A/N: Wow thank you all so much for the many, many reviews I've received from this last chapter! Anywho, many of you are very concerned with Draco's new "turn to the Dark Side" persona, but just note that Draco doesn't see it like this, he doesn't see himself as going back to the Dark Side. He mainly wants to stop the "domination" of the Ministry and stop them from making false accusations. Draco doesn't want to start up what Voldemort couldn't finish, or anything like that. Deep inside, Draco is still the changed "good" Draco we all know and love, he is just…in a sense…being "blinded" by power and the desire for deep respect…mmm…does this sound a bit like the notorious Anakin Skywalker? I'm very happy to see a lot of you readers have noted the Star Wars correlation. But do NOT worry, I am not going to steal Revenge of the Sith's plot or anything and have Draco suddenly tell Hermione that she is "plotting against him" and Hermione isn't going to say "Draco, you're breaking my heart!" (yelsey-- I wrote that quote just now right before I read your review and you also put that quote in the review so thank you! Haha! Go GEORGE LUCAS!) And he's not going to try choking her either, so don't worry! I will stick to my OWN ideas!

Oh, and I read through Chapter 24, because I got a few more than usual critiques on my English. Some of you informed me that I kept switching my verbs, going from past to present irregularly, and I re-read it and I agree with you all. I must have been VERY tired or something, because my grammar sucks big time in Chapter 24. Thanks for informing me, I'll try and watch out for that! I also noticed that my thinking italics didn't come up…I don't know why those didn't work when I uploaded it…oh well, I hope it wasn't too confusing, sorry!

P.S. The Snitch during one of Draco's games was just luck for Draco, there is no sinister plan behind it! Lol!

AmErIcAnCoWgIrL— 'Nicholas' is the usual way to spell it, but my friend's older brother spells his name 'Nikolaus' and I always thought was cool and unique so I used that version instead.

ON WITH THE STORY!

Chap. 25 Bugs

Draco went home after the meeting. He walked in and noticed Hermione had not arrived yet, it was only 2:45 anyway.

She probably won't be home for another few hours knowing her… Draco thought moodily to himself.

He went to the conservatory to think. He was now the leader of this group against the Ministry.

Well, not really against Draco reassured himself, We just want to make things right again. We want our freedoms.

Draco threw himself into a chair and placed his head in the palms of his hands.

'What have I agreed to do?' He asked aloud, 'It's a good thing I agreed to lead them… who knows what they would have eventually planned. Now that I'm leader, I can calm their ways of thinking down a bit. All we want to do is stop the accusations.'

He stood up quickly, placed his hands behind his back, and began to pace the room.

After a few minutes of pacing Hilde ran into the room.

'Good afternoon, Master Malfoy, can Hilde get you anything to calm your nerves? Some hot tea, perhaps, Sir?'

'No.' He replied hastily.

'Master does not want anything?'

'No!' He snapped.

'Yes, Sir, Hilde's sorry for interrupting.' She then ran from the room.

Draco decided to go take a drive.

A half-hour later he wound up at his mother's penthouse.

'Draco!' Narcissa exclaimed as she opened her door to let him in, 'I'm glad you've decided to visit a lot more often than I had thought, but is there anything wrong?'

Draco walked in and saw Uncle Jack in the back parlor with an older lady. He didn't know why, but Draco cringed a bit when he saw Jack. For some reason he didn't want to talk to him.

'Who's that?' Draco asked, ignoring his mother's question.

Narcissa turned around to look.

'Oh, that's my neighbour. Her and Jack are getting acquainted.'

'What's he doing here?' Draco asked harshly.

'Jack? He comes over a lot, Draco…' Narcissa replied. She stared at him appraisingly, 'Is something wrong, darling?'

'No. Sorry I disturbed you, I'll let myself out.'

Before Narcissa could reply, Draco opened the door and exited. Narcissa walked back into the parlor.

'Jack, could I have a word?' She asked.

'I was just about to leave anyway!' The older lady said with a smile. 'Thank you for having me over, Narcissa dear.'

'Sure, anytime, Suzanna.'

The older lady named Suzanna grabbed a large pink purse and waddled out of the penthouse, leaving a smiling Jack and afrowning Narcissa.

'What's wrong, Cissa? Was that Draco who was just here?'

'Yes, he left as quickly as he came though. I think something is wrong with him and Hermione. He's been here twice this week already, both times without Hermione, and he's been a bit temperamental.'

'I'm sure it's nothing, Narcissa. I wouldn't worry about it, Draco's always been somewhat a spilt-personality hasn't he?'

'Not since Hermione came into his life.'

'Did you want me to go to the Manor?'

'No, I'll give him a few days, maybe your right. I'm just being too motherly now that he's finally living away from me permanently.'

'It's probably hard on Draco, too, yeah give him a few days to straighten himself back out.'

Draco drove back to the Manor. He was confused and angry with himself. He always liked seeing Uncle Jack, except for today. He didn't know why, but he just wanted to go lock himself in his room and pout. And that's exactly what he planned on doing.

He walked into the Manor at approximately four in the afternoon.

He heard sounds coming from the entertainment room. He walked by and saw Hermione sitting on the leather couch watching a muggle television show. He also noticed she had two thick books sitting next to her. He began to walk back to the staircase when he heard,

'Draco? Is that you?'

Draco sighed and stopped in his tracks. He turned on his heel to see Hermione getting off the couch and running to him. She slowed as she got nearer because he didn't look too enthused.

'Draco, where have you been?' She asked, not wanting to bring up his obvious mood.

'I was at my mother's. I think I'm going to go take a shower.' He told her.

'Oh, all right.' She replied.

He turned away from her and headed to the staircase, taking two steps at a time. She watched him go, but didn't pay much heed. She went back to the entertainment room to finish watching her reruns of I Love Lucy and finish reading her books from the Ministry.

Draco did take a shower, but then went straight to bed afterwards while Hermione was still downstairs. He didn't care. Just like Uncle Jack, he didn't feel like talking to her either.

Draco continued his despondent attitude, of which Hermione was choosing to ignore, onto the next day of Saturday and Sunday morning, which was supposed be another day of Quidditch practice. He woke up with Hermione at eight, got ready, intended to go to Quidditch, and said goodbye to her when she left, however, after she left he immediately threw off his Quidditch robes and threw on regular black robes. He decided,since there was no meeting, he would spend the day at Blaise's house discussing their group's future plans.

Quidditch Practice, Sunday Morning—

After practice Captain Skye Walker went to Harry to ask about Draco.

'I honestly don't know where he is, Walker. There's got to be a good explanation though, he's probably sick, you know he's very dedicated to the team. I'll go to his house now.'

'You do that. And make sure you tell him he better be at practice tomorrow or it's a sit-out for him on Saturday.' Walker replied.

'Right.' Harry responded just before apparating.

Harry appeared at the front door of Malfoy Manor, knocked the large bronze serpent knocker and waited for a few mere seconds before a house elf came to his call.

'Hey, is Draco in?' Harry asked.

'No, Sir, Harry Potter, Sir. Master's not home.'

'Is Hermione then?'

'No, Missus Malfoy isn't home either, Sir.'

'All right then. Can I wait for them inside?' Harry asked hopefully.

'Yes, come right this way, Harry Potter, Sir.'

The house elf led him to the conservatory.

'Can Hilde get Harry Potter some tea?'

'Oh no, thanks, Hilde. Can I just wait in the Entertainment room?'

'Sure you may, Harry Potter, Sir.'

Harry thanked Hilde and then strolled over to the big screen plasma television to wait.

After about four episodes of a continuous day of The Gilmore Girls Harry heard someone come in through the front door. He looked up at a clock and saw it was 4:30. He lifted himself from the leather couch and walked out, hearing Hilde the house-elf informing someone that he was waiting.

He walked down to the foyer to see Hermione standing there with some files.

'Hello, Harry!' She said with a smile while she removed her heels and coat. She looked tired. 'Have you been waiting long?'

'Err, a few hours, not too bad. I've been watching television.'

'Oh, I'm sorry, hasn't Draco been here?'

'Err, no, I was hoping you would know.'

'Why did you need him? I'm not sure why he isn't home. Didn't you talk at practice this morning?'

Harry immediately became worried. She didn't know he wasn't at practice? Harry then did what any normal nineteen-year-old male would do…he lied.

'No, I did. I just forgot to tell him something about practice tomorrow so I thought I'd come over and tell him, but he's obviously not here so I'll just see him later.' He told her. Maybe Draco's planning something for Hermione…and that's why he's being so secretive, even to her. He thought to himself.

'Well, don't you have to tell Draco something about tomorrow still?'

'Oh…well…yeah…I'll call him. I forgot you have a phone now. I should have done that in the first place.'

'Or owled him.' Hermione noted.

'Yeah…right. Well, see you.'

'Good night, Harry.'

Harry left in a hurry. He felt very foolish for what just happened.

After Harry left, Hermione wasn't quite sure what to think. She then became curious about Draco's disappearance.

'He surely hasn't been the same Draco lately.' She said, finally realizing it. She suddenly began to concoct ideas of where he might be. 'Oh god…maybe he is at another woman's house…'

On cue, Draco strolled through the front door. He again, the second night this week, nearly ran into her.

'Oh, sorry.' He mumbled. 'Don't stand behind the door like that. One of these days, you might be leaning over and I'll break your nose.'

He then took a good look at her and saw she was frowning, and her usual bright honey eyes were sad.

'Something wrong?' He asked, fully stepping inside and closing the door.

'Where were you?'

'Blaise's.'

'Promise?' She asked, voice hitching a bit.

'Yeah, why? Someone tell you otherwise?'

'No…I just thought that…maybe…you were at another girl's house or something…since you didn't tell me where you were.'

'Don't be stupid. I wouldn't do that. I couldn't tell you anyway, you're always at work.' He replied with a slight bite in his tone.

Hermione looked at him sadly as he brushed by her. He almost reached the kitchen, but then a pain in his stomach formed causing him to turn around and walk back to Hermione. He leaned down and softly kissed her cheek, then went back to his path to the kitchen.

Monday Morning, Quidditch Practice—

As Draco walked into the locker rooms, Skye Walker walked up to him angrily.

'And where were you yesterday, Malfoy? Actually don't give me any excuses, just don't fucking do it again unless you're on your deathbed. If you skip like that again with no previous excuse, you'll receive punishment.'

'Yeah, sorry.' Draco muttered.

Walker then walked away. Harry then approached Draco.

'Where were you yesterday? You weren't here so I went to your house. You weren't there either.'

'I went to Blaise's because Lavender almost broke up with him. The bloody git was a mess.' He said, quickly forming a story.

'Well, you're main priority should have been your team.'

'It's not like I'm going to skip a game or anything.'

'You might have to if you skip again. Walker said he'd bench you.'

'Yeah…okay.' Draco mumbled, as he put equipment on.

Harry decided not to interrogate Draco anymore. He'd just ask Ginny about Lavender tomorrow.

After practice, Draco left quickly and apparated to Goyle's for a meeting.

'Ahh, our leader!' Pansy squealed when he strut into the room.

'Drake,' Blaise began, 'We've been trying to figure out a way to get a member into the Ministry to see what they're up to.'

'They'll never let anyone on that list of theirs, unless being interrogated, to enter in.'

'We know, that's what we've been trying to overcome. An invisibility cloak you think?'

'No, no,' Draco replied, 'They've got people who can spot that, like Mad-Eye Moody.'

'Disillusionment Charm?' Ahman Gold, former Durmstrang student, son of Ronin Gold, a death eater, suggested.

'No, we can't risk ourselves going in, any of us…' Draco then turned to Pansy, 'Unless you want to volunteer yourself, I'd be fine with that.'

She gave him an obscene hand gesture, which informed him otherwise.

'How are we going to get information if we can't get in?' Crabbe asked.

'Bugs.' Draco replied.

'Bugs?' A few questioned.

'Yes. We'll go down to Knockturn Alley, hire a few unregistered animaguses and send them in.'

Blaise smirked.

'Ahh, like that Skeeter lady.' Goyle reminisced.

'Yes.' Draco responded. 'We'll hire like two or three and deliver them via flowers.'

'Who'll get flowers? Fudge?' Millicent asked sarcastically.

'No, you dwit,' Draco spat, 'do we not remember my lovely wife works there? I'll send them to her. Once the plants are in her office, the bugs will scuttle down and each crawl onto a Mysteries worker's shoe, and also leave the building in that way. They'll return here the next day with information.'

Everyone erupted into excited conversations.

'Glad you're here, fucker.' Said Blaise, patting Draco on the back.

'I know.' Draco replied.

Quidditch Practice, Tuesday Morning—

Draco nearly skipped into the locker rooms that morning.

'Hey, Harry!' He cried, beginning to quickly throw on his arm pads.

'Hey, Draco.' Harry replied hesitantly, a bit thrown off by Draco's enthusiasm which was missing yesterday.

'I was reading a new Quidditch stunt book and I can't wait to try out a new dive today during practice.' Draco said rapidly. He finished dressing quickly, 'See you on the field!'

'Yeah, see you.'

The whole practice, Draco was moving fast, turning sharply, and taught himself a new dive, The Pack Scheme, Skye Walker was very happy about that, and he quickly forgot he was ever concerned about Draco, so did Harry. He decided not to ask Ginny about Lavender after all.

No one really knew he was mainly excited because that morning, Blaise and Pansy were gone hiring bugs.

Ministry of Magic—

'Excuse me, Minister?'

'Yes?' Fudge replied to his secretary, quickly looking up from a stack of papers.

'A bouquet of flowers has just arrived for Mrs. Malfoy.'

'Very well, send them up to her! Do I look like Mrs. Malfoy?'

'Well, I just thought you might want me to send them to security, to have them checked.' She said timidly.

'No, no! They're just flowers, probably from her husband or Harry Potter, who bloody gives a damn, I'm busy, Janine!'

'Yes, Sir, I'm sorry, Sir. I'll send them straight up to her.'

'Good.'

Two minutes later Hermione received a knock on her door. As Janine entered with the office with a large, bright bouquet of exotic hibiscus flowers, three "bugs", unaware byHermione or Janine,jumped from the flowers, onto the floor, and scurried out the door to find their victims.

'These flowers are for you, Ma'am. From a Draco Malfoy. They arrived about five minutes ago, at eleven thirty.'

'Really? Oh thank you!' Hermione cried excitedly. She took the flowers and conjured a vase with water and put them gently in. Hermione hadn't felt this happy since their honeymoon.

Draco did not go to practice again that day. It was five in the evening and Harry went over to the Manor. Hermione answered and let him inside.

'Draco not home?'

'No, he isn't.' She replied, looking much less tired than before.

Harry saw a large bouquet of flowers on a table in the foyer, making the table look very small in comparison to the extravagant scarlet, fuchsia, and orange flowers.

'Those from Draco?' Harry asked bitingly.

'Yes! Aren't they lovely! They arrived at work for me this morning!'

'Well, where is he?'

'I'm not sure, probably at Blaise's again.' She said, re-arranging her flowers.

'He wasn't at practice, Hermione.'

'Oh really? I wonder why, that's very odd.' She said dreamily.

'Well, I think, as your husband, he should inform you of where he will be.'

Hermione turned and eyed him curiously.

'He tells me when he returns, Harry.'

'He's been acting strange lately, Hermione.'

'What are you saying, Harry? I don't appreciate your tone.'

'I'm not saying anything. Draco is rarely home is he?'

'I don't think it's your concern, I'm rarely home, too, I work. Draco keeps himself busy with friends and visiting his mother, he's not going to stay home all day, and I'm not going to ask him to!'

'Well, he isn't busying himself with practice!'

'He probably has a very good reason to miss it! It sounds like you are accusing him of things!'

'I'm not accusing him of anything, Hermione. I'm just concerned for my team, our team…the one Draco should be dedicated to.'

'I'll talk to him when he gets home, but I'm sure everything is fine.' Hermione replied opening the door, hinting for Harry to leave.

'All right, goodbye.'

Meanwhile at the Meeting-

Three bugs crawled in and transformed back into their original bodies. Two men, one woman. All of them were dirty and thin…they obviously were found at Knockturn Alley.

'What did you find out?' Blaise asked.

'Well,' began the woman, 'a man named Neitzel is going to soon plan a picnic for four people, Fudge, himself, Head of International Magical Cooperation, and Head of Magical Law Enforcement.'

'Law Enforcement?' Draco asked, 'I wonder what law they plan on enforcing.'

'Hit Wizards are going after someone called, Marcus Flint, they want to have him sentenced before the Wizengamot.' One of the men animaguses said.

Everyone immediately looked around the room for Flint.

'Where is he?' Draco asked no one in particular.

'Not sure.' Blaise shrugged.

'Yesterday he told me he had business to take care of, and might not be done by today.' Adrian Pucey said.

'I wonder what that idiot went and did…' Draco sighed.

'Probably nothing,' Pansy said, 'Ministry probably just saw him on the street and decided to take him in.'

'No.' The female animagus said.

'What then?' Pansy shot back.

'I overheard some people on the street, on the way here, that a Marcus Flint killed a Ministry worker early this morning.'

'Who?' Draco quickly asked.

'Someone who worked in the Sports Department or something.'

Draco sighed.

'No, Drakey, it wasn't your precious traitor wife.' Pansy whined.

'Shut the fuck up, Parkinson.' Draco spat. 'Flint killed someone. He's out of this group permanently, and I hope he's found guilty. He's always been a brutal, fucking son-of-a-bitch. And we don't need anyone like him to be fucking up our group, getting us caught with a false assumption and summary of everyone else here.'

'Flint was one of us, we should help him.' said Mikel Gash, a member initiated by Crabbe.

'If you think we should fucking risk our whole organization to help a murder, then you're out.' Draco snapped.

Gash shook his head and fell silent.

'What's going to happen at the picnic?' Blaise asked the animaguses, changing the subject.

'Not sure.' One of the men said.

'All we got was the names and the place, Bodmin Moor.'

'What was that?' Draco asked.

'Bodmin Moor, Cornwall.'

'That's where I went to get you, Draco,' Goyle said, 'that's where you practice.'

'I know, Goyle.' Draco said sharply. He then turned back to the animaguses, 'Do you know when? What day?'

'This weekend…' one of the males said.

'Saturday?' Draco asked.

'Sounds familiar, about 10-ish,' the same male replied.

'They're coming to my game.' Draco said in astonishment.

'What?' A few members asked.

'My Quidditch game against Pride of Portree is Saturday at 10, at Bodmin Moor.'

'I wonder what they're up to.' Blaise pondered.

'Me too, I guess I'll see Saturday.' Draco shrugged.

'Me too, I'll go, too. 'Bout time I see one of your games anyway.' Blaise said with a grin.

'Me too!' Pansy squealed.

'No.' Draco protested, 'You're not coming. Too suspicious. You were just interrogated by them, they'll know something's up.' Draco didn't believe that for a second but he hoped Pansy would.

'Umm…yeah!' Blaise concurred falsely.

Pansy pouted angrily.

'Well, thank you very much.' Draco said to the animaguses as he handed them each a bag of knuts, 'pleasure doing business with you.'

'Anytime!' They replied, greedily taking away their bags and running off.

'Well, I'm off.' Draco said, 'See you later.'

On the way home Draco stopped off for some more flowers for Hermione, he knew Harry had probably already stopped by and Draco had to make Hermione forget that. He bought an expensive bouquet of a dozen white roses with red tips. They were fully blossomed and gorgeous, Hermione would love them.

He walked into the manor, his face covered by the huge present. He heard Hermione come from a room and gasp.

'Draco!' She cried excitedly, 'More flowers? They are so beautiful!'

He smiled and handed them to her shaky hands.

'I'm glad you like them, did you get my others?'

'Yes! It was such a splendid surprise!'

She took them from him and stepped up on her tiptoes to kiss him.

'What's the occasion?' She asked from the kitchen, as she put them in a vase with water.

'An apology for my recent mood.' He replied, removing his shoes.

She came back into the foyer with the vase and flowers and put them on a table in the family room. She was soon back in the foyer.

'Your mood? Oh, I'm so happy you are out of it. I missed you.'

She hesitantly walked over to him, but he reached for her and she gained confidence back and fell into him. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. She wrapped her arms up around his neck and leaned into his body. She kissed him back hungrily.

'I missed that, too.' She said breathlessly when he pulled away.

He smirked at her for the first time in about a week. She nearly melted and forgot about asking him about Harry.

Draco bent down and lifted her up, her legs wrapped around his waist. He then carried her upstairs and into their bedroom.

He set her onto the bed and quickly removed his clothes, she did the same. He laid on the bed and moved on top of her gently. She opened her legs, so he could lay between them. He placed his forearms under her back, to lift her torso up a bit. He placed rough bites on her neck and shoulders, causing red marks to appear. She moaned from the sensation running through her.

He stopped for a moment or two, looking as if he was thinking. He then turned and looked into her eyes.

'Hermione, I love you with all my being, you know that right?'

'Y-y-yes, Draco, of course. I love you, too.'

He kissed her very gently on her forehead.

'No matter what I love you.' He said.

She nodded with question in her eyes.

'Is there something wrong, Draco?'

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if contemplating, but he then placed his forearms back flat on the bed, along with her back. He leaned down, brushing his lips against her ear.

'No, my love, there's nothing wrong.'

She smiled and whispered in his ear, 'Then make love to me.'

She felt him nod and felt his erected member begin to enter her.

She arched her back against his body and moaned with a mix of pleasure and pain (from no fore-play and natural lubrication). But soon Draco was thrusting in and out of her so perfectly, there were only moans of pleasure emitting from both of them.

Draco had a lot of built up tension, and he was glad he had Hermione, someone he truly did care about, to release himself into.

As he pumped in and out of her, he could hear her moan his name and call out orders of, "Harder" or "Faster", but mainly just "YES! YES! YES!".

Draco's fingers began to slide down Hermione's body, and then just up and down her upper thigh. He felt goosebumps form all over her tight body. Her nipples immediately erected and he leaned down and sucked on each one playfully. Hermione then began to thrust back into him because of it, hitting a pleasure point of Draco's, causing him to bite a bit more rougher than intended, but Hermione didn't notice…anything Draco did from here on out was going to be pleasure for her.

Draco could feel Hermione squeezing her legs around him tighter, making him go deep inside her. He groaned throatily as he entered further.

He buried his face in her neck, then moved his face up when he thrust into her. She heard him distinctly moan in her ear, telling her his lips were there, so she turned and kissed him hard. He kissed her back passionately, slowly entering in and out of her as he did. Their tongues battled each other, just before Draco pulled his out and slid it down her body to the center between her breasts.

He moved his tongue further to her navel, as he did he gently pulled his member out of her very wet body. He moved his head to her wet folds and sucked on her, lapping up the warm, sweet, fluids. Hermione cried out loudly when she felt his tongue enter her. Her nails gripped the bed sheets tightly as his tongue kept hitting her most sensitive areas. She gasped and moaned. She felt as if her mind would explode from the pleasure of it all.

He then pulled his head away and growled low. He leaned back down on her and snogged her already bruised lips. She kissed back and wrapped her arms around his neck, never wanting to let go. He slid his arms under her, pulling her sweaty, naked body against his. He pulled her with him as he moved up the bed, and onto pillows. He reached one arm down to a soft blanket and pulled it over them, not removing his lips.

Suddenly Hermione pulled away, with a high sigh and gasp for air.

'I-I-I needed…air.' She managed to say.

Draco just nodded, understanding. He watched her breasts rise and lower rapidly. He leaned down to kiss them as she gasped for air. After he felt her breaths become more regular, he looked up into her eyes again. They were no longer that sad, dull honey he had witnessed yesterday, but they were bright, glittering orbs, fluttering from exhaustion.

'I love you more than anything.' He said genuinely.

Hermione smiled and kissed the top of his head, then ran her slender fingers through his now-damp blonde locks.

'I'm glad to hear that.' She replied, 'I love you too, more than I've ever loved.'

'More than books?' He asked with a smirk.

'Aye, more than books…even your first editions.'

He leaned up and kissed her lips tenderly.

'I'll always love you, Draco…my feelings will never change, no matter what you do.'