"Hermione felt a rush of excitement run through her entire body. Never had she felt so brazen and well brave. Generally, Hermione Granger wasn't someone who engaged in risky behavior, which wasn't to say that she was not courageous, - she had proven that time and again during her school years. Facing hideous creatures like three headed dogs, giant snakes and death eaters to only name a few. But on a day to day basis Hermione Granger played it safe, liked to take a more level-headed approach as she herself would describe her behavior. She had the same friends for years, never did anything extremely out of the ordinary or daring and never strayed to far from home. But right now, in this five-star restaurant drinking a glass of champagne that cost more than the average person earned in an entire month, she felt like a double agent. A spy on a mission facing her target – her husband, Draco Malfoy.

She had to admit it he looked impeccable. She never knew how he achieved that, she had lived with the man for more than 2 years and knew his habits. He didn't take long to get ready in the morning, or ever. She knew that from the awkward period in the beginning of their marriage, when she had tried to figure out how to avoid him. Turned out that wasn't a problem, Draco was one of those 5-minute shower, shrug on a suit and go kind of guy, and yet he always looked flawless, never a hair out of place, no wrinkles anywhere on his clothes, his suits fitting his body perfectly. Whereas Hermione always seemed to always run out of time whenever she had to get ready for anything, her clothes either too tight or too baggy, crinkled with stray cat hair stuck to it, her curls frizzy and forever escaping her bun, a flustered flush on her face and neck. Whenever her and Draco attended work events or on the rare occasion they would venture out for a meal together, she would always catch other women either staring longingly at Draco or slightly astounded at her, - ow had a woman so plain as Hermione scored a man as gorgeous as Draco. Hermione was always very annoyed, yes she wasn't anything special, her hair a mess her body while more on the curvy side on the bottom (bigger thighs and hips) pretty much flat on top. Her face a little to round, her nose slightly pointed and her eyes a little too close together, but she had never been ashamed of her appearance, while she wasn't beautiful she certainly wasn't ugly and what's more looks weren't what mattered most.
Her intelligence and character were what Hermione prided herself on. None of those shallow bints lusting after her husband could possible match her in that regard. No matter how shapely their legs and cheek bones or how big their breasts and lips or how glossy their hair.

Surprised Hermione realized that a slightly possessive feeling over her husband had risen within her while she had been following that though process. Was that jealousy? No, surely not! After all her and Draco had never been well like that..! Their marriage had been partly due to the wizard marriage law which took effect after war and partly due to the fact that she had wanted to piss of Ron. While Draco was the candidate most likely to achieve the latter, she had also felt it would be the perfect opportunity to execute her revenge on him and punish him for everything that he had done to her during their time at school. Having redeemed himself during and after the war by fighting on the side of the light, but never really earning back the trust of many half- bloods and muggleborns had made it easy to cause Draco discomfort simply by dragging him from one wizarding event after another.

If Draco was suffering because of the snide comments or people physically avoiding him at those events, - he didn't sow it. Wearing a mask of confident unwavering polite blandness, his face never betraying anything while people insulted, pushed and once even punched and spit at him, Hermione's game soon ceased to be fun. Part of her admired him for how he controlled his emotions, a skill she never fully mastered. When it came to her emotions Hermione was an open book. She was fiercely loyal, loving and protective and showed this openly but whenever she was angry or hurt she lashed out as well. Her father had always called her his little fire horse. According to him that was her Chinese zodiac sign, Hermione liked to think of herself that way. Her father had always had a way of making people feel good about themselves. Thinking of her deceased father made Hermione's eyes well up.

"What's wrong? Hermione?"Draco's deep voice Hermione's head snapped up and her brown eyes briefly met his grey ones, damn the man nothing ever got past him. She quickly got up murmuring "..going to the loo" before hurrying towards the restroom her head bowed. She entered the nearest stall – luckily the restroom seemed to be empty. Sighing heavily, she sank onto the closed toilet seat and let a few tears stream down her face. This happened every once in a while, and she found that she now didn't fully break down at the thought of her father's death anymore. After a few moments her tears ceased, and Hermione felt herself calm down. Wiping at her cheeks she fixed her face up with makeup wipes – the restaurant provided, pinched her cheeks for good measure and exited the restroom. When she got back to the table the waitress -who had apparently just delivered their food was trying hard to flirt with Draco. She was bending over at the waist showing off her ample cleavage. Draco's eyes met Hermione's when she arrived at the table and remembering her mission for today she gave him the most dazzling smile she could muster (which probably wasn't all that dazzling but considering she couldn't remember the last time she had smiled at Draco – if ever it seemed to have the desired effect : his mask of indifference wavering and his face splitting into a small surprised grin, which made Hermione feel victorious at an instant. Blaise had been right!

Earlier this month:/p
Hermione was sitting in her office looking out the charmed glass walls at her colleagues who buzzled about busily. Being one of the golden trio had it's advantages, she was the only person in the entire office of her rank who had their own office everyone else who had one was higher up than her. Not that she wasn't good at her job or could have climbed up the career ladder much further by now. But she simply didn't want to she was happy in the department of historical research which allowed her to do her two favorite things research and read – which could be counted as one thing really but o well…

It also allowed her to avoid having to attend big events and give speeches in front of big crowds which always hated. No this was what she preferred, solace and normalcy. She also never cared about money. Yes, her husband was rich and she had access to all of it but even if she didn't, Hermione had never been a materialistic person. When she saw a dark figure hurry across the room she quickly opened a small drawer in her desk – popping a mint in her mouth and tried to pat down her hair – which she could feel was a mess again. A quick knock sounded at the door before it opened not a minute later. Blaise Zabini closed the door behind him and strode in like he owned the place. Hermione barely had time to breathe a greeting before he had her out of her chair and up against the wall, snogging her senseless. This had been happening for a wile now, Hermione wasn't quite sure how it happened. Blaise came in on day requesting access to some old blue prints for a building he was restoring, and they had worked together for a few weeks. Blaise's flirting had been strong from the beginning and Hermione had been well, flattered. He was good looking after all. Dark glossy hair and beautiful tanned skin. His build tall and lean. There was something unnerving about him, too. They had been meeting just to make out for a while now./p
After an intense make out session Blaise had finally pulled away and that's when he told her that he believed that Draco had a hand in the murders that had been happening in London lately. Hermione had heard about women turning up dead a few months back but then the news had stopped. Blaise told her that the ministry had been holding back information about more murders to avoid panic and because they didn't have any solid leads. Blaise then started to explain how Draco ad means and opportunity to kill all these women. Apparently, Draco had had affairs with all of them, Blaise had been following him and seen him enter hotels and restaurants shortly before or after a young beautiful woman walked in and coming out hours later. The same woman would turn up dead soon after he was done with her. The women had all been muggleborn..

First Hermione had been reluctant to believe it. Draco's reputation had been restored after all and since he married her, he had been decent if not more than decent, trying hard to get. Hermione's mind went back to all those times he had been cruel to her: the nasty glares, the name calling "you filthy mudblood". If he hated muggleborn women so much there was one he could kill easily living under his roof right now, why didn't he kill her?

"Because you're an asset to him, you're sort of an alibi – if he was ever under suspicion he could ask the same question you just asked" Blaise said. "Plus Drake has a ting for you he always had, but for a few years he has been absolutely besotted with you..

When Hermione had snorted in disbelief Blaise had explained how Draco had confided in him at school and later before him and Hermione got married how much he had always wanted her. He continued to stress that if anyone could get information on the murders and other illegal activities Draco was involved with it would be had been reluctant, but she trusted Blaise and Draco had well a dark past. So over the following weeks she had been going through Draco's home office, even his laptop and his bedroom when he was at the home gym or out for a run. Usually he took his laptop everywhere else he went. Which struck Hermione as oddly paranoid and sparked more suspicion. She sent all the files she found on his computer and took pictures of files that Blaise requested. She also let Blaise into their house on various occasions and once into Draco's office. Still they didn't find the information they needed to build hard evidence against Draco. That's when Blaise came up with the idea that Hermione should get close to Draco and earn his trust, they hoped he would eventually confess or make a mistake that they could use to convict him.

Now:
Hermione dug into her Pigeon with warm foie gras sorbet. The food was amazing but then it always was. While Hermione spoke some French, - enough to hold a very basic conversation, the menu of this restaurant was still a mystery to her, so she just ate her way through the menu picking the next item each time they came here. Draco seemed to have no problems understanding the menu his French seemed excellent, but she would never ask him to order for her that would just add to his already inflated ego, plus Hermione didn't like to admit she didn't know something.

"Are you alright?" he asked her again and Hermione noticed that he hadn't touched his steak and fresh baby spinach. She forced another smile."Yes of course, why do you ask?"

"You looked - well sad, earlier. Was it something I said or did I do something wrong?

He looked genuinely concerned and she felt the ice in her heart melt a little for him, which made this whole acting thing a lot easier. "No you didn't do anything

He was still staring at her so Hermione added: "I was just thinking about my dad, - something he said

"Oh" he said looking torn and at loss for words he wasn't good at these things Hermione knew, Draco Malfoy was a cold fish who didn't do emotions

"I'm sorry " he finally said. Hermione's eyes flittered up to his again. You're a spy she was telling herself, you're seducing him. "Thanks" she muttered and went back to her food. She was thinking furiously about what she could do to talk. Just then their deserts arrived, Hermione's was an elaborate chocolate creation, which she was very pleased to discover considering that she wasn't sure what she was ordering. Draco had ordered cheese. He always had cheese when they went out to dinner, never touched the cheddar she kept in the fridge though. Snob she thought. She realized that this was another opportunity for conversation.

"What kind of cheese is that?"he looked up surprised that she had addressed him of her own volution. "It's an assortment, mostly goat but also some sheep and this one- he pointed with his knive, is truffle he seemed almost excited.

"So you like cheese?"

I love it

"So how come you never eat any at home?"

"You should never overindulge in something you love, it takes away the magic of it" what a creepy thing to say.
"and it's also not very becoming of the waistline" he added with a wink

"Ha, like you ever had any weight issues, you don't have an ounce of fat on you" she muttered

He looked up surprised "was that a compliment Mrs Malfoy?"

She felt herself blush but forced herself to go on. "Maybe" she squeaked but Malfoy didn't seem to notice her voice now openly gawking at her before he lowered his face staring at his food while his cheeks and ears turned pink.

In the car Hermione was again struggling for a topic of conversation, having so little experience in talking to her husband. She found herself frustrated that this didn't come easier, she was a social person was she not? She was more intelligent than most people and it wasn't like they hadn't known each other since they were 10 years old.

"Timidly she glanced over at his profile dimly lit by passing street lights. He seemed relaxed, like most times when he was driving. His strong jaw relaxed, his full lips slightly parted, her eyes wandered from his face over his strong neck and shoulders to his hands on the steering wheel. She always found herself looking at men's hands. She quite liked Draco's hands they were just right, quite a bit bigger than hers with long fingers but still wide enough to be considered manly but not so big that they looked meaty. He kept his nails short but not manicured like Blaise. Sighing Hermione leaned back into the comfortable seats of the Audi and let the blueish light and the warm temperature sooth her nerves. She must have dosed off because the next thing she sensed was being jostled lightly and then she got a good whiff of Draco's cologne – Dior Sport. She had checked because Ginny hassled her so she could get it for Harry, she thought it was yummy – those were her exact words and Hermione had to agree that it was true. Opening her eyes, she was met with a close up of Draco's charcoal dress shirt and dark tie before realizing that he was carrying her bridal style. Despite herself Hermione felt a elated by the situation, her nerve endings were tingling in triumph, so she must have been doing something right if Draco Malfoy stooped so low as to carry her – which he otherwise would never do. Before she could close her eyes again, she heard the deep rumble of his voice and felt it vibrate against her cheek.

So you are awake after all, do you want me to put you down?

A sting of disappointment, she did not want that – not at all. There was something elating about being carried being a grown woman, even if it was done by Draco Malfoy, it made her feel cherished.

Realizing she hadn't answered his question she took care to sound more groggy than she was/p
"Did I fall asleep? He chuckled "Like every other time we went out.

"Her head shot up which put her eye level with her husband, - something she never experienced – him being so much taller than her, even in heels her head usually just reached the center of his chest. "That's not true!
"Yeah it is! I have to haul you up the stairs every time, you have like chronic car fatigue or something.. A hot remark burned on her tongue for using the word haul but at the last moment she realized she was meant to make nice with her husband and bit her tongue.
What no smart comeback?
She snuggled deeper into the crook of his neck instead and she could tell that he was surprised because of his sharp intake of I just like when you carry me. She murmured and was glad for the darkness that concealed her red face. She realized it was walked through the open door of her bedroom and deposited her on the queen bed. Before he could straighten up she grabbed his tie keeping his face close to hers. His grey eyes locked with hers. She could see the blue flecks in his eyes illuminated by her bed side lamp, his blond lashes that she used to find so atrocious and his light five o'clock stubble. His eyes widened and his breath sped up. So did hers. What now?She realized that she didn't know what to do. She had never seduced a man before, always having left that part to the other party and having been with so few of them that her experience was extremely minimal. She realized that the moment she had held him there without speaking had gone on for too long and it was now getting awkward.
Did you need anything? Stay she squeaked and even to her own ears it sounded anything but sexy and she couldn't hold his gaze. She kept her eyes closed for a few minutes. What was that ? He asked
Nothing she mumbled and kept her eyes closed
I think.. I think you had a little too much to drink tonight .. and even though I would love to believe that sober Hermione would like me to stay we both know that that's not the case is it?
She slowly opened her eyes as she felt him gently prying her finger of his tie. He turned away but sat at the edge of the bed for a little longer before leaning over her and softly kissing her forehead.
Good night Hermione
Good night Draco
Did she imagine it or was there something like regret edged on his face? Hermione turned on her side and waited until she heard the door close before she let out a frustrated sigh. This was going to be harder than she thought!

Seduction was hard!