Hello! This work is independent from all my other fanfictions, even though I am using certain things from 'Never tickle a wounded Dragon'. (I feel like I've created a brand new Dramione canon by now haha)
Thanks a lot to Astrangefan for reviewing this one-shot for me :)

Black Obsidian

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Black Obsidian helps you to know who you truly are. Dissolves emotional blockages and ancient traumas. Promotes qualities of compassion and strength.

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He clearly didn't want to be there.

Hermione watched Draco across the room, he seemed as uncomfortable as anybody could be.

Draco considered that the party was unnecessary and he had made it clear on more than one occasion. His fights and rudeness at the Ministry had been a constant in the last two months —but at least he was there. Hermione wondered why he had come.

Throwing a party for John Scholz, the new Minister for Magic, seemed more than appropriate from Hermione's point of view. He had postulated for the position some time ago and since Kingsley Shacklebolt had resigned the job due to his wife's long-time illness… Scholz seemed like the right option. At least it did to everybody but Draco Malfoy.

Scholz had worked at the Ministry for about eight years, he had come from Germany the first year Hermione began her training as an Auror. The wizarding community really appreciated him; he was strict, elegant and kind… but Draco had never bought it.

Draco Malfoy worked for the Ministry, although that had seemed impossible some time ago. For three years he had been taking care of Azkaban's security regulations and… well, Hermione had to admit that he was very good at his job.

Malfoy was probably the most meticulous person she knew, way more than herself. They had worked together over the last few years and there was not a single meeting he would not attend, not a document he wouldn't file and not a single night he wouldn't stay working late at the Ministry if necessary. Although they were not friends… Hermione could say their relationship was kind of close.

"What're you drinking?" Harry asked her.

"I don't think I am drinking tonight, Harry."

Ron grabbed a champagne glass from one of the self-levitating trays that moved around the room. It seemed like everybody was in a partying mood that night.

Hermione had never seen the Ministry Atrium looking so elegant. The decorations were abundant, and a thousand candles lit the room. Every detail had been considered and all the guests wore their best clothes that night. She herself had put on a white dress that fell down her back in a long train. Hermione had let Ginny and Astoria do her hair and makeup and the last time she had looked in the mirror, just before leaving for the party, she had felt like a porcelain doll. Her hair was tied up in a complicated bun and a silver headband contrasted with her skin, slightly tanned by the summer sun.

"I didn't think Malfoy would come," she commented.

"Well, he had to. Not doing it would mean he is trying to start a war against Scholz. Don't you think?"

By the way Harry's words sounded, she could tell her friend had also been paying attention to Malfoy lately

Ron finished his champagne glass and looked back at his friends. "Malfoy knows what's best for him. He wouldn't dare to disrespect the Ministry like that, not after everything he's been through."

What Ron meant was well known by everybody in that party. Draco Malfoy had spent three years in Azkaban. He, more than anybody else, should remain peaceful and quiet at the Ministry.

"Why do you think Malfoy hates Scholz so much?" Hermione asked suddenly.

Harry shrugged. "Who knows? It's Malfoy, Herms. Don't even try to understand what's happening inside him."

He was right. If she didn't want to go crazy, it was best to ignore him and to think about something else… but she found that task really difficult.

She looked back at Malfoy several times throughout that party. He acted with a certain normalcy: he talked to his friends, drank champagne and, from time to time, shot an occasional disdainful glance in the direction of the new Minister for Magic. Perhaps Hermione was the only one paying attention to what was happening with him.

Astoria Greengrass approached the group after several minutes. In an elegant and sneaky way, as she always did, she ran her hand down Ron's back, he turned to her with a slight smile. The times when Gryffindor and Slytherin were mortal enemies seemed far away. Now, at twenty-seven years old, Hermione was able to see clearly that real life was not divided into houses or ideologies.

The look Ron gave Astoria, just before kissing her forehead lightly, touched her. Hermione admired the courage of those two, they had broken all the unspoken rules when they had started going out publicly, even though they knew that the gossip in the wizarding community would be unstoppable.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Astoria asked.

"Huh?" The witch took a second to focus on the question. "Yes, sure. Why?"

"I don't know, you seem distracted."

"I am fine, Astoria. Just… you know, I have a lot of work. Excuse me."

After this, Hermione started walking. Her friends looked at her for a second. She knew that look perfectly, they were probably worried about her. There was no need for that, though. Hermione just… needed some time to think.

She looked for him again. Why? She had no idea. That was when she found Draco Malfoy was not there. He had disappeared, or so it seemed.

Hermione did her best to hide that she was trying to locate him. She didn't want to seem stupid, but she was kind of concerned about Malfoy and she didn't even know why it was so important for her.

She had only taken a couple of steps out of that huge party when someone stepped in front of her, stopping her.

"Hermione," a soft voice said, "you look beautiful."

It was Scholz. The young woman looked up at him and held her breath nervously for a moment. John Scholz was extremely handsome and distinguished. He wore a black robe that contrasted with his blonde and perfectly styled hair. He looked like a Greek statue.

"Thank you very much," she replied in a whisper.

"I hope it's not inappropriate for me to tell you. It's just…" Scholz's brown eyes twinkled as he spoke. "I'm glad you came to the party."

As if I could have not come, she thought.

Hermione liked Scholz, she always had. But there was something about him that just didn't quite fit. Draco Malfoy's unjustified hatred towards him only increased the feeling. Draco Malfoy, above all, was a very rational person.

"Sorry, John," she apologized, "I'm going to get a touch up."

"Of course…But, Hermione, will you have a glass of champagne with me when you get back?"

Hermione faked a smile that she didn't really feel.

"Of course. Congratulations again, John. I am very happy about your new job."

She turned around quickly. To be honest, she didn't want to have a drink with him… At this point, she didn't even want to be at the party.

Hermione took a deep breath and walked to the end of the black marble corridor. The music in the room began to fade and she knew she was finally alone.

Before even thinking about it, Hermione Granger found herself entering one of the elevators and pressing the button that would take her to the ninth floor of that huge building.

She had a feeling where Draco Malfoy might be.

Working on the only night everybody was off didn't sound like such a good plan. But Draco kind of needed it.

The party was overwhelming to him in many aspects and he just wanted to keep his mind off John Scholz becoming the Minister for Magic. How could everybody be so blind?

There was something dark about Scholz. Something only he could see.

Draco heard a weak noise coming from the corridor and left the documents he was looking at on the table. His hand moved closer to his wand as an instinct and was about to speak when the door of his office opened slightly. He held his breath but was able to let go when he recognised the figure of Hermione Granger. The fuck was she doing there?

"Granger?" he grunted.

"Why aren't you at the party?" she asked, coming into the room.

Of all the people he expected to see entering his office without his consent, Hermione Granger was the last person he would have imagined.

He watched her silently for an instant and felt a strange weight fall inside his guts as he did so. She was so beautiful she seemed out of a dream. The witch looked like an angel, although he had already noticed it during the party. She was breath-taking.

"I have work to do," he excused himself, he then fixed his gray eyes on her. "If you don't mind, I'd rather be alone. This is important."

But she did not obey, of course not. Hermione walked the few steps that separated her from his desk and leaned against the dark wood, as if this was her own office. Draco's gaze was lost for a moment in the slight curve of Hermione's breasts. The dress fit her like a glove. He swallowed hard as he imagined what her bare skin would be like. Draco had to clench his fists before letting his imagination get too deep into that.

"Draco Malfoy doing last-minute work? I don't believe it."

"I don't recall ever asking you for permission, Granger. Leave me alone."

He was rude, he was very aware of that. But Draco was truly not in the mood to deal with Hermione Granger. Every-fucking-body knew that Scholz had a crush on her and as far as Draco knew, they were probably dating by now. Therefore, Granger was not to be trusted either.

It took several seconds for her to speak again.

"Why did you come to the party if you had no intention of staying?"

"Trust me, Granger, it was quite difficult for me to get up and come here tonight. But I did it 'cause I had to. I am in charge of Azkaban's security and our new Minister for Magic is clearly going to have a big impact on that."

She narrowed her warm brown eyes.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Why do you care?"

He hoped she would leave when she heard that. He hoped she stop leaning over the desk and would go somewhere else to live her perfect witch life with that asshole of Scholz. But she didn't.

Hermione leaned closer to him and suddenly her fruity scent was so strong that it clouded his senses. Draco gulped.

"Why do you hate him so much?" She asked softly. "What has he ever done to you?"

Draco flinched.

Scholz had done things to him, yes… but that was nothing compared to what he would do after he became the new Minister. Draco feared for so many people now. Scholz had never been the kind of person to forgive and forget, quite the contrary. Draco feared that the Minister would begin to take revenge for things that had happened years before, during the War.

He knew guys like Scholz, he could re-try and lock up people in Azkaban, he could do that to wizards who had already served their sentence there. Even himself, who was a Ministry worker.

He was silent for a moment, not answering her question. Not confessing to Hermione that Scholz had tortured him once while he was still in Azkaban; not wanting to reveal why he considered him a bastard. No one knew and he would never tell anyone.

"Don't treat me like I am a kid, Granger. I don't need your compassion and I certainly don't need your help".

Hermione opened her lips for a second, about to say something else. Draco didn't want to hear it, he didn't want to open up to her.

"Just fuck off, honestly."

And it hurt her. It was pretty visible when her beautiful face contorted in a gesture of slight pain. Hermione breathed in and straightened up immediately. Her high-heeled shoes clattered on the floor as she walked out of the office with quick, short steps.

Draco grunted and threw the reports on the desk, then got to his feet and ran after her. He felt like a fucking moron.

She had barely walked a couple of feet when he grabbed her arm. Hermione jerked away, not allowing Draco to stop her.

"It's been clear to me that you don't want to talk, Malfoy. Fine." she gasped.

"Wait! Fuck, wait."

Draco grabbed her again and Hermione met his eyes, but she pushed him away.

"Let go of me, you idiot!"

Hermione's eyes burned as if her fury was going to explode out of her body. Draco gasped for a moment, watching her.

He had screwed up, it was more than clear to him. Their relationship was supposedly cordial now. Hermione was now his co-worker and they got along —Why had he talked to her like that? He didn't even know.

Hermione's chest moved rapidly as she breathed. The woman struggled to contain her emotions and Draco thought that maybe she felt like hitting him, just as she had done in third year.

He had to admit that their relationship had always been quite stormy…

Without a second thought, Draco approached her and took her face in her hands. He just kissed her, perhaps as an escape route from the frustration and anger he felt inside.

Hermione bit his lip hard, pulling away from him.

"What are you doing?" she screamed.

He didn't know. He wanted to kiss her, that was the only thing he had clear in his mind. He was angry and had taken out on her, yes. But now, suddenly, he realized that he wanted something more.

Draco realized that he was being pretty selfish, but he didn't care how crazy it seemed.

"I am kissing you, Granger."

He approached her again. This time he did not rush to devour her, no. He remained just a few inches from her for several seconds. It was up to her whether she wanted to walk away, hit him, or… or kiss him back.

Hermione groaned as her own lips latched onto Draco's. An instant later, he pushed her against the dark wall of the hallway and kissed her more deeply. Draco tangled her tongue with his and lengthened the contact for as long as possible until she uttered a moan of pleasure.

They were in the middle of the Ministry, anyone could see them... But who was going to go up there at that time in the middle of the party?

Draco lowered one of her hands to Hermione's breasts and stroked her skin over the fabric, sending signals of deep pleasure that made Hermione's knees shake. She drew him even closer to her body, digging her nails into that pale neck that she suddenly wanted to kiss.

The young witch moved closer to Draco's white skin and ran her tongue down his neck. Then she bit gently on Draco's earlobe and he pressed her back against the wall.

Draco stifled a groan before reaching for a slit in Hermione's white dress with his fingers. He found it right in the perfect place, right where he needed it.

Draco's hand caressed her white knickers and Hermione felt that the heat she was feeling was unbearable. She had completely lost control. Suddenly she did not care to be in the Ministry, in a public place where anyone could see them. She suddenly just wanted Draco Malfoy to touch her there.

"Please…" she whispered.

Hermione didn't even know why she was begging; it just came out of her mouth.

A manly smile formed on Draco's elegant lips and he kissed her again, he kissed her harder. Draco touched her under her knickers and found how wet she was already. Hermione shook when Draco caressed her skin slowly while kissing her. She moaned again when he put a long cold finger inside of her and moved it in and out. Hermione opened her legs instinctively. She closed her eyes desperately when she started experiencing an intimate contraction inside her body. She was almost there and Draco knew it.

He got his finger deeper into her and watched her for a second. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and she was about to come because of him. His boner became almost painful when Draco paid attention to every single gesture of her face.

She finally came with an unstoppable convulsion that made her scream. Draco had to shut her up with his own lips and the taste of that kiss was pure fire. She was burning up.

He noticed that her face was coated in a thin layer of sweat. Hermione's pinned hair was a chaotic mess of dark ringlets. He wanted to kiss her once more as he looked at her pink, swollen lips. Only then did he remove her finger from inside her.

Draco needed to take her inside his office, place her on the same desk he normally worked at, and do it to her for real. Draco was so aroused that he could have exploded with just one touch...

It was then that they heard the footsteps for the first time.

At the end of the corridor, right next to the elevators, several people were crowding and staring at them with dumbfounded expressions. Draco froze and Hermione held her breath as her eyes fixed on those familiar silhouettes.

"Fuck…" Draco whispered.

Some colleagues from the Ministry seemed to have been there for several seconds. Among them were Harry Potter, who was snickering, and John Scholz, who had turned deadly pale.

Hermione pulled away from Draco, trying to place her dress correctly. Undoubtedly those people had seen too much, much more than she would have wished. For an instant she wanted to disappear, but even doing that would be extremely humiliating.

Before anyone spoke for the first time, Draco Malfoy turned and headed back toward his office. As if nothing had happened.

"Are you coming, Granger?" He asked.

Hermione was shaking, but she decided that she didn't have much of a choice there. She followed Draco with her fists clenched in embarrassment and her face beet red.

Harry Potter was the first one to say something. He was still holding in his hand one of the famous champagne glasses that he had taken from the floor below, right before a group of Aurors and Scholz had decided to go look for Hermione, who had been missing for too many minutes.

"Well, in case we had any doubts, we now know that Granger is enjoying the party."

After saying these words, Harry Potter laughed again and kept on drinking his champagne.

Hope you enjoyed this little fic :)