Author Note: Update number nineteen, here we go! I was pretty disappointed with the outcome of the last chapter so hopefully this one will be a little more to your liking. I appreciate every single one of you readers. Thank you so much.

WARNING: Lemons ahead, my first one in quite some time.

A special thanks goes to: LightofEvolution, Snowflake Dazzle, Legolas' Girl 31 and BoredRavenvlaw620 for the wonderful reviews.

Another special thanks goes to: mizunosora and 1990 for becoming followers to this story.

Chapter 19:

December 19th

Harry sat at the kitchen table staring at the grains of wood blending together. Ginny was busy moving around making dinner for their small family. His mind was definitely not of the meal. It was on the events that had taken place over the last few weeks. He never imagined his best friend to be the target of some elaborate plot to end her life or that she'd be involved with Draco Malfoy. Of course, her relationship with said Auror wasn't the worst part about the whole thing.

There was someone out there trying to take his best friend away. There were hardly any evidence to study and that's what made the situation that much harder to solve. "Harry, would you please just talk to her if your so concerned." Ginny stated without turning from her activity at the stove. Her hands worked quickly to mix whatever was in the bowl.

"I wouldn't even know where to begin. There are so many things I'm worried about." He answered running a hand over the top of his head.

James, their son, crawled into the kitchen and grabbed at the pant leg of his father. Harry paused and smiled down at him before picking him up off the ground. The small babbling coming from the child just made him smile even more. James answered with a smile of his own showing off his two newly formed bottom teeth.

"You know it's okay to worry about her. I'm worried to and not just for the obvious reasons. We've known Draco all through school and he never once was nice to her. I'm not so trusting of him just yet." Ginny said turning to pour the contents of the bowl into the nearby pan.

"I can understand that; but I doubt he'd do anything to hurt her. He's been far too protective of her for it to be all an act. His enemies, however, are a different matter entirely."

"Do you think it's one of his enemies that would do all this harm?"

"I don't see how, because I got the threat before they even started getting close."

No matter how much they talked about the reality the more confusing it got. Neither had any idea who could be the one behind all the death threats aimed in Hermione's direction. Nothing made any sense to them. Silence fell between them as James continued to pull at his father's shirt. He leaned in to kiss his forehead, silently swearing that he would forever protect him from the evils of the world.

Ginny placed the pan into the oven and then moved to sit down across from her husband at the table. Her long red hair was pulled up out of her face. She reached over to grab Harry's free hand. They moved their fingers across each others before looking directly at each other. "Do you think someone saw the future and they are trying to prevent it from happening?" She asked curling her bottom lip inward.

"You mean someone against a union between Draco and Hermione?"

"Yes. I mean blood purity is sacred to the Malfoy family. What if someone is so against it they would do anything to prevent a union from happening?"

Harry thought about it and realized that his wife might be onto something real. If someone had seen events from the future and decided that Hermione was a threat to the blood purity it would most definitely be a reason to want her dead. The question now was, who would be the one to do it? It would mean that he would have to investigate every single person from the Malfoy family and their close friends.

Ginny's fingers tightened around his, giving him much needed comfort. Silence once again crept over them, allowing them to really think about what to do next. Ginny knew that she really needed to convince Hermione to join them for the holiday, maybe asking her to go Christmas shopping was the way to get that to happen.

XxXxXxXx

December 19th – Draco's Flat

Draco opened the door for Hermione to enter. She slipped passed him and felt the warmth of the apartment surround her. Shrugging her coat off her shoulders, she hung it up on the hook next to the now closed door. Turning to look at him fully, she noticed that his expression had changed drastically since they arrived back. It was then that he noticed his mother's owl sitting on the perch outside the large window in the living room.

Hermione really didn't want to intrude on whatever was written to him. She figured it was just best to take a bath and then head straight to bed. Her fingers brushed against his hand briefly, trying to get his attention. "I'm going to take a bath and then get to bed. You take care whatever you mother needs, okay."

"You don't need to leave me alone for that. She's just going to have to get used to the fact that you are a part of my life." He replied cupping the side of her face.

Her chest heaved with his sudden closeness. The quickening of her heartbeat was so very different than anything she had ever felt before when it came to men. She may have felt the flutters in her stomach once or twice; but never the feeling like her heart was going to leap out of her chest. She never craved someone's touch like she craved his now. There was a lot of new that came with whatever their relationship was.

"It's okay. I don't mind at all." She insisted, leaning up to peck him on the cheek before turning back down the hall to grab a towel. He watched her intently, mentally imagining what she's look like soaking in his tub. The imagine left him feeling aroused and a painful tightening inside his pants. A frustrated sigh escaped his mouth just as he moved into the living room to allow the owl inside.

"So what is it you want mother?" He asked aloud.

Draco took the letter from the owl and moved to sit down on the sofa. Breaking the seal, he pulled out the cream colored parchment. Her handwritting was still as beautiful as ever; but it seemed so disorganized and desperate.

"Dearest Draco,

I must insist on your presence here for the holiday. There is no one here to make it worth much for me if you don't. Bring Hermione if you must. I know you've been tasked with being her personal guard. No ill-will will come her way. I can assure you of that. There are matters we need to speak in person about. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Love

Your Mother"

There was one line in his mother's letter that made him think that her words were a complete lie. When she took Hermione in when he had been injured by the Chimaera, he was beginning to think that maybe his mother could be swayed to change her views on blood purity within the family; but he was wrong. The way the letter was written it made it seem as though she was just desperate to have him there and would tolerate Hermione because it was his job to protect her.

Just when he thought he could change her, she had to go visit his father and all his work was gone in an instant. Lucius Malfoy, his father, would never change his mind on blood purity and would no doubt continue to drill it into his mother's mind until she could no longer be changed to believe anything else.

Hermione slid down into the water. Her eyes closed and everything that happened within the last twenty-four hours flashed through her mind like a movie. She was worried for Draco's safety. They were getting closer and for all she knew there was someone watching her at all times, taking all the information in and planning to make the next move, either to take great pleasure in hurting her emotionally or to finally come after her personally.

How was she going to survive this when she had no idea when another attack was going to come? How was she going to protect the people she cared about? Allowing herself to soak for another few more minutes she finally decided it was time to get out. Draining the water, she went for the towel she had brought in with her and wrapped it around herself.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, Draco was walking into the kitchen. Curious as to what he was doing, she padded across the floor still clad in only the bath towel. He tilted his head back, taking the shot of whatever liquor he had decided upon. "That bad?" She asked wondering if the reason he was drinking was because of what was written in the letter from his mother.

"I guess...I had more hopes than I should have." He answered pouring more liquid into the small clear glass.

"You knew your family was never going to accept my muggle blood, which is why you should have let me go a while ago."

Draco immediately turned around to reply with something else; but when he saw her in just the towel his words escaped him. His body refused to take the seriousness of the conversation to heart; but his brain forced it down to allow him to speak. "I'm not going to do that. I've told you already...I don't care about their opinions. I want you."

Her heart skipped a beat and all she could do was close the distance between them. Her wet hair let little droplets of water to roll down her chest only to disappear under the towel. Draco's eyes followed each and every one of them without meaning to; but his body had been suppressed long enough. Her hand gently went to rest on his chest, just over his heart. His steady beating pounded against her palm, soothing her erratic thoughts about what would happen next between them.

In one swift motion, Draco wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her closer. His lips found hers before she could even blink. A soft moan escaped her lips as they moved across his with the same desperation he was giving. Her body was heating up fairly quickly and every single touch his fingers made across her arms were sending pleasurable feelings straight to her core that was beginning to dampen and pulse with life.

Hermione forced herself to forget all the worries for the time being. She wanted to experience all he was willing to give her before they found themselves having to fight for each other. She wanted to drown in him and not think about what tomorrow would bring them. Draco's fingers filtered through her wet hair before moving them to the tuck in the towel. Thinking better of it, he reached down to pick her up. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist.

The tuck on her towel instantly came undone; but it didn't matter. Their lips were still connected, savoring the taste and desire. Draco walked them back to his bedroom, leaning her back against the soft comforter on the mattress. The towel spread open allowing her body to feel the cold of the air around her.

He shifted away from her lips and glanced down at her exposed body laying beneath him. Her skin was raised with goosebumps from the air on her chilled skin. Taunt nipples just begged for his attention. Normally he would have already devoured a woman already; but Hermione was different. He wanted to take his time with her. Savor every last moment. "Draco..." She whispered.

"Hmm..."

"Something wrong?"

"Not in the slightest. You are perfect."

His head dipped down to place several open mouth kisses to the shallow of her neck before finding his mouth attached to a nipple. She arched a little into him and then he switched sides, giving the other the same attention he had given prior one. Her soft sigh was like instant arousal and he found it getting harder to contain himself to take his time with her.

His tongue swirled around one taunt peak as his hand slid down her stomach to cup the junction between her legs. The shortened curls were soft under his touch. His index finger moved across her clit a few times, teasing a little before driving the digit in her warmth. Her walls clamped down around his finger, making him realize what he was in for once he got to bury himself within her.

Another moan escaped her lips and he took great satisfaction out of it. Removing the single digit from within her, he glanced down at her slitted eyes before licking that same finger. He tasted her for the first time and then knew he was going to need more than just that one taste. Hermione slid up further on the bed, carefully watching him as he removed his shirt. She could see his arousal from the confides of his trousers. It was begging her to come closer. Getting up onto her knees, she crawled back towards him. She carefully pulled down on his sleep pants, letting his erection free for her viewing. Everything about him was perfect.

Hermione reached her hand out, the tips of her fingers brushing across the sensitive skin of her hardened length. Draco sucked in a hiss as she explored him fully. His control was definitely being tested. All he wanted to do was bury himself within her; but at the same time, he wanted her to be comfortable with him.

Her mouth was so close he could feel her warm breath on the head and then she finally took him between her lips. The warmth of her mouth was so inviting. He reached for her hair and held it back out of her face, allowing her to move her mouth across his cock a little better. She was driving him insane with every swirl of her tongue from inside and every stroke of her hand until he couldn't take it anymore.

Draco pulled her mouth away from his throbbing cock and gently pushed back against the bed. He captured her lips, driving his tongue to dance with hers. Her hands held onto his arms tightly just as he pushed himself into her. The first thrust sent her into a completely different world. He shifted her legs to hook around him, giving him a deeper penetration.

"Gods..." Hermione groaned.

Her one word was enough to let know that he was doing something right. Her walls were tight around him and he knew that he wasn't going to last long, which was fine because it seemed she wasn't going to either. He continued to pump into her, while leaving open mouth kisses all over her body in the places he could reach.

While still joined together, he pulled her up to sit upright with her legs wrapped around his waist. She lifted her hips up and then down, milking the friction between them. Draco looked into her eyes, wanting to see the pleasure on her face.

"Keep looking at me. I want to see you unravel." He groaned.

Without another word, she cried out his name and dug her nails into his shoulders. He bucked his pelvis against her just as her walls tightened even more. Her name rolled off his tongue as he spilled every last drop into her. Panting and sweat covered they collapsed back against the bed. Her head snuggled into the pillow before opening her eyes to gaze upon him. "I have no words to describe what just happened." She said.

"I do." He replied taking her hand into his.

"What's that?"

"Amazing."

She giggled as she slid over closer to him. He reached down to pull the blankets up around them. His lips found her forehead. "Goodnight, princess." He whispered. Hermione felt his arm drape over her waist, protectively holding onto her and all she could do was smile and soak up all the emotion that came along with everything that happened between them.

XxXxXxXx

Narcissa lay awake in her bed alone. That letter was still fresh on her mind and no matter what she told herself, she still had no idea what to do. Could she really help kill Hermione Granger and risk her only son hating her for the rest of her life? The darkness surrounded her, while it used to be comforting to her...it wasn't this time. It was torture. She wished Lucius was there to give her guidance. She only had a day to decide on the matter.

Did she meet the colleague at the cafe or did she let everything go and pray that Hermione and Draco weren't anything serious? Was she willing to risk that? "Oh Lucius, what do I do?" She asked aloud rolling onto her side to face the window with the moon shining through. A single tear rolled down her cheek just as she closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep.