Chapter 15

Draco did not return for a couple of days. Hermione didn't know who the poor soul was, but whoever it was seemed to be eluding them for a while. She couldn't help but wonder if she could elude them too. She knew the muggle world well as she was pretty quick on her feet. Then again, they were pretty good at dragging people back and she was pretty sure the runner's life was hell after that.

She didn't like Draco very much at the moment. The fact that they were all out hunting one of her kind was a pretty big wedge. Pretending to like him was getting more difficult as a result. She wasn't good at pretending.

He did eventually return. They didn't speak about what had happened when he was gone. She didn't want to know. The first night back, he took her to Nott's mansion. An old gothic structure that didn't seem to get warm no matter how many fires were going.

Hermione tried really hard to smile and join in, but it felt disjointed. Draco joined his friends in whatever drinking game they were participating in. Hermione settled for sitting and looking pretty.

"You're not doing a great job seeming to get on well." Connie commentated later in the evening when the boys were too involved with their own drunken behaviour.

"It is really difficult." Hermione whined. "He is just awful."

"He can't be that bad, surely." Connie said. "He doesn't beat you, does he?"

"No." Hermione replied sulking.

"Then suck it up and do it." Connie said with a brilliant smile that would automatically charm anyone within a 10 meter radius.

"I'm trying."

"No you're not." She said. "Try harder. You know he is intrigued by your resistance, so if you want to get rid of him, you have to be rid of his interest."

"I know, I know." Hermione conceded, knowing Connie was completely right, but still not happy about having to pretend she likes him. She hated this devious behaviour. Why can't the world say what they do and do what they say.

"Now." Connie said conspiratorially. "I hear from an interesting source that there is growing pressure on the Council to change how the muggleborns are treated."

"What?" Hermione asked surprised. "What do you mean?"

"Well apparently, the treatment of muggleborns is not sitting well with all members of society." Connie continued.

"That has never made a difference before."

"Well, times are changing. Things are settling down after the big change and now, I guess, people are more willing to view the situation more practically."

"How do you know this?"

"I was speaking to Maisy, who is the companion of the elder Nott, who is on the council. Apparently there is growing pressure to do something. It seems the good people of standing are offended by seeing mudbloods begging on the streets or offering their bodies to passing men."

"So now what?" Hermione asked, intensely focused on what Connie was saying.

"I don't know, but eventually they are going to have to do something." She said. "That is all I know."

This news put Hermione deep in thought. This could be really bad. Or it could mean that things may improve a little. Although she didn't have much faith left in this society. She felt more comfortable assuming it would make no change at all or even make things worse.

Draco didn't get too drunk that night, which wasn't the best possible outcome for Hermione. He had been without 'company' for a few days and didn't seem to want to miss the opportunity that evening to get some.

He was still drunk, so it was what she could only describe as a quick fumble. Up against the wall just as they got in the door. She still marvelled how strong he was even in his drunken state. He managed to hold her and keep upright, which wasn't a mean feat she supposed.

"I missed you." He said as he slowly let her down after finishing and capturing his breath.

"I missed you too." She replied through gritted teeth, but tried to finish with a smile.

"You are pretty when you smile." He said, his eyes and slight slur betraying his not so sober state. "I haven't seen it in a long time."

"Please. You've never seen me smile." She said, pretty sure she had never in all her time at Hogwarts, or since, smiled at him.

"What were you talking to Connie about, she seemed to upset you."

She was surprised that he had noticed. Not really thrilled that he had.

"Nothing." She said, but had to continue as she still had his complete and undivided attention. "We were discussing politics."

"You really don't understand the concept of a party, do you?" He said in a dismissive tone.

Hermione put him to bed and he was sleeping before she even got the covers on him. She didn't stay a second longer.

He called her the next night and they were going out again. He took her upstairs before they went out, which meant that he was planning of getting thoroughly drunk that evening.

Hermione tried to relax into it. Her body was more than willing, in fact it was hanging out for release, but her mind was still fighting. She tried to still it and let it flow and focused on the sensations. Draco was taking his time, teasing, stroking. Kissing. He was a good kisser and he knew it. He also knew that it got to her and he used it for all it was worth.

Under his ministrations, her body came alive. To the point where even her mind couldn't compete and she was wet and aching when he entered her. Her body wanted this dance and knew exactly what to do to nurture the sensations, knew how to angle and strain to get the most out of it. It felt so nice to let go of the worry and the deception. And the fighting.

The crescendo came on quickly and she grabbed his hips to drive the release. He came a few thrusts after, collapsing on her with his whole weight.

She could tell he was pleased as he started to dress. He knew she'd come and he was pleased. Hermione was too tired to care. It was good in terms of her plan, but emotionally it had drained her.

They went out to the club after and Hermione recovered somewhat. She managed to analyse her way through the situation, it was necessary for the plan and getting laid wasn't a bad thing. It had certainly done her good when she was with Marcus, it should be no different now. She just had to get over her little qualms about Draco. It was just that they had been enemies as school that was different. Marcus was in reality no different from Draco at all, but she had no grudges against him beyond the norm of the general situation, so there was no reason she should be so 'involved' emotionally with Draco. This was necessary after all, so she needed to just get over it.

Her analysis of the situation made her feel better, as she usually did after she had the chance to think through things. She even managed to kind of enjoy the evening, although it was completely in the benefit of the plan. She was being seen enjoying the evening, but after a couple of hours she was getting tired. All the thinking and the emotions of the day had wiped her out.

She begged Draco to excuse her, even managed to pout and to her absolute astonishment it worked. With a kiss on the forehead and a squeeze of her backside, he let her go home. Hermione congratulated herself for learning. She had just gotten her way through wiles, probably for the first time ever and it worked beautifully. Awful as it was.

Hermione slept well that night. All alone in her bed in Harry's house, which unjustly was being controlled by Malfoy. She actually felt a bit positive the next morning. Maybe things would improve.

But her borderline contentment didn't last long. It dissipated completely when Delia didn't come down to breakfast. She sat with Edna and waited, both fearing the worst. After half an hour, Hermione went up to check and found Delia still tucked in her bed. She had obviously died sometime during the night.

Hermione was absolutely shocked and didn't know what to do. The room was eerily quiet and the lady in the bed looked very different from the woman she knew. She just looked different, much older, but peaceful.

Hermione closed the door quietly behind her as if she didn't want to disturb the room's occupant. Edna started crying but tried to hide it when she saw Hermione's shocked face.

"It was her time, dear." Edna tried to console her.

"I should..." Hermione started. She should do something but she didn't know what.

It was different when Harry died. There had been so many people mourning with her and someone else took care of all the arrangements. How does one arrange this, she wondered.

She settled on writing a note to the ministry. She couldn't think of anything else to do. After she sent the note, she just sat and waited.

After a couple of hours of waiting, an owl appeared at the window. It was Draco's owl and Hermione just couldn't be bothered dealing with it so she ignored the owl until it gave up. Persistent little thing it was too. But it finally gave up and flew away.

A few hours later she got a note from the Ministry which informed her that Delia's death had been noted and recorded, and that she was free to make arrangements with an undertaker at her leisure. The note also offered the Ministry's deepest condolences, which was nice. The Ministry usually did not offer any regards to persons of her blood status, so it was nice to note that they at least had some decency left.