Story Notes!
Happy Sunday everybody! Here we are then, chapter 3 of Bring me to Life! Thank you so much for the reviews, the follows and the favourites on the story so far, you are all amazing!
Thank you to champagneandliterature for the amazing alpha/beta work. Your skills are very much appreciated!
Thank you as well to the hugely talented KrysKrossZee for the beautiful artwork that accompanies this story.
See you all next Sunday! Xx
Monday morning dawned grey and gloomy. Hermione rubbed her eyes as she sat up in Harry's bed. He had obviously gotten up before her, the bed was empty, the curtains were open, not that it made much difference because it was so dull outside, the heating was on and her fluffy dressing gown and slippers were waiting on the bed beside her.
She smiled at his thoughtfulness, wrinkled her nose at the weather, and took a deep, calming breath. Today was the day she was due to resign from the job she had held at the Ministry of Magic for the past four years.
She had mixed feelings about it all. She mostly hated the job, fighting for werewolf rights against people who remained staunchly against the very idea was infuriating at worst, exhausting at best. If she'd had one person quote Fenrir Greyback's deeply unpleasant personality at her over the years, she'd had a million.
Wizarding Britain was just anti-werewolf and despite years of trying she remained unable to change that. She hadn't really wanted to give it up as a lost cause, but she needed a change before she went mad. She would still campaign for werewolf rights, but not as a job, and she would do it on her own terms.
But, she mused as she stepped into the shower, the job was comfortable and over the years it had become her safety net. She could waltz in at whatever time suited her, do her thing and come home again with nothing to worry about afterwards. It was incredibly uninspiring, but it was safe and had never proved overly taxing.
A lot of people had expressed surprise over the years that she was doing such a thankless, and frankly, boring job. They had raised an eyebrow that the supposed brightest witch of the age hadn't achieved more, or that she wasn't actively climbing the Ministry ladder and trying to blaze a brighter than hellfire trail in her wake.
Well, this morning she was certainly going to shake things up.
The halls of the Ministry were crowded, Hermione negotiated corridors full of people giving her second looks. She grinned rather cheekily at a man who did a double-take as she made her way to her office with her resignation letter clasped in her hand.
She had chosen to carry on the new image she had formed the previous weekend, and the black pencil skirt, cream blouse and low heels she had chosen seemed to be causing a few eyebrows to raise already. She pushed back her jumble of newly styled curls with a smile, some of the people she passed seemed confused by her new image, but mostly the looks she was attracting were approving ones.
Old Hermione seemed to be coming back a little more each day and if she was honest, it felt amazing.
She pushed open the door to her office, stopped in her tracks and gasped. It was empty. Totally, completely empty. Her desk was clear, her shelves were bare and her belongings were all gone. On the desk lay a single white envelope with her name on it. Dropping her bag onto the floor she ripped the envelope open with another gasp.
The writing on the letter inside was slanting and elegant.
Dear Hermione,
Following your email and our subsequent discussion on Saturday evening, your employment has now been transferred to the Department of Mysteries. I have taken the liberty of moving your things for you. Please come to office number seven as soon as you are ready, your new post and induction will start this morning.
Furthermore, your old department has been informed of your immediate transfer and wishes you the best of luck with your new endeavors. Please wear this badge around your neck as you enter the D.O.M, it is charmed to become invisible as soon as you put it on.
Yours officially,
Unspeakable Z.
P.S. Potter informs me that it's coffee with two sugars and a danish pastry for breakfast. I'm just checking I have this right, it seems improbable since your parents were dentists. Also, please don't worry, you haven't signed up to the secret service, it all seems rather daunting when you start. I'll look after you.
Unofficially,
Blaise.
The letter burst into flames in her hand and with a squeal she dropped it into the empty wastepaper basket to watch it burn. What badge had Blaise meant? She picked up the envelope but it appeared to be empty. She fingered it curiously and felt a lump, she reached inside again and a badge materialized at her touch.
Intrigued, she took it out to look at. On the front was a rather flattering photograph of herself bearing the title Unspeakable G, and on the back was a black, embossed letter Z. The whole thing was hanging from a smart black lanyard cord. She slipped it curiously over her head and it disappeared entirely once more. When she touched it, the badge reappeared. Otherwise, it hung there wholly invisible.
She took a deep breath, revisiting Blaise's letter in her head. Just what on earth had she gotten herself into? He may have said that it wasn't like signing up for the secret service but she wasn't so sure. She was very grateful for the friendly, less formal paragraph at the end of his note, even if it had given her a pang of regret at the mention of her parents. She gripped the empty desk in front of her, feeling her resolve slip. "Breathe Hermione," she reminded herself, mentally running through her sensory checklist and missing the taste of Harry at the end.
Making do with a mint from her bag, she rolled it around her mouth with her tongue as she stared at the empty office. It really had been thoroughly cleared and there wasn't a soul around. There was no point in waiting here any longer.
Shaking her head Hermione folded up her resignation letter and tucked it into her bag. After one more glance around the now strangely oppressive room, she walked away, letting the door slam shut behind her. Its echo followed the click-clack of her heels as she made her way back down the corridor towards the lifts that would take her downstairs and to her new department. It suddenly all felt very strange indeed.
Hermione presumed that office number seven was downstairs in the Department of Mysteries, so she made her way along the long, black tiled corridor, all the way to the black door at the end, the same door that had permeated Harry's nightmares and caused them so much trouble in the past.
It was unlocked, as it had been in Harry's dreams. She stepped inside, the door closed silently and she closed her eyes, expecting the room to start spinning as it usually did. When she opened them again though, nothing had changed. The room was brightly lit, the many doors were staying still and a pleasant welcoming glow emanated from one of the furthest doors.
Hermione stepped hesitantly forwards. Each door was labelled with a smart metal plaque. She grimaced as she read a few, "Time Room," "The Hall of Prophecy," she shuddered, "Space Chamber," "Blood Magic," "Death Room," she shuddered again at the sight of that one, thinking sadly of Sirius.
It was very different from the last time she had entered here. An idea gripped her and she fingered her badge as she took it off. Immediately the room darkened, the doors lost their nameplates and started to spin. Hermione gasped and threw the badge back over her head until the doors stilled and the light returned.
Shaken, she walked forwards to the door that seemed to be tempting her the most. It was simply labelled "Offices." Pushing it open she stepped through and found herself in another long corridor with yet more doors leading off on either side.
These doors were labelled with numbers, and she made her way along to office number seven, knocked and heard a male voice invite her inside. The door opened silently to reveal Blaise grinning at her from behind his desk. "Good morning!" he said, jumping up to greet her, "tell me, on a scale of one to ten, how cross have I made you right now?"
"Cross?" Hermione asked, faltering slightly under his intense gaze, "Umm, I'm not cross. I'm confused and a little concerned about what I've got myself into if I'm honest. I thought I had to give my old job notice and work it through, I wasn't expecting to come straight here today."
"Ah. Part of our job description gives us a certain level of control over the other departments you see. Technically I should have waited for you to sign this before I moved you in, but you seemed rather determined when I saw you in the pub, so I took your email as confirmation of your intentions."
"Sign what?" she asked in confusion.
"This." He waved his wand and a large piece of parchment appeared, floating in mid-air in front of her.
She took it, raising a brow at the amount of tiny writing on it. "I need a minute to read this, I can't just sign-" she looked up to see him laying out some of her things on her desk.
"Of course. Take all the time you need. Here, this will be your desk, coffee, danish, and all your things are here. When you're done and you've either signed or decided to run away screaming, hold your thumb over the Z on the back of your badge. It will alert me and I'll come back. It's a Protean charm. You and I are linked by our badges now, look." He flashed her a heart stopping grin before turning his own badge over to reveal a black embossed letter G on the back.
"Oh and Hermione, I know I said it before, but I'm very glad you accepted my offer to join me here. I'll leave you to read the contract now, see you in a bit." With a wink he was gone, leaving her with nothing but the scent of his expensive cologne and her own racing heart.
The contract seemed straightforward enough. She read it through, noting that she would be taking a magical vow of secrecy. Once she had signed it she would not be allowed to repeat anything she did, saw or heard outside of work, or there would be magical consequences.
She accepted all of the contract's terms and signed her name. Her writing glowed briefly before settling back into black ink. Knowing that the magical terms of the contract had been fulfilled she called Blaise with her badge and smiled at his return message, "on my way," then took a good look around the room.
It was a very nice office indeed. It was a huge step up from the grotty little broom cupboard-like space she had previously inhabited. She may not know him terribly well yet but this office seemed to be a good reflection of Blaise's personality. Expensive Italian furniture adorned the spacious room, the chairs were made of soft, black leather and the desks were big enough for, well, she shook her head to get that particular image out of her head.
The shelves were full of books, she glanced at a few titles, The Time and Space Consortium, The Time Jar Conjecture, The Veil Anomaly, The Vortex Explained, Into The Nothing, The Debt of Time, these were definitely not your average light reading books. The Psychic Vortex, The Lunar Excitation…. What exactly was Blaise researching, she wondered, and why had he been so desperate for her to help?
She didn't find out for the rest of the day. Directly after signing the secrecy contract, she had been whisked away for an induction with the head of the department, Gareth Greenness and by the time she was ready to leave at five her head was spinning with newly acquired information.
She tried to call Blaise using the Protean charm on the badge he had given her, but all she got in return was a message saying that he was off-site, she was free to go home and that he would see her tomorrow. She sighed. It seemed to be fitting with the whole department that he had mysteriously disappeared right when she needed him.
Instead of Blaise, she was surprised to find Draco waiting for her outside the D.O.M's main door. He looked her appreciatively up and down and she smiled uncertainly back. "How was your first day in mysteryland?" he asked, and she blew out a slow and calming breath, taking a moment to look at him properly.
The sight almost made her falter into an anxiety attack all over again. She had seen Draco in his Auror robes a couple of times before, mainly when she had visited Harry in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but the haze of inertia she had been under for the last couple of years had apparently stopped her from noticing him properly at the time.
Happily, that inertia had now cleared. "Are you alright there, Granger?" he asked as she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and bit down. Hard. He was stunning. His sheer size made him imposing at the best of times, his height coupled with the physique that for some unearthly reason she was only just starting to notice was very definitely calling to the feminine part of her that longed to be protected and cared for. His casually styled blonde hair and stormy grey eyes did nothing to ease the sudden butterflies in her stomach, and that sinful smirk was tugging at her insides in a most alarming way. Her mouth went dry as she suddenly saw what Harry meant. He was indeed, beautiful.
"Umm yes thank you," her cheeks heated in a blush, "it's just been a rather strange day."
"I imagine it would be down here. Want me to walk you out?"
Silently she nodded, casting around for something to say. "Yes, please. How was your day?"
He smiled, "it was quiet. We arrested some halfwit in Hogsmeade for threatening one of the shopkeepers then tracked a wannabe gangster who was trying to import jinxed brooms." Draco rolled his eyes, "basically it was boring as fuck. We had lunch with Neville in the Hogs Head, that was the most exciting part of the whole day."
She laughed. "You like a little more action do you?"
"Yes!" He said it with such determination she couldn't help but smile. "I like Longbottom very much but he's hardly the pinnacle of excitement. Hopefully, tomorrow will be more dramatic."
"Isn't it wrong to hope people commit exciting crimes just so that you're not bored?" she teased as they made their way into the atrium.
Draco stretched his arms up above his head as they waited for the lift, easing the tension out of his neck and shoulders and she couldn't help but stare. "Probably," he grinned, "but sometimes living on the edge is more fun than toeing the line." He was looking at her with that intense gaze again, she was beginning to think it was intentional, he seemed fully aware of the effect it had on her. Once outside of the Ministry she breathed in the cool fresh air, trying to calm herself once more. "What are you and Harry up to tonight?"
"I don't have any plans," the calming technique wasn't working and her heart was pounding suddenly, it seemed like such a leading question. "I haven't seen Harry all day, I don't know what his plans are."
Draco nodded. "I'll owl him. Or maybe even send him one of those infernal text things he's always wittering on about. It's Daphne's birthday and Neville invited me to their's tonight. Pansy's cooking, believe me that's worth coming along for if nothing else. My invite handily has a plus two on it. What do you say, Granger? It's not the official date I've promised you, but in the meantime, it might be fun."
She blinked, trying to keep her anxiety from showing. She swallowed, feeling herself starting to drown in those intoxicating eyes... "Yes please, that sounds lovely. Assuming Harry can make it as well, of course."
Draco nodded, his lips pulling up into a slow smile of his own. "I'll find out in a few minutes. Assuming all is well, I'll pick you both up at eight."
Hermione chose another outfit from the selection she had bought in Muggle London. She wriggled into the tight jeans and after a lot of thought teamed them with an emerald green top, hoping that nobody read too much into her color choice. She had bought the top simply because she liked it. She hadn't been thinking about Hogwarts politics at the time.
Harry met her in the kitchen with an appreciative smile and a raised eyebrow. "I thought you outdid yourself the other night, now all I can do is stare at your bum," he winked as he playfully swatted at her backside and she jumped out of the way. "Seriously 'Mione," his eyes were dark as he caught her hand, "you look beautiful."
She whimpered as he kissed her, it was obviously meant to be a peck but it immediately turned into something much more. Harry cupped her face with one hand then brought the other round to the back of her head. She leaned into him, gasping as he claimed her mouth. He walked her backwards until her back gently bumped into the wall. His hands wandered to her shoulders then down her back, then one slipped down her side and underneath her thigh, lifting it up and hooking it over his hip.
They kissed hungrily, devouring each other until the roar of the floo sounded and Draco stepped into the room. He unfolded himself, brushing his clothes down with a grin. "Good evening," he said, stopping short and taking an audible breath, before swearing softly at the sight in front of him.
"Evening," Harry grinned cheekily back as he let Hermione's leg down. She frantically straightened her hair while looking apprehensively at Draco.
"You got a kiss like that for me, Potter?"
"Always," Harry said, approaching him with a smile. This time it was Hermione's turn to gasp as Draco and Harry embraced just as passionately.
"Hermione." Draco pulled away from Harry, produced a small potplant from the inside of his coat and held it out to her, his face alight with amusement. "According to Longbottom, this is a Calathea. It symbolises new beginnings and turning over new leaves. I was going to go for a simple flower and so I asked him which would be the most suitable, but you know, Neville, he's insistent on getting things right. Apparently this symbolises our newfound friendly footing. Anyway, here you go."
"Thank you! That's incredibly thoughtful, Draco," she smiled as she took the plant, looking at it curiously. It was a rather handsome green, leafy houseplant and she was thoroughly touched by both the symbolism behind it, and the fact that Draco had gone to the trouble of seeking Neville out for the information in the first place.
"No problem." He was looking at her almost nervously, as if he didn't know whether to kiss her or not. She stretched up on her tip toe and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. He caught her hand as she made to move away, "while that was a lovely kiss Granger, that's not how you kissed Potter just now."
She smiled. "I know him better than I know you."
"For now," Draco agreed, squeezing then releasing her hand. She put the plant on the sideboard and turned to face both men.
"Ready?" she asked. Draco nodded, called Pansy and Neville's floo address into the fire, then stepped through himself, ready to meet them on the other side.
Hermione toppled out into a cosy looking lounge just as Pansy hurried out of the kitchen to greet them with Daphne following behind. Theo and Blaise were already sitting on the sofa talking, and Hermione settled herself somewhat nervously opposite them, between Harry and Draco as Neville poured them all drinks.
"How was your first day in the Department of Mysteries?" Daphne asked once everyone had finished wishing her a happy birthday and she had opened her cards and presents.
"It was interesting." Hermione chanced a sidelong look at Blaise, but he was deep in conversation with Theo and Neville. She told Daphne and Pansy about her things being moved from her office, and her mysterious start, the only thing she had been forbidden to disclose so far was the actual nature of her investigations, and since she hadn't started any of those yet, she figured it was safe to talk about her day.
Daphne's eyes were wide. "It sounds so intriguing, I've always wanted to have a proper look in that department but Blaise is very secretive about it all, and as you're finding out, it's like another world down there."
"It certainly is." Hermione nodded, sipping her prosecco thoughtfully.
Dinner was delicious. Draco had been right, Pansy was a truly wonderful cook. Hermione felt very full afterwards as she helped to tidy up. Everyone chipped in to help, and soon the little kitchen was bursting at the seams with people. The washing up was charmed, the plates and dishes flew into the air to put themselves away, and the sides scrubbed themselves clean.
The whole clean up operation took less than ten minutes and Hermione smiled softly, remembering with a pang of sadness the dinner parties her parents had thrown when she was young, and the marathon clean ups required afterwards. Magic certainly was a wonderful thing.
Hermione had spent much of the meal talking to Daphne and Pansy. It had been a pleasant surprise to find out just how much Pansy had mellowed since their schooldays. "So," Pansy whispered once the boys had taken their drinks into the lounge and she, Hermione, and Daphne were alone to continue their conversation in the kitchen. "Spill the beans Granger." She hopped up onto the kitchen counter and spelled the wine bottle to refill all of their glasses. "What's going on between you, Draco, and Harry?"
Hermione blushed and settled herself on the counter opposite. She picked at her new jeans, wondering what to say. "Actually, wait," Pansy held up a hand, "let's back up a bit further, can we? Where the hell have you been for the last couple of years? Nobody's seen you in what feels like forever, but now, and I mean this in the nicest possible way, you seem to be everywhere!"
Hermione breathed in deeply through her nose, closed her eyes for a second then slowly let the breath back out. "Hermione," Daphne asked softly, "are you okay?" Hermione nodded, keeping her eyes closed as she ran quickly through her usual checklist. "I'll be honest," Daphne continued, "I did hear through the grapevine that you weren't very well. I heard it was something like stress or anxiety, maybe even PTSD. Would you prefer us to stop talking about it?"
"Oh! Shit, sorry!" Pansy exclaimed as Hermione forced herself to focus. "Are you alright? I didn't mean to trigger you into-"
Hermione opened her eyes and smiled. "I'm fine. Thank you. I know you didn't mean it like that, it's just that when something does trigger it, I just need a moment." She turned to look at Daphne and the beautiful witch smiled encouragingly back. "You heard right. I wasn't very well. I'd got myself stuck in a bit of a rut and a few days ago I decided it was time to break out of it."
Pansy nodded, looking relieved, "well it looks like you chose a good pair of wizards to do that with."
"Yes!" Daphne agreed, "cover Theodore's ears but oh my, you're a lucky girl!"
Hermione smiled, grateful for their support. "Is it really, I mean, I'm muggle born, as you know, and three way relationships aren't really known in that world, except as maybe a fetish thing. So a woman having a relationship with two men would be seen as extremely odd. Is it really so different in the Wizarding World?"
Pansy nodded. "It used to be as common as the more regular kind of relationship, two partners, three partners even. None of the older families would think it the least bit unusual."
"I see." Hermione nodded.
"Theo and I have played around a little too, inviting other partners in at times, it's not something we'd want to do permanently, but it's not something either of us are opposed to either."
"I don't think I could do it now," Pansy said thoughtfully, "I'm much too possessive over my man, I'd claw some bitches eyes out if she so much as looked at Neville in that way, but I've had threesomes in the past, before we got together and they're a lot of fun. But that's what they are for me, just fun."
It was challenging to keep the surprise off her face, Hermione had clearly had a very sheltered initiation to the ways of wizarding relationships. "So it's not frowned upon at all then?" she asked and Daphne and Pansy both shook their heads. "Are you sure you're comfortable talking about it, Pansy, given that you and Draco used to-" she looked at Pansy wondering how best to finish that statement, what exactly did they used to do? Go out, sleep together?
"Of course! In fact," Pansy crossed her legs as she leant forwards, "I'm perfectly placed to give you all the inside info on him. Daph can too. I can tell you about Potter as well, but then I guess you know about him already-"
"Whaaaaaat?" Hermione exclaimed, louder than she had intended, "you've both slept with Draco? And you with Harry?"
Pansy nodded, grinning. "I've had most of them at some point, Hermione. Then I reformed when I met Neville, and I've been faithful to him ever since."
Daphne laughed at Hermione's wide eyes. "Maybe the Gryffindors were a little more restrained at school than we were, Pans."
"That much is obvious," Pansy giggled. "We need a girls night to discuss this in more detail. We can invite Tracy too, and anyone else you want, how does Friday grab you, Granger?"
"Grab her for what?" Draco asked, appearing in the doorway with a yawn.
"We're stealing her for a girls gossip night," Daphne said as Draco rolled his eyes. "No men allowed."
"It sounds perfect," Hermione said, giggling while Draco mimed hanging himself. "I'd love to come."
"I'll get the hangover potion ready for Saturday morning then," Draco said and Pansy laughed. "We're going, Hermione, it's a work night after all. Are you ready to come with us?" She nodded, feeling her cheeks heat yet again under his suggestive gaze.
"Looks like you're in for a good night," Daphne whispered as she hugged Hermione goodbye. "Have fun, and remember there's not a thing wrong with, or unusual about having two men at once. In the Wizarding World at least."
Pansy smiled wickedly but said nothing more as she stepped away, and Hermione followed Harry through the floo back into Grimmauld Place.
"Well," Draco said, pausing as he looked Hermione up and down once more, "Granger, you really do look fantastic in those jeans. It would be a shame if I just left you two here to your own devices, but, the ball is in your court. What would you both like me to do now?"
"I think I'll let you two work that out," Harry said.
"Ummm, what are my options?" Hermione fidgeted nervously as Harry chuckled. He wandered to the sink and started filling some glasses with water to give them a moment of privacy.
"Well, I could stay a bit longer, or I could go. Since you're already booked for Friday night, how does Saturday evening sound for our date?"
"It sounds perfect." She nodded as he stepped closer to her. "As for tonight, it's up to you. What would you like to do?"
"No," he shook his head stubbornly. "This one's your call. You're the woman in this relationship and I have the utmost respect for women. You are in charge, you make the decisions about how fast or slow we take things." He stroked his fingers lightly down her cheek as he spoke and she shivered.
"Are you always this responsive?" his thumb lingered on her bottom lip, pulling it open very slightly and instinctively her tongue brushed against it causing Draco to sigh. "Your so fucking tempting," he closed his eyes for a moment as she flicked her tongue against his thumb once more, enjoying the responses he gave. "But, it's very late and you've had a busy day." He stepped back, then appeared to change his mind. "Can I kiss you goodnight? I've been wondering what you'd taste like all weekend."
Draco's eyes seemed to be boring into hers, they were like molten steel in the dim light and he smelled divine as he stepped closer to her again. She took a deep breath, his scent was different from Harry's. Whereas Harry smelled comforting, of sanctuary, of home, and all things reassuring, Draco smelled quite the opposite. His scent was one of excitement, of forbidden promise, and sin. She nodded slowly. "Do you always ask first?"
He shook his head. "Consider this the only time. You saw what I'm normally like when I kissed Harry on the steps of the White Wyvern."
She gasped, remembering it well. It was as if every moment of that encounter was seared indelibly into her brain. "That was-" she couldn't think of a word to describe it but she could tell that Draco was affected by the memory as well. He raised an eyebrow at her half finished sentence. "I thought you were going to kiss me."
Draco chuckled, moving closer still as Harry ambled back from the sink and sat casually at the table. "Oh I plan to," Draco said, smiling widely. "I was just trying to work you out first."
"How so?"
"Well, I was just going to do it, then I saw your reaction to what I said, and it made me wonder. Do you like to be kissed gently and reverently? Do you like a man to worship you slowly, kissing you sweetly while he explores you all over? Or do you prefer to be grabbed roughly, and kissed hard and fast, like Harry does, ahhh, I see-" her eyes had fluttered closed and she had given a barely audible sigh "- you like to be grabbed and taken, you like to hand over control to a man who will respectfully dominate you until your screaming their name as you come undone all over their cock or their tongue…. Am I to take it that dirty talk does it for you as well, Granger?"
She gasped, panting softly and unable to formulate coherent words. "Apparently so."
"Come here." He closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her. She stared into his eyes as he smiled softly. "You're perfect, you know that? Both of you." Before she had a chance to reply he pressed his lips to hers and her world seemed to shift. She'd kissed a few men in the past, not that many to be fair, but a few nonetheless, and none of them had ever kissed her like this. Not even Harry.
Draco kissed as if it was an art form. He nudged his tongue at her lips and she yielded to him, melting against his strong chest as he fisted his hands in her hair, pulling her closer as he explored her mouth.
Time seemed to stop as he surrounded her and invaded every single one of her senses. Her heart pounded as he swept his tongue across hers. He moved his hand to the small of her back, spreading his fingers so that he covered as much of her as possible. Her knees almost buckled as his hand slipped lower, caressing her bottom, squeezing gently and then releasing. When he finally pulled back they were both affected, breathing hard and staring at each other in wonder.
Her core felt as if it were burning, scorched by the sudden intensity of their kiss. For a moment neither of them could speak. Draco simply brushed his lips over hers again then stepped back. "I'll see you at work tomorrow." He grinned and stepped towards the fireplace. "By the way, how was that?"
It took three attempts for her to answer. "Perfect," she said and his grin widened as he threw floo powder into the flames.
"Night Potter." He winked, turned and was swept away in a roar of emerald flames as Harry stared weakly at Hermione.
"Ummm, that was quite a kiss, on both of your parts." Harry's green eyes were alight and his grin was infectious as he watched her in the firelight.
"I know!" she laughed. "Oh my Gods, I just kissed Draco Malfoy. My twelve year old self just died of shock!" she covered her face with her hands as she squealed.
Harry laughed. "My twelve year old self had a similar heart attack when I first kissed him too, so I can assure you I know how that feels. The question is," Harry stopped, his face sobering for a moment, "did you like it?"
Hermione sighed and smiled. "I did. I really liked it. And I also really like kissing you. I like kissing both of you very much indeed." Harry smiled as he gestured for her to sit beside him. She flopped down, curling into his side as he wrapped an arm around her.
"I think I just need some time to get my head around it all. It's been a very strange day."
Harry smiled, ruffling her hair gently. "I know," he said. "Lets go to bed shall we? then you can have all the time you need to work things out."