Disclaimer – no animals were hurt during the writing of this story :)

A.N. Thank you guys for your heart warming reviews….I was so happy when I realized you hadn't given up on Devil's Deal. Just to let you know …..your support is very much appreciated. But immediately I'll get to the real reason you're here….

Devil's Deal

Chapter 10 – Despicable Deception

A few nights later Hermione shuffled the parchments before her and tried to stifle a yawn. Her tired glance rested on the man seated next to her and she wondered if it would be unforgivably rude if she threw him out. The clock on the wall reminded her that it was two in the morning and that she had been awake for about twenty four hours straight.

David, her assistant, was due to make a presentation for the Tenureship Committee in two days time and she had been more than willing to assist him when he had come to her for help earlier today. Since he was truly brilliantly minded and although he was more learned than experienced, Hermione thought that he would make a great researcher. However the only thing standing between him and the job was his persistent insecurity.

"Do you think they would notice if I ratched on some of the documentation?" he asked her with earnest hopefulness. She shook her head abysmally at this.

"Considering that I am on the committee, I think that I would notice." she reminded him, more than a little exasperated by his constant inane suggestions. Of course she felt guilty when she saw his downtrodden expression, regretting her curtness to him.

"David, as I have been trying to tell you for a while now, you should simply present the information that you already have" she advised him kindly.

"But I don't think I have enough material" he cried, throwing his hands up in frustration. Hermione eyed the towering stack of parchments in disbelief. He had perhaps collated even more research than she would have.

"I think in this instance, it might be more productive if you focused on what you are presenting rather than how much you are presenting" she hinted pointedly. He looked at her as though she had grown another head.

"What is it?" she asked suspiciously when he made no movement to look away.

"Miss Granger, that is such a strange statement coming from you….especially since you hold the record for longest presentation made" he finally revealed softly, sounding genuinely confused.

Hermione rolled her eyes and stood up abruptly. Undoubtedly if she stayed in this room a second more she would be ordering David to pack up his stuff and go home.

"I'm going to get us something to eat" she said, fighting to be patient to him.

She had just finished magically preparing some sandwiches and tea when she heard a sharp rapping on her back door. She frowned wondering who would be outside at this hour and force of habit lead her to approach the door slowly, wand ready in hand. Of course she was utterly surprised when her magical peephole showed that her late night visitor was none other than Mr. Malfoy. Immediately she opened the door, her excitement of seeing him making her hands fumble a little on the locks.

"Draco" she gasped, worried when she got her first good look at him. He was negligently propped against the doorjamb but he was completely covered in dust and he smelt like smoke. He looked as though he was returning from a battle and his expression was very drawn and exhausted.

"What happened?" she asked concernedly, running a hand over him to reassure her self that he was not injured.

"We met with some trouble in Dhiaran" he told tiredly her, grasping her wandering hand.

"Ms. Granger, is everything alright?" she heard David ask as he came into the room. Instinctively Hermione pulled the door closer to her, effectively blocking Draco from David's view.

"Yes, of course David, I'll be with you in a second" she told him hastily, relieved when he nodded, picked up two sandwiches and left the room.

"David?" Draco questioned, his eyes suddenly very alert as he straightened to his full, towering height.

"My assistant" she explained and then reached out a shaky hand to his face

"You have a scar." She anxiously whispered, running a finger along the roughened skin. It was about three inches long and cut a deep path from just under his cheekbone to the edge of his hairline.

"Are you injured elsewhere?" she asked him worried again. He shook his head then leaned in to capture her lips in a rough but thoroughly satisfying kiss. There was an air of barely suppressed violence about him tonight.

"I'll see you tomorrow" he told her moving to step away. Instantly she grabbed his hand, forestalling his departure.

"No, please stay" she told him quietly.

"You have company" he reminded her and Hermione had honestly forgotten all about David.

"You can wait upstairs while I get rid of him" she ventured, hoping that he would accept her offer.

"Go ahead" he told her with a nod and she smiled preceding him into the room. She walked quickly into the living room, knowing that with Draco's stealth he was probably half way up the stairs already. David was immersed in his work just as she had expected. He was very diligent, sometimes to the exclusion of the world around him. He also never pried and that was something that she really was grateful for…especially in a situation such as this.

"David, I'm sorry but I have an emergency to deal with" she told him sincerely and although she saw the disappointment in his eyes she knew he would be understanding.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked politely as he started to gather up his parchments.

"No, I have it covered, but David you can leave those parchments and your presentation plan and I will work out a structure for you tomorrow evening." She told him and she was relieved when she saw him grin happily.

"Thank you so much, now I'll have even more time to do research" he told her excitedly, grabbing his hat and scarf quickly. She smiled at his enthusiasm, knowing that she was seeing a little of herself in him.

"Well I'll see you at work tomorrow" he told her as she walked him to the door.

"Actually it's today" she said teasingly.

"Thank you again Miss Granger" he told her before apparating. She smiled and then quickly locked the door, anxious to be with Draco. She all but ran up the stairs and then paused at the top wondering in which room he might be in. She hadn't realized when she had sent him up that he had never been here before, but an educated guess told her he might be in her bedroom. Quietly she opened the door, expecting to see him on the bed or somewhere in the room, but it was empty. She sighed and then turned to leave, intent on checking the next room until a small sound alerted her to his presence.

He was walking through the connecting doorway that led to her bathroom and after his bath he had only bothered to hitch one of her white towels low on his defined stomach. His right hand held a smaller towel as he dried the moisture from his head and her knees nearly buckled at the sight of his barely clothed body, especially since now he had that prominent scar that gave him the look of a dangerous warlord. She closed the bedroom door and walked toward the edge of the bed where he was now seated. He was looking at her seriously, but she was too full of questions to notice the stillness about him.

"What happened in Dhiaran?" she asked as she sat next to him, her eyes traveling his body to satisfy herself that he hadn't been further injured. She knew that he had taken some of his security personnel and gone to Dhiaran for the past few days to retrieve tangible evidence, but she hadn't really expected that he would be in danger.

"We were ambushed within the factory and I lost two of my men. I've already been to see their families." he told her emotionlessly, but Hermione knew that he was deeply affected. She reached over to hug him and he resisted for a moment before tiredly dropping his head onto her shoulder.

"Did the attackers know who you were?" she asked after a few moments, worried about him and the men who had gone with him.

"I think our identities are still unknown…. but this" he said straightening away from her and running a hand along his scar "is going to be a problem" he stated unequivocally. She looked at him confused at his statement.

"Have you tried any healing spells" she asked, while reaching into her pocket for her wand.

"Yes and even dark magic ones. It won't go away" he told her with a self-deprecating smirk.

He looked at her wearily as she rose up to stand before him and started reciting the healing spells that she knew. It didn't take long for Hermione to realize that the scar really would not vanish.

"But how is this possible?" she asked, sitting next to him again and staring at the scar.

"This is an example of the type of potions they are developing in Dhiaran" she listened raptly as he continued "The potions and spells have the effect to permanently physically injure the victim. Michael was hit by a spell and it bore a hole into his chest until he slowly bled to death" He told her and she could hear the repressed anger in his voice.

"What about the cure?" she asked, holding his hand in hers, quite grateful that he had returned home safely.

"We couldn't locate it… I can imagine what these bastards intend to use this for" he added grimly. She could feel his desolation and frustration and she wanted so desperately to ease some of his worry.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked him when he turned to stare angrily out the window.

"I'm going to need a potion to conceal the scar. Beyond any doubt they will know that I was part of this if they realize I have an injury that does not heal." he explained in a hard voice, turning back to face her.

"Of course, I'll be back soon" she told him walking through the other connecting door that led to her small potions room, glad that she could assist him. She began brewing the ingredients, knowing that it would take four hours for it to be ready and then it needed to be cooled for another two hours. It was one of the strongest potions that she knew, and it would work perfectly. After a few minutes she walked back into her room surprised to find Draco comfortably settled in her bed. He looked so at odds, lying among her serviceable bedspread but that was probably only because she was accustomed to his silk sheets and richly furnished room.

"What's the next step?" she asked softly, lying down next to him, but atop the covers while he was under them.

"I've done all I can do at this time." he told her, turning his head to face the ceiling.

"Would you like something to eat?" she asked and she saw him shake his head no.

"I just need rest" he said, then settled even more into the bed. It was quite obvious that he was going to spend the night here and for this she was immensely relieved as she didn't want for him to be alone.

"We have to finish researching those encrypted potion ingredients, I'm sure that if we can find the base of it we can develop a counter potion." he told her after a few moments and she realized that his mind was still focused on Dhiaran.

"Yes, we definitely need to figure out those ingredients as soon as possible" she said with conviction, her eyes unconsciously drawn to his scar again.

"I will start working on it in the morning, but I am going to need your help. Would you be able to leave work early?" he asked her and she knew he was uncomfortable about asking her to shirk her duties at work, even in a situation as critical as this.

"Of course! I was going to leave after lunch anyway so I'll just take the day instead…. but I'll have come over as soon as I finish David's presentation structure" she assured him and was surprised when she saw him frown.

"Is that why he was here so late?" he asked with a hard edge to his voice.

"Yes….why did you think he was here?" she queried cautiously, very curious to know his answer. He shrugged dismissively and she knew that he wasn't going to answer her. She wanted to question him further but she restrained herself, reminding herself that he was exhausted and he'd been through more than enough already. He couldn't be angry that David was here, could he?The thought unbiddenly crossed her mind as she got up to put on her nightdress.

After changing she emerged from behind the screen and slipped into bed with Draco, noticing that his eyes were closed. It was so obvious that the strain from Dhiaran was taking its toll on him. She snuggled up next to him and then reached over to give him a gentle goodnight kiss. Without opening his eyes he deepened the kiss and then one kiss turned into another and then another. When Hermione finally stopped for air, she was bemused to find that she was half lying on him and his hands were tight around her waist. She looked at him, staring directly into his storm coloured eyes, seeing her own desire mirrored there. She kept he gaze on him as she leaned down and kissed him again, but she didn't close her eyes and neither did he. The air was instantly charged with sexual tension and she moved so that she was now straddling him. With one determined tug, she pulled her nightdress over her head, revealing that she had been naked beneath the thin cotton.

Draco lay there unmoving, yet there was that small smirk playing about his lips and his new scar looked wicked in the candlelight. She kissed him again, allowing her tongue to explore his mouth but pulling away when he tried to do the same. She pulled back even further when he tried to reach up and kiss her, but she planted her hands on his shoulders, telling him without words that she didn't want him to move. She smiled when she saw a sardonic eyebrow raise and then she started to kiss him from his strong jawline, down his sturdy neck, tasting him with her tongue as well as her lips. Draco moved slightly under her so that she was positioned directly atop his engorged shaft and she knew beyond doubt that he was naked beneath the sheet.

She trailed her tongue down his chest, her mouth placing tiny heated kisses against his skin. She stopped when she had reached the left side of his chest and she placed a hand gently so that she could feel his heartbeat. She used her tongue to softly lick his nipple and instantly she felt his chest muscles tighten. Apparently she was having the same effect on him that he normally had on her. She moved onto the other one, trying to inflame him as he inflamed her, but Draco would not have any of it. His large hands came up to roughly grasp her breasts causing her to clench her legs around his hips at that onslaught of pleasure. She let him continue for a moment before she firmly gripped his wrists and moved his hands away from her body. She shook her head at him and she was glad when he understood and kept his hands on the bed.

Hermione resumed her slow exploration of his body, she reveled in the feeling of his rock hard stomach muscles under her mouth and she especially loved the way it clenched the few times she lightly bit his flesh. She moved lower still, past his abdomen and the trail of soft platinum hair that lead to her ultimate destination. She moved until she was lower down on his muscled thighs and then she slowly removed the end of the sheet that was covering him. She glanced up at Draco, satisfied to see that his gaze was heavy lidded and his expression showed his desire.

Slowly and with a feather light touch she ran her hand from the tip of his flesh to the base of it, smiling as she felt how heated it became from her small touch. She leaned down and touched her tongue to the enlarged tip, circling it slowly before taking it more fully into her mouth. He tasted clean and at the same time divinely male. Hermione had never, ever thought that she would have done something like this. In fact the very idea of it had disgusted her when she had heard women talk about it, but her she was enjoying the feel of Draco in her mouth as she ran her tongue down the length of him. It didn't feel wrong, it didn't feel dirty but it did feel amazing especially when she heard his pleasure filled groan. She wanted to do so much more but Draco firmly grasped her upper arms and pulled her up. She was about to protest but then she heard the protection spell and then he entered her with one powerful upward movement. Instinctively her inner muscles tightened trying to keep him inside of her longer, but with equal ruthlessness he pulled out and then plunged right back in. Her back arched as he continued his tireless thrusts and she gripped onto the bed spread while he grasped her hips.

"Look at me" he commanded and Hermione tilted her head forward until she could met his eyes. There was nothing more erotic than watching the passion in his eyes as he made love to her. He continued to pin her with that merciless gaze even as he steadied his rhythm. She felt the heat build in her body but still she didn't look away. Her body tightened, her breathing became laboured and she felt as though she would explode. Guided by his hands she moved on the tensile length of him, faster and faster until finally she cried out as the pleasure shattered inside of her. She didn't have time to recover, because Draco was still moving powerfully inside of her, and although she had not thought it possible the heat started building again, especially when he reached up to suck one and then her other breast. Her womb contracted with every movement his mouth made and yet his body continued to plunder hers. The second climax was eve more powerful than her first and she slumped bonelessly against Draco when he found his release.

Gently he eased her off him and pulled the covers over them. She moved closer to him and reached out an arm to hold him. It was especially at times like now that she remembered that this was nearly over. He had been away to Dhiaran for three days, having left the day after the holiday, and now they only had four days again. Her arm around him tightened fractionally at this, suddenly overcome by despondency. She felt him slide an arm under her and the other tightened around her waist. She fell asleep wrapped in his arms, relishing the contentment that engulfed her.

Hermione smiled as she walked into her living room later in the morning after Draco had apparated. She had just breakfasted with him and given him the concealer potion. They had both been relieved when it had worked immediately but as with all spells of that nature the object to be concealed was still there if someone touched it. Waking up with him in her bed, in her domain was truly wonderful, and a part of her wished that she could share that with him again. His spirits had seemed to be rejuvenated by the few hours of sleep he had gotten and he had actually teased her about her small bed before they had come downstairs.

Now she only had to deal with David's presentation and then she could join Draco for the rest of the day. She surveyed the parchments littered around the room and knew that she wouldn't be able to work comfortably here. Rifling through the documents until she had found the ones that she needed she picked them up and then walked to her personal library. She placed them on the mahogany desk and then went over to pull the drapes open. Tapping on the window alerted her to the presence of an owl and she gave him a treat after taking the newspaper from him. Having a subscription to the newspaper meant that it was delivered to her everyday, however she honestly couldn't remember the last time she had actually sat down and read it.

Walking over to the smaller desk next to her window she gingerly tried to place it onto the huge stack of unread newspapers only to have them all fall to the floor. She really should just magically dispose of them but she was loathe to destroy even something as inconsequential as this since it did contain some amount of knowledge. With a sigh she bent down to begin restacking them, her eyes reflexively reading the dates on each as she replaced them. She had nearly put them all back when her attention was drawn to a glaring headline.

"Incredible! Draco Malfoy publicly forgives Pansy Parkinson, Insisting that he still considers her a good friend!"

She unconsciously walked toward her favourite armchair, sitting in it as she continued to stare at the headline. She couldn't believe that it was only three and a half weeks since she had become Draco's mistress. It appeared to be so much longer especially since so many things had happened. It seemed that everyday she was reminded of this but it was especially jarring to be reminded in this bold print. She began reading the article, knowing that she hadn't had a chance to do so before. That day Ginny had brought her own copy of the paper and Hermione had been too excited and elated to bother with the particulars, but her attention was riveted to it today.

'Mr. Draco Malfoy, the wealthy owner of Malfoy Industries has forgiven Ms. Parkinson for the breaking of their betrothal contract. It has been no secret that eleven months ago Pansy Parkinson ran away with Ronald Weasley, on the day before her wedding to Mr. Malfoy. However in a twist to this dramatic story, Mr. Malfoy yesterday afternoon issued a press conference to clarify the situation between himself, Ms. Parkinson and even Mr. Ronald Weasley.'

Hermione reached as far as here before she realized that something was amiss. She read it over again and then a third time before she figured out what was wrong and then she just sat there in utter shock, feeling as though she couldn't breathe. Dread engulfed her and she felt light headed, almost like she had received some news of death. 'This cannot possibly be true, it just can't be' she thought in anguish going over the words yet again. But there were the facts, staring boldly back at her… unless the newspaper had made some mistake.

She tapered down her panic as she quickly wrote missives to the other newspapers requesting archived copies of the article. She paced the small room as she waited for her owl to bring back the information and it was all she could do to not let herself be overcome by despair.

"Please Merlin, please don't let it be true" she prayed, feeling as though her life was literally falling apart around her. She was relieved when her owl returned and she quickly took the parchments, but it was with great trepidation that she read the first article and then the other, slumping to the ground when they confirmed the suspicions. She sat dazedly, staring at nothing as she tried to piece the puzzle together, her confused mind trying to make sense of it all.

She had gone over in the afternoon to plead her case to Draco the day before these articles had been printed. He had given her the ultimatum of becoming his mistress during that same meeting. She had accepted his offer later that night and even he had not been expecting that. Yet the proof was that he had done the interview with the press beforeshe had told him of her acceptance, which meant that he had publicly forgiven Pansy hours before she had even attempted to become his mistress. All of this had been unnecessary, everything she had sacrificed, every she had given to him had been utterly worthless and her hands clenched at this. In that instant she realized that she had been played for a fool by Draco Malfoy.

Rage coursed through her like never before and hate followed closely in its wake.

How could he have done this? How could he have done something as despicable as this? She questioned herself aloud. Maybe he had been on a path of revenge after what Ron had done to him, maybe he had thought it would be fun to punish Ron in this way because he knew Ron and everyone around her would be broken if they found out, or maybe he still harboured his hatred for mudbloods. Whatever the reason, she had been the one who had been used mercilessly, she had been the one whose spirit and morals had been taken away from her and all for nothing!

Without even thinking clearly about her actions she picked up the articles and quickly ran up the stairs to her room. The port-key was where she had left it on the dresser and she squelched the urge to fling it away, instead she clutched it in her hand and apparated to the manor. Her only intent being to finally give that Devil his due. She ended up arriving in the foyer and her quick, angry footsteps lead her to the study in no time. She barged into the room, receiving curious glances from both Draco and Blaise, but she was too enraged to notice.

"Hermione, what's happened?" Draco asked her concernedly as she stalked toward him.

Her hand connected with a resounding slap against his cheek before she thrust the newspaper articles at him. He glanced at them as they fell to the floor and then his expression hardened. It was quite obvious to her that he knew exactly why she was here.

"I think I'll leave now" she heard Blaise say, but her angry gaze was directed solely to Draco.

"You bastard, you cold hearted, arrogant bastard" she seethed at him, further enraged when he continued to look at her emotionlessly.

"You are the most vile creature that has ever crossed the earth and I sincerely hope you rot in the darkest bowels of hell for all that you have done." She shook her head at him, moving back slowly. "I can't believe I let someone like you be near me, to touch me. Merlin, I even gave you my virginity" she told him as realization dawned on her and the tears began to flow unconsciously down her face.

"Don't cry" he said softly although his expression remained impassive and he reached out a hand to her.

"Don't you dare touch me!" she backed away from him as though he carried a plague and slowly his hand fell back to his side.

"You must be so proud of yourself, you've finally had your revenge against all of us" she told him, swiping angrily at the tears that were still flowing freely. She looked at him seeing only a stranger and not the man she had whose arms she had fallen asleep in only this morning.

"I hope it was worth it, I hope the blood I have shed will finally satisfy you and you'll leave my friends and myself alone now." She spat at him, wanting so badly to find a way to hurt him as he had hurt her.

"Do you even have a spark of humanity? Do you even care?" she asked him unexpectedly, trying to get some type of response from him.

"Of course I care" he finally told her although his voice was harsh.

"Why do I find that hard to believe?" she questioned him sarcastically and then held up a hand when he would have answered her. She didn't want to listen to anymore of his lies, she didn't want to be trapped in his web on manipulation anymore, in fact she didn't even want to be breathing the same air as him anymore.

"Forget it... Idon't care. Just stay the bloody hell way from me Draco Malfoy, oh and by the way I'm sure your father would have been proud of you today" she told him furiously, feeling elated when she saw him become angry at her comment. She turned to walk out the door but his words stopped her.

"I never thought of you as my mistress" he stated distinctly.

"You're so right Mr. Malfoy, I was never your mistress….I was your whore" she told him her voice dripping with venom before walking out the study door and apparating from the manor.

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A.N. So the drama begins. Thanks again to all of my reviewers and readers. Keep safe and I'll see you guys next week.

Thanks for the review.