Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. I just happened to come up with the plot for this ship. All credit to J.K for her amazing universe that she allows us to play in.

Warning: Rated M. Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead.

Grammarly is my Beta, all mistakes are mine.

Music is my Muse

This chapters song: All Of The Stars, Ed Sheeran
Lyric of choice:
So open your eyes and see, the way our horizons meet.


Aftermath

"I am not always kind, defiantly not good…but I will be everything you need me to be when we finally do shag, kitten."

Chapter Sixteen
A Helpful Draco

The next week was hard on Hermione, she was rather more upset by the 'Arab Incident' than she had expected and her boss was stifling with his apologies and hovering sickly sweet questions about her well being. And then there was Theo, the ever constant Theo, who was driving her batty with his fit body and sweet words.

They hadn't brought up what he had whispered to her that night nor had they re visited the subject of her innocence. They were both studiously avoiding talking about the fact that they were probably very much in a relationship, not just a friendship.

Theo apparently could avoid a subject as well as Hermione could. They met for lunch every day, they ate dinner with Tuily, and they visited with Draco every other night. That prat had made himself a rather permanent fixture at Theo's town home. They even went to dinner with Ginny and Harry, with Blaise showing up for drinks afterward. And every night she curled around him and slept with his arms and his scent surrounding her.

By the second week after his comments in the library, she was pretty sure she was going to spontaneously combust of unrequited lust.

She was having lunch with Ginny today since Theo had a delivery of plants coming into the shop today that he wanted to inventory himself, not trusting this particular dealer to not short him something. Ginny was grinning at her shaking her head. "You still haven't shagged that man?"

Hermione flinched and then frowned at her friend. "Ginny it's not all about that."

Ginny nodded. "Oh I know, it's also about trust, respect, companionship, desire, friendship, an undeniable bond." Ginny tapped her chin her eyes twinkling. "All things you happen to have with this man!"

Hermione slouched in her chair. "Yes, but he hasn't even tried to kiss me good night! Maybe he isn't interested-"

Ginny cut her off. "Bullocks. He is very interested. You are just going to have to make the first move."

Hermione felt her face go bright pink. "I can't," she whispered hoarsely.

Ginny shook her head at her friend and slouched as well but suddenly she sat up a wide smile on her face. "Malfoy!"

Hermione sat up and spun around her eyes narrowing at the tall blond man slinking their way with a smirk on his handsome face. "Ah, and what are you two lovely lionesses doing at my favorite restaurant this fine afternoon?"

Ginny snorted and gestured for him to sit down. "Having lunch, but bugger that, why hasn't Theo jumped Hermione this week?"

Hermione gasped in outrage and looked at her best friend horrified. "Ginny!"

Draco chuckled and waved over the waiter. "Ginny, I want to apologize for all the horrible things I have said about you in the past. You are a gem, a remarkable gem of a woman."

Ginny waved at him unfazed by his ostentatious flattery. "Yes, yes, I know this already. Let's stay focused here, why isn't he shagging her?"

Hermione buried her head in her hands and groaned in mortification. "I am going back to work."

Draco's hand shot out to keep her in her seat. "Oh no you don't, Granger. I want to know why you aren't shagging my friend as well. Clearly, we should be past all this nonsense."

Ginny was nodding. "Exactly what I was saying! It's so obvious they are dating and want each other, what on earth is wrong with them?"

Hermione was looking between the two rather horrified. "Why are we talking about this?" She asked desperately.

Draco shrugged. "The lovely Mrs. Potter brought it up." He said and then he smirked and added. "I find it to be a stimulating discussion for lunch, actually."

Ginny laughed while Hermione glowered at him. "You would you creep, however, I am not discussing my sex life in the middle of-"

Ginny interrupted her. "No, you are not, because you don't have one!"

Draco gave a soft snort and then frowned at her. "All joking aside Granger, if you are not interested in the man that way, really you should say so."

Hermione went pale and Ginny said. "She is! She was just whining that he isn't making a move. She thinks he isn't interested."

Draco gave Ginny a bored look and then looked at Hermione with a raised eyebrow. "Really, Granger? Haven't we already gone over this, multiple times? Nott wants you, he's mad for you, he'd shag you into next week." He turned to Ginny, "his words exactly over dinner, consequently."

Ginny laughed but then frowned. "But?"

Draco shrugged. "But that depends on her telling him it's allowed. He isn't going to push her, especially if she's twitchy about it. Not his style."

Ginny deflated a bit and then nodded going back to eating her salad and then she glared at Hermione. "Are you a Gryffindor or not, Hermione Granger? You want that man desperately. I want you to get up, walk over to his store, and tell him to rock your socks."

Hermione gasped. "Ginny!"

Ginny smirked shrugging. "So ask him to take you away on a romantic getaway if you are not up to the desk shagging yet."

Hermione face lit up for a moment before she groaned and went deep red as Draco nodded saluting Ginny with his wine glass. "Brilliant plan, very Gryffindor indeed."

Ginny shrugged as Hermione looked at them in panic. "I can't just walk in and tell him that," she hissed at them.

Draco gave her an odd look. "I assure you he won't mind, Granger. If I know Nott he knows exactly where he would like to take you for a week of nothing but shagging." He looked over at Ginny and said obnoxiously. "Slytherin after all, he has a plan, I am sure. He is just waiting to know that he isn't going to be gilded for implementing it."

Hermione threw up her hands as Ginny started laughing, realizing she that these two would keep this up indefinitely she stood up and grabbed her purse. "You two are ridiculous with all your Gryffindor and Slytherin. This is my life, not some silly house rivalry."

Draco just looked at her as Ginny continued to laugh and Hermione decided that staying to lecture them on how absurd they were being was probably not going to help her at all either, neither of them would listen to her anyways.

OoOOoooOOooOOooO

Theo looked up as Draco strolled into his office and sank down into a chair where he perused his nails in boredom. "Need a job?" Theo asked in annoyance.

Draco chortled. "No, thank you."

Theo rolled his eyes and went back to working on his inventory ledger. "So then to what do I owe this visit, Malfoy?"

He watched as Draco leaned back closing his eyes looking every inch the bored aristocrat. "Just came from lunch with your lovely intended."

This got Theo's attention. "She isn't my intended you prat, and she was going to lunch with Ginny, you weren't invited."

Draco shrugged unconcernedly. "I happened upon them and the lovely Potter chit invited me to join them."

Theo felt a half smirk pull at his lips. "Of course she did."

Draco nodded cracking an eye open. "I like her by the way. Devilish woman, I am sure she runs circles around poor Potter."

Theo nodded looking back at his paperwork. "She does," he said his tone matching his friends. Eventually the ass would get around to why he was bothering him at two in the afternoon on a Tuesday.

Draco made a small grunt and then said casually. "They were discussing your lack of prowess in bed over her salad-"

Theo looked up glaring cutting him off. "I beg your pardon?"

Draco's eyes flashed his amusement as he nodded not bothering to sit up. "Indeed. Apparently, Granger was complaining that you lack commitment to her person."

Theo sucked in an outraged breath but also worked to calm his temper, chances were Draco was perverting this in some way to rile him up. He highly doubted Hermione would be so crass as to be ever discussing his prowess in bed in a restaurant. Now Draco and Ginny…

"So I told her that if you won't seal the deal I would be happy to." Draco said with a smirk.

Theo tossed down his quill and shook his head rubbing his forehead. "Is she running off with you then mate?" He asked calmly, simply because he knew it would greatly annoy Draco that he wasn't rising to the bait.

Draco grunted. "I think I will book a weekend to our Villa in France. Lovely place to get your cherry popped."

Theo picked back up his quill and worked to not show how annoyed he was by this conversation. "If you say so."

Draco nodded. "Hmm, I told her to drop me an owl with her first available weekend."

Theo snorted. "Malfoy, she wouldn't fuck you if you were the last man on earth."

Draco stood up smirking at his friend. "It is true that she would prefer to fuck you, but apparently you are not interested." Draco tapped his chin his face showing false intrigue. "I wonder how long she will wait before someone else can lure her away to show her the many pleasures of the carnal variety?"

Theo leaned back crossing his arms over his chest glaring at his best friend. "Are you quite finished?"

Draco gave him a wide smile. "Yes, I suppose so."

Theo sat up. "Then out with it, you wanker."

Draco laughed and then said. "Surprisingly, she is very interested Theo but too shy to make the first move. She is back to thinking you are not interested in her."

Theo rolled his head in exasperation. "Merlin that witch is going to drive me mad. How could she possibly think that?"

Draco shrugged moving towards the door. "Your witch, Theo. Figure it out. Oh and when Ginny told her to tell you to take her away for a romantic getaway her whole face lit up with excitement before it went bright red with embarrassment."

Theo considered this thoughtfully before he said. "Ginny? Since when do you call Potter's wife Ginny?"

Draco smirked. "Well as she pointed out she isn't a she weasel anymore and it pains me to have to call her Potter. Truly devious witch; should have married a Slytherin."

Theo nodded a bit absent mindedly. "So you think I should play my hand?"

He watched as Draco paused and then said. "I think you're a damn fool if you don't."

Theo sighed and then waved his mate out. "Get lost; you've caused enough trouble for one day."

Draco gave him a cheeky grin. "Well then, my work here is done, and you are very welcome you prat!"

OooOoooOooOOooO

Theo snorted at that and then leaned back as he considered what he wanted to do next. Perhaps it was time to have a talk with Hermione, in a rather romantic setting that was. Ambiance was key, he had been considering this for awhile now. Perhaps Draco was right and it was time to make his move, if you will.

"Tuily!"

The elf popped in with a wide smile. "Yes, Master Theo?"

Theo smiled at her and leaned forward, he knew where he wanted to take Hermione, but he wanted the little elf's opinion. "If I wanted to take Hermione away for a romantic weekend, where would you suggest we go?"

Tuily's eyes went wide and she shivered with excitement. "Oh Master Theo! I heard her just the other day saying that she wanted to go to the sea side."

Theo smirked and sat back, just as he thought. "So our property in Normandy?"

Tuily nodded happily and said. "I will make sure the elves make it ready." And then the elf was gone her smile contagious.

Theo grabbed parchment and sent an owl to his cousin. It was about time to get his witch some time off. He finished the rest of the day whistling happily, his employees hiding their smirks at their very happy boss. Before he left his cousin had gotten back to him letting him know that Hermione could have next week off.

Theo floo'd home to tell Tuily. A Slytherin was about to make his move and the little Gryffindor wouldn't know what hit her.


Notes:
The below note is left in to remind me where I was at in life when writing this chapter. I survived the surgery very well. :)

Important:
I have surgery this week and will be hospitalized. I will do my best to write ahead if I am not high on pain medications. :)

I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you again for all the support. I adore reviews, in case you were not aware.