"I really have to go now," he said against her lips, but Hermione kept her hold on his robes.

"Says who?"

"You-know-who."

Her eyes popped open. "I haven't heard anyone call him that in ages."

"Sleep. The sun won't be up for several more hours." He tightly wrapped her blanket around her, the gesture so sweet she didn't want to pull out her arms and undo his work.

In the month since the first ceremony at Hogwarts, the number of visitors at the manor had doubled to well over a hundred a day. It left the more seasoned leads, like Malfoy, to handle the critical missions expanding across Europe. It was easy to convince Neddy to give her space during the day; she had so many more people to tend to.

Cyrus Greengrass brought his daughter with him often, always trying to stake their claim to the Malfoy fortune. The elves even gravitated towards Astoria more than other guests, taking her direction and instructions with glee. All except for Neddy, who always found a way to preoccupy herself when the Greengrass ladies were around.

"Where is our fearless leader today?" Theo chimed as he walked up to Goyle and Blaise.

Blaise's head snapped towards the sound of Theo's voice and he turned to face him, blocking Goyle from view.

"Probably at the castle. He hardly leaves the grounds if he can help it," Goyle said, nudging Blaise with his elbow.

"Not him, the less handsome one."

"Malfoy took on the conference in Italy. Him and Dolohov went to negotiate terms with the EU." Blaise answered, shoving Goyle back.

Goyle retreated slightly and leaned against the wall. "I think negotiate is a loose term."

"Yes well, 'Malfoy and Dolohov went to Italy to slaughter muggle politicians' just doesn't have the same ring to it." Blaise said, laced with sarcasm.

"Any idea when he will be back? Feels like we haven't gotten together in weeks." Theo asked, leaning against the wall, eyes locked on Blaise.

"It has been weeks," Blaise replied flatly.

"Draco won't be back until the weekend," Goyle supplied, then added, "Theo and I are off to Spain after that, I believe."

"Rubbish. That should be my trip." Blaise grumbled, annoyed. Goyle rolled his eyes and Theo gave a sad smile. Pansy's arrival into the hall got Blaise's attention and he walked away to join her.

There was a letter laying on the floor and Hermione picked it up once it was concealed beneath the cloak. It was classified mission details for Lestrange's upcoming attack on the British parliament. She had already gathered all the details it contained from his private conversations, but she was shocked he would be so careless as to let the letter escape him.

She walked up to Anthony and signaled that she had messages to pass. He put his hands inside his trouser pockets, pushing out his robes enough that she could easily put her folded parchment inside. As he excused himself, Hermione acted impulsively and slipped Lestrange's letter into the pocket of Flint Sr.'s robes. The death eaters had little trust for one another since Hermione helped the Order compromise every other mission. She figured messing with someone as foul as Flint Sr. couldn't hurt.

When Anthony walked out of the bathroom, Hermione quickly entered after him to grab the letters he signaled he'd left behind. She'd just finished putting them in her bag when she heard a commotion in the main hallway.

"You dare steal from me you disgusting maggot?" Lestrange spit on the snatcher he had pinned to the wall.

The snatcher laughed. "A mansion full of jewels and gold, and you think anyone would be interest in your scraps?"

"We both know it is not gold you've taken you slimy, pathetic-"

"I already told you, I didn't take-"

Lestrange's fist collided with the side of the snatcher's face before he could finish, and a sharp crack rippled through the room. The snatcher fell to the ground, dazed, and Lestrange fixed his wand on him once again.

"Accio letter," he said smugly.

No one was expecting the item to fly to him from his right. He caught it in his hand, and then locked eyes with the wizard whose possession it just left.

"Flint?"

"What the fuck was that?" Flint yelled back, and he only had a moment to draw his wand.

Curses were rebounding around the hall and Hermione had to take cover in the old piano room. Her hiding spot did not give her a view of the wizards, but she could see flashes of green reflecting off the marble floor.

"Crucio!"

Screams echoed through the hallway and Hermione covered her ears. "ENOUGH!" Boomed Lucius' voice and the wailing ceased. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Flint is a traitor!" Lestrange raged.

"He is a lunatic, Lucius. Lost to all reasons and talent. Mad just like his wife!" Flint said from his place on the floor.

"Then explain how you got this?!" He said furiously, waving his letter in the air. Lucius snatched it from his hands. As his eyes skimmed over the words, his brows creased and his chest started to rise and fall with his oncoming anger.

"You mean to tell me, Rodolphus, that you not only wrote the specifics to your mission down, but then proceeded to lose it?"

"I didn't lose it," Lestrange panted, "Flint swiped it. Probably on his way to pass it along to the Order before I stopped him."

"I didn't steal shit you inbred. It just flew past me on the way off the fucking floor." "Liar. He had it," a recruit standing off to the side chimed in. "I saw it fly out of his cloak!"

"Enough." Lucius said again, and everyone in the hall was deathly silent. "The two of you, in my study. Now. And someone get that bleeder off my marble floor. I want it sparkling by the time I return."

The hall cleared enough for Hermione to walk back to the west wing without risk of getting hit with a curse. She had no intention of causing any further chaos, but she saw Theo rushing down a hall alone, and instinctually followed him. He glanced around the corridor for a moment before someone reached out and pulled him into the hidden alcove right outside the cellar.

Blaise pushed him up against the wall and then they were together. Blaise had both hands on Theo's face while Theo wrapped his arms around his shoulders and back.

"Hi baby," Theo breathed as Blaise continued to kiss his lips. Hermione, relieved that Theo was not in danger, turned to leave.

"Did Pansy tell you?" Blaise said.

Theo yanked his face away from him, "Why are you talking about her right now?" Blaise pinched his side and Theo flinched before leaning in to kiss him again.

"I asked her to tell you to meet me here, prat."

"Oh, no. I haven't spoken to her. I just had a feeling and decided to go with it," Theo responded, wiggling his brows. "But since you mentioned it, she did tell me something quite interesting."

"Later."

"There may be no later. We leave for Spain on Friday," Theo said, pushing him back to create space between them. Blaise growled and turned to stand beside Theo on the wall.

"We should be leaving on Friday. Never had we failed a mission. And then some random recruit gets thrown on our team and fucks everything up. Now we can't be trusted to partner together?" Blaise complained.

"Better this way. Too risky to be throwing missions if we are both leading. They'd kill one of us to make a point."

"I still don't know if we should be doing that. Draco has hardly pulled back."

"He does what he can. Casts nothing but stunners unless someone is around to see. Even then, his aim is shit." Theo and Blaise shared a laugh at their friend's expense.

Theo continued. "So Pansy, she had some interesting news of a portkey at Hyde Park in muggle London. But it won't work if she gets the mark."

"Where did she hear that?" Blaise stood up, suddenly interested.

"Wouldn't say. Do you think we should try it?"

"I think we have to. Her father is losing touch more every day. I didn't think it was possible for him to be any more foul."

Theo nodded, "Ask Draco about it this weekend if you get the chance." Theo turned to Blaise who was suddenly deep in thought. "I know how much she means to you."

"She does," He responded sincerely. "She is all I think about. I spend most of my night drawing sketches and writing letters to her. Quit the quidditch team so that we could sneak off and have more time together. Risk my life any chance I get to steal a moment alone with her." Blaise encased Theo between his arms and the wall. "Wait. No. That's you."

Hermione didn't stick around to hear Theo reply.

Once safely back in the shelter of Malfoy's rooms Hermione dedicated the rest of her evening to practicing wandless magic. She read through the book and completed the meditating exercises within a couple hours. In the end she could get the wings of the crumpled bird to flap a few times. She set it on the mantle in the study, determined to make the deformed shape fly another day.

She and Neddy were sharing evening tea together on the second night of Malfoy's trip. When she exited the bathroom, she saw that Neddy had turned down Malfoy's bed for her. Both she and Draco had explained that Hermione is not her mistress, but the actual relationship is too confusing for Neddy to understand. Hermione couldn't blame her. It was confusing for her too.

She laid down and pulled the comforter over her. Malfoy wouldn't be back until the next evening anyways. The only other time she had been in this bed she slept on top of the cover, it really didn't give the full effect of how comfortable it was. The bed was meant just for one person, but there was easily enough room for two. She wondered how large the beds in the master's suites were, but Malfoy wouldn't be moving into those until after he was married. Sleep graced her before she could dwell too much on that idea.

She woke in the early morning, and saw a shape laying in the bed next to her. Once her eyes adjusted to see Malfoy sleeping on top of the blankets, still in his shirt and trousers. She had never seen him asleep this close, and his face looked so peaceful, so beautiful. She wondered how she looked when he woke her in the mornings.

Malfoy opened his eyes sleepily. He reached out to gently caress her cheek with his thumb for a moment before lacing their fingers together. Then closed his eyes not saying a word, simply falling back to sleep. As if they had done this a hundred times.

She studied him for another minute, then rising carefully so as not to disturb him, she grabbed a throw blanket to use on the balcony while she watched the sunrise. She did this most mornings when she couldn't fall back asleep. The morning air brought clarity to the parts of her mind still foggy from the day before. She loved the way it always smelled like fresh rain, and how the peacocks strutted around the grounds. Everything she saw outside of the manor Malfoy chose to show her. To share with her. As much as she wanted to get out and get on with her life, she tried to memorize every detail that she could. This place that had become her new home would not be welcoming her back.

The sun was illuminating the grounds through clear skies by the time a tray of hot tea and pastries appeared on the table beside her. Looking inside she saw Neddy had already made the bed. She opened the door at the same time Malfoy walked out of the closet. His damp hair told her he must have already showered, and she was disappointed she missed a chance to see him walk out in just his towel.

"Hi," she whispered. "You came back early."

"Wanted to surprise you. I think I was the one caught off guard when I arrived though."

Her cheeks heated. "I'm sorry, I haven't ever slept in here before, I promise. Well other than… you know." He slid his hands inside the blanket and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that, and still imagine that you do." He whispered in her ear. He pulled back enough that she could kiss him, and the blanket fell to the floor.

Malfoy slipped his hands under her jumper and Hermione felt chills as the warmth of his fingertips traced the bare skin of her back. When one hand trailed lower, she felt his breath catch slightly, and remembered she wasn't wearing pants. Malfoy's jumper went to her mid-thigh, and she didn't find bottoms necessary when she had the suite to herself.

There was only a moment to feel self-conscious before Malfoy had two handfuls of her arse and was pulling her firmly against him. He's touched her like this before, but never with such little fabric between them. Wanting to touch his skin, she slid her arms beneath his shirt. He leaned back slightly and removed the offensive piece of fabric completely, throwing it carelessly to the side before kissing and lowering them both to the floor.

Malfoy hovered over her for a moment, and she tightened her limbs around him until he was laying on her. He was always cautious of doing so on his own; both because of their size difference and not wanting to cross any boundaries. She didn't know how to tell him how much she enjoyed it. How the weight of him made her feel grounded and safe, like he knew she was there. That he chose her. She started kissing down his neck to the top of his chest while he ran his hands over her.

"You smell so good," she whined, not intending to say it out loud. He mumbled a curse word and then pushed his tongue back into her mouth.

His hands were so big that when he went to grab her arse again, the tip of his fingers slid beneath her panties, grazing her folds, so close to where her body was wet and aching and the shock of pleasure made her whimper. He dropped his head to her shoulder and nearly growled. Muttering a string of curse words, he pulled his head back and breathed sharply through his nose. "We should stop."

He sat back and looked down at her where she lay beneath him. The weight of his stare had her frozen in place. His fingers traced her legs up to her hips. The jumper was pushed up so much that most of her stomach was bare and his eyes drank every inch of her exposed skin. The look he had wasn't one of hunger or desire, it was something calmer. Deeper.

He met her eyes and smirked, pulling the jumper down to the middle of her thighs before lifting her up. "Come on darling, you don't belong down here."

Hermione hurried off to dress properly before joining him for breakfast Nedy had moved in the study from outside. There was a wrapped box sitting on the floor next to the coffee table.

"What's this?"

"Don't be shy, you know it's for you." He said layering jam on his toast. She knelt down to open it and found that it contained clothes. As she looked closer, she recognized the breeches, boots, riding gloves…

"Did you… are we…"

"They're Italian."

"This is riding apparel."

"10 points to Gryffindor. Now Miss Granger, what activities could I possibly have in store for us today that would require such items?"

Realization hit her and she jumped up from her spot on the floor. "The Abraxan horses? We're going to ride them?!" He smiled and winked and she threw herself at him, planting a hard, long kiss on his lips.

"Well, you're going to ride one. I will have my broom." He said from around her mouth.

"But someone could see."

"I've got it all handled. For real this time. We'll have over a hundred acres out of eyesight to fly without even getting close to the boundary." She smiled big again and he matched her expression. "Well go on then. We don't have all day. Well, we do. But I plan to get my fair share of snogging this afternoon."

She kissed him quickly one more time then headed off to get changed. He was watching her when she turned around at the door.

"Thank you," she said sincerely, and his smile settled a little.

"Anything."

"Alright my little equestrian, I assume you know how to use the reins?" Malfoy asked.

The beast was still three times the size of the largest stallion she had ever seen. She nodded and headed over to the small staircase she needed to mount. Some of her excitement had transferred over to nerves but she wouldn't let it stop her. Buckbeak was an untrained Hippogriff and she was able to steer him without any issue. Malfoy held his broom to his side looking over the set up a final time.

"Cassiopeia here is very intuitive. Depending on how well she can sense your magic, she may start to move before you even give her the command." He patted the horse on the neck. "She knows the boundaries of the wards and won't go near them since she can't cross without an allowable rider. If you get worried or uncomfortable, I'll be right beside you. Just hold out your hand or something." He pinched the fabric of her breeches and looked over her with a cheeky smile.

"What?" She asked playfully.

"You look kinda cute."

She kicked his hand away and he chuckled. Still holding his broom up to his side, he stepped on one of the pegs and it started to levitate into the air. "Off you go, then!"

He mounted the broom properly in the air and then shot out of the barn. She took a deep breath and was about to kick Cass into motion when the horse started moving forward on her own. It startled Hermione and the horse stopped in its tracks accordingly.

Right, very intuitive.

She thought of the command again and when the horse took off before she completed the motion, she was expecting it. The horse was in a full out run when Hermione tried to think of how to signal her to flap her wings and then suddenly, they were in the air.

She wasn't afraid. She was exhilarated. A laugh escaped her when they finally completed their ascent and started to glide through the air. What she could make out through the clouds was endless trees and meadows. There was not another property within eyesight. There was a stream that ran into what looked like a small lake, and Hermione wondered if Malfoy ever spent time there growing up.

He shot up higher and she lost sight of him in the sky. He swooped back in right above her, and she looked up and laughed with joy and he joined her. He swung around his broom so that he was hanging upside down and carefully inched closer to her. She instructed Cass to straighten her wings into a glide, and then she stood and reached towards him, bringing their lips together. They kissed for about two seconds before she broke into a laugh again and he flew away cheering in the air. Always so dramatic.

Malfoy was playing piano and she was settling with her book when the wards made her flinch. She sat up and looked at Malfoy who was already walking towards the door.

"Idiots," he said, knocking immediately following. "I'll get rid of them quickly." He scooped her up and she squealed, not expecting the move but managing to hold onto her book.

"I can walk, Draco."

"Hardly, it's painful to watch. Besides, this way I can put you right where I want you." He placed her gently on his bed and she narrowed her eyes slightly. "I should scold you for pouting, but I love it when you do." He said reaching forward and pulled her bottom lip between his teeth and then kissed her quickly. As soon as he closed the door, she moved to the sitting area to better hear.

"I am going to start taking this personally, mate." Theo chided as they walked in.

"I've already started," Blaise quipped next.

"I don't own you every moment of my free time," Malfoy answered back from the drink cart. "Whiskey, Goyle?"

"Cheers."

"Fuck your free time. I want my muggle weeds." Theo said, "But as of yesterday, Death Eaters are not allowed on the extended property."

"That's right," Draco replied, unmoved.

"We're your friends, you wanker."

"Your friends that don't have greenhouses full of special plants."

"We were stuck here all day and could barely walk into the garden. It's cruel mate." Goyle jumped in, though slightly lighter than the others.

"You have the snatchers to thank for that. They bragged about how easy it is to steal from my home."

"Oh piss off. Give us access." Blaise retorted.

"I can't."

"Lucius is the only one that can. He granted mine right before I came up here." Goyle stated.

"He did?"

"Why the fuck would he give access to you?" Theo jabbed.

"Because I asked, bastard. Crabbe and I practically lived here as kids. You should have chosen your friends more wisely." Goyle laughed.

"Malfoy, we're your friends too. I can't be here all day if I'm going to be trapped like a prisoner." Blaise's voice had a hint of pleading in it, and Hermione had an idea why privacy on the grounds was so important to him.

"Prisons are locked in, not kept out, prat." Goyle teased.

"Do you really not trust us, Malfoy?" Theo asked cynically.

"I'll speak with him. But he shouldn't be granting admittance to anyone without telling me." Malfoy finally conceded.

"Such a prince. Now go out and fetch us our plants. I would get them myself, but I don't have the proper qualifications." Theo insisted.

"Neddy," Malfoy called. A loud POP followed, "Bring us some of the prepared muggle plant from the greenhouse. Cut and package extra for my guests to take home."

"My hero."

"Shut it. It's mostly for me. You lot are giving me a headache."

"Speaking of headaches, has anyone told you Pansy's latest escape plan?" Malfoy groaned. It appeared it was going to be a long night after all.