They made it almost six days without being caught only to find they weren't alone in his room the day before the Christmas Eve ball.
"Again? You two just can't get enough of each other, can you?"
Hermione looked up while Draco nuzzled under her neck from behind her, seeing not only Theo at the end of the bed but Blaise she shrieked. Grabbing the blanket, she pulled it over her chest as she was clad in only a sports bra and knickers. Draco, uncaring of his own partial nudity, emerged from her hair and glared at his best friends with bleary eyes.
"You weren't supposed to be here until lunch."
Blaise shook his head, "Don't pretend that this isn't a thing," he pointed at the two of them.
Draco looked smug while Hermione burrowed back under the covers, "Get rid of them Draco or I'll hex them."
"She is not a morning person."
"Do you think she's like this with her family too?" Theo questioned.
Draco laughed at them. Hermione popped her head out of the covers, "Yes and they know better than to wake me prematurely. Now get into the bathroom so I can get dressed." Snickering the two did as she said. Glaring at Draco when he laughed she flicked his perfect nose. "They better not say anything Draco Malfoy or I'll hurt you too."
Still tired Draco just smirked, "Princess, we both know you wouldn't hurt me. You love me."
"My Dragon, I do. But right now, you're my Draco and I can hurt Draco if I want." His eyes hardened as she called him 'Dragon'. It had just rolled off the tongue but she found she couldn't regret it with how he responded. "Stop looking at me."
"Why?" his voice was husky but she ignored how her body reacted to it.
"Because I'm practically naked and you, Draco, do not have permission to look at me."
"But your Dragon does?"
Her eyes met his, surprised by how dark the normally silver iris were. "Yes. My Dragon is my person, my future husband and father of my children," she told him in a hushed voice so the two in the bathroom couldn't hear, "he can look upon my body whenever he wishes. But right now, you are not my Dragon. So look away. Please."
Flopping back on the bed exaggeratedly he groaned, "Don't think I won't remember this," he snapped playfully before pulling the blanket over his face. Putting her pillow over his covered face she heard him snicker before lunging for her robe and slipped from the room.
An hour later, freshly showered and dressed she met them in the dinning room and made comfortable conversation with Narcissa, blatantly ignoring the three younger wizards who had culminated at one end of the table until Narcissa brought them into their conversation.
"Theodore, have you found a date for tomorrow?"
"No Ma'am, I thought I would attend stag."
"Blaise?"
"As a matter of fact, I have. Luna Lovegood, lovely girl."
"Will she be comfortable here?" Narcissa asked looking concerned.
"Hermione is," Theo chirped, "Mighty comfortable if I do say so."
Blaise nodded his agreement, "Who is your date Granger?"
Hermione looked at Narcissa who had gone from concerned to excited at the question, "I didn't know I needed one," she stated.
"Of course you do! I don't know why I didn't think about it before!" Narcissa sounded aghast making Lucius chuckle from the head of the table, "Draco can escort you!"
Draco inhaled his tea on accident. While he coughed Lucius addressed his wife, "Draco invited the youngest Greengrass, Cissa."
"Oh..."
Her quiet exclamation was met with an equally quiet table. Hermione hadn't known that and by the looks the two shared, neither had Theo or Blaise.
Draco finished coughing, "Yes, I invited her during the yule ball at school. Hadn't actually meant to, it just kind of happened."
"That is understandable," despite her words, Narcissa didn't sound approving. Taking a long sip of her tea she glanced at Hermione to find her focused on her breakfast toast. "Theo, you could escort Hermione, couldn't you?"
"I would love to," Theo grinned making Hermione smirk as she looked at him.
"Wonderful! Theo that means you need to get here early, you can take your usual room.." Off she went into planning mode.
Hermione listened, vaguely. Lucius was the one to end the rigorous planning, "Love, leave them be. They're used to it by now. And Hermione is very bright and has no doubt caught on to it by now. Let's leave them to their day. I'm sure you have last minute preparations you need help with. Let me help you love."
Narcissa looked pleased at the offer and took him up on it.
When they left the dining room Theo turned on Hermione, "Granger Granger Granger, I'll have you know I won't be that easy to get into bed."
Draco scoffed.
Hermione stood with a grin, "Somehow, I don't believe that. Now boys, according to Cissa's plans I am due in my room to be pampered and poked for tomorrow by some stylist she brought in from France. Pansy and Gin should be here soon so I'm going to meet them. Enjoy your day."
"Can we join you?" Theo called out as she turned the corner.
"Only if you want your bits waxed," she shot back.
Theo blanched but Blaise looked amused, shooting a glance at Draco who was staring at Hermione.
"Getting your bits waxed are you, Granger?"
She flushed at Blaise, "We'll see won't we. Well not we," she motioned to them before spinning around and walking out into the hallway. Blaise's laughter followed her.
Hermione met Pansy and Ginny in the library where they floo'd in. Ginny was astounded, if not a bit reserved, in the Manor but once they reached Hermione's room, which had been turned into a luxury spa, she relaxed. They were completely pampered. Their hair was done and ready for styling the next day. Nails were manicured and bits were waxed. That part hadn't been mandatory, but Pansy talked her into it because "why not".
Darcey had brought them lunch and dinner before the team of stylists deemed they were adequate for the next day and left. The three lounged in Hermione's room until Pansy decided it was time to call it a night.
"No Mia, I can get her to the floo safely." Pansy told her when Hermione stood to show them out.
Hermione smile, "I don't mind."
"Sit," Pansy ordered, "You look knackered. We'll see you tomorrow."
Left alone to her own devices Hermione wrapped her perfectly coiffed curls in the satin scarf the stylist had left for her and went to Draco's room. He wasn't there but she didn't expect him to be. They'd come in to tease the girls earlier and invited them to play billiards knowing they wouldn't, so she assumed they were still doing that. Theo and Blaise would be staying the night and while Hermione knew they were in the rooms beside theirs she also knew they knew her and Draco slept together at least twice so she took Pansy's advice again, thinking "why not" as she climbed into his bed. So, she curled up with their pillows piled behind her, grabbed her book off the side table, and settled in.
In the billiards room Draco, Theo and Blaise wrapped up their final game before calling it a night. His mother had come in to lecture them about beauty rest and despite their protests and claims that that was for witches they did as she said and finished their game. Though in true rebellion Theo had claimed to have a bottle of fire whiskey so they could continue the night. Draco and Blaise had eagerly agreed.
Theo went to collect the bottle while Draco and Blaise walked into his room. They both stopped short seeing Hermione curled in the tiniest ball in the middle of the huge bed. Draco couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She looked so delicate, and he felt a surge of possessiveness over her.
Blaise took one look at Hermione and looked at Draco. He saw every emotion under the sun cross his best friends face.
"Gods Drake," he whispered, "You're so fucked."
Draco didn't answer but he agreed.
"I'll tell Theo we won't be drinking tonight mate. Go snuggle your witch."
"Fuck off," Draco chuckled, "She's not my witch and we all know it."
At the door Blaise snorted, "And yet you sleep together."
Before Draco could respond Blaise was gone, the door softly clicking behind him. Draco stood there for a while longer just watching the witch in his bed. She had an obscene scarf over her hair, but her skin had a glow to it that made her look so soft that he wanted to touch her. She looked to be in an oversized shirt that he vaguely recognized as one she'd taken from him weeks ago. He hadn't said anything the first time he saw her in it because he found he preferred it to seeing her in Potter or one of the Weasley's shirts, for which she seemed to have plenty. But seeing her in his own shirt did things to him. Her long tan legs curled up to her chest giving him a peak of the swell of her bum making him instantly hard.
Never had he wanted a witch as much as he did her.
But she wasn't his to want.
Still, he stripped down to his boxers and crawled in beside her, took her into his arms and tucked her against him.
Such truths didn't exist in his bed.
For the second morning in a row the pair woke up with an audience. Hermione sensed them first but she nudged Draco with her foot so he would deal with it. Though they weren't cuddling like they were the night before, Draco still had an arm slung over her waist despite laying on his stomach. When he didn't move but to squeeze her hip and drag her body closer to him she nudged him again.
"Get them, Dragon, or I might kill them," she groaned while turning into his shoulder and burrowing her head under her pillow as best she could. With the damn scarf encasing her curls wasn't easy.
Draco grumbled into his own pillow, his face turning forwards Hermione, "Get out you gits."
"Well, aren't you two just a perfect picture."
Hermione froze. She'd assumed it was Theo and Blaise again, she never thought to entertain the idea that it might be anyone else.
Arm still around Hermione's hips Draco shifted to prop himself up on the bed so he could look at his mother. When their eyes met, he found her smiling with her hands clasped in front of her.
"I hope you were safe. I am too young for grandchildren."
Draco audibly groaned, "Mother!"
Hermine wanted to crawl under the bed and disappear.
"It's true," Narcissa chuckled, "I want them but not yet. Now," she clapped, "Draco, Theo and Blaise need your help setting up the ballroom."
"It takes a few minutes with magic."
"But I'm not sure how I want the layout and four wands is better than one, so I need my sons to help your father."
Draco rolled his eyes but nodded. Giving Hermione's hip one last squeeze he swung his legs out of the bed. "Yes alright. Are Theo and Blaise awake?"
"They are! They're already eating breakfast. In fact, they refused to come wake you claiming life and limb, which now I suppose I understand." Hermione finally emerged from the pillow, "Thank heavens you wore the scarf! It will help with styling!"
Hermione made a face that had Draco hiding his laughter.
"That damn thing interfered with my sleep, I'll be glad when it's gone."
He hadn't meant to say that in front of her but by the horrified look on his face before he rushed into the bathroom Narcissa knew it. So she turned to Hermione instead who looked equally shocked.
"How long has this been going on?"
Hermione bit her lip, "A few months."
"And you haven't had sex?" Hermione shook her head despite her blush. "Interesting. Now time to get up, we have a lot to do and not a lot of time."
Draco chuckled coming out of the bathroom, "It's never as much as you think it is."
Narcissa gave Hermione a peculiar look as she shifted to the edge of her side of the bed with the sheet wrapped tightly around her, "Get dressed dears and meet us in the dining room. We'll get started after everyone has had their fill." She started to move towards the door, "And I meant what I said about grandchildren. You two need to wait at least five more years before granting me that blessing."
"Mother!"
"Come now, you know it will happen one day," she laughed over her shoulder as she went through the door leaving the pair of them blushing from their spots on and by the bed.
Not looking at Draco Hermione went into the bathroom while he retreated to his closet. In the mirror she found that the scarf had kept her hair contained but only just. Undoing it she collected her silky curls and rearranged them back in the scarf. She left Draco to dress in her own room but felt his presence in the doorway when she emerged from her own closet, pulling one of her many stolen jumpers over her head.
Draco watched her, taking in first her jeans and casual slip-on shoes before noting her chosen jumper. Unable to stow his curiosity he asked, "Who does that one belong to?"
Smirking at him she briefly looked down at the old cream-colored fabric hanging off her, "Sirius, I think? I started hoarding them after the war," she met him in the doorway and they started down the hall, "I think the only people I don't have them from is Bill and Arthur."
He held her elbow on the stairs, a habit he started after realizing how often she'd been targeted on the stairs at school. "How many do you have from each person?"
"One. Well, that's not true, I have three of yours."
"Which ones?" he asked pulling her to a stop with him.
"Your jersey, the grey one, and the patterned one I've never seen you wear."
"I've been looking for the grey one!"
She giggled as she started walking towards the dining room, "You'll never get it back."
She heard Draco humph behind her just as she entered the dining room. Narcissa smiled at them, Lucius barely acknowledges them over the Profit and Theo and Blaise both looked amused. Theo was the one who spoke first.
"Ah my favorite lovers! Enjoy your lay-in?"
Hermione tisked, sending a mild stinging hex at him, "Mind your manners."
Narcissa chuckled but Blaise continued as the two took their seats, "Don't lay-ins usually involve sex?"
Folding his paper and placing it beside his plate Lucius laughed, "Boys, behave."
Blaise and Theo chortled but before anyone could say anything else Darcey appeared beside Hermione, a tiny hand pulling on her stolen jumper. "Mistress, you be having guests. Theys not happy."
Fully aware that all the attention was now on her and Darcey versus her and Draco Hermione turned in her seat to face Darcey, "Who is it?"
"Yous friend Mister Potter and a boy with red hairs. He's mad, he is, yelled at Darcey for no reason."
Hermione frowned, "I'll take care of him Darcey. Where did you put them?"
"In the Parlor Mistress."
"Thank you, Darcey," the elf popped out of the room and Hermione stood. Draco stood with her. Looking at him she smiled, "Stay here, your mother needs your help."
"If Weasley is in a tiff, you may need assistance."
She smirked, "I can handle Ronald. He's been in a tiff since September first, that's not going to change anytime soon. If he's upset, seeing you probably won't help."
"Let me go with you Princess."
Wide gold eyes suddenly met his, "Dragon, I can handle them. Help your mother and these two," she absently pointed to Theo and Blaise, "and if you haven't heard from me by the time, you finish the ballroom, come find me. But let me go by myself, at least to start."
"Fine," he bit out, he didn't sound happy at all, "One hour and then the three of us come looking."
Hermione absently heard Theo and Blaise agree but couldn't look away from Draco. The determination in his eyes made her want to leap at him. Instead, she reached up and kissed his cheek. Looking at Narcissa she smiled despite the blush she felt crawling up her neck.
"I'll be back as soon as I know what they want."
"Take your time dear."
Nodding Hermione left the room wondering what brought the boys here. In the dining room Draco sat down as soon as she was out of sight pretending that his parents weren't looking at him with a mixture of intrigue and confusion and that his best friends didn't look smug.
Blaise took a sip of his tea as if for dramatic effect, "So. Utterly. Fucked. Drake."
Narcissa didn't even scold him. She just watched her son, the stain in his cheeks giving way to his emotions.
Just outside the Parlor Hermione righted herself, running her hands on her jumper, listening to see if she could hear Ron. She didn't hear any yelling so assuming it was safe she softly opened the door. The first thing she notice was Ron's obvious distress. He was pacing and clearly hadn't noticed her yet, his face bright red and his hands clinched in tight fists. Harry was seated in a chair, his head in his hands, his hair absolute chaos.
"What happened?" Hermione asked rushing to Harrys side.
At the sound of her voice Harry's head snapped up, wide green eyes as he took her in. Ron spun at her, a brief look of relief crossing his face before his fury returned and he charged her, "You have to come with us!"
"What? Why? What happened?" He moved around Harry, grabbed her arm and started pulling her towards the floo, "Ouch Ron! Stop," she wretched her arm away, "Tell me what's going on!"
Huffing he ran his hand through his hair, "Mione, I need to get you away from here."
"Mate..." Harry tried at the same time Hermione countered, "Tell me why first."
"Godric Mione! I'll explain when we get home, just-"
"No! Tell me now. You're scaring me."
It was Harry who answered her, his voice in a calm in the storm that was his appearance. "Molly tried adding you to the family clock, as one of your Christmas presents."
"Thats so sweet," Hermione smiled but it fell and she frowned at Ron, "Wait, what's wrong with that?"
"When your hand appeared so did one for Malfoy!"