A/N so I couldn't help but update again. I was bored with my law assignment. But now I have to get back to it, so I hope you enojy, and lo! the reason for the M rating. A GINORMOUS thank you to everyone who reviewed, and so I hope you Enjoy, and Review again! Loveya, Jacinta.

That night being Christmas Eve, we couldn't very well go up to bed early. Many of the guests were staying at the Weasley's house for the night, such as Remus, Tonks, Draco and I, and, of course, all the Weasley children, so we were all crammed into the living room. Some sat on the overstuffed couches and chairs, and some sat beneath the tree like one of the many presents whose reflective ribbons and papers were glinting with the light of the fireplace. Draco and I sat on the floor before the great stone hearth, talking and laughing with everyone else, full to bursting with the feast Molly had prepared.

When the clock struck eleven thirty, Molly declared, 'All right, you lot, let's get going up to bed: it's Christmas morning tomorrow, and I'm sure you'll all want to be getting up at some godforsaken hour to open presents.'

Everyone laughed, and staggered tiredly up to their rooms; me with a promise that I wouldn't be alone for long.

I had barely wiggled out of my dress, and was still in the corset and panties, when there was a temperate knock on my door. I had been so consumed in the silence that I must've jumped two feet in the air as I ran to grab a large, cushy dressing gown from the bathroom and pull it loosely on. When I opened the door, there was Draco, dressed in silky black pyjamas.

'Hello,' he greeted me cordially, a grin creeping up his face as he saw what I was – or rather, wasn't – wearing.

'Hello,' I mimicked, backing up so he could slip through the crack. When he was passed the door, I took one final glance down both sides of the hallway to ensure no one had spotted him. It was deserted, so I quietly clicked it shut, and pulled out my wand. I would not take Bill's warning lightly.

As I muttered the impenetrable and sound-proofing spells, I heard Draco snigger behind me. 'Take no chances?'

'Yes, if you must know.' I finished, and turned to face him. And I couldn't help but smile when I saw him lying back on his elbows, looking up at me.

'Quite a small bed, isn't it?' he commented mildly, a gleam of excitement obvious in his silver eyes. 'Shall we test it out to make sure we both fit?'

I laughed and dropped the robe as I walked over to him. He cocked his eyebrow audaciously as he appraised me, and when I reached the end of the bed, he reached up and pulled me down on top of him.

We started slow, kissing sweet and sensitive, him running his fingers through my hair… but that only lasted so long. The lingerie he had bought me felt so kinky, we quickly escalated.

He started running his hands up my body, much of it still confined in the lacy black corset. I couldn't help but be completely freed from all modesty.

I started undressing him, button by button on his silky top. I needed to feel his skin on mine.

By the time it was off, he had flipped us over and was completely on top of me, straddling my hips. I could feel him through his thin pyjama pants, and I cursed the clothing we still had left, but loved it. The anticipation of what was to come was starting to build up.

Finally, he started to loosen the corset that had been hugging by body tightly for the last few hours. I arched my back to give him better access. When the final clasp broke free, he pulled it off me with a fever, and ran his callused hands up and down my bare skin. I cried out, passion emanating from my very soul, and I pulled his lips down to meet mine.

He started moving down my body, kissing and nipping and sucking in all the right places. I exalted his name over and over, and he mine. He told me I was beautiful, and I told him. It was the most powerful aphrodisiac I had ever experienced – and remember, that first morning, we had strawberries and chocolate.

By the time he entered me, I was practically begging him. The sheer power of our connection made me cry out, and his lips met mine as we moved as one. Our eyes didn't leave each other for a moment, for even when we blinked, we blinked in unison.

And I knew in that instant that we would last.

'Did you know I love you?' Draco drawled, looking down at me as he brushed my hair away from my face.

I smiled, and brushed his bangs behind his ear so I could marvel at his silver eyes. 'Yes, I think you mentioned it once or twice.'

'Well, I can't help but tell you again. Tell me when you get tired of hearing it.'

'Oh, I won't. Get tired of it, that is.'

'Oh really.'

'Nope. Never.'

'Never?'

'Never ever.'

We sat in comfortable silence for awhile, Draco watching me drift in and out of consciousness. 'You're so cute when you sleep.'

'Oh really?' I asked, squinting one eye open to glance in his direction. 'Then how about you let me?'

Draco chuckled and lay his head down beside mine. Draping his arm across my bare stomach, he kissed my forehead, and murmured, 'Sweet dreams, Hermione – and Merry Christmas.'

When I woke up, I was still wrapped in Draco's arms, and for awhile, I simply watched him sleep. The calm that washed over him was incredible. I could see all the good in him shining through. After a bit, though, I glanced over at the clock: it was almost nine in the morning, when everyone would start waking up to open the mountain of gifts residing under the tree. 'Draco,' I called softly, pushing back his bangs again. 'Draco.'

'You know, Granger, I don't think I have the energy to move – nor the motivation,' Draco muttered, his eyes opening a crack to smile at me.

'How long have you been awake?' I asked, blushing.

'Let me put it this way… I was watching you sleep well before you were watching me.' He smirked, and leaned in to kiss me. He lay back and I crawled onto his chest, and for a moment we watched the snow fall in silence. Interrupting our peace, Draco asked placidly, 'What are we going to do about the lady of the household?'

'The lady-? Oh… oh…uhoh… umm… I'm not quite sure…'

'That's it?' Draco laughed. 'You practically faint when I mention we have to hand an assignment in late, but you shrug when it comes to the mother of your ex, not to mention some ex professors, and the Minister for Magic himself, finding out you slept with me in a guest bedroom on Christmas eve?'

I was silent a moment, and told him, 'Yes, pretty much.'

'Well then, I see where I stand,' he pouted, turning his head away from me.

'You would rather me kick you out of bed?'

'…no.'

'Well then?' I asked, snuggling deeper into his arms and kissing the nape of his neck gently.

'Well... alright. But when someone knocks on the door, know I'm not moving. And I've hidden your clothing. All that's at hand are my pyjamas.'

'And what makes you think someone's going to knock on the door?'

'It is Christmas morning, Hermione. And there is a mountain of presents under that tree. And I know that your dear… Ronald… there I said it... hasn't had a wealthy Christmas in his life, so, he'll be excited… and he'll want to make sure I didn't sleep in your bed last night.'

As I opened my mouth to reply, I jumped to hear a knock on the door. Draco shot me an 'I told you so,' smirk. I rolled my eyes at him, and slid out of bed looking for my bathrobe… which was missing. I turned back and sent Draco a scathing look of complete and utter repulsion… and he just looked pointedly at the chaise in the corner of the room where his pyjamas were neatly laid out. The person knocked again, and I called out, 'Who is it?'

'It's Ron,' called the voice. 'We're opening presents in about ten minutes, mum says to get up. And I'd rather not call your precious Malfoy, so you get him. I think I can still hear him snoring.'

Confused, I looked back at my bed and saw Draco, still laying there, his arms crossed behind his head, watching me. 'I've only just gotten up; I'll be down in a minute.'

'Mum says not to worry about getting dressed; no one else is.'

'Well, I'd rather not parade down looking a mess, would I, Ron? I'll be down in a minute. And I'll even get Draco up for you.' I heard him sigh on the other side of the door, then walk away. 'How is it you're snoring on the other side of your door?'

'I'm not snoring on the other side of the door. Malfoys do not snore. However, when it is convenient, we do know some spells that make noises when we're not where we're supposed to be. Deep breathing for an empty bed, for example.'

I shook my head amusedly, and looked around the room again. 'Draco, where did you put my clothing?'

'Did I tell you how positively ravageable you look this morning?'

'Draco…'

'You look absolutely stunning in what you're wearing.'

'Which is nothing. So what did you do with my clothing?'

'It's right here,' he said, reaching under the covers behind him and pulling out my bag. 'If you want it, though, it'll cost you.'

'It'll cost me to get my bag from you, even though it's my bag and you're in my room?' I asked sceptically, crossing my arms in front of me.

'Strictly speaking, it's not your room. It's Arthur and Molly's room. And I'm sure they would love to hear the explanation for why you're coming down to open presents in… nothing.' A wicked grin spread across his face, and I could see he was planning something.

'You wouldn't dare,' I hissed, but without much conviction, because he is a Malfoy. And he would dare.

He then shot me one final smirk, winked, and disapparated.

Still clutching my bag.

A/N again. ahh those Slytherins, such tricky little blighters. What is a Gryffindor to do? Review, and you just might find out before the Easter long weekend...