Wow! So many awesome reviews and hits (1000! AHHH)! Thanks thanks thanks!

ICorona23 and anyone else confused about Harry and Malfoy's Interaction:

Harry and Malfoy's contact is a bit ambiguous, like you said, at the moment. However this does have a reason and as I keep writing you'll get to know more about Rabastan's and Rodolphus' involvement in the story. The two uncles make an appearance in this chapter – with more to come – and Narcissa will feature in the next few. That's all I can tell you guys so far – sans the spice and intricate details of course. Thanks for the review!

SailorSlytherin93:

Thanks for the review, love! Now to answer your questions:

1) This is a progressive story like I've said before. I don't want to say anything about Malfoy and Hermione's sexual encounters just yet but I will point out that I've rated this story M for a reason (enough said).

2) Harry is acutely aware of Hermione's danger and is protecting her with Aurors safeguarding her flat and condoning Hermione's job at Malfoy Industries. However, Ron isn't a very significant character in the story particularly in relation to Hermione and Malfoy. That being said, he still makes appearances.

And I really appreciate the praise to my vocabulary. I think it's from all the SAT practice I do…

On a sadder note, I won't be updating as often anymore – back to boarding school I go! But do not fret, I will try and update at least once every fortnight though the chapters may be shorter (internal grimace).

So, here is an extra long chapter for all you loyal readers and reviewers. I LOVE YOU GUYS! Thank you all, enjoy, and to all, goodnight!

Disclaimer: All belong to J. K. Rowling. Fruits of my labor.

Ginny passed the steaming cup of Earl Gray tea to her grateful husband. He was propped up in their bed, tired green eyes perusing yesterday's Daily Prophet. Harry's rimmed spectacles slipped down his nose as he took the hot mug from her.

"Thanks, Gin. It's been a tiresome day."

She smiled up at her husband of five years, brushing his unruly black curls from his forehead.

"I can only imagine…"

"Are the kids asleep?"

"I had to carry James and Rose to bed. The sorry sods fell asleep on the couch with George again."

Harry pat the bedside and helped his pregnant wife get under the covers. She closed her eyes and carefully laid her head against the backboard, listening to the heartbeat of the joyful burden growing inside of her.

"My shoulder is a lot comfier and aesthetically pleasing to the eye than that wooden panel you rest on, love."

"If that's your best pick up line you've got, Harry, at least you know I didn't marry you for your eloquence."

"What a lie! At least you know I didn't marry you for your veracity."

Ginny laughed and Harry shifted so that she rested against his chest. The couple closed their fatigued eyes, exhausted from the past few weeks and simply enjoying the silence of each other's company.

"I can hear your heart beating," Ginny whispered.

Harry's heart clenched with pure ecstasy. There was no one in this world as humble and beautiful as the woman he was lucky to call his wife. He laced their fingers together and kissed the top of Ginny's forehead.

"Only six more months, six more months till the next Potter is born! I guess you can't keep your hands off of me, Mrs. Potter, you vixen."

"More like you need a shag every twenty seconds."

"That sounds about right."

They exchanged playful grins.

"He's going to be beautiful, Harry."

"Just like you," Harry whispered into her red mane.

This time Ginny kissed his lips thoroughly. He happy complied; kissing his wife as though they were newly weds once more. When she pulled away, a blissful sigh escaped her now bruised lips, and Harry moved his hand to massage the swelling of her stomach. He truly couldn't believe how fortunate and blessed he was.

"I was over at Hermione's today helping her get ready for a date with someone from work."

Harry appeared surprised.

"With whom?"

"Theodore Nott, do you remember him from school? All I remember of the boy was that he kept to himself and looked eternally pensive, but liked books as much as Hermione. I think they'll make a phenomenal match, don't you?"

"He was alright in school, I suppose. Better him than Zabini any day."

Ginny's eyebrows furrowed and then relaxed.

"Funny, she said the same thing. Anyway, he's taking her to dinner at the new place in Diagon Alley. It's Victoria Frobishe's new restaurant and I heard it's fantastic. Do you remember the name of the place?"

"One More Knight, I think."

"Mhm."

Harry rubbed his eyes and cracked his neck, annoyed and distinctly uncomfortable.

"Nott? She's really going on a date with him?"

He stressed the him; it was Nott after all.

"She does work closely with Nott, and from all the alternatives at Malfoy Industries I can tell why she chose Theo of all people."

She ignored his grunt of disapproval and told him of their preparation.

"She looked absolutely stunning wearing the black dress she bought in Paris last year. Do you remember that one?"

"The one she wore to the Chudley Cannons team dinner Ron dragged us all to? Yes, Ginny, I remember it distinctly. It's rather difficult to forget Oliver Wood ogling your best friend and Randolph Burrow trying to get in Hermione's knickers within the same five minutes. It was quite a dress. However, I don't understand why you keep insinuating I have memory loss when I clearly don't."

Ginny ignored his add-on.

"Anyway, we attacked her hair with a bottle of Silk and Shiny Witch for about an hour and then picked out her lingerie– "

"Ginny! I don't want to hear about Hermione's kni– undergarments."

Ginny winked and Harry just sighed, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Naughty wench.

As Harry stroked Ginny's chestnut hair, he remembered and frowned upon the recent events at work. Malfoy's lead had promise, much potential actually. What irked Harry so much was the lack of evidence.

Rodolphus and Rabastan seemed ignorant to the consequences of lying to their interrogators, and chose the questionings as a time to tease the Aurors and speak in rhyme and riddle. Harry's patience was running thin. If he heard 'your prose is beyond purple; it's three shades of it' from Rodolphus one more time, he would cast Sectumsempra indefinitely.

Harry was overwrought and worried at this particular moment by Rabastan's most recent name drop in relation to Hermione's welfare: Theodore Nott.

"Welcome back, Harry James Potter."

Rabastan cackled maniacally and then convulsed, suddenly scratching viciously at his tongue as if to remove the traces of Potter's filthy name from his decrepit body. The indecorous state of the two men disturbed Harry, but neither accepted servitude nor help from the Azkaban guards. In fact, both senescent men threatened to maim anyone who attempted to provide aid. Nonetheless, Harry didn't care for their wellbeing in the slightest.

"Rodolphus, Rabastan. I'm sick of playing this game of pursuit with you and listening to your senseless digressions. Either tell me what you two have planned or rot in Azkaban you're entire miserable lives!"

"Potter, you filthy blood traitor. Do you truly care for the mudblood that much? Love, Potter, does not exist. Even if caring in great quantity for the mudblood would suffice, it would all waste to naught," came the Lestrange's terse response.

"Don't call her that, Rodolphus!"

Harry slammed his fist against the interrogation table. The two aged men cast him a bored glance.

"That was about as intimidating as Lockhart with the Elder Wand."

The two uncles snickered.

"And what of Lucius?"

Rabastan's eyes narrowed.

"Lucius has nothing to do with this, Potter."

Then to Harry's sheer horror Rodolphus threw himself from the interrogation chair to the mud clad prison floor and curled to the fetal position. He intoned,

"Forgive me, my Dark Lord. We only do your biddings!"

The man cried shrilly and began beating and thrashing his own body, tearing at his near translucent skin, bleeding from his neck and cheek.

"Get some Aurors in here right now!"

Gawain Robards, the overseer, and Ron, his partner, flung open the enchanted iron gate and stupefied the catatonic Lestrange. Harry turned to Rabastan who appeared unfazed by his brother's hysteria. The uncle looked lifeless, staring straight ahead with his eyes lacking any poignancy. His arms lay comatose by his side and Harry wondered if Rabastan was even alive.

Ron clapped his shoulder.

"Good riddance if he's dead anyway."

Unexpectedly, Rabastan leaped from his seat and wrapped his bony hands around Harry's neck, choking the boy wonder. Ron and Gawain reacted quickly, pointing their wands at Rabastan.

"If you know what's good for you Lestrange," Ron barked, looking positively deadly, "You'll release Harry right now!"

Rabastan chuckled and breathed hotly in Harry's ear.

"Call off your men, Potter, it's not us you want."

Harry struggled from the old man's forced rigor mortis death-grip. Rabastan's gauche uncut nails pierced into Harry's forearm. He yelped in pain but heard Rabastan's barely audible declaration.

"It's Theodore Nott you want."

Harry shivered at remembering Rabastan's chilling words and Ginny looked up into his troubled eyes.

"Are you alright, Harry?"

He calmed himself for her and squeezed Ginny's shoulder.

"Never better."

She mumbled a 'then stop moving, Harry' and cushioned herself against him once more. He waited patiently until her erratic breathing paced, indicating his wife's slumber. With Ginny sleeping by his side, Harry closed his apprehension filled green orbs and wished.

For your sake, Hermione, I hope Rabastan lied.

"Are you sure I told you how stunning you look, Hermione?"

She beamed unabashedly.

"That's the fourth time, Theo. But, I don't think I'll get sick of you saying it."

He gave a knowing wink and rested his arm around her uncovered shoulders. He kissed the bare skin and she nestled against him. Theo liked Ginny Weasley immeasurably now; Hermione had told Theo that she was the one who'd forced her into the tight black slip dress.

And Theo could not stop mentally thanking the She Weasel more.

Nott hadn't recognized Hermione when he first entered the bar at The Three Broomsticks. The outfit was a small black one-shoulder fitted dress that he ecstatically noted barely covered the girl's bum. It hugged Hermione at all her right assets, and showed off features he'd never even noticed before. The way she demurely smiled at him with her rouge lipstick and smoky silver eye shadow had practically knocked Theo's wand from his hand.

Had he ever been this physically attracted to a woman before? Not bloody likely. Had he ever wanted to shag someone so much it was painful to sit beside her and not envision her naked? Not fucking ever.

"It's so crowded, and we're not even seated yet."

Theodore laughed and Hermione blushed in spite of herself.

"Of course it is Hermione! Hey, did you say hello to Victoria Frobishe at the welcome desk? She asked for you."

"Theo, I recall you didn't even wave to Victoria."

The Slytherin shrugged and cozied closer to his date.

"The Ravenclaw's your friend, not mine."

At the gush of chilling Autumn wind, Theo gave a menacing look to the flock of witches and wizards entering the restaurant.

"I'm so sorry for not getting us a reservation; Daphne didn't tell me it would be this packed!"

Hermione just looked around and waved at someone else waiting for seats. Nott craned his neck trying to identify Hermione's friend.

"It's Justus Pilliwickle, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry. See that dark-haired man with the weedy complexion and navy blue sweater?"

Theo shook his head, still looking through the restaurants shadowed lights. Theodore wondered if the restaurant was in need of some proper light fixtures or they were purposely attempting the sensual faintly lit vibe. She wiggled her eyebrows as if to say 'don't worry about it'.

"Waiting's not a problem, Theo. I just didn't imagine 'One More Knight' would be this popular!"

Theodore chose this moment to look down her dress. He smiled, enjoying the sight.

Nice tits, Granger.

"Mhm… did you said something, Hermione?"

"HIDE!"

Hermione abruptly grabbed his hand and pulled him next to her crouched form. Theo tried looking through the multitude of dresses and robes blocking his view, struggling to identify the reason - or person - behind Hermione's attempted concealment.

"Why are we ensconced on the floor, Hermione?"

Her flushed face mouthed something rapidly and then proceeded to turn away from him.

"What's that Granger?" Theo asked loudly.

"Granger?"

Nott heard Malfoy's svelte confused voice ring from somewhere in the restaurant vicinity.

"Did someone say Granger?"

Hermione turned around and flicked Theo off. He just grabbed her finger and pulled her closer to him, chuckling.

"Thanks Theo. Now we have to get up and pretend as though we weren't hiding from the bloody git."

"I was never hiding."

And with that, Theodore pulled the flustered Hermione Granger to her feet.

"Ah, Nott! Nice to see you bloke."

Hermione saw Malfoy's white blond caricature elbowing his way through the crowd.

"Watch it!"

Malfoy froze and theatrically rotated to face the outspoken fellow, his dark eyes calamitous.

"What did you just say to me?" Malfoy spat.

The corners of his pale nose flared rubicund and Hermione flinched for the poor man who –to save his own hide – retreated from Malfoy's reach.

"That's exactly what I thought."

Malfoy spun lethargically and headed in Nott's direction, his side-to-side swagger clearly a display for the witches that eyed him eagerly.

Merlin if you can hear me, please take me now.

She closed her mousse brown eyes and inwardly cussed. When her eyelids fluttered opened, Malfoy stood smirking before her.

Merlin, do you really hate me so?

"What are you, a vampire?"

"Fancy seeing you here, Granger, and articulate as always I see. I thought this place would be much too expensive for a mudblood."

"And I thought Victoria would be above permitting murderers to eat at her restaurant."

"Watch yourself, Granger."

Nott pressed his palm against the small of Hermione's back and she quivered at his quiet gesture. She decided to keep her quips to herself, if just for her date.

"Out and about, Draco?" Theodore asked cordially, visibly bothered at Malfoy for interrupting his rendezvous with Hermione.

Malfoy smiled his most smug punchable expression.

"Just here with a friend from Brazil; Gissel."

Hermione almost collapsed when Malfoy's slender finger pointed out his 'friend'. Surrounded by a gaggle of infatuated men stood a tall bronzed voluptuous beauty. The woman seemed to be successfully entertaining the men, given their spellbound attention. Or perhaps they were staring at her perky breasts. Hermione couldn't decide.

Of course Malfoy would date a siren like that. She was exotic and sexy in all the ways Hermione was not. She frowned, feeling rather frumpy all of a sudden.

"Gissel, vir aqui."

The Brazilian bombshell looked in Malfoy's direction and winked at his call. She kissed the blushing men on their cheeks and sauntered over to Draco. Gissel slipped beside him and he wrapped his arm genteelly around her thin waist.

"Oh Dray-co! I amz just having so mush fun! Zeez mens are zo kind."

Hermione noticed and relished Draco's embarrassment. To her annoyance he hid it well.

"Gissel, this is my dear friend Theodore 'Theo' Nott and his girlfriend Granger."

Theo presented his hand but the buzzed Gissel wrapped her arms around the man. Hermione was glaring at the devilish grin on Malfoy's lips.

"I'm Hermione and contrary to what Malfoy just said, I'm not Theo's girl-"

"Oh, Hermey-oh-nee! Butiful names Zeo and Hermey-oh-nee!"

The woman pulled away from the flushing Nott and embraced Hermione, rubbing her breasts against Hermione's face. She scowled forebodingly at Malfoy's pretentious snigger and Theo's laughter. Once Gissel pulled away, Hermione fought the urge to crawl into a Death Eater's grave and beg someone to cover her with maggot-infested dirt that impulse being an understatement to how embarrassed she was.

"Are you waiting to be seated too, Draco?"

"Nott, I am Draco Lucius Malfoy. Malfoys don't wait for anything."

Go figure.

Theodore and Hermione exchanged knowing looks.

"Draco Malfoy and company?"

The four turned to the restaurant seater, a middle-aged witch with an enchanted clip board and scribbling quill. The seater nodded at Malfoy and gestured.

"Enjoy waiting another two hours, Nott. Granger."

Malfoy's retreating form waved in departure, and he walked away with Gissel in tow.

"Wait Dray-co! Letz invite-ah Zeo and Hermey-oh-nee to zit wit us. Zey are so nice!"

Before Malfoy could protest his Brazilian beauty turned coat and called them over.

Another member on board team Granger. Fan-fucking-tastic.

"Zeo, Hermey-oh-nee! Dray-co and I vant you to seet wit us!"

Hermione's eyes widened and she turned quickly to Theo as if to say 'don't do it!'

"We'd love to."

Hermione's face fell. Instead of enjoying her date, she would have to spend two hours in Malfoy the Wanker's company listening to him cow over Gissel.

Joy.

"Sorry, Hermione," Theo apologized as they followed Malfoy and Gissel to their table, "I just couldn't stand waiting to be seated any longer. You know, men and our appetites."

Hermione thought of Ron and smiled deliberately. She knew all too well of men and their insatiable appetites.

"Its fine, Theo. Really."

"Stop yakking, Granger."

Hermione scowled again at a very pleased Malfoy. She hated him, she really did.

Malfoy glowered upon entering One More Knight. With the line waiting for tables nearly a kilometer long, Draco was gratified that Greengrass had encouraged him to reserve seats. The only thing he did not appreciate was the Brazilian bint clutching his arm. When Nott and Malfoy met up with Parkinson and the Greengrasses, Daphne had set him up with Gissel with the intention of getting him a satisfying one-night stand.

Sure, he implored, she would make a fantastic shag but her wailing voice and platitudinous personality outweighed the hours of sex he expected at the end of the night.

At least, Granger won't be on my mind anymore.

Their week at the office had been a hectic but enjoyable one for Draco. He went out of his way to disrupt Hermione's work and called her to his office to complete mundane tasks. He treasured her protests and complaints; enjoying their stare offs during the last few board meetings as well. They didn't go a day without verbally slashing at each other's throats, and to Draco, the day was not complete without vexing Granger.

Gissel said something about him looking handsome and he masked his apathetic sentiments with a smirk. At least he didn't fake himself around Granger. Gissel's words were incoherent as he pictured Hermione at his side. She wouldn't be gripping arm; she would be strutting confidently next to him. He envisioned lacing their fingers together and her shy smile.

God, mudblood, the things you do to me…

He was seeing her everywhere, even in his home. At times he had begun wondering if he was barking mad. She would be flipping through a book in the kitchen, but dematerialize as he reached out to caress her cheek. The same went for his home office. She would appear in a glossy green nightgown, one strap falling enticingly down her creamy shoulder, legs crossed but perched on his new oak wood desk. She would wink as he sauntered towards her; his need to shag her right then and there overwhelming. Malfoy wished his delusions were a reality.

He shook his head and cursed inwardly for thinking of her that way.

She's still mudblood know-it-all insufferable Gr–

"What's that Granger?"

Malfoy stopped and looked around. He could've sworn he'd heard her name.

"Granger?" he called, "Did someone say Granger?"

As the crowd cleared, he saw Theodore chatting to a flustered Hermione and headed towards his friend. He pushed his way through the pulsating crowd; he had to get to his mudblood. After threatening an innocent individual for reprimanding his pushing, Malfoy reached them. He saw her drooped eyelids and savored the sight. He doubted he'd ever seen her look more captivating. She was dressed in a simple black dress, less grandiose than that of his date yet he found himself comparing his mudblood to Gissel, and found she dwarfed the Brazilian slag in every sense.

She opened her eyes and peered at him through her lashes. His breathing hitched. What was that bullshit about plain Jane Granger being a pain in the arse? He must've been thinking of the wrong person. Standing before him was this goddess looking as though she'd sprung from one of his dreams. He remembered the last time he'd seen her in a dress. It was at the Yule Ball in that pink throw up of a gown, dancing with Victor Krum. She'd looked okay then. There was something about that pink dress and Hermione in it that hadn't churned his fourth year insides.

This was a whole other story. The way the transient restaurant lights caught her dress made Hermione appear luminescent. Her hair looked treated, and he wasn't sure if he preferred this to her trademark mass of curls. He tried not to shiver at the thought of his mudblood within a foot of him - it was all he could do to stop himself from kissing her. He tasted her from where he stood, he could practically inhale her books and lavender scent.

"What are you, a vampire?" Hermione snapped at his rubbernecking.

He smirked and introduced them to his date Gissel. He wished the Brazilian would stop her flirting and hoped that Hermione was intimidated by his date. Granger's frowns told him she was.

He couldn't stand being so close to her and not touching his childhood nemesis any longer. He could barely conceal his relief when the seater called his name.

"Enjoy waiting another two hours, Nott. Granger."

Much to his chagrin, Gissel invited Theo and Hermione to sit with them. Now the four shared seating at the restaurant's best table in an uncomfortable, pregnant silence. The white candles, rose centerpiece, and outlaid menus attempted a romantic atmosphere, but Gissel's drunken self and Hermione's cold shoulder attitude steered clear of that convivial medium.

"So, Hermey-oh-nee, do youz work wit ma Dray-co?"

Draco watched Hermione nod as she took a sip of Firewhiskey. The girl had a stomach, who knew?

"We all work together, Gissel."

Gissel drunkenly grinned at Theo. She had already downed three shots of Firewhiskey and her hand was creeping very hazardously up Draco's pant leg. That, and watching Hermione lose herself in her second glass of scotch, was a very dangerous combination for a Malfoy erection.

"I didn't know prudes drank alcohol," he directed at Hermione.

"Ha! You're funny Malfoy. I didn't know St. Mungo's let nutters like you drink Firewhiskey either."

"I bet your brain feels as good as new from all that alcohol Granger, seeing as you never use it anyway."

"That's rich coming from you, but I'm busy right now, can I ignore you later?"

"Wow, mature. You know what they say - if ignorance is bliss, people like you, Granger, must be the happiest alive."

"Better alive than a Death Eater."

"Better a Death Eater than a soul sucker."

"Better a soul sucker than a man whore."

Draco grinned.

"I'll have to debate you on that one, prig."

Hermione scowled at being momentarily out witted by Malfoy, a rare occurrence in her book.

"If you scowl any harder, Granger, you'll permanently have that unpleasant expression etched on your exterior. But Merlin knows it's more attractive than that thing you call a face."

"I guess you just bring out the ugly side of me, Ferret."

Theo laughed with mirth and took the liberty of opening her menu. Lightly inebriated, she smiled crookedly at him and flipped the page.

It was at this moment that Hermione noticed Gissel's outstretched arm between Malfoy's legs. She could not help but glare. When Draco saw her outright staring and disbelief, he decided to use it to his advantage. The blond haired wizard leaned into Gissel and began nibbling her ear.

Dear God, Hermione Granger, what is he doing.

Hermione blushed and turned to Theo. Draco stopped toying with Gissel's ear and his lips started on a very sensual and exaggerated journey down Gissel's neck. He could see Hermione's discomfort from his periphery.

Hermione thrust herself into holding a conversation with Theo and ignoring his show. Nott looked thoroughly pissed and shot Malfoy daggers from across the table, while his mudblood only surreptitiously glanced at his assault of Gissel's neck. He heard his Brazilian beauty moan and took that as his signal to pull away.

"Thank you for that, Draco."

Malfoy smiled cockily at Theo and returned to reading his menu. A smile played at his lips when he caught Hermione's stare. She simpered.

You know what Malfoy? Two can play at this game.

In retaliation, Hermione swung her knees to touch Theo's. She forced herself to laugh at his every word and took many opportunities to lean forward, giving Theo – and Malfoy – many a glimpse at her ample bosom. She didn't even shrug Nott's hand from her upper thigh and instead moved closer so that her breath prickled his neck. She could see Theo's manhood bulge as her fingers trailed up his pant leg. She savored Malfoy's heavy breathing and toxic glare as well.

He one-upped Hermione by snogging Gissel full on the lips. She ignored his move by kissing Theo demurely on the cheek and causing Nott to tint pink. She turned to Malfoy and raised her eyebrows challenging him to continue the game.

Don't push me, Granger. Malfoy's always win.

Draco teased Hermione by diving his hand between Gissel's slim thighs.

"Oh my!" she heard Malfoy's date gasp before her eyes rolled to the ceiling in pure bliss.

Oh Merlin…

The flustered Hermione leaped from her chair and Malfoy's eyes locked on hers expectantly.

"Hermione?" Theo asked, his cheeks frescoed crimson by her outward displays of affection, "Is everything alright?"

Malfoy smirked at this.

That twit.

"Sorry, Theo, I'm knackered. Working at the Ministry and Malfoy Industries simultaneously isn't kind to a woman's beauty sleep. Do you mind if we call it a night?"

"What?" Malfoy interrupted lividly, "You haven't even eaten yet, Granger."

His undertone was wicked.

"Bugger off, Malfoy. Please Theo."

Theodore just smiled and rose, pulling off his unsoiled napkin. Ever the gentleman, she thought pleasantly.

"Of course, Hermione."

He took her hand and delicately kissed her knuckles with his soft lips.

"Oh Dray-co! Howz nice iz Zeo!"

"Get a room."

Malfoy's voiced was clipped and acerbic.

"Lovely to meet you," Hermione shook hands with Gissel ignoring Draco's juvenile behavior, "No, no you don't need to get up. Enjoy your date, Malfoy."

And with that, Malfoy's two Relations Managers left their table and exited the restaurant. He didn't miss Theo's hand resting just a hair above Hermione's bum. Annoyed with Theo's conduct, he grimaced at Gissel's voice.

"What iz dis on zee meenoo? Woolf steek?"

He looked longingly at the doors wishing his goddess to return.

I'll be sure to enjoy my date, mudblood.

"Are you sure you don't want to get dinner, Hermione?"

Theo brushed a deep curl from the frame of her face. She blushed at his meaningful action.

"No, thanks. I think watching Malfoy and Gissel suck face made me lose my appetite. That bloody pain."

Theo snickered. They stood outside her flat in downtown London, the city's dark night sky illuminated by streetlamps and vehicle lights.

"For what it's worth I had a wonderful night."

She smiled at Theo through her mascared lashes.

"Me too."

And before she had the time to react, his lips were on hers. Lightheaded and dazed, Hermione didn't notice her hands traveling to his neck and fingers intertwining in his soft hair. It all felt so surreal, so natural and familiar. He pressed her against the apartment door and she sighed as her body fit shapely in his. They moved rhythmically, exploring each others mouth and body. His hands travelled down the sides of her dress and thumbed at her nipples. She groaned pleasurably as they hardened, his fingers expertly working at her breasts.

With the liquor palpitating through her veins, she hadn't noticed Theo hiking up the bottom of her dress. She gasped as his hands rested on her bottom. Hermione tried to push him away, but her body felt helpless against his brawny chest. When he fingered at her knickers she finally gained control of her own body and shoved him off, eyes wide and baffled.

"What the fuck?"

She pressed her fingers to her lips and just gaped at the breathless man before her.

"Don't you want this, Hermione?"

His voice was low and husky as he leaned in for another kiss.

"No Theo!"

She fended him off by pulling out her wand and backed away.

"I don't want this, not right now anyway."

He frowned and rubbed his temples.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione. I'm just drunk and a tad lonely, and you look bloody ravishing tonight."

His apology was so sincere that Hermione felt herself nodding.

"I understand Theo, but I don't do that kind of stuff on a first date. I have my morals to keep."

"And so do I!"

She gave him a small smile to his outburst. He took her hand in his and traced his finger up her arm, ending with a kiss on her shoulder.

"Forgive me, Hermione."

"Already have."

He bowed and waited as she unlocked her flat door. She stepped inside the dimly lit apartment and shrugged off her coat, quickly returning to the waiting Theo.

"Until next time, love."

He kissed her softly and Apparated away. Hermione leaned against her doorframe, thinking of Theo. He was the epitome of a gentleman, so unlike and opposite to Malfoy. But when her thoughts drifted to the mysterious cheeky git, Hermione murmured.

What made Malfoy so appealing to her? Was it his charm and quick tongue? Was it his unpredictable bad boy behavior? Was it his seductive musky scent? She couldn't decide, but one thing was for certain. This Malfoy infatuation showed no signs of disappearing any time soon.

A/N: (insert bribery for reviews). Thanks again to all my lovelies who have favorited and reviewed!

Thanks again to all my lovelies that reviewed!