"The truth is, Granger," He said, silver eyes focused on her frowning mouth. "I've wanted to possess you since the moment that clueless weasel left you crying at the foot of the stairs."

The girl with wild brown mane and shining topaz orbs looked up at him with a mixture of hurt and confusion. "How did you …"

"I was there," He revealed. "In the shadows, watching as you let that insignificant fool bring you to your knees."

Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat. "That was a long time ago." She told him. How dare he bring up something from her past to try and use against her. He may own her future, but he didn't own her past. Those were her memories, her experiences, and Ron, damn him, wherever he was now, he was still her friend.

"I guess you got what you wanted then," Hot tears fell from her dark lashes and onto her flushed face.

"I don't think you've been paying close enough attention, Granger," He told her. His silver eyes flashed dangerously, even in a darkened room. "None of us ever get what we truly want, not even those closest to the Dark Lord."

Hermione's eyes blinked with tears. "Do you not possess me now?" she asked from beneath his penetrating hold.

"I wanted a lioness," He whispered against her lips causing her to tremble. "Not a domesticated house cat."

With those words Hermione came to understand the wizard above her more intimately than before. Malfoy didn't want a slave, he wanted a struggle. He didn't want her to submit, he wanted her teeth, and her claws, and her violent tongue. He wanted a physical challenge and an intellectual equal. Possessing her meant next to nothing if he couldn't stroke the fire that burned within her.

"You're sick." She hissed, watching the firelight dance across his face.

"You don't wish to be tamed, Granger," He told her. "But please, correct me if I'm wrong."

He was right. She didn't want to be tamed, but when Voldemort stripped her of everything she held most dear, she decided to pick her battles.

Hermione stood up from the bed. She was starting to feel dizzy. "I don't understand what you're implying by saying all of this."

"You know exactly what I'm implying. What were you expecting to happen when you bound yourself to me? What did you think I wanted, another house elf?"

Hermione's hands were starting to shake as she paced in front of the fireplace. "I don't know," She confessed. She truly didn't know.

"This isn't Hogwarts," He told her. "We aren't children anymore, the war made sure of that."

Hermione shut her eyes tight and tried to make sense of what he was saying, "What do you want from me?"

Draco stood up from the bed, "I want you by my side." He said with a passion she was too scared to believe.

Hermione looked up at him and shook her head. She was so confused, "By your side?" She repeated with a furrowed brow. "How can I -"

"Mudblood's who are bound to a wizard hold more power than a pureblood wife," He explained, tucking a russet curl behind her ear. "There is nothing more intimate, more powerful, than a bonded pair, and I want you to be by my side, and not because I'm forcing you, but because you choose to."

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a loud popping noise. It was Inigo.

"Sorry Inigo is disturbing the Masters, but the Parkinson is here," The elf said with a sour look.