Hermione had never done anything so reckless in her life -and she had followed Harry and Ron around for years. But of course, that had been a mission to save the wizarding world while this...situation had been a personal vendetta that she had to see through.

And see through she did.

From the moment her dress had fallen in a graceful heap, Ginny's words had swarmed around her head. Don't be afraid to do something a little not you. If sleeping with a stranger in the middle of a public area on melting snow wasn't "not her" then she didn't know what was.

And yes, Draco Malfoy was a stranger. At least the version of him that had stolen all practically from her was.

Since the Battle of Hogwarts and before the historic school reopened its doors Hermione had seen him only once. It had been at his Ministry hearing. Harry was going to testify on his behalf, and although she had seen Ron's point about why "the ferret should rot in Azkaban with his father," she couldn't bring herself to wish that fate on him. Unlike his father, Malfoy had, although few, redeemable qualities about him that deserved a chance to blossom and be put to good use. Whether or not he would use his second chance at leading a good life wisely was, of course, up for question, but Hermione believed in second chances. Were it not for those chances, people like Sirius would remain behind bars. People like Snape wouldn't have the chance to leave a positive mark in the world. A world without chances was cruel, and so she had been happy when the Wizengamot had let Malfoy go. As the courtroom began to disperse, Malfoy, apparently still shocked at the outcome of what he thought would be a death sentence, had looked up into the stands and caught Hermione's eye. She had given him a subtle nod of encouragement and then left, never seeing him again.

That was three years ago.

In those three years she hadn't thought of him and had no reason to. She had occupied her time with post-war tasks –rounding up Deatheaters on the run, heading up a research team to find concrete evidence that would stick before the Wizengamot, aiding the organization of cleanup teams to help restore ransacked towns, and a whole host of other things. With Kingsley as the new Minister of Magic, Hermione had become an unofficial Ministry employee –floating between Departments and putting her talents to use wherever they were needed.

And then Hogwarts was finally restored and admitting students. Professor McGonagall, the new Headmistress, had written personal correspondences to her, Harry, and Ron at the start of the summer saying that if they wanted, they were more than welcome to return. "Although you seem to have settled wonderfully into adulthood," she had added fondly. For her friends there had been no need, but they eagerly replied saying that they would be there on the first day to view the opening of the castle's doors and to watch the First Years get sorted. Hermione could have very well written back the same, but instead she had said, "See you for the academic year, Professor."

Yes, now that three years had gone by everything had properly settled down. And yes, after demonstrating her skills and aptitude she had official job offers of Auror, Judicial Advocate, Junior Misuse of Magic Case Manager, and Senior Magical Researcher waiting for her. But even then, Hogwarts was still calling her home. So she went. Although Ginny was yet another person who was firmly set in adult life, she opted to return to Hogwarts with her –more out of friendship than anything else.

For that Hermione had been more grateful than she thought she would. Sure, there were a few (emphasis on few) students who had come back to complete the year they'd missed –years for those who had opted out of their sixth as well. But even then, the faces she had seen when she had entered the school weren't recognizable enough to feel the kind of camaraderie she had with Harry and Ron or Ginny. She had felt, oddly enough, out of place.

Despite still looking the same, Hogwarts felt new. New students. New teachers. New...life. Being back after all that time had somehow let her know, for a fact, that her childhood had been buried beneath the rubble that was the Battle of Hogwarts. It didn't help either that Draco Malfoy had come back to finish out his schooling too.

How utterly shocked she had been when she saw him. Ginny had been too. The whole school really –even the teachers. And no one had been discreet about it. The combined whispers had given way to a low rumble that swept the Great Hall. The stares –no the harsh glares that people were giving him could be felt. It had been a nightmare.

And that night she even had one. It had been at least a year since the last time she had woken in a panicked frenzy, only to be calmed down by one of her friends at her bedside. All of her war-inflicted wounds had healed, but her mental state had had a hard time adjusting to not sleeping in forests and not having to be constantly vigilant because she was on the run. Seeing him had brought back everything she'd repressed as though the war was still happening. And so, as the school year began and days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Hermione had kept her distance from him.

Until last night.

She couldn't for the life of her understand why she hadn't recognized him. His voice was the same. His eyes were the same. His body had filled out some than when he was in school, but it was still undeniably Malfoy. But it was his actions. No, she hadn't expected him to whip out his wand and start shooting Cruciatus Curses at her, but she still hadn't expected him to be the one behind such sensual and fulfilling affection. It held care, sensitivity, yearning, and patience. He had treated her as though she was a precious object and Hermione could only conclude that her insatiable curiosity was what had urged her to see things through. She had already gone down the rabbit hole. What harm could it have done to dig it deeper?

All of this Hermione thought of as her drowsiness turned to awareness. She was in the Room of Requirement with him and she had no idea how long they'd been there. She absolutely dreaded the walk of shame she'd be doing on her way back to her House. What she dreaded more was the awkward looks and conversation that was sure to follow the complete opening of her eyes.

When she did, she willed herself not to mentally jump back in time to awful memories. Instead she focused on his eyes and his lips, not to mention his hands wrapped around her lower torso.

"Hello," Hermione said softly.

"Hello," Draco replied just the same.

And there it was. The awkwardness that followed when sleeping with someone you had no business being with in the first place. Hermione slowly sat up, and Draco regrettably let his hands fall away from her and settle neatly onto his lap as he followed suit.

"Do… Do you know what time it is?" She asked him.

No, and I don't want to know. Draco thought bitterly, but her request was answered by the room itself as a grandfather clock appeared by the wall in front of them. It read noon.

Buggering hell. We've been in here that long? Hermione chided herself. Draco had been surprised by the time too, but he was much better at suppressing his emotions than she was.

"I should go." Hermione said suddenly. "My friend-"

"The Weasley girl," Draco named.

Hermione faltered some at that, but quickly recovered with a quiet "yes," followed by the clearing of her throat. "She's probably been all over the castle looking for me by now."

Draco nodded in comprehension and watched as she stood, her white dress clinging to get body just as beautifully as it had last night. His lungs constricted at the thought that they were moments away from putting their night behind them. To avoiding each other in the halls. To catching each other's eye from a distance but never coming any closer than that. He wanted to say something, anything before she left, but his mouth was unable to voice what his brain has already laid out for him.

Hermione was at the door now, her hand on the knob, but she didn't turn it. She stood there for Merlin knew how long, still as a statue, and embarrassingly attracting the blond's attention.

"What is it?"

Hermione didn't face him. With her eyes settled on the door she sighed and said, "Students will be heading to lunch now and...I'm still wearing my dress."

What exactly would his response be to that? Did her statement even elicit one? The silence was unbearable and it seemed to be mocking her. Just as she was about to trudge forward and face the consequences head on she gasped.

Draco had gotten up from the sofa that they had slept on and walked up behind her. She felt expensive robes fall onto her shoulders and then soothing hands following the path of her arms down to her hands.

It was instinctual on her part to intertwine them and Draco let her.

"Better?" He asked in a whisper. It took all the willpower Hermione had not to visualize the movement of his lips as he said the word.

"Yes, thank you."

"My pleasure,"

Damn.

She turned around then, just in time to see the end of the pucker that finished off "pleasure." And by Merlin did it give her that very sensation. Draco regarded her with a hidden amusement at the flushing of her skin.

"You must never say that word to me ever again." Hermione said quickly. Draco tilted his head.

"What word?"

She didn't answer, nor did she have to. He did a rapid vocabulary intake of what he'd recently said as a precursor to her reddening skin, and all at once the wicked Slytherin rose within him and Draco smirked.

"You mean 'pleasure?'"

Hermione's skin flushed on command and he felt his own twitch of desire as she did.

Draco chuckled sweetly. "No promises."

Her skin must've resembled a beet by now –especially because her imagination had taken over and filled her head with all the compromising positions that word could lead to.

Hermione swallowed. "I really do need to go."

Draco nodded. "If you have to."

She didn't have to. She needed to. And so she left, clinging Draco's robes to herself tightly, realizing along the way that it smelled not only of him, but of her too.

Author's note: You guys are amazing :). Thanks for all the great reviews, follows, favorites, and simply just for reading!

Now, as for the story –Draco in particular. Can you just imagine his innocent yet mischievous face as he taunts Hermione with the word "pleasure?" It was honestly the highlight of my day writing that.

-WP