Chapter 19: Qs and As, or Lack Thereof

Lucius was thoroughly frustrated. He'd lured Kylie away, knocked her unconscious, searched her rooms, but still nothing.

He'd been so sure that everything would've paid off, when he found something to tie Kylie to being a spy. But once again, he failed.

He was starting to think that perhaps it was time to actually leave the matter in Voldemort's hands. But if the Dark Lord didn't do something soon, Lucius was ready to once again take matters into his own hands.

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Hermione and Draco spent the rest of their vacation in post-coital bliss. And it was amazing how better Draco looked after the first few orgasms. But eventually their last day in Paris came to and end. And that left both Hermione and Draco with more than a few issues.

Hermione was scared. Yes, while it was true that their week in Paris had been one she would never forget, except for the note incident, what was it she and Draco were playing at? Yes, she had feelings for him, feelings that were different than anything she'd ever experienced but perhaps it was just infatuation. Maybe what she and Draco had was just a fling, an affair, something she would treasure forever, but wasn't meant to last.

What Draco was dealing with was fewer questions and more guilt. What was he doing? Elizabeth had died little more than a year ago! And already he was gallivanting off with someone new? What kind of man was he? He knew he was being irrational, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was betraying her somehow. He had feelings for Hermione, but he'd be damned if he let them diminish the memories of his first love. He couldn't let that happen, especially since he was the reason she was dead in the first place.

And then there was the query in both their minds. What had Lucius been trying to do? It was later discovered that Hermione's room had been broken into. Nothing was missing and all in all, it was just a huge scare, but Draco had no doubt in his mind that Lucius had been behind the break in. Was he starting to wise up about Hermione?

None of these questions had answers.

So rather than try to face these conundrums, the pair of them did nothing.

Chapter 20: Don't Call Me, I'll Call You

"She gave him a jaunty wave that clearly said, so long sucker, don't call me, I'll call you.
The door slammed behind her.
He'd gotten the message."

-Nobody's Baby But Mine Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Hermione had holed herself in her room upon their return from Paris. She was also avoiding Draco as much as possible. She wasn't regretting what they had done. It had been wonderful, much better than all her times with Harry put together and multiplied by 100. But their physical joining had made things a bit weird between them. Despite living together for the past couple months; Hermione still had so many questions about him. Starting with What the Hell Happened?

Little was known about where Draco had been and what he'd been doing before he'd shown up at the front stoop of the Order, ragged and weary. For the longest time, no one could reach him on either side. It was as if he'd dropped off the face of the earth. If he had been using magic, he'd made sure it was untraceable. But apparently, for Hermione hadn't been there rather Harry relayed the story to her; Draco had come all apologies and good willed wanting to join the fight against evil. Of course he'd been checked for all the regular spells and curses. It was made sure that he had true intentions before he was judged sincere and admitted into the Order of the Phoenix.

Hermione sighed in boredom. She wasn't usually so superficial as to resort to dishing about someone but she was desperate. And she knew that she shouldn't question whatever had turned Draco into a decent human being, but she couldn't help being curious. She supposed she could go out. The library in the Headquarters was actually magnificent, one that rivaled Hogwarts. But she didn't really want to avoid the hordes of men who seemed to think it was okay to proposition her every time she walked by.

So what to do?

As if an answer to Hermione's question, someone knocked at the door.

Antonin.

"What a pleasant surprise," Hermione lied through clenched teeth. She'd forgotten all about their incident right before her trip. She hadn't really been missing the memory either.

"Believe me, the pleasure will be all mine. Are you going to let me in?"

Hermione cast a leery look at Antonin. "Why should I?"

Anton pushed himself into the room. "I've come to make peace with you. I shouldn't have said those things, true as they may be."

Hermione raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Really? It took you this long to realize that?" She closed the door. "Why do I think you have a different reason for being here?"

"We should sit down," he gestured towards the couch.

Hermione took a tentative seat across from the menacing brute. "What do you want?" She asked.

"You should be more polite," Antonin sat himself next to Hermione and put his hand on her knee. "I'm a very important man here at the Order of the Cobra."

"As interesting as that is, why are you telling me?" She stood up.

He flashed her an easy smile. "I have an offer to make you. A business opportunity, if you will."

"I don't understand."

"Come on, I've been a very lonely man during my stay here. I'm sure you can fix that," he said.

Dammit, what was she supposed to do? "I'm sorry but you know I work for Mr. Malfoy."

"I understand," he stood as well and sidled closer to Hermione. "You want to give 100 to your employer. I respect that."

Hermione sighed with relief. "Yes, that's exactly it. So," she tried to usher him out the door. "I'll be seeing you-"

"Whatever the little fucker is paying you, I'll double it. Believe me, you might as well give in now. You'll find I can be very persuasive." He was so close she feel his breath on her skin.

Hermione tried to back up, but found herself against a wall. "As tempting as that offer is, I'm still rather confused why you want me in the first place. You don't even like me."

"I don't have to like you to screw you." He was practically on top of her now and Hermione was getting worried.

"I'll think your offer over, but I'll get back to you-"

"No," he pinned her hips with his own. " I want an answer now,"

Hermione gulped. "In that case," she licked her lips. " I'd have to say my answer is no."

"Too bad," Antonin seemed to be taking rejection well, though he was still invading her personal space. "Too bad I don't take no for an answer."

Next thing Hermione knew his lips were on hers.

"Get off me!" Hermione tried to push him away, but he was too strong. "Get off!"

"Just sit back and enjoy it honey, I know I am," he sneered as he tried to unbutton his pants while still restraining Hermione.

This can't be it, Hermione thought desperately. Her mind raced through her options. Draco was at his daily appointment with the punching bag so there was no chance he would interrupt. That was pretty much her only option unless…

Magic.

She'd brought her wand with her just in case, but more importantly she had perfected wandless magic in her seventh year.

Her mind was made up. She was vaguely aware of the fact that Antonin was ripping her shirt now, but she paid no attention.

She felt as if she was having an out of body experience but she zoned in on a glass on the counter and willed it to shatter. She gathered her strength and hurled the shards at Antonin's back.

"Ahh" he screamed. "What the hell you bitch?"

Hermione took this chance to run away. She ran down corridor after corridor until she reached the training room. She pushed open the door and straight into Draco.

"What's up?" He turned to look at Hermione, taking in her flushed appearance and ripped shirt. "What happened?"

She tried to catch her breath. "Antonin," she panted.

Immediately, Draco seemed to perk up. "What did he do?"

"He propositioned me, offered me a job and when I said no, he-"

"He what, Hermione, what did he do?" Draco's voice became urgent.

"He tried to rape me." Tears were streaming down her face now.

Draco was halfway to the door before she finished her sentence.

But he didn't get a chance to exact revenge on Dolohov. He didn't even make it to the door before the Comrades of the Cobra stormed in and seized Hermione.

"Kylie, you are hereby under arrest for lying to the Dark Lord and are to be treated as a spy. Do you understand the charges brought against you as they have been read to you?"

Hermione nodded her head slowly.

"What's going on?" Draco shouted. The guards began to lead Hermione away. "Where are you taking her?"

His eyes were the last things Hermione saw before plunging into darkness.