Hello my lovely people. I want to thank you so much for your reviews. And for those who've been kind enough to add me to their various lists. So, without further ado, here's the next chapter!

Chapter Ten

Hermione was hiding from him. Barty. She'd been doing so all morning and most of the afternoon. Although perhaps her bedroom wasn't the most inventive of places to lock herself away from the world. And a flimsy wooden door wouldn't really stop anyone intent on entering if they really wanted in. But she felt safe precisely because it was her bedroom. A place that she had forbidden Barty from entering. And so far he hadn't tested that order.

She hadn't even left the room when she'd heard Luna arrive. Merely shouted for the blonde to join her upstairs. It was cowardly. Of course it was. But she honestly didn't think she could face him. Not after that kiss. The kiss that she refused to think about because it made her heart thud and cheeks flush. Both fear and pleasure had rolled into one confusing ball and lodged beneath her ribs.

"Did you not hear me?" Luna's lilting voice broke into her scattered thoughts.

"What?" Hermione asked, swinging forward and away from her pillows.

Luna smiled serenely. "I asked what you planned to do first."

A huff fell from her lips. "I've no idea! I was awake all night thinking about it and now I'm honestly not even sure it will even work." She pushed a hand through the loose strands of her hair hanging around her face. "The Death Eaters are never going to change, as soon as they're free, they'll return to the whole blood purity thing, spewing hatred and killing everyone who had anything to do with their enslavement!" Hermione pulled in a quick breath. "Not to mention how on earth I'm supposed to bring down the Ministry, divide the magical world and restructure how students are taught at Hogwarts!"

"Ah." Luna tipped her head to the side. "It will certainly require some thought."

Hermione dropped back onto her pillow. "I don't want to think! My head already hurts from thinking," she wined.

"Then forget the plan for now." Luna said, twirling her silver blonde hair around her finger. "Perhaps try gathering information instead."

"Meaning?" Hermione muttered to the ceiling.

"Well you can discuss things with Draco and Barty now." Luna ignored her choked cough. "They're bound to know something that will help, and I couldn't help but notice a letter on the table downstairs addressed to you. I'm almost certain it's from Cormac."

Unease twisted in the pit of her stomach. She didn't want to receive letters from Cormac bloody McLaggen. Sighing, she sat up and pushed away from the bed. "I'll go get it and see what he wants." She shuffled in place, suddenly nervous. "Unless you want to come?"

Luna raised a pale brow in contemplation. "Do you want me to?"

"No!" Hermione said, feeling like an utter fool. "I just thought that...oh never mind!" She marched towards the door, anger at her own cowardice making her movements sharp. Her hand was trembling as she reached for the handle. The door swung open.

And she came face to face with Barty.

Hermione jumped back, hand reaching for her wand in reflex. "What are you doing?"

Deep brown eyes regarded her coolly. "I'm standing."

"Outside my door?"

Barty glanced at his booted feet, dark brows raised quizzically. "So it would seem."

Hermione's lips pinched in disapproval, eyes never straying higher than the tip of his nose. "Well, I'd prefer you stood somewhere else."

She nodded her head to punctuate the matter, feeling quite proud of herself. But it was ruined a second later when he took a large step towards her. Heat encasing her front. Breath disturbing the loose strands of hair that had escaped her plait. She immediately backed up, glaring a silent accusation.

Thin lips held the ghost of a smile. "You asked me to stand somewhere else."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, aware of Luna's interested gaze and Barty's cruel sneer. He was doing it deliberately, of course. Pushing her into a some kind of verbal sparring match. Well, she wasn't going to fall for it.

"Good for you," she said, smiling politely and shuffling passed him. She felt the furious weight of his gaze on her back as she walked away. Heart sinking when she heard the thud of his footsteps from behind. He was following her.

This was why she'd been hiding in her room all day. This feeling of him watching her, hovering close, giving her that knowing smirk. The one that made her stomach dip and flip in two. And she knew it was the kiss that caused that unsettling sensation. Which was why she wouldn't be thinking about how Bartemius Crouch Junior had kissed her in a way that made her feel dizzy and confused and utterly terrified.

She reached the bottom of the stairs and headed into the kitchen. And there on the table, as Luna had said, was the letter. The envelope was pale cream with her name written in black ink on the back. Her hand reached down to take it.

"Do you not want to talk about yesterday Hermione?" Barty's emotionless voice stroked the air.

Her hand froze, not quite touching the thick parchment. "I...no. I don't. There isn't anything to talk about."

She felt the air change behind her and knew he was closing in. "Really?" Fingers brushed the side of her neck, feather light and cool. "I would have thought you'd want to know what vow Draco Malfoy made to you."

Confusion rippled the skin of her forehead and she spun. "What?" He was standing right behind her and she stumbled back into the table making it slide across the floor with a loud screech.

Barty gave that almost smile. "The vow? Draco Malfoy?" He tipped his head back and regarded her down the length of his nose. "Whatever else did you think I meant?"

Hermione felt the blush rise upwards from the base of her neck with startling speed. "Nothing! I...nothing." Then what he'd said caught up with her. "What do you mean the vow Malfoy made?"

"You do recall the words he used?" he asked, dark eyes settling on her lips.

Ice slipped down her spine as she tried to recall what Malfoy had said when making the unbreakable vow. But all she could remember was seeing her wand in Barty's hand and worrying about whether or not he'd snap it. Horror widened her eyes as it dawned on her that she had no idea exactly what Malfoy had sworn to.

"Tell me!" she demanded, insides drooping when Barty's shoulders stiffened at her bossy tone. And then drooping further when she realised that the vow the two of them had made would mean she wouldn't be able to order the answer from him.

"I suggest you try that again." His mockery was thick enough to touch.

Hermione hesitated, knowing that pushing him would likely become unpleasant very quickly. But she also needed to know what Malfoy had said. "Would you please tell me what vow Malfoy made."

A tiny smile hovered around the contours of his lips. "If you give me something I want in return." He perched on the edge of the table, arms crossed, expression blank.

She set her mouth into a mulish line, gaze fixed on the dust motes dancing above the table. She didn't want to give him anything. She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth as she tried to think of a way to get the information without going through Barty. Asking Draco was always an option. But she had the feeling that he'd make the same demand that Barty had.

Seeing no other option she fisted her hands by her sides. "What do you want?"

"I want to be allowed back into your room."

Hermione blinked. That wasn't what she'd been expecting him to say at all. She'd been expecting something sexual or a demand for another kiss. Not being allowed back into her room. "Why?" she asked, truly baffled.

Barty's eyes drifted up towards the ceiling. "I like watching you."

"You...what?" she said feeling slightly unbalanced.

"When you sleep, when you're reading, when you're thinking." His tongue traced his bottom lip as his dark eyes watched her with an intensity that made her shiver, "Watching you makes the voices go away."

Unease twisted her stomach into knots. "Well that's-"

"Unless you don't want to know what Malfoy said," he neatly interrupted.

Hermione forced out a breath. "I want to know."

"Then you'll let me in your room."

She twisted her hands nervously. Having him in her room and watching her sleep would be stupid and bloody well creepy. No. She wouldn't agree. She'd ask Draco. If she didn't go insane first. Because that was a possibility if she didn't find out quickly what the little ferret had said. She could already feel anxiety squeezing her chest tighter and tighter. Maybe she could go to Grimmauld Place as soon as Luna left. But then what if she couldn't get him alone? What if she could never get him alone?

She pressed a hand to her chest as she began to hyperventilate. Head starting to spin. It was the same feeling she'd sometimes gotten when she had an important assignment due or exams on the horizon.

No way would she be able to wait. It was a loose end that would drive her insane until it had been neatly tucked away.

She closed her eyes. "You'll have to agree to a few conditions."

"Name them," Barty said.

Hermione opened her eyes. "You don't touch me. Ever." She quickly racked her brain for more stipulations. "You don't stay all night and you're not allowed to touch my stuff."

"Done."

Suspicion at his easy compliance had her scowling in annoyance. "Well? What words did Malfoy use?"

Barty eased to his feet, leaning forward to press his lips to her ear. "The same that you did."

Outrage widened her eyes as he stepped back and chuckled. "You!...you liar!" she hissed and then further added to his amusement by stamping her foot.

Thoroughly disgusted, she snatched the letter off the table and practically ran to her room, feet barely touching the shabby carpet. She really wanted the satisfaction of slamming the door in Barty's face. She almost managed it as well, but at the last moment he jammed his foot in the gap and forced his way in.

Hermione turned her back on him, pretending she didn't see his warning look or Luna's bemused stare. She flopped onto the bed and flicked open the envelope, pulling out the thick parchment.

"What does he say," Luna asked.

Hermione frowned as she read McLaggen's elegant scrawl. "He asks how I am and says he was glad to see me the other night." Her nose wrinkled. "And he invites me to dine with him tomorrow."

Luna clapped her hands. "But that's perfect."

"Easy for you to say, you don't have to go," Hermione muttered sourly.

The blonde tipped her head. "True. And you don't either if you're really against it."

Hermione grimaced. "It's not that. It's just..." She flicked her gaze at Barty who was standing with his hands clasped behind his back and studying her book collection. "I don't really know how to flirt," she whispered.

"Oh, it's really easy. Just smile and maybe stroke your neck." Luna giggled mischievously as she slowly ran a finger down the slim length of her neck. "Neville likes it when I do that."

Hermione looked doubtful and slightly embarrassed that she now knew Neville had a thing for Luna's neck. "I don't know if I can do that."

Luna tapped her lip. "Well I suppose you could try kind of bending over when-"

Barty scoffed. "Don't listen to her." He sat on the hard backed chair next to her desk and gave her a bored look. "Just be yourself. It was enough before and it'll be enough now."

Hermione and Luna exchanged a surprised look. That was actually really good advice. And advice Hermione would feel comfortable implementing. Because it would mean she wouldn't have to make a fool of herself, fumbling around and batting her eyelashes. But being herself she could manage.

"You'll need to be careful," Luna said.

"It's not me that I'm worried about," Hermione muttered in a low voice that only Luna could hear. Or at least she hoped. When she glanced at Barty, he was staring at the wall blank-eyed and oblivious.

The blonde smiled in understanding. "It'll work out. The Snarffler's told me so."

Hermione sighed and flipped back on the bed. They were quiet for a long time after that. Each lost in their own thoughts. It was only when a loud thump from downstairs sounded that Hermione realized how much time had passed.

She jumped up. "That'll be Arthur." Luna's hand was cool when Hermione reached for it and pulled her from the room.

"How's George doing?" Luna asked as they headed downstairs.

Hermione frowned. "He's doing okay. Molly still won't leave his side, so I don't think he'll be in for too long."

They headed into the kitchen to see Arthur hunched over and eating directly from a glass casserole dish. He flushed when he saw them, wiping a hand across his mouth. "Girls! Forgive me. I didn't have time for lunch and if Molly finds out I haven't eaten since breakfast she'll have my guts for garters!"

Hermione grinned and took the dish from him. "At least let me warm this for you." She reached past him for a plate and serving spoon, before filling the plate with gloopy stew and using a heating charm to warm it through. She waved him towards the table and placed the steaming plate in front of him. "Do you want some Luna?" she asked.

"No thank you. I'm not hungry." The blonde sat down at the table next to Arthur. "How are you Mr Weasley?"

"I'm good, Miss Lovegood, and yourself?"

Luna sighed happily. "Oh, I'm just grand. Planning for the wedding of course. You'll be coming to it won't you?"

Arthur nodded. "I dare say we will."

Hermione tuned out as they continued to make meaningless small talk. Instead she was focused on Barty, who'd followed them downstairs and positioned himself next to the Floo. His eyes were closed and he appeared almost asleep. But then suddenly his head swung to the side, his eyes snapped open and he was looking right at her. It was almost like he'd felt her stare.

She dropped her eyes, wondering what it must be like to never know a peaceful moment. To always be aware of when someone so much as glanced in your direction. It must be exhausting. And lonely.

Hermione was still thinking about that when Luna tapped her shoulder. "I'm going home now. You'll be in touch?"

"Yes." She gabbed Luna's hand and squeezed once. "We'll go over some plans. For the wedding."

The blonde nodded. "Goodbye My Weasley and send George my love."

"I will. I'm actually going to St. Mungos myself in a moment," he said pushing away his plate and snapping his fingers to get Barty's attention. "Clean this."

Hermione felt her eye twitch with the urge to snap at Arthur. Honestly, he could have at least said please. She spun away before he could see the look of outrage she knew her face was showing and walked Luna to the Floo.

"I hate this," she whispered into Luna's ear as she gave her a goodbye hug.

As soon as she was gone, she headed to the stairs. "I'm going to take a bath. Tell George I was asking after him," she called back over her shoulder., escaping whilst she had the chance. Even if it was only to the bathroom. Hermione Granger was about to take the longest bath in the history of the world. There by avoiding Barty for as long as possible.

She quickly collected her Pjs and locked herself in the bathroom, double warding the door. And then adding another for good measure. Once she felt safe nobody could enter she filled the bath to the top and stripped off her clothes. The water was too hot as she stepped in, but regardless she eased slowly down, wincing as her body was encased in liquid heat.

She dipped her head under, wetting her hair until it fell in slick dark waves around her shoulders. Sighing, she closed her eyes, letting the water soothe her tense muscles. Sweat beaded on her top lip and forehead, brushed aside by her pale hand. The same hand that brushed down the swell of her breast and the dip of her waist. Not in pleasure, but curiosity. All of her adolescent angles were gone, replaced by a women's curves.

She'd never really thought about it. The three years she'd been locked away in her body. But she supposed that she'd changed just as much as everyone around her had. She'd just never taken the time to really look at herself. A floorboard creaked outside the door. Barty.

Hermione hissed in irritation. Why the hell wouldn't he leave her alone? Why did he keep hovering over her? She blew out a breath, the steam swirling in intricate patterns. Then set about the long task of washing her hair. Her fingertips were a wrinkled mess when she'd finished, but even then she soaked a little longer. Knowing that the second she left the room he'd follow her. Breathe on her. But at least he couldn't touch her.

She climbed out of the bath only when it became too cold to be comfortable. Then sat on the edge wrapped in a towel as she combed her hair. The entire time her eyes were fixed on the gap at the bottom of the door. Or more precisely on the shadow that shifted back and forth the barest amount. Barty was swaying.

For a while she merely sat, mesmerized. Trying to build up the courage she'd need to walk past him and into her room. The bath had made her sleepy but she wasn't sure she'd be able to knowing he was in the room. Anger rolled up from the pit of her stomach and into her chest. Yet again she was allowing him to intimidate her.

Well. No longer.

Hermione snapped to her feet, grabbing her belongings and unwarding the door. Her eyes came face to face with his chest. Snagging on a loose piece of black thread.

"Excuse me," she said.

An endless tense second passed, full of potential violence. And then he stepped aside. Not a lot. But enough for her to squeeze by. Her shoulder brushed him in passing and her stomach did that odd little flip again. The one she didn't understand but was determined to ignore.

She didn't bother shutting the door to her room knowing that he would simply open it and follow her. Which of course he did. Pretending he wasn't there, Hermione dumped her stuff but kept her wand, walked over to the bed, drew back the covers and slipped inside. She used her wand to extinguish the light, settled on her side and concentrated on simply breathing.

"Sleep well, Hermione." His soft breath brushed her ear and she scowled, scuttling under the blanket until it covered most of her head.

"What? No goodnight kiss?" he mocked.

Her heart froze as she recalled the feel of his tongue and lips. Ashamed because she wanted to feel that wet heat again. Only for a moment. Just so she could untangle the strange emotions that kept plaguing her whenever she thought of it. But that would be impossible. And dangerous. And extremely stupid.

"Piss off," she muttered.

Silence answered her. A silence in which she could pretend she was alone. That a Death Eater wasn't standing a few feet away. Filling the air with a presence that almost pressed down on her.

Her eyes closed, blocking out everything but the steady beat of her heart. Counting until she fell asleep.

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(And a heads up. The next chapter is going to get a little nasty)