Hello everybody! I hope you had a great summer!

I am terribly sorry for the (once again) long wait, but here I am with the next chapter! Blame my new boyfriend and the new part-time job and exams for the delay! (honestly, does even anybody care why I take ages? Like, it sucks no matter what reasons. But those reasons are mostly good, and how my bf and I met has given me a new idea for another college AU I might start when this story is finished...)

Anyway, I thank you all for the support and I love you and many thanks to my amazing beta-friends Chocomieux and Nantai and to my friend Vicky who is alpha-reading.

On another note:

Please don't take my fic as the main source of information on topics that are discussed in them. While I try to do my research and to stay accurate, you should always look up stuff on your own if you want to know more. It's important to stay safe, especially with BDSM. On that note, if you have any questions message me on tumblr LucretiaDeLis, leave a comment or even write me an e-mail to LucretiaDeLis gmail com

Same goes for any works inspired by this fic or if you rec it. I would love to know! Thank you and please enjoy this rather heavy chapter!

"Draco-," Blaise thrust the door open, causing it to bang against the wall, and stopped in his tracks, his eyes on the scene in front of him.

"What the hell?!" Draco growled as he sat up while Granger pulled the covers over her head. "You said you were out for the day!"

"Yesterday," Blaise replied, a sly grin spreading over his face. "It's eight in the morning. You are already late to fencing. Theo won't be amused."

Draco groaned as he let himself fall back onto the bed, clasping his hands over his face. "I told him eight was way too early."

Blaise laughed. "I'll give him a call and go practice with him instead of you. And Granger, you don't need to hide. I've already seen you and besides, we are going to make fun of Draco, not you. After all, if he stops acting like a love-sick puppy we will have to thank you for that."

He didn't wait for an answer and walked out of the room, thankfully closing the door after himself.

"Everything alright?" Draco asked Granger, who pulled the covers down from her face.

She didn't say anything and climbed out of the bed.

Dread spread in Draco's stomach as she started gathering her clothes and getting dressed.

"Granger? Are you alright?" he asked again and got out of bed too. He put on his pants and walked over to her. "What's wrong?" he did his best to not let the annoyance he was feeling show in his tone, but he feared he wasn't too successful.

"Nothing," she replied and pulled her shirt on. "I want to leave. This was an one-night stand and I don't see why I should stay."

Draco pinched the back of his nose. "Yeah, because answering a question breaks the rules of one-night-stands. You are obviously very fine. And I am the Queen of England. For god's sake, talk to me Granger!" This certainly wasn't how he had imagined the morning after to go - he had either expected that they were both cool with it or a shouting match, not this. It was so frustrating. He hated passive-aggressive, insecure Granger. It wasn't her.

"There's nothing to talk about!" she shot back. "This was a mistake!"

"Oh, really? Why? Did you not enjoy yourself? Did you not calm your libido just like you hoped you would? Or is it because you realized you liked it way too much and want a second round but are too prideful to admit it? Hm?" Draco barked out. He didn't care that it sounded like he couldn't deal with rejection. Somehow, it was the case after all. But what irked him most was that she dismissed that it happened, she dismissed him.

"Oh shut up Malfoy!" Granger hissed. "Not only did you use me, but now you want me to assure you, that it was fine. Rot in hell!"

Draco's hands fell to his sides. "Use you?" he repeated as realization struck him. He was such a prick. He had forgotten that this could happen. "Granger, wait," he said, his voice much calmer, almost soft, "I think you are experiencing a thing called "sub-drop"."

To his surprise, Granger really stopped getting dressed. "I am what?" she asked, squinting at him, one sock on her foot, the other still firmly in her hand. "What are you talking about?"

Draco ran a hand through his hair. "Let's sit down and talk, please," he said and walked back to his bed, Granger following hesitantly. It was clear on her face, that she wanted to leave but apparently, the knowledge that there might be something strange happening with her made her stay.

"There is this phenomenon called sub-drop caused by chemical reactions in your brain, which basically means that the submissive feels bad after a more extreme session. In this case, the fact that it was a new experience, our rather bad relationship and the fact that I messed up the aftercare might have triggered it."

"Did you just admit you messed up?" Granger asked mockingly.

"Yes," Draco said flatly, causing her to stop the taunting immediately. "I really didn't want that to happen and I am seriously sorry that it did. I assumed cuddling was enough, especially as I thought anything more would make you really uncomfortable but I was wrong. So please stay and let me take care of you."

"Look, Malfoy," she said, "even if you are right-"

"I am pretty sure I am right."

She glared at him. "Even if you are right, it doesn't change the fact, that I want to leave. I need to think," she ran a hand through her hair, sounding a lot less sure than she had minutes ago as she spoke.

Draco sighed. "As you wish. Please call me or text me, if I can do something for you."

Granger nodded and finally pulled on the second sock she had been clutching the whole time.

Hermione stared at the wall. The events of the previous night and morning drove her crazy, not letting her sleep.

She slept with Draco Malfoy. She liked it. She still felt like crap the morning after. He said it was due to a chemical reaction in her brain. The internet confirmed both the existence of the phenomenon called sub-drop and informed her about the fact, that a lot of people suffer from post-coital tristesse or post-coital dysphoria, but apparently nobody talks about it. The number of studies is limited and the reasons listed are barely speculations, which wasn't too helpful.

Hermione ran her hands over her face. How did she manage to get herself into this situation? It was time she learned to control her curiosity.

Right now it was too late for that. She had to somehow deal with the consequences of sleeping with Malfoy. Even worse, she had to figure out how exactly she felt about the mere fact that she had done it - the PCT clouding her mind be damned.

Unfortunately, Hermione wasn't very in sync with her feelings. If she was honest with herself, she wasn't in sync with her feelings at all. They scared her. Her rationality was her strongest point and she was proud of it. Usually, she could rely on her brain to solve all of her problems quickly and efficiently. Only when her feelings got involved did it fail her occasionally - not always, but once in a time was more than enough.

While her brain supplied her with several ideas how she could react, Hermione wasn't really happy with either of them.

Sure, she could talk to her friends but somehow, this felt like a thing she had to figure out for herself, so this one was out.

Ignoring Malfoy completely on top of acting like it had never happened wasn't too tempting either and the rumors he could start were way too many. Besides, he had Zabini as a witness, that it really happened. How had she not thought of this before?

Of course, she could still try to blackmail him with telling people about what he was into - she had the chats and the pictures for that - but that would hurt her as well.

Talking seemed like the best option, even though she really didn't want to. After all, she had no idea what she wanted to say.

"Draco!" Pansy said in a tone that made it clear that she was glaring at him even though he couldn't see it as she was standing somewhere behind him. He didn't bother to turn around to look at her and continued staring at the Tv in front of him. He really didn't feel like talking to any of his nosy friends but unfortunately they were exactly that - nosy.

Blaise must have told the others about seeing Granger in Draco's bed and both Pansy and Theo have appeared on their doormat ten minutes ago and have been pretending to chat with Blaise about some mundane topic, but Draco felt their eyes on him the whole time.

"Yes, Pans?" he drawled, determined to show her just how much he didn't feel like talking in a single sentence.

"What are you watching?" she asked, her voice dripping with fake-sweetness suddenly. Draco hated it when she talked like that. Usually it meant that she was going to take you apart without mercy, no matter how close you were.

"Some stupid movie," he said. They both knew he had been spacing out for some time so Draco didn't even bother to pretend that he knew what the movie was about. Pansy would see straight through him anyway.

"Is it as stupid as you ignoring your friends?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "No. It's as stupid as you pretending to not want to pry."

"You should not have missed fencing if you didn't want us to know," Theo said calmly, a direct opposite to both Draco and Pansy. "We deserve to know what exactly happened as we've endured your crush and now have to deal with your bad mood. How did that happen by the way? One should think you would be in a better mood after you finally got what you wanted."

Pansy sighed dramatically even before Draco could say something. "You don't get it," she said, "He just got some. Unfortunately, this fool is in love with her and wants more. That means, he'll either be pinning after her until she returns his feelings or, more likely, she'll break his heart because we are talking about Draco and Granger."

"A match made in hell," Blaise's amused voice came from the kitchen.

"Shut up," Draco said, but turned off the TV anyway. He knew when it was better to give in. He couldn't win against all of his close friends. They would get what they wanted one way or another. "What do you want?"

"What happened?" Pansy asked, almost knocking the milkshake Blaise put in front of her over.

"Granger and I talked, had sex and she left. Nothing special," Draco said flatly, not meeting their eyes even though he finally bothered to turn around. He didn't want their pity.

Pansy exchanged looks with Theo and Blaise, silent understanding passing between them.

"If you want to talk to any of us about what happened, we are here for you. I hope you know that," she said. "We won't pressure you any further now. I am sorry it didn't go well."

Draco tried to smile at her, but it made him feel like he was going to cry and he buried his face into the sofa instead.

Pansy rubbed Draco's neck, his head on her shoulder, as they listened to Theo and Blaise argue about some topic or another. Draco had spaced out a long time ago.

"I failed her," he said suddenly, startling Pansy. The other two were too invested into their conversation to notice.

"Excuse me?"

"I did something we hadn't discussed before when she asked for it midway and she experienced sub-drop or post coital depression or however that crap is called in the morning. Instead of recognizing it, I demanded an explanation for her behaviour. I really fucked up, Pans'."

Pansy kissed his hair. "It happens. You wouldn't have slept with her if you weren't sure she wanted it. I know you, Draco. You are an arse, but there are things you wouldn't do, no matter how much you want it."

"You don't get it. She might have wanted it on a rational level, but not on an emotional one. Even if you say that it's okay, I still messed up her first experience into this direction and that's completely on me."

Pansy sighed. "Stop," she said in her most commanding voice. "You are overthinking things! You did nothing wrong! You could not have known what she felt and she didn't talk to you. Knowing you, you noticed it fairly quickly and tried to save the situation but as Granger's emotional capacities are fairly limited, she couldn't appreciate it!"

"But-," he started, but Pansy wasn't having any of it.

"No buts! If she doesn't recognize what a wonderful person you have become, she isn't worthy of you!"

"She has every right to think the worst of me and her reactions and not wanting to talk to me are completely understandable, considering I made her life hell for ages!"

Pansy sneered. "Weasley was a dick to her at first too, and they still dated. I don't see a difference."

"Hm, how about the fact that I was way worse to her for a longer time?"

Pansy didn't say anything to that and continued rubbing his neck.

"Things will solve themselves out," she said instead, but Draco really doubted it. Things never sorted themselves out when he was concerned.

"I don't want to talk to you," Hermione said without looking up from her book when Parkinson appeared next to her.

"I don't care. I want you to listen to what I have to say," Parkinson said and sat down.

Hermione closed her book. It seemed the essays on marxist theory she was reading would have to wait. "I think I wasn't clear enough: I don't want to hear what you have to say either," she said, putting on her most intimidating scowl. She hadn't talked about the whole Malfoy-debacle with any of her friends and she certainly wasn't going to talk to Parkinson about it. She had done more than enough damage by talking her into sleeping with Malfoy.

"I think I wasn't being clear enough either," Parkinson replied, "I am not giving you a choice."

Hermione stood up. "Too bad you can't force me to listen to you."

Parkinson stood up as well. "Draco is beating himself up about what went wrong and you are a selfish bitch if you won't talk to him about it. He has changed a lot since our school days."

Hermione didn't really want to dignify it with an answer, but there was something she couldn't leave unsaid. It was time Parkinson understood, that the world didn't revolve around her and her friends. "In all your attempts to help you only ever talk about Malfoy," she said, "but have never really considered what I want. Even if you really wanted to help, which I am not really sure about, you are making things worse. Honestly, Parkinson, even if he has changed, you haven't."

With that, she turned around and walked away. There was nothing more left to say.