Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling does.

Warning: I do believe my story might end up being a wee bit dark.

A/N: Holy hell, I haven't updated in forever! I'm surprised my pants haven't burnt off. Oopsy. I don't even have a valid excuse for my extended absence. So, I'll just blame Caitlin like I always do. Yep, it's Caitlin's fault. Anyway, thank you so much to everyone who has read my story! Oh, and thank you, Tomas Clair. You kind of gave me that extra push that I needed to write again. I hope you enjoy! Reviews would be lovely.

Chapter 14

Draco was furious. He hated disobedience, especially from those he considered beneath him. The mudblood had defied him for the last fucking time. She had even broken his treasured wand. Aside from his platinum necklace, it was the only other personal item of his that held some sentimental value. He clenched his fists in anger once he finally located her.

She appeared to be speaking with Edric's girlfriend.

As Draco approached the two witches, he couldn't help but smile at the mudblood's poor excuse to leave, despite the indignation fueling him.

How was she planning on having 'lunch with her parents' when they were dead?

After she left the wizarding world, he had done a background check on the mudblood and acquainted himself with her unhappy past.

He knew that her parents were deceased. Luna, on the other hand, seemed oblivious of that fact. Draco inwardly smirked at the opportunity laid out in front of him.

. . .

When the familiar voice reached her ears, Hermione felt a shimmer of dread. Peering behind her, she met Draco's cold gaze before quickly looking away. She suppressed the urge to run and forced herself to take a deep, calming breath, refusing to look cowed.

Glancing over Hermione's shoulder, Luna smiled when she saw Draco striding in their direction.

"Draco. It's nice to see you again," greeted Luna, trying unsuccessfully to keep the excitement she felt out of her voice. Seeing the tall wizard brightened her day considerably. She was elated to find out just how well her friend's blind date had gone.

"Luna," acknowledged Draco as he smiled back.

The smile never reached his eyes.

The wizard had placed himself uncomfortably close to Hermione. He was just standing there, emitting false charisma. She merely watched as he exchanged some words with Luna. She couldn't properly decipher the words of their conversation, but whatever Malfoy had said, had charmed Luna.

Hermione took a deep breath, determined to rescue Luna from whatever spell Malfoy was putting her under.

"Luna, I'm going to have to get going," she announced, her voice surprisingly firm. She stepped away from Malfoy's warmth and suddenly felt cold and bereft.

Dark blue eyes snapped to her face.

"Oh, of course," said Luna with a sheepish smile. She was so wrapped up in her conversation with Draco that she momentarily forgot that her dear friend was in a hurry.

Hermione's shoulders sagged and she let out a small sigh of relief as Luna went to give her a hug. She could practically feel Malfoy's eyes burning a hole in her back.

Before Luna could hug her, Hermione let out a yawn. Exhaustion was consuming her. She had been sleeping very little for the last few months and the emotional stress Malfoy was subjecting her to only caused her exhaustion to sharpen.

Luna's questioning eyes locked onto Hermione's tired ones.

"Not enough sleep? she asked, her eyes brightening.

Hermione nearly screamed as Draco's strong arm wrapped around her waist and drew her back into his unforgiving body. She he felt like an ensnared animal, and her heart started pounding in alarm.

She tried to remove herself from his grasp without drawing too much attention from Luna, but the strength in his arm was like steel. Pressed up against him as she was, she could feel the heat radiating off of his body.

Draco spoke for her. "She didn't sleep much. We were rather preoccupied with other… activities."

Hermione felt her face burn with mortification. The sexual implication that hung in the air was indubitable.

"Activities?" she finally managed to whisper, willing herself to turn slightly to look up and meet the mocking gleam in his cold, grey eyes.

"Darling, do you really want me to explain to Luna exactly what our 'activities' entail?" Draco asked in a seductive voice, managing to make the question seem extremely suggestive.

Hermione suddenly found her mouth too dry for words. She merely shook her head.

She cast a curious glance at her friend and saw the look of contentment on Luna's face. She couldn't help but wonder how Luna knew Draco.

Were they actual friends, or were they merely acquaintances?

As if somehow reading her thoughts, Draco questioned Luna about Edric, revealing exactly how well they seemed to know each other.

"How is Edric doing?" asked Draco, acutely aware of Hermione trying to subtly twist free from his restraining arm. He harshly dug his long, slender fingers into her flesh as a warning.

Hermione stiffened and glanced up at him again.

He only looked down at her for a second, before refocusing his gaze on the blue-eyed witch.

Hermione could have sworn she saw something dangerous flicker in his eyes, but it was gone so soon that she was left wondering if it was real or something her imagination had conjured.

Draco felt her body's sudden tension. Her body being so close to his was pure torture. Sweet, sweet torture.

Even her scent was driving him wild.

The memory of her soft body melting under his touch made him nearly groan out loud.

What the hell was wrong with him?

He tried with great difficulty to ignore the lust surging through his body as he pretended to take interest in the ramblings of his healer's girlfriend, but he was failing miserably.

His defiant mind kept presenting him with suggestive images of the mudblood's naked body lying beneath him. He quickly concluded that the months of forced celibacy he had to endure had reduced him to this pathetic state.

Ever since their last encounter, Draco's need for sex had virtually banished. Initially he hadn't thought much of it. He had been far too preoccupied with managing his inheritance and overseeing some of his latest projects to dwell on his dormant sexual desire. Not to mention that any sort of pressure against his skin brought him pain.

However, whenever he was presented with an opportunity to date a pretty, pure-blooded witch, he found himself extremely opposed to the idea. As months passed, he started to fear that his weird condition would never allow him to bed a witch again. He was also worried that his disease would finally reunite him with his deceased family members, yet as much as he hated to admit it, the brunette's touch soothed him and drove him wild with need.

There was no doubt in his mind that his need for sex had definitely returned and this time there was no extreme pain holding him back.

"-but he's still feeling the after effects of the firewhiskey," finished explaining Luna with a small smile, unaware that neither of them had paid attention to a word she had said.

"In fact, I should probably go check on him," added the friendly witch. She was happy that Hermione and Draco had hit it off, but their displays of affection were making her feel uncomfortable, and intrusive.

"Do you want me to go with you?" blurted out Hermione. She finally ripped herself out of Malfoy's grasp and stumbled just a little. To her complete surprise, Malfoy gently steadied her.

He leaned down close and whispered to her, "Don't even think about it, mudblood." She wasn't sure if it was his threat or his warm breath against her neck that made her shiver.

Luna looked perplexed. "I thought you said you had a lunch date with your parents in the muggle world?"

Hermione immediately paled as she realized she had forgotten about her fabricated excuse to escape the wizarding world, and Malfoy.

Draco nearly flinched when Luna mentioned the muggle world.

"Oh… you're right," stammered the nervous witch.

Luna closely inspected her friend's face. She seemed too pale.

"Hermione, are you alright?" she questioned, concern very evident in her face.

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired," replied Hermione. That wasn't entirely a lie. She was tired, but in a strange way, Malfoy's radiating warmth made her feel better. At this hour, she would usually be retching in a toilet somewhere, or in extreme cases in a trash can, but right now her body didn't ache and her head wasn't full of cobwebs.

Draco was amused. His little mudblood was a terrible liar. He knew that Luna was going to leave soon. His blood boiled with anticipation.

"Have you taken your medication?" demanded Luna in a whisper, her eyes anxious. She glanced at Draco, making sure he didn't hear her. It wasn't her place to reveal Hermione's medical history.

"I have, I just need some rest," admitted Hermione.

"Hmm. Well, get plenty of rest, okay?" said the blonde.

Draco knew the whispered question was not meant to be overheard by him, yet he had heard Luna's question very clearly.

A frown marred his usually stoic features.

Medicine? What for?

He carefully looked over the mudblood's tiny body trying to figure out what could possibly be wrong with her. He finally came to the conclusion that he was concerned about her health. He couldn't risk her falling ill, not when his disease had finally decided to give him a reprieve.

As he inspected her face, he noticed the dark circles under her large, tawny eyes and the pallor of her face.

It almost seemed as if he were looking in a mirror. He, too, had dark under eye circles and a paler complexion than usual. It had not escaped his notice that his recent insomnia had left him looking a little tired.

However, he was strong and she was weak.

He gritted his teeth as he realized her pregnancy must be giving her problems. He wanted a healer's assurance that she was okay. If her pregnancy was endangering her life, then terminating it would be the only logical thing to do.

"Drake!" boomed a familiar voice from across the room, bringing him out his pensive state.

The trio turned around.

Luna stared, her mouth slightly ajar.

Hermione genuinely smiled, a slight blush adorning her cheeks.

Draco groaned in annoyance.

Theodore Nott was oblivious of the three different reactions his sudden appearance created. He was on a mission, and that mission included locating Draco and dragging him back to the Mansion. There were pressing matters to which he had to attend to.

His strides were purposeful and even as he approached the trio.

Luna had opened her mouth to finish saying her farewell to Hermione, but her words quickly vanished from her mind as she laid eyes on Theo.

Hermione and Draco seemed to evaporate from her vision as she locked eyes with him. Her heart started pounding painfully fast in her chest. The instant recognition in his hazel eyes frightened her.

"Hermione, do you want me to walk you out?" she asked in quick voice, anxiety consuming her.

She couldn't handle the idea of having to be in close proximity to Theo.

"Yes, that would be great!" replied Hermione, in a voice that sounded far too chirpy. She couldn't help it, though. She was going to get away from Malfoy and that made her very happy.

Draco mentally swore. He was contemplating the repercussions of decapitating Theo.

He stood still as the witches bade him farewell, not entirely processing what they were saying.

As the mudblood turned to leave, he captured her small, soft hand in his much larger one.

"Her...Hermione," addressed Draco. He stumbled over her name as he was unaccustomed in using it.

Hermione tried to ignore him, but the pressure he was applying to her hand was quickly turning painful.

"Yes?" she answered, finally relenting.

"How can I contact you?" he mused.

Hermione didn't know what to say. She was thinking about lying to him when Luna unceremoniously blurted out her address. Dread wrapped itself in her belly as she stared at Luna. Luna gave an apologetic smile.

"Now, let's go," said Luna as she dragged Hermione away.

Hermione looked back at him.

He was smirking and there definitely was a dangerous glimmer in his grey eyes.

"I'll see you soon. I promise," he said.

Hermione then accidentally locked eyes with Theo. She gave him a smile and he returned it.

As soon as they were out of sight, her eyes started shinning with unshed tears. Tears of relief intertwined with tears of trepidation.

"Hermione, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I just… I needed to get away," guiltily explained Luna.

The dainty brunette accepted her apology without further asking for details regarding her friend's bizarre behavior. She just wanted to go home.

. . .

Draco, in his mind, was replaying the small exchange he had seen between his mudblood and Theo.

He scowled darkly.

"How well do you know the mudblood?" he interrogated as soon as Theo reached him.

"Hermione?" questioned the hazel-eyed wizard, confusion clearly written in his features.

Draco nodded.

"You smiled at her," he answered, as if that explained everything.

Theo arched an eyebrow in response to the accusatory statement.

"She smiled at me and I just smiled back," clarified Theo. If he didn't know better he would say that Draco was jealous.

Draco narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"You're not jealous, are you?" asked Theo with a soft laugh.

Draco scoffed.

"Anyway, we have problems," informed the rapidly sobering Theo.

That caught the jealous wizard's full attention.

"Problems?" Draco echoed. He definitely didn't like the sound of that. Problems had a tendency of being tedious and right now all he wanted to do was find his mudblood.

"I think they are back," said Theo in a solemn voice.

. . .

A couple minutes later Hermione found herself in her apartment. She carefully sat down on her worn down couch, looking blankly at the wall. The ultrasound pictures of her unborn child on her coffee table made her finally break down, and cry.

It took her a few moments to compose herself. She then decided to go down to the restaurant close to her apartment to try to eat. As she stepped out of her apartment, she shivered at the cold, and kept a quick pace.

She didn't exactly live in a great area, but at the moment it was the best she could afford. She was feeling unwell, the pain that usually accompanied her had returned.

The small witch momentarily stopped to catch her breath when she heard two taunting male voices from behind her.

Their crude remarks filled her heart with fear.

She tried to run, but her world was spinning, and her mind felt foggy.

. . .

Draco was going over some documents with Blaise when he felt the familiar pain return to his body. He cursed out loud.

Then he felt fear sweeping throughout his body, causing adrenaline to spike in his bloodstream.

It wasn't his fear.

It was hers.