Full Summary: Hermione Granger tossed her hair so it would land sexily back on her back. Draco Malfoy walked in and met her chocolate eyes with his gray stone ones. He suddenly felt his heart stop and his stomach drop when he recognized the girl who was dancing.

Ship: D/Hr

Reasons for M Rating: Language, violence, sexual themes and behavior, drug use, etc.

Disclaimer: Everything Harry Potter related is the sole property of JK Rowling, and not myself.

Chapter One: Angel In The Light

Hermione looked at herself in the full length mirror, making sure that everything was in place, the laced leg bracelet that her tips were placed in, her purple thong that graced her lower half, and the matching bra that made her look like an angel from heaven.

She let her long, caramel locks down and fixed her black, knee-length boots before walking on the stage with two other women, one with blonde hair and another with fiery red hair. At first glance, it wasn't uncommon to mistake her for young Ginny Weasley. Hermione closed her eyes as she danced around the silver pole, feeling the eyes of the older men on her body.

When she opened them, she wasn't surprised to see at least fifty men, their mouths agaped, and their money already clutched in their hands. She bent down low, very low, to the floor, revealing the thong to her audience. There were only two rules in the club that she danced in: one, no one in the audience could touch her, or any of the other exotic dancers. If they did, security had them instantly thrown out. Two, she couldn't touch them, likewise. Two very simple rules that, for the most part, were obeyed.

"Hey sweetheart, why don't we grab a hotel room together and you can dance for me?"

Hermione rolled her eyes but turned to face him as she set her legs far apart in a full split. He looked at her in satisfaction and hunger.

"Would you like that, big boy? Would you like it if we got a room together so you could show me just how big you are?"

The eighteen-year-old woman placed her face close to his, as if she was teasing him. She bit her lip seductively and laid on her flat stomach, letting her legs come together behind her before she got on her knees. As she looked into his tired, green eyes and at his five o' clock shadow, all she could think about was why he was even here in the first place. Had his wife or girlfriend kicked him out, or was he a single bachelor who just let a womanizing life?

A part of Hermione felt almost tempted to grab a hotel room together and get to know him better, but she was smarter than that. She knew perfectly well what happened to exotic dancers who went to rooms with older guys; they usually ended up raped, dead, or both.

He shook his head in anticipation as he watched her creamy, milky thighs. "Do you mean it? Would you really want to get a room? I'll tip you double…"

At this, he slipped three twenty dollar bills into her leg bracelet and looked at her face.

Hermione brought her face closer to his and smiled. "Thank you, I'm flattered, but you really aren't my type." She stood up and backed away from the overly eager man, still smiling politely.

He didn't seem too happy but he didn't exactly seem too upset either. Chances are that he knew that it would only be a one-night stand, and he might be looking for an actual relationship out of the deal. This, of course, was out of the question.

Hermione danced for about half an hour more before she finally exited the stage. She waited until she was back in her room before counting her tips.

"Ten, twenty, twenty-five, forty, forty-five, sixty. Not bad for a night's work, I suppose."

Hermione quickly slipped into the crimson sweater that she had arrived in, and a pair of blue denim jeans before grabbing her coat and leaving the adult entertainment club.

She hugged the coat around her slim body as the winter chill froze her fingers. She felt eyes on her back and a paranoid feeling that she was being followed. As Hermione walked the icy sidewalk, she didn't stop to look behind her. She was used to this sense of insecurity and uneasiness. Most girls would either run back to the club, or call the police, believing that they had a stalker following them.

Hermione didn't quicken her pace as she finally reached her apartment. She walked in the shoddy apartment and tiredly dragged herself up the stairs to her room. Grabbing her key from her purse, she unlocked the door and walked inside. The sight of her apartment room that she rented out was just as sad and pathetic as the club she worked in. Brown shag carpet covered the floor of the living room, all the rooms with the exception of the bathroom were adjoining, black and white linoleum tiles covered the kitchen and dining room floor. She wandered on into her bedroom where light blue carpet was rough under her bare feet.

She quickly changed out of her clothes into just a long soccer team t-shirt that went to her knees. The exhausted woman was about to pull back the sheets when she heard her buzzer go off. At first, she just thought about ignoring it but realized she knew who it was. The man who had saved her, and likewise, she had saved him. The two had literally ran into each other on the London streets. Hermione had saved her from the drugs he had swallowed himself in, and he had saved her from the loneliness she had succumbed to. He needed someplace to stay, and she needed someone to love her. She let him stay in her apartment room as long as he helped pay the rent and got himself tested at least once a week.

Hermione walked over to the buzzer and buzzed him in.

"Come right up, Liam. You know the room number."

She smiled when she heard the man's Irish accent reach her ears. "Indeed I do, Hermione Granger."

Liam Gallagher.

He was twenty-two years, three more years older than Hermione. Normally, she would've been freaked out by the age difference but found a sense of safety and security in it, and in him. Standing at six foot with green eyes and brownish-red hair, Liam was somewhat muscular, and had the same milky skin as Hermione.

Within five minutes, she heard a gentle knocking at her door and walked over to open it. When she opened it, she couldn't help but smile at the sight of him.

"So what brings you around this time?"

He leaned in the doorway with a small smile on his face, his arms folded across his chest. "What, are you not happy to see me?"

Hermione bit her lip and rolled her eyes. Liam had been once involved with heroin and cocaine, and he had been known for his violent behavior on both. He never hit her, but she was told by his ex-girlfriend that he had hit her on more than one occasion. This idea alone made it difficult for her to fully trust him.

"No, it's great to see you again. I am happy to see you, Liam."

The male smiled and then picked her up, causing her to shriek before he gently dropped her on the bed. He rested his hands on her warm body.

"So how is my sexy, hooker girl?"

She looked at him mysteriously. "Since when did I become your girl? I thought our relationship was strictly platonic, and I am not a hooker! I'm an exotic dancer!"

Liam laughed and kissed her neck before bringing her down on her back, his fingers gently grazing her thighs. "Well… it's been nearly two years and we've been physical many times. I usually don't believe in relationships like these since I only see you twice a month, if that. There's just something about you that I can't resist… that makes me keep coming back to see you."

Hermione rested her head on her arm and looked into his emerald eyes. "Oh really, and what would that be?"

He gave one of her locks a gentle tug. "I really don't know, Hermione Granger. Maybe it's just your beauty and your intelligence."

She smiled up at him and moaned as she felt his fingers graze the lining of her panties. Liam brought his lips down to hers as he rested his hand on her leg. She kissed him back passionately back and before she knew it, he was taking her shirt off over her head.

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Liam rolled off of Hermione, breathing unevenly as he went into the shower to clean himself up some. She moaned in exhaustion and contentness as she watched him get into the shower.

Hermione slipped on her panties and put her bra back on before grabbing her t-shirt and walking towards the open door that led to the bathroom.

"So do you just find me attractive because I'm a dancer?"

There was a slight pause before she heard him speak.

"That's just one of the reasons why I find you absolutely gorgeous, Hermione. You're amazingly intelligent, fun, outgoing… the fact that you're an exotic dancer is just the cherry on top of the sundae."

Hermione leaned against the bathroom wall, finding herself disappointed with his answer for some reason. She was in love with his accent, and he just seemed to be in love with her body. It was a relationship that was doomed to failure before it even began.

"What's the real reason why you came here, Liam? I mean, you couldn't have just decided to stop by at ten o' clock at night…"

Liam shut off the water and put the towel around his waist. "I came to see you! Why the third degree?"

Hermione shrugged, giving him a look of uncertainty. "I'm sorry, it's just… I know your history with that filth you used to be on, and –"

Liam got out of the shower and walked towards her, almost threateningly. "And what, exactly? I'm not the person I used to be, Hermione! I'm off that shite and I'm clean! You cleaned me up…"

Hermione felt herself shrink underneath his tall structure and found herself simply nodding. "Alright, Liam; I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound patronizing. Let's just go to bed."

He kissed her cheek but walked over to his jacket pocket. "You go ahead. I need a smoke."

She sighed, but didn't bother to argue against him. The last thing she wanted was to fight with him tonight.

"Alright, baby. Don't stay up too late," Hermione replied before crawling into bed. Once she heard his lighter snap open, she rolled over on her side, letting a tear stray down her cheek.

She knew that he was different. She couldn't be sure that he was off the drugs, but could only pray that he hadn't fallen prey to new drugs. Hermione slowly closed her eyes, taking in the cigarette smoke as she drifted off to sleep.

"Don't tell me what to do, Hermione! Just leave me alone!"

Hermione cowered in the bedroom, tears streaming down her face like a water facet. "I'm only looking out for you Peter! I care about you!"

Her brother walked past her as if she wasn't even there. "I don't need anyone to look out for me! I can look out for myself!"

"Please, Peter," Hermione begged, grabbing his arm. "Don't leave me! Mum and dad are gone! You're the only family I have left! Please don't leave me too!"

Peter Granger pushed her off to get his arm free. He packed a single bag full of clothes.

"Mum and dad are never coming back, Hermione! They died, and I can't be responsible for you! I'm going to find a job, and actually try to make it! I suggest you do the same…"

"Peter, stop! STOP! DON'T LEAVE ME!"

The door slammed shut and thirteen year old Hermione Granger stood alone in the dark room as she continued to sob. Her knees gave out, causing her to fall to the ground.

She was alone again. No mum. No dad. No brother. No one. She cried herself to sleep that night, forgetting all the events that had happened in the five hour period even if it was until sunrise.