.

»»-¤-««

PLEASE READ ME!

There is a ~3,600 word sex scene in this chapter that was omitted for FFN due to their rating guidelines.

I strongly urge you, for the love of all things good and sexy, to please read this chapter on ArchiveofOurOwn dot org

You can search my username there: SyrenGrey Or you can search this story: omnia vincit amor

Alternately, if you can't find it, feel free to post a review here asking for the link and I can DM it to you or just send you the chapter in all its smutty goodness.

Here's the link:

Archiveofourown dot org forwardslash works forwardslash 13094955 forwardslash chapters forwardslash 29958723

You can always return to FFN for the upcoming chapters, and when there are additional explicit scenes I will notify you to check AO3 like I've done here.

Thank you,

Syren

»»-¤-««

XXVI: The Lovers

"I never took you for a cook," Hermione stated with a soft smile as she watched Draco with admiration. Draco hovered over the cauldron which was sizzling with the sound of meat searing against the iron surface, causing the room to fill with a mouth-watering aroma.

"Well, the rubbish those elves at Hogwarts call food forced me to learn how to cook for myself."

Hermione nearly fell out of her chair.

"Hogwarts food is the best I've ever had!" she defended, suddenly offended on behalf of all the House Elves who worked tirelessly without pay for the students.

"If I had a full kitchen, I'd accept that challenge," he responded with a sly smile. "It's just bland - they never use any spices or exotic herbs. At least the elves at my Manor know how to make a flavorful dish."

"I'll have you know Helga Hufflepuff created many of the Hogwarts recipes. Besides, House Elves can't taste like we can. How can they know a meal is bland if they can't taste pepper or marjoram or clove?"

"Then they shouldn't cook."

They were running awfully low on vegetables, as Hermione had not been able to muster the courage to forage since encountering the horror in the Forest. She didn't let Draco leave either, and promised that they would be able to go the following morning so long as they could go together. He'd allowed it, but that meant their options for dinner were meat, meat, and meat, with one lone potato between them.

As they prepared dinner, Hermione filled him in on the details of her conversation with Harry. She included the fact that Hogwarts was still not safe due to the remaining Death Eater presence, and shared that the Order was somehow planning on helping with their escape from the Forest. Hermione also managed to slip in the news that Draco's mother was alive and well, hidden away under the protection of the Order.

"Why would the Order protect a Malfoy?" Draco asked, his curved brow and tone betraying his suspicion.

"Because you saved my life, I'd imagine," Hermione offered with a slight shrug. "You showed your loyalties."

Despite her musings, Hermione was uncertain about the Order's reason for taking Narcissa in. Though Draco had made it clear to everyone at the battle that he was no longer following Lord Voldemort, that did not mean that he was remotely interested in helping the Order. And that was Draco. Narcissa may not have been so easily swayed by the death of her husband to turn away from Voldemort. Hermione's heart grew heavy as she thought of Draco's mother. With the death of Draco's aunt and father, Narcissa likely only had Draco left in the world.

The move to take Narcissa away from the cruel hands of Voldemort also seemed tactically wise on the Order's part. Hermione shuddered to imagine a world where Voldemort got to Narcissa first; the amount of blackmail Draco would have to endure if he didn't turn Hermione or himself over would surely eat at his conscience and drive him mad if his mother's safety and life were on the line. Regardless of the reason, Hermione was glad that she could provide Draco with a shred of good news.

The rest of their dinner preparation went by without much issue. There were periods of time where Draco seemed to grow distant and internalize his thoughts. Hermione got the sense that he was questioning things as he stared off into the pot, ruminating on all of the details Hermione had shared. Other times, he was completely open with her. Whisking her off into his arms and pressing kisses into her hair. As they sat and ate their dinner, Draco slipped into his introspective moments of silence before he looked at her thoughtfully.

"Would you really take Veritaserum?"

"Er - " she felt like the food could have caught in her throat if she didn't hurry up and swallow the piece of pheasant. "Why are you asking me that?"

His eyes narrowed into thinner slits, the way they always did when he'd study her responses and observe her carefully. Hermione wanted to shrink away from his gaze. She may have trusted him, but she got the odd feeling that he was still deciding whether he trusted her.

Draco shrugged a shoulder casually, as though it were the simplest question in the world. Would she take Veritaserum? More like, what secrets would she be hesitant of sharing with Draco?

"I think s-"

His father is dead. His father is dead.

Draco Malfoy's father is dead and I haven't told him.

She swallowed again and cleared her throat, "so."

As she finished the sentence, she prayed to the heavens that he not insist that she take it. Now was not the time or the place to tell him - especially involuntarily. She glanced at her goblet of water, her gaze lingering. No - it couldn't have been drugged. She had just lied to him.

It was for his own good, she reminded herself. Now was not the time. Draco had undergone too much, he was still recovering. She didn't want to be the bringer of pain to him. God, couldn't they just have one normal meal?

Draco nodded quietly, his expression blank as he changed the subject to ask her about her methodology on crafting the Decoction. She was grateful for the detour, and talked his ear off for several minutes as they enjoyed the rest of their meal together.

»»-¤-««

"Wingardium Leviosa," Hermione said the incantation, her shattered and mostly-useless wand held carefully in her hand as she continued her practice of magic. She had given up on the wand during Draco's poisoning, favoring the task of potioncraft to the futile attempts of charms with the broken instrument, but now that he was better Hermione recognized the need to keep trying, regardless of how frustrating it felt.

The pheasant feather she was enchanting rose and fell like Hermione's chest in a desperate sigh. She was seated on the soft fuzzy carpet, a few feet away from Draco who was lazily sprawled out on the couch.

"Ugh." She rubbed her forehead and tired eyes in an attempt to alleviate the tension that was starting to form in her head.

"Granger," the silky voice of Draco called out. His arms were spread open, hanging off the edge of the couch as he watched her practice. He curled his fingers inwardly, summoning her to him. Hermione looked from him to the feather, then back.

"Just one more try," she pleaded.

"No, you're far too tired," he retorted, "Come here."

She rose with a dramatic sigh, eliciting a smile of amusement from him as he patted the couch cushion beside him.

Whatever Hermione had told him during dinner had assuaged his concerns and he no longer felt distant; rather, he was engaged and curious. He felt open for the first time in a very long time. The task of killing Dumbledore was so far removed, and he was just barely coming down from the stress of killing his aunt, fleeing into the Forest, and having to survive with a girl who thought he was the Devil Incarnate.

This was his first opportunity to take a breath, to feel okay - potentially even happy.

He was alive and well, and she was back. She was his again. It felt good. He felt light and free.

His gaze found hers staring at him, and she glanced away shyly. He could see the conflict in her expression as she contemplated something. The thought must have won, as Hermione began to crawl over to him with determination. Draco smiled and openly embraced her movement, drawing her into his lap where she rest her head against his shoulder, the side of her body pressed against his chest while her legs dangled over the edge of the couch. Draco's arm held her waist while his other hand mindlessly ran up and down her arms. He could smell the sweet violet scent of her hair as he pressed a kiss onto her head.

"Mm, I wish I had some of that honey left," she murmured quietly, dreaming about the sticky saccharine fluid that she had used up making Draco's daily teas and initial wound-healing paste.

"Craving something sweet, are you?" he responded, equally softly.

His lips were curved in a subtle smile, and the golden flickering light of the fireplace nearby illuminated his keen gaze. His tone, silky and suggestive, made her face feel as warm as the heat that radiated from the flames.

"Me too," he said, leaning in toward her, his fingers slipped in her hair as he drew her closer to press a tender kiss on her lips.

She was delicate and sweet. Comfortable and familiar.

The kiss which started off innocently soft deepened as she parted her lips for him. She could feel his lips curl into a slight smirk at her subtle assertiveness, but he gave her what she wanted. Their tongues pressed and coyly danced as a soft moan escaped her throat, muffled only by the kiss.

He pulled back, his face a breath away as he stared into her eyes. She could feel the heat from his skin against hers as he reached up to tuck his palm under her chin while his fingers held her cheeks, forcing her to stay still as he inspected her features. She could feel the urge to struggle and squirm against his hold, but curiosity kept her still.

"Are you mine?" he asked, his voice gruff and expression suddenly cold and distant - calculating.

It confused her.

"Yes," she breathed.

Obviously. Who else's?

She could feel a sudden flutter of butterflies in her stomach as she recalled the last time he had asked her a question like that.

They were in Salazar's Bathtub, when they almost...

He had chosen not to cross the line because, in his mind, she wasn't committed to him wholly and fully.

This time he was releasing the boundaries he had set for them. He was getting her consent. Her consent to...

"Say it," he whispered against her lips.

She couldn't help but feel her stomach twist with nervousness.

"I'm yours," she whispered, her hands dragging down his spine as her nails drew long lines down his skin. He let out a shaky exhale, at the sensation or at her words she wasn't sure, but in an instant his arms wrapped around her waist and he gently lifted her, bringing them both down onto the fluffy, open carpet below.

»»-¤-««

Omitted - please see Author's Note above

»»-¤-««

Hermione could hardly open her eyes or muster a word as she was trapped in the waves of tingling bliss, the world around her blurry and beautiful. The sound of their heavy breathing filled the otherwise calm space, the air thick with the electricity of their lovemaking.

Hermione barely had a chance to catch her breath before Draco rolled onto his side and rest a possessive hand on her breast. She shuddered against his touch, her skin raw and exposed.

He pressed a soft kiss against her temple before letting his lips nip at her ear, his hot breath against her sensitive skin as he spoke the words that caused a shiver to add to her already quivering form.

"I want to see that again."

»»-¤-««

Author's Note:

I want to give an enormous shout-out to my new BFF GeekieBeekie

for helping me figure out how to give this chapter life and

being an emotional and social support for me in navigating this expansive and wonderful fandom.

Please let me know what you think - especially if you opted to read the whole Chapter on AO3.

I hope I've made up for all my teasing. ;D

Please leave a review, please share your thoughts. I am eternally grateful for your feedback!

Thank you!

Syren