing in surprise and delight Hermione wrapped her legs around him as he slid his hands up her arms and pinned her hands above her head.

“Don’t move, can you do that for me, love?”

She nodded.

“I need to hear you say it, Granger.”

“Yes, I’ll try.”

Smirking he made his way down her body, kissing and caressing her breast, her waist, and her hips. His tongue tracing the letters of his name over her swollen bud. She could feel the cold kiss of his signet ring burning through her as his tongue moved to enter her and his finger replaced it, circling her clit. His other hand came down on her pelvis, stopping her from lifting herself closer to his face.

“Uh uh, love.” He admonished

But she caught his devilish smirk right before he dived back in, his skilled tongue devouring her until she was soaked and screaming.

“Draco, please, I need you, please, I-I-, oh Gods, Draco!”

Stalking back up her body, like a predator, his chin still slick with her juices, made the tension coil in her again.

“What is it you need, Granger?” He coaxed her while licking and sucking at the pulse point in her neck. His throbbing cock pressing at her entrance.

“You Draco.”

“Me what, love? Say it.”

“I need you inside me, please, now!” She said, grabbing his face and licking his bottom lip. He shoved one hand through her curls gripping the back of her head and kissed her fiercely. With his other hand he positioned himself and entered her slowly at first, savoring the way she stretched around him. Her moans broke him out of his reverie and he entered the rest of the way into her in one hard thrust.

“You’re mine now, Hermione, this is mine now.” He said grabbing her hips and slamming into her over and over.

He could feel her walls fluttering around him and he flipped them, so she was on top. His fingers bruising her hips as he set the pace, lifting her and bringing their bodies back together again and again until Hermione threw her head back, enraptured in her ecstasy.

“It feels like I’m dying.” She moaned out, tears of pure bliss streamed down her face.

Draco flipped them a final time, his thrust errant until irrevocably his release found its way deep inside Hermione.

Her name, a whisper of his breath over her skin. Their languid bodies wrapped in each other as they basked in the afterglow. Sleep finally claimed them, well for a couple hours at least, before they repeated the night's activities a few more times.

Hermione and Draco found a comfortable routine while in Italy. They had their morning tea on the bedroom terrace, ate all their meals on the veranda, strolled through the vineyards at dusk, and made love in every room of the villa. While a fair amount of their love making was sensual, with Hermione's urging, Draco started opening up to her, and they were able

to explore the more erotic and depraved things that to Draco’s surprise they both thoroughly enjoyed.

By the end of their stay Hermione had been tied up, whipped and flogged, edged, and used in every way; she absolutely loved it.

They had spent almost a month in Italy, and as they landed back in Draco’s flat via their return portkey, Hermione felt more nauseous than normal. She didn’t mention this fact to Draco. She was tired and he knew she had a lot to do now that they were back in England. She needed to pack all her things at Grimmauld Place to return back to her cottage in Godric’s Hollow. She then would need to go through all of Ronald’s things and pack them away, honestly the thought of it was daunting. She kissed Draco goodbye and promised to text him later that night, before flooing to Harry’s. When she arrived, neither Harry nor Theo were home; she made herself a cup of peppermint tea to ease her nausea, then set herself to packing her things from the room she’d been occupying. Making quick work of things, she left a note for Harry and Theo, letting them know she’d gone back to her cottage, and then flooed home. She wanted to owl Ginny as soon as possible, but Pigwidgeon was now living the life of a retired bird at the burrow. She pulled out her old mobile and texted Draco.

I’m utterly exhausted and I miss you already

.

Hi love, I miss you dreadfully. Are you at Potter’s or the cottage?

-DM

I’m at the cottage.

Quick question, can I borrow Judas?

As you wish.

-DM

A short while later the large eagle owl was wrapping on the kitchen window of Hermione's cottage. She let him in, scratched the top of his head, gave him the last of the treats she still had from Pigwidgeon, and tied the note she had already written out for Ginny.

Gin

Come to the cottage as soon as possible.

I’M PREGNANT!

~HJG

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ginny flooed to Hermione’s cottage with Pansy in tow as soon as she had opened the letter. Judas also returned to Hermione even though she told him he was free to go back home, he clearly decided his place was now by the side of the Golden queen, as he followed her and nuzzled her every chance he got.

“Is that Draco’s owl?” Pansy asked with interest.

But Judas shot her a look that answered the question. And in case it wasn’t clear, the fact that he squawked at Ginny when she tried to hug Hermione said that he was now Hermione’s owl.

“Judas, indeed,” Pansy quipped.

Ginny made tea and they gathered around the cozy infinity modular sofa, the one thing besides books,
Hermione had splurged on for the cottage when she’d first moved in with Ron.

“Tell us everything, darling.” Pansy said with a smirk that could rival Draco’s

“Please don’t.” Ginny interjected, with a grimace.

Hermione was already blushing, thinking back to the time Draco had held both her arms back while he pounded her from behind, her nipples barely grazing the sheets as the push and pull of his thrusts rocked her into climax.

“Well you can definitely tell me whatever it is you’re remembering later, by the look on your face it’ll be a fantasy to die for.” Pansy whispered.

Shaking off the remaining thoughts of Draco’s body on hers, she finally spoke.

“It would’ve had to happen the first night or so we were there. I didn’t cast a contraceptive spell because I’m on muggle birth control.” Hermione said, taking a breath to calm her nerves.

“Oh love,” Ginny began, bringing her hand to pat Hermione’s knee, Judas hooting in concern, however halted her.

“You think the bird is bad, wait til Draco finds out,”Pansy remarked.

Ginny, ignoring Pansy for a moment, continued her earlier declaration, “Muggle contraceptives don’t work with magical DNA, especially pureblood DNA, I thought you’d know from being with Ron.”

“Well he never mentioned it, but come to think of it he did usually perform the spell beforehand, with some remark about making double sure. I usually rolled my eyes and just let him think he was right,” Hermione replied. “How could I be so stupid.”

“Arlight love, your unbelievably inaccurate knowledge of magical reproduction aside, when are you going to tell Draco? Can I be there?” She asked with a wry smirk, rubbing her hands together fiendishly.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to tell him. I’ve just found out myself, and Mal- Draco and I have only just started really seeing each other,” Hermione acknowledged.

“Not to be that bitch, but my brother did just die recently and the Prophet has already been dragging you and Malfoy through the proverbial mud,” Ginny added.

“Ugh!’ Hermione said, curling herself into a ball.

“I don’t know why you're so worried, Draco is all in, I’m sure, not to mention he is fiercely protective.” Pansy said listlessly.

“We haven’t even discussed kids, what if he doesn’t want them?”

Hermione's phone started buzzing from where she had left it on the lamp table beside the sofa. Pansy picked it up as Hermione had covered her face with one of the many jewel toned pillows scattered around her.

Is everything ok, love, Judas has not returned.

-DM

Pansy, thinking herself ingenious, ignored Draco’s text on behalf of Hermione. Putting the small mobile under the sofa cushion she was currently occupying. The other two witches were none the wiser as Ginny rubbed Hermione’s back trying to comfort the fretting woman.

Completely muffled, the phone had vibrated unnoticed a few more times, before Draco came barging through Hermione’s floo. Judas flew at Draco, with his feathers ruffled, causing everyone to jump up in freight. Hermione ran to the bathroom, sick.

“What in Salazar’s name is going on here?”

“I think Pans and I should go,” Ginny said, pulling Pansy toward the floo and narrowly missing a wing to the face by the distraught bird still swooping towards Draco.

Pulling treats from inside his blazer pocket, he inveigled the bird to follow him to Hermione’s library calming Judas down and getting him to perch on the bay seat of the window sat between Hermione’s floor to ceiling bookshelves.

The commotion had set off the worst bout of nausea Hermione had so far. When she ran to the bathroom she didn’t concern herself with shutting the door or what was transpiring outside of the bathroom. She hadn't noticed the sound of the floo when Pansy and Ginny left or the sudden loss of Judas’ hoots. She was laying on the plush bath mat in front of the toilet, the coolness of the tiles against her face relieving the flush the nausea had caused. If she didn’t feel so awful she might’ve drifted off to sleep in that very position.

Draco stood propped against the door frame watching his witch, at least he now considered her to be his witch. He wasn’t sure what her stance on the subject was yet, but after all they’d done and shared in Italy he knew he was hers as long as she’d have him. He also knew that whatever ailment that had befallen Hermione was not due to portkey travel as he’d earlier assumed. Either way he decided to take action and got her a cold wet rag to place on her neck and then headed to the kitchen to make her an herbal tea. He found everything he was looking for in Hermione’s pantry. It wasn’t a large pantry but Hermione has made good use of the space. She used the ceiling to hang drying herbs from. Jars and crystals lined the windowsill, no doubt to be charged by the moonlight. And even more jars and boxes littered the rickety old shelves; the cupboard was oddly reminiscent of Snape's storeroom at Hogwarts. He grabbed peppermint leaves, ginger root, rose hips, and nettle leaf.

As he brewed the tea for Hermione, twirling his wand almost absentmindedly, causing a vortex in the kettle, an overly fluffed orange bush shuffled between his legs. The furball which Draco recognized to be Hermione’s feline Crookshanks, rubbed his head on Draco’s shins and purred until Draco picked him up, carrying both the cat and the tea to the bathroom.

When he returned to Hermione, she was sitting up right, back against the tub and using the rag he’s placed on her neck to wipe her face.

“Here love, drink this,” Draco said, offering her the small cup of tea patterned with little gold bees. He now used his free hand to scratch behind Crooks’ ears.

Hermione took the cup gratefully, trying not to smell it in case it made her nauseous again. If she’d felt better she wouldn’t have believed the sight before her. Crookshanks never let Ron pick him up.

“There isn’t any licorice or ginseng in this, is there?” Hermione whispered hoarsely. She still hadn’t looked up at him.

“Nooo.” Draco answered, drawing out the word with his curiosity. “What would be the issue if there was?” He asked. Draco continued to scratch the furry beast in his arms, allowing Hermione to sip the tea and gather herself before answering.

Inhaling sharply and trying not to retch at the smells around her; she finally answered, “I’m pregnant Draco, I’m so sorry. I know we’ve,” but she cut herself off sobbing into her hands. Suddenly she was being lifted into the air and cradled, she couldn’t bear to bring her face up to look at Draco. She was too afraid of what she might see in his face. He set her down gently on her bed and covered her with the maroon throw blanket that was laying on the bench at the of the bed. She was asleep in a matter of seconds.

When Hermione awoke, she thought maybe she had dreamed the entire evening, maybe Gin & Pans hadn’t come over yet, maybe Draco didn’t show up out of nowhere, maybe she hadn’t told him yet, and maybe he hadn’t left her all alone. She wasn’t correct on any account. She followed the hallway from her room down to the kitchen and living room, all the lights were off. There was however a faint glow coming from the library. Hermione peeked in the room; Draco was illuminated by the antique Tiffany dragonfly lamp, given to her by her grandmother, that sat on the small end table by the window. He was sat in the tufted French blue armchair, Crookshanks in his lap, a book in his hand, and Judas perched atop the back of the chair. The image was perfection in Hermione’s eyes. He hadn’t left her, he’d actually done quite the opposite and made himself at home.

“This chair is surprisingly comfortable, though the hove of overprotective animals is a bit much.” Draco joked, dispelling her revelry.

“I- I… “ she stuttered, looked down and paused, not knowing what to say, and fearing she wouldn’t be able to speak without crying again. To say Hermione was displeased with her current predicament was a falsehood. She was actually pleasantly surprised by the joy she felt. What she was, however, was anxious. Anxious about how Draco felt, anxious about what the wizarding world would think, anxious about what this meant for everyone’s future. Before she could look up again, Draco was in front of her.

“Shhh, my love.” He soothed, bringing his knuckles to her jaw. “Everything will be alright, we will figure this out.” He brought his lips to her forehead in a gentle kiss.

They spent the rest of the evening wrapped in each other's arms, discussing every possible need and necessity, until they both drifted off to sleep. The next few days, and weeks, were much the same. They broke the news to their immediate friends and family, being as delicate as they could. Everyone seemed to take the news well, including both Molly and Narcissa. They had chosen to tell the two women separately, so while Draco portkeyed to the Malfoy Chateau in Jaulny, Hermione Floo’d to the Burrow.

Hermione thought of Molly as a mother, and even after everything that had happened with Ron, Hermione still considered the entire Weasley family to be her family.

As Hermione told Molly the news and subsequently who the father was and explained that this was all new but that she desperately wanted Molly to be a part of her child’s life, Molly cried. Not big wailing tears of joy or even sobs of sadness, no these were simple silent tears. They sat there for a moment until eventually Molly grabbed Hermione’s hands and gave them a squeeze, then she jumped out of her chair.

“A spot of ginger tea, I suspect, will do us both good.” As Molly magically set the tea to making, she rushed out of the room and quickly came back with a stack full of what looked like baby books.

“It’s not common in the wizarding world, but I made baby books for all my kids.” Molly said as she opened the first one. A picture of a screaming baby girl with a head covered in red fuzz, greeted them from the first page. Time was quickly lost in the pages of first Weasley jumpers and first accidental magics for all six kids. They sipped their tea, and Hermione was oddly comforted in the knowledge and love that Molly was sharing.

It was dark when Hermione returned home to her Godric’s Hollow cottage. Draco was asleep in what she now considered his spot, the blue chair in the library, with both the cat and the bird beside him, and a few extra trunks that hadn’t been there before.

“Ahem.” Hermione coughed, shaking Draco from his snooze.

He beckoned her to him, and she sat on the arm of the chair, legs draped over his. Crookshanks readjusted to accommodate them, but he didn’t let it go unknown that he was displeased with the adjustments.

“How was today, love?” Draco asked, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her fully into his lap. Crookshanks, giving up any hope to continue being comfortable, kept down and left the room.

“It was actually very nice, I imagine we will be outfitted with multiple tiny sized Weasley jumpers any day now.” She said, stifling a giggle with her on coming yawn.

“How were things with Narcissa?” Hermione asked, raising her brow.

“Oh she’s very pleased. She’s already planning an end of summer wedding, and I surmise you’ll be receiving an invitation to tea soon, along with multiple visits from Pansy for dress fitting, floral arrangements, etc…” he trailed off, a yawn of his own encroaching.

“Let’s go to bed, we can discuss weddings, and mother-in-laws, in the morning.” Hermione said softly, pulling Draco from the chair and leading him to her room.

“I’m moving in by the way, if you hadn’t already noticed all the trunks,” Draco added, as they turned down the sheets and slipped into bed.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

They did discuss weddings and mother-in-laws and baby names over the coming weeks, and as they got closer to the start of the new school year for Hogwarts, they decided to hold off on the wedding. They instead had a small binding ceremony, only Harry and Theo were in attendance and were under an unbreakable vow to not tell anyone until Hermione deemed fit. Theo of course suggested they celebrate by having a foursome, Hermione responded by running to the bathroom to be sick.

Even though the marriage was kept quiet, they had already told their friends about the pregnancy. They knew they’d only be able to hide it for so long, and even though Hermione felt herself to be a self sufficient witch, she knew she would need those around her.

Feeling slighted at the chance of throwing Draco and Hermione a lavish wedding on hold, Pansy and Narcissa settled on throwing a baby shower instead.

They had very little time to throw what they considered a decent affair but that suited Hermione just fine, she didn’t want anything lavish or opulent. She just wanted her friends to be as happy as she and Draco. But to Hermione's dismay, small to Narcissa and Pansy meant less about the number of attendees as it did to the amount of decor.

The baby shower happened a week before Draco & Hermione were to return to Hogwarts. The location was a luscious garden in Wales that Neville’s girlfriend Lana had used to photograph an up and coming all girls group. It was dressed up like an Alice in Wonderland tea party, though no one seemed to get the reference, like Lana & Harry had. The guest list was another matter altogether. Hermione was almost positive that every Slytherin and Gryffindor from their year had been invited. Both Draco and herself made the rounds shaking hands and thanking guests for coming, at some point they were separated in their endeavors and Hermione found Draco being greeted a bit too enthusiastically by the Greengrass sisters.

“Draco darling, could you help me with something over there?” Hermione asked from behind him, pointing toward the greenhouse behind the line of trees that the cocktail bar had been set up at.

“Yes of course, love.” Draco responded as he tried to pry the fingers of both sisters from his arm.

Draco offered Hermione his hand and as she put her hand in his, wrapping herself around him, she swore she heard the younger sister growl at her.

They walked in a peaceful silence to the greenhouse, hand in hand. Hermione beamed up at him, she knew her emotions were heightened due to the hormones of her pregnancy, but for the first time since she could remember entering this world, she felt like she’d finally found her place in it. Not because she had a husband and a child on the way, but because of the love and support he had given them both. The love and support of the friends there today. The job that she had waiting for her in just a week's time.

Once they were in the greenhouse, Hermione locked and silenced the room with a wave of her hand.

“What did you need my assistance with, Hermione?” Draco asked, a knowing smirk fighting its way to his lips.

Hermione trailed her hands along the tables lined with planted pots, sashaying her hips as she walked away from him towards a more secluded section of the greenhouse and out of sight from her cocky husband.

As Draco rounded the corner and stepped through a curtain of hanging Fuchsia plants, he saw Hermione with her back towards him, her head turned cheekily to the side so she could glimpse his reaction as she pushed the capped lace sleeves of her cream colored cotton dress off her shoulders, allowing the dress to fall to the floor. He swiftly came to stand against her back and wrapped his arms around her, stippling her neck and shoulders with kisses.

“Why Mrs. Malfoy, how very ribald of you, love.” He drawled, “what would your little lions club think of their golden girl,” he paused, untying the knot of his gray silk tie and slipping it from around his neck. “All trussed up,” he moved his hands down her arms bringing her wrists together behind her back. His breaths came out labored as he continued, “where anyone,” still holding her wrists with one hand, he began to wrap his tie around them in loops, threading the ends through each loop and tightening them. “Could catch you,” he let go of her wrists and moved his hands to her hips, hooking his thumbs into the waistband of her soft blue silk knickers and pulled them down. Sliding one palm back up her spine he pushed her forward, “completely on display, for me.” He finally finished, his question ending in more of a statement and she heard the unzipping of his trousers.

“They’d say I was brave.” The last word came out as little more than breath as he slid his cock through her silken folds and pushed into her.

Their words lost to moans as Draco continued to thrust into Hermione. She had to brace herself on a step ladder that was being used as a shelf for potted herbs as his hold on her hip tightened and he grasped the tie pulling her body back into him with every pump. They both reach climax quickly, having grown accustomed to each other's bodies and knowing they had to hurry to return to the party. After casting a scourgify and righting their clothes, they walked hand and hand again, toward the exit of the greenhouse. Before they could step out of the doors, a giggling Neville and Lana burst in, sheepishly they grinned at the blushing couple and made their exit, to the cupcake table, Molly had made delectable peaches and cream cupcakes and Hermione had been craving nothing but sweets lately.

The party was truly lovely, all in all. They didn’t yet know the sex of the baby so most of the gifts were neutral in color or very clearly Slytherin green and Griffyndor red. Narcissa had given them Draco’s baby bassinet and Hermione couldn’t help but cry at the offering that seemed to symbolize so much. All the pieces felt like they were finally starting to fit together for Hermione.

Once home, Draco drew Hermione a bath, he poured in lavender and rose oil, and added epsom salt. He had to extricate his witch from the softly purring and hooting cat and bird that had now become her bodyguards. He slowly removed her tan wedges, massaging the balls of her feet as he did so. Then his hands dipped under the mid length hem of her dress, caressing her thighs until he reached her apex. He leisurely slid his thumbs up and down the center of her knickers, feeling as they became drenched with her want. Slipping his head under her dress, he moved the scrape of her underwear aside and licked the same path his thumbs had taken up to her clit and then swirled around it. Hermione had to place her hands on the sink counter behind her to steady herself. Draco continued to to licked and swirl until he felt Hermione’s hand on his head through her dress pushing him further into her and he began to devour the witch.

“That’s my dirty little slut, she takes what she wants.” He growled as Hermione came on his tongue. As she came down he bit her thigh before finding his way out from under her dress. Removing the rest of her clothes, he helped her step into the bath and let her soak for a moment before removing his own clothing and stepping in behind her.

With a wave of Draco’s hand the room filled with the soothing strums on strings, and soft tapping on ivory teeth, a melodic voice gently humming of beauty and sweet everything’s, love’s possession until the day they die. The song lulled Hermione into relaxation, while Draco’s touch stirred the dampened fire inside her. He kneaded the knots in her shoulders, moving slowly and rhythmically with the music that enveloped them. Even with his movements slow, it still caused the water to lap and splash over her breasts, hardening her nipples. Hermione, ever emblazoned by Draco’s wanton mood, reached between her legs and shifted her hips, finding his hardened cock, throbbing and waiting for her. Shifting her hips again she settled herself ready to sheath him inside of herself. It’s bliss, it’s heaven, when he’s fully at her innermost core.

“Yes.” She breathed. “Yes, Draco.”

His needy hands found her breast as he continued to massage away her aches and build her arousal. Rolling her peaked nipples and tugging lightly, until she was moaning and her hips moved of their own volition.

He trailed his fingers and palms down her stomach, the pressure becoming more than need, instinctual, a claiming. He wrapped one arm around her, water splashing from the tub as he pulled her into him, holding her steady to his body. His other hand wafted down, splayed through the tight curls over her bud and joined where his cock meets her core over and over, stroking them both in the process. Using his thumb he turned the signet ring on his middle finger around and pressed it down into Hermione’s clit. Hard rough circling and cold silver, bruise causing gripping, bites and nibbles to her neck, and the long drawn out thrusts of Draco’s hard shaft, brought Hermione to the brink.

“Come for me, Hermione, come now, because I can’t hold out much longer. I love you.”

Hermione didn’t see stars or flashes of light as were the normal with their explosive sex. No, Hermione was pulled under the waves, drowning in her ecstasy. She wasn’t sure how she would ever resurface; was she breathing, it didn’t feel like it.

Life seeped back through to her as Draco’s final thrust, hard and ragged, hit her. He shuddered in pleasure behind her, beneath her, all around her.

They laid there, one of Hermione's arms stretched above, her hand resting on Draco’s cheek, until the water grew tepid.

“I love you too.” Was all she said as they dried off and went to bed.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

With just a couple days left until Hermione and Draco returned to Hogwarts, Draco had a few things up his sleeve for Hermione. She was fraught with the anticipation of what he was up to as he shooed her out of the cottage for one of her morning walks around Godric’s Hollow. Hermione had started walking around the quaint village after breakfast, the fresh air seemed to help with the nausea she still suffered.

This morning was met with an indescribable pull to walk by the old Potter’s cottage. The walk was beautiful, the quaint cottages still had patches of melting snow on the rooftops, and the hedges all glinted with morning dew. Hermione passed Church Lane before rounding the corner to the street where the derelict cottage sat. The cottage had wards on it to make it look exactly like all the other cottages in the Hollow so that the many muggles in the area were none the wiser. A disillusionment charm was placed on the memorial plaque just outside the gate, but Hermione knew it was there and with a way of her hand the charm rippled away.

Hermione stumbled back with a gasp, her hand immediately flying to her mouth. She couldn’t help but cry as she read the graffiti that had been magically placed over the plaque.

Your halfbreed baby is a vile abomination and should be drowned at birth, Mudblood!

She pulled her wand from her coat pocket and discharged several spells in succession; they rang out in a chorus as they all rebounded. Frustrated, Hermione reached out to tear at the plaque, an explosion of red lights and smoke blinded her. Hermione quickly shot off a patronus with a breathless “help!” before passing out.

Draco felt the need to redeem himself. He couldn’t believe that Hermione Granger had not only forgiven him for his past sins, but had allowed him to bed her in all the devious and depraved ways he craved. On top of all that, she had also fallen in love with him, become pregnant, and married him. He didn’t deserve her, he hadn’t even earned her. However, he was going to do all he could to do so. He had written to McGonagall shortly after finding out Hermione was pregnant; he requested her assistance in setting up therapy sessions for himself once the school term started. He had hope that Hermione would also join him, as her life had changed so fast; she barely had time to process the tragic death of her former husband before entering into another marriage. Draco had known that after Ron’s death, Lavender Brown had quit Hogwarts and that a new teacher whom had worked as a seer, as well as a therapist and healer, had replaced her. Besides the therapy, Draco had become devoted to Hermione and their unborn child. He waited on her hand and foot, an occurrence Hermione had obviously not experienced before, as she often looked abashed when he brought her tea or ran her bath. Today's particular redemption attempt was in the form of transforming the library into a nursery.

The library was undoubtedly Hermione and Draco’s favorite spot in the house. They spent afternoons cuddled on the transfigured blue chair that was now loveseat sized, reading, talking, drinking tea, and— more often than not these days— napping. Draco was nervous that extending the room to add a nursery would upset Hermione, but he hoped it would show her how excited and happy he was to include the baby in their life.

The magic it took to extend the room and transfigure some of the bookshelves into baby storage was not difficult but it was long and draining. Draco had just levitated his old crib into the nook by the bay window when a silver otter raced through, a quiet “help!” in Hermione’s voice was all it said as the vapors dispersed.

Even though his heart was racing, Draco was calm under pressure. He hadn’t yet mastered sending a corporeal patronus and while he felt he had the happy memories to do so now that Hermione graced his life, he knew that the time was not afforded to him. He quickly jotted a note to Potter and had Judas take it. Then he rushed out the door to find her. He didn’t have a jacket and his sleeves were still rolled up from the laborious work he’d been doing, but he did have his cellphone in his back pocket. With frozen fingers he texted her and then Neville.

Hermione where are you?

-DLM

NEVILLE call me ASAP

-DLM

He took off in the direction they normally took their walks, cuffing his hands around his mouth and shouting Hermione’s name.

In short time Draco heard the cracks of apparition as Harry, Neville, and three Aurors Draco didn’t know the names of, arrived in the middle of the little town circle. Draco and Harry raced towards each other but Neville was the first to speak.

“I was at Harry and Theo’s when I got your text mate, thought I’d just come along.” Draco clasped the side of his arm in thanks.

Harry spoke next as the three Aurors took their wands out, disillusioned themselves and headed off in opposite directions to canvas the area.

“The Aurors are tracing the area for any signs of recent magic used, they should be able to get a trail on the patronus she sent if nothing else.” He paused, unsure how to tell Draco to go home and wait without it turning into a fight. But before he could get another word out Draco cut in.

“I’m not going to sit this out Potter.” Harry's surname coming out with a pop of the aggravation Draco felt.

“This is my wife we’re looking for, MY wife, who’s pregnant with MY child!” The possession seeping out with each word. “And if you haven’t forgotten, there is some lunatic sending letters to her, who clearly wants to harm her, and your precious DMLE has done squat about it.”

“I haven’t forgotten, Malfoy, and she’s been MY best friend for a long time, so you’re not the only one who’s worried here. But this is my job. You’re not trained, go home!”

Neville, who found his voice after killing the snake in the final battle, wasn’t one to shyly sit by anymore.

“If you two are quite done! We have a friend to find…” he only stared at them for a moment before turning on his heels and heading off towards the west side of the village.

Harry glared at Draco before gesturing for him to follow and taking off towards the church.

As they approached the same lane Hermione had passed just an hour before, that led to the church, one of the Aurors canceled her disillusionment charm and spoke hurriedly, her thick Irish accent slipping through her practiced professionalism with the rush of words, at Harry.

“Chief Potter, sir, there’s detection of dark magic up ahead and around this bend. We need to set up anti-apparition wards and bring in a containment specialist.”

“One more thing sir, I believe it’s concentrated at your old family home.”

Before Harry could grab him Draco took off in a sprint towards the Potter’s cottage.

“Hermione!” He screamed, the echos disturbing the unkindness of ravens perched in the bare trees above.

Draco raced to the limp body lying sprawled in front of the cottage gate, one arm protectively strewn across her belly.

Draco didn’t hear the pops of Potter and his team's apparition, not the instructions Harry was barking out, nor Neville coming to stand beside him. All Draco could hear was the rage of his blood running through his veins and the pounding of his heart, as he looked at Hermione bloody and unconscious on the ground.

“Malfoy! Draco! DRACO!” Harry was shouting and shaking him.

Finally his brain caught back up with the present.

“Draco, mate, we have to apparate her to St. Mungo’s-“

A voice cut in, one of Potter’s auror’s, the female officer from before, Petifer, petty… something, Draco couldn’t remember.

“Sir, the diagnostic spell is showing she’s lost a lot of blood.”

Draco reached for Hermione, to apparate them to the hospital but Harry and Neville reached for him to stop him.

“Mate-“ Neville began to speak softly.

“Sorry Malfoy, it’s got to be our transport team, they’re just waiting for my signal to take her.” Harry paused, nodding to the extra two Aurors that Draco also didn’t hear arrive. “Neville,” Harry continued, “why don’t you apparate with Draco to St. Mungo’s and we’ll see you there.”

Once there, Draco was pulling his hair out. They wouldn’t let him see Hermione or give him any update on her or their unborn child, and there was paperwork, so much paperwork.

“You don’t have to wait with me.” Draco abruptly turned to Neville, feeling self conscious about the rage and anxiety he was experiencing.

“Plus I’m sure, if you left that lovely girlfriend of yours with Theo, he’s probably already propositioned her a million ways to Sunday, and she might appreciate your rescuing.”

“Ok, no problem. I can take a hint, I’ll leave you alone to wallow, but I will be back to check on you and Hermione.” Neville said with a calm understanding. It was one of the reasons Draco had become friendlier with him, he seemed to understand and never pushed Draco for more than he could give. He was exactly the opposite of Hermione, Draco thought to himself as Neville took his leave. If Draco wasn’t about to blow up the whole of St. Mungo’s, he would’ve chuckled.

As Draco returned the paperwork to the elderly nurse at the desk with a sneer, Harry rushed into the waiting room.

“You can come back, and honestly mate, make it snappy. Hermione is livid they wouldn’t let you back before and is throwing things.”

It’s as if Draco’s entire body disintegrated into vapor, and he was beside her in less time than it took to take a breath.

A tear slid down his cheek as he looked at her bandaged body, the light and fire in her eyes as inflamed with vengeance as his. She was alright and they would ready themselves for war. He was damned sure of that.

Hermione’s recovery was swift, she had cast a protego just in time, keeping herself and the baby safe from any dark magic. The blood loss was easily fixed with blood replenishing potions and after the first dose she had come to. After just two days at St. Mungo’s and a lot of sneers from Malfoy, she was released.

They returned home to Harry standing in their living room, dressed in his full Auror’s regalia, hand absentmindedly rubbing at his lightning bolt scar.

“We’ve just arrested Percy for your attempted murder.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Theo and Ginny were already at Pansy’s when Draco and Hermione showed up. So were Daphne and Astoria Greengrass, to Hermione’s chagrin.Pansy was pacing about mumbling to herself. “I knew he harbored a crush but…” She cut herself off as she turned and made another pass on the worn spot she was making in her Parisian rug. “He would never though.”Hermione had never seen Pansy look less than properly put together by pureblood standards. The Pansy that stood before her now was still in her nightdress, the silk crinkled at the sides where Pansy had clearly been clenching it in her fists over and over again. Her short hair was disheveled in a way that showed she must’ve just gotten out of the shower when Percy had been arrested and her hair had air dried without magic. Her makeup-less skin was blotchy from crying.Pansy dropped to her knees as a strangled sob escaped her lungs.Theo and Ginny rushed to her sides, lifted her and brought her to rest on the antique love seat in front of the fire.Astoria was suddenly at Draco’s side.“This must be so awful for you, Draco. Here, I’ve made you a cup of tea, just how you like.”Hermione raised her eyebrow but said nothing, turning back toward where Ginny and Theo were comforting Pansy.Draco took the tea with a nod and a weak smile, but as Astoria began to smile with a sense of victory, Draco made a show of offering Hermione his cup of tea.“Here, love, you probably need this more than I do.” He said it loud enough that even Pansy looked up. As he passed her the tea he placed a soft kiss to her temple and whispered, “Don’t drink anything either of the Greengrasses prepared.”With tea in hand, Hermione strode over to the love seat where Pansy was curled up in a ball. Placing the tea on the table between the seat and fireplace, she kneeled in front of Pansy and stroked her hair lightly.“He wouldn't have Hermione, I just can’t believe…” Pansy began.“Shhh it’s ok, Pans, I’m sure Harry will get this all straightened out.”Just then green flames roared to life in the fireplace. Two wizards dressed in Auror robes stepped through. One Draco recognized as the Irish lass from the search team that helped locate Hermione. The other he didn’t recognize at all and honestly didn’t care.“Pansy Olivia Park-Weasel, um I mean Parkinson Weasley, you are summoned to the DMLE to be questioned on your involve-“But the Auror was cut off by Theo and Ginny jumping up and shouting in unison.“Is she under arrest?”Once again a flash of green flames erupted as Harry stepped through.“That’s alright Officer Warren, no need for all the formalities.” Harry said, placing his hand on the Auror’s shoulder.“Sorry, I’m late, Robards was trying to keep me off the case since we’re all almost practically family.” Harry sighed and rubbed at his scar.Draco huffed a laugh of annoyance, “Can someone please just tell us what has happened and how to proceed.”Pansy choked on another muffled sob, her face all but buried in a pillow. Draco took in the fact that the pillow was knitted in dark green with a soft pink P embroidered on it, obviously handmade by Molly Weasley as Hermione had a similar one in pale blue with a honey colored H that adorned Draco’s favorite chair in their library, before he spoke again.“As much as I’d love for the monster who did this to my wife-“Everyone, except for Theo and Harry, gasped and Astoria dropped the second cup of tea she was bringing to Draco, the China shattering as she stood snarling in the doorway. The event of his and Hermione’s marriage was still news to most but at this point Draco wanted everyone to know she was his, so the slip might’ve been more than intentional on his part. As Astoria rushed out of the room Draco continued, not sparing the girl a glance.“And unborn child to be in Azkaban, I hardly believe that Percy is behind this, Potter.”“The artifact found at the scene belongs to Percy, I’ve seen it in his study myself, I’m just doing my job Malfoy!” Harry spat but there was no malice behind the words, just frustration.Pansy let out another large sob, only slightly muffled by the pillow she sunk her face into.“Mrs. Weasley, Pansy, please you have to come with me to the DMLE, it’s protocol.” Harry said with his hand held out to her.Pansy slowly lifted herself from the couch and accepted Harry’s proffered hand. Shaking off the tears and holding her head high, she let him lead her to the floo.
Pansy shivered as she sat alone in the overly bright interrogation room, still clad in her barely there nightgown. She thought she could hear faint yelling on the other side of the two way mirror in front of her. She itched to move closer and try to make out what they were saying but the lack of her wand mixed with her pureblood upbringing had her frozen to her seat, back as straight as a board and her head still held high.The room next door told a slightly different story.“Cast the curse just like you did on the idol you left near the Potter’s memorial plaque!” Yelled the unnamed Auror.“I told you,” Percy Weasley whined. “I didn’t cast it.”“Cast it!” Yelled the Auror again, handing Percy his wand.Percy didn’t want to anger the Auror, in hopes of being released with the least amount of trouble possible. He knew of the curse, his brother Bill was a curse breaker after all, and Percy had held many jobs in the ministry, including working along with his father in the misuse of muggle artifacts. A job which took him on many raids to pureblood family homes and vaults. The job was not without its challenges, many of the artifacts were cursed. This time Percy did as the Auror instructed without pause.Percy pointed his wand at the piece of rubble the Auror picked up off the floor and circled his wrist before placing the tip of his wand to the stone. The rock glowed red then dimmed quickly.The Auror immediately muttered a counter curse and blasted the rubble to bits.“Got you now.” He growled before exiting the room. Percy sat with his head in his hands and huffed.Back in Pansy’s room the door opened with a loud creek causing Pansy to jump infinitesimally.“Ms. Parkinson.” The Auror began.“That’s Mrs. Parkinson-Weasley to you. Oh, Adrian, it’s you.” Pansy trailed off, after she had adjusted to the sight of another person entering the room. “I- I didn’t know you became an Auror.”He merely smirked at her as he sat in the chair opposite her and laid his folder and a small vial filled with clear liquid down.“You May address me as Auror Pucey.” He said with a cool arrogance. His eyes trailed over the skin left on display by her silk night dress.“I want to make this easy for you Pansy, we were once friendly at school-“He stopped speaking as she defiantly crossed her arms and scoffed.Looking down at her perfectly manicured nails she retorted, “you mean I let you finger me once behind the slayed unicorn tapestry in the dungeons, that hardly counts as friendly.”Brushing Pansy’s dismissal off he continued.“We can either make this quick and painless by you taking veritaserum or I can hold you in this room until I see fit.”“I’ll take the veritaserum, I have nothing to hide.”The interrogation was quick and painless as promised. Pansy had never seen the artifact as she very rarely entered her husband's study, she knew nothing of his plans to attack Hermione or anything of the like.She regretfully did mention her husband's slight crush on the witch, and per the look on Adrian’s face and the quick movements of his quill, this was motive enough.Cursing herself as she got up to leave per Auror Pucey’s instruction, he halted her with a firm grip on her shoulder. He kneaded the spot and she thought she was going to be sick.“One last question before the serum wears off,” He said with a lecherous gleam. “Did you enjoy my fingers inside you, Pans?”Shocked, Pansy schooled her features and tore her shoulder from his grip, the serum still coursing through her forced her to answer anyways. “It was satisfactory.” She supplied emotionlessly. Thankfully Ginny was waiting for her right outside the already opened door. Pansy ran into her arms and began to pull her away to leave.“Pig.” Ginny spat at the grinning Auror and hurried along with Pansy.
Ginny rubbed circles into Pansy’s back as they entered through the floo at Grimmauld place. Ginny swiftly let Theo know they were there and ushered Pansy to the guest room they often commandeered when staying over after a late night of fun and or debauchery.The room had been redecorated once Theo had moved in with Harry and was no longer the damp and musty den of that of the Black family, but remnants of the room it had been when it was Sirius’s still remained. The floor was a dark wood and the walls still stood with white and gray stripes. However there was a lightness to the art deco designs on the fireplace and queen bed. Pansy, though accustomed to the room, took none of this in. She walked in almost a comatose state til Ginny pushed her shoulders down so she could sit on the pale green bedspread. Coming around to the other side, Ginny softly climbed onto the bed and pulled Pansy to lay down with her.Wrapped in the warmth of the only person she had ever truly loved, the spell was finally broken. The tears slowly drifted down her cheeks as Ginny kissed and wiped them away. Pansy tilted her head so that her lips could meet Ginny’s, and she let her tongue fight for control.“Shhh” Ginny whispered. “Let me take care of you.”Angling her body she pushed Pany’s legs apart with her quidditch sculpted thighs. Ginny kissed the witch beneath her again and let her hand slide past the hem of the nightgown that had ridden up. Pansy moaned into Ginny’s mouth as she felt her agile fingers slip under her tiny lace knickers and slide up her sex to circle her clit.“Please.”“Mmm I love it when you beg, flower.”Slipping her finger back down her slick folds, she dipped in just a touch.“Is this what you want, love?”“Yes, please Gin.”“So pretty with need, how could I possibly deny you?”And with that, Ginny pushed two fingers inside of Pany’s cunt. She began a punishing pace, putting the lean muscles of her arms to good use, kissing and biting her way down Pany’s jaw and neck. When she reached her shoulder, she used her teeth to pull the thin strap of Pany’s nightie down, revealing one pert breast. She continued the path grazing her teeth down to Pany’s nipple before biting, just the way Pansy liked. She circled her clit with her thumb and bit again, bringing Pansy’s orgasm crashing down through her.Ginny slowed her movements, only pulling her fingers from Pansy’s heat once the waves of her climax subsided.Pansy pulled on the fingers that had just been inside her and brought them to her lips.“I’m going to leave him, Ginevra, so we can finally be together.” Pansy said just before popping the fingers into her mouth and licking them clean.“Knock knock.” Came Theo’s tenor as he wrapped his knuckles on the bedroom door and opened it at the same time.“Interested in round two?”