A/N: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all who celebrate at this time of year! I hope you're all staying safe and healthy.
Enjoy this chapter! And many thanks to BiscuitsForPotter and NuclearNik for spending time over their holidays to look at this for me.
On the morning of September seventh, Hermione woke early to get ready for her interview. She let Pansy do her hair and dig through her closet to pick out her most stylish professional robes. As she was eating a light breakfast and sipping her coffee, Draco's eagle owl swooped into the kitchen and dropped a small scroll on the counter in front of her. Hermione stroked his head with a smile, then the owl left with a soft coo.
Hermione unrolled the parchment to see a brief message in Draco's tidy script.
Knock 'em dead, Granger.
She grinned and put the note in her pocket.
Draco had been thrilled when she told him about the opening. He'd even stayed up late with her on Wednesday night to help her prepare for the interview. Hermione was sure that there were probably many other, more physical things he would have rather been doing, but she was so touched by his support.
It was just barely after eight when she finished her coffee, but she didn't want to linger around and have a second cup. She knew that getting to work early and settling in with her normal duties would help keep her calm before her interview at nine-thirty.
"Good luck, Hermione." Luna offered her a bright smile as she thrust her arm out, something shiny dangling on a delicate silver chain in her hand.
"What's this?" Hermione took the chain, noticing the small blue crystal hanging from it.
"It's a good luck charm. It was my mother's. You should borrow it today."
Hermione's throat tightened at her friend's gesture of kindness. "Thank you, Luna." She put it on and tucked it into the front of her blouse, feeling the crystal warm against her chest.
"I'm sure you'll be very impressive."
With a smile, Hermione thanked Luna again.
Pansy offered her an encouraging nod. "We'll have dinner tonight, and you can tell us all about it."
"Sounds great. See you." With a wave, Hermione crossed to the Floo.
The Ministry was always a little quieter on Friday mornings. Hermione guessed that people's energy dragged later in the week, leading to fewer people coming in early. The Atrium was calm as she made her way to the lifts and down to the D.R.C.M.C.
She enjoyed coming in early. It was nice to have a few minutes of quiet to organise her thoughts before the Ministry came alive for the day. This morning in particular, Hermione sat at her desk and reviewed her notes about the position in Werewolf Relations, and reread a few recently passed laws that had come out of the department on the subject. She was nervous, yes, but just as she had in school, she knew that studying diligently was the best way to stave off anxiety.
At nine, Boyd arrived looking a bit green. He'd told her yesterday that his interview was at ten, just after hers. He'd spent the better part of the afternoon on Thursday with his nose buried in reports on Werewolf Relations from the past year. "I still don't think I have a chance over you," he'd said, "but I want to make a good impression nonetheless."
"Good morning, Alan." Hermione smiled as he sat down at his desk across from hers.
"Morning," he grunted. "Are you ready?"
Hermione shrugged. "Ready as I'll ever be, I expect. You?"
"Same." But even as he said it, he pulled out a long parchment of notes and stared at it without blinking.
After a few minutes, Hermione headed over to the Werewolf Relations offices and waited outside Rogers' office in a chair by his assistant's desk. The cheerful, blonde assistant offered Hermione a glass of water, which she declined, feeling her stomach roil with nerves.
At half past, the door opened, and the assistant ushered Hermione inside. There was a single chair across from a table where the hiring committee was seated. The committee consisted of Billings, Rogers, and the deputy head of the Department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Luca Marino.
Having worked with Billings very closely for years, Hermione felt very confident speaking with her. She also knew Marino fairly well. She had only met Rogers a handful of times, but he was a very jovial man, and Hermione found that she immediately felt a rapport with him.
The interview went as well as Hermione could have hoped. She tried to be professional and knowledgeable about the position and the department while also maintaining a pleasant and humble demeanor.
After the interview, she passed Boyd as he waited for his. She offered him a smile and well wishes before returning to her desk. When Boyd returned, he seemed far less confident than Hermione felt. He frowned at his desk and told her that he thought he botched a few of the questions.
"I'm sure you did just fine."
Boyd shrugged. "I guess it doesn't matter. There's no way I'll get it over you."
"You never know." Hermione offered him a kind smile. But even as she said it, she knew how slim the chances were. Boyd had only been there a year. Hermione had more experience and a more extensive résumé. And she felt confident about her interview.
That evening, Draco joined her for dinner along with Pansy and Luna. Hermione told them about the interview as they sipped wine and ate the stew Luna had made.
"I'm sure you got it," Pansy insisted, leaning forward to rest her chin on the back of her hand.
"I don't know." Hermione didn't want to get her hopes up too much. "I'm sure there are several impressive candidates."
"Who could be more impressive than Hermione Granger?" Draco rolled his eyes.
"There are dozens of people in the department!" She paused to take a sip of wine. "For all I know, someone who's been around for ten years or more could have applied."
"And did any of them win a war?" Pansy arched an eyebrow at her.
"I didn't win a war," Hermione scoffed.
Draco laughed.
"I didn't! I assisted in a few minor events that may have led—"
"Potter would have died a hundred times over if you hadn't been there," Draco jammed his finger into the table top to emphasise his point. "And besides, it doesn't matter what you think your contributions to the war are. The entire Wizarding community regards you as a war heroine."
"Maybe so, but that doesn't automatically make me qualified to work in Werewolf Relations. Those two things have nothing to do with each other!"
"That's absolutely true, but I think you should remember that being who you are carries a lot of weight."
"I still would prefer to wait for any official words of celebration until the offer is made." Hermione skewered a potato with her fork and brought it to her lips. As much as she didn't want to get her hopes up, her friends' words combined with her confidence with how well the interview had gone had set a flame of hope burning in her heart.
Hermione was on edge all day Monday. She knew that it might be a few more days before the committee made their decision, but every time Billings' door opened, Hermione's heart leapt in anticipation of the potential offer. A few times, she was called into Billings' office, but it was just to go over reports or to discuss upcoming meetings.
For most of the day, Billings was in and out of her office in various meetings, to which Hermione and Boyd were not invited. Hermione had hoped for a day jam packed with meetings and other duties to fill her attention, but instead she was left to sit at her desk with nothing but busy work to occupy her time. She frequently found herself chewing her fingernails anxiously and staring off into space for several minutes before remembering to focus.
With only fifteen minutes left in the day, Hermione had all but given up on hearing any news about the job until at least tomorrow. She allowed her heart to slow as she finished up her duties and began to pack up for the day.
"Hermione." Boyd's voice was timid as he emerged from Billings' office and approached her desk.
Looking up, she saw that Boyd's face was pale, his eyes wide. "What's wrong?" Hermione asked, concern gripping her.
"Nothing… Well, I mean… I've just heard…" He paused, ringing his hands for a moment before shoving them into his trouser pockets. "Billings has just offered me the job in werewolf relations."
An icy chill swept through Hermione's veins. Boyd? They'd given it to Boyd? How could they have possibly given it to him over her? It had to be a mistake.
Realising that she was gaping at him incredulously, she quickly schooled her expression, snapping her mouth closed and clearing her throat. "Oh?"
"Yeah… Apparently Billings recommended me for it, and I guess that really tipped their decision."
Blood pounded in Hermione's ears. Billings had recommended Boyd. Even though Hermione had specifically requested a recommendation and had far more experience. Her vision blurred, and she blinked rapidly.
"Well, that's great." Hermione's voice sounded far away. Cold.
"I thought it was a mistake too. I told her it should have been you, but…"
But they didn't want her. Hermione's heart was in her feet. For some reason, the hiring committee hadn't liked her. Not for this post at least. Despite her glowing résumé and perfect interview and influence as a war heroine, they went with someone else.
Her throat tightened, the hot sting of angry tears burning in the corners of her eyes.
She hadn't gotten the job. She was still just Billings' assistant.
Maybe that's all she would ever be. A silent watcher in rooms where she had no voice. Rooms full of more powerful people who would continue to push her ideas to the side, who refused to wield their influence for the better. People who didn't deserve their positions.
She tried to think back through her résumé and interview for mistakes she might have made, some questions that she'd answered poorly, some detail on her application she'd overlooked that cast her in a negative light. Surely something must have escaped her attention that had ruined her chances.
It hardly mattered now. She had failed.
She blinked quickly to clear her vision of unshed tears. This was not the time to fall apart. Her friend and coworker had just been given a wonderful opportunity. She had to put on a brave face.
Standing, she plastered on a smile. "Well, that's wonderful, Alan. Really. Congratulations." She held out her hand for him, and he shook it tentatively.
"Thanks," he mumbled, his cheeks going slightly red.
"Listen, I'm going to head out a few minutes early." Hermione turned away from him quickly to hide her tears. She picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "I got in early today, and I'd like to run a few errands before the after work rush, you know."
"Of course."
"I'll, er—see you tomorrow."
"Bye, Hermione."
Without looking back, Hermione hurried from her desk, eager to put as much space between herself and Billings as possible. She took deep breaths as she took the lift back to up the Atrium, keeping her eyes down as she pushed through the crowds of smiling, laughing people on the way to the Floo.
As soon as she stepped foot into the flat, the tears came. They poured down her cheeks as a strangled sob left her throat.
Pansy poked her head out of the kitchen with curiosity as Hermione crossed through the living room, but Hermione didn't stop. She hurried to her room and closed the door, joining Crookshanks on the bed and curling up.
She let herself cry for the loss of her dream job. For the injustice of it going to Boyd. For her future of working being just the same for her.
Several minutes later, her door opened with a creak. "Granger?"
Hermione's heart quickened. Draco hadn't said he was planning on coming over tonight. She didn't want him to see her cry like this. "What are you doing here?" She sniffled, hiding her face in her pillows.
"Pansy Floo called me."
The bed shifted as he sat down on the edge. He didn't speak for several minutes.
Hermione didn't lift her head, but took a few moments to try to get her breathing under control. "I didn't get the job."
Silence, and then a gentle hand came down on her back to make soothing circles. "I'm sorry."
Suddenly, the tightness in her chest burned hot with anger. Her sadness was morphing into an ugly form of resentment. She sat up quickly, turning on Draco so fast that he flinched back from her. "And you know who did get the job? Boyd! He told me that his interview went terribly! Plus, he's been there for just barely a year. He doesn't have the experience for that position! Billings recommended him! And I'm going to have to sit in meetings with Billings and Boyd for the rest of my career and take notes and contribute nothing while they make all the important decisions. It's infuriating!"
Draco offered her a sympathetic nod. "They made the wrong choice."
"And I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up, but I just felt so confident. I don't understand how they could have given it to him! I figured they would go with someone else if I didn't get it. I could have tolerated that. But I know exactly how unprepared Boyd is for this job. Especially compared to me."
She flopped back onto the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. Sighing, she forced her anger to ebb away. "I don't know how I'm going to tolerate it. I don't think I can bear it. I just… I can't be an assistant any longer." The tears were returning, and she covered her face with her hands. "This was supposed to be my way out. My way to make a difference like I've always dreamed. I can't…" Her voice broke. "I can't do it anymore."
It was quiet for a moment. Hermione sniffled, wiping her face with her hands miserably.
"I want to quit."
It was a horrifying thought. She'd never quit anything in her life. Well, aside from Divination—but that had been a useless class. It was always her belief that one could achieve their goals with enough hard work and grit. But she'd put in the work, two long years of it, and she had nothing to show for it at all.
She sighed. "I don't know what I would do, though. Working at the Ministry always just seemed like the right place for me. Maybe I could see if any other departments have openings."
Draco was silent for a moment.
"Or you could come work for me."
Hermione opened her eyes, looking up at Draco incredulously. His gaze was steady on her.
"What?"
"I've offered before," he reminded her.
"As a joke."
Draco shook his head. "It wasn't a joke then, and it isn't one now. Come work for me."
Hermione sat up and took a shuddering breath. "Really?"
Draco's lips twitched. "It's my company, Granger. I can hire whoever I'd like."
"I don't want a job offer out of pity." She scowled at him.
He laughed. "Are you kidding? You'd be the smartest person on my payroll. I'd kill to have you on my staff."
"Well, what would I do there?"
Draco tucked a curl behind her ear and cupped her cheek affectionately. "I told you before, we need legal representation. Patents and the like. I also need representatives to meet with prospective clients who are familiar with what we do and what we can offer. Intelligent people who can then report back to us on what we need to develop. Or, if research and development is more interesting to you, we can find a place for you there. You say the word, Granger, and I'll even create a brand new position just for you."
Hermione frowned. She had always pictured herself at the Ministry. Her passion was in creating and changing legislation to benefit the oppressed members of Wizarding society. Werewolves, house-elves, Muggle-borns and the like. Her plan had always been to work her way up through the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures for a few years and eventually head the department. Perhaps even become Minister of Magic one day. That was her dream.
But maybe it was time for a new dream. Perhaps she could do some good in the world in other ways. Maybe this offer to work at Draco's company was what she was meant to do. She drew her knees into her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
"Well, what if we start working together and then… And then things don't work out between us?" she asked.
Draco shook his head. "I would never let our personal matters affect what happened at work. If you choose to work for me it would be separate from our relationship. Strictly professional in the workplace. And if we ever broke up, I wouldn't let it affect your position. If you chose to leave, I would respect it, but your job wouldn't be in jeopardy. I would never do that to you, regardless of whether or not we're a couple."
Hermione leaned into his hand, a few tears escaping her eyes. "Can you give me a couple of days to think it over?"
"Of course."
Draco leaned in and wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his chest, letting his warmth and steady heartbeat soothe her.
That night, Draco and Hermione spent the night together for the first time without having sex. He held her, and they talked. He told her what his company was working on currently, and they discussed what she might do if she came to work for him. As they were drifting off to sleep, Hermione felt an odd sense of peace wash over her. She hadn't gotten the job she'd wanted, but she would be okay. She had Draco, and relationship or not, he was going to take care of her.
"Okay," she murmured, not opening her eyes.
"Okay?" His voice was sleepy, his arms around her limp in his drowsiness.
"Okay, I'll take the job."
A pause, and then, "Really?"
Hermione nodded, opening her eyes to see him looking down at her with wide eyes.
He smiled. "I'll have the paperwork drawn up tomorrow." He pressed a kiss onto her forehead and pulled her a little closer, and Hermione let herself be lulled to sleep by his steadiness.
Hermione shook as she set her bag down at her desk the next morning. She had decided to give Billings her two weeks' notice. She had practiced her speech in her head a hundred times as she'd gotten ready that morning. With official notice of resignation in hand, she took a deep breath and knocked on her boss's door.
"Enter."
Hermione let herself in and moved to stand in front of Billings' desk.
The elderly witch looked up, regarding Hermione over the top of her glasses. "How may I help you, Miss Granger?"
Ignoring the pounding in her chest, Hermione reached out and placed the folded parchment on the desk. "I'm here to deliver my notice of resignation."
Billings' eyebrows twitched up as she reached for the parchment. "Resignation?"
"Yes." Hermione cleared her throat. "I believe that I've gotten everything I can from this position. It's time for me to move on."
Billings frowned as her eyes flitted over Hermione's resignation. "I see. And what will you do?"
"I've received an offer from Malfoy Enterprises."
Clasping her hands under her chin, Billings looked up at Hermione with pursed lips. "Is it no longer your ambition to enact change from within the Ministry?"
Hermione hesitated, feeling her resolve tremble within her.
Billings pressed on, her blue eyes piercing into Hermione's sternly. "I hired you, Miss Granger, because you came to me with not only passion, but with clear and precise plans for how you wanted to better our society for creatures who have so long been discriminated against." Billings stood and moved to a filing cabinet in the corner, opening it up and rifling through the tidy files within. "It was that passion that impressed me, but the organisation of your mind and determined focus of your resolve was what made me hire you."
Hermione stood very still. Was Billings trying to get her to stay? She couldn't. She couldn't devote herself to his job anymore. "And in the two years that I've been here, I haven't been able to enact a single one of those plans."
Billings returned to stand by her desk and handed a file to Hermione.
"What's this?"
"Your personnel file."
"Why—?"
"I interviewed at least a dozen young hopefuls for your position. Some with more experience than you had. Some with more connected families. But there was just something about you, Miss Granger. Take a look at your application. I wrote my notes to the Minister at the bottom."
Hermione flicked open the file and found her application right at the front. At the bottom, Billings' loopy handwriting detailed her first impressions of Hermione.
Miss Granger is a singularly focused individual with a driven mind and a deep passion for Magical Creatures of all kinds. She has incredible potential for upward mobility within this department and the Ministry as a whole. There is no doubt that within ten years, we will likely all be working for her. Top candidate.
Hermione looked up. Confusion was creeping into her bones. Where was this going? "If you saw such potential in me, why didn't you recommend me for the job in Werewolf Relations? Why give it to Boyd instead of me? Could you just not stand to lose me as an assistant?"
Billings' lips twitched up as she sank back into her chair. "I'm retiring, Hermione."
Hermione blinked. She'd never heard Billings mention retirement. She hadn't heard any whispers of it through the department. Not even from Boyd, and he loved to tell Hermione all the latest gossip about comings and goings in the workplace.
"Shacklebolt knows. But we've kept it fairly quiet so far. There won't be an official announcement until the end of next week." Billings reached out and straightened a photo on her desk of herself with two small children. Her grandchildren, Hermione guessed. With a smile, Billings continued. "I've known for quite some time that this department would need to be left in good hands. Hands that I knew would fight for the things that mattered. It can be very easy, as I'm sure you've seen over the past few years, to feel beaten down by how difficult it is to get things done in government. It takes a person with a certain amount of grit to not give up on the things that are the hardest."
Hermione's heart pounded. Her feet felt rooted to the spot.
"You've been my assistant for a long time. You've learned a lot about how this department works and how it's run. You know all the department heads and how to best deal with them in the boardroom. How could I have recommended you for a job in Werewolf Relations when I knew that you would very soon surpass that position?"
Surely she didn't mean…
"I've already discussed it with the Minister, and he has given his approval. It's a bit unorthodox for someone to make the leap from assistant to the Head of the Department, but we have no doubts in your ability to take the position with grace and confidence."
"Head of the Department?" Hermione parrotted, feeling numb.
"Yes. If you want it. Of course, I understand if this position at Malfoy Enterprises is more appealing to you, but if you still have passion for this line of work—and I suspect that you do—then I beg you to consider refusing that offer. If you do, then this office will be yours in less than a month."
Hermione looked around the office she'd come to know so well over the past few years. She tried to imagine herself sitting behind the desk. Her own photos on the desk. Her own books on the shelves.
It was her dream job. It had been her dream job since she was fourteen. Since she'd realised the depths of house-elf subjugation and knew that she'd do whatever it took to help them. Since she'd seen how difficult it was for Remus Lupin to become employed once the world knew of his condition. She'd dreamed of this desk, and the things she could do if she could only sit behind it.
"What about Marino?" she asked, thinking of the jovial Deputy Department Head. "Surely he's next in line."
Billings tilted her head thoughtfully. "He was considered, but frankly, he doesn't have your drive. He's been with the department so long that he's grown quite used to how things are. He no longer fights for change. He does his job well, but he doesn't have the ambition to look at things in a new and different way. It was the belief of myself and the Minister that some young blood is exactly what this department needs."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione asked, shaking her head. "Why let me apply for the other job when you knew I wouldn't get it?"
Billings shrugged. "Nothing was set in stone. I was in meetings with Kingsley all day yesterday trying to iron out the details. We didn't want to announce anything until we were sure of the timeline and could ensure an easy transition for the department. I didn't want to tell you and get your hopes up for something that might end up falling through."
"Is there still a chance it might?"
Shaking her head, Billings reached into the top desk of her drawer. "I planned to present this to you yesterday afternoon, but Boyd said you left a few minutes early. I suppose that's my fault for telling him of his new job offer before telling you of yours." She pulled out a thick stack of parchments. "It's your official offer to take over for me as Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. A two-year contract."
Hermione took the parchments. They sat heavy in her hands.
"You have until the end of the week to consider the offer. We will have to know by then so that we can look for another candidate if you refuse."
"Will I have to interview, or—?"
Billings chuckled. "You will have a brief meeting with me and the Minister, but it's little more than a technicality at this point. The offer is already in your hands, Miss Granger. The job is yours if you want it."
Hermione's heart soared. All those years of getting coffee and sitting silent in meetings with Billings had led to this moment. It hadn't been for nothing. She had paid her dues, and now she was getting everything she'd ever wanted.
She didn't need the rest of the week to think about it. This was where she belonged. "I'll take the job."
Billings' lips twitched into a smile. "So I take it you'd like to rescind this?" She held up Hermione's folded letter of resignation.
Hermione reached out and took it back from her, crumpling it in her fist.
"Very good," Billings said with a nod. "Take some time to look over the paperwork. I'll schedule a meeting for us with Kingsley for later today."
"Thank you," Hermione said, trying to keep the emotion out of her voice.
As she turned and made her way back to the door, Billings said, "No one deserves it more."
The rest of the day was spent reviewing her contract and meeting with Billings and Shacklebolt. She still could scarcely believe what was happening even as she signed her name next to the Minister's on her new contract and shook Shacklebolt's hand.
When she stepped through the Floo, Draco was already there, waiting for her on the couch with a grin and a stack of parchments.
"Hello," he said as he stood up and greeted her with a kiss. "So, I sat down with our legal team today and drew up a contract for you. Of course, we'll still have to figure out a few of the details surrounding your new position, but we've got the preliminaries here. Salary, benefits, that sort of thing."
It felt as if someone had doused Hermione with cold water. "Oh, erm…"
"What is it?"
She sat down on the couch, and he sank into the seat next to her. "I went to turn in my resignation today," she began, her hands trembling, "and Billings actually offered me another job."
Draco's eyebrows jumped. "Oh? What job?"
"Hers. Head of the Department."
Draco's eyes went wide as his stunned silence swept over them. Then, quick as a Snitch, his arms were around her in a tight hug. "Head of the Department! Granger, that's fantastic!" He kissed her cheek twice before pulling back to kiss her lips, holding her face in his hands.
When he broke away, Hermione grinned. "Yeah."
"You're taking it, right?"
"Erm… yes, I am."
He kissed her again.
"Draco, I'm sorry. I should have owled you. You went to so much trouble with this offer and figuring out the new position." She gestured to the packet of parchments on the coffee table.
"This? Forget it. It doesn't matter." He picked it up and threw it into the fire. "You're the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Granger!" He threw his arms around her again, murmuring into her ear. "I'm so proud of you."
Tears pricked at the back of Hermione's eyes as she embraced him. "You're not upset that we won't be working together?"
His fingers were in her hair, his hand cupping the back of her neck tenderly as he shook his head. "No. Not when you've got your dream job." He pulled back to kiss her again. "You've worked so hard for this. I don't want you to spend one second thinking about my feelings when all you should be doing is celebrating your accomplishment."
Tears spilled from her eyes as she leaned into him, squeezing him tight around the middle.
The Floo flared to life, and Hermione sat up to see Pansy stepping through, brushing soot from her robes and regarding the two on the couch with curiosity. "Bad day?"
Hermione let out a watery laugh and shook her head.
"You're looking at the recently-promoted Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures," Draco announced, gesturing to Hermione.
Pansy's jaw dropped.
"I won't start until September twenty-fourth, but it's official. I signed the paperwork and met with the Minister today."
Pansy's face broke out into a grin. "We have to celebrate. I'll pop out and get some champagne. Oh! We should have a party! Once the announcement has been made, of course. You can invite whoever you'd like!"
"We don't have to—"
"Of course we have to! Don't be ridiculous. In this flat we celebrate big events: birthdays, holidays, promotions, engagements, et cetera. Luna and I will organise everything. All you have to do is invite everyone you'd like to attend."
Hermione grinned and nodded.
"Now, shall I go get some champagne?"
"Actually, could we go out? Just the four of us?" Hermione suggested.
"Even better. I'll Floo Luna and tell her to meet us at The Leaky when she gets off work. We can get drinks there and toast to your success. Then we can go get dinner somewhere nice."
"Perfect."
Twenty minutes later, Luna met the three of them at The Leaky Cauldron and they toasted to Hermione's new endeavor.
The four of them stayed out late celebrating, and though Hermione knew that their photo would likely be in the paper the next morning and she'd have to deal with more attention tomorrow along with her inevitable hangover, she didn't care in the slightest.
When they got back to the flat, Hermione wobbled through the front door on her heels with a giggle, the champagne making her feel light. Pansy and Luna excused themselves to their bedroom as Draco helped Hermione to her room.
Hermione ushered Crookshanks out into the living room and closed the door, ignoring the curious look from Draco. She waved her wand, slurring a silencing charm and a contraceptive charm and giving him her best seductive look.
"You're drunk," he said, his lips twitching into a poorly concealed smirk.
"No, I'm not." But as she said it, she stumbled in her heels and crashed into his chest. He caught her tightly around the middle with a chuckle.
"Oh, really?"
Hermione melted into his chest and smiled up at him. "Maybe I'm a little tipsy…" she admitted, letting her hands roam his chest and shoulders. "But I'm not drunk."
Draco's fingers dug into her hips as she rolled against him.
"Stay the night," she pleaded, her fingers already loosening his tie.
"Are you sure you're not too drunk?"
Hermione pouted. "I'm not drunk," she insisted. "I just want you." She stood on tiptoe to kiss his jaw, clinging to his shoulders. She let her lips drag down his neck as her hands trailed to his trousers. "Come on," she purred, flicking open the button. "I want to keep celebrating."
"We both have to work in the morning," he reminded her.
"It's still early." She nipped at his earlobe as her hand stroked him through his trousers.
Draco's hands moved to the nape of her neck, and he bent his head to kiss her hard.
His kiss was sloppier than normal, hinting that he may have been more impaired than he was letting on as well. Hermione smiled as she leaned against him and swept her tongue between his lips. She pushed his chest, breaking their kiss as he sank down on the edge of the bed.
Perhaps the alcohol was to blame, or perhaps it was how supportive he'd been of her and her new job, but she wanted to do something… different for him tonight. He reached for her hips to pull her onto his lap, but she just leaned down and rested her hands on his thighs. She kissed him deeply before pulling back, watching with satisfaction as his eyes flickered to her chest as she leaned over.
Then, savouring the shock on his face, she sank to her knees before him. Her hands ran up his parted thighs to the zipper of his trousers, and she looked up at him through her eyelashes as she dragged it down.
"Granger…" He swallowed. "I—You don't have to."
Hermione pulled his cock free from his trousers, already hard. "I want to."
Her heart was pounding, but she didn't feel nervous as she had the last time she'd thought of doing this. She stroked him a few times, relishing the groan that escaped him. A small bead of liquid wept from him, and she leaned forward and swept her tongue over him to catch the salty drop.
Draco hissed, his hands twisting in her bedding.
Hermione grinned and then opened her mouth wide and took him in inch by inch, keeping her lips tight around him.
"Fuck."
She couldn't take him very deep, so she wrapped her fist around the base of his cock and let her hand do what her mouth couldn't reach. Lifting her head back up, she dragged her tongue along him.
Releasing him with a pop, she pumped him with her hand a few times as she swirled her tongue around the head of his cock.
"Yes."
Draco's eyes were trained on her as she looked up at him and closed her lips around him again, and she felt his gaze like heat on her skin.
He groaned, and his head dropped back for a moment. One of his hands moved from the bed to bury in her curls. He didn't guide her movements, for which she was grateful, but made gentle, coaxing circles. "That's it, Granger."
Emboldened by his praise, Hermione opened her mouth and took him as deep as she could. Saliva pooled in her mouth and coated his cock as he gasped. Then, she pulled back and sank down again, moving her hand with her as she did.
She took her time, trying to pay attention to what Draco seemed to like and then doing her best to replicate it.
He seemed to like it when she looked up at him with his cock in her mouth. The second time she did this, his hand came to the side of her cheek with such tenderness that it made heat pool at her core. She sucked hard, and he groaned, his thumb gently stroking the hollow of her cheek.
As Draco's mouth opened and he cursed again, one thought entered her mind: she'd never felt so powerful while on her knees.
She began to pick up speed, keeping more constant pressure while varying her movements.
"Oh, Merlin…" His throat clicked, and his fingers tightened in her hair. "If… If you don't stop, I'm going to come, Granger."
She hummed lightly as she lifted her head off of him. She offered one final kiss on the tip of his cock before smiling up at him.
"Was that okay?" she asked.
Draco let out a breathless laugh. "Okay? Granger, it was perfect."
Hermione couldn't help the pride that swelled in her chest.
He reached forward and helped her off the ground, pulling her to straddle him. Her pencil skirt rode up her thighs, and his cock brushed over her lacy knickers.
Their mouths met in a searing kiss as he pulled her hips forward against his lap.
She gasped as they connected, their breath mingling.
His hand moved, reaching between them and brushing over her soaked knickers as she pulled back slightly.
Panting, Hermione swivelled her hips, chasing his touch, begging for release.
With a smirk, Draco pulled her knickers to the side and sank two fingers into her soaking cunt. She whimpered and leaned forward to kiss him again.
He continued to tease her, pumping his fingers into her as his thumb brushed over her clit until she was panting for him.
Just when she was about to pull away to rid herself of her clothes, Draco lifted her hips up and then pulled her down, his cock filling her up as she gasped at the sudden movement.
Still fully clothed, Hermione pushed herself up and sank down again, gripping his shoulders for support.
Draco's fingers dug into her hips, his mouth falling open each time she rolled her hips against him. He cursed, lifting his head to her to capture her lips again.
One of his hands moved, delving into her hair to pull her closer by the nape of her neck while the other moved down, brushing over her clit above where they were joined. His mouth left hers, and he dipped his head to her chest, nipping along her collarbones and kissing the tops of her breasts.
"Draco…" It came out of her like a whine. Her thighs were shaking from exertion, but she didn't dare slow down, not when her body was soaring higher and higher towards that blissful peak.
His breath was growing more ragged, his brow furrowed in concentration as his thumb danced frantically over her clit. He was muttering under his breath, broken curses and fragmented thoughts filling the space between them.
Hermione's hips bucked, and she felt herself falling over the edge. She opened her mouth and a strangled cry escaped. Her body quaked, her cunt constricting around his cock as he cursed and came deep within her.
Slowly, Hermione's body relaxed, the spasms subsiding to a blissfully sated feeling. She smiled at him, and he smiled back before their lips met again, holding each other close.
After a moment, she lifted herself off his cock, feeling his release spill from her.
Draco guided her to sit on the bed and then slowly unzipped her skirt. He undressed her gently, reverently, until she was naked before him. Then he stood and undressed, himself. After dousing the lights, he pulled the covers back, and they both climbed into bed.
Hermione curled into his chest, kissing him gently as her fingers drew delicate patterns against his skin. He held her tight, kissing her back tenderly.
After a moment, he pulled back slightly, his eyes meeting hers with a softness she couldn't place.
"You're incredible, do you know that?"
Hermione's heart fluttered, and she suspected that he wasn't talking about what they'd just done together. Something was stirring within her—some sentiment that she'd long forgotten breathing new life within her heart.
She kissed him, hoping to keep her mouth busy enough to avoid saying something she might regret come morning.
A/N: Only one chapter left! It should post on January 7th (hello, 2021!)
Let me know what you think! Please leave a comment if you're so inclined. Find me on Tumblr (graceful-lioness) and come hang out with us on the Dept. of Fandom Discord server in the #gracefullioness channel.