Here we are at last! The final chapter of book two! (I KNOW! IT'S HERE!) It took us much longer to complete than we ever imagined and we thank you SO. INCREDIBLY. MUCH. for sticking with us. Your reviews and comments here, as well as on social media, have been such an inspiration and such a treat! We live for them - they are the creme brulee of the world and we are sugar addicts.
While we don't know when book three will start posting (it's roughly outlined but we haven't started writing yet), we want to assure you that it's coming! This goes for our other stories as well. None of them are abandoned. Even if it takes years, they will be finished. (Lissa wants to say that she is in her LAST year of schooling and has next summer free, and then student teaching, and then DONE!) In the meantime, you can find us on Facebook (Lissa Dean, Anne Snow, or Lissa Snow-joint).
As always, thank you for reading and commenting if you are so inclined!
PS - A huge, massive, FREAKING LOUD shout out to our beta team. Thank you for volunteering your time and talent! We are so lucky to have you helping us. We love you all. Hugs!
Beta LOVE : thebeebeegun, RaynePhoenix, what_the-fawkes, LadySnape89, Dracoswhore17
Wednesday, September 5
It was Hermione's first day back in her Muggle office since her life went tits up and she found herself a bit overwhelmed with the work before her. With all of her recent focus having been primarily on her clients who were attacked, as well as The Dungeon's legal affairs, her other cases and clients had been put on the back burner. She was disappointed to discover she had been more neglectful than she had realized and she would need to reevaluate. A small voice in her thoughts scolded, You're slipping. Perhaps this break up will help you get your priorities back on track. There was no denying that her personal life had cut into the overtime and weekend hours she used to work.
Pushing that uncomfortable thought aside, she decided to make a list. A list of all her clients and cases and then she would make a schedule. Yes. A fresh, new schedule to make sure she was dedicating the appropriate amount of time and effort to each of her cases.
No longer having to play the submissive two nights a week and no longer having a significant other was going to free up a lot of her time. She could refocus - work late more often as needed and get some control over things. These thoughts soothed her guilty conscience greatly. She rubbed her neck and felt some of the tension ease. Her private life might be a mess, but her professional one would be on point going forward.
Pulling off her outer robe and hanging it on the coat rack by her office door, she went back to her desk and began to work.
As she went through everything, she couldn't help her focus from returning to her raped clients, and now a woman had been killed as well. A woman she knew. She thought of her young Muggle acquaintance, Kate Lobner, and the grotesque M carved into her chest.
Hermione was still angry that she hadn't known about these brandings. It was understandable why the authorities wouldn't want the public to know about the clue, but she was the hired attorney and representative of each victim. How had she not been aware until the detective told her? He had even had to get special clearance just to tell her, but in her opinion, she should have been privy to that information from the start. When she complained, she was given a massive runaround. It all had something to do with having been hired after each of the women had given their statements and had their physical exams, but that was still against normal procedure. Clearly, they were being extra cautious due to the high profile nature of the case. What else was being kept from her? When she confronted her clients, they confessed that they were forbidden from mentioning it to anyone. But they had all assumed she knew.
She rubbed her eyes. She still needed to ask Harry if the Muggleborn victims had the same marking.
She poured a cup of tea as she picked up another file. She had other clients and other cases that she needed to focus on.
It had felt like less than five minutes but had been closer to five hours when Marla peeked her head in the door. "Hermione, Lucius Malfoy is here to see you. He doesn't have an appointment," she added with obvious irritation. Marla was almost as bad as Hermione when it came to schedules and organization. Unscheduled visitors were very frowned upon.
Hermione hid her smile. "It's fine, Marla. Send him right in." She stood and ran her hands down the front of her blouse and skirt, making sure everything was tucked and presentable.
When Lucius walked in, Hermione's breath caught in her throat. Sometimes she forgot how stunning he was. And then he would remind her, in moments like this one. There he stood, looking debonair in his beautiful midnight blue robes over a charcoal grey three piece, silk suit. Handmade in Milan or Paris, she was sure. The cut of the suit and the flow of the robes, accentuated his fit form and broad shoulders. His hair was sleek and straight, its ends were trimmed to such a straight line that she had to wonder if he had just left a salon. His grey eyes were bright and his cheeks were pink tinged as though he had just walked in from the cold, or maybe a brisk walk. When she noticed his lips curve into a smirk, she realized he was aware she was checking him out.
"You are entirely too handsome, Mr. Malfoy," she admitted with a sigh.
His beaming smile proved he loved the compliment. "Well, coming from a beauty such as yourself, Miss Granger, that is quite the compliment."
Hermione shook her head at him. "If Malfoy Enterprises doesn't already own a charm school, you're missing out on a true calling."
Lucius chuckled as he walked toward her and she came around the desk to hug him. Her arms wrapped around his chest as his right arm draped around her shoulders and he pressed a chaste kiss to her crown. His left hand held his signature serpent cane.
She pulled back and asked, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"Just checking on my favorite Gryffindor."
Hermione laughed as she walked around her desk to her chair. "Well, considering I'm the only Gryffindor you are actually friends with, that's not saying much."
She, of course, knew he was simply worried about her. While he hadn't spent the night with her since Sunday, he had popped in on her at her flat multiple times over the past two days.
In truth, Hermione and Lucius were in a strange place in their relationship and neither of them knew quite how to navigate it. Their attraction for each other was simmering as heatedly as ever, but they both knew that acting on it so soon after her breakup would be a mistake. Or at least that's what she told herself.
Over the past 72 hours, Hermione's emotions had run the gamut from heartbroken and hurt, to anger, to denial, and then back to anger again, only to have despair assault her once more at which time she would practically drown in her own tears. Then she would think of Lucius and the pain would ebb as a whole new range of emotions overcame her.
Right now, in the presence of this force before her, she felt safe and secure and, perhaps most of all, she felt loved. It was a love she trusted wasn't transient or conditional. It just was. Because ever since Lucius had confessed his true feelings, she could see it in him so easily. His deep affection for her was evident with every look he gave her and every action he took. Looking back, the cues had been there all along. How had she been so blind? Not only about his true feelings, but about her own as well. Why had she denied what was so obvious? If she had only been more honest with herself and with Severus as well, perhaps everything could have been sorted out. But how would that work? It's not like she could have them both. At least not beyond sexual encounters. It was impossible because while she was no longer in denial about Lucius, she didn't love Severus any less because of it.
She was currently of the mindset that if the wizard could so easily toss her aside, then perhaps she should do just what he seemed to want her to do. Perhaps she should run to Lucius and never look back.
But she knew Lucius would never let her act so impulsively. He was not a self-sacrificing man except when it came to the people he loved, and it was obvious by his words and actions that he loved both her and Severus very much. He truly was the best of men.
"Have you eaten?" he asked.
"Umm," she looked at the clock on her wall. "An apple, before I came in this morning."
"So, no then. Let's grab a bite, shall we?"
"I have so much work. I really shouldn't…"
"I'm afraid I must insist. I saw a little deli around the corner."
Hermione stared at him. He had a very determined look on his face and she wasn't sure she had the will to fight him.
"Lucius," she whispered, "please. You know I can't say no to you, but not only do I need to keep working, I want to. It feels good to be back in the office and not self-obsessing." Her doe eyes were staring up at him and she knew she had persuaded him when his gaze softened and his stance slightly relaxed.
"Fine," he conceded, "but I'm having Tinny bring you lunch shortly, as well as dinner this evening. She will stand by and not leave until you've eaten."
Knowing this was as good as she was getting, she agreed. "Thank you for taking such good care of me."
He nodded and seemed to stop himself from saying something. They watched each other for a minute, an air of uncertainty and awkwardness between them.
He broke the silence with, "Don't stay too late tonight. I'll come by to see you later."
"Okay, I'll try not to. Oh, Lucius," she interrupted as he was about to leave. "I realize you may not have an answer for me at this minute, but do you think you and Severus will want me to continue legal services for -"
He interrupted with a succinct, "Absolutely."
"It's just that, I don't want to make things any harder than," she hesitated, "or more awkward -"
"Regardless of personal circumstances, your work on behalf of The Dungeon has been impeccable. We would consider ourselves very fortunate to retain your representation. I know Snape would agree."
Hermione wasn't sure how she felt about it quite yet, but she didn't want to make any haste decisions. "Do you think, that is to say, would you mind terribly bringing me everything from my desk at the club? I can't be there, I can't be around him," she sighed, "not yet, anyway."
Lucius stared at her for a second, a flash of something like disappointment crossed his features. "Of course, certainly. I'll bring them myself within a day or two."
Unable to endure the strained formality between them, Hermione rushed around her desk. His arms welcomed her abrupt assault as she buried her face into his chest. "Thank you, Lucius. What would I do without you?" She held him tightly, finding herself unable to let go. This time both his arms cocooned her. It was going to be alright. When he held her like this, she knew it was true. He was a tonic for her soul. He felt like home.
Lucius relished the feel of her against him and closed his eyes as he breathed in the smell of her hair. She had changed her shampoo to a citrusy scent and he found it pleasant. It occurred to him that perhaps she no longer wanted to use the hair cleansing potion that Severus provided her, hence the newest change.
He continued to hold her, not wanting to let go. There were so many things that Lucius wanted to say; there were even more that he wanted to do. Right here and right now. On her desk, on the floor, against the wall, in her chair… it was becoming harder and harder to resist pressing his suit. Ever since he had confessed his true feelings and desires, he was finding it more difficult to hold back. He had cracked the dam with his confession and all his control was cracking right along with it.
He knew he could easily seduce her into being his. It was what the Lucius of old would have done. He would have comforted her, made love to her, and then dominated and fucked her right back into being his. She was vulnerable right now, so easy to manipulate. As hard as it was, however, he needed to resist. For her, for Severus, and for himself. It was simply too soon. She needed to either go back to Snape or get over the bastard. Only then, if she could move past him, would Lucius make his move.
"I will speak with you soon," he offered before pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
Friday evening, September 7th
"I don't feel up to it," Hermione groaned.
"Of course you don't, because it would require stepping out into the real world and having to engage in something other than crying or working."
"You're harsh, you know that?" she bit back at her blond best friend.
Draco shrugged. "Ehh, I'm honest, and you know I'm right so don't act all offended."
"Whatever, it doesn't change the fact that I don't want to go."
Draco shook his head at her disappointedly. "Beaves, when have I steered you wrong?"
Hermione stared at him.
"Think long and hard. When have I been wrong, about anything?"
"Are you really asking me that?" she quipped with a playful, cocked brow.
"Okay, okay, since we became friends, then. When have I not spoken the truth and kept it real?"
Hermione sighed. The ferret was right. He had been correct about her relationship with Lucius and her relationship with Severus. He had known she would grow to enjoy flying. He was the only friend who had helped her truly forget about Severus, even if only for a few minutes.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, yes. You've been rather insightful."
"I've been more than insightful, but I won't force you to admit that I was right and you were wrong. Even though that's the truth of it." He smirked. "Besides, the irritation on your face right now is all the proof I need."
"You're horrible, you know that?"
He rubbed his hands together, ignoring her comment, as he looked her up and down. "Go get dressed. Something understated but fashionable, please, or do I need to help you?"
"No, I don't need help," she snapped.
He smiled when he heard the whispered, "Wanker," under her breath as she grudgingly headed for her bedroom.
An hour later found Hermione, Draco, Blaise, Theo, and Miriam at The Wayward Broom. They were sitting in a booth, Hermione between Draco and Blaise on one side and Theo and Miriam on the other.
Hermione noted Miriam was dressed in a fitted, red, wrap around dress. Her hair was down but pinned off her face with a gorgeous, but dainty, crystal, dragonfly hair clip. Its wings reflected red and teal and Hermione thought it complimented the dress perfectly. The witch looked positively stunning in Hermione's opinion. She was so used to seeing Miriam in leather corsets and fishnets.
"How's the library coming along?" Hermione asked Theo excitedly once their drinks were on the table.
Theo had his left arm draped casually around Miriam as he filled Hermione in on all the details of the job that he so obviously loved. Hermione really enjoyed talking with Theo. He was someone she determined she would truly enjoy spending more time with. Perhaps she could meet him for lunch sometime? She would be sure to include Miriam so as not to give the wrong impression. It was quite obvious the Dominant witch was completely smitten with him and Hermione wondered if Theo was getting more into being submissive. She didn't think Miriam would be so interested in the wizard if he didn't share her kink.
Blaise, on the other hand, remained a mystery to Hermione. He hardly spoke and she could feel his eyes on her several times but, when she would glance his way, he would quickly avert them. There was something about him that continued to make her uncomfortable, although she couldn't quite place it. The thing was, this young man was close to Lucius and was one of Draco's best friends. For these reasons, she wanted to know him better. The vibes she was getting must be wrong.
In an effort to get past her discomfort around him, she decided to try to engage him more. "So, Blaise, I know you recently moved back to the area but not much else. I'd love to know more about you, if you feel like sharing."
The Italian wizard's dark brown eyes narrowed on her. A chill washed over her and she rubbed her arms. Blaise continued to study her before responding in a low and quiet voice, "There's not much to tell."
Draco chuckled from her other side. "Blaise is far more interesting than he lets on, but he'll unlikely share much about himself until he's known you for about three or four years."
Theo outright laughed. "Maybe five."
Feeling her Gryffindor courage spike within herself, Hermione would not settle for this. She turned sideways and met Blaise's eyes straight on and found a flicker of something like amusement glittered in them. "Well, seeing as how I've become quite close to some of your friends, including Draco and Lucius, I think it would behoove us both to become more comfortable around each other. Don't you think?"
He seemed to ponder. "Do I make you uncomfortable, Miss Granger?"
"It's Hermione, and, frankly, yes, you do!"
Blaise's lip curved into a smirk before his amused gaze fell on Theo. He then glanced at Miriam, and Hermione thought she saw a touch of concern in his irises before realizing it looked more like irritation, but why she had no idea.
When she looked across the table, it was to find Theo grinning. "A Gryffindor telling it like it is," he teased with a wink. Hermione smiled back at him realizing these Slytherin's were likely not used to witches being so direct with them. Perhaps Blaise just didn't like his friends bringing others around. Perhaps he felt she and Miriam were intruding.
"You make me a little uncomfortable as well," Miriam offered to Blaise, as she leaned in closer to Theo. Theo's attention shifted to the Muggleborn witch beside him. He pulled her closer. "Now, love. Do all of my friends make you out of sorts? You said the same thing about Marcus Flint."
Miriam's eyes grew wide, "Oh, that man is weird. There is something super creepy about him. He used to stare at me all the time. I swear I wouldn't be surprised if he's the one trying to get at the Muggleborns," she added offhandedly as she lifted her glass.
Theo snickered. There was an edge to his voice when he said, "Well, you do walk around the club half-naked. You can't blame a bloke for looking." His gaze danced down to her waist and back up appreciatively. "I would watch you non-stop if I worked there."
Hermione wondered if now that Theo was getting closer to Miriam, he had less appreciation of her flaunting herself, and if that was true, how did he feel about her being at The Dungeon? Did she even dominate anyone else anymore? Maybe they were exclusive? Hermione wasn't sure.
Miriam bristled slightly. "I can tell the difference between someone ogling and someone scheming. There is something sinister about that man." She paused before adding, "Is there anything we need to discuss? Do you have an issue with the way I dress?"
Theo looked surprised. "No, of course not."
"Good, although, I'm curious, I thought you said Flint was only an acquaintance, and now you are calling him a friend. Which is it?"
Theo turned frustrated eyes on the witch before pulling her close. He kissed her temple and then whispered something in her ear which caused the tension in her to disappear. She grinned and Hermione could hear her whisper, "As if I need an excuse for that."
Theo responded with a boyish grin.
The table was quiet for a minute before Blaise interjected, "Well, I hardly want to be clumped in with a low class brute like Marcus Flint, so I shall endeavor to… be less creepy." The words were said stiffly, almost monotone.
Nope, still creepy, Hermione thought to herself.
"You're nothing like Flint. You just make me a bit uncomfortable," Miriam qualified. "I think it's because you are someone who studies everyone and everything around them. I feel like I'm under a microscope. Like you're… waiting for something."
"Microscope?" Blaise asked. Hermione detected a touch of condescension when he continued, "Is that a Muggle thing?" His gaze shifted to Theo and back to Miriam.
"Yeah, it is," Miriam replied, matter-of-factly.
There was a tension at the table that made Hermione very uneasy. "Microscopes are lenses that Muggle scientists look through. They magnify and enlarge specimens so that they can be dissected and studied," she offered by way of explanation, hoping to clear the thick atmosphere.
Blaise peeked down at her, and Hermione understood what Miriam meant about feeling like he was studying her.
"I don't think Flint is our guy," Draco interjected, changing the subject. He had been so quiet that Hermione had almost forgotten he was sitting on her other side. "He was paroled after the attacks started."
Hermione stared at Draco, pondering his observation. "Harry still thinks it's Dolohov."
"Could be more than one wizard," Blaise offered.
"Hermione, my mum has been telling me about the Muggle rapes around London, you're representing those women?"
Theo peered down at the witch next to him with a contemplative look on his face. Hermione felt Blaise stiffen next to her.
"Uh, yeah. I really can't say much, though. Client confidentiality and all that."
"It's just awful," Miriam continued. "My Muggle girlfriends are afraid of a rapist and my Muggleborn girlfriends are afraid of being abducted, raped, and possibly killed."
Hermione's thoughts drifted to the murdered Muggle, Kate Lobner. The authorities hadn't disclosed to the public that her case was related to the rape victims. When they did, it was going to be big news. The rapist was now a murderer as well. She took a large swallow of her drink.
"You aren't going out alone at any time, are you?" Draco asked Hermione, his concern quite obvious.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "The only places I've been since Saturday are work and home. And I floo both ways. So no."
"Good. Keep it that way," Draco demanded with more authority than she had ever heard from him. "If you need to go outside or somewhere public, just let me or Father know."
"Oh, now that Severus is in my past, are you my keeper?" Hermione shot back with a hint of irritation.
Draco's look was so intense that Hermione actually leaned a bit into Blaise. "Yeah, I guess I am," he responded, simply.
"Damn, Drake," Blaise said amusedly. "I'm sure Hermione here can take care of herself. She did help bring down a Dark Lord, you realize."
For the first time Hermione felt an appreciation for the Italian wizard. "Thank you, Blaise. It seems most of the men in my life seem to have forgotten that fact."
"That was a long time ago," Draco responded.
"I hope you are taking precautions and being smart as well, Miriam," Theo said to his witch.
"Yeah," Draco added. "Please be careful and travel in groups."
Miriam shrugged, dismissively. "I'll be fine. I work from home and other than going to visit friends or the club, I'm rarely outside."
Blaise leaned back in his chair. "I imagine the women who have been attacked thought they were fine as well, until they weren't."
Theo kissed Miriam's temple and offered Hermione a sympathetic look. "Enough. Let's stop trying to scare the ladies and move onto more pleasant conversation, shall we?"
"Yes, let's do that," Hermione agreed. "Are we ordering dinner?"
The rest of the evening did little to improve Hermione's mood. Seeing Miriam and Theo together only made her miss Severus more. And Lucius. She had never been a woman who needed to have a man in her life to be happy, but being in love with two men and being involved with neither of them was leaving her more lonely and lost than she had ever felt before.
Saturday Evening
"What are you wearing?"
Hermione stared at the uninvited blond who had just come through her floo.
"They're called sweatpants."
"No, they are called hideous."
"They're comfortable!"
"You should burn them and put them out of their misery."
"Did you come here to insult me or is there an actual purpose to this visit?"
The hand that was hidden behind his back revealed a tub of Fortescue's Niffler's Booty ice cream.
"Draco!" Hermione squealed as she leapt off the sofa and dashed toward the kitchen.
Draco followed, noting there was now a chair where the kitchen table used to be. "Redecorating?"
"Something like that," Hermione responded as she pulled down two bowls from the cabinet and two spoons from the drawer. She held her hand out and Draco handed over the ice cream. "I haven't had Niffler's Booty in ages!"
Draco shrugged. "It's a favorite of mine when I'm depressed."
Hetmione's eyes flew to his. "Are you depressed?"
"No more than usual. But you are."
Hermione sighed as the two of them stared at each other. "Well, I can't deny it." She lifted the lid off the tub and began to scoop out huge dollops of the edible coping mechanism.
She handed him his bowl. "Have you heard from M?"
Draco shrugged. "She wrote to send me her new address and talked of how busy she was. Nothing personal and no sign of any desire to come back. It's truly over."
"I'm sorry, Draco," she offered solemnly, taking his free hand and squeezing it.
They walked back to the living room and fell onto the sofa that was now facing the hearth instead of the television. "We make quite a pair," Hermione offered sadly as she dug her spoon into her bowl. The vanilla ice cream was loaded with cookie crumbles, caramel and fudge swirls, pretzels, hazelnuts, and mini chocolate galleons. It was a Fortesque specialty and had won Diagon Alley's best flavor ice cream for three years running.
"I just felt badly that last night seemed to make you feel worse rather than better," Draco admitted after he swallowed his first mouthful.
"It's not your job to take care of me, Draco."
The blond gave her an exasperated look. "Of course it is! What kind of friend would I be if I wasn't trying to help you? This is where I'm supposed to be!"
Hermione's bottom lip quivered. Not only was she touched beyond belief, but a huge wash of guilt overcame her. She had been there for Draco when M had left, but she had not taken care of him as much as he was taking care of her. "Well shit, Draco. Here you are being wonderful and I don't even deserve it! I didn't bring you ice cream when Mills left. Or take you flying. Or take you out with friends!"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Oh stop it. If you had tried to drag me out with Potter and Weasel I would have hexed you. You helped me plenty. Besides you had Snape then. Your hands were full."
They ate in silence for a few minutes.
"I had thought that maybe, you know, maybe once he had calmed down and had more time to think about things that he would realize he was wrong. I had hoped he would come back," Hermione said, despondently.
Draco studied her for a moment. "And what if he did?"
Hermione turned to face him to find him watching her expectantly.
He continued, "What would you do if Snape came through the floo right now and told you he was sorry? And that he missed you, loves you, and wants you back. What would you say?"
"I… I would…" Her gaze fell to the ice cream in her lap. "Shit." She looked back at Draco. "I'd tell him that I love him, but that I love Lucius, too. I'd tell him I need time to figure out what I want."
Draco nodded. "Good girl." He set his bowl on the table. "I take it you don't know what you want?"
Hermione set her bowl on the table as well. "No," she admitted, resignedly. "I love two men. What do I do with that?" She laughed without humor. "If only it were simple and the three of us could be together."
Draco chuckled. "It might not be impossible. Although, I really don't see my father going for that." He shrugged. "I kind of told them as much, though. The two of them are like an old married couple, anyway. Maybe a triad would work."
Hermione rubbed her eyes. "Oh, Nimue. It would be impossible. Dating two dominant men. Not just any dominant men, but Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape. I don't think I could navigate them both and keep them happy while keeping my sanity." She let out a heavy sigh as the same thoughts she had been having all week continued to roll around in her head.
Draco could see it as the enormity of her problem once again overcame her. Her eyes welled just before she clamped them shut. Her voice quaked as she said, "Why did this happen? How can I love two men so much?"
"Come here," he whispered, holding his arm out.
Hermione fell into his side. He tucked his left arm around her and pulled her snuggly against him.
Neither said anything for a few minutes.
"I do think that you and my father would be happy together," he said softly.
"I do, too." She agreed. "But he's made it pretty clear he won't pursue anything with me until I've figured out what I want."
He kissed the top of her head. They sat in silence for a minute.
Hermione peeked up at him, a thought suddenly occurring to her. "Why aren't you at the club? You didn't go last night. You didn't go tonight. I thought you were getting your kicks dominating every sub you could get your hands on?"
Draco shrugged. "It's just… it doesn't do it for me anymore, Beaves. I want more than just sex. More than just to get off. I want to feel something."
Hermione didn't respond. What could she say? She just let him hold her. It felt good to be cradled in strong arms.
"What about you?" he asked. "Are you going back to the club? I mean, I realize you might not want to go to The Dungeon, but there are other clubs. There's a great one in Paris. There's a few in Amsterdam and one in Munich that's huge."
Hermione wrapped her hands around his waist and burrowed into him further. "No, I'm not interested in all that right now. I don't want to submit to a stranger. It just wouldn't be as good as… it wouldn't be…"
"The same," Draco finished for her in a quiet voice.
"Exactly," she admitted, barely above a whisper. She peeked up and his eyes met her own. "Why is this so hard? You know? Why can't I just forget? Why can't I just lose myself in something else?"
He smiled sadly. "Yeah, if only. If only there was an escape from all this misery."
Hermione kept her eyes on his. "Why can't it be easy… like…" she swallowed, "like being with you?"
Draco stared at her. In this light, his irises were a steel blue and they burrowed into her questioning chocolate ones. "Hmm, yeah," he agreed. "Like a best friend who you love without all the messiness of being in love."
"Exactly," she responded, her chin tilting up subconsciously as his chin dipped lower in response.
Their faces were close, the only sound was their breathing as they continued what was becoming a silent conversation. Draco's brow lifted as if to ask and she lightly nodded as if to answer a millisecond before his mouth landed on hers.
Their lips and tongues devoured each other, a desperation to fill an urgent need.
Hermione's hands uncoiled from behind him and moved to his shoulders and then rubbed down his pecs and back up again.
His hands explored her clothed body, stroking and caressing her waist, hips, and breasts.
Hermione relished his thoroughness. It felt so good to be touched. Desired.
When his fingers moved to her lower abdomen and began to slide under the elastic of her sweats, she pressed her hand against his chest. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait."
Her eyes rolled to the ceiling and her lids fluttered in their blissed out state when Draco's mouth dropped to her neck. "Hmm?" he responded as he trailed his tongue delicately along her hyper-sensitive skin.
"What are we doing?" she panted as her fists gripped his biceps.
"Making each other feel better," he whispered easily as his left hand massaged her right breast over the fabric of her top before urgently yanking the t-shirt up, giving him access to the warm and soft skin of her torso and waist.
"But, we're friends," she breathed out, as her head fell back. She relished the skilled way his long fingers stroked her skin. His hands were the perfect combination of soft and strong when they slid around to her lower back and then back around to her belly.
"The best of friends," he corrected as he cupped her breast over her bra. Her back arched as his thumb stroked her already pebbled nipple to a new hardness as yet undiscovered by the gem industry.
Her hips writhed of their own accord with an intense need for contact. "Fuck, Draco," she whispered.
"That's the idea," he responded, his lips curving into the hint of a smile as he easily grasped her wrists with one hand and lifted them over her head. "Leave them there," he commanded with an authority that was kicking her arousal into overdrive.
His mouth replaced his fingers as he gently bit down on the hardened peak of her breast before pulling her shirt up further so that it covered her face and restrained her arms but left her chest exposed for his feasting pleasure.
"Have I told you before how fantastic your tits are, Granger?"
"No, you should do that. They'd appreciate the compliment," she responded, breathily, as she struggled to move her arms. The tight t-shirt was restricting her movements.
He chuckled lightly as he massaged them tenderly. "They're the perfect size, not too big or too small. They're firm but jiggly," he lightly slapped her left breast after pulling it's cup down. "See? Perfection." He suckled the nipple and surrounding areola into his mouth, nibbling lightly as his thumb and forefinger played with her right.
She let out a mewl as she fought her confinement. "I want to see you!"
A loud sigh escaped his mouth as he pondered what part of her body he wanted to explore next. "No, I don't think so," he lazily responded as he gripped her hips and shifted her so that she was flat on her back. He grasped her right thigh above her knee and lifted it up and to the side before pressing his erection into her center.
"Unnnngnnnn," she responded as he slowly rocked against her. "That feels," she swallowed, "you feel so good."
"I'm going to feel even better when I'm buried bollocks deep inside of you, don't you think?"
"Yessss," she half hissed and half groaned.
Releasing her leg, his mouth trailed down to her navel where he tongued her skin causing a trail of gooseflesh in its wake. His thumbs deftly scooped under the elastic of her sweatpants and knickers and pulled them down to her thighs, leaving her in what he felt was a delightful display.
Her body was writhing like a snake with her face and arms still covered by her shirt. Her gorgeous breasts were heaving with each breath, as though trying to bust out of the confines of her sensible, no frills, white bra. She was thin to the point that he could count her ribs and he made a mental note to bring ice cream over more often.
He ran the back of his hand down from her sternum to her pubis with a featherlight touch. Her womanhood was on display, just a small strip of dark hair that led to her labia. He could already smell the heat of her arousal and wanted nothing more than to press his mouth into that juicy little cunt of hers. He made quick work of sliding her pants and knickers completely off before gliding his hands up her thighs and pushing them apart, revealing the pink, glistening flesh.
"Another part of your anatomy I'm rather fond of," he huskily admitted.
In truth, Draco usually preferred women who had more height and were more on the curvy side. He had considered Mills to be the perfect physical specimen. She was tall and voluptuous and while he was physically stronger, her size gave the illusion that she could physically overpower him if she wanted to. It had been like a fish taking to water when she dominated him. She had been absolutely perfect for him.
But with Granger, it was the opposite. This girl was a pixie compared to M. She was short, lean, and tight, but soft and pillowy in his favorite spots. He could easily lift her and maneuver her around to his whim. She was perfect for his dominant side.
Unlike the submissives Draco had scened with lately, Hermione gave him some of the emotional closeness he had grown accustomed to with Millie. Despite the several submissives he had fucked since M had left, the experiences were always lacking. And deep down he knew why. It was the very reason that this was going to be so much more fulfilling. He needed a real connection. Some affection for his partner. Sex alone just didn't work for him like it did before M came along. So while Hermione's body was petite beneath him, she held tremendous power over him.
When he had kissed Hermione in the park, he had felt a spark of that connection. It had been like giving an alcoholic one swallow of a drink. It left him wanting more and over the past week he had been craving a real fix. Hermione was a bottle of whisky, where Mills was an entire wine cellar. They weren't the same, but Hermione would quench his thirst for something real, even if only this one time.
All these thoughts swirled through his mind at once and needing to see her chocolate irises, he pulled her shirt completely off. Her eyes were hazy with lust and she had a small smile as her hands immediately reached for him.
He winked at her and maintained eye contact as he kissed her stomach once more.
Her fingers threaded through his hair and her back arched as he peppered her skin with licks and nibbles.
"You're nimble, like a cat," he observed.
Reason was fighting abandoned pleasure in Hermione's head. She knew this was a mistake. They shouldn't be doing this, it could ruin everything. She was in love with two other men! What was she doing?
Closing her eyes in frustration she did what she had to. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," she panted out once again, this time as his tongue had taken its first dip into the pool of her arousal.
"Don't think, just feel," he encouraged as he spread her legs further.
"Draco, stop! I realize we've had sex before, but we shouldn't rebound to each other! How can you be sure this won't ruin our friendship? I mean… how can you be sure you won't fall in love with me or something like that…"
He made a face and pulled back from her. "Um, eww, that would never happen. You're too much like a sister. I could never fall in love with you."
"You realize that makes no sense. We are about to shag."
"That's right," he wiggled his brows.
"You've just basically said you want to have sex with your sister. That's rather sick."
"No, it's not. It's kinky. Huge difference. Now, come here little sis."
She couldn't help but laugh and playfully slapped his shoulder. "Uh, that would be big sis as I'm older."
"Even better," he said with a grin as his fingers rubbed through her wet folds.
"Okay, but how can you be sure I won't fall for you?"
He stilled, his face growing more concerned. "Oh, well, that's a bit more problematic. I am quite lovable."
She cocked her brow and he thought the smirk on her face was like looking in a mirror.
"Okay, lemme think, lemme think." He replied before concentrating for a minute. His eyes lit up. "When I read books, I write all over them. I doodle, make notes, draw pictures. I dog ear pages I find interesting. Not one book in my personal library hasn't been assaulted by a pen or a quill." His expression was one of pride.
Her jaw fell and he could see the cogwheels spinning in her head as she considered. After a few seconds, she nodded and her voice was a bit rushed as she encouraged, "You're close. So close. Keep going. Almost there."
He paused and looked over her head in thought. and then he grinned. "I use books as coasters on my bedside table. I get water ring stains all over them. Sometimes it even wrinkles the pages inside."
A look of absolute mortification crept up her features.
He lifted his brows as if to inquire if that was enough. When she didn't respond right away, he feared he might have overplayed his hand. She might kick him out of her apartment.
After another second or two, she nodded. "Yep, that'll do. We're good," she responded heatedly as she grabbed the front of his shirt. Buttons flew as she aggressively yanked it open.
"Is your floo off?" he had the sense to ask.
"Shit," she mumbled, fumbling for her wand which had fallen to the floor. The second it was in her fingers, she pointed it toward the hearth and whispered the closing spell.
There was a second where they stared at each other, her laid out on the sofa in only her bra and socks.
"All kidding aside, are you okay with this? Two friends helping each other feel better?" he asked, his expression genuine. "I don't want you to have regrets."
She nodded and gave him a warm smile. "Yes. I won't regret anything. You're my best friend. A romp doesn't change that."
He kissed her lips gently and then pulled back, his eyes narrowing infinitesimally. "Are you going to be a good girl for me?" he whispered.
Hermione froze as she stared up at him. Did she want to play the submissive to his dominant? Her heart began to pound.
Her face must have betrayed her answer before her lips because before she uttered a sound, his pupils darkened to a smoky grey.
She bit her lip coquettishly and answered, "That depends on what will get me a spanking. Being a bad girl or being a good girl?"
He smiled. "Ohh, that delectable arse of yours is getting a spanking either way, love."
"Well, then. I'm going to be such a good girl."
He let out a slow breath as a devilish grin crept onto his face. His focus darted down her body and back up. "In that case, I want you to stand up and finish undressing for me."
Hermione quickly leapt up and shimmied her bra and socks off. She grabbed her hair to readjust it in its hair band when he interrupted her with -
"I didn't say to touch your hair. Leave it." His playfulness was gone and had been replaced with a stern stare and a commanding tone.
Hermione had to admit Dominant Draco was something to behold. He was leaning back against the sofa with a beautiful and casual grace. His ripped, formerly buttoned, shirt was spread open revealing a trim stomach and a smooth, pale chest. A chain hung around his neck with a small silver medallion. One arm was at his side and the other was resting along the back of the couch. A happy trail of golden hair led to button fly faded denims.
Her attention was pulled to his face when his left hand lightly brushed back wisps of platinum blond hair that had fallen across his forehead to cover his eyes.
He gestured for her to lay across his lap.
She hesitated.
"Do you want your spanking?"
"Yes," she responded as her hands fell back to her sides.
"Yes, sir," he corrected. "Do as I said, or I'll have to make you."
Make me, she almost insisted, as memories of their consensual non-con forest scene from so long ago flooded her mind. He must have been thinking the same thing because he let out a slow breath before adding, "We both know you don't stand a chance fighting me." He cocked a brow. "But that would be bad Hermione, and I believe you said good Hermione was coming to this party."
Hermione barely contained her smile as she draped herself over his lap. He shimmied forward and to the side so that her chest could rest on the sofa beside him and her feet could rest on the floor.
Hermione could hear a soft, low hum as his long, warm fingers stroked her bottom. The melodic tenor of his voice surprised her. Did Draco sing? She didn't recognize the tune but it was oddly comforting.
"For tonight, you are mine, my little Gryffindor kitty cat. Or should I just call you puss?" He stroked from the top of her head down her back and over her bottom where his fingers rested just over her folds. "I want your focus on the here and now. My voice. My needs. My control over you. Do you understand?" His voice was calm, low, and purposeful. In other words, deliciously dominant.
"Yes, sir," she breathily replied. She took an inhale of air and blew it out, trying to clear her mind of all the extraneous thoughts and worries that were plaguing her. She needed this release so badly.
"I'm going to take such good care of you." He continued to stroke her skin along her spine. "You believe me, don't you?" he asked, his hand pausing.
She let out another slow exhale. "Yes. Yes, I do."
"Good girl." His palm rubbed over the globes of her arse as he continued, "Twelve slaps from my hand, I think. Unless I change my mind," he added noncommittally.
The humming started again and this time Hermione found it less soothing. It was in total contradiction to the nervous anticipation of what a spanking from Draco Malfoy might entail.
Smack!
"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed reflexively.
"Ouch!" She shouted when the next came immediately after.
"Ooof," when the third one struck.
One after another he rained her bottom with swats of his hand. They weren't the hardest she had ever had, but they certainly weren't the most gentle, either. All the while, his soft soft humming continued as though he were taking a Sunday stroll in the park.
After about the seventh slap, he shifted his position slightly and placed his hands on either of her hips. "You're doing very well. Let's turn up the heat, shall we? What are your safe words?"
"Red and green, sir."
"Excellent, and what color are you now?"
"Green, very green."
He chuckled as he rubbed the heated skin of her arse. It was warmed up and ready for the intense spanking he knew she needed. Lucky for her, he knew how to deliver. A quick cast with his wand transfigured one of the buttons on the floor into a skinny, bendy, makeshift riding crop.
"Grab hold of the sofa, love." It was all the warning he gave her.
Hermione had just gripped the cushions when she heard a whistle of air before the bite of the crop left a sting behind. A sting that intensified with every passing second. She exhaled slowly, relishing the burn. Yes. This is what I want.
Draco rubbed her bottom before delivering another blow, this one to her other cheek. Her breath caught with this one. Draco wasn't going easy on her.
Thwack! The third strike resulted in a choked sob that stuck in her throat. Her eyes watered.
The fourth landed right after. This time the sob escaped as the first tear rolled down her cheek. Fuck, that smarts.
"Relax," he whispered. "Exhale. Let it all out."
She blew out a large lungful of air and felt some of the tension she was holding escape right along with it. She breathed in deeply and blew out slowly once more.
"Good girl."
His whispered praise soothed her.
By the sixth or seventh swat of the crop, the resulting sting and heat were a caressing wave. She closed her eyes and continued to focus on breathing. A welcome feeling of contentment caused her body to relax even more. She could feel the weight of her feet against the floor; gravity pulling her chest onto the sofa.
With each strike she relaxed a little more. With each exhale more tension left her body.
Draco watched her reactions closely and knew the minute she truly let go; when she welcomed the pain for the release it was. He lessened the intensity of the crop, maintaining the pace but no longer striking as hard.
After one more swat, He dropped the crop and massaged the heated skin with his right hand. His left grasped a fistful of soft, bushy hair at the nape of her neck. He pulled back on her locks as his fingers began to stroke through her damp folds. His forefinger danced on her clit as his thumb penetrated her channel causing her back to arch even more. Gods, he loved how limber she was.
Hermione felt like a piece of rubber. For the first time in over a week, she held no tension in her body. When his hand began to fondle her, her back bowed of its own accord. The pull on her hair was heavenly. She had finally relinquished control and Draco could do whatever he wanted to her.
"What color are we?"
"Green," she barely whispered.
"On your knees," he demanded. "Between mine, facing me."
Hermione slid to the floor. He kept his grip on her hair, helping to gently guide her. Once she was in position, he asked, "Are you ready to suck my cock?"
Her eyes drifted up to his. A small smile pulled at her lips. "Yes, sir."
"Unfasten my trousers and pull them off."
Hermione reached forward, her fingers easily undoing the buttons. She grasped the waistband on either side of his hips and he lifted off the sofa so she could pull them down. He had already toed off his loafers.
Hermione tossed the denims aside and awaited her next instruction.
"Such a good girl," he said, his eyes on her tits as he grasped his cock and gave it a couple strokes. "Now, put that mouth of yours to use."
Hermione lifted to a tall kneel and leaned forward, grasping his length with her right hand and quickly swiping the tip with her tongue before slowly moving her mouth down over his shaft completely. He let out a slow hiss.
After about a minute, just as she was getting a rhythm going, the hand that was in her hair, gently pulled her off of him. "Bedroom," he growled. He leaned forward and easily scooped her up and into his arms. In ten quick strides of his long legs, he had her flung onto her back on the bed. He grasped her ankles and wrenched them apart leaving her pussy spread before him. He fell forward between them and a quick swipe of his tongue on the tangy flesh caused her to mewl.
"That's it, love. I want to hear you going forward. Don't hold back."
"Fuck," she growled when he licked her again, swirling his tongue around her clit.
"Sixty-nine," he suddenly demanded, flipping over onto his back and assisting her to crawl over top of him, facing his ankles. He moved a pillow under his head and then grabbed her thighs and pulled her back so that his mouth could reach her. He found he almost couldn't move when he felt the first brush of her tongue on the tip of his cock. She eased her mouth down and around his girth, her tongue massaging along the way, until she had him to the root. He could literally feel the back of her throat. He hissed. "Merlin's saggy gonads, is there anything you don't do well? Fuck." He reciprocated with a stroke of his tongue through her folds and to her hardened nub where he nibbled lightly.
The resulting, "Ungnnnnn," from her vocal cords sent vibrations along his cock and tingles up his spine. He desperately wanted to thrust in her mouth but knew he would hurt her. Instead, he focused on the fanny pressed to his face and tongued her clit and her labia before slipping into her opening and then down to her perineum and back up again.
His eyes rolled back when she responded by jack hammering his cock with her mouth.
Not to be outdone, he rubbed her clit with his right thumb while his left thumb pressed in and out of her. His tongue stroked the puckered skin of her arse, causing her to jolt.
Her mouth pulled off him and she took of huge breath of air before a choked and barely decipherable, "Fuck me," escaped her lips.
Unable to wait any longer, he took her request at face value. "Gladly," he responded before gripping her hips and tossing her to the side of him. "On your hands and knees," he demanded.
"Yes," she eagerly responded as she quickly got into position.
Draco was kneeling behind her instantly. One hand on her lower back and the other on his cock, he easily slid into her hot, wet core. He fisted her hair and pulled her head back as he began to thrust into her rapidly.
The sound of skin slapping against skin was peppered with their involuntary grunts and groans as they fucked with abandon.
Draco placed one hand on the bed beside her as he leaned forward and reached around with his other to stimulate her clit as he pounded into her.
"I'm…go..nna…come," she stuttered.
"Do it!" he commanded as he shifted his hips and continued to rub her.
She came instantly, the force of it causing her to fall to her elbows. She held her breath, desperate to prolong the rapture of her release. Her strength then left her completely and she collapsed to the bed, causing Draco to slip out of her.
"Oh, sorry," she mumbled, forcing herself back to her knees.
"No, roll over," he commanded gently. "I want to see your eyes."
He assisted her onto her back before wrenching her knees apart, slipping inside of her, and placing her legs on his shoulders. He rose to his knees, pulling her hips onto them as he held her ankles on either side of his face. His hips snapped rapidly and his eyes watched her face as he fucked her with abandon.
After a minute, he grunted, "I want you to come again."
"I don't think, I don't know if…"
"You can, and you will," he corrected her. His right hand released her left ankle, causing it to fall to the mattress as his fingers moved to her clit. His other hand moved to her hip, causing that leg to fall to the side as well. When he began to rub her puckered hole in addition to her hardened bundle of nerves, she practically jumped as she arched farther than he thought humanly possible.
Meanwhile, his hips continued to piston in and out of her. "C'mon, kitty. Come!"
The words were all she needed. Hermione practically saw stars as her second orgasm overcame her.
Draco growled as her walls clenched and pulsed around his cock, causing his own blessed release. He held her hips as he spilled into her and, after he caught his breath, he rolled her to her side and tucked himself behind her.
Hermione was jello. She couldn't move and thankfully she couldn't think. Draco had successfully spanked and fucked all her worries of work and her personal life right out of her. He was a true magician.
"Thank you," she barely mumbled after a minute or so, finding speech difficult.
"Silly witch, don't thank me yet. I've only just gotten started."
Hermione barely had the strength to laugh. "There's always the morning."
Draco let out a sigh. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave early."
"Why's that?" she asked as she pulled his right hand into hers.
"My wand. It alerted me when you were across my lap. Pansy came by my flat. Looks like she's back in town and that can only mean one thing."
"What's that?"
"Trouble."
Meanwhile, across town
The witch stepped out onto the street and headed toward the Apparition point. She had stayed far too long and had much too much to drink. Her bed was calling her. She had just rounded the corner when a hand clamped over her mouth and another wrapped around her waist.
Her scream was muffled as she was easily lifted and carried a few steps to the right and into a dark alley. Her eyes grew wide when she wrenched the hand away and was able to turn and see her assailant.
"Oh my God!" she exclaimed with equal parts recognition and terror etched on the plains of her face.
"Surprise," he answered with a sneer. "Time to rid the world of one more irritating Mudblood."
With a turn he Apparated her away, leaving nothing behind but a Dragonfly hairpin with teal and red crystals lying on the sidewalk.