Just over a year ago

"Draco, I really have to leave now!" Hermione giggled as she began feeling around on the floor for her clothing. It had been 5 months, five wonderful months since that first kiss. Five months of clandestine meetings and remembering the woman of passion that she had once been. Months full of promise and the excitement of doing something that she knew was bad, and only the slightest twinges of guilt. Every time she had started to feel guilty about sneaking around with Draco, Ron let loose with another of his bitter comments and it would harden her heart even more. She deserved happiness. She deserved to be loved. She knew that now, and she wasn't about to give it up.

"Just five more minutes," he whispered into her ear before he began nuzzling her neck, his hand reaching around her naked torso in search of her breast. Hermione moaned softly and turned her head to return his kiss. She could feel her excitement beginning to build again, and if she wasn't mistaken, she could feel Draco's excitement against her thigh.

"I can't. I have to be back in the office for a meeting with the minister," she answered, pulling away from his embrace and slipping on her undergarments. Draco smirked at her, acknowledging defeat and leaned back against the pillows, enjoying the sight of her dressing. If he couldn't enjoy her again, at least he could look his fill. Hermione slipped her skirt back on and began buttoning her blouse with her nimble fingers. She moved into the bathroom and used a concealing charm to cover the love bites over the tops of her breasts. She constantly reminded Draco not to leave any marks, but she couldn't blame him for not thinking clearly in the heat of the moment.

That first kiss in the restaurant had led to a short stay in a muggle inn over the course of her lunch break. It was something that she hadn't intended on repeating, but Draco wouldn't take no for an answer. And when he turned on his charm, he was oh so hard to resist. Within the week, Draco had leased a small flat in London and had a key made up for Hermione. He would not have some sordid fling in a motel room. If they were going to do this, they were going to do it properly.

If she had even hinted that she was willing to leave Weasley and marry him, he would have sent Kellandra packing in a moments notice. There was nothing he wanted more than to install Hermione in Malfoy Manor as its mistress. And while he wasn't prone to daydreaming, he couldn't resist imagining the power couple they would be. How they would be invited to the best functions, and throw parties attended by the cream of wizarding society.

But Hermione had laughed at him when he had suggested anything of the sort. She was horribly practical, and was above all else, a realist. Despite what horrible things she was going through at home with Ronald, she would never break his heart that way. And she would never let her selfish choices affect her children. Instead of the future that Draco wanted for them, he resigned himself to the clandestine meetings at their flat every couple of days and wanted more.

He loved her. Plain and simple. He had never loved anyone other than himself before, and the feeling was heady. He loathed the thought of Hermione going home to that pompous little twit every night. On more than one occasion he had begged her not to be intimate with Ron. Being intimate with Kellandra was not an issue. She kept her own rooms, and lived her own life. When Scorpio was away at school, she could care less what her husband was doing as long as he was present to escort her to all the right parties and be seen in all the right places. Hermione had assured him that she was not intimate with anyone but him, but he still couldn't help but be jealous. He had always disliked Weasley, but it had turned into an outright loathing as he saw him as the obstacle that stood between Draco, and what he desired.

But now their trysts would have to stop for a while. It was the end of the academic year, and they would be retrieving their children from Kings Cross the next day. Draco didn't see a reason to put their relationship on hold, but Weasley and her children had talked Hermione into taking a vacation with them to France. Draco was against the idea, hating the thought of not seeing Hermione for so long, and terrified that Weasley would find a way to come between them. He wanted to be the one traveling with Hermione and the children that they would have together for long family vacations in the lush countryside.

Never mind that he had gone with her when she had traveled to Germany after her promotion. The conference had been held in Frankfurt, and Draco had taken rooms in Heidelberg so that they wouldn't be seen by her colleagues. Every moment she could get away had been spent in his arms. They had made love through the night and he had fallen into a sated slumber tangled in her arms, only to wake up to a cold bed. And he was tiring of it. He needed more.

He was thoroughly sick of sharing Hermione with Ron. But she wouldn't end it. And she wouldn't allow him to end it for her. He was far too selfish to give her up. And the Minister be damned, she wasn't going to make her meeting this afternoon. She could come up with an excuse. She was good at that. He slipped out of the bed and followed her to the bathroom where she was busy tying her hair into a neat little bun. Putting his arms around her waist, he turned her and set her on the edge of the sink, his lips fastening on hers. He silenced her protest and pushed her hands away, loving the way she melted into him. Groaning, he wrapped her legs around his waist and carried her back into the bedroom. Tomorrow she would be Mrs. Weasley. Today, she was his. And if he could figure out a way, all of her tomorrows would be his as well.

A/N: Okay ladies and Gents. I've got two endings in mind, but I need to know what you think before I can write the next chapter and start that path. We've reached the fork in the road. So please, use the review tool and tell me, Ron, or Draco? I'll check back in a day or so and see what you think. And for those intersted in the Dramione awards, ther eis a link on my user profile.