It was two in the morning and Hermione couldn't sleep. She had been trying hot milk with honey and a hot water bottle, which was a bit ridiculous in August really. She even tried War and Peace from Tolstoy, just on the off chance it might get her sleepy enough to actually fall asleep. It hadn't worked. She was still lying in her bed staring at the ceiling wide awake. She sighed. The soft night light was casting gentle shadows around the room.
Should she go to work tomorrow? Tomorrow? More like today as it was already in the wee hours of tomorrow already. No, there would be too many people asking too many questions she didn't want to answer. Officially she was on holiday in order to have a lovely honeymoon... She scowled. Honeymoon! Since she had left him yesterday she had been trying to get her head around the fact of having had sex with none other than Draco Malfoy.
Another heavy sigh could be heard. She was married for nearly five days now and even so she hadn't seen her so called husband since yesterday she was still not sure what she expected herself to feel right now. Did she miss him? Not really. Did she want to be with him? That was a good question, another one she didn't have an answer for. Did she actually care what would happen to him now? Not, if it didn't include her in any case. Did she want him to feel anything for her? She caught herself answering that question actually with yes as that would mean she could make him suffer. When had she turned into some kind of revenging... no she wasn't an angel in any case, but making him suffer for a change was a rather appealing idea. At least for about five minutes after which she scolded herself for being stupid enough to descend to his level of maliciousness. She didn't seriously wanted him to suffer and she didn't want to inflict any pain on him either. She just wanted him to be no longer a part of her life.
A rather worrying thought emerged suddenly. Why was she so pre-occupied with him in any case? Why did she have to constantly think about him? It wasn't as if she had any feelings for him any longer. Or did she? Realisation was hitting her hard as she found herself confronted with the fact that she did care for him. She groaned. She cared for the ferret. At least caring for somebody didn't mean... Yes, it did! Even after all that had happened she was still on the verge of falling for him, if she hadn't already. She wasn't quite sure about that. It felt like she was in love with him after all.
'Brilliant! I actually care for the bastard!'
She closed her eyes and didn't even notice that she had fallen asleep before she could find any excuse for her irrational feelings.
Hermione groaned There was this feeling of him lying next to her again! He was closely snuggled up against her. She could feel his chest rise and fall under her hand. Her hand was on his... She just kept her eyes shut and tried not to make a sound. His breath was softly blowing against her cheek. It was a rather intimate feeling. She tried to concentrate on the insignificant details of her situation. Was he actually under the covers with her? No. That was odd. It seemed as if he was lying on top of her sheets. Was he dressed? This was really weird. He was wearing a shirt. Who in their right mind was wearing a shirt of all things to bed?
Her brain processed her findings for a moment and than came to the conclusion that for some strange reason her husband was sharing her bed while being fully dressed, she at least assumed that he was, and also sleeping on top of the covers. Odd. In all her other dreams about him he had been anything but clothed and also always enjoyed himself under the covers with her.
'Hermione get a grip of yourself!'
She slowly opened her eyes. To her utter shock he didn't vanish as he had done all those other times. He was still there! She looked at him. His white-blond hair looked ruffled and his features were relaxed. She allowed herself to observe him for a while. It was a pity that he wasn't like this when he was awake. She wouldn't have minded him quite as much, if he wouldn't have been so full of himself all the time. Why did he have to be such a prat when not sleeping?
He started to stir. She held her breath. He mumbled something and turned over so that he was now facing her. His eyes stayed closed, but she was sure that he was slowly waking up.
Nothing happened. He was just steadily breathing next to her. Hermione watched him. She expected his eyes to open any moment, but he just lay there. She shifted slightly, ready to jump out off bed the instant he would... She never saw him move, but within the blink of an eye he was hoovering over her. Grey eyes staring at her. Her mouth agape she didn't know what to do. His face was only inches away from hers and she could feel his presence in a way that unnerved her. She couldn't move as he was using the sheets to skilfully prevent it.
His lips were showing a shy smile. She blinked.
"Why don't you send me away?" he whispered.
She opened her mouth to answer, but closed it again as she didn't know what to say.
She finally managed to mutter, "Why are you here?"
He was letting his gaze roam over her face. She felt strange, as if he was scanning her soul with this look.
"Why do you think I am here?"
Why didn't she feel threatened by him? She was close to helpless. Her wand was on her night stand. Her covers were prevented her to move and he was so close that she could feel his breath in her face.
"I... I don't know."
He hesitated for long moments before speaking again.
"I'm here, because I want my name back. I want my honour back and I also need to tell you, what really happened."
"What do you mean?"
"Tell me how we... spend yesterday afternoon together."
She blinked. He seriously wanted her to tell him what had happened while they had been... No way! Why would he want to humiliate her like that? Why would he... Her thoughts were interrupted by his soft voice.
"You have no idea what happened, have you?"
She closed her eyes as she felt herself blush.
"No." It was a barely audible whisper.
"While I kissed you I used a sleeping charm."
She couldn't help herself, but she was impressed. It wasn't an easy charm to perform and to do it silently and wandless was quite an achievement.
"Then I undressed you."
She looked horrified, his face was developing a soft pink tinge.
"I got rid of my own clothes and then joined you in bed."
She wasn't sure, why he was taking such pleasure in torturing her with his words.
"I had been to see Tinsel in St. Mungo's before I came to get you."
"You have seen him? I thought, he has lost his marbles."
"No, not really."
He omitted to tell her that the said wizard had been agitated to say the least to see Draco appearing at his hospital bed, but after he had explained his situation the old wizard had been quite helpful. He had provided the key to end their predicament.
"What did you want from him?"
"A solution that would be... shall we say suitable for both of us."
"I don't understand."
"Then let me tell you what I did next after I had the unexpected pleasure to be able to enjoy the feel of your skin without having the threat of being hexed hanging over me."
She took a deep breath.
"I know, what you did next. No need to tell me."
"But that is where you are wrong..."
Hermione glared at him. What was he talking about?
"I took the liberty to use your wonderful body as inspiration to..."
He bend closer. She tried unsuccessfully to sink deeper into the mattress. He whispered into her ear, her eyes growing wide.
"You didn't!"
He smirked.
"I did. That was part of the necessities to be preformed in order to get us out off this mess."
"I bet you enjoyed that you... you... wanker!"
He grinned broadly.
"A bit crude coming from you, but accurate nevertheless."
He didn't say anything else, he just looked at her. Hermione's emotions had gone into overdrive. She felt used, ashamed, humiliated and possibly also angry.
"Part two was a lot less... I would have preferred not to have to do that."
She just groaned. There was no doubt about what he had done next. She didn't want to hear any details, she really didn't.
"Spare me the details." She tried to let her voice sound cold and uncaring, but was too shaken to pull it off successfully.
"You see, the Binding requires two things in order to be satisfied," he hesitated, "penetration and... male contribution."
Hermione was wondering, if it would be possible for her to faint right now, being abducted by on of Luna's imaginary creatures would have been fine as well. Anything as long as she wouldn't have to listen to him any longer.
"I might be a lot of things, but I'm not a rapist."
Hold on! What was he saying? She felt him leaning close again and then he whispered into her ear once again what he had done next.
She felt like passing out right now would be just perfect.
"So, you see, I had to know the details of how the Binding was working in order to find a solution."
He most certainly had found a solution. She would never in her entire life let him know this, but she was actually impressed that he had found this way out. He had brains. Nobody could refute that, not even her.
He moved off the bed and stood next to the window. Letting his gaze wander over the surrounding area. Hermione sat up in the bed.
"I don't want Weasley to be with you, or Blaise for that matter."
He turned around.
"Where did he come into this whole thing anyway?"
"I have no idea." It was the truth. She had no idea why Zabini had kidnapped her. "He just showed up at the hospital and disapparated us. After we arrived Merlin knows where he was talking about you."
"Me?"
"Yes. He was saying that he needed to make sure that you got first price in the game of life for once and that he wanted to make sure I was worth being loved by you."
Draco didn't know what to reply. Why was Blaise so interested in his well-being? Or who was being loved by his friend. There was a suspicion slowly rising in his mind.
"My mother was at the hospital."
Hermione thought about it for a moment, but she didn't recall having seen her mother-in-law there. Then again that didn't mean that she hadn't been there.
"I don't know. Did I see her?"
"She was there."
"What would she have to do with Blaise abducting me?"
She didn't get it. Why would his mother ask his friend to do that? Shouldn't she have been glad that he was in St. Mungo's in order to be looked after? She frowned. He had said that he was there, because he had gotten drunk, seriously drunk.
"To make me your knight in shining amour."
His eyes were trained on her. She was wearing a simple white cotton night gown with just the hint of lace around the seams. Her brown hair was framing her face in wild curls. The traces of her blushing earlier were still visible. He sighed. She looked adorable. He most certainly adored her, but was that of any importance any longer? He had found a solution to prevent himself from having to do something she would hate him for. It hadn't been easy, but it had been necessary. At least now they were free to go their separate ways. She could get her... NO! He didn't want her to leave him, again. He turned away and looked out off the window.
Hermione just stared at his back. Why didn't he say something? Why didn't he go? He had done what he had come for, hadn't he?
There was a sudden commotion coming from somewhere in the hallway outside her front door. Just before she turned her head to look at the door of her bedroom she was aware of him... Was he sighing? She got out off bed and slowly walked over to him. The noise from the hallway had died down meanwhile. She slowly lay her left hand on his shoulder. He flinched, but didn't draw away. He felt her right hand flat on his back. Exhaling deeply he let his head fall backwards just enough for her not to notice. He enjoyed her warm hands on his body.
Her fingers trailed slow paths from their respective position down to his hips. What was she doing? Hermione tugged at him in order to turn him to face her. He wanted to resist. He didn't want to see her. She insisted on him moving, so he did.
Deep, dark brown eyes were gazing at him. He wanted to pull away. He wanted to run away, but found himself unable to move.
"Why don't you want Ron to be with me?"
Deeply sighing he closed his eyes. He didn't want to answer this question.
"Draco?" Her voice disguised the steel edge under a velvet tone.
"Why do you want to know? Why didn't you send me away, when you found me in your bed? Why didn't you hex me when you had the chance to do it? Why am I still standing here talking to you? Why, Hermione, why?"
She started to answer, but found that words failed her.
"I know why." He told her quietly.
His arms were sneaking around her, slowly. He drew her closer, feeling her body against his own. Silence surrounded them as he looked at her. She was not sure what to think any longer. Her heart told her to just forget logic and go with what felt right. She felt herself shivering. Just before his lips were gently pressing against her mouth. Hermione couldn't help herself sighing happily. Draco smiled to himself. Would they be able to get something civil off the ground this time? He hoped so. When he had her in his arms, feeling her soft mouth, there was nothing he wanted more than make her understand that she meant more to him then he had words for.
He tried his best to be be gentle even so he felt like ravaging her. Her fingers had found their way into his hair somehow. He could feel her warm skin through the fabric of her night gown. There was something deep within him that screamed to be released. Desire was flooding his senses to a degree he hadn't known before.
Draco didn't get the chance to decide, if it was the right time to make a serious move or wait for some kind of sign from the witch he held in his arms. There was a loud explosion in the hallway and before they knew what was happening, people seemed to be pouring into her flat. Without thinking or informing her of his intentions he disapparated them.
Moments later Ron and George Weasley, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan were pouring into the room.
"Where is she, Ron?" Seamus asked, looking around for any sign of the witch he had been attending school with.
"I don't understand." Ron muttered. "She was here when I left."
His brother lowered his wand and after inspecting the other rooms of the flat came back with a frown on his face. "Are we too late? Has he already got her, Ron?"
"I don't know."
Dean looked at him.
"Are you sure that Malfoy will harm her?"
Everybody turned towards him. Dean was slightly taken aback by the sudden attention bestowed upon him.
"I'm just saying. We all saw them on Friday, didn't we?"
"Doesn't mean just because he got married to her that he won't hurt her, mate." Seamus reasoned.
"Okay, children, playtime is over." George could be heard. "We know, she isn't here. We don't know, where she is and if she is there because she chose to. Ron, you are absolutely sure, that Malfoy is after her?"
"Yes." It was one of the most convincing lies he had ever come up with.
