It's 2005, seven years after the Battle at Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy is a top Solicitor headed for a seat on the Wizengamot, but there are issues. During the war, the Dark Lord made Draco do unspeakable things and one of those things is, all these years later, wreaking havoc with Draco's personal and social life and won't stop haunting his dreams. Dramione.
*For those of you who wonder why Hermione is sometimes called Hermione and other times Granger. The way I see it is when Draco is speaking he will call her Granger (except when he's in a state then he might call her Hermione). When the writing is passive she is called Hermione.
Hermione is way OOC but she needs to be to forward the story. (I love her and wouldn't do anything to sully her reputation).
All things Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling. The storyline is mine. AU
Be warned: Rated M due to language, romantic interludes and *Voldemort dark matter.*
Remnants Of The Dark Lord
Chapter 1: Only When He Sleeps
Draco had experienced one of his horrific nightmares. At the present time he was sitting on the side of his bed practicing his deep breathing exercise. For right now, the breathing exercise was the only way he had of calming himself.
The nightmare was part of the same never ending story. It was about those times when the Dark Lord had control over his life and the lives of his mother and father. That had been such a fucked up time. The nightmares had gotten progressively worse over the years. So bad in fact, Draco had sought out a muggle therapist. Only one other person knew Draco was seeing a muggle therapist and that person was….. Hermione Granger.
He and Granger had gotten wasted together over a year ago and had talked. The alcohol had given them courage and they had talked as though they were old friends.
In truth, during the seven years which had passed since the war, Hermione, Draco, and Harry had become friends. They were all young, upwardly mobile, rich wizards who had worked hard to put the war behind them and help rebuild the wizarding world.
This particular night Draco had let slip a little something about his nightmares and Hermione had whispered. "You should see a therapist. If you like, I can give you the name of a muggle therapist who has ties to the magical world. I'm seeing one. It's the only way I could cope with the scars the war left on me. It has helped."
Draco had rejected her suggestion outright. Even sloshed he wouldn't consider it.
Hermione had shrugged. "If you want to get things back to right, you'll need help." Harry and Blaise came up to the table bringing an end to their conversation.
/*/
There hadn't been anyone helpful Draco could talk to in the magical world. No one who would be comfortable if he had shed his infamous Malfoy façade even for a moment. In any case, Draco Malfoy wouldn't allow anyone in the magical world to see him show weakness ever again. It had taken him almost a year before he would even consider telling a muggle (even one with magical ties) his problems. It had taken a further six months before he had owled Hermione for recommendations.
Hermione had highly recommended a London based therapist named Bart Waldron. And thus Draco sat on the side of his bed doing muggle based exercises set forth by Therapist Waldron. Muggle based or not the exercises usually worked.
It was the next step which was hard. Draco had to walk across the room to enter his bathroom. This act in itself wasn't the problem. It was the mirror that was the problem. Draco would always cast a Lumos into the bathroom before going in because he didn't want to catch a glance of Voldemort looking back at him from the mirror. It had happened. The face of the now dead Dark Lord had appeared in Draco's mirror.
Bart had said, "It's just your guilt manifesting itself. The Dark Lord ordered you to do despicable things in order to remain alive and you did them."
Draco didn't see Voldemort after every nightmare which made things even more difficult. He didn't know when the face would show up. Draco wasn't stupid. He knew Voldermort himself couldn't be looking at him from the mirror. Still, when it happened it was scary as shite.
/*/
These nightmares had another downside. They prevented Draco from finding pleasure in the company of witches. Draco had tried bedding witches over the years. More often than not he froze whenever he looked into the eyes of the witch writhing beneath him. Sometimes he could get the witch off, but the rest of the times he had to finish her with his mouth or hands which was not a very satisfactory outcome.
Draco had to settle mostly for oral sex to get satisfied. Luckily, there were plenty of witches who would take him to orgasm orally. If Draco didn't get his release from oral sex, he would get it by his own hand. After seven years he had gotten used to both methods. A Malfoy would do what a Malfoy had to do.
Bart also had thoughts about this. He had questioned Draco about his dealings with the witches Voldemort had held captive. Bart had asked, "Did you interact with any of those captive witches?"
The morning Bart asked that particular question Draco had froze in his seat. His answer to Bart had been, "No." At the very moment he said no, a montage of memories had flit across his mind, but he had quickly brushed them aside. It had really been a 'what the fuck' moment.
Bart noticed Draco's reaction and had wanted to delve a little deeper into the subject, but Draco declined to go any further.
Bart had insisted. "If you want to find relief, we are going to have to explore every aspect of your time with The Dark Lord. We will need to delve deeper into situations which revolve around those captive women. We can put it off to a later date, but we'll have to explore it."
Draco had come out of that session feeling worse than when he'd gone in. One thing was certain, Bart had helped Draco hold it together better than anything else had in the last seven to eight years. Bart didn't make judgments about the things Draco had done or had been forced to do. He didn't take time to cast aspersions. His job was to make Draco better. Draco had thought Bart a good sort from the very first session and the exercises he had set did help. Most of the time.
/*/
Draco's good friend Blaise was another story entirely. Where Bart helped, Blaise couldn't or wouldn't. Blaise teased Draco mercilessly about one day waking up to a dick with no skin on it or a hand with a hollow in the middle. The shite was funny to his best friend. Blaise knew Draco was suffering. He just didn't know the breadth of the suffering and rather than be dragged down into the depths with Draco, Blaise laughed it off as kind of a joke.
Blaise loved Draco like a brother, but he hadn't gone through any of the things Draco, Theo and Greg had. Blaise's mother had spirited him away to France during the worst of the war so the war really hadn't touched him. He couldn't comprehend any of it. Blaise was a young, handsome and very sexy player who didn't want to remember anything negative. He lived for the positive as long as the positive included a nubile witch. Blaise wanted to enjoy life. He didn't want to visit the pit where Draco dwelled.
Theo, another good friend never commented on Draco's situation. He had his own demons to conquer. His father had been even more despicable than Lucius and just a little less despicable than the Dark Lord. Theo had felt more wrath from his father than he ever felt from The Dark Lord. Nott, Sr. had to keep face because he didn't want to end up without his wand as Lucius had.
/*/
Conversely, nightmares aside, Draco Malfoy had become a wizard to be reckoned with. Draco was a superior and much feared criminal law solicitor who held the ear of many on the Wizengamot. The rumor mill had Draco slated to become the youngest appointee to the Wizengamot which was a position Draco Malfoy strived to win.
Draco Malfoy always presented a well put together front. No one (except Hermione, Blaise and Theo) knew his inner turmoil. He was well mannered but could still call up that hard Malfoy edge when needed. He had been nominated bachelor of the year for two years running. There had been a few whispers as to why he didn't have a beautiful witch or witches on his arm. But rather than answer the whispers, Draco had chosen to ignore them. He was depending on Bart to sort him out. Once sorted, Draco planned on having a beautiful witch on his arm and being able to shag her as well.
/*/
One Friday night Draco received an owl from Hermione.
I want to try a new club in London but Harry, Ron and Seamus have gone out of town to a Quidditch match. I'm no Quidditch girl so I'm here alone. Care to come with me to the club?
Draco had thought about it for a bit and had jokingly responded.
You're paying.
Hermione had written back.
You wish.
Draco who had laughed very hard had found himself in a much better mood. Hanging out with Granger wasn't so bad. He could do much worse. Draco couldn't make it too late of a night as he had an appointment with Bart for 1:00 on Saturday for which he wanted to be clear headed as they would begin using hypnosis to examine his nightmares and his inability to consummate sex.
Draco had met Hermione in front of the club and they walked in together. Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger entering a club together was news. A photographer had taken three possibly four photos in quick succession.
"Oh oh Malfoy. We are going to be a front page spread in tomorrow's Daily Prophet. I can see the headlines now. Draco Malfoy dating the beautiful and brainy Hermione Granger."
They both had a good laugh after which Draco had remarked. "I wish."
Hermione had looked at Draco strangely, but hadn't commented further and neither had Draco. They had joked and laughed over how Draco would not make the Wizengamot because no one would ever leave or die. They had hopped (actually Hermione hopped. Draco did the suave Malfoy shuffle) around the floor dancing to the latest music from the newest magical band. Then the band had played the muggle song Breathe. Draco recognized the song from his time in muggle London seeing Bart. He liked it.
"Hey witch," he had cheeked to Hermione. "May I have this dance?"
Hermione had laughed as she replied. "Certainly my wizard."
Draco took her in his arms and just like magic they had clicked. Hermione fit neatly into Draco's arms and he could rest his chin on her head. Hermione laid her head on Draco's chest which surprised Draco. He would have expected Granger to be as stiff as a board. Draco had gotten another surprise. This one a little embarrassing. Granger had given him a hard on.
When they got back to the table, Hermione was in full blush. To break the tension Draco asked, "Was it something I said or perhaps it's my erection?"
Hermione had nearly fallen out of her chair laughing. "I'll take the erection as a compliment."
Draco and Hermione had a few more drinks and a few more dances before deciding to call it a night. They had walked arm and arm to the apparition point.
It had been a silly thought on his part, but Draco wanted to go home with Hermione. He wanted to make love to her. The only thing stopping him outside of Hermione herself was fear of not being able to complete the act. He didn't want to fail and have to look Hermione in the face afterwards.
He could have saved that thought because Hermione had whispered, "May I see that erection up close? Nobody will have to know but us."
Although this request had startled him, Draco had smiled and remarked, "We can try."
"Try Malfoy? I finish everything I start."
Draco had laughed. "Your flat then." Hermione had grabbed him by the arm and twisted into apparition.
/*/
When they landed inside her living room Hermione had gone straight through to the bathroom calling out, "Make us a drink if you will and make yourself at home."
Draco had begun to catch a case of nerves. He thought, wonder if I can't perform. Wonder if this rock hard erection deflates at the crucial moment. Wonder if I see something in Hermione's eyes. He had pushed those thoughts away and poured a fire whiskey for them both. Then he had tried to relax.
Hermione came back into the room in a tee shirt and pajama bottoms with nipples standing erect. Yup, Erection still there. Check. Hermione sat down beside Draco. Erection still there only more erect. Check. Draco wanted this witch. He wanted to put his mouth on those nipples. In a throaty voice he asked if she was sure.
In the same throaty voice Hermione had replied. "Never more sure of anything."
Draco sat his drink down and moved closer to Hermione. He thought he would feel strange touching Hermione, but it had been the most natural thing in the world. He had lifted her tee and suckled her beautiful breasts. Her nipples stood up like two pink knobs and he had licked and sucked until he had Hermione wriggling all over the couch.
She had leaned into Draco and whispered, "May I?"
Draco hadn't bothered to answer because Hermione already had her hands running over his dick. He had put his head back and let her stroke him. When it had become too much for him to bear he had sat up and gave his order. "Take me to your bedroom witch."
Hermione had taken him by the hand and led him down the hall where Draco laid her down on the bed and gently began removing her clothing. Hermione unbuttoned his shirt, but he had taken off his own jeans.
Draco had stood before her in his boxers and she had lain before him in nothing but knickers. It was at this point Draco's heart really started to pound as he thought, Merlin do not let me disappoint Granger. Then he had laid down beside her, kissed her stomach and slid his tongue up to her breasts. The breasts were so perfect Draco had thoughts of chewing them up and swallowing them. He took a deep breath and proceeded to pull off her knickers. Hermione Granger was perfect and her mound and her slit were calling him. Draco put his fingers inside her and she had been wet and ready so he had slid his boxers off and climbed on top of her. Draco had said a silent prayer as he pushed himself inside her, but there had been no need for prayers. The feeling was amazing. The walls of her pussy had clung to him and they had moved in unison as though they had done this every day of their lives. They twisted and thrust at each other. He threw it to her and she had thrown it right back. Draco was moaning as much as Hermione. It had felt so good he was almost in pain.
Draco was seconds from his climax when he felt Hermione tightening up. He knew she was seconds from reaching her climax so he had grunted, "Cum for me Granger. Give it all to me."
Hermione had panted. "I'm there Draco. Oh. I'm there. Hermione had shouted one big oh and they had both spilled their liquids into and on each other. For a few seconds they held onto each other, then Draco had sought Hermione's lips. They put as much into their kiss as they had put into their sex. The kiss had been amazing and left both of them tingling. Draco had then fallen back onto the bed.
He had done it. He had looked into Granger's eyes during sex and had seen nothing but lust looking back at him. No terrors. She had wriggled beneath him and his dick hadn't deflated. He had just made love to Hermione Granger. Not only had it been his best shag ever, it had been complete. Draco turned on his side and had began to run his fingers up and down Hermione's body. A shiver ran down her body as she pulled him into a kiss.
Draco never would have believed Granger was this sexual. She had been a sexual beast and she had been his catalyst to a complete sexual encounter.
Hermione began to touch him and Draco had felt himself growing hard again. Once more he had climbed on top of Hermione and once more they experienced sexual ecstasy. He had kissed Hermione on the shoulder and without any invitation to stay the night he had fallen asleep with his arm around her waist.
/*/
Draco had been a little disoriented when he woke so it had taken him two or three minutes to realize he was in Hermione's bed. Hermione's side was empty. He had grabbed his clothes and called out, "Granger, may I use your shower?
She had shouted back, "Help yourself."
Draco was happy. He was more than happy. He was ecstatic. He felt cured. He had shagged and brought it to a finish. Draco had whistled while he was in the shower and after he dressed he had gone to find Hermione.
Draco found Hermione in the kitchen making breakfast. She had offered him food, but he had begged off replying, "I have to be in London for 1:00.
Hermione had looked disappointed but Draco had been too happy with himself to notice. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a very sexy kiss.
"That was fantastic Granger. You may have my erection anytime you wish."
Hermione laughed.
Draco bid her goodbye and left to go home. For the first time in seven years Draco didn't use a lumos before going into his bathroom. He was feeling good and felt as though his session would be a good one.
/*/
At 1:00, Draco presented himself at Bart's door. They talked for fifteen minutes before Draco revealed his success. "I made some progress last night. I was intimate with a witch and her eyes were just eyes. They weren't pleading, crying or begging. They were just the most beautiful brown eyes you could imagine. I didn't have any problems if you know what I mean."
Bart congratulated Draco asking Draco an important question. "Was this a special woman? Is she someone you have tried with before but couldn't finish?"
"No. She's not a special woman. I've known her for years, but things just came together for us last night."
"So, is this a relationship you want to pursue?" Bart asked.
Draco had to stop and think. Was it? Glancing at Bart Draco shook his head. "Probably not. She's not really my type."
"But you had sex with her even though she isn't your type?" Questioned Bart.
Draco felt like a shite. He had indeed done just that. His dick had gotten hard and he had taken his release from Granger. Draco made no further comment.
"Are you ready for this?"
Draco nodded.
"Well let's get started."
"I need you to relax. I will speak softly and I want you to listen to the tone of my voice. When you are totally under the hypnosis, I will ask you to answer my questions. Raise one finger if you feel yourself getting too uncomfortable. Otherwise, just relax and breathe."
Draco had held onto the word breathe. It had been a song called Breathe which had put him and Granger together.
Bart began his count…..10.…9.…8.….7. Bart began to speak in a monotone and Draco felt his eyes closing. Bart asked his first question:
"What happens when you try to penetrate a woman?"
Draco answered: "I can see her eyes."
"Who is she?"
Draco answered: "Millicent Bolger."
"What's so special about Millicent?"
Draco answered: "She was captured by Death Eaters on the Dark Lord's word."
"What does she have to do with you?"
Draco answered: "She was my project."
"What kind of project Draco?"
Draco answered: "I had to get her pregnant on the Dark Lord's orders."
Draco had begun to move his head from side to side so Bart had stopped. He waited to see if Draco would calm down then he had asked another question.
"For what purpose did you have to get Millicent pregnant?"
Draco didn't answer and had begun to sweat profusely. He was moving his legs and arms as well as moving his head from side to side. Bart knew that was as far as they would go this session.
He began. "Draco. At the count of ten I want you to open your eyes. You will be awake. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10. Wake up Draco."
Draco had opened his eyes and looked at Bart. "Did it work?"
"It worked very well Draco."
"So, what's the answer?"
Bart hesitated before he spoke, "Do you remember anything about a girl named Millicent?"
Draco thought for a few seconds before he replied. "The name seems familiar, but I don't know why it would be."
Bart then asked, "Do you remember any of the projects assigned to you by the Dark Lord?"
Draco had closed his eyes and recited, "I was assigned to kill a wizard. Not a wizard, the wizard. I was assigned to kill Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts."
Bart knew this. The magical part of his family had talked about nothing else for an entire year.
"Do you remember any other projects?"
"I did have other projects, but I can't seem to bring them to mind. Are they important to what we are doing here?"
"They are very important to what we are doing here," Bart had replied. "We will try more hypnosis at our next session. I'm wondering if you would be agreeable to another session on Monday at 5:30?"
"Monday will be fine Bart."
Bart gave Draco a set of instructions. "Try this exercise before our next session. Sit down in a quiet place with the curtains closed and no distractions. It will be hard, but think back to the time when Voldemort was giving you projects. Just let your mind relax and think back."
Draco agreed to give it a try. He had shaken Bart's hand and left the office.
/*/
Draco passed a restaurant type establishment on his way back. The sign on the front said Deli. These days Draco was less reluctant to visit a muggle venue as he had pretty much caught on to the way to act and what to do. He really only wanted tea and he needed to think. Draco got his tea and went to sit at a table toward the back.
A very cute blonde kept staring at him. He might be having problems, but Draco recognized what she wanted. Draco smiled at her and the smile must have been enough because she had come over to his table to flirt with him. She touched Draco's knee which only served to annoy him. Draco had come in here to think and this….woman was making advances. Draco got up from the table, said good afternoon to the blonde and started to leave.
The woman grabbed his arm. "Don't you want my name and number?"
Draco had snapped, "If I wanted those things, I would have asked for them" and without looking back he had left the Deli.
What was wrong with him? She was pretty in a muggle sort of way. What the fuck? He didn't care. There were plenty of witches who'd want to be on his arm. Then Draco had felt guilty for shagging Granger because she wasn't one of the witches he saw on his arm. She was…..Granger.
/*/
When Draco got home he had owled Blaise to ask what club he was going to that night.
Blaise had owled back that he was going to Club Both, the muggle/wizard club north of London. You are welcome to come as long as you aren't going to be a stick in the mud and what's this in the paper about you and Granger? You look quite the happy couple.
Draco had written back he would meet Blaise at the club and there wasn't anything going on between him and Granger. They had a few drinks together.
Draco laid down in the dark with the curtains drawn as Bart suggested. He had tried to remember Millicent and other projects he had been assigned, but the only face that kept popping up had been Granger's.
Bloody hell. I hope Granger hasn't put some kind of spell on me he thought.
Draco had tried to get back to the exercise, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't bring up a face he could equate with someone called Millicent. Draco had finally given it up as a bad job and laid down on his bed.
The nightmare had begun almost as soon as had shut his eyes. Voldemort was screaming about something. A totally naked Draco was being pushed into a cell with Theodore Nott, Sr. doing the pushing.
Nott had shouted, "You've got your orders. Now do your job. Try to be better than your useless father. Come to think of it, I don't think your tosser of a father even has a dick."
Voldemort and Nott were laughing like maniacs.
Draco could make out the girl in the corner. She was one of the half bloods who Voldemort kept under the Imperius curse. Voldemort had told all his followers that the girls in the cells had begged to be with him and had volunteered to satisfy all his needs.
Draco watched himself as he strode across the floor and waited for the girl to prepare herself.
Voldermort had hissed, "That's more like it Draco. After you fuck it you may make it suck your dick if you wish."
The girl had pulled her filthy robes aside when she saw Draco. She had laid on the ground and spread her legs and rubbed herself as she waited for him to approach her. Draco watched himself as he thrust into her. Her smell was rank and Draco wanted to vomit, but he knew he would be crucio'd if he did so he had swallowed the bile. Her filthy hair covered her entire face. The girl had begged for him to go harder and deeper and with her every word Draco had thrust harder.
In the background, Voldemort and Nott, Sr had egged him on. As he came he had pulled the girl's arse up into the air to let every drop of his juice seep in. Voldemort wanted this half blood whore pregnant before the end of the month. If Draco couldn't accomplish this, Voldemort swore to let Fenrir Greyback have his mother. Those were his orders and the consequences if he didn't fulfill those orders. Get the half blood pregnant or your mother will have a date with Fenrir.
Voldemort had screamed, "It wants to suck your dick Draco. Let it. It's getting good money for this."
Draco stood there while the girl had taken his dick into her mouth. She was rubbing his arse and making noises of pleasure. She turned her face up just as he had climaxed and Draco had jumped awake. He jumped from his bed and landed on the floor. Those eyes. Those eyes were Millicent's eyes.
Draco was in a panic as he sat on the side of the bed and tried to do the breathing exercises, but the exercises weren't working. He needed to get to the shower, but he could barely catch his breath. He had automatically shouted, "Lumos," but the mirror was clear. There was no Voldemort looking back at him.
After his shower, Draco had been able to calm himself down, but he couldn't keep the bile from rising in his throat. Millicent had been his project and his project had been to get her pregnant. Draco hadn't been privy to inside information so he didn't know Voldemort's purpose. Actually, Voldemort didn't need a purpose. He was the Dark Lord. Everybody did his bidding without question because questioning anything was the fastest way to experience the Avada Kedavra first hand.
Draco didn't want to think. He didn't want to know, but he knew what he'd done. Draco also knew he wasn't the only wizard with a project. He has seen Theo and Goyle in those dungeons.
Draco had to get out of the house. He had to clear his head. He dressed so he could go meet Blaise at Club Both and possibly get all the other bullshite out of his head.
/*/
When Draco walked into the club, Blaise had been surrounded by gorgeous witches. Blaise saw him and called out, "My brother, come over here and meet these beautiful witches. They have been craving some extra company."
Draco really didn't feel like going through Blaise's bullshite tonight, but he had told Blaise he wouldn't act like an arse, so he headed over to the group.
Blaise introduced him to each of the witches. Unfortunately, Draco wasn't paying attention and hadn't caught a single name, but the witches had been paying attention. They had definitely caught Draco's name. One auburn haired witch had grabbed onto Draco as though they'd been dating for months.
Draco wanted some comfort. He didn't want Blaise's cast-offs. He wanted Granger. She had been so easy to talk to, expected nothing and was as sexy as hell.
Draco unlatched the girl from his arm and told Blaise, "I want to see how the Quidditch match went. I'll get back to you."
The witch who had grabbed his arm had asked, "Do you want company?" to which Draco had replied. "No. Thanks."
Draco apparated over to the Leaky Cauldron to casually check if Granger was there with her friends.
She was sitting at a table where she was deep in conversation with Michael Corner who was in her face as if he was going to take a bite out of her.
Harry had seen Draco coming and shouted, "We go away for one night and you and Hermione get yourselves splashed all over The Daily Prophet. What's going on? Don't let Michael know you're trying for another notch on that belt Malfoy?"
Draco had smiled and replied. "I don't do notches Potter. If you want to keep your eyes on Granger, you shouldn't go out of the country to Quidditch matches."
Hermione had blushed.
Michael Corner had simply looked annoyed.
Hermione looked at Draco and shivered from head to toe. Draco looked at Hermione and was immediately the owner of a full blown erection.
Harry was not going to let it alone. "So are you two dating? Looks like Michael may be in your seat then."
Draco had retorted. "Yes Potter. Granger and I are dating. We've been dating since last month and you call yourself an auror. Michael. You're sitting pretty close to my witch. If you could back it up a bit. I'd be grateful."
Hermione had shouted. "Don't listen to that git. I'm not his type. He likes the flashy type like that one over there."
Draco turned to see who Hermione had pointed out. It turned out to be the witch he had just left at Club Both. Blaise and company had decided to visit the Leaky Cauldron.
The witch whose name Draco couldn't remember had come over. "There you are Draco. We wondered where you had gotten to."
Hermione turned back to Michael and Harry had quipped. "I guess they aren't dating."
Draco was furious Potter would equate this unknown witch with Hermione. He had no intention of embarrassing Hermione, but, there it was. He had.
The witch latched onto Draco again, but he wasn't having it. "If I wanted you to grab me like you know me, I would have stayed at Club Both. Please take your hands off me."
The witch jumped back as though she'd been scalded. "Well I never."
"And you never will." Draco snapped.
Everyone at the table watched the scene play out.
Harry still acting the arse had remarked. "Perhaps they are dating."
Hermione reached across the table and gave Harry a punch.
Draco looked at Hermione and Hermione looked at Draco. Harry kept quiet because he didn't want another punch.
Draco excused himself from the table saying, "Back in a moment." Two minutes after Draco returned to the table, the DJ had put on the song Breathe. Draco reached across everyone and held out his hand to Hermione. "May I have this dance Granger?"
Harry had slapped his hand across his forehead. "They're dating."
Hermione took Draco's hand and he had led her to the dance floor where she walked right into his arms.
He pushed her hair away from her face. "How long have I been away from you? Eight hours give or take? Since I left you, I've had a session with the therapist and one blistering nightmare. I don't think I'm leaving your side ever again."
Hermione had laughed. "I thought you were coming back to show me that gigantic erection."
"You like that huh?"
"How can I not? It's about to knock me over." Then both she and Draco had laughed out loud and he had pulled her close.
"I don't want to pressure you into anything Granger, but I would like to come by yours again tonight? We don't have to engage in any activities. Being with you relaxes me."
Hermione had flushed. "What if I told you Michael thinks he's the wizard."
Draco had leaned back to look into Hermione's eyes. "Are you sleeping with Michael Corner?"
"Of course I'm not sleeping with Michael." Hermione retorted. "I've just slept with you haven't I?"
Draco pulled her back close and she had laid her head on his chest.
Hermione turned her face up to look at Draco. He had taken her face in his hands and kissed her. In the middle of the Leaky Cauldron Draco had kissed her. She had gone beet red.
Draco leaned over to whisper in Hermione's ear. "There's more where that came from." Hermione just grinned.
/*/
When the song was over they went back to the table. Harry had scooted over sniping. "How did I miss all this? You two are dating."
Draco mocked Harry. "We aren't dating. We're figuring things out."
Michael had growled. "What are you trying to figure out? How to eat her face in public on the dance floor."
Draco had stiffened, but Harry had patted him on the back. "Don't go all Malfoy on us Draco. Michael was just having his little joke."
Michael sniped loudly that there wasn't any joking about it. "I'm not having a joke little or otherwise. Is he just going to walk in here and take over Hermione? She and I were having a conversation."
Draco had sniped right back at Michael. "That would be a yes Corner and you'd better watch your mouth before I watch it for you."
Michael and Draco glared at each other across the table.
Harry tried to nudge Draco out of his chair and had to nudge him twice more before Draco would get up.
Harry steered Draco to the other side of the room. "Mate. I don't know what's going on between you and Hermione. That's your business. I will go out on a limb to say that Hermione won't appreciate either you or Michael having a row over her. Especially in public. She's not some slag who's going to give out free shags."
Draco had snarled at Harry. "Maybe you should be giving this speech to Corner."
"Don't get testy mate. I'm just saying."
When they got back to the table Hermione was gone.
Michael was grinning as he taunted Draco. "Hermione says goodnight. Ha."
Draco grinned back. "She meant goodnight Michael. Ha."
Draco turned toward the door telling everyone goodnight. He had waved to Blaise on the way out.
Draco apparated directly to Hermione's flat. He didn't have to knock because Hermione was sitting in a chair on her front porch.
"I apologize. I've gotten pretty possessive and I have no right."
Hermione had smiled at the gorgeous wizard. "Yes you have gotten possessive. The thing is. I choose my own dates. I choose who I want to dance with and I choose who I allow to kiss me. Michael has it all wrong. I didn't choose him."
Draco started to say something, but Hermione put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Until we don't choose each other anymore, I choose you. So what are we going to do about that?"
Just as Hermione asked that question, Harry appeared on her front stairs.
"I just came to check on you, but I see it's not necessary. You two really are dating. How did I miss that? Wait until I tell Ron and Ginny."
Hermione had growled at her good friend. "If you say dating one more time, I'll hex you."
Harry laughed and said goodnight.
"Are we going to sit out here all night or are you going to feed me?"
Hermione had been quick with her response. "Depends on what you want to eat."
They went inside where Draco took off his jacket then made them drinks. Then he had crossed his leg and waited for his supper. He was comfortable and he was going to sleep with the flat owner….again. Take that Michael Corner. Ha.
Hermione called him into the kitchen to help, but Draco was quick to whine. "I don't know how to cook."
"Until we don't choose each other anymore, you're helping."
Draco had laughed. "Okay. What do I do first?"
"Kiss me."
"I can do that." Draco responded with a huge smirk.
They didn't get to eat that night because after the third kiss Draco had dragged her into the bedroom. Much like the night before, it had been perfect sex all four times. After which, Draco had slept like a baby.
By the next morning Draco had started to believe Hermione was the calming influence which allowed him to sleep without nightmares. He wanted to try something. He wanted Hermione to sleep with him at his flat.
She had agreed.
/*/
Hermione put together the things she would need for the night and they had flooed to Draco's flat.
Draco gave Hermione the grand tour and after the tour they had made themselves comfortable on the couch. Unbelievably content, Draco had his head in Hermione's lap while she scratched his scalp until she pinched him.
"I'm hungry. Why don't we get some takeaway?"
Draco sat up. "Sounds good. What would you like?"
"I'd like some Chinese please."
Draco thought it would be faster if he popped out to get it than wait for an owl order. After Draco left to get the food, Hermione found a book and began to read while she waited. Draco had tons of books so Hermione made herself completely at home.
She had still been sitting on the couch reading when the floo lit up. Draco is back she thought. That hadn't taken him long at all. I'm glad because I'm hungry.
Since Hermione had been expecting Draco she was surprised to see Blaise Zabini step out of the floo.
Blaise was as surprised as Hermione. "Granger. What are you doing here? Where's Draco?"
Hermione had laughed replying with a wicked grin. "Well I've killed Draco so I could read all the books in his library. His body is in the bathroom."
Blaise had given Hermione a strange look and went to the bathroom to look around.
"Really Blaise? Really?" Hermione asked sarcastically. "You actually think I've killed Draco and left him laid out in the bathtub? I think it might be time for you to get a reality check."
Blaise had grinned and replied. "One can't be too careful with a former Gryffindor now can one?"
Hermione laughed. Then she and Blaise chatted for a while.
A short time later Draco came back with the food. He looked at Hermione and frowned at Blaise.
Hermione went into the kitchen to serve the food and had called out, "Blaise would you like some Chinese?"
He had called back. "Yes. Thank you."
Blaise lowered his voice as to address Draco. "I thought there wasn't anything going on between you and Granger. Isn't that what you wrote in the note?"
"I did write that didn't I? Well there really isn't anything going on with us."
"What is she? Your new maid?"
"Don't be bloody stupid." Draco thundered. "We are exploring our options. We want to be with each other right now. That may change."
Blaise had smirked in Draco's face. "Two nights in a row Draco? Next you'll be married….to Granger. You two would have fought to the bloody death if there had been a few more years at Hogwarts. Now you're cohabitating. What's next?"
Draco mumbled, "She helps me. I'm so calm around her. I can sleep the night without nightmares. I'd shag her ten times a night if she'd let me."
Blaise had been skeptical. "But it's Granger? You couldn't find a former Slytherin girl?"
"Shut the fuck up Blaise." Draco had snarled,
Blaise got in the last word, "Okay. She's a good shag. What are you going to talk about during the day? Potter and Weasel?"
Hermione had stepped back into the room.
"Yes Draco. What will we talk about during the day? I'm so fucking stupid I can't hold a conversation. What will we do when you've finished shagging me? Oh! I can guess. I'll be sucking your dick right? Isn't that all Hermione Granger is good for?"
Blaise tried to interject but Hermione turned on him in a fury. "Fuck you Zabini."
She had turned back to Draco. "You bloody bastard. You come to me one way then speak of me another way. Have I misunderstood anything? I'm good enough if I can calm and shag you. Otherwise, I'm just one of the slags much like the ones who run behind Blaise. I understand we have no commitment to each other, but if you think I'll stand still for being maligned by your bloody friends. You have another think coming."
Hermione gathered her things and headed to the floo, but before she got there Draco was at her side. "Please slow down Hermione."
Draco turned to his mate and shouted. "Leave Blaise. Now."
After Blaise left the flat, Draco turned back to Hermione and continued. "The truth is Hermione I don't know what we have. This thing is two days old. I had no intention of disrespecting you. Blaise is a git, but he didn't mean anything either. He was just surprised you and I are seeing each other. I'll understand if you need to leave, but don't leave thinking I meant anything disparaging about you."
"Thank you for the apology Draco. It means a lot. I'm going to go home. I'll see you another time."
With those words, Hermione had stepped into the floo.