Disclaimer: I should've been doing this all along, but I -obviously- don't own Harry Potter. I know, shocking.

Also, this chapter is rated M.

That means smut, people. You've been warned.

-Bandit XX

Chapter Seven

Ron was going to be a father. And Hermione was thrilled. Luna had been practically beaming when they finally told their secret. The entire family had exploded happily around them, rushing to congratulate them and ask questions. Even Malfoy had smiled, his fingers lazily brushing against Hermione's bare shoulder. She hadn't stopped him.

As everyone began to leave, Hermione had turned to Malfoy, and before she could stop herself asked, "do you want to come back to my flat?"

His eyebrows had shot up.

"To discuss the case," she added. He smirked but nodded, following her to the fireplace. She gave a brief goodbye to Harry and Ginny- Ginny hugged her tight to whisper in her ear, demanding that she tell her what was going on with her and Malfoy- then congratulated Ron and Luna, who beamed happily. Malfoy called a congratulations to Luna just before disappearing into the floor.

"You know Hermione, I helped make this baby too," Rona said pointedly at the one sided congratulations from Malfoy. Luna had patted her husband's hand and pecked him on the cheek, telling him, Don't be so sensitive.

And that was how Hermione ended up with Draco Malfoy snooping through her living room.

"I can't believe that they like you," Hermione said, shaking her head in disbelief as she walked back from her kitchen. Malfoy stood by her bookshelves, leaning forward to read the titles, his finger tapping his bottom lip thoughtfully.

"You sound so surprised," he glanced at her over his shoulder.

She folded her arms across her chest, suppressing a smile. "I am."

Malfoy stood up straight, shoving his hands into his pockets, eyeing her. "You like me, Granger. There's no denying it."

"And if I do?" She couldn't help the grin that spread across her face. His head titled to the side, the shadows playing off of his face, his eyes dark. He took a step towards her.

"Are you hungry?" She asked.

"No." He took another step towards her.

She glanced at the kitchen. One more step and he'd be dangerously close to her. "Thirsty?" Her voice was embarrassingly high. He shook his head once and took another step towards her.

"Well I need a drink," She spun and headed to the kitchen. She heard him follow after her and she flipped on the light over the oven. It cast the room in a soft glow. Her kitchen was simple with white cabinets and light blue walls, a wide island counter in the center, and a small round table in the corner with three chairs. A forgotten teacup was left on the countertop. She busied herself with putting it away.

"So Granger," Malfoy leaned against her doorway with folded arms and a smirk, "you said you wanted to discuss the case?"

"Right!" She said as she set to heating a pot of tea. "The letter."

He stepped into the kitchen, eyeing Crookshanks warily as he ran past him and hid beneath the table. "What a lovely… cat." He drawled.

"Oh bugger off."

He laughed, coming to lean against the counter, watching as she pulled out a box of tea from her cabinet. "So the letters." He prompted.

"I think that if another attack happens, we'll find another letter," She found a clean cup and set it on the counter before turning to Malfoy, "Do you want something?" She asked again.

"I'll have some earl gray if you have it." He said. "Tell me more of your theory."

She grabbed another cup. "Each murder escalates," she said softly. "And the letter was the first, not the only."

He watched her as she poured a cup of earl gray and slid it his way. She pulled out her sugar and watched as he scooped a heaping spoonful into his cup. She raised an eyebrow at him and he shrugged. "I like it sweet."

"I never would've guessed," she mused as she poured herself her own cup.

"About the letter," he leaned against the counter, resting his chin on his knuckles, staring up at her, "I think you're right. I also don't like the fact that he addressed you by name, Granger. What wards do you have up around this place?"

"Strong ones."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "I still don't like this, Granger."

Hermione leaned sideways against the counter and folded her arms. "You don't like this," she repeated.

"I don't like the fact that a serial killer has shown an interest in you," he said seriously, straightening so that he stood over her. "You're the smartest witch of our age and have served in a war. Now is not a time to be careless!" His hands rested on the counter as he leaned towards her, boxing her in with his arms. "Granger, I need you to be smart about this!"

"I am being smart about this, Malfoy," she shot back, "I don't know why you care so much! We're friends- no, we're colleagues-"

He laughed, "Colleagues Granger?" he leaned in towards her, "I'm tired of explaining myself; we are more than just colleagues, and," his eyes dipped to her mouth and her breath caught in her throat, "What I feel for you Granger is far from friendly."

Her eyes rounded, and she opened her mouth to speak. Before she could Malfoy closed the space between them, sealing his lips over hers, her back pressing into the edge of her counter. His lips were soft and pressed over hers, his hands coming up to frame her face. He stayed there, as if waiting for a sign to continue. Just as she started to feel him pulling back, Hermione let her mouth fall open and her bottom lip was pulled between his teeth as he groaned and pressed into her more firmly.

She found her arms circling his waist as one of his hands slid into her hair, the thumb of his other hand stroking her jaw. He was an excellent kisser. He kissed her hungrily and she wondered why they'd waited weeks of working together to do this. His leg pressed between hers until they were a tangle of limbs. His teeth tugged on her bottom lip and she sighed. He grinned, lips curling as his hands reached for her waist. She made a sound of surprise as he lifted her and sat her on the counter, coming to stand between her hips as he kissed her senseless.

His lips wandered down her neck and his fingers were working on the buttons down the back of her dress. She couldn't find it in herself to stop him. He was such an amazing kisser, and he was just so warm, and it had been so long since someone's lips had brushed her skin so religiously…

The straps of her dress slid down her shoulders and she caught it nervously. He just brushed her hands aside and the fabric fell, pooling at her hips. Malfoy's lips brushed the skin of her collar bone. She moved her hands to his shirt, unbuttoning furiously, because if she was going to be undressed, so was he.

He shrugged out of his shirt and it fell to the ground. He was pale in the dim light and Godric was he beautiful. He'd filled out since his days at school, his body sharp and smooth with muscle. His lips closed around her nipple and she made a soft, mewing sound. He pressed her back against the counter and tugged on her dress, pulling it out from under her hips.

"Fuck, Granger," he murmured once she was laid out atop her counter wearing only her lacy white panites. He kissed her thigh, "you're so lovely."

She wiggled a little, lifting her head. Sometime during their kissing her hair had escaped its constraints and had spilled over her shoulders. She was trying to decide whether to stop him or to beg him to kiss her more.

He stood up, leaving her cold. Maybe he'd changed his mind. It was just as well; she wouldn't have to make the decision if this was a good idea or not, and yet she felt a pang of disappointment.

That disappeared as he grabbed her panites and pulled them down her legs. She didn't miss him stuffing them into his pocket before he tossed one of her legs over his shoulder. She squirmed, suddenly nervous. He pinned her hips to the countertop with one hand while he leaned forward towards the juncture of her thighs. She made a low noise in her throat as he gave her one slow lick.

"Is this okay Granger?"

"Wha- oh, I guess."

He laughed and pressed a kiss to her inner thigh. She shivered when he gave a light suck. She waited for him to do something, but he stopped. She lifted her head up, feeling dizzy and desperate, only to find him staring at her. "Why'd you stop?" She mumbled, lifting herself up onto her elbows.

"Tell me what you want, Granger."

She flushed. She'd never dirty talked before; she'd only been with two other men, and those had been fairly vanilla experiences. She bit her lip, then, in a soft voice, asked, "Malfoy, please kiss me."

He brushed his lips along her stomach, just beneath her belly button. "Kiss you where? You need to be a little more specific, lovely."

She nearly sighed at the term 'lovely'. She'd always considered herself rather plain, but Malfoy obviously liked what he saw if his words were any indication. "Everywhere."

"If the lady insists," he said with a smile in his voice as his kisses trailed lower. She jumped when one of his fingers slid inside her just as he sucked on her clit. She moaned loudly and she felt his answering groan against her.

She was reaching her peak, and quickly; Malfoy's tongue and fingers were doing wild things to her. Her entire body felt coiled like a spring, her toes curling. Her hips started to move of their own accord and he pinned a hand against her stomach to keep her pressed to the counter. She felt like sobbing; waves crashed on her and the pleasure grew so intense she started to beg, saying things like, "oh please. Please, Malfoy."

He obliged, his fingers curling inside her and rubbing that perfect spot and she fell into her release, her back arching off of the counter just as a flash of light came from her window.

Malfoy's body was covering hers in an instant and she was clinging to him just as there was a second flash of light.

"What was that?" She asked, sounding hysterical even to herself. Malfoy hid her body completely as he lifted his head to the window and he reached for his wand. His voice was dark and angry as he said, "I think it was a camera."

Hermione's blood ran cold. "A what?"

"Take this," Malfoy bent down and tossed his forgotten shirt at her. She pulled it on as quickly as possible. It drowned her, reaching her knees, enveloping her in the smell of leather and pine and Malfoy. She rushed after him, just in time to catch someone on a broomstick flying away, their cloak billowing behind them.

HIM

He was going to kill the Malfoy brat for touching her.

It was a shame that he'd be spilling pure blood into the dirt.