Alumni Parties at Hogwarts were always quite the struggle for Hermione Granger. As the Golden Girl, war heroine, and rising star of the Ministry of Magic, she was always surrounded by people.
In the beginning years after the end of the war, there were always admirers that would want her to reminisce about her involvement in the war. They wanted to hear stories of the Golden Trio´s adventures and heroic deeds; all of which she had already told an exhausting number of times.
Ron was the one who liked to bask in the glow of glory whereas Hermione despised it since every thought of their "heroics" was always accompanied by reminders of all the hardships. The endless flight through the woods and forests of England. The constant fear of being caught by snatchers. The seemingly impossible task of finding and destroying the Horcruxes. The toll it had taken on their friendship.
Later on, there were those who wanted to suck up to Hermione and sought to gain favors from her because she had a leading position in the Ministry of Magic. All the halfhearted handshakes and fake smiles. All the sudden introductions, and all the people who pretended to be her friends.
Hermione was amazed at how many people believed that a couple of nice words and compliments would make her change her mind on her legislation. When she started her push for giving werewolves more access to jobs, people would try to convince her that the house elves deserved her attention more. Those had coincidentally all been people who would profit from keeping werewolves suppressed. It was even more laughable when they suggested that she help other magical beings like the golden snidget instead of werewolves.
Hermione tried to keep true to herself but it was getting harder to be civil and polite and she would prefer not to stoop so low as to lose her temper and lash out.
Her change of departments from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement had only made things worse. She could no longer count the number of times someone had asked her for a hypothetical answer to a highly hypothetical question regarding prosecution.
But worst of all were the flirts. Ever since her public fade-out with Ron, there was an ever-constant stream of Romeos that believed that her single status had to be remedied.
Sadly, only a few among them truly were seeking her attention and were interested in her for herself. Most simply thought to improve their standing or prestige by being the better half of the Golden Girl. Merlin, Hermione despised that "title" the most. It was raising her on a podium that she did not want or deserve. She was not golden. Smart, ambitious, righteous – those words she could take but she was just like everyone else – not perfect.
The cherry on top were the blatant tries to hook up with her during the party. Marcus Flint had asked her "Would you mind my snake slither in your moist cave?" at the last party and she had almost lost it. The thought of smashing in his disgusting yellow, crooked teeth now lived rent-free in her mind.
Time and time again she had been talked into attending the Alumni Party. And while she enjoyed the time catching up with her friends, the strain it took on her otherwise almost was not worth it. And just like she had feared, this time was no different.
After a quick chat with Parvati, she found herself encircled by people wanting to pick her mind about one topic or another, while all she wanted to do was get to the buffet and bar. A bit of punch would make everything so much more bearable, but she had no such luck. She had to face them all sober.
Professor Slughorn had dragged her into his circle of former Slug Club members and encouraged her to network. What especially unnerved her were the lecherous looks Cormac McLaggen kept shooting her from over the shoulder of Professor Slughorn. His eyes scanned every inch of exposed cleavage he could find. When he began to lick the rim of his glass in a suggestive way, Hermione could not take it any longer. She excused herself from the oh-so interesting talk on recent legislation and fled from the Great Hall.
Finally, Hermione was safe and alone in the girls' lavatory. She cursed Ginny for persuading her to wear this dress. Sure, the maroon complimented her skin very nicely but the deep v-shaped neckline was not something Hermione was comfortable with wearing anymore. While she had loved it in the store under only Ginny´s and Luna's eyes, the attention it drew from certain other people was a little too much for Hermione. Cormac had ruined that for her. The peek-a-boo leg-slit didn't help the situation either. But Ginny had assured her that she looked just stunning in the dress and the leg-slit was not too much since it only showed when she took longer steps. The only advantage of the leg-slit was the easy access to her leg holster for her wand.
With a quick swish of her wand, Hermione took care of the revealing cleavage by closing it to a more modest depth. Another flick and the cushioning charm on her shoes was refreshed. Otherwise those high-heels that she was not used to would be the death of her. Looking at herself in the mirror, Hermione cursed her hair. While it had been tamed into smooth waves at the beginning of the evening, it had once more developed a mind of its own. Still, without an obscene amount of Sleekeazy's hair potion, she would not be able to salvage the situation. Sighing, she resigned herself to being powerless when it came to her hair and exited the lavatory into the dark hallway.
As it would be, tonight was especially trying, as she found Cormac lurking just across the hall from the girls' lavatory. He immediately pushed off the wall that he was leaning against and walked way too close to her.
"Evening, Hermione. It's been way too long since we last talked." He cooed and one of his hands snaked around her waist to draw her closer to him. She could smell the sweet aroma of the punch on his breath when his words ghosted down her face. Her whole body broke out in goosebumps and she had the urge to push him from her. Instead, she simply took his hand that had wandered lower to the swell of her bum and decidedly shoved it off her.
"Let's catch up over some hor d'oeuvres. I am starving." she replied with a forced smile and picked up her speed. The sooner she got back to the Great Hall, the better. However, just a few strides short of the door, he grabbed her wrist and spun her around.
"Come on, Hermione. It is so crowded and loud in there. I will barely be able to understand a word of what you are saying." he said to her with an intense gaze that let Hermione know that he would not care for any word she said and would rather see her lips otherwise occupied.
"I'm really famished, Cormac." she said and tried to free her wrist from his grasp but he would not budge.
"Good Godric, why do you have to be such an evasive little tease, Granger?" he pressed out irritatedly and yanked her closer to him.
"Excuse me?" she was appalled at his brazenness.
"I never got how you could have chosen someone like Ron while I was right there in front of you. But now I am sure you can see more clearly." Hermione had always suspected that Cormac had thought of himself as superior to Ron, but it was different for her to hear him say it outright.
Anger rose in her stomach. That self-centered conceited arse. Although her relationship with Ron had failed, Cormac was not half the man Ron was. Cormac's current pursuit of her had taken on a whole new level compared to the time when he wanted to maneuver her to stand under the mistletoe during the Slug Club supper party in their fifth year. In one swift movement, she yanked her wrist from him.
"Believe me, there is nothing to see, Cormac. You and me will never happen." she spat and glared at him.
"Quit the act, Hermione. I am getting tired of playing cat and mouse with you. A man has only so much patience, deary." His voice was way too sweet and his eyes narrowed dangerously.
Hermione had her hand ready at her thigh to hex him into next week when the door swung open behind her. Out poured a very intoxicated mix of former Quidditch players. Cormac sneered at the sudden interruption but Hermione smirked. This was a perfect opportunity for her to exit.
"What? You think the Wronski Feint is not such a big deal?!" she said in mock disbelief. It took a second for the comment to register before the Quidditch guys looked like someone had committed a crime against them. They quickly gathered around Cormac and berated him on his ignorance regarding the Quidditch maneuver. While she liked to call it the Wonky Faint in front of Harry and Ron to rile them up, Hermione of course knew what it was called and had a basic understanding of its mechanics from the ever-so-often Quidditch discussions with her friends.
Rolling her eyes at the fact that so many people treated Quidditch almost in a religious way, Hermione decided that returning to the Great Hall was not worth it. She decided to leave Cormac shouting her name after her while she turned down the hallway towards a familiar set of stairs. She took two steps at a time, which was a dangerous undertaking in the shoes she was wearing, but what was the possibility of a sprained ankle compared to being exposed to Cormac's brazen advances. The quicker she got down the stairs, the sooner she could floo home. But as luck would have it, she stumbled on the last step and fell.
"Merlin's pants." Hermione cursed and steadied herself on a wall nearby. Strangely, the wall gave way and she found herself tumbling into the tapestry.
Carefully, she lifted the tapestry and unveiled a simple wooden door that opened into a narrow corridor. Since Harry had the Marauder's Map, Hermione had been sure that she knew about any hidden doors and passages, but it seemed that since the renovations, there had been some additions. She felt intrigued. Only hesitating a heartbeat, Hermione slipped inside and closed the door behind her.
Moonlight was seeping into the depth of the corridor from around a corner so she followed it. The light was enough to illuminate the narrow corridor somewhat while still being low enough to remind Hermione of all the times she had crept through Hogwarts with the boys. Those were the good times. What secret would she uncover around the corner?
Just around the corner, an archway opened onto a small curved balcony. It was not a secret she found but more a mystery. The mystery came in the shape of a man she only knew too well but still knew so little. Many years ago, she would have sworn she knew exactly what kind of person he was but like with so many others, the war had changed him.
Gone were his sneers and condescending comments. Within the Aurors´ office, he was known for his professionalism. How he had gotten into the Auror program was an unsolved mystery but Robards was adamant that nobody questions his decision on having Malfoy join the Aurors. Although only a few wanted to work with him, they could all agree that he was effective and efficient. Harry had told her that after Malfoy had finished Auror training, he had driven many colleagues insane with his accuracy and thoroughness.
Another thing Malfoy was known for was his mission to hunt down every last Death Eater. When it came to tracking down Death Eaters or sympathizers, Malfoy was like a bloodhound. Driven, ruthless. While he was involved in many cases of suspected Death Eater sightings, Malfoy was not always put on these cases. However, he was like an ever-present shadow to make sure that everything got done. He would linger around their desks and clues would pop up out of nowhere.
Hermione, who was often researching with the Aurors, had watched him loom just on the outside of team discussions many times. Afterward, he would often exit and enter the department without drawing much attention to himself.
Once during one of her late nights, she had caught him slipping a note into the case file. Their eyes had met across the office space and he merely raised one of his blond eyebrows at her.
"Good night, Granger." he said, his words dismissing her. He had returned to his desk without another glance and she had left without another word.
Still, she had somehow caught his attention that day. After this incident, she began to feel his presence regularly, when he was not occupied in field work. Her desk had become part of his usual route to the kitchen. Most of the time, he merely slowed down and quickly scanned her work. Other times, when she was not occupying her desk, he would pick up some of her research and studied it before setting it back down. But never did he speak with her, not directly at least.
What he did though, was send her notes. Unlike the other memos and notes she got, his notes were not simple paper planes but origami birds. Even the paper was of better quality. The origami birds were something her colleagues dreaded. Malfoy was meticulous in his work and expected nothing less from others. Hermione thought that they would work well together. It would be a challenge, but she could deal with it. After all, his notes on her own research were always helpful and served as another perspective on the matter. As her research mostly had to do with encrypting and the Death Eaters on the run were not very fond of those, the opportunity to work with him had not come up.
For his rather helpful notes, she would reciprocate with a green apple, which she remembered he would eat regularly at Hogwarts, placed on his desk early in the morning before he arrived. The first time she had done so, he had made a show of carrying the apple past her desk. He had thrown it into the air and caught it. His perfect teeth that would have her parents shed tears of joy had torn into the peel. She was captivated when he bit into the apple which had left some juice running down his chin that he then swept up with his tongue.
Hermione could only describe the act as sinful; her eyes fixated on the movement of his tongue. Her mind had wandered and conjured up some delicious things she would like his tongue to do. Her imagination was purely fuelled by the rumors of his sexual prowess that circulated at Hogwarts, carried to her dorm by Parvati and Lavender. When their eyes had met, he had winked at her before biting into the apple again. It had caught her off guard to be caught staring and she had averted her eyes in embarrassment. She could only hope that he never acknowledges that he knew the apples came from her again after that.
The memory of the apple incident made her fumble with her hands as she stood in the archway, still unnoticed by him. It was a warm autumn evening and the view of the lake and school grounds was amazing. She thought about retreating into the hallway for a second. However, a slight wind blew around the towers and she sneezed, taking that decision away from her. Malfoy's head whipped around.
"Bless you." he took a sip of his firewhiskey and turned back to the lake.
"Thank you." She shuffled awkwardly on her feet and joined him at the balustrade. Malfoy did not seem bothered by her presence so they just looked into the distance in silence. The trees of the forbidden forest swayed in the wind and the moonlight reflected on the surface of the Great Lake.
As the silence dragged on, Hermione found herself watching him from the corner of her eyes more and more. Stolen glances turned into her studying him. His features were relaxed but unreadable. While she thought his face was too pointy before, he had grown into it. Like always, he was dressed immaculately in black.
The three-piece suit was definitely tailor-made and accentuated his lean figure. While his jacket was plain black, his waistcoat was embellished with silver embroidery.
She watched him take another sip of the amber liquid, his tongue darted out of his mouth and collected a stray drop. Something flashed in his eyes and his whole stance changed. His presence was more noticeable and she could feel the energy coming from him. It was like he had made a decision and would see it through. She had seen it many times in the office.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence, Granger?" a lopsided grin pulled on his lips and he finally turned towards her.
"Just needed to catch a break." she replied.
"And by break, you mean you escaped from Slughorn and his ever-growing collection of trophy students?" Hermione sighed heavily from the reminder of Professor Slughorn´s love for surrounding himself with talents and his tiring conversations.
"And Cormac." The mention of the name made him sneer in distaste and he took another sip of his firewhiskey as if to wash down a bad taste. He was a caricature of his past self. She had not seen that haughty look in so long that she snorted out laughter. Raising one of his blond eyebrows, he set down his glass on the balustrade. His eyes had an intensity that made it hard for Hermione to maintain eye contact so she looked at the grounds.
"So …did you know this balcony existed?" she nervously put a strand of hair behind her ear. Hermione could have sworn she saw his fingers twitch on the balustrade.
"The benefit of paying for the damages after the war is being given some insight to the changes they make." his hand casually swept into space behind him towards the other archway.
"This is a shortcut for the professors to get faster to the teacher's room." His tone was slightly bitter and his lips were pressed into a thin line.
Hermione had not meant to bring the conversation to this kind of topic. Again she could not look him in the eyes and turned back towards the balustrade. "It has a great view."
He hummed appreciatively and she could hear him stepping closer. Over her shoulder, she could see that he could not be bothered with the scenery but was completely focused on her. Cloudy grey met warm chocolate brown. Warmth was creeping up her neck and settling into her cheeks. It suddenly felt hard to breathe and she sucked in air through her parted lips. There was a loud slam and he took a step back.
Malfoy took a protective stance, shielding her body from view, and had his wand drawn.
"Hello?" came an all too familiar voice albeit it was a little more slurred than before. Malfoy immediately relaxed and merely groaned in annoyance. "Hermione?"
Turning back towards her, Malfoy fixed her with a glare as if it was her fault that Cormac was currently stumbling down the corridor. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You have to be kid-." she cut off whatever he wanted to say by covering his mouth. Hermione was done with Cormac`s shenanigans for the day and maybe he would not come outside if he thought there was no one there. The shuffling sound of footsteps still came closer and in a knee-jerk reaction, Hermione shoved herself against Malfoy so that they were pressed against the wall between the archways and out of sight of the corridor. Grumbling in protest, Malfoy furrowed his brows at her but her attention snapped back to the corridor. Cormac was close to the bend and would soon stumble out.
Damn him and his persistence.
Just when Cormac stepped around the corner, Hermione felt the air around her shift and watched as Cormac looked around the balcony aimlessly. His eyes lit up at the sight of the glass of firewhiskey.
"One man's loss is another man's gain." he mumbled in triumph and waltzed off with the glass. Cormac was not yet fully around the corner when Hermione felt something wet touch her hand. Startled, she looked up at Malfoy. His eyes were burning and he was slowly lapping at her hand.
All of a sudden, she realized just how tightly she was pressed against him and heat spread throughout her body. It was like a moment of hyper-awareness and she gasped. Overwhelmed, she stepped back from him, trying to get as much space between them as possible. As she was not used to high heels, she tripped over her own feet. Years of playing seeker and Auror training came to use when he grabbed her arm and pulled her into his chest, arms circling her shoulders for support. Her eyes went wide as she blinked up at him and it was like she was catching fire.
His heat was all around her. Scorching hot.
His lips came crashing down onto hers, and the spark ignited inside of her. It was a surprise for sure, albeit not an unwelcome one. Despite the pleasant softness and warmth of his lips against hers, Hermione was too shocked to do anything. Still, she was consumed by him. While his lips worked slowly against hers, his hands pressed her further into him, one in between her shoulders and the other on the small of her back. A quiet whimper escaped her as she held onto his waistcoat, fisting it in her hand. Somewhere far away, she could hear the sound of glass breaking but her sole focus was on the sensation of this kiss.
Just when she was about to give in to the temptation and kiss back, one thought shot through her. She should not be kissing Draco Malfoy and he should not be kissing her. For what reason, was a little hazy in her mind but she was certain that this was wrong so she pushed herself off him. Her fingers traced her lips, where she could still feel the lingering heat of his kiss. Before she could think about it, her hand was connecting with his cheek in a resounding slap. Her breath was coming out in short puffs and her hand was shaking slightly. One of his hands reached to touch his red cheek and he closed his eyes. Malfoy huffed and smirked.
"No need to thank me, Granger." his piercing gaze cut right through her.
"Thank you?" she snapped. Her hand was still shaking slightly so she clasped it into her other hand and took yet another step back. There was a burning sensation in her palm from the memory of him having licked her there.
"Sure saved you a lot of trouble with McLaggen." he said and jerked his head in the direction of the archway. Just in the corner, she could see the shine of broken glass.
"That was completely unnecessary." she bit back. A low chuckle escaped his lips and he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Seriously? So you did not come out here to hide from him?" he mocked. "I did you a service. Now, go on little lion, run away." his hand waved her towards the archway.
"I thought you had changed." she shook her head in disappointment. Just like he had told her to, she walked towards the archway to leave him alone but his hand shot past her head and he blocked her way with his arm.
"So I haven't changed? I was not aware that kissing you was my standard behavior now." There were traces of frustration and hurt in his tone. His knit eyebrows relaxed, as one of his long fingers brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. The feather-light touch made her eyelids flutter.
"N-no, it's not standard." Hermione cursed herself for not sounding as firm as she had planned to.
"Maybe that is something I should change. Would not want to disappoint you." he smirked infuriatingly and leaned in to kiss her once again.
It was different this time. While the first kiss was slow, this kiss was feverish and demanding. His hand found its way into her hair and he pulled lightly to angle her head better against his. The slight pull made her gasp and he let his tongue glide into her mouth.
A groan escaped from her throat as their tongues entwined. She could taste the firewhiskey on him. Yet it was not the alcohol that made her feel light-headed but the way he ravished her mouth. It was different from anything she had experienced with either Viktor or Ron. Hermione knew that she should think this was wrong but it just felt so right. There was an elegance and precision to the way he navigated her mouth, drawing one moan after the other. Apparently it was true, what Parvati and Lavender had gossiped about at Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy was a good kisser. An excellent kisser if Hermione's opinion counted for anything. However, it stopped way too soon and he held her shoulders at arm's length.
"You should leave." his eyes were dark and strayed back to her lips.
"You are drunk." she panted out. His chuckle was vibrating through her and she shivered under his hot gaze.
"Three glasses of firewhiskey are not enough to get me drunk, Granger. Well, two and a half, technically. So, I am sober enough, believe me." In one swift movement, his hands slid from her shoulders to cup her cheeks.
"Although, it seems that I am still too much of a coward to face you completely sober." Hermione could feel his admission ghosted against her skin and she shuddered at the unspoken promises as to what was yet to come. There was a hungry glint in his eyes that told her that kissing was not the only thing he had in mind for her.
"Give me your hand." Despite what he said, there was no force in his voice. It was a request and not a command, and Hermione was happy to oblige, intrigued as to what he would do next. Slowly and deliberately, he kissed each fingertip, never breaking eye contact with her, and then pressed it flat against his chest. While his actions spoke of control, Hermione saw a storm brewing in his eyes. His pupils were blown wide as he searched her face for any sign that this was what she wanted. As her anticipation grew with every finger he kissed, Hermione was sure that his hunger was mirrored in her eyes. She hoped to erase any remaining doubt, about her willingness to participate in whatever was coming next, with a seductive sweep of her tongue across her lips. His lips lingered a little longer on the last finger at that, as he swallowed hard.
"Just push me away, Granger." he said while his eyes silently pleaded with her not to. Malfoy was giving her a way out. He waited for her to change her mind and push him away but Hermione kept her hand steady. She looked up at him and became lost in the openness of his gaze. She knew that he would reveal all his secrets to her if she just stayed where she was. She was sure of it. His chest sunk under her touch as he let go of a breath he had held.
"You are beautiful." Never had she thought to hear such words coming from him. Sure, he had left his antagonistic ways in the past and they were cordial at work but never more than that. Years of mockery and ridicule had painted a clashing image of what he thought of her from what he told her now.
With a soft touch, he kissed her forehead.
"Inside and out." another kiss to her temple.
"Your eyes. So big and open. You never gave me that wary glare." Malfoy pulled back slightly and gave her a conflicted look. Hermione knew that there were still people who merely saw him as a war criminal. And while she had more reason than most to hate him, Hermione had already finished with that part of their past a long time ago.
A kiss to her other temple.
"The fire in your eyes when you are angry or determined."
An appreciative hum against her skin, almost like a cat's purr. She felt her eyelashes caress his cheeks.
"It's hard not to fall back into old habits, you know? Rile you up a little. But I have sworn myself not to. When you slapped me though..." he groaned. "It's been so long since I saw you this fierce and it was all because of me." If she was honest with herself, Hermione had to admit that she sometimes missed their verbal sparring matches. Malfoy had a quick mind and used to have a sharp tongue. A worthy adversary. Maybe a little light banter at work would not pass as too juvenile. The thought of it made a smile spread on her lips.
Malfoy nuzzled her cheek with his nose and cupped her face in his hands. His eyes wandered slowly from left to right over her face.
"You get freckles in the summertime."
A series of quick pecks on her cheek.
"You never hide them with make-up. I want to kiss every last one of them." He peppered her whole face with gentle kisses. A sigh escaped her lips and her eyes fluttered shut. Every fleck of skin he touched filled with warmth and she relished every moment of it. When he was done, Malfoy pulled back slightly and was studying her like he was committing her face to memory.
"I sometimes wonder -" he began and swallowed nervously. "do you sunbathe?" Heat spread through her whole body. Hermione wondered what part of her body he was interested in seeing those freckles on. Would he really kiss every last one of them? She felt a flame kindle in her stomach. Yet, her Gryffindor courage was letting her down, as she found herself unable to answer him. Malfoy pressed his eyes shut and rested his forehead against hers. His thumbs drew soothing circles onto her cheeks.
"Sweet Salazar, please don´t answer that." Malfoy took deep calming breaths to regain his composure. He seemed to be struggling with the images his questions had conjured in his mind. Did Draco Malfoy think about her body often? What if she let him know just how many freckles she got during summer that her clothes concealed at work?
She could see that he was fighting to keep control. While Hermione enjoyed the warm feeling his sweet words caused within her, she wanted him to lose control. There was an ache only he could scratch and that ache was currently building in her groin. She had enough of sweet and warm. What she craved for right now was rough and hot. She wanted to be set on fire by him, for his passion to consume her. Lost in the thoughts of what could be, she trailed the intricate embroidery of his waistcoat with her fingers.
At last, he breathed steadily again. "Your lips…." his thumb grazed her lower lip. He stared at her lips for seemingly forever. Hermione got nervous and worried her lip.
He growled, "Don't do that."
Instantly his lips were on hers. His lips slid along the seam of her lips and she gladly granted him entry. Like before, his hand wandered into her hair and angled her head to better slant against his.
"So cute when you ramble…." he murmured against her mouth. This was not the time to think about how cute she was. Hermione bit down on his lower lip, eliciting a grunt from him.
"Your smile …." His grip in her hair got tighter and she whimpered in response. It was not an unpleasant pain. Again, she felt delirious with that subtle tug on her scalp, and fisted the smooth fabric of his waistcoat into her hand for support. They separated but his lips merely hovered over hers, a breath away.
"Merlin, the sounds you make." Hermione wanted to give him every sound he could draw from her. Pressing up onto her toes, she closed the gap between them. She swallowed his groan and invaded his mouth with her tongue. Waves of pleasures wafted through her with every touch of their tongues. When he pulled away, she keened at the loss. His eyes were dark as storm clouds and brimming with desire. He trailed kisses up her jaw.
"Damn, your hair is so soft." he whispered into her ear and angled her neck towards him.
"I like your hair wild. It suits you." Open-mouthed kisses down her neck, then a sweep of his tongue along her collarbone. His hands let go of her hair and slowly glided down to her back.
"But most beautiful of all –" Hermione took a shuddering breath when his mouth continued to travel downwards, pressing hot kisses onto her skin. "- your heart." Soft kisses to the swell of her breast. She arched her back to press into him and he hummed appreciatively.
"How you spoke on my behalf at my trial, I will never understand." Contrasting with his soft words, he lightly bit her and she gasped. The sensation was equal parts pain and pleasure.
"I don't deserve you." His voice was dark.
"Draco." She wanted to tell him that she would stand up for him again, that he had changed, that who he was in the past did not define who he was right now, but he cut off anything she wanted to say with a searing kiss. It was hungry and intense. He settled his knee between her thighs and pressed into her. A wonderful pressure built in her core. Yet it was not enough, she needed more. She was afraid that he would pull back again if he sensed any hesitation. She would not push him away like he had told her to do. Hermione wanted to embrace him. Her hands were no longer needed at his chest, so she ran her fingers through the soft strands of his hair.
Malfoy pushed her up against the wall. It only made his thigh press harder into her. A moan escaped from deep within her and she ground down, seeking more friction. With small movements, she rocked her hip against his leg, panting into his mouth.
All of a sudden he pulled back.
"I don't deserve you." He grounded out and she grieved the loss of his leg between her thighs. "But Circe, I keep wanting you."
He pulled her flush against him and she felt him hard against her stomach. Through half-lidded eyes, she looked at him. His hair was disheveled slightly, his lips swollen and his eyes were nearly black, full of desire.
"You don't get to decide whether you deserve me. I do. And I tell you that you are worthy, Draco Malfoy." Hermione said with a voice that left no room for any objection. She could see his restraint because of his self-loathing. It reminded her when someone would allude to him having been a Death Eater. She wanted him to look her in the eye and see her sincerity. She needed him to believe that she meant what she had just said. Reaching up, she held his face in her hands, making sure he could not look away from her. The moment her fingers made contact with him, he closed his eyes and balled his fists.
"Draco, if you really want me, I want you to take me." Although he did not open his eyes, Hermione could feel him shudder under her touch.
"Draco." she purred and caressed his cheek bones.
"I guess two and a half firewhiskey truly are not enough." she whispered. Malfoy's eyes shot open and his brows knit together.
"What do you mean?" he hissed. A grin stole onto Hermione's lips. She was not the only person who was fun to rile up.
"Didn't you say you needed it to face me?" she asked innocently.
"Are you calling me a coward?" he snarled. His hands were on her hips again and his fingers dug into her. Hermione had won. She already knew it.
"Well, it's not exactly very Slytherin of you to not take what you want." Her taunt hit the mark as his eyes flared up. He did not look away from her as he drew his wand.
"Last chance, Granger." he warned. She answered with a roll of her hips against his.
Two flicks of his wand and she heard doors lock.
Good, no more unwelcome visitors.
His tongue dipped out of his mouth and wet his lips. Another flick of his wand and Hermione felt a familiar sensation. Contraceptive spell. The second he had stowed away his wand, Malfoy was all over her. Back pressed against the wall, his hands roved over her upper body while his lips devoured her. Only when he discarded his jacket did his hands leave her. Malfoy expertly found her sweet spots, navigating her body with his hands, guided by her small gasps and sighs. His thumbs ghosted the underside of her breasts and it made her arch her back, wanting more. It was not enough. Hermione grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled him back.
"Please." she begged as she panted.
"Impatient witch." he scolded but grabbed her sleeves at the shoulder and yanked it down over her shoulders. The length of neckline she had spelled shut ripped open to reveal her black lace bra.
"Sweet Salazar." With both hands, he kneaded her breasts. Her nipples pebbled through the lace as he drew small circles around her areola. The closer he got to her nipples, the more Hermione rolled her hips into him. Finally, he reached her nipples and rolled them between his fingers. The lace was creating wonderful friction. There was a wicked glint in his eyes and the next thing Hermione knew was a pleasurable pain. This was new. Kissing, licking, and sucking she had experienced before but having her nipples pulled was not unpleasant. She liked it to be honest. It was like the pain forced the pleasure to concentrate in just one spot. It made it all the more enjoyable.
"Beautiful." Malfoy breathed. He dipped his head low and started kissing and nipping the swell of her breasts, leaving love bites. Hermione gasped when his mouth closed on her clothed nipple, feeling the hot wetness of his tongue. All the while, his hands wandered lower on her stomach.
In one swift and determined motion, he swept her skirts to the side at the leg slit, so it pooled around her thighs. Below her skirts, his hands grabbed her arse and squeezed hard. Hermione felt his heat radiate through his trousers against her thigh.
"Your arse." he thrust against her and she squeaked. "Those tight muggle trousers you wear at work are driving me crazy." A low growl rumbled from deep within her and she could feel him twitch against her thigh. His left hand stroked the back of her thigh and pulled it up while his other hand cupped her lace-clad center.
"Fuck." he hissed. Malfoy could definitely feel the moisture between her legs.
One broad lick from her clavicle to right below her ear left her skin tingling in his wake. It felt like he was leaving little fires on her.
"So wet for me." The feeling of his breath against her ear combined with his fingers pressing into her slit through the lace made her shiver. His thumb expertly found her clit and circled it.
"Draco." she sighed. He put more pressure on her bud and her hips shifted to give him better access.
"I will make you scream my name."
Hermione was not sure whether that was a promise or a threat. His fingers pushed the fabric to the side and brushed her folds. He watched her intently, as she writhed under his touch. Teasingly, he let his fingers trail up and down her slit, his thumb never leaving her clit. Every time he moved past her entrance Hermione felt the anticipation, the longing for him to push in.
But he did not.
He toyed with her. It was agonizing and he knew it. His face was one of mischievous delight. Up and down. Up and down. Past her entrance, but never inside. Up and down. She tried to move her hips to encourage him but the hand on her leg moved up to her hip and held her in place.
"Something the matter, Granger?" he asked in a sultry voice. He knew exactly what the matter was. Merlin, if she were not as turned on, she would hex him. Instead, she found herself unable to look away from him, completely trapped in his hot gaze.
"Please, Draco." she begged and saw the satisfaction in his eyes. At last, one finger slid inside her and out again. She whined.
"Ssssssh…" he soothed her and she felt him push in again, followed swiftly by a second finger. Unlike Ron, he did not mindlessly plunge his fingers into her but slowly rubbed her inner wall. When he hit one particular spot, Hermione inhaled a shuddering breath. She felt the pleasure shoot up her spine and down into her toes. One of his blond brows lifted and he gave her a grin. It was like he had caught the Snitch and won the game. He began stroking the spot. Changing rhythm and pressure. As he went on, a knot was forming in her stomach and she gripped his arms as she panted with every stroke. His eyes never left her face and she could see how he delighted in her pleasure.
"Beautiful." Hermione could feel his hot breath on her face and he picked up the pace, circling her clit in quicker motions. Fire surged through her and she knew she was close. She squeezed her eyes shut and dug her nails into his arm.
"Come for me." Malfoy pressed his forehead against hers. A flick against her clit and the knot that had been building burst. Hermione cried out in pleasure, panting into him. The air between them was heating up. His fingers slowed down inside her as she rode out her orgasm.
"Absolutely beautiful." Still in the haze of her orgasm, she looked up at him and saw him smile. She pressed up onto her tiptoes and kissed him, making sure to bite his lower lip. She revelled in the feeling of him. The way he devoured her. The way he watched her with desire. Desire just for her. Draco Malfoy worshipped her.
Lost in that thought, she did not even notice when his hand left her hip or the clink of his belt. His retreating fingers were immediately replaced with his penis. His tip kissed her entrance and he slowly pushed into her. Once he was completely inside her, his groan and her moan mixed in their mouths. The way he filled and stretched her was wonderful. He drew back and started thrusting slow and shallow. He hit that delicious spot at her entrance just right and Hermione clawed at him. Every inch between them was too much. She wanted to feel him, all of him.
"Beautiful." The word fell from his lips like a prayer. Over and over again. To think that he saw her that way made her drown in a warm sensation. With every thrust and every praise, she felt the knot tightening. His mouth trailed hot kisses from her lips to her ear.
"Want you. Want you. Wantyouwantyouwantyou." He chanted, speeding up as he got closer.
"Wouldn't believe how much I want you." he panted out with breathless urgency. Hermione gasped, aflame with need.
"Show me. Show me, Draco." she answered in between moans. The way he growled into her ear combined with the way he pounded into her set Hermione´s nerves on fire.
Malfoy hoisted her other leg up and her legs clamped down on his hips as he pressed her firmly against the wall. Her legs spread open further for him and their bodies created an exquisite friction, with the lace rubbing her clit. His want translated into rough slams of his hips. Each of which sent blissful sparks up her body. Malfoy buried his face into her neck and mumbled nonsense into her skin. He established a punishing rhythm that had her inside coiling together, just on the edge. She held onto his shoulders and dug her nails into his muscle through his sleeve, any tighter and she would rip the fabric.
"Please." she sobbed. As if to grant her wish, he closed his mouth on her neck and bit her, hard. The coil snapped and her vision went white. It was like he had poured fire into her veins. She was set aflame and it was all-consuming. Screaming his name sounded far away to her. Malfoy pistoned into her and his hips faltered. He pressed in deep, holding her to him as he found his own release. She could feel him pulse inside of her.
As they both started to regain their breath, he pressed slow kisses onto her lips while gazing into her eyes with something that Hermione could only describe as adoration. After an eternity of languid kisses, Malfoy finally pulled out and set her down. He carefully pulled her dress back up onto her shoulders and tucked her knickers back into place. The tear in her v-neck was quickly mended with a swish of his wand. A Tergeo took care of his sweat.
Hermione bit back a sigh and refrained from rolling her eyes as she drew her wand. It was not the first time that her partner did not take care of her cleanliness afterward.
"Ter-." His hand shot up and halted her hand movement.
"Leave it." his voice was low and his gaze was fiery. He looked her deep into the eyes and kissed her wrist softly. Draco Malfoy wanted her to walk around with his cum still dripping from between her thighs. The thought should have her horrified but she merely felt herself clench on nothing. She let her hand sink, putting her wand away. Merlin, his cum might even trickle down her leg and coat her wand. Where were these fantasies coming from? Hermione quickly straightened her skirts and cleared her throat.
"I guess, I´m –" Hermione was at a loss for words. She wanted to go home like she had planned to initially but that would seem like running away. Like regret.
"I'll escort you to the fireplaces?" he offered her his arm and she gladly accepted, flashing him a shy smile. He made sure that she did not step on the shards of glass where Cormac had dropped the firewhiskey. Their walk was quiet but did not feel awkward. She could feel his eyes lingering on her and he placed his hand on hers, drawing slow circles onto the top of her hand.
Way too soon they arrived at the fireplaces and Hermione loathed parting with him. They stood there until he gently kissed the top of her head. Reluctantly, she grabbed a handful of the floo powder, stepped inside and called for her apartment.
"See you on Monday, Hermione." The green flames closed around her before she could respond. She was not sure whether she had heard him right.
Hermione.
Had he really called her by her name? Was this just wishful thinking?
Malfoy had called her beautiful, something Hermione had never thought to be possible, so that only presented her with more questions. Although she knew more about him after that night, he still remained a mystery to her. A mystery she was eager to solve.
Hermione woke up later than usual the next day. It was the day after the Alumni party so the weekly lunch at the Burrow was replaced with more of a hangover afternoon tea. This had become a tradition after every Weasley kid had gotten so sloshed at the party that they could not stomach the food the next day. The fact that Percy had thrown up all over the herbs garden was something the others still did not let him forget about.
Thus, Hermione was left with plenty of time to have her morning coffee and read the Daily Prophet before needing to get ready. She was surprised when she found a photograph of Aurors tearing people from each other at the Alumni party on the front page. The headline read "Not the DESIREd outcome" while the caption stated that due to a potion mishap, the party had to be cut short. She unfolded the paper and at the bottom part of the article, there was a photograph of George Weasley being led off by Aurors. The article mentioned some kind of potion and the word desire was strewn in quite often. No matter how many times she read the whole thing, Hermione could not make it make sense.
Still in her pajamas, Hermione popped out of the Weasley fireplace and was immediately greeted by the sight of an extremely angry Mrs. Weasley. She was scolding Ron while Mr. Weasley was trying to calm her down. The howlers she had sent to Hogwarts in third year were nothing compared to the colorful language she used now. Ginny was the first to notice her and dragged her upstairs into her room where the shouting of Mrs. Weasley was less audible.
"What is going on?" Hermione asked and shoved the paper at Ginny.
"Godric, Hermione. Where were you yesterday? One moment you were stuck with the Slug Club and the next you were gone?" Ginny´s fingers dug painfully into her shoulders as she shook her.
"I went home early." Hermione answered. Her friend did not need to know everything that had happened between her talking with the Slug Club and her flooing home. Ginny did not seem convinced with her explanation and she scanned Hermione up and down. Her eyes halted somewhere beneath Hermione´s chin.
"Are those bite marks?" she asked incredulously. Hermione was sure that a flush that rivalled the Weasley's hair shade crept up onto her cheeks. Instead of being confronted with probing questions, Hermione found herself in a tight embrace.
"I´m so sorry, Hermione. We don't have to talk about it. I won't tell anyone, I promise." Hesitantly, Hermione returned the hug, although she was not sure what her friend was apologizing for.
"Thank you." she whispered into red hair. Hermione was glad that Ginny did not press her about her bite marks and all that it hinted at any further.
"You must be so confused." Ginny pulled back and gave her a sympathetic smile. "George should pray to be sent to Azkaban because mum will kill him otherwise. To believe that he would test a new product in development out last night." she sighed and rubbed her temples.
"But what exactly was it? I understand that it was some kind of potion but what did it do?" Hermione inquired as her eyes went back to the article.
"Well, in theory, it should have been very harmless. What it should have been was a harmless push for everyone to be more honest with themselves. George was tired of all those lies and pretense at those Alumni parties. But his potion shared many ingredients with a lust potion. So he didn't get the desire he was going for." With a frustrated groan, Ginny fell back onto her bed.
"A few people making out did not seem out of the ordinary at first. But when the Quidditch discussion between Slytherin and Gryffindor ended in Wood and Flint almost fucking each other on the dancefloor... that was something else. One moment the teams were fighting and the next moment those two were tearing each other's clothes off and snogging like there is no tomorrow." she rubbed at her eyes as if to get rid of those images.
"Merlin, Hermione. You should have seen it. It was obscene. But then we realized that those two were not the only odd pairing." Hermione creased her eyebrows and tried to make sense of what she had heard.
"So …. the potion made people really randy regardless of who the other person was? I don´t see Wood and Flint doing something like that willingly." she put her conclusion into words.
"And neither did they, Hermione. And neither did they." Ginny sat up again and took the Prophet from Hermione's hand, eyeing George´s photograph.
"George is royally fucked." Ginny tossed the paper away.
"The only thing that is saving Ron right now is that he didn't know that George spiked the punch. Merlin's tits, the fact that he fucked Bulstrode in the girls' lavatory might have been his saving grace." A snorting laughter passed Ginny's lips and she shook her head in disbelief.
Ron and Milicent Bulstrode. That was a pairing that Hermione had not believed to ever be possible.
"I guess I should leave." Hermione mumbled and Ginny walked her back to the fireplace.
Back in her flat, she rubbed her neck where Malfoy's teeth had left his mark. A potion mishap. That was what had happened the previous night. A potion strong enough to bring even the most unlikely people together, driven mad with desire. That also explained why Cormac had been that persistent when he had pretty much ignored her all the other times. Merlin, if Cormac wanted to hit on her so badly, he had plenty of opportunities to do so at the interdepartmental Quidditch matches. Afterall, the Auror Quidditch team always hung out with the Department of Magical Games and Sports Quidditch team and she often went to support Harry.
All the sweet words he had said to her were suddenly tainted with the knowledge that he had not meant them. Unlike the night before where she had gone to bed with fluttering butterflies in her stomach, today she went to bed with a leaden heart and a troubled mind, hoping exhaustion would take her.
Monday morning came too soon and Hermione flooed into the Ministry with a horrible feeling in her stomach. His parting words, which she could not shake off, rang in her ears. She dreaded the moment she would have to see him in office. Maybe she could book one of the meeting rooms for the day and delay the inevitable until tomorrow.
On the lift ride to her floor, Hermione contemplated whether she should just call in sick and return home. When had she become so pitiful that she considered missing work just to avoid an unpleasant situation? No, she was Hermione Granger for Godric´s sake. She had survived a war and kept her boys alive so she could definitely face one Draco Malfoy.
When the lift door slid open, she stood a little taller and strode towards her desk. It was a pristine white paper bird on top of her work that made her stride falter. She had thought that she would have some time to herself before she had to hear him out. Hermione looked at the little paper bird as if it was a death sentence. Taking some calming breaths, she picked it up and unfolded it.
Two words.
His handwriting was as neat as always.
The two simple words sent her mind into overdrive and made her heart beat faster. Another kind of anxiousness made her stomach flutter. She could not stop the smile that spread on her lips. Clutching the note to her heart she ran back to the lift. Maybe not all hope was lost.
When she returned to the office a little later, a quick glance revealed that Malfoy had not arrived yet so Hermione set to work. At exactly 9:30 a.m., Malfoy exited the lift and walked to his desk. While he did not look in her direction, Hermione did not let him out of her sight. She watched his shoulders grow tense and his step slow down when he saw it.
Her reply. It was her usual green apple. But unlike all those times before, she had tucked a note under it.
She saw him pick up her note, read it and set it aside. Disappointment washed over her. A frown settled on her face but she went back to work. His non-reaction kept nagging her but she had to let it go at work.
The whole day had her in a foul mood and it had only gotten worse when she pushed over her coffee mug, spilling it all over her case folders. The clock only read 2 p.m. so the rest of her day without coffee seemed unbearable. Muttering under her breath, she stomped into the kitchen. As her luck had it, she had to brew a new batch of coffee.
Just as the machine was buzzing away, she heard a crunching sound behind her. There he stood in his black tailored suit, leaning casually in the doorway, and chewing on his bite of apple. A devilish grin was plastered on his face as he observed her. Hermione wanted to slap it right off. The nerve of him. She glared at him and he lifted a bemused eyebrow. Malfoy pushed off the doorframe and moved towards her.
"You owe me half a firewhiskey."
"Excuse me?" she responded, resisting the urge to pull out her wand.
"It's only logical for you to invite me. After all, you answered with a charming 'two and a half, technically' to my 'three Firewhiskeys'. So, tonight at the Leaky Cauldron?" Hermione blinked slowly, her brain having a hard time understanding what he had just said. Malfoy came to stand in front of her and crossed his arms.
"I guess we could also talk about it over dinner where you want to take me." Hermione could not decide whether she wanted to slap or kiss that grin off his lips.
