AN: Here is chapter 2, hot off the press. And one more to go ;)


The club was already very much alive with music and people when they arrived and charmed their way inside despite having no muggle ID cards. Hermione didn't usually appreciate compulsion on muggles but she let it slide this time, allowing Draco to keep a hold on her waist as he led her through the throng of people towards the bar. He shrunk his jacket and slipped it into his pocket for the night, knowing the club would warm them up quickly. He could already feel the heat of the bodies gathered and dancing in front of the stage where a DJ was mixing old school hip hop beats with fresh tracks.

"What will it be?" he asked, leaning in close to hear her answer.

"Get me a screwdriver!" Hermione shouted over the music and noticed his grin at her choice.

"Naughty Granger!" he replied over the heavy base, grinning wider when she flipped him off and turned to look over the crowd.

She noticed two boys dressed like wannabe gangsters waddling their way towards them in clothes way too large for their skinny frames but made nothing of it until one of them clapped Draco on the back.

"Yo Boss man! What's up brov?" one of them grinned and Draco turned around, doing some sort of a handshake that had Hermione trying to contain a laugh. He looked no older than 16, and his eyes sparkled with mischief just like his friend's.

"Hi Pepe, we're all good. How are you two trouble-makers?" Draco asked, handing Hermione her drink.

"The usual, there's some sick beats tonight, man. Speaking of, who is this gorgeous thing? And why have you been hiding her from us? I thought we were cool." said the other boy who must have been Beatz as Draco mentioned before.

Draco merely laughed and slipped his hand around Hermione's waist again to pull her a bit closer. She wanted to question it now that they were out of the cold and it was unnecessary, but let it go, guessing Draco knew the boys well enough to get a bit protective maybe.

"Hermione, these are Pepe and Beatz, masters of breakdance and bad innuendos. Guys, this is my good friend Hermione." he introduced them officially, glad the music paused for a bit while the DJs switched.

"And you hang out with this one? Come on, you so beautiful you could do so much better with me." Pepe grinned at her, his boyish smile quite charming, but to Hermione it was more amusing than anything else.

"Or me. Nothing against D-man here, but you could do so much better." Beatz joined in, elbowing his friend. Hermione did laugh a bit this time and felt Draco squeeze her waist just a little bit.

"Careful boys, you're not speaking to one of your chicas. Hermione is a lady with claws, she'd have your heads in seconds." Draco grinned and Hermione could not help but grin in response, though hers was a bit sharper and more dangerous to prove his point.

"Of course, no offence meant, seƱorita. But still, if you ever get bored of this one, give us a holler." Pepe winked and kissed the back of her hand cheekily. "Catch you laterz!" he called and the boys made their way to hunt on the dance floor.

Hermione's shoulders were shaking with laughter as she took another sip of her drink and looked after the boys until they disappeared out of sight. "How old are those two rascals?" she asked, turning to look at Draco who stood beside her, still holding her casually for whatever reason.

"They just turned 15, born on the same day. Their mothers are best friends and they sometimes swear they were twins separated at birth, despite the fact that Beatz' mother emigrated from Nigeria and Pepe's from Brazil." Draco explained with a smirk. Hermione just shook her head and chuckled at the two. What an odd pair, and yet so wonderful in their strange ways.

She sipped her drink slowly, looking around the club when a shock of bright ginger hair made her pause. She would usually think nothing of it, but the man currently turned with their back towards them had a very familiar physique. She studied the person for a longer moment, registering the new beat hitting her body through the speakers and the shaking floor but remained focused. It took a moment but then he turned around and Hermione instantly froze. It was Ron after all. And in his arms was a young giggling girl, hanging onto his neck and kissing him like there was no tomorrow in between whispering something in his ear.

Hermione felt the screwdriver trying to make its way back up from her stomach and turned away from the scene before her, gripping the bar for a moment as she just breathed through her nausea. Six months. She had waited six months for the asshole only to find out that he was really just having fun all along in the muggle world. She wasn't sure whether she was shaking because of the rage, the disappointment, or the pure absurdity of the situation. It wasn't a broken heart surprisingly, perhaps a part of her knew all along that something like this would happen. That didn't however mean it hurt any less to finally know the truth, especially considering the way she found out.

"Hey...what's wrong?" Draco stood close behind her, rubbing her shoulders to alleviate her trembling and wondering what the hell was going on. One moment she was smiling and the next looked like she was about to throw up.

Hermione just turned around and pointed in Ron's direction vaguely, not sure she could look at him again. Draco looked around, not sure what he was looking for but quickly spotted the redhead, realising just who he was looking at. "Oh you've got to be kidding me..." he muttered and pulled Hermione into his arms, squeezing her tightly.

He knew little about providing real physical comfort until recently. His parents have never been particularly tactile as it was not seen as proper within their circles, and the relationships he had during Hogwarts were all purely sexual. But having spent the past six months with Hermione who always greeted him with a hug and a peck on the cheek, and the rest of the Gryffindors as well taught him plenty. Right now, Hermione needed him and however that was, he would be there for her.

"How...dare he..." Hermione managed through gritted teeth, anger winning the battle after all as she shook a little in the embrace of Draco's arms. The blond's familiar cologne and warmth were calming her down, but Merlin did she want to turn the idiot into a weasel right there in front of all the muggles.

"He dares because he is a complete imbecile." Draco said close to her ear and lifted her chin up. "He will never be good enough for you, never mature enough, never man enough. One thing my father did manage to teach me and I actually listened. Only a boy plays with a woman's heart. A man treats her as she deserves." he said firmly, his grey gaze sincere with every word.

Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep cleansing breath. It was over, the wait was over and the message very clear. There was no way she would ever be with Ron after seeing this. All that was left was a bitter taste on her tongue, the disappointment in Ron's actions and her wasting six months of her life in stubborn hope. Well not anymore...

She reached for her drink and downed the rest of it before looking at Draco who was studying her silently. "Give me a night to remember, Draco. I am free and I want to have a great time."

It was not a plea of desperation, neither a wound that needed to be stitched by alcohol and dancing. For the first time since the war, Draco saw acceptance in Hermione's eyes, and knew that this was the point of no return for her. This was the marker of her new life, one she should have started six months ago. "Then you must dance with me." he finally said and finished his drink as well.

"To this music? I don't know how." she protested but he led her to the dance floor nonetheless and pulled her close.

"Come on Granger. Close your eyes and listen to the beat. And just move. I may not be Victor Krum, but I'll lead you through this one." Draco grinned and let his hands hold onto her hips as he guided her a little.

Hermione took the hair tie off her wrist and tied her hair up in a messy bun as she felt the heat of the bodies surrounding her rolling over her skin. Her neck was already damp as she closed her eyes and let the Spanish lyrics and catchy beat move her body. The crowd pushed them closer and she reached up to steady herself on Draco's shoulders as her hips began swaying.

"Sounds a bit like salsa at moments!" she said close to Draco's ear as she finally opened her eyes and smiled.

"Salsa it is." Draco grinned and took her hand, suddenly spinning her around before pulling her back, following the familiar steps of the passionate latino dance. Hermione laughed, listening to the music a bit closer as she adapted her steps a bit to a mix of salsa and the occasional swaying of her hips to the free beat.

Pepe cheekily came up to ask for a dance and Hermione accepted with a laugh, sending Draco for more drinks. She felt carefree surrounded by the vibrant atmosphere of the club, the alcohol making her senses buzz a bit. She only had a couple of drinks but it was loosening her up enough to teach Pepe a few dance moves before allowing him to pull her close to sway and grind together. Draco however claimed her again soon after, sending Pepe on his way with a warning look after he saw the boy reaching beneath Hermione's shirt.

"Don't frown, you'll have wrinkles." Hermione laughed, caressing his forehead with her forefinger as they swayed together.

"The cheeky sod was touching you in no-no places." Draco mock-pouted, only sending Hermione into another fit of laugher.

"Awww getting jealous?" Hermione teased. "I told you I'd ruin your flow, you better start your hunt now if you want to salvage the night."

Draco grinned and suddenly turned her around, pressing their bodies as close as they could be as their hips ground to the beat in perfect tandem. "Why would I when I have the biggest tease and most beautiful minx here in my arms?" he said into her ear, pressing a light kiss to her neck where the skin called to him. He didn't have much to drink either but watching Hermione tonight provided quite a revelation. There was plenty of fire in her that only needed the right channeling, and Draco found himself curious about this side of her just as much about her everyday life.

Hermione shivered at the touch, her body readily responding to the stimulation after so many months of celibacy. She was a young woman with needs after all, and Draco was making her want to do things tonight that usually went against her better judgment. She couldn't even use the excuse of alcohol, knowing very well that this was the blond's presence alone. They danced like that for a moment before she turned around in his arms and slipped one of her thighs between his as they continued to dance closely. "Boys do the talk, men do the deed." she said with a smile, but when Draco looked closer, there was something serious in her eyes. And then she said those three words that started this night in the first place. The three words that always ended in trouble, whether a delicious or a disastrous kind. "I dare you..."

Draco knew better than to back out of a challenge, or if he was honest with himself to pass up an opportunity like this, and swooped down to connect their lips. They both tasted of salt and screwdrivers, their upper lips gathering moisture from the heat in the club. Hermione pressed even closer, not in the least surprised that Draco took a chance, she knew the blond well enough by now to realise a challenge wouldn't go unanswered. Reason be damned, Draco tasted good and his slim lips were firm enough in their quest to heat her blood even further. She lapped at his bottom lip playfully, teasing to see if he would come out and play, and wasn't disappointed when the slick muscle curled around hers passionately, drawing her in before evading her cheekily.

She gasped when long fingers curled around her thigh and pulled it up over the blond's hip, pressing their heated loins close enough for her to feel the effect their kiss had on Draco. Their kiss broke for a moment as they looked at each other, their breath mingling as they remained impossibly close.

"I can call you a tease, get you home, and tomorrow we go back to normal." Draco began, squeezing the delicious thigh wrapped around him. "Or...I give you the night to remember you asked for..." he added, the words that his cock was much more happy about as he felt the hunger for this wild creature in his arms taking over all reason.

Hermione's hold on his blond locks tightened a little at those words. "You told me to go out and find someone who will give it to me good. Do you..fit the criteria?" she asked, ready to get out of there and have some real fun, the kind her body was positively aching for after all that teasing.

Draco grinned and lifted her other thigh as well, easily carrying her out of the club as she wrapped herself tightly around him. "Let's find out." was all he said before they disapparated from the nearest alley.