It was late when Hermione finally made it back to the Penthouse. She had no intention of staying, now it was so late, but she felt she must tell Draco, rather than just going home. She buzzed the button, feeling embarrassed at ringing it so late. A moment later, the doors opened and Draco was revealed, standing in his increasingly familiar pose of leaning against the frame.

"What time do you call this?" he demanded but his eyes were sparkling.

"I know – I'm so sorry. I didn't like to just go home without explaining to you first," Hermione said. "Are you around tomorrow? Maybe we could discuss….." She stopped speaking because Draco had reached out, grabbed her arm and pulled her quite forcefully into the suite.

"Home? We had an arrangement – don't think you're going home," he said.

"Draco, it's ridiculously late and we both have to be up early….and whatever it was you wanted to discuss, I won't be able to concentrate properly…" This time Hermione stopped speaking through her own free will. Draco was standing a few feet away, his eyes on her face, his handsome face conveying his message without the need for his lips to speak. He wasn't going to let her leave and she was wasting her time protesting. Again, she felt annoyed and flattered in equal measure.

"You don't need to concentrate – all you have to do is say 'yes Draco, that sounds like a fabulous idea'," Draco nodded. "What would you like to drink?"

"Oh…..I'm okay, thanks."

"I know what you should have," Draco turned around and walked over to a small sideboard. "Go and levitate yourself onto a stool and I'll bring it over."

Hermione groaned. "Must we sit there?"

Draco grinned. "The sofas will be fine – I just enjoy teasing you about it."

Hermione walked over to the sofas and sat down heavily. She really was terribly tired but it didn't matter now because, suddenly, she felt relaxed. The sofa was soft and comfortable and she debated with kicking her shoes off and putting her legs up. Draco came over at that moment and gave her a glass. He looked her up and down. "Haven't you got anything you could change into?"

"Yes – downstairs."

"Why don't you then?"

"I won't be here that long…"

Draco sighed. "Why are you always insisting that you have to rush off?"

"Because I usually do have to rush off!"

"But not tonight? What's the rush now?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, kicked her shoes off, as she'd thought about doing moments earlier and lifted her legs onto the sofa. Luckily, she was wearing a trouser suit so it was easier to look relaxed. "Is that better?" she asked.

Draco sighed. "I suppose that will have to do," he said.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Hermione asked, taking a sip of her drink. Her eyes opened wide as she did so. It was the most unusual thing she'd ever tasted. It was sweet with a kick and absolutely delicious. Draco's face broke into a grin.

"Do you like it?" he asked.

"Yes – but what is it? I've never tasted anything like it before."

"Malfoy's Magic."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "What?"

"Malfoy's Magic – it's a cocktail. I had it made and named after me – Blaise organized it for a birthday present one year. I have the recipe."

Hermione took another sip. She gave him a cheeky grin. "Well, I was going to say it's delicious but now I know I'm drinking something called Malfoy, I might have changed my mind."

"That's strange, because it usually has the opposite effect."

"I'm not sure I want to know."

Draco sat down next to her. "It usually makes most female's go into rapture after they've drunk it," he said.

Hermione pulled a face and groaned. "Oh please! Don't tell me – it has them begging you to take them to bed?"

"Oh, they don't usually bother with going all the way to the bedroom – most of them are happy to start ripping clothes off wherever we happen to be." Draco glanced down at the sofa. "You know, the floor or a comfy sofa….."

Hermione gave a laugh and took a larger than usual gulp. "I must be immune," she said, scathingly. "I feel no urges at all."

Draco was smirking at her. "Wait until you drink a few sips more," he said, evilly, like a villain in a children's film. It made Hermione laugh again, nearly spitting her drink out. She then started laughing at that and had to reach forward, putting her glass on the low table, afraid of spilling it. Draco watched her, amusement all over his face. "It doesn't normally create hysterics but I suppose there's a first time for everything," he commented, drily.

"I can't believe you called it Malfoy's Magic – do you know just how lame that is?" she asked, when she'd got her breath back.

"Lame? It's named after me and it works magic. What's lame about it?" Draco asked, tongue in cheek.

Hermione eyed her half empty glass suspiciously. "It's also a very girly colour."

Draco now gave a little laugh of his own, enjoying her teasing. "It's a very manly mauve."

"It's cerise – which, in case you didn't know, is a shade of pink," Hermione corrected him.

"It's not pink."

"Yes it is," Hermione reached out and took another sip. "It even tastes pink."

"Tastes pink? How can something taste a colour?"

Hermione turned to him. "Of course things can taste a colour. What about peas? Don't you think they taste green? Butter – that definitely tastes yellow! And Fizzing Whizbees taste of rainbows." She grinned at her own silliness and Draco gave a deep chuckle, his shoulders shaking.

"I thought you always proclaimed to be so sensible," he said. "I like you being silly."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "I can be as silly as the next person – you have to be when your best friend is Ginny Weasley!" she said. "I quite fancy having a cocktail named after me. Do you think they'd do one in the bar for me?"

"Yes!" Draco stood up. "Let's go down there now."

Hermione shook her head. "No – we can't the bar closes in five minutes time."

"You're the Manager, aren't you? Can't you demand it stays open?"

"No!"

"But we could mix the cocktail ourselves – you can lock the bar up afterwards," Draco insisted. He gazed at her questioningly, sort of hopefully and Hermione gave a giggle. She suddenly knew that she was going to do it. She needed this – Draco had been right earlier, she needed some fun. For once, she was going to throw caution to the wind and forget her responsibilities.

"Okay," she said and Draco grinned widely at her.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Hermione had dismissed the Head Barman, who had looked at her rather strangely, and now she and Draco were alone in the bar, standing behind the counter. The selection of drinks were mind blowing and Hermione actually had no idea where to start.

Draco had no such misgivings and he was pouring measures of some alcohol into a large jug. He then added fruit juice and gave it a stir.

"This might take a few attempts," he said.

"We need a name for it," Hermione answered. She looked over at the mixture in the jug. "Not a very exciting colour," she commented and Draco tutted at her.

"I know - I haven't finished yet!" he said. He now took down a bottle of bright orange liquid and added a capful. The mixture changed to the same colour. "There - that's better."

He poured a small amount into a glass for them both and then took a sip. "Mmm...not bad. Maybe a bit sweet?"

Hermione tried it and nodded. "Yes - that's too sweet. You need to add something lemon flavoured to it."

Draco added again, examining the bottles. After a few moments, he tried it again and grinned. "Wow! That's good!"

Hermione tried and was surprised by the tangy, fizzing feeling on her tongue. "That is good!" she said. She looked at it for a moment. "But that can't be named after me."

"Why not?"

"Bright orange, fizzy and tangy?" Hermione said. "That's got to be named after Ginny."

Draco nodded. "Okay - while you think of a name I'll now make another type."

He mixed again, choosing different bottles until the bar was littered with them. Hermione watched him, fascinated.

"How do you know how to do this?" she asked.

"I don't really - but I suppose I know what goes with what. The tricky bit is making it the right taste, not too much alcohol and the right colour." He held up the jug. It was full of a pale, turquoise green liquid with a cream froth on the top. "How about this?"

Hermione nodded. "Well, it looks interesting." Draco poured the mixture out and they both took a sip. Hermione's eyes widened. The drink was creamy on top but the liquid was smooth with a slight fruity taste and a kick of sharpness. It felt as if it was warming her throat as it went down. After a moment another taste hit Hermione's taste buds and she blinked. "It feels warm and can I taste mint?"

"Yes - just a bit. Do you think it needs more?" Draco asked.

"No - it's perfect." Hermione took another sip. "Actually, it's delicious."

Draco took a sip and made an aah noise. "You're right, it does feel warm. So, is this one going to be named after you?" he asked. "Hermione's Hiccup...Granger Gruel..." Draco laughed at the ridiculous names.

"I've thought of Ginny's," Hermione said. "How about Ginny's Giggle?"

Draco nodded. "Yeh - that's good." Hermione went to take another sip of but Draco grabbed the glass off her. "No, wait - that isn't how we should drink it." He got two cocktail glasses from under the bar, filled them from the jug and then proceeded to decorate them with a tacky umbrella and slices of fruit. He then handed it back to Hermione ceremoniously. "Now you can really enjoy a Hermione's Hotspot."

"Hotspot?"

"Yes , I'm playing on the double meaning. It's feel hot when you drink it and this is your place - your hotspot," Draco shrugged. "I like it."

"We could sell them at the bar - Giggles and Hotspots!" Hermione said. She could feel the alcohol taking effect but she was enjoying herself so she didn't care.

"Let's try another Giggle," Draco suggested and now filled two cocktail glasses with the bright orange drink and then decorated them.

Hermione sipped it and it made her flinch. It was so different to the other one with a real fizzy twist. They were both very nice. "Woah - that's a different taste but still nice." She pulled a face. "I think I'm getting drunk."

Draco grinned at her. "Yeh, me too." He looked over at the door to the lounge. "I wonder if we can still play that duet?"

Hermione followed his eyes to the lounge which had a large piano in it. "No way! I'm not playing in public - even if I am a little drunk. In fact, especially because I'm a little bit drunk!"

"Everyone's in bed, we won't have an audience."

"I don't care," Hermione answered. "Let's make another cocktail."

Draco grinned and nodded at the bottles. "You try one."

Hermione, feeling slightly drunk, grabbed a jug and a bottle of clear liquid. She took the lid off and sniffed it before, doing what she'd seen Draco do, adding a couple of capful's to the jug. She then picked a deep brown bottle and sniffed it again. She glanced over at Draco before adding four capful's. She then picked some pineapple juice and lemon juice and stirred the mixture together. Draco was watching her, one eyebrow raised. "What now?" he asked.

Hermione saw a thick, caramel coloured liqueur at the one end of the counter and grabbed it. She poured a large measure into the slush coloured liquid and immediately it turned the lovely shade of caramel. She stirred it again and then smelt it.

"Smells okay!" she said, sounding surprised. "It just needs a finishing touch." She looked around the bottles, twisting them to look at the labels. She picked up a small bottle and nodded. She added a small amount of the thick, dark liquid and it swirled into a the caramel, making a pattern. Hermione then poured her and Draco a small glass and they both sipped it. The pineapple juice gave it a lovely sweet flavour, the caramel was smooth and the final ingredient made Hermione lick her lips.

"Chocolate!" Draco said, tasting from his glass. "Not bad for a first attempt. Very smooth."

"Blaise's Blast?" Hermione suggested. "Which is your favourite?"

Draco lined the drinks up and looked along them. "I think the Blast wins on looks - l love the pattern; the Giggle doesn't look so appetizing but the fizz is great." He took a sip from each one and then stood up again. "It's got to be the Hotspot for me - it's delicious."

Hermione grinned. "Glad mine wins!" She poured herself another glass of Hotspot and swigged it down. The alcohol in her system had well and truly kicked in and she knew she was acting out of character. Hermione Granger did not do this, but maybe it was time she started. Draco had some cocktail sticks lined up and was putting a cherry on the end of each one. He then proceeded to dip a cherry in each drink before popping it in his mouth. Hermione found herself staring at him, watching his movements. He had a grace of movement that many women would be envious of. The way he popped the cherry in his mouth, his lips opening and then closing over the fruit was so utterly sexy that Hermione was mesmerized. His skin was so perfect, his hair falling over his ears, soft and a gorgeous shade of blonde and those lips. Deep red, perfectly shaped into a pout, covering beautifully white teeth...

"Want to try one?" Draco's voice interrupted her thoughts and Hermione blushed. He must have seen her staring at him. She really shouldn't be mixing alcohol and Draco Malfoy. It could well turn out to be a lethal combination. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak and Draco took a cocktail stick, dipping the cherry into one of the drinks. She thought he would hand it to her, but instead he approached her and she realised he was going to feed it to her.

Hermione felt her heart start to race because however you looked at it, this was an intimate gesture. Draco didn't speak, but his grey eyes had deepened and he was looking at her lips intently. He stepped close and held the cherry close to her lips, his eyes holding hers. Hermione felt hot but she opened her lips and Draco placed the cherry into her mouth, grazing her lips on the way. Hermione bit the cherry off the stick and chewed, a little self consciously. She wasn't really tasting what was in her mouth because she was only aware of Draco's eyes.

Draco reached out and took another stick, repeating the process of dipping it before gently placing it in Hermione's mouth. She could barely chew it because her mouth was dry and her throat felt blocked. Draco had stepped really close and she could inhale his delicious aroma. It was exhilarating and fresh and it made Hermione take a deep, shuddering breath. Draco moved closer again, just millimetres between them now. His eyes hadn't left her face and she was having to look up at him.

Suddenly, she felt his hand on her waist and the next moment, he had lifted her onto the counter, several bottles falling over as he did so. Neither of them tried to stand them back up because Draco's hands were still spread across Hermione's waist and now he stepped up to the counter so that her legs were either side of him. Hermione could feel her heart racing, her breath deep and sharp, tingles were spreading from where his hands touched her.

Draco's face was serious as he moved his hands down to her hips and then upwards again, up the sides of her body, skimming over her shoulders and then down over her shoulder blades, down her back and back onto her waist. He opened her jacket and then moved his hands up again, this time pushing it from her shoulders and flinging it onto the counter, covering some of the bottles.

Hermione made no protest, she was enraptured by the look on his face, her body reacting to his touch, her lips parting, her eyes wide in her face. Their gaze was locked, hardly blinking and Hermione felt a wave of tingling excitement wash over her. As Draco's hands repeated their journey again, this time the warmth of them easily felt through her thin blouse, she put her own arms out, grasping his wide upper arms, feeling the muscles under his top. Oh god! Her control was slipping and it wasn't entirely to do with the alcohol. The cocktails weren't the only things that had entered her bloodstream because this shivering anticipation that was flowing through her had everything to do with Draco.

She slid her hands up his arms, onto his shoulders and she felt him pull her closer, towards the edge of the counter until their upper bodies were touching. Hermione felt her eyes flicker shut as a wave of emotion washed over her, she arched her back slightly as the sharp sensation took hold of her. Merlin, he felt so incredible this close to her, every pore of him oozed a sensual flow of sweet, hot sensation and Hermione could now appreciate why he was pictured with a seemingly never ending flow of glamorous women, all ready to be a trophy on his arm for the short amount of time they held his interest. This feeling was addictive, once tasted, impossible to not crave again. Right now, she never wanted this to end and yet they hadn't even kissed.

Draco's hands moved around her back again, to her shoulder blades and he pulled her even closer, pressing her curves into his firmness. Hermione knew her defences were down because of the alcohol in her system but she also knew that this wasn't what was creating the attraction to Draco, it was just allowing her to react to it. Draco leamt his head towards her and the next moment she let her head drop backwards as she felt his scorching hot lips on her neck, just below her ear. Oh god! She let out a sigh, melting against him.

And then suddenly, the light behind her eyes was blindingly bright and she blinked rapidly, feeling Draco pull away from her as the main lights were put on in the bar. Hermione turned rapidly to see Carlos standing near the doorway, his hand on the light switch.

"Miss Granger," he said. His eyes showed no reaction but Hermione knew he must have seen her and Draco. "I'm sorry. I heard a noise."

Hermione turned, feeling awkward still perched on the counter. "It's okay, Carlos. I'm going to lock up."

Carlos nodded and left the room. Hermione turned to Draco who was leaning casually against the bar, obviously not in the least bit bothered that they had been caught. Hermione stared over at him, still feeling ridiculous with her legs dangling from the counter.

"Oops!" Draco said, in a supremely bored voice.

Hermione shuffled to the edge of the counter and then dropped down onto the floor. "Oops it right. The whole hotel will hear about us tomorrow!"

"What's the problem with that?"

Hermione looked over at him. "You know what the problem is! It's hardly professional, is it? The hotel Manager and a guest in the bar..." She ran out of words to describe what they had been doing and stopped speaking.

"Actually, it was on the bar," Draco said and he smirked at her.

Mmm...can't think of much else to say really! x