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Chapter 16: I've Got A Theory

What the hell had he just tried to do? Draco was pacing his tiny hotel room. Did he really just try to kiss Hermione Granger? And what about him was so disgusting that she'd thrown up the second his lips got close to hers? These were all burning questions that filled his mind, but one question stood out from all the rest.

Was he falling in like with Hermione? And the answer, he feared, was most certainly yes. It was strange, of course. His feelings for Hermione were sort of like friendship feelings, but amplified to the point where he wanted to kiss her constantly.

But what did it matter? Hermione obviously didn't feel the same way towards him, despite what she'd said while intoxicated. Most likely, she just didn't hate him anymore.

But he couldn't accept that. He had to know her true feelings. And how was that going to happen?

An idea flitted across Draco's mind.

He could woo her. It wasn't as if he hadn't done it before. Before Elizabeth, he'd been quite the heartbreaker, going from one casual relationship to the next. It always went the same way. They'd meet, go out for romantic candle light dinners and they'd have fantastic sex, but it was never enough for him, he'd always wanted more.

But back to the point. And the point was, to get Hermione he'd need more than romantic dinners. And he wanted to do more than that. Hermione was a special girl and he really wanted to show that he had put some thought into this.

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Back at the headquarters, Lucius wasn't having the best of good or bad luck. He had searched Kylie and Draco's rooms their first night away. But there was nothing out of the ordinary. There was an unnatural amount of used condoms on the floor, but that, unfortunately was to be expected.

Lucius was at his wit's end. He knew that there was something under Kylie's exterior but how could he prove it?

That was just it. He couldn't. But would his suspicions be enough to nail Kylie on charges on espionage? Probably not.

Lucius' biggest break was the fact that a number of herbs and crystals were found in her personal pack. Herbs and crystals that were consistent in spells and potions. But there were many other reasons a woman may have those items. Most of the herbs also doubled as sweet smelling bath additives.

He had been ordered to report to the Dark Lord no matter whether he'd found anything or not after three days. Lucius made his way to the Dark Lord's chambers feeling to be quite the failure.

"Regrettably, I've found nothing my lord," Lucius confessed to Voldemort. "Little things, yes, but nothing to tie her to being a witch."

Voldemort leaned back in his chair. "I guess this would be the time to decide whether or not to continue this investigation."

Lucius bowed his head humbly. "Yes, this would be the time my lord."

The Dark Lord looked at Lucius intently. "You really believe she's a threat to us, don't you?"

Lucius nodded. "I really do."

"Then we will continue the investigation. But leave it to me, my old friend. I'll do what needs to be done. But I need you to trust me. Can you do that?"

Lucius gave him a nod and walked out the door.

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As inspirationcontinuedto strike Draco and he had to admit to himself, he was brilliant. Why hadn't he thought of this before? Everything was all set; all he had to do was get Hermione to meet him. Since the note idea had worked so well the night before he decided to try it again. He scribbled on a piece of paper, gave it to the concierge and headed out to make the final preparations.

Hermione came out of her room much later that afternoon. At last the after affects of the alcohol had worn off and she had decided to make the most of the rest of the day. As she was leaving the hotel to go to a gift shop, the man at the front desk stopped her.

"Ah, mademoiselle, a note was left for you not too long ago." He handed her a scrap of paper.

"Thank you," Hermione was puzzled. Who would send her a note? Draco was just in the next room, so she doubted he would have to resort to notes to reach her. "Can you tell me who left this for me?"

"Ah, he was grand, et blond ou he was tall and blond." He repeated in English. "He was very, icy."

Then it must've been Draco, who else fit that description? "Do you mean the man who checked in with me?"

"Oh, I cannot help you there. Perhaps but I just started my shift at 2 and this is my first day. Mais, he was tres nervous. Are you deux lovebirds going on a rendezvous?" The man raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"Love birds? I think not!" Hermione scoffed. "Of course not, no." She began smiling.

The concierge gave her a sideways look. "If you say so, but moi, j'ai vu l'amour."

Hermione looked down at the note in her hands. Once again, she saw Draco's writing with a note almost identical to the one on her door the night before.

Meet me at the Bistro de Fantie. I have a surprise for you.

Hermione was out the door before she finished the note.

Lucius knew he shouldn't have done it. He knew that if the Dark Lord found out, Lucius wouldn't be killed but torture wasn't completely out of the cards. But he'd had to. He really felt as if he had no choice. It wasn't as if he was interfering per se, he was just looking out for his son. Right?

Who was he kidding? As if anything other than his own desires had fueled his actions. But he couldn't just stand by and watch as Kylie jeopardized everything he'd worked for his whole life. He just wouldn't.

He'd taken it into his own hands to get what he needed. And while Voldemort might say it was just a sick attempt to rid Lucius of the poisonous lust that had been infecting him ever since the day he'd met Kylie, he was wrong. That wasn't why he'd done what he'd done.

He was almost sure of it.

Draco had been waiting for hours for Hermione to show up. She should've been there by now, he'd made sure to put the right address and everything.

So where the hell was she?

Maybe she didn't want to come. Maybe the feelings you have for Hermione aren't reciprocated. Why else wouldn't she be here?

Draco tried to think of other reasons for her to be late, especially during the first hour. Maybe she hadn't left her room yet, maybe she couldn't get a taxi, the possibilities were endless. But the longer he waited the more he started to believe that she just wasn't coming. Still, he'd held on, hoping against hope that she would show up, but she didn't. At last, he'd given up, just when the management started to insist he leave. He started back to his hotel feeling most depressed when he heard saw a woman walking around looking quite confused. Deciding to be the Good Samaritan, Draco walked up to the woman.

"Miss?" he asked, as the woman turned to face him.

Chapter 17: You Look Vaguely Familiar…

"Hermione?" Draco recognized her. "What are you doing here? Did you get my message?"

But Hermione didn't answer. She looked around as if to try to realize her surroundings. She tried to cross a busy street before Draco pulled her away.

"What the hell is your problem?" He asked her roughly. "I waited and waited for you and you didn't call or anything! I was worried! Were you just on your way now? Why aren't you answering…" Draco trailed off when he saw Hermione wasn't listening to him. "What happened to you?"

"I don't remember," she admitted tearfully. "I remember getting a note, going to the place it told me and then… nothing."

Draco was beginning to freak out. "Are you okay?" He asked. All his anger melted away when he saw the look of utter confusion on Hermione's face. When she didn't answer, he put his arms around her and led her to a taxi. "Let's get you back to the hotel."

They reached the hotel and Draco sat Hermione down on the bed while Draco paced.

"I don't understand this," he muttered angrily. "Let's go over the facts again. So the concierge gave you a note, which you followed and ended up, where exactly?"

Bits and pieces were beginning to come to Hermione. "No where of any importance," she said. "But I got very bad vibes from wherever it was."

"Do you still have the note?" Draco asked.

Hermione handed him the note she'd been carrying with her. Draco looked it over with a solemn expression on his face.

"This wasn't me," he looked up and gave the note back to Hermione. "It looks like my handwriting, but it's not."

Hermione took it, more confused than ever. "Then who left it?" She wondered aloud.

"We could try asking the man who gave it to you." Draco suggested.

"I asked him about it," she admitted. "But the thing is…"

"What?" Draco was impatient.

"Well, he described you."

Draco looked awe struck. "Me, but that's impossible! What exactly did he say?"

"He said a tall, blond, and rather chilly, manners wise."

Draco groaned and struck his head on the wall. "Hermione think, who else do we know who fits that exact description, knows where we are and knows the proper way to spell something into looking like someone else's handwriting?"

"Lucius," Hermione breathed.

"I can't believe my own father would do this to you!"

Hermione screwed her face up. "Me, what about you, you're his son after all. Why would he do such a thing to his own flesh and blood?"

He snorted. "As if I matter to my father in anything but an heir sort of way. But I know he wouldn't have wanted to do that to you."

Hermione became a bit uncomfortable as she always did whenever Draco mentioned Lucius' so called attraction to her.

"It's more than attraction," Draco said as if reading her mind. "He's in lust with you, I daresay he may become obsessed if you're not careful."

"Oh, stop being so melodramatic," Hermione slapped him playfully.

"It looks as if someone is back to their old self," Draco scowled.

"And it seems as if someone never will go back to their old self," Hermione commented.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Hermione changed the subject. "What were you planning on doing for me anyways?"

Draco had forgotten all about that. "You don't expect me to tell you, do you? I might recycle the idea. But trust me, you would've loved it."

"Oh come on, just tell me." Hermione was dying to know.

"Oh, all right." Draco made a big production out of it, whispering in her ear his whole elaborate plan.

"You did that, for me?" Hermione's toffee eyes began to well up.

Draco fidgeted a bit. "You don't have to get all mushy, I just wanted you to know that… I appreciate all you've done for me."

Hermione's heart fell. "And is that the only reason you did all of that?"

"What other reason would there be?"

"None, I guess." Hermione started back to her own room. "I suppose I'll just get to bed now-"

"Hermione, wait!" Draco blocked the door. "Maybe there was another reason."

"And what reason would that-"

Hermione hadn't even gotten her sentence out before Draco's lips were on hers.

Chapter 17: The One Where Hermione and Draco Finally Hook Up

Gods, this feels good, Hermione thought to herself. How long has it been since I've been properly kissed? Draco began sucking on her lower lip. How long has it been since I've been kissed like this? In truth, Hermione had never been kissed like that in all her twenty years, but who would've imagined her perfect kiss would be with the sarcastic, snarky boy who'd made some of her days a living hell.

What the hell am I doing? Draco asked himself. Am I really kissing one of the most wonderful women I've ever met? The amazing Hermione Granger? Was it just him or did this one kiss feel better than all of the shags he'd had with previous women (Save Beth) put together?

Both Hermione and Draco were reveling in the passion of their kiss before it ended, all to soon.

"Oh shit, I'm sorry Hermione, I didn't mean to do that," Draco backed away from her, resting his arms on top of his head. "I mean, I'm not sorry about the kiss, because, that was bloody incredible, but I shouldn't have done that, not when you are clearly not interested-"

But Draco was wrong. Hermione was interested, as she showed him by practically shoving him against the wall and kissing him once again.

"But this is what you want, right?" Draco asked, tearing himself away from her kiss.

"I love that you care, Draco, but just shut up and shag me already."

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Sorry I didn't mention this before, but I suck at romantic scenes (price you pay for being a thirteen year old virgin) so this is where I'll leave it. I'm pretty sure you know what's going to happen next. If you don't, perhaps there is something wrong with you.