Hermione, Harry and Ginny had a delicious dinner filled with laughter and wine. She had missed them a lot while in Paris and was glad to be spending her first night at home with her friends. After Harry and Ginny went to sleep Hermione was too awake to sleep and decided to take a long bath.
As Hermione lay in the bath relaxing the in bubbles she couldn't get the images of Paris out of her mind. The Tango with Draco, Kissing in the lift, Kissing at the gardens of the Arc De Triumphe, Waking up in his arms, feeling his heart beat. The harder she tried to forget about the feeling she got when they kissed the harder it was to relax. She abandoned the bath and tried a nice long book but nothing could take her mind off Draco. Hermione decided sleep was a better choice but after tossing and turning for 2 hours her mind filled with images of Draco in a towel or Draco pressing her against the door of the hotel while kissing her slowly she couldn't take anymore and decided to do something drastic to distract herself.
Hermione threw her covers off and grabbed her purse and ran downstairs in her meowing shorts and singlet marched straight in to the fire place.
"Krum Mansion"
She stepped out of the fire place at Victors and suddenly realised it was 2 o'clock in the morning, she hadn't called and was in her pyjamas.
"Miss Granger" came a tiny voice from behind Hermione
"Oh…Hello Bubble" said Hermione
"Can Bubble ask what Miss Granger is doing here in her pyjamas" smiled Bubble sweetly
"Oh I just couldn't sleep so I thought I'd bring this to Victor" She said pulling out the communication disk she made for him "I'm sorry I didn't owl or anything I'm sure he is busy or sleeping"
"Actually Master Krum is in the library" said Bubble
"Oh um…is he alone" asked Hermione she hadn't really thought this plan through at all. What if he had another girl here that would be very awkward.
"Yes Miss Granger" Said Bubble
"Can I see him" she asked
"This way Miss Granger" said bubble already walking down the dark hall
When Hermione knocked on the door to the library and poked her head in, Victor was visible surprised but still happy to see her. He was wearing just his pyjama pants and a robe
"You did say drop in anytime" she said smiling as she walked into the library
"Yes I did" Said Victor getting up out of his chair and walking towards Hermione dropping his robe as he walked
He didn't ask her any questions about where she had been or why she was there at 2 in the morning in her pyjamas with no shoes on and her purse. He didn't say anything just walked calmly to Hermione and kissed her passionately. It felt good to kiss Victor and she kissed him back with urgency wrapping her arms round his head pulling him in tightly. Victor responded by lifting Hermione up and carrying her to his desk. Placing her down he lifted her singlet over her head and continued to kiss her passionately as he pulled her shorts off. Hermione pulled the tie on his pants and they slipped to the floor. He slide Hermione forward and filled her deeply, she let out a cry of pleasure that had been waiting to escape for a month now.
Victor pulled Hermione to the floor, kissing her passionately he let his body weight press into her as he thrust deeper making her cry out loudly with each movement. He kissed her neck and gripped her body with such need it wasn't long until she was ready to explode. Hermione's cries of pleasure where exactly what he had been missing and quickly came to his own explosion. Collapsing, Victor rolled off Hermione and both lay out of breath on the floor of his library.
"I like when you come over" said Victor with a laugh
"I like coming over" said Hermione smiling "Oh I made you something" she said as she got up to get her purse
"A present" he said smiling "I thought you already gave me that"
"I've got plenty more to give you" she said walking back to him with the silver disk
"Mmmm I like the sound of that" said victor looking up as Hermione stood beside him holding out the communication device.
He reached up to get it but grabbed her wrist instead and pulled her down on to his lap.
"Time, date, location" said Hermione handing it to Victor "If you can't make it don't accept it, it will vibrate when I set a time and it will glow when I accept your time"
"You made me a sex beeper" said Victor raising his eyebrows at Hermione
Hermione laughed but the flash of Draco crossed her mind she needed to get that out of her head.
"Yep" said Hermione and kissed him again before pushing him down and swinging her leg over. He didn't take more than a minute of kissing to be ready for her again. Hermione slid him deep into her letting out a pleasure filled moan. As Hermione rocked back and forth Victor played with her breast with one hand and gripped her hip with the other while watching her face fill with pleasure as the library filled with the sounds of their combined pleasure.
They lay quietly puffing slowly letting their breathing return to normal. Bodies filled with exhaustion and ecstasy. Victor got up and got a blanket from a side chair and came back to Hermione laying down next to her and covering them both in the blanket.
"We should do this in a bed" said Victor rolling into Hermione to spoon her.
"But the library is so much nicer" she said smiling trying to hide her slight discomfort with the intimate cuddle that she wasn't prepared for
"Want to stay and sleep" said Victor
"I should go home but thank you" said Hermione slowly sitting up
"You could stay and we can have some more fun" said victor rubbing a hand down her back causing a shiver to run over her body
Her body's reaction to his hand was enough to convince Hermione. She turned and gave Victor a sultry smile and that was enough for him to pounce. Victor wasted no time pulling Hermione back down to the floor and rolling on top of her. Hermione wrapped her legs around his waist as he kissed her neck and chest, his hands exploring her body once again. He pressed into Hermione hard and deep causing her to gasp with pleasure. Gripping Hermione tightly as if to never let her go as he continued to move hard and deep into her slowly building the pleasure between them. The restriction of her movement and his hard deep movements brought her a new found pleasure. He was rough but not in a way that made her afraid but more in a way that he needed to make her feel extra pleasure. Hermione couldn't help but to express her desire for more, she wanted him faster and deeper. Her cries were answered with enthusiasm from Victor and they both found a new level of pleasure. Hermione's explosion radiated through her body, she couldn't help but to scream out and dig her nails into his back.
"Oh Merlin you're amazing" said Victor out of breath as he lay on his side next to Hermione under the blanket he had readjusted back on to cover them both.
"Ha that was all you" she said with a laugh trying to regain her breath her legs still pulsing from earlier pleasure.
"More like a combined team effort" he said with a smiling obviously pleased with his efforts.
"Do you want breakfast" he asked
"No, I really should be going home but I'll take a coffee" Hermione answered with a smile not wanting to seem rude, but she has things to take care of.
"Ok…. Bubble" he called casually
"Yes sir" said bubble once she popped in wearing her Hermione Yule ball gown and tie
"Can we have some coffee please" asked Victor
"Yes sir right away sir" she said a popped out
Hermione got up to get her Pyjama shorts and singlet and put them on.
"That's my least favourite part of your visits" said Victor with a smirk that rivalled her own
"What is" asked Hermione sitting back down next to him on the floor
"When you put your clothes back on" he said sliding his hand up her leg
"Ha I do like when you take them off" she laughed
Bubble came back in with coffee and a piece of toast for Victor.
Obviously she had brought him food after he had a lady friend over before. Hermione smiled to herself as she drank her coffee.
"What" asked Victor biting into his toast
"Nothing… It's just bubble has obviously brought you a snack after you've had female company before" she said smiling at the small triangles of buttered toast
"Does it bother you…. that I've had other friends with benefits" he asked
"Not at all…. If fact I find it comforting…You obviously know the deal and are ok with it" she said honestly
"You're slightly different though to the others" he said nonchalantly
"How am I different" she asked worried, was she a bad different
"Well for starters we're actually friends and I find myself caring whether you enjoy yourself or not" he seemed a little ashamed of the last part
This made Hermione smile she liked the idea of being a special friends with benefits "Did you not care before" taking a piece of toast
"Not really and usually it was just the once and I would send them home" said victor staring at the toast in Hermione's hand
"I like being a little special then" she said giving him a kiss "I've got to go though" standing up Hermione finished her coffee and grabbed her purse "Thanks for the coffee and toast" she gave him a wink before disappearing out the library door leaving him in the floor with his coffee and toast.
When Hermione walked out of her fire place she tried to be quiet as to not wake Harry or Ginny. She got the freight of her life when she was tiptoeing down the hallway past the kitchen and heard
"Good morning Hermione"
Hermione jumped about 3 feet in the air a let out an ear piercing scream. She turned to see Harry smiling smugly at the kitchen table reading the Daily Prophet.
"Good morning Harry" she said trying to calm herself down as she walked into the kitchen and sat down "you're up early"
"I have to go to work… How was Victor" asked Harry with a ridiculous grin on his smug face not looking up from his newspaper
"Fine" she replied trying to suppress a smile
"Only fine… that's disappointing for you" He said unable to contain his laughter
"Harry" scolded Hermione unable to hold her laughter in either
"Does Miss Granger want breakfast" asked Kreatcher placing a cup of coffee down in front of her
"Oh yes please" suddenly realising how hungry she was
"Work up an appetite did you" said Harry smiling sarcastically
"Harry" said Hermione laughed
"Sorry it's just I like seeing you being appreciated" said Harry happily
"We're just friends with benefits Harry but I have to say that Victor does appreciate me" replied Hermione with a cheeky smirk
Since moving out together Harry and Hermione's Friendship had developed. They were always close and best friends but now they were family. They were all each other had left after the war took everything from them. They weren't going to let anything come between them. Ginny sometimes got a little jealous at their closeness and their bond but she knows that Harry's heart is with her and Hermione wouldn't have it any other way.
Harry went to work and Hermione had a shower and a nap and decided to go visit George for lunch. She floo'd to the Burrow and was greeted by Mrs Weasley.
"Hello dear"
"Hello….. is George here" Hermione asked
"He's in the kitchen about to eat lunch do you want some" she asked looking at Hermione like she needed a good meal
"I'd love to thanks" she replied following Mrs Weasley in to the kitchen
George was sitting at the table already and much to Hermione's annoyance so was Ron. When George saw Hermione walk in he gave her a small smile which is more them most people got.
Hermione gave him a big knowing smile and just stared for a moment before sitting down next to him. They ate in silence with Hermione smiling the whole time.
When George had finished his lunch Hermione slowly took a bag out from her purse and placed it front of him. George recognised the bag immediately but gave her a questioning smile.
"What is it" asked Ron
"I like them" said Hermione directly to George
"These I like even more" she said pulling out the necklace box with the ears in them and placed next to the bag in front of George
"I don't kn…" started George
"I think you do" said Hermione cutting him off.
George turned to face Hermione almost defeated
"I…it's just…I need… but" George tried to say he things but it was too painful
'I want to help, it's just not the same without Fred, I need to do something, but I can't move forward'
"I know… and it's ok…..me too…..I understand" she said pressing her forehead against his
'I know you can't and it's ok you don't need to fight anymore, I miss him too, I understand I can't let me parents go either'
"I don't….I won't…please" said George a little urgently tears coming to his eyes
'I don't want anything bad to happen to you, I won't survive, please be careful'
"It won't…I Promise" said Hermione trying to reassure him
'It won't happen, I promise to be careful and safe'
George took Hermione face in his hands and looked her dead in her eyes
"It better not" he said before he kissed her cheek and hugged her like she was leaving forever. When he finally let go he patted Hermione's cheek and got up and went back upstairs.
Molly and Ron had watched this exchange both with very different expressions Molly looked sad and concerned whereas Ron looked outraged.
"I worry about him" said molly softly
Hermione gave her a small smile "He's going to be ok Molly I promise" she tried to be reassuring but Hermione wasn't convinced she hadn't made Molly worry more
Hermione picked up the bag and necklace box and put them back in her purse.
"Thanks for lunch I should be going" said Hermione getting up and leaving the kitchen
"What the bloody hell was that about" shouted Ron chasing after Hermione
"Calm down Ron" said Hermione annoyed
"Why is my brother always kissing you and why are you too so close all the time" he was yelling
"Maybe he cares about me Ron and maybe I care about him and maybe being close with someone feels nice and comforting and if you cared about anyone but yourself you would know that" she yelled back
"Are you dating my brother" he yelled his face turning a strange shade of purple
"Don't be ridiculous Ron its nothing like that" Rolling her eyes at him and turning towards the fire place
"What happened to you Hermione? You've changed, you used to be honest and nice and now you're mean and sneaking around with Victor and Malfoy and my brother" said Ron a little hurt and disgusted
"That is enough….how dare you Ron" She yelled turning on him
"I was bullied for being the smart goodie goodie except I spent 6 years breaking every school rule there was trying to save Harry from being killed by various crazy psychos and I still got top of the class, I cut my parents out of my life which felt like taking my kidney out with a spoon by the way, I was tortured by the most evil witch in history, I went to war all to keep the people I care about safe…" Tears were streaming down Hermione's face
"I was personally asked to join the Aurors by the Minister of Magic, I got top marks in training, the first witch ever and only the third person to ever do it."
Hermione took a deep breath and wiped her face.
"I'm half of the best team in the Aurors department and for the first time in my life being smart and brave is celebrated and you treat me like some moron who can't handle myself. The truth is Ron you'd be dead 20 times over if it wasn't for me and you've never once thanked me."
Ron started to say something but Hermione wasn't done.
"I can't tell you about my job and you know it so stop with the attitude, Draco is my partner and I trust him and I don't want to hear anything you have to say about it and as for Victor I wasn't sneaking around Ron we broke up ages ago I'm free to sleep with whoever I want and as for my friendship with George I don't need you permission to be friends with someone if you want to know what's going on with him then go and ask him. I'm the same person I've always been Ron I'm just not 14 years old anymore, You need to Grow up" By the end Hermione was yelling again she was furious
Before Ron could say anything Hermione turned and marched straight for the fire place she grabbed some powder "Grimmauld place" and whooshed out of there. When Hermione walked out of the fire place at home she was still so angry. Hermione decided to go to the leaky cauldron and have a drink and calm down. She grabbed her book off the coffee table and walked back into the fire place let go of more floo powder shouted "The Leaky cauldron"
She sat down at the bar and ordered a fire whiskey and started to read her book. Several fire whiskeys later Hermione put her face on the bar a started to cry.
"Granger what's going on" came a voice
Hermione looked up and around swearing she heard Draco but not seeing anything
"Oh god now I'm hallucinating about him" she cried again
"Where are you" came the voice
"I've gone crazy….. Ron has finally done it, I've lost my mind" said Hermione starting to freak out
"Another drink Miss Granger" Asked Tom nervously it wasn't good to have a famous war hero freaking out at 3 in the afternoon
"Oh, Tom you're so lovely yes please" said Hermione passing her glass for Tom to fill up.
Before she had a chance to drink it Draco had taken it out of her hand and downed it.
"Hey that's mine" said Hermione watching her glass be taken and then emptied and handed back to her not focusing on the who was doing it.
"What are you doing here Granger" he asked trying to be nice but it made him a little uncomfortable
"Do you think they will ever see me for who I really am" she asked honestly.
"And who is that" asked Draco
"I don't know anymore" cried Hermione
"OK let's go" Draco picked up Hermione bridal style and apparated back to the manor
Draco took Hermione to the lounge room and put her on the couch. He went to the liquor cabinet and took out an expensive bottle of Fire whiskey and 2 crystal glasses. He put the glass down in front of Hermione.
"If you're going to drink Granger and contemplate who you are at least do it with good fire whiskey" said Draco as he poured her a glass.
"How did you find me and why did you bring me here" asked Hermione as she picked up the drink.
"You rubbed your ring I could see your faced pushed up against it and then you spoke to Tom so I knew you were at the leaky cauldron" he sat down next to her on the couch "And I brought you here because I don't know where you live and you seemed like you needed to talk…I'm sorry if it's hard to be here but we are in a completely different wing" said Draco gently.
"Thanks, I live with Harry at Grimmauld place and it's fine" looking around the lounge room it was very different to what she remembered.
"This is my mother's wing… the part you've seen was my father's…its being remodelled" said Draco as if knowing what she was thinking.
"So, what's with the crying and Weasel made you crazy and you don't know who you are shit" asked Draco getting to the point.
"I had a fight with Ron and I realised that no matter how awesome I am on our missions he will always see me as a boring nerd girl who did his homework for him, he probably thinks, I just got lucky during the war" said Hermione quietly drinking her drink and holding her glass out for Draco to refill it "this is so much better than anything I've ever had" drinking more
"I'm sure there are a lot of things I can give you that is a lot better then you've ever had Granger" said Draco with a smirk
"I sure there are" said Hermione into her glass
"Why do you care what he thinks" asked Draco changing the subject
"I loved him Draco for a long time I loved him, I wanted him to see the real me but he never did and now he never will" Hermione let a tear go.
"Do you still" he asked with his heart in his throat.
"No but I still don't know if this is who I'm meant to be" she said drinking her drink again and holding her glass out to Draco.
Draco poured Hermione another drink.
"Hermione you're a natural at this, I couldn't ask from a better partner, I know it may seem strange but I wouldn't trust anyone else with my life as much as I trust you" said Draco honestly.
Draco pressed his forehead into hers "I see you when you think I'm not looking I know how much this means to you, I know how much you love all of it" he whispered.
Hermione was stunned, all she could do was nod and stare at Draco, he was right she did love it, all of it, the rushing off to a mystery, the sending arse holes to gaol, to being the best team in the unit.
Hermione cuddled into Draco and kept drinking until she fell asleep. Draco grabbed her purse and picked her up and walked into his fire place "Grimmauld place" he yelled and kicked the lever to release floo powered. For the first time in his life he actually thanked his mother's snobbery and hatred of getting her hands dirty.
Draco stepped out of the Fire place at Grimmauld place with Hermione in his arms he found Harry sitting on the couch with Ginny and Ron in the chair all looking a little stunned.
"Upstairs last door on the right" said Ginny trying to hide her delight at the situation.
"Thanks" said Draco.
"What have you done, put her down, we can put her in her room" yelled Ron.
"I haven't done anything weasel and this isn't the first time I've taken her to bed" said Draco with a smirk walking out and taking Hermione to her room.
Ron was fuming he had come over to apologise to Hermione but now that was all forgotten.
Draco could hear Ginny laughing and Harry trying to calm down Ron as he yelled about what Draco's comment meant. Draco chuckled to himself. Weasley was just too easy.
Draco put Hermione in her bed and took her shoes and socks off. He placed a Think straight potion on her night stand and gave her a kiss on her forehead and slowly left her to sleep it off.
As he walked down stairs he did it as slow as possible just to torture Weasley. He heard Hermione come out of her room and start to run down the stairs. Unable to resist the temptation to really mess with Ron again he hurried to the lounge room hearing Hermione right behind him. Ron was still standing red faced, Ginny was still laughing and Harry was sitting on the edge on the couch trying to calm Ron. Draco walked in a few steps and stopped looking at the scene in the room out of the corner of his eye he saw Hermione about to step into the lounge, he wandlessly transfigured her clothes to her Pyjamas, he even got the meowing kittens. Draco was the best in the unit at wandless magic and on par with Hermione with transfiguration. Hermione walked into the lounge without realising her clothes had changed.
"Wait" She said stopping directly in front of Draco
"You ok" said Draco touching Hermione's face for Ron's benefit
"Yes I am now….thank you for bringing me home….and you were right…. Also... I wouldn't either" She said smiling and gave him a hug
"I have to go I'll see you on Monday love" he said with a wink
The whole time this exchange was happening Ron was turning purple, Ginny looked like she was going to pee herself she was holding in her laughter and Harry was just perplexed.
Draco walked to the fire place yelled "Malfoy Manor" and dropped some floo powder and whooshed away
"HE UNDRESSED YOU WHILE YOU WERE DRUNK" yelled Ron
Ginny lost it she was on the floor unable to stand she was laughing so hard
"What don't be so ridiculous Ron" said Hermione looking at Ron like he had truly lost his mind
"Hermione you're in your Pyjamas" said Harry calming
"What no I…" looking down Hermione saw her clothes. She couldn't help but roll her eyes before wandlessly turning them back, but she couldn't help but chuckle at the look on all her friends face.
"Hermione…. What was that" asked Harry seriously impressed
"That was Draco's idea of being funny" she said smiling
"No, the magic Hermione" said Ginny picking herself up from the floor.
"I was gone for 6 months what did you think I was doing" she asked a little offended that they were so shocked by her skills and also that they had not really put much thought into what her new secret job entailed.
"Um…well…we don't really know" Ginny said
"Dinner is ready" said Kreatcher coming into the room and leaving just as fast sensing the tension
Hermione rolled her eyes and left the lounge and went to the kitchen she didn't want to eat with them but she was hungry so decided to just get her plate and go eat in her room
"Don't be mad" said Harry rushing after her into the kitchen
"I'm not mad but a little disappointed" said Hermione
"Hermione you know I think you're brilliant, I've always thought you were brilliant" said Harry
"I wish I could tell you" said Hermione sitting at the table deciding to stay and eat with her friends
"I know you can't and its killing me not knowing but I won't ask" he said sitting down
"We don't really know how to react Hermione, I mean you disappear for long periods of time and we can't ask you what you do" said Harry making an excellent point to Hermione
"I know I'm sorry" she said feeling bad again
"Just tell me your safe and I'll be ok with all of it" said Ginny sitting down next to Harry
"Draco keeps me safe" she said trying to assure them as much as they could
"I'm not having attitude Hermione but you have to at least acknowledge the fact that you hated each other and then one day he shows up in the Auror training program and everything is fine" said Ron as fast as he could
Hermione realised she may have not been as understanding to Ron's point of view as she expected him to be of hers.
Hermione told them all about Draco not giving the memory to Kingsley of when they were at the Malfoy Manor. She still didn't go into details but told them how Draco didn't want to hurt her further. And how she yelled at him and how Kingsley said he didn't torture or kill anyone. And she told them how Draco saved Dennis and Colin Creevey.
"And that's just the things I can tell you" she said "don't tell him I told you"
They looked at he a little stunned they weren't expecting to hear how Draco Malfoy actually has a heart and may just care a little for other people.
"I still don't like him but maybe he isn't total evil" said Ron
"Thank you Ron" smiled Hermione
They had a delicious dinner and laughed and caught up with all the stuff she had missed while away.
When Hermione got up to go to bed, she was exhausted she said goodnight to her friends
"Hermione wait" called Ron following her out into the hall
"What is it Ron I don't want to fight" said Hermione
"You're wrong" he said
"What Ron… I just" Ron put his hand gentle against Hermione's lips
"I not mad that you're the best, I really am proud of you, I'm sorry I ruined us and that I'm shit at adjusting back to being friends" said Ron honestly
"Thank you Ron" Said Hermione wrapping her arms around his neck giving him a hug
"I'll try not to freak out anymore" said Ron hugging her back
Hermione let go of Ron and went upstairs but listened to when Ron walked back into the kitchen, just a step before Ron walked in she wandlessly changed his clothes to a Pink tutu and a Tiara. Ginny and Harry burst out laughing. Hermione couldn't help but laugh to herself, she might not be able to tell them anything but they were still her friends.