Author's Notes:

I was very much looking forward to posting this chapter, because it's such an emotional and important piece of the story—and now I finally can!

As always, many thanks to my beta MusicLover19 for her proofreading and the additional comments, as well as a lot of hugs to my wonderful bunch of ladies who keep me going when I doubt myself.

LOVE YOU ALL! :-**

Chapter 31 – The Moment Of Truth

It was New Year's Eve, and despite various invitations to parties and get-togethers to greet the coming year together, Hermione had decided that she felt the most comfortable doing so at home, watching one of her favourite films on her telly, but not without a bottle of champagne in her fridge.

She loved her friends and their efforts to include her in everything despite her trauma, but simply the thought of spending the night with so many people had exhausted her, especially so close after spending most of Christmas Day at the Burrow.

So, yes, she was looking forward to a quiet evening on the sofa, indulging in the film on the telly—she had brought some of her favourite films over from her old place, mostly happy romances because that was all her mind could think of, especially after Draco's open admission that he wanted her back in his life.

How fast things had changed from the emotionally charged talk right after her rescue to the therapy session the day before! And working things out with Draco had also helped her individual therapy, enabling her to let go of at least some of her guilt and focus instead on her traumatic experiences in the fight pit.

The images of those she had released from the hell they had been in would forever stay in her mind, but she had finally come to accept that—much like during the Second War—she didn't have a choice. She had survived. And they were in a much better place now.

The thought gave her a little peace of mind. It wasn't enough, but it was something to cling on to.

A bit into the film, wrapped into her knitted throw and some snacks on the side table, Hermione could hear a knock at her door.

She didn't expect anyone tonight, and only a handful of people could even come to her place, as protected and warded as it was. So, after a second knock made her curious enough, she decided to go and see who was at her door.

"I heard you were staying home by yourself tonight of all nights."

"Draco!" Hermione exclaimed in happy surprise, noticing his fine suit but more so the bottle of champagne in his hand. "I thought you were going to celebrate with your friends..."

With a smirk, he shrugged. "I was there, that's where I got this nice bottle. But then I heard that you were staying home, and I don't know... suddenly the party wasn't so appealing any longer."

She couldn't help but feel her stomach flutter at his words. With a blushing smile, she stepped aside to let him enter. "I was watching a film; you can join me if you want."

"Whatever you want," he replied with a soft smile as he passed her on his way inside. "I'll just put the bottle in the fridge."

Hermione watched him walk through to the kitchen as she closed the door and returned to the entrance of the living room. She hadn't expected his appearance at all, so it was even sweeter of him to show up despite his previous plans.

"Tibby heard Master Draco at the door," the house-elf said as she appeared on the stairs, looking at her with a curious, almost expectant expression.

Hermione nodded, unable to contain another nervous smile. "He is here. In the kitchen."

"Does Mistress need anything?"

She shook her head. "We'll be fine. But if you could prepare the champagne to have it ready for midnight, that would be wonderful."

The house-elf nodded eagerly and turned to return upstairs. "Tibby will make sure of it."

Draco came back from the kitchen, surprised to find Hermione waiting for him as well as Tibby climbing the last steps to the first floor. "She wanted to check on us?"

"Yeah. She's rather protective in her own way, and I'm kind of glad for that."

He was briefly distracted by the muted telly where her film was still flickering on the screen. "I think I remember that one," he said with a soft smile, reaching for her hands. "Wasn't it one of those films you said I absolutely had to watch?"

She nodded, her gaze fixed on his soft touch and the circles he was drawing on the back of her hand. "So, join me?"

"Of course."

..

Minutes later, they had settled on the sofa, in Hermione's favourite position—her half on top of him while he had made himself comfortable in a half-lying position, his arms holding her in place.

She could hear his heartbeat in this position, that wonderfully soothing sound. He had taken off his suit jacket as well as the waistcoat, so she was absent-mindedly playing with the buttons of his shirt.

She had missed this so much. Just lying in each other's arms, without really speaking, just enjoying the other's presence; she had always felt safe and protected in those moments, as if his arms provided a bubble that kept all the bad things outside. More often than not, she even had even fallen asleep in this position.

"Were you at the company today?" she finally asked in a quiet voice, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Yeah, just making sure that everything was finished that needed to be finished. Minor things."

She smiled softly, humming as he let his hands brush over her head. "I remember the stress you always had in the last week of the year to get everything done in the old year. Didn't you have a minor argument with Daphne one year about it? Because she was super-stressed, unable to find a transaction or something?"

He chuckled. "The argument back then wasn't exactly minor, but then she is responsible for drawing up the balance sheets. A lot depends on those sheets, you know?"

"Yeah, I remember." She turned her head to look at him, only to blush when she saw that he wasn't following the film but rather fixed on her. "And I remember you taking those business classes, many evenings of you leaning over books. I had to drag you to bed more than once..."

"About as much as I had to pick you up in your office because you forgot the time."

She couldn't help but smirk as she remembered those evenings when he showed up in her Ministry office. Encouraged by his hands massaging her back now, she carefully shifted upwards. "You didn't mind the chance of an otherwise empty level..."

He gently pulled her on top, so that she was only inches away from his face; the adoration she could see in it made her heart jump a beat. It reminded her of how he had looked at her at the Burrow as he tilted her head up moments before the kiss under the mistletoe.

This was him having made a decision. This was him considering her worth the risk, just as he had said the day before.

Hermione saw him lick his lips, and she could feel a flutter in her stomach, even spreading through her whole body from there. She was so close! "I... Can I...? I-I mean, can I–?"

He didn't let her finish and simply claimed her lips in an ardent kiss, his hands pulling her closer with his fingers digging into the curls on the side. There was no hesitation this time, no uncertainty any longer, and definitely no holding back on his part. He was fully invested in rediscovering every corner of her mouth anew.

She responded with the same ardour, with goose bumps all over her body and her heart racing all over the place. Each touch of their swirling tongues had shivers running through her body. It felt oddly familiar and yet so completely new.

Shifting her position slightly to have her hands free to run them through his hair, she intensified their kiss, encouraged by his low moan vibrating in his chest.

He wanted her.

Hermione eventually had to pull away as she started to feel high and slightly out of breath from sheer overwhelming excitement. Her mind was buzzing with thoughts and questions, yet she was unable to say a single word, only smile happily.

Merlin, his kisses made her forget her doubts, at least for the moment, and she would be a damned fool not to want him back in her life too.

"My lioness," he whispered, licking his reddened lips as he ran his hands over her shoulders and down her sides.

"I love hearing you say that," she replied, her smile broadening as she leaned down for a peck on his lips. "Makes me feel safe, my dragon."

"I missed saying it."

She enjoyed the feel of his hands running up and down her back and sides, soft caresses that were subtly teasing her as they still seemed to know her favourite spots—spots that hadn't been touched this way for a long time because she hadn't felt safe enough with anyone else.

With Draco, she felt safe enough.

He let his hand slip under her jumper, reluctantly as if to test her response to it. "I know I said it before, but I really missed just spending time with you, like this."

She sighed, only to smile when he let his hand sneak further underneath her jumper. "I missed it too. And I'll probably feel like an idiot forever for letting it go."

"It's okay." With his other hand, he pulled her back down for another kiss, more fervent and endearing than before.

Hermione was easily lost in the feel of his lips once more and responded in kind, aching for more.

His sneaky hand on her back wandered all the way down to the seams of her slacks, pulling the shirt up that was still covering her; it only took seconds to free the skin, and she couldn't hold back a moan at the first touch of his fingers on her bared back.

She kissed him harder in response, more possessive and wanting to claim everything he had to offer. Her body hummed with a slowly growing desire, and she simply relished in his hand wandering up and down on her back, leaving a prickling trail in its wake. It woke something she had buried deep over all those years—a want, an almost forgotten need. It was small still, yet it was growing, throbbing louder and louder in her veins, encouraging her to deepen their kiss, urging her to no longer hold back.

But...

But the more she gave into desire and his enticing touches, the more eager her creature became until it demanded control—the Harpy in her wanted to take over, wanted to take him. Her skin began to prickle accordingly.

"No, please not now!" she cried out as she pulled off and sat up, breathing deeply as she struggled to stay in control of herself—her muscles were tensing from the struggle to stay human, yet she knew she was failing already because her vision was blurring as a first sign of the threatened transformation.

"Everything okay?"

Startled by his worried question, Hermione shook her head; the disruption was enough to regain momentary control over her body, so she climbed off to leave the room in a hurry. It had been foolish to get lost in the moment, foolish to even believe that she could keep control over it.

Utterly foolish.

..

Once in her bedroom, she let out a frustrated scream. She had been too close! Too goddamn close! It was still screeching in her head, and she could feel its anger rising in her, making it almost impossible to keep the thin control—her hands and feet, no her whole body was tingling so hard, it was unbearable.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" Draco, still all tousled and dishevelled from moments before, appeared in the door to her room without entering, even though it was clear he just wanted to help her calm down.

"No!" she retorted and stepped back from the door. "I'm a monster! And I almost lost control downstairs... I'm a fool to believe we have any chance like that!"

"We can... We can find a way to deal with it," he replied with a collected tone, offering his hand for comfort. "Look, I know what you are, and I stand with what I told you yesterday... I accept it as part of you, because you are worth the risk."

His words only aggravated her more, so she wanted to know the truth—she wanted to know whether they could really find a way to deal with it!

That was why she pulled off her jumper and her shirt in one swift motion before she took a deep breath as she relinquished the control over her body to the Harpy in her. She found the creature's delight to be let out to the surface disgusting, and not for the first time, she hated it for destroying what she might still have if it weren't part of her.

With only her bra covering her upper body now, she watched him closely as she transformed into the form of the Harpy—her arms growing into wings, fingers and toes changing into talons, her whole body covered in feathers. Now that she was standing in front of him in all her hideous glory, she needed to see his reaction, almost craved his rejection to confirm her fears.

Draco took his time to take in her form, following every single feather on her arms, lingering on the talons that were now her fingers, yet he didn't give away what was going through his mind, his face blank for those endless seconds.

"Can you accept this? Even love it?"

"Yes."

His answer wasn't what she had expected, and it shocked her. No disgust, no contempt, nothing. All she could see now in his face was the adoration she had seen earlier, love even.

And honesty.

It was hard to bear, and even harder to accept herself. "H-How? Why?"

He finally stepped inside as she faltered in her step, reaching for her transformed hand to stabilise her. "Because you're my lioness, and you're the only one I ever wanted."

"No." She shook her head, unable to believe his words because she had believed her fears for so long, too long. "No... I'm a monster."

"You're not..." Careful to avoid her talons, he twined his fingers with hers. "It's okay. I'm not leaving."

"Not leaving," she repeated in a whisper, her mind a blur as it tried to comprehend what just happened. She no longer knew what the truth was, or simply what to believe, so she clung to the only thing that felt real right now—his hand twined with hers.

"Not leaving."

His voice was only a whisper, yet with each repetition, she felt a soothing feeling wash over her, calming her soul. Even the creature no longer screeched in her head, silent for once.

Only then her knees sacked away, and all she could do to avoid falling to the ground was clinging to his frame. She gasped as he grabbed her shoulders to keep her up. No one had ever touched her in this form outside the pits, and he was the first person she had allowed to see on her terms.

She didn't protest as he carried her over to the bed to let her sit down; her mind still reeling and overwhelmed, she immediately grabbed his again as soon as he offered it, careful not to scratch him.

"Are you okay?"

She shook her head. "I was so sure you'd say no. So sure. I wanted to believe what you said in the sessions with Dr Pendry, that you didn't care, that there was a chance. I really wanted to believe it because you... because you–"

"My brave lioness," he whispered affirmingly, kneeling down in front of her. "My beautiful, brave lioness."

"I'm hideous, Draco. There's nothing beautiful about being a Harpy."

He shook his head, vigorously so. "I refuse to believe that. You'll always be my beautiful and brave lioness. You know why? You were the one who had the courage to see the good in me when no one else did. You were the one who stood beside me when I needed it. And you're the one who still has my heart."

Hearing this, Hermione could no longer hold back her tears. It was too much.

Her whole body shook as she sobbed violently. She had really needed him to see it, had really needed to see his reaction, not just hear his words, to realise that her fears were unfounded—he wouldn't just leave her for what she had become.

Was that relief?

"Shh... I'm here," he said in a soothing tone, even placing the gentlest of kisses on her temple; he had shifted his position to next to her on the bed to hold her in a comforting embrace. "Change back if it makes you feel better."

And Hermione did change back into her human form, only to then hold on tight to his body as he slowly leaned back to lie on her bed.

..

Hermione didn't know how long they simply lay there, with her in the safety of his arms. She was no longer crying, her previous overwhelming confusion driven away by his sheer presence, by the way his magic responded to hers—calm and quiet against her tempest.

Hadn't it once been the other way? Hadn't there once been days when she calmed the tempest in his soul, his heart?

It seemed a lifetime ago.

"Better?"

She nodded hesitantly, sighing as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry for the scene."

"Shh... It's okay."

She didn't know what to respond to that, so she just nestled closer to his shoulder, letting her mind drift for a few seconds as he kept drawing patterns on her back.

"You know, I wanted to show you."

"You did?"

She nodded once more. "I talked about it with Dr Pendry in my last session... Because, of all people, you deserved to know. I wanted to show you when I was ready, not like this."

"This is the first time you showed it to someone?"

"Willingly, yes. Not even Harry knows what I look like as a creature."

His fingers on her back were now wandering up her shoulders, teasing her gently in the neck with ghosting brushes, even digging into the onset of her curls. "My lioness..."

"My dragon." With another sigh, Hermione loosened her hold on his waist and moved her arm to his front, tracing the row of buttons absent-mindedly. "What...? I mean, what if it shows while... you know?"

He reached with his free hand for hers. Gently, he opened it, only to spread her fingers and caress each of them with his thumb. "You scratched me before. I think I still have a few scars on my back somewhere–"

"I won't just scratch you. I'm scared that the Harpy wants to see blood if it's out. You might end up in hospital, or worse, I might stab you, maybe even hit your heart. What then?"

"We'll find a way, Hermione. If we want to make it work again between us, then we'll find a way to deal with it."

With a small flutter in her stomach, she studied him—those pale grey eyes that only held unwavering adoration for her, those cheeks that were ever so slightly pink, and those soft lips with their warm smile tugging in their corner, subtly teasing her.

As if testing the waters, she leaned forward until she could feel his breath on her face, noticing how it became a little more jagged with barely contained anticipation, only to have it change to a small gasp as she captured his teasingly smiling lips in a soft kiss.

"You want to... continue?" Draco whispered between kisses, pulling her closer.

"Just promise to stop when I say so," she replied in the same whisper, her heart racing with renewed excitement. In addition, she could feel a wave of his magic washing over her, reconnecting with hers; the sheer intensity of it, and the love underneath, made her feel weightless, and her whole body hummed.

But the most astonishing experience in that single moment was her creature still being eager for more, yet no longer demanding control over her body, no longer wanting to take him, but rather accepting him as her mate, to use the Veela term in lack of a better word.

"I promise." With that, he deepened the kiss, with a hunger that surprised her at first, only to match it seconds later.

His hands wandered all over her body, and it was so wonderful! It had been an eternity since anyone had touched her like this, since he had touched her like this! In response, she worked on the buttons of his shirt, eager to touch the skin underneath.

Seconds later, she had managed to open the shirt and pulled it over his shoulder as good as she could, teasing him with kisses along his jaw and neck. The sounds he made in response to her caresses delighted her, adding to her growing excitement. All those little moans, how had she missed them!

However, he stopped her as she started to push him on his back because she wanted more of his skin, more of that enticing scent. "Just relax and enjoy tonight."

"What do–?" She gasped as he managed to unhook her bra but understood then, letting him pull it off her so that she was now naked before him.

As she settled on her back, she watched him take his shirt off completely, together with the undershirt. She felt nervous at that moment, and she just hoped that her creature would keep as quiet as it did right now. But above all, she hadn't been intimate with anyone in years—in fact, her last time even had been with Draco.

"What's that?" she asked as he climbed on the bed to join her; she pointed at his chest where she saw a round and reddened spot.

With a short melancholic smile, he leaned over her to leave a trail of kisses down her jaw and neck. "A memory from the search. A price I paid to find you."

Hermione had no chance to ask any further, as he had found his way to her cleavage. He was worshipping every inch of her skin with hot kisses and nibbles while his hands were all over the rest of her upper body, mapping all her curves and scars anew.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured against her skin like a mantra.

She felt her skin flush at those words, not used to hear that kind of endearments anymore. Each touch of his lips against her skin sent a small enticing jolt through her body, and she could no longer hold back her moans.

"Yes!" she hissed as he finally focused on her breast, sucking and nibbling the perky nipple until it was sensitive to a simple blow of air. With the same eagerness, he paid the same attention to the other breast, until she arched beneath him, her hands buried in his hair.

"Lower?"

Pulled out from her first high by his simple question, she took a moment to understand what he wanted. She looked down to find him waiting for an answer, to make sure she was okay with it. It was endearing, and she could see that he would love to continue with his rediscovery of her body.

Still brushing through his tousled mess of hair, because she couldn't get enough of that eager look, she felt her creature hum inside her, urging her to nod—something she had never experienced before, and which she couldn't explain.

Reassured, and just as keen for more, she nodded, only to then chuckle at the devious smile that immediately brightened his face.

Continuing his trail of hot kisses over her body, Draco slowly wandered down her belly, paying attention to her navel, repeatedly teasing her along her low-sitting slacks, until she couldn't bear it any longer and lifted her hips so that he could pull the slacks down.

"Underwear too?" he asked, hooking his finger into the slack seams, and looking up to her with a daringly raised eyebrow. He bit his lip as he took a deep breath and couldn't hold back from placing another hot kiss on top of her knickers, the slacks pulled down a bit.

The moan Hermione could hear escape him made her feel a surge of arousal in her abdomen—it was such a hungry, desperate sound, betraying his outer patience. She nodded to his utter delight, and with shaking hands, she helped him pull her last pieces of clothing off.

Once the clothes landed on the floor, he let his hungry gaze wander over her naked body all splayed in front of him, his hands running up and down her thighs, lingering on the scar on her right thigh. His thumb followed its outline, memorising every little detail, like with every other scar on her lower body and legs. "You have no idea how much I missed that sight..."

His murmured words felt like praise, and it made her blush all over. Encouraged thus, she leaned on one of her elbows, only to reach for his trousers with her other hand; she delighted in the guttural moan she could elicit from him as she palmed his groin, only to repeat it with more pressure.

With another deep moan, Draco pushed her back down and kissed her hungrily, taking possession of her mouth while one of his hands wandered down her sides.

She arched when his fingers found her clit, expertly circling it until she was moaning into the kiss, desperate for him to go further, deeper. With her legs, she pushed his hips down towards her own, not caring about his trousers any longer.

"What do you want?" he asked, breathing hotly into her ear, making her shudder from the sheer huskiness of his voice. "I remember you liked what I could do with my tongue–"

"Oh Gods, yes!" Hermione exclaimed at his words, trying to meet his hand that was still stroking her labia, with special attention to her clit. It was so good!

"Or," he continued in the same husky voice as he pushed a finger in, "how about this?"

Hermione simply gasped at the feel of his finger inside her. Damn, he still knew that spot inside her that made her see stars whenever he brushed over it! She arched and bucked when he continued to circle her clit with his thumb, momentarily lost to anything but what he was doing to her. "Not-Not enough..."

He covered her throat with more hot kisses, sure to leave light bruises in a few spots, as he kept fingering her. Nibbling her earlobe, he added a second finger, even increased the pace. "You want more?"

"You," she muttered, trying to keep her eyes open as another wave of pleasure shot through her body. He hadn't done much yet, and she was already so damn close to the edge! It felt exquisite after so many years of self-imposed celibacy just to feel him, to have him touch her like this, to feel wanted! "I-I want you..."

He shifted his position to look at her, even stopped his strokes to her dismay. "You're sure about that?"

With a soft smile, she framed his face and kissed him—gently first, but quickly turning into something more heated, demanding. And to her delight, he continued to push his fingers inside her, once more sending wave after wave of pleasure through her body with each move. It was damn good, but she wanted something different.

"I take that as a yes," he husked as he finally broke off, licking his lips, only to smile warmly and then pull his fingers out when she nodded. "Help me."

With shaking but eager hands, Hermione helped him get his trousers and briefs off. She couldn't resist reaching for his hardened cock and take it in her fist as he was standing in front of the bed, about to climb back in. It was exactly as she remembered it—gorgeously thick, and already leaking some precome that she used as lube for her teasing strokes.

"Hermione," he let out in a content sigh as she even leaned forward to let her tongue run over it, teasing the underside of its head; momentarily lost to her touches, he dug his fingers into her hair to keep her in place.

Seeing his reaction to her moves, she went further and took his cock into her mouth, only to tease him with a few strokes of her tongue, swallowing the salty essence. After a few more teasing strokes, she pulled off with a wet plop.

"You tease..."

"I had to make sure," she replied and leaned back on the bed, smiling as he followed her eagerly, placing her legs around his hips. She purred as his hands ran over her thighs and sides, only increasing her anticipation of what was about to happen.

With one of his wicked smiles, he positioned himself over her, biting his lip as the head of his cock brushed her labia. "Last chance..."

"Draco!" Growing impatient with him, Hermione used her legs and feet to push him closer, so that his cock was now at the entrance of her vagina, its head delving between her slick labia. She had to gasp at the sensation of it, and she closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the pleasurable jolts running through her body.

She held her breath as he finally entered her—slow as hell, savouring every inch of it. Once he was fully buried in her, she opened her eyes again, only to meet his eyes that were dark with desire, matching hers. In a sudden urge, she reached for him to pull him down for a heated kiss; she moaned into the kiss as he started moving.

Gods, she needed to feel every inch of his skin on her, needed to feel him pound into her as hard and deep as he could—nothing else would do at this moment! It wasn't just her need, her hunger, but the creature seemed to crave it too.

"Harder," she let out in a deep moan, her hands running over his lower back, leaving scratches everywhere, even as low as his arse.

"Yes," he hissed before shifting his position to thrust at a slightly different angle, increasing the pace. He left hot kisses everywhere he could reach her skin, even sucked hard enough in some spots to leave bruises.

Her senses overwhelmed with sensations, Hermione felt her orgasm build up in her lower abdomen, threatening to take over any moment. She just needed a little extra stimulation, as exquisite the feel of him moving in and out of her was.

"C-Clit."

"Hm-hm." Not stopping his trail of hot kisses, he shifted his weight to free one hand to reach between them.

"Oh my Gods!" Hermione let out as he found the overly sensitive knob, making her see stars. "Fuck yes!"

With him attending so expertly to her clit while continuing to pound into her almost mercilessly now, it didn't take Hermione long to reach her orgasm. For the first time in years, she willingly let go of any control she still had, relishing in the pleasure rolling through her and overloading her senses.

It was bliss.

As she regained control moments later, floating in the afterglow of her orgasm slowly ebbing away, she felt Draco reach his own orgasm, spilling into her with a few deep thrusts, and grunting into her neck. She had forgotten what it felt like, being connected like this.

It felt good right now.

She gently brushed over his back, pushing back the thoughts about any Contraception Spells until later; instead, she tried to soothe the scratches she had caused earlier, as he propped himself up to look at her with a content smile, placing soft kisses on her jaw and cheeks.

"My lioness," he whispered between his kisses.

"My dragon," she replied automatically, humming at his caresses. "I don't ever want to miss this again... I care too much about us to want anything else."

"Same here..."

Even though she already knew it, those words made Hermione choke briefly, and she could only hold him tighter in her arms. They still had enough to work through, but it made her feel like they could take on everything once more—as long as they were together.

Seconds later, they both had to laugh as they heard the bells ring and fireworks go off in the vicinity of her place.

"Happy New Year, my dragon. May the new year bring us both the peace we need."

"Happy New Year, my beautiful lioness," he replied, placing a tender kiss on her lips. "May the new year be better than the last."

A timid knock was heard from the door. "Mistress? Tibby has prepared the champagne..."

Hermione chuckled as she caught a glimpse of her slightly embarrassed but happily grinning house-elf—she had completely forgotten about the champagne. With one last peck on Draco's lips, she let go of him. "We'll be right with you... We only need to freshen up a bit."

What had started as a solitary evening had turned out to be her best New Year's Eve in ages, reunited with the man she still loved more than anyone else and who still loved her too. The way she was.

The new year could only be better than the last.