October 2nd

Hermione meant every single world she said outside of Draco's flat. Changing the parameters of their previous deal, she was no longer interested in protecting those suspected of being allies of the Dolohovs. No, she wanted names of those foolish enough to cast their lot in with Rodolphus. Something told her that Draco would give it to her if she just asked. And fulfilled the terms of his filthy bargain, of course. But, at least it wasn't as if she was disgusted by the terms.

Once she was inside his flat, he gave her a promise that he would get the list she wanted. Maybe she should've been suspicious by his eagerness to sell out his mutual allies, but she wasn't. Instinct told her that Draco wanted the entire ordeal to be over almost as much as she did. Besides, she wasn't going to just trust his word alone. She had every intention of taking the list to another source for independent verification.

If Draco was curious what brought about her change of mind or why she came to his flat so late at night, he didn't ask any questions. He could tell that something had her agitated and upset. Insisting that they open a bottle of wine, Hermione was thankful for his suggestion. She really could use a little something to calm her nerves and her previous stay in his flat taught her that he had excellent taste in wine.

By the end of their second glass, she was calm and more than a little excited about the prospect of what the night held in store. They hadn't done anything more than snog like a couple of hormonal teenagers since that Sunday afternoon months earlier he'd been able to persuade her to spend a few hours in his flat. Maybe he would betray her again. It wasn't as if she could really trust him after all, but she'd missed his touch, craved the way he made her feel when they were together.

It came as no shock to either of them that they weren't able to make it beyond the sofa where they enjoyed their wine before their clothes were hastily removed. When they were alone and allowed themselves to succumb to the temptation of the forbidden, sparks always flew. Hermione had no regrets about her decision to use her body as a means to get the information she desired. If she was truly honest with herself regarding her motivations for being there, she would've done the same just because she wanted to. The promise of a list simply gave her a flimsy excuse to give into the desires of her body. Draco was an excellent distraction from the turmoil in her mind.

Their first round of a promised many was eerily reminiscent of the night they drank too much fire whiskey on the twentieth anniversary of their world turning to complete shite. She would always carry around fond memories of that sofa and the debauchery it witnessed.

Draco sat up on the sofa and dragged her across the cushions to straddle his hips. Thrusting deeply into her needy, slick core, Hermione threw her head back and groaned. He loved her to be on top because of how she was unafraid to lose herself in the pleasurable rhythms. And at that angle, it also gave him the chance to pull each of her nipples into his mouth as he wished. He never made it a secret that he could lavish her body with his tongue for hours. She certainly had no complaints.

"I'm so glad you knocked on my door tonight."

Any attempt she might have made to respond was forgotten the moment the wizard grabbed her hips in a tight grip and proved to her with his determined movements just how much he meant what he said. She couldn't think beyond the sensations overpowering every cell in her entire body. If he was making up for lost time, she would gladly enjoy the ride. All worries and concerns temporarily were forgotten as she gave herself permission to just feel. No one said she couldn't enjoy how she obtained the information she wanted on Rodolphus' cohorts.

"I should've never let you walk out the door months ago."

He emphasized his words with steadily increasing possessive thrusts. She didn't care what he said. She could hardly understand words as the intensity of his motions threatened to push her over the edge. If he wanted to declare his desire to murder her when they were finished, she wouldn't have minded just so long as he didn't stop what he was doing. His name was on her lips when she tumbled over, dragging his pleasure along with hers. Neither of them moved from the sofa until they could breathe normally again.

Somewhere in their exertions they'd missed the chiming of the midnight hour. It was so easy to lose track of time when they were alone. Draco carefully pushed Hermione out of his lap, steadying her when her still-wobbly legs threatened to give out. As she led her to his bedroom by the hand, still neither of them spoke. There was no need.

Once back in his bed after such a long absence, Hermione realized she'd missed being there. More than just thigh-trembling deviance took place between the ultra-soft luxurious linens. When their bodies were too tired for another round, the two of them stayed up talking about all manner of topics when she'd been there before. Despite their less-than-cordial school years together, they didn't have a terribly complicated past. Not like she did with her husband. It was easy to imagine what her life might've been like if he'd entered it sooner. Would she have married Antonin? Would Rodolphus still have gone through with his complicated plans? She could almost convince herself that life would've been much better.

"What happened here?"

Draco lightly ran his fingertips over the bruises on her beck. They were still visible despite the potions she'd taken. Tender to the touch, she flinched.

"William Wood tried to kill me when I was in St. Mungo's. Almost succeeded."

"What?"

He was visibly disturbed by her statement. She tried to brush off his concerns while she gave him only the barest of details. Talking about her attack was hardly how she wanted to spend her time in his bed. Wanting to lighten the mood, she laughed and tried to make a joke.

"I recently found out that my husband is fucking Ginny Weasley. Finding that out and failing in his quest to murder me would make Wood's week."

Draco was confused if his furrowed brow was any indication.

"Ginny and Will have never been a thing."

It was her turn to be confused. She'd seen them together. Ginny exerted a certain amount of control over the clearly unhinged man. What other explanation could there be?

"Ginny's got a weird friendship with him, but no, they were never together. She's not his type. He's gay."

"I don't believe you."

Not offended by her refusal to believe him, Draco laughed.

"The night he kissed me years ago would seem to prove otherwise."

"Oh."

"Why do you think he's jealous of the idea of me with Ginny? It's not because he wants Ginny for himself."

She knew there was no point in arguing. Obviously he knew more about the man's personal preferences than she did. All she really knew about him was that he really wanted to kill her. Something else she remembered bothered her about the revelation of Wood's sexuality.

"Why would Ginny tell me that she and Wood had a daughter?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe she's embarrassed by who the real father is and he agreed to help her co-parent."

She wasn't sure she wanted to know any more about the non-traditional family the witch created. Knowing about Wood opened up a lot of possibilities Hermione didn't want to consider. It was bad enough knowing that Ginny was having an ongoing affair with her husband. The thought that… no, she refused to allow her mind to travel down dangerous paths.

"He's determined to kill you."

"Yes, I'm afraid you're right. If he'd been the least bit competent, he would've succeeded."

A disturbing thought came to her. The cottage she had been staying in was secure, but what if Wood decided to use the tracking spell to come after her when she was in Draco's flat? After she voiced her fear, he simply kissed her to stop the nervous rambling he feared was coming.

"He won't be able to track you here. I have very advanced wards on my flat. Even your paranoid husband would be impressed."

She hoped he was right. Sensing that Hermione still struggled, Draco kissed her again.

"And if by some miracle he's able to find this flat, I promise you, Hermione, he's not leaving it alive."

His lips gently brushed the bruises covering her throat.

"I'm already tempted to seek him out and dispose of him as it is because of what he did to you."

There was anger and passion in his voice as he spoke the words. Hermione still wasn't sure what Draco's true feelings for her were, but she believed him when he said he wanted to end Wood. It was also likely selfish. Years of being essentially blackmailed by the cretin couldn't have been easy. Wood dangled Draco's freedom and his very life in front of him. More proof the man was an amateur. Death Eaters understood how quickly prey could become predators.

"I want him dead. You want him dead. My husband wants him dead. And I highly doubt we're the only ones. It'll happen soon enough."

"I just hope he doesn't get another crack at hurting you before it does."

"I can take care of myself, Draco."

He sighed.

"I know you can. Just wish this was all over. I'm almost beginning to miss the days when the Dark Lord was alive."

While she could certainly understand his frustration with all of the uncertainty and confusion taking place in their world at the present moment, Hermione knew she could never agree. She wasn't missing life under the Dark Lord one bit. Maybe she had power and a pampered existence while everyone feared her, but it wasn't a comfortable way to live. She'd only been able to survive as long as she did because of her potions addiction. Without them, she had no idea how long she could've kept going.

"Why did you agree to help me? And don't tell me it was just to get me naked again."

It was unnecessary to point out that considering the crumbling of her life and her dying marriage, it was highly likely she would've ended up in his bed again with or without promises of even the barest of assistance. Even in seemingly happy recent days with her husband she thought about Draco entirely too often. Her question seemed to catch him off-guard. He considered his answer carefully before speaking.

"Because you're all alone. You don't have anyone on your side right now and I think it's only fair to even the playing field."

Though she might not have been entirely convinced that he was being honest, his answer at least made some sort of logical sense. If he cared about her at all, he wouldn't want her to be at a disadvantage.

"I don't even know why we're talking at all with you naked in my bed."

He gently kissed her bruises again, moving his lips gradually down the front of her body.

"No more talking. The only words I want coming out of your mouth are…"

Kiss.

"Yes."

Kiss.

"Harder."

Kiss.

"Fuck."

Kiss.

"Draco."

The feel of his tongue slipping between her thighs and landing straight on the sensitive nub he found there made her see stars and forget all about the serious conversation they'd just been engaged in.

"Fuck, Draco! Yes."

She could feel him smile against her slick skin.

"That's my girl."

It was hardly the last opportunity she had to utter those same words. Before the night was all over, she was reduced to incoherent moans.