Draco sighed as he Apparated into the hallway of his home. He really wished he could have stayed with Hermione all night but there was just no way he could manage it. Staying as late as he had was going to have serious consequences that he wasn't looking forward to. Anyway, he had an early start in the morning and really needed to recharge his batteries.

Even without the absolutely perfect lovemaking the day had been long, hard, and stressful — and tomorrow promised to be the same, although he did at least have more time with Hermione to look forward to. If he had stayed with her tonight he was sure he would have got no sleep at all; he wouldn't want to miss a single minute of being with her. As far as he was concerned, every second was precious.

He had the urge to just flop into bed but knew he was never going to get away with that. He had to show his face, at least, although hopefully that would be all he would need to do. He removed his jacket and hung it on a coat hook, then looked at himself in the mirror next to it. He looked completely knackered, although fortunately it wasn't obvious that sex had been involved.

Draco took a deep breath and made his way into the lounge, feeling his heart sinking as he did so. The room was empty, although only recently so, he suspected. He walked on, heading through the door into the large open plan dining area which led into the expansive kitchen. He stopped and silently watched the tall, thin, blonde-haired woman who was using her wand to clean the room, trying to determine what his feelings for her were although he already knew. He didn't love her and he wasn't sure now whether he ever had.

Another of his sighs had the woman turning from what she was doing. She looked at him critically and wrinkled her nose a little at his dishevelled appearance. Then, with a sigh of her own, she moved to give him a hug. Draco stood stiffly, not wanting to hug her back and hoping that she would just think it was because he was dirty, although the real reason was that he didn't want her touching him after Hermione had.

Unfortunately, she refused to give in and waited patiently for him to hold her back. However bad things got between them, and over the years had they had got pretty bad in places, they had always hugged each other — the one thing they would both do without complaint. Draco draped his arms around her loosely, feeling that somehow he was cheating on Hermione by doing this. Which was ridiculous when Caro, not Hermione, was his wife, however much he wished otherwise.

Caro released him and moved back to flicking her wand, although she still stared at Draco.

'So what's the matter with you?' she asked coldly.

She knew something was wrong. Draco always hugged her, if nothing else, and yet this evening he was reluctant. She looked back at him appraisingly, wondering if he had been injured. That was always a possibility with the job he did. Over the years she'd had to deal with several of them and it never got any easier. She still had no idea why someone with as much money, looks, and brains as Draco felt he had to work in such a dangerous job.

Although she had never admitted it to anyone she was eternally waiting for the day when she got the visit informing her that her husband was dead. It could only be a matter of time, seeing the way the department ran through personnel. It was a stressful life, and most of the time she couldn't for the life of her remember why she had been stupid enough to think she would be able to deal with it. It made her resent him, which wasn't the greatest basis for a successful marriage.

'You're very late.' She flicked her wand towards a stack of plates which shuddered worryingly before flying through the air and into a cupboard whose door she had opened only seconds before. 'I mean, Merlin knows you've never been the best at coming home in the evening, Draco, but this is a new low even for you. It's almost midnight.'

'I'm aware it's late, Caro, but I've been busy with work,' Draco snapped, trying to keep his steadily rising temper from erupting. The one thing his wife could always do effortlessly was annoy him, and the last thing he needed tonight was another of their arguments.

'Are you hurt?' she asked. She didn't sound particularly interested, apart from the inconvenience it would cause.

Draco shook his head. 'No. I'm just knackered.'

'Do you want a drink?' Caro asked him after she had finished putting away the washing-up. She sounded grudging as she added, 'I can make you a hot drink if you want.'

'I might have a Firewhisky,' Draco said.

He opened the cupboard containing the alcohol and pulled out the bottle of Ogden's Old as Caro got him a glass.

'Do you want one?' he asked, waving the bottle at her.

Caro wrinkled her nose again. 'No, thank you. You know I don't drink that nasty stuff.'

Draco shrugged. 'Please yourself. That means more for me.' He put a large measure into the glass, looked at it for a second, then added a bit more.

'So I take it it's been a hard day, then,' Caro ventured as she made herself a cup of herbal tea.

Draco sat down at the breakfast bar and stared into his glass, thinking about Hermione.

'Draco!' Caro said sharply.

He jerked his head up to look at her wearily. 'Sorry, what did you say?'

'I said has it been a hard day?' She stared at him angrily.

Draco nodded and sighed loudly. 'Yes. We had an extraction today. We had to rescue a woman who had been abducted by some scumbag of a stalker. He was holding her in his house and using her as his sex slave. He was a clever bastard, I'll give him that.'

'Oh god, poor thing. Is she okay?' Caro enquired.

Draco shrugged and took a large swig of his Firewhisky. 'She'll survive. She was terrified, obviously, but fortunately it seems he was obsessed with her sexually and didn't want to injure her in any way. He kept her locked in his bedroom, in the dark. She didn't have a clue what day it was or anything. It was quite sad really.'

'And what about him?' Caro asked. 'Did you get him? He's not going to be able to terrorise her in the future, is he?'

'The DMLE arrested him once they were sure we'd successfully got the woman out. He's in Azkaban tonight, and hopefully for many years to come. By all accounts he was completely obsessed with her.'

Draco gave a massive yawn, then downed the rest of his drink.

'I'm filthy, so I'm going to have a shower and then I'm going to hit the sack. I feel just about dead on my feet and really need some sleep. Got a major debriefing session coming up in the morning.' He stood up and said hopefully, 'Don't worry about coming up if you're not ready. I'm completely knackered and about ready to pass out.'

Draco hurried to the bathroom and into the shower, enjoying the feeling of the hot water on his skin. He'd had a quick shower at Hermione's, mainly to rid himself of the smell of sex, but it was good to be out of the leathers and properly cleaning off all the grime. He could feel himself relaxing, too, now that he had managed to get past Caro.

With any luck she would be so pissed off with him she would stay downstairs until he was deep into sleep. He knew he didn't rate spare-room status — unfortunately — although the frosty reception tonight meant he had to be well on the way. He had hated talking about Hermione so impersonally, but he couldn't do anything else. He had already told Caro too much, really, but at least he knew she wouldn't tell anyone else about it.

Caro didn't like her friends to know what Draco did, which was fine by him. Extraction teams weren't meant to be general knowledge as they dealt with all the dirty jobs that had a possibility of turning nasty, which was why they were so effective. He had spent the whole of their marriage pretending he was a consultant for the Ministry of Magic while also running his own and Caro's businesses, and it had been a pretty good cover. It was a bit tricky when he got injured — the month he had spent in hospital last time had been reported to their friends as pneumonia with complications — but generally it worked well enough.

Draco left the bathroom and pulled back the bedclothes, looking forward to resting his head on the pillow with hopefully a decent night's sleep to follow. He wished he was still with Hermione, holding her in his arms as he slept, but he was going to have to take that one stage at a time. Although he thought her perfect and was convinced she was his soul mate, he needed to wait until she was fully recovered from her trauma to make sure she felt the same way. There was no point in him rushing in if she was going to turn her back on him once she got Antenucci out of her system, although if she in any way intimated that she wanted more he would be ready to spring into action.

The door opened and Caro appeared. She had obviously used the main bathroom and was wearing what she called her seductive lingerie. Draco's heart sank and he closed his eyes and tried to pretend he was already asleep. He and Caro did have sex regularly. She had made him sign an agreement before they got married guaranteeing they would do it at least twice a month to ensure he would provide her with an heir eventually; she was cynical enough to think, having seen both her own parents and various other couples, that after a few years of marriage the sex would pretty much stop. He hadn't minded at the time as he expected to have regular sex with his wife anyway, and twice a month was going to be easy to beat. But although they had started out well enough, before eighteen months had passed he had discovered that the reason Caro had chosen twice a month was because that was how often she liked to do it.

In the end the whole thing had become such a production, with specially scheduled days, expensive underwear and seductive lighting, that Draco rarely felt aroused when he needed to, although he always managed to do his duty eventually. But Caro still hadn't fallen pregnant and Draco wasn't sure if this was because she was actively preventing it — after all, she did have her figure to think of, as she had reminded him on several occasions — or because one of them had problems in that department. He didn't like to mention it because he didn't actually want a child, at least not with Caro. He already knew he would be more than happy to have one with Hermione if she wanted one — although that would be quite some way down the track.

'Honestly, Caro, I'm too tired,' he told her, sounding disgruntled, hoping that she would get the hint and leave him alone.

'You're always tired,' Caro pointed out coldly. 'You've been tired for years, Draco. But it doesn't change the fact that I'm in the mood. And we haven't done it this month yet, so we're overdue. We were scheduled to do it the day before yesterday and you worked an extra shift, remember?'

Draco gave a huge sigh.

'What's the matter? I would have thought you'd be pleased. You always used to want to have sex with me,' she reminded him.

'That was before it turned into such a major production,' Draco retorted. 'Sex is supposed to be spontaneous and fun, Caro, not something planned months in advance and coordinated to within an inch of its life.' He thought of Hermione and sighed again. 'Can't it wait until another time? I really am knackered.'

'No, I want to do it tonight,' Caro said petulantly. 'Come on, Draco, you know you'll enjoy it once we get going — and it'll help you to sleep.'

Draco gave her a wan smile, fairly certain that this time he wasn't going to enjoy it. How could he when he had Hermione, who was the most perfect lover ever?

He sighed again. 'All right then, but you need to get a move on. I really do need to get some sleep. And you're on top. I know you prefer it that way anyway, so it shouldn't be a hardship for you.'

Caro leant over to kiss him.

'Just lie back and think of England,' she whispered gleefully.

'Very funny,' Draco said shortly. 'I suggest you get a move on before I fall asleep.'

He closed his eyes and allowed a vision of Hermione to drift into his brain. That was better. Now he would be able to get through this and then he could finally get some sleep.

'Aren't you even going to have a cup of tea before you go?' Caro asked. She yawned and pulled her scarlet designer pure silk dressing gown tighter around her as she followed him out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

Draco waited for her to pass, then sat down on the stairs and pulled his boots on as he said, 'No. I need to go. I told you, I've got another extremely long day today.'

'I still don't understand why you have to go in so early. Surely no one's around at this time?'

'That's why I'm going in,' Draco explained. 'I've got reports to write about that case yesterday. They need to get done and I've got a load of meetings that are going to cut into the time. I can get a lot done if no one else is around to bother me.' He looked at Caro. 'Why don't you go back to bed? I don't need anything.'

'And what about dinner tonight. Are you going to be gracing me with your presence?' Caro asked sourly.

'Don't worry about making me anything. I have no idea what time I'm going to finish, but don't expect me back much before midnight again. I really have got a massive pile of stuff still to do, and as you know, we're short-staffed at the moment with one thing and another so I might end up having to pull an extra shift again.'

'That's useful actually,' Caro told him. 'I'm off out with the girls tonight and I didn't really want to have to make you anything before I went. I'll probably still be back before you, though, so if I'm in bed when you get in you can sleep in the spare room. I don't want you waking me up.'

'Don't worry, I've no intention of waking you,' Draco said honestly as he stood up. 'I've got to go. See you later.'

Caro offered him her cheek so he could kiss it. Draco did so because it was expected of him, then moved to the coat hook to get his jacket. He had no idea whether Hermione would be awake yet, it was pretty early after all, but he hoped she wouldn't be too unhappy to see him. They had arranged for him to visit her after he finished work but he couldn't wait, he had to see her now.

It wasn't just sex with Caro that made him miss Hermione so desperately. Although they had only been together for less than a day, Hermione was a part of him that he had been missing for years and having regained that part of himself he didn't want to let it go again. It was a scary thought but Draco was in love, truly in love, and he had to see the object of his affection now. He couldn't possibly wait all day to have to kiss her beautiful lips or all the other beautiful parts of her that he wanted to shower affection on.

He glanced at himself in the mirror. Dressed in his leathers again, he was looking pretty hot, he thought, and grinned.

Draco knocked on Hermione's door, hoping that she was awake. Although he had no desire to have sex with his wife, the same couldn't be said for the beautiful woman he had just come to see although at least this morning he would, with any luck, actually be doing it with her rather than just pretending it was her as he had last night with Caro. He found he actually didn't feel anywhere near as guilty about that as he knew he should do, although knowing Caro she had probably been fantasising about someone else, too.

Hermione pulled the door open a tiny bit, one eye peering through the crack.

'Who is it and what do you want?' Her voice sounded husky and tired.

'It's me, Draco,' he said, trying to sound suave and relaxed rather than excited. He wasn't sure he was doing a great job.

Hermione opened the door wider, a smile of pleasure on her face. But immediately, as her brain woke up properly and kicked into gear, the look changed to a frown, her heart pounding suddenly at the thought that Michael had escaped or something.

'What's the matter, is something wrong? You'd better come in.'

She stepped back to allow Draco entrance, biting her lip nervously as she watched him, trying to gauge whether what he had to tell her was good or bad news. He closed the door behind him, noticing that she was wearing her pyjamas again.

'I'm sorry, Hermione, I didn't mean to scare you,' Draco said cursing himself for being an idiot. Of course she was going to be worried at him turning up unexpectedly. 'There's nothing wrong, honestly. I was just missing you and I wanted to check that you were okay before I went to work.'

'You're a bit early for work, aren't you?' Hermione asked.

Draco shrugged. 'I've got a lot to do today, a lot of stuff to do with your case.' He took hold of Hermione's hands. 'But really I just wanted to see you.'

'Mmmm, well, it's nice to see you, too. Especially dressed in that lovely leather again.' Hermione winked. 'So are you going to have to go straight away now you've seen me if you've got so much to do? Or do you have time for a cup of tea or something first?'

Draco pulled Hermione into his arms, his mouth searching for hers.

'I like the idea of the or something,' he whispered seductively.

'What sort of something?' Hermione asked. Her eyes were shining wickedly.

'I think it would be better to show you,' Draco said, leading her towards the bedroom. 'Although first we need to get rid of those pyjamas again. I already took them off you once.'

'I only put them on in hopes that you'd take them off me,' Hermione told him. She was pulling his jacket off his shoulders as she spoke.

'I don't just do pyjamas, you know,' Draco told her as he laid her down on the bed underneath him. 'I'll happily take off any of your clothes, whenever you want me to.'

'Ooh, like my own personal service,' Hermione joked. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

'Perhaps I should make that my new job, Hermione's personal undresser. I wonder if it would pay well?' Draco mused.

'I think the wages would be rubbish but the perks would be pretty good,' Hermione said. 'And there would be lots of perks.'

'I don't need money, I already have plenty of that,' Draco pointed out. 'So it sounds like the ideal job for me. I love the idea of perks.'

'Perhaps I should give you a trial run first though,' Hermione said, trying to sound serious. 'After all, you do okay with pyjamas, but I think I need to see how you handle other clothes before I can guarantee you the job.'

'Shall I come back this evening to give you a demonstration of my wonderful prowess?' Draco asked, his voice husky with arousal.

'Hmmm. Maybe. We can think about that after I've given you a demonstration of what you can expect to receive instead of money,' Hermione whispered as she kissed him again.

'Unless I get called out to something I should be with you just after six,' Draco told Hermione as he pulled his jacket on. 'If I'm going to be late or something happens, I'll send you an owl to warn you. Whatever happens, don't worry, Antenucci is still safely in Azkaban and he's not getting out anytime soon.' He pulled Hermione into his arms, squeezing her tightly. 'I wish I didn't have to go, but I've got a debriefing this morning.'

He released Hermione, staring at her for a moment as if to set her in his mind, although he really had no need to, she was always in his mind now.

'Don't work too hard,' Hermione told him.

'Hah! Unfortunately, that's all we know in the Extractions branch — but don't worry, I think I'll survive. That reminds me: I still need to question you about the abduction.'

'Can we do that tonight?' Hermione asked hopefully.

She half expected Draco to tell her that she needed to go to the Ministry to do it and she still wasn't quite ready to go back.

'I suppose so, as long as we do actually do it this time. I just wonder if we might get too carried away with my job interview. It's really important that we get your story before you start forgetting or rewriting it to dull the pain of the bad bits. It would probably be more professional if you came into work.'

'But then it would seem all serious and scary,' Hermione said in a small voice. 'At least if I tell you about it here you can give me a hug when it gets to the bad stuff. You won't be able to do that if I'm in your office — or worse still, one of those awful interrogation rooms.'

'Fair point,' Draco responded. He had no desire to make Hermione feel uncomfortable with her questioning and he liked the idea of holding her. He definitely wouldn't be able to do that at work. 'But we do the questions first before we do anything else.'

'We may have to do it in sections,' Hermione pointed out knowingly. 'But we will get it done this evening, Draco, I promise.'

Draco kissed her.

'Right. I have to go. I've gone from being ridiculously early to being in danger of being late. I'll see you tonight. One more kiss before I go?'

Hermione held him so tightly as they kissed that Draco wasn't sure she was going to let him go again, but eventually they did part. He ran his hand down her cheek.

'You are so beautiful, Hermione. I am really lucky,' he said softly.

Hermione looked back at him tenderly. 'I think I'm the lucky one.' She smiled as she answered. 'Now go, otherwise you're going to be late and I don't want you getting into trouble because of me.'

'Too late, I already am,' Draco said.

Hermione moved back to allow him to Apparate.

'Missing you already,' she whispered as he disappeared.

Draco spent all day with Hermione in one way or another so he was glad to finally return to her in real life. He was excited that she seemed to be as into him as he was her, and was hopeful that this might mean he was more than just a way for Hermione to recover from her abduction. His life since leaving school after the Battle of Hogwarts, which had rid the world of that madman Voldemort but had seen his family's standing in the wizarding world slide quite dramatically, hadn't been that brilliant, quite frankly — hence his desire to do a job that made him feel like he was accomplishing something. But now, with Hermione, things were definitely starting to look up. It might even mean his star would rise again.

But first he had to question her about her time with Antenucci. He knew that was going to be uncomfortable for both of them. By rights he should make her go to the Ministry to do it, and he should get someone else to handle it as he wasn't exactly an unbiased bystander, but he knew it was going to be hard for Hermione and he wanted to do everything he could to give her an easy ride. So even if it wasn't ideal he was going to be the one to question her, and he would do it at her home where he could hold her and comfort her when she needed it and she could run away if she felt she had to.

He had just reached the landing Hermione's flat was located on when Mrs Hamblin emerged through her door. She was wearing a black velvet robe with a matching hat and carrying a wicker basket with a red and white gingham cloth covering whatever was inside. Draco couldn't help but think that she looked a bit like the wicked witch in a Muggle fairy tale he had once read. No wonder the Muggles were anti-witches with scary old women like her around. He wondered if she had a spell cast on the landing that allowed her to know when anyone was outside so she could come and make them feel uncomfortable.

Mrs Hamblin waved at him and smiled.

'Back again, young man? Come to see Hermione, have you? So how is she? Has she recovered yet?' Her voice was brisk but not unpleasant.

'I'm just going to see how she is now. Hopefully the rest will have done her good.' Draco indicated the door to show that he should be getting on.

'I'm sure seeing you will do more good,' Mrs Hamblin said. 'You'll brighten her day right up.'

'Hopefully,' Draco admitted. Thinking he should be polite, he asked, 'So what are you up to?'

'Oh, I was just about to go and do some shopping,' Mrs Hamblin told him. 'I usually wander down about this time of day, just to get a few bits and bobs and to take a little walk. I'd better not keep you, though. I know you're eager to see Hermione.' Her face crinkled as she grinned. 'Have a lovely evening, both of you.'

She waved and headed towards the stairs. Draco watched her go for a few seconds before turning back to knock on Hermione's door.

'Mrs Hamblin says hullo,' he said as the door opened.

Hermione smiled and Draco thought it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life. Looking at her, he couldn't help wondering whether she was ready to go to the Ministry for her questioning after all. She certainly seemed to be dressed for it in a smart pair of trousers and a soft-looking pale pink blouse that was unbuttoned at the neck, revealing a delicate silver necklace with matching earrings that graced her ears.

Before he even managed to get the door closed Hermione launched herself into his arms, grabbing him as she kissed him, her mouth warm and eager. Draco wrapped his arms around her in return. He liked this . . . liked it very much.

'It has been such a slow day,' Hermione told him when they finished kissing. 'I've been counting down the hours and it's really dragged.'

'It's gone pretty quick for me,' Draco admitted as he followed Hermione into the lounge. 'But then again, I've been busy all day.'

'I wish I'd gone into work now, then I'd have been busy as well,' Hermione said ruefully as she sat next to him on the sofa, cuddling into him in a way that Draco rather enjoyed. 'I'm definitely going back tomorrow, I think.' She looked at him. 'Do you want a drink or anything?'

'I wouldn't mind a cup of tea if you're making one. I need to wet the old whistle before I start questioning you. Unless you want to go to the Ministry to do it.'

Hermione frowned at him as she stood up. 'Why would I want to go to the Ministry? I thought we agreed I could do it here, didn't we?'

'We did,' Draco confirmed smoothly. He indicated her clothes. 'But I thought with the way you're dressed—'

Hermione chuckled delightedly, holding her hand over her mouth as she did so.

'This is for your interview,' she announced, her eyes glinting. 'I thought that as this is the sort of outfit I usually wear to work it would give you a bit of practice.'

'I'd forgotten about that,' Draco said. 'We really need to get on with that questioning. There are so many other more interesting things to do that we can't do until it's completed.'

'We can start as soon as I've made the tea,' Hermione said, and she disappeared off into the kitchen.

Draco sat back and relaxed as he waited for Hermione to bring the tea. He really had forgotten all about their jokey job interview with the meetings and debriefings and reports he had spent the day working on. He grinned contentedly. The chance to undress Hermione was always going to be gratefully accepted, and it was nice that they could have fun with the serious bit. This is what sex was supposed to be like, everyday fun — light and entertaining and downright pleasurable, not all timetables and underwear bought specially, with no touching allowed at other times. No wonder he wanted to be with Hermione rather than Caro.

He closed his eyes as he thought about his wife, wondering whether things would be better between them if they had the sort of sex that he and Hermione had. But he knew it wouldn't. First of all, he could never have the sort of sex with someone else that he had with Hermione. What they had was completely perfect and could never be replicated elsewhere. Even if he could get close to it with Caro it wouldn't make any difference. He admired his wife, he always had done, it was one of the reasons he had married her, after all. But he didn't love her that way, had never loved her that way even in the earliest days of their relationship, and now he never could because he had Hermione and she was everything he ever wanted or needed.

'Knut for 'em?' Hermione asked.

She was carrying two mugs which she placed on the coffee table. Draco opened his eyes and smiled at her.

'I was just planning my strategy for the job interview,' he said lightly. 'I obviously want to show my talents off to their best advantage.'

'I'm sure you're going to be fine, Draco. There's no need to be nervous,' Hermione answered with a smile. 'Where do you want me to sit for this questioning? Do you want to be all serious interviewer or can we go for something more relaxed?'

'I suppose it depends what you mean by relaxed,' Draco said. He picked up one of the mugs, blew on the hot tea, then took a sip. 'We need to do this properly and I think it might be a bit rough for you. I don't mind us sitting together as long as it doesn't veer off into anything else.'

Hermione set her face to look serious. 'Okay, I'm ready.' She sat down in the armchair. 'I think I'll sit here for the time being and we'll see how it goes. You may have to give me a cuddle if it gets too traumatic, though.'

'I can do that,' Draco promised. He put the mug back on the coffee table, then pulled some parchment and a quill out of his pocket. 'I'm going to be using a self-writing quill for this. I'll ask you questions and you can tell me what you remember. Once we've finished you'll read through what the quill has written to make sure you're happy with what it says and that it covers everything that happened. Once you're content, you sign the bottom. I then sign it as interviewer and witness and then I'll take it to the Ministry and get it formally lodged with the trial team.'

Hermione looked a little more anxious now. She licked her lips nervously. 'Okay, that's fine. Can we get started, then, because I really want to get it over and done with and get on to the good stuff.'

Draco smiled and said soothingly, 'Relax, Hermione, this isn't you on trial. We're just trying to ascertain exactly what happened. So perhaps you can start by telling me about the first time you met Mr Michael Antenucci.'

Nothing was ever going to be as good and him and Hermione, Draco decided as he lay holding her in bed. She had her head on his chest and was apparently listening to his heartbeat. He could quite honestly stay like this for the rest of his life and be a happy man, but unfortunately it was almost time to leave. He imagined what it would be like to live with Hermione rather than Caro. It would be perfect and was definitely going to happen eventually, but sadly not tonight.

'Did I mention how much I love having sex with you?' Hermione told him as she wriggled her way up his body to plant a kiss on his lips.

Draco groaned at the feel of her delicious soft skin rubbing against him so provocatively.

'It may have been mentioned,' he said as he ran his fingers down Hermione's spine, making her shiver. 'Although it's always good to be reminded.'

'Well, consider this a reminder,' Hermione whispered as she moved to a better position.

'Oh god, yes,' Draco moaned.

Hermione chuckled wickedly.

'You recovered pretty quickly,' she said as she moved around on top of him.

'Well, that's not really a surprise, is it, considering I've got you climbing all over me,' Draco pointed out.

'I just like feeling your body against mine,' Hermione told him. 'I like feeling it in mine,' she whispered, and she moved her hips as Draco gave another low moan.

'You just like being in control,' he accused mildly.

Hermione kissed his nose. 'Not true. I like you being in control, too.'

'Really?' Draco asked the question suggestively. 'If you like it so much maybe I should take control now.'

He rolled Hermione over so she was laying beneath him with her hands held above her head. His heart melted as she smiled up at him.

'You really are the most perfect thing,' he whispered, sounding almost in awe.

'I was just thinking exactly the same thing about you,' Hermione replied. 'Oooh . . . that feels so good.'

'Yes, it does,' Draco agreed as his head dipped and his mouth captured hers.

When it was over Draco excused himself to go to the bathroom. When he returned several minutes later he was carrying two mugs of tea.

'I thought you might want some refreshment after all that activity,' he said.

Hermione smiled and patted the bed. 'My idea of perfection . . . a hot man bearing a cup of tea. All you need is a chocolate biscuit and I would be ready to proclaim you as a god.'

'Have you got any biscuits?' Draco asked.

Hermione shook her head. 'Alas, no. But the tea will do very nicely. Come back to bed. It's cold and lonely without you, Hot Boy.'

'Hot Boy? I hope that's not going to be your new nickname for me,' Draco retorted, sounding disgusted.

'What do want me to call you, then?' Hermione asked.

'Master would be good,' Draco said with a grin.

'Never going to happen,' Hermione assured him.

'What about God?' Draco suggested.

'But you're not — we've already established that you don't have chocolate biscuits. Try again, Hot Boy.'

Draco put the mugs on the bedside cabinet and dropped onto the bed beside Hermione where he proceeded to tickle her.

'Perhaps I don't want you giving me a nickname,' he said as she screamed with laughter.

'Please let go, Draco,' Hermione panted, trying to pull herself away. She kicked him but it didn't stop the tickling. 'Stop tickling me . . . please.'

'And why should I do that? Perhaps you've annoyed me with your nickname.'

He tickled her again, drawing another squeal, then released her.

'Do you really not like being called Hot Boy?' Hermione asked him.

Draco shrugged nonchalantly. 'I'm not fussed, really. I thought it was quite funny, though, the first time you said it.'

Hermione moved back into his arms, snuggling up close.

'To be honest, I only keep saying it because it's so obvious it annoys you, although I really do think you're hot. Perhaps Mr Perfect would be better.'

'Well, I'm definitely not perfect,' Draco retorted as he squeezed her. He wasn't, by any stretch of the imagination, but it was extremely flattering that Hermione thought he was.

'You are to me,' Hermione whispered.

'Then maybe we'll just keep that nickname between ourselves,' Draco said.

'So it's looking like Hot Boy is the winner still, then,' Hermione said with a wink. She moved her hand. 'Ooh, and I see you've recovered again . . . maybe your nickname should be something about stamina.'

Draco looked at her seriously. 'Actually, we need to be careful or it's going to be something about babies. I can't keep—'

Hermione stopped him with a kiss.

'Don't worry about that,' she assured him. 'I'm on the pill . . . it's a Muggle contraceptive. I don't intend to have children for several years yet.'

'Okay, that's good,' Draco said, sounding relieved. He realised he might sound a little too relieved and quickly added, 'Not that I don't want to have babies with you, Hermione, because I do . . . I mean, I would . . . well, you know what I mean. But now really isn't a very good time.'

'I know exactly what you mean,' Hermione assured him, her stomach tingling with pleasure at the thought that Draco wanted to have children with her. 'I really like practising for it, though.'

'Me too,' Draco replied happily. 'And I think we might be ready to have another lesson.'

Hermione realised that she had never felt so happy and she knew it was because of Draco, or Hot Boy as she now insisted on calling him because she knew it annoyed him; although she suspected he actually found it rather flattering. He had told her that her nickname was Goddess, which she found hysterically funny. She certainly didn't feel like a goddess, although maybe when Draco touched her in that special way . . . .

She had wanted to believe that whatever was happening between her and Draco was going to fizzle out, would reach a natural conclusion, and she would be able to walk away from it healed from Michael and not hurting too badly about Draco. But now she had a sneaking suspicion that this thing with Draco was never going to end because it was meant to be, and that if they tried to end it they would both end up incredibly unhappy and would probably ruin the lives of everyone they knew with their misery.

If they were meant to be together, then that meant living together and marriage and children and all those things that Hermione had dreamt about so many times but never managed to get anywhere near. Now it looked as if everything she had always wanted might come true after all, and all of it with the man she had spent most of her teenage years hating.

But there was a little part of her that was worried things were going too fast, that she wasn't giving herself time to get over Michael properly before jumping headlong into a relationship with Draco. It was the little nagging part of her that thought things couldn't be quite as good as they seemed. How did the old saying go? If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Hermione didn't want her pessimism to ruin what she had with Draco, but neither could she abandon herself to him completely. She had already thrown caution to the wind by becoming intimate with him after only a few hours in his company. Okay, so she had known him for seventeen years, but she hadn't really known him — except as a bigoted, argumentative tosser, which wasn't a place to start the relationship from.

Draco hadn't told her he loved her yet, which pleased Hermione as it was far too soon to be talking in those terms regardless of what she herself felt; but he had come quite close a couple of times, she thought. She'd had to be careful with what she said as well. She knew she had almost said the 'L' word to him and wasn't sure if it would scare him away or escalate things faster than she could handle. She was so confused about her feelings and she couldn't talk to Draco about them as she had talked to him about Michael.

She couldn't talk to Harry and Ron, either. She wasn't sure what they would think of her and Draco hooking up, but although it was likely that eventually they would accept the relationship because they would see how happy being with Draco made her, she knew that in the short term they wouldn't be too happy at how quickly it had happened. She had a feeling her friends would accuse Draco of taking advantage of her while she was so vulnerable. Hermione was almost certain that such wasn't the case, but yet again there was still that small element of doubt.

'What are you thinking about?' Draco asked, pulling Hermione close.

'Nothing and everything,' Hermione said airily. It was a saying her father always used when he didn't want to explain.

'Are you thinking about us?' Draco's voice was soft and seductive.

'We're part of everything, aren't we? Or are we nothing?' Hermione asked.

'Oh, I think we are everything, not just part of it,' Draco replied honestly. 'You're certainly everything to me.'

He squeezed Hermione tightly.

'I don't ever want to let you go, Hermione,' Draco whispered, his lips brushing her hair as he spoke.

Hermione froze, her heart suddenly thumping and her stomach churning madly. Automatically she pulled out of Draco's arms and sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, ready to leave.

Draco shot up beside her, panicking wildly, unable to understand what he had done wrong.

'What's the matter, Hermione?' he asked desperately, trying to get her to look at him, although she was trying to avoid his eyes as she fought to keep her sudden nausea under control. 'What did I do wrong?'

Draco got out of bed and moved in front of her, dropping to his knees as he took hold of her hands.

'I'm so sorry for whatever I did. Talk to me, please,' he begged.

'Please don't say that. That's what he said,' Hermione told him quietly, her voice shaking with emotion as tears rolled down her cheeks. 'On Sunday night, before we went to sleep. He said the exact same thing, and then on Monday . . . .'

'Oh my god, Hermione, I am so sorry. I didn't realise.'

Hermione looked at him, her eyes sparkling with tears. 'I know I'm being stupid and overreacting, but . . . .'

Draco squeezed her hands. 'Of course you're not overreacting. It's understandable after what you've been through, especially as it was so recent. I'm the idiot for not thinking properly. I really didn't mean it in a creepy way, but I can understand why you would take it like that. I keep forgetting how little time we've been together because it seems like we should have been together forever.'

'I think it just hit me out of the blue because you used the same words,' Hermione explained tearfully. 'I'll be fine, Draco, honestly.'

'Perhaps I should leave and let you recover without me saying something else stupid,' Draco said downheartedly.

Hermione pulled at Draco's hand to get him up and pulled him onto the bed next to her.

'It wasn't stupid, it was a nice sentiment . . . just at the wrong time,' she told him with a small smile. 'Will you kiss me?'

'Whenever you want,' Draco assured her as he wrapped his arms around her.

'I really should go,' he said a little later, once he and Hermione had taken a break from kissing.

'You don't sound very keen to go,' Hermione said.

Draco sighed. 'I'm not, but I have to do it.'

'No, you don't. Stay here with me,' Hermione tried to convince him.

'I honestly wish I could, but I really have to go. I need to go back into work. I signed up for an extra shift because we're so short-staffed at the moment, and I need to get your interview logged and passed on. Can I see you tomorrow, though?' Draco asked hopefully.

'I'm counting on it, Hot Boy.' She winked at him. 'Although I don't know what state you'll find me in as I'm going back to work tomorrow morning.'

'You're going back tomorrow? Do you think you're ready? There are only a couple more days until the weekend, so why don't you wait until next week?' Draco asked worriedly.

Hermione shook her head, she was frowning. 'No, I need to get back into a normal routine — to get back to leading my normal, boring life — and that's not going to happen if I stay sitting in my flat brooding on what happened to me and counting down the hours until you come to keep me company again.'

Draco studied her for a moment, trying to gauge Hermione's state of mind. Apart from her odd moments of panic she seemed to be okay, so perhaps she was ready, and the Healer at St Mungo's had said she could go back so there was no reason for him to try to stop her.

'Okay . . . good. So everything will be back to normal tomorrow, then,' he said.

Hermione wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.

'Well, not quite everything, I hope.'

'Oh, don't worry. You're not getting rid of me that easily,' Draco assured her. 'I shall be round to hear all about your boring day and make it less boring.'

'See, I said you were perfect, Hot Boy,' Hermione said happily.

'Mmmm, and I have something good to reminisce about during another long and stressful shift tonight,' Draco told her. He kissed Hermione gently on the lips. 'And something equally good to look forward to tomorrow night.'

. . .

'I thought you said you were going,' Hermione reminded him after several more kisses had taken place and she was on her back underneath Draco again.

He sighed wistfully as he stroked her hair back from her face. 'Unfortunately, you're right. I really must go.'

Draco kissed Hermione's nose, then pulled away from her, leaving the bed to find his clothes. Hermione watched him, admiring his lithe physique as he dressed. When he had finished he returned to the bed for one final kiss.

'Have a nice relaxing bath and get a good night's sleep,' he recommended.

Hermione grinned at him. 'I might have a chance at that as you're not going to be here.'

Draco nodded as he grinned back. 'And have a good day at work. I'll see you tomorrow evening. What time do you want me to come round?'

'When do you want to come round?' Hermione asked.

'What time do you finish work?' Draco asked playfully.

'Come round at half past seven and you can have dinner,' Hermione told him. 'I'll cook you something.'

'That's a date,' Draco said, sounding satisfied. He stole another kiss, then checked his watch. 'Shit, I really do have to go, Hermione. Do you mind if I Apparate from in here?'

Hermione shook her head. 'Of course not. Don't work too hard. And don't do anything dangerous. I don't want you getting hurt.'

Draco looked at her fondly and smiled. 'I'm not aware of anything interesting in the pipeline for tonight. I'm probably just going to be a desk jockey.'

'But you wouldn't tell me if there was, would you?' Hermione asked.

'Rules of the job, I'm afraid,' Draco said. 'I'll see you tomorrow. I'm missing you already.'

Hermione thought she could say the same thing. She really wished Draco didn't have to go to work, and not just because she was worried about how dangerous his job was. She would have loved to have him stay with her all night.

Instead she said, 'Shut up and go to work, Hot Boy.'

Draco gave her a small salute and a wicked grin. 'As you wish, my Goddess,' he said, sounding gallant.

With a flick of his wand he Disapparated, leaving Hermione alone and suddenly feeling a little less bright than she had before.

She climbed out of bed and retrieved her cotton dressing gown from the back of the chair, wrapping it around her as she made her way into the lounge. It was still amazing to her to think how quickly she had begun to think of Draco in terms of being a real lover, especially given their history — although to be fair, he had been incredibly handsome when he was at school and had only got better as he had aged. For a moment she wondered whether her attraction and desire to be intimate with him really was a direct result of what she had been through with Michael, because surely she shouldn't want to be involved with anyone after what he had done to her.

But having thought about it as she prepared a salad for her dinner, Hermione decided that this — whatever this was with Draco — wasn't a rebound thing, or an attempt to keep away her fear. The truth was that she fancied him something rotten and was seriously convinced that she had finally found the one she had been waiting for so long. However handsome and sexy Michael was, and there was no doubt about it that whilst he might be psychologically disturbed and in need of locking up he was extremely good-looking and seductive, Draco beat him hands down both in looks and personality, even if you excluded the mental part.

It was astonishing to think that the person she had spent so many years arguing with over the pettiest of circumstances was destined to be her soul mate, but already she knew he was. His heart sang and hers replied in perfect harmony. Hermione had never felt this way about anyone and she knew Draco was the better thing she had been waiting for, the pinnacle of her high standards, and wonderfully for her he appeared to like her just as much. Michael had been yet another loser in her huge pile of losers, but now she had given her interview she could forget him and relegate him to history. Draco was the only man she wanted, and amazingly she was actually going to get him.

For a moment Hermione wondered again about what Harry and Ron would say about her being in a relationship with Draco, worried that they might disapprove in a holdover from their school days, but then she realised that she wasn't really bothered about what they thought. Things had moved a long way since they left school, they had all grown up and changed. If there was one thing she was certain of it was that her friends wanted her to be happy, and once they understood that Draco made her happy they would accept him — although Ron would probably still call him a stalker, she thought wryly.

After finishing her dinner and washing up her plate and utensils, Hermione took Draco's advice and had a long, hot soak in the tub before having an early night.

Draco was glad he didn't have to leave the office as he wasn't really mentally alert enough to lead a team into a situation that could potentially endanger or even kill them. He was feeling bone-tired and was still focussed on Hermione and her outburst just before he left. He ended up spending most of the extra shift reminding himself what an idiot he had been with her. He still couldn't believe how possessively he had acted towards her, and almost immediately after she had told him in excruciatingly painful and heartbreaking detail how Antenucci had acted in almost exactly the same way. Ruefully, he considered that the only thing he hadn't done since their relationship started was abduct her and keep her locked away in the dark; everything else had a touch of stalker about it.

Telling her he wanted to keep her with him forever — check.

Telling her he wanted her to have his babies — check.

Rushing round to see her first thing in the morning because he couldn't keep away from her — check.

And being serious, the only reason he hadn't already suggested something more permanent between them was because he was still married and couldn't, so if he'd been single that would have been another huge check. Maybe then Hermione would be trying to escape from him, just as she had tried so hard to escape from Antenucci. Draco's only saving grace was that he didn't want to keep her away from other people. It was strange how something so small could make such a huge difference between the relationship being normal and being horribly perverted.

What he couldn't understand — although his mind kept returning to it — was why, if Antenucci really was as in love with Hermione as he claimed, he didn't realise that what he was doing to her was hurting her. As an ex-employee of the Department of Mysteries he obviously wasn't a stupid man, but somehow he seemed to lack the ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy. He had either completely blocked out Hermione's anguish or he just genuinely didn't understand it.

Draco still wasn't sure why he felt such a strong attraction to Hermione after such a brief re-acquaintance with her, but deep in his heart he knew that whatever this thing was between them was real. He didn't think his feelings for her were ever going to change, whatever happened in the future.

The more he considered it the more convinced he was that it stemmed from their time at school together. He thought back to some of their arguments and could see with hindsight how he had overcompensated for having to keep his true feelings hidden. He had been in love with Hermione then and seeing her had rekindled his feelings, which in turn had been boosted by the circumstances in which he had found her.

His strong desire to protect her, coupled with the intense desire that had been simmering away inside for all those years, had coalesced into an overwhelming need to get physical with her. He was still in love, but at least now he could express his feelings and not have to hide them under arguing and stupidity.

He was definitely going to have to do something about Caro, though.

Draco spent a considerable amount of time thinking about his wife and going through various conversations he would need to have with her. It was going to be tough. Even if he didn't love her they had still had a few years together and they hadn't always got on so badly. At his most optimistic he imagined Caro would be understanding.

After all, she would remember Hermione from school and it seemed everyone in the world remembered Draco and Hermione fighting, so maybe she would be happy to give way, especially as there wasn't anything that deep between them. More likely, she would be furious with him and would seek to make his life a misery for a while, but eventually she would give in because there was no real desire between them.

One way or another he was going to have to talk to her, and he would have to do it soon. He decided he could no longer wait until Hermione made up her mind whether she was serious about them as a couple or not. Even if she ultimately rejected him, which he wasn't really expecting, he couldn't stay with Caro any longer. It wasn't fair to her and she didn't deserve him continuing to play around behind her back. He wanted to get it out in the open and sorted as soon as possible.

But not tonight. Caro had been out with her high society friends this evening and would probably be drunk, and when she was drunk she was a real bitch. He hung on at the Ministry for as long as he could so that when he finally got home she was already in bed. A night spent in the spare room would be perfect for him as it guaranteed him a good night's sleep, which he desperately needed, but in order to attain it he had to stay out as late as possible, which made him even more tired.

His last consideration was that once he sorted things out with Caro he was going to have to face his parents, which would be a mini-trial all on its own. Draco didn't care what any of his friends were going to think — they would accept Hermione or not and she would always be more important to him than any of them — but his parents were a different matter. Although their views had changed somewhat in the years since Voldemort's defeat, Draco knew they still weren't comfortable with the equality of Muggle-borns in wizarding society, although to give them their due they always tried hard to hide their discomfort, in public at least.

Having said that, Hermione might have her own problems with his parents, he realised. After all, it was at Malfoy Manor that she had been painfully tortured by his mad and now fortunately deceased aunt, and they had just stood by and let it happen — as had he — something he had spent years afterwards feeling incredibly guilty about. He would definitely understand if Hermione wasn't keen on visiting the old family pile, although part of him hoped she would show the same compassion she had shown for others in the past and give his parents a chance to apologise to her.

Draco sighed. It would be so much easier if he and Hermione could just run off somewhere together and forget about everyone they knew. But again, that sounded like Antenucci and stalker territory, so he needed to make sure he never voiced it.