Hermione did not sleep properly for three days.

The first day after her fight with Malfoy she asked Cho for a makeover, purely so that she wasn't alone with her thoughts, and didn't have to wander around the house aimlessly. Even with a haircut, and plucked eyebrows, the burning coals at the bottom of her stomach didn't cool down.

Malfoy did not avoid her, but she avoided him.

On the second day he did her a favour by moving his chair at the dining table to the opposite side where Teddy sat.

By the third day, Ophelia had regained her confidence to cling off of Malfoy's arm again. He did not push her away, nor did he let her touch him any longer than a minute either. Well, at least in front of Hermione.

At midnights, he stood outside of the front gates for the longest he has ever done. Hermione watched from the window, caring little if he spotted her. Hours would pass before he made his way back to the house.

During the day she'd learnt to bring food up to her room before people went to bed. Now, on the fourth night, while struggling to grow tired, she realised that her binge eating was worse than it had ever been before.

She ate so much she vomited off the side of the bed.

Her wand was a blessing, being able to clean it up in a flick. Her mind, however, was not as easy of a fix. Everything felt scrambled, and the worst thing was that she just wanted to tell Malfoy.

On night seven of silence from both ends, Hermione crawled into Harry's bed. She cried in his arms for a long time before he asked what she was crying about.

"Do you need me to listen or do you need me to give you answers?"

With the wiping of snot on the heming of her shirt, she said. "Both."

"Okay," he sat them up against the headboard. "How about I listen first?"

"My head hurts, Harry. There are so many thoughts and worries going on in my brain that I'm scared it's going to explode. I just want this all to stop."

"Are you worried about going back out there?"

"No, if anything that is what I am most certain about. If anything, I am worried about what life is going to be like after You-Know-Who dies. Does the war end then? Will another Death Eater take reign? What if you die, what if everyone dies?"

"We both know that Vol-sorry, You-Know-Who dying is only the first step. Should either of us be so lucky to walk away with our heart still beating, then we will do whatever it takes to make things right again. If anyone can do it, it is you and I. If we're dead, well, bloody Dean will have to do it, won't he?"

Hermione laughed in a crying way, "God help us all."

He wiped her new tears with the back of his wrist. "Do I need to do one of those big brother speeches and talk with Malfoy?"

She paused, "What? Why would you do that?"

Harry titled his head and gave her a look that said: Come on, do you think I am daft? Then, he actually said it, "Come on, do you think I'm daft? He moved his seat away from you at the table and neither of you have said a word the past week."

"Malfoy never talks."

"Yes, but you do. Tell me what happened, 'Mione. Was it him that messed it up? Or you?"

"Him. Me. Both, I-I don't know anymore. Why are you acting like this is normal? Why aren't you yelling at me for betraying Ron? Or convincing me that Malfoy's still a Death Eater?"

He laced their fingers together and squeezed her hand. "I could yell at you, but I am tired of fighting with everyone all the time. Malfoy doesn't have the balls to be a Death Eater in this house." She swotted at him with a laugh. "And I know that Ron will be a part of us both forever. No one knew the relationship you two had more than me."

Hermione's mouth parted. Harry continued.

"I was a third wheel for you both for a very long time. Ron was an idiot for many years, and I'm sorry neither of you got the future that you thought you wanted. You loved him, in a way that I couldn't. But if we are being realistic, would it have lasted?"

"No. It wouldn't have."

"And that's okay," he squeezed her again. "Theo was a dick, and as long as Malfoy isn't hurting you like he did, then I cannot stop you from licking your wounds. If it lasts, it lasts. If it doesn't, it doesn't."

"It's not serious, it is merely a bandaid for the war. Malfoy and I would never be drawn together if it wasn't for the fact that we are trapped on this farm."

"Does he know that?"

"If anything, he would be the one to pull the plug once we are set free."

Harry blinked, unnaturally slowly. "He apologised to me the day he came down from the attic. Did you know that?"

This stunned her. "What did he say?"

"It was short, and to the point. You were out with Theo, I think, on the porch. He said that he was a dick, and planned on trying not to be a dick anymore. Then he said he was sorry that he put Grabbe and Goyle's deaths on our shoulders."

"I did not know he still thought about them."

"Wouldn't you? If you made your friends steal a wand and they died in the process?"

"Well, I suppose. Yes. He just never talks about it, that's all."

With a look of pity, Harry said, "Grabbe, Goyle and Pansy are what Ron and Neville are to you and I. Each of their faces will be engraved into his memory for the rest of his life. Talking about them would only be another painful reminder."

She knew this. She didn't stop Harry from saying it on her behalf though.

"He never told me he apologised to you, either."

"Sounds like Malfoy is more of a listener than a talker. I suppose that is what you've always needed."

"Maybe."

Hermione had not known she wanted Harry's approval. It was too late now, though.

"If I tell you what happened, you cannot make fun of me, okay?" She said, poking him in the shoulder.

"I don't know, I may not be able to contain myself."

"Shut up."

He let go of her hand and twisted to face her better. Hermione thought about how she was going to word this without sounding like a child.

"Last week, things… escalated between Malfoy and I. Neither of us have ever, you know, and when I wanted to, he said no."

Harry lifted an eyebrow. "Did he tell you why?"

"Apparently it is because he thinks I will come to regret it later in life. Giving myself to a Death Eater. Sorry, this is odd saying out loud, let alone to you."

He dismissed her with a shake of his head. "Is that why you are upset? Because he thinks you will hate him when this is over?"

"Partly. The other parts of me think that he still finds me repulsive. We fought because I felt humiliated. I banished him back to the attic before I made matters worse by crying."

She fiddled with the seams of the blanket. Harry sat on her words and waited before he replied.

"You're the only person he doesn't Occlude around, you know?"

Hermione bit the gum on her cheek. "What do you mean?"

"Malfoy, he is an Occlumens. Bellatrix taught him the summer before sixth year. He shuts his mind off when everyone is around, but when you come in the room he lifts the veil."

"That is rather far-fetched. What's your evidence?"

"I was trained by Snape in Occlumency. Poorly, mind you, but I can recognise the signs. You might never have noticed because you've yet to see him fade away from the surface."

This was new to Hermione. She had not forgotten that he was taught the skills of Occlumency, but she assumed that he simply did not see the need to practice anymore. Funny.

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked.

"Because for the first time in his life, Malfoy is being humble. You have clearly made an impact on him, and while I find it weird talking about your sex-life, he is trying to protect you."

"Yes, but I don't want to be protected. I may die on the battlefield anyway, what is the harm in taking the risk? In fact, he is not even a risk."

"Do you think that maybe he believes you are using him?"

She frowned. "What are you implying?"

"That while you may want to enjoy yourself before you potentially die, which I refuse to let happen, he may not want to be with you for those same reasons. Perhaps he wants you to be with him, when you actually want to be with him."

"How come you are so knowledgeable on this topic?" Hermioned asked, squinting at her friend in the dark room.

"Probably because Ginny and I have had the same argument at least three times."

"Really? She never told me."

"Doubt that she wanted to share her sexual appetite with my best friend, Hermione. Ginny is a pureblood after all. A real class act."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ha, ha."

Harry rubbed her upper arm and tapped it twice. "You kicked the bloke out, you have to be the one to build the bridge between you two. He won't do it."

"Then what? Say, 'Hi sorry that I keep begging you for sex, I'll make it up to you'?"

"Maybe not that direct," he laughed at her. "Try apolosing, and take it from there."

"Apologise to Draco Malfoy? His big head will inflate even more than it already has."

"You're a tough girl, I'm sure you can handle it."

The two friends fell asleep next to each other well after midnight. Hermione never knew how long Malfoy stood out by the gates that night, but it did cross her mind. She tried hearing out for his footsteps but they never made a sound.

At breakfast the next morning, Malfoy was feeding Teddy his eggs when Harry used his crutch to hit Hermione on the ankle. She mouthed the word ouch to which Harry used his eyes to tell her she should talk with the blond.

Hermione silently tried to communicate that she planned on doing it later, but apparently, Harry could not lip read.

They ended up just exchanging confused expressions and had zero resolutions.

Teddy threw his eggs into Malfoy's hair, and squealed as he did so. Malfoy muttered something under his breath and pulled the sticky substance from his strands. His eyes caught Hermione's. She knew she should have held his gaze, yet she didn't have the courage.

He got up and moved to clean his hair in the bathroom, and Ophelia skipped along to help.

Cho rolled her eyes so passionately that Hermione thought she might pop an eyeball.

Maybe it was paranoia, or maybe it was because she actually did leave her wand in her bedroom, but Hermione crept up the stairs. On the way she happened to overhear a conversation between housemates in the bathroom.

"I said it's fine, Ophelia," Malfoy snapped. "It's fucking eggs."

"No matter. I am sure I can get it out with a cleaning spell, save you having to restyle your hair."

There was rustling and Hermione very badly wanted to peek her head around the doorframe to see what was happening.

"See," Ophelia clapped. "Much better."

Malfoy cleared his throat, shortly. "Sure. Thank you."

"Hey, we don't have to head downstairs just yet. We could stay up here for a little while, I'm sure no one would notice."

Hermione pinched her bottom lip with her fingers.

Without missing a beat, Malfoy said, "I'm not interested."

"Come on, Draco. There is nothing to do in this house, why don't we pick this up from where we left them at school? It will pass the time, and actually be a little fun. Better than those god-awful board games those imbeciles play each night."

"What part of no, do you not understand?" He spat.

Ophelia made a hmph noise, "Is it Cho? Are you interested in her now?"

"I am not interested in Cho."

"Merlin, don't tell me it's Granger. Is that why she looks at you with those pathetic doe eyes? Is she falling for you, Draco?" There was a snicker at the end of that sentence.

There was a sound of what could have been Malfoy backing Ophelia up onto the sink. It was quiet, so quiet Hermione did not know if they were snogging or glaring at one another.

"I do not want you, Ophelia," Malfoy said, each word slower than the next. "Stop clinging to my arm like an owl. That's what is pathetic, not Granger."

With that someone started to move out of the bathroom. Hermione pressed herself against the wall and cursed herself for not actually getting her wand to blend herself to the paint.

Ophelia came out first, the ends of her perfectly shiny hair, frizzing for the first time ever. Malfoy punched something, but glass didn't break. He came out of the bathroom and stopped directly where Hermione was hiding.

"If you're going to spy, get a new perfume," he said, without turning his head, and continued on walking down the hall.

Hermione slid down and banged her head against the wall. This perfume of hers was truly becoming a nuisance.

She wondered what Malfoy would have said if he did not know she was there.

After far too long, she stood back up and continued the day. Ophelia sulked, and Cho seemed to be in a better mood because of it. Even as the queen of empaths, Hermione did not feel bad, at all.

As it turned out, the Ravenclaw was not so nice after all.

Fred made butter chicken for dinner. The cheater's way.

Hermione slurped on the sauce, pretending to eat. Across the table, Malfoy watched the movements of her spoon. She did a double dip to ensure.

He tracked the food that went to her mouth and what didn't. To see his reaction, she scooped up two pieces of diced chicken, and ate them whole. He looked her in the eye and carelessly looked away right after.

Before she could feel gross about eating in front of people, McGonagall came through the kitchen door, unannounced. All chattering stopped and the entire house went silent.

"Minerva, what are you-" Andromeda started, but was halted by a hand.

"Good evening, everyone. I am sorry to say this shall be a short visit, however I bring news that would want to be known."

Hermione locked eyes with Harry. They both blinked, ready to hear that Voldemort was back.

"It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that early this morning, an ex-student from another safe house was caught and tortured by a Death Eater after trying to escape."

"W-who was it, Professor?" Cho asked, already on the verge of tears.

"Romilda Vane."

The colour from Harry's face literally turned green. He placed his head in his hands tugging at his scruffy hair. Hermione got up from her seat and rubbed his back, whispering to him that they were so close.

He didn't say anything back and the rest of the table was speechless. Dean got Cho some tissues, to which she thanked him by wrapping her arms around his neck and crying into his shoulder. Andromeda excused herself to put the baby down and discuss everyone's feelings when she came back.

McGonagall had to leave to inform more safehouses. Warning them that there are eyes on the Order.

No one wanted to talk when Andromeda returned. They all drank cups of tea in silence. Even Fred and George weren't in the mood to talk. Company was what they each wanted most right now.

People started heading to bed around 8pm. Hermione stayed around to do the dishes and gave Harry a goodnight when he was the last one to retire.

She took a moment by the sink to herself. Leaning over it and forcing herself to breathe properly. Deep down, she wished Malfoy would come back down, just so she could sense him.

When the lights were off and the table was wiped clean, she made her own way back to bed.

In the hallway, the string for the attic dangled.

No hesitation stopped her from pulling it down. The ladder slid down without a squeak, and Hermione hurried her way up into the roof before anyone saw. It was dark, and cold.

"Malfoy?" She whispered. No answer. "Hello?"

She searched the entire open plan and found no one, and nothing. The attic was empty. There was a minor surge of panic that went through her.

Climbing down the attic, she headed back to her bedroom to find her wand to see if he was outside at the gates. Only when she opened the door, Malfoy was already there, waiting for her by the window.

"You're not in the attic," Hermione blurted, nervously.

He waited until she shut the door to ask, "You didn't go up there, did you?"

"I-yes, I did. I wanted to come find you."

She stepped forward with hurried steps, racing to reach him on the other side of the room. He was taken back and scanned her face with worry. His hands were trembling again.

"I was wrong to send you away the other night. You have this power over me that can make me weak in the knees but scared at the same time. I was lying there, naked, ready to give you my all, and you said no. It is your right to say no. I should not have gotten frustrated with you about that. I was angry with myself for wanting you more than you want me. That is not your fault, that is totally okay. Sometimes my insecurities get the better of me, and I apologise for throwing you out when I should have heard what you were trying to say."

She was puffing by the time she finished her speech. The room was only lit by a single candle, so Malfoy couldn't see how flushed her cheeks were, nor the sweat on her brow.

"Confession?" He asked. She said yes. "I want you. All of you."

Hermione must not have heard him right. "I'm sorry?"

"Someone died today, Granger. Someone we went to school with. I didn't understand the pressure of time running out until tonight, but you've felt this for a lot longer than I have. It's agonising and I can't stand not being with you any longer."

His shaking hands came to rest on her hips. Hermione covered them with her own.

"What about your profound need to protect me from your past?" She asked.

"I can only hope you will forgive me for being selfish."

"Malfoy," she laid her palms flat on his chest. "Even if we burn our lives to the ground, I'll never regret this."

He choked on a sound, hanging his head low. "You are going to be the best mistake I've ever made."

Hermione kissed the part of his skin that was exposed at the top of his shirt. "You once said that you'd like to throw me onto the mattress and claim me as your own. Would do me a kindness and put my imagination at ease?"

Malfoy tugged the shirt from her jeans and hovered his mouth over her ear. "Patience. Let me explore you first."

His warm breath sent chills down her spine. "Make it quick," she said. He laughed into her neck as he sucked hair at the skin. Hermione accio'd her wand and silenced the room. Twice.

It took a whole lot of strength not to rip his clothes off. She wanted this to last a lifetime, but she was also impatient. Eventually, she melted into his slow embrace and let him take control.

His unsteady fingers lifted her shirt off her head by the bottom of the hem. He knelt and made a bee-line to her breasts, kissing them where her bra ended. Hermione licked her lips and ran her hands through his hair as he made bruises no one else would be able to see.

He undid the button of her jeans and tugged them down to her calves before letting her step out herself. Never in her entire life has Hermione ever been more grateful for matching blue knickers. By the way he flicked the elastic of them, she sensed Malfoy was grateful, too.

She undressed him just as gently as he did her. Only slower, and with more love bites.

They both stood in their underwear, chests heaving as they stared one another down.

Malfoy took one strap of her bra and carefully dropped it off her shoulder. He took in her body, eyeing it up and down. Hermione swallowed her nerves.

"I'm a fool for you, Hermione Granger," he breathed. "I never should have let you think that you're anything less than perfection."

"You don't need-"

"I do. I do need to." He kissed her bare shoulder while slipping the other strap down. "You consume me, and I should have told you that. Every part of you," he kissed her on the other side, "consumes me."

Hermione rolled her eyes to the back of her head and exposed her neck. Malfoy held her by the waist and sucked on every inch of her welcoming skin. Any trace of insecurities she once possessed, had fallen to the floor with her clothes.

"Tell me you need me," she commanded.

He brought her in to feel the pressure in his cock, "I need you."

For a moment, Hermione hoped he meant that outside of the peramaters of sex. That somehow in a parallel universe, he couldn't function without her. Because it was fucking scaring how much she needed him.

His fingers roamed up her back to unclip her bra. He pulled it from her arms and tossed it to the floorboards.

Holding her by the hip in one hand, he cupped her face with the other. "If we do this, I don't think I'll ever be able to let you go."

Hermione held his wrist, "I never said you had to."

She let his hand fall away from her face and lifted her own to feel the scars along his chest. Every one she kissed. He shivered under her mouth and didn't freeze, even when her tongue lapped around the most recent wounds.

He walked them back onto the bed and let her fall first. His kisses traced down to her knickers, where he pulled them off with a single tug. Hermione spread her legs for him, and he kept them open for only a moment as he licked her cunt.

She instantly whimpered.

He did not stay down there long, enough time to warm her up. For barely an appetiser, it was nothing short from glorious.

She attacked his neck when he crawled back up onto the bed, while he started grinding into her. They were both as desperate as the other, trying to feel as much of one another as they could, and savouring it for all that it was worth.

His first finger slid inside her with ease, but the second took time to adjust.

Hermione clawed the muscles on his back and yanked onto the roots of his hair. Each time she pulled harder he would curl his fingers and make her cry out.

As wrong as it was, she thought of every other man in her life that she could have given this to.

Victor, Cormac, Theo… Ron.

Water welled over her eyes as she thought of his blue eyes and promising smile. The person that she should have been doing this with, but was robbed from life too soon. He would have been kind, and too gentle, yet loving enough to make up for it.

Malfoy retracted his hand. He lifted his head from her neck and stared down at the emotions on her face. A single tear ran down her cheek, too which he swept away.

She wasn't upset, she was just sad, and Hermione felt like he knew that.

His body hovered over hers, he said, "I'm sorry," in the softest of voices. "I'm sorry he was taken from you."

Grabbing him by the dip in his back, she pulled him down into a hug. Something neither of them had done, for it was too intimate, and now, it was all she needed. Malfoy rolled them to lay on their sides. He embraced her with no restraint.

Hermione thought of how much they had both lost. How hurt he must be thinking about Pansy.

"I'm sorry she was taken from you, too," she whispered into his peck.

Just then, as Malfoy tipped his head down, and he stared down at her lips, Hermione could have sworn he was about to kiss her. Properly.

But then, as fear crept over his face, and a shake trembled his mouth, she knew he couldn't do it.

She saved him from regret by moving first, travelling out of his arms and down to remove his underwear. Malfoy clenched his eyes in relief while she removed the material from his legs. One day she would ask him about it, but not tonight. Tonight could wait.

Kneeling in between his legs, Hermione took a moment to take in his entire body. The candle light flickered across his stomach, revealing cut muscles that she had never been able to see before. With her fingertip, she traced the outline of every solid form.

Malfoy took her wrists and used them to drag her back up to lay on top of him.

"Blind leading the blind," he stated. "Right?"

She pushed his hair back and kissed the part of his scar that ran along his eyebrow. "Right."

He did the same. Kissing her exactly where Theo split her skin, then flipped them so she was on her back again. "Three taps. Three taps and I'll stop."

"I won't need to. I trust you."

"Swear you will tap me, Granger."

She could see the worry in his eyes. It flashed like a lighthouse "I swear."

With that, Malfoy used his own thighs to open hers more. He sat back and pumped himself four times. Hermione was in anguish, waiting.

"We need to cast something-"

"No need," she interrupted. "I-uh-I'm incapable of falling pregnant."

He frowned, unsure of what to say in response to that. This seemed like something she should have mentioned prior, or not at all.

"They removed my uterus after Dolohov's attack at the Ministry. I'd rather not talk about it, if that's alright."

His mouth fell on her stomach, and he kissed her there. "Whatever you want."

She smiled down at him, and wriggled down for him to get back to what he was doing before. One of his hands remained on his cock, while the other fell next to her ear. He held himself up while pressing his tip against her entrance.

Hermione bit down on her lower lip.

"Keep your eyes on me," he said. She obeyed, not swaying from his silvery gaze. "That's my girl."

Her hands laid on the back of his shoulders, and in an instant her entire being felt him enter her. A breath was caught in her throat at the size difference from his fingers. This was new, and bigger than she remembered being in her mouth.

Malfoy groaned into her collar, stopping for a second to see if she was okay. "Please, keep going," she begged him. He fell in further and their chests joined together.

She hissed and he said, "You can take it."

He didn't fill her entirely, but put most in, then pulled back, and went back in again. Hermione tightened her grip on his shoulders and didn't hold back on the sounds escaping her throat.

It hurt. Not enough to make her want to stop, but enough to make her question how people got used to this.

She appreciated it when Malfoy kissed her on the neck as a distraction. The vibrations of his pleasure rubbed against her skin.

"So fucking good," he mummbled. "You're so fucking good, Hermione."

Her name was a gift presented by his tongue. She arched herself into him more and took his slower movements in full stride. Whatever he wanted, she was willing to give.

The initial pain reduced and he found a comfortable rhythm for them both. When he pressed his hands onto the mattress and raised his head to hang over hers, she instantly met his eyes again. Her breasts jiggled, but he never looked down.

Hermione wondered if most people kiss during these parts, or if eye contact as passionate as this was normal. Whatever the answer was, she didn't care to hear it. She preferred this.

"Confession?" She asked, mid thrust.

"Now?" He smirked. She nodded. "Okay," he said, slowing their pace.

"I don't ever want to do this with anyone else."

His smirk turned into a grin. "Good."

Her insides warmed to him soon after that. They switched between her kissing his neck, and he kissing hers. Her ankles crossed over at the bottom of his back, and moaned at how the new access it gave him.

"Fuck," he cursed, snapping his hips. "Your cunt's better than I imagined. You feel so good."

Hermione wanted to eat his words.

She found that the more noise she made, the more he enjoyed it. And she loved the sound of his voice even more so. This was how they both ended up panting breathy words of satisfaction.

Malfoy fell to his forearms and she could tell he was struggling not to end this.

He was fucking her harder, and grunting with every thrust. Hermione's limbs were tingling. She too, didn't want this to end, but knew he couldn't last any longer,

She placed her palms to hold his face and said, "Come for me, Draco."

The deep chuckle that fell from his lips didn't match the fierceness in which he was filling her. He snaked his arm under her lower back and hit a spot that made her hiccup. He did it once, twice, five times before he finally came.

His head lopped onto her shoulder first, then he swore forcefully, "Fucking hell."

A warm sensation spilt over inside her. Hermione felt hot, and sticky, but so so good. The sex part would take getting used to, but Malfoy, he made her feel like she was being bathed in moonlight just by holding her.

He fell on top of her with little grace. They were both breathing heavily.

It was silent, and not in an awkward way. Hermione was thinking about how long she would have to wait to try this again. She wanted to perfect it.

Malfoy had yet to remove himself from her, and she did not mind. He kissed her shoulder, then her neck, jaw, her eye. "Confession?"

Hermione gave a wispy laugh. "Oh no."

"If you'll let me, I want to do this everyday until I learn how to make your legs shake."

He interlocked their fingers on the pillows and she replied, "Even when we're angry?"

"Even when we're angry. That'd be even better."

"I don't know if it can get better than this."

Malfoy spun them over so she was on top. In the flip, he pulled himself out of her and let her sit on his hips. "You doubt me, Granger?"

She smirked. "I'll have to see it, to believe it."

He playfully scowled at her while his hands ran up her thighs. He kept running them up until they reached her ribs, his thumb resting under her breasts. The once sinister expression switched to a soft look of admiration.

"You are the most beautiful witch I have ever known."

Hermione blushed. She lowered herself so her breasts hung over his chest, her nipples brushing against his pale skin. "Please don't say that if-"

"I mean it." He tucked her curls back. "I'll keep telling you until you believe it."

"Are you prepared to say it for the rest of my life then?"

"I'll say it for the rest of my life."

As she laid her head to rest on him, the thought crossed her mind on how little time that could be. Whilst she should be assuming it to be forever, in reality, she wasn't sure she was going to see this year through.

So for now, she let herself melt into his arms.

He traced runes along her spine for what felt like hours. Neither wanting to fall asleep and ravished in the silence. Eventually, Hermione slid herself off his torso to lay beside him.

"You can leave if you want," she said shyly. "To go to the front gates. I think it might be midnight soon."

Malfoy inhaled until he was puffed. "Not tonight."

"Don't feel obligated to stay. I'll be here when you get back."

"I want to stay. I'm not leaving tonight."

Hermione thought this might be the right time to ask him why he goes out there, but she didn't want to ruin what was already good. Instead, she accio'd her wand from the floor, cleaned them up and blew out the candle.

"I'm sorry for making you go up to the attic the night we fought," she apologised while scooping her thigh in between his legs. "No one should have to sleep up there. Even prats like you."

He ignored her joke. "You should never have gone up there."

"Yes, well. Neither should you."

"It has kept me for the past nine months. A few more won't hurt."

"You barely have a bed, Malfoy. What did you do, throw tyres and drag the dresser around each day?"

"And listen to your sleep talk."

She sat up, "What?"

"Well, what I gathered was sleep talk. It was either that or a whole lot of gibberish from a witch talking to herself."

"But how did-" before she could finish her sentence, Hermione's vision focused over the other side of the room. "You could hear through the fireplace, couldn't you?"

Malfoy tilted his head and eyed her with a suppressed smile. "How did you know about the fireplace?"

"I-well-I may have heard you getting angry with your magic. You were throwing something, although I am not sure what because there is nothing up there to throw."

"I destroyed everything that was up there." He held up a hand and actually smiled. "Is that all that you heard?"

Hermione looked down and tried to cover up her reddened features. By that move alone, Malfoy already got the answer he was looking for.

He rolled her over so he was once again leaning on his hands and hovering. She squealed when he pinched her side. "You saucy winx, you heard me wanking, didn't you?"

"N-no," she giggled into his touch. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Liar."

His hands on her side were making her squirm, "Okay! Okay! I heard you. Only once."

"When?"

"That time I caught you showering whilst everyone was eating dinner. But to even the playing field, you were not the only one who needed to—relieve tension after that particular collision. If anything, that was the first time you ever made me orgasm."

His mouth twitched with a snicker. Hermione felt powerful, and she realised why women use sex to get what they want.

He instantly attached himself to her neck, and the way she laughed made her realise that this was the lightest that she had felt in a long time.

They made a second attempt at sex that night. Hermione was expectant of the stretching and leant into it this time. The tension broke and the pleasure was finding itself in her.

Words of affirmation filled her ears as he filled her, over and over again. He spoke to her in both Italian and English, saying things that Hermione was sure she would never forget.

When he finished and she hadn't, he made sure to make her come in other ways.

By the end, they were both exhausted and ravenous.

Malfoy left a kiss on her forehead and half dressed himself to get food from the kitchen. They laid in bed, twisted in bedsheets, eating ginger biscuits and cucumber sandwiches until the stars were beginning to fade.

At some point they fell asleep.

Her hair sprayed out against his chest, and his arm hooked around her back.

That night Hermione dreamt of when she was three reading a book by herself. Her mother rang her grandfather to tell him the news, and she read it out loud to him while her mother held the phone. It is one the first happy memories she has.

In the morning, someone was calling out Malfoy's name. It was fuzzy at first, then came into clarity all at once.

"Draco darling," a woman's voice whispered. "Draco."

Malfoy groaned and tightened his grip on Hermione. "What do you want?" He clearly hadn't opened his eyes yet either.

"Teddy is calling for you, my sweet. He won't stop crying. He's trying to say your name."

At the realisation that Andromeda was in the bedroom, Hermione woke with a jolt. She scrambled to keep covering herself with a sheet, and swiftly fell off the pale man beneath her.

Malfoy woke too, pinching the bridge of his nose and sitting up.

"Aunt, what are you doing in here?" He said, huskily. Hermione wished he'd stay to talk to her like that for the rest of the day.

"I'm sorry darlings, I did not mean to wake either of you, but Teddy has been screaming for over an hour. I am worried I won't be able to settle him."

"Alright, I'm coming." Malfoy said, stopping himself from swinging his legs off the bed.

Andromeda realised why and gave a small bow before excusing herself back into the hallway. Hermione was sort of in shock, still clutching onto the sheet.

"Did she just-"

"Yes."

"Did she know-"

"No."

"Right."

Malfoy stood from the mattress and dressed himself into yesterday's clothes. It was when Hermione was watching him that she came to feel the ache in between her thighs. And her hips. And her arms.

"I'll try and come back before the rest of the house wakes," he said, pulling on his socks. "I apologise for leaving."

"It is not your fault. Teddy needs you."

He gave her a weak look of sorries, then kissed her neck. No doubt doubling up on bruises from the night before.

"Go," she said, pushing him off. "Get the baby."

With an exhale and a slumped exit, Malfoy left her room.

Hermione stared up at the ceiling and rethought every moment from last night. Every touch, every gasp, every moan. They were healing and dangerous all at once.

If sleeping with Draco Malfoy was going to kill her, then let it be a death by a thousand cuts.