A/N: Thanks as always to BiscuitsForPotter and NuclearNik for their help! Y'all are good peeps.
I hope y'all enjoy this one! I certainly enjoyed writing it! ;)
Hermione woke up feeling very overheated. It was much too warm in the room. Something was draped around her, blowing hot air into her hair. A hard surface that was definitely not her pillow left her neck at an odd angle.
Eyes opening, blinking against the morning sun, she lifted her head and brushed her hair away from her face.
Warm, heavy arms wrapped around her, one over her waist and the other stretched across the bed beneath her head. Draco was still very much asleep behind her, his lips slightly parted, his breathing even.
With a smile, she lay back down and nestled into his arms. He pulled her close, the hand over her waist sliding up to grip her breast possessively as he inhaled deeply. She closed her eyes, wondering if she might be able to manage a bit more sleep before she felt him stir.
His thumb brushed over her nipple, slowly, deliberately. His hips rocked forward, pressing his semi-hard cock against her backside as his lips trailed along the back of her shoulder and up her neck.
"Good morning," he rasped in her ear, giving her breast a gentle squeeze.
She arched her back, grinding her arse against him with a contented hum. "Good morning." She reached up to pull her bedraggled curls away from her neck. "Any idea what you'd like to do today?"
He made a thoughtful noise, nibbling on her earlobe as he pinched her nipple, making her yelp. "I have a few ideas."
Pleasure and anticipation pooled at her core. She reached one hand behind her back to close her fingers around his hardening cock. He made a soft appreciative noise in her ear, continuing to tease her breasts as she stroked him.
His lips were lighter on her than they'd been the previous evening. He didn't bite or leave harsh bruises. He took his time—kissing, licking, and nibbling along her neck.
Then his hand drifted down, slipping between her legs as she parted them to circle her clit gently. She was wet already—maybe she'd been wet all along. He slid his fingers through her slick folds, teasing her.
"Draco…" she pleaded, giving his cock a squeeze and rolling her hips back against him.
He pulled his hand away from her and gripped his cock, guiding it to her entrance and pausing. "Contraceptive charm?"
"It's fine. The one I cast last night should last for twenty-four hours," she assured him, turning her head.
He lifted a brow. "Twenty-four hours, you say? We could have a lot of fun in that time."
She laughed, but it quickly turned to a moan as he pushed into her in one slow thrust. Her back arched, and he gripped her hip as he pulled back and sank into her again.
Last night had been fast and hard, a frantic desire to fulfill their pent up lust. But this… This was different. He held her close, his body moving within her slowly as his lips danced along her neck.
Even their sounds were in stark contrast to the ones they'd made last night. It had been moans and groans and cries. This time he sighed against her neck with reverence, and her moans were more mewling, leaving her throat in light gasps.
She turned her head to the side, and he captured her lips with his as he continued to thrust into her with long, slow strokes.
From this angle, she could feel his cock slide along her front wall, hitting that delicious spot that made her head spin with pleasure. But it wasn't enough.
As if sensing this, his hand drifted back between her thighs, making tight circles on her in time with his thrusts. Her orgasm washed over her slowly, sweetly, punctuated by his kisses. A moment later, his mouth opened wide, and he let out a blissful groan, spilling himself within her as his hand gripped her hip.
He pulled out of her, still holding her close. They were quiet for several minutes, and Hermione allowed herself to enjoy the silence with him. She wasn't sure what time it was, and for once she found that she wasn't in a hurry to find out. She'd finished her work yesterday, and unless Billings decided to bombard her with more work as she had last weekend, she had nothing to do today except enjoy Draco's company.
"I'm starving," he murmured into her hair.
Hermione chuckled, realising that she was fairly hungry as well. "I am too."
"Are you ready to face what might be out there?"
Hermione turned in his arms, burying her face in his chest. "I suppose. I'm sure they know you spent the night anyway. If I know Pansy at all, she's already got plates prepared for us."
"She's not the one you need to worry about. It's Lovegood. She never says much, but her little comments…"
Hermione laughed. "Tell me about it. Yesterday, she told me I looked fertile just before you arrived. I was mortified."
"Well," Draco began, running his hand over her hip and up to her breasts, "she wasn't wrong."
Hermione gave him a playful smack in the chest.
"No, no, you're right. A gentleman shouldn't mention a woman's fertility, should he?" He chuckled and kissed the top of her head before slowly extracting himself from her grasp.
She pouted at the loss, looking up at him as he stood from the bed and searched the floor for his boxers. He located them and pulled them on. Then, he scooped up his shirt from the previous evening and tossed it to her. She clutched it in her hands and sat up.
He smirked at her as she quirked an eyebrow at him.
"You know this is my flat, right? I have an entire closet full of clothes of my own to wear."
He leaned over her and kissed her. "I know, but I was hoping you would indulge me in this one small fantasy."
Her cheeks flamed, and she offered him a small nod. She stood from the bed and pulled on Draco's shirt. It was far too big, of course. The tails fell to her mid-thighs and the sleeves swallowed her arms. She had to pull up the cuffs to button the shirt up. She felt a bit ridiculous, but when she looked to Draco, she found his eyes dark with desire.
"How much would I have to pay you to never wear anything else?" He stepped into her, pulling her close by her hips.
"More money than you have, I assure you."
"Pity," Draco tutted. "I suppose it will make it more special every time I get to see it." He bent his head and kissed her.
As his hands delved under the shirt to grip her arse, Hermione chuckled and pulled away. "I thought you were hungry."
His forehead dropped to hers and he groaned. "Yes. You're right." Clearing his throat, he stepped away from her.
Hermione crossed to the door and looked back at him. He had his eyes closed as he breathed deeply.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her lips twitching up into a smile.
He opened his eyes and smirked at her. "You know exactly what you do to me, witch."
Cheeks flaming, Hermione opened the door and stepped out into the corridor, Draco hot on her heels.
As they crossed through the living room, Crookshanks hopped off the couch and approached her, weaving around her legs and offering her an indignant meow.
Hermione bent to scoop him up as Draco continued on into the kitchen. "I'm sorry," she chuckled. "Are you cross because you had to sleep out here last night?"
Crookshanks nuzzled her hand as she stroked his face and neck.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake." Draco's voice drifted from the kitchen. Hermione set Crookshanks down again and followed the sound, finding Draco at the island.
"What is it?"
Draco slid a small slip of paper over, and Hermione picked it up.
Lovebirds,
Luna and I have made breakfast and decided to make ourselves scarce for the day. Please enjoy the meal. We've placed everything under stasis. Remember to keep any amorous activities to the confines of Hermione's bedroom, as social decorum dictates. If you decide to leave the flat today, please look at page six of The Daily Prophet before you go. I wouldn't want you going out unprepared.
Pansy
"What's on page six of The Prophet?" Hermione asked, peeking over Draco's shoulder to where he was looking at the paper.
"We are." He stepped back so that Hermione could look at the paper properly.
Sure enough, there they were, bathed in warm evening light in Diagon Alley. Draco held her face gently in his hands and she was leaning in, gripping his biceps and biting her lip. They looked positively rapt with desire for one another.
Her heart fluttered even as her stomach sank at the title over their intimate photo.
War Heroine Snags Malfoy Heir
By Rita Skeeter
Of course it was written by Skeeter. Hermione seethed, feeling her cheeks flush with humiliation at the implication that she had "snagged" Draco. She forced herself to remain focused and unemotional as she read the article.
Hermione Granger, well known for her contributions during the war, was seen canoodling with reformed Death Eater, Draco Malfoy, in Diagon Alley on Friday evening. Granger, 21, dated fellow war hero Ronald Weasley for three years following the end of the war. The famous couple quietly split in May, an anonymous source confirmed to this reporter yesterday evening. It is unknown whether Miss Granger's newfound romance with Mister Malfoy overlapped her relationship with Mister Weasley, but one thing is certain: the new couple is completely besotted. Unable to keep their hands off of each other as they strolled, Granger and Malfoy stopped to share this intimate embrace.
Draco Malfoy, 21, is the sole heir of the esteemed Malfoy family—one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. It is estimated that the Malfoy family is the wealthiest in all of Wizarding Britain. The family's reputation suffered a blow in recent years due to their alignment with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Draco and his mother, Narcissa Malfoy, were acquitted for their involvement, but the Malfoy patriarch, Lucius Malfoy, is currently serving a ten year sentence in Azkaban prison. The Malfoy family has since made the effort to redeem their name. Mrs Malfoy has made sizable contributions to many charitable organisations including St Mungo's Hospital. Two years ago, Draco opened up Malfoy Enterprises, a group which specialises in consulting and the development of new wizarding innovations. Malfoy Enterprises has developed several new potions which have helped to shorten the recovery time in patients suffering from Dragon Pox, as well as a new brew of Wolfsbane, which is rumoured to lessen the pain of transformation for those who are afflicted by lycanthropy.
Hermione Granger works for the Ministry of Magic in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Malfoy and Granger were classmates at Hogwarts, but reportedly did not get along. Such news does not come as a surprise, as they were on opposing sides of the war. It is unknown how these two lovebirds reconnected in their adulthood or how they managed to put the past behind them. It seems to this reporter that their story is one of redemption, of second chances, proving that love can spark even in the most unlikely of places.
After leaving Diagon Alley, the couple shared a meal at a small pub in Muggle London before strolling through Hyde Park.
Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy were unavailable for comment regarding their new relationship. Is Ron Weasley heartbroken over his ex-lover's infidelity? How does Narcissa Malfoy feel about her son's newest paramour? Will Miss Granger be the one to break the streak of Malfoy blood purity? Stick with this reporter, dear readers, and I promise to uncover the truth.
Hermione pushed the paper away with disgust. "That absolute cow! 'Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy were unavailable for comment.' What utter tripe. She didn't even try. She probably knows what I'd do to her if she tried to contact me. I can't believe she would even publish this. Perhaps she's forgotten…" She glared at the paper, half considering marching down to The Daily Prophet offices today to give them a piece of her mind.
"Forgotten what?" Draco pulled the paper over, his eyes lingering on the photo.
"That I have more than enough leverage to demand her termination from The Daily Prophet, and that I could probably secure a brief stay in Azkaban for her if I so desired." She drummed her fingers on the countertop. "Perhaps another stay in that unbreakable jar will help her see reason…" she murmured.
"Unbreakable jar?" Draco's eyebrows jumped.
"Oh, come now." Hermione rolled her eyes. "You know as well as I do that she's an unregistered Animagus. I saw you giving her information our fourth year."
"You put her in a jar?"
"Yes, and it seems that she's forgotten to keep me out of her gossip rags. She gains her information by illegal measures."
Draco laughed. "There's little evidence of that in this article."
Hermione baulked at him and jabbed her finger at the article. "She mentions the pub and Hyde Park! Do you really think we wouldn't have noticed her following us? She obviously saw us in Diagon and decided to spy on us using her little tricks."
She tapped her bare foot on the tiled floor as she thought. "I wonder if warning her would do any good. Perhaps I should just expose her. She certainly deserves it…"
"Granger, are you honestly upset about this article? It's just gossip. Anyone with a brain knows that Skeeter's works are mostly fiction."
"That's not the point." Hermione rolled her eyes and marched around the island to get two mugs from the cupboard. She filled one and prepared it to her liking, all the while seething.
"Then what is the point?"
"She—she said I snagged you." Hermione's cheeks burned, and she kept her eyes resolutely fixed on her coffee as she stirred in her sugar. "She implied that I cheated on Ron with you. She massively played up the intimacy of our relationship—saying that we couldn't keep our hands off of each other and that we are completely besotted and that I may break the Malfoy's tradition of blood purity."
Draco leaned forward to rest his elbows on the counter and clasped his hands in front of him. "Well, I can't speak for you, but I, for one, am completely besotted. And I do, in fact, have a very difficult time keeping my hands off of you. And—" He cleared his throat and straightened back up, pulling one of the plates Pansy had prepared for them over and picking up a fork. "And I'm sure Weasley knows you didn't cheat on him. Everyone who matters to you knows that. I wouldn't worry."
Hermione softened. "You're right. Skeeter just makes me crazy. I'm sorry."
Draco laughed. "Don't apologise. I think you're incredible when you're on a rampage. It's nice to see your rage directed towards someone other than me." He jabbed a sausage with his fork and took a bite. "Would you like to spend your day hunting down Rita Skeeter and trapping her in a jar?"
Lips twitching, Hermione glanced up at him. "Besotted, huh?"
His lips curled into a grin. "Entirely."
She walked back around the island and handed him a cup of coffee. "Then I think we can find a better use of our day."
He leaned down and kissed her gently. "Good. Now, let's eat. I have some plans for afterwards."
Draco's plans, as it turned out, included a stack of romance novels and very few clothes. After breakfast, he closed them back in her bedroom with a lecherous grin and asked her to fetch the books he'd given her.
Hermione pulled the box from under her bed, and Draco sank to his knees to dig through them, examining each cover before selecting one and handing it to her. "Read it," he urged.
Hermione lifted a brow as she looked at the cover of Once an Enemy, Now a Lover. "Shall we find a passage to pique our interest?"
Draco tilted his head, his hands coming up to rest on her bare knees. "If you'd like. I doubt we'll be reading it for long though."
Hermione opened the book, very aware of Draco's fingers dancing up and down her legs as he knelt in front of her. Surely he would be more interested in one of the steamy scenes in the book. She flipped through, looking for any such scene.
"Are you ready?" he asked, dropping his head to kiss her knee lightly, his eyes never leaving hers.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, I think so."
He gave her a nod of encouragement, and Hermione refocused on the book.
"Elizabeth stared at Sam. He was certainly attractive, and it took all of her willpower to keep from reaching out and undoing the buttons on his shirt. Her mind recalled how he'd come to her just a few nights ago. Surely he wouldn't object if she did reach out to him, but she'd promised herself that she would wait for him to make the first move this time. And so she waited."
Draco gently pushed her knees apart and settled between them. His fingers trailed up her thighs and under the hem of his shirt.
"She didn't have to wait long. It seemed that Sam was not interested in keeping her in suspense today. He crossed the space between them, catching her lips in a searing kiss. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. Her feet barely touched the ground as she clung to him. Pressing into her, he walked her backwards until her back hit the wall. Then he picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist as he held her tight."
She gasped as Draco's thumb brushed over her clit. Looking over the book, she found him smirking at her.
"Is this okay?" He moved his thumb again.
Hermione nodded, and Draco's lips curled into a wicked grin.
"Don't stop reading," he ordered, pulling his fingers away slightly and gently encouraging her knees to part further.
She shifted slightly, opening her legs for him even as her cheeks burned. With a trembling voice, she continued reading.
"The wall was cold against her back, and she arched into him on instinct. His hands—"
A moan left her as Draco's fingers brushed against her again and teased her entrance. She closed her eyes, shifting her hips on instinct to try to seek more contact.
"His hands what, Granger?" Draco purred, circling her clit slowly.
Hermione took a deep breath. "His hands gripped her hard, his hips pressing forward, grinding against her centre."
One of Draco's hands gripped her thigh tightly, gently kneading her flesh as his other hand teased her.
"Her fingers found the buttons of his shirt, undoing them with as much speed as she could manage from her angle. Then she wrenched it from where it was tucked into his trousers and pulled it off of him."
Draco's fingers pulled away from her to slowly undo the buttons on the shirt she wore. She sat silently while he opened two of them, but then he paused and gave her a pointed look. "Keep going."
As Hermione began to speak again, Draco continued unbuttoning her shirt. "Sam's large hands delved under the hem of her skirt, pushing it up her legs until he gripped her arse."
She paused as Draco pulled her shirt open, leaving it on her, but exposing her breasts. He ran his hands over her, rolling her nipples in his fingers for a moment before returning to the apex of her thighs and giving her an expectant look.
"Elizabeth's breath hitched in anticipation. Sam pulled her away from the wall and carried her to the bed, dropping her upon it and climbing over her. His hands were everywhere, teasing her, setting her aflame with desire."
Hermione gasped as Draco sank two fingers into her. She leaned back, trying to grant him better access, but he stilled his fingers within her until she pulled the book back to her face and continued reading through her panting breaths.
"Elizabeth quickly shed her dress, desperate to feel his skin against hers once—"
Draco pumped his fingers in and out of her.
"—once again. Sam's hands quickly rid her of her knickers while—"
He circled her clit with his thumb.
"—while she reached for his trousers."
He kissed the inside of her thigh.
"Draco…" she sighed.
"Hmm?" He hummed against her thigh, never stopping his thumb circling or his fingers sliding in and out of her.
"I-I —"
"Keep reading, Granger."
Hermione whimpered, but did as she was told. "He was hard when she finally wrapped her fingers around him, stroking him as he—as he ran his fingers over her breasts."
It was getting hard to focus on the words on the page. Draco's teeth were scraping over the sensitive skin of her thigh, his hands moving slowly, stroking her ever higher towards that great precipice.
"Elizabeth pulled him down on top of her, begging, needing him inside—" Hermione gasped. "Draco, I can't."
"Yes, you can," he encouraged, kissing her hip.
Hermione flopped onto her back, holding the book above her face so that she could continue reading without holding herself up. "Sam lined himself up and pushed into her slowly. Elizabeth moaned as his large co—cock pistoned into her and—and out again."
Hermione became aware that she was canting her hips in rhythm with Draco's fingers, desperately seeking her own release. "Please," she cried.
"Don't stop reading until you come, Granger." His voice was dark and commanding. It sent a jolt through her that had her clenching around his fingers. A whimper left her as she refocused on the book.
"Her nails clawed at his back as he drove—drove into her over and over again. His hands gripped her hip, pressing her into—into the—mattress."
She was close. Her entire body was trembling, wound tight, ready to snap.
"Sam began to move faster, his strong arms holding her tight—"
Hermione gasped, her hips jerking violently.
"Elizabeth arched her back—and his lips came down—on her neck."
Hermione's words were barely audible now, just breathy gasps pulling from her throat.
"His fingers danced over her nub, all the while—all the while driving into her until—until—"
Hermione screamed, the book falling to the side as she came with incredible force. It crashed over her body like an avalanche of pleasure. Her body quaked, spine arching as her legs trembled.
As she slowly returned to her senses, she became aware of Draco kissing his way up her body. The next thing she knew, his cock was pressing into her still-quivering cunt. She gasped, and he swallowed it up with a searing kiss.
"Very good, Granger," he praised softly against her lips as his arms wrapped around her.
Hermione's head was still reeling. She was barely able to kiss him back as he began to fuck her in long, hard strokes.
He was still standing by the side of the bed, granting him incredible depth as he dragged her to the edge by her hips and sped up. Hermione stretched her arms over her head, feeling her breasts bounce with each thrust. Draco bent his head, his lips closing around her nipple as his hand pressed her hip down into the mattress.
She didn't know how it was possible, given that she'd hardly had the chance to come down from her last high, but she found herself quickly rising to the top again, her body tightening around him as the base of his cock hit her clit again and again.
"Draco," she whined, her hips canting erratically. "I—I…"
"That's it, Granger." He kissed up her chest to her neck, fucking her faster. "Come for me again."
He snaked one arm under her waist to lift her hips up slightly. Hermione cried out at the new angle, her fingers twisting into the sheets on either side of her head.
His hands were gripping her hard enough to bruise, but Hermione didn't care. She was wound so tightly now, balanced just on the tipping point.
Draco let out a breathy grunt—a desperate sound from deep in his chest. His teeth dug into the flesh at the junction of her shoulder and her neck, and Hermione fell over the edge. A guttural wail escaped her as her orgasm swept over her again.
Draco's grip on her waist and hips tightened even harder as he fucked her at a punishing pace until he came with a groan and a snap of his hips.
As her body relaxed, she felt his cock twitching and pulsing within her. His ragged breath hit her neck in hot puffs. He stayed there for a moment, his fingers twisting into her curls and his lips languidly dragging along the column of her neck.
He shivered as he pulled out of her, his release dripping down her thigh as he flopped onto his back beside her. Hermione didn't move, her legs still dangling off the bed.
Her limbs felt heavy, her body so deliciously sated. Letting her head loll to the side, she saw that Draco had his eyes closed, his hands resting on his chest as he took deep breaths. She smiled. "I think you've broken me."
His eyes opened, and he lifted his head, looking at her as if expecting to find some injury.
"In a good way," she clarified with a chuckle.
"Oh." His head dropped back onto the bed, and he let out a sigh. "Good." He grinned, a look of pride covering his face.
Hermione rolled her eyes at his smugness, but couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up within her. Soon, Draco was laughing with her.
Hermione received a letter in the early afternoon. She woke up from a nap in Draco's arms to hear tapping on her window. Careful not to disturb him, she climbed out of bed to let the familiar owl in. Gizmo landed on her desk and held out his leg for her. Hermione took the scroll and offered Harry's owl a treat. The note wasn't signed, but Hermione could easily recognise Ginny's handwriting on the hastily scrawled parchment.
You have to tell me everything!
Hermione chuckled and rolled her eyes. She quickly penned a reply promising to get lunch with Ginny tomorrow before sending the owl away again. Then she climbed back into bed and curled against her sleeping lover.
When Hermione climbed through the Floo to Harry and Ginny's flat the next day, she was greeted by both of her friends' shocked stares from the couch.
"Erm… hi," Hermione said with a small chuckle.
Ginny stood from the couch and threw her arms around Hermione's neck. "Tell me everything."
"Yes, alright. Harry…" She eyed the bespectacled wizard on the couch with some trepidation.
Harry's jaw was tight as he looked at her. "So, Ginny didn't tell me about the date. At least not until after we saw The Prophet. But she'd mentioned that there were… feelings? So it wasn't a complete shock."
Hermione sat down in the chair across from him. "I know what you're going to say, Harry, and—"
Harry interrupted her, raising his hand and shaking his head. "No, I don't think you do, actually."
Shutting her mouth, Hermione nodded for him to continue.
"I was going to say that if Malfoy makes you happy, I have no problem with it as long as he treats you well."
Hermione blinked, unable to hide her shock.
Harry pressed on. "I've met with Malfoy a few times over the past couple of months for his work with the Auror Department. He's not… so bad, I suppose. Don't get me wrong, I still think he's a smug prick."
A laugh escaped Hermione. "Oh, he's definitely still a smug prick."
"But," Harry continued, "he's not all bad. And if you like him… well, you have my support."
Hermione stood to move to the couch next to him. "Thank you, Harry." She wrapped her arms around him.
Harry returned the hug, squeezing her tight before breaking away with a soft smile.
Hermione's heart sank. "Did Ron see the article?"
Ginny and Harry exchanged a look.
"He did," Ginny said with a frown. "He actually saw it before we did. Came storming through the Floo mid-morning yesterday brandishing it and screaming. It took us twenty minutes to calm him down."
"He doesn't believe what Skeeter implied, right? About the infidelity? Because you all know that I never—"
Harry waved her off. "No, no. He knew that was a load of waffle. He was just blindsided, I think. Said you must have been barmy to go after Malfoy after everything he did."
Hermione buried her face in her hands, a horrible sinking feeling settling in her chest.
Ginny reached across Harry and patted her knee reassuringly. "I'm sure he'll come around. His approval isn't the most important thing."
"I just didn't want him to find out like that. And Draco and I… we've only had one date. It's far too soon for us to have such a public relationship. It's why we decided to go to a Muggle pub rather than stay in Diagon Alley, actually. Skeeter just spotted us before we left. I hoped that I could tell Ron once there was something definitive to tell him. Like once Draco and I became an official couple. Instead there's this. This… gossip and speculation. It's infuriating."
"It'll settle," Harry promised. "The press always does, trust me."
"Let's not worry about Ron and Skeeter." Ginny leaned forward, her eyes wide. "Tell me about the date. I had hoped you'd come over yesterday to tell me all about it."
Hermione chuckled. "Well, I would have, but Draco didn't leave until this morning."
As Ginny squealed with delight, Harry groaned and pushed himself to his feet. "Alright, that's enough for me for one day, I think. You ladies enjoy your salacious gossip. I'm going… anywhere but here."
Harry then walked around the coffee table and disappeared into the bedroom, closing the door with a click.
"What a baby," Ginny tutted, rolling her eyes. "Now, spill. Tell me all the sordid details."
Hermione laughed and launched into the story, going through the date in detail: the enchanted roses, the missed reservation, the pub, and the walk in the park when they'd gotten caught in the rain. Ginny laughed and cooed at all of the appropriate moments, but Hermione could tell that she was impatient to hear about the events that had kept Draco at her flat for over a day.
"And then?" Ginny prompted when Hermione told her that she'd invited Draco into her bedroom.
"We… er… We had sex."
"Well, obviously!" Ginny threw her hands in the air, her voice growing quite loud in her exuberance. "I need details, Granger! How many times? Who was on top? Did you come? How big is he?"
Harry's voice flew in from the bedroom. "MERLIN'S BOLLOCKS, GIN!"
Ginny turned her head sharply towards the door. "Silence the room if you don't want to hear, Potter!" She scowled for a moment before turning back to Hermione with a grin. "Tell me everything."
Hermione knew her face was scarlet as she told Ginny everything. "Erm… only once that first night. Although I got off twice. But total over the weekend… I think six?"
"Six times?" Ginny's eyes were as wide as Quaffles.
"And, erm… I was on top the first time."
Ginny's eyebrows jumped up in surprise. "Good for you, taking charge in the bedroom."
"Is that so shocking?"
Ginny tilted her head with a shrug. "No, I just assumed that Draco would want to be on top in the bedroom. He seems like that type."
Hermione ran her fingers through her hair, avoiding Ginny's gaze as she answered. "I think—I think Draco likes all of the positions."
Ginny's eyebrows jumped several times in a lecherous grin, and she leaned forward to rest her chin on her hands. "Oh, do go on."
"Ginny, do I really have to tell you everything?" Hermione whined.
"I've been dating Harry Potter since I was sixteen. We haven't been in that new phase of sex where we can't keep our hands off each other in ages! Don't get me wrong, I don't have any complaints about our sex life, but it's so different when you're several years in. Please let me live vicariously through you for a few minutes."
Hermione nodded, conceding to tell her friend all of the sordid details of her new relationship with Draco. She shared everything about the night of their first date and the morning that followed.
Ginny hummed her approval, her eyes alight with glee as she listened with rapt attention.
"And then we saw the article. I got pretty upset. I'm still considering getting Skeeter fired. But Draco took my mind off of it by…" Her mouth snapped shut, her cheeks flaming red with humiliation.
"By…" Ginny prompted.
"Okay, so I didn't tell you this, but he bought me some books…"
"What kind of books?"
"You know… steamy ones. Like the one you let me borrow."
Ginny sat up straight as a pin, her face cracking open in the widest grin Hermione had ever seen. "You mean to tell me that all of this is happening because of the book I lent you?"
"Well, I don't know about that." Hermione picked at her fingernails anxiously.
"No," Ginny insisted, grabbing hold of Hermione's arm and gripping it hard. "I'm convinced. This is all my doing. You'll have to name your first born daughter after me, you know. You owe me that much."
Hermione just rolled her eyes. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
"Yes, alright. So he gave you some books?"
With a nod, Hermione continued. "After that night when he caught me reading the one you let me borrow. He gave me a whole box of books like that… as a joke, I think. To tease me."
"He's in love with you," Ginny asserted.
Hermione scowled at her friend. "Now you're just taking the mickey out of me."
Ginny laughed. "I'm not!"
Hermione just pressed on, telling Ginny about her day's activities with Draco. Ginny poured them both wine, and they drank and chatted together. She fought back a blush as she told about the book and how he'd not let her stop reading until she came.
Ginny urged her on, clearly eager to hear about everything.
Thinking back, Hermione recalled how Draco had suggested that they shower after lunch. She could still feel his hot hands sliding over her wet skin as he pushed into her from behind, the shower spray hitting her lower back as she bent over to brace her hands on the cold tiled wall. How he'd dug his fingers into her sodden curls to gently pull her head back and reached around to circle her clit until her moans had echoed around the room.
She thought of how he'd climbed on top of her last night after a long and meaningful conversation in the dark. They'd barely stopped kissing as he thrust into her slowly, worshiping her body with reverent touches and whispered sentiments against her lips. Her heart fluttered.
That morning had perhaps been the most intimate of all. Her legs wrapped around him as she climbed onto his lap, his hands holding her close, their bodies pressed tight against each other as they rocked to a delicious completion together.
She shared it all with Ginny, brushing over the more intimate details, but saying enough to satisfy her curiosity.
"When are you seeing him again?" Ginny lifted an eyebrow as she drank from her glass.
"He said he'd come over after work on Tuesday, but our next official date isn't until Saturday. He wants to take me to the restaurant he planned to take me to on Friday."
"I think he's smitten, Hermione."
Hermione smiled. "He claims to be—and this is a direct quote—entirely besotted. But I don't know…"
"You don't know?" Ginny lunged for the coffee table, grabbing yesterday's Prophet and wrenching it open to page six. "Hermione, just look at how he's looking at you! Like the world could burn around you both and he wouldn't notice. He is entirely besotted. Whether you've accepted it yet or not, I don't think he's trying to tease you or hide anything. I think he's telling you exactly how he feels."
Hermione looked at the photo again. Though the people on the street were moving around behind them, bustling into stores and restaurants, she and Draco remained static, their foreheads bent together as they spoke unheard words to each other. His hands were soft on her neck, his thumb gently sweeping across her jawline as he gazed into her eyes.
Perhaps Ginny had a point. Perhaps Draco hadn't been just trying to mollify her and get her mind off Skeeter. Perhaps he'd been trying to tell her that she meant a great deal more to him than she assumed.
Her heart soared with a feeling she hadn't felt in years—since her relationship with Ron was new and exciting. Tears pricked at the backs of her eyes, and she closed them tight, hugging the paper to her chest. Realisation swept over her—something she'd felt but not identified in herself until that moment. She was falling for Draco Malfoy. Hard.
And she had a strong feeling that he was falling for her as well.
"I'd planned for us to go out for lunch," Ginny said, breaking Hermione out of her reverie. "But maybe we should order in instead?"
Hermione nodded, knowing that they were far from finished with their talk.
Ginny crossed to the bedroom and poked her head in to speak to Harry. "If you want to escape for a bit, how would you like to go get us some food?"
"Woman, I'm not a delivery boy," Harry grumbled, but he emerged a moment later and the three of them decided on their order before he disappeared into the Floo.
Ginny dropped back onto the couch next to Hermione. "Okay, one more question while Harry's gone."
"Go on, then." Hermione took another sip of her wine.
But Ginny didn't ask anything, she just held up her hands a few inches apart, palms facing each other. She gave Hermione a questioning look and a smirk.
Hermione laughed, realising that Ginny was asking about Draco's size. She set her wine glass down and looked at Ginny's hands. It would have been a perfectly respectable size for a cock, but Draco was… larger. Biting her lip, Hermione reached out and pulled Ginny's hands apart a couple more inches. Then she made a gesture as if to say "There you go."
Ginny's jaw dropped. "Seriously?"
Hermione nodded and reached for her wine again.
"That's bigger than Harry."
"I know."
"Excuse me?" Ginny arched a brow with a scowl.
Hermione laughed. "I camped with Harry for nearly a year. I saw everything whether I wanted to or not. Trust me, Gin, nothing happened beyond a few awkward glances."
Ginny frowned petulantly.
Hermione reached out and placed her hand on Ginny's knee. "You know Harry and I are completely platonic. He's like my brother. I've never been able to think about him in any other way."
Ginny's lips twitched. "That's true. You always freak out when I try to talk about how Harry likes to—"
Hermione yelped and clapped her hands over her ears as best she could with her glass in one hand. "Ginny!"
Ginny just laughed.
Reality came crashing back to her on Monday morning when Hermione Flooed to the Ministry. As soon as she arrived in the Atrium she was swarmed by a small mob of reporters and photographers. Flashes blinded her as she pushed her way through the crowd, ignoring their shouted questions.
"Ms Granger, care to comment on your relationship with Draco Malfoy?"
"How long have you and Mr Malfoy been seeing each other?"
"Ms Granger, is it true that you cheated on Ron Weasley?"
"Have you met Narcissa Malfoy yet?"
Hermione kept her lips tightly closed as she hurried to the lifts, pleased that the press was not allowed to follow her beyond the Atrium.
She got another nasty surprise when she arrived at her desk to see a mountain of post piled high on top. Most were in simple, unremarkable envelopes, some were interdepartmental Ministry memos, but some were the noticeable bright red envelopes of Howlers.
She groaned as she set her bag down. It was times like this that she wished she had an office with a locking door that she could silence. At least she had gotten to work early, and it didn't appear that anyone else in her department had arrived yet.
Waving her wand, she cast a simple silencing charm around her desk and sat down to open her Howlers. She hardly listened as they screeched at her for breaking Ron's heart, calling her a harlot and a Death Eater's whore.
By the time she opened the last Howler, her head pounded and her cheerful mood had entirely evaporated. She waved her wand again to lift the silencing charm, and then she took a few minutes to organise the rest of the post into two piles. She went through the Ministry memos first and then opened the letters. Many were more scathing words about her alleged infidelity, but some were offering her well wishes for her new relationship.
It was nothing compared to the attention she'd gotten following the war, but it certainly wasn't her preferred way to start her week. She hated the attention and wanted nothing more than to just live a quiet life out of the spotlight.
The Howlers and hate mail continued through the week, dwindling each day until at last nothing arrived on Thursday. Post aside, the week passed in a haze of meetings and diligent reports at work followed by dinners with Draco and snogging him on the couch after Pansy and Luna had gone to bed. He didn't spend the night again until Saturday after their date. The food at Le Papillon was as delicious as Hermione had expected it to be. The risotto was divine and the chocolate mousse they got for dessert melted in her mouth.
After dinner, in the privacy of her silenced room back at the flat, Hermione rode Draco to a delicious completion while he gripped her hips and thrust up into her.
By the following morning, Draco Malfoy was officially her boyfriend.
Three weeks later, as September brought crisp mornings, Hermione arrived to work early clutching a cup of coffee and a stack of reports she'd taken home. She spent a few minutes sorting through them, putting a few on Billings' desk and sent others off to the heads of other departments.
Billings' second assistant, Alan Boyd, arrived promptly at nine, he set down his bag and hurried to her desk with bright eyes. "Did you hear?"
"Hear what?" Hermione asked as she sat down in her chair.
"Rogers is leaving. Something about moving to France with his wife and kids."
Hermione sat up straight. "Rogers? From—?"
"From Werewolf Relations, yes." Boyd nodded, giving her a pointed look.
Her heart leapt. Werewolf Relations was precisely where she wanted to be. A job in that office would enable her to work towards enacting the legislation she'd been trying to get passed for her entire time here.
"I'm applying," Boyd said. "But you should as well. You're definitely more qualified and you have seniority. I can't imagine getting it over you, but I just want to show the higher-ups that I'm interested in other opportunities. But honestly, Hermione, it's the perfect job for you."
Hermione smiled. "Thanks, Alan. I think I will apply."
That afternoon, Hermione found a moment to talk to Billings about the job opening. She was sure that her resumé would speak for itself, but a recommendation from the head of the department would go a long way with the hiring committee.
"Mrs Billings," she began, straightening her spine and preparing to speak her piece. "I've been told that Rogers from Werewolf Relations is leaving his position, and that they will soon be seeking someone to fill that post."
Billings looked up from her desk, regarding Hermione over her glasses with pursed lips. "Yes, that's true."
Hermione took a deep breath. "I just wanted to let you know that I plan to apply for the position." She clasped her hands in front of her, hoping that it would disguise the trembling in them. "It's a field in which I have a great deal of interest, as you well know, and I believe I am qualified and have the skills necessary to excel in the post."
Billings steepled her fingertips under her chin. "It is, of course, your right to submit yourself for such openings."
"Thank you. I was hoping—I mean to say that a recommendation from you to accompany my resumé would carry a great deal of weight. I was hoping you would consider writing one for me."
Billings nodded. "I'll consider it, Miss Granger." She then turned her attention back to the parchments before her and picked up her quill.
"Thank you," Hermione said before hurrying from Billings' office.
Before the end of the day, Hermione had submitted her resumé and application with the Werewolf Relations office. She hoped that Billings would soon add her recommendation to the file as well. Hermione left work that day all but certain that a new exciting job offer was only days away.
When Draco arrived through the Floo for dinner that evening, Hermione threw her arms around his neck, feeling for the first time in months like all of the pieces of her life were falling into place.
A/N: Chapter 9 posts on December 24th (probably. It's occurring to me that that's Christmas Eve, so we'll see. I'll keep you all updated on Tumblr [graceful-lioness] and The Dept. of Fandom Discord server in the #gracefullioness channel!).
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to leave kudos and/or a comment if you're so inclined!