Disclaimer: We've been doing this for 9 chapters and things still haven't changed. I still don't own Draco or any of the wizarding world...it all belongs to JKR.

A/N: Sorry I haven't updated! I've started university again and I've spent most of my time grumpy once more...to think I have endless years of this ahead of me...just makes a girl want to drop out and take up creative writing instead.


A feeling almost akin to guilt clawed at Hermione's raw throat as she nursed a sore head and a somewhat unsettled stomach. Clutching a wrinkled copy of the Prophet in one hand and armed with several gossip rags in the other, she walked resolutely up the broad, winding drive of Malfoy's Wiltshire manor. Behind her, the heavy wrought iron gates clanged almost silently shut, giving her a sensation of safety as well as isolation.

As the paved cobblestones clicked beneath her modest heels, Hermione juggled the items in her hands and shoved them precariously under one arm in order to brush her cool fingers through her curls. The breath whispered from between her lips, hissing occasionally through her clenched teeth as a wave of anxiety engulfed her.

Useless though it was, Hermione reassured herself repeatedly. How angry could he possibly be? It was a simple dinner between diplomatic colleagues with a similar agenda…He couldn't possibly misinterpret it! Sure, the media had made something of a purely professional occasion but Draco would be smarter…wiser…and…

…Typically male…

…And obviously very prone to jealous rages.

Hermione found that out minutes later as she stood in an opulently appointed parlour while Malfoy rested his forehead against the cool pane of the glass window, staring fixatedly out at the rolling greens of his estate. The heat and fight seemed to have drained from him and what was left was simply a shimmering ball of cold rage, silent in its nature and all the more disconcerting than his vocal rage before.

"Diplomatic colleagues." He repeated; a statement rather than a question.

"Yes. Malfoy…Draco, the media twists these things, they're looking for a story, nothing more."

"Diplomatic colleagues." He repeated again in that dead voice. Draco remained motionless as she remained silent. After several moments, he straightened and turned to face her at last; smoothing his robes, he met her eyes steadily and smiled. It didn't reach his eyes as he walked forward and pulled her into his arms. His arms were as cold as his eyes, making Hermione shiver as his embrace tightened almost crushingly around her smaller body.

"Yes. Of course." Draco muttered into her hair. "Forgive me, my love."

Hermione squirmed at the use of the affectionate statement but forced herself to stand still as his grip tightened.

"I can be so irrational sometimes, can't I?" Draco repeated quietly as his hand traced the length of her form, coming to rest at the curve of her breast. He lifted his body away from hers slightly and allowed the hand to wander further until he cupped her fully, unrepentantly kneading and pinching until he heard her small gasps. It was then that he pulled away, a small benign smile hovering about his lips.

His eyes were ice cold.

Hermione drew in a deep calming breath and forced her body to cease its traitorous sway towards his. She lifted her head proudly despite the flush which stained her creamy cheeks and met his eyes unflinchingly.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry." Hermione repeated her earlier words, the only ones she had managed before that intense anger had exploded from his form and china and glass had begun shattering around them, showering Hermione with what had been undoubtedly expensive, historical pieces.

Draco retained the small smile.

He was a brilliant actor, Hermione mused as they stared at each other. If she hadn't known him during her Hogwarts years then she would have missed the only sign of tension which he currently showed. During his duels with Ron, in those final moments before he fled, Hermione had always watched carefully for that telling twitch of his right hand before the left would reach for his wand. The why of it, Hermione never understood, but it was happening now.

Although he was loose limbed and almost casual in his body language, Hermione could see that inevitable twitch in his right hand. He wasn't going to reach for his wand, Hermione knew, it was simply a sign of anger.

As if he could sense her attention, Draco's right hand loosened and slipped into his pocket, concealing from her any sign of his emotion. Ah…now he seemed the perfect picture of generous forgiveness.

"No need to apologise." He replied at last. "I'm afraid I lost my temper unduly and I beg your forgiveness for any offence given."

Hermione nodded stiffly. She hated it when he reverted to that formal language, it made her itch and she longed to fidget beneath his unwavering gaze.

"In fact, perhaps for the purpose of repairing and cementing the solidarity of our charade, we should be seen in public more often; lest, Weasley discovers our ruse. A wise move, wouldn't you say?"

Hermione clenched her teeth to hold back the curse which rose to mind and nodded stiffly. He was good. He had her there.

"Of course," She conceded with as little ill grace as she could muster. "I completely agree."

"Good." He said huskily, his eyes now holding a sleepy boredom, an act which Hermione heartily wished to applaud his for.

"Good." She repeated instead, her voice crisp to counter his heady tone.

A deep laugh echoed from his throat, a rich syrupy sound akin to a dark promise which struck a faint memory deep within her. She squirmed uncomfortably, shaking off the sensation so as to not lose her cool.

"Good." He growled and swept forward, crowding her close to his body in an instant and pressing her back against the wall. With little ceremony, he swooped down, his lips capturing hers in a bruising kiss as he thrust his tongue into her mouth and she gasped in both shock and indignation. The velvet heat of his tongue stroked the recesses of her mouth, allowing her to taste the barely controlled violence vibrating through his body.

Hermione knew she was lost. To fight him while he was in this state would only exacerbate an already precarious situation. Instead, she allowed herself to melt, allowed the softness of her form to mould and give under his relentless push. Like an a conquering ruler, he sensed her submission and purred, easing his bruising kisses until his lips were barely caressing hers, the tip of his tongue lapping gently at her swollen lips.

Her chest lifted and fell, brushing his chest with each breath. When finally, she had gathered her presence of mind, Hermione's eyes flickered open and alighted on the sight of Draco's pleasure filled face. His fallen angel beauty had never been more apparent to her than in this moment with his silver eyes heavily lidded and broody and his lips swollen from his own force.

"I think that you are beginning to come to terms with the nature of our relationship." He murmured and lowered his head so that his teeth could nip the delicate shell of her ear.

Hermione shuddered but leant towards his ministrations, sighing in frustration as he moved away once more.

It was physical. That was what he meant. No matter how much she might have despised him, her body responded with fervour to his mere presence.

"It's irrelevant." She replied, her eyes holding his steadily to emphasise her point.

"Not so irrelevant." Draco's eyes dropped to her lips as he pressed his hips to her, grinding himself into her softness in slow, torturous circles.

Even through the material of his slacks and her jeans, Hermione felt the length of him pulsing with life, desperate to seek a home inside her burning warmth. It took all her strength not to reach into his pants and release him and as it were, she had no strength remaining to stop the answering frenzy of her hips as she tried to position him as she wanted him to be.

Draco was chuckling, shifting his hips and denying her the friction she craved.

"If you ask nicely and add a 'please', I might just have mercy."

Hermione bit her lip to hold back the instant and desperate 'please' which rushed to the tip of her tongue. She still had her pride though her sense seemed to have deserted her and right then, it was the only thing halting her pleas.

A fine sheen of sweat misted on her skin as she watched his mysterious features through slitted eyes. He seemed much more composed than she was and if it hadn't been for that feral gleam in his eyes, Hermione would have thought him completely indifferent to their position. Draco didn't touch her at all, his hands were planted firmly against the wall, entrapping her between his lithe arms and his lips were employed only in the expression of his amusement…only his hips moved in that unchangeable rhythm, circling, pushing and grinding.

When finally the yearning escalated into an excruciating ache, she grabbed his belt and undid it before he could protest, tearing through the layers of restricting fabric so that she could reach the hard pulsing member, gasping at the first touch as its sheer sensation awakened yet another flash of memory and inexplicable familiarity.

"What…" She began to ask in confusion but all thought was cut off when Draco spun her in his arms and pressed her breasts flat against the wall. His fingers dug into the flesh of her hips and abdomen as he popped the button of her jeans and tugged the coarse material off her hips until the zipper gave and her panties followed in their descent.

With a purr, Hermione welcomed the thrust of his fingers as they plunged into her core, the coolness a welcome contrast to the burning liquid of her aching body. With her head turned to the side, she could see his face from the corner of her eye as he stared with worshipful attention while his hand worked in and out of her.

Protesting loudly, Hermione pushed her hips back towards him, wordlessly demanding another finger to add to the two already stroking her to climax…but he was cruel and removed his hand instead, holding up the glistening digits so that he could study the shimmer of her wetness in the weak, dappled sunlight.

"Please!" Hermione forced out and Draco slowly dragged his eyes away from his fingers and eyed her curiously. While she watched, he brought his fingers to his lips and sucked them clean. As Hermione panted, Draco closed his eyes in ecstasy until the silver orbs snapped open and his control broke.

In an instant, she felt his body crowd close to hers and an instant later, felt the exhilarating burn of his cock as he thrust into her. When he was fully buried, Draco pulled himself out with an aching slowness and eased back in when she thought she might just perish without him.

"Exquisite." He murmured breathily into her ear. "Absolutely exquisite."

Close to tears, Hermione pushed back against his retreating cock, desperate to keep him inside her and to seek her release. It was like nothing else on earth, like no other pleasure ever known to her, she ached until she lost all thought, until all she desired was that he stayed buried hilt deep within her until the end of both universe and time.

She gasped…damn, but he made her feel so beautiful. With each entry and retreat, Hermione felt the deep glow of…something…seeding, nestling and growing within her chest as he whispered words of devotion, obsession and love into her ear.

The delicate slide of his flesh never lost its smooth, silky rhythm and with a terrible sort of tenderness, Hermione rose ever closer to that pinnacle until she teetered on the edge and cried out in anticipation, ready for that final push so that she could plunge into the depths of oblivion.

Draco paused, smirked and released her. His hardness slipped from her soaking heat and Hermione struggled as her unfulfilled body slid bonelessly to the floor. Crying out, she turned her body so that she could face him and watched through a haze of desperation as he pulled the silk boxers over his still straining member and then fastened his pants, allowing them to ride low over his narrow hips.

"What? What…" Was all she could mutter as he kneeled beside her half naked form. Leaning forward, he kissed her gently against the lips and smiled briefly before he stood again.

"Your punishment, my love. Think twice the next time you decide to have dinner with another man." Draco stood quickly and with one final lingering look upon her glistening face, left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Stunned, Hermione lay there, immodestly sprawled on the floor of the elegant parlour, her jeans and underwear around her ankles and her body screaming for the release which she had been so cruelly denied. Writhing, Hermione cursed Malfoy vocally and violently, spitting with anger before she gathered her wits and hesitantly touched herself. It didn't take much to bring herself to that elusive conclusion but the self-made ending was horribly anti-climatic, the small burst of heat a mere shadow of what Draco's body had promised her.

Groaning and fuming with resentment, Hermione righted herself and sought a bathroom, wandering around the seemingly endless corridors until she capitulated and asked a passing house elf for directions. When she had washed away as much of the sticky dissatisfaction as she could, Hermione went in search of Draco only to be told that the master had left for the day on private business and was not expected to return to England for several days yet.

Fighting the childish urge to stomp her feet, Hermione straightened, took a deep calming breath and marched angrily to the front door. As her steps clicked down the cobbled drive of Malfoy manor, Hermione cursed herself viciously under her breath. She couldn't blame the reporters or Dolohov not matter how much she wished to…she really should have known that a spoiled only child like Draco would not take something like this well. She would much rather curse Malfoy for his stunt but she had to applaud the sheer Slytherin nature of it in admiration.

Damn, damn and double damn.


Draco watched her as she stomped her way out of the gates of the manor and apparate away.

He would smile if weren't for the aching disappointment pulsing through his flesh. He may have taught Hermione a lesson, but it certainly wasn't a fun experience for him either. Bringing the picture of her ecstasy to mind, Draco moaned and breathed deeply, drawing in her lingering scent. He would never be able to return to that parlour without acquiring an immortal erection. Sighing softly, he headed for his luxurious bathroom…he had a feeling that he would be spending a lot more time there before this business of the engagement and marriage was settled once and for all.


The smile on Dolohov's lips could only be called deeply disturbing if not some what self-satisfied. As he carelessly flipped through the pages of the daily prophet, a swell of success flowed through his chest every time he caught sight of the handsome image of he and Hermione Granger leaning over their respective desserts, in a seemingly romantic exchange as the reporters had suggested.

It was nothing of the sort of course, Ms. Granger had been charmingly devoted to her cause and Dolohov had been sure to soak in as much information as was possible. She held a wonderful enthusiasm for everything that she loved, a spark which she brought to everything she did which made any ordinary observer stand and take notice. Ah…to be the sole obsession of such a woman would be a true marvel. Dimitri stroked a spindly finger over the black and white image of Hermione as she ate, recalling the charming determination in her eyes as she staunchly promoted S.P.E.W. It was both her strength and her weakness, this determination of hers. It was most definitely a weapon Dimitri could wield, something to use as leverage and lure.

What an incredible addition she would make to the Dolohov family. The intelligence, the magic, the fresh blood…something the Dolohovs sorely needed if their legacy was to advance into this post-war twenty first century. And what a fine conquest she would be in bed…a woman who didn't spread her legs for wealth and prestige. Besides, it would be his greatest pleasure to lure her away from Malfoy…finally, after millennia, a Dolohov would best a Malfoy. His ancestors must surely be applauding him from the after life.

Sighing contentedly, Dimitri carefully refolded the newspaper and set it aside on the bedside table. Lazily, he slid down the pillows which propped him up in the bed and turned to eye the blaze of red hair next to him. Her body was curled into a foetal position, facing away from his; occasionally, the creamy white shoulders would shudder in silent sobs before she rolled herself into a tighter, protective shell until her face was nearly buried upon her knees.

"Now, now darling." Dolohov muttered, stroking a finger down her spine. "Have you had enough time to think about your actions?"

Ginevra Weasley slowly uncurled herself and turned painstakingly to face him. Tears still streaking her face, she nodded demurely.

"I'm sorry, Dimitri. I should never have tried to find another man. I was very silly…I didn't…" She gasped out.

Dimitri Dolohov grabbed her by the throat and squeezed, cutting short any words she had planned to say.

"You aren't silly, my dear, you're just a whore." The fingers tightened briefly before he released her.

Ginny whimpered and gasped pathetically, drained from her struggles the night before and aching from his rough demands when he had returned from dinner with Hermione Granger.

He continued to speak, unheeding of her discomfort and fear. "A man like Draco Malfoy would never give you the time of day…with a woman like Ms. Granger at his side; you have an even smaller chance of even attracting his disdain. Stupid thing, aren't you…all you're good for is spreading you legs and even then, Merlin only knows how many men have been offered that particular gift.

She bit her lip as tears flowed free and Dimitri gave her a disgusted sneer. He rolled away from her and dropped his bare feet onto the icy floor, padding towards the open bathroom door without a backwards glance.

Beside herself, Ginny buried her face in the crushed pillow and slammed her fist uselessly into their softness, smothering racking furious sobs as she tried to ignore the sting of her ribs. When at last she regained a modicum of control, she levered herself up on her elbows and snatched the prophet from the bedside table and threw the offending material face-up on where she lay only moments before.

The image of Dimitri and Hermione smiling at each other stared up at her mockingly, taunting her.

WHERE IS MALFOY?

Ginny read the flashing headline and bared her teeth. Where indeed. Surely he couldn't be happy about such a situation…perhaps this would be a good time to…her eyes flicked to the closed door of the bathroom and shuddered. No, if Dimitri found out she had gone to Malfoy…

She shook off the thought and let the frustration build in her until it felt as if she could scream.

That bitch!

Granger! Wasn't it enough that she had Draco?! She was greedy enough to try for Dolohov as well! Slamming her fist into the moving wizarding photograph, Ginny grasped the edges of the newspaper and pulled; she slashed and tore at it but the action gave her little satisfaction and Ginny was once more tempted to scream; but she dare not alert Dimitri lest he decided to punish her for the action.

Gasping angrily, Ginny called a house elf to clean up the mess she had made and quickly dressed. She wanted to leave before Dolohov returned; she needed to get away for a while, even if it was only enough time for her to heal her bruises before she needed to return. She simply couldn't let Hermione get her greedy claws into Dimitri as well.

Shaking out the tangle of her curls, Ginny decided to pay a visit to the bitch in person. It couldn't hurt to put Hermione down a little; it had always been a favourite pastime of hers.

When she was at last satisfied with the sexed up image she exuded, Ginny apparated to the door of Hermione's central London apartment. She sneered at the disapproving look an elderly couple gave her as they walked past her and wrapped her knuckles sharply against the door.

Hermione didn't answer and there were no telling sounds from beyond the door. After several impatient moments, Ginny slammed her fist against the door again, tempted to start screaming for the bitch to come and face her.

"Miss Weasley…may I help you?"

Ginny whirled and nearly lost her balance on her precarious heels as she spun to face the owner of the voice.

"Granger." She forced out angrily. "I want to talk to you."

Hermione grinned deprecatingly. "So I'd gathered." She sighed. "About what?"

The red head straightened herself arrogantly, smoothing out the creases of anger on her forehead. "Aren't you going to ask me in?"

"No." Hermione replied, deadpanned.

"That's awfully rude of you, Granger. Here I thought you were always such a goody two shoes." Ginny hissed, narrowing her eyes.

Hermione met her gaze unflinchingly. "Times change."

The two women stared each other down coolly, one simmering with repressed anger, the other, a collected sort of disdain.

"Stay away from Dimitri." Ginny forced out at last.

Hermione's eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline with incredulity. "What a hypocritical thing to say. Perhaps I should reciprocate and tell you to stay away from Malfoy."

Ginny sneered. "Threatened are we? Worried that your mudblood self couldn't keep Malfoy satisfied?" The red head took in the other woman's stressed expression and chuckled meanly. "He's not giving it to you, is he? Oh dear; he doesn't waste his time with amateurs…"

"Better than being used goods." Hermione retorted, trying to let the insult slide off her.

Ginny's eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared angrily. "Just keep you paws off what's mine or I'll make you regret it." Spinning on her heels, Ginny began to stalk away, head held proudly.

Hermione leapt forward and grabbed her by the wrist.

"Weasley!" She exclaimed just as Ginny released a sharp yelp of pain.

"What do you think you're doing?!" The red head yelled angrily. "Let go of me right now or you'll regret it Granger."

Hermione released a puff of breath in disgust. "What the hell has happened to you Gin? You were never like this at Hogwarts."

Something flashed in the eyes of the younger woman as she rubbed her wrist where Hermione had grabbed her.

"Yeah, well, times change."

She began to walk away before Hermione spoke again.

"Not so much Gin. What happened between you and Harry…?"

"It was his bloody fault! He gave up on us then he went running to Parkinson and now she's carrying his bastard child and…and…and…" Ginny gasped for breath and rubbed her temples. She turned back to Hermione, allowing her a grimacing smile. "Like I said, times change. Why the sudden walk down memory lane, Granger? Hoping to get the old gang back together are we? Ron will be downgrading a bit if he took you back, but if you get on your knees…"

"God, forget it Weasley." Hermione ran a hand through her curls, snagging in a few tangles. "I was just going to say that you're just hurting yourself and your parents by acting the way you do. You're certainly not doing anyone any favours."

"Thanks for that wonderful insight Granger but I think I'm doing just fine. Besides, why would I take your advice when you don't even have a family left to hurt?"

Tears pricked in Hermione's eyes. Her parents had perished in the Great War and Hermione had never forgotten the implications. So instead of trying to reach out to the wayward Weasley once more, she let the woman stalk away.

"A lost soul."

Hermione spun and clapped a hand to her heart.

"Luna! How long have you been standing there?"

The doe eyed blonde shook her head thoughtfully and stroked a finger through her bangs. She was dressed in what Hermione could only describe as a grotesquely purple bag…dress…bag with a pair of rounded sunglasses and a haphazardly tied head scarf. She looked like a free-love agent straight out of the sixties…it seemed Luna still had yet to grasp the concept of muggle clothing.

"Only a little while. But that was all it took…she's not terribly subtle is she?"

Hermione sighed as she unlocked her apartment door and allowed Luna in. "Weasleys rarely are." Closing the door behind them, Hermione threw down her keys on the counter and dropped tiredly into a well padded couch. Sighing with genuine weariness, Hermione closed her eyes and laid her head back as Luna moved to sit beside her.

"I'd offer you refreshments but I'm afraid my body won't obey me right now."

"That's alright." Luna murmured docilely. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Hermione shook her head vehemently and waved her hand as if dismissing the very notion.

"I don't mean Ginny." Luna said matter of factly. "I meant the little story about you and Dolohov's illicit rendezvous."

This made Hermione snap to attention. Her eyes opened in an instant and she growled irately. "Don't tell me you believe that nonsense, Luna Weasley! I would never…"

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

Hermione slumped in her seat again. "It was just a dinner between diplomatic colleagues. That's all. Nothing illicit or sinister."

A disconcerting silence followed before Luna 'hmmed' patiently and enquired in an almost innocent tone: "Is that how Malfoy understood the situation?"

Clenching her teeth, Hermione jerked her head to the side, gazing resentfully at a framed photo of the Pyrenees upon the wall. "Draco is irrational. As all men are."

"Mmm hmm." Luna nodded absently, her eyes betraying her amusement. "So if you found a photo of, say, Ginny Weasley and Malfoy sharing an intimate dinner splashed across all the gossip tabloids you would just shrug it off and…"

Hermione growled heatedly, fighting the desire to rub her chest to chase away the odd feeling which rose in her throat. "Fine, fine. I get the point. But still…I went there to explain things to him and what does he do…?" She paused mid-sentence, heat flooding her cheeks as she recalled exactly what he had done and the cruel condition in which he had left her in; to punish her, he had claimed.

Luna leant forward eagerly. "Indeed…what does he do?"


A/N: I hope you enjoyed that little encounter and that Dolohov's plans have become a little more clear. Are we feeling sorry for Ginny yet or do we all still hate her??? Will she play a role in the climax? Likely...one never knows.

REVIEW!

Twilight to Midnight