Chapter 12

Draco woke in bliss. He had a woman wrapped in his arms and he welcomed the warmth she provided. How long had it been since he'd touched a woman in such a way? Too long. He had arisen to the intrusion of light to his eyes. Which didn't make sense as his curtains were black and blackout ones, yet he didn't care. His body was heavy and it ached with the pain of hangover… Which he had, he concluded, after a banging aggressively assaulted his head. Then he noticed something else. As he moved, an arm tightened around his chest. His naked chest. A bare arm was wrapped around his bare torso. He cursed but couldn't bring himself to leave the familiarity and warmth of the person encasing him. The arm was like a band of steel around of him, a barrier determining his being with the person. But who was the person? Their face was burrowed in the edge of his body, only their hair visible. And delectable neck and the skims of pert breasts and smooth skin that had a seemingly unattainable softness and truthfully he didn't have a desire to know who the stranger was. He was enjoying the abyss that was the Unknown. Then he adjusted himself tighter into the crook of curves and skin. He was delirious with the effects of the alcohol consumed the night before. He had no care for who he had fraternised with.

After delving a hand toward his lower region, Draco discovered he was naked. Which only confirmed his suspicions. He'd had sex. They'd had sex. But who was she? Last night and yesterday in general, was a complete blur. He vaguely remembered something and Blaise and Luna and Hermione and Scorpius and the Weasel- the lush body stirred against him and he couldn't stop his reaction as a certain area also stirred. Once again, he cursed but this time she heard. Her body stilled. And Draco screwed his eyes shut as the body shot up and groaned in the process, probably from her own hangover.

Of course. It was Hermione. How predictable. How cliché. The fates obviously didn't like Draco. Not one bit. His whole life recently seemed to be screw up after the other. And if it already wasn't bad, every screw up seemed to affect Hermione. Sometimes worse than himself.

He too shot up before he diverted his vision to her. She looked confused with her squinted eyes and cocked head. As soon as saw she wasn't covered he looked away, though he was a man so a quick peek was a given. Then something seemed to click because her eyes widened and she grabbed the duvet to cover her chest, leaving her face licked in a shade of red. Which also gavehim a window to return his gaze to her.

"Oh my god.", she whisper as the hand not holding the sheet shot up to her hair. Disbelief was evident on her face until it transformed and morphed into something else. Sadness. Sorrow. Regret. "Did we…?", she asked and he knew what the question posed.

"I… Think so.", he replied, watching her reaction. Unsure of her normal mannerisms, Draco didn't know what to expect.

"You have a boner, Malfoy", she said though it was a thoughtless saying. It looked as if her mind was somewhere else, another universe. He however wasn't amused by her commentary and didn't respond to her. He did artfully use a hand in attempt to cover his… Discretion. As a silence ensued, the atmosphere became all sorts of awkward.

Draco peered at Hermione through low lashes and couldn't help but ask, "Tell me what you're think, Granger", she looked startled by his suggestion. What was she thinking? This couldn't exactly be easy on her. Not that it was for him but she'd been so affected by the first time they'd done it.

"I hope to Merlin I'm not pregnant.", she blurted out which in turn startled Draco. He also hoped that wasn't the case. But she wasn't done. No, not at all. "I was hoping one of us had a single brain cell between us to cast a contraceptive spell as I can't see a condom anywhere but if we can't even remember yesterday, how could we remember such simplicities?", she ended on a hiccuping sob. She'd wrapped her arms around her waist in hopes of comfort, Draco could tell. She looked so isolated and lost and… Young. Something nagged at his brain until it pushed and pushed and broke through. A memory.

-xXx-

Her hair was tickling his face.

"Hermione. You have to do something with this hair. It's a monstrosity to the Earth", she turned her head and looked at him. Her head rested on his bare arm as they laid in bed. She pouted as her fingers ran over his chest, his back, his spine.

"It's not that bad, Draco. You're over exaggerating. Do you know what else you said was monstrous? Your-", he cut her off.

"I know what I said. And it isn't an exaggeration. Us Malfoy men are well endowed", he raised an eyebrow suggestively as his other hand began to gently caress her. They were so close. He could lean in a centimetre and his lips would be on her forehead.

"Spend a lot of time looking at your dad's pe-", he groaned in disgust before she could finish.

"You're gross. Whatever possessed me to love you?", he asked whilst he pulled her body up using the arm that she wasn't lain on so their faces were align. But before she could list off her reasons in her all knowing voice, he leaned in and kissed her. Not a harsh and rough one but a soft and lingering.

"Draco", she whispered, after he responded she said, "Please, please don't break me."

"Never. Who would I be without you?" He asked, eyes boring into her warm ones.

"A horny bugger, that's who", and she smiled. So he smiled.

-xXx-

Draco gasped as if he'd been denied oxygen and his lungs were expanding in relief. When he opened his eyes all he saw was Hermione whose face was opposite his in worry. The girl he'd seen in his memory-esque trance wasn't the person situated in front of him. Then she'd looked so happy so free but now she looked terrified with her wide eyes and parted lips. "Are you okay?", she asked frantically. He nodded but as he went to reply his throat felt dry and voice scratchy.

"Yes", he replied curtly with much effort, "I just… Was out off it for a moment. It won't happen again", he hoped. More lies. More tales.

She was on her knees in front of him, the sheet still clutched to her bare front. "I know you're lying to me", she said, hurt. It was evident in her tone, posture and eyes. "You're eyes… They were white", she shuddered at the mental image and Draco didn't know what to say. What had happened? It wasn't just a thought, what he saw was similar to a hazy film, like being in a pensieve.

Then there was the matter of what he actually saw. There was no way any of that was true. Right? He was sure he'd remember if he loved Hermione and if they had a relationship prior. This must've been someone's idea of a joke. There is definitely some twisted people in the world.

"I don't know what I saw", he admitted. "It might come to me if I give it time", he lied once again. And, once again, she knew. However this time she didn't push it, though she didn't get chance to as a continues banging could be heard.

"Do you hear that?",Draco asked her. She looked at the door as if she could see the noise. "I think you have an owl", he offered. Acting unaffected by what he'd seen. Or experienced. How could he explain something he didn't understand?

"I don't have owls. And how did you know this was my house?", she looked slightly frustrated and curious. He shrugged his shoulders in earnest, how did he know? "it must be Scorp's Daily Prophet thingy", she used her hands to gesture wildly.

"Everyone's going to see, or read, what happened yesterday", he reminded her, though he wasn't sure where the sudden memory of the prior night had appeared from. He clung to the idea that perhaps the evening would also lurk its way back into his memory.

"What happened?", she asked, head cocked.

"You don't remember? Anything?", he asked in bewilderment. He sighed when it was evident the answer was no.

"I guess you'll have to find out with the rest of the nation", she rolled her eyes and folded her arms over the cover. How childish of her he mused.

When she realised he wasn't going to tell her, even though it was for her benefit, she relented, "Ergh," she mocked groaned, "cover your eyes",she said, obviously she was putting clothes on then.

He agreed and did so, feeling extremely immature. In the spur of the moment, he spread one two of the fingers over his eyes just as she left the room. Nice ass, he knew it.

He begrudgingly got out of the extremely comfortable bed and looked for his boxers. But he came up empty handed. Confusion clouded his mind just as Hermione reentered the room in a silk robe that outlined her delectable body. And he was still naked. And he was once again has a… Problem.

It'd been a while since he'd gotten laid! "I've got some hangover potion in my medicin-", Hermione's eyes expanded and she swiftly twirled around. "Really? Again?", she questioned almost mockingly.

He ignored her, "Do you know where my boxers are?", he asked to which she snorted.

"I hardly remember my name after yesterday. Of course I remembered where your boxers were thrown", she joked. Which was really annoying.

He smirked, "I guess I could walk around nak-", she cut him off.

"Accio boxers", she said. Without a wand. Of course Hermione had mastered wand less magic. What hadn't she done?

The white material appeared to her and she flung them to him, without looking at him. He stepped into them and moved his junk calculatingly. He doubted anybody wanted to see that. Thought it was really difficult due to the very restricting material.

"That tapping is grating on me", she offered and he grunted his acknowledgment. She turned toward him, her face engulfed with flames the moment she looked south. To which he cocked a brow that she ignored.

She briskly began to walk, him at her heels. The carpet outside the room was not the same gold as the room he assumed was her bedroom, it was grey. It was nice.

They soon reached a closed door. Draco anticipated looking at the contents. This was his sons room. He'd be able to hopefully learn something about him. The breath he in took sharply as Hermione swung the door open was released when he saw the room. Blue curtains, black carpet, a four poster bed and built in wardrobes were accompanied by overflowing book shelves. He also had what Draco knew was and a Xbox. Hermione continued on her path to the window as Draco absorbed his surroundings.

Hermione took the paper from the owl and continued to pet it as she unfurled it. However her ministrations ended the moment she read the first page. Damn. She knew. Her reaction was worse than he thought. Her whole body fell to the ground and she curled herself up against the wall. What the hell?

"Granger it isn't that bad", right? She didn't answer him as her chin rested on one of her forearms, head shaking in denial. "Hermione?", he questioned. No reply. If she was effected by the use of her given name, she didn't show it.

He walked over to where she dropped the paper and picked it up. What he saw was not what expected. No wonders she'd reacted in such a way.

Deatheater Escapes Death

At the first hour of such a lovely morning a verdict was given regarding one of Wizarding Britain's most heinous criminals. The result was suppose to be quick and swift, not effecting anybody however that is not the case. Today Bellatrix Lestrange was released from Azkaban.

She was pardoned due to the bargaining of her sister Narcissa Malfoy who vowed to reform her sister. Bellatrix herself, under Veritaserum, has renounced herself loyal to Wizarding Britain and her intentions of becoming a positive inspiration for other former deatheaters.

In a show of her changes, Bellatrix is to divorce her husband, Rodolphus Lestrange, who had refused to change his views on blood purity. Narcissa Malfoy is ever helpful with her sister and has promised to be a good influence on older sister, Bellatrix.

During her trial, where it was assumed she'd remain stuck in her ways and receive the kiss, the soon to be former, Mrs Lestrange gave credit to her nephew Draco Malfoy for her change of heart. Not only Mr Malfoy, but also his son. She appears to think the newly appointed CEO of Malfoy&Son is an advocate for breaking years and years of outdated traditions due to the recent reveal of how the purity of the Malfoy lineage has been corrupted by a half-blood.

Nothing was mentioned about mother of son, Hermione Granger, who is the alleged mother of afore mentioned half-blood and had also suffered at the hands of Ms Lestrange . We wonder here at the Daily Prophet whose side Draco Malfoy will take. That is one Christmas dinner we wish to never get the grace of attending.

Tell me your thought, my avid readers.

Is there anything you'd like Bellatrix Lestrange to answer?

What. The. Fuck.