"Hey 'Mione. You've got something on your neck," Ron stated off handedly as they boarded the train. "Looks like ink or something."

Hermione cursed pulling out a hand mirror at the not quite gone marks. Ginny had packed the bruise paste to keep Ron from bursting a blood vessel and Hermione had no idea where she put it.

"You guys go ahead and pick out a compartment," Ginny called out.

Without another second of doubt she pulled Hermione by her arm into an empty bathroom and shut the door.

"Ginny what-"

"Oh hush you aren't fooling anyone but Ron." The red head tutted as she pulled the cream out of her purse— selfish bitch— and pulled Hermione's hair to the side. After a few moments of silence Ginny sighed.

"Did it have to be my other brother?" Ginny questioned with fake annoyance while dabbing on the paste.

Hermione considered the question, not for the first time. She had always wondered if her interests were something she could find elsewhere. Would someone like Dean or Anthony Goldstein be willing to try it? Would they want to? Or only like it enough just to satisfy her? Ultimately she came to the same conclusion every time. She didn't want someone to like her enough . She wanted someone to love her because of and in spite of her proclivities.

"It isn't your brother," Hermione murmured meaningfully, pausing Ginny's attention before she started on the other side. Ginny looked at her sadly and sighed, nodding her head.

"Well, I have two more to pick from. Might as well try the whole lot!" Hermione squealed at Ginny's ridiculousness, her laughter carrying. Ginny waited until she just about had control of herself before adding. "I have heard absolutely disgusting things about Percy."

Hermione was still clutching her stomach minutes later when the door opened with a quick snap. The paste clattering to the floor and bumping against the heel of patented leather shoes, killing her humor immediately. Malfoy stood in the doorway as the train lurched into movement, his eyes taking in the scene.

"Well with all the squealing I assume you are killing a kneazle or having wild sex in here. Both of which are against school rules. Stop."

"What kind of sex are you having where women laughing at you is common place?" Ginny snapped back.

She didn't even pause as she gathered up her jar. Which meant she missed the absolutely filthy look Malfoy shot over her shoulder. The bored flat visage morphed to one of sheer satisfaction that had Hermione shifting where she stood.

"I don't know Weasley. Maybe I can find you someone to ask."

"Gag me please. We were done anyway. Hermione let's-"

"Actually," Draco responded, stepping out of the doorway to avoid being bowled over by the girl before locking his arm across the frame in front of Hermione. Ginny snorted indignantly but he ignored it. "Apparently Granger is needed in Corner's compartment. Something about scheduling rounds with the upcoming exams."

Ginny looked suspiciously at Malfoy before shooting her a pitying look. "Rough luck. I could come help?"

"No," Hermione sighed, shaking her head. "I'll be alright. Head back to the boys."

When Michael got into a fit about schedules he would not let it go until they were done. No reason to drag Ginny into it. She waved goodbye to her friend and headed towards the front of the train. It was only as she stepped into the compartment Draco had opened in an empty car that Hermione realized that Michael had stayed at the school over break. The door slammed shut behind them, the curtains pulled down and locked as he stared at her.

"I thought you were done pulling me into dark corners," she murmured. Despite her best intentions her muscles quivered.

"You walked in here freely," he countered, eyes glued to her neck. "What is that?"

"Oh not this game again."

She tried to push past him while simultaneously not touching him. It was a spectacular failure when he caught her wrist and spun her around, maneuvering her back against his chest. His hand tracing along her jaw, the side where Ginny had been dabbing already healed. He cast a wandless finite incantatem over her skin and prodded it with his finger tips.

"See. Nothing there." She glared at him over her shoulder hating the way her pulse skipped wildly. "You will have to satisfy your voyeuristic needs elsewhere.

His hand circled around her neck and he nipped at the skin just behind he ear. She shivered against him, enticing a low laugh.

"Other side, Granger."

Her cheeks burned as his thumb directed her jaw bone to the side, revealing a still fading set of bruises peppering her skin. A low growl vibrated against her back. It was a feral sound that turned her bones to jelly and blanked her mind. Much to her horror, she felt Malfoy brush his lips against it the still-healing skin.

"This was what you replaced me with?" he questioned acidically.

The hand gripping her wrists tightened enough to make her wince. He pulled at her cuffs, ripping the button from the sleeve and revealing the darker but still nearly gone bruises.

"Tut Tut Granger." He shook his head disapprovingly. "That is some piss poor work. It's barely been a week."

"Well it's not you so it's already infinitely better."

She tried to twist out of his grasp but it was only half-hearted. Her traitorous body was perfectly fine with being degraded by Malfoy in a train car.

"Let's see what else you've been up to."

Malfoy flicked his wrist, untucking her shirt from her jeans while watching her reflection in the window. He looked hungry, and a bit deranged to be honest. She stiffened as he pulled the fabric upwards, pausing his movement. There was a moment there, hanging in the air where they just stared at each other.

His eyes dropped first and he buried his face in her neck obscuring it from view. He muttered something so softly and heartbreakingly gentle she almost didn't hear it.

"Your wand is right there Granger."

A reminder. An out. She hated the small surge of affection that welled up inside of her and stomped it down. He didn't deserve it.

Hermione waited, watching the landscape of outer London pass behind their reflection. When he finally looked up, she realized he was waiting for her to set the rules of the game. Hermione chewed her lip as she thought, inviting the possibility of danger before slightly nodding. The look of satisfaction on his face should have been illegal.

He pulled at the shirt inch by inch until it rested over her chest, his hands tracing the edges of her bra in slow gentle movements with not nearly enough pressure. George was a plaster over a break but Malfoy was a wildfire when you just needed a candle. She squirmed against him, feeling a delicious thick length push against her thighs.

"Ah ah."

Malfoy released her wrist using the arm to wrap around her chest and neck holding her in place. The still purple imprints of hands on her hips from where George had held her, all but glowed against her skin. It's how George had pulled her to the edge; the edge where she saw Malfoy.

"Now this," He traced a single finger over the tender skin, tensing at her intake of breath. "-this upsets me."

His eyes met hers in the reflection glinting cruelly as heat pooled between her legs.

"Did you ride him in his lap Granger?" he purred, closing his hand around the imprint, making her release a breathy moan.

"No. I doubt it." He shook his head and pulled her tight arse tight against him. The hardened length pulling the fabric of her jeans along her core. She moaned, her legs shaking as he held her up. "He fucked you from behind, didn't he?"

Hermione held in her cries more than aware there was no silencing spell up. Suddenly her shirt dropped and he was holding her neck in his hand again.

"Well Granger? Did he?"

Her body twitched desperate for any kind of stimulation, even as dangerous as the question seemed. She wrapped her palm around her wand just for comfort, just in case, and met his eyes as they burned through her reflection.

"Yes."

He scowled. Pure rage and jealousy and hate crossed his expression, his lips pulling into a sneer and his body tightening behind her. Not that he had any right to her at all.

"Who?"

"No."

She wouldn't tell him that. Not ever. It was something between her and George and no other party was privy to what went on between them.

"Tell me," he demanded, his hand dropping to trace a tauntingly light circle on her hip bone.

"No."

"Tell me and I will let you come," he promised, his finger dragging over the zipper of her jeans, the vibrations drawing out a tortured moan from her lips.

"N-No."

The refusal was week as her hips thrust upward, looking for any slight friction they could find. His gaze went stormy before settling into a cruel smile as he turned her to face him, twisting her hair in his hand.

"Fine. But you did this to yourself. Close your eyes."

Hesitantly, her eyes drifted shut. She didn't know what was going to happen but she was desperate to find out. She flinched when he stepped away, waiting for the next move. When she heard the door unlatch and she spun wildly toward it, seeing him step half way out. He paused just long enough to look back thoughtfully.

"There are five marks on you that I did not make. Let's call it seven to account for whatever you vanished. Come see me in a week Granger."

She squeaked, her whole body rioting at the idea of his departure.

"Fuck off Malfoy. I don't need you." It even sounded thready and weak to her as she tried her best not to rub her thighs together.

"Then I am sure you will find no difficulty finding someone else willing to humor you in Gryffindor. Or maybe Hufflepuff, I hear their parties get wild." He regarded her as he stepped into the hallway, the door half closed when he paused.

"I don't share Granger. Learn that."

"I'm not yours Malfoy." She breathed.

He smirked watching the way her knees clattered together in a vain attempt to hold her up.

"I've decided you are."

The door clicked just as her legs gave out.

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Draco threw himself onto the compartment bench completely ignoring the way Theo scrambled out of the way.

"Oi, watch it." Blaise narrowly avoided his swinging legs as he kicked them up on the bench.

"Can it Zabini. I've got a headache."

He threw an arm over his eyes and willed his heart to stop racing from that gamble he just took. It shouldn't bother him. He shouldn't even be sniffing around her in the first place. He couldn't even blame the weak excuse of being 'concerned' that he had used a week ago to cover for his new found obsession. Not if she already found someone to take care of her.

And fuck if that didn't burn at him.

He had made the decision the second night of break that he found himself walking past that fucking boarded up drawing room, a much less pleasurable scream echoing in his mind. She could use him until her self loathing ran out and that would be his penance. Hermione Granger could return to the world as a bright and happy rainbow while he wallowed in misery. It may be the only kind thing he will ever do in his life but it would have to be enough.

And his plan was ruined, because someone else fucking got there first.

"I've got a charm for that," Theo offered. He settled next to Blaise. "I can cast it on you when we get our wands back."

Draco scoffed, annoyed at the lack of his wand. The aurors stationed on the train should be coming around shortly to return it anyway, but they all had a habit of waiting as long as possible to do so.

"Sucks to be you." Blaise smiled as he floated a book down from his bag, his wand flicking smoothly through the air.

"Stop showing off you cad," Draco growled.

Blaise was just about to bite out a response when the door opened. Draco peeked out from under his arm at the pair of Ravenclaws before tucking back under it. He did not need to subject himself to those looks of disgust any more than necessary.

"Blaise," one of them simpered, ignoring Draco's scoff. "Why don't you join us in our compartment? No use sitting alone..."

"I'm just fine where I am," Blaise responded boredly. "Thanks anyway ladies."

"Well if you change your mind…" the other one offered. "This compartment smells like death anyway."

The door slammed shut, the clack a certain finality to it. Draco watched Theo frown and look out the window, his grip closing on a wand that wasn't there.

"You should join them. They won't be so indulgent of your social choices forever," Draco commented, staring at the ceiling.

"I'm fine where I am." Blaise thumbed at a page and Draco thought that maybe he was turning into a Hufflepuff too.

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When they settled in the Great Hall he couldn't help but notice how everyone else moved around them. Blaise got the occasional nod of flirty smile but he and Theo were invisible, only noticed enough to veer around without even glancing at. It could be worse, he supposed. He had only been hexed in the back three times this year so at least there was no hallway warfare.

The Slytherin table felt empty. Well... really all the house's had missing seats, ghosts still occupied those spots and no matter how much everyone pretended otherwise, they couldn't bring themselves to fill them. Still he took his seat facing the Gryffindor table as the remaining seventh years filed in around him. The Greengrass sisters settled as far away as possible while still maintaining the image of collectivity. Pansy sat across from him yammering on about France and shopping even though he knew she would have been unable to leave her house over break just like him. At least she didn't have to think of watching a snake eat a professor every time she sat down for dinner.

He had grown not to care, letting all feeling leech from him as he locked away his reactions inside of his head. He twirled his newly returned wand, having missed its weight in his hand. Granger was right about that. It was new. Made of aspen, it was an obvious departure from the darker color of his hawthorn. It was difficult to master and eager to duel, throwing out spells with the lightest thought.

Tracy Davis sat across from Daphne but still threw him wary looks every few minutes like she was afraid he would curse her any moment. He stopped twirling.

Malfoy's body jerked the moment she came in. Potter and Girl Weasley gestured wildly as they walked. He scowled when Potter threw a lazy arm around her shoulder and drug his wand through the air. Granger laughed in delight as an army of little colorful balloons with wicker baskets floated above the Gryffindor table, lit from within by tiny candles. He narrowed his eyes watching Potter tip his head to hers and whisper something that made her smile.

It wasn't Potter, was it? It couldn't have been Weasley, Draco didn't think he had it in him to be quite frank. But Girl Weasley was fiery and who knew where her interest lay. He growled as Potter pulled her along by the wrist, his hand in the same shape as that bruise. Of course it would be Potter. Oh, that would be just perfect.

"Mate." Theo interrupted his thoughts before he could actually start planning Wonderboy's death. "Keep doing that and you'll start a rumor that you have been bitten."

"Or that he's got a thing for Potter." Blaise swirled his fork. "But that would be more of a known secret wouldn't it."

"Don't be jealous," Pansy scoffed. "It's unbecoming."

"Practice what you preach Pans." Blaise smiled innocently but it did nothing but deepen her scowl.

"I cannot be jealous of an inevitability." She sighed poking at her salad. "Besides, my mother doesn't care who I marry as long as they are pure and rich. You fit that category don't you Blaise? I could start mentioning favoring you in letters."

"Have mercy." He coughed, blanching at the thought of Mrs. Parkinson setting her sights on him. "I think this week I will say my father was that half-blood. Husband… three was it?"

"Weren't you already born when she married him?" Draco had to repress a laugh. It had been awhile since he had felt free enough to trade quips with his housemates.

"Semantics."

Blaise shrugged him off and continued bickering with Pansy. Draco's gaze drifted back to Gryffindor where Granger settled between Potter and Weasley laughing brightly when Longbottom produced a concerningly tall cactus from his pocket. He hugged Hermione from behind, looping an arm around her neck and squeezing lightly.

Draco suddenly remembered his taunt for her to find someone else and paled. As if called, her eyes flicked up at him before she blushed and swiftly looked away. Maybe he would be able to enjoy the next week after all.

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Hermione had been jumpy all week. A large improvement from the drifting mess she was so accustomed to but still not particularly pleasant. As it was she had already powered through all her assignments for the next month, not wanting to focus on what a terrible decision she was about to make.

It was the second Monday back and precisely eight days since the attack on the train. She made a point to slip away from her friends after Charms, citing questions for Professor Flitwick which, to be fair to the group, could last hours when they were both on their game.

But instead she was wandering around corridors alone, not really doing much of anything and certainly not looking for a shock of blond hair. She knew better really, should just cut it off at the root and be done with it. Given her status she could probably even convince McGonagall to let her floo to George's weekly and it would be enough until she graduated and found an acceptable choice. He would hate it but it was an option. She needed a temporary solution that wasn't a Death Eater, had a shred of integrity, and didn't think her less for blood… But then again he had forced the best orgasm of her life out of her. She flushed, trying to sling the thought away.

Why did he even want her? To toy with? It didn't make any damn sense. If his goal was to ruin her reputation or to make her ashamed he could have done so already and been done with it. Why was he sullying himself with her now?

It was, at the very least, a new puzzle to keep her mind busy.

She hated how the thoughts of him dripped into her bed late at night. She hated that her fingers paled in comparison to his, not able to brush the right way with that crucial control that had her balancing on the edge. And she hated how every time since, when he would catch her eye, he would smirk while she shied away. But she would not go to him. If he wants to play the stupid game then fine, let him take whatever the hell it was he wanted. But she wouldn't make it easy for him… which didn't explain why she was walking the corridors near the dungeons just as Advanced Herbology got out.

Draco rounded the corner, his face hidden behind the mask of boredom that was apparently his default setting. She smirked standing in the center of the empty corridor, tipping her hip to one side and crossing her arms.

"Afternoon Malfoy." She forced herself not to look towards a disused staffroom. The corridor was quiet, his footsteps the only other sound.

"Granger."

He nodded, drawing closer to her. Her heart skipped a beat as he continued on his path to her, admiring his long stride and elegant movement. He was so damn gorgeous that it was strictly unfair. What had her mother always said? The Devil was both beautiful and tempting?

But, she had won and they both knew it, no matter what he did to her she had won. It was day eight, not seven. Her heart raced, a long ignored ache returning to her lower stomach. Waiting, urging. She held her breath. He was barely a pace away. She let the blackness overtake her as her eyes drifted shut, her body braced for anything. There was the faintest brush of air past her cheek and the footsteps continued without pause. Confused, she opened her eyes and turned to find him rounding the corner without even bothering to look back.

"What the hell?"

She blinked in the direction he had left. It was faint at first, the footsteps. Goosebumps raised on her flesh as they moved closer. She kept her eyes pinned to the stone wall, waiting. Waiting. Until...

"Oh Miss Granger!" Filius appeared around the corner a terribly large stack of books floating behind his small frame. "What luck! It seems I have overindulged at the library. Could you be of assistance?"

Hermione breathed out, her pulse returning to acceptable levels as she strode toward the Charms professor.

"Sure thing."

He chattered along about his newest finds. Hermione couldn't care less at the moment, her eyes shooting back over her shoulder only to find nothing at all.