The morning of Halloween, Hermione woke up in a sweat.

The cold shower felt like pins against her skin, but any warmer and it felt like she was about to boil. The routine she did in the morning was second nature now, and Parvati had walked in behind her right as she finished casting her concealment charm.

"Morning," she said with a groggy voice, still thick with sleep.

"It's coming," Hermione said, starting to cry. "I'm out of time. I don't know what to do."

"Wow, okay- out of time for what?" Parvati replied, genuinely concerned. "Is it the Halloween Party tonight? Students will just be happy to have the night off, and I know for sure the snakes are going to sneak in plenty of firewhiskey and butterbeer to go around."

Hermione could barely hear her words; the passenger was flailing in her mind. It wasn't the party- there was no reason that would cause her to feel this unwell.

"Come on," Parvati said, grabbing her wrist to pull her forward and Hermione screamed, ripping her arm back and holding it to her chest, horrified. "Okay.. okay… I – let's just go down to the common room, okay?"

Tears flooded down her face as another wave of pain shot through her body, but Hermione nodded and started following her to the common room. Once she was seated, Parvati sent a patronus to have Harry and Ron come down at once.

Harry was standing before her the next moment, still in his pajamas and black hair messy like he just woke up. He grabbed her arm, careful to place his hand nearly to her elbow and pulled her up. The fabric of his shirt covered the spot on his shoulder that Hermione rested her head, but she could still get plenty of Harry's settling scent as she inhaled deeply. The burning inside her eased. Her passenger was pacified- if only a little. Harry wasn't who she would choose, but if she were desperate, he would do anything to help her.

Harry brushed her hair, and his chest vibrated slightly as he spoke to others in the room.

"Take you time," Harry whispered, steady and assured.

Her body still felt uneasy, but her mind felt balanced enough. She pulled back to look at him and around the room, and he steadied her shoulders as woke.

"I'm sorry," sobbed Hermione.

"I had panic attacks all summer too," Collin said from her right. He must have been in the room when she entered. "It helps if you name it. Nothing else you can do but breathe through it and wait for it to pass."

The Gryffindor students around the room nodded in confirmation. The war had left damage on all of them it seemed. But Hermione's fear didn't feel like it was from the past, it felt like it was for something that had yet to come.

"You're not alone, Granger," Parvati said. Hermione felt terrible for how she treated her. "Do you want to head down?"

"Wait a tick, I'll go get ready," Harry said quickly and ran back upstairs.

Ron was already dressed, and he took a seat next to her. "Halloween is hard for Harry, too. Had a nightmare just last night. Always has. Halloween was the night his parents… you know. He was just a baby, but I think he still remembers a part of it."

Harry came back down, and what Colin said in the room kept playing in her mind.

It helps if you name it.

'Panic attack'. That wasn't its name. But she wanted to find it. Needed to find it if she was ever going to move past it.

Hermione was able to get through the rest of their set-up for the Halloween Party in the Great Hall. The heads of house did most of the coordination, so Hermione just focused on the mundane tasks as the heat in her body continued to rise. Cooling charms helped for a while, but they were wearing off quickly, and those around her were starting to take notice of the chill.

At dinner, Hermione pushed Ron to move over so she could sit next to Harry. There was so much excitement in the Great Hall with the party only a few hours away, but her passenger was feeling anything but festive. Hermione tried to eat, but the small bits of bread were getting stuck in her dry throat. Her passenger searched the room, trying to find a trace of someone who could help her.

"You still want to get ready together?" Ginny asked. Parvati nodded, but Hermione felt like she was about to be swallowed whole by the floor. Back in their room she would be all alone; males can't get to the girls dormitory.

"I can't," she said, shaking her head and standing- not able to contain herself for another moment. "I don't have time."

"Hermione!" Ginny called after her, but she ignored it and ran to the exit.

Every cell on her body was on fire. The cool autumn air had minimal effect. Down at the lake, she stripped off her robes and walked into the cool water, the shirt and skirt of her uniform sticking to her body as steam rose from her skin.

The passenger was screaming at her, telling her without words that she had run out of time.

Hermione sunk beneath the surface, letting the water seep through her hair to her scalp. It was a morsel of relief, but she had to come up for air after only a few moments.

The air did nothing to satiate her. It was empty and musty, filled with earthly odors rather than fresh pleasant ones.

Like spearmint and green apples.

Hermione groaned as she fell on the shore of the lake. The fire inside was going to kill her if she didn't do something. Her shirt clung to her chest, and it rose and fell with each breath. It was time to choose. It was a decision she only got to make once.

The fear of rejection was no longer enough to stall her or keep her away from him. Truth be told, the passenger knew from the very first day who her choice would be, Hermione only had to give the logical side of her mind the freedom to verify it for itself.

The heat of her skin dried her clothes quickly, but her hair was still damp as she made it back into the castle. It hadn't felt long that she was outside, but students were already filling the Great Hall and surrounding corridors in their costumes. There were so many of them. So many scents that it made it impossible for her to find the one she needed. The passenger took over and led her down the paths that smelled like him the most often. When she made it down to the dungeons, she could hardly see anything outside the pain and her need.

The entrance to the Slytherin common room was hidden in the stone wall. He walked this path everyday though, so it was easy for her to find the way to his dorm.

The room was empty.

Hermione fell to her knees and trembled in pain. Terrified and burning and confused. The passenger urged her forward, following his scent until she found his bed. Once she climbed in, the blankets surrounded her in their warmth and his scent, and the pain eased, just enough for a sigh of relief.

After a moment, the scent of him had the pain turning into arousal. The throbbing between her legs increased, and soon her panties were soaked. Her own fingers did little to satisfy the new ache. The only source of relief was the smell of him, and Hermione surrounded herself with any source of it she could find.

"Zabini," Theo whined as they made their way down the staircase to the dungeons.

Nott had Draco and Blaise on either side of him, practically carrying him. He had made the mistake of trying to go drink for drink with them, but Draco and Blaise had a tolerance for substances that bordered on inhuman. Goyle was in tow behind them, in better condition as he stuck to treats rather than the whiskey Flint had snuck in.

Not that Draco had planned to indulge in liquor. But after over an hour of searching for Granger, which was a difficult task considering everyone was in costume and she had no fucking smell, he had to numb his frustration.

Not to mention he wasn't the only one looking.

They weren't supposed to claim her. It was meant to be her decision. But the thought of Granger's eyes rolling in the back of her head for someone like Michael fucking Corner made Draco want to show her all the ways he was more a man than he could ever be.

More than a man.

Gods, she was so sweet when she appeared in the library. Not surprised like the first time, but when she arrived with the book it was with a purpose. To help him. The fact that she could do something so kind and still look unsure was endearing. He should have told her to go away, but the more he complimented her, the more she eased. After only a few moments, Draco knew he wanted nothing more but to keep unraveling her until she was a puddle at his feet.

And that was all before he even touched her.

Searching his memory, he couldn't even remember when he had grabbed her wrist. Granger was talking with him one second and the next she had the gorgeous look of euphoria on her face. Standing before of him like her mind had set the rest of her body free from its hold, and entrusted him completely to know what to do with it.

The things he would do.

Blaise kicked open the door to their dorm and they spilled inside, dropping Theo on Blaise's bed since it was closest to the door. They were more than strong enough to carry him to his own, but Blaise insisted it wasn't worth the hassle.

Draco unhooked his robes and threw them over the trunk on his bed on his way to the bathroom. When he walked back out, Zabini was standing to the left of his bed, staring.

"What?" Draco asked as he walked up.

There was a form, buried beneath his blankets and what he could see was covered by the hood of a robe- his Slytherin robes he'd worn earlier that day he imagined. Blaise pulled out his wand, keeping it at the ready as he nodded to him. Draco stepped forward, pulling the hood back slightly to reveal curls of golden-brown hair.

"Is that… Granger?" Blaise said confused, lowering his wand. "This is either some sort of prank, or someone is trying to set you up, Malfoy. Go get Slughorn," he commanded Goyle, who took off immediately.

Draco pushed a curl of hair from her face. So soft. He could feel the heat radiating from her skin. Granger groaned, and the sound went straight to his cock.

She's close. So, so, close.

Zabini was only a few feet away. He couldn't be around Granger when she was like this. Theo wasn't a threat, even if he were sober. He wasn't like him and Zabini. They had always been different.

Against his hopes, he could tell the sound affected Zabini- the smell of his curiosity growing. When he took a step closer to look down at Granger, there was an undeniable note of arousal.

Draco was going to kill him.

"Get out," said Draco, voice laced with venom.

Granger gasped and sat up. Looking around the room for a moment before her eyes landed on his. Fuck. What was she doing here, looking at him like that.

Her eyes were a dark abyss, luring him in to get lost. But he couldn't- not yet.

"I'm not going anywhere," Zabini announced.

Granger sat up on her knees turning to face him. Looking up at him, begging without saying a word and Draco took in a deep breath.

Nothing.

That didn't matter. He'd keep her just as she was and be grateful for every moment. The freckles sprinkling her nose needed to be kissed. The curls curtaining her shoulders needed to be held back to reveal the most sensitive spot of her skin to him.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, and Draco silently prayed she could hang out just a little bit longer.

It wasn't safe with Zabini in the room. If he found out what she was- if he knew what was about to happen to her…

"You shouldn't be here, Granger," Draco choked out, words feeling like sandpaper against his throat. "Go back to your dorm."

Her eyes flew to his, filling with tears and he reached up to brush them away, but she sat back.

"It's alright, Malfoy. I can take care of her," Zabini said, staring at Granger's back. "Don't worry, little dove. I'll have you."

"Shut up, Zabini," Draco threatened. Zabini's essence started to fill the room, and Draco wanted to cover Granger's mouth and nose before she could choke on it. "Get out."

"I can be so good to you," Zabini continued, ignoring him and Granger turned her head over her shoulder to look at him. "Salazar, how close are you…"

Granger's throat bobbed as she swallowed. Her hands were tightly gripping her skirt and Draco wished he could smell her to have a thimble of an idea to what she was thinking.

He used one finger, gently touching her under her chin and turning her back to face him. She complied immediately, and in a show to Zabini, he kept leading her closer until she had to shuffle onto her knees to sit up and keep the ghost of contact.

Granger's face was inches from his own, still beneath his. He traced his finger along her jaw to her neck, where he gripped her gently with his hand. Thumb brushing along her lips and jaw.

"Is he who you want?" Draco asked her and she shook her head. "You have to tell me, Granger."

"I choose you," her gorgeous voice declared, without hesitation. "Will you have me?"

Before he could answer, a groan of discomfort sounded from behind him.

"Blaise," Theo groaned.

Theo's voice broke Zabini out of whatever trance Granger had set him in. He looked in shock, looking from the two of them over to where Theo laid on his bed. Draco hadn't missed the particular closeness between his two friends, and he hoped Zabini's behavior towards Granger riddled him with guilt.

"Best get him to the hospital wing," Draco told him.

Blaise nodded, looking down to avoid looking again at Granger until he got Theo and gently helped him through the door.

Draco casted a locking charm at the door once he left. When he turned back to Granger, she was practically trying to crawl up him.

"Malfoy," she begged.

He pulled her so her body was flush against his. She tried pulling his collar to the side, aiming for the spot on his neck that he realized now had started throbbing. Even through the material, her nose pressed against it was enough to make his cock twitch.

"I've got you,' he reassured her.

"It hurts."

"I know, sweetheart. I'll make it better," he promised her.

"Will you have me?" she repeated her question.

"Of course." He wanted to thank her. To promise he wouldn't ruin this and let her down. "I'll take such good care of you."

She hummed and leaned more of her weight against him. Now that it was only his scent in the room, she was able to relax into how pleased and aroused he was with her.

There was just one thing that felt off. Missing.

Draco carefully started unbuttoning her school shirt. Granger reached out to remove his in return. Once he finally got it undone, he pushed it down, trapping her arms at her sides.

He traced a finger down her neck, and she shivered as it got closer to her collar bone. When he was brushing the spot that was in the same place as his own, she froze. Draco pressed down, and Hermione buckled under the pressure, her head falling back and she cried out in pleasure.

At that moment, he knew.

There was never anything missing, Granger was hiding it.

Draco pulled out his wand, holding the tip against her skin.

"Finite."

Waves of euphoria crashed his senses, the image of Granger getting closer and further away as he breathed in her essence for the first time.

It was life.

Warmth.

Sun.

Honey.

Draco gripped her hair at the nap of her neck and forced her to look at him. With another deep breath, he looked deep into her eyes, and fell in.

Hermione blinked, and Malfoy was in front of her.

The next moment she was weightless.

She was on the bed, Draco on top of her. Not nearly close enough, so she held him tighter.

The fabric of her shirt felt scratchy against her back. The front was already opened, so she started trying to take it off.

Malfoy's tongue licked against the throbbing spot on her shoulder, one she never knew existed before today. He closed his lips around it and sucked, and Hermione bowed her back off the bed. When had she laid down?

Being with Malfoy had her mind in a better state than when she was waiting for him. Like now that they were together, her passenger was willing to sit back and let things progress naturally. The fire that consumed her earlier was extinguished with every brush of his skin.

His touch was everywhere. His hands traveled up her bare legs as she wrapped them around him, sliding under her skirt and knickers to grip her arse. His other surrounded her back and then greedily grabbed her breasts and kissed and licked from her chest to her neck.

"My sweet girl, I waited so long for you," Malfoy said between kisses. "I crave you."

"Please, Malfoy, take me." Desire was overwhelming her again. Whatever was happening, she knew she wouldn't be herself much longer. "I need you."

"Where?" he asked, and she obediently shoved her hand down the front of her skirt to show him just where she wanted him.

He pulled her hand back out, bringing her fingers to his mouth and sucked. Groaning with satisfaction. Once he lapped her juices, he kissed down and started sucking on her wrist. His eyes locked with hers and rather than gray she saw black, dilated with need.

He tore her panties off her, burning the skin at her hips as the fabric ripped. The air felt cold and she had just registered he was no longer on top of her when she felt him tug her to the edge of the bed.

Malfoy pushed on the inside of her thighs, pinning them down on the bed as he licked her cunt. Hermione gave in completely. Falling on her back and seeing stars that twinkle and shifted until they represented Malfoy's namesake. Draco. Her choice. He was going to be her everything. Her-

"Draco," she moaned as he sucked on her clit.

He unpinned her legs and threw them over his shoulders to bury his face further in her center. His hands traveled up her chest to grip her breasts, still trapped behind her thin cotton bra. The fabric was uncomfortable, but Hermione trusted Draco would remove it when he was ready. Trusting him to know what to do and knowing how ridiculous it was to think that he would ever let the fire consume her.

It was getting closer. The warning feeling started months ago before term started. Then the warning turned to weeks, days, hours. And now, minutes. They kept ticking by, but now that she had Malfoy, she welcomed the anticipation of what was to come.

His tongue moved faster, and she fell deeper into the mattress. She rolled her hips against his mouth, ran her fingers through his hair. Moaning his name, panting with need.

She slipped further away, anchored to her body only in the places Malfoy touched her.

Then he was gone.

She blinked, and there were flashes of light in the room. Followed by shouting.

Several voices.

Too many voices.

Hermione pushed herself to sit up, and saw Draco being held back by two prefects. She got off the bed and ran to him, skirt falling back into place, not understanding what was going on but knowing he would protect her.

She clung to him, feeling scared and exposed and her passenger was screaming. His arms never circled her in return as he was still restrained, and he was shouting right near her ear.

"Don't touch her! I'll fucking kill you!" Malfoy shouted and Hermione held on tighter. He turned his head slightly to whisper to her. "It's alright, sweetheart. Just stay close-"

"Miss Granger!" McGonagall yelled. "You are to leave this dorm immediately!"

No, no, no… She needed to be with him. There was not more than a handful of minutes left until it started. She shook her head, clinging to Malfoy tighter until an arm wrapped around her middle yanking her out of his reach.

Malfoy raged, breaking free from their hold and causing Slughorn to cast a jinx at him that took him to his knees.

"Get him! He was assaulting Granger!"

"Bullshit! She's the one that snuck into our dorm!"

"They must be hexed Headmistress. Probably some student's idea of a joke."

"HERMIONE!"

Malfoy's yell rattled the windows and Hermione threw an elbow behind her, surprising her captor and she broke their hold.

Malfoy tore himself free again, running to meet Hermione in the middle of the room. When she was in arms reach, he gripped the back of her neck and pulled her to him. His mouth didn't crash onto hers like she expected, but to the sensitive spot throbbing on her shoulder.

His teeth sinking in.

White.

Mint.

Sun.

Apples and honey.

Malfoy held her by the back of her neck and around her waist, holding all her weight as he bit down harder.

"Yes," Hermione moaned, shallow, at the mercy of Draco in his arms.

They were torn apart, and her passenger was screaming, fighting. Draco broke free once more, and they struck him unconscious. He had just hit the floor when her own vision went black.

When she woke, there was nothing but fire and pain.

She screamed, and cried, and begged.

And she was alone.

There were chains around his wrists and ankles when he woke. The dank odor of the dungeons easily recognizable even though he couldn't see. It was all wrong. He was supposed to be with his witch, not here. He shouldn't have let his guard down. He should have put more wards against the door to ensure they were safe. How could he have forgotten that Goyle had gone to fetch a professor?

His witch's smell, that's how. He'd never felt so detached and intentional at the same time. She was perfect. She was his.

She needed him.

Her jerked his hands against the chains, ignoring the sting as the metal cut into his flesh. Granger's smell was in the room, it must have been spreading through the entire castle. It was terrified, pained, scared and Draco fought harder against the restraints to get to her.

"Reductio! Alohamorah! Veriverto!" Draco casted, but without a wand the chains remained intact. McGonagall must have reinforced them magically. That fucking bitch. He'd strangle her with them.

Granger was crying, he could hear her screams ricochet off his soul. Their connection was so strong, he tried to comfort her through their bond, but he couldn't get through. He needed to touch her. Sooth her.

Draco fought against the chains, and they started to break from the wall. He yanked again, and more dust started to fall around him. Once he was free, he would find her. They must have her locked up too if they meant to keep her from coming to him. The fury that came with that thought was enough to pull a chain free from the wall. He grabbed the intact one and started detaching it as well.

"Professor, he's awake again!" A voice called. The seventh year Prefect from his own house.

"I'm going to murder you, Graham. Let me out of here, now!" Draco screamed, and the debris from the wall shot off the floor and Graham barely had a moment to cover his head before the rocks hit him.

"Professor, hurry!" Graham shouted, hands broken and bloody.

Slughorn appeared, and Draco cursed himself for ever thinking the fool was a decent man.

"Calm down, Mr. Malfoy," said Slughorn.

"LET ME OUT OF HERE!"

"We believe you have been hexed, Mr. Malfoy."

"Then bring Granger to me! You old, dusty son- of-a-bitch. You fucking coward! Cursing me when I'm being held back. Release me!" Draco screaming, fighting against his restraints, and feeling the bones in his wrist begin to crack.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy. We are doing everything that we can," Slughorn said before pointing his wand at him, and the world faded away, until he was trapped in his mind, kept company with only the smell of Granger's screams.