Hermione just finished folding a third paper bird when Neddy arrived with her lunch. At one time, she could wordlessly transfigure specks of dust into the little birds, but it was proving more challenging without a hoped folding the parchment into birds first may give a head start, even a small flutter of their wings would ease her frustration.

Neddy's arrival was a good distraction. She had tried to stay awake the night before, but Malfoy and the others were preoccupied for hours once he blindsided them. Goyle went along with whatever Malfoy said, but Blaise and Theo kept at it with their questioning well into the middle of the night. All of this change was happening around her and she can be nothing more than a spectator. She tried to channel her emotions into the wandless magic but hadn't any luck.

"Avis," she enunciated, holding the paper bird near her mouth. She audibly growled at the stupid parchment as it laid lifelessly in her hand. She crumpled it up and threw it towards the door just as Malfoy entered.

"Moody today?" He said with his signature grin and her jaw dropped. If he was going to tease her, he could at least look less beautiful while he did it. "What's this?"

"That would be the product of all my hard efforts this morning," she said, crossing her arms.

He looked down at the paper and back at her. "Is this some kind of muggle weapon?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "I was trying to transfigure it."

"Ah, I see now." He unfolded the crumpled wings a little before setting it in his palm. He shifted his eyes to her as he gently blew, and the broken wings started to flap as it struggled to make its way to her.

"How do you do that?" Her voice was a mix of frustration and envy as it landed in her palm. He grinned smugly and dropped on the couch allowing his arm to rest along the back and knee to bump against hers.

He does a quick look around the room, before leaning in to whisper in her ear.

"Magic."

She scoffed in reply and he pulled back to look at her. His little game had gotten their faces within a few inches of each other and neither pulled away. Suddenly, the events of the last day came to the forefront of her mind, and she didn't know what question to ask first.

"So, yesterday…" she said..

"Best day of the week."

"Truly!" she answered back quickly. She winced slightly at the stupidity in her answer, and

Malfoy subtly bit back a laugh.

"We didn't get a chance to speak last night."

The humor left his expression. "I didn't expect to be kept for so long. And you looked too peaceful when I finally came in, I couldn't wake you." He started to trace around her ear while she pulled one leg onto the couch to face him more.

"I heard everything up to the student resistance. I can't believe they are forcing everyone to stay at the school year-round!"

Malfoy's face deadpanned, slightly rolling his eyes as he sat forward and removed his arm from around her. He rested it for a moment on his lap, but then causally stretched further so it lay hers instead. "It's probably a good thing you missed the changes to the curriculum, it would have kept you up all night."

"You could have warned me you were going to do that," she said without looking at him. He had always gotten so annoyed with her hounding for information.

"I was distracted," he said, leaning closer to her. "Gods, you should have seen you. You looked like someone pulled you from a dream and laid you out for me."

He was too close for her eyes to focus so she closed them, waiting to feel where his next touch will be.

"Granger," he whispered softly.

"Hm?"

"I want to keep kissing you."

"We-I…were not kissing," Her voice was shallow. "At the moment."

He slid his hand up her leg, holding it a little tighter, "Will you let me?"

She nodded against him, their noses brushing with the motion. He tilted her chin up with a finger and she waited there, entranced. There was pressure against her lips and she puckered them in response, only to realize that it was his thumb gently tracing them. She could feel him staring at her and her cheeks heated, feeling on display yet unable to move. She sighed when their lips finally met, and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth. In the time between their moments together, she found herself in disbelief that they actually happened. That this wealthy, pure-blood boy who tormented muggleborns would open himself up to her.

How mindlessly she handed herself over, as if she hadn't spent years overthinking her every decision. He started to lean into her, and she let herself be laid down. He had one arm on the side of her head, bracing himself so that his chest didn't crush her smaller frame. Even so, she felt the weight of him between her legs, and he started grinding his front against hers in rhythm with their kissing.

His free hand cautiously explored her body and every touch felt intensified. The small spot between her legs was aching and it only increased as Malfoy continued to move against her. It was a lot. It was almost too much.

Trying not to focus on it, she cupped his face and focused on where their lips meet. His movements became more urgent, and it sent a shock through her that made her tense in response, panic rising. If she could focus her mind, just to get through the next few moments until it felt good again-

"Hey," he whispered, running a hand down her cheek, sensing the change. A sign of relief escaped her and then he was sitting them back up. "I'm sorry, I think I got carried away."

She ruined everything. After all this time she finally had him and now he was never going to touch her again.

He moved her leg so that both lay across his lap. She had to say something. To fix it before he pulls away even further-

"Is this better?" Malfoy asked before she could come up with anything, stroking her knee gently. "Unless you want to stop?"

"I don't!" she nearly yelled and his face softened into a sweet smile. "I don't want to stop," She reiterated, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close so he could kiss her again.

He smiled around her mouth before kissing her back, slower than before. Hermione kept getting lost in the moment and tried to get closer, nearly pulling herself into his lap. But his hand on her hip kept her seated firmly on the couch. She had none of the feelings of being trapped and panicked that overwhelmed her before. It was just bliss.

There were only a few more minutes before he had to leave. She was leaning against his chest while he looked over one of her paper birds.

"Where do you learn to make these?"

"Primary school. Every student takes an art class. This is about as far as I'd gotten." She said, flicking the paper.

"You attended a muggle school?"

"From five until I got my letter. Did you not have any schooling before Hogwarts?"

He thought for a moment. "No. I had a governess until I was eleven who taught me writing and arithmetic. My mother also scheduled me for every lesson she could think of."

Hermione giggled. She expected as much. She knew Molly had taught Ron and his siblings when they were children. "My mum taught me my letters and numbers, she used to read to me every night for as long as I can remember."

"Granger?" He asked after a few moments.

"Yeah?"

"Where are your parents?"

She shot up from his grasp and looked at him. She had never said anything that suggested her parents had relocated.

"I grew up in the suburbs of London," she stated as a fact.

He mets her eyes, unwavering, "That's not what I asked you."

She put several feet between them. "How would you know if they were anywhere else?"

"For such a smart girl, you are terrible at playing dumb," he threw back casually.

"I just don't see how it's any of your concern." He walked towards her, but she took a step back for each of his.

"You can't actually be surprised, Granger. Did you think when we lost a prisoner we wouldn't check her family home?" He stopped trying to get closer and continued from where he stood. "Greyback confirmed we found the right place. Said the home still reeked of you even though it was empty. As insecure muggle documentation is, no one could find a trace of where they had gone."

A lump grew in her throat. It was always a possibility, but knowing death eaters had been in her home made her feel violated.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Malfoy looked slightly hurt.

"It doesn't matter where they are, they wouldn't be able to tell you anything. They don't even know who I am anymore," she gave in a weak defense.

"What do you mean?"

"I obliviated them. Their memories of me. I don't even know where they are exactly." She confessed.

"You removed their memories? Of only you?" He asked, and she crossed her arms and nodded in answer. "That is incredibly complex magic, Granger." He had no sense of sarcasm in his voice. He was completely sincere if not a little remorseful in his statement. "When you've mentioned them it never seemed like anything bad happened."

"Nothing bad did happen," She offered, relaxing a bit after his statement.

"They may not be dead, but they'll never be the same. Things won't go back to how they were before." He looked so sad, and she wondered if it was all in sympathy for her. "I know what life is like without you, Granger. It is a terrible thing."

The first floor was filled with new members waiting to get direction from Voldemort's leads. Seated at the table in the drawing room were some unusual faces. Pansy Parkinson took the seat next to her father and Hermione hoped, for her sake, that she had not been forced to take the mark. Standing out to Hermione was a girl she had not seen since Malfoy's birthday: Astoria. Lucius had expressed several times that he did not want the young women involved. Their attendance today proves that the battle had been lost. Blaise and Malfoy were looking just as displeased with the change as the master of the house.

Voldemort took his seat at the head of the table, silence immediately followed as all attention turned to him. He waved his hand, and the elves began to fill the goblets with wine.

"Ah, and who do we have here?" He said looking over the new attendees at the table and zoned in on Pansy. "You I saw traipsing around the grounds with young Malfoy over the weekend."

Pansy looked at her father before answering. "Yes, my Lord. I accompanied Draco as a display of camaraderie for the students. I attended the full-term last year and wanted to show what becomes of those who are faithful to your good name."

Voldemort turned to Malfoy. "And for those who act against me?"

"The demonstration with the wolves, sir." Malfoy responded with a smug expression. Voldemort returned the sentiment, and Hermione thought he looked even uglier when he smiled.

"And this one? Accompanied mister Malfoy to the ceremony if I remember correctly?" He was looking at Astoria.

Malfoy was with Astoria on his last trip to Hogwarts?

Her smile lit up her face. "You flatter me with your acknowledgment, my Lord. I had the pleasure of viewing the last group receive their honorable marks. It was an inspiring ceremony." She turned to Malfoy. "Draco and I see so little of each other, now that he is on the front lines of the movement, I'd never dream of getting to attend such a marvelous moment in history. But Draco insists on spoiling me."

Malfoy winked at her from across the table, forcing Hermione to look away. She caught Anthony from the corner of her eye picking an invisible speck of dust from his left shoulder. It was the gesture he taught her for a particularly rude "c" word. Another reason to be grateful for her old Ravenclaw friend.

"My Astoria will likely be attending meetings more often my Lord, so that she is well prepared for when she becomes lady of the manor," Cyrus said from beside her.

"We have no time for such extracurriculars. There is only the cause." The entire table was silent at Voldemort's comment. Cyrus looked to Lucius to speak up, but he remained silent.

"My Lord, the cause is the utmost priority for us all. I only meant that traditionally, betrothals would have been finalized after young Malfoy's graduation. I'd hate for her to be unprepared if the time should arise soon." Cyrus tried again.

"Betrothals do not get us closer to greatness, Greengrass. It provides a distraction more than anything else." If they were not discussing Malfoy's marriage, watching the pureblood men cringe as Voldemort spit on their traditions would amuse her. "What actual use may you provide me?"

Astoria sat up a little straighter and looked at her father, who provided her no help.

"Astoria is Head Girl this year. Her influence over the students is second only to you as headmaster, my Lord. She has already gotten tens of students to pledge loyalty this early in the term. We had to add training to accommodate them all." Malfoy answered for her, and she relaxed a bit in her seat. "Her rapport within the sacred twenty-eight and beyond is unmatched. I suggest she handles logistics for our next ceremony. The more influential people we can get to attend, the less the blood traitors can continue their little rebellion."

Voldemort tilted his head in acknowledgement and then continued with the rest of the introductions. At the conclusion, Voldemort took his newly marked to do patrols at Hogwarts to see how they performed in action. The rest of the attendees either left or began conversing in smaller groups throughout the first floor.

"Pansy, I wasn't expecting to see you here," Daphne greeted the brunette as she walked up.

"I wasn't expecting to be here," Pansy snarked.

"Nor were we," Astoria chimed in, her voice like a song. "We haven't received an invitation to the manor since Draco's birthday. It appears there has been no event to deserve a celebration since then."

"And we shouldn't expect any for a while."

Astoria gave a sweet smile. "What a shame."

"Tragic."

"Did you hear Durmstrang has officially taken a stance against the cause? It's terrible. They are collaborating with several other countries within eastern Europe to deny access to anyone that bears the dark mark," Daphne said nonchalantly. "If they are successful, the Dark Lord would hardly be able to hunt down any traitors that flee there."

"Curious." Pansy said with a swallow.

"Very," Daphne confirmed, fiddling with her robe.

"And how would these traitor's even make it that far? Surely our powerful and brutal patrols would save us from that happening?" Pansy continued.

"Oh, who knows what vermin will come up with. I suppose if I had to venture a guess, I would tell the patrols to keep an eye out for portkeys that lead to the borders of the wards. It would be easy to set one up and hide it in muggle London." Astoria finished her sentence with a flick of her hair and began to walk away. "But what do I know? It's likely just a silly rumor, Daphne, we shouldn't be spreading such stories."

Astoria walked towards Malfoy who was standing off on his own looking out the window towards the barns. He snapped out of his daze when he heard her approaching.

"Tori."

"Drake," He winced at the nickname, and she laughed. "Thank you, for speaking for me

back there."

"Yes well, your father proved himself useless enough."

"My father thinks I will only be of use when my belly is swollen with the Malfoy heir," she said heatedly. "He is starting to panic. The Dark Lord hasn't been honoring traditions as much as creating his own. Who knows what will become of us?" She linked her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. Like she had done it a million times.

Malfoy cleared his throat and then Lucius appeared from the hall, summoning Malfoy to his study for a private meeting. "I've business to attend to. I trust you can find your way out?"

Astoria smiled in confirmation and tilted her head up, and Malfoy quickly grabbed her hand, kissing the back of it in a formal gesture. "Until next time, then?"

She pulled her hand back, and Malfoy didn't see the troubled look on her face as she watched him walk away.

Hermione, no longer wanting to think of Malfoy, took her letters to read in the bathroom. The tub was filling with the normal setting of oils and soaps as she opened the first letter. Anthony warned her they had to be careful with what they included, but she could tell easily by the first line that this one was from Ginny.

Hey sis,

I don't know if I am going to hit you or kiss you when you finally get back, but either way I cannot be held responsible for my actions. I can promise you this though: if you die, I will kill you.

Finding out that… it brought us back to life. I'm sure you're enjoying your holiday, but please come home soon. I miss you terribly.

All my love,

The short message did not fail to send tears flooding down her face. It was practically nothing but everything she needed to hear. She wasted no time ripping through the rest. Not even taking a break to climb into the tub.

Cat,

I really wish the years of nagging about being late would have taken right about now.

That's it. A thousand bloody letters and that is the best I can come up with to say. We miss you. I love you. We love you. Don't listen to Gi, sis, stay as long as you like. See every sight, go to every museum, murder your travel companion, whatever you need to do. Just get home safely.

Yours,

Crab

Hermione laughed at Ron's code names; correlated to the forms they took when they went to spy on Malfoy during second year. Ironic this time around , as she was the sole person spying from the inside. She had two more letters from Ginny, three from Ron, and one each from Molly and Arthur. None could include any compromising information, but she felt the love in each one of them.

She read through them several times before she finally climbed into the tub. She used a flannel to clean her face and around her neck and shoulders. It felt so lovely, and she was reminded of how the areas felt when Malfoy ran his mouth along them. She had done so well for the last hour or so keeping him from her mind, but the second she starts thinking about their physical time together, the memory makes the spot between her legs pulse for attention. With nothing obstructing her hand, she slid it between her legs and started to gently apply pressure to the area to relieve the ache.

Her head fell back. It was not that she had never noticed the bundle of nerves before, but it had never been so insistent. She was thinking about snogging Malfoy that morning, and it just made her crave the touch more. She started to feel her panic building but decided to push through it.

After a few more moments, she thought the feeling may be something else entirely. It built a little more and then, she was sure. Her breathing increased as she circled her fingers at the same tempo of Malfoy moving over her. Each movement brought her closer until suddenly she fell over the edge. She clenched her legs tight around her hand as she rode out the small waves of pleasure that were making their way through her body. She tried to stay silent, but a small whimper escaped her and suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"I'm fine!" she yelled immediately.

"May I come in?" Malfoy asked through the door.

"Absolutely not!" she yelled in her bossiest tone from inside the tub.

"Well hurry up, you've been in there for ages."

"If you need a bathroom, go to one of the ten unused ones on this floor."

"But none of those have my wet, naked witch in them." Hermione bit her lip to try and prevent the smile from coming across her face, but it was no use.

"Just give me a moment I'll be right out." She yelled back and saw him walk away from beneath the door.

He was sitting on the bed facing the bathroom when she finally walked out. She knew she needed to act normally, but seeing him reminded her of his earlier interaction with Astoria.

"I think I am going to skip tea tonight. I may have overdone my practice earlier. I am quite tired. Goodnight," she said, trying to walk by him, but he caught the fabric of her night shirt.

"That is not a proper farewell, Granger." He reached down and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer, until she was standing right in front of him. He bent down and she hardly has to move before he kissed her.

"I missed you."

He had only been gone for a few hours; it made no sense how the effects of those words were the greatest coming from him. "I leave in the morning and won't be back until tomorrow evening. Do you want me to wake you before I go?"

She hummed in confirmation and tilted her head back so he could kiss her again.

"You should sleep in here, with me. I promise to be a perfect gentleman." She narrowed her eyes, and he broke into a small laugh. "Alright I promise to be somewhat of a gentleman. But regardless, those things are not adequate for you to sleep on."

"I've told you it's fine. I've grown so accustomed to it I probably won't be able to sleep in a proper bed ever again."

He gave her another sweet kiss before pulling her into his arms. "One day."