Chapter 9-

While being measured was annoying and tiresome, it had been going fairly well until one of the designers, specifically the woman designing her knew lingerie, decided to come up onto the dais for more personal measurements. The situation was awkward enough in Hermione's opinion, but the woman decided to make it worse. "I'm so glad Mr. Malfoy has met you dear, his past conquests didn't seem to have quite the elegance and intelligence that you appear to have." She said in a hopelessly naive tone. The poor woman was oblivious to Hermione's sudden change in emotion. At the phrase, 'past conquests' Hermione had frozen.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" She asked in a stiff tone, a smile pasted onto her face. Draco could sense a change in her demeanor from across the room where he was standing next to Severus. He had been lecturing the man on staying out of Hermione's mind, something Severus was all too happy to comply with, when he noticed Hermione freeze.

"I just mean you seem to be a much better match to Mr. Malfoy then the women he's had me design for in the past." She said, giving Hermione what was probably a pleased smile.

"I see." Hermione said haltingly. "And how many of these 'past consequences' has Draco had you design for."

"Oh don't you worry darling, only about ten or so in the past few years. Heaven knows how relatively small a number that is in comparison to some of his family friends."

"Of course, how silly of me." Hermione gave her one last fake smile before falling silent for the rest of the event, as she had deemed it. The measurements and resulting designing plus presentations of designs last through lunch and into the afternoon. Hermione didn't pay much attention; instead, she was focused on what the woman had told her, how it had felt, and what it meant. There wasn't really a good time to discuss it with Draco until much later.

They were in their bedroom, both reading while sitting in bed next to each other when Draco finally brought it up. "Alright Granger, what is it?"

"What is what?" Hermione feigned innocence, not in the mood to have this discussion.

"You've been glaring at the same page for over ten minutes and knowing you, you should have flipped the page at least five times by now. What is bothering you?"

"Did you cheat on me Draco?" Hermione asked suddenly, hating herself for the small warble in her voice.

"What?" Draco asked in complete shock, taken aback by her question. He watched as she huffed in frustration before climbing out of bed to pace back and forth.

"I mean, I would understand. There were few times in the past couple of years that we were able to get together, I'm sure were lonely. I also know that I'm not the prettiest girl in the world. I mean, for heaven's sake I've only dated three people, you included. And I'm kind of bossy and sometimes I still act like a 'know-it-all' but I just wish you would have told me… I mean I just… I…" Hermione trailed off as tears started cascading down her face in rivers. Draco sighed before moving to the edge of the bed, grabbing Hermione's arm as she paced by him, and tugging her into his embrace. Holding her to his chest, standing between his knees, Draco pressed a kiss to the top of her head before speaking.

"I need you to listen to me very carefully Hermione, can you do that?" Draco asked quietly and slowly. Hermione responded with a small head nod that Draco could feel pressing against his chest. "Good." Taking one more deep breath, he began. "No, Hermione, I have never cheated on you. I have not slept with another woman, loved another woman, nor replaced you in any way with someone else. You are it, you are my love, my heart; you hold the pieces Mia and I will never take them back. Now, what happened to put such a ridiculous notion inside your head?"

"The lingerie designer said I was her favorite of all your conquests so far." Hermione's reply was muffled and sounded rather like it came from a small child afraid of being laughed at.

"Oh, Princess." Was Draco's reply, holding her tighter to him as Hermione's sobs grew from quiet to wracking. Draco waited for her to calm down, murmuring sweet nothing of his love for her and her beauty and everything in between. When Hermione's crying had ceased and she was simply sniffling, he continued his explanation. "It is considered common practice for Death Eaters of my age to… have fun, I guess you could say. The girls are generally told to be prim and proper and look down on such behavior, but the men are told to have fun while you can. Because I live in headquarters, it would have been very obvious if I didn't… join the festivities. Be that as it may, I simply paraded girls before my father as I walked them up the stairs, gave them a bag of gold, and told them to report outside my door at seven in the morning. I then paraded them out of the manor before joining whomever was home for dinner. I have never cheated on you, my Mia. You are precious, a treasure one only finds once in a life time." Hermione snuggled her head further into his neck, blushing at praise she didn't believe she deserved. "You don't see it, do you?" Draco asked quietly, observing her reaction. Pushing her away from him slightly, Draco stood up before placing his hands on her hips and guiding her to stand in front of the full length mirror in their closet. Turning her around, Draco quickly threw off the Slytherin t-shirt and blue skinny jeans she had been wearing all day, leaving her in her underwear. Turning her around to face the mirror Draco looked her directly in the eye and began.

"You are beautiful." Ignoring Hermione's shaking head, he continued. "Yes Mia, you are. Just look, my love. Your eyes light up with passion when you talk about anything that interests you remotely. They turn to molten chocolate when I say something to rile you up, granite when you are determined but my favorite is the milk chocolate they are now, because I know that look is just for me. It's love and compassion and loyalty and it's all for me. I love your freckles Mia, they adorn your pretty face so perfectly and when I can't fall asleep at night, I roll you over and simply look at your beautiful face. I adore your hair, the way it tumbles in curls down your back, how it frizzes in the rain, and the way it grows larger with your anger. I love how soft it feels and that it smells like vanilla, just like this spot," Draco nudged her pulse point on her neck with his nose softly before pressing a kiss to it. "on your long, elegant neck." Draco slowly followed the curves of Hermione's hips and waist up to breasts while sucking on her neck, eliciting a moan from the teary-eyed witch. "I love your breasts Mia, the way they fit my hands perfectly, how soft and… responsive, they are." He continued smirking into her neck as she squeaked when he lightly squeezed her nipple through her lacy bra. "Do you believe me yet, my princess?" Draco asked, meeting her eyes in the mirror as he rested his chin on the top of her head and wound his arms around her waist, cocooning her in his warmth and cologne. Hermione nodded slightly, entranced with the reflection of his eyes. "Say it my love, tell me." He commanded quietly.

"I'm beautiful." She responded with a small smile and the first tear leaking out of her eyes.

"Darling, this was supposed to stop the tears, not start them all again." Draco said with a surprised tone, turning her around to wipe the tear from her cheek. Hermione gave a watery chuckle.

"No Draco, it's not that. I just love you, so so much. Hold me, please, and never let me go?" She asked quietly, sounding equal parts happy and anxious at the thought of ever seeing the back of Draco's head and knowing she would never feel the warmth of his simple glance again.
"Oh my love, I would be the biggest ignoramus in the world to ever let you go. No Mia, you are all I have ever wanted, you are all I will ever want. And I promise to protect you and love you and cherish you forever." He vowed, sealing it with kisses to her forehead, eyelids nose, and finally lips, starting a passion between them that proved exactly how much Draco loved his witch.