A/N: Ohhhh wasn't last night wild? The trial is almost here, things are heating up... it's all happening. BTW, I don't own HP

CHAPTER 13 - "About Last Night" by Thomas Mac

Hermione stared at the door she had just slammed. Shit. what had she just done? Malfoy? Like, she had realized she was a bit lonely and needed to go on a few dates, do something, but… why Draco Malfoy? Of all people!

She crumpled down on the hallway floor and put her head between her knees. This was bad. Really bad. She walked back to the mirror. She had love bites across her neck, down her chest, on her jaw... Everywhere. God.

Then she pictured Malfoy. His face claimed by her own, his muscular chest above her, his gray eyes veiled by blonde hair, lust burning in those sparkling eyes - the witch let out a scream as she felt the heat within her become unbearable. What was she going to do? Would Mafoy tell Astoria? Would the blonde be mad? She had described Malfoy as her brother, afterall…

Draco leaned over the kitchen sink. He had taken Astoria's palest concealer and done his best to cover all the marks, restyling his hair and changing into an unrumpled top. But the marks still haunted his skin, his lips were still swollen and bruised. Astoria would know. She always did.

As expected, his roommate hadn't been home when he arrived. Draco supposed he should be glad, but it just confirmed his and Granger's suspicions about Hot Sex Man, whoever that was. He groaned and stumbled back to his bedroom.

That night, Draco tossed and turned. He woke up over and over from dreams of a certain brunette witch - kissing his mouth, kissing other parts of him, yelling at him, slamming the door. Every time he awoke, certain areas of him were throbbing with need, and he was covered in sweat.

Around five the next morning, the blonde gave up and went for a long, cold shower. Then a run, followed by another shower, during which he scrubbed every inch of himself twice. He stumbled from the bathroom to the kitchen in his towel to start the tea and let out a yelp. In the kitchen was a man with red hair and tan skin. His arms were wrapped around Astoria, their lips smushed together. At the sound escaping his lips, the pair jumped apart.

Before Draco could turn back to his room, Astoria said. "Oh! Draco. This is- Wait, are those hickeys all over you?!"

"And that's my que," Draco muttered and raced back to his room to change, Astoria yelling after him that she would figure out who the mysterious girl was.

By the time the blonde wizard reemerged from his room, Hot Sex Man was gone and Astoria was eating a salad and reading at the dining room table. Draco had taken extra time to reapply concealer and wear a fairly high-necked shirt, but he knew his friend would be able to tell anyway.

"So," He said, grabbing ingredients to make himself a sandwich. "Astoria. You did in fact ditch us for Hot Sex Man after all?"

" 'Us'? And… fine, I did. But seeing as you obviously didn't go to Hermione's last night and opted for some action instead, you can hardly blame me." 'Storia shot him a knowing look. Then, after a moment, "Wait. How did you know we call him Hot Sex Man?"

Draco tried to hide his slight blush, turning back to the counter - this time to pour himself a glass of water - and muttered, "Of course. I wouldn't stand her up, unlike some people."

"Draco. Who gave you all those hickey's then, hm? Same girl from the shower the other week?"

"I might as well be asking you the same thing. But does it really matter?" the wizard sat at the table, "I mean, as long as they can keep our secret, we're all good."

"Is that so?" 'Stor replied hotly, "because I seem to remember you getting rather fussed the last time I chose a romantic or sexual partner without consulting you first. It's alright now, I suppose, because you have one too?"

Draco ran a hand through his hair. "Astoria… It's not like that. This isn't some chick I picked up at a random club. I know her, and she won't tell. Can we please not talk about her, though?"

"Why? And do I know her?" Astoria sat up straighter, looking haughty and putout.

"It's early, I'm tired. Please, 'Stor, this isn't really a big deal. I mean, you and that bloke are sleeping together and I'm not asking about him, am I?" At her look, he amended, "At least, not much. Just, bear with me here."

"I will do no such thing. You want to know who that was? That was Richard Beckett, the chaser of the Montrose Magpies. You know of him, and he knows of you. He is trustworthy and kind and caring and he will not sell us out, I assure you. He is… it would be as bad for him as it would be for us. And no, I will not explain more than that." She shook her head, pushing her plate away. "Draco, I don't really care who you nail, you know that. I just don't want anything to go wrong. Our trial is almost here. You heard Hermione, nothing can be out of place otherwise they will catch us out. If we play it right, we'll be free in just weeks. But.."

"We aren't yet. I know." Suddenly, Draco found himself raising his voice. Not quite yelling, but certainly angry. "Do you think I don't know that? Do you think that I want to be hiding and sneaking around? Because believe me, I despise it. But I'm the son of Lucius Malfoy, I'm engaged to you, and this is my life. I hate it, I really do. And I'm beyond sorry that you've been roped into this shit. And by screwing anyone, I rope them in too. So please, don't tell me what I risk when I take someone to bed - or even just smile at them. Don't tell me, because I already know." He shook his head. Then, with a lowered and hurt voice, "I already know. And now I've pulled yet another person into this fucked up, shithole of a life I live."

The silence was sore and endless, letting his words - and hers - hang there in the open. Then Astoria stood and walked to the other side of the table. She wrapped her arms around Draco. He leaned into the hug, returning it.

"I'm sorry," the blonde witch whispered. "It'll all be over soon."

"No, I'm sorry." Draco pulled away. "I shouldn't have exploded like that. It's not my place to judge who is or isn't good enough for you - even if I always will. I try to protect you and… It's wrong, I'm sorry."

"Stop, Draco. Stop blaming yourself for everything. This isn't all on you."

"Yes. Yes, it is! I'm the one my father despises, not you. Or them."

"Okay, fine. Believe what you need to. But don't let it ruin your relationships with everyone else. And certainly don't tell Hermione all this." Astoria rolled her eyes and gathered the dishes off the table. At Draco's horrified look, she added, "She's our lawyer afterall. She'll think you're insane and argue that instead!"

"Gaghhh" Hermione groaned, slumped on the floor the following afternoon. She had done exactly nothing but lay in bed, tossing and turning, until almost two in the afternoon when she had finally dragged herself up and done some work. Or, attempted to anyway. Most of the time she ended up thinking about the night before - and the night she had showered at Malfoy's, vomited all over him… and last night! God.

It wasn't that she regretted what they had done, exactly. In fact, that was the issue. If she hadn't hit her head, who knows how far they would have gone? No, scratch that, if she hadn't hit her head, she'd be taking the morning after potion right now and praying that -

Nope, no no no. She couldn't go down that rabbit hole. Hermione sat up and went back to her work, groaning again.

Five that evening, Hermione officially gave up even trying not to think about the past few weeks and flooed herself to Harry and Ginny's. The pair were just starting dinner when she arrived, and hurriedly invited her to join them. Of course, Hermione accepted - but only after quickly grabbing some food from her place.

As Hermione talked with her friends, she felt herself relax a bit. Not enough, but some. Thankfully, the special concealer she used to cover her scars (like the MUDBLOOD one) worked perfectly on the hickeys, although Hermione still left her hair down just in case.

Astoria and Draco paced up and down the hall outside Hermione's office. It was August 17th, the last time the couple would see the lawyer before their court date. It would also be the first time Draco and Hdermione had seen each other since their makeout sesh - something both had been careful to keep on the down low.

Taking a deep breath, the wizard cleared his mind of all impure thoughts and knocked on the war heroine's door. Her soft voice called out immediately, and they let themselves in. an extra side table had been added to the room and on it was a large stack of files, each one nearly exploding. The witch's desk was also piled high with books, files, parchment, and memos. A large schedule detailing each of her employees assignments hung on the wall, each case carefully written out in code. The brunette witch herself was seated behind her desk, quill in hand, hurriedly scribbling out a memo. She held up a finger, telling them to wait a moment, before sending the memo out of her office and finally looking up.

First, Hermione stood and made eye contact with Astoria, giving each other reassuring and hopeful smiles. Then - after a slightly too long pause - her brown eyes met Draco's silver ones. The glance they shared was quick and professional, but neither could hold the stare for more than half a second.

"Astoria, Draco - please sit. I apologize for the clutter, this office simply doesn't seem to be big enough anymore. How are you both?"

Surprised by her incredibly professional and slightly cold tone, the pair quickly muttered their own greetings.

"This meeting is simply to ensure you both understand exactly how the proceedings will take place and to again warn you ot to agree to anything you haven't already confirmed. As I previously mentioned, we will be focussing on Mr. Cromwell's involvement with setting up a contract not technically allowed in England, as well as his credentials and contact with Lucious Malfoy. Do you have any questions to ask me?"

"I… suppose not. Hermione, I just want to thank you again for working on this case. It is truly-," Astoria wiped a tear from her eye. "When you win this case for us, I will forever be in your debt."

A soft smile passed between the girls, and Draco had to swallow him comment about how that may not last once 'Stor discovered who had given him his love bites.

"After all, it is my job. There are a few rights I would like to go over briefly. After today I cannot have contact with either of you until our prep time half an hour before the trial begins. THhs absolutely vital to keep up in order to avoid any biases in court. This also means that you may not contact any witnesses, Lucius, Cromwell, King- Minister Shacklebolt, any of the Wizengamot members, or anyone else with any involvement in this case. If you do, the consequences could result in anything from postponing the trial to another hearing being denied, no appeal allowed. These are old Ministry rules and I trust neither of you will have an issue following these rules. I am required to keep everything you have shared with me confidential, besides in court, in which case I may only say anything if it is reasonably relevant. If this all makes sense, I need you both to sign these documents." Hermione passed the pair a few pieces of parchment, detailing what she had just said, and already signed by her. After you leave this office, there is no going back. Is there anything else you need or want to say or ask before the trial?"

Draco swallowed. The way Hermione was talking.. He felt like he was on trial for murder and Unforgivable Curses again. Both times, this brunette witch had been on his side. What was this sudden professionality about? Did it have to do with the hickeys that still hadn't faded completely from his neck?

The pair stood, shook hands with the lawyer, and left her office. Once they were back at their apartment, Draco grabbed Astoria's wrist. "What was that?"

"What was.. What?"

"Granger. Hermione. She was… she hasn't been like that since our first meeting?"

"Draco, you've heard those rights before, surely? This isn't your first rodeo, after all.." The witch who Draco had grown up with laughed, but sobered up seeing the worry in his eyes. "It was probably just her psyching herself out, making sure that some rumor of friendship doesn't negate her claims as our lawyer or something. Don't worry; she's the bri-

"Brightest witch Hogwarts has seen in a century, I know."

A/N: AGHHHHHH the trial is next chapter. I am very excited to write it, albeit terrified. R&R please!