"Go on, take a bite. You'll feel better I promise."

Hermione pushed the bark of chocolate into the younger girl's hand. The floor of the seventh level was soiled and filthy. The entire building smelt of must and human excrement. Eating in such a setting was difficult, but they needed all the strength they could muster before departing.

"Injuries?" Hermione said, projecting her voice through the room. It echoed as it bounced off of the empty walls.

"Just superficial," another answered.

The defenses fell quickly, just like Draco said. Still, occupying the Ministry and removing all of the curses had them working through the night until noon the next day. The Death Eaters inside were unsuspecting and they were able to apprehend them all without casualties on either side. No one knew where they could keep them, most of the safe houses were already at capacity. So Hermione instructed the team to set up a holding room until they could figure out what to do next.

Neville exited the staircase. "Anchor's placed and in the network."

"Dementors are confined. My patronus first, and Gabby was able to do the reinforcement," Hermione said proudly, tapping the young girl on the shoulder and she smiled. The charm took a lot out of her, especially with the number of dementors locked below.

The Ministry was a place that housed nothing but painful memories. Harry hated when they had to search there for the Horcrux. It reminded him too much of Sirius. It would do the world better just to tear it down and start over fresh.

A few would be staying nearby to patrol. Hermione made sure all the security was enabled before ushering them to leave.

Hermione led the group through the front yard into the House. She passed Dean and Ginny, who excitedly told her their two locations were also a success.

"If we keep up this pace, we'll have all of England outside of Voldemort's control!" Ginny beamed.

"The army is running out of places to hide already," Dean said as they strolled into the house. "The marked members are back. They took down eight sites!"

Hermione didn't have to feign her excitement. Both from them finally making meaningful processes, and that the presence of news meant Draco must have been back to deliver it.

They went their separate ways once back inside the house. Hermione scoured the first floor, looking for any trace of Draco or Blaise but finding none. Remembering their communication tricks, Hermione adjusted her senses- increasing her smell and hearing. There were too many people for it to make any difference and she quickly changed it back. She walked around to check the back garden, people stopping her frequently like she didn't have someone to find.

As soon as she crossed outside, she adjusted her hearing again. She picked up a slight sound, hardly anything more than hissing. She followed the sound to the barns, peering around the corner to find the source.

"Easy! That's the last one," Blaise said, pulling the blunt from Draco's lips.

Draco exhaled sharply, pushing off the barn wall and started to pace. The ring on his right hand spinning rapidly.

Blaise observed him, smoking the last pull before tossing the butt towards the ground. "I could go with you?"

"Mother never liked you," Draco said.

"Skive it off, then. We will be gone again in a few days," Blaise suggested, his voice slightly wounded.

Draco put his hands on the wall letting his head hang down. His breathing was uneven. Every once in a while he would grunt like someone had punched him in the gut.

" Elle saura ," Draco gritted between his teeth.

" Dites-son, nous trouverons un moyen de le réparer ," Blaise muttered. Both spoke with a gentle fidelity that she had never seen them share. Not even while they were in the Manor. " Ta chérie ?"

Draco shook his head, standing up straight and resting his hands on his head. "They should have been back by now."

Blaise displayed unease as well, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"Granger!"

Hermione startled, jumping away from the barn. She turned around quickly to see Davis calling her, ever excited. Fucking idiot . She hoped her embarrassment wasn't painted onto her cheeks when she turned back around.

"Old habits. Difficult to break aren't they, Granger?" Blaise chimed with a shit eating grin.

"I wasn't spying," Hermione replied, defensively.

Not intentionally anyway.

Draco surveyed her closely. Like he was taking inventory of every head on her head. He didn't even seem bothered or gloating that she was caught snooping.

"Hey- Hermione!" Davis said, running up. His smile dropped when he saw who accompanied her. The ball in his throat bobbed, but he lifted a hand to give them a tentative wave. "Kingsley wants a word."

Blaise pushed his hands in his pockets and Draco looked down his nose at them. Both of their posture was impeccable and their energy unwelcome. It was ingrained in them so deeply to turn it on and off. Only when they thought no one was looking did a fracture in their structure appear.

"We'll catch up later, princess. We have some business to tend to," Blaise said with a grin.

Hermione nodded, hearing all of the others approaching and sensing Draco was not in the mood for an audience. She waved goodbye lamely and didn't turn her head until the last second, wanting to see as much as Draco as possible.

A couple other members joined them on the walk back as Davis chatted away. One of the girls looked over her shoulder to see what Hermione kept turning to look at.

" There's Malfoy ," the girl whispered under her breath to the other. "I thought he left after we got back."

Hermione glanced at the girl. She attended Beauxbatons, so Hermione couldn't be certain what year she was in. It was about a year ago that she joined the Order. Hermione didn't perform her interview, but they had worked together a handful of times.

"You were on Malfoy's team?" Hermione asked, casually.

"Yeah. We returned early this morning," she confirmed to Hermione with a smile.

"I heard. I thought you wouldn't return for at least a few days. All must have gone well?" Hermione asked, keeping the topic strictly on the mission.

"We were meant to return tomorrow evening but Malfoy made us work through the night. Didn't even let us rest between apparations. I nearly fainted once we got to the house."

"I'm sorry… I'll talk to him about that."

"No-it's fine! I don't mind. He's sort of inspirational. No?" the girl continued and her friend scoffed playfully. "Not as much as you, of course!"

"You'll have to forgive her, Granger. Amélie has been soft for Malfoy for a time now."

"Was I wrong?" Amélie teased her friend. Her french accent dedicant and sweet.

"Excuse me," Hermione said and the girls furrowed their brows and she hurried away.

Kingsley was a short walk away, saving Hermione from where the conversation was heading. What the girls said was true. Malfoy pushed his team- some believing a little too hard- to return from their mission a day early. Most were impressed, both with his skills and contributions to their cause. Draco had always contributed, though. Hermione knew that. Soon, everyone else would too. It kept occupying Hermione's mind as she and Kingsley assigned the next cohort of missions. By pure happenstance, she and Draco did not get assigned together on a single one.

But she may still see him in passing. Certainly hear of him through the grapevine. There were so many things that she didn't want to see or hear. As much as she wanted everyone to know Draco's contributions to the Order, she never thought that there would be a risk of her truths would ever be laid on the table. Dealing with Draco was enough for her to battle without throwing in other people's opinions.

The hallway was silent and dark as she approached her door. The evening was hectic and she managed to avoid running into Draco. Or Amélie. Or them both.

God, the thought made her sick.

The door opened quietly, and she was just walking through when someone pushed in behind her and slammed the door.

" Muffliato ."

Hermione gasped just as Draco's mouth crashed on his. The kiss was deep and burned straight into another. His hands were impatient as he pulled her softer body against his. Hermione was stretched on her toes, trying to press her tongue between his lips and they both moaned.

The back of her knees hit the bed and she fell onto her back with Draco falling on her. He let his weight press her into the mattress, pinning her beneath him. Hermione tested the welcome of his skin, pushing her hands beneath his shirt and over the firm muscles in his back. She could feel the bed shift as he moved, pushing off her slighting before moving her to the top of the bed. His strong arms threw her like she weighed nothing. All of the weakness he displayed earlier a forgotten memory.

"Wait," Hermione gasped.

He stalked over her like she was his prey. The room was dark as night, but she could see the outline of his lips. His tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip and his gaze devoured her. His hand went to the hem of her- his - shirt, rolling it between his fingers before pulling it off her and chucking it to the side.

"Mine," he said, moments before claiming her mouth.

Hermione fell back into him, grinding her tongue against his. His mouth wandered down her to her jaw and neck. The fresh air gave her a moment to think as she desperately pulled it into her lungs. Right up until Draco pulled the sensitive skin of her collarbone between his teeth. It tore a whimper from deep inside her, only getting worse when Draco sucked on the delicate spot.

"W-wait," she moaned. "We need to talk."

"So talk."

Draco sat up, pulling his shirt off and Hermione could do nothing but admire him. The scars that were carved across his chest caught the dim light. The night was silent, but Draco's touch was so loud. Even with their heavy breathing and the groans from the bed breaking the silence.

"Draco," Hermione moaned as he grabbed her hip and flipped her over. His fingers unclasped her bra and she felt the sweet relief as it fell away. "This is important."

"There is nothing that you can say that I haven't imagined a thousand times in the last three years," Draco said, voice husky and deep. He draped himself over her back, taking her ear between his teeth before sucking on it gently. "And I'm done having to imagine I'm touching you."

Hermione gasped as Draco forced his hand between her body and the mattress. Cool air rushed against her neck as Draco roughly pushed her hair away. The palm of his hand cupped her between her legs, giving her the perfect amount of pressure.

When Draco's face pressed into the croak of her neck, she tensed, anticipating a sharp bite to follow. But Draco just nuzzled closer, breathing her in and Hermione answered by rolling her hips against his hand. His fingers made tight circles over the thin fabric of her trousers and she was sure her wetness was soaking through. The pressure was intensifying and his tongue was licking with the same rhythm of his fingers that teased her.

Every logical part of her brain reminded her of what a bad idea it was. She knew it. Even as her body betrayed her and submitted control to his. But the pleasure Draco gave in tearing her apart was worth having to put herself back together.

"Okay- Okay, after," Hermione stuttered as her mind abandoned her. Leaving her a mess of need. "Just don't stop."

Draco sat up suddenly, straddling her legs. He was already panting and frantic. His hot hand pushed between her shoulders, keeping her firmly against the mattress. She arched her hips, trying to chase the pleasure from his hand as it traveled from between her legs to her ass. He squeezed tightly, enough to indent the skin beneath his grip, molding her body in his large hands. His touch turned gentle and the muscles of her hips and ass tingled once released.

"Touch me," Hermione whispered.

Draco drew a line with his finger across the faint scars on her back she had nearly forgotten about. He groaned, deep in his throat, and then his tongue traced the scar that stretched all the way from her hips to her right shoulder blade. Ice-cold shivers shot across all the tiny veins of the cursed scar, chased away by the warmth of Draco's tongue as he licked another then went over her shoulder.

"These…No one else has these," Draco said, his voice hoarse and low. "Only you."

Hermione withered beneath him. The sensation ruined her. His touch was consuming but her body needed so much more. He turned her head to kiss her deeply again. She settled, loving all of the places that he pressed against her.

"Fuck, those sweet sounds…," Draco continued, his hand pulling her trousers and panties over her bum and down her legs. "So fucking evil."

Hermione turned in his grasp to face him. Whether he sensed he said too much, or the brashness of her movements clued him in, he sat up putting distance between them.

"Don't," Hermione said.

She grabbed his face, sitting up to bring her lips to his. There was no hesitation in his kiss or the way he grabbed her naked legs to wrap around his waist. She wanted to bite his pink lips, but his tongue was eagerly fucking her mouth. Her tongue flicked against his, encouraging him to take more. Everything.

Only his shirt had been removed while she laid bare beneath him. His cock was hard and pressing against her through his trousers. The material felt rough as it slid against where she was soft and wet. It didn't discourage her from chasing the friction. Not while her core ached, and the remedy to be filled was so close.

Hermione pushed at his trousers, trying to get them past his waist, but fumbling. "Take them off."

Draco unbuttoned his trousers quickly, somewhat uncoordinated as he balanced on his side. Hermione moaned into his mouth as she pushed the materials away. The tip of his cock was so hot as it brushed against her inner thigh and Draco spread her legs further until the stretch nearly burned.

Hermione reached up, pushing the fringe off his face. His eyes, tired and sore, were still cracked open when they met hers. Her gaze reached for his, not enough to get inside but just to connect them in one more way. Draco forced his eyes closed, and Hermione could see them moving beneath the lids as he started to shuffle the memories away. Locking away all of the marvelous parts of himself as a result.

"Don't go," Hermione whispered and Draco shook his head. She wasn't entirely sure of what she was asking. All she knew was she didn't want to feel a thousand miles from him again. "Please let me see. I haven't in so long."

Draco's throat bobbed. When his eyes opened, they were already more reserved than a moment prior. But rather than maintaining the barriers, he let them fall away. And the beauty in the pain that filled him had Hermione feeling like she would float away. It was so hard to decide what was worse. Believing that Draco had become heartless and cold, or considering he had remained in suffering day after day.

Hermione reached up, fingers gently caressing the purple under his eyes that may never fade.

"I miss you," she said right through this Draco that appeared in front of her to the one she knew was trapped beneath.

"I didn't go anywhere," Draco replied, defensively. "I stayed right where you left me."

The irritation in her chest started to grow but she ignored it. Draco was right. There was plenty of time to talk later. Perhaps never. She traced her lips against his, not kissing, but playing with each other pleasantly.

His cock was leaking onto her thigh, and Draco moved his hips so the liquid would smear a line across her skin. He kept the torturous, slow movements until the head was pressed against her opening. It made her breath hitch and she swore she could feel Draco's mouth curled slightly against her own.

"You're so wet," he muttered against her mouth.

It almost sounded like he couldn't believe it. Which was insane considering every nerve in her body was screaming.

Hermione nodded, appeasingly. "I'm ready."

"Gods, I bet it tastes so fucking good," Draco said, teasing the tip in slightly. "How do you taste now, Granger?"

Hermione shuttered, trying to angle herself so he could slip in, even just the smallest bit more.

"Don't worry. I still know my girl's sweet body. You want something else, yeah?" Draco taunted her, flicking her bottom lip with his tongue.

She couldn't speak. Not sure what words would ruin the delicate balance they hung in.

He grabbed her jaw roughly, turning her head up and pressing his lips against her neck. "Play fair, Granger. It's been just as long since I heard those filthy words from your sweet mouth."

"Fuck me," Hermione conceded.

The words felt at home on her tongue even with the infrequency that she said them. Draco hummed, pleased. There was a sharp pain on her nipple as Draco pinched her and air hissed through her teeth. He bent down and sucked the abused peak into his mouth. Hermione felt the warm, wetness shoot straight between her legs.

Draco ground against her, letting his cock slip between her folds and over her swollen nub. Every time he thrust, she mewled. The tip of his cock was so hard and slick. The pressure sent a shot of pleasure through her legs and up to where her nipple was still sucked into his mouth. Like the two places were conspiring with Draco to unravel her.

"Like this?" Draco taunted.

"I-I don't know," Hermione whined.

He kissed her lips quickly and she was moments away from coming before he had even entered her.

"Be good and tell me," Draco said, his voice low and commanding. "What wants my cock more? Your needy clit or your greedy little pussy?"

Hermione choked on her breath. "Mhm."

Fuck, she couldn't think straight. She was too close to coming. Her arms were wrapped around his broad back and she lowered one to his arse. Grabbing and pulling him to urge him to move faster.

He took her other nipple into his mouth for a strong suck before pulling off with a pop. He sat up, grabbing her leg by the back of the knee and pushing it until it was pressed against her chest. She was so open and spread out, it felt obscene. But Draco looked down at her bare pussy, dripping onto his cock that was already glistening from rubbing against her.

"Fuck- just one…" Draco mumbled under his breath.

Hermione felt his mouth before she realized what was happening. He kept her leg up, pushing it back further until her hips lifted off the bed. He groaned without removing his mouth, the vibrating making her cry out.

His tongue made quick, torturous circles, moving faster and faster with each rotation. He sucked on her clit, hard enough to make Hermione squeal and pull his hair until he released her. His tongue was pressing into her hole next, the shallow penetration making her walls clench. Trying to squeeze the cock that he was refusing to give her.

The path of his tongue licked from her pussy to clit was getting longer and longer. Hermione tried to force her hips down when his tongue was getting dangerously close to a place it shouldn't be.

The air was getting thicker and Hermione was going to die if she didn't have him soon. He kept licking, choosing to listen to her hips that fucked up into his mouth rather than her hand in his hair trying to pull him up. She had no leverage to use as he spread her wide and fucked her with his mouth.

"Draco- Draco I'm gonna-"

His cock filled her, stretching her perfectly as he buried himself completely with one thrust. There was only a moment for her to adjust and catch her breath before Draco pulled out and shoved his cock back inside her with a brutal thrust.

"Are you going to come for me?" Draco growled.

Hermione nodded, hardly able to think as she stared up at him. He released his grip on her leg and let it fall against his shoulder. Relieving the stretch but letting his cock drive in just as deep. Her breast bounced with each thrust as he fucked her ravenously.

Everything about the way Draco fucked her was hard. The grip on her hips was sure to leave bruises and her lips were swollen from his brutal kiss. Like he had to give her every drop of him then in case they never got the chance again.

The pulse in her clit was starting the spread to her legs and she knew she was past the point of return. Her exhale hitched as she tried to tell him. All that came out of her mouth was a whimper. Her eyes started to burn so she squeezed them shut.

Once they were open again, Draco was there. Each of his arms encased her head and her legs spread open with him between them. She needed him. Needed him to keep thrusting and filling her so she could believe he felt the same way that she did.

"Hold onto me," he whispered into her hair.

Hermione's hands were gripping his biceps, and she moved them to surround his body. Their sweat mixed together and Hermione's body felt like it was on fire. They started to move as one, the headboard slamming against the wall.

He slowed his movements, dropping his lips to hers.

"Not yet," he breathed against her mouth.

"I'm so close," Hermione sobbed, kissing him back.

"Fuck -I know," Draco growled, sounding pleased. His kiss turned deeper and dirtier. "I'm not done with you."

Hermione shook her head. "I can't. Draco I need- I want you. Please."

"I'm not ready for it to be over," Draco said and the honesty in it made her whimper.

"I'll come again," Hermione started to bargain, desperate for him to please her. "You make me feel so good. So-so good. "

"You want to come on my cock?" Draco said, possessively.

"Yes! Please- please," Hermione replied.

She wanted it all. His cock. His body. Him. She bit her tongue. There was so much she couldn't say. So many words that were fighting to make their way to Draco's ears and be heard.

His pace started to increase and his hips slapped against hers and he fucked her to the edge.

"Hermione," he choked against her cheek.

His lips brushed against hers with every grunt. His breath hitched and she knew he was as close as she was. She looked up at his closed eyes, peacefully shut like being inside her granted him relief from his suffering. There was no thinking involved anymore. There were only two bodies, moving with and against each other in any way that felt right.

Draco shifted forward, causing her hips to roll slightly and hitting a new spot inside her.

"Right there. Fuck me- don't stop," Hermione stuttered.

The orgasm exploded through her. It spread out from between her thighs and traveled up her spine to surround her throat. She couldn't hear the sounds that escaped her, not when her pussy was clenching and throbbing around his cock. She could hear the low guttural sounds and moans he spoke but couldn't make sense if there were any words. His hips snapped, fast and hard and loud, and then he stilled, deep inside her as he came.

Hermione's arms fell to her sides. Draco kissed along her jaw, his arms still bracketing her head. Their lungs were out of sync, chests bumping and pressing against each other as they caught their breath.

Slowly, Draco started to move again. His thrusts shallow, pushing just the slightest bit more into her each time rather than moving in and out.

Her knees fell open, nearly to the mattress as he kept moving. He kissed up her cheeks and Hermione closed her eyes so he could place soft kisses over them.

"You think I'm evil?" Hermione muttered and he growled. They were still floating in the bliss that kept them safe."You used to think I was an angel. Remember?"

"I was right," Draco hummed. "I did some research. Angels are mean as hell."

Hermione laughed softly and she could feel Draco smile slightly against her. "That feels good."

"My cock or my mouth?"

"Both."

He shoved in once hard, and Hermione sucked air between her teeth. He grabbed her lifeless arm and moved it to surrounded his neck as he nuzzled closer to her. He was so much heavier than he used to be. Any weight he had been managing to hold up slipped until he was crushing her. The adrenaline had worn off, and Hermione was fighting between wanting to sleep and wanting to stay.

Hermione brushed the fringe off his face where his head was resting on her collarbone. "Draco…"

"M' tired…" Draco mumbled.

"Okay. Just shift a touch so I can breathe," Hermione said, pushing him to the side slightly.

Draco sat up on his knees. He ran a hand down his face and then shook his head. The exhaustion didn't shake and Hermione sat up to kiss his pouting lips. His eyes stayed closed but he leaned his head more against hers.

"I have to go," he said, kissing her one more time before turning to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Why?" The delicacy in her voice was apparent.

He grabbed the jumper off the ground before dropping it again to fetch his shirt. "It's late."

"So?"

Draco looked at her with a raised brow and Hermione shrugged. Maybe she was the one being unreasonable but it didn't seem that way.

"I told Zabini we would go over our new orders," Draco said, his voice was hoarse and low. He wasn't looking at her, which gave her free reign to observe him. "How long was I asleep?"

"An hour maybe," Hermione conceded. "You two are a lot closer than before."

"We are all each other have left," Draco said.

"That's not true," Hermione refuted.

Draco paused before pulling on his trousers and then turned to look at her. She grabbed the blanket to cover herself. He stalked over to her, and Hermione let him tilt her chin up with a single finger.

"Does he have you?" Draco asked.

Hermione nodded. Both for his question and for the silent one that followed.

Do I?

Draco brushed his thumb over her lips before he turned and walked away. His steps were off-balance slightly and Hermione worried that between their activities and the ones earlier in the day that he may not make it back. He stalled at the door, hesitating for a moment before slipping through.