**I do not own the rights to any Characters in this Fanfiction, those all solely belong to JK Rowling herself. I just claim the plunnie.
Used to Be (L.O.V.E.)
L is for the way you lie to me When I'm trip trip tripping over everything you say and do
O is for the other ones you see
V is for vindictive, chew my heart and then you spit it
E hurts even more, but who knows what I keep hoping for
Like even though I'm miles away, I'll keep my faith for you
Oh, but I'm just a blinded fool
With my heart so tied who knows what to do
So I'll go, fill up the cracks
'Cause I swear that we could make it back- Chelsea Collins
Foolish thy name was Hermione Jean Granger. Why she had expected anything more from him she didn't know. What she did know was how the sting of betrayal she felt towards Malfoy seeped into her very soul. And Merlin's beard did it smart.
Try as she might, day after day she could not get the image of him with Astoria clawing into his back while his hips snapped against her so ferociously out of her mind. The worst had been the following morning. He had stumbled into her room, unmistakably hungover, with no recollection of what had transpired the night before between his wife and himself. Not that it mattered, the image had been burned forever into her retinas enough for the both of them. Or perhaps worse, that he did remember and was trying to play the entire ordeal off to her as though nothing had happened.
After the way he had held her, confessed his feelings for her, and stayed by her side the entire time she recuperated from their last trip back in time, the burn and pain of it all was too real. It had been too much to bear. So, she did what she always did in these situations, she compartmentalized. Draco Malfoy now had his own box, along with all her feelings towards him, tucked into the back of her mind.
It was better this way. At least that is what she continued to tell herself as she did everything in her power to avoid the entire Malfoy household day in and day out. But Draco, however, was relentless. He would not leave her alone to let her handle her own emotions in the safest way possible. He had effectively destroyed her, he was like an emotional wrecking ball, wreaking havoc on everything he touched. Hermione could not stand to take another minute of it. All the twisted Malfoy games that both he and his wife played were constantly pulling on her frayed edges as she felt herself continue to unravel.
Unable to even voice her thoughts, she had chosen to remain silent as Draco gave her a rough run down of the night before. Her eyes staring off in the distance as he recounted the story of Pansy and the dinner, but nothing had been said about Astoria. Not a single word.
She could not even bring herself to look him in the eyes, for fear of losing herself wholly within his spell. She was not so stupid as to think that she held some power over him. His actions the night before had made that crystal clear. Draco purely questioned her silence, begging her to let him back in, but what good would that do either of them.
It was us against the world, right? That much she figured would not have to change, but still she knew she needed time to process, to replace her wall. The one he had single handedly pulled apart brick by brick.
Malfoy was nothing more than a means to an end. Nothing more and nothing less.
"Hermione, will you look at me in the very least? Tell me what is wrong?" he had begged and pleaded, but his cries fell on deaf ears.
But how could she, how stupid she would sound?
You slept with her, another woman, who just so happened to be your wife. No, not when in fact she was genuinely the other woman. So rather than telling him off about what she had witnessed she chose her only other option, shutting down entirely.
Besides, she was more likely to hex his bullocks off rather than have a civil conversation with the man standing in front of her, his hair a disheveled mess and the reek of whiskey wafting from his pores. Her silence spoke louder than any words she could ever say would, so she let it speak for her.
It was easier this way, even if she felt as though she were being ripped apart on the inside.
When he had ultimately left, realizing she was not going to entertain his stories any longer, nor tell him the cause of her sudden change, she had left her room after him. Setting out to find a new safe haven all of her own. Initially her mind had taken her straight to the garden, avoiding their little glen almost exclusively, but that had proved to be nothing more than an enormous mistake.
The sun had warmed her. A desperate reprieve from the cold walls of Malfoy Manor that she had so severely needed. After the night before and the meeting with Draco she sought out any solace she could, and at that moment it had been the few glimpses of sunshine she could gain from a secluded corner of the garden. Finding herself a bench tucked away amongst the roses as to not be disturbed as she dealt with her roiling thoughts and emotions.
How many times was she going to allow him to lift her up only to throw her back down she did not know. It felt like a never-ending cycle, making her feel all but worthless in this world. Perhaps she had been right in her first assumption, she had been nothing more than a shiny new plaything. She supposed it had finally happened, that dreaded thing her and Ginny and spoken about what felt like so long ago, she lost her knew, her shiny, and thus, his interest. She had finally given him her last piece of her. With her declaration of love, of definitively letting him in all the way he had won his game and now he was soon to be off to his next.
With a long, drawn out sigh she fought with herself to hold the tears back at bay. How could she even have any left after the torrent that had poured down her face all of the night before? All her agony stemming from that deep act of betrayal.
The warmth on her face was suddenly blocked out by a shadow and her eyes sprang open directly with the dawning realization she was no longer alone.
"Such a glorious morning don't you think?" the sickly sweet voice sang down from above her.
Hermione's eyes narrowed at literally the last person she wanted to see this morning, Hell ever again for that matter.
"What do you want Astoria?" she was done with the pretense of pleasantries as far as the witch before her was concerned.
The blonde witch stared down at her, her glowing figure blocking out the sun entirely allowing the day's chill to seep back into her bones.
Just what she needed: yet another Malfoy confrontation. This morning just kept getting better and better.
"Oh, nothing at all. It just seemed like you could use a bit of company. After all you looked so utterly lonesome out here." The blonde woman smiled, but her dark eyes glinted ruthlessly belying her intentions.
Instantaneously, Hermione's stomach tangled up with dread knowing this was going to be yet another one of those conversations that was going to ruin her day even further, as impossible as it may seem.
"Did it ever occur to you I might have wanted to be alone?"
Astoria smirked, her eyes dancing. "No one really ever wants to be alone, do they? And yet here you are." She grandly gestured around her indicating the empty space only filled with flowers and the buzzing of small insects. "So, it made me curious."
"What could you conceivably have to be curious about Astoria?"
"Well, your mental well-being of course!" Unbidden the woman took the empty place on the bench beside her causing every nerve in Hermione's body to go on high alert. "You see I have my family, my friends... my husband. And you have, well you have no one now, do you? First there was the fallout between you and your dear friend Ginevera," she tsked, "such an unnecessary loss that one. It is truly such a shame as to what pride can to do is it not?"
Now she found herself listening with keen interest. Astoria still thought she and Ginny had parted ways, and she was not about to correct her. That was very telling information, information that she needed to find a way to get back to Gin and Pavarti as soon as she could. It would go a long way to narrow down who Astoria's informant was.
At Hermione's silence Astoria took this as her unbidden cue to continue. "And now you find yourself here at the manor, without the last ally you had at your disposal. In all fairness I warned you quite some time ago that Draco was mine, it was just so unfortunate that you had to learn this the way you did."
Cold dark eyes turned to her, and she met them head on, anger coursing through her as she bit her tongue. "But then again I don't think there could have been a more enjoyable way for it to have happened." A long, pointed nail traced down her jawline, her thumb caressing her lips. "You see I found it quite erotic having an audience last night, I can undeniably see the allure. Such a shame that I have no intentions on sharing him ever again."
Face flushing, she jerked her head away from Astoria's grip and the witch beside her let out a cruel howl of laughter.
Hermione could still feel the lingering touch of the vile woman beside her. She would need to scrub her skin until it was red and raw, under the hottest water she could stand in order to get the lingering traces of her touch to wash away.
"Anyhow," she stood brushing at the unseen debris on her green dress robes, "I suppose I should leave you to it. Being alone it is. After all, it is something I fear you should grow accustomed to, seeing as you have certainly no one left aside from yourself."
Roiling with rage Hermione opened her mouth before she could thing better of it. "I would rather be alone than surrounded by people who I have to force to be in my presence."
At this the blonde witch paused in her retreat, unhurriedly glancing over her shoulder. The blaze in her eyes had let Hermione know that her comment had hit its mark. Lazily a smile spread across her face, twisting her pleasant features into something sinister and insane.
"Oh dear, I fear you are sorely mistaken. But no worries, I will correct that impression for you shortly. In the meantime, do enjoy," her black eyes looked around the garden with contempt, "your solitude."
She had sought solace in the only place she knew how, getting lost amongst the library at Malfoy manor. Disappearing for hours at a time as she devoured book after book trying to do everything in her power to forget his indiscretion. It was all she had left, her last safe haven. Ginny and Pavarti were still locked away in their own prison, but at least they had each other. All she had was herself now, and isle upon isle of books. So she dug into her last place of refuge, allowing the stories they held inside to take her far, far away from there and all the misery that she felt inside. Luckily for her the library was full of tons of little nooks and crannies, places she could curl up and hide, running away from her problems for the day. She would face them later when she had no choice.
Many times, she heard him wander about the library around her, searching, but she was nestled away so well that even his prying eyes had been unable to find her. Even better, because while she missed his company dearly, he did not deserve to see her tears. Those she would keep for herself, just as she had done all these years. Only Ginny had been allowed to see her cry, and Ginny was who knew how many bloody kilometers away. So, as it went, day after day, he would look for her, and she would hide, the sorrow she could virtually feel radiating off of him in waves, almost pulling her to him in his anguish... almost. Instead, she chose to keep her self-pity to herself until she knew she would be able to box that too away and shove in the box of Draco Malfoy.
The days passed by, sluggishly at first, and then she developed her own routine, more often than not falling asleep in her little nest amongst the stacks. Waking just before dawn to shower and sneak to the kitchens for her provisions for the day, before returning to her nest of safety. Her room was off limits as far as she was concerned, another place Malfoy would most assuredly attempt to corner her in, demanding answers from her that he should before now know. The song and dance had proven tiring.
It was better to let it end like this, here and now, before she could get in any deeper than she now had. She was sure he had some variety of excuses up his sleeve, but nothing he said could take back what he had done. On that level they were over, the sooner he accepted that the better. Then they could once again return to their work of trying to find a way back in time to fix the entire situation this world had put them in.
Hermione placed the book down beside her as her stomach grumbled for the second time that night. The clock on the wall told her it was just after midnight, most of the household had gone to sleep hours before. Just like she had finished that last of her provisions hours ago, her collection of snacks and little bits of food she could glean from the kitchens unnoticed scarcely being enough to tide her over. None other than Draco seemed too concerned with her absence these past few days so assuredly a late night trip to the kitchens would be safe from his prying silver eyes.
She made her way down out of her hiding place, carefully listening to any signs of life in the surrounding library. Finding none she cautiously made her way down to the kitchens, where she knew she would be able to find a late-night snack. Her current book, "Title of book" had fully captured her interest, and she highly doubted she would be able to sleep until she'd devoured it down to the very last page.
Casting a silent lumos, she used her wand's light to guide her way through the dark and deserted halls until she found the room she was looking for. The manor kitchens were massive: housing essentially two of everything, and more food than any witch or wizard could want for. Normally she would head straight for the pantry, but not that evening. That evening, since the first time she had decided to remain unseen she found herself in a room alone with a Malfoy, the tip of her wand still alight as she stood still frozen in terror.
"Nifty little trick you have there..." the blonde before her nodded their head gesturing at her brandished wand. "It is genuinely a wonder that you are capable of using one after all the binding charms in place don't you think?"
Draco paced the floor of his study, his nerves wholly on edge as he once again tried to rack his brain for what he feasibly could have done to upset Hermione so badly that she was refusing to speak to him, yet alone even look at him or be in his presence. He could not help but feel like this had Astoria written all over it, but even then, what if it did? There wasn't too much he could do on her end was there?
No. What he actually needed was for Hermione to come to her senses and tell him what was going on. Whatever had happened he was sure he could fix it.
Had Astoria threatened her? Had his father? Mother? He shook his head at the latter, most certainly not.
But something, something had happened, and whatever it had been was officially putting his relationship with Hermione in jeopardy. For Merlin's sake he told the witch he loved her.
He swiped his hand over his face and slid into the chair at his desk at a complete loss as to what to do. So far, he had tried everything, aside from seeking out the house elves for help, to which he knew he would only catch an earful and it would most assuredly make everything worse.
Then of course there was the matter of Astoria. Ever since the night of the party, the very night his life had turned upside down, she had been floating around the manor with a certain sense of pride. No, more like vindictive accomplishment. Whatever it was, she was most unquestionably involved. He was sure of it. The witch was all too pleased with herself for his liking. On top of that she had virtually glued herself to his side in Hermione's absence, but there was no way that hollow shell of a being could ever replace the brightness and warmth that accompanied his brown eyed, curly haired witch whenever she stepped into the room.
Letting out a sigh, he allowed his head to sag onto the rich mahogany desk before him. Days, it had been days since she had last spoken to him. Each one of those days had felt like a lifetime. Even more so what he wouldn't give to have her look at him with those soulful eyes of hers once again.
"I love you..." the memory of her lips forming those words as he had stared into those deep amber depths stuck inside his brain, circling, driving him mad. Stealing his breath away.
He needed her back. He just needed to know where to start, what to fix. If her sudden absence in his life had proved anything to him it was that he needed her to survive, more so than she evidently needed him. That concept tore at him, eating away at him from the inside out.
Hermione Granger was everything. He had to find a way to let her know what she honestly meant to him.
He had never said those words lightly before, and he did not intend to start now.
The Larchwood, dragon heartstring wand clattered to the floor as she let out a yip of startled surprise.
"Mrs. Malfoy..." she stammered. Her heart was racing, and she did not quite know what to do from here. She could turn tail and run back to her hiding place, her room, or even back to Draco... the last of which she genuinely dreaded doing, but it gave her peace knowing she had that card. Or she could stand her ground and see this sudden intrusion through to the end.
They had always called her the brightest witch of her age, yet they always forgot to mention the stubborn streak that came along with it.
"Please, call me Narcissa. After all we are nearly some semblance of family now, are we not? Inevitably it will be you who carries my grandchild into this world and not the wife of my son if I am correct?" the elder witch stared at Hermione, a simple curiosity alight in her eyes. She gracefully gestured to the seat beside her, beckoning Hermione further into the room.
"Mrs. Malfoy. Narcissa, I'm sorry. I did not think anyone would awake at this hour. I did not mean to disturb you." She allowed her feet to gradually begin to back away, leaving the wand on the ground where it had rolled away.
"Nonsense. I couldn't sleep any and I find I might appreciate the company." Again, the elder witch's eyes traveled to the empty seat beside her. "Please, if you would."
Hesitantly Hermione found herself moving forward, towards the empty chair, curiosity getting the better of her. Eager as she was to know what the Malfoy matron could conceivably want to say to her.
Silence filled the space between them as Narcissa continued to study her. The woman was quiet for so long that Hermione had begun to question her decision to stay and was just about to get up to leave when the woman beside her ultimately spoke.
"It seems my son is quite taken with you Miss Granger." She stated very matter of fact before taking another sip of her tea.
A very unladylike scoff flew from Hermione's lips. Evidently Narcissa was not aware of the most recent set of events that had taken place under her own roof.
"I'm finding that especially hard to believe these days."
"Oh?" the older witch lifted a questioning eyebrow, the exact same expression she had seen grace Draco's features countless times before. "That's too bad indeed. I'm quite sure of it myself."
Irritation flushed through her, this was absolutely not where she thought this conversation was going to go, and she could feel herself growing tired of it already.
"Yes, well I am not too sure it actually matters in any case. I am merely here to fill a purpose after all. The fact that I was once a favored plaything truly makes no difference in that respect."
"Is that why you are here?" Narcissa's voice was elegant even as she spoke, almost as though they were discussing the latest news or the weather and not her current servitude within Malfoy Manor.
Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, she took another deep breath before responding. In fact, she should have left the room when she had the chance. Now, however it would seem rude and petulant to get up and leave mid conversation.
"Tis what I have been told. Besides, your son is already married after all, and I am but a lowly mudblood."
Tsking, the witch beside her shook her head.
"Self-pity and depreciation is quite unbecoming my dear. Besides, I am fairly certain your blood status matters not to my beloved Dragon. Whether you choose to see it or not is solely up to you. I do also know for a fact that he has been downright unbearable these past few days."
Inwardly Hermione felt some level of gratification to learn that he was just as miserable as she was these past few days. Outwardly, her face was a mask of stoicism. She still had no idea what game Narcissa was playing at.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"You see, there is very little I hold dear to my heart these days. My son being the most important one, therefore it is a concern of his happiness."
"Better he faces that now rather than once the offering is complete don't you think? I scarcely believe I will be a welcome member of the household once all is said and done. Astoria plainly wouldn't have it." Her voice grew quieter towards the end, thinking back on her memory of the couple from the nights before. Knots rapidly tied up in her stomach making her want to be sick.
Vibrant blue eyes flashed her way before focusing back on her glass. "Indeed... that is quite the predicament. My daughter-in-law would be pleased to hear your acceptance of the matter I'm sure."
Hermione could not help the sudden burst of anger and jealousy that filled her at the mention of Astoria's title. There in lay the crux of all her current problems. Well, the ones between her and Malfoy anyway.
"But I do wonder… have you told my son your feelings on this?"
"No... we have not exactly been on speaking terms as of lately."
"One would think he would be very interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter. Don't you agree? Besides, I do think he has far grander plans for you than the offering if my observations are correct."
Hermione's head snapped in the direction of her current company, eye's narrowing in thought. How much could she know?
Cool eyes assessed her over the rim of her cup. "Just my observations my dear. Just like it appears you are just as unhappy as my son is at this time. Perhaps, it would be better to just talk to him. Clear the air so to speak."
Narcissa placed her cup back down on its saucer and rose from her chair making her way towards the kitchen exit.
"Hermione dear, it would seem to me that if I were in your stead, I would do my best to make the most of the situation I found myself in. No sense in being absolutely miserable now is there?" With those last sage parting words, the witch glided out of the room leaving Hermione alone to ponder the sage advice.
Maybe she did have a point. If she were on borrowed time as it was, perhaps it was unnecessary to burden herself further with being angry at him.
Her mind made up she too rose from her seat at the table. Narcissa was right, there was still plenty of unfinished business between Malfoy and herself, to which they each had a very important role to play.
She was done hiding. Tomorrow she would speak to Draco and move past this entire fiasco.
Did that mean she forgave him? No. But it did mean they could carry on with their lives, it was doing neither of them any good to have this chasm between them when there was still such important work to do.
Why was he still moping through the halls like this? Candidly, it was bordering on pathetic and even he knew it. But what else was he supposed to do. It had been almost a week since he last spoke to Hermione. She had stopped returning to her room all together and that damned crafty witch had hidden herself away somewhere. It was his house, and he should be able to find her... but empowered with a wand the task had proven to be near impossible.
He allowed his feet to carry him around aimlessly through the halls, stopping in various rooms he thought Hermione might find interesting or would potentially hold decent hiding places, places he himself had hidden away in back when he was a child and then again when the Dark Lord had taken up residence in his home during his Hogwarts years. His mind, however, listlessly continued to try to wrap itself around her sudden change in behavior.
Did he scare her away? Had he shown her too much of his real self for her own comfort and startled the little witch back into hiding.
Groaning audibly, he raked his hand down his drawn and tired features. Never in his life had he imagined a woman could get under his skin like this.
"Why hello my dear husband."
Aside from this one, alas it being in an entirely different manner. She absolutely made his skin crawl.
He groaned again in agitation, louder this time for the unwelcome witch to her. Obviously, he should have been paying more attention as he had entered the room. His eyes had entirely missed the undesirable presence that was Astoria. Thinking it wiser not to acknowledge her at all lest she take it as some sign of acceptance, his feet promptly began to turn and lead him back out of the room. She was not the witch he was looking for.
"Draco..."
Letting out yet another audible sigh he forced himself to answer her. "What is it Astoria?"
"Come on now, don't be like that. After all we did have such a grand time the other night."
Delicate footsteps grew louder as she approached him from behind.
"Really Astoria it was just a dinner party."
With a giggle her hands wound their way around his middle, caressing up the front of his chest. His wife laid her head against his back as she held him in a mockery of an embrace.
"It's not the party I'm talking about love."
"Then what..." his words were interrupted as he felt her hands begin to travel further south. Irritated he reached out grabbing both of her small hands with one of his own.
"Draco honestly..." she huffed in irritation. "Just where do you think all those scratches on your back came from? And you can't tell me you haven't felt better in the last few days than you have in weeks."
Wait...just what was she implying?
Sure, he had noticed the claw marks on his back and chest. He had just assumed...
"Love, no one can take care of you quite like I can." The witch purred against his back, placing a gentle nip at his shoulder for emphasis.
He had presumed wrong. Fuck!
And apparently somehow Hermione had found out and that was why she was refusing to speak to him.
Merlin's great saggy balls, how drunk could he have been?
He didn't even remember what Astoria was talking about, yet alone the fact that he would touch her! After all these months of purposefully avoiding her for just this reason.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuckkk!
"Damn it, Astoria what have you done!"
"Nothing that didn't need to be done me dear husband!" She sneered jerking her hands from his grip.
He spun on his heels at once to face the vindictive witch, glaring down at her with an icy cold glare. Everything began clicking into place, Astoria's sudden overwhelming affection, Hermione's suffocating distance, his misery. Of course, it would all be due to the courtesy of none other than his dearest beloved wife. His fingers itched at his sides wanting nothing more than to strangle the woman before him.
"You have been running around here with that trollop pretending that I didn't even exist! What else was I supposed to do? I only wanted my husband back, it's not my fault that your little whore has an uncanny knack of walking in at the wrong time." Her eyes met his straight on, petulantly glaring at him like a child.
Dawning horror and realization at her final words hit him all at once like a freight train.
Hermione had actually seen them, him. She had witnessed him with Astoria. Bloody fucking hell!
At the look of horror spreading across his face a slow smug grin spread across hers in response. The witch was so vile, never caring who she hurt as long as pain was involved at her own hands, she would relish it. Draco unequivocally loathed her.
"Oh yes Draco. I might have forgotten to mention that tiny little detail." She leaned in towards him, her nails idly tracing the collar of his shirt. "I didn't even have to tell her a thing, what the nosy little bint saw was more than enough."
He had to find Hermione! He had to explain, had to tell her that up until this moment that even he had not known the events that had transpired that night.
He had to get away from Astoria, before he did something he might regret, well regret the repercussions in any case. His hands pulled at his hair in frustration. If only he knew where to look! He spun on his heels, ready to fly out of the room, his efforts renewed by an exclusively new purpose.
The witch behind him cackled in triumph. "Good luck finding her and explaining. I was sure to hammer my point home the very morning after, you know. I doubt there is anything you can say that will salvage whatever pretense of a relationship the two of you had."
Cursing Astoria's name with every vile word imaginable, he hoped without hope that she was wrong as he fled from the room. If Hermione would not listen, then he would be forced stop at nothing to fix this. Dark magic be damned.
Hours and hours passed as he searched every nook and cranny he could think of before he ultimately accepted defeat. He could feel the longing that he often felt when something was just on the edge of memory, if kept looking, just once more, he was certain she would be there. Each time an idea popped into his head his mind whirled with just as much anticipation at ultimately seeing an end to his mission as the idea before, and just like the one before it would shatter around him like a million little pieces. His eager anticipation fizzling away to yet another frustrated sense of failure. On and on the cycle had gone until he factually could not fathom a single place he had not searched. Full acceptance that all hope was lost weighing heavily on his very soul.
With each failed attempt, the knowledge that he had royally fucked up yet the only thing that mattered to him these days set in deeper and deeper still. How was it that everything he touched always seemed to fall to pieces? It was truly the bane of his existence, the true curse of being Draco Malfoy.
Everything he touched turned to shite. Absolute and complete shite.
"Hello Draco."
His feet froze in the threshold to his office, heart stuttering mid beat. He was too scared to look up in fear that now he was so far gone that he was finally hallucinating the sound of her voice. Truthfully, it wouldn't surprise him, there was nothing sweeter than the sound of his name tumbling from those soft delicious lips.
"Are you just going to stand there all day?"
Even in anger her voice was like heaven to his ears. He hesitantly allowed his eyes to rove up her body as she stood off to the side by the window. As far away from his desk as she could feasibly get. Dressed in plain clothes, the ones he had purchased her for her stays in his suite and her hair was up in one of her favorite messy buns, tendrils of wild curls escaping everywhere. She crossed her arms over her chest as he continued to drink her in. She stared back at him stonily behind tired eyes, dark circles making it look as though she had not truly slept for days.
Gods she was fucking beautiful.
"Granger..." he chuckled to himself shaking his head, all while running his hand through his previously disheveled locks. "I have been searching for you for hours, and here you are, in exactly the last place I would have ever expected you to be. How poetic."
Walking over he allowed himself to drop unceremoniously onto the couch closest to her. He wanted nothing more than to go straight to her wrapping the tiny witch in his arms, but he could tell by her body language alone that she would make him live to regret it. His touch may yet be unwelcome, but still she had come to him. That had to mean something.
"Huh," she allowed a dry chuckle to escape from her lips, "it seems you could say that. Back at the place that started this all, the irony of it all really."
At that his head shot up, eyes locking onto hers in desperation. "Hermione, you have to know..."
"Look, you can just stop." Her voice was hollow and even, quietly steady. The voice of someone who had given up the will to fight and it tore at Draco from the inside. He doubted there was anyone who could understand that feeling more than he did. "I did not come here because I felt like you owe me some kind of explanation. I did not come here to yell, or to scream, or to even talk about it actually. I came here to tell you that I understand."
Wait, what in the bloody hell was she saying? She should be screaming at him, cursing the entire Malfoy lineage. Hell, he didn't know what, but something! If the tables were turned, Merlin's bloody beard he had no idea what he would be capable of, of the destruction the would follow in his wake.
"There is no way you could be saying that if you actually did." Was that an edge of fear lacing his voice? "Hermione, please, if you'll only hear me out..."
"Then what Draco?" it was then that her eyes at last snapped once more to his, fire raging in their depths.
Yes, at least this was something! Some show of emotion.
"What are you going to say that is going to take back what I saw happening in here on that very desk the other night?"
His gray eyes followed in the direction she had indicated, landing precisely on the desk across the room. Flashes of memory suddenly filled his mind. Unbidden moments of him driving himself into Astoria repeatedly, trying his hardest to break her. Sounds of her shrieking, shouting his name obnoxiously loud whilst in the throes of passion. His fingers buried in blonde hair as his teeth bit down punishingly on pink flesh.
He felt the flush rise in his cheeks, making him too ashamed to even turn around and face the gorgeous witch behind him. There was no way she was going to forgive him, not with having walked in on that. While he had been sating himself on nothing but pure hatred and anger, she would have seen an immense fiery passion. He had to at least try.
Allowing one hand to come up and cover his face, he turned back to face her. "I know how cliché this is going to sound, but it was not entirely what it looked like. I swear I never meant to. Hell, I didn't even know I had until this vary after noon. Hermione you have to know that I would never touch her." Words poured from his lips like acrid vomit, each line tasting more bitter than the last.
"Stop."
The sound was nothing more than a whisper as waves of despair washed over her crashing into him second after second. Every horrible emotion he put on her face, he felt tenfold.
How could he have done this?
"Please stop. I do not need to hear anything more. She is your wife Draco… and I get that now. All I wanted to say is that I believe we can move forward and past this, continue our mission. I dare say we can both be adult enough about this to manage that aspect of our relationship as having no strings attached."
No. No, no he definitely could not accept this. Her anger, her hatred, whatever his punishment, all of those were things he had expected and could accept. But not her blind acceptance, this was, well to be frank, unacceptable!
He shot from his place on the couch and closed the distance between them so fast he couldn't give the action a second thought. His hand cupped her face as he tilted her eyes back to meet his. Eyes so dull and listless met him back, eyes that used to be so vibrant and full of life, and he had taken that from her.
"Hermione, look at me. You can be mad, and you can even hate me, but you are not allowed to just give up without a fight."
Her eyes met his back, silently she stared seeming to search for an answer to some unasked question within his depths. Appearing to find it and finding her own resolve as well, she gave a small nod.
"Yes sir."
Unable to resist, he ran the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. Her lips parting ever so slightly at his touch in a sigh. Before he knew that what he had done his mouth had taken hers, a kiss full of every apology she would never allow him to say. Of every emotion so full of sorrow that he had felt without feeling her by his side over the last six days. Of the very thing he had done to place them in this position to begin with, almost destroying everything between them. Of his utter elation of having her back in his arms where she belonged.
The very moment she opened her mouth in an attempt to draw air he took full advantage, plunging his tongue inside to chase after hers, desperately seeking that connection they had shared before. He felt her body melt into his hand as a subtle moan meandered in the air between them. Feeling emboldened he wound one hand around the nape of her neck, pulling her in to deepen their kiss.
He drank her in like water in the middle of a fucking desert.
When in the end he felt her fingers sliding through his hair he growled, losing himself wholly to his emotions at that moment. Reaching around and lifting her by her arse, he held her tight against him, her legs coming up to wrap around his waist. He opened the door to his adjoining room and carryied her to his bed, never once breaking their kiss.
Laying her down, he uttered every apology under the sun as he reigned worshipful kisses across her body. Every place his lips touched her skin instantly became bare to him, his magic having a mind of its own. He could feel her fingers grazing across his shoulders, and through his hair, quietly urging him on along with her small wordless whimpers.
She was quiet, so incredibly quiet. Sliding up to bring his face back to hers he caught the tear that trickled out of the corner of her eye just as she gave him the sweetest of smiles.
Her hand wrapped around his head, winding through his hair as she pulled his lips down once more to meet hers. She gave him no time to question, no time to make sure that this was what she really wanted. Instead, her actions elicited a deep groan from the depths of his chest. Legs wrapped around his bare waist, and he idly wondered where his trousers had gone. Using her legs Hermione urged him forward, aligning him directly with her center. Her tears entirely forgotten.
Draco paused, fighting for control. He knew his mind was hazy from the emotional overload he was experiencing, but he knew they were not supposed to do this. And for some reason that alone made him want it all the more. The very idea of caving in, of driving himself deep within her until she cried out his name while he spilled himself right at the beginnings of her womb. Making her his entirely. Ruining her for any other wizard who even gave her a passing glance. He clenched his teeth as his whole body trembled with the last few remnants of his resolve.
"Hermione, we can't." Painfully he gritted out between his teeth.
Ostensibly that fact made it more erotic for the witch beneath him as well. For as soon as the words had left his mouth she began winding her hips, just grazing the tip if his cock with her slick heat. Hermione used her body to expertly beg him for it, causing him to hiss in agony.
"Hermione please... if you don't stop."
This time she arched her back, the tip of his cock just barely pushing against her entrance. He growled deep and guttural at the back of his throat. She was pushing him beyond any and all rational thought, the knowing glint in her eyes made his cock twitch and grow even harder.
"Then don't stop." Her voice was so husky and molten that he hardly recognized it. Draco could even now feel the telltale tightening in his balls. Hot amber eyes stared back up at him, steeled in their resolve.
Draco warred with himself, knowing it was futile. Knowing he would give her whatever she wanted, whatever his witch needed to feel to make them okay once more.
"Shite." He loosened his grip, allowing Hermione's writhing deliciously tanned and toned body to deliberately work its way onto his member. Just when she was almost a third of the way down his shaft his control broke completely, hips snapping of their own accord, he thrust himself into her all the way to the hilt.
Hermione cried out, gripping his shaking arms as Draco stilled inside her allowing her to adjust to his intrusion. He could not, would not, hurt her anymore.
"Please..." she begged beneath him, squirming as she searched for her own friction and gratification.
He pulled out methodically before thrusting his hips against her again, repeating the motion as her moans grew to consistent cries of pleasure. As he once again became acquainted with the perfect feel of her tight cunt around him, providing that fucking amazing hot suction every time he pulled away. Her walls gripping him tightly with every wave of pleasure that rode through her.
"You're so fucking sexy Princess. Fuck!" His words whispered into her ear and straight down to the pussy that was so luxuriously wrapped around him. "Your body feels so amazing wrapped around my cock." He thrust harder emphasizing each statement, earning him a keening wail in response each time. "So fucking hot. So fucking wet. Gods I could come right now Princess, so fucking deep inside this little cunt of yours."
His teeth found purchase in the crook of her neck as he did his best to hold his own orgasm at bay. He could feel his little witch go taught in response, coiling beneath him just before her body came entirely undone with a scream. As fast as he could Draco pulled free from her body, spilling himself all over her heaving abdomen, the white of his seed a stark contrast to the milky caramel flesh beneath him.
After casting a quick cleansing charm, he collapsed down on the bed, pulling her body against him.
"Gods I love you." He murmured into the back of her neck. The whispered words hung in the dark air around them, waiting, yet remaining unanswered. He nuzzled deeper into her curls, desperate to take whatever she was willing to give.
It had been so long since he had felt the comfort of the heat of her body fitting snugly against his. So long since he smelled the scent of her hair, that as he lay their listening to their breathing with her finally back in his arm's he fell into the most peaceful sleep than he he'd had all week.
"Another biscuit my dear child?" Narcissa offered the plate of lemon butter cookies to her guest of the evening. She had been sure to have his favorite prepared for him, just as she always did.
The tinkling giggle answered her back before the small hand reached out and took one of the yellow iced biscuits and placed upon the plate before him.
"Do tell me, how is my beloved Dragon doing as of late? I don't believe I have seen him this evening."
"Oh yes. He is with the nice Misses. He is very happy, much likes hims old selfs again."
"The nice Missus?" the witch paused, raising her eyebrow in question while casting a smile across the table.
"Yes. The nice pretty Missus with the curly hair. She makes master very happy."
"Indeed." Narcissa could not help but to smile into her cup of tea at the news. "Well then have you done what I have asked of you?"
"Mhm." The little elf nodded his big head vigorously, his ears flapping wildly up and down.
"And you have placed it somewhere easy to find?"
"Mhm." The elf nodded again. "Master would have to be blind to miss it."
"Very good Poderick. I do so enjoy our little chats." And in truth she did, the little elf was more help than he could even imagine. Plus, he genuinely was quite a charming little devil. "Another biscuit?"
Hermione lay there waiting. The events of the evening running through her mind over and over as she waited. It had felt like hours but had probably been only minutes when she finally felt the slack in the arm curled across her waist. When she at last heard the tell-tale signs of his deep, slow breaths of slumber, that she ultimately dared move from her place by his side. Deciding to forego finding her clothes completely, just to not risk any chance of waking him, she found herself tiptoeing across the room and out of his bedroom door. She knew he would come searching for her again in the morning, but she would handle that once they got there.
The moon glinted off her fully nude body as she made her way down the hallway back the safety of her room, where she could finally get her first good night of sleep in weeks.
A/N: Sorry I'm late, I suppose that is what I get for being early before. But alas, you now know how this goes, guys let me know what you think, and if you haven't already don't forget to check out my Tumblr for extras, sneak peeks, and other goodies! blog/pink-wednesdays
….who knows it may cause me to write faster