June 2004

Hermione walked past the Ministry's alchemy labs, scrunching her nose as one of the doors open and acrid, sulphuric smells seeped into the hallway. She pulled the lapel of her coat over her nose and moved as far from the odor as possible. As she took a second to glance down and make sure she hadn't pulled her entire jacket up, she knocked into another person.

Looking up her eyes went wide and she squeaked, "Harry!"

"Hermione?" Harry gave her a bemused look as he bent to pick up his dropped files and she took a hasty step back. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see Draco, obviously," she said, smoothing her hands over her jacket and ensuring it stayed in place. "Is he in his office?"

"Yeah, I was just dropping off notes on the case he's assisting us with."

"He's assisting on a case?"

"The final rogue death eater has been spotted. We have it on good authority where he will be tomorrow and Draco actually volunteered to help with the takedown."

"You found Rodolphus?" Hermione gasped.

"I know. We didn't think we'd see the day but our informant has been tracking his movements and we're finally set to haul his arse in.

"Please be careful," she said, placing a hand on his forearm. "I can only imagine the desperate state he's in and what actions that's capable of driving him to."

"We're not amateurs, 'Mione. Relax." Harry patted her hand and pointed down the hall. "Draco is the last door on the right."

Hermione nodded and set off, laughing when she heard Harry gag on the smell still emanating from one of the labs. She reached the door, running her finger over the gold nameplate engraved with D.L. Malfoy. Taking a deep steadying breath, she gently rapt on the door several times before letting herself in.

"I told you ten times now, Potter. I'm fully prepared for tomorrow," Draco mumbled, his head bent over a stack of parchments.

Hermione slammed the door and smirked when his head shot up and he dropped his quill, ink splattering all over the final flourish of his signature.

"You're not Potter," Draco said, arching his brows in curiosity.

"I most certainly am not."

"I thought you were going straight to the flat after you got in?"

"I wanted to stop by and give you your birthday present."

"It couldn't wait until I got home?"

"Nope."

Hermione moved forward, placing her hands on his desk, prepared to sweep them across the top but then hesitated and stepped back. He had his desk so neatly ordered, she was honestly worried about shoving it all to the floor.

"Granger."

She looked up and saw Draco watching her intently.

"Do it."

His voice was low and husky, sending promising shivers down her body. With renewed encouragement, Hermione swept her hands over his desk and back again, sending parchment, quills, and inkwells scattering to the floor. She pushed herself up onto the desk and spun around to face him. Draco was sitting all the way back in his leather office chair, looking up at her with a wanton smile.

"Hermione," he said, drawing out the syllables of her name. "Did you get me an office shag for my birthday?"

She leaned back on her hands and quirked her lips in a devilish half-smile. "Feel free to take your time unwrapping it."

Draco summoned his wand and she heard the lock click into place. He cast a noise-canceling spell before tossing his wand aside and rising to his feet.

"I assume since this is my gift, I can do whatever I please with it?" he murmured, slipping his fingers over the cinched belt of her jacket.

"Since it's your birthday, perhaps the better question is what can the gift do for you?" She kicked off her shoes and ran a foot up the back of his leg.

A deep, throaty growl had her glancing up to find his gaze fixated on her and his pupils dilated to the point where it looked like his eyes were mirroring lunar eclipses. His hands caressed her ankles and roamed up her calves, landing again on the belt of her coat. Instead of undoing it, he grasped it and pulled her forward, crashing his lips into hers.

His tongue demanded entry but almost as soon as she granted access, he bit at her bottom lip and threaded his fingers into her hair. Giving her curls a quick pull, he tipped her head back and bent to kiss and suck along her exposed neck. When he hit the curve where her neck met her shoulder, he bared his teeth again and bit into the tender skin. Hermione's gasps quickly morphed into moans as he licked around the swollen flesh. He then proceeded to kiss a trail across her clavicle, only to stop and give her a matching mark just above her other shoulder.

"I bet you're getting rather warm in that burdensome coat," Draco said, leaning back but keeping her hands on her belt.

"You don't like my wrapping?" Hermione asked, putting on an exaggerated pout.

"You're an evil witch."
He finally undid the belt and his nimble fingers quickly worked from the bottom up to unfasten the silver clasps that were keeping the jacket in place. After the final clasp, he pushed the garment off her shoulders and stepped back.

"Gods almighty, Granger," Draco breathed, tracking her fingers as she ran them up her naked torso, through the space between her breasts, to trace the marks he had just left on her neck. "Did you walk through the Ministry like this?"

"I did." She reached out and grabbed his tie, wrapping it around her hand and pulling him back to her. "I even had an entire conversation with Harry, in the hallway, with him none the wiser."

He groaned and kissed her again. She could feel his erection pressed against the inside of her thigh, straining against his trousers. She ran her palm over his length, eliciting another groan and bite to her swollen lips.

"I am going to bend you over this desk and fuck you so hard you leave scratches in wood so that I'm cursed to walk these halls constantly hard because every time I see them I'll be reminded of the best birthday I ever had." Hermione let out a needy whine and Draco's eyes flared. "Does that thought excite you?" he purred, running a hand up her thigh and placing his thumb right above her clit. "Me wanking myself silly because all I can see is you, right here, spread open and screaming my name? Does that turn you on?" He took two fingers and slowly slid them over her lips before plunging them deep between her folds and causing her breath to hitch. One, two torturous pumps and he eased out of her, bringing his glistening fingers to his lips. "It would appear so," he murmured before sucking the fingers into his mouth.

"Fuck," Hermione breathed, her chest heaving while she watched his cheeks hollow as he savored her juices.

"Yes, we will," Draco promised. He tugged his tie from her grip and took a step back. "First, though, seeing as it is my birthday, I think a little pampering is in order.

"Of course," Hermione said, gathering her composure and sliding off the desk. This was a side of Draco she hadn't had the privilege of experiencing before and she hoped she would get to see more of it after today. "Anything else I can do for you?" she asked as she reached up to unknot his tie.

He watched as she slipped the strip of fabric from his collar and got to work on his shirt buttons.

"Yes. I'm going to need you to call me Malfoy."

Hermione paused, briefly, to register the request. She couldn't remember the last time she had used his surname to address him. With a smile, she gave a nod and said, "Of course, Malfoy."

"No, not like that." Draco placed a finger under her chin and forced her head up. "Say it like you did when we were at school."

Hermione's eyes widened at the demand. Memories of a young Draco Malfoy with slicked-back hair and an over-inflated sense of entitlement flashed through her mind's eye.

"Whatever you want, Malfoy," she replied, eyes narrowed and mouth half-cocked in a sneer.

"Always were a quick learner, weren't you Granger." He released her chin and let his hand fall to his side. "Continue."

"Smug prat," she muttered, refocusing on his buttons.

"Careful with that cheek Granger or I'll have to start doling out punishments."

"You wouldn't dare."

In one smooth motion, Draco had grabbed her hands and spun her around, holding her hands firmly behind her back and pressing himself against her.

"You have no idea what I can do to you," he hissed in Hermione's ear, making her shudder. "Consider this your gentle warning."

He stepped back and with one hand still holding her wrists, he brought his other hand down across her right arse cheek with a swift crack, making her suck in a quick breath.

When Draco let her arms drop, she turned back to face him. He arched an eyebrow and gave her a curt nod. Hermione could see the gesture went beyond the role-playing. It was his subtle way of making sure he wasn't going too far without breaking character.

"Understood, Malfoy," she said, ensuring her voice was dripping with disdain.

"Of course it is, you little swot."

Hermione kept eye contact with him while she finished unbuttoning his shirt. Draco simply smiled when she tugged the shirttails from his trousers and pushed the garment off his arms, letting it drop to the floor.

Draco clucked his tongue and shook his head. "Pick it up," he ordered. Hermione did as he said and bent down to grab the shirt. He pointed to a hook by the door. "Now, hang it up. I have a meeting later and can't show up with wrinkled clothing like some kind of disheveled transient."

Hermione took her time walking around his desk and placing the shirt on the hook. When she returned, she placed a hand on his belt buckle and waited.

"Go ahead."

When his belt and zipper were undone, she pushed his trousers over his hips and dropped down so that she could pick them up and hang them on the hook beside his shirt.

"Good girl," Draco murmured approvingly as Hermione came to stand in front of him again. He grabbed her hand and placed her palm on his cock. "Take it out." Hermione licked her lips and pushed her hand beneath the waistband of his pants. Her fingertips barely brushed over his shaft before he clicked his tongue against his teeth and yanked her hand up. "I said take it out, not touch it," he scolded. He let go of her hand and said, "Try. Again."

Hermione pursed her lips and hooked her fingers over the waistband and knelt down, pulling his pants down as she did. She inhaled deeply and let it out slow, watching his cock twitch as her breath hit it. Biting her lip to keep her tongue from escaping and taking a lick, she stood back up as Draco stepped out of his pants.

He looked at her expectantly as she awaited his next instructions.

"What, Malfoy?"

"Those aren't going to hang themselves."

"I don't think anyone is going to notice if your underwear is wrinkled."

Draco snatched a chunk of her hair and pulled her flush against him. She gasped as he pulled on the strands and his cock pressed against her abdomen.

"I'll notice." Another tug on her hair and she let out a constricted keen. His eyes flickered to her throat when she swallowed and she felt him harden even more against her stomach. "Pick. Them. Up."

Hermione curled her lip and replied, "Anything you want, Malfoy," and Draco relinquished his hold.

A third hook appeared as she approached the door and she briefly wondered if the room was charmed to do that or if Draco was flaunting his wandless spell ability.

"Stand here," he ordered as she sauntered back to him. Draco pointed to the spot directly in front of him.

Hermione took her place and went to speak but Draco held up his finger and placed it on her mouth. Satisfied with her silence, he dragged his finger down, over her throat, between her breasts, stopping at her belly button. Splaying his entire hand over her stomach, he moved to stand behind her and slotted his cock between her arse cheeks.

"How does this feel?" he asked, ghosting his tongue over the shell of her ear.

"Wonderful, Malfoy." She was striving for sarcastic but her voice came out more wanting.

"Mmm," he hummed in her ear before biting the soft lobe and pulling away. When he skated his fingers over her still stinging buttock, she immediately clenched and made him chuckle. He came to stand before her again and commanded, "On your knees."

Hermione obediently knelt on the carpet, bringing her mouth directly in front of his cock. Pale and hard, it looked as though it had been sculpted from marble. Absolute perfection. Her tongue darted over her lips and she gazed up at him, eagerly awaiting his next order.

Saying nothing, he took his cock into his own hand and slowly started stroking, gathering the drops of precome and spreading it over his shaft. All the while his eyes never left hers.

"I want you to know what it will look like when I'm staring at those future claw marks," Draco said, his voice rumbling.

Taking a chance, Hermione brought a hand up to wrap around his base. Before she could even touch it, Draco summoned his wand and his discarded tie quickly bound Hermione's hand behind her back. She was left whimpering as she watched Draco continue to glide his hand over his cock.

"When I say, and only when I say, you will not be touching with your hands."

She was pretty sure a dribble of drool escaped the corner of her mouth.

Draco dropped his head back and closed his eyes, letting out moans and pants with every pump of his fist. Hermione physically ached with the need to be touched and filled by him but forced into voyeurism.

Hitting her limit, she snapped, "Let me suck your cock, Malfoy."

His hand paused and he looked back down at her. With the smuggest of smirks, he said, "Our debauched condition does not give credence to poor manners. Try again, Granger."

"Let me suck your cock, Malfoy," she said again before resignedly tacking on, "Please."

"Better." He gave himself one more stroke before letting go and saying, "Proceed."

As Hermione leaned forward, Draco took a step back. With a quiet huff, Hermione shuffled forward. Wetting her lips, she leaned forward again only to have Draco take another step back. This dance continued for several more steps with Hermione dragging her knees halfway across the office until they were rubbed raw and burning.

"Seriously, Malfoy?" she cried when he stepped back again.

"I want to make sure you appreciate your reward when you get it."

Hermione winced as she shuffled to him once more, letting out a panting breath when she reached his feet. She looked up and met his depraved smile with a scowl.

"I'm ready. What are you waiting for?"

Draco gestured to his cock and Hermione growled. She bent forward and flicked her tongue across the tip before taking him into her mouth, all the way to the hilt. She gagged slightly before hollowing her cheeks with a hard suck. Above her, Draco gasped and grabbed her hair. She hummed victoriously before being unceremoniously pulled back.

Draco arched her head back and his silver eyes bore into her. "Slowly, Granger. This is supposed to be pampering."

He eased her head back to his cock and Hermione wet her lips. Licking the drop of pre-come onto the tip of her tongue, she proceeded to swirl it around the head and then wrap her mouth around it. Draco kept a hold on her hair, prohibiting her from going past the soft ridge of his hard cock. Letting her neck relax, she let Draco guide her back and forth. She slurped and sucked and discovered that the louder and more appreciative her noises, the further he thrusted her down his shaft. She groaned in satisfaction when she felt his balls hit her chin. He didn't let her revel in victory long. Slowly he brought her back and she released his cock with a soft pop.

"Up."

With scuffed knees and hands still tied, getting to her feet was an awkward challenge. Draco offered no help. He simply stood back and watched, arms crossed over his chest.

"Thanks for the help, Malfoy," Hermione panted, trying to shake her hair out of her face.

Saying nothing, he wrapped his hand around her neck and pulled her in for a bruising kiss. She fought against her restraints, desperately wanting to bury her hands in his hair. It was no use. The tie wouldn't give and Draco wasn't showing any signs of taking it away.

He cradled her head with both his hand and tilted it back to attack her neck again. Every new spot he landed on, he licked, sucked, and bit. She knew that with each assault he was leaving his mark and the thought made her quiver and emit sounds that she barely recognized.

"You've been such a good little swot," he murmured at the pulse point below her ear. "I hope you appreciate your reward."

He wedged a foot between hers and gently kicked her feet apart. Kneeling down in front of her, he wrapped his hands around her ankles and glided them up over her calves. When he got to the soft flesh of her thighs, he dug his fingers in and tugged her forward. Her knees almost gave out when his tongue landed on her clit and flickered against it.

"Oh, fuck, Malfoy!" She moaned and bucked her hips against his face. Draco took that as a cue to suck and Hermione's toes curled into the carpet. "Yes! Fuck, yessss. Please, Malfoy."

"Please, what?" he mumbled against her folds. He brought his forefinger up to tease her entrance.

"Suck me. Fuck me. Make me come!" she wailed, her wrists straining against her bonds as her hands fought to find purchase on something solid.

"Are you sure?" He added a second finger and pushed into her with an insane amount of composure she couldn't comprehend at that moment in time.

"Malfoy!"

Thank Merlin and Morgana for silencing spells. Draco sucked her clit back into his mouth at the exact moment his fingers crooked against her core and she came completely undone, screaming his name again. He pumped his fingers into her and fluttered his tongue against her clit until she couldn't hold herself up anymore and fell against him.

Draco wasted no time. He hooked her around the waist, spun her around, and finally bent her over his desk. Kicking her feet apart again, he grabbed her arse, knelt down, and shoved his face into her pussy. Hermione was left panting nonsensical sounds as he tongued her center. When he stood back up, she glanced back and saw him circle his tongue around his lips and wrap a hand around his cock.

"Do you know how crazy you make me, Granger?" he asked, pressing the head of his cock against her entrance.

"How crazy?" she breathed.

"Fucking insane," he growled and then, with a slow torturous burn, slowly filled her.

With his hands on her hips, he set a slow and steady pace, allowing Hermione's body to gradually build up another wave of heat. When he started to speed up, hitting her swollen core with every thrust, Hermione fought against her bindings again.

"It's hard to give you-ahh- claw marks when I-eee-I can't use my hands."

Draco let go of her hips and pulled all the way out. Before she could ask what was going on, his hand cracked against her unsmacked arse cheek.

"It's rude to assume I've forgotten," he replied.

He slid his cock back into her and went back to his slow and steady rhythm. Hermione chewed on her bottom lip until she tasted blood, waiting as the pressure inside her built to an untenable level. Just when she thought she wouldn't last, Draco stilled and she felt the constriction around her wrists disappear. She pulled her arms forward, stretching and flexing the tense muscles.

"I expect marks," he said, his voice husky and demanding. "Deep, rough, marks."

Before she could brace herself, he slammed into her, making her cry out and grab the edge of the desk. His fingers dug into her side as his hips slapped against her arse. Hermione's nails scraped across the dark wood as she begged and pleaded. More! Harder! Faster! Right there!

Draco fulfilled each request, filling and stretching her over and over. When a hand moved from her side to her clit, Hermione repeated his name until her voice was hoarse and there were splinters under every fingernail.

"So, fucking, good," Draco grunted with a final thrust as he came hard and hot inside of her.

Hermione stayed splayed over the desk, bringing her breathing back to normal. She could feel Draco's legs shaking behind her as he came down from his release. When he slipped out of her, he wrapped his arms around her middle and held onto her as he fell back into his chair. He placed his chin on her shoulder and she let her head drop against his.

"You did not disappoint," he said, eyeing up her artwork. Numerous jagged lines and chunks were gouged out of the shiny desktop.

"Totally ruined my manicure," she replied, holding up her hands. Little trickles of blood were running down and pooling in the webbing between her fingers. "But totally worth it."

"Fuck, Granger," Draco exclaimed. He summoned his wand and ran it over her fingertips, vanishing the splinters.

"Yes, you did."

There was a second of silence and then he started laughing, burying his face in her neck. Hermione grinned and brought a hand up to finally run her fingers through his hair. With a content sigh, he placed a kiss on her shoulder and then another on her cheek.

"I wasn't lying earlier. I do have a meeting starting in twenty minutes."

"Yes, and heaven forbid you attend with wrinkled pants."

"It's unprofessional, Hermione."

She smiled at the sound of her first name.

"I know, Draco."

She gave him a quick kiss and gingerly pushed herself to her feet. He picked her coat up and held it out for her to slip her arms in. As he pulled it up over his shoulders, his fingers traced the trail of bites across her neck.

"A beautiful necklace," he purred, kissing her jaw before going to retrieve his clothing.

Once they had themselves looking decent and Draco's desk was back in order, he picked up a folder and shoved some parchments in it.

"I have one last task for you. Drop this off with Potter before you leave."

"Okay," she said, leaning over the desk to kiss him goodbye.

"Granger," he called before she could get out the door. She turned back to see him grinning at her. "Seriously, best birthday gift ever."

She nodded with a coy smile as a warm flush consumed her cheeks. "See you soon, Malfoy."

Several minutes later when she knocked on Harry's office door, he immediately called back, "Come in."

She stepped in and found him bent over an open filing cabinet drawer. He glanced back and said, "Oh, hey, give me a quick second." He continued pulling files. "I thought you had left by now."

"On my way. Draco wanted me to drop this off for you," Hermione said, holding up the folder.

Harry stood and pushed the drawer closed with his foot. When he turned to take the folder from Hermione, his hand stopped in midair and his eyes went wide.

"I, um…" Harry cleared his throat and tried to speak again but only ended up coughing and spluttering on his words.

"Something wrong?" she asked innocently, placing the folder on top of his files.

"No, fine. I'm fine." Harry quickly turned, grabbed the mug on his desk, and downed a gulp of tea. The way he grimaced and stuck his tongue out, Hermione assumed it had gone cold. "Thank you for bringing these up," he said, purposely keeping his head down as he opened the folder and leafed through the parchments. "Fucking hell." He held up several pieces of parchment. "They're all blank!"

Hermione sucked her lips between her teeth, trying not to laugh. But she couldn't help it. She started giggling and couldn't stop as Harry scrubbed his hands over his face and let out a defeated groan.

"And he called me evil," Hermione wheezed, trying to catch her breath.

"You're both evil! Get out of my office you trollop."

Hermione laughed harder. "Did you just call me a trollop?"

"I did indeed. Shoo! I have very important work to do."

"All right. I see how it is, Chosen One. Have a good afternoon." She waved as Harry sank down in his seat and let his head drop onto his desk with a thud.

That evening Hermione sat in the living room, reading as she waited for Draco to come home. When he stepped out of the floo his face was beaming with joy.

"How was the meeting?" she asked, placing the book in her lap.

"Potter wouldn't look at me the entire time," he laughed.

The following morning, Hermione woke with Draco and watched from the bed as he got ready to meet Harry and the team for Rodolphus' capture.

"Are you sure it's a good idea for you to be there?" Hermione asked. She had her knees tucked up and rested her chin on them.

"Why shouldn't I be?" Draco replied, shoving his foot into a heavy black boot.

"Because you're not an Auror?"

Draco chuckled and slipped on the other boot. "I was on more of these assignments than I cared to be after my sentencing."

"Then why did you volunteer for this one?" Hermione chewed on her already ruined thumbnail.

"Because I want to watch as that son of a bitch gets what's been coming to him." He pulled an official set of ministry robes over his head and pushed his mussed-up hair back into place. "He and B-" He paused, biting his lip in consideration before continuing, "He and my aunt didn't help make my childhood easy."

"You can say her name."

"I don't like to if I can help it." He sat down in front of her and smiled, gently taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "I'm not actually participating in the takedown. I just want to witness it and know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the last cowardly bastard is behind bars.

Hermione reached up and caressed his cheek. "Be careful, okay? I have plans for you later."

Draco smirked and lifted a brow. "Sounds promising." He leaned in, kissed her on the lips, and whispered, "Love you."

"I love you."

Hermione laid back down but she wasn't able to fall back asleep. After an hour, she admitted defeat and dragged herself into the shower. She hissed as the hot water hit all her new scrapes and bruises. It didn't take long for the heat to turn soothing and allow her to gently wash her scalp and body.

Before she dressed, she glamoured Draco's necklace of bites but left the ones on her shoulders, smiling fondly at them before covering them up with her t-shirt. After a quick breakfast of tea and toast, Hermione flooed to Ginny and Harry's house. Draco would be returning with Harry so they could all have a belated birthday dinner together. It seemed after her visit to his office the previous day he was more acquiesced to begrudgingly acknowledging the day's significance.

"Hey, Min," Ginny called from the kitchen.

Hermione found Ginny wiping down counters while James sat in a swing, flailing his little arms at a dragon mobile. She sat down beside the baby and started tickling his toes every time he swung towards her. His shrieks and giggles made her heart happy. It hadn't been that long since Easter but it seemed like he had grown by leaps and bounds in those two months.

"You're getting so big," she cooed, tapping the mobile and making it spin.

"He learned to roll over last week. I've had to turn the living room into a virtual maze of gates." Ginny sighed and tossed the cloth into the sink. "I was thinking of letting him roll around in the fresh air."

"That sounds very relaxing."

"You grab the baby. I'll grab the blanket aaaannnnnd…" Ginny said, opening up the refrigerator. She pulled out a pitcher of red juice with fresh fruit floating in it. "Sangrias?"

"You know the way to my heart."

Hermione stopped the swing and undid James' harness. Securing him in one arm, she set out into the back garden and transfigured an umbrella into a canopy for them to sit and play under. Ginny joined them and spread out a checkered, enlarging it to fill the entire shaded area. When Hermione's knees hit the ground she winced in pain and earned a curious look from Ginny.

As soon as Hermione laid James on the blanket, he rolled onto his tummy and pulled his head up. He beamed a big toothless grin when Ginny set brightly colored rattles and stuffed animals in front of him.

About halfway through the pitcher of Sangria, Ginny asked, "So, have you put any more thought into if you want to move back?"

Hermione shook her head and erected a low wall before James could roll off the blanket. He bumped into it and reversed course.

"I can't say I haven't thought about it at all but no serious musings on it. I know there will come a time when one of us knows that we have to be where the other one is. And I know it's more than likely going to be me. Draco was right when he said all my friends and family were here. Don't tell him I said he was right, though."

"I never tell Draco he's right. His ego's already big enough."

"I like where we are right now," Hermione sighed, laying down on her back with her knees bent up. "Is it wrong to not want more?" She turned her head to face Ginny. "It feels like it took a lot for both of us to get to this level of trust and I don't want to risk it just for what people say should be normal."

"You're talking to the woman that had a three-year-long engagement. What do I know about normal?" Ginny laughed and summoned a bottle from the house. When James heard her shake it up he let out a shout. She pulled him onto her lap and helped him hold it up. "I have the unique advantage of seeing the roads you and Draco traveled to get to where you are and I think you're right to take things slowly. Love and life have no timelines. You want to marry him tomorrow, do it. You want to spend another decade dating long distance, do it."

"Well, I'm definitely not marrying him tomorrow," Hermione laughed. "And I don't think I want to spend-"

Hermione cut herself off when she heard a ringing coming from inside the house.

"Is that your mobile?"

"Yeah. It's probably Lizzie. I'll call her back." The ringing stopped and then started right back up. "Or I'll answer it now."

Hermione scrambled to her feet and sprinted into the house. She dug her phone from her purse and saw Draco's name lighting up the screen.

"Hey, we were just talking about you," she greeted. "Are you done already?"

"Hermione?"

It was Harry's voice on the other end and Hermione's heart jumped into her throat.

"Harry, what's wrong?" she said, straining to get her voice above a whisper.

"There's been an accident."

"Where's Draco?"

"You need to get to St. Mungos."

Hermione closed her phone without saying goodbye. At some point, Ginny had come inside and was giving her a worried look.

All Hermione could say was, "Hospital," before she spun and apparated away.

She landed in the lobby of St. Mungo's and raced to the check-in desk.

"I'm looking for Draco Malfoy," she said, her hands shaking by her sides. "Can you tell me where I can find him?"

Without looking up, the witch behind the desk replied, "Mr. Malfoy is still undergoing examination and treatment. You'll have to wait."

"I can't wait! I need to know what happened. Where is he?"

"Undergoing treatment and examination," the witch repeated.

Hermione was ready to scream at her when she heard her name being called. She turned to see Harry waving her over to the bank of elevators. Hurrying over, she got to him just as a set of doors opened and he pulled her into the elevator. He punched the button for the fourth floor and Hermione gulped. Spell damage.

"Harry, what happened?" she asked, her voice shaky.

"We were set up," Harry answered through gritted teeth. "I don't understand how we didn't see this. We spent months-MONTHS!" He yelled and slammed his fist against the reflective wall. "Everything was set and timed down to the second!"

"Harry, what happened?" Hermione asked again as the doors opened and let them out onto the fourth floor.

As soon as they stepped out, they were met by a mass of commotion. Healers and Medi-witches hurrying up and down the halls. Harry turned his anger off, slipping back into the role of Auror.

"Potter. Report," a voice boomed.

Hermione looked over and saw Kingsley Shacklebolt standing a head taller than the others. The Minister of Magic was looking expectantly at Harry.

"Our informant was double-crossing us and had us set up to walk into a trap," Harry started. "We have two suspects confirmed dead, three in custody, and Lestrange is comatose in a secure ward of the hospital. Four of our team members were injured, two already released with minor wounds. We-" Harry swallowed and Hermione noticed his foot tapping incessantly as he tried to keep eye contact with Kingsley. "We lost Auror Hanson, sir."

Kingsley gave a single nod, his face set with a hard expression. "I'll contact his family. You did everything right, Harry. Sometimes things are out of our control." He gave a nod and walked off in the direction of what Hermione assumed was the guarded ward.

"Harry."

"We were set up, Hermione," he said, unable to meet her eyes. "Didn't realize until Hanson stepped on a hidden detonating potion and it was too late. Chaos ensued and I yelled at Draco to stay back but- but you know how he is! Rodolphus was making a run for it and Draco went after him. He took the bastard down, too. Hit him with a stunner and incarcerous. The reason Lestrange is in a coma is that he hit his head on a rock as he fell."

Hermione waited for a moment and then said, "But?"

Harry finally looked at her. "Immediately after, he was hit in the back of the head by enemy fire. He's unconscious and they're worried that i-when he wakes up, taking a spell to the head might affect his memory."

Hermione's chest felt like it was going to burst and she realized that she had been holding her breath. She exhaled and shook her head.

"How could this happen?" she shouted. "What happened to 'we're not amateurs, 'Mione'?" She lashed out and shoved Harry in the chest. "He shouldn't have been there! He's not an Auror!"

"He's a grown man, Hermione!" Harry shouted back. "He's capable of making his own choices!"

"You're the one in charge!"

Hermione felt a soft touch on her shoulder and a calm voice in her ear saying, "This isn't going to help anyone, dear."

Behind her, Narcissa Malfoy was staring unblinkingly at Harry. Lucius was in a chair with his head in his hands. Turning back, Hermione saw Harry's throat bob as he gulped.

"Mr. Potter, if you would please direct me to this guarded ward, I would be more than happy to deal with the last of my sister's wretched stains," Narcissa said.

"You know I can't do that, Mrs. Malfoy," Harry answered as the fight and anger left his face.

"Yes, but one never knows for certain unless they ask, do they?" Narcissa gave Hermione's shoulder a squeeze. "You will keep us posted on Draco's condition?"

"Of course. You will be first to know." Harry gave Hermione a sad smile before turning to go check on the rest of his team.
Narcissa led Hermione to the waiting area. Hermione sank into an armchair and stared at a table full of old magazines and half-broken toys until the image went blurry from tears. She didn't bother to wipe them away until a gentle hand covered hers. With a few blinks, her vision cleared and she saw Lucius still had his head bowed, but he had brought one hand up to hold hers.