A/N: Enjoy my dears!

Chapter 5:

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Whispered the shocked brunette; as the icy blonde, in the doorway, shouted the same thing.

Hermione stood with her jaw dropped at the sight of Draco Malfoy in her room.

Malfoy recovered first, "Quit gaping Granger, its hardly becoming; however, the better question is, why are you in the manor of two of the most well-known Death Eaters … alive?"

Hermione sputtered and stared at him in a combination of horror, anger and shock.

Finding her voice at his mention of 'Death Eaters,' she flashed her eyes and replied scathingly, "Its Lestrange now Malfoy, well technically Potter – but hopefully that will be wiped from the board by the end of the week."

Now Draco was the one gaping, "You're a … a … you marr … what?!"

Hermione smirked, "A lot has changed since your failed attempt on Dumbledore, no? So where've you been Malfoy? Hiding out in gutters? Afraid of repercussions?" Now Hermione certainly didn't think that was the case; he was dressed in some sort of Asian garb and looked taller and more muscled than even before. Then looking at his face, she took two steps back, noticing his furious gaze and how he was practically prowling towards her. Gods, Malfoy was no boy anymore! Wait, did I just think that?! Gah, he's too close!!

Shite! Offense is the best defense!!! She wracked her scattered brain for something, hearing his voice for the first time in years had her all over the place, long-subdued memories flooded her brain and the earlier voice from the hallway clicked. He was here to meet his father … wait, why the hell was he in the family quarters?!

"Why are you up here Malfoy? Aren't you due in the library?"

He glared at her and muttered, "I normally nap after a meeting and you seem to be in my room …"

He was now looming over her, bending so his 6'5" could match her 5'5". He was furious over the insinuation, that once again he was a coward – if only people knew the bloody truth. Gods, her lips are so full and when she bites her the lower one like that, Merlin! Did I just think that?! Wait, is she staring at my lips? Well, maybe …

And with that last thought, he pressed his lips to hers softly, shocked at the jolt that frissoned through both him and her. Spurred on by her soft whimper and arms creeping up his bicep, he pulled her lower back to him and angled her head. He stroked his tongue across her lips, causing her to gasp and open slightly. Taking advantage, he thrust his tongue against her own, just as he ran a hand down her thigh, grabbed the back of her knee and brought it up, bringing her intimately against him. Shocked by the sudden closeness, Hermione jumped back. Both were panting heavily and simply staring into each others eyes.

Screw it! they both thought.

Hermione pushed Draco up against the wall and thrust her hands into his hair. He ran his hands under her shirt and brushed the undersides of her breasts. She shivered at the contact and arched against him. They were drowning in the feeling of their rubbing skin and the rightness of the feeling. As Draco pulled her shirt off, Hermione gasped at the cold air hitting her skin and stepped back. Her mind finally catching up with the fact that she was kissing Draco Malfoy, enemy-extraordinaire, the day she split with her husband.

"Mal … Draco … I can't do this, not right now. I'm sorry …I'm so sorry."

With that, she softly took her shirt from him, put it back on, brushed past him and having left a note with a House Elf for her Mother, she apparated away to the twins apartment above their store.

Immediately engulfed in two pairs of arms, Hermione began to sob against the twins. She was tired and confused and didn't know what the hell was wrong with her. How could she do that?!

"I just need to forget," she sobbed.

The twins looked at each other's faces and nodded silently. They picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, where many nights before her marriage to Harry had been spent with the three of them simply crying and comforting each other for the lost innocence of their world, the death of Ron, and their wish for a better tomorrow.

In the early morning light, Hermione could no longer pretend that everything was alright. Her life had collapsed around her and she now had to pick up the pieces. She glanced at the two twins still asleep on the bed and grinned. Even in sleep they were goofy, George's mouth was twitching in tempo with Fred's left eye. She shook her head and slipped out of bed. The two on the bed groaned at the loss of body heat and curled up to each other. Uncannily, George opened his right eye and Fred opened his left to glance at Hermione. She sighed, "I have to go you two, time to face the music as it were. You guys be careful and if a stray event or two happens, say hello the host if you will?" With that puzzling statement, she winked and apparated away.

The twins traded glances, shook their heads and closed their eyes. Since Ron had died, the three had become extremely close. Never in a sexual way – it just felt weird, but they understood each other on a deeper level than was normal with regular friends. Fred and George hadn't questioned Hermione's parentage and had simply made a crack that they sure wouldn't want to tick off her dad!

As Hermione walked into the lounge with her awaiting mother and grandmother, she sighed, looking at their gleeful faces and muttered, "Let the games begin."

A/N: So I wonder what Draco is thinking … and what was up with that cryptic sentence to the twins?! We shall see …