It won't be long now. I feel it within me more than I ever have. It is as much a part of me as my blood belongs to it. I can't deny my family's curse as I feel it seeping deeper into my pores with each passing second. There is no escaping it now. I'll join my ancestors soon enough. Perhaps Father can forgive me for not believing; I'm sure I wasn't the only heir foolish enough to doubt. Draco is no different, but he, too, will believe…soon.

I vaguely knew but did not care that it was some ridiculous hour of the early morning as I read and reread Lucius' final entries in disbelief.

"You nosey swot! You just couldn't help yourself, could you?!" Malfoy's voice ripped through the quiet like an ax, startling me from my seat.

Shirtless and in sweats, he stormed in, throwing the heels I'd abandoned earlier onto the carpet.

"Me!?" I managed, gathering my wits. "You! Y-you, I've done nothing but try to help prove your innocence, and all you've done is lie and withhold information! You've made this investigation impossible from the start while you've had the answer this entire bloody time!"

"Should I have told the world then, Granger?! Has the Malfoy name not been slandered by the press enough for your liking?! Hmm?! Should I have let them know, my bloodline is cursed so everyone could place bets on when and how I will die, on how my future heir will die inside this accursed manor?! Would that have satisfied you?!" He screamed, panting as he stopped in front of me, unflinching as I pulled out my wand. "Do your worst, Granger; no one is going to stop you."

The firelight flickered across his alabaster skin as I brought the tip of my wand to the top of his shoulder. I began reciting a complex mix of diagnostic and detection spells as I traced my wand across his collarbone to his other shoulder. His chest rose, and his muscles flexed with each breath as he watched me work, making it difficult to focus on my casting.

He didn't react as I dragged my wand down the side of his washboard-like abdomen, something that would have tickled most.

I struggled to regulate my breaths as I continued across his hips, careful not to touch his waistband or dip below the V.

Finally, I bring my wand up to the shoulder where I began, completing the scan. I watched as a grayish-black haze revealed itself around Malfoy, indicating that he did, in fact, have a curse or something similar affecting him.

"It's real," I stated, heat growing within me as I followed the contours of his body upwards to meet his eyes.

There was neither surprise nor disappointment in his silvery orbs, only fire.

It happened so quickly.

His body closed in on mine, and his hand reached around and grabbed the back of my neck; electricity ran down through every nerve and into my core.

He leaned in, letting his face hover over mine, as his eyes swept over my lips. A nervous inhale filled me with his alluring scent. My heartbeat quickened, filling my ears as he pulled me into his chest.

I didn't fight; instead, I braced my hands on his shoulders.

He didn't speak, didn't close the inch between our lips; he watched and waited.

I let my fingers slide up his neck and into his hair and considered how easy it would be to pull his face to mine.

The heat building between my legs liquified as I felt his length between us. I wanted more of it, more of him.

Somewhere nearby, a large clock began clanging, and I panicked, jumping backward out of his arms.

"Th-this is not; I am here to work, I-I have to go." I barely managed to stutter as I tore away from him in search of my shoes.

"What's the use of going home this late when you'll return in a few hours?" He muttered gruffly.

I'd gotten my shoes and was halfway out the door when I realized he'd spoken.

"I'm not sure I'll be back. The case is solved."

Xxx

Xxx

A rough thrust of his hips spreads my legs wide, and I try my best to grip the rug around me for leverage. I'm close, so close. Malfoy leans down over me and kisses my neck, making my hips jut upward in search of more of him. "Please," I beg him, "Fuck me, Draco."

The loud ringing of my phone pulls me from my dream, and I jump up, blinking away the crusties in my eyes.

Slowly, the familiar shapes of my office appear, and a crick in my neck makes itself known. Fuck . I'd left the Manor so late last night, this morning rather, I must have sat at my desk and passed out.

My cell phone continued to ring, and I was desperate for it to stop, so I answered it.

"Hello," I groaned.

"Morning Sunshine, I thought you'd be well awake by now," Ginny's chipper voice answers.

"What, y-yes, I'm awake," I said, looking for the time, 10:30 a.m.

Fuck me .

"If you say so…," she laughed. "Come for tea on Sunday, won't you?"

"Erm, Sunday, sure; what time?"

"Eleven, and if you really want to be my best friend, bring some chocolate frogs."

"I can do that," I promise, making a mental note.

"Perfect! I'll see you on Sunday. Get some coffee, okay? You sound bloody awful."

"Will do, bye Gin."

I end the call and pull a small mirror from my purse. My makeup was smeared on one side, and my bun was askew, but it was nothing I couldn't fix. No one had seen me come through to use the floo yesterday, so I should be alright.

Once I'd made the adjustments, I exited my office and surprised Jessica.

"Ms. Granger! I didn't know you were here!"

"Sorry, yes, I came in very early, a lot to catch up on. Can you fetch me a coffee and mail this letter, please?" I asked, handing her the letter I'd written for Gabrielle.

"Of course, will you not be going to the Manor today?"

"Erm, no, today I'll be working from here."

And so I did. I caught up on things in my office and did everything I could to keep Malfoy off my mind.

Thank fucking Godric, it's Friday.