Chapter 30

Wiltshire, that Night

Malfoy revelled in the wind blowing through his hair, doing figure eights above the manor. He hadn't taken out his broom in a long time, and he realized now that he missed it. The trees around the manor whistled in the breeze, and the sky was open and easy. He whooped as he pulled into a tight loop-de-loop.

It had been a day much like any other. Up at seven for breakfast in bed, check the paper before getting dressed. They'd had a pretty typical day labelling and sorting prophecies, during which he and Luna had played a very long game of would you rather, during which he'd decided that he'd rather marry Granger than Weasley, but Potter over the Weaslette. He'd come home and had dinner with his mother, although she was not feeling well and the meal was cut short.

He'd read in bed before deciding to go out on his broom early so that he didn't spend too much of his evening in an embarrassing display of waiting for Granger. He'd planned a long night for her, which of course, he wanted to start right away. It had nothing to do with wanting to see her again, despite what Lovegood said today.

He checked his watch, throwing on a quick disillusionment charm when he realized it was time to pick her up.

Wiltshire spread out in a dark green carpet beneath him, studded with glowing lights. He landed quickly near a field, where sheep grazed, and waited. She appeared only a few seconds after he'd landed, stumbling on the gravel road. She looked around, holding her wand at the ready. She was wearing a simple black peacoat and jeans, with a huge red and black knit scarf, a nod to the chill in the air.

" Over here, Granger," He waved.

" Who is it? Show yourself!" She demanded, tossing her long curls over her shoulder.

He waved his wand and rolled his eyes, " Alright, Granger, watch where you wave that thing."

She almost jumped right out of her skin, " Jesus, Malfoy, don't scare me like that, I almost killed you."

" I noticed," He laughed, " Did you really think you were going to be attacked next to the big scary sheep field?"

She cocked her hip, " You know, any place can be charmed to look like a sheep field. Including an attacking army."

He furrowed " Why would an army attack you in the middle of Wiltshire at 10 O'clock on a Wednesday?"

" Attacks can happen anywhere," She responded simply.

He smirked, swinging his leg over and dismounting, " Speaking of." He walked up slowly, admiring the slight haze of her breath as she exhaled. She looked up at him with a little Granger-ish pout, and he rubbed her little chin with his thumb before he kissed her.

She pulled back and smiled, " That's hardly an attack."

" Oh that's right," He grinned, " I forgot that you totally want to fuck me, Granger."

She sighed, " You're never going to get over that, are you."

He laughed, " Once a year, you're going to get a card from me at Christmas reminding you."

Unexpectedly, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again, " If it's as good as it was last time, I'll send you a card too."

He raised an eyebrow, " Noted. Let's go!" He held the broom aloft and mounted. She hesitated.

" What are you waiting for?" He asked.

" Your house isn't here?" She motioned towards the field.

" No, unfortunately the wards on the mansion don't allow in strangers," He explained, " Once I bring you in once, you'll be able to floo. It's just a short ride, come on."

" Why don't we walk? Uh… it'll break the ice," She smiled invitingly.

" I'm pretty sure last time shattered the ice, for me at least," He responded, " Besides, it's a bit cold out. Come on, I'll ride, you can just hold on."

She bit her lip and played with her scarf.

" Oh, Granger, don't tell me you're still afraid of brooms," He smirked.

" I'm not afraid of brooms," She said crossly.

" Then why are you running scared," He challenged.

She glared at him, and stiffly mounted the broom behind him.

" Look at you, so brave," He grinned.

" Don't patronize me," She growled, setting her hands awkwardly on his shoulders.

" You're going to want to hold on," He intoned.

" Why?"

" Because I fly fast," he warned her.

" You just want me to hold on to you," She purred.

" Would you believe it if I said I didn't want you to fall and die?" He postulated.

" Not really," She laughed.

He took off slowly, not wanting to spook her, " I'd rather not clean you up off the ground a second time, Granger."

He could feel her tensing to answer, so he took off, hard. She clung to his back with a yelp, nails digging into his chest.

" M-Malfoy! You're doing this on purpose!" She cried.

" Of course I am," He yelled back, " It's a rare occasion when I have one of the most gorgeous and famous witches in Britain on my broom. And I acknowledge the entendre."

" I must be dead. You killed me, and I'm dead, because that almost sounded like a compliment," She exhaled in his ear, sending shivers down his spine.

He laughed and flew through the wards to the manor. From above, it was a majestic sight. Too bad Granger had her eyes closed.

" We're almost there, don't claw at me so hard, save some for later. I've got plans for tonight," He shouted.

" I wish I could let go so I could slap you," She answered.

" Kinky, Granger," He commented.

He pulled into a slow downward decent but still she groaned, " Please tell me when we've landed, so I can hurt you, please."

" Well," He pulled down a little more sharply so that she pressed her magnificent breasts against him more tightly, " Since you said please."

He pulled into the garage to the sound of her terrified squeak and stopped.

" So no airborne sex, then," He let her dismount first with a little smirk.

" Please don't make me do that again," She groaned, leaning against the wall.

" Fine," He sighed, " But know it comes at great cost to me. Damsel-in-distress is a whole new side of you."

She crossed her arms over her chest.

He laughed, " I suppose that isn't the side you wanted to show me."

" Not in a million years," She agreed.

" Well then I'll have to hold this in my memory, along with some other things," He raised an eyebrow.

She just sighed and sagged against the wall, " Keep up the teasing and memory is all you'll have."

" Oh come on, Granger, it was just one broom ride," He put his old nimbus back in its cabinet.

" I can't walk," She admitted with a surly pout.

He laughed and strode over, resting his hands on either side of her waist, " I thought Gryffindors could do anything."

" As a collective, we're quite talented," She teased, " But every individual has their weakness."

" Ah, yes, I forgot the old Longbottom rule," He rubbed his hands up and down, feeling the curve of her waist hungrily.

" So was this your big plan," She gestured to the broom cabinet.

" No, in the plan, you had the use of your legs. At least for the first part," He grinned, " So I guess I'll have to improvise."

He swung her into his arms.

" Malfoy! Put me down!" She ordered.

" Okay," He jolted her in his arms and she squeaked, then hit him when she realized he hadn't dropped her.

" You ass," She exclaimed.

" Luckily, the first part of the plan can be truncated," He walked out of the garage and into the house

" Wow, this is beautiful," she exclaimed. He glanced around the marble foyer.

" Yeah, it's alright," He carried her around to the grand staircase.

" Are you kidding me, this place is stunning," She squirmed in his arms, " You live here?"

He grunted as he carried her up the stairs, " Yeah, it's a great place to relax after carrying a grown woman across half of England."

" Excuse you, was that a crack at my weight?"

" I can flatter you all you want, but you know you don't weigh nothing," He rolled his eyes.

" You're the one who wanted to carry me rather than giving me a levitating charm," She relaxed into his arms slightly while she teased him, and he had to fight a smile. All cracks aside, this wasn't bad. He would never have expected Granger to allow him this sort of liberty, which made the granting of it all the sweeter.

" I thought levitating you would make your fear of brooms worse. Or make you lose your lunch," He smirked, " Believe me, I'm itching to get you up into the air again."

She blushed, " I don't even know what that's supposed to mean."

" Come on, Granger, put that big brain of yours to use and imagine something," He growled, knocking his bedroom door open.

A few candles burned low, casting his sitting room in a comforting glow.

" Now can I set you down or will you topple over?" He strode towards the bathroom, taking his time.

" Of course I won't topple over," She insisted, " Did you see me falling before you so rudely picked me up.

" Keep acting like you don't like it, Granger, it's not doing you a bit of good," He smirked and opened the door to the bathroom wandlessly, " I remember what you said in the Office of Marriage and Family about lifting you straight off the ground."

Even in the softly lit bathroom, he could see her blush. The candlelight formed a halo in her slightly tamed curls, and her skin seemed to glow like an expensive pearl. He set her down gently, and she looked around.

" Malfoy, this is a surprise," She took in the room in wonder, taking in the huge tub filled with bubbles, " It's almost romantic."

He raised an eyebrow, " It's just the chandelier. Besides, how do you know I'm not keeping it dim so I don't have to see you?"

She snorted, " Yes, of course, because you dislike so immensely how I look. I meant the tub was romantic more than anything."

" I thought since you like icebreakers so much, I'd come up with one that has the added benefit of a completely naked Granger at my disposal."

She smiled, over-sweetly, " I'm Hermione Granger. I'm at no one's disposal."

She removed her coat to reveal a soft-looking sweater that was just short enough to see a sliver of skin above her jeans.

He ran a hand across the band of her jeans and she almost jumped away from him, " Very nice, Granger."

She smiled nervously, " You were right, this was hard to dress for. Casual seems more in keeping with the spirit of the thing, but it seems only right to dress up as a guest."

" Well," He began, waving her coat in the next room, " I'm afraid you're going to be much less formal in a moment."

He kissed her, sweeping his tongue into her mouth with a delicate flick. Her hands came up to rest on his chest, branding him through the thin material of his sweater. When he nipped at her full lower lip, those hands curled into the sweater, and he almost moaned.

So he pulled back, " Alright, Granger, no need to rush."

Confusion flashed over her face, then amused indignation, " You really do think very highly of yourself."

" I'm Draco Malfoy. If I don't, who will?" He ran a finger along the exposed skin of her stomach and then dipped it into the waistband of her jeans, just a little, " Now come on and get in the tub, Granger."

He broke away to remove his sweater and jeans and settle in the water as quickly as he could, so he could watch her in the last moments of removing her bra and underwear. She stood over the sunken tub, skin glowing, for just a moment, before getting in with him, at the other end. But that brief moment was enough to sear it into his memory. He had seen more beautiful women, and he was sure that there were better bodies out there, but her, standing there with freckles on her shoulders and her shy little lip bite was too much.

The tub was big, but not so big he couldn't feel her warm presence in the water.

" Now, about Blaise and the Weasel," He introduced.

" I had to talk about that with you," She said urgently.

He settled on the built in chairs on the side of the tub and laughed, " I'm so glad I'm not the only one in trouble.

She pouted, trying to feel her way around the other side of the tub, " No one's in trouble."

" There's a ledge to sit on, over here," He motioned her over, " You don't have to stand the whole time."

" Why would you invite me over for a tub with only one place to sit?" She sighed, exasperatedly, making her way over to him.

" Think you just answered your own question, there," He raised an eyebrow when she sat down next to him.

" You know, I think we've learned that you don't need any tricks to get me into bed," She smirked.

" That's true," He winked, " But if it isn't trouble what did you want to talk about."

" Why did Blaise ask Ron to go to lunch?" She asked.

" I don't know, really," He answered, " Because he felt like it?"

" Well thanks to that, Ron is actually thinking of going," She answered crossly.

" Blaise wanted to know, in case he was missing anything," Draco answered, reaching for her hand in the water.

" And you don't see anything wrong with that?" She bit her lip, " It's not as if anything is going to work out between them."

" Well that's something they can find out at lunch," He ran a finger up her arm, " So Weasley told the whole clan, huh?"

Finally she looked over at him, " Yes, and everyone was completely shocked. Ron just acted like it was no big deal, just like going on a date with Zabini was 'no big deal.'"

" It's not. It's just lunch."

" Not you too! I thought at least you of all people would see that it's a waste of time," She more or less ignored him.

" Is this about a torch you're carrying for the Weasel?" He frowned. Of course she couldn't let this go. How could she be in the tub, naked with him, and not let this go?

" No, of course not," She shook her head.

" You know, jealousy doesn't suit you as well as damsel-in-distress," He sneered.

" I'm not jealous," She stated firmly, " Ron is my friend, and Zabini is bad news. Who even knows why he asked Ron out?"

" Blaise is not bad news, he's a good bloke, and if Weasley bothered getting to know him he'd be all the better for it," Draco countered.

" How would that be better for Ron?" She turned her eyes on him like lasers.

" Do you mean it wouldn't be good for Weasley, or that Blaise couldn't be better than you?" He accused.

" Ron doesn't belong with a… a death eater. As a friend, I have to protect him," She almost shouted.

" In case you hadn't noticed Granger, neither Blaise or I are in Azkaban," Draco's hands clenched into fists under the water, " There are reasons for that. You know, for the smartest witch of our age, you've been rather slow tonight."

" What reasons could possibly excuse…" She began angrily.

" Blaise tried to turn to the other side. He'd just begun to be an informant, and he was caught, and he spent the war almost entirely as a prisoner. He was tortured, but he never gave away locations," Draco revealed through gritted teeth.

She shook her head, " No, I don't believe you."

" It's a matter of public record," He replied, " Or better yet, ask Weasley. His brother was Blaise's contact."

" George?"

" No, the other twin," He corrected her.

Her jaw worked wordlessly, " He was?"

" It's all in the ministry library. Go look for yourself since my information is so faulty," He spat.

" Oh yes, because you and all your pigheaded friends are all such paragons of truth," She rolled her eyes.

" What reason would I have to lie when any dolt with an id can go down to the ministry library and see for themselves?" He roared, insulted.

" Records can be altered," She countered.

" You work for the ministry, are you telling me you trust our justice system that little?" Draco challenged.

" No, I…" She stuttered.

" And for that matter, if Blaise's schoolboy name calling was so unforgivable, what are you doing here with me?" He growled.

She sniffed, " I didn't exactly ask you out to lunch."

" But you're here with me, you already fucked me," She flinched, hard, " What could Blaise possibly do to Weasley at lunch that's more dangerous than what I could do to you right now."

Her eyes narrowed, " You wouldn't do anything to me."

" Yeah, I wouldn't? My records are sealed, isn't that shifty?" He spat, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to look at him, " I'm not Weasley, isn't that objectionable?"

" You're right, is that what you want me to say?" Her eyes were blazing like hellfire, " I'm just using you to make Ron jealous, is that what you want to hear?"

" If it's true," He yelled, " I want to know."

" I hate you, you know that? I really," tears gathered at the edges of her eyes and she swiped at them, hard, " I really do."

" I don't care, answer me," He ordered, " This whole thing, was this for Weasley?"

" No!" She yelled, " Christ, Malfoy."

" It's the only thing that makes sense," He stood up in the water, " So explain it to me, Granger. Explain to me why Blaise is so awful, but fucking me is fine."

" Will you let me think," She shouted, standing with him.

" No, don't think. Just tell me," He snarled. He'd been so distracted by lust, he hadn't been thinking this through.

" You felt it last time, I know you did," She stared him down, " That's why I'm here. While I might have some lingering feelings for him, Ron isn't a part of this. And I know, I remember that you wouldn't attack me. I may not trust you but I know that much."

He growled, " You shouldn't trust that instinct."

She raised her chin defiantly, " I don't believe that you would hurt me."

" Well then you believe wrong," The last word came out like a whip and she flinched.

" Yeah? Do it then. Hex me. Slap me," She challenged.

He stared her down, but said nothing. Of course he wouldn't hurt her. There would be nothing to gain from it, not even revenge.

That was the logic of it, but something else was growing in the back of his mind.

He opened and closed his mouth wordlessly.

But she broke the silence, " I don't know about your records, and I probably should care, but I don't."

" I don't believe you," He spat.

" Good, I don't believe you either. That's why this will be easy to walk away from," She said finally.

" So you can be with Weasley," He ground out.

She tossed her hair, insolently, " What do you care?"

" I don't," Draco growled.

" Yeah? Then prove it," She challenged, and sprang at him, covering his sneer with a kiss.

He groaned when she pressed her slick, naked body against his. She bit his lower lip in response, sweeping her tongue into his mouth and putting her arms around his neck.

It wasn't like before. She seemed like she wanted to hurt him, she was pressed so hard against him. He fell back against the wall of the tub with another groan, sweeping his hands along her waist, her back, and down to her beautiful ass.

She gasped, and broke the kiss, her head falling back. He attacked her neck, licking and biting. He nibbled on a sensitive spot, and she sighed, so he latched onto her and sucked, hard, hoping he left a big mark.

" Fuck," She gasped out.

" Tell me you want me," He hissed in her ear, sliding a hand around, pushing her away slightly so he could play his fingers down to her core, slicker than he'd been expecting. She made a little choked noise, and a sigh.

" I want you," She breathed.

" Again," He commanded, " Again, and I'll make you come."

" I want you, so much, Malfoy," Her hands slid from his shoulders down his chest with a groan.

" Tell me how much," He growled.

She whined, " You know how much."

" Tell me how much, and use my name," He stated clearly, dipping a finger inside her.

" So much, so much it makes me dizzy, you make me dizzy, and I want more," She babbled, " I want you more than I should."

" But you should want me, Granger," He slid his finger in and out of her at a torturous pace, " Say my name."

She moaned, " Draco, please. I want you."

" How. Much."

She caught on, " More than Ron."

That was all he needed. He turned her around, and led her to kneel on the seat. One hand gripped her him, while one finger of his other hand slid around her and along her slit. She hissed, and pressed against his hand.

" You promised I could come," She stuttered.

" I did," He said lightly, kissing up her back, " But as we all know, I don't keep all my promises."

She groaned, and he rewarded her by sliding another finger into her, running a hand up the long expanse of her back.

" Malfoy-"

" What did I say?"

" Draco," She twisted around to look at him over her shoulder, pulling her hair to the side, " Draco, kiss me."

He complied, growling when he had to press against her slick back. She pressed back against him, grinding her backside against his aching erection while he swept his tongue into her mouth.

She smiled into the kiss, lickling delicately along the inner rim of his upper lip. His knees felt weak and he vaguely wondered if her broom weakness was catching. She broke the kiss when his finger rubbed across her clit, and he licked and kissed along her beautiful long neck.

" Draco, please f-fuck me," She begged.

" Oh no, that's what you said last time," He sang against the delicate shell of her ear, " I want to torture you."

" But I want it, I n-need it," She said, crying out when he swirled the finger over her again.

" What do you need?" He kissed along her shoulder.

" I need-" She broke off with another little whimper, " I need you to fuck me. I need it, so much it hurts."

" I need it, too," He admitted, grinding against her gorgeous ass and running his free hand up over her breast.

She reached a hand down from where she clung to the side of the tub, pushing him away. He thought for a second she was asking him to stop, but instead she grasped him firmly, stroking him. He almost forgot what he was doing, redoubling his efforts when he'd recovered.

He bit his lip, " Granger."

" Say my name, and you can f-fuck me," She whispered, grinding back against his hand.

" I don't see how you're going to stop me," He growled, rubbing against , " And I said your name."

" I can stop you if I want to," She objected, " Say my name, so I don't want to stop."

" Hermione, you're going to fucking kill me," He growled.

" You're killing me," She whined, " I'm going to come so soon, and I want to come while you f-fuck me."

He pushed her hand away and removed his hand from her clit, sliding inside her to the hilt without warning.

She sighed, resting her head against the tile, " Yes, this is what I wanted."

He slammed back into her, ignoring the question that echoed around in his brain. Did she want this more than she wanted Weasley? He didn't believe her protesting one bit.

She twisted around beneath him, looking up over her shoulder at him, " I'm going to-" Her eyes shut and she trembled all over. He groaned, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tight against him, kissing up along her neck. She leaned back so that they were both almost standing, weaving her fingers into his and breathing hard.

She came down from the peak, nails digging into his palms, " Malfoy."

He thrust into her, hard, " Say you want me."

" I've said I want you a dozen different ways," She reasoned.

" Tell me again," He ordered.

" I want you, Draco," She pled.

" For how long?"

" For as long as I want you," She cried, " I'm going to c-come again."

" Tell me you want me," He held her hands tightly.

" I don't know what you want from me-" She broke off with a sudden scream, her body tightening in hard shivvers.

He pounded into her, pulling her down on him with savage discipline.

" I want to believe you," He answered darkly.

His orgasm came on the tail of hers, catching him completely by surprise. He whispered something into her hair that no one would remember, and fell against her with an exhale.

She came down with a sigh, leaning her head back to rest on his shoulder. They both stood there for a moment, taking a few deep breaths.

She twisted around, looking at him with a little smile, " Can we get out of the tub."

" Yes, of course," He answered stiffly, removing his hands from hers. She awkwardly got off her knees and sat on the edge of the tub, just her feet resting in the water.

He climbed out and grabbed two fluffy grey towels off of a stack, handing her one and wrapping the other around his waist.

" I lost my temper," He bit out. A cold wash of humiliation poured over him as he looked down at her. He wasn't sure exactly what had happened to him, but he knew that caring about what she did with Weasley was unacceptable for a number of reasons. Not the least of which that he didn't care, and it would actually be a relief to have her out of his life. Of course it would.

But… not he'd had his fill of her, that was. They'd had sex not minutes ago, but the image of Granger toweling off her hair naked was not one he'd easily forget.

She just smiled up at him luminously, wrapping the towel around her shoulders, " So did I. It's fine."

" I still feel like I was out of line, about Weasley," He continued, " It's your business."

She bit her lip and thought for a moment before responding, " You and I just started this, and I know better than to confuse what you said with jealousy. its just a little bit of a confusing situation."

It was as soon as she let him off the hook that he realized jealousy was exactly what it sounded like. And he didn't want to examine himself too closely, because it seemed frighteningly close to what it was. It was Granger, the sex was messing with his head.

He held his tongue.

" I think that we should make a rule about it," Granger began briskly.

" What do you mean?" His stomach dipped low. If there was any mercy in the world, he wouldn't be jealous.

" I'm just going on an assumption, so correct me if I'm wrong," She began slowly, " But when you've had relationships in the past, were you maybe a little… possessive?" She worried her lip with little white teeth.

" Yes, a little," He growled. He hated her for being right. He hated himself for slipping up and letting some irrational emotion get in the way of what should have been something simple.

" Well… I'm also a little bit of a jealous person. Ask Lavender Brown," She smirked, rising, " And I think this soulmate business sort of make the problem worse."

" You've been jealous of me?" He laughed, " Are you serious?"

The sad thing was, there was nothing to be jealous of. She had an ex boyfriend hanging around, and all of Wizarding London worshiped the ground she walked on. He had his mother, and Blaise. And just yesterday in Diagon Alley a little girl out with her parents had stomped on his foot.

" I should not have told you that," She said darkly.

" So what are you saying, Granger? That we should call this off?" He schooled his expression into a daring smirk.

That would probably be best. Rationally he knew that he should want to jump ship at the first sign of anything even remotely emotional. But irrationally he wanted to tear that towel off of her and make her forget her own name, let alone the embarrassing things he'd said about Weasley.

" No, I'm just saying that for two naturally jealous people, it isn't really a sign of any deeper feelings," She took a step towards him, " And so, since this is just short term, perhaps we should just make a rule about being too involved with other people."

He was shocked, " You know, these past few days you've been saying some really crazy things to me, Granger. I've half a mind to write them down and send them to the Prophet.

She almost laughed, " Oh, I'm really scared of Mr. 'Say my name and tell me you want me.'"

" Ah, but I'm just a big nobody now," He reminded her, " You're the one with the reputation to lose."

She walked up and put her arms around his waist, " Yeah, you want to drag me down to your level, Malfoy? What do you intend to do when you get me there?"

He raised an eyebrow, " Well look at you. That was almost sexy, Granger."

She pouted, " Almost?"

He had a pounding erection, " So anyway, what's this about not getting involved with other people."

" Well we didn't really talk about it, when we made the rules," She said plainly.

" I won't get jealous. I'm not even really jealous," He reasoned, rubbing his hands up and down the curve of her waist, " I'm pretty sure I just had water in my ear. Makes me act screwy."

She bit her lip, again, worrying the already well-kissed pinkness almost raw, " Okay, then, but I'm a jealous person.."

" Who could you be jealous of? The last person I was screwing around with is in Azkaban," He laughed.

She didn't, " Who?"

" Astoria Greengrass," He answered.

" What happened?"

He cocked his head to the side, " What does it matter to you?"

" It doesn't I just know her sister is all," She blushed slightly.

" You really are jealous," He marvelled.

" I said I was the jealous type, not that I was jealous," She countered.

" Want to go to bed and talk it over?" He ran his hands down to cup her arse and she jolted.

" Was this part of your plan?" She allowed him to lead her towards the door and out into the sitting room.

" Well, in the plan, we just fooled around in the tub and then moved to the bed," He noticed that her eyes lingered on the carved furniture longingly, " But it seems like taking time isn't exactly our forte."

" Are you complaining, Malfoy?" She retorted.

" No, no, I just thought women usually liked a little more… preliminaries," He hinted, speaking the last word lowly in her ear as they made their way to the wide double doors to his bedroom.

" To tell you the truth, so did I. But that's what this is about, right? Too much foreplay would feel too… romantic," She reasoned.

" Perhaps you're right, Granger. But I'm a guy who takes his time. Ask Astoria," He intoned.

She giggled and opened the door, " This is your bedroom?"

He watched her take in the huge canopied bed and heavy baroque furniture, " I've just had it redone."

Her voice turned strict, " Don't you know there are war orphans without a sickle to their name?"

" I give plenty to war relief. It's not as if I'm a muggle who has to go out and buy new things every week," He waved his wand and the curtains around his bed turned from the silk embroidered with interlocking snakes to a rich emerald velvet color.

She pouted, " Show off."

" You could do it too. Maybe it would help your apartment to stop looking like it doesn't belong to anyone," He smirked.

" Hey, I like my apartment!" She protested.

" It's boring. My holding cell at the ministry had more personality," He sat down on his bed calmly, " Classic Granger."

" I have to keep most of my magical objects in my bedroom, so that it's far enough away from the television," She explained.

" What's a television?" He cocked his head to the side.

" I thought you took muggle studies," She smirked.

" Well I'm afraid that I never finished the course. My sixth year was… rather exciting."

She let that stand, crawling onto the bed next to him, " So what do you think about my rule?"

" I'd like to hammer out the terms if it's alright with you," He turned towards her, running a hand through his hair with a grin.

" Of course," She bit her lip, " I was just proposing that we not do anything with other people, at least while we're still…" She drifted off.

" You really don't like saying that we're fucking, do you?" He tugged at the bottom of her towel playfully.

She huffed, " There just has to be a better way to say it."

" No," He said darkly, " I want to hear you say it."

She raised her chin, " Fine, I think as long as we're... fucking we should just keep it simple, to avoid an awkward situation."

He crossed his hands over his chest, " That seems logical. However, since Potter's protesting seems to have lost steam and we have less than three months to at least find someone, does that exclude dating other people, or just sex with other people."

" Well…" She wrung her hands together, " That depends on how much longer we'll be f-fucking, but I think I could live with dating other people."

Instantly the thought of her walking arm and arm with Weasley down Diagon Alley while he got stomped on by little girls alone, " Yes, I agree. Three months is a short amount of time."

" But we won't sleep with anyone else," She added quickly.

He kept his voice placid and lighthearted , " We probably won't be fucking much longer anyway, so it shouldn't be too hard."

" Sounds like we have a deal, then," She smiled.

" And since we've upheld all of the other rules," He grinned wickedly, " This one shouldn't be a hardship."

She gathered her hair into a knot, " What are you doing tomorrow?"

He almost laughed, " Again?"

" Well I figure since we've been doing so well, we should keep the streak going as long as possible," She sighed, " You know, I'm really tired. Do you mind if I go home?"

" Of course not, go ahead," He replied, ignoring the pull of the unknown thing at the back of his brain, " And if you consider this doing well, fighting and all, I have to wonder if I hit your head against the tub and injured your brain."