The warm glow of the flames from the fireplace cast shadows that danced like lovers on the wall of their room. Hermione watched the shapes move as she lay on her side, her back pressed into Draco who rested his chin on her neck, occasionally peppering kisses across her nape and shoulder. She stroked his arm lightly, tracing little patterns with her fingertips. They had arrived at the Villa shortly after Harry flood back to London and Binny had shown them to the luxury ensuite room that Blaise had asked her to prepare for them. Exhausted from the emotionally charged afternoon, they had climbed into bed and lay in the darkness, neither saying a word. For her part, Hermione was still quietly annoyed that he had tried to force her to go home and for his, he didn't want her to know just how frightened he was that something would happen to her. Now possible targets, the case had been moved over to Harry's counterpart at the Italian Ministry and they had been told to stand down from the investigation as they were effectively in protective custody. Neither was happy about this, least of all Hermione who considered they had a better chance than anyone else of catching this killer.

"I know what you are like" Harry had said before he left "Leave it to them. You have worked yourselves into the ground over this but now its time to take a step back. Take a break and have a rest. Let him take care of you, Hermione" he had told her, looking her square in the eye.

"I'm not some 'Damsel in Distress' Harry" Hermione had spat, angered by his insinuation.

"No, you're not. But one look at that man tells anyone how he feels about you, and he isn't Ron" he told her emphatically.

Hermione had turned away, knowing what he meant. Draco was able to protect her without holding her back and breaking her spirit. He would hold her through her nightmares, not leave her broken and traumatised in the after effects of their destruction. She knew that literally and figuratively. Even when she had been at her worst, he had never walked away from her.

Draco turned her onto her back and stroked the curls that fell across her forehead away. She smiled up at him and his eyes grew serious.

"I know you, Hermione Granger. You are fierce and independent. But I also know this killer is a psycopath. I want you to be safe" he paused, unsure if he could tell her the depth of the emotion he felt. It had dawned on him today when he sat, broken and crying into his hands, shards of glass and splintered wood surrounding him, waiting for Hermione to return to her suite with Harry. He was in love with her. He looked into her warm hazel orbs and knew he couldnt tell her yet. He might have helped her tear down her own walls brick by brick but he still had some of his own.

She lifted her hand to his cheek and he closed his eyes, leaning into the gesture"

"I know, sweetheart" she told him, "and I know."

He brought his lips to her forehead, pressing a kiss in a gesture of comfort before lust took hold. She leaned up to capture his lip with hers as he peppered feather light kisses across her temple and cheek. He pushed her top up, his tongue flicking her nipple as he cupped her breast. Tugging at his boxers with her foot, her hands gripped his shoulders as she whimpered under his caresses. They paused to discard clothing before crashing their lips together as he pulled her so she was sitting upright, her back pressed into the headboard, their arms wrapped around each other. She gasped as he sucked and nipped, eager to taste every inch of her skin. Pressing her hands to his shoulders, she lightly pushed him back, indicating her intention. He lay back as she straddled her hips, his hand going to her sex, moaning as he felt her readiness. Slowly she pressed herself down onto him, gasping as he filled her up, and he watched as she touched herself, bringing herself to release as she rocked her hips back and forth. He marvelled at the erotic sight and it wasn't long before he was gripping her waist, gasping out her name. Casting a quick scourgify, they settled into each other's arms before drifting into a deep sleep, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist.

.

Coming down the stairs hand in hand, they were greeted by Binny, who stood wringing her hands impatiently.

"Master Blaise and the Misses Pansy and Mister Ron are breakfasting on the terrace and they is telling me you should be joining them when you is coming down" she informed them, motioning for them to follow her outside.

"Thank you, Binny" Hermione told the elf with a kind pat to her head.

Outside on the terrace, Ron was stuffing his face much like he always had every time he saw a buffet when he and Hermione had been travelling and the sight was reminiscent of many mornings at Hogwarts. Pansy sat reading '1000 Tips for Expectant Witches', sunglasses perched on the bridge of her nose to shield the glare of early morning sun as she read her book. Hermione thought it was an odd sight, to see someone who had taunted her for being a bookworm with her own nose ironically stuck in a book. Blaise sat at the head of the table, reading that day's edition of Il profeta, the Italian edition of The Prophet.

He peered over the top of the paper smirking as Hermione and Draco sat down, helping themselves to orange juice, coffee and a variety of breakfast foods.

"Morning" he greeted his newest house guests "sleep well?" he casually inquired, going back to the article about the 'Gastro-Crusade' in Florence, something the Goblins hoped to capitalise from.

"Yes thank you, Blaise" Hermione answered politely, smiling. "You?"

"No" he chuckled, amused "the couple next door kept me awake" he replied, quirking his eyebrow at her "My room is next to yours. I'd have thought the 'Brightest Witch of Our Age' would know how to cast a Silencio" he said, folding his paper and pouring himself a coffee. He caught her mortified expression out of the corner of his eye.

"Oh my god" she muttered.

Ron's eyes widened as he caught on. He nearly choked on his breakfast.

A/N: The story that Blaise is reading in the prophet is an actual news item that featured in The Telegraph with the headline: "Florence cracks down on rising number of corner shops in bid to preserve cultural identity."