Chapter 27

Hermione awoke the next morning, frowning as she noticed the silk emerald green pillow case under her head. Her frown deepened further as she felt a heavy arm slung across her waist and a hard body behind her. She raised a hand to her face, her cheeks sticky with last night's tears.

She remembered the letter she had received informing her of her parents death and the way Draco had comforted her through her grief. She felt her already numb heart ache as she recalled the way she had spoken to Draco on their first night back. Despite her harsh words he had taken her up to his room, offering her a shoulder to cry on.

She hated to admit that last night's sleep had been her most peaceful since Draco's initial betrayal last year. His familiar scent and touch had comforted her in a way she didn't even know existed. The past year she had been haunted by various nightmares every night, and she expected them to get worse with her parent's death. But no… last night she had slept through the night and only woke up now. She felt guilty for this, but she told herself it was out of her control.

She slowly reached down, enclosing her hand around Draco's forearm and carefully lifting it so she could slip back to her own bedroom. She gasped when she felt him stiffen behind her, the arm around her waist whipping up and his hand closing around her throat. She gasped, pulling at his forearm. She heard him curse behind her before he released her and she wrenched herself out of the bed, hand on her throat as she stared at him with wide eyes.

"I…. I'm sorry." he said, voice husky with sleep. He sat up and she tried not to let her eyes linger on his naked chest. "I thought… I didn't mean to."

She stared at him, unsure of what to say. She had been hoping to slip out before he could wake up so they wouldn't have to talk. "It's okay." she finally said, her own voice croaky from it's lack of use. Her hand dropped from her neck and she wrapped her arms around herself.

"I'm sorry about your parents." he said, moving so he sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at her.

She felt tears well up in her eyes again at the mention of her parents and she swallowed hard, pushing back a choked sob. "Thank you. For yesterday. You didn't have to-"

"Yes I did." he cut her off, standing so he stood across from her. "After everything I did, it's the least I could do."

She nodded, looking away. "I'm sorry for what I said to you the other day." she said quietly.

He shrugged, reaching down to take her hand. "I deserved it."

She stared at their joined hands, wanting nothing more than to jump back into the bed with him. She missed him terribly and his gentleness right now made her weak in the knees. Before she knew it he had taken another step until they stood chest to chest. His free hand reached up to slip behind her neck and he tilted her head up to him. He leaned down slowly and her eyes fell on his parted lips. She wanted to kiss him so badly…

"We can't." she said finally, releasing her hand from his and stepping back to create some distance between them. "This… this doesn't change anything. It doesn't change what you did."

The muscle in Draco's jaw twitched. "Are you ever going to forgive me?"

"I don't know. I can't think about that right now. My parents… I… I need to sort out my life. I need to take care of myself before I even consider anything with you. Don't make this about you or us, Draco." she said, knowing it wasn't what he wanted to hear. But she didn't care.

"I can take care of you. Let me take care of you, Hermione. We can start over, I can show you-" he began desperately.

"No, we can't. I can't get involved with you again, Draco. Not right now." she shook her head, cutting him off. She couldn't hear this. She couldn't fall for it.

"Right now?" he repeated, and she cursed herself for the slip of her tongue.

"Just give me some space." she said finally, turning and heading to the door. She slipped out of the room before he could say another word.


Weeks went on and Draco had respected Hermione's wish and given her her space. He had been watching her closely day after day, noting the way she had begun skipping meals and returning to the Head dorm late at night. He noticed the way she had begun to sit further and further towards the back of their classes each day and the way she no longer had that insufferable know it all demeanor. She was still keeping up with her schoolwork and Head duties, but she no longer held any passion in her tone.

It seemed that Hermione Granger had broken once and for all. And there was nothing he could do about it.

So he drank. He left the castle some nights, Blaise and a few other Slytherin boys by his side and they headed down to the Leaky Cauldron. Being eight years gave them certain privileges regarding leaving school grounds and many of the Hogwarts eight years found their way to the pub every now and then, some to let loose, some to distract themselves from the wounds of the war, and some to simply have fun. The Slytherins mostly kept to themselves in their booth, unwelcomed by the rest of their peers following the still fresh war.

Draco sat, swirling his cup of firewhiskey as he half heartedly listened to Theodore Nott's recollection of his duel off with some Gryffindors.

"Is that Hermione?" asked Blaise, elbowing Draco hard in the side.

Draco's head snapped up, ignoring the sharp pain in his side as his eyes searched for the witch. What the fuck would Hermione be doing here?

But sure enough, there she was. The Weasley girl must have snuck out of the castle because she was giggling next to Hermione, a glass of firewhiskey in her hand which she cheersed with Hermione before downing the liquid. Draco watched as Hermione eyed the liquid in her own cup before slowly downing it too.

"Since when does Hermione party?" asked Blaise, amusement in his tone as he watched the girls.

"She doesn't." Draco said sharply. So Hermione had asked for some space but she came here, surrounded by other dozens of witches and wizards? "I'm gonna stop this." Draco said, moving to stand.

"Woah," said Blaise, grabbing Draco's forearm and pulling him back to his seat. "Take it easy, mate. She's doing the same thing we are. She's coping. You can't boss her around."

Draco glared at his friend. "Do you know who we're talking about? This is Hermione. She probably hasn't even seen firewhiskey until today. She's going to go off the rockers-"

"Well then let her. She's not a kid, Draco. If things get out of hand we'll step in." Blaise cut him off, shoving a drink in Draco's hand. "Now shut up and chill out."

Draco sulkily nursed his glass, eyes glued to his witch across the room. He watched as her tense, stiff body loosened up with each shot and a pink sheen spread across her cheeks. His eyes drifted down her body and he clenched his glass tighter as he noticed the way the skirt of her simple black dress swished around her thighs each time she moved. He also noticed the way the fabric clung to her chest, showcasing a hint of cleavage. The Weasley girl must've given her the thing. There was no way his Hermione would own the dress.

"Alright, the starrings getting a bit creepy." said Blaise and Draco turned to face him, scowling.

"Fuck off, Blaise." he muttered, though he didn't let his gaze return to Hermione. She wanted space away from him... she had referred to them as something she couldn't focus on "right now". Not never. So he would wait… he would wait until she came to him. Until she was ready.

He immersed himself in conversation with the rest of the boys, forcing his eyes not to stray from their table. It was working… until he heard it. A loud laugh that he hadn't heard in over a year. A beautiful, heartfelt laugh that made the hairs on his arms stand up straight. He turned his head, his face contorting in a mixture of anger and jealousy as his gaze landed on the curly headed witch up ahead, head thrown back as she giggled at something a dark haired stranger had whispered in her ear. What the fuck?

He gritted his teeth as he eyed the stranger. He wasn't a student, or else Draco would have recognized him. He was probably some older creep, scouting out the school girls who had come out that night. He watched the pair chat, hands clenched in fists when he noticed the stranger peer down the top of Hermione's dress as the pair made their way towards the exit.

"Oh fuck this." Draco muttered, shoving his glass away and rising from the table.

He followed the pair with long, quick strides, reaching out and grasping Hermione's arm when they caught up. "Where are you going?" he hissed, pulling her towards him.

"Woah, who's this?" he heard the dark haired stranger ask, brow raised in question.

"Her boyfriend." Draco hissed before she could respond. He knew it wasn't true, but the possessiveness within him roared at the question.

"Boyfriend?" Hermione repeated, voice a bit higher than normal. "You-"

"Stop. I'm taking you back to the castle." he said, cutting her off. He began to pull her towards the door.

"No you're not!" she said sharply, attempting to pull her arm from his grasp.

He tightened his hold on her, ignoring the way she flinched slightly at the pressure. "This isn't you, Hermione." he said quieter, not wanting the other guy to listen in.

She shoved him back, though his grip on her arm remained. "You don't know me, Draco." she said, glaring up at him. "Not anymore. Leave me alone."

"Leave." Draco drew his wand with his free hand, pointing it at the stranger.

"Gladly." the man muttered, eyeing the pair of them before he slipped back into the crowd.

"Who do you think you are, Draco?" she asked, poking him hard in the chest with each word. He noticed the way she swayed slightly as she stood.

"Someone who gives a damn about you." he responded in annoyance. "I know you're upset about your parents. I get it. But this isn't you, Hermione. I know you. You don't do this shit. And I'm not going to let you become some fucked up mess." He tried to make her see reason, staring at her intensely.

Tears began to well up in her eyes and she wrenched her arm out of his grasp. "Don't act like I'm still the person I was in sixth year. I've changed. I'm already some… some fucked up mess!" a tear slipped from her eye and she wiped it away furiously.

"No. You're not." he protested, reaching down and cupping her face in his hands. "You're still the bright, kind, strong, sexy witch I fell in love with. You've been through some shit. Hell, I'm the reason for a shit load of it, but you're strong. You'll get through it. I'm going to help you get through it. And not letting you go home with some loser at a pub is me helping you."

He noticed her relax slightly under his palms, her own hand raising to cup his own on her face. "I miss you." she murmured, leaning into his touch as her eyes fluttered shut.

Draco blinked in surprise at her change in demeanor. She had gone from yelling at him, to crying, to showing him affection all in the last five minutes. "You're drunk." he muttered, pulling his hands away from her face. She would never have told him she missed him if she wasn't.

"I am. And I miss you." she said, suddenly heading towards the door. He noticed the way she almost tripped, catching herself before she really could.

He glanced around the room for the Weasley girl, scowling when he couldn't find her. "I'm taking you back." he muttered, following after her and taking her hand before leading them back up to the castle.

Draco muttered the password to their dorm when they safely made their way back. He pulled her along up to her room so he could put her to bed. He took a minute to look around the room as they entered, taking in the maroon bed sheets, piles of books and parchment scattered across her desk and a photo frame on either night stand. One frame held a picture of her, Potter and Weasley. The other held a muggle photo, with what Draco assumed were her parents.

He eyed the photo for a few seconds, only turning away when he heard Hermione sigh. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring down at her feet. She looked up at him before raising a foot. "Help?" she asked, staring at him with a playful smile.

He immediately headed over, crouching down and pulling her shoes off her feet like he had the night she had found out about her parent's deaths. His silver eyes snuck a glance at her creamy legs, exposed in her dress of the night. He swallowed hard, forcing his gaze away before he stood.

"Goodnight." he said shortly, turning to leave.

"Stay." she said softly, and he turned to look at her in surprise.

She stood, taking a few steps towards him and placing her hands on his arms. She turned his body so his back was to the bed before she pushed him back. He let her lead him backwards, forcing him to sit when the back of his knees hit the edge of the mattress.

She followed along with him, sliding her hands up his arms to rest loosely around his neck before she raised a leg, straddling one hip before the other followed. Draco stared at her in shock. He could see every caramel speck in her beautiful eyes at their close proximity.

Hermione leaned forward, tilting his head to the side with a hand before she began peppering small kisses along the side of his neck. He instantly felt himself harden in his trousers. It had been so long since he had felt her.

She continued her kisses, trailing her lips down his neck before they made their way back up his neck and jaw. She paused at his chin, her hands sliding up his neck and into his hair before she leaned forward, her lips brushing against his own.

Sparks flared up inside him at the contact and he groaned quietly, eyes shutting as her warm lips pecked softly at his own. He slid a hand up her back and into her own curls, deepening the kiss. He slid his tongue into her mouth, relishing in the taste of her mixed with firewhiskey. The usually dull flame within his roared to life as she rolled her hips slightly against his.

"Fuck." he muttered, pulling back. He leaned his forehead against hers, moving his hands to grip tightly at her hips, stopping her movements. "Stop." he said through gritted teeth.

"Isn't this what you want, Draco?" she asked, staring at him with her big doe eyes.

He turned his head away, trying to keep himself together. "It is… but not like this. You're drunk. You wouldn't be doing this if you weren't."

"Yes I would." she said, raising a warm hard to his jaw. She moved his face back towards her. "I've been thinking about you… how you used to make me feel. How you used to make me forget about everything." she said softly. "I want to forget everything. I want to feel good again. Please help me feel good, Draco." she pleaded, reaching down to toy with the edge of her dress. "You owe me."

Draco's eyes followed her hands, watching as the skirt of the dress rose higher and higher, revealing more and more of her thighs. "I…" he stuttered, replaying her words over and over in his head.

Any good, noble wizard might turn her down. Put her to bed and leave her be. But Draco wasn't a good guy. He never had been. So he pushed her hands aside, replacing them with his own and pulling her dress up and over her head in one swift movement.

His eyes fell on the lacy white bra she wore and the matching boyshort panties. His erection grew impossibly harder as his eyes greedily took in the sight. "Holy shit." he muttered, placing his hands on her waist and moving to lay her down on the bed.

His lips found her own again and they kissed, her tongue slipped past his lips and exploring his mouth freely. He groaned, reaching down to palm her breasts through her bra. He reached under her, unclipping the garment and tossing it aside. He pulled back, taking in the sight of her creamy breasts and perfectly pebbled nipples, ready for the taking.

He tilted his head down, enclosing his lips around one and swirling his tongue around the nipple before brushing it gently with his teeth. She moaned, wrapping her legs around his hips and grinding up against him. Her fingers reached up to quickly unbutton his shirt, pushing it off his shoulders and to the side.

He reached between them, hooking his fingers under the waistband of her panties before pulling those down her legs too. She kicked them off before getting to work on his trousers. Draco slipped a finger between her exposed folds, groaned at the moisture there.

"Already ready for me." he said hungrily.

"Only you." she whispered, biting her lip as she stared at him.

He felt his stomach jump in excitement at her words. "I want you, Draco." she continued, wrapping her legs around his waist. The tip on his cock rested against her entrance.

"You want me? Only me?" he asked, reaching down to tease her entrance with his cock. She nodded eagerly, lifting her hips in an attempt to slip him in.

"Fuck, I've wanted you for so long." he said huskily before pushing his hips forward.

They groaned simultaneously as her tight walls sucked his cock in, wrapping around him perfectly. "Shit, I'm not gonna last." he muttered, resting his elbows on either side of her head as he began thrusting into her.

She threw her head back, moaning as he moved within her. "Oh god." she whimpered, nails digging into the skin of his back as she clutched him tightly to her.

"I fucking love you." he groaned, thrusting deep into her with each word.

"Oh!" she cried as he reached between them, pinching a nipple.

He tilted his head down, kissing and sucking along her breasts as his hand slid down to her thigh. He pulled her leg up and over his shoulder, allowing him deeper access into her. He cursed under his breath at the feeling and she moaned as he thrusted quickly into her.

"Come for me, Hermione. Like you used to." he ordered, reaching between them to toy with her clit.

She let out a loud moan at a particularly deep thrust, eyes rolling back into her head as her hands clutched at the sheets under them. "I love you." she cried out and Draco felt the pressure in his lower stomach tighten at the mixture of her words and her walls tightening around him as she came undone.

He thrusted into her in a few more slow, firm thrusts before he quickly pulled out, releasing his load onto her stomach. She whimpered at the loss and Draco groaned, clutching tightly at her thigh as he shook with his orgasm.

He leaned back on his hunches as he reeled down from the intense orgasm. "Fuck, I missed you." he muttered, waving his wand at the mess on her stomach and watching as it disappeared.

She smiled slightly at him before pulling him back down towards her and flipping them over so she straddled his waist. "Show me that you missed me." she whispered teasingly.

Draco felt himself harden again at his words and he reached up to fist her curls, pulling her down for a deep kiss. She had asked him to make her feel good. To make her forget. And he would. All night long.

A/N: Sorry for the wait with this chapter! Like i said in the last chapter I've been feeling unmotivated ! :( But I've been reading all of your reviews and I know you guys have been wanting an update! Here it is!

I also wanted to mention I've been getting some slightly criticising reviews and I want you all to know i love it! Haha, I'm not a professional writer or anything and this story is just something I came up with one day and wanted to put into writing for my own fun and enjoyment! I love hearing what you guys think, good and bad :)

So with that said, please read and review! I will try not to make you all wait so long for the next one!