A/N: I'm going to apologise profusely. I've been sick since Christmas Eve and I have only just recovered (still in the process). Nothing serious but a horrendous bout of flu that almost ruined Christmas for me!

Anyway my last installment and it is a flashback. Enjoy my loves.

Happy New Year

"Do you know something Draco, I've realised you have a kink for cupboards." Hermione said lazily as they lay in bed one Sunday morning.

"I think that's slander Miss Granger, state your evidence or I will be forced to punish you." His arm was slung across her chest, his words muffled by the fact he was buried in the pillows still. She giggled slightly, her body vibrating beneath his hand and he raised his head enough to see her smiling at him.

"You should remember Mr Malfoy or I will be forced to punish you." Her nails danced lightly across his forearms and he rolled onto his back, pulling her with him as he thought. His brow furrowed slightly but Hermione saw the moment when he twigged what she was on about, as the memory floated to the surface and the lust pooled into his eyes.

"Oh I remember."

(Flashback)

Seventh year, that glorious time as teenagers hover on the uncertain cusp of being adults while revelling in the alcohol and hormone fuelled lust. One such party had somewhat of a spectacle in the middle.

Drunk Hermione Granger (a shock to most but the once strict student had blossomed into a witty, sarcastic young woman who held her own against most) had fled the dance floor after Cormac tried to grope her arse again and avoided Ginny who had her tongue rammed down Harry's throat. She sought out Ron next but found him locked in the embrace of Parvati Patil, (good for him), and now she pondered her next move. Deciding it was best to sober up a little bit Hermione parked her butt on the sofas in the corner of the Room of Requirement. The world was spinning slightly but a few deep breaths and a tight grip on the arm of the sofa, Hermione felt a little better. It was too much firewhiskey as always but she smiled slightly as she surveyed the scene around her. Cormac was swapping spit with Lavender Brown while Luna was standing in one of the corners with Neville, yeah they were now kissing… Colin Creevey had his hands on Daphne Greengrass, there were general states of inebriation and desire swirling in the room around her.

The scare of Voldemort almost returning and the prompt response of the Order of the Phoenix had altered the once solid traditions of Hogwarts four houses and with a lot of chivvying from mainly the Hufflepuff house, house feuds were left uneasily in the past. Mainly because Hufflepuffs, the good all-rounders that they were seemed to have their knack in the party planning business. Alcohol generously supplied by the Slytherins and Gryffindors, Ravenclaws had helped create the food and the Room of Requirement party had now been buzzing for at least three hours, maybe four. Hermione squinted at her blurry watch and gave up reading the digits.

"Well Granger, you look lonely." The slight jumping of the sofa seats made Hermione aware that she was in fact surrounded, to her left was Blaise Zabini and to her right was Draco Malfoy. I mean the little bastards had grown up somewhat but the terms were civil and not much more.

"I am good right now thanks." She nodded to the pair and was surprised when they didn't move. Small talk ensued and somehow they were playing truth or dare with Susan Bones, Hannah Abott and Theodore Nott. She had more to drink than she thought, even if she was rapidly sobering up at the bizarreness of her situation.

"Truth." Hermione said confidently.

"Granger, are you a virgin?" Blaise leant forward with his question and Hermione smirked and narrowed her eyes.

"Nope."

"Who with?" He followed up but her smile only widened.

"One question Blaise and you blew it." She said sweetly as he frowned and the game continued with Theo picking dare.

It came to Hermione's turn again and this time she chose dare. Feeling safe that the Hufflepuff girls would not put her in an awkward position Hermione realised with a sinking feeling that they would be a little naughty.

"Okay Hermione, see the wardrobe by the entrance, you and Draco, in there for at least ten minutes."

"What? It's not even my go!" Draco huffed but was met with a look from both Hufflepuff girls.

"Sorry Mr Malfoy anyone who refuses a dare of any sort is met with a forfeit and do you remember the forfeit? You chose it." They smiled sweetly and gestured to the tankard that held a mixture of Ogdens chili whiskey, sambucca Butterbeer and Moaning Myrtle's recipe for Peach Schnapps.

"You two are in the wrong house." He grumbled as they smiled wickedly at him. Pulling himself upright and knowing he had not had enough to drink for this he held his hand out to the bookworm who only minutely hesitated before taking it. The pair threaded their way across the dance floor and stepped inside the cupboard.

"You owe us Blaise." Susan nodded to the dark skinned Slytherin who grinned back.

"I know I do, any time you need anything give us a shout." The two girls left the sofa area back to the dance floor, happy to have some leverage over a notorious Slytherin. "If Draco doesn't stop dreaming about her now I am a squib." He grinned at his roommate.

"Or his dreams will get louder with more experience to add to them." Theo smirked, the pair downed another shot each, leaving the vile concoction behind headed back to the middle of the dance floor.

Inside the wardrobe, the bass of the music was still very loud and Hermione fumbled for her wand, waving it to create some silence and a little bit of light. For the coat closet it was empty and a small part of Hermione wondered if the girls had conjured it for this very reason.

"Well hi." She started awkwardly, wishing there was a little more Dutch courage in her system; what did you say to the guy you punched as a thirteen year old?!

"Hello. Aren't we meant to be in the dark for this kind of thing?"

"What kind of thing is that?" Hermione muttered quickly.

"Well this normally happens in wardrobes." He stepped forward and kissed her suddenly. The air seemed to vanish from her lungs and she froze up as his lips left hers. "Or not…" He ran his hand through his hair mussing the fine blonde strands and she regained mental functions enough to stop him leaving.

"I don't think the ten minutes is up." She stuttered out and he turned to look at her, he saw the slight gleam in her eye and took another chance. His head slowly lowered to hers and he was pleasantly surprised as she reached up to him, her hands locking about his neck, fingers tangling in the blonde hair, she inhaled the smell that was purely Draco. She'd caught whiffs in classes they'd shared, when he sat near enough to her but they never spoke and she was suddenly intoxicated by it, unaware how much she liked and remembered the scent of him. His hands were gripping her waist and hauling her body against his, a move that was rewarded by a mew of pleasure from her lips, a mew he swallowed.

"Wow." He drew away slightly and saw the shine in her eyes.

"I don't put out on the first date." Hermione gabbled and he laughed softly.

"Neither do I Granger, but do you wanna know something about this wardrobe?" He knocked on the back of it and the panel slid away revealing a tunnel. "It takes you to the corridor outside." He smirked again and true to his word they were in the corridor outside. He started to take her back to her dormitory but she shook her head, crooked her finger at him and they crept towards the library.

"Really Granger, I am not studying now." He hissed.

She gave him a droll look as they passed under the archways until they reached an alcove with a statue in it. Pressing the knot on the hilt of his sword Draco let out a low whistle as it moved aside to a bigger reading alcove.

"Very few teachers know it, let alone prefects." She shrugs and turns to Draco. "It's also roomier than a wardrobe." She grins wickedly and kisses him hard. He catches his arms around her body and the pair are snug together, lazy kisses that are more about exploration than desire, Draco wants to know everything about the bookworm in his arms; what makes her tic, moan, grouch, whimper, laugh. He wants everything.

Despite the extra space in Hermione's secret room, she's stepped closer to him until she's backed him against the wall and Draco feels himself harden at her bossiness. He kisses her neck until she whimpers his name again and takes a deep breath.

"You're making it very hard to keep to my not on the first date rule." Draco whispers hoarsely.

"Well." Her eyes are shining up at him with lust and amusement. "This technically doesn't count as a date, so…" She trails off for the implications and Draco's kissing her again with more passion than Hermione had ever encountered. She felt swept up by his desire for her. Later she'd ask him where this passion came from, and how long it had been around but until that moment she'd happily sink into his embrace and kisses and do the analysis of the hypothesis later. Right now she's just enjoy the experiment.