10. The Epilogue
Pansy stretched out languidly under the satin sheets. It was too early in the morning for her to get up. The tantalizing scent of brewing coffee almost tempted her to leave the bed anyway, but she really, really loved those early morning hours she could just lie in bed and wait for the world to wake up. She rolled her neck and sighed contentedly while listening to the sounds of the morning.
The bathroom door opened and a flash of light illuminated the bedroom before a muttered Nox drowned everything into the grey darkness of the morning. It was quite impossible to keep the room perfectly dark with only curtains, but she'd learned to live with that. Perfect darkness caused night terrors she could very well do without in her bed partner.
A figure moved carefully through the room towards the door. It almost tripped over something and cursed quietly. Pansy smiled to herself.
"Off to work?" she whispered.
Hermione straightened up and whipped her head around. "Yeah. Want some coffee before I go? I can bring you a cup."
"That would be lovely, darling."
Hermione hesitated, then made her way over to the bed. She kissed Pansy softly, nibbling on her lower lip the way she knew it would drive Pansy mad with desire. Pansy's hands went up to cup her face but Hermione gripped them firmly and placed them on the bed.
"Took me ages to tame my hair this morning. Don't mess it up," she whispered in Pansy's ear.
Pansy smiled against her cheek. "I promise I won't."
Hermione nipped at her ear and squeezed her hands. "That's what you said last time." Then she straightened up and made her way to the door. "I'll bring you some coffee before I go." Her eyes went to the other side of the bed. "Make sure he gets to work in time today. He has a meeting at ten." Then she disappeared through the door, carefully closing it behind her.
Pansy looked at Draco, who burrowed even deeper under the covers. Her foot moved slowly until her toes tickled his leg and he grumbled incoherently without really waking up. Or pretending he still wasn't awake. Even after a year, Pansy still wasn't sure. But she loved finding out. Her hands wandered over to his body and she drew soft patterns on his arms and back until he turned around, grabbed her fingers to stop her teasing and drew her close.
"Too early, you witch," he mumbled sleepily, holding her in a tight embrace that made it impossible for her to move. She rested her chin on his chest.
"Are you sure? Apparently you have a meeting at ten. I should make sure you get out of bed in time."
"'S only half six, innit? 'S been a long night." His voice was drifting off again. "Lemme sleep. Sleep, too."
She closed her eyes and wriggled until she lay comfortably in his embrace, sleep slowly claiming her again. The door opened and there was a clank of porcelain being set on a table. Hermione placed a kiss on both their foreheads.
"We exhausted him," she remarked, tenderly tracing the line of Draco's jaw.
Pansy hummed in agreement, already in that state between sleeping and waking where the unconscious takes over and everything seems like a dream.
"You don't regret it, do you?" Pansy was only half conscious she had voiced her biggest fear.
Hermione cupped her cheek and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. "Us together? No, of course not. But we may want to be a bit more careful with our man. He still has to build up his stamina."
"Witch," muttered Draco, tightening his arms around Pansy. "Get your beautiful arse to work and leave us be. I'll show you stamina tonight."
Hermione's amused laughter tinkled through the bedroom as she walked away from the bed.
"Is that a promise?"
AN - And that's it! Beta-love for Chiseplushie! You're a darling!
Also thanks to Ash-Castle for planting the plunnie, and all you lovely reviewers who supported this story both here and on Tumblr. I love you all.