Chapter 1: April, 8th Year

Tuesday, April 15, 3 days before Easter Break, 9 weeks until exams

A white piece of parchment floats down on top of my Arithmancy textbook as I stressfully copy down some more notes. I have been furiously scratching my quill against pieces of parchment and flipping aggressively through course books for the past two hours in the library. N.E. were in a little over two months and despite spending five hours each night in the library the past two weeks, it felt as if I was never going to be done studying.

I grab the parchment and open it up. 'Seventh floor?' is all that is written on it. I grab my quill, write down 'yes' and turn to look for the direction in which to send it. I feel a slight breeze and breathe in that intoxicating, dangerous scent. I turn back around and the parchment is gone. In its place is an origami gold star. I tuck it into my textbook and pack up my bags as I say goodnight to Madam Pince on my way out of the library. Everyone else is probably in the common room by now. I had skipped dinner again. I can always grab something from the kitchens later. I am supposed to stop by the common room but I have an exam time ritual of choosing a different sort of comfort.

I make my way to the seventh floor and lean against the wall. Experience has taught me that I need to reach a basic level of serenity before it gives me what I want. Thankfully it was only the minimal level. It must know that what happens inside is really the only thing that can get me out of my own head. I breathe slowly in...and out...and relax my tense shoulders against the hard stone wall. He is already inside. Somehow he is always there first. I hope it's not fifty shades of green inside. I smile at that memory. Finally the door slowly appears. I glance around before turning the handle and walking inside.

Moonlight streams through a single, but large window with dark grey drapes opposite the door. A fireplace is lit and crackling to the left. A plate of food; chocolate, strawberries, and my favourite flavour of sugar quill sits on the dark wooden coffee table between the fireplace and a couch. Across the room is a queen sized bed with grey satin sheets and about twenty pillows, all black.

"Took you a little longer to get in tonight?" He says it as both a question and a statement. I nod and drop my heavy bag on the ground near the door. I kick off my shoes and walk up the three steps to the transformed area. We always have a two level room. We leave all of our issues on the landing.

"Okay, rules Malfoy." I immediately say, not wanting to waste any time. I take the hair tie out of my hair. He is leaning against the black leather couch that faces the fireplace, it has a green blanket draped over the left arm. He always has to put in something green.

"We take off our own clothes," He states. It's a ritual of ours. We always start with the rules. He has learned to just accept this process by now. We've definitely had some tantrums about it over the years. There are more added this year.

I start to unbutton my sweater and he begins to take off his belt and socks. I look up at him and he rolls his eyes but continues, "No talking about anything happening outside of these walls, no kissing each other on the mouth." He spoke with a tone full of boredom and annoyance as he took off more clothes. We are both without shirts now. I let my skirt fall to the ground, trying hard not to look at him for too long as he strips down. He lazily unbuttons his pants, his eyes are always on me. I can feel them, ugh why does he have to be so irritating. Looking at me with those intense grey eyes. It is impossible for me to know what is happening inside his head. He says the same about me, it is a phenomenon that irritates us both immensely.

"And," he starts, everything is off now and he is walking towards me. "No means no." I finish as he lifts me quickly off the ground. I wrap my legs around his waist and he buries his head in the crevice of my neck and shoulder as he walks us towards the bed.

"You're really tense tonight Granger." He comments as he throws us down on the bed. I hummed in response. What else is new. It's why I'm here. It's why we started this during the O. . Of course all we did was snog then. We made the no snogging on the mouth rule when we started these clandestine meetings again back in October.

I was surprised to see him back for this make up year. I didn't know if we would even still be doing this but during our midterm exams I found him in the library. He was at the end of an aisle looking for a book. He turned and saw me. I didn't really know what to say. Thankfully, he spoke for us. "I'll be there tonight. Come if you need to." was all he said to me and then brushed past exiting the library. I inhaled his scent. Merlin, I didn't realize how much I had missed it. That dangerous scent that kept me coming back each time even though I knew it went against everything I should want.

"Where are you Granger?" He asks, mouth presses against my clavicle. He knows how to bring me back into the present moment. His mouth works its way down my body. His hands are massaging me at the same time. I stretch and arch into it all, feeling all the tension slowly release. His hands cover my breasts, gently cupping them before going to my back and kneading my sides. I know I am already moaning. His mouth covers my nipples and bites at them. My hands go to his shoulders, grabbing them with force that seems to give him the go ahead to amp up the intensity.

"I'm here." I breathe out, assuring him that I am trying to turn my mind off.

"You better be. I could bring us an elixir next time." He says between kisses and bites against my skin.

I shake my head instead of replying. We usually didn't say much to each other at this point. We're afraid of saying the wrong thing in a moment we both so desperately need. It's best to not talk at all and just melt into each touch, each bite. He is usually the leader, although I have my moments of wanting to be the dominating one. Tonight my head is too consumed with thoughts and I just let him take over. We have a sense of trust between us, albeit not as strong as it used to be. We have rules.

xxx

I can feel her thinking again. She is making it a real bloody challenge for me tonight. Not that I'm complaining, when she is like this the reward is so much more intense. It's not always like this. There are times when she becomes the leader and I let her just take over. During our 6th year, especially if I had just come back from the Manor. Merlin I desperately needed her after those visits. She just knows how to take it all away, how to release all the tension and aggression I feel.

I make my way down to her thighs, I run my hands along her legs, massaging as I go down. She arches into my every touch and moans. She is really high strung tonight. When I walked into the library with Blaise it looked like she had already been there for three hours. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, she had two stacks of books on the table in front of her, and judging by the pile of crumpled up balls on the table, she had gone through at least 20 pieces of parchment.

It was hard to study myself as I was distracted by her hunched shoulders. Those beautiful, soft shoulders that were filled with tension. Blaise was distracted too, he knows of our arrangement, though I've never confirmed it. After an hour of watching me watch Granger he said he was going back to the common room.

"Malfoy," I hear her say, pulling me back in. Okay, so I guess I am distracted too. My eyes meet hers, golden brown, full of passion. I bend my head and rest it against her thigh. Concentrate. She needs this release more than you do tonight. That's why you started this. You both give and take equally.

My work resumes. I nip at her thigh. One rule was no marks where it is visible to the general public. I always left mine on her right side where her waist curved in and high on her left thigh. She left hers right below my clavicle. A little too close to an area that would be seen, but I honestly didn't care. This is her rule.

I make my way over to the area between her thighs, pressing light kisses and running my fingers along the upper part. Her hands still in my hair, I am getting into dangerous territory. I know I am pushing the line, close to breaking another rule. I am always trying to break this rule.

"Don't say it." I murmur against her skin, breathing her in. I know what she's going to say. I always know what she's going to say. "I won't." I unwillingly promise. I want to so badly. However, we both seem to stop each other from oral sex. I know my reason. I'd lose my fucking mind, and shagging her was already a huge loss of control for me, and I had just recently gotten a generous amount of control over my own life back. I am not sure if I could handle more without breaking all the other rules.

I make my way up and pull her legs around my waist. "It would do wonders to that mind of yours Granger." I say as I press my hands against her back.

"I know." She breathes, her hands are still in my hair. "But I can't. I can't…"

"Lose that much control." I finish for her and flip us around so that she is on top.

We grab our wands and mutter contraceptive charms. She throws hers on the table next to the bed and places her hands on my shoulders and moves them up and down my arms. She runs them all over my chest, and looks at everything with complete focus, tracing her fingers over my scars. Merlin, I wish I knew what she is thinking. She runs her fingers over my nipples and I groan with pleasure. She rocks her hips back and forth. I know she likes to take over this part for a bit. I know it helps her feel more in control of the situation. It's fleeting however. The second she positions my cock at her entrance and slowly slides down she is gone and needs me to take over.

She leans over me and I catch her nipple between my teeth and bite down causing a loud moan to escape her. I move my right hand up to cup and massage her breast while my other hand stays on her hip guiding her up and down. Her moans are louder now, mine are growing with hers.

xxx

Merlin. I just. I can't even think. I. He feels so good. How does he know everything? Even the first time. He just seemed to know exactly what. To. Do. Merlin.

I start moving faster up and down, he is trying to hold me, to get me to go slower. He likes to make it last and I like to get what I want when I want it, which is immediately. I bite down on his shoulder. It won't leave a mark. Just a little redness for the next couple of hours. This was allowed, although I was borderline breaking the rules. Rules that he didn't seem to care about anyway. I know he follows most of them just for my sake.

"Okay Granger, we can go at your speed tonight." He says, trying to steady his breath. He summons a smaller wand. One you get from an adult shop, you can charm it using nonverbal spells to do different things like vibrate. He brought it with him during our sixth year. He places the vibrating wand between us so it was pressed against my clit.

I moan right in his ear and against his neck. He groans and thrusts deeper into me. "Malfoy" I breathe.

"Come for me Granger. Let it all out." My hands grab his shoulders and I hold tight. Okay that might leave a mark.

I feel everything pulse with release. "Fuck." he groans into my hair as he comes to his release as well.

In 6th year we used to cuddle, but this year we just lay side by side until we catch our breath. Too much has happened between us-so many things we never talked about. I sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed. In the drawer of the table next to the bed I find an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of shorts. My preferred comfort outfit. The sweater is from his old Quidditch uniform. We've never talked about that either.

I pull on the green sweater and the grey shorts. I turn around and he has on green lounge pants that hang low around his hips. He never wears a shirt.

"I brought food." He gestures towards the plate on the ground in front of the fireplace. We silently walk over.

"I know it's not a proper dinner, since you skipped that again, but I didn't think you would want potatoes and mushy peas after that," he gestures towards the bed as we sit down.

"Thank you." This part has been awkward since we got back. In 6th year we would start chatting about everything, except the things that actually mattered as I later found out.

"So, Arithmancy?" He asks, popping a strawberry into his mouth as he leans against the front of the couch. I sit down from him on the floor, pulling my knees up, back against the couch. I reach for a sugar quill.

"Yes, I think I probably over studied and got myself confused. It is actually simple, I am getting all the assignments correct."

"Over studied" He repeats and then chuckles, "Never thought you'd be the one to say that."

"And what exams are you studying for this early?" I roll my eyes and ask him.

"Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, Astrology, Herbology, Alchemy and," He pauses and takes a sip of water, "Muggle Studies." He says nonchalantly looking straight at the fireplace.

I whip my head towards him when I hear that. I am staring. He isn't going to give in and look at me. I know he isn't going to answer any questions I have about that. "Well," I say and swallow. "If you need help with any of the classes, let me know."

He nods, "Playing catch up and learning both 6th and 7th year material because...well you know. I might need some assistance with some of the Herbology material."

"Of course." I reply. Okay, I need to change this subject now. "The gold star!" I exclaim as a conversation starter came to me.

He jumps slightly at my outburst and looks at me smiling, there is light in his eyes.

"The gold star was a nice touch. When did you learn that skill?"

"Over the summer. I had a lot of time on my hands and lots of waiting. I decided to use that time to learn a new skill." He says and grabs a sugar quill.

"Are you going anywhere for Easter break?" I ask and instantly regret it when I see his eyes darken.

He shakes his head and reaches for some chocolate, "No, I've decided to stay here. I have a lot of work to do and Mother is visiting Aunt Andromeda. You?" He asks cautiously.

"Well I want to stay here but my parents asked me to meet them in Nice. They, well, want to spend more time getting to know me again after all that happened."

"Oh are you going to La Mercure Promenade? I've been there a few times, it is really nice. At night they transform the waterslides into a ferris wheel and have a fireworks show." His eyes lit up with memories.

"Uh no, it is called Le Meridien Nice. Wait, there are magical resorts in Nice?" I ask.

"Yes of course. I haven't heard of yours though, is it new?"

"No it's a Muggle Resort."

"Ah right. I've never been to one of those. Also my family used to have property nearby. We usually just went to the resort to ride the slides and see the show."

"Well the Muggle Resort is quite nice. It is right on a private beach. I've been there a few times before. I will probably spend most of the week on a beach chair with a book."

"In April?"

"Well it is not dreadfully cold, but I will probably be wearing a sweater and a big sun hat." I laugh.

The clock chimes. Crap it was getting late and I have an early class tomorrow. "Well I should get going." I mention standing up. He immediately rises and follows me around the couch. I stop in front of the pile of my clothes. I look up at him, "Um I am going to change before I…" I trail off and gesture to the door.

"Oh right." He quickly turns around. "So do you want to meet tomorrow? What will you be studying?"

"Nothing actually, I have Senior Head Girl duties." I reply, taking off his sweater and pulling on my own shirt.

"Oh right with Blaise." He says quietly. "What about on Thursday?"

There seems to be some desperation in his voice. What brought on this sudden urge of scheduling our time? We've never done this. It is usually something we play by ear.

"Well I am studying Charms on Thursday and you have Quidditch practice." I blush and chide myself at that last part as I pull on my skirt. Gods why would I know his Quidditch schedule? "But on Friday I will be studying Defence Against the Dark Arts."

He turns around once more. How did he know I was done? He grins widely, "Ah yes, the one that started it all."

I sigh but smile back at him before I turn towards the door.

He bounds down the stairs after me, "So Friday then?" He asks. What game was he playing at? What had come over him?

"Yes, sure sounds good. I will see you in Potions tomorrow morning. Night." I say and slip out the door. I quickly walk back to the dorms thinking too much about Malfoy and his weird demeanour.

When I arrive in my dorm room all the lights are off. Ginny must have gone to bed already. I place my books on my bedside table and see the corner of the gold star. I pull it out and lay down in bed. I play with it in my fingers for a while, staring at it as though it would tell me all the things I wanted to know.

xxx

After cleaning up the room, I make my way down to the dungeons. The common room was quiet, it is 11pm after all. I walk into the dorm room I share with Blaise. Some of the dorm rooms had fewer people in them as not all the former 7th year students had come back. I open the door to my room and walk quietly inside. I put my things down at the edge of my bed.

"Back from spending time with your friend?" Blaise's voice asks from his bed, there are no lights on.

"She's not my friend." I say to the darkness.

"Fuck-buddy then?" I can tell he is fucking grinning.

"You can call it whatever you want as long as it doesn't include the word friend." I reply falling down into my bed.

"You missed the crew sneaking to the kitchens for extra dessert. But then again I suppose you got to eat something sweeter." He chuckles.

"We don't do that. It's against the rules." I mutter. Shit. Why am I providing more information?

"There are rules? And you follow them?" he says with shock in his voice. "Merlin, you're right, she's not your friend." He laughs, "She's more." He concludes in a more serious tone. "Goodnight Draco."

"Night." I mutter and turn over to sleep. Bastard.

xxx

Hi, welcome! First, I want to thank you for reading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. If you have been here before you may have noticed that I have changed a few things. I decided to write this as a bit of a preface. I am going to start from their 5th year in chapter 2 and then work my way up to their present day which is year 8 for them. I plan to develop this story into the future (after Hogwarts) but I don't know yet if it will be in separate parts or not. Anyway please leave comments!