A/N: HP and the HP universe are the property of JK Rowling and her assigns. All I own is my silly little plot.

WARNING: Lemon ahead. If you wish to skip it, you should read the first bit, and you will recognize quite clearly when it begins. You'll be safe to pick up again after the first break. (Horizontal line, new scene setting)

Beta: shealone, as always, is amazing

Acknowledgements & Dedications: This chapter contains a beautiful lemon. And I had a friend help me with it. And by "help," I mean, she wrote the lemon, I added about two or three sentences, and I edited a bit. So, to the lovely and fabulous Kiwiambrosia, you are WONDERFUL. Thank you, my sweet, imaginative, and talented friend. I must also thank the Sheriff for her brainstorming and suggestions - I couldn't do this without my wonderful friends!

To my lovely, lovely reviewers: Thank you for taking the time to read and review. I cherish each moment of cheerleading and encouragement I receive. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Those that aren't so lovely, well, I move on from them as quickly as possible and take what useful information I can from them.

Ch. 14

Friday, 6:30pm

Hogwarts

Hermione answered the knock at her door. Draco stood there looking perfectly at ease and Godric help her, he looked good enough to eat. Dark suit, striped shirt, dark tie. Hermione took a long, deep breath and slowly blew it out. He had his mind on impressing her tonight, she could tell.

His smile was slow and appreciative. "You look lovely tonight, Hermione, as always."

Hermione smiled as she looked down at her short black dress with sheer long sleeves and sequin accents. Was it her imagination or did his eyes linger on her legs? Maybe Daphne and Ginny knew what they were talking about with it came to fashion. "Thank you, Draco. You are handsome, as always."

He pulled a single, perfect rose from behind his back. "For you, milady," he said as he swept into a bow, handing it to her.

Hermione accepted the flower, placing a quick Preservation Charm on it. "It's lovely, Draco, I'll keep forever." She took his arm, and they moved into the hall. "Now, where are you taking me?"

"I thought we could make use of the Room of Requirement this evening. Our dinner is being served there."

They kept up a quiet discussion on the way. When they arrived, Blaise was standing guard by the entrance. "Drake," he greeted and gave Draco that universal chin jerk of acknowledgement. "Hermione, you look lovely. Have a good time." His slow grin made Hermione suspicious.

Hermione turned to watch Blaise walk away. "Why was he waiting out here?"

"He was keeping the room as I set it. And I'll return the favour tomorrow night. Come on in, beautiful." He opened the door and gestured for her to precede him inside.

Hermione entered a dimly lit room with a table set for two, a beautiful rug in front of the roaring fire. "Merlin, Draco. It's - perfect. I'm...I love it."

Draco immediately drew her into his arms and stroked the back of his hand softly down her face. "You know, I wanted to do something special for you; I thought about taking your to the beach in Greece or Fiji, or the Alps in Switzerland. One day, I will. For now, I've just got the Room of Requirement, so I settled for dinner in front of a fire. I hope you like it." He softly kissed her lips, sending tingles down her spine.

Pulling away from her, he gazed into her eyes. "You're so beautiful," he said and then abruptly shook himself as if to throw off a spell. He walked her over to her chair and held it out. "Please, have a seat."

Hermione settled down and, before he moved to his own seat, Draco swept her long curls to the side and placed a soft kiss on the back of her neck. Hermione stifled a moan.

Satisfied with her response, Draco straightened and made his way to his chair to pour wine for the both of them. "Tell me about your day."

After dinner, they moved to sit in front of the fire. Draco abandoned his jacket and waistcoat, loosening his tie. They both toed off their shoes and, while they were still fully dressed, there was something suggestive about being barefoot together; a small, shared intimacy. The room provided an ottoman for them to relax against while they stretched out on the soft rug. Hermione tucked herself under his arm and realised that she felt safe, cherished.

After a few minutes, Draco broke the silence. "I thought about reciting poetry to you, you know. Shakespeare or Marlowe. 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day' or something. Then I thought about Byron." He smiled at her as he mentioned the famous half-blood poet. "Then I thought about singing a song. I went through dozens. Then I remembered that I don't sing. But that doesn't mean we can't have music." In the background, Hermione heard the familiar croon of Harry Connick, Jr. "I have something for you."

"You didn't have to —" Hermione began.

"No, I didn't, but I wanted to. Now hush." Draco held out his hand and with a silent Accio, summoned a flat jeweled box tied with, of course, a green satin bow. Her smirk at the sight of the bow would have done Salazar proud.

The smirk turned into a gasp of shock and delight when she opened the box. The sapphire and diamond necklace and earring set perfectly complimented her engagement ring. The necklace, a circle of cushion cut sapphires and cluster set diamonds, was gorgeous beyond description. The pendant and earrings were just perfect for her wedding dresses. Just as Draco was starting to worry about her reaction, Hermione threw herself at him, arms around his neck, and crashed her lips into his. His eyes widened in surprise but fluttered closed as he pulled her even closer and deepened the kiss, massaging their tongues together. He slowly pulled back, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth and smiled when she moaned.

She slowly opened her eyes to meet his mercurial gaze. "Will you wear them for me? On our wedding night?" he asked.

Hermione nodded, still a bit shy. "Thank you. They are the most gorgeous things I've ever received, with my engagement ring." She looked at his shoulder where her left hand rested. "I never want to take it off."

"Then don't." Draco reveled in the possessive rush he felt when he thought about Hermione as his wife. He reached for the jeweled box. "Would you like to try them on?"

She presented him with her back and he draped the necklace around her throat. It looked even better than he had imagined with the pendant dropping perfectly in the vee of her neckline.

Feeling the necklace around her throat, Hermione wanted to see. "I need a mirror." A small mirror appeared on the floor beside her. "Oh! I forgot. The Room provides." Picking it up, she stared for a moment. "I don't even know what to say, Draco. I love it. But it's too much. I can't possibly accept these."

He thought she would like the set, but he had no idea how much. He couldn't wait to see her reaction to the rest of the Malfoy jewels. He wondered idly which would garner a bigger reaction, the main library or the jewel room. No, he knew the answer; the library would be her favourite part of being a Malfoy. A small smile tilted up the corners of his mouth. "Of course you can accept them. You are going to be my wife. Just like you can accept all the books I'm going to give you." He leaned forward and whispered her ear, "The main library at Malfoy Manor is the size of Hogwarts library. And we have the only copy of so many books. Ones you've never even seen."

Hermione whimpered, just a small sound, but it was enough.

Draco laughed. "Oh, Granger, you will gasp in delight at jewelry, you will moan when I kiss you, and you whimper when I tell you about the library. Have I told you how much I love . . . that about you?" he said, quickly changing the end of his sentence.

Hermione found herself. "Humph. You try fighting the most evil wizard in the world with only the school library at your disposal. And it's not like Harry and Ron were all that helpful. They couldn't even be bothered to read Hogwarts, A History." She arched her brows. "And thank you for the copy at my birthday, by the by. It is one of the most gorgeous editions I've ever seen."

"I'd wondered if you knew I gave that to you." Draco stroked an unruly curl and tucked it behind her ear. He followed the lock of hair and nibbled at her ear, tugging gently at her earlobe with his teeth.

"Ummm. Godric. I can't think." Hermione hummed with pleasure at Draco's ministrations to her ear. "There was something . . . I wanted to ask . . . uhhh."

"I can hear that brain of yours. Stop thinking, Hermione. Just enjoy this." Draco continued his assault on her senses, kissing down her neck. His hands drifted slowly upward to her breasts. Cupping one in each hand he brushed a thumb over her nipples.

Without warning, the small squeak of a moan Hermione was letting out, turned into a fit of giggles. "Seriously? 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight'?" She scrunched up her nose, making the most adorable face Draco had ever seen on her. "From 'The Lion King'?" Hermione's giggles morphed into a full-fledged laugh.

Draco shook his head and became aware of the music in the background, letting the lyrics wash over him for a moment. His mouth curved in a wicked smile. "Laughter, Miss Granger? I don't think this is funny. Not at all." His silver eyes darkened, pupils blown with lust. The rough grumble of his voice was doing things to Hermione. Her world felt like it had spun on its axis. "Definitely not the sounds I wish to hear from you."

Merlin, how he wanted to touch her. This dress was amazing; it accentuated all his favourite places, but she would be even more amazing without it. It would look perfect on the floor. He caught her smiling mouth again with his, nipping at her bottom lip, taking satisfaction in the exquisite noises she was making for him now. Putting his hand on her shoulder, Draco pushed her onto her back on the rug and lowered his body next to hers. He ran nimble fingers gently down her sides. He was going to do the honourable thing and wait until they were married to make love to her, but he wasn't going to deny himself — or her — the pleasure they could have together without committing to a final step.

"And what sort of sounds do you want to hear from me Mr. Malfoy?" Hermione asked breathily. Face flushed, chest heaving, slightly out of breath. She looked up at him with lidded eyes.

Merlin save him, how was he going to do this if she kept talking to him that way? Where was his innocent Hermione? His eyes flashed fiercely at the almost-challenge. Dipping back, he dragged his lips down her neck and began kissing along her collarbone, nudging the glittering sapphires of her necklace to the side with his nose. Little gasps fell out of her lips. The fingers of his right hand reached the hem of her dress and slowly started to walk their way up her thigh.

"Those will do nicely, Hermione." He all but growled into her neck, as she tried to push herself closer to his hand. His lips continued to travel downwards, nipping at the exposed flesh every so often. His other hand moved upward and gently pulled the fabric of her dress to either side, exposing bare shoulders.

Hermione shivered, but not from the cold. His tongue swiped a single lick just under the neckline of her dress. She squeaked out a moan, though she couldn't see it, she could feel his devious grin on her skin.

The fluid fabric made it all the easier to slowly slide the dress further up her legs. Her body tingled in anticipation as his fingers continued their slow walk. She was doing her utmost not to squirm beneath him. Moving from his assault on her skin, he reclaimed her lips just as his fingers found the edge of her knickers and he swallowed groan that escaped her throat. Their lips battled passionately as his fingers continued their journey upwards.

"My beautiful Hermione . . . I am going to make you scream for me."

The coarseness of his tone sent shivers down her spine, and his lips descended onto hers again, his tongue thrusting into her mouth in an imitation of the act they both so desperately wanted. She arched her back, pressing her breasts towards him. When did both of his hands get under her dress? She couldn't quite remember when that happened, but she wasn't going to argue. Still connected at the mouth, she lifted her bum, helping him in his quest to remove her knickers. Her mind was a blur of lips and moans, and the slow burn, fueled by his touch.

He dragged the small bit of silk down her legs agonizingly slowly and tucked them in his pocket. Knickers dealt with, he returned to his goal. Letting go of her lips, he looked down at her. Taking her all in, swollen lips, partly opened and sighing prettily. He could die a happy wizard if she would just keep looking at him like that.

"We can stop now if you want." He sounded breathless himself, and it was doing things to her.

Her knickers were already gone, and she was fully exposed from the waist down. Now was not the time for stopping. Shaking her head side to side, she tried to convey her need for him not to stop.

His eyes greedily drank her in. Draco had never seen anything more beautiful than his futurewife open for him. This sight was only for him; his eyes, his lips. His Hermione. Draco realised then that he would cheerfully destroy any wizard who tried to take her from him. He lifted his right hand almost reverently to stroke between her thighs. He licked his lips at the thought of tasting her, but would be too much tonight.

"Draco, please . . ." Hermione moaned, her eyelids fluttering closed.

"I'll take care of you, love . . . just stay there." He leaned down to kiss her again, hand pressing against her folds and then he sank a finger deeply into her. She gasped his name, which just served to harden him further. His beautiful wife-to-be, she was truly going to be the end of him.

She ached and burned. This feeling — this searing heat — it was so different from her own experimenting in the dead of night. He deliberately pushed her higher, using the heel of his palm to rub slow circles on her clitoris. Hermione felt the pleasure growing as he increased his speed. She felt the fire building in her veins as he stroked inside of her. They groaned in tandem as he added a second finger.

Sweet Salazar, she was wet. What he would give for just a taste . . .

"Oh-Dra-oh! Draco, please . . ." Hermione whined into the crook of his neck. She had a hand gripped tightly into the plush rug beneath her, the other gripped Draco's bicep, her nails digging slightly into the skin. She could feel the knot tightening in her belly. Bucking her hips gently into his hand, her leg brushed against the bulge in his trousers.

Draco had to let go of her lips to let out a strangled moan. Under him, Hermione mewled and panted as he curled his fingers towards him, searching inside her for that spot. He would make her scream his name. Honey brown eyes flashed open as Draco found what he was looking for. The loud moan that spilled from her lips filled the room. Stroking his ego, as much as he was stroking her.

Her muttering became nearly undecipherable, her eyes rolling back in her head as Draco doubled his efforts. He had moved back to her neck, kissing and drawing his tongue down the side of her throat. "I want to hear you Hermione. Don't be shy. Scream for me," he breathed into her ear.

She moaned again loudly, she was absolutely in heaven as he spoke to her. His words melding with the marvelous feelings in the pit of her stomach, helping to create the explosion Draco's fingers were seeking.

Bracing himself on his forearm, his left hand had inched forwards until his fingertips danced over the exposed skin of her shoulder. He traced the top of her bra with a finger, his grey eyes dark with passion and fixed on her face, hoping to watch her as she came undone. He pushed the slippery fabric of her dress further down her shoulders, but it could only go so far. In a split second decision, he mumbled a few words under his breath. The black fabric that had been blocking the view was gone, leaving her bare to him. "Oh, my beauty . . . shall we remove this too?" he said, brushing fingers against her strapless bra.

He hadn't stopped the movements of his right hand, bringing her closer and closer to something. Hermione had never felt like this before, she was nodding her head quickly. "Yes! Please! Oooooh . . ." she trailed off as her legs started to tremor slightly.

Stripping her bare to him, with more breathed words, his left hand trailed lightly down the side of her neck. Fingertips barely touched the jewels around her throat. The sapphires and diamonds glinting in the firelight; the elegant necklace the only thing left on her body.

His grin was feral as his hand continued downwards, brushing over the smooth skin of her breast. This woman was his, and Merlin be damned if she wasn't the most perfect creature he had ever laid eyes on. The fingers of his roaming hand quickly found a nipple and lightly tweaked and pulled at it, eliciting sounds from Hermione that he had never thought possible.

"Come for me Hermione," he leaned down to speak against her panting lips. Hovering over her, one hand grasping and toying with the little hardened nub while the other was moving so delightfully between her trembling legs.

She could feel his ragged breathing against her neck as she started to lose her grip on the world.

He ground his palm against her clitoris and pinched her nipple just a little harder. His fingers dug into her just that tiny bit deeper. Over and over, in and out, the tiny sting from her breast. She was sure she was going insane.

"Draco-Draco-Draco-Draco!" she called his name like a mantra; a prayer. Wherever he was taking her, she was going fast. Bucking her hips wildly into his furiously moving hand, keening with the need to jump off that edge.

"I told you to scream it," he growled into her ear.

She wasn't entirely sure what did it, the command or his fingers, but as soon as the words left his mouth she came shudderingly hard. "DRACOOOOO!" she screamed out, fulfilling his request of her. His name reverberated off the walls of the Room of Requirement.

She felt like her world had imploded on itself, all she could see was light behind her closed eyes. Arching her back off the rug, her skin felt like fire as she rode wave after wave of the best orgasm she had ever experienced. Nothing — absolutely nothing — she had done ever had hopes to coming close to this. Her entire body had locked up, frozen in place. Her fingers curled into claws, raking her nails harshly down the muscles of his back as she screamed his name.

He could swear she'd torn his shirt.

He buried his face in her neck as she came on his hand, licking and sucking, leaving his mark upon her. She was his, dammit. He would leave a love bite if he wanted to. This witch was going to be the death of him and he groaned as she clenched tightly around his fingers. Draco continued to press them against that spot she had seemed to enjoy so much until she slumped. The screams dying on her lips as she all but sunk into the rug with a contented sigh.

Sweet Merlin she was beautiful. Her eyes lazily opened to lock onto his. The drained and extremely satisfied smile on her face was something he was going to carve into his memory and keep in his Pensieve, to be remembered and re-lived forever. Her hair had fanned out behind her, her skin shone lightly with sweat. The crackling firelight gave her a delicate, almost ethereal glow. Lips parted, slightly panting as she lay there under him, trying to catch her breath.

His eyes roamed over her body, every inch available to him. He leaned down to whisper, "Beautiful," before claiming her lips once more.

Midnight

The Halls and the 8th Dorms

Hermione and Draco, arm in arm, wandered back to their dorm in the quiet castle. She was still feeling deliciously relaxed after their interlude in the RoR. Draco was feeling self-satisfied, but it wasn't because he was relaxed. He still had a . . . problem . . . to address tonight. The only reason he didn't drag her back to the seventh floor was because he had promised himself that he would wait to make love to her. There were only three weeks left; he could do it.

He remembered the news he received this morning; Hermione needed to know. "My mother is going to be home tomorrow. I was going to go visit her in the morning. I'll be back by tomorrow evening, though."

Hermione nodded. "It's getting close, the wedding I mean. Isn't it?"

"Thank Merlin, yes. I don't think I could wait much longer." Draco's frustration rang through in his reply.

"Draco, uhh . . . why are you so set on waiting? I mean, you, umm, you didn't, uh, finish tonight. Don't you want to?" Hermione finished the question in a rush.

Draco stopped short in the hall, dragging her to a halt. He pulled her left arm around so that they faced one another. "I have never wanted anything more in my life than I want to be with you; to be your husband." His eyes burned into hers. "You are a virgin. Do you know how special that is to me? To be the only man who will take you? To father your children? I want it to be right and I want to honour the fact that you've never given yourself to anyone." His grey gaze held her mesmerised. "I've done many things of which I am not proud, but I will do the honourable thing by you, Hermione. And I will try make up for every time I made you cry for the rest of my life. You have to believe that."

She did.

Their conversation took a lighter turn for the rest of the walk back to their rooms, Hermione laughing at the clothes the Room of Requirement gave her: a slightly too wide and slightly too short Hufflepuff robe.

"I know what you have on under those robes, beautiful, and I find that I'm rather fond of them."

Draco's leer caused Hermione to narrow her eyes. "And where exactly are my knickers, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco's eyes widened earnestly. "Your knickers? You couldn't find them? Huh. Did you look everywhere?" Just then, they arrived at their dorm. "Unitatas." The portrait swung open, and they walked in as Blaise was walking Parvati to her door.

Parvati took in Hermione's disheveled appearance with a single glance. She couldn't resist a smirk at the normally reserved and straightlaced Gryffindor. "What happened to your dress, Hermione? I don't think I've ever seen you in . . . what are those, Hufflepuff, robes?"

Hermione opened her mouth to retort but found she had nothing to say. All she could do was blush.

Earlier that night

Azkaban Prison

"Narcissa." Lucius's affection for his wife came through even with just the single word. They could not touch one another, of course. They were separated by wards that prohibited entry and exit from Lucius's cell.

"Lucius, darling. I am being released tomorrow. Our son has arranged for me to be home for a few weeks before the wedding so that I may recover and assist in the preparations." Narcissa tried to soften Lucius's attitude toward Draco, and by extension, his future wife.

A manic gleam appeared in Lucius's silver gaze. "Oh, yes. The wedding to a mudblood. I assume he has made arrangements to spend his wedding night at the Manor, so we may be rid of this . . . abomination?"

Narcissa paused, debating if she should tell him the truth, that the Manor had already accepted Hermione. "Well, no —"

"Why not, pray tell?" Lucius's voice was softly menacing, the mad sheen in his eyes intensifying.

Narcissa had not been sorted into Slytherin because she was needlessly bold. She recognised a lost cause when she saw one. So, she decided to lead with a partial truth. "It seems Miss Granger prefers to live elsewhere and refuses to stay in the Manor overnight. And as you know, Draco cannot force her, at least, not now."

"Tell the boy that he should take care to not sully the Malfoy line if he hopes to inherit. I will have no son if he dares breed with the Mudblood. I trust I have made myself clear, Narcissa, sweetling?"

"Of course, dear. I shall be sure he knows how you feel." After a few more minutes of conversation, Narcissa left to prepare to return home to the Manor. She had work to do when she arrived. Lucius could not be allowed to disinherit her child. It was unacceptable.

Saturday Breakfast

The Great Hall

A regal owl swooped down and landed in front of Draco, holding out his leg for Draco to detach a letter. After Draco gave him a bit of food from his abandoned plate, the owl gave a dignified hoot but remained, obviously waiting for a reply.

Dear Son,

I have arrived home from that horrible place. I am ready to help plan the wedding, and I look forward to your visit at your absolute earliest convenience. Please bring all plans with you when you arrive.

Regis knows to wait for your reply.

Your loving Mother.

Draco pulled a quill and parchment from his bag, scratched out a reply, but before he attached it Regis's leg, he turned to Hermione. "I'm going to see my mother this afternoon at home." He paused. "Would you like to come?"

After a moment of deliberation, Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so. This is the first time you've seen her in months; I think this needs to be between the two of you."

Draco knew she was right. And he wanted to make sure that his mother treated Hermione right when they did formally meet. It would be better for this to be a solo trip to the Manor. With that, he attached the letter to the owl's leg and watched as Regis flew away.

Saturday Afternoon

Malfoy Manor

Narcissa held Draco long and tight in a hug. Draco couldn't recall a more open display of affection from her since he was leaving for Hogwarts as a first year. "My son. My boy. I've missed you so much." Narcissa was voice broke, despite her best efforts.

"Mother." He didn't say anything more but held her even tighter and if he was blinking back tears of joy, then he would certainly say nothing of that, either.

After a few more minutes, Narcissa let Draco go. "Now, let us discuss more important things. Show me the wedding plans. Tell me of your Miss Granger."

Draco pulled out a folder with the basic arrangements for Narcissa's approval. After covering the wedding, talk turned to Lucius, his madness, and his plans.

Saturday Night

Hermione's Room

Hermione laid on her bed, staring at the canopy above, sorting through her thoughts. When Draco returned from visiting his mother, he seemed a bit withdrawn, so she wanted to give him time and space. And he was currently off guarding the Room of Requirement for Blaise. Draco had stopped by to let her know he was back from the Manor and to tell her he'd be by after Blaise and Parvati arrived for their date night.

Last night had been amazing. Hermione had not realised the heights to which her body could go with Draco only touching her with his hand. She shivered in memory. She could only imagine the wedding night, which was fast approaching. She knew what to expect, technically speaking, of course. But, if it was anything like last night, it far exceeded all her girlish expectations.

She groaned and pulled a pillow over her face. I think I'm falling in love with him. What am I going to do?