A/n: I own nothing but the plot.
Warning: Lemons
Draco woke up with a start later that morning. Looking around frantically he noted that the beams of sunlight were peaking through the light colored linen curtains and that the lower half of his body was clad in a fluffy white down comforter. Then as his heartbeat started to slow to a normal rhythm the sound of a delicate snore to his left made him breathe a sigh of relief. She was there in bed, safe and he was with her. The horrible things his subconscious projected to him in his sleep were nothing more than an early morning mist burned away by the sun. Draco flung the covers back over himself then wrapped his arms around Hermione bringing her back flush to his chest. Slowly he drifted off to sleep again, this time more restful with her at his side.
At well after ten in the morning when Hermione awoke. She carefully removed Draco's arm from around her waist to make her way to the washroom. She then walked to the kitchen clad in a warm terry cloth robe. Making a light breakfast of toast and coffee, Hermione went to the couch in the living room. Placing her mug on the coffee table and tucking her feet under her body as she sat down her eyes cast to the rest of the sofa. There she saw her wand, ducking her head in the opposite direction she saw the forgotten piece of paper that floated in the air less than twenty-four hours ago. A smile crept up on her face. She had done it, Hermione used magic again. 'I even apparated... well Draco did but I was along for the ride.'
Reaching over to pick up the wand she pointed it to the paper and said. "Accio paper." Waving the wand in the correct motion. In a blink the paper came to her as she plucked it out of the air. A feeling of pride swelled in her heart, she felt complete. Hermione had her friends, her bookstore, a comfortable home and a gorgeous man, (who was still fast asleep) standing by her side who cared about her. She never thought when they were younger that Draco could be so caring, protective and warm, but here he was in her life again. This "new" man who makes her feel beautiful, appreciates her intelligence, matches her wit, makes her laugh and importantly accepts her for who she is. Lastly, he helped her find her magic again.
It was the last night for the seventh and eighth year students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The final feast was one for the books as the elves had truly out done themselves with the food. Headmistress McGonagall gave an inspiring speech that left no dry eye in the house. Not even Draco could keep his stoic mask in place, letting a lone tear drop down his cheek.
After the very filling meal and some emotional farewells to the underclassmen, Draco caught Hermione before she headed out for her last patrol as Head Girl. 'Meet me in the Astronomy tower after your rounds' he told her. Giving him a bright smile she nodded in the affirmative.
It was around midnight when Hermione reached the tower. Looking around the dark room she spotted Draco by the window looking like a mythical being made from moonlight. Calling his name as she walked closer, she noticed his cheeks were flush and tear stained.
Turning to her, Draco said. "This is the first time I have been up here since Dumbledore's death." He choked out the last part.
"Draco, why are you torturing yourself like this? You've... You have changed so much this year. Why come here, why ask me to meet you here?" Hermione asked softly trying to comfort him.
Draco took a deep sigh to steel his nerves. "This was a turning point for me. In this space I had a choice. This was where I thought myself irredeemable. Tonight, I hope I can gain some redemption before leaving these walls."
"I...I don't understand. This whole year you have sought forgiveness and for the most part many have. I know I certainly have." Hermione said.
He smiled at her saying. "I know you have Hermione, but I need to do something more. Let me have your arm."
Looking deep into his stone gray eyes she handed him her right arm. Pushing it down gently he shakes his head 'no' then reaches for her left arm. Hermione looked away, still embarrassed by the 'Mudblood' scar hidden under her shirt sleeve. Unbuttoning the cuff, he gingerly rolled up the sleeve to reveal the mark.
"Draco, no. What are you doing?" Hermione spoke.
"Shhh... Do you trust me?" He asked meeting her gaze.
Hermione just shook her head. Draco pulled a small vial of clear liquid from his robes. He thumbed off the stopper and began to pour the contents drop by drop on her scar. As the liquid met the wound it started to hiss and smoke. Hermione sucked in some air through her teeth then bit her lip. It was not painful but it was uncomfortable.
"Squeeze my hand." Draco said sliding his hand in hers.
Hermione closed her eyes as the sensations started to dissipate. Draco set aside the vile then took out a clean white handkerchief to wipe the area dry. He placed a chaste kiss on the flesh, Hermione's eyes shot open at the feeling of his soft lips on her arm.
As Draco moved his head, she looked down. It was gone. The horrid slur that was carved into her flesh was gone. The only thing left was a teardrop that fell from her eyes.
"How... what was that?" She managed to choke out.
"Phoenix tears, I found some among Snape's effects when we cleaned out his office. I did some research hoping that it would counter act the curse from the blade. I'm so glad it worked." He said with a sigh.
Hermione flung her arms around Draco and sobbed into his shoulder. Draco wrapped his arms around her as she let out all the emotions that this carried. Draco let his own tears fall into her hair. "Forgiveness is one thing Hermione, forgiveness is for you. But this was redemption and that is for me. As selfish as it may seem I just could not let you leave here with that scar. I know you called me an indirect hero for not saving you that night but... I could not let go of the guilt. Not completely, I'm so sorry Hermione. I had to for us both." He said holding her tighter.
"Draco Malfoy, you bloody brilliant git." Her voice muffled as she still held on to him.
After a moment, they released each other, wiping away tears. Draco ran a hand through his hair and Hermione smoothed her robes. "Thank you Draco, you are a true friend. I can't even tell you what this means to me. It's like... It's like I have a fresh start." Hermione said looking between her newly healed arm and Draco.
"And you have redeemed me." He said meeting her face with a smile.
Thursday - One week till Thanksgiving
Joe was released from the hospital the day before. After giving his statement to the police there was still very little for them to go on to find out who was behind the attack. As a precaution Draco sent Vance and the rest of the security team to monitor Hermione's bookstore and apartment, as well as the Martinelli restaurant. Hermione started to keep her wand with her in a disillusioned holster. Using it for little spells here and there when no one was around.
It was a quiet work day for Draco. Ruby had just dropped off his mail as she handed him a cup of coffee. "Ruby, do we have any of those Pumpkin pasties?" Draco asked.
"I'll go check for you dear." She replied.
Draco took a sip of the coffee then called to Ruby jogging to meet her by his office door. "Once second, I forgot to tell you. Hermione used magic the other day." He smiled.
"Oh that is brilliant. I'm so happy for her, Minerva always said she had such talent." Ruby replied smiling back at Draco.
"She's truly gifted for sure. Can you set up an appointment with the sparing facility in the Greenwich. We will not duel or anything but I think practicing in a safe space will do her some good." Draco asked.
Ruby reached up to pat his cheek. "You are such a good boy, that father of yours could never see your heart."
Draco blushed at the compliment. "Thanks Ruby, you're the best."
He returned to his desk to sort out his mail. A large manila envelope was among them, however it had no post mark, no marking of any kind. Draco pulled out his wand to test for any magical traces but it appeared to have none. Cautiously he opened the flap. Several eight by ten photos were inside. Pulling them out of the envelope he looked at them carefully. It was of Hermione and Harry on the day that he came to visit. At the angles they were taken, it looked as though there were having intimate interactions. Hand holding, looks of longing, Hermione blushing, their hug before Harry left. They all seemed to suggest that Harry and Hermione could be lovers. Draco checked the back of the photos as well as inside the envelope again but there was no note. He called Vance to swing by the office later to check them out.
In the afternoon Hermione stopped by to visit Draco at work. Walking up to Ruby's desk she greeted the older witch. "Afternoon Ruby. How are you?" She beamed.
"Hermione dear, pleasure to see you. Oh, all is well with me.' She lowered her voice to say. 'I hear someone is back to using their magic again." Ending with a knowing smile.
Hermione sent Ruby a wink and a bright smile. "Seems our Draco has me believing again." She blushed.
Ruby chuckled at that. "Well go on in, don't let me keep you."
"Thanks Ruby, by the way, these are for you. Chocolate croissants." Hermione handed Ruby a small white paper sack.
"Oh thank you love." Ruby said.
Hermione sashayed into Draco's office. "Hey beautiful, what brings you here?" Draco asked cheerfully. She placed a bag on the coffee table and tossed her coat on the chair while walking in further to the office.
"Oh, nothing special, just lunch." She said as she leaned on Draco's desk directly in front of him making sure her cleavage was visible. Her stance did not go unnoticed by him as Draco gave her a wolfish grin. His eyes drinking in the vision of her dressed in a form hugging black scoop neck sweater dress. He rose out of his seat to meet her on the other side of his desk, standing behind her, he slowly eased his body on to hers. He ran his hand up her thigh, around the curve of her hip pulling her closer to him. Just as he was about to speak Ruby buzzed in the intercom.
"Mr. Malfoy, your two o'clock has cancelled and would like to reschedule for after the holiday." Her voice said in a professional tone. Draco let out a quiet groan placing his head between Hermione's shoulder blades.
"That's fine Ruby, thank you! Oh one more thing. Please see that I am not disturbed for the next two hours." Draco said.
"I will sir." She replied.
Easing back off of Hermione's body, his hands on her hips coaxing her to turn and face him. Waving a hand he enchanted the lock on the door. Draco then tugged her off the desk, Hermione let out a gasp when their bodies collided, snaking her arms around his neck she ran her fingers through his hair. Draco nuzzled into her shoulder inhaling the delicate scent of her lilac perfume. He trailed a few feather light kisses up to her ear to whisper. "Have you really come to seduce me?" His warm breath eliciting a shiver through Hermione.
"Me, seduce the big bad dragon?" Hermione said in a sultry voice accentuating the last three words of her statement.
Draco cocked his eyebrow at that, a smirk spread across his lips. Glancing down at himself, his eyes then caught Hermione's saying. "It is pretty big." Flashing her a smile.
"Your ego, yes, it's quite large." She said biting her lip at the end to stifle a giggle.
Draco let the smile fade from his face then clicked his tongue, taking a step back he let his eye rake over Hermione's body. That was when he noticed her shoes. "I thought you were not supposed to be wearing those any time soon." His voice sounded as smooth as velvet.
Hermione glanced down at the strappy black heels she had told him about after the doctor had taken her cast off. Draco pulled her body closer to his again. "I believe I made you a promise if you did." With that he bent down to scoop her up, wrapping her legs around his waist. Hermione let out a small squeal as Draco carried her to the couch. Her dress riding up to her hips on the way there. Draco laid her down gently on the sofa then captured Hermione's lips in a searing kiss.
Hermione ran her hands from around his neck to his chest loosening his tie and unbuttoning his collar. Draco had one hand on her waist as the other smoothed over her thigh, his thumb finding the warmth between her legs. Hermione let out a moan at the sensation of his fingers touching her dampening core. Draco moved his hand from her to fumble with his belt buckle and zipper. He was hard as steel. Having broken their kiss before, he let out a hiss as Hermione flicked and nibbled his ear.
"Woman what you do to me." He said in a strangled whisper as he thumbed her panties to the side sliding himself into her slick center. Both let out a sigh as he filled her to the hilt. Rolling his hips, this was not the slow sweet love making that they would engage in. This was hot and animalistic. Hermione started to claw at his body as he increased the speed and friction between them. Holding on tightly to her thighs he was sure his fingers would leave bruises. She grabbed his ass pulling him deeper with each thrust. He reached up stretching the top of her dress down withdrawing her magnificent breasts from her bra he fondled, sucked and kissed them sending Hermione to the apex of her lust.
"Fuck Draco." Was all she could pant out as she reached her orgasm. Draco replied with a "Oh fuck 'Mione."And an unintelligible grunt as he released in her. The both let out a deep sigh when they were finished. Both panting hard to catch their breaths, pupils blown, faces flush, hair mussed and completely stated.
After a moment or two they stood together fixing and primping. Draco asked. "May I?" His wand pointed to Hermione to cast a 'Scourgify'. She nodded her head as Draco cast the spell.
"Can I return the favor?" She asked. Draco sent her a brilliant smile as he nodded in response.
"I don't know about you but I am famished."Draco said.
"Oh, I did promise you lunch, didn't I. Here, cottage pie." Said Hermione as she started to unpack the bag she a brought with her. Handing Draco the dish he noticed it was still warm.
"Did you...?" He asked.
"I did put a warming charm on the food." She beamed at him. They sat together on the sofa tucking into their meals.
Draco broke the silence, "So... you are getting comfortable with magic, yes." Hermione shook her head as she was chewing.
"Yes Draco, it's... It's different now somehow. I feel... well I feel like how it was when I would make my toys dance or levitate a book off the high self. It feels innocent now." She said with a bright smile.
Draco shook his head in understanding. "I get it, I do. I... you deserve to be happy with magic Hermione. There was a time when I thought Muggle-borns were unworthy but... you changed that idea. Broke every single stereotype I was raised to believe. You deserve every ounce of magic you have baby." Hermione could not ignore the look on Draco's face there was pure adoration in his eyes and it was directed at her. She raised her hand to cup his cheek coaxing him closer to her as she placed a chaste kiss on his lips.
Draco tipped his head so their foreheads met, staring deep into her eyes he then placed a kiss on her nose. "My beautiful witch." He whispered to her.
After they had finished eating, Hermione cleaned up the dishes repacking her bag to take with her. She walked over to Draco who had just sat down at his desk. Coming around the other side he pulled her into his lap. She wrapped her arms around his shoulder as he nuzzled her neck. Placing a kiss under her earlobe he said. "I'd love to spend the day shagging you senseless in my office but I do have some work to do before the end of the day."
"You know I just came for lunch." She said giving him a wink.
"You minx, you just wanted to play with the big bad dragon." He said with a chuckle.
Hermione gave him a mocked look of shock as she tapped his shoulder playfully muttering the word 'crass'. Draco grabbed her hand kissing her fingers. Just then Hermione glanced at his deck, the black and white picture of herself caught her eyes. Removing her hand from Draco's grasp she picked up the picture. Draco noticed what she was reaching for. "Those came in today's mail. I don't know who sent them and there is no magical signatures." He said.
"Oh, Draco these... these are of Harry and I... we look like... You know he and I have never-" She started as Draco cut her off.
"Don't even finish that statement Hermione, I know you love each other like siblings. I think who ever sent these is trying to mess with me." Draco concluded.
"But why... you don't think it's a Pureblood supremacist who knows who we are? It seems moot after all this time." Hermione said her tone laced with worry.
"I don't think it is that baby. I can't quite put my finger on what it is that they want, but I doubt it has anything to do with blood status." Draco tried to reassure her.
Hermione just looked at the pictures sadly. After all this time why would someone try to interfere with her relationship with Draco. Taking note of her somberness Draco wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer to him. "Hey, there is nothing to worry about. I will never let anything happen to you, ok. Vance will get to the bottom of this." He said placing a kiss on her temple.
Hermione nodded and let out a deep sigh. "I'll try not to, but be careful please." She looked up to kiss his lips.
"Granger, self preservation is my middle name." Draco said with a smirk.
A/n: Thank you to all who read, fave, follow and review. I am so humbled every time I read the comments and check the stats on this story. I wanted to get this out sooner but adulting and the flu kicked my butt! Anywhoo, this chapter is dedicated to susiequeen300 who left the very first review when I started this story. Love to all! -DAS