Trigger warning: Recreational drug use.

Twelve

Hermione woke with a start at the sound of her cat landing heavily on the sheets of paper spread all over her bed. He was upset she had left documents and books all over and there was no place for him to sleep, so he started to push everything off the bed.

"Crookshanks!" she yelled and the cat stopped to look at her guiltily. "Now I'll have to organize it all again!"

Crookshanks meowed once and left, heading for the kitchen where he would most likely wait for his breakfast. The sun was shining brightly through her windows and Hermione stretched on her bed, looking at all the work she had done during the day after returning from her lunch with Pansy. She picked up everything and arranged it on her nightstand before going outside and hurrying to make herself some tea.

Draco had sent her a letter late at night, asking her to meet him and Harry at his pub for breakfast that next day and she was running a bit late, but overall she felt a million times better after Pansy made her realize how much she wanted to be with Harry and Draco. She couldn't wait to see them again and hear about their date.

.

When Hermione arrived, Harry was getting there too, looking freshly showered and content.

"Hermione!" he smiled and hugged her. She held onto him for way too long, missing him like he had been gone for years instead of a couple of days. When they pulled away, he took her hand without hesitating, his warm fingers interlacing with hers and Hermione suddenly felt like she was back to being fifteen, when Viktor Krum was the first boy to take her hand and make her feel butterflies swirling inside her.

They walked in and spotted Draco sitting in a booth by the end of the pub, food already laid in front of him. He was fiddling with his mobile phone, looking frustrated.

"Hello," Harry greeted him as they reached the table. Draco looked at their joined hands and then at their faces.

"Good morning," he replied. Harry and Hermione separated, each taking a seat on Draco's sides.

Hermione hugged him as soon as she was close enough, her arms wrapping around his neck. He was a bit thrown off at first, but then he hugged her back, even caressing her hair.

"How are you?" she asked after pulling away.

Draco nodded. "Good. You? Feeling better?"

Hermione smiled with a sorry expression. "Yes. Sorry about the other day. To both of you," she looked at Harry too, who seemed to have known she would get over whatever it was that she was having.

"As long as you're okay…" Harry said, looking a bit worried.

"I am. It was silly I just…" Even thinking about it now she knew she had been ridiculous and it embarrassed her having to tell them. "I got overwhelmed for no good reason and I didn't handle it very well. Again, I'm sorry."

Draco placed his hand on her knee, looking serious. "If you don't tell us when you feel overwhelmed, we have no way of knowing until you run out of the room and by then it's too late."

She nodded. "I know. I'm sorry. I did a lot of thinking and I'm all better now. Oh, and I ran into Pansy yesterday. She knows." Draco widened his eyes at her words and Harry looked like he didn't mind one bit. "She figured something was going on when we were here the other night, and then she caught me at a vulnerable time and…I ended up telling her everything."

Hermione cringed, expecting a negative reaction from Draco.

But it didn't come. He was thoughtful for a moment and then sighed.

"If someone was going to find out first, it was going to be her. At least I know she won't tell."

Harry cleared his throat before speaking. "Well, as long as we're on the subject of telling stuff," he paused and Hermione had a terrible feeling in her gut. "I figure I can't very well blame you for not talking to us if I do the same, so... I have something to say."

Harry didn't seem content anymore, in fact Hermione hadn't seen him this uncomfortable since the first time the three of them had dinner together.

"I feel like perhaps you, especially Hermione," he paused for a second and looked at her, his green eyes piercing behind his glasses. Hermione could already feel the guilt filling her body even though she had no idea what he was going to say. "Don't really think of me sexually. At least not as much as you do with each other."

"What?!" both Draco and Hermione exclaimed at the same time.

"Hear me out. I'm not saying it's true, it's just how I feel," He pushed up his glasses as he looked down at the table. "Maybe it's jealousy because you two got a lot more sexual on your first date…but I just get the feeling that your sexual chemistry is better than the one I have with either of you."

"How can you saythat when less than twenty-four hours ago we had our dicks in each other's mouth?" Draco objected, agitated.

Hermione's jaw dropped, despite Draco's crass words. "Really?"

Harry nodded. "That's why I said specially Hermione, but still, it felt as though I was initiating everything…"

Draco scoffed, offended. "Well, excuse me for not fucking you seven ways into Sunday after our first kiss and traumatizing you from ever having anything up your ass again," Draco was visibly angry and Hermione placed her hand on his arm to calm him down.

"Fuck you, Draco, you know that's not what I'm saying," Harry shook his head as he scooted away from Draco. "I understand why you did it, but excuse me for having feelings."

They stared at each other quietly, the tension palpable through the air.

"Harry," Hermione spoke softly, making him shift his eyes towards her. "Why do you think that about me? The fact that Draco and I did something first has nothing to do with you, and you know it."

Harry sighed. "I know we said that each date was different and that we would do what came natural but, I think you find him more sexually attractive. I'm not blaming you, after all we were just friends, almost like siblings, for years. I understand if it's hard for you to see me as you see him." Harry motioned towards Draco, who seemed to have calmed down a bit, his posture slightly less tense.

Hermione wished she could make Harry see what she sees. "That's the thing. For you we were like siblings, but for me we stopped that ages ago. You have no idea what I think about you…I mean, I've dreamt so many times of…" She didn't know how to finish any sentence without saying something terribly embarrassing.

Draco smirked at the way Hermione was blushing. She ignored him and placed her hand over Harry's. "I just wish I could show you how much I really want you."

"Do it." Draco cut in and both Harry and Hermione turned to look at him like he was crazy.

"I will," she promised. "Just, not here and now." Hermione sighed, thinking that she should have seen this coming. "Look, maybe the idea of individual trial dates wasn't so good. Maybe we should have started just the three at the same time."

Harry shook his head. "I don't know. It's not like were always going to be all together. Sometimes we'll be two at the time and we need to know that we can handle the jealousy and get along when the other isn't there."

That was Hermione's idea since the beginning, but now she wasn't so sure "Should we keep going?"

It looked like Draco was about to say no when Harry spoke first.

"Yes. If my issues are just a silly jealousy thing, then you should go on your date. It'll be good for me, to sort out my feelings about you two being together."

Draco frowned. "Are you sure?"

Harry nodded confidently. "Completely. Cancelling it would defeat the purpose of testing if we can handle those types of situations. You should go and then Hermione and I will go, and we'll see how we feel after it."

Hermione wasn't convinced, but Harry seemed to be one hundred percent sure of what he was saying. "Alright."

"Agreed," Draco added. "I already know where I'm taking her anyway," he smirked and Hermione's heart skipped a beat.

Harry pointed at the untouched food in front of them "We haven't eaten anything,"

Hermione was hungry, but some things were more important. "And you haven't told me about your date."

"Of course we have. Did you not hear where our dicks were?" Draco answered, picking up a croissant.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Like I'll believe Harry took you on a date just to shove your...your..." she waved her hand and tried not to blush.

Draco laughed. "Come on. You can say it. Say it."

She bit the inside of her cheek before talking. "Penis."

Harry started laughing and tried not to spill orange juice everywhere.

"For fucks sake Granger, just say dick!"

"Dick! Alright? Satisfied? Where did you even go on this date?" she demanded.

Harry finished swallowing. "I took him to Berlin, to the Stadium where the Quidditch finals will be held," he said proudly.

"And I got snitch!" Draco added quickly, smiling like a little boy. Hermione thought that before she would have rolled her eyes, but now she only felt happy for them.

"Barely," Harry murmured

Draco narrowed his eyes at him. "I also made Potter come first."

Harry huffed indignantly "Barely," he repeated.

"If that was barely an orgasm I can't wait to see the real thing."

They finished their breakfast while talking and laughing, until Draco had to go meet his parents. Hermione and Harry decided to visit the Burrow, since they hadn't been there in a while.

The next week went by in a blur, with Hermione's boss returning and disrupting everything Hermione had changed in her absence in order to do it her way. She constantly felt like ripping out her hair from the frustration and stress. Combined with the fact that she barely saw Draco at the Ministry because he was traveling, and Harry was helping Ron at the store while George was sick.

Even though Harry enjoyed working with Ron, Hermione knew the joke shop wasn't really his thing. She wasn't sure what his thing was, exactly, and neither did he. That was part of the problem.

But it had been too long. Harry needed a purpose, he needed a passion, and Hermione decided that she would help him find it, even if it killed her.

On Friday afternoon right before leaving, a strange number texted her.

H, coukd u cume to my offic pls. D.

Hermione laughed. She was glad Draco had found a way to make his mobile work, even if it was like this.

She walked into Draco's office without knocking, already craving the soothing qualities of his confines.

"Hello there," she stopped when she saw him dressed in a sharp suit that she hadn't seen before. "Don't tell me our date is today," she asked worriedly.

"Of course not. Don't you think I would pick you up instead of asking you to come here through this strange contraption?" he held up his mobile before throwing it on top of his desk.

"Alright," she sat down. "What do you have in mind?"

Draco leaned forward. "It's about the date. I want to do something, and I need to know first if you're comfortable doing it."

Hermione's stomach dropped. "What is it?"

He scratched his cheek. "I'm guessing you've never taken MDMA before?"

Hermione racked her brains. She was sure she had heard that before.

"The Muggle drug," Draco supplied.

Oh. "Well no. Of course not."

"I have. It was a phase a couple of years ago, but I've done it only once since and I was thinking it could be an interesting experience. For both of us, together."

Hermione frowned, trying to understand him. "You want us to take a Muggle drug on our date?"

Draco nodded. Needless to say, Hermione had never imagined something like that happening.

"I want to take you to the Muggle nightclub I used to frequent, take MDMA, and dance and have a good time. You look like you need it."

She didn't know if she should be offended. She opened her mouth to retort.

"Don't answer me right now," he cut her off. "Take today and tomorrow morning to research as I know you will, and then before the sun sets, give me your answer. If you don't want to, I'll use my backup plan."

"Alright," she agreed, already planning he trip to the library on her head. "I'll let you know. But I'm texting you my answer."

He actually growled. "Whatever."

.

The desired effects of MDMA have been reported to include a sense of general well-being and happiness, increased self-confidence, sociability, empathy, inner peace, and relaxation.

Hermione read the passage again before closing the book. She had done as much research as one could do about a recreational drug in a Muggle library, and she ended up even more curious than before.

She had never considered the world of recreational drugs, even less Muggle ones. Wizards weren't exactly keen on trusting anything made by Muggles, much less something you put inside your body, so Draco must have had a really good reason for taking it, and even more than once. The good experiences seem to outweigh the bad, and even if something were to happen, she trusted Draco.

Her stomach was in knots when she picked up her mobile to text him a single word: yes.

.

Hermione and Draco walked through some London neighborhood that she had never heard of, full of bright colorful lights from the many different pubs and clubs decorating the street. The night was buzzing with activity, and so were Hermione's insides.

"How long did it take to wear off with you again?" she asked, licking her lips nervously.

Draco sensed the quiver in her voice. "About three hours. Don't worry, this is not strong at all, it's the same kind I took on my first time and it was nothing if not manageable. You'll do fine."

They arrived at their destination; a medium-sized club with no sign on the door other than a few neon lights shaped into a rainbow.

"This is a gay club, by the way. During what I like to call my 'forced internship' in Muggle Relations, they mentioned this street multiple times, as it's famous among the gay Muggle community, and since we don't have something similar, many gay witches and wizards come here, end up pissing drunk, and tend to cause a scene," he explained. Hermione looked around, trying to see if she could spot any non-muggle at plain view.

Draco continued. "I decided to come by myself. Thankfully, I didn't run into anybody I knew. I had my first kiss with a man here."

Hermione smiled, always too pleased to know and understand a little bit more about Draco.

Before going inside, Draco took her apart and pulled out a tiny plastic bag from his shirt pocket. Inside Hermione could see two small, pale blue pills bearing smiley faces. They almost looked like children's medicine. She gulped nervously.

"I promise these aren't the ones that make you randy," Draco said with a wink in an attempt to make her feel more relaxed. Hermione smiled.

He looked at her before placing one of the pills in her hand. "We're going to have fun. Trust me?"

Hermione kissed him briefly, relishing in the feeling of being able to do it anytime she wanted, now. "Of course I trust you."

She took a water bottle from her beaded bag and swallowed the pill without thinking about it again. She knew it was too soon to feel anything but she still thought soething was different.

Draco took his pill too and smiled at her, taking her hand and leading her through the double doors.

The music was not as loud as she expected, and most people were simply drinking and talking, as opposed to dancing. The place was dark with my different colorful lights coming from all over the ceiling and not much else. The minimalistic ambiance gave Hermione a good feeling and she could see why Draco would like it there.

"Should we drink something?" she asked and he seemed to consider it for a moment.

"Better not. Let's wait for it to kick in and then we can decide. Have some more water," he suggested and she did just that as they looked for a place.

They sat near the entrance on some cushiony chairs with a stool between them that acted as a table. Hermione guessed they had some time before the pills took affect so she remembered something she wanted to talk to Draco about.

She raised her voice through the music. "So, remember Harry and-"

"I'm familiar with his work, yes," He interrupted with a smirk.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I was going to say…remember how he doesn't have a job or really anything to do?"

"Of course, I tease him about it every single day."

"Figures. Well, I was thinking that maybe I could find him something and I wanted to see if you had any ideas-"

Before she could finish, Draco was shaking his head.

"I'd like to know what your mother thinks of your constant interrupting," Hermione huffed.

"It's a bad idea, Hermione."

"What?" She was genuinely shocked that he thought so. "How come?"

"You're brilliant, and it doesn't surprise me in the least that you'd spend every free hour at your disposal helping him find his passion, but it's not going to work. Harry needs to do this himself."

"He has been doing it himself for over two years, look how it's turning out!"

Draco laughed. "I know. But he's clearly trying to sort himself out after years of being 'the tosser who lived'. Wow, it's really hard to let go of that insult." He looked thoughtful before speaking again. "You of all people should know that. He's just finding out what he really likes."

"But it's been forever! If I could only help speed the process along…"

"I normally wouldn't bother to stop your very nice but very stubborn ass from doing anything," Hermione smiled at herself despite his words. "But this time, I will. You don't get to decide how long is too long for someone to find themselves, especially after a war. It probably took you barely any time at all; it took me a couple of difficult years; and who knows how long it's gonna take him. But he will, eventually."

It was difficult for Hermione to accept this. Scratch that, it was near impossible for her to accept it. If she could help her best friend and now possible boyfriend have a happier future, why wouldn't she?

She opened her mouth to retort when suddenly a fizzing sensation started spreading from the top of her head and down her body, like someone had cast a spell on her. She shivered and looked up at Draco with wide, slightly alarmed eyes. Draco had the same expression, but with a goofy smile plastered across his face.

"Did you feel it too?" she asked and he nodded. "It felt like someone opening a bottle of butterbeer inside my brain."

Draco threw his head back in laughter. "That's the best way I've heard to describe it. How are you feeling?"

"I don't know," she confessed, but didn't fail to notice she was smiling nervously. She couldn't stop, actually, and Draco's own unusually peppy smile didn't help.

They didn't talk, just sat for a few minutes, staring at each other and feeling the drug start to take effect. It didn't scare her anymore, as she wasn't feeling too strange or out of it. A ball of energy was growing inside her and she started bouncing her leg and tapping her fingers together. Draco noticed and laughed, and Hermione couldn't help but laugh as well, feeling light and giddy.

"How do you feel now?" he asked again and she nodded eagerly.

"Good! I mean…yes, good!" she laughed again at the ridiculousness of their situation; just sitting and smiling like idiots.

She suddenly couldn't take it anymore and stood up. Draco followed suit.

"Dance?" he suggested.

"Dance."

They were one of the first couples to start dancing, but quickly the dance floor filled out and Hermione and Draco were jumping and moving around in a sea of people, all enjoying the very loud electronic music. It was lively and repetitive, and Hermione was sure it would have driven her insane in any other situation, but right then there was nothing she would rather hear. Her own thoughts were drowned out and she could only feel and move, her body begging her to release the energy building up inside her.

Her eyes were closed most of the time, but when she opened them, she was greeted with the glorious sight of Draco, colorful lights reflecting on his perfect skin as his hair fell on his face with every jump. His eyes were closed in peaceful concentration and it was so aesthetically pleasing that she felt she could look at him forever.

Hermione took his hands and watched him open his eyes as if in slow-motion. The grey seemed to have turned silver, and it was so bright that it shocked her and her mouth hung open. He seemed to be in an equal state of fascination, as he peered into her eyes just as deeply and powerfully. They stared mesmerized at each other for who knows how long. Hermione could see the way his pupils dilated, making the color just a thin ring around the black.

"Silver lining!" Hermione literally screamed over the music, not really thinking about other people.

"What?" Draco mouthed, confused.

Hermione's brain reeled, trying to string her thoughts together into something coherent.

"Your eyes!" she shouted again, making sure he could hear her. "There's silver all around your pupil, it's the silver lining!" she explained like it was the greatest discovery ever made in the history of wizarkind. Or humankind.

Draco seemed to be thinking about her words for a moment before he leaned in and kissed her. His hands wrapped around the top of her arms as he flushed his body against her and Hermione could feel everything. The warmth of his breath filling her mouth, the wetness of his tongue gliding over hers, the soft rasp of his lips. Hermione wasn't sure if she was too sensitive or if Draco was suddenly being very rough, but the kiss was almost staring to hurt. She was about to pull away when Draco did it first.

"This is my favorite song!" he yelled excitedly.

"Really?"

"No," he laughed. "But it's pretty amazing!"

They danced even more, feeling the deep bass rumble inside their chests and making their feet jump higher than before. Hermione thought that the high was at its peak as she sang the lyrics of a song she didn't even know she knew at the top of her lungs, and if she had to describe the feeling to anyone, she'd say it's like magic, and probably it was a wizard's invention that somehow leaked into the Muggle world. She imagined this is what Felix Felicis must feel like.

But the feeling of restlessness kept building up inside her and the pressure on her chest was staring to make her breathless. Hermione tried to calm herself down and close her eyes to avoid the visual stimulation of flashing lights that had been so pleasing before.

But it didn't help, and she could still see nonstop strobe colors behind her eyelids. Suddenly the music was too loud even though it hadn't changed at all and the few people around her now seemed like a hundred and they were all pressed against her and caging her in.

Hermione had no other choice but to freak out.

She took two fistfuls of Draco's shirt, but he didn't realize the desperation behind the gesture, so he continued to dance as if nothing was wrong. Hermione pressed herself against Draco, wanting to separate herself from everyone else. He smiled and hugged her close, until Hermione gathered the strength to call his name.

"Draco," she repeated when he didn't hear. He opened his eyes and looked down at her with easy eyes until he noticed the fright in hers.

"Draco, get me out of here," she asked, her voice cracking. She could almost feel the way his stomach dropped.

.

Before Hermione could blink again, they were standing on soft, wet grass. Draco was crushing her to his chest, both arms a wrapped around her.

She looked around, eyes wide and shocked.

"How did you do that? You're not holding your wand!"

It took Draco a while to realize she was right.

"I don't know," He admitted. "I just wanted to get you out and... I didn't even think of a place... It just happened."

Hermione's eyes were wider than he had ever seen them and his heart was beating wildly. He wanted to keep her close, make her feel safe.

He realized they were in a park a few blocks down from the club. It was dark and empty, but maybe that's what Hermione needed. She was breathing more steadily now but Draco couldn't calm down, he was far too worried.

"I want to lie down," she murmured. Draco rushed to remove his jacket so she could use it on the ground, but she shook her head.

"No, no. It's cold. The grass is fine."

He was about to argue but she slid from under his arms and lay down on the grass. Draco joined her, keeping his body as close as possible.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair, which was soft and fragrant and perfect. The feeling of it against his face was wonderful, even if he was still feeling concerned about her.

They lay on the grass, the only sound that could be heard was Hermione's incessant biting of her cheek.

"Stop. You're gonna hurt yourself," he told her.

"Sorry. I can't stop."

Draco couldn't tear his eyes away from the streetlights. "Are you sure you're okay? How can I help you?"

She didn't answer at first, so when he forced himselt to to look at her, he was surprised to find her with her eyes closed and a smile on her face.

"I'm great," she answered a few seconds later. "This grass feels incredible. This is exactly what I needed. There were too many people in there."

Draco relaxed considerably. "Good. What do you want to do?"

Hermione thought for a moment, rolling into her belly and picking out small leaves from the ground.

She turned her head to look at Draco with big dilated pupils. He never thought he would see Hermione Granger look at him like that and it made him strangely happy.

"I want to go see Harry."

Draco smiled. Of course she did.

"Me too."

.

It was four thirty in the morning, but they still decided to walk to Harry's instead of disapparating, which Hermione was convinced would make her sick. It was a long walk, but time seemed to fly by in their current state.

When they finally made it, Hermione called Harry to his mobile phone, but he didn't answer.

"He's out of battery, I bet," she mentioned as she looked up at 12 Grimmauld Place

"Oh well," Draco shrugged, not really sorry. "We'll have to break in."

Hermione smirked and Draco decided that he loved it more than he had expected to. "It doesn't seem like we have any other choice."

Hermione was allowed through Harry's wards, which made sense, Draco thought, and he wondered if Harry would ever allow him too. But she still didn't want to disapparate, so apparently, climbing through the window seemed like the logical solution in her brain.

"Wait, woah!" Draco grabbed her by the waist before she could get any further. "Are you fucking delirious? I'm not gonna let you climb a bloody building!"

Hermione actually shushed him. "I just want to see if I can. If you see me falling you just levitate me, come on."

She had a look on her eyes that he had seen several times before. She was not backing out of this.

Draco reluctantly let her go. She smiled before continuing her insane plan, her wand between her teeth as she stepped into the stone wall and started to ascend. Draco held his breath the entire time, watching his girlfriend holding onto window ledges ten meters in the air.

Wait. Had he just thought of her as his girlfriend? The pill they took must really be affecting him.

When she finally made it to the small balcony outside Harry's bedroom, Draco breathed in relief, his grip around his wand loosening.

"Hey, Hermione!" he shouted and she shushed him again.

"What?" she whispered back.

"Just wanted to let you know that I could see your knickers the entire time!"

She was too far up for him to notice if she was blushing, but she did flipped him off, which surprised him endlessly and made him have a laughing fit.

"Alohomora," she pointed her wand to Harry's window and opened it. She waved Draco over to follow her.

Draco couldn't believe that he was about to climb a building just to to break into Harry Potter's home with none other than Hermione Granger. These Gryffindors really had the ability to drive anyone crazy.

Hermione was waiting for him before going inside. Draco could see the sleeping form of Harry on the bed.

"Ready?" she asked him, resisting the urge to giggle, one foot already on Harry's bedroom.

"Hermione, don't you think Harry could-"

It all happened too quickly. Hermione stepped in and hit her elbow against the window, and before they could react, a yellow bolt was flying towards them. Draco threw his body forward over Hermione, but she was too quick and had already rolled over to the side, leaving Draco to fall over nothing, hitting his forehead against the floor.

"Harry!" Hermione screamed at the top of her lungs, just as another spell was fired in their direction. Hermione managed to deflect it, but it hit the window, sending broken glass flying everywhere. Draco covered his head with his arms, feelings the pieces of glass raining over him

"Harry!" she shouted again and Draco stood up on shaky legs and tried to get closer, but he was completely blinded by the third spell, heading straight to his chest.

"POTTER!" Draco cast a protective shield that illuminated the entire space, and right before the spell hit it, he saw Harry's terrified face through it. Draco wondered if maybe the spell had managed to hit his chest after all, because he felt his heart break into a million pieces.

The spell made Draco tumble backwards until he hit the wall, but after his shield vanished, everything was calm.

The three of them were breathing heavily, looking at each other with various degrees of panic.

After a long silence, it was natural that Harry would be the one to break it.

"What the fuck?!" he called from behind the bed, hair tousled, no glasses, and shirtless.

Hermione started crying almost immediately, biting her lip to try and stop the tears. "I'm sorry, Harry. This was all my fault, I just..."

Draco stepped forward, rubbing his forehead where it had hit the floor. "What was that last spell? I had never seen that color on a spell before."

Harry shrugged, still trying to calm down. "I don't remember. I wasn't thinking," he looked down at his wand, his hand shaking. "I thought... I thought..."

Hermione sniffed louder and looked hesitant to approach Harry. Draco wanted to warn her that this may happen, but he was too late.

"Hermione, you're bleeding," Harry motioned towards her upper arm, which had probably been cut on a piece of glass.

She looked down at the blood trickling out. "It's nothing."

Harry's eyes moved from her face to Draco's and suddenly he looked even more terrified. "I could have killed you. Either of you. Both of you."

"Ehh well," Draco disagreed, cocking his head to the side and shrugging one shoulder. It's not like his spells were that strong.

Even though she was crying, Hermione turned to him with a murderous glare.

"What? I'm just saying..."

Harry still looked scared and Hermione was no better. Draco sighed in resignation, he would have to be the bigger man here.

He walked over to Hermione and did a quick healing spell on her arm before talking her hand and leading her to Harry.

"We're sorry," he said, taking Harry's hand as well. He was dead cold. "We should have known better than to just barge in here unannounced and through the window, no less."

Hermione shook her head. "You tried to warn me and I didn't listen. I don't know what I was thinking," she sobbed once more before throwing herself on Harry's arms. "I'm sorry."

He hugged her back, kissing her temple. "It's okay," he assured her, though Draco noticed he was still shaking slightly.

Harry looked up at Draco then, and maybe Draco misread his intentions, but he thought that Harry was asking him to come closer.

So he did, standing behind Hermione and embracing them both, his forehead and Harry's joined together over Hermione's shoulder.

Hermione stopped crying and relaxed between their bodies. Harry suddenly leaned in just a bit more until he kissed Draco, softly brushing their lips together.

"Are you kissing?" Hermione asked, her voice muffled in Harry's chest.

Draco hummed in agreement against Harry's lips, delighting in the way the other man seemed to enjoy it.

Hermione suddenly started shaking her shoulders slightly and a high pitched sound escaped her mouth.

Draco and Harry broke the kiss.

"Hermione... Are you crying?" asked Harry, one hand caressing her hair.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "You're just so beautiful, both of you. I'm so happy I have you."

Draco and Harry shared a look that was simultaneously amused and tender.

"I think someone's tired," Draco commented and Harry nodded. They slowly extricated themselves from Hermione, who had stopped crying.

"What? Me? I'm alright!"

She moved to the bed anyway, lying comfortably. Hermione turned on her side and pointed her wand at the broken window.

"Reparo," she murmured, and the broken pieces started to come back together on the frame.

"So I'm guessing the date went well," Harry said, sitting next to Hermione.

Draco huffed a laugh. "I'm not really sure. What would you say?" Draco reached across Harry to poke Hermione on the waist, her back turned to them.

She didn't answer.

"Hermione?" Harry looked over her shoulder to find her completely asleep, her wand still on her hand.

"She's out," Harry declared, removing her shoes and placing her wand on the nightstand.

Draco shifted from one foot to the other. "Good. Well, I'll just floo to my place, then. I'm beat too."

He leaned down to kiss Harry goodnight, wanting to taste him one more time before leaving. A soon as their lips met, Harry grabbed Draco by the back of his head with one hand as the other curled around his shoulder, pulling him closer.

Draco gave in, placing one hand on the bed as he hovered over Harry, who was kissing him back with full force now. Draco resisted the urge to moan.

Harry pulled him even more and Draco had to put his knee on the bed in order not to lose balance. "Harry," he whispered hoarsely.

But Harry didn't answer, just continued to pull Draco closer until he fell on the bed next to him. Harry smiled against his lips before breaking the kiss and looking at him. Draco didn't have to ask to understand what Harry wanted, and he was so tired that it was hard to resist, so he only nodded weakly.

Harry turned around, lying on his side between Hermione and Draco, his back to the other man. Draco removed his shoes and scooted closer, flushing his body against Harry's back and draping an arm over him. His fingers could touch Hermione's waist as Harry was so close to her.

"I don't think it's fair that you get Hermione's hair as a pillow," Draco whispered into Harry's ear. He felt Harry's laughter through his chest.

"Next time, Draco."

Draco fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes, with visions of flashing lights and smiles.

Author's notes: Thanks to divergentofhogwarts for the work and support!