A/n: Hello lovely readers, I wanted to again let you know about my facebook page where I feature sneak peeks of upcoming chapters and exclusive background content!

Thank you kanewolfe for your amazing beta skills and gidgetmalfoy for loving all over this story!

Please consider leaving reviews, they really do mean the world to me, and they really do help give me feedback on what you think.

Friday, 3 November

As soon as the pair left the breakfast room, Draco grabbed Hermione around the waist and spun her in a circle. He smiled when she shrieked out loud. Though he had needed to eat and provide the wolf with nourishment, he had craved her the entire meal. Her scent still intoxicated and overwhelmed him. He looked at her flushed face and felt her chest heave against his, breathing heavy. He gave her a few moments to breathe before he lowered his lips to hers. Softly he explored her mouth, pushing his tongue past her lips, savouring his dessert.

Still lifted against his body, he again was forced to contend with her choice of skirts, and while it certainly allowed him to see her beautiful curves, it kept him from doing so many tantalising things. As her fingers ran through his hair, near the nape of his neck, he marvelled at how perfectly her body fit with his. He sat her down, finally allowing their lips to part. If she had been flushed before, it was nothing compared to her now, and he thanked Merlin for that giveaway into how much he affected her.

Hermione attempted to remove the smile from her face, but she just couldn't. Every moment since he had returned to the library, unable to stay away from her, had been a moment of pure magic. He wasn't the boy she had known at Hogwarts, this man fascinated and thrilled her and on some level scared her with his intensity. His normally grey eyes seemed to be stuck on a beautiful shade of amber. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed him lightly, delighting in the shift of his eyes to an even darker hue.

"I think it would be better if I showed you to your room, and stayed out of it. I can't promise to behave if I have you near a bed," Draco smirked. He raised her hand to his lips before he entwined their fingers and led her towards the wing of the house that housed the family rooms. Ellis and Addi had adopted the wing on the opposite end of the house, and while he knew Addi wasn't yet ready to give up her life in France, he hoped that they would stay once she did.

Hermione couldn't help but giggle, they were acting like a couple of teenagers. While she had seen the family wing on the tour, her curiosity had not yet been sated, and she kept finding more artwork, or interesting sculptures to look at on their way.

Draco had already decided that her room would be the room closest to his bedroom, and though it was still down the hall, given the size of the rooms, he knew that having her closer would keep him somewhat calm. Standing before a set of double doors, he recalled the last time they stood before another set of doors, and how everything had changed with his moment of weakness.

Hermione seemed to be thinking the same thing, because as soon as he paused, her wand came out, and put a slit in her skirt. As his lips claimed hers she stood on her tiptoes, waiting for his arms to snake around her. With one arm under her bum, she leapt into his arms and locked her legs around his waist. When her core rubbed against his growing erection, he groaned in the overwhelming torment.

With a gasp he pulled away from her, his body aching to push through the doors and lay claim to her, but his inner wolf sat down, firmly recognising the need to comfort her and not rush her. He took a deep breath, pleased when the tang of arousal hit his nostrils.

His voice low he nodded towards the doors. "Your room is in there. My room is just down the way, but you have a private ensuite, so you shouldn't have to leave."

Hermione smiled, she recognised his resolve in keeping them from moving too fast. She didn't bother fixing her skirt, figuring that it would likely get in the way again at some point before she fell asleep. Pushing open the doors, she gasped. In their tour, he hadn't shown her any of the bedrooms, so she wasn't surprised when her mouth fell open at the sight before her. While the rest of the house, with the exclusion of some rooms, seemed to be decorated with old-world opulence in mind, this room could best be described as modern. Large windows opposite her gave an amazing view of the gardens still lit with the setting sun, filling the room with an orangish glow. A large bed sat between two of the tallest window, covered in stark white linens, that was emphasised by the deep grey accents that filtered throughout the room.

Taking a step into the room, she noticed the subtleness of the space, a room that was warm and cosy while still being large and open. A low bookshelf ran the length of the wall that the doors were on, and a small sitting area faced the glowing fireplace. More plants decorated the surfaces, breaking up the stark white and grey scheme with beautiful pops of green.

Turning back towards the doors, she smiled at Draco, who stood leaning against the door frame. "This is beautiful."

Draco breathed a sigh of relief, he wanted her comfortable, as comfortable as she could be, at least. "It's yours, for as long as you want."

Hermione recognised his choice of words, she knew now, having spent all day with him, that Draco was battling his own demons. The most pressing of which was his fear that she was just going to leave him as soon as the wards went down. She understood that he feared her never returning. Moving back to him, she walked into his open arms. She looked into his now grey eyes, his brows furrowed with worry. "Well, I'm not sure how long I'll want it," she paused and leaned forward to kiss him. "Because I recognise that, at some point, I'm sure I'll want to stay in your room."

Hermione really could not stop smiling, as memories of the rest of the evening played through her mind. After they had left her bedroom, Draco had taken her back to the library, where he had shown her some of his favourite books. The two had sat in a large chair in another alcove, taking turns reading. It had been the sweetest moment of her entire life. Had she not been leaning against his chest, she was sure she could have swooned.

Back in her room, after Draco had dropped her off at the door like they had come back from a real date, she was pleased to see a large bag sitting on the bed. Opening it she found another letter from Harry.

Hermione,

I know you say I don't need to come get you, but if anything happens, know I'll get the best curse breakers I can find. I'll bring those wards down the moment you tell me to. I'm worried about you, being stuck at that place for five days. Don't worry about work, I owled Kingsley, who also offered his assistance if you need it. Right now we're the only two people who know, Kings is worried about what the public's reaction would be to you being trapped at Malfoy Manor.

Hannah said she packed enough for any occasion while there, but she did heed your word and mostly packed jeans. She told me that she would personally make sure Crooks was fed.

Please owl if you need anything, 'Mione. I'm really worried.

Harry

Hermione smiled and rolled up the letter. Oh, would she have a lot to explain when she was finally able to leave. She was thankful that they were sharing the information, she couldn't even imagine Ron's reaction to her being locked at Malfoy Manor. Removing her favourite t-shirt, an old N'Sync shirt her parents had bought when she had gone to their concert. She changed, thankful to finally be out of her heels, tights, and skirt.

Settling herself into the large bed after her quick trip to the bathroom, she waved her wand, snuffing most of the lights in the room. She was thankful that while the room looked modern, the sheets were as soft as a well loved tshirt, and with a chuckle she concluded it had to be elf magic.

Her mind began to wander as the day's events replayed. The more her mind raced through everything that had happened, the more her anxiety started to peek through. She had come here to explain about the new laws, and now she was trapped with three werewolves during the full moon, one of which was set on her being his mate. It wasn't that she wasn't beginning to feel something for Draco, but their past, all the horrible things he had things said to her and made her feel... how could she forget that?

She had spent the last few years avoiding men, unable to commit to anyone because no one really kept her interest. Now, if she went through with the mark, she would be as good as married, bonded for life. Was she ready for that? After she recognised would they begin to see each other clearly? Begin to see past their feelings and remember the past? What if he ended up hating her again? What if he really did still believe all the things he had once said about her? As her thoughts raced Hermione breaths became short, an anxiety attack starting to wash over her.

Once he claimed her, what if they could never go without each other? What if they couldn't function without the other? He never wanted to leave the Manor, the place she had once been tortured, that horrible word still carved into her skin, and what if she had to stay here with him?

Tears now streaming down her face as her sobs filled the room, she didn't hear the light pop from the corner of the room. She was going to be bound to Draco Malfoy, and what if she did end up marrying him? She would be the next Mrs Malfoy. She couldn't, she wasn't a pureblood, and his family surely hated her. How could she do this, how could she stay here for another five days, living in a state of unending bliss, allowing the attraction and desire to fuel their actions instead of thinking of the long term effects of this?

Hermione turned her face into the pillow, and sobbed openly, unaware of the movement outside of her door. As she struggled to catch her breath, she felt a warm hand rub the hair off her forehead. Opening her eyes, she saw the watery blob of Addi leaning over her.

"Shhhhh, it's ok. Everything will be ok," Addi murmured, pulling Hermione into her arms. She leant Hermione against her, the witch's head nestled against her shoulder, as she gently swayed, rubbing her back.

Between sobs, Hermione cried, "But...he….might….hate….me….he always….he hated….me."

Addi continued to offer shushing sounds to the anxious witch. Rocking back and forth, Addi offered what little comfort she had. "It'll be ok. I promise."

"I….I….can't live….here….I almost….di….died….here." Hermione sobbed, thoughts of that night replaying in her overwhelmed mind.

Addi pulled out her wand, and with a quick flourish, sent her observant hedgehog down the hall, to inform Draco.

Draco rushed down the hallway, his dark grey silk robe flowing behind him. He followed Addi's hedgehog until it evaporated outside of Hermione's door. He pushed the door open, his eyes widening in the darkness, but his wolfish traits allowing him to see Hermione crying in Addi's arms. He flew into the room, and sat next to Hermione, as Addi passed her over to him.

Hermione's crying slowed somewhat as she felt Draco's presence. Draco looked over her head at Addi, who offered a sad smile. "She's worried that you'll go back to hating her and that she'll have to live here."

Draco's heart ached, he knew this wouldn't be easy, and he had been waiting for the break down all day, figures it would happen when she was finally alone. His strong witch. He resumed Addi's shushing noises as Hermione's sobs grew again. He leant back on her pillows pulling her down with him as Addi stood to leave. With a serious look at Draco, she fished a vial from her robes. Draco recognised it immediately as Dreamless Sleep. He nodded and watched her leave.

Draco held her close, his hand didn't stop rubbing her back, even when her sobs started to die back down. "Hermione, love, what can I do?"

Hermione shook her head, "I don't know. I'm just scared."

Draco nodded, "Can we talk about it in the morning? I think you need some sleep."

Hermione nodded, and Draco handed her the vial, which she uncorked and drained. They both adjusted until she lay tantalisingly against his chest, Draco's arm wrapped tightly around her. He focused his attention on her breathing, comforted by the small, vital movement. As her breaths grew longer, and her body sunk into him, he whispered, "I'll do whatever it takes, Hermione. I think I might be falling in love with you."

To be continued...

So the last bit of this chapter may feel rushed, but I assure you it's exactly how wolfy Draco feels. He's been without companionship for years, and only had the company of house elves, Addi and Ellis and occasionally his mum. Suddenly Hermione shows up, and she doesn't make him feel like a monster, through her he's allowing some of his self-hate to disappear. I would love to hear your opinions about this though!