Here it is, the last chapter to his story!

Please note there is sexual content in the first part of this chapter.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or other references to the original work of J.K Rowling. I only own my own mistakes.

-o-o-o-

Hermione looked up at Draco from her position on the floor. She was naked and on her knees, just like he'd instructed. He'd tied her hands together behind her back so tight it was already uncomfortable. She licked her lips when he pulled his zipper down. The fabric covering his erection was removed. She very much enjoyed her marvellous view. However, she had a hunch he wouldn't allow her to play freely. This was supposed to be her punishment after all. He tilted her chin up and looked her straight into the eyes.

To Draco there was nothing better than having Hermione, with hands tied and on her knees for him. Completely at his mercy.

"You know," he shook his head in disappointment, "because of what you did, I'm never going to hear the end of this." He sighed. "Stud muffin – is a nickname for someone who is soft, gentle," his eyes were blank, cold, "I am neither of those things," he said with emphasis on each word while parting her knees with his foot. His stare was so intense it was hard for her to keep eye contact. She could practically feel the anger and dismay erupting from within him with each word he spoke.

Her entire body tensed.

Fuck, she was in trouble now.

He moved her hair to her back. "Ah, so pretty, but there is something wrong with this view," he smiled darkly, "you look so, clean."

Her heart was now in her throat, and she was certain if he looked, he'd see it thrumming beneath the skin. "But you won't be when I'm through with you." He sneered, tilting his head to the side just slightly, as if he could envision it already.

She was almost speechless when he slapped her with his cock. "Do you like that? To be treated like the whore you are?"

"Yes." It sounded weak even to her, but at least she was telling the truth, playing it safe. There would be no use in risking additional punishments.

"Mm. Good. I'm going to fuck your mouth now and when I come on your face I want you to thank me." He watched her reaction closely, detecting defiance in her eyes. Oh how he wished she'd try.

Are you fucking kidding me? She wanted two things in that moment, to tell him to go fuck himself, and to taste his cock with her tongue. He was watching her, and maybe he saw her hesitation because his eyes glistened with danger. She could feel her cunt throb and her mind filling with the desire to please.

His thumb traced over her bottom lip, while the rest of his fingers tilted her chin up. "Open."

She parted her lips.

The skin of his cock felt velvety smooth against her lips. She swirled her tongue around the head of it before taking it into her mouth. With her hands tied behind her back it was the only thing she could do. She bobbed her head and listened to the grunts of pleasure erupting from within him, sharpening her ears to memorise what he liked the most. He twirled her hair around his hand to still her head, and then there was nothing more she could do, because he was fucking her mouth.

Undisputable, he'd seen this particular fantasy in the crevasses of her mind. She gagged and her eyes started to water. Indecent sounds derived from the back of her throat.

When he finally pulled out she gasped for air and fell forward, she was lucky his legs where there, otherwise she'd be face down on the floor.

She braved a glance up at him and saw a condescending smile playing at his lips. "Oh, I'm sorry, are you not enjoying your punishment?" He was definitely mocking her. The laugh that followed had her entire body on edge; he was just getting started.

"Look at me," he said, the voice demanding and cold. She struggled to straighten her back. Draco observed her eyes were already filled with water her enlarged pupils silently begged him for more. His gaze shifted to her lips, and there he saw the slightest of smiles lurking, telling him she loved the degradation of the act. Draco gave her a few seconds to catch her breath, when his cock touched her lips again, she opened her mouth like the good slut he knew she was. He could feel her jaw relaxing, allowing him to go deeper down her throat.

It wasn't just how good her throat felt around his cock that had him ready to explode, it was the way she looked at him, the way she gagged and fought for breath when trying to please him. He kept fucking her throat, going faster, relishing in the sounds of her struggles. When he felt himself right on the edge of satisfaction, he pulled out, stroked himself to completion with a low growl. Merlin, he'd been fantasising of coming on her face about a thousand times. He watched as his cum covered her, as it dripped down her chin.

"Thank you," she said obediently.

She'd never looked prettier to him than in that moment. "Fuck, you look incredible," he said, unable to stop the praise she deserved to hear. Without him having to demand it, she licked his cock clean. He hummed appreciatively, his body relaxing as he came back down.

He tugged his drawers and trousers back into place and hunched down. She clung to him immediately when he untied her wrists. "You did good," he said, his voice lacking of his usual softness because he was not done with her yet.

When Draco didn't conjure a towel, she didn't know what to do.

Was he going to leave the cum on her face? It was humiliating for obvious reasons, not to mention uncomfortable.

Draco saw her eyes widen when he pulled the belt out of the holster of his trousers. "And because you did so well, I think only seven is necessary."

Her eyes darted between the belt in his hands and his eyes. "You're going to –" her voice trailed off and she swallowed.

"Spank you with this?" he quirked an eyebrow, finishing her question for her. "Yes. Do you trust me?" She bit her bottom lip before nodding.

"I need you to say it." He eyed her seriously.

"Yes, I trust you," she said finally and he exhaled. Good, because what he was about to do next already had his cock twitching with eagerness.

"Come here." He took her hand in his, stroking over it to calm her nerves, leading her to the dining room table.

"Almost forgot," he said, the amusement in his voice apparent. He smiled devilishly before patting her face clean.

He fucking did not forget, that she was certain of. She pursed her lips into a thin line, and the fucking idiot chuckled. Even so, she obeyed and rested the upper half of her body on the table.

Seven, he'd said. Surely she could handle seven. He'd spanked her before, but never like this, never with a belt. Her legs quivered slightly and she wondered if she'd be able to handle it. Before the first hit she had the safe word on her tongue, just in case. What if she couldn't take it?

Relax, trust, she thought to herself sternly. If there was any aspect of their lives together at this point in time she trusted him fully with, it was with this.

She flinched when the belt touched her, but it was without force, more like a stroke, a way for her to get the feel of the leather against her skin. She could hear her heart drumming in her ears. She closed her eyes.

"Breathe," he said, and she realised she had stopped. "I need you to count for me." She glanced over her shoulder at him; saw as he slid the leather between his fingers. "If you miss a count, I will add one more." It was all very evident in his tone; he was thoroughly enjoying this. She let him know she agreed to the terms, as if she had a choice in the matter. Then, she waited, and waited, and when she was about to ask him what the hell he was doing he struck her.

"Fuck!" she yelled. A sting of pain rippled through her entire body. The place of where the belt met the skin felt like a roaring fire, bound to leave a very red mark.

"One," she said, her voice steadier than she thought it would be.

There was something about the lack of pure intimacy that seduced her. When he spanked her with his hand, not only did it not reach the same level of pain, it was intimate in an obvious way. This however was triple the intensity and intimacy wasn't in the touch of skin against skin, it was instead found in the act itself; in her want for submission and his unrelenting dominance.

He took his time before the second whip, maybe to allow the shock to subside, or maybe to constantly keep her on edge.

When he struck her again, she was determined not to scream.

"Two."

After the third her voice was as shaky as her legs, and by the fourth she could feel her wetness running down the inside of her left thigh. If she'd ever doubted it before, it was proven now. There was definitely pleasure in pain. Her cunt was throbbing badly.

He struck her for a fifth time, never on the same spot, dividing them over both of her cheeks. Her entire arse was now hurting, burning. She couldn't stop the tears from falling, because even though it aroused her more than she could comprehend right then, it was still undeniably painful, and the way he was so silent was starting to make her anxious.

The sixth one wasn't as hard, and it wasn't directed at her arse, instead, the belt hit between her thighs, on her swollen clit. She cried at the initial pain. The cry turned into a broken moan when a feeling of warmth started to spread inside of her. The sensation was fucking amazing.

"Six."

When he struck her for the seventh time, she was surprised she was still standing. Her legs trembled worse than they ever had before, her knuckles turned white form how hard she was gripping the table.

"S-seven," she stuttered pitifully.

She winced when she felt his hands on her backside, smoothing over the pain and the burn on her skin. Her fringe clung to her forehead, her body slick with sweat. There was nothing clean about her anymore.

Draco pulled her off the table by her hair, his actions rough but his voice like velvet. "You did so good, love," he said and kissed away a few of the tears on her cheeks. In that moment, his words and the gentleness of the kisses were everything she needed to not crumble on the floor. He took her hand and placed it on his very ostensible erection.

"You feel that?" he said. She looked at him with lust filled eyes. "God, you're perfect, such a perfect whore for me." She clung to his words just like she clung to his body, and she smiled, because to her, it was the most awarding compliment.

Her hand stretched over his length, stroking it slowly over his trousers. She noted how his jaw clenched and how his breathing got short.

He was so hard, again. For her.

He kissed her. The way his tongue forced entry into her mouth could only be perceived as a show of primal need. He twirled her nipples between his fingers, the treatment so rough she cried into his mouth.

Draco felt his cock twitch as she touched him. His cock had been throbbing uncomfortably in his trousers since the first lash. By the third he'd practically been able to smell her arousal, and her arse had turned the most incredible shade of red. He wanted to make sure it would hurt for days after, wanted her to have a constant reminder of how badly she needed him to break her and put her back together.

The noises she'd made each time the belt met her skin, and how she'd looked bent over the table, could only be described as beautiful. He wished for the image to be etched into his mind forever. He'd had to stop from groaning when he felt the wetness on the leather after the sixth one. By the seventh whip he had her exactly where he wanted her, wet, whimpering and ready to beg for his cock.

He could feel how aroused she was when his fingers traced the inside of her thigh. "Oh you're dripping," he mocked. He gathered it onto his fingers and pushed them inside of her mouth, making her taste herself. She sucked on his fingers just like she'd sucked his cock. His heart thrummed hard against his chest.

"Please," she said, almost too quiet for him to hear.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "That was the most pathetic begging I've ever heard." He gripped her throat, their noses inches apart. "You'll need to do better or else I'm just going to make you suck my cock again, release myself deep in your throat, and you'll spend the rest of the evening wet and unsatisfied." When her face started to turn red he let go of it. He couldn't well have her pass out before he got what his body craved.

And then she begged, like the slut she was. Telling him how much she needed his cock, how badly she wanted his hand around her throat while he fucked her hard and that she wanted him to make her come.

He savoured every word because he'd never get tired of hearing her beg.

"Do you really think I'm going to let you come when this is supposed to be your punishment?"

He tilted her head up so he could watch her reaction as he spoke. She almost looked frightened, like she'd die if he didn't let her come. "You're my whore, my fucktoy, I'm going to use your body to make myself come, and if you ask nicely when the time comes, maybe, I'll consider letting you come." He saw as the realisation hit her, that maybe he wouldn't let her. She rubbed her thighs together, desperate for something to ease her aching cunt and he knew his words only made her want him more.

He sat down on the sofa. "If you want to come, you have to earn it. So, come here and fuck me." She straddled him, lowering herself over him, way too slow. He put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her down faster, because she was not going to determine the pace.

"Fuck!" she whimpered, her face twisting in pain and pleasure.

"Come on, fuck me, show me how badly you need to come."

She began moving, riding him. Her cunt was warm and slick and everything his body needed. He leaned his head back, lost to the pleasure she was providing. She was moaning too loudly for him to think straight, and if she kept it up he wouldn't last.

"You want to come? Is that why you're screaming so loudly for me?" His voice sounding more composed than he was. He choked her, very lightly at first and told her to shut up. She looked at him with big eyes, because she wasn't used to him being this rough with her.

He tightened his grip. The gurgling sounds coming from her as she was unable to breathe had his cock throbbing inside of her. When he felt her cunt convulsing around him he knew she was right there with him, ready to be swallowed in pleasure.

"You can choose, either I let go of your throat and allow you to breathe, or, I'll let you come. Show me one finger if you want to breathe, and two if you want to come," his voice came out raspy, because he was fighting hard not to unravel. She showed him two fingers.

"Of course you'd chose the second option, you're such a slut." He smirked, still gripping her throat tightly. "Touch your clit and come for me you dirty little whore." He released her throat when her orgasm had passed through her. Her head collapsed against his shoulder. There was nothing greater than feeling her break for him, feeling how her mind fought against her body to please him, to know that her pleasure was his. The desperation of her breath was enough to make him come too, he moaned next to her, incoherently declaring how good she felt and how proud of her he was. To let her know his pleasure was hers.

They stayed in that position for a long time, with him inside of her and her head against his shoulder. He drew circles on her back and asked if she was okay. She only managed a hum in reply.

"You did amazing, love, I'm very pleased with you." He pulled her head up to look at her, to make sure she really was okay, kissing her tenderly, holding her close to his body.

Hermione felt her emotions stir inside of her as she came back down from her orgasm. She was exhausted, satisfied and thoroughly fucked. When he told her she'd done amazingly she felt warmth spreading in her chest.

"I just need you to tell me you love me," she said honestly, because even though the harsh words he called her turned her on immeasurably, when the lust was sated she needed confirmation.

He looked at her and she saw only compassion in his eyes, no trace of the coldness she'd seen just before. "I love you, and I love that you let me do this to you, I love how it turns you on just as much as it does me." He paused. "I love all of you."

She almost cried again because she could feel it in her bones - he meant it.

-o-o-o-

"There," Hermione said to her reflection in the mirror after applying a bit of blush to her cheeks, a final touch for the New Years celebration this evening. She pulled up her satin robe and stood on her tiptoes, turning her body to see properly. Her bruises on her bottom had mostly faded, same as the ones on her wrists. A smile crept on her lips. The robe slipped through her fingers and she stood back down when two arms wrapped around her waist. The bowtie was left untied around his neck and the silver cufflinks with the Malfoy crest shined in the light. He smelled just like he had on their first date, like a cocktail of masculine spices.

"Do they hurt?" he asked, she detected benevolence in his voice.

"Not really," she said and leaned back onto him, hoping she wouldn't crease his well ironed white button down. He still looked concerned.

"You'd tell me right? You know you have to, if your desires change or you want things to be different."

"I know, and I will, if that ever happens," she said and smiled up at him, trying to reassure him everything was just the way she wanted it. Not sure why he'd become so concerned as of late. He'd glance at the bruises on her body and she would see it turned him on. Every time she sat down after Christmas day she had a reminder of what he'd done to her body, and it made her nerve ends tingle each time.

"Good."

She tilted her head up. The kiss was the kind that stole you're breath. His hand trailed seductively down her throat, her stomach and into her knickers. She moaned when he touched her right where she needed him to, and then he stopped before it really got good.

"Something to look forward to when we get back home." He smirked and went to get ready.

"Tease!" she called and she was sure he chuckled from the bedroom.

Hermione shook her head. How he managed to seem so unattainable she'd never know. She charmed her makeup into place, thinking about tonight. Trying to comprehend how yet another year had passed. It was crazy to her, on a day-to-day basis nothing ever seemed to change, and then, by the end of the year, suddenly everything had changed.

She exchanged her robe for a white embellished chiffon dress, saturated with layers of swishy beaded and sequined fringing in silver; it was cut with a V neckline and a thigh-grazing hem. The dress screamed New Year's Eve sparkle, therefore she kept the accessories to a minimum, her hair in soft waves.

"Don't you look dapper," she said and straightened his bowtie. By the fit of his three-piece black tuxedo she was sure it must have been tailored.

When she asked if a tux was necessary he explained Blaise would accept nothing less. There was no argue, from what she'd gathered about the man he had the highest of standards.

They shared half a bottle of wine before leaving. The slightest rush of alcohol coursed pleasantly through her body, making her want to smile constantly. After some persuasion she'd been able to get Ginny and Parvati to join in their festivities. Harry had been the hardest one to convince. He was reluctant to come if Ron didn't. Therefore Ron would be joining them as well. She imagined it must be harder for him than for her.

Hermione wasn't too ecstatic about Draco's ex, Pansy, being there as well. It meant they'd be ringing in the new year with both of their ex's. Hermione felt like she knew Pansy even though she didn't. Draco and Pansy had been a couple during their Hogwarts years. Pansy was every mean girl personified into a tiny, doe eyed person with a pixie haircut. She'd never seen her smile without looking condescending.

From what she knew, Pansy had turned her mean girl qualities into a profession when she became a journalist for Witches Weekly. She remembered distinctly Draco calling the writers for the magazine lowlife reporters, and now she wondered if that included Pansy or not.

She squashed the strange feeling in her stomach.

He is yours, she told herself.

-o-o-o-

Blaise's penthouse was fitting for a man of his standard; the roof was high and the opulence subtle yet obvious. The living room was huge and the sofa big enough to fit them all. Draco brought a bottle of Dom Pérignon to gift the host.

Blaise greeted them with the biggest smile when they arrived. "You shouldn't have!" he said when accepting the bottle. Hermione made her way to the living room, leaving Draco and Blaise alone.

They walked slowly, Blaise placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Great gift, didn't think someone who had a reputation as a stud muffin could pull off a 1990 bottle of Dom."

Draco rolled his eyes and didn't bother with a reply. Apparently his dreadful nickname had spread.

Fucking Theo and his big mouth.

They had plans to go to a club later that night. After some discussion in the strangest letter group chat Hermione had ever been part of, the decision had landed on Eclectic. One of the more elaborate nightclubs wizarding London had to offer; a place where the drinks were overpriced and the cost of a table the same as a down payment of a small flat. Theodore had been elated to let them all know the ceiling would be spelled just like the one in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Only, instead of bewitched to look like the night sky, it was spelled to display never-ending fireworks at the stroke of midnight.

At the penthouse the music was loud and the rounded couch was filled to the brim with familiar faces. It was strange seeing them all seated so close after spending years being divided by their house names and fighting on different sides of the war. Even so, the atmosphere was welcoming and warm. Some faces were familiar, Theo, Blaise, even Pansy in a way, and then there were people she'd seen in passing in the hallway of the Ministry, one of them she recognized as an auror.

She went to sit down next to Parvati.

"Thank Merlin you're here, finally someone I know!" She gave her a smothering hug.

Her black hair was sleek and shiny with specks of sparkle in it, her dress like liquid gold. She tugged at her arm, pulling her down onto the sofa next to her. She put one hand next to Hermione's ear and whispered, "I think Theodore Nott has been making eyes at me." She tittered and Hermione caught that they'd all been drinking heavily already.

"Oh, he's a flirt," she said and fixed Theo in her periphery. Also dressed in a tux. "Just don't ever let him cook for you and you'll be fine," she advised as an image of his sad tuna sandwich came to mind.

Parvati furrowed her brows and sipped from her champagne flute. Hermione gestured with her hand in a show of 'don't ask'. She hadn't seen Parvati in ages, so when the question came she wasn't all that surprised.

"Tell me everything!" Parvati insisted. When Hermione told her it all started that night after Parvati left the Leaky Cauldron, her friend's eyes widened and she leaned in closer.

"Wait, wait, I want to hear this!" Theo chimed in, getting comfortable next to Parvati on the sofa, his champagne flute filled to the brim.

"Draco hasn't told you?" she asked curiously. She assumed Theo and Blaise must know everything already, except for the more private parts.

"That git? No, it's all very secretive when you ask him, I just know the content of that howler to be honest." He grinned.

"Hold on, a howler?" Parvati asked, looking at Hermione expectantly. Hermione sighed and began explaining, not too happy with the attention her relationship still managed to pull. In a way she had hoped Ginny would've filled Parvati in on everything.

When she stepped into the kitchen she spotted Draco with Pansy. Pansy had her hand on his arm as she laughed about something he'd said. It wasn't until that very moment she realised they were so friendly with each other. Maybe that was her answer to her unspoken question. Draco's view on Witches weekly's journalists did exclude Pansy.

She slipped out of the kitchen unnoticed, jealous and in need of more champagne.

Well wasn't that fantastic.

-o-o-o-

"You good mate?" Harry asked and eyed his friend warily.

"Mhm," Ron said and smoothed down his shirt.

"We can still… I don't know, leave?" Harry suggested.

"Oh we are not leaving! Champagne, fireworks, what can go wrong? I'm sure 'Mione wants you both here," Ginny said, as she knocked on the door to Zabini's flat.

The tall, former Slytherin, opened the door with a grin, and within seconds they each had a champagne flute in their hands. "Welcome, just, make yourselves comfortable, we're leaving for Eclectic in a few hours," Blaise said and gestured towards what Ginny figured was the living room.

Ron kept glancing around, he still hadn't seen Hermione or Draco. The place didn't impress him, it was too obnoxious for his taste. It wasn't without resistance he'd agreed to spend his new years with this group, but it was with them or his parents, so he really had little choice. He'd already drunk some firewhiskey, thinking it might help calm the nerves. He was still angry with Hermione for choosing the blonde twat over him. Harry had said she seemed truly happy with Malfoy, admitting he'd had dinner with them. Ron had been livid, naturally, because why would Harry even go on a dinner with them in the first place? Harry was supposed to find the two just as appalling as he did.

'''Mione!" he called out when he saw her curly hair round a corner.

Fuck did she have to look so good for? The fringing of her dress swished around her as she turned towards him.

"Ronald," she said. Of course she'd use his full name. Only she and his mother did that.

He shuffled his feet, suddenly losing the words he'd practiced. She watched him, waiting for him to say something. He put his hands inside of the pockets of his trousers.

"It's good to see you. You look good," the words stumbled on top of each other.

You look good? Shithead that was not what you were supposed to say.

"I mean, you look, happy," he corrected poorly.

"Thanks, you too." He knew she was lying because he looked anything but.

"Why are you with him?" The words rushed out of him, and they didn't come out as nonchalantly as he'd practiced. It sounded more like an accusation.

She frowned, definitely getting defensive, when she stayed silent for what felt like ages, crossing her arms over her chest, he understood she wasn't going to answer.

"He's not right for you." He mirrored her movements and crossed his arms too.

"You know what Ronald? I'm here to celebrate with my friends, if you're not my friend, maybe you should leave?" Her eyes shot daggers at him, but he wasn't going to back down.

"We used to be friends, you changed, and then you left me. For Malfoy," he spat. Summarizing their story with unworthy words.

"Did someone say my name?" A voice said. Malfoy showed up from behind him, placing himself between him and Hermione.

Oh fuck off.

"You know what, I think you should leave. I don't feel like fighting with you tonight. If you come up with anything decent to say, you can send me a letter," Hermione said as she stepped to stand beside Malfoy.

There was a fire roaring in his veins, he smothered it to the best of his abilities. He opted for some honesty instead, softening his voice and ignoring the blonde atrocity next to her. "I don't know how to say this, but I miss you," he paused when he saw her eyes go wide, for a moment he thought she was going to flee the room and let Malfoy hex him. "As a friend," he added reluctantly, the last part not even close to the truth. He managed a thin smile that probably looked more like grimace, gripping his wand behind his back, just in case.

"I miss my friend too," she said after moments of silent pondering. Malfoy was still standing next to her, quiet. His cold eyes assessed him, he saw something lethal in them when Hermione said she missed him too. Hermione declared she needed a refill and she tugged the git with her.

She'd said she missed him, as a friend. Problem? A friend was not what he saw when he looked at her in that dress.

He downed the rest of the champagne as he walked towards Harry again, thinking of the uselessness of such tiny flutes.

-o-o-o-

Draco put his arm around Hermione as they walked towards the kitchen. He was trying to shake the anger that had erupted inside of him as Ron said he missed her. He had no business missing her, he'd added 'as a friend' but to Draco the lie was obvious. The want to hex him into oblivion was strong. Had he not been sure Hermione would scold him endlessly he would've done it just to prove a point.

He wanted to scream that she was his, and the Weasel could go wank in a corner because she'd never be anyone else's again.

"It's good, right? I mean, it would be nice if we could be friends again," Hermione said.

"Mm, sure" he fake agreed, his eyes glued to the flute in his hands. If she wanted to believe that was a possibility he wasn't going to crush her hope.

He knew there was no way the twat could even begin to please her the way he did. The thought comforted him, made him calm again, and after he'd emptied the glass, he could even see the humour in Weasley trying. The man needed someone vanilla, and Hermione was anything but.

-o-o-o-

Eclectic delivered what was promised. They had been assigned their own table as they arrived. The space to sit was sparse; therefore, she was currently sat in Draco's lap. The smell of sweet drinks and mixed perfume lingered in the air. She'd barely seen Ron since their conversation at Blaise's. At the end of their talk she'd felt a sliver of hope.

Ginny shoved a unicorn shot into Hermione's hand before she'd even had the chance to finish off the other drink she'd been handed just minutes ago. Tonight, neither of them seemed to be drinking responsibly. Her friend sat the tray of pink and silver shots down on the table and squeezed herself in between Harry and Blaise.

"Cheers, to a new year, and new friends," she said and raised the small glass. Blaise winked at her red-haired friend and Hermione wondered if the wizard maybe wished Ginny wasn't married. When she asked Draco he just grinned and said Blaise had a crush on Ginny during Hogwarts. Hermione didn't know what to do with that information. Harry on the other hand had noticed nothing; instead he had been chatting away with that co-worker, Tim. A part of her thought that was what a healthy marriage was. To know that nothing and no one could threaten what they had.

Hermione grimaced when she downed the shot. If pink had a taste, that would be it.

Ginny clasped her hands together, probably the only one who enjoyed the taste. The nightclub was at full capacity. Sparkles rained from the ceiling and the music had her body wanting to move along with it. As the night progressed, their speech got slurry and their legs unsteady. Just the way it was supposed to be. They were all excited for the fireworks at midnight. Being able to enjoy in it from the dance-floor had many perks, one of them being they didn't have to stand in the cold outside. She tried to make out what everyone was saying, but it was hard to hear over the loud music, so instead she smiled and nodded at Harry's words, not catching any of what he was saying. She felt a constant need to giggle, her body filled with a feeling of happiness.

She couldn't stop a chuckle when Draco whispered loudly in her ear how good her arse felt in his lap. She shook her head, shoving playfully on his shoulder to convey how impossible he was with his crass words. She whispered back that maybe he should've fucked it out of his system before they left then, like she'd wanted to. He pursed his lips into a thin line and looked less than pleased. She focused her eyes on his, and saw how they were slightly dimmed, most likely from the whiskey in his hands.

Fuck he looked incredible, didn't he?

"You two are just too cute!" Pansy exclaimed from next to Theo who grinned in agreement. Hermione forced a smile because the woman had not spoken a word to her since the night begun.

She kissed Draco on his cheek and told him she was stepping out. Maybe the rush of nicotine would erase the sound of Pansy's squeaky voice. She paved her way trough the celebrating crowd in search of the terrace. As she walked she determined to not let anything, not even the image of Pansy's hand on her man, lower her joyful state.

The cold air had her skin prickle. The cigarette between her lips was the serenity she needed. She gazed up at the night sky and inhaled, smiling like a fool towards no one. She could still hear the faint thumping of the music inside and her body itched to dance.

A question struck her, did Draco dance? She thought about how his hips moved exceptionally good when they shagged, and concluded he must be good at it.

The terrace was filled with other people, enjoying a smoke just like she did. Just when calmness swept over and her thoughts began to drift to a pleasant place she felt someone touch her arm.

Can't a girl have a smoke in peace? She thought when the cause for her escape stood next to her.

"Can I bum one?" Pansy asked.

She forced another smile, "Certainly."

Pansy looked at her like she was contemplating what to say, her pixie haircut was styled to perfection, and even though they were almost the same height she came across as tiny, petite.

"I didn't think you smoked."

Why? Because people like Hermione couldn't possibly do such a thing? To Hermione, anything Pansy said was passive-aggressive.

Hermione made a face. "Surprise," she said. She didn't owe Pansy an explanation to her most loved vices.

"So, I haven't had a chance to speak to you," she began. "You two are very cute together."

Hermione fought back an eye roll. "Yeah, you said that." She didn't intend for the show of attitude but the alcohol had lowered her reserves like it usually did.

Pansy stalled, puffing on her cigarette, filling the air in front of them with smoke.

"Yes, I did, didn't I? Draco's my friend, you know? I, I'm just happy he's happy, that's all."

Hermione let the words sink in. She'd hoped to avoid any sort of conversation with his ex tonight, but there she was. It shouldn't bother her if they were friends, she was hoping for exactly that with Ron.

"Me and Draco, we just weren't that compatible, so I'm happy he found someone who is," she continued when Hermione stayed silent.

Yes, you're happy for us, move along now little one. She smiled involuntarily at her own inwardly conversational wit.

Alright, so maybe her attitude needed adjustment.

She decided to play along, see where this conversation would lead. "Compatible how?"

"You know, he's got a bit of a … kink?"

The smoke caught in her throat and she coughed it away.

Why in the fucking world would she bring that up?

While she coughed Pansy kept talking much to Hermione's dismay.

"Of course you do, I mean you're together so, obviously." She tittered.

Where was she going with this?

"So, you came out here to tell me you know Draco has a kink, you did not share that kink with him, and you're happy for us?" she summarized sardonically, her voice slurring more than she wanted.

Perhaps Harry's sassiness had rubbed off on her through the years.

Pansy laughed. "Well, when you put it like that … I didn't come out here with an agenda, just figured it would be strange not to talk to you. You're a part of Draco's life and as his friend, I just figured it was the right thing to do." She shrugged her shoulders.

"I suppose that makes sense," Hermione said, just wanting the conversation to end. "I'm not against him being friends with you if that's what you're really itching to ask."

"That's not what I-

"There you are!" A familiar voice shouted from behind. They both turned their heads to see a breathy Ginny coming towards them.

Ginny, I fucking love you, she thought.

"Come on, let's go shake it on the floor!" she yelled and grabbed her wrist to drag her back inside; she almost lost her balance in her heels. She shot a fake apologetic look towards Pansy. Pansy opened her mouth as if to say something, but Ginny dragged Hermione away before she could.

"What were you two talking about?" Ginny asked loudly, trying to override the music.

"Don't ask," Hermione shouted back and shook her head. "Have I said I love you lately?"

Ginny shot her the biggest smile. "That bad huh?" Ginny ordered them more drinks with her wand. "Fairy flush," she declared while shoving yet another drink in Hermione's hands.

Brilliant, another drink of pink poison.

It didn't take long before she got swept up in the euphoric atmosphere on the dance-floor. She could feel the beat move from her feet on the vibrating floor all they way to her fingertips. Parvati yelled something to her and she smiled and nodded even though she had no idea what had been said. The blood roared in her veins and there was no stopping the big smile or the giggles that followed.

She glanced over the crowd of moving bodies and spotted too many familiar faces to count. Neville and Hannah were there; by the way his lips moved she figured he shouted a hello. Ron's red hair stood out from the crowd, he was dancing with someone she didn't recognise. She exhaled, it was a good thing really, he wasn't a bad person, he just wasn't her person.

Then, as she turned her head towards their table, she caught Draco's intense stare. He was leaning back against the sofa, drink in hand, legs parted just the way she liked. She was no longer just dancing, she was dancing for him. She bit her lip and put on a show, because that grey stare held everything she desired.

-o-o-o-

Draco leaned back on the plush sofa. From where he sat he had a view of the entire dance-floor. The empty glasses on the table disappeared and were replaced with new ones, the advantage of Blaise Zabini's generosity. Several bottles of champagne stood there too; ready to be popped when the clock struck midnight. He usually never did dance, but the amount of alcohol he'd consumed was just enough to loosen him up.

Theo was seated to his right. Draco tried his best to appear interested when he spoke about how good the Patil girl looked in her gold dress.

"So, go find her then," he said, for some reason not minding if he ended up alone at the table with Potter.

Theo looked at him resolutely. "Oh, mighty one, give more good advise like that," he said in mock defence. "No, I have to bide my time, do it just right."

"I think the eyes you've been making at her all night is enough, surely she knows you're interested by now," Potter chimed in. Draco nodded in agreement.

"Listen to scarface, he's right," he said. Did he just agree with something Potter said? Maybe he should cut himself off soon. He sat his glass down.

Potter huffed, but he didn't look offended like he should. Instead Potter raised his whiskey glass in salute, causing Draco to grip his glass again.

Theo and Potter continued to exchange words. He only grasped some of it due to the loud music. He stopped listening completely when a sparkle of silver caught his attention. The silver beaded fringing on her dress swished around her body as she swayed her hips to the beat. As he sat gawking like the poor sod he was, her eyes locked with his. He licked his lips absentmindedly and she was definitely seducing him with that lip bite.

Theo whistled. "You're girl got some moves!"

Draco hummed in agreement before thinking, too distracted by the sight in front of him. He gathered himself eventually, his reflexes a little slower than usual. He looked at his friend austerely.

"Stop looking at her, find Patil instead," he said accusatorily. His eyes searched the floor below. "She's on the dance-floor too, with Longbottom."

"Well come on then, it's almost midnight anyway. Let's grab the champagne. Blaise is already there too," Theo said, narrowing his eyes in attempt to see better, "is he dancing with Pansy?"

"Good for him, he's been pining for Ginny Weasley all night," Draco said.

"Still? He's such a sucker for her isn't he?"

"Uhm. Excuse me, what?" Potter looked positively distraught. Theo lowered his gaze down to the drink in his hand, clearly scared of potential conflict.

"Oh, forgot you were here," Draco blurted, not meaning for it to sound so arrogant. It was the truth; between his drunken state and Hermione's little show of come fuck me, he was a goner.

"You for- Oh, you know what. Just fuck off," Potter scoffed, not sounding nearly as offended has he had a right to. "Let's go." He stood, corrected the glasses on his nose; more determined now that he knew the host had been ogling his wife the entire night.

Ah, to think that was the man that defeated the Dark Lord. Draco rolled his eyes and stood as well.

He struggled his way trough the crowded floor, and when he finally found Hermione she was still dancing her heart out, spinning alluringly in her heels. She shot him the most beaming smile as soon as she laid eyes on him, and he remembered a time when she'd never smile at him like that. "You're here to show me you got moves?" she challenged and pointed at him. From the way her speech slightly slurred he concluded she was just as drunk as he was.

He smirked. "Obviously." Hermione laughed even though there was nothing funny about the way she was dancing up on him. She was electric and he wanted to be too. His hands were on her hips, his feet moving to the sound of the base. "Alright, you do have moves," she admitted while her hand slipped up his thigh. He was only a little offended by the tone of surprise. Surely it was known, Draco Malfoy had moves. He overheard Theo hyping Blaise up as he danced with Pansy, and he knew it added centuries to his friend's ego.

"Come on you two, it's almost midnight!" Parvati yelled when they'd danced so much his hair had started to cling to his forehead. Blaise distributed the flutes with his wand and spelled the champagne bottles to fill them. Glasses were raised and the word 'cheers' echoed between them. His eyes darted over the lot, and he realised this was the first time they'd spent together with both of their friends. They were all still alive, no one had duelled anyone, and by the looks of it, they were all having carefree fun. The kind they could've had for years had the war not separated them, pulled them in different directions.

"Come here, you," she cooed and tugged at his jacket to bring him closer. "It is obligatory to seal the year and begin the new one with a kiss, you know."

"Is it now?" he said with mock severity. He leaned in closer, her lips inches from his, "fuck, you're really something," he said, because the champagne was making his mind foggy and she looked like a fucking goddess.

She smiled wide in reply, and when Ginny yelled Happy New Year, he closed the space between them for a kiss that had every fibre in his body vibrating.

There was no better way to conclude the year she'd had, nothing sweeter than his lips on hers. The rest of the crowd disappeared. To her, there was only him, his tongue in her mouth, his hand caressing her cheek and the sound of fireworks cracking over their heads. She bit down on his lower lip before their lips parted and wrapped her arms around his neck. The fireworks made for a glorious sight; she found herself incapable of looking away.

While everyone else watched the enchanting display above, Draco looked at her, because her beauty was simply unmatched. Her eyes sparkled just like the enchanted sky above, and he wished for that sparkle to be never-ending. He held onto her as tight as possible without crushing bones. Eventually, he followed her gaze and watched the explosion of colours.

To Draco, the fireworks above indicated this was just the beginning.

If you've made you're way trough this story, I would love it if you left a comment with your thoughts of it, even just a word would suffice! It truly means the world to me.

Many thanks to those of you who have showed love for this story in any way shape or form; it has me smiling for days.

The epilogue will be up soon, fluff and smut promised. To me, the epilogue is the true ending to this story so don't miss it!

Lots of love.

-o-o-o-