A/N: I'm on a roll with this story, I can't promise updates back to back like this often, if ever again. But as long as the story is flowing I'll keep posting it. My other story Isabella's Odyssey is completely written, so I don't have to worry about writing up chapters for that so I can focus on this as long as the muse keeps going. So here's chapter four. :)

Chapter Four

Draco

While Hermione was happily having lunch with her friends, Draco was stopping at a Starbucks and grabbing a quick muffin and a latte. He didn't have time for much more than that, wasn't really hungry any way. He had a goal to complete. Something to do to make sure Hermione looked absolutely stunning tonight. He had told her he was going to flaunt her and flaunt her he would.

First he stopped at Harrods, where he purchased a pair of Christian Louboutin Pigalle Plato gold stilettos. Then he searched almost every antique shop he could find until he found the perfect necklace. As he remembered his vision that night he saw her with Blaise, he purchased a choker style necklace of rubies and diamonds set in yellow gold.

When Hermione put it on he knew it would sit just at the base of her throat. He had just the earrings and bracelet to go with it so his next stop was the Malfoy vault in Gringotts. After he traversed the winding railway with a stalwart little goblin, he entered the vault and went to the side with the non-cursed items. It wouldn't have been good to give Hermione something that could hurt her, after all.

That is where he found the ruby, diamond and yellow gold tennis bracelet and the drop earrings with rubies and crystal accents also set in yellow gold. Lastly he had found the hairpin that had belonged to his grandmother, one of the few things she had owned that was free of curses.

That task complete he made one more stop. He Disapparated for what seemed the thousandth time, over to Pont Street in Knightsbridge. There he walked into probably the last place he ever thought he'd enter.

Agent Provocateur. The ladies that were behind the registers barely noticed him as he walked in, they didn't seem at all surprised to see a man come into the shop.

One of the four ladies moved from around the counter and made to come towards him. He had seen the moment she decided she was going to try and get him in her bed. She stood up straighter, to push her breasts out further, eyed him up and down and licked her lips. Then she pasted on probably the most man eating smile he had ever seen.

He guessed she was pretty, raven black hair, ice blue eyes, slender and tall. He couldn't have cared less. He preferred short and curvy. Brown hair and brown eyes, and a sexuality that was subtle. That had to be coaxed out bit by bit. He loved the challenge of getting Hermione's body to sing, to get her to arch and moan and whimper in her pleasure.

As manners demanded he smiled at the Muggle woman and allowed her to go through the usual spiel these people had. Then he let her lead him to the section that held what he was looking for. She'd tried to hover a bit, asked him if she could help him find what he needed. She wasn't at all happy when he all but dismissed her, her heels tapping angrily as she made her way back to her place behind the registers.

He had to browse a bit before finding the perfect thing. He thought of how Hermione would look in what he had chosen. It was from the Xiah Collection, the briefs and garter belt. It was black and silver embroidered with a flower pattern.

He stopped and grabbed a pair of black silk thigh high stockings to go with it and walked up to the counter. A different lady rang up his purchase, commented on his taste and asked if he also would like to purchase the bra that went with it.

Draco decided in that moment that it was the perfect time to wipe the look of longing off the first woman's face.

"Thank you but no. I have a gala to go to tonight and the gown my girlfriend is wearing requires no bra. She simply needed the panties and garter. But I appreciate you asking."

Having turned towards the door with his purchase he hadn't noticed the look of pure shock on the hopeful twit's face, but the ook over his shoulder and the accompanying "have a nice day ladies" that he sent them as he was walking through the door brought it to his attention and he chuckled all the way to the alleyway in which he Disapparated home from.

Once home he made a call to the shop in which he purchased his more sensitive items. It wouldn't do for, however unlikely, Draco Malfoy to be seen walking into, shopping in, or walking out of, a sex shop after all. The man who ran the shop he frequented was the sole of discretion and would have his purchases sent by courier within the next two hours.

Since he had time to kill Draco decided to pop in and visit Theo Nott. Blaise was probably with Hermione at her luncheon and he hadn't talked to Theo in a while.

Theo lived in Mayfair. In a standard red brick english townhouse. Draco was directed, by a house-elf, into Theo's study. It was a typical Victorian thing. All oak wood and light wall coverings. Behind an elaborately carved oak desk sat Draco's friend. Currently he was jotting something down in a ledger. His dark brown head bent over the book as he concentrated on what he was writing, totally ignoring Draco.

Probably some notation about an investment of some sort. Theo was quite good at those, he had made most of his friends a good deal of money by helping them invest their galleons wisely. Be it Muggle or Wizard.

As usual Theo looked like he held the weight of the world on his shoulders. He had never truly been the same since the death of his father. Nott Sr. had met his untimely end at the wand of an Auror while he had been running from the sentence he had received for being one of Voldemort's loyal inner circle of Death Eaters.

It still amazed Draco how Theo had managed to avoid having any part of his fathers beliefs.

Draco felt Theo needed to get out more, spend time with his friends, find a good woman, start a family. But at the rate he was going, Theo would be an eternal bachelor. Draco thought he might see what Theo thought of Astoria Greengrass, now that he was no longer engaged to the girl he felt no remorse in trying to set her up with one of his friends.

Now there was a pretty witch, and exactly Theo's taste. Theo finally set his quill down and looked at Draco. His pale blue eyes held a knowing look, as if he could see right through Draco.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Oh come now Draco, we both know what I'm asking. What brings you here?"

"Can't I simply visit a friend?" Theo's snort told Draco that he didn't buy that for a minute.

"We both know that's not why you're here. So get on with it."

"Why so rushed? You're not going anywhere." Theo simply stared him down, awaiting the reason for Draco's visit.

"Fine. I wanted to let you know that I have a date for the gala. I'm sure she's told her friends and Blaise by now, so I felt it would only be fair for me to tell you as well."

"And she is?"

"Hermione Granger."

"It's about bloody time mate. Five years of listening to you pine for the woman was bloody well annoying."

"Well excuse the fuck out of me. I don't see you going out and finding a woman to warm your bed and your life."

"And I probably won't."

"Theo, why are you punishing yourself. You are not responsible for your father's mistakes any more than I am for mine. We are only responsible for our own mistakes. If I can forgive myself, so can you."

"I could have prevented a lot of death during the war. I was privy to so much information. But I chose to keep quiet out of loyalty to my father. How can I forgive myself for that Draco?"

"The same way I forgave myself for killing and torturing people during the same war, one step at a time."

Hermione

"So Ginny, Pansy, Luna, do you want to go with me to get our hair and make up done for the gala? It's on Draco."

"Absolutely!"

"Yes."

"That sounds lovely."

And so it had been settled. The four witches went to a little Muggle salon Pansy recommended and got their hair, nails and makeup done for the gala. After nearly four hours spent with her friends, Hermione Apparated back to Draco's flat. He wasn't back yet, which disappointed her, so she made her way to the library to read for a bit before she had to prepare for the night.

About half an hour later she heard the front door open and close and his silky baritone called her name. She set her book down on a table and raced out to greet him. Laughing he swept her up into his arms, after placing a few small boxes he had had in his arms on the entry table, as she launched herself at him.

"I could get used to a greeting like that, love. But let's not ruin your makeup and hair ok. Come, it's time for us to get ready."

He led her to the bedroom and laid out on the bed she saw several boxes and a garment bag. He led her to the bed and gestured for her to open the items. She started with the box on top first.

On the top it read Agent Provocateur. She had never had anything from them before and trepidatiously she removed the lid, swept aside the tissue and revealed the lacy black panties, garter and black silk thigh high stockings. They were lovely, but she was confused as to why there was no bra and why he would purchase her under garments.

But she didn't get the chance to ask as he told her to move to the next box. These were clearly shoes.

Opening the lid she found a beautiful pair of gold platform heels, Christian Louboutins to be precise, then the next box held a lovely necklace, then there was a matching bracelet and earrings and a lovely hair pin.

Lastly she moved on to the bag. As she unzipped it she revealed a lovely gown. White chiffon with a crystal beaded bodice in a v-neck neckline with a nude illusion across the chest. It was a floor length column gown.

When she pulled it out she revealed two things. The first was a goblin made gold belt, the second that the dress was backless. That explained why he hadn't purchased a bra. She wouldn't need it.

Seeing the dress and jewels she was glad she had gone for a subtle, almost non-existent makeup and the elaborate twisted low bun. She had simply wanted her hair off her neck, but now it would help to show off her back and the necklace.

"Go on and get ready in here love, I'll move to the guest room."

"Why can't we get ready together?"

"Because I'd like to see the final look all together instead of as you put it on. Patience is a virtue after all."

And with that he walked out the door and left her to dress.

Draco

He couldn't wait to see what she looked like with her dress complete. He knew she had been surprised to see the lingerie, the confusion in her eyes clear. He had bought it because he wanted her to wear nothing but things he had chosen.

But he couldn't wait until she had seen what was to come next. The little silver balls he placed in the pocket of his tuxedo jacket would be diverting, to say the least. When he finally finished dressing he took himself in in the vanity mirror in the guest bathroom.

In typical Malfoy fashion he was wearing unrelieved black. Black trousers, black belt, black dress shirt, black bow tie, black jacket. The only contrast was the silver and diamonds of his onyx cufflinks. Now that he had finished getting dressed, he went and took a seat on the couch in the living room and waired for Hermione.

When she finally came out of the bedroom and entered the room, Draco couldn't help the sharp intake of breath upon seeing her.

She was stunning. The gown paired with the subtle makeup, elaborate hair style- which now sported the gold and diamond flower shaped hairpin- and the jewelry he had given her, had transformed the beautiful witch into a creature of immense beauty. Not that he didn't think her beautiful all the time. The thing that made him smirk at her though, was the blatant lust in her eyes as she took him in. He moved to stand in front of her.

"You look stunning love."

"And you look extremely handsome, Draco. Are we ready to go now?"

"Just one more thing and then we can go."

"Oh? And what is that?"

"Just something to make the night more interesting. Move to the couch and bend over the arm."

As she complied with his commands he pulled the balls from his pocket and warmed and wet them with a spell.

"Do you know what Ben Wa balls are Hermione?" She shook her head. She looked back at him over her shoulder, the look was positively sinful with the amount of list that was in it.

"Let me tell you then," he said as he pulled the hem of her gown up and over her backside, revealing the panties, garter and stockings- the sight of which made him instantly hard, yes he had chosen wisely.

"I take these little silver balls in my hand and insert them inside your beautiful, tight pussy. Then, as the evening wears on, they'll move around and make you wish for relief. By the time the night ends, Hermione, you'll be begging me to fuck you."

And with that he swept aside her panties and pushed them inside her. She gasped at the feel of them and squirmed a bit. He moved her panties back over her sex, after a swipe or two of her clit, and then fixed her dress and stood her up.

"Shall we?"

They moved to the fireplace and he threw in a handful of the silvery Floo powder. Taking her hand he stepped inside, called out their destination and held her as they were swept past Floo after Floo until coming out into the Floo in his mothers parlor. They followed the sound of his mothers voice to find her and his father in the ballroom.

Narcissa Malfoy was the epitome of Pure-blood elegance as she directed his father and the house-elves in their tasks. The elves were decorating the room with numerous twinkle lights as his father moved the round dining tables hither and yon with his wand. Placing them where his wife directed.

Draco's mother was dressed elegantly in an emerald green mermaid style silk one shoulder gown with crystal embellishments on the strap and down the side to just above her knee. Her hair was straight down her back and parted on one side, her only adornment the silver, emerald and diamond earrings in her ears.

She turned and Draco noticed her makeup was rather bold tonight. A light line of black liner along her upper lid, a light brown shadow and peach blush and blood red shiny lips. His father was dressed similarly to himself, all in black, the only color being the silver buttons on his shirt and the emerald green pocket square in his jacket. His long blonde hair was pulled back into a queue and held with an emerald green silk ribbon.

Narcissa noticed them then. She smiled at them and moved to pull first Hermione and then him into a hug.

"I'm so glad you're here Miss Granger. Lucius and I can't tell you how pleased we are that Draco's finally made a move where you're concerned. We hope you two will be happy for a very long time."

"Thank you Mrs. Malfoy. I couldn't be happier with Draco."

"Call me Cissa dear."

"Alright, Cissa. As long as you call me Hermione.

"Good, now, Draco take Hermione here and go into your fathers study and grab the items for the auction. They're on his desk. Then place them and their cards on those tables over there please."

She pointed towards three long tables pushed up against the far wall of the room.

"Certainly Mother."

Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and led her to his fathers study. Inside Draco couldn't help but notice the contrast between this room and the one at Theo's. Where his was all light, Lucius Malfoy's was all dark. Also different was the pair of wolfhounds laying in front of the fire.

"That's Merlin and Morgana. They're perfectly harmless. Well, unless you're a stranger or trespassing. Then they turn vicious. They're very loyal to Father. Would you like to meet them, love?"

"I don't know Draco. What if they don't like me?"

"What's not to like. Come on."

He pulled her over to the hounds and sitting down in one of the chairs facing the fire, he pulled her onto his lap. The hounds both stood and moved over to sniff them. After a moment Merlin gave Hermione's hand a gentle lick and the two dogs returned to their places before the fire.

"See, told you they'd love you. That's Merlin's way of accepting you. Let's get those items and head back out there. The other guests will be arriving soon."

Hermione

As Hermione stood in the receiving line as guest after guest came in, she was ever aware of the silver balls inside of her, how could she not be when they moved with every shift of her body. But she was determined to show Draco that she could withstand the torture and deny him her begging.

So she stood beside him and greeted guest after guest. A sea of black tuxes and colorful gowns. Draco pointed out or introduced her to various witches or wizards Hermione had never met. Not one of the crowd had made her feel unwanted so far.

"Ah, our friends have finally arrived."

Hermione turned to the entry way and noticed he was right, their group of friends had just come through the door and joined the line. In front were Ginny and Harry, Ginny resplendent in a plum column dress that sat slightly off the shoulder and ended in a court train.

It showed her bump without it being too pronounced. Her pretty red hair was curled and swept over one shoulder and she was wearing red and silver drop earrings and her wedding rings as her only adornment. Her makeup was subtle, like Hermione's.

Harry was in a typical black tux with white shirt but his vest, bow tie and pocket square were a close match to the plum color of his wife's dress. Ron and Luna were behind them, also matching in light blue.

It clashed slightly with Ron's red head, but Hermione doubted either of them cared. He was happy with Luna and that was all that mattered. Luna's dress was typical for her, floaty with crystal embellishments at the waist and neck.

Her hair had been pulled back though, in a sleek side bun that showed off her diamond earrings, a gift from Ron, Hermione assumed. Pansy was right behind them, George beside her. They were having some sort of discussion. Pansy was looking at George with an immense amount of affection, but George seemed totally oblivious. He was never the same after Fred's death, but Hermione knew Fred wouldn't want him to stop living. She may have to subtlety push the witch and wizard together.

Pansy was rather bold in her dress choice. A dark silver creation with large black stripes criss crossing it. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline and mermaid silhouette. It hugged her curvy body nicely and Hermione couldn't understand why George hadn't noticed.

Pansy's hair was also pulled back in a sleek bun and her jewelry consisted of onyx, diamond and silver bracelets and earrings, her makeup also subtle. George was in the typical black tux- as were Neville and Blaise behind him-, black trousers, black bow tie, white dress shirt. Then behind them came Theo also in a typical tux, but he had no vest and a white pocket square adorned the pocket of his jacket.

As they got closer Draco nudged Hermione in the ribs and pointed at Theo. She looked closely and noticed the man was staring off into the crush of guests who were already moving toward the ball room.

Laughing as she walked with her parents and sister, was Astoria Greengrass. The younger witch was hard to miss, in her gold high necked mermaid gown. It was covered in darker gold sequins and beading, the back bare in a diamond shape and below the opening the gown laced up.

She had pulled her hair back in a loose bun at the nape of her neck and adorned her ears with gold and diamond earrings. Her face was flushed from her laughter and she looked absolutely darling; and Theo was staring like he'd never seen her before.

They were all out of school a year before Astoria. She was two years their junior. But Theo was looking at her like she was the answer to all his prayers. Now this could become interesting.

"I had hoped he'd take notice of her. He's been alone for far too long and Astoria would make him a lovely wife, don't you think love?"

It was hard to think about anything when he was whispering in her ear like that, his breath warm against her neck and cheek, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. Her senses heightened from having the balls moving inside her, her skin already sensitive to every little touch, she could only nod as she wondered if she could truly outlast him after all.