A/N: I most likely will drop my strict update schedule – I'll still be writing, but I would prefer to update at my leisure and take the stress off.

The first three scenes are a series of flashbacks and little drabble moments.

Betawork done by AlmondMilkTeaDoubleBoba, LeilahMoon, and lost_poetx.

xoxo, carm


"No Granger, that's just not at all right," Draco pushed. "Come on, you have to see how wrong you are," he insisted, shoving the book back over to her, set on proving his point. "There is literally no part of that theory that's correct. Admit it," he said as he stood and started to advance on her, "or I'll make you regret it," he teased.

"No!" she laughed at him, her eyes tightening so they crinkled in the corners and her hair fell out of her face as she tilted back in her chair trying to avoid his outstretched hands. The sound floated up into the air, evaporating in the space above. It was the first time that he could remember succeeding in making her laugh – really laugh. This was a good thing, another step forward. His lips lifted a bit in the corners in an ironic smile.

And a heavy pang followed as he realized this was all too reminiscent of a particular first evening, when his intentions were much less than satisfactory. As he thought about how lost he'd felt on the night of the first dinner, he realized that she had been so completely monumental in making him feel less alone.

Now he couldn't stop thinking about how he was going to get her out of this, how he was going to fix it. Draco let out a small sigh as the bliss of the moment faded as he sunk back into his thoughts.


"My mum always makes homemade chocolate around Christmas," Hermione hummed as she eyed a chocolate frog that he'd pulled from his bag. "It's so good – chocolate-covered rice krispy treats, graham crackers, the works. I look forward to it every year." Her eyes lit up as she thought about it.

"Oh yeah?" he asked. "Sounds good." He hesitated. "What exactly is a Rice Krispy Treat?"

Hermione laughed. "I don't even know how I would explain it," she said honestly. "It's a Muggle thing. It's honestly just straight sugar," she shrugged. "It's really good though."

Draco paused and continued more confidently than he felt, "Maybe next year I can find out what they are for myself."

Her eyes met his, and his heart pounded wildly in his chest as he waited for her to speak. Her mouth twitched as she broke into a soft smile. "Maybe you can."


"Theo and Blaise know." There was no mistaking the set of his mouth and the sound of his voice. Her head snapped up to look at him.

"They do?" Hermione's voice was hopeful. This meant that he might be reaching out, asking for help.

He nodded. "Yeah. It… slipped out." She had a feeling there was more to the story than that, but she wasn't about to push it. "They took it… better than I expected."

"Good. That's good," Hermione expressed, her heart swelling in her chest. "Now we can work on moving forward," she said vehemently.

"Together," he said.

"Together. Always," she echoed.


"So there's a… party in the Slytherin common room for Valentine's Day," Draco told her during one of their study sessions, and he looked slightly out of his element at the prospect. Honestly, she was surprised that he'd raised the question to her. "It might be a little out of your comfort zone, so you don't have to come if you don't want to, but–"

"I'll be there," she promised, smiling at him. "Just tell me when and… how do I even get down there?" she asked as she realized she had never seen the entrance to their elusive common room.

He chuckled at her, telling her he'd come and get her from Gryffindor tower to make it easier on her.

True to his word, he came to collect her promptly at seven, and she was waiting for him so that way he wouldn't have to worry about trying to get past the Fat Lady.

"You look…" Draco's words seemed to dry up in his throat as he looked her up and down, taking in exactly what she was wearing. Thanks to Lavender, Hermione looked smashing and she knew it. She was dressed in this black miniskirt and a dark blue top that definitely flattered her, but wasn't too revealing. Part of her wanted to see if blue really was his favorite color, like Theo had said. Apparently, it was. "Incredible," he got the rest of his sentence out, and Hermione giggled.

Hermione knew that her friends would be there, but no one besides Harry knew that she would be showing up with Draco. Butterflies erupted in her stomach at the prospect of their secret getting out. Granted, this was what she asked for – was what she wanted – but she was still nervous. Gryffindors had a tendency to judge the hell out of Malfoy – and with good reason.

The walk passed in a blur, and thankfully they were both stuck in their own heads. They spoke very little beyond small talk, and when he murmured the password and held the door for her, she stepped over the threshold anxiously.

Inside, the dimly lit room was already in full swing. There was some semblance of a dance floor, and the sofas that she assumed were normally in front of the fire were pushed off to the side. There was a punch bowl in the middle of the table that he'd told her was charmed to stay full, and she itched to go fill a cup in order to calm her nerves.

Then, Hermione felt Draco's presence at her back as he stepped into the room. He'd always had a commanding presence, and, unfortunately for her, that still hadn't changed. Almost every eye turned towards them, and most bulged out of their sockets when they caught sight of his hand slipping around her waist.

"Let's go get a drink," he murmured, ducking down to reach her ear. She simply nodded in agreement, her heart in her throat.

His hand pressed firmly into her back as he guided her over to grab a drink. Theo and Blaise were seated on the sofas, eyeing them with amusement. "Way to make an entrance, huh?" Theo quipped. "Maybe you should have shoved your tongue down her throat to make it even grander."

"Shut it, Nott," Draco said. "Why don't you find someone else to bother?"

"Draco, play nice," Hermione chastised. "I think you're just mad because you didn't think of the idea yourself."

His friends snickered loudly, and Draco looked down at her. "Quiet, witch," he smirked, handing her a drink. "Here. Drink. Do something else with your mouth instead of insulting me." The glint in his eyes told her exactly what he'd rather she be doing with her mouth, and her lips twitched before pressing into a firm line.

Hermione gratefully accepted, happy to have something to do with her hands. Her eyes scanned the room, seeing Ron and Lavender on the dance floor. Harry was off to the side, talking with Ginny – the poor boy looked so awkward, he still didn't quite know how to talk to her without bumbling around.

Some more of her Gryffindor friends were off to the side, just watching the action. Finally, Hermione noticed the obnoxious banner strung up. "Anti-Valentine's party?" she asked incredulously.

"Yup," Theo chirped.

"That's the only way to do it," Blaise finished. "The best way. What's better than commiserating being single with other single people?"

"But Ron and Lavender are together," she said, drawing her eyebrows together. "And Harry and Ginny are well on their way. And–" she cut her sentence off, eyes flickering over to Draco. "Well, not everyone here is single," she mumbled.

"Well, we couldn't very well exclude the people in relationships now, could we?" Blaise rolled his eyes. "Plus, today isn't actually Valentine's Day, and people do love an excuse to party. Who are we to deny them?" Blaise widened his arms, grandly gesturing to the people in front of him.

Hermione took another look around the room, noting with surprise how Pansy Parkinson of all people seemed to be making stilted conversation with none other than Neville Longbottom. Her eyebrows shot up slightly. Now wouldn't that be an interesting pairing – not that she was one to talk.

"You know, the Weasel and Brown are really perfect for each other," Theo remarked as he watched the pair. "They're both blissfully unaware." He paused, a joke clearly coming to him, since he snickered, "Hey, you know what Ron is short for?" Blaise was already groaning in preparation for Theo's shitty joke. "Mo-Ron."

The group collectively groaned and buried their faces in their hands before starting to chuckle. "That," Draco said around laughter, "was the worst joke you've ever told."

Theo grimaced. "I know, I know. Not my best," he said as a grin crawled back across his face. "But you idiots still laughed at it."

"Touché," Draco acquiesced. "I'll give you that. But never, ever say that again."

"Noted," Theo said, still laughing as he brought his drink to his lips.

From there, conversation flowed freely between the group. Hermione found that they were very easygoing and happily roped her into the conversation. She tried to keep from rambling too much, but when she got nervous, she talked a lot.

Blaise and Draco got wrapped up in a discussion about Quidditch, and Theo – not wanting to leave her out, bless him – struck up one with her. "So," he started in hushed tones, "how'd the Christmas present go?"

Blushing slightly, she said, "I think I made a good choice. He seems to like it so far, so I'm hoping he keeps using it like he says he is." She didn't want to tell him what she'd gotten him in case Draco hadn't.

Theo nodded. "Good, good," he said. "So, how was the thank you sex?"

Hermione, who had just taken a giant gulp of her drink, promptly choked on it. Draco snapped back to her side and rubbed her back until she stopped. All the while, he glared at Theo, who looked back at him innocently. "Just made her laugh, mate," he shrugged.

"Watch it, Nott," he glared at his friend before making sure she was okay and then turning back to Blaise.

"I suppose that answers my question," Theo said, smirking at Hermione.

"I refuse to answer that," she replied indignantly, taking another sip to calm her throat. When Theo wasn't being an (albeit, good-natured) arse, he was quite entertaining to talk to. She was glad that Draco had him.

The conversation switched over, saving her from answering his question in depth. Blaise made small talk with her for a while, and she found that she genuinely liked Draco's friends. Deciding that she should go and mingle with her friends, she stood up, stretching. "I'm going to go talk to Harry," she said. "You don't have to come unless you want to."

He glanced over at the Gryffindors and said, "You go. Maybe I'll come over in a bit."

Hermione nodded before flouncing over to her friends. They all talked and chatted while Hermione finished her drink. She caught Ginny's glance over at the Slytherins, so she wasn't at all surprised when Ginny leaned in and said, "You made quite a statement. You're going to be the talk of the school tomorrow – if anyone remembers, that is."

Laughing, Hermione said, "Funny. Theo said almost the same thing."

"Great minds think alike, yeah?" Ginny said. Hermione, still laughing, couldn't help but agree.

She felt a presence sneak up behind her, and a possessive hand crept around her waist. His voice rumbled above her as he greeted her friend. "Weaslette."

Ginny returned the sentiment. "Malfoy." She eyed the way he was holding onto Hermione and turned back to Harry and Ron. "Nice talking to you Hermione. See you tomorrow," she winked.

Hermione flushed at the implication.

"Come on," he said tantalizingly in her ear and raised goosebumps where his breath tickled her skin, "I'm sick of this, let's get out of here."

"Okay," she said, unwilling to deny him. Truth be told, she was over the social mingling and preening too. He tugged her along behind him – both of them giggling out of their minds – until he finally stopped in front of what Hermione now knew to be the Room of Requirement.

"How– how did you know about this?" she asked, breathless from their trek.

Draco turned, raising an eyebrow at her. "Come on, fifth year?" he asked. "That cow made us sit and watch this bloody wall for hours on end. I was sick of it."

Hermione blushed. "Oh. Right."

Smirking and shaking his head at her, he turned and looked at the wall, shutting his eyes until the wall morphed and a door appeared.

Upon entry, the first thing that caught her attention was an unnecessarily large bed in the center of the room. Off to the side, there was a lit fireplace with a fluffy white rug in front of it – it provided the only light in the room.

Her breath left her in a shocked woosh. "Draco, what–"

"It occurred to me, recently, that I've never had you in a bed," he said lowly as smirked at her, a few strands of hair falling into his pale eyes, and she swore her heart skipped a beat. "So I figured it was about time."

Hermione's eyes went wide. She stared at him, unable to find words that would justify the emotions coursing through her in that moment. With a gasp, she launched herself at him. Latching onto his biceps, his arms immediately encircled her waist, catching her without a second thought.

Draco gently pushed her backwards as he leaned down and captured her lips with his. She was sitting on the bed before she knew it, her thighs bracketing his waist as he stood above her. She shivered as she felt him against her, and she couldn't get close fast enough.

What little alcohol she'd had at the Anti-Valentine's party was coursing through her veins, and every inch of skin he touched was setting her on fire like she was combustible.

His lips trailed kisses from the curve of her ear down to her collarbone. "Fuck," he muttered as she reached for the buttons on his shirt. "You… you completely undo me," he breathed against her, his hot breath ghosting over her skin.

Hermione shivered. She noticed that he looked positively feral at the sight of her underneath him again – where she belonged.

She opened his shirt, leaned forward, and started trailing kisses up his torso and towards his collarbone. She watched in pleasure as his abs tensed as she trailed her lips over them, and so she wasn't surprised when his hand gripped her chin, jerking her head up so he could meet her eyes.

The cool grey slate that was the color of his eyes had become molten as he looked at her. His eyes were so expressive – they always told her everything she needed to know. And that was why she was nearly jumping out of her skin at the prospect of what he had in store for her this time.

Draco kissed her again, and it seemed to stretch on for ages. The room seemed to be getting impossibly hotter, and she felt it seep through her skin, into her veins, and pool in a hot coil in her lower abdomen. Hermione was positively squirming, and he was savoring every second of it.

"Patience," he whispered, and she whined in response.

He pulled away and cocked an eyebrow at her. "Patience," he repeated, and his voice was hard, leaving no room for arguments. She pursed her lips and did her best to quiet her need.

Pushing her down so she was on her back, he leaned down so his arms were holding his weight. She'd never noticed just how toned his biceps were. When did he have time to do that? Surely she'd have noticed. Her mouth watered.

"Now, I'm going to ask you once," he said, "what is it you want?"

Hermione wasn't sure if there was something that he wanted to hear, an answer that he was looking for, so she said the only thing that came to mind in her lust-drunken mind: "Everything."

It seemed to please him, as his eyes glinted dangerously. "Up," he said, and she stood. "On your knees," he growled, "now."

Her mouth watered even more as she fell to them without a second thought. Her fingers danced over his belt buckle as she slowly undid it, finding herself excited about the fact that she'd get to tease him, even if it were just a little bit.

Pulling down his zipper, she grasped his cock in her hand. It was heavy, hot, and bigger than she'd ever realized. Sure, she knew that he was well endowed, but Merlin–

"Suck," his voice was dark, and his command had her obeying instantly.

Taking him in her mouth, she proceeded slowly, warming up to the idea of it. His groan from above her spurred her on, and she felt his fingers lace themselves into her hair. "Fuck," he bit out, "so perfect – just like I pictured," he muttered, seemingly more to himself than her.

Her cheeks flushed at his words, and she bobbed her head faster, getting the hang of it. Fingers digging into her thighs as she took him deeper, trying to get used to the intrusion of it. Her eyes fluttered, looking up at him, and he seemed to understand on instinct. His hips slowly started to fuck into her mouth, speeding up gradually.

Eyes filling with tears, she took it as best she could. His swears and moans from above her had heat pooling where she wished his cock was instead, and it was damn near embarrassing how much she was actually enjoying seeing him like this.

"Gonna come down your throat," he moaned, "been thinking about this for ages." His hips started to stutter, losing their rhythm, and she knew he was close.

Hermione took her hand and started to pump the rest of him, taking back a bit of the control and bobbing her head again – waiting for him. "Fuck," he said again, "fuck, fuck, fuck." He spilled down her throat in hot spurts, and she swallowed him down.

She stood up breathlessly and wiped the side of her mouth with her tongue. Before she had time to blink, he pushed her back on the bed again. Her knickers were off and her skirt was pushed up around her waist in a millisecond, and she watched as his mouth descended in what felt like slow motion before latching onto her cunt.

Moaning loudly as he licked a hot stripe up her core, her head dropped back and she panted. "So wet," he murmured in praise, "all for me? Gonna have to have you suck me off more often if it gets this reaction from you." His hands dug into her thighs as she squirmed under him. "Knew you'd love it, knew you'd be incredible at it," he said as he latched onto her again. "Thought about it constantly. Wanted to shut you up by shoving my cock in your mouth." He spread her thighs, teasing her. "Gonna do that next time."

Hermione moaned at his words. She was breathing heavily, barely able to form a coherent thought when he slid a finger inside her. Her hips automatically canted up, trying to take him deeper. "More," she gasped, "more, please." In response, he gave her another. His lips attached to her clit, sucking lightly as his fingers stroked her.

"Close," she breathed, "so close. Please, let me come," she begged, a writhing mess under him.

"Come for me. Want you to coat my face in it," he replied, and that was her undoing. Her orgasm blurred her vision, scrambled her thoughts, and made her blood race faster.

As she came down, she noticed that her clothes had been vanished and Draco was hard again, running the head of his cock through her arousal. Her jaw dropped as he pressed inside her slowly, her back arching at the feeling of being so full. Hermione was still reeling from her aftershocks, and he started his slow, torturous thrusts.

"You're so tight like this," he hissed above her, spreading her legs wider for him. "Fuck, Granger, you feel unbelievable."

She keened at the praise, tilting her hips to meet his thrusts. They both moaned at the feeling of him sinking deeper inside of her. He started to circle her clit, and her eyes rolled back in her head. "Good girl, so good," he praised, "taking my cock like that. You look so pretty spread open for me. All mine." His words fell from his mouth. His eyes were ravenous as they took her in.

Her hands rose to cup her breasts, rolling her peaked nipples between her fingers. "That's it," he crooned, "touch yourself for me."

Somehow, she felt her orgasm building again as the pace of his thrusts increased. As if he could tell, his thumb sped up on her clit, and she approached her peak so quickly it made her question her sanity.

"Gonna come," she babbled, "let me come."

"You're mine," he growled, "be mine. Say it. Say it."

"Yours," she gasped, seeing stars now. "Yours."

"Do you mean it?" he asked, leaving her teetering on the cliff.

"Yes," she moaned, begging – pleading, for her impending release. "Always."

"Come," he snapped his hips harder. "Come for me. Come on my cock."

Her orgasm rolled through her like a tidal wave, passing through every atom of her being as she hit her climax. It whited out her vision, and from the way her pussy clenched around his cock, she knew it was all-encompassing.

She was floating so high that she barely noticed his – he spilled into her, swearing profusely as he did so.

As she drifted back to earth, Hermione suddenly found herself curled around him and gave a contented hum.

"Did you actually mean it?" he asked quietly as he stroked her hair.

"Of course I did," she mumbled sleepily, refusing to move her head. "Why would I say it if I didn't mean it?"

She was asleep before she could hear his answer.