1Title/Chapter: If Only for One Night

Author: Lynn

Beta: Sirsevschick

Rating: NC-17

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Harry Potter is owned by J.K Rowlings. Any other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of my imagination or are used fictiously.

Summary: After one year of their break up, Hermione and Draco finally see each other. Can Hermione look pass Draco reasons for leaving her and reconcile their relationship or will they remain apart?

Spoilers: No

A/N: This is a 3-part story. There is a Cavendish Restaurant in London, but I changed the name to Covendish to fit the wizarding world. The song, If Only for One Night is by Luther Vandross. My version of Kingsley Shacklebolt is none other than R&B singer and actor Terrell Carter. http://i23. I hope you enjoy and please review.

Chapter 1

The warm evening sun glistened, curtained with a red light that was threaded with jewel-like tones of gold, ruby, and sapphire, all kindled with fire. The scenery would have been more enjoyable, however if the memory wasn't so bittersweet for Hermione. This place, the Covendish Restaurant was where Draco would bring Hermione for a night out. The garden was filled with scents of fresh herbs grown in abundance, a chaotic array of more than thirty varieties from the heavy lavender and lanky lovage to the citrus overtones of lemon balm.

This was also the place where Draco asked for her hand in marriage one year ago, which she happily accepted. Then two weeks afterwards, came the startling news that he had engaged himself to a more prominent pureblooded witch. The information left her so devastated that she nearly had a nervous breakdown. Yes, she, Hermione Granger, the brightest muggle-born witch of her age, the calm, cool, and collected one, the oh, so wise one . . . she huffed and then tapped her well-manicured nails on the oval ornate table, watching the people walking in and out of the garden. Her good friend, Harry, who persuaded her to come, had invited her here, after much convincing on his part, Hermione begrudgingly gave in.

A few minutes later, Hermione heard a soft melody drifting in the air. The soothing sound of the piano, bass, and guitars mingled together to form a calming tune that would make one forget about their own personal problems for one night. She closed her eyes at the familiar music, the one that she and Draco use to dance to and felt the love that she thought dead for Draco, to come alive again. She loved him, yet hated him for breaking her heart. Damn him and his prejudicial views of blood status! If one wasn't a pureblood, they were looked down upon as nothing more than beasts or filthy mudbloods.

At this thought, Hermione felt anger rise within her and she clenched her jaw to remain calm. She inhaled and then exhaled, repeating the procedure again until she felt the calming effects. She really needed to get away. Perhaps she would take a long extended vacation to one of the Islands.

A pale blond-haired wizard stood a few feet away, watching the lovely witch with her eyes closed as if memorizing a special event that had taken place in her life. Her eyes were closed and face set with a frown and then, as he watched, it changed to a smile of rare beauty. He tilted his head as a smile of his own caressed his lips, thinking to join her. He walked toward the table where she sat and stood to her right.

"It is good to see you again," a smooth voice drawled. Caught by surprise, Hermione turned to find a tall, handsome blond-haired wizard. She gazed at him suspiciously, taking note of his well-dressed state of the finest royal blue velvet robe embellished in silver lining. She had to admit that Draco looked dashing.

"Hello, Malfoy," she said slowly, steeling her nerves from the jitters.

A sensuous smile curved his full, luscious lips. His gray eyes glittered mischievously. "Back to addressing with surnames are we?" he jested, taking a seat next to her.

"Apparently so," she replied drily, lifting a brow at the audacity of him taking a seat uninvited.

"I don't remember asking you to have a seat," she added curtly.

Draco smirked at her in response. "I didn't know that I had to ask a..."

Hermione looked at him sharply. "A what?" she asked as she felt a wave of hostility. "Go ahead, say it. Mudblood."

Draco looked at her strangely, and she saw something flash in his gray eyes. "No. I was going to say before I was so rudely interrupted was, I didn't think I had to ask an ex-fiancé of mine if I could sit down," he replied smoothly, gazing at Hermione with lust-filled desire in his eyes.

Taking in her smooth ivory features, the black and gold exotic dress she wore, he suddenly felt the need to rip the garment off and ravish her curvaceous body. He did not care that he was still engaged to Pansy Parkinson. He didn't even love her. There was only one witch that held the keys to his heart and that was the brunette that sat before him, Hermione Granger. "You look beautiful this evening," he said huskily.

"Thank you." she blushed. "You look...dashing." she looked away, trying to find Harry amongst the crowd. He is late, she thought.

"Are you looking for someone?" Draco asked, noticing her glance around as if expecting someone else.

"Yes, Harry. He invited me here and now he's late. I hope nothing has happened to him," Hermione replied worriedly.

"I'm sure Potter will find his way, eventually," Draco said nonchalantly. "Stop being such a worry wart and enjoy this nice, light and airy environment." he extended his hands to display their surrounding.

"This is the life, isn't it, Hermione?" he motioned for the waiter to bring them drinks. After the waiter had served them wine, Hermione glared at Draco. "It's Granger to you."

Draco lifted a brow in surprise and then laughed. "Oh, Hermione. You are a barrel of laughs," he said, sipping his wine.

"Alright, Draco. Let's cut to the chase, shall we? What do you want?"

"To be in your company," he replied, gray eyes glittering with amusement.

"Why?" she asked frustrated. It was bad enough that he had broken her heart into pieces. "You already know where you and I stand. We are over." Draco could see the pain that he had caused, in Hermione's brown eyes. "And furthermore, "she added, "you are engaged." her voice was thick with emotion.

It was true what Hermione said, but she would never fully understand the ways of the wizarding world. Yes, there was intolerance and prejudice based on the "purity" of a person's wizarding blood, and coming from a line of ancient pureblood family, Draco was expected to continue the line of "purity" by marrying one of his kind.

"You know the reason for our break up, Hermione," Draco said quietly, studying her.

"Yes, to keep your damn purity in line," she answered bitterly, drinking her wine in one gulp. She waved at the waiter for another glass, in which he obliged her by refilling her glass.

"Hermione, that's not fair." his voice held a pleading note.

"Don't you dare talk to me about 'fair,'" she said indignantly. "The problem is, Draco, you are a coward. You won't even stand up for what you believe in." Draco's jaw clenched and his cold gray eyes narrowed. Hermione shook her head and laughed bitterly. "You are one of those closed off closet purebloods, who find themselves a muggle that they fancy, only to keep their affairs a secret from family and friends," she whispered and then sipped her wine.

Draco's hand balled into a fist, and Hermione noticed that his knuckles were turning white. "Relax, Draco," she drawled with a smirk, "I can't really blame you for not standing up to your family. After all, you have to do what dear old dad says." she leaned back into her chair and crossed her left leg on top of her right one, showing her creamy thighs.

Draco felt the tension drain from his body and he gulped as he felt the tension build in his groin. She really did look gorgeous with her rosy cheeks and pink glossy lips begging to be kissed. He'd give anything to have her, if only for one night. The same melody continued to play as a deep, velvet voice began to sing:

Let me hold you tight

if only for one night

let me keep you near

to wipe away your fears

it would be so nice

if only for one night

Hermione gasped in surprise as she turned toward the familiar voice to find a tall, dark short haired black wizard, wearing a single gold hoop earring in one ear, and a blue pin strip suit, standing on a dais in the center of the garden, singing. Her favourite song. She felt tears burn behind her eyelids.

"How about a dance?" Draco asked. Hermione looked at him uncertain of whether or not she should take him up on his offer. "Just for old time's sake." he extended his hand to her and she reluctantly took it.

They move into the middle of the garden, close to Kingsley, who winked at Hermione, while still singing:

I won't tell a soul

no one has to know

if you want to be totally discreet

I'll be at your side

if only for one night

yeah, yeah, yeah

if only for one night

Hermione heard the soft voice of Draco singing in her ear. She had to admit that he could carry a descent tone.

Your eyes say things

I'll never hear from you

and my knees are shaking too

but I'm willing, willing to go through

I must be crazy

standing in this place

but I'm feeling no disgrace

for asking...

Let me hold you tight

if only for one night

let me keep you near

to ease away your fears

it would be so nice

if only for one night

hey...

If only for one night

I'll tell you what I need

one night, one night

oh, oh, oh, oh

I'm asking...

Let me take you home

to keep you safe and warm

til the early dawn

warms up to the sun

it would be so nice

if only for one night

Kingsley repeated the last chorus a few more times and then ended it by holding the last note. Applause erupted from the garden, some couples were seated at their tables, and others stood in their place as they had danced with a partner. Hermione wiped her cheeks with her hands of the tears that drenched her face.

One look into Draco's heated gaze, and Hermione was transfixed. She loved him with all her heart and no matter how much she told herself that it was over between them, she knew that she would give in to his touch. Having nothing more to say, for it was already expressed in the song, Draco picked Hermione up, not caring who saw them and carried her inside the restaurant that also had private rooms for guests to stay for a short or extended period of time.

So caught up and the moment was Hermione that she had forgotten about Harry until he came to her mind. "Harry!" she exclaimed. "Put me down, Draco," she said frantically. "I forgot that I'm here at Harry's request."

"I will send Potter a note concerning your well-being. I'm sure he will understand," Draco replied. As a matter-of-fact, he knew that Harry would understand, for it was he that approached Harry to extend an invitation to Hermione for dinner on his behalf; a favor that Harry owed Draco, which he begrudgingly returned, but with a warning that if he ever hurt Hermione again, Harry would kill him.

Before Hermione could protest further, he had arrived with her in tow at the door of his room.

Harry squinted his vivid green eyes, looking into the distance as he watched Hermione and Draco, swaying slowly together to the music. He had remained hidden in a back corner. When Draco had contacted him a few days ago about seeing Hermione again, Harry wasn't happy about the idea at all, seeing that Draco was the one to break Hermione's heart. The only reason why Harry acquiesced to Draco's request was because of a favor he had owed him. Harry was never good at making potions and he needed the Polyjuice potion to go undercover in a slave trade case that he was working on, and Draco was an expert in potion making. It was not that Hermione couldn't do it, she was the best at potions, it was just that Harry didn't want to have to answer Hermione's questions. Then she would have wanted to join him in exposing the slave traders and the risk was too dangerous, and they had barely escaped Voldemort before his downfall and he did not want Hermione to suffer any more hurt.

The red-haired witch watched him before she approached. Harry had appeared lost in thought about—something. She touched a piece of his untidy black hair. Her eyes scanned his lean muscular figure in the black and white suit that fit him well. "You are so handsome, my love," she murmured in his ear, and then bent her head and claimed his ear into her mouth, kissing and sucking on it passionately. Harry shivered in delight and the witch grinned. "I think you must be cold. Here, let me warm you up..." she said in a sultry voice.

Harry grasping her arms and pulling her onto his lap interrupted her words. "Ginny," he said huskily. "You know when you do that, it drives me crazy." Harry's eyes had become dark as he gazed hungrily at Ginny. "You are so beautiful," he murmured, and then claimed her lips in a soft kiss that turned passionate, causing his groin to harden.

"Why don't we get a room?" she asked, after breaking the heated kiss, which left her flushed. Not saying another word, the couple left the garden.