Disclaimer? Yes! ……same as before again :)

AN: Oh my Merlin! A heartfelt thank you to all of my reviewers, I think I read and re-read every single one of your reviews until I probably have them all memorized. I'm so glad that you are enjoying this story, hope you'll like the way the rest of it goes.

On a side note, if you're a Suspian, I'm currently reading a wonderful story with an original plot. It's called 'Return to me' by Anfieldgyul and you can check it in my favourites. Give it a read, it is worth it.

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Devil's Deal

Chapter 4 – Demanding Duties

Hermione stood looking at her image in the full length mirror of Ginny's bedroom. This was of course a novelty experience for her since she was usually too busy to spare more than a cursory glance at her reflection. Even tonight, her reason for staring at herself was not due to a belated awakening of her vanity, but rather it was due to curiosity. She knew that it was cliché but nevertheless it seemed so strange that she had undergone such a life changing experience and yet her appearance remained the same.

"Will you be much longer?" she heard Ginny ask from the other side of the closed door.

"No, I'll be down shortly" she answered quickly, smoothing her hands down her forest green dress and then reached up to neaten her upswept bun. As her hands touched her hair she suddenly remembered how Draco had gently brushed the hair of f her face during that night. Unbidden the memory of his body moving masterfully over hers also flashed across her mind. She shut her eyes tightly as she recalled all the sensations he had invoked in her. It took some time before she was able to calm her heart rate and gather some measure of composure. She turned, took a few steps and then sank despondently onto the bed.

Hermione knew her friends were waiting for her but she wasn't at all ready to face anyone right now. Her mind was in utter turmoil and had been that way for the past few days. She couldn't believe that it had only been four days since the night she had given herself to Draco. It seemed like an eternity longer, especially since so much had happened during this short space of time. Anxiety, worry and confusion were all gnawing at her but she couldn't seem to be able to think coherently and put things into perspective.

The morning following her 'fall from grace' she had been rudely awakened by Ginny knocking loudly on her front door. Allowing her entry, she had been bemused to see Ginny brandishing a newspaper and laughing giddily.

"You would never believe it but Draco forgave Pansy!" Ginny had screamed excitedly, crushing Hermione in a huge hug.

"What?" she had asked confusedly even as she begun to understand the ramifications of this statement. She grabbed the paper out of Ginny's hands, needing to see for herself this bit of miraculous news, and then she too was laughing happily when she saw the headline.

"Incredible! Draco Malfoy publicly forgives Pansy Parkinson, Insisting that he still considers her a good friend!"

The rest of the morning had been a blur as they contacted Harry and then rushed to the Weasley home to prepare for Ron's homecoming with the rest of the family. In the whirlwind of activity, Hermione had chosen to banish the thoughts of Draco from her mind but she had not been even vaguely successful. At the most unexpected times she would be reminded of their encounter and the conflicting emotions that bombarded her was unbearable. When the owl had come with the message that her friends' arrival would be delayed until the next morning, the Weasley family had decided to sit together for the entire night keeping an excited vigil. It was during this time that the conversations had started about what they were going to do to Ron when he got back, to choosing names for the baby and finally to speculating about what had lead Malfoy to unexpectedly forgive them.

At the mention of this by Mr. Weasley, Hermione had gone utterly still, her eyes large in her ashen face. For the first time she became fully aware of how Draco's actions were going to impact her life. Stupidly she had not previously thought that this meant that she was going to have to be his mistress, unarguably because she had been more concerned with trying to deny her untamed response to him. Yet she had not been able to dwell on this since Mr. Weasley had asked for her opinion on what she thought had been Malfoy's motivation.

"I don't know" she had answered stiltedly which earned her incredulous stares from the rest of the gathering. Yes, it had been very strange for Know-it-all Granger to supposedly not know something. She had shrugged lightly and Mr. Weasley had thankfully moved on to someone else. For the rest of the night she only half heartedly listened to the family's banter, trying to be part of the conversations yet failing miserably. She was grateful though that everyone had been to busy to notice her pre-occupation.

When Ron, Harry and a very pregnant Pansy came in the next day, the house was once again filled with laughter and love and just for a few moments Hermione had been able to forget her woes. Being in the company of her best friends and knowing that everyone was safe had been a soothing balm to her nerves. While hugging Pansy her hand had tentatively touched her distended stomach and Hermione had felt a feeling of peace settle over her. Beyond any doubt, at that point in time, she knew she had made the right decision to accept Draco's ultimatum.

Yet as the days went by and they all settled back into their normal routines, Hermione's apprehension started to take hold of her. She wished Draco would contact her and let her know of his intentions concerning their agreement, but she hadn't seen or heard from him since that fateful night and the waiting was interminable. Each day she became more anxious whenever an owl came for her or if she had an unexpected visitor, agitatedly hoping that they brought the news that he wanted to meet with her. She couldn't go on like this much longer. She wasn't normally the kind of person to let things happen to her, but in this situation she had chosen to be at the beck and call of a man who didn't even seem to be interested. Every aspect of her life was being overshadowed by this waiting, more than ever knowing that she couldn't start back living a normal life until this month was over. As dire as this predicament was it only accounted for half of her disturbing predicament. The other half resided in the complicated unwanted feelings that engulfed her whenever she remembered being with Draco.

To be quite truthful, the fear that she had previously felt for being with him had completely disappeared, and simply because he had treated her with such consideration that night.Information about sex had always been readily available to her, even at Hogwarts she remembered all the late night discussions that went on in the Griffyndor dorms about losing one's virginity. It was because of this that she knew she had been most fortunate to have a worldly lover for her first time. Draco knew how to do everything perfectly as he had proven to her with his deft skill.

She had known she would have felt nervous, she had expected the pain, she had even expected the soreness. But never, even in her wildest imaginings, would she have expected the immense pleasure….. and this was undoubtedly another crux of her quagmire.

"Have you died Hermione?" she was startled by Ginny's joking question as well as by the loud knocking on the door.

"I'm just coming?" she responded, shaking her head to clear her wayward thoughts.

"That's what you said ten minutes ago" came Ginny's sarcastic response. Hermione was surprised at this, not even aware that she had been lost in her thoughts for so long. Instead of answering she got up, walked quickly over and threw open the door.

"Oh thank Merlin you're ready, Ron has been complaining that he is famished and I'm sure he was going to start eating one of us soon" Ginny laughingly told her while she pulled Hermione quickly down the stairs.

"Hey that's not true!" Ron piped in having heard Ginny's loud comment

"Although Herms, I honestly thought I might die of starvation" he continued petulantly when they entered the room.

"You always think you'll die of starvation, even while you're stuffing yourself full of food." Harry commented matter of factly, which earned him a hard poke in his ribs from Ron.

"Well at least I don't selfishly hide food from my friends" Ron defended glaring at Harry.

"That only happened the one time and it was because you were on a diet and asked me to help you" Harry reminded him with an equally hard poke to Ron's ribs.

"Will the two of you stop your childish behaviour!" Hermione finally told them sternly, which instantly quieted them down. This had been a normal routine for them for many years and Hermione was at once aware of how little had changed and yet how much had changed. She felt that she was looking at them over a chasm that she could never again cross due to the things that were taking place in her life. Poignantly she wanted to return to the life that she had lived before, a life she had foolishly thought she could return to after her month with Draco, but she now saw that this was an impossibility. Instinctively she knew that when this was over she was never again going to be that Hermione Granger.

"Hermione, are you feeling quite the thing?" Harry asked concernedly as she continued to stare sadly at them.

"We were only joking" Ron tried to assure her as he came over to give her a hug.

She patted his hand gently and then smiled at Harry.

"I'm so glad that we're together again" she said honestly, and then she was squashed in a hug from both Ron and Harry.

"Oh come on guys, we're late for dinner already" Ginny protested from her perch on Pansy's chair.

"Yes please, could we get going" joined in Harry's wife Luna, "I don't think I could wait one more minute without something to eat."

For years Hermione had never been able to understand Luna, even today she could not really say that she ever would. But what she did understand was that even with her eccentricities Luna Lovegood was the perfect counterpart for Harry. She listened to him when he needed to speak about his grief filled past, she supported him through his difficulties, even to the extent of living without him for nearly eleven months as he had searched for Ron. Most importantly though she was able to tell when he simply needed to stop being the famous Harry Potter and she held the world at bay while he found his peace and quiet. For all of this Hermione found a grudging respect for Luna, especially because of all the happiness her little quirks had brought to Harry's sometimes solemn life. She was so very glad that her two best friends had found women who were worthy of their love.

"Oh finally, someone who understands how I feel!" Ron exclaimed dramatically.

"I think she only means in this instance Ron, it's not her normal state of mind…. unlike you." Harry harassed him good naturedly, while walking over to pull Luna gently to her feet. Everyone except Ron laughed at the truth behind that statement, before they apparated to the Chez Laurent to meet up with the rest of the Weasley clan.

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The Chez Laurent was one of the most exclusive restaurants in the wizarding world. Only the wizards and witches from the top echelons of society dined within its luxurious setting. Normally because of those snobbish aristocrats Hermione and her friends would never choose to dine here, but for this special occasion they wanted only the best for Ron and Pansy. Tonight was the first time since their homecoming that the couple would make their appearance in public and one did not have to be a genius to understand the stir that this would cause.

As expected there was a buzz of excited conversation when they entered the room. Hermione distinctly heard the words scandalous, shameful and disgraceful being snidely used to describe Pansy's character. At once her protective instincts rose to the fore and she linked her fingers with Pansy's, smiling to let her know that she was not alone in this. On the other side of Pansy, Ron put an arm around her while Harry, Luna and Ginny flanked them. Undeniably they were giving the impression of solidarity as they slowly made their way across to where Ron's family was seated. They were almost to the table when quite suddenly a hush descended over the room and at that precise moment they noticed Draco Malfoy walking determinedly towards them.

For a few seconds they were all shell shocked, but as he neared them, Ron and Harry immediately stepped in front of Pansy defensively. Hermione felt Pansy grip her hand tightly and she returned the grasp reassuringly, even though she was overcome with dread for the impending confrontation.

Then he stood silently before them but his intent gaze was focused solely on Pansy. Ron took a step forward but Harry held him back lightly with a restraining hand. She felt Pansy release her hand and then unexpectedly she gently pushed past Ron and Harry until she was standing directly in front of Draco. With her back to them, Hermione could not make out Pansy's expression but she saw Draco's eyes darken with emotion as he looked down at her. She was stunned when Pansy closed the distance between them and clumsily tried to hug Draco. Immediately Draco's hands closed around Pansy's shoulders and then he leaned down to whisper something to her. She noticed Pansy nod her head in response and then she saw her shoulders begin to shake as she leaned her head into Draco's shoulder. Hermione was amazed when Draco soothingly quieted Pansy's sobs and even tenderly tilted her head up to dry her tears.

They were startled when loud clapping and cheering erupted from the Weasley table, and then it seemed to spread throughout the room as the other fickle patrons, who had only minutes before been decimating Pansy, rose out of their seats and also started clapping. Beyond all doubt, Draco Malfoy had truly forgiven Pansy and no one was likely to forget that. Ron walked towards him with his hand extended, and she saw a flash of surprise cross his usually inscrutable face before he returned to handshake. Harry also walked up to him and she saw him receive his thanks with a nod of his head. It was only expected that as the last of the Golden Trio she too would approach Draco. She moved slowly toward him and extended her hand, feeling shivers run down her spine when he held it in his firm grasp.

"Thank you" she told him quietly while she looked uncertainly up at him.

His only response was a nod, an absolutely emotionless nod. Hermione felt disconcerted and slightly alarmed by his cold attitude. How could he be that way after they had shared the most intimate of experiences? She thought astounded. He released her hand almost instantly as Luna came over to thank him and she walked slowly to the now empty table and sat down. Draco was still being mobbed by the rest of the Weasley family and of course he didn't even notice her missing from the group, but for some reason she felt unbelievably hurt.

After about half and hour they all settled down to dinner, with Draco returning to his private booth. The mood around her was charged with such immense happiness that it severely highlighted her own despairing feelings. She hardly ate anything; she didn't even know what the conversation at the table was about as she desperately tried to sort through her muddled feelings about Draco and the situation that she was in.

Tonight again he had publicly forgiven Pansy, so she was absolutely sure that he meant to continue their affair. Yet he had looked at her as if she was unimportant and he acted as though nothing had happened between them; as if she hadn't laid naked in his arms and given herself to him; as if the hadn't both been consumed by passion! Of course she hadn't thought that he would make an issue out of their affair, but at least she thought she would have seen some small amount of recognition in his expression.

Inexplicably she became angry at this thought. She had been going through the tortures of the damned for the past four days while he wasn't even affected by their encounter. Well, she wasn't going to sit idly by and suffer anymore, especially not for another month. She was going to take back some control over her life and by the end of tonight she was going to find out what he intended for her. She was done with being confused and powerless.

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A very disheveled looking Jinky opened the door to her insistent knocking some hours later. Hermione had left the restaurant soon after Draco's departure, pleading a headache to excuse herself from the on going merriment at the table. In her fury she hadn't stopped to think about whether he would be at home or even if he would be alone, but to be quite truthful she didn't really care either way. She needed to know his thoughts and she was fed up of the waiting.

"I need to see Malfoy" she told Jinky urgently as she stepped into the now dim foyer.

"Granger?" she heard his deep voice, and turned to see him striding quickly down the stairs.

"Has something happened to Pansy" he asked concernedly and a tad roughly.

"No" She answered confused and then in a serious tone added "but I need to speak with you".

"About what?" he inquired cautiously, his face once again a withdrawn mask and his gaze mercilessly direct.

"Master may I be excused" she heard Jinky ask softly, and then heard the patter of his feet when Draco acquiesced.

"When do you intend for me to begin my duties?" she asked in her most professional manner

"What" he asked as if he hadn't heard her correctly.

"My duties, under the terms of our agreement" she reminded him in a hard voice, striving to be as emotionless as he was when dealing with this situation.

"Granger, what the hell are you on about" he asked frustratedly and then he finally seemed to grasp her meaning.

"You can't be serious" he ground out harshly.

"I am very serious, so please answer my question" she all but angrily ordered him.

"I've decided to call of our little agreement, so you're released from your duties" he informed her scathingly.

She gasped, hardly daring to believe what she was hearing. She felt elated and weirdly a little disappointed. However many years of interacting with Slytherins like him had made her wary of dealing with them. They were like the snake in the grass, ready to attack you when you least expected it. She was so grateful that Pansy was not at all like this.

"Why?" she asked him suspiciously.

"I'm surprised you even to care to know….by now I was sure you would have already escaped through the front door" he told her angrily.

"I'm a Griffyndor, we don't run away" she retaliated haughtily.

"Of course…. such a noble Griffyndor trait, martyr to the very end" she heard the sarcastic derision in his voice while he smirked at her tauntingly. She felt very offended by his statement.

"We also are very trustworthy, unlike some of the other houses" she informed him angrily.

"So is that why you're still here, because you don't trust that I'm really releasing you from this?" he questioned mockingly.

"Well it wouldn't be the first time a Slytherin has done that, you are, afterall very adept to going back on your word and then exacting revenge" she said with distaste.

The rage was evident in his walk as he strode over to her menacingly.

"Maybe I should live up to my vindictive Slytherin nature then" he threatened softly.

"Weren't you already doing that?" she goaded him with as much disdain ad she could muster.

But those words that the last that she could get out before his mouth crushed hers. It was a kiss meant to punish, fierce, hard and with controlled violence but it exhilarated Hermione until she felt her blood was boiling. It was irrational and incomprehensible how she went from nearly hating him with a vengeance to needing him more than her next breath, but his kisses had that effect on her. She moaned helplessly as his skillful tongue plundered her mouth, making her hands clench in his hair as she pressed herself more firmly into him

His hands roamed her body with nerve-tingling familiarity, and then he firmly gripped her upper arms completely lifting her of the ground. He backed her slowly into the wall, his hands moving to hold her waist as his mouth burned a blistering trail down her neck and to the exposed top of her breasts. She wrapped her legs around him, anchoring herself firmly to him, while she restlessly pushed down the straps to her dress to allow his roaming mouth more freedom.

A desperate ache was beginning to engulf her and only intensified when his hands dispensed with her bra and roughly closed over her breast. His mouth followed which now left his hands free to hike up her dress to her hips and with a little tug he ripped her of her panties. She looked down startled to find herself naked from the waist down and then he slid one long wicked finger slowly into her. Her breath left her body on a sigh as he continued his sure mastery.

Her body was calling for more though and her hands left his shoulders to fumble clumsily with the clasp of his trousers. Finally he took mercy on her and undid them allowing her to slide it of his hips. Then he only spared enough time to let her complete the protection spell, before he slid into her with one sure movement. Her body welcomed him as if it was made for him, the strong length perfectly filling her to completion. He moved roughly against her building his pace until she was panting for breath. For long moments his body continued to sweetly torment her until her body convulsed on an earth shattering climax. He followed her soon after and she slumped weakly against him feeling as if she would never be able to move again.

She couldn't even protest when Draco righted his clothing and then picked her up in his arms bridal style. Bemused she looked on as he bent with her in his arms to retrieve her now ruined underwear.

"Are you taking me home?" she asked half heartedly.

He shook his head slowly and his sinfully devious smirk appeared.

"Our night is just getting started" he whispered huskily as he made his way purposefully up the stairs.

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Sorry for taking so long to update, but I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter.

You can review if you have the time, I love hearing what you think about my story. Thanks