Hermione's eyes flickered towards the clock constantly. It wasn't long until the end of her shift and that meant it wasn't long until she would be with Draco. He was coming back to her flat again and she couldn't wait to spend some more time with him especially now that her feelings were out in the open.

He hadn't said those three words back but things like that didn't bother Hermione. She knew when someone appreciated her and she knew that Draco did. He had shown her how he felt in his own way, through all those kisses he had caressed her with. Her body hummed at the thought of it. It was one thing to be studious and successful, another to feel your life had meaning, and another thing entirely to find someone to share that life with.

It had been a little over a month since she had met Draco. It had been the beginning of June when he had glided into her life. It was the middle of July now. She knew she had something important to do on the thirty-first but she didn't let it bother her. She had a few weeks till then. She'd remember whatever it was nearer the time.

Lisa had babbled all day about a boy she'd been seeing on and off for months whom she thought might pop the question tonight.

"Like, I know I've been dating a lot of different men because me and Tom have never decided to put a label on things or anything, but I have loads of fun with him. I think he's going to ask me tonight."

Hermione looked at her friend in shock, "Ask you what? To marry him?"

Lisa let out a roaring laugh, "Gosh no! Ask me to be his girlfriend."

"Oh," Hermione exhaled quite suddenly, "Thank Merlin. I was about to say an engagement is pretty unlikely when you two haven't even been mutually seeing each other."

Lisa grinned and shrugged at her friend, "Stranger things have happened. How's Draco?"

"Fine, actually. He's coming over tonight."

"So let me get this straight. You tell the man you love him, but you haven't actually slept with him yet?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Lisa's prying, "No not yet. Jesus, why do you want to know all the details? We don't have to have sex to know how we feel about each other."

"But what if he's crap?"

Hermione snorted, "Somehow, I doubt that."

"No, she's right, what if I'm terrible in bed. Oh Hermione, we must rectify this situation at once. Take your clothes off."

The two girls turned instantly to the sound of Draco's voice. He was leaning against the door of the shop, arms folded, hair falling in front of his eyes slightly, a large smirk planted on his face. He waggled his brows in Hermione's direction who simply shook her head in response, smiling softly at him. Lisa's mouth formed a wide smile. She waved and then winked at Hermione before strutting out the door exclaiming that it was Hermione's job to shut up the shop. As she glided past Draco he walked into the room and pulled Hermione into his arms, placing a soft kiss on her mouth.

She pulled away slightly, "I've just got to shut everything down. I'll be about five minutes."

Draco flicked through the books on offer whilst Hermione turned off the computer and switched the lights off. He'd gotten a few pages through a very promising book when she appeared by his side. He held it up for her to see and she smiled, remembering a time not so long ago when he had done that resulting into her falling into his arms, literally.

"The Wolf of Wall Street? That's a film now. It's about three hours long though."

"I'd like to meet this Jason Belford."

Hermione chuckled at him, "Jordan Belfort," She corrected, "And of course you would. Come on, let's go."

Boo snuggled up on Draco's lap, her stomach rising and falling softly as she slept. Draco gently stroked her neck whilst Hermione had excused herself to check on the dessert she had made for them. The main course had been brilliant and he had been surprised to learn that the meat in the meal was not meat but instead some strange thing called tofu that apparently could taste of anything or nothing.

"People who don't eat meat are called Vegetarians," She had said, shrugging, "Lisa got me into it. I'm not sure if I'll stick with it permanently, but hey it's good for you and the environment I suppose."

Even as a muggle she was still trying to save the world and defend the rights of creatures that he had been taught were lower class. Draco had been told that he was superior to house-elves so of course his parents had also told him he was more important than a lowly chicken, but he had grinned and bared it. Besides, it hadn't tasted too bad and he'd get her back someday.

His smile faded. Or maybe not someday.

Boo purred against his leg and began to claw against the fabric of his trousers. The first time Boo had done this Hermione had said that Boo thought he was her mother. Draco had protested loudly expressing that if he was anything to the cat, he was her father. Hermione had rolled her eyes at him but had grinned nonetheless. He smiled fondly at the memory.

Hermione appeared carrying two small plates of chocolate cake. Draco took one and a fork from her and tucked in whilst she settled on the sofa next to him. It felt so domestic. So natural. He hoped she couldn't tell that something was different about him but she was so observant. Hermione had watched him all night wondering why his smiles were dropping off his face as soon as they'd been planted there. It put her on edge. Hermione didn't think he was breaking up with her though. She wasn't an insecure person and it's not like they had ever argued nor had a reason to break up yet. Things just didn't end. She decided not to pry. If Draco wanted to talk to her, he would.

Or maybe she would pry a little.

"This is great," He murmured, his eyes closed in appreciation. "I actually really love chocolate. I used to steal some from the house-elves. Don't tell my mother that though."

"House-elves?" Hermione questioned. Draco's fork clattered against his plate.

"Soon," He simply responded as he picked his fork back up and continued to eat. Hermione nodded and resumed eating her dessert too. They were watching a programme on the television that Hermione had followed for a while. Draco couldn't work out what was going on. "Is this a stand-alone episode or does it have more to it?"

"Oh, no it's a series," Hermione replied, "That bar girl, well she's dating that guy, but he's a vampire. And she can read people's thoughts. And that guy likes her but he's a werewolf. The reason all these vampires have integrated with society is because this scientist invented fake blood. It actually started ages ago apparently but I've only just gotten into it. Lisa's influence again."

"Vampires?"

"Yeah I know it's pretty cool right? Imagine if they actually existed. Something like this is totally plausible. I'm sure with the way science is advancing that we'd be able to offer them an alternative to human blood. I love how programmes make you think of all this stuff. Shame they don't exist."

"Shame?"

"Well obviously I don't want to be eaten alive, nor do I want some intense vampire human love story like in Twilight. I'm not sure how okay I am with vampires being romanticized. I mean, if they existed it would be pretty scary but at the same time it would be so interesting. Imagine what we could learn from them. About the way they live. Like would vampires live and hunt in packs? Do they form relationships like we do?"

"They're quite an isolated bunch actually."

Hermione remained silent. Draco put his plate down on the side and continued to watch the show, completely oblivious of the information he had just shared. Boo stretched out and jumped off him heading into the kitchen to eat the tuna Hermione had left out. He silently chuckled over the thought of Hermione being scared of vampires. She had defeated Voldemort. She had taken on trolls, acromantula and werewolves and yet here she was now, scared of vampires.

Draco brought his right arm up suddenly and held it out. Hermione stared at him strangely wondering if he wanted a hand massage. As she reached out to hold his hand he shook his head and patted the sofa next to him. She grinned before curling up into him. Draco rewarded her with a kiss to the top of her head.

"So… vampires."

"Yeah they're pretty scary I guess. I've had to work with them a few times. Often they won't help you out unless you help them out. They're a bit like goblins that way," He said, absorbed by the programme, "Honestly Granger. You were the top of our classes. You should know all this."

"What about werewolves?" She tested, her brain going into overdrive with all the information he had willingly given her.

"Don't be stupid, Hermione, everyone knows that you worked out what was up with Lupin almost instantly."

"Lupin?" She responded, ignoring the jab at her intelligence. Hermione didn't think she was stupid at all. Why, look at Draco divulging all this information to her. If he had realised what she was doing at the time he would probably have said it was the most Slytherin thing she had ever done.

"Our professor of Defence Against the Dar-… Oh shit."

He brought his left hand up to his head and rubbed it vigorously, his eyes shut in distress. A part of him questioned why it even mattered that he was telling her this when he was going to explain everything tonight any way. Another part of him was shouting at him to slow down. Not yet. He hadn't wanted to tell her yet. Not so soon.

So he did the only thing he could think of to distract her. He kissed her. Their mouths collided and Draco gripped her face in his hands, never breaking away from her lips for more than a few seconds. Hermione, shocked, responded to the kiss with hesitance at first but was soon matching Draco's energy equally. Draco's arms trailed down from her face to her legs, pulling her on top of him and making sure her thighs were tight around his waist before standing and carrying her to the bedroom.

He dropped her on the bed and climbed on top of her. They never once broke their kiss. Draco's hands clutched the hem of her shirt wanting to rip it from her but not knowing if she would be okay with that. Hermione clearly did not feel the same way about his shirt as she tore the buttons open and pushed it off his shoulders.

He chuckled against her lips, "You little witch."

She smirked against his mouth and ran her fingers across his torso, gasping as he instinctively ground his hips against her. She hooked her legs around his waist, pleading for the friction to return once more and it did and again and again and again. Her nails scratched his chest lightly, leaving a light pink line trailing behind them. He moaned into her mouth as his fingers decided to slip under her shirt stealthily. Draco realised in this moment that if he didn't stop they'd probably sleep together and, even though Draco knew he should be feeling ecstatic, he couldn't help but feel like a creep. If this were the Hermione Granger he knew at school, would she have been okay with this? Would she have consented?

No. Definitely not.

But this Hermione that was underneath him and kissing him with all the passion she could muster, her hands trailing towards his trouser button, well she was definitely consenting. Which Hermione should he listen to? The one that was saying yes, or the one that wasn't aware exactly what was happening to her because she couldn't remember who she truly was.

Draco had done many horrible things during the war. He had killed and he had tortured but he had never forced a girl into a situation such as this. Voldemort had sometimes ordered some of his followers too, but luckily Draco never had to. He wasn't sure if he could have done it either. Torturing and killing had seemed very impersonal at the time. His wand was in the way of it. Was the cause of it. For him to treat a girl with such disrespect, well it had to come from his hand. He had to lie with her. He couldn't hide behind his wand. What that what he was doing now? Was he technically abusing her because she couldn't remember him?

Draco practically leapt off her, "No. No stop. Wait. I can't do this."

"What?" Hermione panted her breathing uneven and shallow. He groaned at the sight of her. Her eyes were wide, her hair sticking out and her mouth parted ever so slightly. She brought her hand up to his, pulling him back over her. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Draco nodded, "I'm fine. I just. I don't want you to regret this. Have you done this before?"

"I don't know, but what does it matter?"

"It does. It does matter. It matters to me."

"Why? Virginity isn't important."

He didn't care if she were a virgin or not. He certainly wasn't. He just cared that she couldn't remember and if she had never slept with someone before could he then sleep with her knowing that she probably wouldn't remember their time together?

Probably wouldn't? He thought. You heard Harry. No one remembered their time as a muggle. She definitely wouldn't remember any of this.

"Draco," Hermione breathed, fingers tracing the harsh scars that adorned his chest. His body shivered in response to her touch, his eyes rising up to meet hers. Draco was mesmerised by the golden spark hidden within them.

"Yes?" He replied, gliding his nose along the length of hers. She was so close now, her small pink tongue darting out the trace her plump lower lip. His eyes followed the wetness. His mouth ached to kiss the shine she'd left upon her mouth. Her whole body was glowing. She could see him battling with himself.

"You're not ordinary. Are you?"

His head snapped up and his eyes became guarded. Why had he recoiled from her so suddenly? Hermione reached out and linked her fingers with his in reassurance. She had waited so long for him to tell her all this information. She knew she wanted to be with him and clearly these secrets he was guarding were an issue. If only he would tell her everything. She began again, hoping he would explain why he was being so close and then so distant.

"I just mean… you look as if you've seen such horrors. You have all these deep scars that you can't explain to me. You say things like Quidditch and the Ministry and now all this talk of vampires, goblins and werewolves? Draco, I know these things don't exist."

He mentally berated himself. How could he have allowed himself to slip up like this? To lower his guard and let her in? He should have been more careful. He should have just done his job. Potter hadn't had any trouble rounding up six muggle born witches and wizards already. Draco had yet to bring one in and all because he had let himself get distracted by her. By her goodness. By her wholesome nature. Her. He'd lost his chance to become head Auror. He'd nearly lost his job completely.

And yet she thought herself ordinary. She looked at Draco with awe filled eyes and open mouths, hanging from every word he said. How could she not see that, despite the fact she was a muggle, she was filled with magic. It shone from her every pore. He could hear it pounding against her skin, begging to be set free. How could she not see that?

But how could he be with her really? People don't grow out of views they've had for centuries. His parents certainly wouldn't be warm and welcoming towards her. They wouldn't disown Draco but they would not approve. How could he even begin to explain to his parents that he had fallen in love with a brilliant muggle born witch? Regardless of what he said and how much he praised Hermione, they would only hear that she was a muggle.

"What I mean to say, Draco, is that I know they don't exist in my world. You told me you'd tell me everything soon, Draco. Tell me now."

He stilled once more. She brought the hand she was holding to rest on her cheek. He brushed his thumb across the smooth skin there, connecting his forehead with hers and feeling their souls reach out towards each other and entwine once more. Draco's soul ached, knowing this would be the last time he would feel so connected to her.

"You're right. I am not from this world."

"I want to know, Draco. Tell me, teach me." Her eyes filled with such passion, were even watering slightly. Despite everything that had happened she was precisely the same as the Hermione he knew. Still keen to learn. Still desperate for information. Still filled with such compassion for others. Only now Hermione was gazing at him, holding him, kissing the corner of his mouth and whispering in his ear, "I want to know this part of you. I want to be with you. I need to know you completely. I want to know all of you. Show me."

This was it. This was the moment Draco would tell her who she was. Everything she had done. The people she had saved and the millions more she had inspired. He would reintroduce her to the world she so desperately wanted to know about, the one she belonged in. Even if it meant forgetting this. Forgetting him. How could he be a good person if he kept her selfishly for himself?

"Let me show you," Draco murmured. She took a deep breath and nodded, her fingers tracing his forearm. The arm where the tattoo was. The mark that signified all that was ugly about him. She traced it and made it feel beautiful. "Close your eyes."

Her lids came down and Draco waited for a moment. She trusted him so easily, so completely. That would change when she remembered. He kissed her mouth once. Slow. Soft. Rejoicing at the feel of her lips pressing against his. He moved his hand from her face and reached down towards the waist band of his trousers, where he had hidden his wand.

He pressed it against her temple, his lips still against hers and then gone suddenly, the silvery streams swimming from his wand to her mind filling her head with his memories of her. The memories from when they were children and it pained him to think of them now and know how much his feelings he'd changed. He had put some of his memories into the wand when he had gotten back to the hotel earlier, hoping they might help her remember the time they had shared together. Her covering his face with ice cream, the expression on her face when she had told him that she loved him. How beautiful she had looked the first time they had gotten ice cream together. Those memories were hidden among the ones Harry and Ron had given. Her the night of the yule ball and how glorious she had looked. All the times her, Harry and Ron had saved the world from the darkness that threatened to take over. Ron's memory of the kiss the two had shared. Finally, after what felt like hours, no more memories needed to be shown and there was silence.

Hermione's eyes snapped open.