Happy Birthday, Tom Felton!

Please don't get used to an update every two days, I can't keep up the pace. Today's chapter is a peace offering to those I scared the hell out, with the latest Broken Dragon Wings update, it was a very dark one. Plus, it's Tom's day so...

Oh, My Magzillasaurus did a perfect job beta'ing this chapter for you. Let the naughty begin...oops, said too much...

Chapter Six

The vibe floating around was one of expectation.

Hermione's surprise was big when she met a large crowd upon arrival, as if everyone looked forward to the second round. Personally, she dreaded it - her supply of chocolate had run out, and she used an apparition point in Muggle London to flash visit a nearby Tesco and restock. It required an urgent replenishing.

To keep her mind off a certain platinum haired wizard who invaded her mind at an annoying rate, she wrote a new list of questions, adding some very specific ones to confirm her suspicions.

Ron bumped into her on purpose, "Do you need me to hit your head?"

"Do you want more chocolate?" A small Hershey's bar changed owners.

"Yo, Gryffindor princess, I almost missed you." Blaise invaded her personal space, kissed her on the cheek, shaking Ron's hand right after. "Princess, did you make a new question list for the poor suckers like us without inspiration?"

"Our Blaise has finally seen reason, Hermione. He learned that his questions were slightly ill informed." Pansy pecked the tanned cheek before greeting the Gryffindors. "We taught him some manners a few nights ago."

Hannah jumped in, "Do you think it helped?"

"We'll see, girl. Men's brains need more time to catch up than ours, right Miss Granger?"

Hermione raised her hand, agreeing wholeheartedly, "Preach, Pansy!" She had anticipated Ron's request - slightly surprised it came from Blaise, of all people - and a stack of copies of her own questions was distributed in no time. The bell chimed, signaling the start of their new session and she mumbled, "May the odds be with me."

"What was that?" Pansy asked curiously, before sitting in the booth next to the brunette.

"I wished myself good luck. Ferret free, I hope."

"The ferret could surprise you. I'm more concerned about a ginger rat, with his mummy cooking course."

"Molly cooks divinely."

"That may well be, it doesn't mean that I'm willing to follow her lessons."

"Don't we do everything for love, Pansy?"

"Damn, we have to stop, I have company." She mumbled something to the other party, before returning quickly to Hermione. "Will you?"

"For the right man? I think so. Hey, Pansy. Good luck with the ginger."

"Don't be too mean to the ferret."

-oOo-

*Luna*

"Hello Theo, your aura is shining bright today. Happy to see me?"

"How the hell do you know it's me?"

"I don't, I was going to keep asking until I found you. It's my lucky day to have you as my first."

"First?" He blinked, his mind on something else, "Oh yes, yes, I see. Yes, it's nice to start with a friendly voice. How are you, Luna?"

"I'm so happy. These secret encounters are so funny."

"Have you talked with more interesting blokes?" Do I have much competition, witch?

"A few, Theo. The majority doesn't understand much of what I say, totally the opposite of you, dear Theo." He smiled giddily towards the black curtain, she called him 'dear!' "And you, Theo, have you spoken to interesting ladies?"

"Not many, they lack this singing tone of yours. Your words carry joy, you know."

"I can imagine, it's the nargles you know? They can make us happy too, when they please."

"Luna, would you like to meet somewhere outside this place? Have some tea with biscuits and get to know each other better?" He wondered if love at first word was a thing, or just some rubbish written in Witch Weekly. He might or might have not perused a copy without Pansy's knowledge.

"We have to fulfil the path Hermione set out before we start dating." The bell sounded in the background. "Just to be certain, it's no Gulping Pimply messing with our minds. See you later Theo, dream sweet dreams of me!"

"I'm sure it's no Plimpy, princess. See you later at the Leaky?" Behind him, someone cleared his throat, impatient.

"We'll see."

*Harry*

"Hi, I'm fifty-five."

"Quidditch, love or hate?"

"You're talking to a former seeker, enough of an answer for you? Tell me who you are, please."

"So polite, is Quidditch a sport for both genders or only for men?"

"If you are a chaser like my girl, I would say men don't have it easy."

"Your girl? Why would you join this circus?"

"My girl wants to know if I can pick her out of all the witches present here. I think I'm doing quite a nice job, Ginny."

"What gave it away?"

"Your passive-aggressive question asking if Quidditch is a exclusively mens sport. You were quite riled up yesterday, not that I can complain, honey. The sex was gratifying."

Ginny flushed as the memories returned of her hands-on attack. He was right, it was rewarding as fuck.

*Pansy*

"Darling, I'm your number ten." Her eyes widened, If only Granger knew.

"Alright, I'm twenty-three."

"Oh, it's you again. Your voice is so soft, I bet as soft as your skin." This wizard is so full of shite, Granger was accurate.

"It is, Ten. I spend quite an amount on exceptional salves to keep my skin baby-soft."

"Darling, if you're the love of my life, it will be my pleasure to spend my galleons on your beauty secrets, your beauty is sacred."

"Why is that?" A man that wants to spend his galleons on her is never unwelcome, but it smells fishy now. "Is beauty so important for you?"

"My heart, any man feels proud to have the most attractive woman at his side."

"What else do you want your wife to do?"

"Oh, my sweetheart, a woman shouldn't busy herself with hard issues like work. If you become my wife, you can keep yourself entertained by throwing tea parties and attending others."

"You want a nice doll at your side, but otherwise I'm only allowed to stay in a corner and be a sweet girl." Somehow Granger was rubbing off on her; moreover, she also wanted some agency in her life. Being the perfect pureblood wife just wasn't enough anymore.

"Honey, I wouldn't put it so crudely. You'll have money enough to find your pleasures and fulfil your needs."

"Hmm."

"Tell me, honey. Which kind of lingerie do you like to wear?"

Pansy wrote on her no-list with capital letters: TEN. Overwriting the letters several times to be sure it would not disappear. What a wanker. Wait until I tell this to Granger!

*Blaise*

"My dear, I'm sixty-nine."

"Eight on this side of the room."

"Do you want to ask me a question first?"

"Polite, I like it. Let me think...What are you looking for in your wife?"

"My wife...has to be confident enough and not expect me to hold her hand at every corner. My wife should be someone adventurous in bed too, not be afraid of trying new things. She should like my friends and be a social being, not a touch-me-not flower."

"What if she's not into the kinky things you seek?" Blaise, I found you.

"Only vanilla? Then she must compensate in other fields, to make it worth it."

"Like what?"

"Not nag me for staying a little longer at the pub with my mates. Be someone I want to go back home to because she makes me feel like a better man." He paused, "What do you seek in a husband, dear?"

"A man that is not only interested in a cowgirl ride, but also in giving pleasure to the woman he loves. I don't want someone to hold my hand for every hurdle, but I want to have an anchor in my life, on whom I can rely when life gets hard. Someone who puts me as his number one priority above anything else."

"Are you Granger?"

"No, but I can understand her fire better than you think. It's your turn to ask me a question."

"Bubble bath or a shower?"

"Bubble bath, I like to indulge."

"Nice, we are getting somewhere. I'll be the one rubbing your back."

"Glass half full or half empty?" Daphne guessed his answer, he always knew how to push her buttons.

"Always half full. It can always be better, we can always improve. Life plays enough tricks, but I refuse to let it get my head down. Didn't you want an anchor? I'll be your rock."

She couldn't put his number in the no-list.

*Draco*

"Hi, welcome! I'm number sixty."

Oh great another annoying bint, her voice irks my hearing already. "I'm eighty-four."

"Oh, the wizard with the drawl in his voice. Sexy. Tell me, sweetheart, have you accepted Godric Gryffindor as your personal saviour?"

What the fuck? "Never."

"Oh, you're not courageous then? No worries, I'll fight your battles with my inner fire."

Save me!

*Ron*

He had barely sat down when she spoke up, "Twenty-three on this side." He looked giddy, just who I wanted.

"Hi, sweetheart. Your favourite sixty-six at this side."

"Oh, the guy who'll send his wife to his mum to learn to cook."

"Sweetheart, I'll love you so much more for it."

Rat, you're pushing it but stop being a dork. "What if I don't want to learn?"

"Don't you want to make me happy? Imagine my face, while I eat your delicious perfectly cooked roast with potatoes."

"And get all my nails smudged with potato dirt? I eat, sweetheart, I don't cook. Cooking is for house elves." The thought alone.

"Oh." His enthusiasm just vanished, "Oh." He sounded hurt and disappointed, "I might have misjudged you, you should choose someone else. I wish you luck with other wizards, they might make you happier than me."

Oh, fuck. I'm fucking this up, Parkinson. Fix it, girl, he sounds like a puppy being hurt.

Ron fumbled with his fingers, balls I liked this girl. Better now than later. He got up, scraping the chair against the floor. "Have a nice day."

"Wait!" It was too late. The room was already vacated, so she whispered, "Don't give up on me just yet. I could try?"

*Hermione*

The chair on the other side was occupied with much noise, "I'm cutting this short, I'm eighty-four, and I don't worship Godric fucking Gryffindor as my saviour."

Hermione roared, "Poor boy, do you want me to come over and pat your head?"

"Thirty-seven?"

"Yes, right the first time." She continued to giggle, his opening line set her in the mood, "Tell me, your favourite scene of Pride and Prejudice."

"Oh, that again? Let me think...the dance between Elizabeth and Darcy at that Ball, because of what we know."

Interesting, "You made me curious?" She literally hung at his hidden lips.

Draco approached closer to the divider, "Because of the sparring between the two; how she has no idea of his feelings for her." Her silence forced him to explain more, "At that point in the story, we know he loves her, yet she is completely oblivious to it."

"I'm more a fan of the bantering between them, I enjoy a strong woman defending her opinion to a strong man."

"Ah ha, you are a little of a swot then?"

"I've been called that and worse, yes. I'll let you know that I consider it a compliment."

The swot is the bright light in this day of hell, full of stupid witches, who knew? "My turn, little swot. Bubble bath or shower?"

"Do you mean a shared shower or bubble bath? I don't mind being pampered with a languid bath, massages on my back and other intimate parts, it can be quite satisfying. Also rewarding is a quick shag against the wall, and then washing each other under a rainfall shower."

He blinked, not believing his ears; the temperature rising fast inside his cubicle. He cleared his throat to ease the pressure.

No room to rest, "Glass half full or half empty?"

"Am I negative towards life or do I have a positive mindset? Life has given me sour lemons. I don't know yet how to make sweet lemonade from it." Should I add… why the fuck not? "Hopefully, I find a woman who teaches me how to see the sunshine."

If this is Malfoy, I'll bang my head against the wall. "Now you sound like a Hufflepuff."

"Don't you ever repeat that to a snake, dear. He might bite you in your lovely arse."

"How do you know I have a lovely arse?"

"It's my charming side, don't you see?" I enjoy teasing the witch.

"How much importance do you give to blood status?"

Fun time is over, back to the serious stuff, "It's a pile full of dragon dung. In the end, the muggleborn bled as red as I did. If you could go back in time, what would you change?"

"Instead of ignoring the truth, I would offer a certain boy help, so he could come into the light before he got sucked up in the dark."

"The wizard wouldn't have accepted."

"Who said I give up so easily?" The bell chimed. Both groaned, they were far from done yet, totally not ready to say goodbye.

-oOo-

The end of the session arrived faster than expected, everyone reuniting in the centre, lost in thoughts. Draco searched quickly for Blaise, "Mate, you gotta to help me."

The tanned wizard reacted surprised, "How?"

"Come up with something, but let me have one last session with one witch. I need ten more minutes with her."

"A special someone?"

"Yes, Zabini, the special someone."

"Give me a sec." Blaise paced fast towards Hermione, Draco not far behind - within hearing distance. Blaise gathered all the others on his way; curious faces everywhere. "Granger, some of us would like to have a last talk with a certain number."

Pansy agreed, "I feel you, there are things I want to say to a certain wizard, we left things in a bad place."

Hermione pressed her fingers against her forehead, "How do we do this? I don't want to see a whole army again, my batteries are running low."

"We can suggest only those who we both want?" Hannah suggested, Blaise's question resonated with her too, wanting to speak with a specific wizard to confirm her first and second thought. "Hermione, can't you cast a charm…"

"Where only the wizard and witch meet each other, if both are in the yes-column and if they want to?" Padma finished. "One last moment."

"Blaise, care to do the honours and explain this to the masses, while I try a thing or two?" The idea alone gave her a headache. "I need to run the test with someone. Harry!"

"Yes?" He paced in his typical way.

"Do you have forty-nine on your yes list?"

He rolled his eyes, "Of course I do, I picked her out the first time and now…"

She grabbed Ginny by her arm, dragging her out to one of the cubicles, "Harry, tell me if you see something show up on your side of the divider." The result was more than satisfying.

She got intercepted by Ron, "I'm not staying, 'Mione. I have no reason."

"Why? What happened?

"Things have been said, I misjudged a witch."

"Ron, give it one last shot. She might surprise you. Do it for me…" Hermione's gut feeling said Pansy wanted to set a few things straight, thinking of Pansy's comment from a few seconds ago.

Blaise had by then finished talking, and a minority wished for a third round. "Okay, fellows, we go on this side of the curtain." The group separated just like this morning, "Granger, light up the numbers."

Numbers appeared randomly, pointing out where the wizard was expected. Places were taken, the new ten minutes began.

*Pansy*

"Sixty-six, you left before I could say some last words." She didn't want to waste time.

"I thought you've said all you had to say. It was evident to me." Pansy heard the puppy voice; she hurt him, deeply by the sound of it.

"Well, smart bloke, I hadn't. No, I don't want to peel potatoes or get my hands dirty. It feels nasty, it's smelly and so on. But, for the dirty jobs, there's magic to help, to avoid the dirty work. I want to try."

"Try what?"

"Try to make you happy with a nice home-cooked meal, dummy. I want you to give me a chance."

"You don't have to."

"Oh, bollocks, will you puh-lease give me a break, wanker? I just said I want to try!" You almost make me regret it, rat.

She could almost feel his breath, from the deep sigh he released, "Are you sure?" He sounds like I'm giving him a Christmas present.

*Hermione*

Her nerves were wound so tight, not even her known meditation tricks helped to find release. She missed a good chunk of chocolate, each second she waited felt like an hour.

"Ask me anything, thirty-seven."

She recognised his voice immediately, "What was your most embarrassing moment?"

Silence, clearing of a throat before he admitted, "Being punched by a girl in front of my friends."

She mumbled, "You deserved it."

"What was that?" Draco heard her just fine but wanted to listen to it again. She's into him.

"I said: how dare she?"

"Good question, witch. I might ask it the next time I see her." He chuckled, "And yours?"

"Oh, balls, really Mal-Eighty-four?" Between her huffing, she started to laugh, not only noticing her glitch but also thinking about her polyjuice accident. "Turning into a cat, during a polyjuice mishap."

"What?" Eyebrows hid under his fringe. That was new.

"I brewed polyjuice...but used the hair of a cat instead of the girl I wanted to…"

"Oh. Why the polyjuice?" Give me the goodies.

"We wanted to interrogate a git about a...hmm...room of secr… well, anyway, my friends did make him talk. The ferret didn't notice the change."

The ferret, eh? "You turned into a cat then?"

"Tail and ears included." She could laugh at it now, after all those years.

This story of hers needs to be continued, "You'll have to tell me more if we meet." He lowered his voice to ask her Blaise's favourite question. "Can I ask you something naughty?"

"Do I get a chance in return?"

"Agreed. Top or bottom?"

"Oh, that's a Blaise thing...you must be Slytherin alright." I refuse to accept the inevitable. My soulmate can't be Draco. "Let me think...being on top makes me have control over my lover, which has its perks. On the other hand, bottom means my lover can play the game, deeper or just the head, holding my leg in the air resulting in a different angle and its perks. No, no preference."

This was a game that demanded more than he expected at first. "Eighty-four, are you alright?" She bet he was all undone, imagining his physical reaction to her reply.

"I'm fine." Rasped answer.

"My turn." Is he blushing? A sex god should be able to handle some heat right? "Going down on your girl. Yes please or no thank you?"

He squeaked, drinking from the water glass at his side. Isn't Granger supposed to be a prude? "If she has kept her lady parts neatly trimmed, I enjoy giving my witch the ultimate pleasure. You know, right? Lapping at her entrance, sucking on her little nub, pressure with the thumb just the right way." Did she just moan right now?

Hermione rubbed her legs, his husky tone turned her on. The whispered comment unavoidable, "Sex god."

"What was that?" The bell chimed.

"Nothing, eighty-four. Nothing."

Draco's chest puffed, Consider it a draw.