"Why are we here again?" Hermione asked as they made their way up the marble stairs leading to the expansive front doors of the Parkinson Manor. She had been apprehensive about the invitation from the beginning, and the sullen attitude Draco had about it wasn't helping.
When they had first arrived out on the front lawn, Hermione had gawked at the place. The manor was four stories tall, turrets made the roof line look even more imposing and she all at once wished she could go back to the relative safety of Malfoy Manor.
It was completely constructed of white and gold marble, something that must have glowed in the sunlight instead of standing out starkly in the current pale moonlight. The gardens were expansive, and she had almost forgotten to keep her jaw from hitting the floor as she and Malfoy had made their way up to the front door.
"No offense Malfoy, but this place makes you look almost poor." She said, not bothering to look up at him as her eyes were otherwise occupied, wide with the expansive house before her.
Draco huffed and tugged on her arm that was looped through his. "That's because compared to this, I am poor. The Parkinson's have done quite well for themselves with the war effort." His tone was nonchalant, but Hermione felt how tense the muscles in his arm were under her fingertips.
"Jealous?" She asked, glancing up at his impassive face, trying to break the tension he was generating.
Draco glanced down at her and shrugged. "Sure. If benefiting from other people's tragedies while the world is going to hell is something to be jealous of, then sure."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "And yet here we are."
An older gentleman stood at the doorway, greeting the guests as they arrived. When they got closer Hermione noticed how handsome he was, like a Sean Connery type she remembered from one of her mother's favorite films. The salt-and-pepper hair that was thick on his head was echoed in the trim beard. He didn't smile as he greeted the guests but something about his interaction felt warm and welcoming.
The man held out his arms to Draco when he noticed the duo approaching him, this time with what seemed like a genuine smile.
"Ah, Draco, my boy. I'm so honored you could make it." The man said, striding forward to clasp Draco's hand in his. Hermione let her arm drop from Malfoy's and stood watching the interaction. This was quite obviously Mr. Parkinson, the almost black irises of his eyes were reflected perfectly in his daughters.
"Mr. Parkinson, sir." Draco said cordially, confirming Hermione's assumption. "Thank you for the invitation, we were honored to be thought of." The formal tone of his voice made Hermione want to laugh. She had seen him too many times, grouchy and messy, trekking into the kitchen for coffee in the morning to think of him as an elite.
The man shook his head and clapped a hand to Draco's upper arm with a laugh, "Not at all, young man. You are always welcome here."
Draco inclined his head gracefully.
"I do hope that you've had a chance to consider my offer." Mr. Parkinson added in a lower voice with a partially stern look.
The almost pained look that flashed across Malfoy's face caught Hermione's attention, but Mr. Parkinson seemed to have not noticed as he barked out a laugh.
"All for another time, dear man." He clapped Draco on his upper arm and glanced over at Hermione.
"Ahh, but it appears the offer may have been in vain?" He cast an inquiring look at Draco before turning to face Hermione.
He extended his hand to her and she gingerly placed hers in it. His palm was smooth but warm as he gripped her fingers and raised them to his lips. Quite the flatterer, Hermione thought as she inclined her head towards him, offering a gracious smile.
"Mr. Parkinson this is—"
"Olivia Raneire." Mr. Parkinson interrupted Draco, still keeping his eyes on Hermione, her hand held tightly in his. "I've heard all about you."
Hermione tried to keep her features impassive and offered a small smile. She could see where Pansy got her charm from. "All good things I trust."
The corner of the older man's mouth twitched, and he bowed his head to her the look in his eye made her somewhat uncomfortable. "Among other things."
Her eyes narrowed at this and she shot a quick glance over the man's shoulder and saw that Malfoy's eyes were narrowed as well. She smiled again at Mr. Parkinson, discretely pulling her hand from his grip.
"We should let you attend to your other guests, thank you for your hospitality, sir." She said, her tone more graceful than she felt.
Mr. Parkinson bowed his head to her again, "Of course." Turning back to Draco he gave a slight incline of his head. "Draco."
Draco took hold of Hermione's elbow and steered her away from the main entrance, his grip a touch tighter than it needed to be. Something about Pansy's father irked him as well and Hermione itched to ask about it.
Once inside, they were greeted by several people, exchanging nauseating pleasantries as they made their way about the room. Finally escaping a Mr. and Mrs. Monret, Draco breathed a sigh of relief and steered her to the bar inside, ordering for both of them.
"Are you sure you should be drinking?" Hermione asked, remembering acutely the last time he had drank at one of these little Death Eater functions. She eyed his glass of what appeared to be whisky dubiously.
Draco let his eyes sweep around the crowded room. "I don't think I'd make it through this without drinking. The risk is quite worth it."
True, Hermione thought as she raised her own glass to her lips. The champagne tingled delightfully against her lips and she appreciated it, knowing it would likely be some time before she tasted something so fine again. It's not like the order had time for fancy soirees with thousand-galleon bottles of champagne. With that though, she drained the first glass and ordered another one, earning an amused look from Draco.
The room was bustling with activity, the flurry of color and light mesmerizing. The parties that happened in the cave seemed primitive compared to the current environment. Fairy lights flickered over the large expanse of the room and soft classical music weaved its way to them from the orchestra in the corner. This was probably the fanciest thing that she had ever attended, and she let Draco know.
"It's all for show." Draco said, glancing down at her awed expression as she observed the dancers. "No better way to let others know your standing in the world than to throw your money in their face."
Hermione looked over at him in surprise but was cut off from her next question by a flurry of bright pink that threw itself at her. Hermione stumbled back at the impact, trying to from spilling her glass down the back of the woman who was now exclaiming excitedly as she wrapped her arms around Hermione.
"Oh, I'm so happy you came!" Pansy said excitedly, and loudly in Hermione's ear. She pulled back and held Hermione at arm's length, eyeing the length of her body with approval. "Sweet Merlin, you've got a body."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Pansy. As far as she knew, neither she nor Draco had told Pansy about her disguise let alone what she looked like, but the witch obviously knew who she was. Pansy, as if reading her mind, gave Hermione a smirk.
"Please, a beautiful woman waltzes in with Death Eater's number one bachelor and you think I wouldn't know every detail?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes, not entirely convinced of the sleuthing powers of the black-haired witch. Pansy winked at her, as if sensing her apprehension. "Plus your ass is quite recognizable."
She laughed at the shocked look on Hermione face before turning to Draco and greeting him with as much enthusiasm as she had Hermione. Kissing him full on the lips, Pansy gripped Draco's face in her hands. Hermione blushed slightly at the familiarity of their embrace. Once they had pulled apart, Draco glared at her and pulled her hands from his cheek. Pansy didn't look affronted at his actions what-so-ever and gave him the same smirk that she had given Hermione.
"Your father is watching." Draco told the witch sternly. Hermione looked about and saw that the man they had met earlier was indeed staring in their direction, his eyes narrowed slightly as he witnessed the interaction between Draco and his daughter.
Pansy rolled his eyes and turned a grin back to Hermione. "Oh let him, daddy needs to realize I'm not a teenager anymore. Besides, do you really think he would object?" She asked with a quirked eyebrow.
Draco rolled his eyes and finished off his drink, turning back to the bar for another one. Pansy immediately turned her attention back to Hermione, taking her hand and twirling her as she admired the slinky, blue dress flowing over Hermione's skin.
"Good god, witch. Where the hell have you been hiding all this?" She asked, eyeing Hermione with an appreciative grin. The scrutiny was making Hermione uncomfortable and she gave a nervous laugh, not sure if Pansy had meant the dress or something else.
"I'm coming back for that closet." Pansy said with a wink before waltzing off to the other guests, her own short, bright pink dress flouncing after her.
Hermione blinked after the witch, the flurry of events had gave her a head rush and she gave Draco a bewildered look. "What just happened?"
Draco chuckled and glanced down at her, "We just got Pansy-fied."
Hermione laughed at his response and sent him an amused look. He finished off his second drink and gracefully held out a hand to her. "Care to dance?"
She eyed him apprehensively but saw the corner of his mouth twitch at her actions. She didn't like dancing, but wasn't about to bow down to the challenge that he presented her. Shaking her head, she took his hand and allowed him to lead her out into the flurry of activity in the middle of the room. He was a good dancer, she observed as he led her into the sway of the music. His hand was warm against the bare skin of her back as he pressed her close to him.
"So, what's going on between you and Mr. Parkinson?" Hermione asked, keeping her tone even as they moved together.
Draco glanced down at her in surprise, meeting the deep blue eyes he still hadn't gotten used to. "What makes you think there is something going on?"
Hermione scoffed and raised her brows to him. The band had slowed their tempo and they adjusted their pace, swayed easily together, her dress sliding across her legs like water. "Just the tone of the interaction earlier, his mention of a deal, and they way he was looking at you and Pansy."
Draco raised his gaze from her face and looked over the top of her head around the room. He cleared his throat, "It's nothing really. He seems to think that Pansy and I are somehow intended for each other."
"Intended?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"Betrothed." Draco said simply.
It wasn't exactly the answer she had been expecting, but from her studies she knew that pureblood families often times arranged marriages between their children. To keep the lineage strong and pure, she remembered reading from one of the less interesting books in the library.
"That doesn't seem like nothing." She said, tilting her head to look at him. He was quite a bit taller than she was, her forehead in direct line with his chin. "Are you? Intended?"
He didn't answer for a moment, letting his eyes continue to roam over the other figures moving around them. His grip on her hand grew tighter momentarily. "I suppose, technically the answer would be yes. However, that is never going to happen?"
"Why not?"
The music ended and they stopped moving, Draco turning his face down to look at her. "Why do you care?"
He was closer than he had ever been to her. She realized that she would just need to raise up on her toes to bring their lips together. She startled at the unbidden thought that swept through her mind, not entirely sure where it had come from. Pulling away, the skin on her back chilled with the loss of heat from Draco's hand.
"I don't. Just curious."
Draco smirked at her as if he could read her mind. "Right."
Glaring at him she backed away slightly. "I think I'll get another drink." She said, noting with relief that a shorter man had taken the opportunity of their separation and approached Draco with a serious look, immediately starting to converse with him.
She didn't bother waiting to hear the conversation, turning on her heel instead to make her way back to the bar. She could feel several eyes follow her as she walked across the dance floor, mentally wondering if it would have been a better idea to alter her body along with her face. She didn't necessarily consider herself attractive, at least not in the way that Pansy had portrayed her as earlier, but she knew that her body was lean and toned from years of fighting and living off limited resources. She was thin, but strong, the soft curves of her breasts and hips were even more obvious with the clinginess of the silk that covered them. She tried not to blush under the obviousness of one man's gaze as she swept by him.
Hermione took the drink she was handed and started to slowly make her way around the room, keeping her demeanor casual but taking note of everyone who was here. Several heads of pure-blood families were present, ones she knew weren't Death Eaters in the typical sense of the word, and could only be assumed to hold a similar role to Mr. Parkinson.
It made anger bubble in her chest knowing that these men were getting richer off of the war. There were several large corporations that had overrun the small shops in Diagon Alley, replacing them with huge, factory like companies that spit out lower quality items. Before the order had to go into hiding for the final time, the joke shop was the only one left on the street that wasn't owned by Voldemort's regime.
George had held out as long as he could, keeping the store open for Fred's sake. He told Hermione after a night of drinking at the Burrow a few years ago that he felt the closest to his brother when he was in the shop, even forgot sometimes that Fred wasn't just in the back room working on stock. The shop burned down the week after.
Hermione moved slowly along the outside walls of the expansive ballroom, casually sipping from the flute of champagne in her hand. She saw several faces she recognized from Hogwarts, most of them from Slytherin of course.
Theodore Nott caught her eye as he and Draco bent their heads bent together on the opposite side of the room, seemingly in deep conversation. From Blaise, Hermione knew that Theo was a good friend of both his and Draco's. The trio along with Pansy, Millicent Bullstrode, Crabbe and Goyle were the main group of Slytherin house, the rest of the snakes headed their authority in all things. It didn't hurt that all of their parents were involved in the Dark Lord's plans in some way or another.
The mass of dancers slowed, and the music died out, transitioning quickly into a new song. Suddenly hating the place and the jovial displays while the rest of the world was in chaos, Hermione stole out one of the open terrace doors that lined the room.
The fresh air was lovely as it swept over her heated skin. At the edge of the marble patio, she stopped and looked over the grounds. Tall hedges lined the expansive lawn, perfectly manicured trees dotted freshly mown grass and Hermione thought she saw a large pool towards the edge of the property. There were floating, twinkling lights through the flower bed and once upon a time, Hermione would have found them enchanting.
Even still, she held up the hem of her dress as she made her way towards them, feeling swamped in the expansive vines and hedges that served as sort of a pathway. The gardens were impressive, she noted as she meandered through them. She recognized several varieties of flowers and crouched down to finger one of the deep purple blossoms that caught her eye.
"Well, well," A gravely voice came from behind her as she was crouched, making her jump. "What have we here?"
Hermione stood and spun around, her breath hitching in her throat when she saw who was standing behind her. Fenir Greyback was leaning against a tree not four feet from her, staring at her like she was his prey. He was just as she remembered him, just how he appeared when he haunted her dreams over the past several years.
"Fenir can have the mudblood when we're done here." Bellatrix's oily voice played through her head and the accompanied fear made Hermione's heart beat faster.
As if sensing her thoughts, Greyback smiled menacingly at her and pushed off of the tree, taking a step towards her. Hermione held her ground, not willing to let her fear be the reason her cover was blown. There was too much at stake to think about personal preservation right now.
"I've heard about you." The man said, his voice coming out as if he spent most of his time yelling. It grated at her nerves and brought everything that had happened in the manor rushing back.
The disconcertingly deep blue eyes bore into hers as he reached a hand own towards her. She watched as his hand moved closer, tried not to flinch when he ran a dirty finger down her cheek. Not being able to bear the contact any longer, she pulled her head away and took a step back. The show of weakness made Greyback smile, his teeth rotten behind his lips.
"Did you need something?" Hermione asked, surprised that her voice was as calm as it sounded. Her heart was pounding, and she knew that he could tell, the werewolf blood heightening his senses.
Greyback continued to sneer at her, taking a step forward once again to close the space between them. Hermione felt the back of her knees hit a bench that stood along the edge garden pathway. A quick glance in the direction she had come from showed that they entrenched in hedges and vine, the big house only barely visible over the tops of the shrubbery. She was stuck, no longer able to move away from this man. He made another movement forward and Hermione fell backwards, sitting down hard on the bench.
His breath smelled rotten as he leaned over, placing his hands on the back of the bench on either side of her, effectively circling her. Hermione cringed and closed her eyes as he leaned further forward and buried his nose in her hair, inhaling deeply with a satisfied sound that made her stomach churn. His nose moved downwards, running by her ear and down her neck, she thought she felt the dampness of his tongue as it licked the sensitive skin.
The nausea that rose up in her was almost overwhelming, and Hermione clenched her hands on the edge of the seat of the bench, her fingers aching with the effort. Fenir Greyback was favored by Voldemort, something about both of them being more in tune with their animal side. She couldn't do anything to compromise her position, not with how deep she had placed herself within Voldemort's ranks.
Then with a thump she felt his presence leave her, the stench giving way to clean, chilly air. She opened her eyes with shock to see the man was sprawled on his back across the walkway from her, crushing the flowers in the bed he had landed in. Greyback let out a snarl and Draco stepped forward to stand over him. The rush of relief that overtook Hermione was intense, making her breathing stuttered.
"Greyback." Draco said coolly. Hermione couldn't see the grey eyes but knew they would be hard as steel to match his voice. His wand was out, and she could see the tenseness of his muscles under the smooth black jacket he wore.
"Malfoy." The man on the floor sneered back but didn't move to retaliate. It was a testament to Draco's position in Voldemort's council that Greyback didn't attack him immediately. There was even a flicker of fear in the werewolf's eyes, something Hermione found surprising as she never would have thought of Draco Malfoy as someone to invoke fear.
You don't know him, Hermione reminded herself as she watched the scene before her.
"I don't think you're supposed to be here." Draco spoke again, stepping back to allow Greyback to scramble to his feet. "Let alone harassing guests."
Greyback barred his teeth at Malfoy and looked over his shoulder to where Hermione still sat on the bench. "Just exploring my options. Though I suppose I should have known you'd be fucking the bitch by now."
The tip of Draco's wand was up in a flash, pressed deep into Greyback's chest. Within half a second, Draco had Greyback pinned up to the tree that he had been leaning against earlier, the spell holding him there with a force that Hermione remembered only too well from her initial encounter with Draco at the manor over a month ago.
Greyback was snarling at this point, spittle flying from his mouth as he threw profanities in Draco's direction. His feet barely touched the ground and Hermione could see the leaves on the tree shaking with his efforts to free himself.
Draco clicked his tongue and crossed over to stand infront of Greyback. Hermione could only see Greyback's face but from the rage that crossed it, she was grateful that he was pinned to the tree.
Draco shifted on his feet and twirled the wand absentmindedly around his fingers, eyes never leaving the other man's face. His calm, cold demeanor made Hermione believe in an instant that he could be scary, that he could stand in front of an army of men and command their respect. He was not the same boy she knew in Hogwarts.
Draco took another casual step towards the man and raised his wand, pressing it deep into Greyback's neck. He leaned in close so that he was face to face with the all but growling man.
"Here's what's going to happen," Draco began, twisting his wand deeper when Greyback started to speak. "I won't tell the Dark Lord his pet was here, and you'll keep your filthy paws off of her."
Greyback's eyes flicked over to where Hermione sat, the hatred in them blazed as he glared at her. Malfoy snarled and gripped Greyback's chin in his hand, forcing the man to turn his head back to him.
"No, you don't even get to look at her." Draco said, his fingertips digging into the hairy flesh. "And if I ever find out that you went near her again, I'll kill you."
He spoke with such finality that Hermione almost forgot his confession to her those weeks ago. He has never killed anyone, she reminded herself, but the way he spoke to Greyback left her no doubt that he could.
Greyback snarled again as Draco stepped back and lifted the charm holding him to the tree. The bulky man stumbled forward as his feet hit the ground, rubbing at his chest where the spell had held him. He barred his teeth at Draco as he looked up at him, the rage in his eyes made Hermione want to put up a shield charm between the two men.
"You're not as important as you think you are, boy." Greyback finally snarled out, straitening his back to his full height.
"I think we'll let the Dark Lord be the judge of that. Why he keeps you around I'll never understand, he already has a snake, I'm not sure why he'd need a dog as well." Draco said simply, not wavering in his stance. The chill in his voice was still there, and Hermione could see the effect it had on Greyback. As someone who was obviously prone to rage, Draco's calm demeanor must irritate him to no end.
Greyback snarled again, staring at Draco a moment longer before turned his gaze back to Hermione with a sneer. "I'll be seeing you pet, mark my words."
A flash of light made Hermione start and she watched as Greyback once again flew backwards, striking the tree and sliding down it to rest on the ground. He was out cold, she observed as she stood in shock. Draco had his wand raised, glaring down at the man.
"I told you not to look at her." Draco said quietly, lowering his wand and slipping it back into his jacket pocket.
Hermione stared down at Greyback. His head lolled to his chest and Hermione felt the sudden urge to kick him. Her heart was still racing from the events and she itched to run a hand through her hair. She was still looking at Greyback when Draco turned to her. She glanced over at the movement and saw some of the hardness fade from his face.
"Are you alright?" Draco asked her tentatively, staying where he stood.
Hermione nodded still processing everything that had happened, "Yes. Thank you." Her voice was quiet, and she took a deep breath, calming her nerves.
Draco nodded, his greys eyes never leaving hers. They stood in silence for a few moments before he sighed, pulling at the bowtie at his neck.
Hermione felt a sudden rush of gratitude towards him; she knew exactly what Greyback was capable of. Several months ago, an order member had been attacked by him, tearing her almost to shreds in his animalistic rage. Hermione had been in the hospital that night, had worked furiously to help the witch before she finally succumbed to her wounds. Yes, she knew exactly what the man was capable of.
"Draco," She began again, stepping towards him and reaching out to grip his arm. "I mean it, thank you."
He glanced down at her hand on his arm before meeting her gaze again. "You're welcome."
He glared down at the still unconscious man before steering Hermione away, the hand on her back cool in comparison to warmth of it earlier. They made their way back down the path and across the lawn towards the terrace, the music gradually growing louder the closer they got. Draco paused in his movements as they reached the edge of the marble steps, turning back to her as he let his hand fall away.
"You should know that Theo knows about you." He said simply, as if an afterthought.
Hermione's brows raised at this. She was starting to wonder just how many people he had told but saw the corner of his mouth twitch.
"Pansy." He said in simple explanation and Hermione let out a frustrated sigh. She knew that the other witch's involvement and knowledge about her identity was going to cause problems. This mission was already too involved to have to worry about Pansy running her mouth off to everyone she knew.
"Don't worry, he's not directly involved in any of Voldemort's dealings. Prefers to work under his father's business." Draco said, sensing her apprehension.
"She can't keep telling people." Hermione said, flashing her eyes to the bright movement inside the ballroom.
Draco nodded, keeping his eyes on her face. "She won't. Theo's is a… particular friend of hers."
Hermione snorted and looked up at him, understanding exactly what type of friend he was. The man had all but oozed sexual tension when she had seen him speaking to Pansy earlier and the witch certainly wasn't being subtle as she ran a suggestive hand down his chest. She understood now why Draco had said the arrangement between him and Pansy wasn't going to happen.
She sighed, supposing that it may be good to have more people on their side that weren't in the order.
"Do you trust him?" Hermione asked, tilting her head inquiringly at Draco.
"Yes." He answered without hesitation. "He's not a particular fan of the war. Would have abdicated with Blaise if it weren't for Pansy."
Hermione furrowed her brows at the mention of her fellow healer. Blaise never really talked about his time with Voldemort's regime, only that he had seen things that made him understand quite quickly that the order needed to win. He had never mentioned his friends though, only mentioning them when he wasn't paying attention to what he was saying. Hermione had tried to get him to talk about what had happened before he fled, but Blaise wasn't one to reminisce on the past.
Hermione sighed and raised her hand to run through her hair, pausing only when she remembered that it was held together with pins and magic. Feeling suddenly very tired, she looked back up to Draco. "Is it alright if we leave?" She asked. "My social tolerance is reaching it's limit."
The corner of his mouth twitched, and she wished momentarily that he would just smile at her. Draco nodded, "Of course."
They made their way back into the ballroom, weaving through the crowds gathered at the edge of the edge of the room. They paid their respects to Mr. Parkinson, graciously thanking him for the invitation, though Hermione could hear the edge in Draco's voice as he spoke to the man.
As they made their way out of the large room towards the main entrance, Hermione caught Theo Nott eye as they passed him and he winked at her, the smirk on his face quite obvious. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea that he knew, Hermione thought, remembering the Casanova's tendency to run his mouth in school.
Once outside, Draco gripped her hand and turned on the spot, pulling her with him back to the Manor. Once back in the oddly comforting space, Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and pulled off the gold ring. Even though she couldn't actually see the changes the ring inflicted, she never quite felt like herself when she was wearing it.
Draco watched the shift in her features and let his eyes sweep over the now familiar brown curls and eyes that appeared in front of him. She pulled at her hair, loosening it from the braid that it had been held in all evening.
With a slight shock he realized how beautiful she was, something he hadn't thought about since the Yule Ball when he had watched her with Victor Krum. She as an attractive woman in general, her features almost fairy-like in their delicateness. But there was a strength about her that he found even more intriguing, and he knew that she had seen things no 23-year-old should have seen.
Hermione tilted her head at the expression on Draco's face as he stared at her. His grey eyes were the warmest she had ever seen them, and his unguarded expression made his face look years younger.
"What?" She asked.
The word snapped him out of his thoughts, and he blinked at her, immediately his expression shifted back to the control she had become accustomed to. He shook his head, "Nothing, sorry."
He started to walk away from her but Hermione reached out a hand to stop him. He looked down at her fingers gripping his arm and she only tightened her grip.
"Thank you for tonight." Hermione said, taking a step closer to him.
He inclined his head to her, but she still didn't let go of his arm.
"You're a good man, Draco." Hermione said, watching his brows furrow at her words. She knew he didn't consider himself to be one, but his actions over the past few weeks, and especially tonight provide it to her. "You are." She affirmed, standing up on her toes to press her lips to his cheek.
It was if a shock went through her at the contact and her lips tingled in response. Pulling back, she slowly lowered down, staring up at him with wide eyes. He must have felt something too as his own eyes held a hint of surprise as he looked back at her.
Hermione started as, without warning, his arm snaked out and gripped her waist, pulling her to him as he lowered his head. His lips were warm and soft as they met hers, demanding with their pressure.
It took her a moment to recover before she returned the kiss, wrapped her arms about his neck as his hands gripped her waist. The electricity sparked once again between them and Hermione felt her heart speed up as their lips moved together. The pressure on her back increased and she raised up on her toes, pressing against his chest.
The kiss ended as abruptly as it had started, both of them pulling back in the same moment. Their arms were still around each other as their eyes met. Hermione felt a bit like she was in shock, her gaze dropping to his lips and her breath came out slowly. The corner of his mouth twitched as he saw her eyes drop, and Hermione took a step back, dropping her hands from his neck.
"It's probably best if we pretend that never happened." Hermione said quietly after a moment of silence, meeting his eyes again.
His mouth twitched again, but he nodded. She was right, he knew that, but the just-kissed appearance of her lips was driving him in a very different direction. It had been a long time since he had kissed anyone, but he certainly wasn't a monk. Kissing her had felt like a breath of fresh air, like a lifeline in the darkness that had encased his world for the past eight years.
He dropped his hands from her waist and Hermione felt the loss of heat immediately. She watched him as inclined his head to her, giving her one last look before turning and walking out of the room. Her eyes followed him and as soon as he was out of her sight, she let out a long breath.
This wasn't why she was here, she reminded herself, bringing her fingers up to touch her lips that still tingled with the aftereffects of the kiss. A shiver ran through her and gooseflesh broke over her arms as she membered the feel of Draco's mouth against hers. She had wanted it, more than anything in that moment and would have no doubt continued down that path if it hadn't been for the small nagging voice in her mind.
She sighed and hitched up the front of her dress in her hand, keeping it out of her way as she followed Draco out of the room and up the stairs. His door was closed when she passed by and she paused for a moment, wondering if his mind was as scrambled as hers was at the moment. She almost knocked on the door but remembered her words from the drawing room. She would pretend, she thought, they both would if they were going to make it out of this alive.
Several hours later after tossing and turning in the large expansive bed, she sat bolt upright, feeling her skin chill as she remembered something Draco had seen earlier that night. Her breath caught in her throat and she all but jumped out of bed, racing down the hall to pound on Draco's door.