A/N:

Ok, so here's the next chapter. Sorry it took so long, but I'm a Mommy, so sometimes things get backed up a bit. All is well now, though. A big thank you to my Beta, Sam! And as for the rest of you, enjoy!

hphphphphphphphphphp

Oh Merlin. How was she going to explain this to Ron and Harry when she didn't even understand it herself?

She tore herself out of Draco's grasp and jumped down from the counter.

"Ron! You're back!" She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck, not noticing the sneer that immediately settled on Draco's face.

"Hermione, you have to come quick. Harry's lost a lot of blood, and he needs healing fast! Do you have any Blood Replenishing Potion?" Ron asked hurriedly as he grabbed her arm and led her from the room. He glared back at Draco. "We'll discuss this after Harry is alright."

Hermione didn't like the implications in his tone. It wasn't like Ron was her Master. He didn't own her. She could do whatever she pleased! It hadn't worked out between her and Ron and everyone knew that he was taking up with Lavender Brown whenever they were at a Safe House together.

They entered the Drawing Room to see Remus Lupin and Tonks hovering over Harry. Harry looked deathly pale and was shaking slightly. Hermione rushed over to him and reached into the beaded bag that was never far from her side for some Blood Replenishing Potion. She handed the potion to Tonks and started waving her wand over Harry's wounds, which immediately started knitting themselves back together. After a few minutes, Harry's color had started to return, and he was able to sit up.

"Harry? How are you feeling?" Hermione asked gently, taking his hand in hers.

"Like I just got run over by a truck." At this, Hermione laughed softly, but the others just looked at them in confusion.

"What? What's that?" Ron demanded. "Are you alright, or not?" He had a panicked look on his face and he was holding his wand as if they might be attacked any minute.

"Relax, Ronald. It's a Muggle saying. It means he feels like hell, but he'll live," Hermione explained, setting everyone in the room at ease. She handed Harry a glass of water and turned to Ron. "So, what happened?"

"We ended up finding the Diadem at the Orphanage, but when Harry destroyed it, it exploded and blew us both backwards. I wasn't very close, but Harry was right beside it and he went flying through a window." Ron had a few bruises forming as well, but didn't look too worse for wear.

"So you destroyed it then?" Tonks spoke up from her seat on the armchair. Remus was speaking quietly into the fireplace, informing the Weasley's of Harry and Ron's return. "Now there's only the final two, then Voldemort himself."

Harry nodded, a combined look of both relief and anxiety etched in his emerald eyes. "Right, we need to figure out how to get to Nagini, and then… me."

"We'll figure everything out," Remus said, rejoining the group. "But as for right now, let's get you guys fed and in bed. You need to rest up to be in any shape to continue fighting." He reached for Tonks' hand and they all stood to leave the room. "Molly and Ginny said to tell you that they will be here tomorrow morning, bright and early. Ginny was fit to be tied when Molly told her to let you rest, but her silence afterwards makes me think you should be expecting a visitor in an hour or so," Remus finished, winking at Harry over his shoulder.

Hermione led Harry and Ron into the kitchen where she started pulling leftovers out for them and warming them up with her wand. Malfoy was nowhere to be seen; he must have retreated to his room with his tea after the boys had returned. She set the two plates in front of her friends and grabbed them each a Butterbeer from the refrigerator. She sipped on her Butterbeer while the boys ate in silence for a few minutes before Ron finally spoke.

"So what the hell was that between you and Malfoy?" he said, shooting a glare her way.

"It was nothing, Ron. Don't worry about it," she replied, hoping to avoid this conversation all together.

"Nothing?" Ron snorted. "It looked like you two were shagging right there on the countertop!"

At this, Harry spat a mouthful of Butterbeer out and looked at Hermione incredulously. "What? No. Hermione wouldn't have anything to do with Malfoy. Not that way. Right, Hermione?"

Hermione looked down and played with the cap of her Butterbeer. "Well, er... I, um... I didn't mean for it to go so far..." She looked up at the boys again, nervously chewing on her bottom lip.

Harry just raised his eyebrows, but Ron flew into a rage. "You didn't mean for it to go so far? How far were you meaning for it to go? What were you doing with him anyway? He's a Death Eater!"

"He is not a Death Eater, Ronald. He fights with us now, or have you forgotten that Voldemort wants to kill him and his parents?" Hermione was livid. She didn't know how to answer Ron's questions; she hadn't had any time to think about what had happened between her and Malfoy. She didn't know how she felt about his unexpected confession and even more unexpected actions, or her reaction to said actions… "I believe that he's... changed. He saved me Ronald; that has to count for something. We need all the help we can get to finish this and it would help if you'd start being a little nicer to the people that are on our side!"

"Like you, Mione?" he spat her nickname like it left a bad taste in his mouth. "Do you think I should go around whoring myself to everyone who decides to fight with us? Maybe that way we'll get a better outcome!" Ron had jumped out of his seat and was screaming in her face.

"Enough, Ron," Harry finally spoke up. "You will never talk to Hermione like that again. Why don't you go up to your room, and take a shower and calm down. I want to talk to Hermione alone."

Ron glared at Hermione one last time and sulkily left the room, grumbling all the way.

Once the door had shut, Hermione turned to Harry and spoke quietly. "It wasn't the way it sounds, Harry. It wasn't planned, and we only kissed. I don't even really know how it happened. One minute we were talking, then the next… well… we…" Hermione trailed off, not really wanting to give Harry the dirty details. "I'm sorry." She looked at Harry with pleading eyes, willing him to understand.

"Hermione, it's okay. It's not as big a deal as Ron is making it. He's just jealous and can't get over his hatred for the Malfoys. But I get it. In fact, Ginny and I have talked about this before."

"You… You have? What do you mean? This just happened tonight. " Hermione was confused. Harry wasn't mad? And he talked about it with Ginny before?

"First of all, that night on the Astronomy Tower, I could tell that Malfoy didn't want to do it," Harry began, and Hermione took his hand in hers in silent comfort because she knew he hated talking about that fateful night. "I could tell that he was so scared, so alone. And right before all hell broke loose, Dumbledore had talked him down. He wasn't going to do it. Dumbledore offered him his protection, his trust, and if Dumbledore saw the good in him, then I trust him too."

"One night shortly after Malfoy joined the Order, Ginny and I saw him watching you while you were reading. He had this look of longing in his eyes that made me almost pity him. He looked like a child that had been given a puppy, but was told he wasn't allowed to play with it. Ginny told me that she saw him look at you that way often, even at school, and she thought you two would be very compatible if you could ever get past your differences. Now I see why he left to rescue you as soon as we found out where they were holding you. You know, the entire time you were gone, Malfoy seemed so on edge, and I thought it was because he felt guilty on some level for treating you so badly for all those years; but now I understand. Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly pushing for this to happen; I still think he's a bloody git, and if he ever hurts you, I'll make Voldemort look like a playful kitten compared to what I'll do to him. But as for now, I agree with you. I think he has changed and if you want to take a chance with him, I'll support you. And don't worry about Ron. I'll take care of him." Harry finished his little spiel with a small smile and Hermione flung herself into his arms.

"Oh, Harry! You really are the best friend a girl could ever ask for! I really don't know what I'm going to do about this situation, but knowing you'll support me… I just really appreciate it, you know?" She leaned her head on his shoulder and whispered, "I love you, Harry."

Harry pressed a kiss to her forehead, and whispered back, "I love you too, Hermione." He squeezed her in a gentle hug. "We should get to bed. I still feel like hell and Mrs. Weasley will have a fit if I don't look up to par at breakfast tomorrow." He took her hand, and led her up the stairs towards their respective bedrooms. At her door, he gave her hand a squeeze, and said goodnight.

She walked into her room, closing the door behind her, and sat down on her bed. Thoughts of Malfoy and what had happened came crashing back into her mind. She couldn't deny the fluttering feeling that she got in her tummy when she thought about his kiss, his hands touching her where no one had ever touched her before, or the way his voice had sounded so sexy when he was talking about the things that he wanted to do to her.

She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye and the man that was currently occupying her thoughts stepped into the dim light of the candle lit by her bed. His platinum blond hair glowed brightly like a halo in the moonlight, giving him the appearance of some dark, fallen angel.

"Finally, Granger. Shall we pick up where we left off?"

"What do you want now, Malfoy?" Hermione stood and backed up a bit, moving closer to the wall furthest from him. She still wasn't sure what she should do about this whole situation. She couldn't just give in to this… attraction, that they seemed to have between them, could she? She believed that he had changed; saving her had proven that tenfold. And even though Harry had said he thought Malfoy had wanted her for a while, it was extremely sudden to her and she was afraid she was going to jump into something that she would later regret. However, as he stood before her in the moonlight, looking sinfully handsome, she found herself unable to remember why she had doubts in the first place.

"I think I made it perfectly clear what it is that I want earlier, didn't I? Shall I remind you?" Draco stepped closer to her and awarded her a predatory smirk when she took another step back and found herself flush against the wall. His 6'4 frame towered over her much smaller 5'3 one, making her feel tiny and delicate. He pressed himself against her and ran his hands slowly down her arms. When he got to her wrists he gripped them firmly and looked down into her eyes while he slowly raised her arms, pinning them with one hand to the wall above her head. Still looking into her eyes, he trailed his free hand back down her arm and cupped her cheek softly. "I want to make love to you," he kissed her lips. "I want to fuck you," he bit her neck. "And everything in between." His tongue came out and soothed the spot where he'd just bitten. "I want to hear you scream my name as you are coming around my cock. I want to hold you as you shake with pleasure, and then hear you beg for me to do it again."

For once in her life, Hermione was unable to think; her body was taking over and all it wanted right now was for Draco to sooth the foreign ache that was accumulating deep in her belly. She'd never felt this way about anyone else; there seemed to be something pulling her towards him, kind of like a magnet. She tentatively lifted her lips to his and kissed him softly, at first, but Draco pulled her closer and deepened the kiss, inwardly rejoicing in the fact that finally, this beautiful witch was actually kissing him and letting him touch her. She would finally be his. He had waited so long for this, thinking that it would never happen. She was the epitome of good, and whether he wanted to be or not, he was the poster boy for evil. But, in punishing him for the failure of killing Dumbledore, Voldemort had unknowingly given Draco a second chance; a second chance at life, and possibly love, with people who were dedicated to good, and to making the Wizarding World a better place. He would do things right this time, starting with Hermione. He would show her the side of him that no one else knew existed. He could tell that she was nervous, so he would take it slow with her; one step at a time, so to speak. He smirked into the kiss, knowing that he was going to have so much fun teaching her each step.

"Let's continue our first lesson," Draco murmured, as he lifted her into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and carrying her to the bed. He laid her down and settled himself over her, holding his weight off of her with his arms. He brushed his knuckles across her cheek and rubbed the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip, before leaning down to kiss her. She tangled her fingers into his messy blond hair, pulling him closer, kissing him deeper. When he broke the kiss, he exhaled a shuddering breath, shaking his head slightly, as if he couldn't believe that she was really there, so wonderful and willing, beneath him.

He bowed his head to claim her lips again, thinking that he could kiss her for the rest of his life, and it still wouldn't be enough. Her scent was intoxicating, like some sort of dessert, and he made a mental note to ask her later what it was.

His fingers quickly unfastened the buttons of her shirt and lifted her slightly to slide it off of her shoulders. Her bra came next and he stared at her bared breasts in awe, thinking that she was much more gorgeous than in his wildest fantasies. "So fucking beautiful," he whispered, so quietly she thought he didn't mean for her to hear.

He lifted off of her long enough to reach up and pull his shirt over his head, needing to feel her slick skin against his. He bit at her neck and she arched her back, pushing her breasts into his naked chest. Her nipples were hard and the way they rubbed against him made Draco shudder involuntarily, and he had to force himself to calm down, knowing that this time was for her; that he would wait to take his own pleasure when she was ready.

Hermione felt as though she was going to burst. His hands were expertly running all over her body, and when he took one of her nipples in his mouth and bit gently, she moaned and grasped at his shoulders, her nails leaving little crescent shaped marks in their wake. His hand moved between them to unbutton her skirt and pushed it down her legs, taking her knickers along with it. Her breath caught as his hand brushed her pussy. She was wet and slick, her thighs were shaking slightly and her clit was aching for his touch. His free hand reached up into her mass of chocolate curls, tugging her head back until her mouth met his for a passion-drenched kiss. He slid one finger inside of her and pulled it back out slowly, adding another as he thrust back inside of her again. She began to writhe against his hand and he leaned back a little to watch her. Her hair was wild and her body was flushed and glistening with sweat. He had to will himself not to come right there and to focus on pleasuring the beautiful witch beneath him.

"Do you like that, Granger? Does it feel good?" His voice was deliciously husky, the seductive tone making her toes curl.

"Malfoy... Please!" she cried out, her body shaking with need.

He increased his speed and rubbed her throbbing clit with his thumb. "Is that what you want, Granger?" he growled. "Do you want to come? Tell me what you want." The vibration of his voice rumbled through her, adding tension to the coil ready to spring in her stomach.

"Yes! Please, Malfoy, make me come!" her voice was a shaky whisper, and he growled his approval at her words. He increased his tempo once again, watching her breasts tremble from the movement.

"Come, Hermione," he commanded, as he lowered his head to lick and bite at her neck. The dual sensations were too much for Hermione and she came instantly, screaming and bucking wildly against his hand.

"Good girl," he ground out, and he kissed her lips as he held her tight, loving the feeling of her tight pussy clenching and unclenching around his fingers.

He held himself over her and looked down into her eyes as he waited for her orgasm to subside and her mind to come back to focus. He caressed her cheek and smiled softly. "How do you feel?" His voice still had that husky tone, and his breathing was ragged.

"That was... amazing. I want to... return the favor," she whispered, looking up at him, a light flush painting her cheeks.

"All in good time, Granger." He chuckled softly, and pulled the covers up around them, snuggling her in tight to his chest. "Tonight was just the first lesson. Next time, we'll go a little further. Go to sleep, you'll need your rest for tomorrow." He nuzzled into her neck and kissed her just below her ear. "Goodnight, love."

She sighed in complete content, allowing herself to only think of him, and not the war that was literally raging on around them. As she drifted off to sleep, she thought of how her life had changed so drastically in just a few hours, and her mind echoed the sweet endearment that had so easily rolled off his tongue.

hphphphphphphphphphphp

A/N:

Ok, Ok, I know they still haven't had sex yet, but great things come to those who wait! Let me know what you think!