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Chapter Text

She had been a forbidden fruit to him for the first seven years he knew her.

Through school, teenage idiocy, and a war.

It started as hate, or that's what Draco told himself. He eventually realized it really began as curiosity, cloaked in resentment. At how easy it all was for her, to come from nothing magical, to being the smartest witch in their year-no, in the entire castle.

He had time to think about it. Four years in Azkaban. To dwell on the thought of her. To obsess.

Thankfully, inmates were allowed to have The Daily Prophet. Every time she was mentioned- which was quite often by Skeeter- he would devour the article. Even more so when her photo was featured. He would trace her figure with his finger. Admiring her dips and curves, the smart suits she wore, that hugged her perfectly in all of the right places.

The first time he wanked to a photo of her, he was disgusted with himself. The shame was so bad, that he purposely provoked the guards so they would beat him- which truly didn't take much effort.

Yet when the bruises faded, the cracks in his ribs finally healed, he still wanted her.

Hermione Granger. Golden Girl. Brightest Witch of Her Age. Mudblood- no, muggleborn. He was still working on unlearning his prejudices.

Two years into his sentence, he admitted to himself he loved her. That he wanted her. That he would do anything to have her.

The only problem was Ron fucking Weasley.

Her husband.

Chapter Text

It took some time, but Draco managed to bribe a guard.

He discovered the man still believed in pureblood ideology, and that he was gay.

So, using his money, his body, and while pretending to still be a discriminatory fuckwad, Draco was able to get in contact with sources outside the prison.

He hired a wizard private investigator for surveillance.

It was from there, he found out about Weasely's betrayal- he was cheating on Hermione with golden trio groupie slags. He had proof in wizarding photographs.

Draco had never wished more than that moment that he could escape his confines and hunt down the ginger tosser. Torture him for even daring to look at another woman, let alone fuck them. When he had a divine goddess at home every night allowing him the privilege to worship at her altar.

Draco had the photos sent anonymously to a reporter at The Prophet, with the stipulation that it not be written by Skeeter. Draco hated the way she spoke about Hermione.

He did feel remorse, knowing it would likely embarrass her to have her marriage publicly implode, but he didn't want the redhead cunt to, well, weasel his way out of it.

He asked the guard to be extra rough with him during their next session as penance. He vowed to himself that anytime he caused her harm, he should also be punished.

The fallout from the article was messy. Weasley claimed to have an alcohol and sex addiction. Many people even took his side, saying Hermione should have stayed with him.

Yet just as Draco predicted, the combination of her pride and morals meant she wouldn't- couldn't- remain married to him.

Three and a half years into his four year sentence, she was single.

And soon, she would be his.

Chapter Text

The final six months were the longest of Draco's sentence, knowing that he would be closer to her once released. He did his best to pass the time- read, workout until he collapsed, and continued to have private time with that guard. It ensured he could write letters that would not be searched like they were supposed to be.

Most of those letters went to Theo, who he tasked with keeping an eye on Hermione. In return, all Theo asked for was a specific book from Malfoy Manor Library. Hundreds of years old, filled to the brim with information about how to domesticate Bowtruckles. Draco didn't bother asking why.

She had attempted to go on a few dates but Theo took care of it. He didn't Avada them, just persuaded the blokes to cancel. Draco didn't ask how Theo accomplished this, but he did notice some blood splatter on the letters informing him that it was handled.

The day Draco was released, he stopped outside the gates, relishing in his freedom. He could taste the salt water in the air, feel the frigid wind on his skin, and hear the sound of fists landing harshly on flesh.

He hadn't told the prejudiced guard that he had managed to bribe the other guards as well. Draco decided he really didn't enjoy getting fucked. Although, he would be more than willing to let Hermione give it a go.

The following morning, wearing a perfectly tailored all black suit, he sat in the corner of a small muggle cafe, and watched the door. He knew her schedule inside and out, what with Theo keeping such a close eye on her for months. She came to this cafe before work every morning and treated herself to an empress grey tea and fresh blueberry scone.

When she walked in, she didn't see him, heading straight for the counter. Draco was thankful for this, because her beauty made his heart stutter, and he likely looked like a ogling twat.

He wondered if she was part Veela, entrancing him and everyone else. While she didn't have the moon bright skin or the white gold hair, she did possess the ability to hypnotize him with her presence alone. He found he much preferred her caramel skin and chestnut locks anyways.

She received her order, and when she attempted to pay, the muggle barista pointed over to Draco, indicating he had already taken care of it.

When she spotted him, her eyes blazed, and she immediately stomped over, her heels click clacking across the floor.

I wonder if she would ever step on me whilst wearing those, he mused. His cock ached at the thought.

She stopped in front of him and opened her mouth, no doubt to spew righteous fury. But he spoke up first.

"Hello, Granger."

Chapter Text

“Hello, Granger.”

Hermione narrowed her eyes at her former bully. This could not be a fluke.

“What are you doing here, Malfoy?”

He smirked. Smirked!

“Enjoying a coffee and the view.” He made no attempt to hide that his eyes were roaming over her figure. She was surprised his gaze lingered on her feet, or perhaps her heels?

It should have made her skin crawl, not make her feel hot all over.

“Does this have anything to do with why Theodore Nott has been following me?”

His eyes snapped up to hers, and his jaw tightened momentarily before his face smoothed out. Just long enough for Hermione to notice, it was the only crack in his careless demeanour

“Why do you think he's following you?”

“Please, Malfoy. As much as I loathe the nickname, they don't call me the 'brightest witch of our age' for nothing. I hadn't seen him since the Final Battle, and barely spoke to him at school. I have now run into him twice in six months. And now that you're here, I find that this can no longer be classified as coincidence.”

His eyes bored into hers, and she became concerned he was attempting legilimency, although she didn't feel any brush against her mental supports. Then his face broke into a full grin. It was... unsettling. Unhinged. Dangerous.

Certainly not attractive.

“He must be losing his touch. I asked him to keep an eye on you.”

“I'm sorry?”

“You heard me.”

“Why in Merlin's name would you ask him to do that?”

“I like to keep track of what's mine,” he said casually, whilst putting several spoons of sugar into his cup.

Mine. Her mind went blank, except for that word echoing in her head. No one- not even her ex husband- had ever called her that. She would have hexed him within an inch of his life if he had.

So why was she not doing that now?

“I don't know what the hell that means, Malfoy, but I don't belong to anyone.” She hitched her purse higher on her shoulder, but then froze. “Wait, is that why the last three dates I have been asked on cancelled at the last minute? Why they avoid my eye or don't return my owls?”

“Yes.”

“Did you have something to do with Ron?” She whispered.

His eyes turned steely and his hand tightened into a fist on his lap. “I may have helped the truth be uncovered and published, but I promise I didn't have anything to do with him cheating on you.”

“How dare you! That was private-”

“I didn't enjoy embarrassing you. And I assure you, I was thoroughly punished for it.”

She felt irate. Distraught. Embarrassed. And... curious.

“Why would you tell me all of this?”

“I'll never lie to you, Granger,” he said seriously.

“You won't lie to me, have made some barmy and quite honestly frightening comments about me, yet you can't even call me by my first name? Is it because my blood is still dirty, that I'm beneath you?”

“I would love if you were beneath me.” He bit his lower lip seductively.

“Don't be vile, I'm not afraid to cause a scene and slap you in public.”

“Impact play and voyeurism? Don't threaten me with a good time.” He chuckled wickedly before continuing. “But to answer your question, no, you nor your blood are dirty. I don't believe any of that anymore. I called you by your surname because I didn't want to make you uncomfortable.”

“You thought out of everything you have said to me today, that saying my given name would make me the most uncomfortable?” She asked incredulously.

He shrugged.

“Right. Well, the stalking and interfering in my life stops now, Malfoy, or I'll have you thrown back in Azkaban.” She wouldn't, not when she knew how deplorable the place was, but she was hoping the threat would work.

Unfortunately for her, it didn't seem to bother him at all, he just stared at her with that damned smirk, as if he could easily see through her lie.

She turned on her heel and began walking away.

“Hermione.”

His tone as he said her name was filled with dark desire, and a shiver ran down her spine at the sound. She slowly turned back to him with wide eyes.

“I'll see you tomorrow morning.” He winked.

She hurried off, unsure if her heart was hammering due to fear or lust.

Chapter Text

“Alright, fuck! That's enough!” Theo screamed as he knelt before his best mate. Draco held the Crucio for a moment longer before cancelling the spell, and Theo fell forward onto his hands, panting heavily. He remained like that for about thirty seconds, before he looked up at Draco with a maniacal grin, blood dripping from his nose. “I don't know what happened to you in prison, but you've gotten better at that. Well done.”

Draco rolled his eyes before helping Theo to stand, and assisting him to shuffle across the room to a chair.

“Whimsy,” Draco called. A small elf appeared with a large smile on his crinkled face. He wore a black and white striped jumper, with black overalls and black and white sneakers.

He had been with the Malfoys since before Draco was born. He was unhappy to be freed, until he discovered he could use his money to buy himself clothes, and he often went shopping with Theo. Draco refused to own enslaved elves, not while he was attempting to win Hermione's affection.

“Yes, sir?”

“Can you please get Theo pain and muscle relaxing potions?” He asked the elf as he poured two large glasses of firewhiskey. The elf nodded, and had returned with them before Draco had even handed Theo the drink.

He poured them into his crystal glass, and tossed it all back in one go. Then he shook the empty cup at Draco for a refill.

“Alright, now that my punishment is doled out for her discovering me, what else happened?” Theo sipped his next drink.

“She hates me, I suspect. She knows pretty much everything. But she is intrigued as well, I could see it on her face. I doubt she will show for her coffee tomorrow, so I want you to follow her from her flat and see where she goes. And be bloody discreet this time, there is no need for you to speak to her,” he growled.

“Yes, sir,” Theo said with a smile, echoing Whimsy. Then he tilted his head and looked thoughtful. “So how do you plan to win her over? And why wouldn't you just lie about it all?”

“Lucius lied to my mother constantly. It broke her heart each time she discovered it. I think that's part of the reason she died, heartbreak.” Draco took a long drink, refusing to spiral about his mother, who passed away shortly after he was imprisoned. “I refuse to do that to Hermione. She will come to trust me, love me, and then I'll put the biggest diamond on her finger as soon as that happens. But that doesn't mean I wanted her to know we were keeping such a close watch on her.”

“So you really want to marry her? This isn't just for a shag?”

“You think I would do all of this just for a quick fuck?” Draco snapped.

“Well, not anymore. What if she still doesn't come around?”

“Then I'll get on my knees and beg,” he answered without hesitation.

“Ohh kinky, can I watch?”

“No. I doubt your partners would be happy about that anyways.”

“On the contrary, they would want to watch too. Speaking of them though, we should have a meeting. If you were serious about getting involved with the criminal underbelly of Londons Wizarding World, we want in.”

“Your wife wants to be involved? I have a hard time believing that.”

“Draco, she's a fucking wildcard. You haven't spoken to her in years, and even then you didn't know her at school. Anyways, she says it's ‘fate’ for us to all go into business together. She had a vision two years ago, but none of us knew how it would happen until you sent me that last letter in Azkaban.”

Draco pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one wandlessly. “I don't believe in fate, but I'm happy to have you all join. Salazar knows I'll need the help, and your wife will certainly be an asset. But I don't just want to just get involved in the criminal world, Theo,” he downed the remainder of his firewhiskey the heat from it warming his chest. “I want to be its king.”

Chapter Text

Weeks passed. Hermione found a new coffee shop, only for Malfoy to appear at that one the following day. She tried going in early, hoping he wouldn't be there, but he always was, unfortunately looking quite sharp in his muggle suits. It made her livid... And admittedly curious. Especially after the conversation she had with a Wizengamot member the day prior.

Her bills always took months to get passed. This time, it happened in only six weeks, the quickest it ever had. It was a slow start as usual, but three weeks ago, it all started to come together quickly- which was about the time Malfoy was released. When she asked one of the usual naysayers about it, his response shocked her.

The Malfoy boy, he put in a good word for you. Even with his history, his name and opinion still holds a lot of sway in pureblood circles.

This was what made her finally approach him again. After three weeks of him being there every morning and always pre purchasing her order.

No one, certainly not Ron, had put this much effort into trying to get any sort of attention from her. So she would play his game, but she wouldn't make it easy on him.

"Why did you talk to Wizengamot members for me?" She snapped.

"Good morning, Hermione. Having a nice day so far?" He didn't even look at her, just continued to read The Prophet, which was spelled to look like a muggle paper.

"Malfoy, what is the meaning of all of this?"

"I told you, I keep an eye on what's mine."

Mine. Mine. Mine. It had replayed in her head countless times a day since he said it the first time.

"I've never once agreed to be yours."

"You will." His confidence both terrified and thrilled her.

"Why are you doing this? You hate me."

"I think I've made it quite clear I don't hate you. But I don't think I'll tell why yet."

"I thought you said you wouldn't lie to me." She crossed her arms, as it was getting busier in the small cafe.

"I'm not lying, I'll tell you. Just not yet." He finally set the paper down and looked at her.

"Why?" She persisted.

"I like to watch you squirm. And I know your curiosity will keep you coming back." He added an offensive amount of sugar to his cup of black coffee before continuing. "Tell you what, I'll tell you, if you go on a date with me."

“No,” she responded quickly.

“Those are my terms.” He leaned back, spreading his legs wide. His trousers hugged his muscular thighs tightly, it was obscene. He spent four years in Azkaban, and he somehow came out looking better than when he went in- which never happened. The Dementors were gone, but the chill from them still lingered, and anyone who was released always looked haunted. Malfoy somehow looked invigorated.

She sighed deeply, refusing to allow her gaze to go travel higher up his legs. "When?"

Shock flashed in his eyes, clearly assuming she wouldn't agree. “Friday. I'll pick you up at your flat at seven.”

She rolled her eyes, unsurprised that he knew where she lived.

“Fine.” She turned, about to walk away, when a man knocked into her. The lid of her cup must have been loose, and it popped off, causing the hot liquid to spill all over her. It scalded her hand, and she cried out in pain.

“Watch it!” The man snapped.

Suddenly, Malfoy was there. He was significantly taller than he used to be, towering over everyone in the coffee shop. He gripped the front of the man's jacket and hauled him up so he was forced to balance on his toes.

“You bumped into her, made her spill her tea, and you have the audacity to say 'watch it'? Apologize, now.”

The man stuttered out an apology, as everyone in the cafe was silently watching the interaction. She felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment.

“Malfoy, it's fi-”

“You better pray to whatever god you believe in that her burn is not severe, or I will hunt you down and beat you within an inch of your life, you useless knob.” He snarled and released the man. Then he gently grasped Hermione's arm, and inspected her hand. The contrast was jarring, how aggressive he had just been to how soft he was now with her.

Most of the tea had gotten on her beige trench coat, which was rather annoying, but the pain in her hand was the worst part. He inspected it and then guided her through the crowd, which parted rather quickly to make room for them.

He took her to an abandoned alley, and without any notice, apparated them away with a deafening crack.

Chapter Text

“What the hell, Malfoy! You could have splinched me!” He vaguely heard her say, but he barely noticed. He could feel his rage pulsing through him in time with his racing heart. He wanted to go back and tear that gits throat out. Even though it was a set up.

Three weeks had passed, and Draco was getting antsy for her attention. So he paid a homeless muggle man quite handsomely to bump into Hermione so that he could intervene and assist her. Of course, the brilliant but infuriating woman chose today of all days to not only approach him, but she agreed to go on a date. He didn't need to do any of this- and now felt sick at the sight of her burned hand, and that he was responsible. He hadn't meant for her bloody tea to spill all over.

A small whimper broke through his haze of self loathing, and he realized Hermione was trying to move her fingers. Her skin was an angry red and had a few small blisters from the scalding liquid.

“Whimsy!”

The elf appeared, today wearing a navy blue three piece suit, with thin silver sparkly pinstripes, and a matching silver tie.

“Yes si- oh my! The Miss is hurt!” He exclaimed.

“Yes, Whimsy. Can you please get a pain potion, dittany, and bandages?”

He brought the items, and then noticed Hermione's jacket. “Please, Miss, may I?” She stared at him wide eyed before nodding. He waved a hand over her sleeve, and the stain disappeared. Then he left with a crack.

Draco ushered her to sit at the dining table.

“Malfoy, I don't have time-”

“To heal an injury? Were you just going to walk around work all day like this?”

“I have dittany in my office-”

“I assure you, mine's better.” She looked ready to protest again until he began slathering it on. Immediately, her whole body sagged, clearly feeling relief.

“Ooohh. That is nice. What's in it?”

“My own concoction. Regular dittany with some additives to cool and lightly numb it. But you need to take the pain potion as well, as this will wear off eventually.”

He removed the cork and offered her the vial. She eyed it suspiciously, sniffed it, and then downed it.

Watching her accept and obviously have a small amount of trust in him made him feel wild. He held in a groan as his cock throbbed.

Draco gently spread the remaining dittany onto her hand before wrapping it in a bandage. His thumb then rubbed soothing circles on the pulse point on her wrist, and he felt the flutter of her heartbeat increase as he did. Her skin was softer than he imagined, and he had the overwhelming urge to pin her down and worship every single inch of her soft flesh.

She stared at him with wide eyes for a long moment, as if she could read his thoughts, then pulled away.

“Thank you for the help. I should be getting to work now.”

“It's the least I could do. I'll see you Friday.” He didn't want her to forget.

She rolled her eyes, but he thought he saw a quick twitch of her plump lips. He escorted her to his floo, insisted she take the jar of dittany, and then she was gone.

He then texted Theo, who showed up twenty minutes later with the muggle man from the cafe.

“You hurt my girl,” Draco snarled.

“Y-you wanted it to be realistic! I was just doing what you said!”

“Yes, well, it was a touch too realistic and she got hurt. So now, you will pay the price. But don't worry, you'll meet your end knowing he-” Draco tilted his head toward Theo as he began rolling up his shirtsleeves. “Will get to punish me as well, for setting this all up in the first place.”

Theo was practically vibrating in excitement.

They tied the man to a chair and silenced him. Draco smiled at him darkly.

“Let's begin.”

Chapter Text

“Time to wake up now, Draco.”

He felt a petite hand cup his cheek. When his eyes fluttered open he was surprised to see the face of Luna.

“Hullo, did you have a nice nap?” She asked in her usual dreamlike voice.

Draco would classify it less of a nap and more of being knocked unconscious due to pain from the extended torture session with Theo, but he just nodded his head. His hands were bound behind the chair he sat on, and he was shirtless, barefoot, and only wearing his trousers.

A second pair of eyes appeared, these ones much darker than Luna's. “You alright, Draco?” Her second husband asked.

He gave Blaise a single nod, unable to speak. He was feeling a bit foggy, but was pretty sure this was the second time he was being rennervated.

“You two are done for the day, Theodore.” Luna still spoke in her dreamy voice, yet this time it was more firm. Whenever she declared something, her husbands always listened.

Even if they (Theo) acted like fucking babies about it.

“He made me do it!”

“And you didn't enjoy it at all, did you?” Blaise asked, moving his wand in a way above Draco's head that he knew he was performing diagnostics. Draco could feel his skin was clammy and crusty from dried blood.

“I regret nothing.” Theo pouted, crossing his arms across his chest like a petulant child.

“And who is responsible for that?” Blaise asked, carelessly indicating the body of the homeless muggle man in the corner.

“That was all Draco! Well, mostly him. At least 75% him and 25% me.”

Draco raised his head enough to look at Theo with a single raised eyebrow.

“Okay, fine! Maybe 60/40, but he did most of it,” Theo rambled.

“You don't have to punish yourself like this, Draco. Hermione wouldn't want you to,” Luna said softly as Theo continued to prattle on.

“You... saw...her?” Draco asked, breathing heavily. He realized speaking was rather difficult in his current state, his chest heaving from exertion. His muscles both twitched and ached, and the long open wounds on his chest burned from the slashes Theo carved into him with a blade.

“No, I haven't seen anything with Hermione, that hasn't changed. I'm not sure what it is about her that makes her immune to my Sight. I just know her, she would be quite cross with you hurting yourself because of your guilt. She's very caring.”

“Technically I hurt him,” Theo chimed in, but a single look from both his husband and wife, he finally stopped talking.

Luna held Draco's head up as Blaise poured some potions down his throat and performed some healing spells, enough that he was able to be more alert. They unbound him and Theo handed him a lit cig.

“You need to rest up by tomorrow night, Rowle has finally agreed to meet, and it will look bad if you are a mess like this,” Blaise said as he took a seat beside Draco.

“Thorfinn Rowle? That's who currently is charge of the wizarding criminal underworld? Salazars bollocks I despise him, and now I have to grovel to him,” Draco grumbled, a shaky hand dragging down his face. “But we can't meet then, tell him any other night works. I've got plans Friday.”

“What could be more important than this? You've been wanting this meeting for weeks,” Blaise asked incredulously.

“He's got a daaaaaaaate!” Theo unhelpfully supplied.

Blaise looked surprised. “With Granger? That's great, Draco. But shouldn't the meeting come above everything else?”

Draco slowly raised his gaze to his mate. “Nothing comes above her.”

Blaise just raised his hands in mock surrender, and Luna spoke. “It will be fine, Rowle will accept the date change,” she said with a faraway look.

Draco vanished the rest of his smoke and stood, holding onto the edge of the table for support.

“Thanks, Luna. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date to plan.”

Chapter Text

“So, little Malfoy wants to play?” Rowle snarked. The crime boss wasn’t happy that Draco wanted to change the meeting time, so he made them come late that night. Draco was still in agony from his time with Theo earlier in the day, but he couldn’t show any hint of weakness, so he clenched his jaw and plastered on a tight smile. “From what I recall, you were fairly useless during the war, and never once killed anyone. So why do you suddenly think you have what it takes? And why do you even want in?” Rowle continued. A group of about twenty of his followers surrounded them, watching the exchange intently.

“You’re right. I was a scared, incompetent child, I’ll admit that. But I’m not anymore, Rowle. And I’ve taken a few lives now, so you can no longer use that against me. As for why, I’m really quite bored. My Azkaban sentence limits my job prospects significantly. That leaves a life of crime and I was told you were the man to impress. So, what do I have to do to gain your trust, Rowle?”

The large man eyed Draco up and down, before a sinister smile appeared on his face. “I’m so glad you asked, little Malfoy. Dolohov! Get the prisoner.”

Dolohov. The fucker that scarred Hermione in fifth year. He overheard the git bragging about it one night at the manor during the war. Dolohov also talked about what he wanted to do to Hermione while she was unconscious if he had caught her… even then, when he didn’t have feelings for her, it made Draco’s blood boil.

Dolohov appeared, dragging a cowering woman behind him, then throwing her to the ground. She was badly beaten and bruised, blood staining her ripped clothes. Ripped in places that left her barely covered. 

He had a flashback to his mother looking similar, after getting punished for his and Lucius’ failures. He gripped the arm of his chair so tightly that his knuckles turned white. In his peripheral vision, he saw Theo shift in his seat. Draco knew this would unsettle him as well, what with his father abusing and eventually murdering his mother.

“What did she do?” Draco asked, ensuring his anger didn’t seep into his voice.

“Does it matter?” Rowle growled. When Draco just continued to stare at him he continued. “If you must know, she’s a thieving mudblood whore. Tried to steal money from me one night after I was done with her. Guess the galleon I paid for her time wasn’t enough. So she’s since learned that things could be much worse, haven’t you sweetheart?”

“Mudblood? Seriously?” Draco sneered. 

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what The Dark Lord- and your father for that matter- taught you. Our blood is pure-”

“Not pure enough to stop you from sticking your tiny cock in a muggleborn though,” Theo spat.

“Be quiet and let the adults speak, you little fa-” Dolohov began to say, and Theo angrily rose from his seat. Blaise, thankfully having a level head, grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.

“No, Rowle, we don’t carry those beliefs anymore. Voldemort was a halfblood, it didn’t even make sense. Also, Lucius was and will always be a snivelling coward who is dead to me. Bringing him up won’t have its intended effect, I assure you. Finally she-” Draco indicated the half conscious woman. “Looks about seven stone. Probably needed the money for food. If you paid them better then perhaps they wouldn’t need to steal.”

“You think you’re so smart, little Malfoy? Think you could do a better job at running all this?” Dolohov barked.

Draco shrugged. Dolohov opened his mouth to retort but Rowle interrupted.

“Enough! If you want in, then you need to dispose of this dirty bitch. Right here, right now.”

Draco began to pull out his wand, before Rowle interrupted again. “No, I want to watch you get your pristine little hands dirty, Malfoy. You’ll be doing it the muggle way.” Then he pulled out a large knife, and Dolohov took it and shoved it at Draco, almost cutting him.

This was not how Draco wanted this night to go. He knew he wasn’t the most ethical (or sane) bloke, but he didn’t enjoy hurting someone who was innocent. Yet he knew he had to earn the trust of everyone there. He quickly exchanged looks with Theo and Blaise, who also looked unhappy with what was about to happen. 

He descended on the helpless woman, and she began to scoot back and beg for mercy, offering her body to him if he didn’t hurt her. As he got closer, the smell of urine permeated the air. 

“Look, the filthy cow pissed herself!” Dolohov laughed. Draco heard a couple other men chuckle too, but most remained silent.

“Get on with it, little Malfoy, or perhaps we will have to carve you up instead.” Rowle snarled.

Draco sighed before kneeling down to the woman. “Look at me.” He whispered, and she slowly raised her eyes to meet his. “Try to stay hidden when things go south.” As she gave him a confused look, he winked at her, then spun and threw the knife at Rowle. The large blade landed perfectly in his skull, and the man slumped to the floor.

Then all hell broke loose.

Chapter Text

Draco took in the carnage. Three bodies lay before him, Rowle and two others who went down defending him. Dolohov and four others were bound on the floor, all injured but still alive and awake.

His mouth tasted of iron, and he spit out blood that wasn’t his, adding to whatever was already saturating the ground. His white shirt was spattered with red, and his black waistcoat and trousers shone in the low light from the crimson that stained them. 

He looked at his mates. Theo had a large grin on his face, that looked more maniacal with all the blood that was on him. He was currently standing guard in front of the bound men, tossing the knife that killed Rowle in the air and catching it just before it impaled one of them. 

Blaise was kneeling beside the quivering women, talking to her in a low soothing voice, but keeping his hands visible and refrained from touching her.

“You’re going to pay for this, Malfoy! No one is going to bow down to you. You’re just a pathetic whelp!” Dolohov roared, fighting against his restraints. Theo, who had recently begun watching muggle sports on the telly, kicked Dolohov in the head as if it were a football.

“Shut up, you fucking twat. Not really in the position to make threats.”

“Look around you, Malfoy! Twelve men still stand here who served Rowle, and I was his right hand man. You think they will just let this happen?” He asked, looking around the room wildly. None of the remaining men moved to help him, just stared at Draco or the floor.

“I do, actually. I told Rowle I was bored, but you’ll remember, Dolohov, that I’m also very rich.” He turned to the remaining men. “I can pay you all double the amount, if you agree to follow a few rules.” He began walking back and forth, appearing casual but also secretly keeping a tight grip on his wand. 

“First, we won’t be dealing in sex slaves anymore. No one working for us will have to sell their bodies. On the same topic, everyone will be subjected to legilimency checks. If any of you participated in raping anyone, you will be relieved of your hands and cocks. Secondly, the blood purity shite is done, I’m tired of it. If I hear the word mudblood uttered by any of you, you will find yourself without a tongue. If you can’t agree to these rules, you have the opportunity to leave now. I won’t force anyone to stay here and work for us. If you choose to stay, you better be on board for these changes. Or Theo here will be allowed to do whatever he wants to you.”

Theo looked like Christmas had come early, and was bouncing on the balls of his feet… and still playing with the large knife.

No one moved, aside from the four men on the floor with Dolohov. They attempted to stand, but Draco sent stinging hexes at them. 

“I wasn’t talking to any of you. You all clearly made your choice when you sided with this bellend. None of you are leaving here alive.” Draco sneered at them. 

Dolohov stared at Draco, a crazed gleam suddenly in his eyes. “Even if I’m dead, there are others out there who won’t side with you, won’t bow to you. And guess what, little Malfoy? We’ve all heard the rumours about who you’ve been visiting in your spare time,” Dolohov snarled.

“Who exactly is that?” Draco narrowed his eyes at the git.

“Potter’s mudblood, Hermione Granger. We all know you’ve been helping her get her pathetic little laws passed since you got out of prison. How is she returning the favour? They call her the Golden Girl, yeah? So I have to ask, is her cunt golden too? I know I’m not the only one who’s curious. It must be if it’s turned you into a pussy whipped imbecile.”

Theo began laughing hysterically. “Oh fuck, Dolohov, you plonker, you just made a huge mistake. Your death was already going to be painful, but now that you just insulted Draco’s girl? Fuck, this is going to be drawn out for daaaaaays. Hey, you!” He pointed to one of the random blokes watching from the sidelines. “Do you have popcorn here?”

“Theo, be quiet,” Blaise said with a sigh.

Draco knelt down to Dolohov. His rage was causing his magic to crackle along his skin, but he wasn’t going to use it, not this time. “Well then we better send the others you’re speaking about a message.” He stood and spoke loudly. “Blaise, please check the building and escort any and all women out of here. Ensure they receive whatever medical attention they need. I imagine you may need some help,” Draco finally broke eye contact with Dolohov to look at his mate, who nodded before ushering the woman out of the room. Blaise and Theo didn’t want anyone to know about Luna yet, but Draco knew Blaise would get her to help.

Draco levitated Dolohov and arranged him spread eagle in the air, their eyes level. Then he held out his open palm to Theo. He walked over, hesitated, and gave Draco a high five.

“For fucks sake, Theo, give me the blade!” Draco snapped.

“Shit, my bad.” Theo giggled before placing it in Draco’s hand.

By the time Draco was done an hour later, several of the remaining men had vomited on themselves. Dolohov was covered in his own blood, piss, and shit, but still just barely breathing.

“Let this be a warning to anyone who attempts to talk badly about my girl. You will be punished.” He pulled an empty vial out of his pocket and extracted the memory of Dolohov’s torture. He gave it to one of his new employees (one who was clearly made of stronger stuff and hadn’t puked) and ensured he got the memory out to anyone who would doubt Draco.

He gave Theo back the kn!fe. “Don’t kill him, but if you want to heal him and keep playing, go ahead.”

After Draco searched the minds of the remaining employees, he sent them home and exited the building. The sun was just cresting over the horizon. He knew he needed sleep, but he was wired. Not just from the nights events, but because tonight he would finally be going on a date with his stunning curly haired swot.

Chapter Text

He arrived at exactly seven sharp. When she opened the door, his heated gaze dragged down her silhouette, eyeing every dip and curve. He grasped the doorframe, as if his legs were going to give out.

“You trying to kill me, Hermione?” His knuckles were turning white with how tightly he was gripping the doorframe.

She looked down at herself and back up to him. “You are the one who sent this to me to wear! All I did was put it on.” She wore a form fitting red dress, with tiny crystal straps and a matching choker necklace. Along with black  heels with red bottoms. She didn’t want him dictating what she wore, however she knew it would be part of this ridiculous ‘deal.’ Hermione also admitted to herself it felt nice to be spoiled. She would allow it, since this would be the only time she would be going out with him. 

“True, guess I'm a masochist," he said before biting his lower lip.

She rolled her eyes and then she took him in. He wore a black suit, perfectly tailored, hugging him in all the right places. 

He offered his arm. This time she was prepared to be apparated, although he surprised her by pulling a handkerchief out. Before she could question him, he touched a blue glowing object and they were whisked away. 

Hermione hated portkeys. She held his arm tightly once they landed so she didn’t tumble. One of his large hands landed on her hip to support her. She had not been touched there in over six months, and she involuntarily shivered.

“Where are we?” She asked to distract herself. It was still dark, and they were in an alley. She avoided his eyes and finally released him, and without looking back she walked to the end and discovered the bloody Eiffel Tower.

“Paris? Aren't you on probation and supposed to remain in Britain? How did you manage to get an international portkey?” She whirled on him, and was surprised to see him looking more pale than normal, which was saying something since he already could be mistaken for a vampire with his alabaster skin. His eyes were closed tightly, and he held a hand to his abdomen. “Are you alright?” she asked, concerned.

He opened his eyes and gave her a tight smile before answering. “I’m alright, just had a bit of a long day after you left.” He then pulled a potion out of his pocket and downed it, his body relaxing when he did. “As for your other questions, do you really want to know?”

She stared at him. He promised not to lie to her, but he was also giving her a way out. Allowing her to metaphorically keep her eyes closed to any law breaking he was obviously doing. She shook her head.

He whisked her to a high end muggle restaurant, with a stunning view of the tower and river. He easily spoke in fluent French to the staff. It was not making her thighs clench.

He had an air of danger to him that also was not attractive. She wasn’t the only one to sense it either- whenever another patron's eyes lingered on her legs for too long, Malfoy shot them a look, and whoever was ogling her practically cowered, even when Malfoy was clearly half their age.

When she mentioned this, he smirked and held his hands out as if in surrender. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just a sheep in wolf’s clothing.”

“You? A sheep?” She laughed lightly.

“Well, only for you. Otherwise I really am a wolf.” His smirk turned into a grin, and his pearly white teeth and pointed incisors truly did make him look like a wild predator.

“I never would have pegged you as a wolf, more as a dragon.”

He leaned as close to her as he could, speaking low, his breath ghosting across her face. “I’ll be whatever you want if pegging is involved.” 

Her breath hitched and her cheeks heated. She picked up her wine glass and took a long drink, needing a distraction from his piercing stare. She couldn’t allow herself to become enamoured by him. There was a reason she was here.

“So are you going to tell me why you're stalking me?”

“Alright, that was the deal. I think you will end up being disappointed though.” He then took a drink of his red wine before continuing. “You got me through Azkaban.”

“What?”

“I wasn’t coping well. If it was possible to kill yourself in there, I would have been gone within the first three months. I’m pretty sure I was just starting to lose my mind when one day you were on the cover of The Daily Prophet. You were fighting to have your house elf bill passed, and the Wizengamot was giving you trouble. You looked threatening, powerful, fucking radiant- like fiendfyre. It was like I could feel the heat from your flames through the paper, and it- you- warmed me in that desolate hellhole. I had nothing but time, so when I really thought about it, I realized I never hated you. I resented you, because you made it look effortless to join the wizarding world. I’m sure it wasn’t, but I couldn’t make sense of that when I was younger, not with my parents breathing down my neck, and then the war. Resentment turned to awe to obsession. It gave me something to focus on; you gave me hope and purpose. I wasn’t getting enough information from the paper, so I hired a wizarding PI. When I found out about your ex, I wanted to help you like you helped me. I’m sure I could have gone about it in a better way, and I’m sorry if it humiliated you, that wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry for a lot of things, but that’s another conversation.”

Hermione sat in stunned silence, turning over his words. Threatening, powerful, radiant, fiendfyre, obsession. Her eyes burned as she held back tears at all of the information- it was overwhelming. How alone he must have felt not wanting to be alive anymore in prison. How matter of fact he was about all of it. A myriad of emotions hit her. Sadness. Anger. Shock. Want. But she shoved that last one down, unsure where it even came from. In her silence, he spoke again

“Look, Hermione, if I truly thought my feelings were unrequited, I would leave you alone.” Then he paused and looked thoughtful. “Actually, I wouldn’t. Either way, I think you want me, you're just too afraid to admit it to yourself.  But I’ve got time, and I don’t mind waiting.”

It was the second time she questioned if he used legilimency on her- but she didn’t feel anything against her mental walls. It still left her unsettled.

“I’m not afraid-” a wicked grin crossed his face when she said this. “-I meant, there is nothing to be afraid of because there are no feelings for you.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night, sweetheart.”

Her jaw dropped in indignation. “I would like to go home now.” She stood before he could answer.

The stupid grin on his stupid (handsome) face remained, and he stood as well, his hand grazing her lower back as he escorted her out.

“Oh, you're not paying? Shocking, coming from a criminal such as yourself,” She snapped.

“I won’t take that personally because you are obviously projecting your own insecurities onto me about fancying said ‘criminal,’ but I own the place, Hermione. No thievery is occurring tonight.”

As he dropped her back at her front door, he gently lifted her hand to his mouth, his lips just barely grazing it. Then he winked and was gone, leaving her feeling restless in more ways than one.

Chapter Text

I don’t mind waiting.

Those words had certainly bit him in the arse.

Two months had passed since he said that. While they were true, he would wait a millennia for her, he was also getting antsy.

He still visited her at the coffee shop. Sometimes she ignored him, other times she would glare, and on rare occasions she would send him a small smile. Sometimes just for fun (and attention), he would smirk and spread his legs wide. She always noticed, and once even tripped slightly as her cheeks turned the most delicious shade of pink.

He was usually up all night prior to visiting her due to his new line of work. Some were unhappy that Draco took over, due to his ‘young age and lack of experience.’ He had to give demonstrations like he had with Dolohov to show he was not one to be fucked with. No one else had mentioned Hermione, so he assumed Dolohov must have been bluffing.

He had gotten in at four in the morning today and had accidentally fallen asleep, fully clothed and covered in blood. He awoke with a jolt, and checked the time to see he was usually at the coffee shop by now, and Hermione would be too. He showered, which took longer due to bodily fluids being matted into his hair. When he apparated there he was twenty minutes late.

The coffee shop owner- an older woman who reminded Draco of the Weasley Matriarch- smiled when he walked in.

“You just missed her, and she was definitely disappointed, although she tried to hide it. Waited for you,” she called to him, even while helping another customer.

“Thanks Frannie,” he replied. He walked to the front and shoved a twenty pound note in the tip jar, and she smiled. He just turned away when she spoke again.

“Thanks, lovey. At least you sent that other man to greet her today.”

He turned back to her slowly. “What man?”

“One of your employees, I think I heard him say. Said you were in a meeting but still wanted someone to escort her to work. Only came in about five minutes ago. She didn’t look happy about it, you might be in the dog house for that one, lovey.”

“What did he look like?” He tried to remain calm, there was a small chance it was Theo.

“Big brute of a man. Bald. Smiled but honestly he was a little unsettling, I think you should send someone else next time.”

He nodded and quickly exited the shop, looking around. He tried to tell himself not to panic- he had many new employees and he was trying to wrack his brain if any of them fit that description. Then he heard her unmistakable voice, but it was shrill.

“-I said no, get your hands off me! Hel-” she was abruptly cut off. 

He ran towards her voice coming from an alley nearby, and what he saw filled him with rage.

A man just as Frannie described was holding Hermione by the throat, her toes barely grazing the ground, her face quickly turning red. She was clawing at him, trying and failing to get him off of her. Her blouse was ripped open and his other hand roughly groping her breast, his mouth aggressively biting at her collarbone.

A fury he had never felt before flowed through him, so the wandless Unforgivable Curse that left his mouth without thought wasn’t a surprise.

“Crucio,” he whispered, which didn’t make the spell any less intense. The fucker dropped immediately, as Draco put every ounce of fury and wrath into it. 

He dropped Hermione and she collapsed, gasping and sobbing. Draco held the spell as he briskly walked to her, and only stopped once he was beside her. He hoisted her up, but she must have been disoriented because she tried to push him away. “Please, stop.” 

“Hermione, it’s Draco. You’re safe now, he won’t hurt you again.”

When she realized this, she grasped at his jacket, pulling him back to her. She began to sob harder against his chest, her hands shaking. Guilt crashed over him like a bucket of ice water. Her cries were raspy, clearly having damage to her esophagus.

The soon to be dead man groaned, and Draco shot a stunner at him. Then he pulled out his phone and dialed with one hand, his other arm wrapped tightly around Hermione.

It rang four times before Theo answered. 

“This better be good, I’ve got Luna in my arse and had Blaise in my mouth-”

“Hermione’s been attacked, I need the three of you right fucking now,” he growled.

“Where are you?” Theo’s voice had turned dark

He told him and within two minutes they appeared. Draco set up a muggle repelling charm so they could apparate directly into the alley.

Luna immediately approached. Her eyes darted around the alley, taking in the scene before speaking to Hermione.

“Hullo, Hermione, it’s Luna. It's been a while. I heard there was an incident, and can see you are hurt. Would it be okay if we have a look at you? Only if you want, there is no pressure to do anything you are not comfortable with,” she spoke in her usual dreamlike voice. Kind, but unwavering. 

After a moment of hesitation he felt Hermione nod against his chest.

“Thank you. Is it okay if I help you adjust your jacket? Blaise is here and has some healer training, could he have a look at you by chance?”

“Za-Zabini?” She croaked.

“Yes. I promise he won’t hurt you, I trust him with my life.”

He felt her nod and he stared at the brick wall as Luna assisted Hermione to cover herself. Blaise walked over and smiled slightly at her before he began to work with his wand, explaining to Hermione exactly what he was doing while not touching her. Then he spoke to Draco.

“I’ve done what I can so it’s safe for her to apparate, but we need to get out of here, she’s going into shock. Give her this calming draught first, and then head to your place. Theo and I will handle him-”

“-don’t kill him, I’m far from done with him,” Draco snarled.

Blaise nodded and handed him the potion. Draco uncorked it and held it to her lips. “Swallow, please.”

She hesitated but did. She slumped against him slightly, a dazed look on her face. Then he apparated them away.

Chapter Text

Hermione immediately let go of him when arriving at his flat, avoiding his eye and not saying a word. He didn’t blame her, it was like she finally realized it was all his fault. 

Luna had whisked her away to a spare room to have a closer look at her injuries, having learned a few things from Blaise. 

He arrived a short while later, informing Draco that Theo was having a ‘chat’ with the large man. Then he went to check on Hermione.

Draco paced, tension filling his body the longer he did nothing, the guilt felt like it was going to swallow him whole. My fault. My fault. My fault. It repeated in his head like a broken record. He felt like he was losing his mind, similar to how he felt in Azkaban. Except this time he didn’t have Hermione’s warmth, if anything he had snuffed her fiendfyre out.

It felt like the walls were closing in- he had to get out of there. He was useless to Hermione, but he could check in on Theo.

When he got to their main headquarters, his employees avoided his gaze, clearly having heard what had happened.

He walked into the room, surprised to find the man silent and unharmed, although tied to a chair. Theo leaned against the wall, but stood up when Draco walked in.

“I’ve tried asking questions but he’s refusing to talk. I thought you would want to be here before we went further.”

Without saying anything, Draco walked up and backhanded the man across the face.

“Did you just slap me? You little-”

“Who do you work for?” Draco interrupted.

The man leaned forward and grinned. “I’ll tell you, if you give me an hour alone with your witch- ARRRGGGG!!”

Draco had shoved his thumb in the man’s left eye as hard as he could, feeling it squish and squelch under the pressure he added.

“Let’s try again, who do you work for? If you know what’s good for you, you will keep any further comments about her to yourself.”

He hung his head low before he began to chuckle. “I bet she has a tight little-”

His mouth kept moving but Draco couldn’t hear him. He turned to find Theo stowing his wand.

“You don’t need to listen to that, mate. You can let me handle this if you like.”

“No, Theo, I need this. I can’t just stand around waiting for Luna and Blaise to tell me how she is. I’m losing my fucking mind. Besides, once we finish with this git for the day- because I plan to keep him around for weeks- I need you to start on me.”

“Draco, you don’t-”

“It’s my fault. I should have been there. They also clearly have been following her and I long enough to realize our routine. I should have picked up on that. If you won’t do it, then I’ll do it to myself.” He snapped, his anger for both the situation and himself bubbling over. He needed to be disciplined, and he only trusted Theo to do it well enough. Luna refused, and Blaise was too easy on him. He would potentially push it too far if he punished himself, his self loathing was at an all time high.

Theo knew this. He just sighed and dragged a hand down his face before walking over to a table and pulling a tablecloth off to reveal various instruments, muggle and wizarding. Potions that made people see their greatest fears, or took away all of their senses. Along with healing potions, pepper-up, and Skelegro. Then there were knives of various sizes and sharpness (sometimes a dull blade was more effective in the right circumstances), a blowtorch, pliers, cigar cutter, ball gag, a long thin glass tube, and-

“Salazars bollocks, Theo, why must you always use the guitar?”

“Oi! I have a 80% success rate of getting information out of people when I use it. You know this. Luna thinks it’s brilliant.”

“Fine, but I don’t want to be here when you use it. I would rather start with some other things, I need some stress relief.” He picked up one of the knives and cancelled the silencing charm.

“Alright you arrogant piece of Hippogriff shite, I know you think you’re tough, but I promise you have no idea what you are in for. I assume you know Antonin Dolohov?”

The large man just grunted in response, blood dripping down his cheek from his no longer there eyeball.

“He only threatened my girl. He didn’t lay a finger on her-”

“Technically he cursed her years ago at the Ministry though, right?” Theo chimed in.

“Theo, I am not in the fucking mood,” he snarled. Theo pretended to zip his mouth closed and throw away a key.

Draco turned back to the man. “Dolohov is still alive, but barely. Not much left of him, last I looked. You are about to be in the same boat, but maybe I’ll take it easier on you if you tell me the truth. So, last chance, who do you work for?”

He spit in Draco’s face.

“I was hoping he would do something like that,” Theo said happily, incapable of being silent for longer than a few minutes.

Draco scourgified it off and then smirked. “Me too. So let’s play.”

Then they got to work.

Chapter Text

Hermione woke slowly, feeling more rested than she had in a while. She stretched deeply before opening her eyes, and then sat up with a jolt. She was in an unfamiliar bed.

Then it all came rushing back to her.

“You’re pretty, for a mudblood.”

“Your boyfriend won’t want you after we are through with you.”

“I think I’ll have a taste before we get there.”

His hand grabbing her throat so tightly she feared he would snap her neck.

Her inability to breath. 

How he ripped her blouse open and squeezed her so hard, the pain so sharp that if she had been able to scream she would have.

His mouth on her chest-

Fear coursed through her as her heart accelerated, her breath coming in short pants. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to calm down.

“Fuck, Hermione, you’re safe, okay?” His deep timber broke through her panic. She opened her eyes to see Malfoy standing in front of her, looking deeply concerned. She wasn’t even aware he had entered the room. 

“I have someone here that may help.” Before she could tell him she didn’t want to see anyone, he pushed the door open wider and Crookshanks bounded into the room, jumped on the bed and nuzzled against her. She hugged him against her chest, shoved her face into his wild fur, and inhaled deeply. The smell of Crookshanks- something real, something she knew well- helped her calm down, and eventually her breathing slowed.

When she looked up, Malfoy was in the same spot, staring at the floor. He looked exhausted, the bags under his eyes so dark they looked bruised. She had never seen his hair so messy, as if he had been tugging on it. He looked truly haunted.

Luna walked in and sat on the bed. 

“Thank you for getting him for me, Luna.” Hermione had strong wards on her flat, but Luna was one of a few individuals who she had given access to, even though she didn’t see her often. She trusted her odd blonde friend with her life.

“It was no trouble, Hermione. You should know it was Draco’s idea though, not mine.” She reached out and scratched Crook's head.

Hermione looked back at him, his gaze was still fixed on the floor.

“Thank you, Malfoy,” she said, truly meaning it.

He scoffed. “No worries, Granger.” He then left the room, closing the door behind him.

Granger. It felt like a punch to the gut, he had not called her that since the first time they spoke after his release. 

“You’ve done nothing wrong, Hermione,” Luna said, as if reading her mind. “He’s not handling your attack well. He feels responsible.”

“Why would he feel responsible?” She asked with a furrowed brow.

“It was related to his… line of work. He plans to deal with the threat, and then ‘leave you be.’ His words, not mine.”

An unexpected grief washed over Hermione. She only recently admitted to herself that she had feelings for him (they had been present for a while of course, but she had ignored them). It felt nice to be cared for, even if he had gone about it the wrong way. He had said he would wait for her, so she was using that time to come to grips with it all.

She also didn’t blame him for what happened to her. Although perhaps she should.

Hermione didn’t know exactly what he did for work, although she had strong suspicions. Harry mentioned some rumours that arose in the DMLE about a new crime boss in the wizarding world. Whoever it was was being portrayed as sadistic, evil, and quite possibly mad. None of their informants were able to tell them who it was. When they tried, they would become confused and start reciting pudding recipes. It was driving the Aurors barmy.

This all seemed to coincide with Malfoy's release. Between that, and his overall demeanour, she was taking a wild guess that he was, at the very least, connected to it. 

Something that she had been dwelling on the most was that a large part of her didn’t care. Obviously she had morals, yet the thought of him being involved in all of this not only didn’t bother her much, it intrigued her. Then she would scold herself, knowing it was wrong to want a known criminal. Her mind was warring with itself, and she despised it.

Hermione shook the confusing thoughts from her mind. She still didn’t know what she was going to do about Malfoy, but she knew one thing. She didn’t remember much of the aftermath of her attack, although she did pick up one specific thing Malfoy had said.

I’m far from done with him.

Hermione moved Crookshanks off her lap, and with as much confidence as she could muster, left the room, knowing Luna was trailing behind her. She followed the sound of low voices, and found Malfoy and Theo in the kitchen.

“I want to see him.”

Malfoy's jaw tightened. “I don’t think-”

“Is he alive?” She interrupted.

Theo coughed and very clearly said the word barely.

Malfoy glared at him, and the dark haired man shrugged. “I had a tickle in my throat. It’s drier than Umbridge's knickers in here.”

Luna giggled.

Hermione stepped close to Malfoy and looked him directly in the eye. He inhaled sharply and shoved his hands in his trouser pockets, as if stopping himself from touching her.

“Take me to him. Please.”

His eyes shifted between hers. “Why?”

She pushed her shoulders back and lifted her chin.

“He hurt me, made me feel small and weak. Even as I pleaded with him to stop, he wouldn’t.” She took a deep breath to settle the fear that threatened to overwhelm her again.

“I want to return the favour. I want to make him beg.”

Chapter Text

Draco didn’t want to do this. 

He didn’t want Hermione to see the disgusting flobberworm that assaulted her; he worried it would cause her to spiral. When he heard her panicked breathing and whimpering before sending Crookshanks in, he wanted to throw himself off his balcony. 

My fault. My fault. My fault. 

He also didn’t want her to see this side of him. He knew what people thought of him, that he was a monster. That he had lost his mind in Azkaban.

Maybe he had. Or maybe sitting in the darkened cell with only his thoughts, and guards beating him for the first few months of his sentence, made him realize that he wanted to release his inner darkness. Holding most of it in during the war hadn’t helped him at all.

Why not unleash it?

Once he did, he couldn’t stop it. He didn’t want to. It was like rain had washed over him when he had finally accepted his inner demons, leaving him feeling cleansed in darkness and reborn anew.

Now she would see it, the darkness. Yet he couldn’t say no to her, not when she said please. How could he deny her, when she begged so prettily? Thank Salazar she didn’t notice his cock twitch when she had said that.

Luna stayed behind, only coming to headquarters when she had to. Draco made Hermione disillusion herself, not wanting anyone to lay their eyes on her. They cancelled the spell once they were in the room where they were keeping the fucker who harmed her. Unfortunately he was withstanding their torture well. Once he divulged the information they needed- Draco knew he would eventually sing like a phoenix- he planned to keep the prat like this for months, perhaps years.

Blaise was already there, healing him enough so they could start again. Theo skipped over to his husband and kissed him sloppily on the cheek, then made his way over to the table of instruments. Hermione followed him, avoiding looking at the man who hurt her. Her eyes widened at the tools, but she pointed to one in particular.

A large fuschia coloured dildo.

“Oh! Yes, that's a new one I’ve been using,” Theo said, a maniacal grin appearing on his face as he picked it up.

“You… use it on him?” She asked, looking alarmed.

“No, we don’t stoop to their level. Just because he’s a raping git, doesn’t mean we do the same. What I do with it is even better! I use it on myself, and then I smack him around with it. As you can see, it’s quite girthy and has a nice weight to it. These pureblood fanatics are also huge homophobes, so they fucking hate it. I’ve even managed to give him a few black eyes. It was Luna’s idea.” 

Draco didn’t think Hermione’s eyebrows could creep any further up her head. 

“That’s… creative.”

“Isn’t it? She's brilliant, our wife. You know, there is a town in Canada I really want to visit-”

“Theo, love, can you stop your barmy nattering please?” Blaise asked without even looking at them.

“But-”

“Shut the fuck up, Theo,” Draco finally grumbled, knowing he wouldn’t listen to his husband.

Theo pouted but halted his rambling. Hermione seemed to have stopped paying attention anyways, staring at the other items before her. Then she looked at Draco, and though he kept his face stony, he knew with just one look from her, he would do anything. Burn the entire earth to ash.

“Can I use my hands instead?”

Fuck, he was going to come in his pants like a third year if she kept talking like that.

“That’s what she said!”

And then Theo had to ruin it.

“What did you have in mind?” He asked, ignoring Theo and instead glancing at the brute. He was staring at Hermione with a dark look on his face. Blaise had healed his eye, regrew the one Draco had decimated.

“I want to choke him, see how he likes it.”

Draco took a deep breath, willing himself not to get hard. Would she choke me while bouncing on my cock if I asked nicely?

“Can I remove his eyes first so he can't look at you?” He asked instead.

He thought she would look fearful at his suggestion, but instead she seemed to ponder it. 

“No, I would rather he watch me do it. See what little effect he had on me.”

Draco knew she was putting on a brave face, since his attack clearly left her unsettled. But he fucking loved her spirit anyways.

He nodded at her, and Blaise stepped aside. Hermione's brow furrowed when she saw his face. “What happened to his mouth?”

Where his mouth should be was just skin. No lips or any opening at all.

“We took it away from him until he decides to reveal who he works for. He's been pretty…mouthy!” Theo said, before slapping his leg like he had said the world's funniest joke.

Hermione’s lips twitched upward, before walking over to him. He narrowed his eyes, and if he had a mouth he would have obviously been sneering.

“I’m not afraid of you. You are pathetic and weak, and I’m sure all you have in your trousers is a tiny prick that can't satisfy any woman.”

Then she wrapped her petite hands around his throat, and squeezed. Draco wasn't sure if she would do much damage, as the gits neck was quite thick. But she must have been stronger than she looked, because his face started turning red, and a flash of panic passed in his eyes. She leaned in, throwing her whole weight into it, as his face turned scarlet. Draco thought the bloke was about to pass out when he seemed to use his last ounce of strength and threw his head forward into Hermione’s face, where a loud crunch sounded.

She stumbled back and grabbed at her nose. Draco should have gone to her, but he snapped. He jumped on the man, his fists landing repeatedly on his face until he was bloody, swollen, unrecognizable and unconscious.

Draco was panting when he finally stopped. Not from exertion, but anger. At this fucker for hurting Hermione again, and at himself for not predicting that would happen. His hands shook and he could feel the skin was split, blood dripping down his fingers to the floor like rain drops.

He was scared to turn and see the state she was in, but he had to. This was it, he couldn't do this to her anymore. He had gone too far by allowing her to get injured twice because of him.

After he ensured her safety, he would leave her alone. 

He clenched his jaw and prepared for the worst.

Blaise was beside her, a diagnostic above her head. Her nose was obviously broken, crimson pouring from it. Yet she looked completely unbothered. She was staring intently at Draco and panting while her eyes were blazing. And she was smiling.

Her fire was back.

Chapter Text

Only two hours had passed since Hermione strangled the man, according to the clock on the wall, although it felt like no time had passed. When she had wrapped her hands around his neck, a flurry of emotions hit her. The first two were only minor; Fear, being in close proximity to the man who assaulted her, and horror at her actions. Primarily though, she felt exhilarated and powerful at inflicting pain on the man who had made her feel small and weak. She wished she could have done this to others as well- the snatchers from the war, Dolohov for cursing her at The Ministry, and even Voldemort himself. Malfoy did flash in her mind, being someone who had caused her pain in the past, yet she realized she didn’t want to harm him now. Only those who had wronged her and gotten away with it, or hadn’t paid their dues.

What many didn’t realize was that she held so much rage from the war and the aftermath of it, even years later. She put on a stoic facade, yet the atrocities that occurred against muggles, muggleborns, and creatures during the war filled her with righteous indignation. As well as the fact that even after everything that occurred, there was still deep rooted prejudice throughout Wizarding society. It made Hermione so angry sometimes that she felt physically ill. 

When the man headbutted her, it obviously hurt and startled her, but it also gave her a rush. Merlin, she was truly living up to her Gryffindor roots. Then watching Malfoy pummel and break apart someone who hurt her intensified her emotions further. A warmth bloomed in her core, her knickers soaked through. He made it look so easy, and he was doing it for her. He was dangerous, Hermione knew, and yet she wasn’t the slightest bit afraid of him.

After that, she had mostly hit and punched the man; Theo had shown her how to enact the most damage with her fists. He also suggested something absolutely barmy, involving the muggle drug Viagara, sandpaper, and using her wand to stroke the man until he was raw. She laughed loudly, unsure if he was being serious or not. She glanced at Malfoy and found he appeared irritated with his mate. However when he caught her gaze, his eyes softened. She politely declined Theo’s offer and he proceeded to pout. 

Hermione now stood before him, unsure what to do next. She wasn’t ready to go home, but she didn’t want to use any of the tools, knowing she wasn’t ready for that yet. Malfoy had stood back and remained silent since beating the man to a pulp, but he finally spoke.

“Theo, Blaise, can you give us a few minutes please?” Malfoy asked. Theo muttered something and Blaise smacked him upside the head as they left.

He stalked over to her, vanishing the cig he had been smoking. Blood was splattered on his clothes, and his piercing gaze sent a shiver down her spine. 

“Have you performed a Crucio before?” He asked. Her eyes widened as she shook her head no. “Do you want to try?”

“Yes,” she replied, without putting much thought into it.

She turned to the man, who had obviously overheard. His eyes were blazing with fury. She felt Draco approach and stand close, but not touch her. 

“You have to mean it. Every single syllable, or it won’t work.”

She tried to steady her hand, although the anticipation made her shake slightly. She still pointed her wand and uttered a spell she never thought she would.

“Crucio.”

Nothing happened. She took a deep breath and tried again with the same result.

“Can I help?” He asked softly. “Just for the first time, once you feel it, it becomes easier.”

She wasn’t sure how he was going to assist, but she nodded. When his hands landed on her hips, she jolted, but his grip remained, his voice low beside her ear.

“Relax. Take a breath again, as deep as you can make it. Try to clear your mind of everything except for the rage and hate you feel. Not just for him, but for anyone and anything who has ever wronged you.”

Hermione closed her eyes and followed his instructions. She thought of all the injustices she felt in her life since she was eleven and discovered she was a witch. Let it fill her to the brim, until she was shocked she wasn’t vibrating from the strength of it. She raised her wand, but before she could make her attempt, she felt something on her hips where Malfoy's hands rested. It felt like ice being held against her skin, yet it wasn’t uncomfortable. His magic. Her breath hitched at its intensity, how strong, cold and dark it felt, although it was also refreshing. Hermione pushed her own magic out, and as if it was a fire, it balanced his. All she felt was pure raw power. 

She pointed her steady hand and whispered the spell.

“Crucio.”

She gasped as she felt a darkness envelop her as she cast and held the spell. It felt both wrong and right at the same time, like she was both drowning in the icy ocean and basking in the hot sun.

She pushed every single drop of hatred she had onto the man. He looked like he was trying to scream, except he still didn’t have a mouth, so that alone must have been incredibly uncomfortable. The dark magic was alive in her very soul, making her feel electric and strong. A giddiness overcame her, and she pushed it further. She realized Malfoy was whispering into her ear, urging her on.

“You are so powerful.”

“You look magnificent, like a fucking goddess.”

“Make him hurt like he hurt you.”

“I’ve never seen anything sexier.”

She felt high on both his praise and the force of the dark magic flying through her veins.

“Oi! That’s enough!” A deep voice sounded and broke her out of the trance that had taken hold of her.

She took a rasping breath and blinked, before taking in the man. He was bleeding profusely from his eyes, nose, and ears. He stared blankly at the ceiling, looking like he didn’t have a single thought between his eyes. 

Blaise, who she now realized was the one who spoke, stepped forward and began casting spells.

“Why did you stop her?” Draco snapped.

“Well if you want to get any information from the bloke she had to stop. Even now, I don’t know if the damage inflicted is reversible.”

“I-it was an accident, I didn’t me-mean to,” She stumbled over her words as an all consuming dread began to fill her. What had she done? This wasn’t her, she didn’t torture people. She was good.

Not anymore, a dark voice whispered in her mind.

Her breathing picked up, and all she felt was despair, like it was going to swallow her whole. She heard voices, but nothing seemed to settle her turmoil.

“-too far for her first time, Draco-”

“-she was handling it, I helped her-”

“-she’s not used to dark magic-”

“-going into shock, may need to-”

The voices seemed to distort, reminding her of the adults in the muggle cartoon from her childhood, Charlie Brown. Through her struggling breaths, a hysterical laugh escaped her, and she wondered if the men would understand the reference.

“-do it.” 

Malfoy's deep cadence was the last thing that broke through, before everything went dark.

Chapter Text

Draco knew he should feel guiltier, just as he had before when she had been harmed due to him.

And he did, although not as much as previous instances. He slipped away to the loo when they returned to his flat, leaving Blaise to check over Hermione. He used several Diffindos on his forearm, but compared to other times, this punishment was truly mild. Although he made the slashes deep enough to scar, wanting the reminder of his failures.

He stared at his own blood dripping from his fingertips onto the floor. How had he ever thought it superior to her blood, her magic?

Draco wanted to send her a little of his own magic to assist with the Crucio, give her a burst of the darkness within him, knowing it would help. He couldn’t see her face, but he could sense that she was disappointed she couldn’t manage the spell. He hadn’t expected to feel her magic reach back. It was like the sun was shining within him- warm and bubbly, not something he was used to.

Even with that joyful magic flowing through her, she still cast the dark curse so fucking perfectly, so beautifully. It was a sight to behold, and he meant every single praise he whispered in her ear. She truly looked like a dark magic goddess. She had been so focused, he was certain she didn’t notice his hardened length straining against his trousers, pressed against her lower back. Solely due to her brilliance, power, and beauty.

Well, and the torture.

He could have watched her hurt the git for hours, but Blaise just had to intervene. Draco understood why- they needed to know who the fucker was working for. Unfortunately it now seemed the man’s brain was scrambled.

Draco should have expected the intense dark magic crash Hermione would experience. Most people shouldn’t be able to perform a Crucio on their first try, let alone such a strong one. It was clear she overdid it; her magical core wasn’t used to casting an Unforgivable Curse, even if it was capable of wielding the darkness so breathtakingly.

She panicked while also going into magical shock. Blaise quickly abandoned the tortured tosser when he noticed Hermione’s erratic breathing, and after a quick discussion they decided she needed to be stunned to prevent any damage to her core. Draco gathered her limp body and brought her back again to his flat.

In his loo, he healed himself enough to stem the flow of blood and entered the bedroom, where Blaise immediately began speaking.

“She will need a lot of chocolate when she wakes. If you two were truly together, I would also suggest sex or even snogging, but even then, she may not be up to it after her assault. Either way, her dopamine levels will be severely depleted. She would likely be too weak to exercise. I’ll talk to Whimsy, there are certain foods he can make her that are high in-”

“Blaise, my stunningly brilliant husband, please speak English,” Theo grumbled.

Blaise rolled his eyes but looked pointedly at Draco, who nodded before changing the subject. “What about the nameless prick?”

“Obviously Hermione is more important, and he certainly deserved her wrath. I only interrupted due to it being her first dark magic casting and because you guys still need information from him. Although from what I could tell, his mind is shattered-”

“Yeah, but I bet she looked fantastic. I know you helped her Draco, but that looked like a very strong curse, especially for her first time. I wish you hadn’t kicked us out, gods I’m getting hard just- ahh fuuuck! Draco, not because of her, because torture makes me randy! Stooooppp!” Theo had interrupted Blaise again, but at the mention of him getting hard Draco sent a Diffindo at him, which only hit his upper arm. It wasn’t even that deep, Theo was being a baby.

Blaise released a long suffering sigh before he started healing his husband, and Draco began speaking as if no interruption occurred.

“Do you think we can use legilimency on him now? If his mind is such a mess.”

They had of course tried multiple times, but along with being able to withstand torture, the giant git was also skilled in occlumency. If he hadn’t of hurt Hermione, he would have been an asset to their team.

“Worth a try, although it may be just as difficult to get any information from him like this than it was before.” Blaise finished placing a bandage on Theo’s arm and kissed it before standing up. “I should get back. You can wake her in an hour. If she starts to panic again, stun her and send me a message. I’ll grab Luna from home and have her come in, she’s the best at legilimency out of the three of us. Come on, Theo, I think Draco has had enough of you for today.” He said as he dragged his sulky husband away.

Draco sat on the edge of the bed and watched her sleep. He was sure if someone walked in it would look incredibly creepy, but he didn’t care. He pushed a few of her wild tendrils from her face, loving the feel of them in his fingers. He almost didn’t want to wake her, not knowing if he would get this chance again, however he knew it was necessary.

“Enervate.”

She took a deep breath before slowly blinking her eyes open. When her sleepy gaze landed on him she smiled softly, which he returned immediately.

“Hi,” he whispered.

“Hi.” As she blinked her eyes open more, her smile disappeared and she groaned. “Godric, what happened? I feel like death, like I should be buried in a graveyard, not in this ridiculously comfortable bed.”

“You performed your first Crucio, which was unsurprisingly brilliant. The magical crash from it hit you pretty hard though. We had to stun you, so you're back at my flat.”

“Oh.” Her eyes glazed over with tears. She sniffled as they spilled over. “Merlin, I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m crying.”

“It’s the come down. Here,” he summoned a large chocolate bar from the kitchen, broke a piece off and handed it to her. She nibbled on it as more tears poured down her face, and he gently grasped her hand. “You’ve had an extremely trying couple of days. It makes sense you are upset.”

“It’s strange. I have this shadow over me that’s not usually there, making me depressed. I know logically it’s from the use of dark magic. Outside of that, I really don’t feel upset. I know I should be, I know I will likely have some sort of breakdown and need to see my mind healer about the assault, but right now it’s really not bothering me.” She shook her head, as if trying to release the many emotions plaguing her. “I just really want to feel good. Is there something besides chocolate that helps?”

“Blaise was going to speak to Whimsy about some other foods to give you that may help.”

She stared at him intently for a long moment. “Anything else? Something that works faster?” 

He hesitated only briefly before replying, while returning her heated gaze. “I suspect you already know.” 

The tension in the room built. As much as he wanted to pin her down and fuck her until she wouldn’t remember any former man’s cock inside of her, he wouldn’t do that in her current state. Although he was willing to snog her breathless, but she needed to make the first move.

After what felt like eternity, she leaned towards him, her lips hovering above his for a long moment, as if seeing if he would pull away. When he didn’t, she moved closer, her soft, plump lips just pressing against his-

“Draco! Get to headquarters immediately, there is something urgent you need to see!” Blaise’s worried voice sounded from his green anaconda patronus, and the moment passed like smoke in the wind.

Chapter Text

“Blaise, this better be good, or I swear on Salazar's grave I will skin everyone here alive,” Draco snarled. He had been so bloody close to finally having her as his. She kissed him, something he had been fucking dreaming about for years. When Blaise’s patronus dissipated she had already pulled away and insisted he go, that she was going to try and nap again, and promised to remain at his flat. He had summoned Whimsy and asked him to check in on her after an hour.

He found Blaise with the still unknown man. Theo was there too, looking unusually stony- faced, and Luna, whose face looked blank.

“We figured we would try looking in his mind, just to see if anything was there. Luna came to help, since she’s the best of the three of us and you were with Hermione…” he trailed off.

“Okay? What did you find?” Draco asked, still feeling annoyed.

“I think you should have a look for yourself, Draco,” Luna murmured.

Draco rolled his eyes at all the secrecy, but knew it would be best not to argue. He approached the man, who still appeared catatonic, and pointed the tip of his wand to his temple.

“Legilimens.”

The man’s mind was dark and foggy, with the occasional flash, as if he was standing in a thunderstorm at night without the rain. Nothing obvious stood out to Draco. 

“I’ll help you find it,” Luna’s voice echoed in his own mind. It startled him and he almost dropped the spell. He wasn’t sure how she was doing it, but he appreciated the assistance.

The fog moved, whirling as if it was a tornado. Then a gust of wind propelled him forward toward a door he hadn’t noticed with the fog.

He opened it and entered a dark space. It was fuzzy, but he saw the man sitting at a table with someone across from him. He couldn’t make them out, their appearance and voice distorted.

“You are certain about this information, William?” The person asked the large man. William, finally a name.

“Yes. He went to several Wizengamot members on her behalf. He said ‘The Malfoy Family supports all of Hermione Granger’s bills, she's brilliant,’ according to Thorfinn. His cousin who holds the Wizengamot for their family reported it, since it was Draco who he spoke to. Dolohov also said he wants to meet with Thorfinn. We wanted to know why, so we put a tail on him and discovered he has been meeting her every morning for coffee.”

Draco watched the scene closely. It was all important information, yet he didn't know why it was an emergency to call him in. He suddenly felt what he was sure was Luna’s magic. As the other individual spoke, the scene slowly began to clear.

“Thank you for the information, William. As soon as I am back in control of the accounts, I will be supporting the cause handsomely.”

“How will you manage to reclaim control?”

The scene sharpened further, and what Draco saw made his blood run cold.

“If he wants to be with a mudblood so badly, he can have her in death. I no longer consider him my son. Find out why he wants the meeting with Rowle, and then dispose of him. The accounts will revert back to me, as the sole remaining Malfoy,” Lucius Malfoy spat.

Draco’s heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest. His own father was not only the reason behind Hermione's attack, but was also involved with Rowle and wanted Draco dead?

The memory had not ended, so there must be more. Draco forced himself to listen.

“One more thing, William, how is my whore of a wife doing?”

No.

William chuckled darkly before speaking. “She's quite the lass, Lucius. Took her for a spin myself before we sent her out for public consumption. Makes a lot of money for us. We keep her polyjuiced though, since her death was front page news. Cutting out her tongue was brilliant on your part, along with whatever spell you used to ensure it remains like that, no matter who she transforms into.”

No.

“Well, when it came out she betrayed the Dark Lord, and in turn betrayed me, I couldn't let it stand. She's the reason Draco is so spineless and weak, she coddled him too much as a child. I pinned her down, used her for all she was good for one last time, and then removed her tongue the muggle way. I don't usually like using their savage tactics, but a dull blade certainly inflicted more pain than a simple slicing hex.”

NO!

The memory became foggy again, and Draco dropped the spell. He collapsed onto the ground as a guttural scream ripped from his throat.

Chapter Text

Everything felt wrong.

His throat ached from screaming.

His head throbbed from the overwhelming information he discovered. 

His hands were in agony from beating William to death. 

Draco had pounced on the restrained man and unleashed all of his anguish, rage, and heartbreak.

Now all that remained of William was a caved in skull.

Blaise forced him to take a calming draught, but it didn't help, just left him feeling more wrong.

“How did you not see this?” He finally whispered after a time.

“See what?” Blaise asked with a puzzled frown.

“Luna. How did you not see this?” Draco asked again, more firmly this time.

“I don't see everything, I don’t choose my visions. As I’ve mentioned, I don’t see things to do with Hermione.”

“And my mother?” He asked in a quiet voice.

“I don't know, Draco. I'm sorry.”

“THATS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!” He roared, ignoring the pain in his throat and head, tears streaming down his face. Theo and Blaise both pointed their wands at him.

“Don’t you dare speak to her that way again, Draco, or I’ll make our previous torture sessions look like a walk by The Black Lake,” Theo said darkly.

“It's alright my loves, Draco wont hurt me. He's in pain and lashing out, I don’t take it personally.” She placed a hand on both of their wands, forcing them to be lowered.

Draco raised a shaking hand to his face to wipe away the tears, but hissed in pain, having momentarily forgotten they were broken.

He heard light footsteps approach him, and a dainty hand delicately held one of his.

“Episkey.”

Draco grunted in discomfort as his knuckles healed. She repeated the process on the other side and released him.

“I’ve never done hands before, a few toes and a nose once. Funnily enough, it was you who had caused the fractured nasal bone.”

He ignored the comment, assuming she was speaking of one of her husbands- likely Theo. “Thank you, Luna,” he said quietly, and she smiled sadly at him before speaking again.

“Blaise, did any of the women have missing tongues when you assessed them before they were released? It wasn't something I noticed,” Luna asked her husband instead of replying to Draco.

“No, all of them were intact.”

Luna looked thoughtful for a moment. “And what of Dolohov?”

“He’s still alive, if that's what you are asking. Although we never found anything of importance in his memories,” Theo answered, his voice still grave.

“Perhaps it's time I pay him a visit myself,” Luna replied. While her voice had her usual dreamy cadence, there was an undertone of fire present. “I know you are a skilled legilimens, Draco, but-” 

“You’re better. We should have had you look in the first place,” Draco said.

“I wouldn't say better. I just have a habit of noticing things others miss. Theo, will you escort me?”

Before Theo could reply, Whimsy apparated into the room.

“Master Draco, pardon the interruption, but is the Miss here?” The small elf asked as he wrung his hands.

“Hermione? No, why?” Draco snapped, his heart immediately beginning to hammer behind his ribs.

“She’s gone, sir. She's no longer at your flat, and I can't find her.”

Chapter Text

Hermione watched Malfoy storm from the room. She couldn't believe she kissed him, even if just for a moment. She should be berating herself for it, yet she couldn't, not when it felt so right.

She still felt emotionally drained, the chocolate and the small kiss helping, but not doing enough to assist in the dark magic crash. She told Malfoy she would try to get more sleep, and while she tried for a short time, her anxiety was heightened. From the come down and from whatever Blaise had wanted. The handful of times she spoke to him, he was very level headed and reserved, but the hint of worry in his patronus left her feeling unsettled.

Luna had brought Hermione’s trusty beaded purse from her flat when she collected Crookshanks. Hermione kept her cell phone in it, although she didn't check it often. With nothing else to do she thought it would be a good distraction from the dark cloud looming over her. 

Luna had mentioned she owled the ministry pretending to be Hermione after her assault and informed them she would be taking a few personal days. So when she opened her phone she should have been better prepared for the onslaught of messages.

Are you okay? I came to meet you for lunch and your boss said you were off for a few days.

I went to your flat to find both you and Crookshanks gone, where are you?

Hermione, I'm getting worried, please contact someone. This isn’t like you.

‘Mione, let us know you are okay, Harry and I are worried sick. He’s about to open a missing person investigation.

Hermione???

Messages from Harry and Ginny, and countless missed calls. Merlin, she had been so preoccupied she hadn't thought to message or owl them. She was in the midst of typing an excuse when her phone lit up and rang. It was Ron.

Her first instinct was to ignore it, however he had been weirdly respective of her space once the divorce was finalized. She had told him they could perhaps be friends one day, but for the time being she wanted nothing to do with him. Hoping he was with Harry and Ginny, she decided to answer.

“Hello, Ronald.”

“Hermione. We have been trying to reach you.” His tone sounded odd, almost robotic, although it was unmistakably his voice.

“I know, I just looked at my phone. I’ve been-”

“Where are you?” She opened her mouth to reply but he interrupted her again. “Nevermind, it doesn't matter. You need to come to your flat. It's your parents.” 

“My parents? What about them?" Her heart began to pound at the mention of her mum and dad.

“There was an accident. They are badly injured and in a muggle hospital in Australia. I have a portkey, you just need to come home and we can go right there.”

“Oh my gods! Are they okay? What happened?” She asked, aware her voice had become shrill.

“Just come home so we can see them.”

“Okay, I'll be there in five minutes,” she said and he hung up the phone without so much as a goodbye. That was strange, she thought for a beat, but she pushed it aside, worried for her parents. 

She hastily changed into more appropriate clothes from her bag- she had been wearing what she suspected were Malfoy's joggers and t-shirt that had been shrunk to fit her. She was wracked with panic, but forced herself to focus on the task at hand. Crooks had scampered away, but she didn’t have time to find him. She hoped Malfoy didn't mind. 

When she arrived home through her floo, Ron was there and immediately in her space. “Ronald, what are you doing?!”

Without responding he grabbed her hand and harshly tugged her towards him, his grip bruising. Her emotions were an absolute whirlwind from everything, and she had flashbacks to the man who assaulted her.

“Ouch, Ron! What-” but before she could say anything more, she noticed he reached into his pocket and pulled out a muggle pen.

“Portus,” he said, and the pen glowed bright blue before whisking them away.

They arrived in what appeared to be a warehouse and Hermione’s instincts kicked in. She ripped her arm away from Ron.

“You absolute ARSE Ronald Weasley, how dare you manhandle me like that! Where in Godric's name are we?”

“Miss Granger, you have quite the mouth on you. Unsurprising really, being a mudblood,” a posh voice drawled. Her spine straightened and she whirled around to find Lucius Malfoy. She also noticed a handful of men standing farther back, one she recognized vaguely but the rest not at all.

Ron stood to the side, a dazed look on his face.

The Imperius curse.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in Azkaban?” She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders, unwilling to allow her terror to show.

“My son isn’t the only one who had guards on retainer, although I didn’t have to get fucked by them just to get what I wanted,” he sneered, and Hermione couldn’t hide her shock at the information. “Ah, you didn’t know. Yes, my son developed such a deep fascination for you that he belittled himself to allowing a guard to shag him. In exchange he was allowed to send letters to his little friends to watch you.”

Swallowing her fear again, she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “How did you manage it then? I know you don’t have access to the Malfoy accounts anymore.”

“My name carries respect in pureblood society. If I tell someone I will pay them in due time, then they know my word is my bond. Besides, I made a few galleons on the sale of my wife.” 

Hermione felt the blood drain from her face. Lucius had said this so casually, as if discussing quidditch. “You sold your wife? I thought she died?”

He rolled his eyes. “Obviously that’s what I made everyone believe, Draco included. I couldn’t let her treachery slide, assisting your dear friend Mr. Potter, which led to The Dark Lords demise. She deserves every single mistreatment she’s received since then. I’ve had enough talking though, you are here for a reason.” As fast as lightning he swiped his wand, and Hermione found herself bound by chains and a cage forming around her.

“You, mudblood, are at least partially responsible for my son becoming so pitiful and weak. I’ve devised a plan to lure him here using you as bait,” he spat as if he found the idea revolting.

“Sir,” a familiar looking squat man said quietly, his head lowered. “Could we play with her until your son arrives? I've always wanted to try Potter’s mudblood. You could take her first?” He licked his lips and looked at Hermione as if she was a piece of meat. Her breath hitched, terror overtaking her.

“No,” Lucius spat. “I’ll never touch a mudblood, neither should you. They are disgusting and filthy creatures, Amycus. I suppose once Draco is here, if you must try her, you can then. I'll show him a touch of mercy and allow him to say goodbye to his little pet before we let you and the werewolves use her and tear her apart.”

No, she thought to herself. She tried to think quickly, not wanting to endure that horrifying death, but also not wanting Malfoy- Draco- to be forced to witness it either. Perhaps she could make Lucius angry enough to lash out and kill her quickly now.

“He won’t fall for this. He’s brilliant, much more than you. He is twice the man you are. You are the one who is pathetic and wea-” Hermione was cut off by him backhanding her across the face through the bars of the cage. Pain bloomed across her cheek and inside her mouth. His signet ring had cut her, and she suddenly felt something inside of her mouth. A tooth. She felt blood trickle from the cut on her cheek as well as fill her mouth. 

Don't let him see how afraid you are.

She lifted her face to Lucius and spit her tooth between the bars of the cage towards him, revelling in watching him recoil from it. Then she smiled, feeling the crimson stain her teeth. She must have looked unhinged, yet she didn’t care, not when Lucius now looked so taken aback.

“He’s going to eviscerate you for that.”

Chapter Text

Hermione did her best to keep a brave face. Even as Amycus Carrow and the other former Death Eaters did their best to scare her. In truth, she was horrified, but she clamped her jaw tightly and stared straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with all of them.

After she spat her tooth and blood at him, Lucius had levitated her it with a look disgust and disappeared with it, but said nothing else and returned a short time later.

Ron was still there, looking blissfully unaware of what was occurring. She knew how difficult it was to break out of an Imperius Curse, but Merlin, she truly was hoping he was trying. A small part of her was angry with him for even getting himself into this situation, but then again, from where she currently was, she didn’t have much room to judge.

A rough looking man that was almost certainly a werewolf sniffed the air and took a swipe at her through the cage. She jumped back, unfortunately too close to the back of it, and a pair of hands reached out and clamped down on her biceps and pulled her harshly against it. Her head cracked on the bars, causing black spots in her vision. Before anything else could happen the hands disappeared suddenly and the person who had grabbed her yelped.

“I said don’t touch her! You can wait a little longer until my pathetic offspring arrives. Then you can do whatever you want to her,” Lucius Malfoy snapped as he stowed his wand. She was thankful for the rule he had implemented, although she wondered if it was just delaying the inevitable.

It felt like a few hours had passed since she was taken. She started to wiggle slightly and cursed her bladder. There was no bucket in her cage, and she didn’t want to relieve herself in her pants. Her hands were still chained as well.

“I need to use the loo,” she said to Lucius, seeing as he was clearly the one in charge.

“I’ll help her!” Amycus piped up as he licked his lips.

“No, you can’t be trusted with her. Go get the whore,” Lucius drawled, sounding bored.

A few minutes later, a very petite woman was dragged into the room. She had dark hair, and her skin was extremely dirty. Her face was cast down, avoiding everyone’s eyes.

Lucius flicked his wand and unlocked the cage, and the woman was shoved inside before it locked again. “Asisst the mudblood in relieving herself, and if you do a good job perhaps you will be left alone tonight. The men will have their hands full with this one, I can already tell.”

A basin appeared, and Hermione's stomach rolled at the thought of doing this in front of these monsters. She squeezed her eyes shut, and tried to shove her panic back down again, but it was getting more difficult. The dark cloud still hung over her from the use of dark magic earlier that day- which now felt like a lifetime ago.

A gentle hand landed on Hermione’s arm, and she opened her eyes to meet those of the battered woman. Hermione froze when she looked into them. They were a silver grey, just like-

“Yes, mudblood, that is my ex-wife helping you. Do not try to communicate with her, as she has been relieved of her tongue and cannot speak. She is nothing more than a slave now.”

She had not recognized Narcissa at all. What she thought had been dark hair, Hermione now realized was just so filthy and matted with both dirt and blood that the unmistakable light blonde was not at all present. She smelled very badly- both of urine and feces, along with foul body odour. She had always been a small woman, but now she was practically skin and bone, her eyes sunken into her head and her cheeks hollowed. 

Despite all of that, a small spark was present behind her eyes- the exact same shade as her sons.

Narcissa Malfoy stared intently at Hermione before nodding toward the basin. Hermione blinked back tears but made her way over to it. Her hands began to shake as the older witch unbuttoned her trousers. She angled her body in a way to attempt to hide Hermione from the men, however they hastily moved to the other side of the cage to watch, as if she was an animal in a zoo.

She began to shimmy Hermione’s trousers down her legs when she clearly felt what Hermione was desperate to keep hidden-  her wand.

Hermione wasn't sure if somewhere deep down Ron really was fighting the curse, or perhaps Lucius Malfoy forgot to instruct him to take it from her. Either way, she was quite happy she had not pulled it on Ron the moment they arrived at the warehouse, so that it remained hidden. She knew she couldn't use it yet- she was strong, and occasionally practiced defensive magic with Harry- but she didn't think she could take on several dark wizards alone. Especially not in her current state, still feeling drained from the dark magic crashout. She was biding her time until Draco got there, hopefully with Theo, Blaise, Luna and some of their employees.

Narcissa’s eyes snapped to Hermione's and widened before her face went blank again and she quickly looked away. She shoved it further down Hermione’s trousers and moved her body again to block it from view, as the top of it was now poking out.

Hermione relieved herself as quickly as she could, which was difficult with the monsters outside her cage whispering all the things they wanted to do to her, especially now having a brief view of her private parts. Her cheeks heated but Narcissa's steady hand gave her strength, and when her trousers were rebuttoned, the older witch gave Hermione's hand a quick squeeze before walking to the side of the cage.

Lucius- who thankfully had not tried to take a look at Hermione and had remained far away- swiped his wand, allowing Narcissa to exit and the basin to disappear.

“Whore, you did well. Isn't everything so much better when you don't fight back?” He spat at her. She kept her gaze lowered and nodded. “I suppose I could be merciful, for old times sake, and allow you to see your son one last time before his demise.”

This time Narcissa's head snapped up so fast to meet Lucius’ amused gaze that Hermione worried her thin neck would snap. She opened her mouth, and the saddest whimper escaped her lips, as a tear tracked down her cheek. Lucius smiled cruelly.

“Yes, that is who we are waiting for. Our pitiful excuse of an heir has become infatuated with this mudblood filth. He should be here soon, as I have gotten a message to him that I have her, and if he wants to see her again he must come here alone. I told him he just needed to sign the vaults back to me. Little does he know that neither of them will make it out of here alive.”

Hermione noticed Narcissa's hands begin to shake, until she squeezed them into fists and looked down at the floor again. Lucius scoffed.

“Pathetic, just like our son. Go stand over there,” he pointed lazily to a far wall and she did as she was told.

Hermione did her best to try and formulate a plan, yet her anxiety and exhaustion made her feel sluggish. In no time at all, one of the men announced that someone was there, and a tall handsome wizard with bright blonde hair was escorted in, wearing a devilish smirk on his face and looking far too calm for someone knowingly walking into a life or death situation.

“Hello, father, long time no see.”

Chapter Text

“Draco, my sorry excuse for a son. How good of you to finally join us. Amycus, I assume you searched him thoroughly?” Lucius drawled as he stood and straightened his robes.

“Yes, sir.”

Draco raised an amused brow at the short man, and Hermione found herself surprised at how relaxed he seemed. “‘Yes sir?’ I thought you hated my father, Amycus. You once told me you hoped one of the Dark Lords Crucios finally sent him over the edge to insanity and that he became a ‘drooling donkey.’ Now look at you, taking orders from him. Do you suck his cock before bed as well?”

“Why you insolent little-” Amycus raised his wand to Draco, but Lucius held a hand to stop him.

“Now, now, Amycus. He's just trying to get a rise out of you. He won't be so amused when you take a turn with his little mudblood.”

Draco rolled his eyes. Hermione noticed he had avoided looking at her so far.

“Can we lay off the mudblood shite? Salazar, it’s gotten old. Besides,” he adjusted his shirtsleeves, almost appearing bored. “I’m shocked you actually believed I wanted her, father.”

Hermione’s breath hitched. Lucius narrowed his eyes at Draco. “What do you mean? You are practically in love with the filthy cow.”

Draco laughed, not just a chuckle, but a full belly laugh.

“Did I really trick you? Wow, I assumed you would have seen through my plan. Thought you were smarter than that, father.”

“What plan was that?” Lucius snapped.

“Well, since you clearly destroyed our name in society by having us align with that flat faced snake fucker-”

“Watch your tongue!” Amycus yelled, but Draco continued on.

“-I had to do something to get us back in societies good graces. What better way than to align with the Golden Girl? Especially after her sorry excuse of a husband fucked up and fumbled his chance with her. So I whispered some pretty words in her ear, took her on a fancy date and talked her up to a few Wizengamot members. Made her believe I've changed so she will tell everyone that the Malfoys really are not as horrible as everyone thinks. Then I’ll throw some galleons at a few war victims charities, and voila! Mission accomplished.”

Lucius stared suspiciously at Draco.

“Our name is already in good standing in proper society-”

“Proper society being pureblood circles, father? Sure, but the pureblood crowd is getting smaller and smaller, what with most only breeding with each other. I don't want to live in hiding for my entire life from the main part of the wizarding world. Someone almost spat on me a couple weeks ago in the middle of Dragon Alley! And I don't fancy moving to France- the French are far too pretentious, and that's coming from me.”

Hermione’s thoughts were swarming. Surely he was just saying this to make his father believe he didn't want her. He had seemed genuinely interested in her, the lengths he had gone to were honestly disturbing. She wasn't that daft, was she? 

You didn't have the slightest inkling that the man you called both your best friend and husband was cheating on you with anything with tits and a cunt. Of course Malfoy could have been lying to you about his feelings. Why would he ever be interested in you?

Her dark thoughts plagued her. She tried to tell herself it was simply the darkness still looming over her from earlier, but she really wasn’t sure anymore.

“So, father, how much will it take to get her out of here in one piece? I still need my golden ticket to get into everyone's good graces, and she's the best option there is.”

“Even if I did let you leave with her, how are you going to get her to agree to stay with you after she has clearly heard your plan?”

“I’ll just obliviate all of this from her memory, she will never know the wiser,” he said with a shrug. “Now give me a number, I have other things to do today.”

Hermione’s heart hammered in her chest. No, no, no. These could not be her only options- get raped and killed horribly by Lucius’ Malfoys minions, or be obliviated and paraded around by Draco Malfoy. She closed her eyes in an attempt to hold back her tears, but it was no use. One fell, quickly followed by several more.

“Oh, look, Draco. You made the poor mudblood cry,” Amycus taunted. Hermione sniffled as the Death Eaters laughed. Draco finally met her stare, and she saw- nothing. No heat or want. How could she be so stupid?

Draco and Lucius began to argue and continue to talk in circles. As more tears streamed down Hermione's face, she stole a glance at Narcissa. The witch was looking at Draco, however where Hermione assumed there should have been love, there was a sharpness to her gaze that Hermione couldn't place.

“How about two million galleons? Come on, father. I'll give you more in a couple years. That is more than enough for yourself and your cronies to survive comfortably in a far away country where no one knows your names.”

Lucius scoffed. “That's insulting. How about I feed her to the werewolves while you watch, and then your mother next, and finally you. Then the money will automatically become mine.”

“Mother is dead.”

Lucius smiled maniacally. “She wishes. Whore, come see your son.”

Narcissa stepped forward, still staring at her son intently. A crack finally seemed to form in Draco’s careless facade. His brows shot up his forehead, and he looked truly gobsmacked. She got close to him and simply stared deeply into his eyes. Hermione noticed her brow furrowed slightly, almost as if she didn't recognize him.

“Touching,” Lucius sneered. Then he waved his wand and Narcissa doubled over, a harsh cry slipping from her lips.

“No, Narcissa!” Draco yelled, and Lucius froze and lowered his wand. Narcissa took a gasping breath- whatever spell he had hurled at her temporarily stopped.

“Narcissa?” Lucius’ eyes shifted quickly between Draco’s before he spoke again. “You have never once called her anything except ‘mother.’ Amycus, you did check for polyjuice, correct?”

“N-No, sir. I-I forgot, I took his w-wand away and checked for other we-weapons,” the man stuttered as he wrung his hands.

Draco’s eyes nervously darted between Amycus, Lucius, and Narcissa before he grinned. “Merlin’s nutsack, now I owe Draco one hundred galleons for fucking this up! I really thought I could get away with it,” he said and then glanced at an expensive looking watch on his wrist. “Although, times up anyways.” Then he yelled louder to no one in particular. “Looks like we’re going with Plan B!”

At that exact moment, his skin began to bubble. His hair darkened and became shaggy curls, and his height dropped about two inches, the suit he wore now too long but also tighter in the shoulders. Theo.

Then the bars of her cage and the chains on her wrists disappeared, and Draco- the real Draco- appeared out of thin air. Standing beside him were Blaise and Luna, who appeared to be holding… Harry’s invisibility cloak?

His hand was bloody from a large slice in his palm, and his eyes were wild as they darted over her. His clothing was rumpled and his hair was a mess. She had never seen him look less put together. His sharp gaze landed on her injured cheek, the blood now dried and caked on her face, and he audibly growled.

Then he made eye contact with Narcissa, who smiled widely as tears poured down her cheeks. Finally, he looked at his father with barely restrained rage.

“Father, I’m going to fucking kill you.”

Chapter Text

Draco shook with rage as he stared at his father. He was serious with his threat- he was going to kill him, in the most violent and painful way possible once Hermione and his mother were safe.

Time moved both very fast and slow after Whimsy announced Hermione was missing. The elf had broken into her flat and found Hermione’s beaded purse in the hearth, proof that she had been there.

They searched it and found her phone with missed messages from Potter and his wife, Ginevra. What had made Draco’s blood boil was the call logged from her ex husband that she had clearly answered. If the redheaded bellend harmed her in any way, there would be nowhere on Earth that he would be able to hide from Draco’s wrath.

Luna and Blaise went to visit Dolohov in hopes they found some information. While they were gone, a small box and note arrived for Draco. He ripped the lid off, and what he found made him freeze.

A tooth. Realistically he knew out of everything, a tooth wasn’t that bad- Draco expected a finger, tongue or eye, as the box was too small to fit a major organ. Yet it still made his vision blur- from panic or rage, he couldn’t be sure.

“‘Hello, son. I have your disgusting mudblood. I am willing to make a financial deal for her to be returned safely. Come to this warehouse in East London- alone. If you bring anyone with you, I'll let my werewolves rip her-’ you don’t need to hear the rest of that,” Theo said seriously as he still stared at the parchment Lucius sent.

Draco was ready to go alone as his father requested, but Theo argued with him and had to restrain him until Luna and Blaise returned. Luna released his binds as she announced she had a plan, which only mildly settled Draco.

She was holding what appeared to be a simple cloak, yet when she wrapped it around her shoulders her body disappeared.

“Harry’s invisibility cloak. I decided to pay him and Ginny a visit after we saw Dolohov to see if he knew where Hermione or Ron were. They don’t, and haven’t heard from Ron in a couple days, which is unusual since he is living at The Burrow. I didn’t tell them exactly what was going on, but I made it clear Hermione was currently in danger and I needed the cloak. They didn’t want to give it to me without more information, so I stunned them and took it.”

“Slytherin’s bollocks, you got one over on The Chosen One? Baby, that makes me so fucking hot for you,” Theo groaned.

“What’s your plan?” Draco asked, ignoring Theo.

“We break in and save her, of course.”

Draco pinched the bridge of his nose and willed himself not to snap at her. 

“Luna, can you please give Draco more details?” Blaise spoke up clearly sensing his friend's frustration.

“If he is willing to do so, Theo will polyjuice as you, Draco, and he can pretend you don’t actually care for Hermione and that you just want her back to further your status in the wizarding world. Hopefully your father will fall for it and we can all walk out of there safely. I am not inclined to think that will work, so-”

“Oi! I can be a convincing Draco. Just need to act like a pretentious git. Simple,” Theo stated confidently.

“I believe in you, Theo, however as you said, this is likely a trap that Lucius doesn’t plan to allow Draco or Hermione to walk free from, so when that happens we need to have a backup.” 

“Unlike your wife, I do think you will muck it up. So what's the backup plan, Luna?” Draco asked.

“I won’t muck it up! I bet you a hundred galleons that it will be Lucius who confesses his evil master plan to kill you both before I reveal that it’s not truly you he's talking to.”

“Fucking fine, Theo, now may I please hear what Luna has to say?” Draco grumbled and Luna began speaking again.

“It will be a tight fit, but if you and Blaise crouch down quite low, the three of us can fit under the cloak and sneak in with polyjuiced Theo. Blaise can be ready for any injuries that Hermione may have. If all goes badly, then we reveal ourselves and fight.”

“Why does Theo need to replace me? Why can’t he go with the two of you under Potter's cloak?”

Luna gave him a pitiful look. “I say this with love and respect, Draco, but I don’t think you can handle it. I imagine you will want to be as close to Hermione as possible, and I also don’t think you will be able to trick your father into believing you don’t care for her. Theo knows your mannerisms better than myself and Blaise, so he is the best one to polyjuice as you.”

He begrudgingly agreed with her. He was running on very little sleep, his occlusion barely keeping him together. He was still shocked his mother was alive- or so he hoped- but had likely been horrifically abused for years. 

Whimsy had tried to insist he come and help since he felt guilty for Hermione leaving Draco’s flat. They wouldn’t allow him and ended up stunning him when he refused to back down. Draco had always felt guilty for how he treated Dobby, and he vowed that no more elf blood would be spilled due to his family.

Gods, Hermione really did have a deeper effect on him than he realized.

They organized quickly and apparated there. They only had an hour of the polyjuice, and they wasted too much time trying to break through the wards without making themselves known. Draco discovered they were intricate blood wards set by his father, so he cut his palm deeply without thought and was able to break through- although the amount of blood required made him feel dizzy.

Draco was delighted that it was Amycus letting Theo in- the wizard was vicious and cruel, but an absolute dunce. He didn’t check for polyjuice, although they were ready to Imperius him if he had tried. When he turned his back, they slipped Theo his wand- Amycus had taken a backup one from him- and a knife.

Everything else passed rather quickly- Blaise had to hold back Draco under the cloak when he saw Hermione with a cut and swollen cheek. Then his mother, who was unrecognizable aside from her silver eyes.

“Father, I’m going to fucking kill you.”

A flash of shock was on Lucius’ face before it settled into indifference.

“Draco, I told you to come alone. Looks like your little mudblood will die today, as will your friends and yourself,” then he turned to his sorry group of followers. “Kill them all.”

Draco was about to pull Hermione behind him when she reached a hand down her trousers and pulled out her wand. Then she smiled wildly at him and began hurling curses.

While his fathers cronies outnumbered them two to one, it seemed most of them were not very skilled, and four of them were dead rather quickly. 

Unfortunately a curse hit Theo in the chest, and he crumpled to the ground. A blood curdling scream left Luna’s mouth and she literally pounced on the caster and began stabbing him with Theo’s knife until the man’s chest resembled a tub of goo. Blaise ran over and began working on his husband frantically.

Draco was distracted as he continued to fight. He was worried about Theo, and was also trying to keep an eye on his mother. She had curled up in the fetal position not far from him against a wall, her eyes squeezed tightly closed. Mainly though, he was watching Hermione. She was clearly tired and distressed, yet she was whirling her wand effortlessly and performing truly skilled magic.

There was only one werewolf there and unfortunately he seemed to have his eyes set on her. When his claw-like hands had come too close to grabbing her, Draco began sending the darkest curses he knew at him. One finally landed; it started a fire in the targets lungs so they burned alive from the inside. The werewolf screamed and writhed as he turned to ash.

Hermione looked at him brightly, giving him the most stunning smile he had ever seen. He returned it, and for a very small moment, everything felt right.

Then her gaze locked on something behind him, and her expression turned to one of horror.

“Draco, look out!”

He whirled around just in time to see a curse flying towards him, sent by his father.

Draco went into this knowing he may die. He didn’t care, not if it meant saving Hermione and his mother. He wasn’t afraid. Although after hearing Hermione say his given name for the first time, he was disappointed he wouldn’t ever hear her say it again.

All he could do was close his eyes and wait for death.

Chapter Text

“Ooh!”

Draco opened his eyes at the sound of someone collapsing to the ground. He looked down and was horrified by what he saw. 

His mother lay there, large lacerations opening across her body as she began to bleed out.

Sectumsempra.

“NO!” He screamed as he dropped to his knees.

Lucius began laughing cruelly.

“Fitting end for the traitorous cow!”

Draco gently put an arm beneath his mothers back and started whispering the counter curse.

“Vulnera Sanentur, Vulnera Sanentur!” He tried, but it was no use, the spell wasn’t working.

“I put a twist on Snape's original curse. Made it immune to the counterspell while also thinning the blood so the target bleeds out faster,” Lucius cackled.

A ringing sound was echoing in Draco’s ears. Memories of his mother flashed through his mind as he helplessly held her to his chest.

His earliest memory, holding her hand as a toddler as they strolled down Diagon Alley, heading to Fortescue's for his first ice cream cone.

Her rushing to his side the first time he fell off his broom and skinned his elbow, her kissing the sting and waving a healing spell over it.

Catching her eyes in the mirror and her proud beaming smile as he was fitted for his Hogwarts robes.

His father screaming at him for losing the house cup before his mother stepped in and began defending him.

The terror in her eyes as he was branded with the Dark Mark.

The last hug she ever gave him when he crossed the courtyard at Hogwarts during the Final Battle, just before Potter was revealed to be alive.

He shook his head and realized her mouth was moving and she was making sounds. Without a tongue he couldn’t understand her, but her lips kept forming the same words. He choked on his breath when he realized what she was saying.

I love you. 

She repeated it several times as she stared at him.

“I love you too, please don’t leave me after I just got you back,” he begged as tears streamed down his cheeks.

She raised a small shaky hand to his face and cupped his cheek. She smiled at him, and for a moment she looked like her old self.

Then her hand went limp and dropped to her side as the silver in her eyes dulled to a flat grey. Draco cried harder as he grasped his mothers lifeless body to his chest.

“Pathetic! Just like she was,” Lucius said as he began walking backwards. “It’s been a great reunion, son, but I think it’s time I make my leave. But don’t worry, I still plan for you and your mudblood slag to die horribly. We will meet again.” He turned and hurried towards the exit.

Draco raised his wand and tried to stun his father, but he was weak. Physically due to blood loss from taking down the wards, duelling and dark magic use, and also from sheer emotional exhaustion. 

He looked around frantically, Luna was in the midst of duelling two wizards, and Blaise was still knelt over a very pale Theo. His father was going to escape. He raised his wand again and tried to stun him once more.

Then a sharp, beautiful voice cut through his racing thoughts.

“Crucio.”

It was quiet but powerful, as Hermione was twenty feet away, yet it still hit Lucius and immediately sent him to his knees. He began to scream, louder even than when Draco had witnessed the Dark Lord perform it on him.

Draco looked at Hermione and was stunned by the sight. The cut on her cheek had reopened, and she had a slash on her arm. Both were bleeding heavily, yet she didn’t even seem to notice. Magic crackled in her hair and along her skin as she slowly walked towards Lucius. The flecks of gold in her brown eyes were almost glowing, and she was grinning.

“ST-STOP! PLEASE!” His father screamed.

She turned to Draco as she continued to hold the spell.

“What would you like me to do?”

He gently lowered his mother to the ground and planted a kiss on her forehead. Then he stood on shaky legs and made his way over to her.

“Keep going, I like hearing him beg,” he snarled as he glared at his father.

Her grin widened and she turned back to Lucius and somehow seemed to send more power through her wand. He continued to scream and beg, but eventually his voice began to gurgle. Blood leaked from all of his offices, and his eyes popped like bubbles. 

The gurgles eventually stopped, Draco assumed his vocal chords were no longer viable. He didn’t even appear to be in pain anymore as he stopped writhing and simply began twitching. Draco placed a hand on Hermione’s shoulder and she took a gasping breath and lowered her wand, ending the curse. 

She met his gaze with bloodshot wide eyes, staring at him for a long moment, before she collapsed into his arms.

Chapter Text

Six months later

“Darling, I really think you work too much. You should try going on a date. What about one of the Greengrass sisters?”

Draco sighed but didn’t look up from the paperwork he was doing in his home study at his mothers nagging. He should have known that even in death, her portrait would pester him about dating and reproducing. Not even to continue the bloodline like his father had always droned on about, simply because she had always wanted to be a grandmother. She had miscarriages before and after having Draco, so since he was a teen she had started talking about becoming a grandmother- although she made it clear she didn't want that to happen until after he graduated Hogwarts.

It wasn’t until Whimsy had brought the painting from the abandoned Manor that Draco discovered she had a portrait made at all, obviously before she had been sold into sexual slavery by his father. 

“Both of them are married, mother. Daphne is with Adrian Pucey, and Astoria ran off with a muggle woman.”

“Well there must be someone,” she said with a huff.

“No, mother, there's no one,” he said quietly.

The aftermath of everything that happened the night his mother died and Hermione was abducted had taken its toll on everyone. 

Theo died- at least for a minute or two. The curse that hit him was not something familiar to Blaise. It caused Theo’s throat to close up and stop his breathing. No healing spell or counter curse he knew helped, and he watched his husband suffocate before his eyes.

Luna found Blaise sobbing over Theo after disposing of three wizards in a row. She did the only thing she could think of, and with the blade she used to kill the man who had cast the curse, she cut open his throat. Something the muggles called a tracheotomy-although a very rough one. After that, the electrifying spell Blaise sent to his heart worked, and he thankfully woke up.

Theo physically recovered well, and decided to keep the scar on his neck from Luna cutting into him. He refused to tell anyone what he saw when he died, but he somehow became even more unhinged, and on occasion he seemed to get lost in his thoughts. 

Luna had never killed anyone prior to that night, and she struggled with the fact she took not just one, but three lives, even if they all deserved it. Blaise beat himself up for not thinking to do what Luna had. She told them both that she had a vision of Blaise crying over Theo’s lifeless body, but had not wanted to scare them, so she kept it to herself. She tried to convince Blaise that because of this she wasn’t as startled seeing Theo like that, but it was no use. He became more quiet and reserved than he usually was.

Draco felt responsible for all of it, so he paid for the trio to go on a yachting vacation just off the French Riviera for a month. They could afford it of course, but Draco insisted. The guilt he felt from everything they all went through because of him was eating him alive, and even gifting them the trip barely helped the crushing weight of remorse he felt. 

After Hermione extensively Crucioed him, Lucius was technically still alive. However once Luna took a deep dive into his mind, it was clear that he was no longer there, just a heart beating in a sack of flesh. Another muggle term was used to describe him- brain dead. Draco let Theo handle killing him; he had no desire to harm an empty shell of a person. Theo felt differently- after his father had killed his own mother, Narcissa had become a mother figure to him, so he was also grieving her deeply. He jumped at the opportunity, and was dead a day later. Blaise wouldn't allow Draco to see whatever horrors he had inflicted on his father.

Draco had not even realized the Weasel had been at the warehouse at the time everything went down, had missed him standing dazedly against a wall. Hermione had stunned him immediately without Draco's knowledge. If Draco had noticed him, the git would still be tied up and played with to this day. Luna later told him that Hermione didn’t want any harm to come to her ex, so Draco reluctantly left him be. It was discovered Weasley had been out drinking at a dingy pub when one of Lucius’ men spotted him. They abducted him and Lucius Imperioed him to get Hermione back to the warehouse no matter what. He apparently felt horrible, and was still away in some treatment program for his alcohol issues.

Luna told Draco she had to give Potter something after stealing his cloak. So they disposed of the dead bodies and left the remaining injured men there, stunned but alive. She told Harry the location and the Aurors swooped in, obviously taking credit. It was a good bust for the DMLE, as all the men captured were on wanted lists. Because of this, Potter looked the opposite way with how Luna had stolen the cloak, and didnt question all the blood found on the scene that clearly had not come from the stunned criminals. No Aurors had shown up to take himself or anyone else away, so Draco assumed Hermione had come up with a story to tell her bespeckled friend. Aside from the men captured, there was no news in The Prophet about Hermione going missing. It wasn't even reported that Lucius escaped Azkaban, only a small blurb about him passing away. Everything had been swept under the rug, which Draco didn’t mind at all.

As for Hermione herself, Draco cut himself off from her. It was better this way, since all he had done since re entering her life was cause her pain. Blaise treated her for the physical injuries she sustained to avoid any questions from St. Mungos. Luna told Draco that Hermione also immediately saw a mind healer for her assault and abduction. He was happy to hear that, he only wanted the best for her.

She tried countless times to get in touch with him, sending letters first by owl and then trying through Luna. He turned them all away without opening them. She was like a drug to him, and he wouldn’t be able to deny her if he read them. So he stayed away, going as far as blocking her from his floo and wards. She was better off without him, she would see that eventually.

He still had his employees keep an eye on her, but always rotated them so she, nor anyone else, would catch on. Unless there was a threat to her, he asked them not to even report anything to him. There had been no further incidents though, any other enemies had finally realized that Draco and his crew were not to be messed with. They still dealt with issues, but nothing as major as what had occured.

“Hello, my favourite giant brooding blonde! Missed you,” Theo said as he sauntered into Draco’s study and plopped himself into the chair across from him.

“I’m only two inches taller than you, Theo,” Draco replied, shaking his head slightly to dispel the thoughts of her.

“Your height isn’t why I called you giant.” Theo wiggled his eyebrows suggestively as he spoke.

“Merlin's saggy left nut, Theo, not this again,” Draco groaned. Ever since he had polyjuiced as him, Theo had thoughts about Draco that he apparently had to share.

“I don't know about Merlin’s nuts, but yours are absolutely divine. Honestly, I really had hoped that the whole arrogant demeanour you have going on was just for show and because you are wealthier than the gods, but your cock is a work of art. I don’t have a clue how you’ve hidden that monster from me all these years!” He cried.

Draco almost smirked, but then a wave of shame replaced the temporary lightness he felt. He shouldn’t feel anything other than guilt for all the pain he caused. Still, he decided to share a secret he had been keeping from Theo.

“You actually did see it once, the summer I turned seventeen. Walked into my room at the Manor unannounced while I was having a wank. You said something very similar, and I didn’t want to deal with your dramatics, so I Obliviated you.”

Theo gasped and grabbed his chest dramatically. “You bastard! I could have been fantasizing about your prick for years instead of months?!”

“Yes, and if I thought I could get away with Obliviating you again, I would. How was your holiday?”

Theo’s mischievous smile softened. “Excellent. We really needed that time away to reconnect. Thank you again, Draco.”

“No thanks necessary. I know you only got back today, you didn't need to check in. Take a couple days to settle and then come back to work.”

“I know I didn’t need to come see you, I wanted to. I assume you are still avoiding the love of your life?”

“Don’t call her that. And yes, I’ve told you all I don't want anything to do with her.” 

“I see.” He casually inspected his nails. “She’s been going on dates, you know.”

The quill Draco had been using snapped. 

“Good for her.” He tossed the ruined quill in the bin and reached for a new one. As he did, his shirtsleeve pulled back slightly and the edge of a laceration peaked from under it. Theo noticed, his eyes locking on it as his face turned stony.

“You’re still hurting yourself?”

Draco sighed and looked away before pulling his sleeve down. Theo refused to have any more sessions with him, but Draco needed an outlet for his guilt and self hatred. His arms and legs were now riddled with self inflicted scars, and he usually added to it daily.

“Go home to your wife and husband, Theo. I’ll see you all in a couple days.”

Theo’s gaze lingered on Draco’s covered arm for a moment before he hesitantly stood and walked to the door. He gave Draco a searching gaze before he spoke once more. “You deserve to be happy, Draco. Your mother would want you to be.” Then he left without another word.

That night Draco sat on a stool at his counter and picked at his dinner. He had not been able to get Theo’s words out of his head all day. Shockingly, his mothers portrait remained quiet, but she had nodded in agreement with his mate's statement. 

You deserve to be happy, Draco. Your mother would want you to be.

Maybe she would, yet all he could think was how he couldn’t save her. How she deserved to still be here more than him. How Hermione got hurt because of his actions.

He pushed his plate away and downed the remainder of his firewhiskey before pouring himself another glass and going out to his balcony to have a cigarette.

A couple minutes later he heard his floo go off and he groaned. He wasn’t up to seeing Theo, Blaise or Luna. He vanished the remainder of his cig and walked inside. 

“I’m not in the mood-”

“I don't care. You are going to listen to me whether you want to or not, Draco Malfoy.”

The fuming yet stunning voice caught him off guard.

Silvery grey eyes met brown ones, the gold flecks blazing like fiendfyre.

Hermione.

Chapter Text

They stared at each other for a long moment until he finally decided to break the silence.

“How did you get through the floo?”

“Theo,” she replied simply.

He clenched his jaw. Theo must have fucked with Draco’s floo and wards when he came over earlier.

“Why are you here? I thought I'd made it clear I didn’t want to see you.”

“Yet you never gave me a reason why that was. You go from being obsessed with me to cutting off all contact without so much as an explanation.” She took a step towards him. He should have moved away, but he was utterly transfixed by her. “I deserve an explanation.”

He took a drink of the fire whiskey in his crystal glass, needing to do something with his hands instead of reaching out to her like he wanted. She finally broke the eye contact she had held since arriving and zeroed in on his arms. A small gasp slipped from her plump lips and he cursed. He usually kept himself covered, but since he wasn’t expecting company he was in comfortable clothes- grey joggers and a black t-shirt. Scars and healing wounds decorated his arms, even a couple of fresh ones from that day.

“Are those self-inflicted?” She asked somberly.

He simply stared at her gravely. No point in denying it.

“Go home, Hermione.” He turned and began walking away, unsure of where he was even going but hoping she listened and left.

But she was Hermione Granger, the most stubborn witch on the planet, so naturally he heard her follow.

“Why are you doing that to yourself? Why have you been avoiding me for six months?” He ignored her and walked into his study, prepared to slam the door and ward it closed until she left, but she slapped her hand angrily against it, preventing it from closing. He audibly growled. Could he have used magic to force her out of the room? Yes, but he wouldn’t do that to her, couldn’t do more awful things to her.

“I said go home.”

“No.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, the action pushing her breasts up.

His cock twitched.

She noticed and raised an eyebrow at him. Fuck.

“I don’t want you here.”

Her face fell for a fraction of a second and it killed him. Again, he hurt her, this time with his words. His skin buzzed with the desire to tear into himself.

Her face quickly hardened again. “You said you wouldn’t lie to me.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Alright, but you said here. So you want me?”

This fucking witch. He groaned and sat on the edge of the sofa that was in front of a hearth.

“Hermione, please, just leave.”

“Not until you answer my questions.”

“Fine!” He snapped, standing up and storming over to her. She didn’t even flinch, and a part of him warmed at that. She wasn’t afraid of him, even though she should be.

“All I’ve done is hurt you ever since we were eleven. Even when I tried to stop, you were still hurt because of me. Your public divorce. Your assault. The same fucker breaking your nose. My father kidnapping you and whatever horrors you had to endure with that. Fuck, Hermione, even the damned tea that scalded your hands was my fault. All I do is cause pain.” He took a shaky break and downed the last of his firewhiskey, then angrily threw the glass into the fire. It broke into fractions, which was the perfect metaphor for how he felt. “You’re better off without me.” He finished quietly as he watched the shards shimmer in the flames.

Draco was scared to look into her eyes, certain he would see loathing and fear, but he knew he had to. When his gaze met hers, all he saw was determination, and maybe a little confusion. Then she walked to the sofa and sat down. 

“Tell me everything.”

He hesitated. There would be no coming back from this. Perhaps that’s what she needed though, a firm reason to leave him alone, to move on with her life. Because there was no way she would want him after this, no way she would be able to look past some of the truly mad things he had done.

So he sat beside her and started talking.

How he bribed a guard with his body, and then also bribed the other guards to beat that one up. How he had Theo stalk her and find out everything he could about her, and then beat and terrorize the men into being too afraid to even look at her again.

He couldn’t look her in the eyes when he explained what happened with the muggle man. That Draco paid him to be rude to her, and when she got burned, how he tortured and killed him. 

How he had now murdered thirteen people, and he didn't feel all that bad about it. How he lost track of the number of people he had tortured and maimed. How he used to like the darkness within himself, but how he realized it did nothing but swallow those he loved, destroying them.

He also told her why he hurt himself. That any time he had caused her some sort of pain, emotionally or physically, he made sure he was punished. How he asked the guard to be rough with him after outing her exes infidelity. How he and Theo Crucioed each other extensively, but Theo now refused to. So he took it all out on himself- not just because of her, but because of all the bad things he had done, and mostly, because it was his fault his mother was dead.

In total he talked for over an hour, and when he was done it felt like a weight had been lifted off of him. While his friends knew all of this, it felt different telling Hermione everything.

She had mostly remained blank faced, although he noticed little things in her expression as he spoke. The twitch of her lips or brow, the slight widening of her eyes.

When he finished speaking, she turned and stared into the fire for several minutes. He just wished she would tell him it was over, scream at him and call him the monster he knew himself to be, so he could just be done with this. The brief kiss they shared once had only strengthened how he felt about her, and having close to him yet unable to touch her was agony.

“Was the homeless man the first person you killed?”

“No, the second.” He paused, unsure if he should tell her, but decided it was necessary. “No one knows this, but I killed a Death Eater during the battle of Hogwarts. He was- well, he was actually about to attack you. I don’t know what you were doing, I think taking a break from fighting, but you didn’t hear him sneaking up on you. I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I didn’t even have any feelings for you yet, I swear. But I knew I didn’t hate you, nor did you deserve to die. The git raised his wand, so I moved faster. It was an Avada. He dropped, but I silenced him so you didn’t notice.”

She was now staring at him with wide eyes, then stood and walked to the fire, her back to him.

“Aside from the homeless man, has anyone you’ve hurt or killed been innocent?”

He furrowed his brow. “I don’t know what you define as innocent, but they have all been murderers, rapists, abusers and thieves. Well, and one muggle drug lord. But the homeless man wasn’t 'innocent' either. He hurt you.”

She kept her back to him but sighed deeply. “That doesn’t mean he deserved to die. He may have had a family and people who cared for him.”

Draco dipped his head low as he spoke again. “I know. I just- I don’t think clearly where you are involved. I knew it was wrong and I did it anyway.”

He kept his head down and waited for her to tear into him. He heard her feet pad back to him and he waited for the verbal blows.

Yet it was a warm hand that gently encouraged him to look up at her.

“I should hate you, be disgusted and terrified of you.”

He nodded as she stared intently into his eyes.

“But I’m not.” She whispered.

His breath caught.

“Ever since you re-entered my life, you have invaded my mind.”

She placed one of her knees on the couch beside his thigh.

“And my heart.”

The other knee landed on his other side, so she was kneeling above him. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t do anything but stare at her.

“Even though I haven’t seen or spoke to you since the night everything happened, I still haven’t stopped thinking about you. I shouldn’t want you, logically I know that. You are dangerous. You could easily hurt me in a blink of an eye without ever lifting your wand.”

He was entranced as she lowered herself so she was straddling him, her eyes now level with his. Her hands moved to his shoulders.

“But I know you wouldn’t. I also know you have done a lot of the things you’ve done to keep me safe, to protect me. Even if you went about a lot of it the wrong way.”

She ground herself down onto him, the heat of her core rubbing on his cock. He inhaled sharply.

“You love me.”

Her eyes had not left his the entire time she spoke, her gaze heated but sharp. 

“Yes,” he replied, and just as he did, she crashed her lips against his.

Chapter Text

He returned her fervour, kissing her hungrily. She rolled her hips against his rapidly hardening length, knowing it would send him into a frenzy. He gasped, so she took the opportunity to slip her tongue in his mouth as she continued to rock herself against him.

It felt, Godric, it might have been the best thing she had ever felt, and they were still fully clothed. There was something missing though. She tilted her head as he began kissing her cheek and jaw, and she noticed his hands were gripping the sofa so hard his knuckles were white.

“Why aren’t you touching me?” 

He froze.

She pulled just far enough away to look at his face.

“I didn’t think I should with what happened to you.”

She gave him a small smile. “I appreciate it, and if I start to get upset I’ll tell you. But right now, I need your hands on me.”

He gave her a searching look, and when he saw that she was telling the truth he seemed to snap. His hands were suddenly everywhere, her hips, thighs, back, arse, nape of her neck as he pulled her forward and kissed her feverishly. She started rolling against his length again. It felt electric every time his tip rubbed against her clit. She moaned into his mouth and felt him smile against her.

His hands moved up slightly and his thumbs slipped beneath the hem of her shirt. When she didn’t stop him, he broke the kiss and pulled it off of her. His eyes darkened when he saw her tightened nipples through her lacy black bra. 

“You trying to kill me, Hermione?” He rasped, and she giggled remembering him saying the same thing on their date months prior. Her laugh quickly turned to a gasp when he leaned in and gave her nipple a sharp bite, followed by him sucking it into his mouth, lace bra and all. The sting sent a jolt to her core, and she continued to rock against him.

“If we are going to be together, I have a couple of ground rules.”

“I’ll do anything you want,” he said as he laved at her hardened peaks, and it took all of her brain power to focus on what she needed to say.

“I know in your line of work I can’t ask you to never kill anyone, so instead I'm making a rule- no killing innocent people.”

“I still don’t know your definition of innocent.”

“Rapists, paedos, murderers, people who beat their partners, that’s- ah, yes, don’t stop- that's fine, I suppose. Although I don’t want to hear about it.” She was barely keeping it together. Each kiss, lick and graze of his teeth mixed with his length hitting her clit perfectly was making her brain hazy with pleasure.

“What if someone bumps into you on the street?” 

This however cleared her fog slightly and made her pull back.

“You’re not serious.”

His cheeks were pink and he was panting, as if he had been working out, not sinfully assaulting her tits with his mouth.

“Of course I’m serious. If anyone lays a finger on you, Hermione, they’re dead.”

“Draco-”

He pulled her back to him and kissed her with frenzied need. She didn’t know how long passed when he finally stopped.

“I love it when you say my name.”

“I can tell,” she giggled, but then gave him a serious look. “You said you would do anything for me. So I’m asking you to not kill good people, and definitely not for accidentally bumping into me or anything similar.”

“Can I at least cut off their hands?”

“No!” She huffed, although the thought of him being so protective of her was certainly a turn on. Her knickers were completely ruined.

He rolled his eyes but gripped her hips and forced her to start moving again.

“Then if something like that happens when I’m not around, you better not tell me.” They both moaned at the electric sensations. “If I’m with you and that happens, then you may have to restrain me.”

“I certainly like the idea of tying you up,” she breathed and leaned down and kissed him again. She took his lower lip in her teeth and bit hard, then kissed away the pain.

Suddenly he stood and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

“I’m dangerously close to embarrassing myself, and I refuse to come anywhere but deep inside you. And as much as I’ve fantasized about fucking you on that couch, I’m having you for the first time in my- our- bed.”

Her skin pebbled at his words. She kissed and sucked his neck as he carried her to a dark room. Then like she was a precious stone, he laid her down gently on the edge of the bed before dropping to his knees. He slowly began kissing from her knee and up her thigh. She tensed when he got to the edge of her skirt and he immediately pulled back.

“Are you okay?”

She hurriedly sat up and nodded, unable to bear the concern in his face.

“I’m okay. It’s just- Ron said I didn’t taste very good, so-”

He dropped his forehead to her thigh and growled.

“Can I please kill him? That alone is enough to make me want to tear him apart, let alone all the other shit he’s done to you.” He lifted his head but remained knelt before her. “Hermione, I wank daily to the thought of tasting you. I promise I’ll love it. I can already smell you and it’s driving me mad.” He certainly looked mad- his eyes were dark, his lips swollen and red from their hungry kissing and her bite, and his cheeks were bright pink. Her eyes roved over him, and she knew she had to finish what she was saying in his study before this went any further.

“Two more conditions. No, you can’t kill or maim Ron. Neither can any of your minions- especially Theo.” He began nodding as she still spoke. “I have one more condition for us to be together.” Her hand reached out and grasped his wrist and pulled his forearm into her lap. Her finger trailed along a deep pink scar, and he shivered at her soft touch. “No more hurting yourself. And we are putting dittany on your scars.”

He pulled away, and looked down at the marred and fresh wounds decorating his arms.

“I can’t- I don’t think I can just stop, Hermione. It’s like an addiction, I think about it all the time. I deserve it.”

She placed a finger beneath his chin and tilted his face back to hers.

“No, you don’t deserve it, Draco. But I understand what you’re saying. Can you please try and refrain from doing it? Whenever you have the urge I want you to tell me. Also, you need to see a mind healer about it, and as I said, we are putting dittany on them.”

“I know they’re ugly-” he murmured but she cut him off.

“I don’t care about how they look. I care becauseI know you keep the scars as reminders of your failures. One of your friends told me- and no, I will not be informing you who- but I don’t agree with that. You are a good man, Draco Malfoy. I don’t want you having these reminders because you don’t deserve them.”

His jaw tightened but he reluctantly nodded, and she released a breath. 

“Good boy.”

“Oh fuck,” he groaned. “Hermione, can I please devour you now?”

As soon as she began to nod he pushed her back and hastily bunched her skirt around her waist and spread her wide.

“Look at the mess you’ve made, love. Soaking through your lacy knickers and all over yourself.” His dark eyes flicked to hers. “If you are uncomfortable at any time, just say the word and I’ll stop. But I promise, I’m going to love this, maybe even more than you will.”

He then threw her legs over his shoulders and waved his hand, and she immediately felt cool air on her core- he had vanished her knickers. Before she could scold him about it, he leaned in and lightly licked her clit, and she gasped at the sensation and fell back on the bed. He did it again and her hips wiggled for more. 

This was nothing like the bumbling attempts Ron had made a couple of times before telling her he didn’t like it and giving her self esteem issues. This was everything and more, not even just the orgasm that was quickly building inside of her, but how much Draco was enjoying it too. He was moaning just as much as she was, gripping her thighs so tight she was sure there would be bruises left behind.

“Just like that, oh my gods don’t stop, Draco,” she breathed as she gripped his soft strands tightly with both hands. He continued his pace, and three circles of her clit later she was coming, her body tensing up and her jaw dropping.

He slowed his tongue and worked her through the aftershocks. He then kissed his way up her body until he was holding himself above her, his face glistening with her come.

“That was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” He licked his lips. “And the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”

“Don’t lie-”

“I’m not, and I’m already planning to have you for breakfast every single day. If I thought I could handle it again I would be already on you, but I almost came in my joggers.” 

“Can I be on top? I just- I don’t-” she began.

He rolled onto his back without hesitation, then waved his hand again and he was naked, his well endowed cock bobbed as precum gathered at the tip. Her mouth watered at the sight of it. She wanted to lick it up, but she could tell he was already desperately aroused, his tip flushed red. As she stared at him, he waved his hand again and her skirt and bra disappeared.

“I liked that lingere.”

“I’ll buy you new ones in every colour,” he said without a second thought. She didn’t care about having a partner with money, but Merlin, the thought of him buying her countless sets of bras and knickers was not helping her state of arousal.

She straddled him and wrapped her hand around his impressive length. He shuddered as she dragged him through her folds, coating him in her need. Then she lined him up and slowly began to lower herself onto him. 

He made a choking sound and gripped the bedsheets.

“Why aren’t you-”

“Touching you? Because all I want to do is grab you and impale you on my cock, but I didn’t think that would go over well.”

She laughed lightly. 

“Maybe another time, but it’s been a while since I’ve had sex and I just need to take it a little slow to start.” She lowered herself farther.

“So fucking tight,” he said through gritted teeth. “What about- fuck you’re so warm- what about the dates you went on?”

She paused. “I haven’t been on any dates since I went out with you.”

“Theo said-”

“Well Theo was wrong, or more than likely, was trying to make you jealous.” She smirked at the other man’s antics and lowered herself more. “Did it make you jealous, Draco?” She purred.

“Shit. Yes, unbearably jealous, I wanted to hunt them down and rip their throats out.” 

He was breathing heavily. She couldn’t stand it, and clearly neither could he. She dropped herself all the way so he was buried to the hilt inside of her, and they moaned in unison. There was a slight sting since it had been so long since she shagged anyone, but mostly she felt so full in a way she never had before.

His hands were on her now, one gripping her hip and the other on her lower stomach. He thrust up into her and her eyes rolled back, the sting quickly dissipating and replaced by pleasure.

“I can see myself inside of you. Salazar, you’re so fucking sexy, Hermione.”

No one had ever talked to her in bed like this before, made her feel so wanted. He deserved a reward, so she squeezed herself around him.

He gasped and held her hips, guiding her to start moving. She slowly raised herself up on her knees until only his tip remained inside of her, then she dropped herself down again and started to roll her hips. She had wanted to go slower, but Draco truly looked like he was fighting for his life, so she decided to stop teasing him.

Neither seemed able to form words anymore, the sound of heavy breaths, moans, and her arousal were the only noises in the room. His cock was hitting her perfectly and it didn’t take long for her thighs to start shaking around him. She leaned forward and dug her nails into his chest as she began to move faster, his large hands urging her on. When his thumb began making tight circles on her clit she gasped. Suddenly she was coming for a second time that night, her whole body shaking as she screamed in ecstasy.

She was vaguely aware through her euphoria that he pulled her against his chest and thrust up into her a few times before he came, a loud moan escaping his mouth. His spend filled her, and if she wasn’t on the potion she was sure she would have become pregnant.

Why did that not scare her like it should?

They remained silent for several minutes as they caught their breath. She liked the feeling of being held and nuzzled her face further into his neck, his scent enveloping her, making her feel safe.

“You’re mine now, Hermione. I’m never letting you go, not after this.”

She should have been annoyed with the possessive language he used, but with him it was different. She knew he didn’t want to own her, he simply wanted to keep her, care for her. Love her.

While she admitted she wasn’t quite at that stage in her feelings yet, she could tell it wouldn't be much longer until she was. This obsession he developed for her had now infected her too, and she had no desire to ever stop obsessing over him either.

She pulled herself up but remained straddling him, not yet wanting to feel the emptiness from him not being inside of her.

“And you’re mine too, Draco. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”

His smile was the warmest and brightest she had ever seen grace his handsome face.

She knew things would not be easy being with him, and that they were likely going to disagree on many things. Yet she knew no matter what that her heart belonged to him, that it would take nothing less than death to separate them now.