A/N: I just want to make a quick note that I rewrote a scene from HBP, Chapter 21 and used some dialogue straight from the book to fit into this particular fic a little more. I moved it around in the timeline a little, but overall it doesn't change anything that's canon. Disclaimer- I don't own any Harry Potter anything other than the plot to this fic.

Chapter 15

Draco was forcing down a cup of black coffee when his Eagle Owl, Calix, landed on his shoulder. He reached up and took the letter from his slate colored beak and brushed a few fingers over his mottled chest feathers. He recognized his Mother's handwriting on the thick envelope and dread filled him, stirring the bitter coffee in his empty stomach.

"Cal," He lifted a piece of sausage up and Calix leaned down, hungrily snapping it up. His Mother had given him Calix right before he left for Hogwarts, saying that he needed his own owl so that he could write to her whenever he wanted. His letters were infrequent these days and he hadn't even bothered bringing Calix back to school with him this term.

The light weight of his owl lifted from his shoulder as Calix took to the sky again, flapping his large wings silently before soaring out of one of the high windows. Draco watched him disappear into the sunlight streaming in. For a moment he was envious of the bird and his easy escape, rising into the sky and leaving everything behind.

Soon he would be doing just that. After he had completed his task he planned on slipping into the Vanishing Cabinet and fleeing from the school. He didn't care about seeing his classmates or not completing his seventh year of school. What would a scroll of parchment saying he graduated matter compared to the eternal vow he had branded on his skin?

He would have glory, be honored beyond all others for ending the Headmaster's life and even though the act itself unsettled him, his ambition slithered through him, lifting its head and flicking its tongue out, tasting the greatness he would soon achieve.

But once he stole away there would be no return and that meant the end to his involvement with Granger. Not only would Dumbledore's death set in motion events sparking the beginning of the war they all knew was coming, but she would hate him for it. And she would hate herself for what she had done with him.

What would she do if she ever found the mark on him? God, having her hands on his chest and her soft skin caressing his face had been like standing in the sun on a summer day. She lit him up from within and he wanted to feel more. He wanted to feel her skin against his, her tits brushing against his chest, her hands running down his back, nails digging in.

But it was impossible. There was no way that he could hide the mark; concealment charms didn't work on it and it was in a place that he couldn't exactly cover if he had his shirt off. Still, the dark mark didn't stop him from wanting to strip himself and her down to only their flesh and indulging in his favorite guilty pleasure.

He glanced over at the Gryffindor table and found her tousled toffee head easily. She was sitting with Potter as usual, but also… Weasley. What was he doing over there? They weren't friends, she had said so herself. Why was he sitting next to her and… Oh shit.

Granger was biting her lip, cinnamon eyes burning as she listened to Weasley talk, using his hands way too much making him look like some kind of ape trying to communicate.

No.

No fucking way he was letting that absolute Weasel burrow his way back in. He didn't know much about what had happened between them last term, but one day Granger was friends with Weasley and the next she wasn't and she was meeting him late at night in dark corridors. There was a correlation there and Draco had no intention of letting things reset.

She was his Mudblood. No, his… girl. She was a girl.

Granger was a girl. Not a Mudblood, just a girl. And it looked like Weasley had finally figured that out too.

"What did you get, Draco?"

Pansy's voice jolted him out of his dark fantasies of ripping one of Weasley's long arms off and beating his face in with it and he landed roughly back in his body. He looked down at the letter clutched in his hand. He had crushed it in his fist and he quickly shoved it in his pocket.

"Nothing."

She leaned in and whispered, "Is it from… him?"

Draco stared at her incredulously. He had always been so careful, even though he knew Pansy wouldn't care. Seeing the dark mark on him probably turned her on and the way her dark eyes were glittering told him he was right.

"Who the fuck are you talking about, Pansy?" Draco snarled.

She pulled back, surprised at his tone. "I… I don't know." She backtracked.

"You're right. You don't know. And you better keep it that way."

Draco shoved himself up. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Granger's tell-tale curls and knew she was watching him, but he didn't look over at her before he stalked out of the Great Hall.

He didn't have a chance to read the letter until that evening and as soon as he had, he wished he hadn't. His Father was not well. The Ministry had finally granted his Mother permission to visit Azkaban, but only because her husband was doing so poorly. She had sounded worried and urged him to do well this year, for the good of the family. His Mother had cleverly disguised her meaning, but he could read between the lines well enough.

He wasn't sure if he could rightly say he loved his Father, but he certainly loved his Mother and her pleading and description of the awful conditions his Father was being kept in moved him. As far as his Father went, Draco admired him for the success that he had achieved and had tried for years to be worthy of the approval he so desperately desired, yet never obtained.

Killing Dumbledore ought to do the trick.

Yet he had let his Father sit in a frozen cell and rot while he was fucking a disgusting Mudblood who… Merlin, he couldn't deal with this; this back and forth, these confusing thoughts and confounding feelings. There had been only one reason he returned to Hogwarts this year instead of taking a position as a Death Eater at the Dark Lord's side. His head had been clear when he came back- plan and plot the murder and once he was done, all would be right again. His Father would be allowed to come back, his Mother would stop pacing the halls, and he would finally have earned his Father's approval and be worthy of the Malfoy name he was born under.

And then Granger had spread her whore legs and fucked it all up for him. He wanted to blame her for all of this. It was easier that way. Blame wizarding society for being so weak that the bottom was falling out from under them. Blame the Blood Traitors for breaking traditions and letting in inferior magical bloodlines. Blame the world for being so fucked up in the first place. But more than anything, blame the pretty little Mudblood who was fucking him up so badly.

What would his Father say if he could see him right now? If he knew the way he really felt? Knew that Granger had sunk her claws in and Draco was falling prey to her. He rubbed his forehead where a headache was numbingly pulsating. He needed a drink. Right fucking now.

He started down the stairs to his dorm room to grab one of the bottles Borgin had sent him. Draco opened the door to his dormitory and was greeted with the sight of Pansy's tits jumping up as she fucked herself on top of Theo. She was making an awful lot of noise, more than necessary and after having her so many times, Draco knew that those noises were mostly for Theo's benefit.

Pansy turned towards him, a lock of black hair stuck to her lip, and smiled at him. She kept her eyes on him and didn't stop bouncing.

Theo finally noticed him standing there and threw her off of him, slamming her against the bed and trying to cover her up. He glared darkly back at Draco.

Draco rolled his eyes and walked past Theo's bed towards the trunk at the foot of his. "Don't mind me," He rummaged in his trunk. "I got what I came for." He lifted up the bottle of fire whisky and shook it, the amber liquid sloshing inside.

Theo pulled the blankets further around Pansy and himself. "You could have knocked," He said nastily.

"Nothing I haven't fucked before." Draco shrugged and Pansy giggled.

Theo threw her a dark look before turning back. "Not anymore though. So keep your eyes to yourself."

"Theo," Pansy pouted. "Don't be a spoil sport."

"Yeah, Theo," Draco mocked. "Just because she likes licking my balls doesn't mean she won't lick yours too."

"Shut your mouth!" Theo shouted. "She won't be licking your anything anymore! Pansy's with me now, isn't that right? Pansy? Pansy!"

Pansy was staring at Draco and licked her lips.

And just because he could, Draco winked at her.

He chuckled as he closed the door behind him with Theo's shouts reverberating into the hall. Fucking with Theo made him feel a little better. He pulled the cork out of the bottle and drank deeply. That made him feel better too.

Now, if only he could have Granger licking his balls, that would be-

Draco scowled. No. He needed to focus on repairing the Vanishing Cabinet, not on Granger and her soft tongue. He couldn't waste any more time on her, even though he couldn't stop thinking that his time with her was running out. The letter felt heavy in his pocket and he felt the weight of his responsibilities bearing down on him.

Tucking the bottle into the inside of his robes, Draco made his way to the Room of Requirement. It was going to be a long night.

Hermione began to worry about Malfoy. She had taken some time to sort through everything that had happened the other night and what kept cropping back up was Malfoy's tired expression and lean chest. He had never been bulky, but now the angles of his cheekbones were sharper and he had stopped fixing his hair, letting it rest messily on his forehead.

She was being more careful though and made sure that she only snuck glances at him when Ron and Harry were otherwise occupied. Having Ginny around made it both easier and harder. Harry seemed to be in a better mood when she was with them and would tear himself out of his Potions book to talk to her and Ginny was a good buffer to help her and Ron's shaky friendship get back on track. It also meant another person she had to watch out for.

But it was Lavender that she was most concerned about. Her blue eyes followed Hermione and she could not ignore their icy glare. It seemed that Lavender blamed Hermione for the sorry state of her relationship with Ron. More than once Hermione walked into her dorm room and had gotten the impression that Lavender and Parvati had just been talking about her. She hadn't worried much about this though, until this morning.

Hermione was bending over, sticking her Charms book back in her bag as the rest of the class filed out when she felt something brush against her backside. Jumping, she spun around and saw Malfoy grinning at her.

Her breath hitched in her throat and she tried to calm her pulse as it pumped quickly, excitement reaching into her fingertips.

"What are you doing?" She whispered.

Malfoy's eyes shone like silver. "Seeing you bent over again… I just couldn't resist."

Heat flushed into her face and she forced herself to take in a large breath. She was about to reply when she noticed Lavender pretending to adjust the strap on her bag and Hermione was seized with anxiety.

Malfoy followed her line of sight and his expression turned cold as he saw Lavender trying to act like she wasn't watching them from the other side of the room.

"I don't care that you're behind, I'm not going to help you with your coursework," Hermione said loud enough for Lavender's eavesdropping to pick up.

"Like you could ever do anything for me," He sneered at her. "And from the looks of it, you don't do anything for anyone."

The change in him was so instantaneous that Hermione felt it like a slap to the face. His grey eyes were like iron as he glared at her. No trace of the cheeky tone he had before, Malfoy was as cold as the marble he was carved from.

She glanced over to Lavender, making sure that this display was at least doing its intended job. Lavender ducked her head down and headed quickly out of the room. Hermione hadn't expected her to say stick up for her; it wasn't like they were friends or anything. She couldn't help but think that even when they were fighting, Ron wouldn't have let anyone talk to her like that. Except maybe himself; he had said terrible things about her. Goodness, everything was so complicated now.

She had been so lost in her thoughts that she was surprised when Malfoy grabbed her around the waist and pulled her towards him. "I didn't mean it." Hermione breathed in deeply through her nose, not trusting herself to open her mouth right now. "You know that, right?"

He leaned down, searching her face. She nodded, not meeting his eyes.

"Don't worry, Brown bought it." He leaned her into the desk behind her.

"Malfoy," Hermione sighed. "Not now." Hearing Malfoy voice the reason that Ron had chosen Lavender over her left a bad taste in her mouth, even if it had just been for show.

"I didn't mean it," He said again, like that was just supposed to make it all better. "You need me to show you what you do to me?" He pushed her hand down to his groin. Hermione pulled it out of his grasp. "Come on, Sweetheart-"

"I know what you mean when you call me that." She stared at a chair off to the side.

"What are you talking about?"

Hermione huffed. His fake insult bothered her more than it should have, more than she would have liked. She had heard things like that many times before and ignored it, but this time she couldn't seem to shake it. And deep down she knew it was because Malfoy had been the one to say it. "It's just-"

The corridor outside grew loud with voices and she knew it wouldn't be long before students from the next class began to filter in.

Draco must have had the same thought because he looked annoyed for a moment before wrapping his hand around the back of her neck. He pressed his lips to hers before she could think and then said, "Tell me tonight, okay? Meet me in the Restricted Section," before walking briskly towards the door, pulling it open and disappearing into the throng of people outside.

Hermione stood there, mouth open and slightly wet from his kiss, staring as the door closed slowly behind him.

Hermione frowned. She had spent the last two hours helping Harry brainstorm how to get the memory he needed from Slughorn. She loved him, but goodness, he could be stubborn and every time he pulled out the Prince's potion book to look for the answer in there she couldn't help but glare at it like he had done something personally wrong to her.

Having Ron with them helped though and she breathed a little easier now that he was back in her life again. It was still a little awkward between them, but it was getting easier. Sometimes it even felt like it had before. Except he was still dating Lavender and she was having sex with Draco Malfoy. So… not exactly like it had been before.

Hermione pinched her lips together, trying to suppress the thoughts of her and Malfoy and ducked her head down behind the large leather cover of her book to hide her rosy cheeks. Malfoy would have made some sleazy comment about how those weren't her only cheeks that turned red. She couldn't think about that, not here, not now. Not with her friends right next to her.

She glanced over the top of her book at Ron who was working on an essay for Snape with his tongue between his teeth. The tip of his quill brushed his nose and he sneezed.

"Bless you," Hermione said quickly.

Ron looked up at her, his mouth pulling in an easy smile. "Thanks."

Harry interrupted the moment, which she was not ungrateful for. Things were… different between her and Ron. Their friendship had returned, although on shaky soil, but other things had seemed to return too. Things like feelings she thought she had squashed. Feelings that made her very confused because they almost felt like- Nope. Not even thinking about that.

At least she had a lot of her plate keeping her busy. Professors were starting to talk more seriously about end of year exams and the importance of them if students wanted to carry on in their chosen subjects to the final NEWT level next year. Hermione was very excited to progress further and was throwing herself into her schoolwork even more than she usually did. It was a good distraction for when Ron walked off to join Lavender late in the evenings.

But next weekend offered an exciting opportunity for sixth years who were coming of age soon. There was to be an extra Apparition lesson in Hogsmeade and Hermione was buzzing over it. Ron was, as always, extremely nervous, but Hermione could not have been more excited.

It also meant that they got to get out of the castle for a day and that in itself was worth giving up a Saturday for an extra lesson. Their last Hogsmeade weekend had been cancelled due to the increased security measures and what had happened to Katie there. Now that Ron had been attacked too, there was no telling when their next chance to get out of the school would be.

She chewed on her lip, still trying to figure out who could have gotten Katie that necklace and poisoned the mead that Ron had drank. Harry, of course, was convinced it was Malfoy. She had rolled her eyes when he went into his theory again and then told him to focus on the memory for Dumbledore and not on Malfoy. Because she needed to not focus on Malfoy and it was hard when her best friend brought him up every five seconds.

"How d'you spell 'belligerent'?" Ron frowned down at his essay. "It can't be B-U-M-"

"No, it isn't," Hermione said quickly, holding back a laugh. "And 'augury' doesn't begin with O-R-G either." What kind of essay was he writing? "What kind of quill are you using?"

"It's one of Fred and George's Spell-Check ones… but I think the charm must be wearing off…" His red brows fell over his eyes as he scanned the parchment in front of him.

"Yes, it must." Hermione pointed at the title at the top of the page. "Because we were asked how we'd deal with dementors, not 'Dugbogs' and I don't remember you changing your name to 'Roonil Wazlib' either."

"Ah no!" Ron exclaimed, his broad shoulders sagging. He had put a bit more onto his frame this year from Quidditch. Hermione tore her eyes away from him and glanced back down at his essay.

"Maybe you should," Harry joked. "Might help you dodge your girlfriend" He nodded to Lavender a few tables away, working on a star chart with Parvati for Divination.

"It's okay, we can fix it." Hermione pulled the essay out of Ron's hands and set to work on it, tapping her wand on the misspelled words and watching the ink correct itself into the proper spelling.

Ron leaned back into his chair and rubbed his eyes with one hand. "I love you, Hermione."

She nearly dropped her wand. Her stomach did half a dozen backflips inside her and her blood sang as it raced into her heart. She knew he didn't mean it, not like that, but still… hearing those words… Hermione felt herself blush again and this time, didn't think about what comments Malfoy would have made. Just replaying Ron's voice a few times over in her head.

She glanced back over to her dorm mates. "Don't let Lavender hear you saying that."

She had enough trouble from Ron's girlfriend already and did not want any more. Although, it had felt incredibly great to stand up to her in the courtyard. Telling her off and-

"What's gotten into you?" Lavender asked.

"Something bigger and better than what's gotten into you."

Something in the back of her mind was also very glad that Malfoy hadn't heard him say that either.

Hermione blinked her eyes wide and tried to focus on fixing Ron's essay while he and Harry talked about his failing relationship. Normally she would have been mildly interested in hearing how miserable Ron was with Lavender, but… Although she wasn't one of Hermione's favorite people, she would never have said Lavender was a dumb girl. And she had been watching Hermione for some time now. Hermione had been careful, or course; neither her nor Malfoy had wanted this to get out, but Nott had almost caught them. How careful had they been?

She needed to stop thinking about him. She needed to put everything about him out of her mind and just focus on her studies and spend her free time helping out Harry. He needed the memory and Dumbledore wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important. And if Dumbledore thought it was important then that meant it would help in the war that was coming. She didn't even want to think about what that would mean for the two of them.

There was no two of them. She had to remember that. She needed to put him out of her mind entirely.

Hermione finished Ron's essay and handed it back to him.

"Thanks Hermione, I owe you one."

"Really, it was nothing." She smiled and shook her head.

"I mean it," Ron's hand touched hers as he took the essay from her. His blue eyes shone like sparkling water and crinkled with his smile. "I don't know what I would do without you."

A small high-pitched noise and a thin smile was her only response.

The dark hallway stretched out in front of her. Her arms pumped at her sides and her hair blew back from her face as she ran harder, her breath burning in her lungs. She felt like she was running through water, moving slowly although she was trying as hard as she could to reach the door at the end of the hallway.

"Come on, Hermione! Hurry!" Ron beckoned her forward, holding the door open. She reached out her hand, trying to grab onto his. So close; she could see his palm, red and open, feel the heat of it on her fingers but something was holding her back. She couldn't quite get a hold of him.

Hermione was screaming, tossing her arms and legs wildly as the arms closed around her, dragging her backwards down the dark hallway.

"Hermione!" Ron was shouting, panic on his face, but he made no move to follow her, just standing there with his hand held out.

Her messy curls fell into her face, blocking her view of the open door, growing smaller as whoever had grabbed a hold of her hauled her farther away. It had happened. A Death Eater had caught her in the Department of Mysteries. They would torture her, they would kill her. They would make Harry give up the prophecy to save her and it would all be for nothing.

The smooth tiles of the hallway turned into books, old, musty books sitting on high shelves. Hermione pulled at the arms, clawing at them, trying to get them off of her, but they were draped in black robes and the hands covered in leather gloves. All her efforts failed. Finally the Death Eater shoved her against the wall of books and Hermione felt her head hit a shelf. Hard.

Half a second she took to try and clear her dazed head, but that was all he needed as he threw his body against hers, pinning her to the shelf behind her. His hands moved over her, sliding down her sides and gripping her waist roughly. She could hear his breathing behind the mask, heavy and heated. A hot shot of adrenaline rushed through her and she looked up into the cold metal mask bearing down on her. Shining silver eyes were glaring down at her.

"Forget something?" The Death Eater whispered, inching his face closer to hers. "Sweetheart?"

Hermione jerked awake. She was out of breath as if she really had been running down the darkened halls of the Department of Mysteries. It was a dream, that was all, just a dream. She hadn't been running, she hadn't been caught, but the Death Eater... She knew those eyes, she knew that voice. Hermione closed her eyes for a moment. But he wasn't a Death Eater. Malfoy couldn't possibly be-

Good Godric, Malfoy!

She was supposed to have met him tonight. It had completely slipped her mind once she, Harry, and Ron had started hanging out. Hermione threw her legs over the side of the bed and grabbed her robe, slipping it on. He was going to be so upset that she didn't show up. Would he still be there? She had to check either way. If he wasn't, then she'd deal with this in the morning and if he was… He was sure to make her pay for her tardiness. Oh my.

"Where are you going?" Lavender asked sleepily, rolling over in her bed as Hermione pulled the dormitory door open.

"Couldn't sleep. Just going to go read downstairs." She made up the lie quickly. Lavender's brows pulled together and she rubbed her eye. Hermione gave her a little shrug and a flat smile, hoping to dispel any questions Lavender might have before pulling the door behind her.

She ignored Lavender when she called out, "You forgot your book!"

"Well, well, well, look who finally decided to show up."

Draco was drunk. He had waited all evening for Granger to appear and gotten bored. And without Granger the best cure for boredom was a bottle of Ogden's. He tried to sneer at her, but his lips twisted and it came out more of a half grin. Damn whisky.

"I'm sorry," She huffed, breathing hard. "I didn't mean to keep you waiting."

Draco sauntered over to her. He wasn't normally a happy drunk, but seeing Granger had put him in a good mood. She was here. With him. He stopped in front of her, swaying a little on his feet and reached out, touching a curl near her face.

Granger sucked in a quick breath, holding it in her chest. Her chocolate eyes widened and her pupils expanded a little. Draco smirked. He loved the effect he had on her. Loved that she breathed a little faster when he looked at her, got wet when he touched her. Draco pushed his hand into her tousled hair, running his fingers through it.

"Malfoy… What are you doing?"

He slid his eyes to her face and saw the confused expression there. It was only then that he realized that he was running his hand through her hair repeatedly and while her breath had quieted, his own was now heavy.

Draco pulled his hand back out of her hair and caught a whiff of the cinnamon vanilla that always hung on her. God, he could eat her whole.

"What did you just say?" Granger's asked, looking at him like he had gone mad. Had he said something by accident?

"Huh?" Draco tried to focus on her face. Such a pretty face. Big eyes, sloping nose, pretty pink lips. Those lips…

Granger pushed him back. When did his face get so close to hers? Why was his mouth open? "You smell like a rag at the Hog's Head." She wrinkled her nose and fucking hell she looked adorable.

"It's not my fault," He mumbled. "I was left unsup- unsupervisor-ed." His tongue was too big for his mouth. Maybe she'd let him put it in hers.

"Merlin, Malfoy," Granger pushed him back as he leaned in again. "How much did you drink?"

He held up the bottle and looked at it, trying to make the image of it stop moving. Giving up, he shrugged and took another swallow.

"Give me that," She said waspishly and pulled the bottle from him. A little spilled on his chin as she shoved it onto an empty space on the shelf.

"Don't waste it," He grumbled and wiped his face with the back of his sleeve.

"You don't need any more." She glared at him. She was so cute when she was mad. Draco grabbed her and pulled her against him. Her hands landed on his upper arms and she looked up at him with those big brown eyes. He slid his hand around her to grab her ass through her skirt when he realized she wasn't wearing her skirt. She was wearing pajamas under a light pink robe.

"Did you… were you in bed, Granger?" He asked. She looked up at him guiltily. "You forgot about me."

"I didn't mean to! I was…" She stopped talking for a moment. "I was tired. I've been having dreams and-"

Draco pulled her a little closer and grinned wolfishly down at her. "Dreams about me?" She blushed. Fuck, she was dreaming about him. His pulse quickened, pushing the alcohol through his veins a little faster. "Was I fucking you?"

Even in the darkness of the restricted section he could see the deep blush that bloomed on her cheeks. Mmm, maybe he should punish her with another spanking session and turn her ass red again. Draco pushed her back against the books. Or maybe he should fuck her against the shelves again.

She tensed in his arms, staring up into his eyes. Something in them made him hesitate.

"Well, I can forgive you this one time, but only because you were dreaming of my dick." She felt so good in his hands, pressed against him. He wondered if she was still wet from her dream.

Granger fought against the smile on her lips. No, don't fight it. A wave of whisky hit his brain and Granger's eyes swam before him, doubling and swaying. He took a step back, stumbling a little and losing his grip on her.

"Are you okay?" She asked, reaching out for his face, but stopping before her skin touched his. Fucking touch me, Granger. Put your hands on me.

Okay… she hadn't been okay today after Charms. That's why she was here, that's why they were meeting. "You're not."

"I'm not what?"

"Okay."

"…Okay…?"

"You don't want me to call you Sweetheart anymore?"

She hesitated, staring at him like she was going to find an answer somewhere on his face. "Why do you call me that?"

"Because I like to."

"It's not like the other names you call me," She said apprehensively. No… guarded. Granger was nervous.

He tilted his head to the side and let his eyes move over her. Thin cotton pajamas and that lovely little pink robe… He wondered if she was wearing knickers. "Don't worry, you're still my dirty slut."

She tossed her head to the side quickly, caramel curls following her. "Still a Mudblood to you too." Her voice was soft.

What the fuck? What the fuck was she talking about? He hadn't called her that since she said it was a hard line.

Granger turned back towards him, her dark eyes tight. "When you call me Sweetheart I know you mean Mudblood."

Salazar fucking Slytherin, girls were insane. He might be drunk, but she was the one who was out of her mind.

Draco took a deep breath. "Granger." She ignored him, staring down at the floor. "Granger," He said a little more insistently. His arms felt heavy and his head was spinning. How much had he drank? He wasn't even keeping track anymore. He tried to pull himself together; he needed to be in control right now. "Granger, look at me."

She looked up, eyes wide. He wanted to push her to her knees and have her look up at him like that with his cock between her lips. Run his hand through her curls again…

"What?" She asked and he realized he had been staring at her again.

"I call you Sweetheart because you're so…" He took a step towards her. Fuck, he wanted to touch her. Wanted to pull on the tie of her robe and lay her out on it. Wanted to bury himself inside her- "Sweet…"

"Malfoy, you're drunk." Her accusatory tone cut through his fantasy. "I know I was late, but if you wanted to have a conversation about this then you shouldn't have-"

"You told me not to call you that anymore so I stopped. What else do you want from me?" He snapped. This was more familiar, the whisky burning in him and causing steam to rise into his head.

"Nothing," She shook her head. "I don't want anything." Granger turned to leave.

Draco grabbed her elbow and pulled her back. "You sure about that?" He breathed out and watched her lips part ever so slightly. Not enough for his cock, but enough for his tongue. Draco dove in.

Granger groaned and pushed against him for a moment before her hands closed around his shirt, holding onto him. Draco had to stop himself from smirking so he could kiss her properly. He yanked her robe open. She wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling herself against him. Her shirt lifted a little and Draco brushed his fingers against the smooth skin of her stomach before sliding them up her shirt and yes, oh fuck yes, she wasn't wearing a bra.

He pinched her nipples until they hardened under his fingers then rolled them between them, pulling and teasing. Granger moaned on his tongue. Her body was so responsive to him and she loved every dirty little thing he did to her. He could probably make her come just from this if he tried. Fuck, she was filthy. Sweet and dirty and… his.

"Suck my cock," His voice was hoarse when he tried to speak. "You're so good at it. I think about it all the time. Your mouth," he kissed her again, "Around me."

"Malfoy-" If he had been sober he might have been able to pick up the hesitation in her voice but drunk all he could hear was his name coming from between her lips.

"Suck me," He pushed his hips against hers. "I know you want to. I know you love it. Love pleasing me. You can't help it. It's your nature."

She pulled her face away from his. "You're drunk."

"And you're a slut. My filthy little cocksucking-" Draco tripped as she shoved him back. "What the fuck, Granger?"

"You…" She pulled her robe back around herself. "I don't like you when you're drunk."

"I don't like you at all." He snarled. Another long look from those deep eyes. Well, shit. He rolled his head over his shoulders. "Granger-"

"No, no you're right." She said, tying her robe back closed. "You don't like me." She was thinking. He could practically see the thoughts churning in her head. "And I knew that. I know that."

"I don't… not… like you."

Oh shit. He really was drunk.

Three seconds that felt like three hours and she was on him again. A high pitched noise escaped her as she pressed her lips against his, open and asking permission. Draco wrapped his arms around her body, holding her against him. He reached one hand up into her messy curls and held her head, controlling their kiss and controlling her.

"I want you," She breathed out and Draco was hard. It was straining in his trousers, pushing to get free. She slid her hand in between them and palmed it.

Draco groaned. Yes, yes, yes. She was so warm and soft and oh, God, he was going to come. She was stroking him over his trousers and about to make him come. Who was this girl? His girl. That's who she was.

"Please," She whined. He groaned again, but this time in frustration. He was drunk, too drunk to fuck her. Not when he was this close. He might mess up, he might come in her. Oh fuck, the thought of coming in her tight, wet, cunt made him jerk almost violently and he grabbed onto her arms hard.

"Stop." He growled. His cock was screaming at him, swollen and hurting. Draco pushed her away. He needed to get himself back in control. He needed to calm down. Granger was driving him crazy and-

"I can't believe this." Hurt, anger, and shame burned in her cinnamon eyes. Oh, shit. She thought he stopped her because he didn't want her? She was backing away from him, holding herself.

"Granger, I don't-"

"Don't worry, I heard you the first time," She forced out the words, looking everywhere that wasn't him.

"I can't fuck you-"

"I know."

"No. Fuck. Listen to me-" Her image swayed in front of him and he grabbed onto a shelf for balance. "You're… you're hot and I'm… fuck, I'm pissed."

She rolled her eyes. "You have a problem, Malfoy." She was calling him Malfoy again. No more Draco. The whisky burned in him. "You need to stop drinking."

"Don't you tell me what to do, you fucking-"

"What?" She glared at him. "What am I?"

He let go of the shelf and forced himself in front of her. "You're mine."

Fire flickered in her eyes. "Not when you're drunk. You're rude and I… I don't like you when you're drunk."

"And when I'm not?" He asked the question without thinking.

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. You won't remember this tomorrow anyways."

"Granger…" He slurred her name.

She took a deep breath. "Just… just don't drink anymore. Please?"

Granger turned and got a few steps away before he said, "Goodnight, Sweetheart." She turned and he half expected her to start yelling. Instead, she smiled at him.

"Where have you been?" Malfoy's silken voice whispered in her ear as Hermione pulled a particularly large book down off of a shelf in the Library.

"Busy."

And she had been, but strange enough, Malfoy hadn't been around either. She had gotten used to seeing him sitting in the Library or lurking in a corridor near her, but lately he had been oddly absent.

"Mmm," He tapped his chin as he leaned against the stacks next to her. "And what could possibly be taking up all your time?" His grey eyes glittered.

She knew what he was talking about. Now that Ron was back in her life, she was spending more time with him and Harry. She was glad that she had her friends back, but it did mean she has less time to sneak off with Malfoy.

"Just life." She shrugged and perched the book on one arm and began searching for another.

"So what, you're too busy for me now?" His tone changed.

"No, that's not what I said-"

"Then lose the books and follow me."

"Malfoy-"

"What? I'm bored, you're here…" He raised his eyebrows and shook his head a little as if that explained everything.

"So that's it?" Hermione frowned. "It's just because you're bored?"

He rolled his eyes. "If you want flowers, I'll fuck you in the greenhouse."

"You know what?" She shoved the large book back on the shelf, causing a small cloud of dust to rise. "Why don't you try not being an ass next time and maybe I'll consider it." She turned, curls fanning out around her and started down the aisle away from him.

"Get back here, Granger." Oh no, not that voice. She was weak for that voice.

Hermione paused. She should keep going, keep to her resolve. She shouldn't let him boss her around. But, God, did she love to. She turned back around. Malfoy was standing there, hands twitching at his sides and his jaw clenched.

She walked back and stopped in front of him, taking a deep breath as she looked up at him. His grey eyes were storming over her, holding her in his gaze. His lids rested heavily over his eyes and the dark circles echoed underneath. The rest of his face had a grey-ish tint to it and his lips were a little chapped. She wondered if he had been drinking again, but didn't smell the whisky on him. Just his usual crisp mint and creamy parchment scent… He was sober.

"You're learning to listen." He smirked. "Good."

"What's next? You want me crawling on all fours behind you?"

"Sweet Salazar, Granger, is that what's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" He sounded almost impressed before snaking an arm around her waist. "Because that can be arranged."

"Malfoy-" She pushed back against him and glanced over her shoulder. "Someone will see…"

"No they won't. Everyone is at dinner." He ran his fingers through her hair again, just like he had the other night. Did he remember any of it? Did he remember what he had said to her about not not liking her? She had done her best not to dwell on it, knowing it was the liquor in his blood talking and not him. Still, she had felt a jolt run through her when he had said it that she couldn't completely shake.

It was in fact dinnertime and at the mention of it, Hermione realized how hungry she was. Harry and Ron would be wondering where she was. "I should go," She muttered.

"Why? Running off to Saint Potter?" Malfoy smirked at her. "Just remember, he wasn't the one getting you all hot and bothered during matches. If I would have known that then, I would have pulled you on my broom and given you a ride."

She fought the smile that was trying to climb onto her lips and the warm tightening sensation in her lower stomach. "You make it sound so dirty." Hermione ducked her head down.

"You have no idea." He flashed her half of a smile. It should have brightened his face, but a shadow hung over him.

"Can I… Can I ask you something?" She knew he hated questions, but he was in a good mood and she was curious.

He pretended to be annoyed, but she saw the half smile still pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Fine."

"Do you miss it? Quidditch?" It was a risk, asking him about it; he could fly off the handle, he could snap at her.

"More than anything." His face fell and she saw the sheer exhaustion that he had been hiding for so long. His cheekbones angled sharply, his lips were pale. When was the last time he had eaten? Something passed over his features and settled deep behind his mist grey eyes. "Fly with me."

"What?"

"Come flying with me."

"I don't… fly." Hermione frowned.

His sly smile was back. "Well, all you have to do is ride, kitten." His hands landed on her hips and he playfully shook them.

"I don't know…" She chewed on her lip. She really didn't like flying. Ron had tried to get her to play Quidditch with them over the summer and she would barely go ten feet in the air.

"Come on, it's not like I'm asking you to let me tie you up." His grey eyes glittered then opened in surprise. Hermione bit her lip harder and felt heat rush through her. "Merlin, Granger, would you? Because that would be the hottest fucking-"

"Don't push your luck, Draco." She narrowed her eyes at him.

"You called me Draco." Ugh, he was so smug about it.

"Slip of the tongue."

Malfoy leaned closer to her. "Where else would you like to slip it?"

She swatted at his chest for his obscene comment and he grabbed her hand as it hit him, holding it to his chest. A bit of color seemed to return to his face.

"Fly with me, Granger," He repeated, not exactly posing it as a question. She raised her eyebrows at him. "You do something for me," He played with the collar of her shirt, running his fingers over her collarbone. "Maybe I'll do something for you."

Hermione swallowed. "Like what?"

Malfoy pushed her hair back over her shoulder. "What would you like me to do?" He asked huskily.

She felt him trailing his fingers along her skin, tracing the now healed place where he had bit her. She had no idea what she'd want from him. Everything they had done had been his idea. He had so much more experience than her that she never really stopped to think what she wanted. "Something you've never done before."

Malfoy scoffed and cocked an eyebrow up. "That's a very short list."

"Well," She pulled his hand back that was slowly but steadily making its way down to her chest. His fingers left a cool trail over her skin and she wasn't sure how she felt about the excitement bubbling in her. "Let's start with you eating something for dinner."

Malfoy's face fell into a scowl and she laughed as she turned, heading out of the Library. She was surprised that he followed her, but not surprised that he stared at her ass all the way to the Great Hall.

A/N: Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter, but I had to use it to set up some things to come. Do you want to see more Draco POV and interactions with his friends? Would you be interested in a Ron POV?

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, you have no idea how much that means to me. A special thanks to Sunny ver 2.0 for making me smile for almost an hour straight. Favorite/Follow/Review!