Chapter 10

She had been swimming for over half an hour already and still she was seething. She was so mad that she didn't even feel appreciative of the fact that the outdoor pool was finally opened. She was mad, furious, enraged at...herself.

She had played with fire and had gotten burned. At least that is what her lips, her face, her neck - everywhere he had touched her - had felt like. Hot, flustered and burned.

And where the hell was Ginny when she needed her? Right, she off to Romania for a surprise visit to Charlie with Harry. Lousy timing!

So, after an almost completely sleepless night - because she would see his eyes every time she closed hers - she was now furiously swimming laps in the community pool.

Hoisting herself out of the water, she felt drained and even her mind seemed to have found temporary rest.

'Boy trouble?'

She gazed into the face of Becky. Becky, one of the few Muggle friends she made after she and Ron broke up. They lived in the same apartment building and had started swimming together on Saturday mornings. Soon they had been joined by Becky's boyfriend, her brother and his girlfriend. From time to time, others others would join, but this was their Saturday Swimming Society.

'Something like that. Co-worker trouble, really.' Hermione sighed deeply

'Boy co-worker?'

'Yep. And an infuriatingly one at that!'

'Cute as hell, by any chance?'

Hermione grunted.

'I take that as a yes?'

'I hear you're having boy troubles?' Becky's brother Trevor wrapped an arm around her as they walked towards the water slide. 'What did the wanker do?'

'He kissed me.' Again, she thought.

'So?'

'To shut me up. I was being...impossible...and rude...and to top it off, insensitive.'

Trevor beamed at her, while rubbing his knuckles on her scalp. 'Don't you worry your little head - he'll forgive you!'

'I'll doubt it,' she murmured before shrieking at the strong hands that grabbed her waist and chucked her into the pool.

'You kissed, I hear?' Becky and Jill questioned her after they went down the water slide.

'He kissed me...and I might have...sort of...kissed back. A little!'

'And he is a co-worker?' Jill was just catching on.

'And a looker as well!' Becky added.

She ended up describing Draco. From his platinum blond hair, to his steely grey eyes, his haughty face, aristocratic countenance, muscled torso – he plays a lot of sport – and his long legs – thinking back at his faded jeans – and of course not forgetting a just marvellous arse – courtesy of those same jeans, which looked to be moulded to his body. At the end they were all almost salivating.

'Ah, he's a metro-man, dying his hair and all?' Jill was intrigued.

'It's his natural colour; it's extremely blond, almost silver-' Almost exactly like the hair she saw in the corners of her eyes, standing by the gates of the swimming pool. She immediately turned her head but she didn't see him, just some children with blond hair. She must be starting to see things, because what on earth would Draco Malfoy be doing outside of a Muggle swimming pool?

Mark, Becky's boyfriend, started to tickle her and she shrieked and ran away with him chasing her, while the rest of them discussed if blond hair pointed to albino genes.

I'll see you on Monday. That little sentence kept playing in her mind all Saturday long. I'll see you on Monday, while she was doing her laundry. I'll see you on Monday, when she did her shopping. I'll see you on Monday, lying in her had enough of Draco and the way he always left her with that promise on Friday, subsequently ruining her entire weekend, wondering what he meant and what would happen on said Monday.

It was finally Monday and one question kept swirling around in Hermione's head: where was he?

Hermione was startled when a hand came to rest on her shoulder and she turned around to look straight into the eyes of Draco Malfoy.

'I told you I would be back today so why do you look so surprised?' He murmured in her ear, leaning towards her.

'You did say that,' she answered breathlessly, not knowing what else to reply, with him standing so close to her.

'And a Malfoy always keeps his promise. You know that don't you, Hermione?'

He called her Hermione! The way her name rolled off his tongue made her quiver. His finger started to stroke the collar of her robes and her heart rate sky-rocketed. What was he doing!

'You really should invest in some silken summer robes - you're burning up.'

His finger dipped further inside her woollen robe and she had to admit, she was feeling rather hot.

'Your skin is overheated; you really should take it off, Hermione.'

His voice was so hypnotic and looking in his eyes did nothing to return her lucidity, so she simply nodded.

'you're wearing something under them, aren't you, Hermione?'

She nodded again, dumbly. She was, but because of the heat it was just her underwear. But even that knowledge did nothing to make her recoil from what he was doing to her clothing. His hands started at the clasp at her collarbone and he slowly worked his way down the buttons beneath it. She peeked down and could see the swell of her breast showing and some flashes of the soft green bodice that encased them. His fingers skimmed the border between flesh and fabric and she sighed. Since starting unbuttoning her robe, he hadn't said a word and she startled when his voice softly told her that he had never before seen such beautiful underwear. He chuckled, and told her that this was one Muggle influence he hoped to get used to, starting right now.

Only wearing her bodice and butterfly knickers, she stood there, weak kneed, in front of Draco, who was melting her with his gaze. She loved the way his eyes seemed to smoulder, like liquid tin or maybe even mercury. From the top of her head to her painted toenails, he stroked her with his gaze and when he was finished, he let his fingers retrace the tracks.

Ohhh, she moaned in her mind; his fingers felt just like heaven, so cool on her heated skin and an odd mix of soft and callused - from work or Quidditch. They lingered in the valley between her breasts before teasing her hardened nipples. Please, she thought, don't stop! He didn't and his hands encased her waist before descending further, to swiftly brush past her mound. No, no, no, not that fast! He teased her some more, still standing 2 inches from her. She wanted to touch him, to feel his body against hers like she had imagined it so often after their workdays. She pleaded with her eyes and he acquiesced.

Her lips felt raw from the kisses and she loved it. Never before had she ever felt this passionate. Her blood was burning in her veins and the control over her breathing had deluded her for some time already. She just wanted him to...

Oh, right there! His hand dipped under the waistband of her green knickers, a slim finger slipped over her swollen clit and went directly into her dripping quim. The hand at her waist steadied her when she let her head roll back in ecstasy.

'Oh, Draco, please!' Were the first words she spoke since he had started undressing her.

'Please what, Hermione? What do you want?' His voice queried next to her ear.

'Just...please...Draco! I...I can't take it any longer!' The desperation in her voice surprised even her.

He just smirked.

'I know, love. I know.'

He stepped away from her and the loss of contact made her whimper. But he had no plans of leaving her and he went down in front of her. With two fingers hooked behind her knickers, he slid them down her legs. He stayed on his knees and started kissing her legs, from her knees up to the apex between her thighs. She opened them for him and he pressed his cheek to her thigh, while smelling her scent deeply.

'You smell like heaven, Hermione. I'm sure you will taste the same.' Her quim twitched at his words, but her mind froze. He wouldn't do that to her, would he?

When her knees no longer supported her weight, he gently picked her up and walked her to the wing-backed chair in her office. Once she was seated he opened her legs once more and started all over again. His tongue slid over her labia to her clit and with tiny licks he reduced her world to just him and her.

Her knuckles were turning white from the pressure with which she held onto the arm rests and her head was lolling along the back of the chair in desperation. She had to force her pelvis to stay still, but the heat was building up so fast now, it felt like she was almost enveloped by it completely, radiating outwards from her very wet quim.

His lips were plucking at her clit and his tongue was flicking it as well. He varied this with long, leisurely licks from her perineum back up. His tongue dipped deeply into her and she convulsed at the feeling. Oh, Gods, this could not be happening to her. After experiencing this, she really never wanted anything else, ever, ever, again!

It took a little while for her to register that he was talking to her. She tilted her head back up and opened her eyes and so to be treated to a dishevelled looking Draco. His hair was tousled, his eyes had darkened and his face reddish and shiny from her juices.

'What?' Her voice quivered.

'Do you want to finish on my mouth or on my cock?'

Her mouth dropped at the way he talked to her. It was so...dirty! She couldn't answer that question!

'Do you want my mouth, Granger?'

She shook her reddening head.

Tenderly, he pulled her from the chair. For a moment she stood there, not knowing what to do or what to expect. Her eyes caught his hands as his wand made a movement which made his robes start to unbutton and his trousers disappeared. He sat down, his eyes trained on her face. When he was seated, his legs bent and hands resting on the arm rests, he called for her.

She hadn't dared to look downwards, not knowing how to react to so much casual nakedness. He called her again and her legs obeyed him. She straddled him, still not looking down on him. But she should. She wanted to see him, to see...'

Hermione yelped at the weight of Crookshanks, who landed like a log on her stomach. With her heart beating frantically, from both the dream and his attack, she gave her pet a wide-eyed at the pet.

'What, Crooks! What is so important that you have to wake me in the middle of the night?' In the middle of her dream!

After taking care of the dietary needs of her cat, she went to sit at her dining table and sadness washed over her. She was dreaming about him. Again! This time it was so much worse than the one she had in the lab. Her body felt like it was ready to burst into flames.

'What am I going to do?' She asked at no-one in particular. She let her head fall into her hands and the tears dripped onto the table.

'Why? Why? Why!' She wailed. She didn't want this, she never even asked for this. She had thought that falling for him once, and having her heart broken, would have been enough. Hadn't she learned her lesson?

And really, what was she thinking? Her and Draco Malfoy? As if he would ever like her! Draco Malfoy went out with svelte blond girls, like the ones she saw in the photographs in the Prophet. He didn't socialize with frumpy Potions Mistresses.

He would laugh if he ever found out about her crush. He would think it the joke of the year, with her luck in men.

And, if by unfathomable luck, he did not find out, she could forget ever finishing any work with him there. Every time he looked at her or spoke to her or – heaven forbid, or maybe not – would touch her, she would blush, stutter and falter.

And if it wasn't his attention that that drove her mad, it would be the lack of sleep due to these dreams!

Her entire career was at stake, the lives of countless people – probably including her own – and the respect of Harry!

All cried out, she lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. This had to stop, before she would lose it completely. When Ron had dumped her, she had promised herself she was going to take better care of herself. Feel better about herself, even if no-one else would see; like with her lingerie. After Gil, who – eerily - didn't differ that much from Ron in the end – him rather wanting attention from being her boyfriend, than wanting her attention – she had come to the conclusion that, apparently, she had a ghastly taste in men. Her recent infatuation with the albino git only underlined that problem.

Maybe, she should be glad he would come by on Monday. She would tell him that she had no further need for him and that she would finish off the rest of the research herself. She was the Potions Mistress. It was her call!

'Draco, what is wrong? you're so absent minded, mon petit dragon.'

He looked into the agitated face of Delphine, who tried to look worried.

'It's nothing you have to worry about, Delphine,' he told her.

'But, Draco, you come over later every time and you don't come every weekend anymore.'

'I had business to attend to. You know I'm a busy man, Delphine.' After the morning he had had, he could do without this.

'But Draco!'

Gods, why did women always whine? His hands slid through his hair.

'But Draco what, Delphine?' he snapped.

'It's another woman, isn't it!' The chair fell back after she stood up abruptly.

'What! My god, what are you talking about, woman! How much free time do you think I have between my regular management at ME, working for the cause and spending time with you?'

'you're the director, you can make time. It is probably someone at work!' she stated petulantly. 'Because when you make love to me now, it is different from before!'

He snorted. So that was her earth shattering proof that he wasn't faithful; the fact that his gusto to fuck her had dwindled. It never occurred to her, that she herself might be the problem and not the fact that it was Granger who he had in mind, whenever he touched her. He doubted she would fake every orgasm she had. Or did not have, in fact.

Time for damage control! He stood up and stalked over to where Delphine was standing, next to the window overlooking Paris. He grabbed her arms and pushed her towards the wall between the two windows. With a few choice movements he had her pinned on his cock and proceeded to grind her into the wall.

'How's that for a cheating bastard, huh, Delphine? Passionate enough for you?' He looked at the blonde woman he was pummelling into. Once he had thought her to be beautiful, but now he saw right through her superficial façade. She was grunting and moaning against his body, but he was well acquainted with her faking.

'In the coming days we once again deal a blow to the English Auror department and the Ministry of Magic. The same institution that instigated this abominable equal rights amendment nonsense. They are the reason why other governments, even our own French one, are reconsidering our ancient customs. This insanity has to stop!' Balzac paced the office where around twenty men had gathered. 'Thanks to the intelligence of our British comrades and the tireless work of our newest recruit, ' at this Balzac gestured to where he sat, 'we will be able obtain certain...'

Draco let the voice filter to the background. He had heard this tripe often enough and he didn't have to listen to it, in order to get the message. We have a right to defend ourselves, our existence is at risk. If we aren't careful, we will be overrun by filthy Mudbloods, despicable Half-bloods and Blood-traitors.'

He had other things on his mind. Like Delphine. After he had fucked her into submission against the outer wall of her apartment yesterday, he started thinking and he came to a startling conclusion. All of the sudden, he wasn't sure anymore who was hunting who anymore. Some things just did not add up when it came to that woman. It felt almost as if there was a hidden agenda behind her outburst yesterday. And what if she was tracking him, making sure that he was doing what he said he did. Maybe Balzac's statement that war was no place for witches didn't uphold when it concerned his great-granddaughter and spying on him.

The old man was rounding up and he tuned back in to hear what they were planning to do this Sunday night.

'The second team - Thadeau Palindrône, Remi le Croix and Draco Malfoy will meet up with our informer on Sunday night around three in the morning...'

That got his attention! So, it had begun. He had to do his job and go off and kill people. Innocent people. He felt the bile rise in his throat. Don't act so innocent! His conscience admonished him. It's not as if you have never killed before!

He had, but only in the name of the Light. This time he would have to kill on the side of darkness and the knowledge that it had to be done for the greater good didn't help or made him feel any better at the prospect. Finally he understood the life his godfather had to have lived. How this must have tormented his soul!

But he would meet one of the illustrious British Neo Death Eaters. That was the breakthrough he had been hoping for.

Hermione had rehearsed her speech all Sunday and she had been sure she would have been able to make it full of confidence and poise. But she never did give her speech, because he never came.

She had waited for over an hour in the morning, before she miserably concluded that he did it again. He would fight with her, kiss her, tell her until Monday, leave without an further explanation and then, when Monday finally arrived, there would be no Draco!

The only good thing to come out of her frustration was the fact that she had thrown herself at her work and with much success. She had done so, until her stomach started to growl, only to discover it was already seven in the evening. She had worked straight through lunch and dinner. But at this moment she had eighteen confirmed ingredients identified and according to her calculations, there were just two left! The base she – and admittedly, Draco – had brewed was so much more potent than she could have ever wished for! She was sure that tomorrow she could start working on the recipe to brew the poisonous potion, so she could start working on an antidote.

Harry had Floo'ed her from Romania the night before. The news he had to share wasn't pretty, but explained a lot about the potion. Apparently it incorporated Muggle science to make it deadly, but not to pure-blooded magical people. If it wasn't so sick, it would be rather hilarious. They were using Muggle technology to exterminate Muggleborns!

According to intelligence – Draco's, no doubt – the Neo Death Eaters were, as of now, not yet aware of the fact that they possessed a sample of their ultimate weapon. Or that she was working on breaking it.

Harry had urged her to work as hard as she could, so at least he would be glad with how her day was spent.

After Harry, she had had a little time to talk to Ginny, but the long distance connections was eating up Floo powder faster than a Goblin would take Galleons. She told her he had kissed her again and after that, he left her again. Ginny didn't agree with her ideas about pushing Draco out of her life. She didn't care what Ginny thought. It was her life!

And come to think about it, Ginny to, would be glad with the way her day went, because she hadn't talked to Draco.

'You like that, don't you Crooksy? You love Mummy, don't you?' The half-Kneazle was currently washing himself after being fed a whole can of tuna. 'Glad you enjoyed it, baby. And now, Mummy is going to take a long and relaxing bath to forget all about today!' And certain men.

The fragrant bubbles soothed her frayed nerves. She would no longer think about Draco Malfoy. She had a much more important task ahead, the potion she had to counter. She grabbed her wand from the loo and conjured a whiteboard. Soon it was full of complex calculations.

An hour later she stood up from the bath, clean and relaxed – both body and mind - and wrapped a fluffy towel around her body. Humming a song she brushed her teeth, dried her hair with her wand and just as she was ready to walk to her bedroom to dress in her nightgown there was a crack in front of her door, which could man only one thing – apparation – and soon afterwards loud knocking.

He should have known better than to try and apparate when sloshed. It was a small miracle that he didn't splinch himself in half. But a very loud crack, testifying to the badly executed manoeuvre, would draw attention all around Granger's front door and therefore making her very angry.

Hermione was seething. For years she had been living in her apartment without ever having to worry about exposing herself as a witch to the neighbours. Until now, probably, because the tell-tale crack of a badly executed apparition would draw attention and soon.

She yanked the door open even before the knocking had ended to find out the name of the idiot, only to be startled when she found herself staring at the face of Draco Malfoy!

Ah, good, she was here! 'You're here!'

'Get in here, you idiot!' she hissed, pulling him inside. 'What are you doing here, Malfoy? My God, have you gone completely mental? '

No, just slightly drunk!

'Do you have any idea how much noise you made? This is a Muggle area, for fuck's sake!'

'Yes, sorry about that!' he apologised.

She paced in her living room. Did she realize that she was only wearing one very short towel? Not that he cared, because it gave him a splendid view of her toned legs. He hadn't really seen them up close before. Only from a distance, when he had seen her at the swimming pool, fooling around with other men. That reminded him of his mission tonight. He opened his mouth to speak but she was faster.

'What are you doing here?'

'I told you I would see you on Monday, so why are you so surprised? Malfoy's keep their promises!'

Why would she blush at that remark? He wondered.

This was starting to remind her a bit too much of her very erotic dream and that whole concept was off-limits. Maybe his coming here was a golden opportunity. She could deliver her speech and make him leave!

'Since you're here now, there are some things I would like to discuss with you concerning our working together. I have to start by thanking you for all your help and expertise. I must admit, I hadn't expected that your input would end up being so detrimental to the process, but it has been. You will be glad to know that today I have identified eighteen of the ingredients and I expect to find the last two tomorrow. So, you see, your work is done. I'm confident that I will be able to recreate the potion by the end of the week and hope to have an antidote...'

Oh no you don't, Granger! She was acting all aloof and distant, like she used to do at school. But this time he would not let her get away with it.

'Granger, I am not going anywhere!'

She started to stutter. 'What do you mean with, I am not going anywhere? I'm the Potions Mistress and I'm telling you that your help is no longer needed. Or wanted.' She quickly added that last part of her statement.

'I will tell you again: I'm not going anywhere. you're stuck with me!' Gods, it was so much fun to rile her, to watch her go mental.

'You! You can't just...ferret yourself into my life...I mean... my workspace, Malfoy!'

'I beg to differ, Granger!' he bit back just as venomously.

She was silent for a bit, but then she suddenly, to his surprise, whimpered. 'Please, Draco, please. Don't do this to me! Just leave me alone, just...just don't jeopardise the entire investigation!'

Oh, Gods. This couldn't really be happening. She had never thought she would see the day that she was pleading with Draco Malfoy. For him to leave her alone, no less. But what else was she to do? He couldn't keep working with her, it would end in disaster! She would completely botch the investigation, she knew, it and that would be the end of Harry's respect, that of Master Vane and she would lose her job and...'

She seemed to have recollected herself, because this time with much more force, she told him to please leave her alone since it was, after all, her investigation.

'That's were you're wrong, Granger. It is my investigation. MINE! I'm the one who has been following them for years, trying to get into the inner circle. It is me who has invested hours upon hours and have thrown money around to get us where we are now. I'm NOT going to fail, because you are not mentally stable enough to work with the likes of me!'

'But I'm curious, Granger. Tell me, why on earth are you so adamant on not working with me any longer?'

She gasped at his question. He did not just ask her that! But he did and she had and she had no answer for him. Panic rose in her body and she tried desperately to think of something to tell him.

'I'm not used to working with people around me, that's why! You distract me and if you care anything about your precious investigation, you would know that! You don't want me distracted!' Offence was the best defence, right?

'That is just utter tripe, Granger! That's not the reason. Tell me the truth!' he yelled at her.

That bloody bastard! Miserable, annoying, bullying git! 'What do you want to hear, ferret?'

'The truth would be nice, know-it-all!'

'The truth? You wouldn't even recognise the truth if it bit you in the arse! Who are you kidding?' She laughed nastily at him.

'You want to know what I think?' he goaded her. 'I think you're insecure because you're afraid that with me looking over your shoulder, the world is going to find out that you're incompetent and a complete potions fraud!'

'Have you lost your mind! I'm the second youngest Potions Mistress ever, I'm-'

'So, what is it then? If you claim it is not your incompetence to-'

'I like you. Are you happy now, huh? I'm attracted to you and I can't concentrate with you around me!' she shrieked at him.

He just stood there, smirking at her. 'It took you long enough, Granger!'

The red haze in front of her eyes cleared and she stared at him, knowing all of her feelings were leaking from her eyes for him to see.

It took you bloody well long enough! was the last she heard him see before he kissed her.